My Cup Runs Over: The Ultimate and Final Deception (6 page)

“Ladies and gentlemen are you ready for the next act?” The audience roared in response, “Yeah!!” 

“Well alright then, without further ado, I introduce to you, the ladies flavor, if they don’t get you now; I guarantee it will be later. Ready or not, ladies here they come…
Cleave
!!!!” 

One by one the members of the group began to slide out on the stage doing the routines to their opening hit song
(I’m Waiting On You).
The audience went wild as they continued to entertain everyone while photographers from all the local newspapers took pictures in. They were four guys who were discovered on the street corners of N.Y.C. singing for tips. One night a record producer and friend of JJ, was walking by and heard them singing. He couldn’t deny how hot they were and helped get them a record deal. No one could remain still while rocking and dancing to each song, as
Cleave
continued to bring the house down.

During the last ten minutes, the group introduced its members, including the band, before walking off stage. The audience applauded wanting more, allowing the group to come back out to give one final wave goodbye to end their set. As the group arrived back stage, Andre patted them on the back.

“Congratulations guys, you were great. Do you hear that audience? They’re off the hook out there!”

T-Bird couldn’t help giving them their just do and the show couldn’t have been going any better.

“DDG, let’s get busy baby,” Andre said! 

“Your turn to turn it up. Let’s go baby. You know how we like it. And I know your gun's loaded because you just finished setting Miami on fire!”

Little Joe came back onstage and began picking people out of the audience, talking about them to keep everyone entertained.  After a few minutes later, he then introduced the group.

“Okay ladies and gentlemen this group actually arrived here yesterday, after setting Miami on fire with a great show. So get ready!.…Are you ready?  Let’s give a great big hand to hip hop and you don’t stop until you drop. To the new generals in the game...
DDG
!”

The minute they entered the stage, their DJ began scratching and spinning the special effects from their music, as they began rapping.

Come on; just put your hands up!

Just put your hands up come on!

We’ve got a new way of doing thangs!

Yes, we will take the blame!

To, bring you something new!

Doing what we do!

We wanna, freak this party!

We wanna, pump this party!

Just wanna, have a party

So come on and reb it up!

Do wanna, do wanna, do wanna, reb it up!
  

DDG
made a name for themselves at the right time. They started out by rapping  and turning out college campuses and frat step shows with their performances, selling mix tapes out of their car while trying to finish school in South Carolina.  Now they were the hottest rap group around, with a new hot single called
(Reb It Up
).

Rap music actually originated in the North, found its path down the West Coast and through the south, becoming a cultural revolution in the music industry; giving young people a voice to express their political and social awareness through music, while using DJ’s, turntables and spitting mad lyrics.

After performing five songs, the crowd was ecstatic and couldn’t wait for the next act to come on stage. The comedian, Little Joe, was loving every minute, ready to go back out on stage and give more of his talent. The group
Impulse
prepared themselves to come out.

“Yeah, yeah, what’s up man?” Little Joe asked one of the males in the audience, sitting close to the front of the stage. “Are you having a good time? Is that your girl, or did you buy her from the 7/11 store?” The audience went wild in laughter.

He then asked, “So what kind of car are you driving. Huh?” The man answered, “I’m driving a Cadillac!” 

Little Joe screamed out. “A Cadillac? Now you know you lying. You know you lying! You know why I know you lying?” The audience was waiting eagerly with anticipation for what was to happen next.  “Yo ass is lying because I see that bus card sticking out of your shirt pocket. Look at him, talking about he’s driving a Cadillac! Boy I tell you. Yeah I know. You driving the baddest Cadillac in town, the number 14 bus and you can get about fifty people in it too!  Anybody want to get a transfer after the show to the other side of town? Just see this gentleman right here and he’ll make sure you get home. Now don’t get it twisted if you wait on him all of yawl will be catching a cab!” The audience was almost on the floor they laughed so hard.

“Ladies and gentleman I would like to bring on this next act. Now I have to tell you, these are some fouine women. I didn’t know how to leave backstage! I was there counting my money and ready to give it up they so damn fouine. They’re so fouine; I’ll steal food stamps and then sell them, just to go out to dinner with any one of their asses. Ladies and gentleman here they are, the fouinest girls in town.
Impulse
!!”

The group was from Pensacola, Florida and came out wearing hot pants with thigh boots as they began strutting across the stage to sing their hearts out. Not only could they sing, but they could dance as well. Each girl had a lead voice, making it easy for them to go in and out of songs without realizing who was singing. And Little Joe wasn’t lying. They were beautiful. Their album was also taking all the major cities by storm and they were just returning from performing in Japan, Singapore and Germany.

T-Bird and Andre couldn’t ask for anything better. The show was going perfect. T. met the girls for the first time in the city while attending the music awards and offered them to join her tour. With notoriety overseas, this was their opportunity to gain more state side exposure. An invitation to be on tour with T-Bird? It was a no brainer. 

After almost thirty minutes of singing the group did their debut song entitled
(Secrets),
a great ballad to end their performance.  Immediately Little Joe returned to the stage to continue making the audience laugh. All the acts took the time to congregate together and express how excited they were about each other’s performances.  Meanwhile, T-Bird’s band began to prepare for hitting the stage to close the show. 

“So how yawl feeling? Is everything all right? How about the people up in the balcony? Yawl all right up there? All right, don’t try to slip and fall just because you way up at the top. I’ll have to be the first to tell you, the owner already done told us they don’t have no damn insurance! We still in the ghetto, believe that...”

“...Now don’t get no funny ideas. Better yet, if you fall down the steps, messing up this night, you will need an ambulance. Yeah that’s right. Because everybody in here will be whipping yo ass for messing up this show! Are we clear on that?!”

The audience continued to laugh as he glanced backstage to see if the band was ready.

“Well I guess they’re ready back there. I know I’m ready. It’s time to eat and I want a fish sandmich. Anybody hungry? Well meet me after the show. I’ll be selling fish sandmiches, on the corner for $2.00 and if you want a palm full of water that will be an extra .50 cents. Damn it! That’s right. Don’t you know water ain’t free no more? Shit--- Things so bad the government got us paying for sewer water. And they trying to kill us too! Now ain’t that a bitch! Shit somebody loan me a dollar. I need a snicker or sum-thin..." Little Joe had to laugh himself!

"Well, I think they’re ready now. But let me say this. It’s been fun. I mean it’s really been big fun. We will be right back here tomorrow night doing the same damn thing all over again, at the same time. Now I have to tell you about this next act. I didn’t meet her until tonight, but one thing is for sure. She has a heart of gold. She’s just a sweet ole, down home country girl, and if you think all these other acts were good, wait until she comes out and does her thing. Are you ready? Well here she, from Newark, New Jersey, by way of NOLA, put your hands together for Ms. Tamara T-Bird Robinson!”  

The band began to play the four-song melody, just as they had rehearsed in the studio, beginning with
(Loving You) (No Mountain High) (We In love Again) and (Tonight Is The Night).
She wanted to dedicate those songs to Q, Trey and JJ, while the lights illuminated off of her outfit. She waived out to the audience.

“How’s everybody doing tonight?” The audience responded without haste, as the cheers continued. 

“We love you T-Bird” one man yelled out.

“I love you too bebe. I just want to take this time to thank you, the fans, for supporting us tonight and buying our music. We’ll always be grateful to you. Is that all right?”

Another man in the audience then yelled out. “T-Bird you are fouine as hell baby! Can I make you my baby's mama?” 

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh while he made his point clear about how beautiful she was. T-Bird had to laugh herself as she walked across the stage.

“We just want you to know that this is the first city to start this tour. Right here in Chicago. You are the first one, as we travel across the east and west coasts for the weeks to come.” The audience erupted in cheers again.

Afterwards, she sat in a chair on the stage while addressing the audience,

“At this time, I’d like to dedicate the remaining songs from my new album to you, my fans. Our fans.” As she included the previous acts. The band began playing the first hit single
(Can’t Wait Another Minute),
(Treasures)
and finally
(Lover, Lover).
When
T-Bird finished those last songs, all the groups came back on stage to perform the finale
(Never Can Say Goodbye)
to dimming lights and the lowering curtain.

The media took more photographs of all the groups along with Little Joe, who had done an exceptional job, as MC, entertaining everyone. After the show, each group had a booth set up in the lobby to sign autographs and sell memorabilia. At the end of the night, the total from all the merchandise sold, bought in an additional $15,000.00 and it was only the first night.

It was well past midnight before everyone left the venue. T-Bird wasn't passing up the opportunity to find a place to eat with everyone. 

“Don’t worry. I know a great place where we can go and eat. We went there last night. Right Megan?” Melvin expressed.

“Yeah.. it’s right around the corner. Man, I had some of the best chicken and waffles. Simply out of this world and I thought you could only get it like that in L.A. I have to say I’m impressed..”  

“I had two of those hot dogs this town is famous for and could hardly eat them both....” 

“Okay, you guys are making me even hungrier. Let’s just go so I can see for myself. I also just want to say, yawl are putting it down out there on that stage.” 

“
Yeah and this is only the first night and already it’s off the chain. I know tomorrow is going to be off the hook.” Andre said!  “Hey, are all the instruments secure inside the bus? We don’t want anything getting stolen. That’s how you make your living.” 

“Yeah man, everything is on lock down.” Melvin replied.  “Everything is cool. So let’s jet.”

As everyone walked around the corner, T-Bird thought about Darnell and the conversation they'd had earlier that morning. She was still wondering if he was really being honest with her about not returning her call. There was something in her spirit that wasn’t lining up with his excuse.

By the time all the group members arrived at the cafe, there were more than 50 people waiting to be seated, talking about the show and how Little Joe was such a powerful force. The manager couldn’t be any happier!

“Do you have enough room for all of us?” Andre asked. “We just finished a show tonight at the Town Hall and are really hungry."

The manager smiled. “Oh, so you’re the group that was on the radio earlier today? I heard your entire interview and it was pretty good. I wish I could have attended the concert myself but, as you can see, I had my hands full! Give me a minute and I’ll prepare the rear section for all of you.” 

Minutes later he returned, escorting them to the back of the cafe. As they ordered, Little Joe began telling jokes again.

“I’m ordering fish sandwiches so I can go outside and sell them.”

Everybody started laughing again. “Now wait a minute, yawl remember I told the audience that I was going to be out on the corner after the show selling those sandwiches.” 

Melvin pointed to the door. “Well, you go right ahead and I’ll eat your food before it gets cold.” 

“Oh really? Then I’ll tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to sneeze right over it and then I want you to tell how it taste.” Everybody was having so much fun laughing, they were almost crying. The manager made everyone as comfortable as possible, as he talked with them about the concert and the cities they were traveling to next. 

“I tell you what we’re going to do. Here are some tickets to tomorrow night’s show if you can make it,” Andre said, while handing them to him. “Now if you’re not going to use them then be sure to give them to a friend who can.”