The next time the Delaware County Library system considers cuts for the library, they really need to check out how the Harambee School fed kids by day and opened Club Damani by night. And as they ponder how to make this work, they need to have DJ Jamar on speed dial so he can provide the music.
Sleeping Beauty channeled her inner Miss Daisy and had me run her over the city to purchase food and snacks for her end of summer party. I was annoyed to have to run around and planned to eat away my anger. Once i got a feel for the program, I was too busy jamming to eat. She closed a fun summer by having Jamar give a lesson an DJing.
It was funny to watch the kids’ eyes light up and hear them express their astonishment at the ‘old head’ music that’s used as samples and hooks of some of their favorite songs. For me it was a lesson on the changing of times. When I was a kid, a DJ carted around pilfered crates of records, turntables, and a boatload of equipment to create their sounds. They still use turntables, but a a laptop with their music library replaces the crated and two dummy records are used to play the songs cued.
The kids listened and were polite until Jamar allowed them to try their hand at mixing and scratching. They all became DJs for a bit, shy at first than giving big Kool Aid grins when we hyped them up. SB adopted the moniker DJ Scribbles and played Missy Elliott then Run DMC’s Peter Piper. After that, it was ON!
The kids danced. The adults danced. We tried to do The Jerk but that dance looks and feels ridiculous. Then Jamar pulled a coup d’état and played The Cupid Shuffle. The adults lost it! We lined up and danced our butts off. Next up was the Cha Cha Slide. I admit I have trouble with my right and left but this is THE ultimate party starter/ender.
The Boy came in, took one look at us and declared it a ‘mess’. Anyone want a sarcastic eight year old?
Jamar used to mix for Power 99 FM and gave out copies of a TV show themed CD as prizes. Bro is BAD. Not bad meaning bad but bad meaning good! I have a list of songs I want him to mix and he graciously said he could hook me up. I plan to keep this party going.
Created on the fly by Mrsrkfj
Who played Work It? Shake Your Thing didn’t get people moving. And you SHOULD be DJ Cornball. Oh and yes, I’m greedy.
It was Salt and Pepper’s Shake Your Thing, number 1 and number 2, it’s DJ Skribbles and number 3 this is so fat:
I was annoyed to have to run around and planned to eat away my anger.
-DJ Skribbles