humble pie tastes hella good

I had me a tall glass of haterade. That is the way the general populace will see it, so I will humbly agree that I was hating. I would like to say I was being cautious because that’s what it was really but people call it hating, so I will agree and call it hating. The thing is, Nigeria is more or less synonymous with disappointment and I am an optimistic pessimist. It happened with Children of Africa. A lot was promised but not delivered. They did deliver but not as promised.

Then these same Thisday cats promised En Vogue and New Edition on two separate occasions but failed to deliver, the second time lying that they were at the airport when they were comfortable stateside. And these are cats that peaked ages ago and are now on a downward spiral in their careers, so you can understand my disbelief (READ: caution) when they announced they were bringing in the hottest thing hip hop has ever seen, the flyest chick wearing his chain, the Doggfather, the queen, the energizer bunny, a bitch, a one-two stepper and the aforementioned divas. I had to be suspicious. I knew ‘H to tha’ was scheduled to come through as part of his United Nations & MTV Water for Life international tour and that’s all I really cared about but when my boy @ MTV told me this arm of the tour was all Thisday, I got scared that Hovi may not come.

Also, at first, websites only had Jay-Z confirmed as coming, with Busta Rhymes scheduled to be in Anaheim, California on the day he was meant to be here. So you can understand my skepticism. Eventually, Beyonce’s site had her coming through and things were looking promising. However, in all my hateration, people will confirm that I clearly said, “I pray they prove me wrong and do the damn thing.”

So Thisday, Nigerians and blog heads (I hollered on Mona’s blog about my doubts), I owe you an apology. As JC said, “Blessed are they who have not seen but still believe.” And after all that, I didn’t even have the common decency to behave accordingly. I straight disrespected the system. I had said I was not going because there was no way I was paying N25,000 ($192, £104) to Thisday for the concert. After saying I would pay N1m to see Jigga if that’s what it came to if he ever came here. I was hell-bent on not going. And being the Young H-O follower that I am, all my friends were shocked to death. They knew I could afford the 25G ticket and buy the N100, 000 ($769, £416) VIP ticket but I was like, it’s a principle thing. I ain’t going.

Then I go out the night before and the DJ closes proceedings with “Numb/Encore” and I start thinking. Hard! I get home, watch Fade To Black and my stomach starts to hurt but I stick to my guns. Then I remember my boy D. Dot. He’s GTBank (Financers of event – is that by any chance account holders’ money) Security Manager so he should have the hook up. He says nothing is certain but tickets are on sale @ 10 grand ($77, £42) at the Bank so I better hurr’up and scoop me one just in case his plans fall through. I tell my pride, principles, conscience and Ijebu nature that we can live with that. So I rush and buy my extra-common folk ticket (at this point, real friends are calling about these available tickets; you know who you are) and prepare for the show.

I had shorts on under my jeans where I kept my phone (only took one of the five – pimpin’ ;) you know I jus said that to be silly), cash and car keys (parked in an office complex and took okada to the entrance) and a bag with water and juice. Ready to go. But the greatest evil? My friend (you know who you are) telling me cameras weren’t allowed so I left mine in the car. My soul hurts still. Anyway, I still got the mental pics.

So, I get there and chill by the bar for a few with some friends I ran into. I then peep D. Dot walking in with the REAL Don P, so I go say ‘hey’ and Dot (such a good guy and not just because of this) tells me to walk with them and explains to the angry security guy why this dude (me) with a red wrist tag is going to the side of the people (VIP) with green ones. It turns out that, apparently, I am a guest of the MD of GTBank. Well alright. So I hook up with my girls and am telling them the story of how I got in. They’re loving it until this dude in front of us turns round and asks to see my tag, then shows his police ID (I had to laugh because while it was in its own wallet, it was just the regular card with the passport photo and typed info, no badge) and says I need to bounce. He’s being all polite and stuff saying I’ll be embarrassed because security will be going round checking. The girls try to beg but I tell them not to worry, I’ll be right back. I tell the dude he’s a good guy, shake his hand, step to my boy Dot, have a little convo, shamelessly cover my red tag with my black Superman wrist band and walk right back to my girls. Like the first track on Shawn Corey’s first album, you can’t knock the hustle.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a pie to finish eating.

Blog Marley out like doubt in Thisday!

If you have all the time in the world (like I seem to do) read the concert blog here. Enjoy... or not!