Controlled Chaos

Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics

This is where I will be working for the next two years (minimum).

When I woke up yesterday after a scant four hours of sleep, I didn’t hold high expectations for my day.  I had helped my third roommate move in the night before, so my body was tired.  I had gotten up at 5 am to finish my classroom management and investment plans for my mandatory orientation at Pace University, so my mind was tired as well.  And attending class from 9am to 4pm on a Saturday wasn’t exactly riveting.  I left with Felicia (the third roommate), and we hit the 2 train headed South.

From here, things got interesting.  The 2 train is on the West side of the island, and we needed to transfer to the east side.  We got off at the S, a cross-town shuttle train, with the full intention of transferring to the 5.  But that wasn’t to be the case, because the green line, consisting of the 4,5,and 6 trains, had been shut down.  This is one of the most reliable trains in Manhattan, and a lot of people were yelling profanities when they found out that it was not running.  We would find out later that someone had apparently thrown themself in front of the train, and that the police had initiated an investigation - thus the shut-down.

In the meanwhile, Felicia and I were left with diminished options.  We ended up taking the S back, then catching the R south.  Except, although the directions we were given said otherwise, the R branched off, and we soon found ourselves in Brooklyn.  A few more train rides later, we arrived an hour and 15 minutes late for our orientation.  We weren’t the only ones.

Orientation was boring.  And it lasted a long time.  But during the lunch break (free food!), my friend Ajeet came to tell me that Talib Kweli, one of my favorite rappers, was holding a free show in city park hall, which was just across the street from Pace.  I immediately adjusted my plans to attend the event.

At 4pm, when we got out of class, a group of about 8 of us headed across the street.  A jazz band was playing, and rocking.  We got pretty close, but kept a little space for late TFA arrivals.  In the end, about 20 of us showed up.  Which means about 520 of us missed out in a big way.  After the jazz band, Jean Grey, a member of Kweli’s label Balcksmith, started things off.  Arguably, she stole the show.  She had energy, good lyrics and a great DJ backing her up.  Then, directly following her, Talib came out.  Incredible.  His raps are so smooth and well-tucked together, and to see him “spit” them in person was impressive to say the least.

But that wasn’t the highlight, as it would turn out.  After rapping for a little bit with DJ Hi Tech (never heard of him), everyone in the audience was surprised to see the Black Eyed Peas, sans Fergie, show up and freestyle with Kweli over “Definition.”  They stayed on stage for another 2 songs, I think.  It’s hard to keep track, because we were all mesmerized when, right after that, Common showed up and rapped over “Get ‘Em High” with Talib.  Again, another couple of songs after that, and then Jean Grey came back out, and they all rapped together.  I think they closed with “Get By.”  I was in the fifth row the whole time.

After the show, I sat feeling the “shock body” (Kweli reference for those of you who are unitiated) from the speakers.  A group of headed toward China town, where Ajeet and I got a delicious bean curd and vegetable dish and mixed vegetable lo mein.  The veggie dishes were arguably the best on the table of 10 of us.  After dinner, most of us split, but a few of us headed to a Chinese ice cream shop, where I got a rich and delicious almond cookie dough scoop.  MMmmmm….

Finally, at about 9:45, Liz, Luis and I headed to West 16th for a “P.S. 1 Post-Pace party.” Almost all the members of my summer school were in attendance, and Callan, the host, supplied us all with free drinks (heck yes, a case of three buck chuck!).  I limited myself to two glasses, and filled up on conversation.  Finally, around 1:30, I escorted a number of people home (the area I live in, lower Harlem, is clustered heavily with TFA).

Even as I type, I still have concert ear.  Damn that show was awesome…