looks like ol' vanessa bartholomew is back on the beat.

The 3121 Report: Oscars

My headlights beam back a purple blaze of two symbols adorned upon the
black gates. This is the way to 3121. Up the long driveway to a royal
white mansion. A valet graciously opens my door. I had not attended the
Oscars but suddenly felt like a star transformed on the 10 feet of
purple carpet that went up the stairs towards his 20 foot tall glass doors.

This is the story of two solid nites that felt like one huge
experimental historic jam. If I had the nerve to talk to Prince, I would -- just
to ask what kind of vitamins he takes to throw a party, jam until 6 am.
Get up, go to the Oscars, jam until 7 am.

Normally, I would name drop every celebrity there; but I prefer to
conjure up the moment (right before Pam Anderson spilled her drink on me)
that left me energized and exhausted, exhilarated and delirious. A
witnessing of raw passion of unequivocal talent that tasted so sweet, so
dang good, it was THE moment captured at '3121.' And it had nothing to do
with Oscar host, Chris Rock trading political commentary with Spike Lee
nor good-looking couple Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe hobnobbing
with Clive Owen and Chris Tucker.

A perfectly synchronized Asian vibe complemented the mood. Food --
delectable. At 3 a.m. the house band walked in. Behind them, lavender
lights punctuated by a beautifully lit, now infamous symbol floating above
the steamy pool set the tone. (The backyard can be viewed by the
"invisible" glass wall -- providing an amazing backdrop for what was to come.)

The band started to jam. Lead vocalist, Ashley, belted out some
classics while Frank's keys began to percolate. Halfway through the set -- a
flash of gold to my left caught my eye. I paid no mind, thinking it was
just Christina Aguliera's hair or perhaps Maroon 5's collective beaming
faces. Didn't matter... I was getting into a comfortable 2-step when
the earth shifted. The energy changed. Everyone around me leaned in. The
music got FONKIER. I looked around ... the chef, the waitresses, the
ENTIRE STAFF all stopped working and straight up started GROOVING! I
thought I was in a reproduction of "CARWASH"!

I knew Jeff Gordon was in the house, but he was walking, not driving. I
stepped up a few feet and saw the housequake in the flesh crack the
floor in two! PRINCE was SIMULTANEOUSLY playing keyboards and guitar in
the middle of Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." My mouth fell open and my drink
nearly fell out of my hand into Cedric the Entertainer's lap. I saw
folks run and grab their people in order to witness the incredible sight.

The man was on FI-YAH! The windows were smoldering. Regina King's gold
lame dress was curling up. It was so hot in there the devil was 'fraid
to set foot. Cora, the drummer -- broke it down so hard, she popped the
skins back on the little piggy's belly it came from.

Prince in his beautiful gold mandarin collared outfit was having such a
blast, I elbowed Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz out of the way for a
closer look. I'm no stalker but after his searing guitar solo in "Whole
Lotta Love", adding a lethal cocktail of funk to "Rock Steady",
reinventing Michael J's "Don't Stop till You get Enough" -- well, I had to stare
because no less than two feet in front of me was a Rock Star causing an
eclipse in his own living room.

Suddenly in the middle of dancing and playing he flipped us a
synchopated groove that I can only compare to... well.. to nothing I've ever
heard before: "Thru the gates.. Leave Ur clothes on the floor... Take Ur
pick from the Japanese robes and sandals... Don't you wanna come...
3121... Gonna b so much fun... 3121... U can come if U want 2, but U can
never leave...". I thought an anthropologist was gonna investigate it was
so off the missing-link chain!!!

Even reclusive Joni Mitchell couldn't resist shaking her thang while
Rachelle Ferrell added a vocal flair that extended the jam into a 24"
single. Black Eyed Peas cut in to wrap it up, but they just unraveled it
more and allowed Prince to string us along.

When I finally peeled myself from the moment, I scanned the room and
saw the look of amazement on every face. Jaded celebrities looked like
giddy little girls getting their first Barbie. And I don't mean Pam.

I was surprised I lived to see past the dawn.

3121. I have a feeling it's just begun.

-- VB

NPG Music Club
www.npgmusicclub.com

there was some chatter recently about prince starting up a new protege band, wasn't there?

Good God, that sounds insane! I wonder what this 3121 is. The new 1999?

What *I* wanna know is:

how do you play keys and strings at the same time!!!

Damn. Ain't nobody workin' harda than Prince.

Nobody.

GangstaFam said:

i figured it was just the house address - and prince has probably done his numerology voodoo on it and created a whole symbolic manifesto around the number.

Well, I was feelin' the NPGMC report until P let the Wack-Eyed Peas cut into the groove (sorry, dreamfactory311, I just couldn't resist!)

Rachelle Ferrell added a vocal flair...