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1994, 1996, Blue Lines, Caron Wheeler, Cee Lo, Centennial Olympics, De La Soul, Dionne Farris, Erykah, FunkJazz Kafé, Goodie Mob, House Of Blues, Joi, Key Yemaya Walker, Omar, OutKast, Society Of Soul, The Tabernacle
Atlanta – as I thought to write this, I realize that there are not many things that I miss, or wish to experience again. I do understand that in experience I find growth, but as I stumbled across the trailer for a documentary about the FunkJazz Kafé that premiered during this years’ National Black Arts Festival, in Atlanta, I can sincerely say that that is a time and experience that I can say I miss, and would love to experience again. I can also state that it is an era, that cannot be recreated. (Video follows)
It was the late 90’s, music still had a fresh appeal to it, you still had your Tribes, De La, Outkast, Common Sense coming into his own, Goodie Mob, Joi, Erykah, Society of Soul. These ideas and concepts if love were just that, ideas. And, the city was fresh from the 1996 Centennial Olympics games. I was back “home,” from Connecticut, starting something new after two years in a trouble institution.
I was young with aspirations of writing a book, with the only inspiration was that it would essentially be a “love” story to Hip-Hop, and Hip-Hop would serve as its backdrop (my how that changed) , and settled into the magnificent scene, that locally was highlighted through a festival called FunkJazz Kafé. Though, there was a period that their reached briefly extended outside of Atlanta, this inclusive festival, not only highlighted local or transplanted acts, but also granted a forum for independent film, art, expression…all advertised under a singular collective umbrella.
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