Started off Writing this while headed into our 15th consecutive performance, returning to BERGEN for our 2nd performance in the Norwegian city. Norway, even more so than Sweden, Denmark, and Finland is our most impacting Scandinavian country. Don't know completely why, but can I tell you that the water here is amazing, wish I could bring a bag of it home. But clean water is contraband against homeland security.

Below is my tour note diary covering the PE20-TOUR57 in the states and PE20-TOUR58 in France-Scandinavia. Of course Denmark and Sweden have a twenty year history with us since we broke the road of rap here in December of 1987. Before the tour journals, here’s my take on how I've been getting my news and knocking it out the park with my opinion:

IT TAKES AN ANUS IN THE MORNING TO WAKE US UP? A lot of interviews were ringing in on Imus' comments about the black women basketball players at Rutgers. I feel the outpour of the out roar clearly, and it's justice because these shock jox been going overboard for the past twenty-five years. There's hardly any black talk radio existing today, but there's room for garbage like morning zoo shows and shock crap. Black talk is necessary, but you don't miss your water till the well is dry. Guys like Imus are all over the waves, and of course they're gonna use what we do and say to each other and throw a kick in. Again, the same kinda table of white male execs count the numbers in radio as do the dwindled figures in the recording business. Yup.

WEBULLUTIONARIES AT IT AGAIN? In the midst of all of this, I'm seeing so many threads on positive cats attacking each other in emails that I wonder is this dialogue itself paralyzing the movement? I still say there's NO master teacher around grading anyone's efforts. We seem to know the problem, so lets attack it, I figure, instead of each other. This is HIP HOP's civil war, calling for the right for it to remain civil. The best letter I've seen definitely is my man PARIS, who really nailed the culprits on the upside down cross. Cm'on HIP HOP needs to stop making excuses for 30 year old cats who should know better. My buzzard commentary below....

SISTERS DOIN IT How big can HIP HOP be when women don't mean sht, to these cats that act as a mirror to their slave masters? OK, stop Chuck. Big ups to ROSA CLEMENTE who is always fighting. ROSA is consistently adding clarity to those on the upper and lower, using broadcast media WBAI- occasionally Air America and in the trenches (New Orleans -Houston post Katrina efforts)

Also big ups to RONNIIQUE HAWKINS whose's Anti Lynching Movement is involved in lectures and film-showing in Minneapolis, MN April 21st and further exposing the EMMITT TILL case to the youth, and exposing modern day lynchings by police etc, such as the SEAN BELL case, and political prisoners.

AIR AMERICA Been away from my radio show for about three weeks, so coming in May a bunch of great surprises. I'm looking for a way to place the show as a gadget/podcast upon the site homepages. With all this swirl of airsht going on, the network is necessary for balance and common sense at least.

BACKBEAT FOUNDATION While performing then speaking at SXSW festival, I was on a panel with Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers. He said some mighty things revolving around KATRINA and New Orleans, regarding how the city still treats its Black folk like crap. He said the city ain't never changed and won't. The great GARLAND JEFFRIES was moderator of the SAY IT LOUD and PROUD panel. In the audience WAYNE KRAMER of the MC5 and CHARLES WRIGHT of the 103 Street Band fame. Cyrill introduced me to the BACKBEAT FOUNDATION, who works with the grass root of New Orleans culture and community. My salary that night performing in NOLA is donated to their community efforts.

VIACOM SUES GOOGLE Ain't this a trip? Old news but still nevertheless a trip. Viacom was one of the reasons I got involved in the internet in the first place. Why leave it up to some fools to judge my art BEFORE it gets to the public? Now a bypass creates another option, and they wanna come in and hate. Isn't this the same mentality that wiped out the Native American in Amerikkka and the Black in Africa. Wanting to own everything, even the air itself. Sht. Go home super-ego-man, wherever the fck that is. Go home.

WALKUP-TIX SALES Our Orlando gig was canceled because of poor weekend counts. This is contrary to our following which will come to our gig, but buy a ticket in advance...maybe - maybe not. There has been sellout crowds across 57 and 58 and we thank all. As with any tour there will be the 20,000 peep festivals and the 300 person club venue we enjoyed both especially when you can make a smaller gig personal, point people out and rap directly to them even signing autographs while performing. Big crowds you can at best simulate that feeling, but really its like performing in front of a gigantic blanket.

J&R MUSIC Essential 200 Album List. At the same time I thought I was doing something for Grandmaster Flash and the 5 on their inauguration into RRHOF, I find that I was talking up a list of 200 records picked by retailers. That means artistic integrity gives way to sales here. When I saw Nations about one hundred notches down from 50 Cent, Eminem, and The Chronic I knew immediately I was in the wrong place.

FUTURESHOCKBYSHOCKLEE I want to definitely tell all of yall the site to rely on as far as some real insight and guidance regarding music being a positive center point for fuel in your space. It's fantastic that the world can access the written word of my man Hank. He’s a definite sonic philosopher and still a big brother to me I never had until hooking up with him in 1979. He’s the sht, simple as that.

THE BUZZARDS OF BUSINESS On the contrary the news reports of Lyor Cohen and Russell Simmons trying to gather the hip hop current bangers for fixing hip hop's flat tire in the light of anus, remarks - is like what? You go figure. These two, I've known, have always followed the dollar and this time the desperation could be off the fact the available dollar is no longer there for the recording business as it was. Gone. And Russell and Lyor gutted and cashed out their assets long ago. Now they wanna put out a bonfire with a watergun. Sht, gimme a break. Buzzards. A buzzard is not a bad bird they just capitalize on the dead. If NAS says hip hop is dead, remember it can still thrive in a zombie state and spread dead spirit like Rap of the Living Death. TUPAC and BIGGIE get killed and like a buzzard, 1998 replaces the image with DEF JAM icons DMX= PAC, JAY Z= B.I.G. = Brooklyn's best. Again being a buzzard is not always a bad thing, they just wait for the smoke to clear and scoop the death into a business. As far as life (and a woman is life itself, which explains the lack of a woman's voice and brain in hip hop ... again = death) Again a buzzards attitude can be glued to your average hustler, dealer, pimp agenda. By any means necessary life for a few at the expense of death for many. Can't ask a buzzard to save a life.

Contrary to what I read on the EB and my man JDee from NZ, these cats that ran the black record biz, legitimized ghetto mentality. Guaranteed they wouldn't eat a meal in the kitchen they polluted. The real deal is they don't know what to say, and they don't know where to stand either. The fact is that they're led by their wallets and banks and NOT any cultural moral fiber makes them NOT support a brother like AFRIKA BAMBAATAA who has been talking peace, love, unity, and having some fun AND knowledge to go with it. Russell and Lyor sound like the government, without lawmaking power. They have in turned served hip hop on a platter to the culture vulture. How you gonna change the nature of a buzzard? The buzzard does not really favor either peace nor war, it just scoops the aftermath. I'm just saying, them in leadership is NOT their bag. They should work in supporting a leadership body.

VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING My condolences go out to the students killed at VT. As I'm hearing this in Denmark , the look on the BBC journalists are like what the hell is going on in America? At the same time in Germany, police have been told in target practice to go for the target like you're going for black people in the Bronx. With this passed in the world today, there's little surprise that there's walking time bombs around. Supersized police were filmed running to the scene, who were they gonna catch on foot?

As for the media wallpapering of the killer... something about how things all come out in the wash. There are many timebombs ticking their asses off to a deaf, dumb, and blind society. The writing was on the wall for this kid and no one was listening. Again why do we even listen to people who don't understand the science of mind control through media images, and the effect of twisted broadcast culture? It's called propaganda and subliminal seduction. Methods to blur the line between fantasy and reality. This Cho kid damn near had seven movies in his head. FALLING DOWN,etc. What does it mean? The day after he kills 33 collegians, a market bombing kills 200 in Baghdad. We as a race of humans are accepting the images of carnage as normal everywhere else. It is ALL terrible. As for the remaining years, this decade expects a 'timebomb' law to go in effect. Expect homeland security and hype to melt this into immigrant hatred and law reform in time. Expect hip hop to take another hit somewhere quicker than the movies... Lord don't make them find any old school gangster rap in his Ipod. However it seemed that this kid was also fed up with the privileged kids who flaunted their bling, and in a very sick way, someone has their finger over a green light button for a movie when the smoke clears. Or a script about the young mad script writer himself. Or a short film from young Cho's own internet spread script. Charles Manson's music would get signed today because the crumbling dollar is desperately trying to find some shine time, or sadly keep up it's streetcred.

TOUR SONG FAVs Lakeside - I Wanna Hold Your Hand Charles Brown - Drifting Blues Sam Cooke - Have Mercy Live @ Harlem Square Club 1963 Howling Wolf - Moanin @ Midnight Howling Wolf Sister Sledge - Lost In Music Gladys Knight and the Pips - Everybody Needs Love Grandmaster Flash/5- Freedom

Cincinnati Ohio - MARCH 6 2007

Fly in night before into Cincy, PE associate Silbert Mani calls about the Knicks game he's just witnessed against the SEATTLE Sonics. My season is over like Jamal Crawford's (broke his foot), but I have enjoyed it, and I 'I've been pushing the point across to Sil who's also the only other Knick fan I'm in contact with besides my dad - that Isaiah Thomas is the man. Now no more radio or TV games, so I'll rely on ALAN HAHNs' blog on newsday.com. Flying into Cincy is really flying into Kentucky and I rented this mini van at AVIS upon getting there. I don't know how long I'm gonna keep it but it will be relaxing nonetheless. I appreciate the ton of quiet surrounding my evening before the tour storm, as I drive to the hotel still on the Kentucky side in Covington where the gig is also playing. Late night there's a Bob's BIG BOY open and I get into a fish sandwich, river perch reeeeeal slow bites.

I call Brother J of XCLAN back ...and tell him I appreciate the fact that we can do the second half of the US together. Although the East will be a bit of more than a grind for XCLAN expense wise, we appreciate each other beyond the circumstances and troop onwards. Their album Back To Mecca has just released. Brother J and his crew are a class act all the way.

Cincinnati -Madison Theater Ky MARCH 7, 2007

Madison Theatre, everyone flies in gradually to hotel. Meet the mayor in city hall. A black mayor who is trying to make things happen in a positive manner from the turmoil of a few years back. Go the WIZZ radio station across bridge ... this is why I rent cars. Flav has Jon Stewart's Daily Show taping him upon arrival in the hotel. The Impossebulls roll through and do a energetic set.

Bootsy and his wife come thru to performance, Bonne Cream from Bonne and Clyde is also there...

Review of Beats and Places is tight ... in the town's music paper. The show in the renovated theater is tight - good sound great high stage. Bootsy even comes out and plays bass. A great sight was watching Brian Hardgroove playing with Bootsy in the background. The shows finale of Fight The Power was signed by our extension of the Isley Brothers version. Only right. Local Hall Of Famers.

After the concert we all head to Mr. BOOTSY'S home. We do interviewing for his KING records project, were welcomed into his recording shrine, which has archives from all the years of funk. In the studio BOOTSY says a future project is waiting and we agree. Afterwards the drive back was long back to the Natti, hoping to get a good four hours sleep before driving to Chicago.

Chicago -House Of Blues MARCH 8, 2007

Myself and Malik drive up to Chicago. Do interviews, and have candid convo, but first after visit Minister Farrakhan at the NOI farm. A wonderful occasion where we talked pride, politic, his and the world's condition. He had just finished a media frenzy after his SAVIOR'S DAY speech in Detroit where he sounded strong, looked great, and captivated 60,000 people in FORD FIELD and millions more on CSPAN where I watched it. While talking to him out of the corner of my eye the television screen set to the CNN interview had the caption 'Farrakhan Fading ' I couldn't help but feel the dis of the media. Didn't this man do the Million Man March? He expounded on his surgery. We discussed politics, and we enjoyed and shared his music which was the utmost charming experience. An album where he had compiled much of the songs, an artistry he respected, wrote and still had in him. We and his sons listened to his musical expression in voice and violin while watching the birds and the tree buds beyond the glass foray.

The drive into midtown Chicago is never easy. After a long bumper to bumper thing, another House Of Blues was tagged.... it. Regardless of who owns it, and the politics that go with it, you can't get more convenient than having a hotel hooked right into a performance venue. Knocks the wear and tear of a tour smackdown.

On the list for tonight are a bunch of folk. Our Chi-town connection. My friend Gina Barge daughter of Gene Barge is coordinating her dad to play sax on Fight The Power, and some other tracks. Also Pete Cosey will be there as well and we'd dig if they will play.

The food is always good there but I'm handicapped because I can't eat two hours before all the running and jumping and spittin. This was Flavor's first gig here in a while, 1999 I think because 2002 he couldn't play the States because of a license violation at the time. Thus we had to do the show without him or get sued. It came off but it was very, very, very, taxing mentally and physically.

Flavor Flav is the greatest hypeman in the history of hip hop. He invented the position. To me, he cannot do no wrong by showing up. The last gig we played here around December of 2005 Flav went a bit over the top in the middle of an all black OLD SCHOOL concert. Still HAVING him is a asset, that makes it all possible.

The performance was a better one for me at HOB as opposed to some of my other performances here. ... Heetmob, Impossebulls roll up... Illinotx, who is PE associate BIG CAS's group, are very well put together. Why is it that the lesser known acts effort sooo much better than the instant 'popped' stars? We have Mr. Barge who've shared songs with and Mr. Pete Cosey... play on stage, and Daddy G has graced this stage many a time played his funky soul on Fight The Power and Payback. Funky. Pete Cosey played with Miles playing something that resembled a Kalimba.

Drive to Toronto tomorrow instead of riding the tour bus,

Chicago drive to Toronto- Canadian Music Festival -MARCH 9 2007

Malik and I gear for the drive through Canada. Talked. When we got to Detroit I had to choose between Windsor Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge. Chose the bridge. Cat at booth asked a few questions. Malik wondered how we got asked more questions than the car with an interracial couple in front. A better world it must be. But amidst the Q and A ... diplomacy wins every time. He asked why we were coming, I replied "Toronto, MusicFest checking out the girls... I know you know about that!" I said pumping him up in the process. He smiled, nodded and let us go.

Driving through Canada country ... vast farmland in Midwest... 25 million people, sht. Bus was stopped at Huron border 3 1/2 hours. Security check stopped them. We got in at night ahead of them after long conversation with Malik. We stay at the Toronto Fairmont. Classic TDot. Canadian Music Week is taking place in the building as well. Mr. Walt the manager flew from Chicago where he also caught the show as well as he being a native from there. Since the bus is coming in way late, the venue which has a 10 PM showtime has pushed back to 11:30 PM the bus sets up immediately at the venue. Canada is buzzing, and I've invited two mainstays to open up for us, MICHIE MEE and DOPE POETS SOCIETY. Along with KOOL DJ RED ALERT closing the show out there's also GRANDDADDY IU and FUNKMASTER FLEX doing their thing up - backstage. It was also possible to make the Canadian Music Festival.

New York City- BB KINGS -MARCH 11 2007

Silbert picks me up at airport and I spend the day portion catching up on sleeping and trying to figure out the crazy schedule. Around 4 PM my guest list is straight and we head to the city and I get dropped of at Air AMERICA to do pre recording of the shows since I won't be present. We do a taping of Pete Cosey and Mike Tillery and I wish Dave Fazekas and Matt Ianni great luck and fun in my absence. Sil scoops me at 21st street and we go twenty-one blocks to the BB KINGS venue. Always crazy. New York. The Public Enemy on the marquee is tight and alerts all on 42nd street that hanging outside the club could be eventful in itself. Definitely see more than fifty familiar faces I can't turn down.

TASHAN one of the earliest recording artists with DEF JAM, who I'm seeing more and more via his online label and his my space page. The Original Spinderella, my cousin Billy Ray and his General Pop group are there. A lot of Hip Hop royalty in the house. I get downstairs and request the owner about letting all around me in the gig. He knows my pressure. This dude must go through this with New York acts all the time.

Inside backstage it's quiet. Mainly because security wise, Malik ain't having it. The last we played here was last May for ICE T's VH1 show where he had the kids in rap school. I do anything for Ice, hated the gig though from a personal standpoint. Out of tour shape, on camera, not really rehearsed, not where I like to be. Backstage that night was sick. But again it wasn't our gig. Now the mission is to finally kick ass in this oversized basement. I know what to expect here. I don't expect the sound to win, so I know visually I have to really present myself up there and orchestrate the show tight. Keep an earplug around just in case. Indeed its the plan. And thus executed well. Malik and Drew make this thing easier tonight. The pacing is beautiful. It was great to see Brother J and X CLAN return to home base and do it as well. The beginning of the show with the S1Ws stepping to JAY Z's Just BLAZE Show Em Whatcha Got has a fitting theme. With Griff and Brother Mike, leading this no doubt is a classic 'throwback moment.

Inside backstage it's quiet. Mainly because security wise, Malik ain't having it. The last we played here was in May for ICE T's VH1 show where he had the kids in rap school. I do anything for Ice, hated the gig though from a personal standpoint. Out of tour shape, on camera, not really rehearsed, not where I like to be. Backstage that night was sick. But again it wasn't our gig. Now the mission is to finally kick ass in this oversized basement. I know what to expect here. I don't expect the sound to win, so I know visually I have to really present myself up there and orchestrate the show tight. Keep an earplug around just in case. Indeed it's the plan. And thus executed well. Malik and Drew make this thing easier tonight. The pacing is beautiful. It was great to see Brother J and X CLAN return to home base and do it as well. The beginning of the show with the S1Ws stepping to JAY Z's Just BLAZE Show Em Whatcha Got has a fitting theme. With Griff and Brother Mike, leading this no doubt is a classic 'throwback moment.

In the middle of our set Batin Ashante brings his daughter Autumn to recite James Brown's KING HEROIN amongst the NYC crowd. This caps the show from the last performances here by far. The end is a complete throw down and I break out to stay at the Renaissance Hotel in NYC because of the busy press day tomorrow. Good show in NYC is always good especially when it's documented.

New York to Burlington VT-Higher Ground -MARCH 12 2007

The morning in NYC brings three meetings at ESPN, then over to SUNDANCE Channel, and lastly downtown to J&R Music World near the Brooklyn Bridge where today is the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Much props, and I'll do everything in my power to support this achievement. On my way there, a line was outside for attending the press conference, and I saw Vincent Davis upon going in. Vincent is one of the unheralded history makers in the rap game. His label Vintertainment was a solid contributor to a number of rap classics in the 80's. He's doing a documentary on the business, we exchange info and anything he needs, I'm glad to provide. Vincent was the first outsider who told us 'Public Enemy' was a hell of a name for a rap group. From the start he got it. Vincent launched the career of Mr. Keith Sweat by the way.

The J & R retail chain today is presenting a list of the 200 essential albums. It's something that retail outlets are doing to survive the digital storm. 'Takes A Nation Of Millions' is in the lineup but there's some other records that are clearly on the list, not because of artistic standard but crazy sales. Jimmy Iovines offspring is omnipresent. The big white man is gonna have his thumb smudge on the history of rap after all, as Public Enemy gets pushed further to the back at about 122.

This, coupled with the MTV Greatest Rap group chart has me guessing about the history writers in process. They ranked us, I think, third but to me NWA lost a motor with ICE CUBE leaving in 1989 and thus only made one and half albums themselves, that meant a progress for the genre. EFIL4ZAGGIN was a wild attempt to hurl itself into inviting white folks into the worst of us without having to fill out a rapplication. Oh well. My top 7 are: RUN DMC OUTKAST PUBLIC ENEMY NWA CYPRESS HILL GRANDMASTER FLASH and the FURIOUS 5 SALT AND PEPA

Fly to Burlington on USAIR on either the first prop plane built or the last one left. Damn US AIRWAYS can't even give the plane a paint job. Still a cool flight, or maybe I'm too tired to notice. Snow's on the ground up there but the setting is nice. The hotel is minutes away and I know upon checking in there's some fish dinner in my future, as well as a great bowl of clam chowder. Of course the drinking water is great and with the venue a couple of blocks away show time is gonna be something. JAHI opens up and really sets the stage for X CLAN and us. The crowd is real hungry and we give them an unforgettable time. Afterwards a couple of gents from the jam band PHISH visit us backstage.

I'm riding the bus and I hear that this is a new bus, because the one before it had some massive complaints. A retro tour - cool. Retro bus ...uh..no. Glad they got it replaced in time for my first ride.

Baltimore, Maryland - Rams Head Live- MARCH 13 2007

I was so dog tired of sitting up in my seat, I'm falling asleep at my laptop. It was as good if not better than sleeping in the bunk. The drive to B-more was a home visit as three of our members live in the area. Yeah, we live in eleven different parts of the U.S. ; I would always say in the past why limit yourself to where you live after going to all these countries and cities over the past twenty years? Although Maryland is only a spit away, it's a move nonetheless. Baltimore downtown area has been a project for more than fifteen years now, especially with the baseball Orioles leading the way into re -urbanized development with their Camden Yards ballpark signifying that the inner city can make money after work hours and thus gentrification can be justified by moving money folks in and poor ones out.

The club is called RAMS HEAD LIVE, and I hear it's a rebuilt spot. It's ironclad inside with tiers looking up. Nice surprising venue. A big friend and fam list crowd the backstage. Keith Shocklee has driven down, and I was very surprised to see a cat who myself and Keith played his records to death ...T SKI VALLEY of Catch The Beat fame. I told him of the time myself and Hank wanted to promote him to come out to LI but we heard somebody shot him dead. He quickly said it wasn't him but his manager was shot. So much for the gig twenty-five years later. Dude still looked young and was an animated sort, much like Keith.

The crowd was festive and ready but I don't think they really knew what was coming their way. The venue usually sets the stage on whether we will be great or good for the night. Great venue = great show. Big stage to run and jump and wear the crowd out and down. The Impossebulls do another great set, and Crew Grrl Order seem to really enjoy the opportunity to roll on a bigger stage. JAHI, who also lives here in Baltimore, juices the crowd up with freestyles, songs and a unique hosting job. I expressed to JAH that on the label it's a serious void that someone smart, strong voiced and experienced can fit. Even way better than the 10-12 minutes we would have allotted for him opening. He got it, And wrecked well.

The flexibility of the baNNed lets us play with certain mainstays like SHUT EM DOWN and BLACK STEEL. Before 2000 the turntable process made me feel like I was performing in a rigid ass straight jacket. From day one because we are mainly an active group in non stop motion, the skipping of records all but destroyed my stage enthusiasm, and by 1995 I was done with that style. At that time I made an announcement that we were ending stage shows until further notice. Stupid idiots thought we were quitting. I said 'stage shows'. In 1997 when Griff returned for the Garden show with RUN DMC and KRS ONE, it was fuel to headline the 'original' way with SMOKING GROOVES IN 1998, and the following WORLD POISON TOUR in 1999 debuting DJ LORD.

DJ LORD and the uses of the instant replay, along with the turntables was a shot in the arm allowing us to all roam the stage with reckless abandon. Before that I felt like a ballet dancer, jumping hard but landing softly to not skip a record, while telling Flavor and the S1WS to lighten their feet. We had a key show almost be a disaster in New Jersey during SMOKING GROOVES because of skips. The final straw that created the baNNed was playing JAPAN in late 1998 with the ROOTS. Flavor couldn't make the tour. I felt I seriously was doing the show 'hostage'. Griff and I saw the ROOTS and,as a musician himself, saw a lasting component along with us for the millennium. It wasn't easy as just putting players behind the DJ and the rappers.

The first years 2000-2002 were a combination of players who were good but didn't really know all the PE music. In working with Brian Hardgroove with the Confrontation Camp record in 2000 there was the fact of knowing the music, message, and sensibilities of leading the baNNed. Thus he is ingrained as a necessary piece alongside the guitar prodigy KHARI WYNN who is a perfect complement. T BONE was the drummer in 2002, but replaced after another HARDGROOVE project named the FINE ARTS MILITIA with drummer Michael 'New York City Mike' Faulkner who has fit like glue. Now, today to simply describe a PE show is to say a combination of RUN DMC, THE ROOTS and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. All influences...with PE records to boot. It doesn't hurt that Flavor is a musician and the equipment on stage gives him room to play, and most importantly myself room to breathe.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - House Of Blues-MARCH 14 2007 The breakfast club tagged my ass good in Baltimore. I was ready on time but still didn't rush for the 6 AM roll out. Sht. We have a rule that says whoever's late past the slated time has to buy the entire bus breakfast. Driver included, and this driver named Mike is a cool round dude looking for a freebie as well. It's called the 'Breakfast Club'. Flavor was already two in the hole. But I wanna get mine over and done with. Feeding sixteen men is no joke and Cracker Barrel is the courtroom. Let's get it over with. It's a long time PE rule that keeps everything democratic. Bill = $123.27

We get to Myrtle Beach as the bus dropped me off at the airport. See the rental cars could be throwing my group time off, but damn it feels great and liberating at the same time. I drive slow through this beach resort town and although it's not far from me, I rarely visit the lower East coast - reminds me of Florida. A lot of older folks and surprisingly a gang of high rise buildings on the beach line. The drive up the strip to North Myrtle Beach puts me in the middle of an incredible slew of venues and seafood restaurants. Nothing like discovering a place for the first time. The House Of Blues here is the opposite what I'd thought. It's gigantic. My car comes in handy zipping back between the venue and the hotel. The van is also, CGO got here early, and in sound check rock with the sound of the band, the girls are good and they're trooping it out too.

In the opening Most Hi-fi got lost and missed their opening slot. Mecca who runs SlamJamz South is a bit peeved as JAHI being the host is in stage charge. The stage is another operation and JAHI is simply following Drew's protocol. There is no priority here as the promoters have granted us one hour to open, then use and shuffle acts as we'd like. So JAHI and CGO make it happen. Mecca is the promoter on the finale in Atlanta, so I let him concentrate on that event. When we come on the venue is poppin. Flavor's family from Charleston is in the house. Surprising walkup. During the set we bring MOST HI-FI on to freestyle with singer Huggy and we finish. The HOB with a storming set that makes things personal...

Atlanta Georgia - MARCH 15 2007

Sht took my time getting up in the morning and took a very peaceful drive. In between doing interviews and talking on the phone this 5 - 6 hour trip is as relaxing as a stroll in the park, or chilling on the beach for others. I get to the crib and zone out and prepare to fly to Austin TX. Tickets are over the top but since I'm planes, trains, and automoblies I find a cheap ticket into Houston and will drive to Austin, then Dallas and back to H-Town for $100. and the flight for the same price. I can return this AVIS car to Atlanta airport when I fly out.... Austin, Texas SXSW - MARCH 16 2007

Flying into Houston I meet up with SIL MANI in the airport. We catch same flight to George bush. One beautiful fact about TEXAS - it's warm and the Northeast is getting blasted by snow. There's a three hour drive to the State capitol, and I've done it a few times. SIL MANI has his own company distributed through NAVARRE, a few artists he has on the label and in this case VERSATILE from Dallas will do the triangle of Texas as his partners have management skills as well. They will meet us in Austin and then follow or lead into Dallas then back to Houston. SIL has worked within the camp, on the peripheral, and on the outer edges. Great cat , and I wanna see him do well. Just did road management for LYFE JENNINGS and we talked about that. SIL is an example of a cat that I want to be well off and running.

Dallas, Texas- Gypsy Tea Room -MARCH 17

Start morning off as Dan Lugo meets with REDEYE and lays out a world distribution plan for SLAMjamz. Because he’s dissatisfied with Nocturne, I figure one manufacturer one distributor for the world would be enough. In the changed game it may be best. Although the plan for PE is to land at STAX, concession can be made for other PE midline material simultaneously leading our other releases.

That segued into the next meeting with THUY AN JULIEN of APPLE. We talk digital distribution options for the label and podcast-programming options. An interesting idea developed about a show to promote independent labels and its videos. Dan and I meet Mr Walt and I go across to the Austin Convention Center where the panels are taking place. The panel is called 'Say it loud, I'm proud'. Afterwards I exchange information and interviews through BRIAN TIMMONS who will extract the audio components for ON THE REAL. Wayne Kramer of the MC5, CYRILL, and CHARLES WRIGHT of the 103rd street band who stood up at the end of the panel and called me his hero.

Drove the three hours up to DALLAS with SILBERT and BRIAN TIMMONS along with Sil's label partners and artist VERSATILE leading the way. A long stretch with Brian occasionally opening his camera to catch insight and commentary. Upon reaching the Dallas region past WACO I veered off on the wrong road with looked like that crossroad at the end of Tom Hanks Castaway' ...Nowhere-land. I find the main drag and drive into Dallas and view the familiar skyline. We just played the new Mark Cuban-d American Airlines Arena at some weird festival last summer. Here we've played Reunion Arena, Dallas Convention Center, Bronco Bowl, Ampetheater ,Texas Stadium with U2 and shot the So What'cha Gonna Do Now video on the downtown Kennedy assassination grassy knoll. A lot of history here. As I drive up to the club its the last gig at the Gypsy Tea Room, as they're building a House Of Blues here to get this artist traffic coming in town. Tyshawn, Wisdom Crying, and X from Sweden are on the outside and upon getting to the building this sister Genja' gives us a hug and says we helped change her life. The list is expanded to get them all in. On me. VERSATILE, ILLINOTIX, HEETMOB all do their thing before XCLAN takes the stage. Backstage sharing the dressing room I hear Brother Jays affinity for classical music. He says it gets him prepared.' ....

Dallas to Houston TX-Wherehouse LIVE -MARCH 18 2007

Again driving from Austin, Sil and Brian Timmons ride. It's like NY to Washington, DC and I made sure to get up slower - couldn't sleep. What-A- Burger has a fish sandwich that slides down my throat on grease and mayo. We arrive in Houston around 4 PM and venture directly to downtown where they've placed two stadiums and a new arena the past four years. Since my Air America radio show is tonight, I stay in my room and order food until showtime.

After calling into show at 10 PM Central, I head downstairs to catch bus to the venue. Again it's not far - centrally located in the downtown area. Immediately outside the venue I was greeted by Oran 'JUICE 'Jones and Davy DMX Reeves, long time DEF JAM foundation cats. JUICE lives in Houston, Davy goes back and forth between here and Atlanta working for LYOR COHEN and the Warner/ Asylum imprint. Houston is the home of the Geto Boys. I see Willie D, heard Bushwick was somewhere in the house but didn't see him.

Backstage was bananas, I forgot how much H-Town meant. Years back we smashed the Summitt, a place where the NBA Rockets played before this new TOYOTA Center downtown. Now I hear the Summitt's an Osteen church. Houston has totally reflipped its downtown activity. The WAREHOUSE is definitely electric. The opening acts HEETMOB, ILLINOTIX and VERSATILE all had raucous responses.

And of course X CLAN and Brother J did their usual damage.

The intro of the show had the crowd going off jump. It was goosebump type sht when Griff started the S1Ws out. I heard the crowd chant as he and them did their thing. I moved on the stage not to let anyone think we were gonna coast on hits. I could see Willie D for motivation, he's a boxer so I know not to look weak. Halfway through we even brought YZ on stage, whereas near eighteen years back we brought him on stage in the old SUMMITT to do his classic 'Thinking Of A Master Plan'.

The crowd was on it all night, but it was our job to damp them out. By Fight The Power, a point was made thoroughly. A large black crowd had been convinced we were doing a thing that new cats wouldn't dare touch. Up front in the crowd I saw EBoarder, Tyshawn and his wife, as well as another sister who trekked from Dallas. Afterwards we signed autographs, took pictures, and enjoyed the aftermath of a club and a city well wrecked.

Houston to California - MARCH 19-20 2007 I fly to Cali for two off days before the New Orleans gig to chill and check on the status of 'How You Sell Soul To A Souless People Who Sold Their Soul?' Those compilings of the record is in its tweo month final stages, deadlines will have to be met for the targeted October release on a surprising record distributor planned. By the way I had a fabulous time as a break in Cali. Really had a thorough time while touring the west during PE56 in December.

LAX To New Orleans- House Of Blues - MARCH 21 2007 Missed my Continental flight but thank goodness Delta was ready when I was. Cost me $500 though. Found out before leaving that Orlando was canceled after the New Orleans gig, so the plan is to stay in 'Nawlins and take my time to St Petersburg. On the plane to N.O.L.A. I see the swampland before Lake Ponchettrain, it always looked like that to me but I can see that KATRINA had a helluva impact up to and around the lake. Also for some reason I always remember windy landings there.

Upon landing at Louis Armstrong International (a trip because the city dissed him by not allowing his integrated band, so he refused to be buried there) it's rainy and gray but immediately I feel the warmth of the people. It did seem a bit sparser by comparison but I head straight to HERTZ and rent an SUV and head to the city. Immediately memories pop up. I covered New Orleans, worked on raising funds and awareness but hadn't been there since the storm. I could definitely see the outskirts shredded.

Upon entering the city it seemed things were back although I felt less folk. Definitely black folk. As I checked into hotel - the Holiday Inn, I'd driven through much of the Quarter and it looked business as usual, drunken blocks of closeness.

The hotel and the House Of Blues were three blocks from each other. Tonight I got enough time to connect Cyrill Nevilles' Backbeat Foundation and Stephon Marburys' STARBURY line to donate clothing. There was no way I was gonna get paid for playing this gig, and I had to perform 'HELL NO, IT AINT ALRIGHT'. Of course being bad on words I didn't wanna mess it up so I went to the Walgreens on the corner bought a giant piece of oaktag and made a giant book to place the sheet verses of lyrics within and read from a stool, which I did.

HOB being walking distance, I get to the venue meeting NOLA heads outside and bring about twenty people in with me hanging outside of the bus. No, I didn't know them. Once inside it seemed packed up, good crowd and heavy on the black tip. Surprise. Last time we played here, Juvenile, and C Murder were in the house. Some fight broke out and this was before C Murder got into some law issues. Thank goodness he's C Miller today and that's smart for his ongoing case. Food is always tight backstage and we see the opening SLAMjamz acts. Crew Grrl Order drove the van, MOST Hi-Fi drove, Mecca drove his SUV to play one night, and get he and his partner VEL back to Atlanta to get to work and promote Sundays finale in the ATL. JAHI flew in to continue his hosting duties for the tour remainder and ride the PE bus. Also Illinotix decided to ride out the rest of the tour, 2000 mile clubbers. All of them did solid sets. In our dressing room, I remember Dick Gregory working on my Achilles last in 2002. This year no Achilles or any injuries, pacing and stretching important at this stage and age.

Showtime is something else, This crowd is spiritually amped. From the opening number to the end. HELL NO, IT AINT ALLRIGHT is a winner in the stool style I use. FIGHT THE POWER simply kills the crowd. There's this brother in the front big as hell, comes on the stage pumping his fist, swinging them like barbells he's so amped. When he goes back in the crowd one of his fists hits this sister square in the face. He didn't mean it, he was uncontrollable and I'm very surprised she didn't get knocked out, or that her man didn't retaliate. Cool vibin. Then again bro man was a damn linebacker - let him be. Saw sister Cherylynn who always has some scoop on the inside politic of NOLA, even before Katrina, I said we'd do what we can. Griff's ex, Christy, also represented from Mayor Nagins office, an office that is way over its head in work. On the walk back to the hotel myself and Malik greet this brother sitting in a car, whose wife asked if we could talk to him about some music advice. He was so surprised that we came over to him. He had to sit in the car because the Q is a deep tow district. We told him simply, no wings on our ankles, it's what we do.

New Orleans to Florida MARCH 22 2007

God works in mysterious ways, eh? Because of the Orlando cancellation it gives a day off for travel, and most importantly time today to visit a New Orleans high school and take a tour through the ravaged areas, mainly black home areas of the city. I return the rental car back to Hertz and decide to drive the van (since it is my van) with Crew Grrl Order, Brian Hardgroove and Brian Timmons to Florida. The school was on some higher land and the hundred year old, or so, building showed no problem. Inside seventeen students and some incredible teachers exhibited great wordplay, musicianship, and consciousness reflecting their experiences of their childhood, the effects of media, and the effects of the storm.

One young man said that friends were scattered all over the mid south, and this was a growing adjustment similar to kids who were raised during a war. Didn't know the city newspaper, Picayune, was covering it. Let the people know the positive. Michael Patrick Welch was hanging with us giving commentary as well as direction. A journalist/ teacher who'd reached out to me years back, offering to clean edit my Terrordomes being that I usually do them on my Pocket PC on the run. I was considering it, but my partner Gia'na Garel,who felt the same need for my sht to be straight, does them diligently. Afterwards we drive through the infamous lower 9th ward as navigated by Mr. Welch and we see the devastation frozen with aftermath even on a blue sky day. He also adds that it's one thing for people to come in town to start shedding emotion and tears while there, but another to continue to spread the noise elsewhere about what is happening there presently.

We get descriptions of how the cars, ruined by the flood, created such a metallic graveyard of its own. In the wards wrecked by the levy burst, one could obviously see where a stronger wall now separates the canal from the land. Anything weaker is sheer neglect, or should I say Niglect.

Being in Amsterdam many times I've witnessed superior levy systems. This has always been an accident ready to happen just by looking down at the former problem and the, so called, new solution. The lower 9, is still wiped out. Houses twisted, wires, cables, metal pretzelled. I hear one person banging hammer and nails in one of the cribs, but really I can't help but to think that this area just needs to be razed. But the question is for who? Black folk might've lived here but how much land did we own to reclaim? Same ole New Orleans. Niggers get out. I can see how this land will be built up and with hopes of black folks never coming back to the condos, parks, businesses, Barnes and Nobles and Starbucks soon to seize the territory, protected by a millennial levy system. As far as fixing anything here... it's a wrap. Easy for me to say but there it is. It's either the government's gonna do something or the corporations will. Terrible choice.

Upon leaving and getting gas, cats recognize me, and my custom is to say hello first and approach them for quick pounds to clear an air of peace. One brother gets out of his pickup truck and freestyles a animated rhyme complete with beats on the side of the van. He tells the story of a hardscrabble life and his prior/present addiction struggles in the rap. When it's all said and done all the brothers at the gas station appreciate my efforts done in the day, they said seeing me in town they knew I was up to something positive for the people, and that was good for me to hear. From there catch the I-10 through the Lake on up to the mainland and around to Florida. We stop a bit past Pasagoula MS and eat at a RUBY TUESDAY. Inside we get a big table and word gets out and we take pictures throughout the dinner, and luck would have it running into a bunch of soccer fan cats from the UK. Fifteen of them over for business,.... hmmmmm was it buying properties in the region as the UK currency 'pounds ' the dollar into oblivion? It was all peace and I get to gettin on the I-10.

St Petersburg, Florida-Janus Landing -MARCH 23 2007

The drive is every speck of twelve hours around the rim of the Gulf. I settled into my own road groove playing a supply of music made from my CDs. I even stopped by the truck stop and bought some blues-pop-old R&B like Little Willie John. The rest of the riders must've thought my selection was nuts. I didn't care cause it kept me up, especially the stretch of I-75 coming South. Getting there safely checking in... a big parking lot... spacious room in the HILTON... I close myself off in the day I couldn't care what happens anywhere ...until show time. Late show and this venue is outside between buildings in a courtyard setup and there much energy here. Brother J introduces us to some family here. X-CLAN has been that perfect fit.

ATLANTA GA -Club Sugarhill-MARCH 25 2007

I purposely am gonna take this day very slow because I know that it can become consuming as much as a New York gig, even more. Yes, slow as in washing all of my tour clothes. Go to Walgreens, my favorite sub spot, and sit at my desk paying bills.

Guest list = huge. Phone calls = many. The hero of this day is Drew who very early out lines up with the backline folks at SAM ASH in Marietta to, in essence, build a sound system in there. Mecca threw a function showcase there which gave us the idea to do the gig here. So the sound is coming, now I've been wondering with V103's participation, will the place be big enough? I drive the van with Keith 'KRUNCH' Godfrey and his co worker, Brother JAMES NORMAN, his family, my sister and my college daughter, sister in law, the SLAMjamz Artists ; CREW GRRL ORDER, MOST HI-FI, HUGGY, DIRTY NORTH and JAHI help set it off with ILLINOIX and BIG CAS having joined the 2000 mile tour club. The night started off well and the crowd was electric. CLUB SUGARHILL was a perfect spot, smack dab in the middle of the UNDERGROUND Atlanta's centrally located midtown mall attraction area. Maxed capacity, the sound was booming. Celebs like Da BRAT, SCORPIO from the Furious 5, and many others rolled through. V103's FRANK SKI, a supporter for twenty years, was in the house. YZ, DAVEY DMX returned. The set was powerful, and the fact we'd had our show down was a great asset as we interplayed with the audience. There was a Flavor look alike, clock and all (but this guy had to be 60) in the front, I I'd brought him onstage. He was over the top in his excitement to be next to FLAV. The look on my face was astonishment seeing Flavor tell this cat to calm down. Whoa! Funny.

Other SLAMjamz cats like Kasuf and the MAZZ Muvement played trumpet solo and Sammi Grrl played congas on the Cant Truss It Holy Ghost section. The show was a theatrical, emotional throwback roller coaster for the audience indeed. It was like those barnburners, it ended smashed up and tore down. I didn't know the stats -didn't care.

But I was satisfied with the tour ending vibe. Backstage was a meet, greet, and goodbye... it's cool how my oldest daughter in college had FLAV introduce himself to her campus friends. We've known each other's kids this whole career grow into grown folk, and it's a trip to see them attend it like that. Of course after the smoke is clear I drive the fifteen passenger van home and lock myself in and decompress, if only for a couple of days until PE20 TOUR58. Mission possible part 1. Done.

Atlanta - New York - Paris France MARCH 26 - APRIL 2 2007

These few days decompression is out of the question , my day after I can't help but think my off tour time is limited. Monday is to finish paying GA bills, Tuesday means get up to NY and pay bills, wednesday means to prepare for the flight tomorrow. Thursdays flight in the evening with family 2 from ATL and 2 from NY of us i'm treating to Paris for the weekend. A great visit and stay as they go shopping etc. Best thing I could do is pplan this a couple of months before and rent a car in Paris. Renting cars will save me the problems of cabs, and being marooned anywhere , the guy at AVIS gave me an automatic for a week which was a big up. These days are real cool, and i'm glad I could take advantage of it to provide some love and happiness from myself to them.

By monday it feels like i've been here for 2 weeks already, well I never really decompressed. When everyone gets here, we go straight into a gigantic performance and massive interview at the ZENITH Theatre, a place we broke in 17 years back here. Two things i do notice about PARIS is on the news stands there are at least 8 magazines centered around rap and hip hop. Along with that PARIS is filled to the gills with blackfolk. From many different countries now many second and some third generation , that the country expected many to move back to AFRICA when a lot of the industry closed. Nope , it's something France would have to deal with , and the upcoming presidential elections look to harp on this issue of immigration that is forcing all of EUROPE to address race and class in a way they haven't before.

Drive to airport drop off family and look to meet group. At night I drive the baNNed members to the Eiffel Tower and through the city. Mike Faulkner said he didn't see the Eiffel as of our last visits. On the drive the baNNed works out some communication issues that have evolved along the past couple of years, thus my vehicle was a vehicle for peace... I guess. We trip down there and as the guys take the pictures, I'm approached at the car by this cat speaking more French to me than English. In the conversation he makes the point that we met in his office on the Olympic project. I get a better look at him in the dark and its Emmanuel DeBuretel who used to be a head of EMI. He put us on that project and thus the MOBY-PE MKLVFKWR record was hatched. He said he noticed the guys in the PE jackets.

PARIS - Zenith Theatre- APRIL 3 Well it's like five days for me in Europe and officially this is day one. Feels like a month but I'm ready. After being here since Thursday I knew the crew would be delayed coming from NY. By now I know the roads real well. The periphery is simply the beltway around the city, and it only takes me no time to figure my n- s- e- w. We broke in the venue seventee years ago introducing our rap style to the now second largest hip hop nation on earth. Not knowing another language is crippling for me. Interpretation is difficult for me.

Max from our international distribution NOCTURNE has arranged a press conference at the hotel. Its 100 people deep. Also at the conference we were joined by legendary tenor saxman Archie Shepp who through the sister journalist Hana this contact was made. Mr Shepp has always maintained a radical political edge in the world of jazz. His works mark a foundation in the story of freejazz with impulse! Records. Met with him at soundcheck at the ZENITH , introduced him to the crew and the baNNed was really impressed with his dignity and class as well as legend. As he sat with us at the press conference Myself ,Griff, James Bomb, passed him the mike where he also spoke in french to the room. Q and A ranged from what’s the matter with American hip hop to the political climate in that country, the second largest hip hop nation on earth with massive connects into Africa. The many black journalists appeciated the love and acknowledgement, and the rest of the room realized the magnitude of the event, whereas 17 years back we broke in the then brand new ZENITH theater. Performance time the venue is pretty much the same as I remember it. Years back there was a 1992 performance with Anthrax which was a total flip from the 1990 gig. Still energetic it was another type of gig in a growing rapland.big stage, but we’re in tremendous shape to handle it. I toss the mike high in the air and catch it like a touchdown pass. The s1ws have deep room to do their sword techniques. Flavor operates and stagedives. Lord is hoisted way up into the oscillating light. Baseheads, Terrordome, Bring The Noise set em off, and Give it Up, rebel take the rest of them out. Voice is very powerful now, acclamated to big Festivals, arenas. The dressing room is filled to the brim with guests, etc.although last year we were here the refined show compared to last years when we played with D.I.T.C. People can say what they want but the speed,power, and the pace is what makes the PE show hard to match. Either we do the songs or the songs do us. New fans to hip hop in the past 10 years wondered how to compare this with other soggy rap efforts and were introduced to a standard. At the same time they didn't really know where to place it. Ain't really rap, it's a manifestation of hip hop projection. The PARIS patrons were floored by this event , simply by the fact that it ranked and even went beyond the 1990 legendary groundbreaker. The promoter Michael Carsenti was more than ecstatic of a great start. Deep into the night myself Hardgrrove and Khari Wynn get in the car and drive to southside Paris to record with Archie Shepp . An abstract verse on a tune he has called, ' REVERSE' history is made between 2 generations on PRO -TOOLS mind you.

CAEN - Cargo- APRIL 4 I drop off rent a car at airport as bus follows us. I've tripped to the airport at least 5 times already so the route is embedded. Off the coast, the winds off the Atlantic are felt. The routing of this tour will be pinball like. Michel, the promoter has strategically threaded this through festivals as promised. This gig is pumped up as a mini festival and the artwork on the posters is very tight. A photo shop mish-mash of a microphone, Box recorder, turntable, and spray cans to reveal the 'elements' of hip hop. Dude in the front was wearing a T-shirt that said' Africa Is The Future'. Theres a heavy black presence in the house tonight, and I see a poster where Method Man is doing the festival as well as it already being played by Ms Martha High formerly of the JB revue. The promoters and some press people visit us afterwards and are so surprised and happy that not only was our set long but action packed. A standard in rapthey have nothing to compare to.

LYON - Transbordeur ( Festival L 'Original) APRIL 5 Big city, big HILTON hotel which means the rest will take care of itself. The gig is a solid venue but upon arriving I can't help but notice a quiet crowd, at least for everybody else. I didn't look at them either so... When it's time to play they sparked up and we proceeded to bomb shop. Afterwards it's another large room of journalists, but this time the majority of them are black men. I usually know that Senegalese, Mali, and Cameroon would be in the house but when I took a roll call this time it was Benin, Congo, Algeria, Central African Republic, Mauritania andMorocco. The french- english barrier cuts into our dialogue but thankfully they know more english than I know FRench. LILLE - Aeronef -APRIL 6 Visited by friends today from Amsterdam because it is so close. On the edge of Belgium. And the crowd is electric. It's Friday night and this Northern French city not far from the English Channel, is built on top of the water as parts of Holland is. There's a city under the city here and the architecture is 19th - early 20th century. The venue is in a solid newer structure next to a mall.

MORLAIX -Parc des expos ( PANORAMA Festival)- APRIL 7 Again the bus bunker sleep has me groggy like Liston. We awake at the HOTEL D EUROPE a 200 year old spot owned By a pleasant woman named Arlette who later drives us fifteen minutes to the festival venue. She explains the room I'm in - room 104, French President Charles DeGaulle ( Another Chuck D?) Edith Piaf, and former tennis star now singer Yannick Noah slept or did whatever in my room.

Festival 1 for sure we play a small distance away from the hotel. On the bill are our good friends the ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION; The Last Angry Band in The U. K..,and we share the catering and we close off the show back to back. ADF are a powerful UK rap-fusion squad that are politically super charged with musicianship and riddims that cut across many genres, but end up rocking the house with lead vocalist- Chandrasonic rhymes and rapping, complete with a voice like Howling Wolf. They give me a copy of their latest CD where I performed Son Of A bush and BLACK STEEL with them on stage in LONDON at the tax building.Its a greatest hits package, and as we talk collaborations, I talk possible touring together in the future. Stateside? A possibility. These cats, when they were touring the U.S. last, 911 happened and their tour was ... over. Talking about being stereotyped?. And these cats are an Asian-Indian PE ... But 2008 maybe a time for a real wake up Tour in Sleepyland, North America.

MARMANDE -Parc des expos-( GAROROCK Festival) - APRIL 8 Easter Sunday ... all over. Bus ride takes us deep into the French countryside where our hotel is a former castle of sorts 20 minutes away from venue. The countryside can easily be Pennsylvania, Ohio, Upstate New York, Vermont or new Hampshire. The rugged road makes it rough to take notes but in the process I suggest a song idea to Flav titled 'Wow' . It's yet another term the Flav has everyone saying. We head into the Festival 2. Big TV show.

... It might've been a farm-castle we drove to and resided in but this festival GAROROCK had close to 75,000 people I bet. It was taking place in a series of giant tents across warehouse property. While doing web cleaning with my internet access at the venue, run into QBERT and his manager/partner. Good cat. One of the world best turntablists / inventors and a humble dude. At the end of our set myself an Brian Hardgroove make our way over to the ADF concert two tents away and it is smammmed packed rolling to a comatose rhythm. They're into their last two songs and asked that I free-up in the last joint called FORTRESS EUROPE. Man it was 10,000 people in that tent and degrees to match. Chandrasonic brings me on and it's speed bedlam. Also the tempos go through a roller coaster of emotional BPM sht. I'm spent at the end of their set jumping and fighting. A full PE set and a last number with ADF, I'm no doubt in top tour shape, but better pace myself for the necessary upcoming monster shows.

ISTRE -L'usine - APRIL 9 Wake up off bus and think I'm in Miami. Blue skies looks like Boca Raton. Definitely in the South. Might as well say this is a Marseille gig, only an hour away. It's warm and promoter, Michel's home and family is an hour drive away, so they drive to meet him. So I see where he gets the tan. My legs need a day off but it won't be here or anytime soon. Thus pacing is a key thing to keep in mind. Not to say Imma a slack off, but less jumping and more hand movements from the waist upwards. Motion is still motion to create emotion.

NANCY -L'Autre Canal- APRIL 10 Because we had to change the bus again and have two drivers complete the 9 hour drive in one shot, the drive was thankfully quicker than it should've been. This bus was so tight that DJ Lord called everybody on the first deck the 'BU CREW' as in sleeping in a balled up position.

Every venue so far has been an iron clad, good capacity spot. The sound on the most part has been way superior to the U.S. Maybe the back to back tours help really signify the example. The monitors here are perfect. In the states I suffered terribly from this. Anyway upon arrival this part of France is close to Germany , and the architecture is reflective. Of course I can see this place invaded by WW2 Nazis back in the day. Lorraine is the province. We are at a Grand Hotel , a classic hotel in a beautiful gigantic white cobbled square that's easily over 100 years old with no internet.

The next city is Amsterdam and cats wanna break out of here after show and get there early. One thing - hotel wont be ready until 12 PM, so it will have to be a 6 AM roll out. After writing blog and drying clothes washed from yesterday, Griff and I walk several blocks to get some Asian cuisine. A relief from the same venue potatoes and cream thing going on. On our walk we see an entire world flipped on the surface than we experienced twenty years ago. We conclude that whatever diabolical came up with the white race being 'pure' must've realized then the majority of the then planet was a makeup of everybody and thing else. Because there are people of color in every earthly corner and now with the making of brown babies, who is to tell what is what?

The walls are covered with posters of the candidates for the upcoming elections , Nicholas Sarkozy is the front runner and he's like Bush3 people here say. The coloring of the nation aint cool with everyone as this guy promises to return the glory of France back to the old days. Uh Oh is he talking Napoleon? And saying fk Sarkozy on national french TV puts us on his scope to not see a PE tour here for another 15. Well, theres the rest of the world and somebodys gotta do it, eh?

As said the only thing that keeps us from kicking everyones ass on stage is that we don't do this full time. Mike Carsenti is traveling with us and tell us of a cancelled EPMD tour. Speaking of 2 acts that had different difficult starts to finding themselves as performers its EPMD, and DE LA SOUL. Now as veterans they kick ass beyond their hits, that’s important. The cancelled tour is on Mike Carsentis' mind but he definitely is falling back digging this one. He tells me that Sugarhill Gang has broken in 2 places. Big Bank Hank is the only one to use Sugarhill Gang because Sylvia Robinson granted him the rights. Thus MC5 got Wonder Mike and Master Gee as the members formerly of. This sht is stupid. Didn't Sylvia stop the momentum of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 with this same...bs? Sugarhill Records was as privileged to record THEM. Not other way around. Just like Atlantic with Ray Charles, and Chess with Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. Recording them didn't make them. It just spread them. Amsterdam next...

Part 2 next week stay tuned __________________ mistachuck@rapstation.com ___