EXCLUSIVE: SMIRNOFF EXPERIENCE ft. N.E.R.D/NAS

LexAve — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:25:57 +0000

Last night StraightOuttaNYC attended the Smirnoff Experience event featuring an all-star line up including, N*E*R*D, Nas, Dizzee Rascal, Spank Rock, Grandmaster Flash, Devin & Darko at Capitale in NYC. Before arriving my inbox got flooded with emails reading “Hey Lex! Smirnoff?”, so I knew it was gonna be mad house. But man I never expected anything like this. The event was set to kick off at 9pm people, the crew (Aishah, Ddub & Nash) and I didn’t get in until 10:45pm. Peep the atmosphere pictures, the press line was pouring onto traffic, while the general RSVP line hugged the block….so serious! Big ups to Esther-Mireya Tejeda for attempting to man handle the madness on the press side. Due to the growingly impatient press crowd with photographers/writers/publicists jumping barcades (Olympics, anyone?), the gatekeepers bypassed the list and just opened the gates. You could’ve been taking a stroll down street and easily crept your way in. Once inside, I peeped homey Monee and quickly made the way to smirnoff bar. Thanks to the tokens handed out at the entrance, I double fisted the night away.

As I awaited for NERD and Nas (video will be up soon) to hit the stage, MTV’s Sway stalled by bringing up “Gravy” who’ll be playing Christopher Wallace in Notorious. He did his rendition of Biggie’s “The Warning” followed by 16 bars of his own stuff. As the crowd drinked and mingled, I scouted for people to snap. I caught of glimpse of Wale walking from behind the stage…real nice dude!

After a few drinks, I made a run to the ladies room with gal pal Aishah. As we awaited for the crowd to clear the stairwell to the bathroom, I look to my right and who was literally 2 feet away…PHARRELL! And being the fool I am, I asked “Pharrell, can I get picture?” In his soft voice he politely said “Thanks sweetie, but I’m on way up…catch me when I get off stage.” Womp, womp. I should’ve went straight TMZ on him and snapped anyways. But something about P.Willy had my hyponotized for that brief 2 minute encounter. Groupie status…never that but definitely a fan! Aishah and I= Star Struck!

While heading back to the crowd, I spotted Tyson Beckford and another model (name slips my mind). Don’t know what’s up the tongue action…but whatever works for him.

And speaking of the model chick (what is her name?), I witness the classy chick get straight gully with some dude who straight pushed her to get through. I definitely co-sign her gangsta. Apparently people nowadays don’t feel the need to say “excuse me”. I had a brief encounter myself with some random white chick who thought perhaps b/c she towered me she could straight son me…think again- you push me, I push back! No lie everywhere I looked I saw about five fights ready to pop off…luckily people were smart enough to keep it moving. But back to the model chick for putting the dude in the suit in his place…nice!
Once NERD began working the crowd I stopped the snapping and got the recording. I even got video of Pharrell calling out a heckler out in the middle of the crowd…funny! By 1:30am my arms were hella tired and I was ready to call it a night besides yours truly got a 9-6 and had to be up early. Once NAS took the stage and premiered his Obama song, I threw up my dueces and exited. I managed to hail a cab that’ll go uptown, as I was dozing off I get a text from gal pal Aishah…”Kelis is on stage! She was on for one song.” Quote: “Kelis baby! Come here….(She sings chorus for ‘If I Ruled the World’, then kiss) give it up for my wife….” So clearly they’re still married, nas was like “…..she comin out wit new album. too many chick biting her style….” She’s about to come back and kill them! In the cab headed home, I was kicking myself for missing one my fav hip hop couples, the Joneses.
Overall the Smirnoff experience was HOT, PACKED, TIRING, and HUGE SUCCESS minus the press line snafu…next time invite less people, keep it exclusive!
VIDEOS WILL BE UP SOON!

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EXCLUSIVE: SMIRNOFF EXPERIENCE ft. N.E.R.D/NAS