THIS IS YOUR FREESTYLE BLAST #14 (The Freestyle Cruise Issue)
If you love Freestyle Music, and Vacation Cruises, then welcome to this month's Issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter, as we set sail aboard Priscilla Laboricua's Magical Freestyle Cruise 2023.
My wife and I love Cruising and made our first voyage around 2008. But when Priscilla Laboricua called to book Angel OCG for her 2023 Freestyle Cruise, mixing my favorite vacation with work, had me a bit hesitant.
Angel on the other hand looked at it as an incredible opportunity and the fact that she loves cruising just as much as she loves performing made this trip an absolute no-brainer.
And so, the decision was made and off to the airport we went, to catch a flight to Orlando, Fl where we would meet up with The Freestyle Cruise Family of 2023. Oh, and if you didn’t notice, we brought our granddaughter Santana along.
The excitement was starting to build, as we boarded the beautiful Carnival Magic with a few of our Freestyle friends for what will eventually become an absolutely Magical 7-Day Freestyle-filled cruise.
Though we got in yesterday, I was a bit exhausted and wanted to chill out a bit and sort of acclimate myself with the ship, therefore, I didn’t start writing until Monday, Feb 6th.
Our luggage hadn’t yet gotten to our cabin, but the wonderful gift from Priscilla did!
Now, before I go any further, let’s take a look at Priscilla’s Voyage Schedule for a better idea of what to expect during her Freestyle Cruise. Now mind you, I did ask permission before posting, as some serious time and thought was obviously put into this. But she gave me a green light and simply said, “By the time my competition copies this one, I’ll already have the next one!”
Just so you know, I wrote an article about Priscilla Laboricua’s Freestyle Cruise, in Issue #4, of The Freestyle Blast newsletter, so make sure and check that out as well.
So out to the deck we go and straight into the food court to grab ourselves a gool ‘ol Carnival Burger and fries, but unless you’ve sailed a Carnival Cruise ship before, you really have no idea what I’m talking about!
Into the pool jumped Santana, as Angel and I made our rounds, reconnecting with old friends, and getting to know new ones.
I’m not much of a neon kind of guy, but Angel did get me this cool neon-colored, retro MTV tee shirt.
It was a great start. A room lit up with beautiful colors, the perfect start to what will eventually end up being the perfect Freestyle event.
So that brings us back to right now. Me sitting out on our balcony, overlooking this incredible ocean, while those two bums are still in the cabin, sound asleep.
Breakfast, one of the highlights of cruising, we keep it simple though.
Onto the deck to once again, meet up with some more Freestyle family and a bunch of incredible fans, and to get together for a great big family photo.
Well, tonight isn’t just the White Party, tonight is also Angel’s performance.
Doesn’t matter that half of me is in vacation mode, I still get as nervous just before any of my girls are performing.
I don’t usually wear white, as no matter how hard I try, something always ends up hitting my shirt. But tonight was an exception, and I am proud to say, that my whites stayed white.
You might be surprised to know, that I’ve never been to a theme party of any kind. Never a costume party, little black dress party, and definitely never an all-white party. But, after this event, I honestly feel I’m converted.
It was something about being in a room, with people more or less my age, of similar background, a love for the same type of music, and now decked out in their best whites. In other words, people that were like me!
And they were all there to have a great time. To drink, dance, and enjoy performances by Mari, Mia, Giggles, Fascination, and then finally Angel OCG aka… My wife!
Whether it’s with The Cover Girls, or on the solo as she did tonight, Angel always gives her all, and the love and appreciation she has for her fans always shines bright.
We arrive this morning in the Bahamas, at beautiful Half Moon Cay, and while my two companions remain nestled up under the covers, here I am, once again sitting on my balcony overlooking this amazing aqua-green ocean, while working on this newsletter… not a bad gig, huh?
Angel swears we’ve been here before, but I bet her we haven’t. I’ll wait until the end to reveal who won and let the readers decide what should the prize be.
As refreshing as that beach looked, I just didn’t feel like getting in the water. Instead, we decided to just hang out with our friends.
And so, it’s 70s night, and at first, it didn’t make much sense to me seeing that this was a Freestyle Cruise, that was until I stepped into the club, and was immediately teleported back to a time that I nearly forgot.
It’s been years since I’ve listened to so much Disco back to back, but what’s crazy is that it made me recall from where my love and passion for music truly stemmed, and how I ended up in this crazy-ass business after all.
The fans that came along on this cruise went all-out at the 70s party, with their long Hippe hair and colorful Dashikis, to those classic Afros, that I myself once upon a time wore.
1970s Dico wasn’t just about the incredible songs, but more importantly, the dancing, particularly the Hustle. Speaking of which. Have any of you ever seen Fascination Hustle?
Now, while on the topic of dancing, I have to give it up to some very important players of the music scene, and that of course would be the DJs.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge fan of DJs, as they play an integral part of our industry, and tonight is no different, as they kept the dancefloor packed all night long.
Shout out to these gentlemen right here as they kept us on our feet, dancing and cheering to every song they played. Thank you fellas, and great choice Priscilla!
So here I am, for the third morning in a row, 6:00 am, sitting on my balcony overlooking this amazing ocean, while the sleeping beauties are what else… Sleeping!
Look, so far I’m having a great time, and NO, this issue of the Freestyle Blast Newsletter, though I’m calling it the Freestyle Cruise Issue, I am in no way being compensated to write this.
My only incentive is simply to help introduce to the community yet another way of experiencing this music and these artists. To show that club and concert events, though they are great, are not the only way for us to continue enjoying Freestyle.
If you agree, or maybe can explain it better, please do so in the comments below.
We are truly fortunate, that after all these years, we can still go see our favorite Freestyle artists at nightclubs and concert arenas, and though I hope those days never end, it’s great to know that we can also see them on our favorite cruise ship, and not just see them, but mix and mingle. Get to know them, and get those much-anticipated photos and autographs.
Hey, I may be a part of this Industry and have worked with practically everyone, I too still get excited when I run into any of our artists.
To catch Nyasia and hubby, sitting down having breakfast, Lisette Melendez and Fascination catching some sun, Ms. Shannon and Roger chatting it up with some fans, or George LaMond sitting at a slot machine in chancletas, adds a whole other level of excitement to this entire Freestyle Cruising experience.
Today, we arrive at Grand Turk Island. A new one for us, and one that we cannot wait to explore. We get off the ship a little later today, so I decided to leave the sleepyheads in the room, and come out for a much-needed coffee.
The line was short, so I grabbed myself an omelet, a croissant, and a cup of that delicious coffee they make.
I didn’t expect to see any of the artists up this early, but I did run into about a dozen fans so far. What I’m also noticing is that friendships are being made on this trip, as those who came as couples and individuals are now rolling in groups, as if they’ve been friends their whole lives.
The commonalities between many of us I’m sure are pretty significant, obviously starting with our age. Sorry, but 40s 50s and 60s aren’t that far from one another.
Many of us who have children, have grown children, or are about to be grown children. Many of us are even grandparents, some new, some seasoned. And of course, we share a love of Freestyle. A music that meant so much to our lives, and apparently, still does, so why wouldn’t we get along? In fact, I heard a couple of new romances sprung from this cruise.
You know, I mentioned this in one of last year’s issues, about my mom loving cruises, and always wanting to take me and my son on one. But sadly I never found the time, and now that opportunity is gone forever.
One of the beauties of Freestyle is that it’s basically love music, and for the most part, pretty clean, which is why exposing my eleven-year-old granddaughter to this music and its artists as up close and personal as we did, was a wonderful experience.
So if you’re considering going on a Freestyle Cruise, come on, bring the whole family!
And so here I am, advocating for What I feel is the perfect vacation, even more so, when it has a Freestyle theme. Could it be because I knew it was mom’s favorite vacation, or is it that because her ashes were released out at sea that I have this special bond with the ocean? Who knows right? Hmm, I wonder how Mom would’ve felt about a Freestyle Cruise?
Thursday morning, a window seat in the dining room, with a beautiful view of a few mountains of Amber Cove, a piece of paradise on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic.
I just finished one of Carnival’s incredible omelets, and a small bowl of fruit, sipping now a perfect cup of coffee as I continue writing.
This is the last of the three gorgeous ports that the Freestyle Cruise had promised, and so far, it has been everything they’ve promised and more.
To be honest, I didn’t figure out that Amber Cove was a part of DR until I finally read the itinerary. This really added an extra layer of excitement to this stop in particular.
Well well, look who decided to join me for breakfast this morning… my family!
So off the ship we go, and onto Amber Cove. You really never know how fascinating these places are until you get there and start reading up on their history.
Of course, we were in the mood for some good ol’ authentic Dominican cuisine, we got off the ship too late to go too far, so we decided to check out DRs version of Senior Frog, a cool little spot called CoCo Cana.
Not quite the Dominican taste you might be craving, but if you’re just looking for something to absorb their delicious and creamy Pina Coladas, we’ll then, the Coco Cana will do just fine.
Just outside the restaurant is the pool area, where either coincidentally or not, they played a bunch of Freestyle.
As I stood to the side, in the shade, I heard a strange sound, and when I looked up, there they were, the Zip-liners, something I’ve always wanted to do, but until I lose a little weight I won’t dare… shit, who’s gonna write this dope-ass newsletter?
Back on the ship, watching Santana show off her swimming skills to a few of the other kid cruisers in the pool. I enjoy a mixture of sunshine along with the cool ocean breeze as the Carnival Magic sets sail leaving the beautiful Dominican Republic behind.
Another great evening is about to begin. Priscilla calls it the Jordan / Nike party, and in case the name isn’t clear enough, basically, you come rocking your favorite Jordan or Nike apparel.
I myself am a Nike kind of guy, but only in my sneakers, and so tonight it’s my crispy new white on white AF1’s.
So we get to the club early so that we can set up a table for Angel to give away some free autographed posters, while Santana gets her Freestyle Blast Yearbook signed by her newly discovered musical favorites.
Speaking of which, don’t forget to grab your copy of the Freestyle Blast Yearbook, and bring it with you to your next Freestyle event.
And absolutely every artist and DJ on The Freestyle Cruise signed her book, thank you!
And so another wonderful night was upon us, this one though went a little deeper, as it was Latin night, kicking off with new artist, Mia who did an incredible job. Reggaeton artist Sir Speedy followed and had everyone jumping.
Our very own George LaMond got back on stage and killed it once again, and this time in Spanish. Always a treat to watch, and an absolute incredible talent!
Next on stage was Fulanito, with my boy Dos, and his brother Edwin. Many of you might remember them from the group 2 In a Room, and though I haven’t seen them perform in years, their performance reminded me of why they were always one of my favorites.
Like always, they were fun and energetic, and the crowd was having a blast with these two. George LaMond nudged me to look at Santana who had a seat side stage, and even though she had no idea what the hell they were singing, she was totally captivated. Boppin her head to the music, and I could’ve sworn I saw her mouth one of the lines.
And of course, closing the night, was none other than Raul Acosta, aka Oro Solido. A spectacular performance, one that I have never had the pleasure of seeing, but once I did, I got it. I understood why there was so much hype around this guy… he was dope!
Oh, and I almost forgot. If you didn’t get a chance to get one of those FREE Angel OCG’s full-color Posters, well… Here You Go!
Friday morning, the last full day with The Freestyle Cruise 2023 as tomorrow around this time we should be off the ship and headed back home.
I took one of the booths in the dining room this time and grabbed myself my regular cheese omelet and croissant. Though it’s just something I use to absorb this great coffee they have… seriously.
I sort of predicted this feeling I would have. Whereas the first day I’m itching for this to be over. Only because I left a lot of stuff unfinished, but then, I stay disconnected from the outside world. No phone, text, or Social Media. And by the last day, I am truly disconnected, so much in fact that I realize just how unimportant everything outside of living life and spending time with friends and family truly is.
So disconnected in fact that I can’t even remember what the hell it was that I left unfinished, which simply says that it really wasn’t as important as I had thought.
Just a side note for those of whom being disconnected really isn’t an option. The ship does offer a few plans to keep you connected during your trip, so make sure to inquire (I wasn’t allowed)
And so it’s Red Night, aka the final night of our cruise. This one is an early one and I’m glad, as we still have to get upstairs and pack.
Let me be honest, I was a little huffy about having to dress up in red. Shit, I was huffy about white night too, but the family photos we took came out pretty nice, well, at least the girls look nice... I look like the milkman!
Okay, back to the Red Party!
The minute I stepped into the Spotlight Lounge for that final time, it was obvious that Priscilla knew exactly what she was doing, as the clusters of red scattered throughout the club sent a surge of energy, filled with love and unity straight through me.
We were no longer among strangers, but rather people who we would from now on consider our friends and some even family. And just as I had predicted… I didn’t want it to end!
What an incredible night, where artists and fans became one, and the fact that Angel and I were able to share this part of Freestyle with our eleven-year-old granddaughter, was something truly special.
The DJs of the trip, did a phenomenal job, with DJ Lucho leading the pact, and sending us all off with an encore performance by each and every artist and a grand finale of them all together on stage singing and dancing and finally… taking this iconic photo. (and yup… that’s Santana)
So now, the day that at first, I was hoping would come quickly, now seemed to have come too quickly, and the thought of leaving this ship, our fellow industry folk, and of course these wonderful fans turned friends is here… and I’m a little sad.
I feel that one of the drawbacks many of us have when it comes to vacationing, especially at our age, is that we have a lot of shit to do, and sometimes, breaking away just doesn’t seem to be an option.
Believe me when I tell you, I had a ton of stuff that I had to drop to come on this trip, and if it was just up to me, I probably wouldn’t have made it.
But my other half isn’t just another half, but rather the sensible half. The one that forces me to look at life in a way that I probably never would. To put into perspective what’s truly important as opposed to what I ‘Think” is important.
And by the way… Yep, I was right. We’ve “Never” been to Half Moon Cay, and now… she owes me. But what? Help me out folks!
A final shout out to all the talent that made this trip an incredible Freestyle experience. DJ Lucho, DJ Frankie G, DJ Lebron. DJ Flash, along with all the artists, starting off with my beautiful wife, Angel OCG, Lisette Melendez, George LaMond, Shannon, Fascination, Giggles, Nyasia, Mia, Sir Speedy, Fulanito, Oro Solido, and of course… Priscilla!
How can we not give it up for this young lady right here? She truly did her thing, and you would think, that running this event on the solo, that somewhere along the line, she would trip up.
But you see, that never happened. In fact, it seemed as though, as each day passed, Priscilla got better, more comfortable, more confident, and on top of it all, she was even able to enjoy herself, her guest, and her talent.
Huge shout out to this bonafide Freestyle Queen of the Sea… Thank you, and we hope to sail with you again soon!
If you’re a fan and want more information on the next Freestyle Cruise, or an artist interested in being a part of it, contact The Queen of The Sea herself, Priscilla Laboricua by either calling 561-707-0218 or emailing her at Laboricuawpb@aol.com.
To all our Subscribers, Readers, Cruisers, and of course Priscilla Laboricua for making this month’s issue that much more special. Thank you, and until next month…
This has been your Freestyle Blast!
Latif Mercado has been a part of the Freestyle Music scene for well over 30 years, as well as an integral player behind the genre’s continued success.
As a Booking Agent with a who's who roster of Freestyle Greats, as well as his managerial involvement with such industry icons as Lil' Suzy, Angel OCG and The Cover Girls, rarely would you find a Freestyle event happening without Latif somewhere in the mix.
In an attempt to make people aware of the fact that Freestyle isn’t just a music, but rather a culture, La’ began writing books, in hopes of reaching fans through a medium they would never expect, and in 2011, his debut novel, FREESTYLE FOR LIFE, did just that!
Since then, Latif has released several books that, not only feature Freestyle as part of its overall theme but also its main characters of Latin descent.
Though born and raised in New York, Latif currently resides in North Carolina with his wife, two grown children, four grandkids, and a dog named Coco.
Latif loves hearing from his readers, answering questions, and sharing whatever advice he possibly can, whether it be on writing, or maybe something Freestyle related, so be sure to reach out, even if it’s just to say hi.
So please Follow Him here @LatifMercado
Priscilla did a hell of a job taking care of y'all! I've never been on a cruise, but this kind of cruise is one I'm open to going on once I get my financial act together. I'm happy to see that you, Angel and Santana enjoyed the trip!
Great cruise, great people, great time! Thank you Priscilla for a lifetime memory💕