THIS IS YOUR FREESTYLE BLAST #21
Get ready for an exciting ride in this issue of The Blast as one legendary Freestyle group takes on the Big Apple, followed by insider tips on traveling like a Freestyle pro.
Can you believe it’s September already? Which means that the Holidays are right around the corner.
It wasn’t just a busy summer, but also a hot one! Shout out to all the Freestyle fans around the country who have been attending Freestyle events, and I’m praying that you continue.
You know, almost twenty years ago, I was told by a pretty prominent figure in our industry that Freestyle would be dead in just a few more years. This was some horrible news to me, and coming from someone I truly looked up to and respected as an authority, I took it as a death sentence for our genre.
So many people, upon hearing this irresponsible prediction had either stepped off, switched careers, waded into other music waters, or simply settled down and had a family in hopes of having dodged that bullet.
As for me, well, I thought I could do something about it. You see, being in the music business had been my lifelong dream, and now that it was finally coming true, no way in the world, was I gonna let it end!
Check out my novel FREESTYLE FOR LIFE, For a better understanding of what the hell was going through my mind at this time, and for anybody else who was told that this genre only had a few years left, know in your heart, that Freestyle will be around as long as we want it to.
Enough of that… let’s dive in!
THE COVER GIRLS BITE THE BIG APPLE
The story regarding The Cover Girls in New York City is a lot more complicated than many would think. No, they weren’t threatened, nor had they ever signed anything to keep them out, but the sad politics would make it pretty uncomfortable for anyone who would want to book them there, and so we had to wait a bit, for the right time, right place, and more importantly… the right promoter!
And on May 17th, 2022 that’s exactly what happened! Click Here and Check It Out!
After a pretty successful event in Orlando, FL, The same promoter, reached out to me with the idea of bringing The Cover Girls to New York, co-promoted with Eric of Willis Ave Prod and DJ Lucho. I was reluctant to return to New York for a “club” date, but I really liked and respected what these guys were doing, so we decided to support them and make them our second show back home.
It was a smaller more intimate joint called Club Amadeus, located in Astoria Queens, and I felt I could do this club and still stick to my original plan regarding New York.
We did the deal, and immediately they started promoting. It was a good feeling, and tickets started selling pretty fast, though we did go on a bit later than we are used to doing, overall it was a great show and we had a blast.
By the way, those same promoters are at it again, this time calling it The Roseland Reunion, and it’s coming up soon, so make sure you go check’em out.
So I got a text from The Boss himself, DJ Frankie Cutlass, about an event he was doing for the City of New York, and wanted to see if The Cover Girls were interested, and they were, so he put me in touch with Mr. Joe Jaxson, and it was a done deal!
It would be a Free event that will take place at The Waterfront Park in Staten Island, NY, along with Dreamgirl Cynthia and Dres from Black Sheep.
We flew into Newark Airport and checked into the Hilton, then we took an Uber into Staten Island to visit our favorite family, The Casals.
The next morning, the News reported a possible Tornado in the area, not something you wanna hear right before you’re about to perform at an outdoor event. However, everything cleared up, and it turned into a wonderful day, a wonderful event.
When our friend and agent David Oriola told me about this event, he painted one incredible picture, but that’s part of his job, I should know. But I’ll be honest, even that picture he painted didn’t do this event justice.
The place is called The Stuyvesant Town Apartments, aka Stuy Town, but when we arrived, what I saw was basically a Project apartment complex, aka The Projects.
Hey, I was born and raised in New York City, and though I lived in The Projects for only a short time, I practically grew up in them, as that is where most of my friends lived.
It was quite nostalgic for me, though a bit strange, like having bit a burger but tasting ice cream. All of the aesthetics were that of The projects with its courtyard benches and cinder block tiled hallways. The only thing missing being that pissy hallway smell.
It was a perfect night, the weather a cool and comfortable seventy-something degrees. As we walked out to the stage for a quick soundcheck. Only a couple of hundred residents scattered about the yard, just chillin’ out, some sunbathing and others playing with their kids. A water fountain, just behind the stage added a perfect touch to the setting.
Assured by the organizers that come showtime, this place would be packed, and so back to the apartment that was loaned to us to get ready.
And so another amazing performance by The Cover Girls came to a close, with the roar of the audience and standing my hairs on ends as they crowed around, many with tears in their eyes for photos and autographs.
2023 was a great year so far, but I have to admit, this show was my personal favorite!
When I first came out of prison, one of the first jobs that I got was at La Guardia Airport. Mom thought it was a great idea and encouraged me to take it by telling me how wonderful it would be to see all the happy people going on vacation and traveling.
And though she meant well, the job actually did the opposite. It made me depressed, seeing all these happy people going on vacation and traveling the world, while I stayed back and cleaned freakin’ bathrooms!
Well, thank God I only had to stay there long enough to satisfy parole, ‘cause the day that was over… so was that job!
I started my music career traveling the tri-state area of New York, which includes New Jersey and Connecticut, but when I got my first fly-away show with Lil’ Suzy in Dallas Texas, the excitement was beyond words.
I still lived at home, and I remember not even being able to sleep the night before. Lil’ Suzy was living in Staten Island, and I was in Queens, and though I had an airport not far from my house, part of my job was traveling with her and one of her parents, and the airport they traveled out of was in New Jersey.
But that was fine with me, and that next morning I was up bright and early and ready for a journey that I didn’t know at the time would change my life.
Doing what I was doing was indeed a dream job, and I was paid according to my experience, which neither one was of anything significant, but when I thought about what it cost for me to travel, the food they fed me on the road, the shows I got to attend for free as well as the money I was paid, it was enough to prove that I was on the right track, and not only would I do whatever I had to do to maintain my position, I knew in time, I’d scale it.
Thirty-plus years later, and I’m still on the road, with Lil’ Suzy, and do you know… I’ve never taken a day off!
Since then I’ve also added to my road work, Angel OCG, The Cover Girls, and S.A.L. so of course the question now would be, well Latif, how the hell do you do this now?
Well, I positioned myself in a way, that I would control their schedules, and that was by handling all of their bookings exclusively. Doing it this way allowed me to schedule their shows so that no one ever misses out and that I can be with them at all times.
But traveling for work isn’t the same as traveling for vacation, and the fact that you have to do it so often, it’s important to create a bit of a system, just to make it a little less stressful.
With that said, I created this Travel Like A Pro Tip Sheet for those traveling as regularly as I, or more, or even for those who are working toward being on the road more often. It might not be the ‘ultimate” list, but it is surely a great start… Oh, and by the way, it’s FREE!
Just click the button below, and don’t forget to share it with others who might also find it useful.
Michelle Ferrens, Sonia T Ponce, Ignacio Martinez, Joseph Seipos, Chuck Lamagra, Erik Acosta, Womina Wells, Benny Blanx LoGrasso, Jose Almonte, Francisco Ramos, Yady Gutierrez, Mark Cruz, Kim Roman, Kyle Rifkin, Tommy Musto, Lummie Herbert Jr., Angie Peña, Alexandre Oliveira, Jose Freire, Evie Lombrano
To all our Subscribers, Readers, Subjects, and of course our Sponsors, for being a part of this month’s issue of the Freestyle Blast Newsletter, Thank you all so much!
and until next time…
This was 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, The Cover Girls, and S.A.L., rarely would you find a Freestyle event happening without Latif somewhere in the mix.
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.
and please Follow Him @LatifMercado
It's nice to see that the cover girls are still sought after and booked for shows.......it still would be nice to hear new stuff....just a single....to show the world they still got it!.....
Another great issue. I’m learning a lot from reading these issues. Keep up the great work!!!!!!