June 29, 2007 @ 3:06 pm

DJ Mars: Checking in from the Ne-Yo Tour

Mars reports from Ne-Yo's tour. This week: LA, ATL, Seattle.

Los Angeles, CA
Something about Los Angeles puts you in a sexy frame of mind when you're there on behalf of the music. Although the sunshine, cars, and women are plenty, when it comes to entertainment, it's the land of the chosen few - especially if you hail from the East Coast. Add to that a venue whose name is rooted in jazzy, juke joint funk before the days of the DJ and the pressure is on. The House of Blues was the first venue we played in LA in conjunction with the new album Because of You. Anything less than a great show would have been disrespectful to the legend on which the House of Blues was built. Prior to the show, I made my regular sneaker run on Melrose but came up short because there wasn't anything unique in the specialty shops. I then moved on to the mission that I've been trying to accomplish since the tour began: getting a tattoo. Every other city we go, I call a friend and ask if there's a tattoo parlor they can recommend. I didn't realize that tattoo parlors were as backed up as barbershops, requiring an appointment or at least a two-hour wait. If any of my people out there have a recommendation for a great tattoo artist, please hit me up!

Ne-Yo autographed sneaker.

Aside from being legendary, The House of Blues has a transitional intimacy about it that allows the artist to connect in a special way with the crowd. Ne-Yo's music can trek into a Frankie Beverly-type groove that enchants the audience before he even hums a melody. Once the audience has channeled into the groove (the band is crazy!), then it's like we can do no wrong – such was the LA performance. Nuff respect to T-Pain who was in the house showing love to Ne-Yo and our crew. I chopped it up briefly with T-Pain backstage about the upcoming Scream tour that we will be on together starring himself, Ciara, TI and Lloyd at the end of July. The next night we performed in Anaheim at the House of Blues located in downtown Disneyland. While performing there, I began to notice that our opener Paula Campbell, the first artist signed to Ne-Yo's Compound Entertainment, is picking up steam with each city. She enters the stage singing Jennifer Hudson's vocals from the duet "Leaving Tonight" that J-Hud and Ne-Yo recorded for his album, after which he introduces Paula to the crowd. Comfortably, with no trace that she's bearing the weight of the pop princesses for whom Ne-Yo has adorned golden compositions, she belts out "Ain't Nobody Stupid" with a magnetic self-assuredness. The crowd, especially the ladies, began to look at each other nodding with approval by the close of the song. I kicked it for a minute with Paula after the show. DJ Mars: You are considered the first lady of Compound Entertainment, and with that comes a load of expectations. How demanding is touring and what would you say is the chief benefit you've seen so far?
Paula Campbell: Touring is such a learning experience and it's actually really fun! The most demanding part is getting used to the hectic schedule. The best benefit is becoming a part of a real family and the exposure, of course. DJ Mars: Basically your current single "Ain't Nobody Stupid" is a new song to the touring audience. From the DJ booth onstage I can see women vibing to your emotions on stage. Were you ever worried about fans accepting you during a Ne-Yo performance?
PC: Hell yes! I'm worried almost every time I get on stage because basically it's a bunch of women that just love themselves some Ne-Yo, so it's pretty intimidating to come on stage in the middle of his performance when it's at its height, keep the energy up, remain confident and make them accept me. But the audience seems to vibe with me every time. I don't think the ladies mind listening to real women speaking "the real." DJM: In relation to the negative depiction hip hop has on women, how important was it for you to have a song that had a message directed towards men?
PC: It kinda just came out that way. I don't want to paint a negative picture of anybody. I'm just trying to tell real stories about real situations that happen in everyday life. It just so happens that I'm a woman that's obviously been through some bullsh*&t relationships just like billions of other women. I've just been blessed to share those stories and feelings with the world. DJM: When the Ne-Yo tour concludes will you start your own "Paula Campbell" campaign? If so, what will that include?
PC: Definitely! We got some things in the works already. We arrived into San Francisco at 11:30am and all that was on my mind as well as a few of the band members because we're all comic book buffs was getting to the movie theatre to catch the Fantastic Four Even as a grown man, there is still a retro feel to matinees that remind you of when your parents used to have to hit it because it was cheaper. During the afternoon I went to the Haight-Ashbury District, a popular shopping area in San Francisco, where I brought a pair of Air Max 97 at a store called True. Much to my surprise, I was able to buy two pairs of the original Penny Hardaways for my six-year-old son Jordan for only $20.00 each! Return to Atlanta
I flew back to Atlanta for one day to DJ at my girl La La's birthday party in Atlanta. We still consider La La fam in the "A" especially since she was one of the DJs down with the Southern bomb before it exploded nationally. It was cool to hang out with her again and reminisce on the days when I would spin on what was then Hot 97 for her and Ludacris's show in Atlanta. Before I left Atlanta I had to stop by "The Chill Spot" at the 300 Atlanta Bowling Alley hosted by Felix Donnell, Chaka Zulu of DTP and Travis Knuckles of Universal every Sunday night. The evening is a perfect fusion of a swanky night life and recreation. Titled perfectly because when VIPs like Ludacris, Jazzy Pha, Keisha Knight Pulliam and Polow Da Don come through, they leave their celebrity at the door, chill and have a good time bowling while just being Atlanta natives. Challenge to all ballers: the entrepreneur league bowling challenge, with the motto "camaraderie through competition," is coming soon! Sunday in Seattle
I WOULD LIVE IN SEATTLE! SERIOUSLY, I WOULD LIVE IN SEATTLE!
If I were in the regular work force instead of the music industry, Seattle would definitely be my first option. It is the West Coast version of the East Coast and has such a dope vibe to it, something like Chicago (and I felt all of this before I even got to meet the girls there). Much of the industries there come from Microsoft and Boeing, so the city is very techie and completely modern. The venue that we performed at was called the Show Box which is Seattle's version of the Apollo Theatre. Exemplary of how laidback Seattle is, the various age groups that attended the show ranged from 10 to 40. This was the first time that entire families were rocking with Ne-Yo together. I'm telling you, I love this place. Mr. Gates, whenever you develop a product that is hot enough to compete with the I-Pod, please holla at your boy and I'm there!

Article tags: DJ, Mars, Checking, Ne-Yo, Tour 

del.icio.us digg Furl Reddit YahooMyWeb

Page printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/news/news_headlines/2007/06/mars_week_three/

Return to previous page