Maybe I’m buggin, but is a 9-5 supposed to be this much fun?? Nah, right (what up Eskay lol?) I swear, if I’m not talking to one of my favorite artists, I’m traveling across country to an event. And if I’m not outta town, I’m at some function where the alcoholic consumption is free of charge (well not last night, but you get the idea) and Jermaine Dupri is yelling at me to get  his artists’ feature up online (Whas good JD lol, it’ll be done before COB). Regardless of what’s going on, just know your boy is having a blast. Last night I hit up Vibe’s Real Rap Issue Party at Club Ono , and judging by the ambiance that blessed the facility, to the untrained industry eye, one would have thought it was an after party for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards.

Of course, I had my roadie Edaki with me, so you already know how it gets when we hit the town. However, E wasn’t feeling the sardine can like atmosphere, so he bolted early, but of course I got a nice flick of him reading a magazine lol. PRICELESS! As soon as I stepped foot inside, my homey, Melo purchased me a L.I.T. and since it was incredibly strong, I was feeling a BIT friendlier than usual. We posted up at the bar for a minute, you know, looking cool and ish like that. At first, it was pretty light inside, DJ Envy was in one corner, DJ Cassidy was spinning everything under the sun and the ladies, ahhhhhhh the ladies were looking incredibly scrumptious. King of the South, T.I.P showed up unexpectedly and even posed for a quick snap shot (check below). Talked some business with the homey Shaheem Reid from MTV and grabbed another beverage. After being stiffed at the door, the homey Jackpot FINALLY got inside, which is when the real fun started!

All of a sudden, it got a tad bit crazy. First JD and the digital darling, Dondria (whad up, DD lol?) showed up. Then Ebro, Hot 97’s Program Director came in and hit the bar. Next, Fabolous and his Street Family goons hit the VIP section with DJ Clue close by. Lenny S discreetly maneuvered his way around the lounge while Young Sav and Steve-O kept things poppin on the patio. Ace Hood slid by as DJ Envy punched me in the elbow making me almost drop my drink (prick, lol). Young Sav and I asked Lenny S about the “Put On” remix with Jay-Z, in which he gave us this GUILTY smirk (that means it’s coming soon). JD and I talked about keeping Dondria’s online presence strong because that’s basically where she originated. He explained to me in DETAIL on how he wanted to execute that plan, which sounded pretty damn solid. Danyel Smith, EIC of VIBE Magazine, took some time to ask me why Howard University was blanketing the entire entertainment industry with its insanely talented personnel (her online editor, Jozen Cummings is also a Howard alumni, WHAD UP HOMEY?)

As I was making my rounds, I bumped into a young lady by the name of Nicky Nice. During my spot to spot moves, she was nice enough to watch my drink….which was pretty damn awesome. During our chop it up session, the man of the hour, Young Jeezy appeared out of nowhere lol. He made his way to the VIP patio and basically took over. Soon after, Swizz Beatz, Chaka Zulu, Terrence J, Alesha Renee, Irv Gotti and Nas came through and basically made Ono, the spot to be July 8, 2008.

I can’t front, this is pretty much a dope ass job with some dope ass perks. And to show you how dope it is, check out these DOPE ass pictures , Me, Johnny Nunez and Ronnie Wright snapped last night! I’m GHOST!

Sincerely

Low “Does life get better than this? Yea, so keep it locked to see how good it gets” Key

Vibe Magazine and Tequilla 1800 kept the party going till about 1am….

Sean Pecas, Jermaine Dupri, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti,Young Jeezy and Fabolous mean mug for the flashing lights..

TI hitting the VIP patio…

VIP Patio at club Ono….

Cute lil honey dip at Vibe’s Real Rap Issue Party…Damn it, I should have asked for her name!

DJ Cassidy getting busy on the 1’s and 2’s.

VIBE EIC, Danyel Smith and Irv Gotti share a couple laughs…

The man with no title hits the red carpet…

I have NO idea who this is, but she’s a cutie….

VIBE correspondent, Audrea chats it up with video director, Little X…..

Red Cafe and DJ Envy throw it up for BET.Com…..

Jermaine Dupri and Ebro chop it up on the VIP Patio….

Young Jeezy and Fabolous sippin on some Tequilla 1800….

Swizzy, Sean Pecas (the tall bald one) and Young Jeezy meet up on the VIP Patio……

The homey, Nicky Nice, held it down for VIBE Magazine…..

“Can’t front, I’m missin the old DJ Clue tapes”- Joe Budden

Tim Glover, Young Sav and Steve-O repping strong for Def Jam records and Best Of Both Offices

Either he was confused on how small my camera was or how CLOSE it was to his face lol……(no he’s not giving me the finger lol)

LowKey at it once again…..

I swear E was sooooooooooo focused on that Young Jeezy article…….

Young Jeezy and his Tequilla 1800….

INCREDIBLE……

Young Jeezy acting a fool with Playboy’s “Girls Next Door”…..

The brown skin vixen, D.Wright…….;)

Look at Jeezy stuntin……

Nas, Swizz Beatz and Young Jeezy get it poppin at Vibe’s Real Rap Issue Party….

DJ Cassidy gets a taste of the flashing lights and some Tequilla 1800….

Not ONE scuff. That’s how you maneuver through a party with a fresh pair of kicks….lol!

While it was fiasco just getting through security at the entrance (Aye T-Money, I think that security guard was a rookie, lol), the evening went pretty well. Every industry exec, wannabe, socialite,  hasbeen, and anyone else you can think of was in attendance last night. We first hit the penthouse to snag some interviews from the night’s performers which included Suai (a new artist on Universal Motown), Grits (Lyfe Jennings’ new artist), Lloyd, and Ryan Leslie.

I guess Ashanti thought she was too big of an artist to do pre-performance interviews because she completely blew the entire press room off.  (Booo!) After being stood up, we skated down to the floor to grab our seats. Once again, let me reiterate…the one year anniversary needs to be held at The Hammerstein Ballroom or The Theater at Madison Square Garden because there should NEVER be that many people in that small of a space.

The show began with Suai capturing the attention of every blackberry button pushing executive in the room. Seeing how I already witnessed a performance from her, I proceeded to email JackPot about his whereabouts (you picked a HECK of a night to miss Spotlight lol). Grits, Lye Jennings new artist, hit the stage next….and goood lord, she destroyed that room (and I mean that in the best way possible).  Like our Music Development Director said: “YESSSSSSSSSSS” lol.

During a brief intermission, EVERYONE decided to say hello to each other. E-bro (Hot 97’s Program Director) and Angie Martinez dipped out, while Stephen Hill, Michael Kaiser, and Free (former 106 & Park host) grooved to some ol school hits. Meanwhile, two seats down, Kevin Liles and video vixen, Angel Lola were looking MIGHTY comfortable (as they were at the last 4 Spotlight’s). Irv Gotti greeted K.O. (Kim Osorio) with a warm hug while Sylvia Rhone pranced around to Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop.”

After everyone sat their happy asses down, Ryan Leslie took to the stage and KILLED IT. I’ve NEVER seen so much energy, so much passion, so much excitement from ANY artist since my days of witnessing live performances. Anyone that was in attendance can and will attest to my claim. And for those that STILL don’t get it, RYAN LESLIE IS THE TRUTH!

Lloyd did his this thing, accompanied with that BRIGHT ass smile that he’s known for. Irv looked like a proud father as he was watching him slide back and forth across the stage. And though Ashanti was the headliner, she sure didn’t perform like it. Think I’m lying? Ask Irv, oh wait….he wasn’t anywhere to be found! Missed last night’s show, don’t worry check out my flicks below.

Sincerely

Low “Watch me get into Terrance J’s party with Levis Denim Jeans lol” Key

Universal Motwon artist, Sway! Good lord she was looking soooooooo right….

Shantelle getting busy with B.E.T.’s Black Carpet!

Lyfe Jenning’s new artist, Grits, DESTROYED her time on stage. Make sure you keep an ear out for her!

Black Carpet’s, Alesha Renee interviewing Slyvia Rhone(The best Cougar of all time) and guest.

Slyvia Rhone and Lloyd have a moment before the show.

The man of the hour, Ryan Leslie blessing the Spotlight media room!

Sway tickling the ivory during her performance.

Irv Gotti arrives at R&B Live.

 Hot 97’s Program Director, Ebro, chopping it up with BET’s, Stephen Hill.

Ryan Leslie and The Diamond Band (I just made that up lol) getting ready to tear down R&B Live.

Took off the blazer, loosened up the tie….step on stage, Ryan Leslie’s alive!!! Best peformance at R&B Live…EVER!!!  

Lloyd giving some Lessons In Love (the title of his third Lp) during his performance.

Slyvia Rhone loosing herself to Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop”…….

Ashanti decided to sing to me…..I DARE SOMEONE SAY OTHERWISE!!!  

Or maybe she was singing to the dude who TOOK my seat……Yea, Flo-Rida took my SEAT!  

Jealousy? Yea some might suggest, but of course Irv shows a completely different hand. Last week, Irv sat down with Hot 97’s DJ Enuff for an intimate interview about what Irv has up his sleeve for 2008 and of course, the current status of his former princess, Ashanti.

To the untrained eye, these two were inseparable. They made millions together, received accolades for their hard work and then two earth shattering events occurred; Irv went to trial and Ashanti found herself a rich country boy. From a bird’s eye view, things went down the way you saw it; he got in trouble, she hit the road. And judging by these quotes, Irving is hurting (lol that rhymed…ok sorry)

“It’s like a gradual thing; it doesn’t really hurt, it’s just like shocking when a person you did so much for wilds on you a little bit. It’s like ‘yo I don’t wanna be with The Inc’ and that’s just like a shocker. It’s more than the hurt, it’s like a shocker….like ‘word’?“ Irv said. But sir, what do you expect? A young female from the suburbs being dragged through a federal court case, and you thought she was going to ride that ish out….I don’t care how much you made her, as soon as she saw those flashing lights shorty hit the bricks!

He also had this to say about her departure (if that’s what you wanna call it) “She wanted off the label, and I was like cool, but someone has to cut me a check! I didn’t do all this work for nothing. You can go free if someone cuts me a check. Now the problem with that is no one wants to cut me a check. Everyone had question marks as to what would happen with me not being involved with her, so no one wanted to cut the check. With no one wanting to cut the check, we just evolved into what we are now. I’m like Lyor Cohen to her; I sit back, let her do her and fund the situation.”

Oh really Irv??? Well I’ll leave it at that, but I believe there’s other reasoning involved in this split.  Anyway, share your thoughts, I’m curious to hear what you people think about the situation. And if you don’t care, don’t worry, I’ll have something new up in an hour or two…..

Sidebar: Gotti’s Way returns in November

Sincerely

Low “It’s Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrdaaaaa lol” Key