I like riding through cities. Riding through Los Angeles is fun put peril-less. There is a lot to see and look out for. Though I always have a story in my mind. I decided that I would ride up Crenshaw Blvd, which has long stretches with no bike lanes and guys racing by Dodge Challenger RTs and Chargers. I’m ok but wary.
On the way after riding for blocks that I saw dozens of yard sale signs and. its cool sometimes to look and see what people are selling and also to hunt for records, which I like to do a lot. I encountered Khalid, who was jovial, with a gift of gab and according to him the best point guard in Los Angels if not the Untied States. I didn’t see anything that I liked but Khalid, seemed anxious and was also a rapper. There were excursions to Leimert Park. A place I once got a big story about the park that was undergoing renovations and how there was some sort of labor dispute. That was long ago. Someone came around to buy a fan and that was my break to keep on the path towards the L.P.
I was excited and it was a little hot but it was a good ride. I thought afterwards and I would go to the beach. I knew that the rapper Common would be at Harun Coffee. Equally as famous and support of African American culture. An oasis of Blackness, amidst a sea of hostility. It meant freedom. I was late. It started at 11 a.m. I was on CPT. I scanned the place. There was always something going on.
Common stood out on the side walk, outside the cafe. He was relaxed and calm and at ease with the people, the proletariat. There was a great vibe. I could feel the energy reverberations throughout the street. A large cool crowd had gathered around the entrance to the cafe. The dj was working hard and fans milled about getting autographs and stirring up conversation. Book and record hawkers and food was plentiful and the Black women were beautiful.
The record sellers were playing chess with clocks. I saw some sides I wanted. but I felt a vibe pulling me in another direction. This was after talking for a long time and avid chess player whose opens he says was Roy Ayers occasionally. I was taking it all in. Ride On Bike shop was closed and Museum in Black had since been gone. A one time pillar of the LP.
Finally I was able to get close enough for a picture but Common seemed weary and rightfully so because it looked like he needed a break but he was gracious and his presence was well received. He was one of our most vibrant voices for hip hop culture, rapping, and African liberation. I realized later that I had arrived empty handed. It would have been cool to give him a copy of my book, or anyone around there for that matter but I was trying to be in the moment. I thought that’s why I listen to Hip Hop music and I know rapping is a fine art.
Mission accomplished I rode to Venice Beach by way of Exposition Blvd, the bike road and on to Jefferson and then down Washington Blvd. It’s a well known bicycle route to take to get to the ocean but you have to pass through downtown Culver City and the streets are coordinated in such way that it looks like fucked up krit racing course.
I did make it to Venice Beach and it was a beautiful day. It was a day after the anniversary of 9/11. It cast a certain vibe on the whole day. The vibe was rich. LP has the vibe. Common has the vibe, if I was to put it in A Tribe Called Quest parlance. It was a great day. The vibrations carried me all the way to the ocean. I had another motive for being there too because I was working on another story idea.