Book was on WPGC duty and I didn’t really have any options. In a stroke of fate, New Year’s Eve fell on a Monday, which is Jamil’s regular residency at Marvin. That was a good look because he’s been slogging through some soul-sucking gigs as of late. “Full creative control” on New Year’s Eve had him giddy like Geoffrey Holder in Boomerang. I was just going to show up, chill and watch the homie black out on the decks but he proposed we make it a Soul Controller throwdown. Didn’t have to ask me twice.

Crowd was mixed, nobody paid a dime to get through the door, folks were partying and looking nice without having to be instructed to do so by a dress code. Isn’t that what a NYE party should be? My only regret is not having a mic to catch the roar of the dancefloor, makes the track mutes in the recordings sound silly. One women told us that “it’s time for you to play some mainstream hip-hop now.” We declined gracefully.

Part 1:
Setting the mood for the jump-off. “Champion Requiem” at a New Year’s Eve party? Whoa. Marvin Gaye makes the first of several appearances… ‘cuz we at Marvin.

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