the Chocolate Factory

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Bassee Launches her "Chocolate Factory"!!

6.07.03

It was just one year ago when a lot of us House music lovers had few choices to party in Baltimore. WEAA mgmt. had made the decision to cancel the "Underground Experience" to our dismay. Some of us wanted to hear the music so bad that we were willing to go to parties where DJ Biskit had to open for brotha' dj Tanz. There was no soulful invitations to the Red Maple, Sonar Lounge, GoodLove, or Sky Lounge. "Good Vibrations" hadn't taken off at the level it is now and the blackbookscafe.com was just a thought. Since then, we have watched the Baltimore House scene take off and it is quite apparent what was missing during the years when House was at a low. That is simply, "support and unity" for different parties. It was thought that because most older people didn't support "the Dox" like they use to that they don't support House music. This is simply not the case. With dj Biskit's "Good Vibrations" parties giving people what they wanted in a party and the blackbookscafe.com promoting pride and confidence in our city's House scene we have created an atmosphere where promoters, dj's, and party people are supporting each others parties. Now party people are coming back out to feel the music they love and grew up on without worrying about a bad vibe around them to damper there love for the music. With this unity another successful House party has been launched.

Rhonda b.k.a "Bassee" had a very successful start to her "Chocolate Factory" party. It is a weekly party at Club 2314 on Boston street in Canton. Biskit promised us that since he was the only one playing on this night that he would be "hittin' 'em hard" and he did. I would like to publicly thank dj Biskit for playing a world class set. Thank you my brotha'!!! Since I love to dance, that can sometime get in the way of me observing and keeping House music lovers aware of what's going on around town but I can't help myself when dj's start playing vocals with Blaze, Masters at Work, or the Jasper Street Co. When he played "He's alright" by the Jasper Street co. and classics, that brought someone's mom from behind the counter where she was serving refreshments, to the floor. There were people smiling on the dance floor all night and that's what this music is suppose to do. Percussionist Davon also showed his talents by playing the congas and the drums. If you didn't know, Davon is one of many performers that have been incorporated into House parties over the last few years(eg.- Neal Conway, Jason Din, Aaron E., T-Kolai, etc.). This party is significant because since the House music resurgence there hasn't been a well known effort by clubs to invite soulful House headz to a weekly Saturday party. We have become accustomed to a lot of 1st Fridays or 3rd Saturdays or whatever. Bassee has put together a weekly Saturday night party. But because of her mutual love for Hip-Hop/R&B she has reserved the 2nd Saturday for this genre. The soulful sounds of House will return for the 3rd & 4th Saturday with DJ Karizma and then Donny Burlin & DJ Technics(?). (See pics below)

All-in-all this was a very nice party and shows what can happen when we all support our scene in a unified way. Be on the lookout for DJ Oji's cd listening party on June 28th and a bus trip(July 6th-$38), by a Basement Boys associate, to NYC at the Basement Boys monthly residency(www.sunday-sessions.com). This is an early Sunday evening party. Also, the next SouL Fiesta is in the works. Stay tuned to the bbc as more details come in.