re:Wind - Diary of Young Jeezy: "Ain't Nuttin But a Gangsta Menagé - The Tour" - PART 1

Saturday March 7th - Opening night of the "Ain't Nuttin' But a Gangsta Menagé" tour

Backstage @ The Old Sl*t and Bucket, London

23:17

The sound of deep rolling bass punctuated by a ferocious tambourine beat reverberates through my body. The air is heavy with thick, acrid smoke expertly blended with the aroma of spiced apples.

To my left a group of seven large men dressed in identical blood-orange velour tracksuits clutching 40 oz bottles of Skol are engaged in what appears to be a particularly rowdy game of dice. A gaggle of formally dressed ho's clamour for their attention. The tension is palpable.

Suddenly a dispute breaks out. The argument rapidly escalates - a dark stormcloud of imminent brutality engulfs the room. Then the door bursts open. Charisma cuts through the room like the melting sunrise through cheap Parisienne blinds. Every ojó in the room focuses on the hooded figure in the doorway.

"Be coo' bredrins".

With just 3 warm words in 10 hot seconds the scuffle that appeared certain to end in another Daily Mail "Blade, The Devil You Know" headline quietly disbands. The two protagonists kiss and embrace.

The question begs: who is this gallant knight adorned in a chain mail of charm gripping the lance of justice firmly by the handle?

To his mother back in Bolton, Atlanta he's Cornelius Rigobert McThasselwaite. To millions around the world he is better known as Young Jeezy.

Not content with rocking the legendary Old Sl*t and Bucket to its core on the opening night, Jeezy manages to combine his role as a Goodtings Ambassador for the UN with semi-professional friendship. This is the man we should all aspire to.

As I accompany the "Ain't Nuttin' But a Gangsta Menagé" official tour around the globe over the next few weeks I will be fortunate enough to experience a significant amount of face time with this pillar of modern culture. Even before this hellacious introduction to the way of the Jeezy my expectations were already preposterous, but now, having seen him in action, I expect nothing less than da bomb.

Phillustrious Schofield

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