See POJI records press release

(Friday)

Wow!! What a beautiful weekend it was in the Baltimore/D.C. area(6.27.03).  Thank you POJI records.  The weekend started off with a trip down I-95 to visit our D.C. cousins at the new DC Sanctuary.  The occasion was the official cd/album release to DJ Oji's "Underground X-perience".  On tap for this evening was DJ Oji spinning in the booth & Una and Carolyn Victorian giving live vocal performances.  If for some reason you need me to tell you who dj Oji is----He is the dj who use to host the "Underground Experience" on Morgan State's WEAA.  He is also part owner of POJI records.(Pope & Oji--get it?)  Now, on our trip to the Sanctuary we saw quite a few familiar Baltimore faces  which was good considering the traffic on the Baltimore/Washington pkwy(295) sucked.  Anyway, it appears as though they are making additions to the new spot weekly and doing a great job of making the club better and better(see pics).  We also finally got to meet the Dorian, of the Sanctuary, who is one of the champions of the House cause in D.C.  After getting some food and relaxing for a few, we noticed it was Oji's turn on the decks(see pics) and he rocked his set so much that sometimes I didn't take the time to set the camera for good quality pics.  So I apologize in advance.  Oji had the dancers and party people(see pics) in quite a spiritual mood as I noticed incense burning and baby powder sprinkled on the floor.  I try to act classy sometimes when I go out but it seems like the music starts callin' me and I end up jumpin', dancin', and sweatin'.  But this ain't opera so I don't feel bad.  After a little while it was time to see the performances we came to see.  Carolyn Victorian, who has worked with everyone from the Soul Providers to POJI records, was up first.  She brought down longtime Baltimore House head and dancer Willy "Will Power" Austin(Longtime friend of this writer) with her as she belted out 2 tracks from the cd(see pics).  She sang "I'm feeling you" with all the joyful sensuality that it implies as Willy found out that he was the "you" in "I'm feeling you" for this performance.  Carolyn and Una took turns rocking the House as Una sang tracks from the cd also.  She ended her energetic(see pics) performance with the Sanctuary anthem "We lift our hands in the Sanctuary".  Which is a huge hit around the world.  The live vocal performances made everyone in our small group feel so good that we just cruised on back to B-more just savoring the moment.  I want to thank all the Baltimore party people who drove down to help Oji celebrate the launch to his new release; and also thank Dorian and his Sanctuary staff for having a club that made us feel right at home.

(Saturday)

The festivities for the release of the "Underground X-perience" continued Saturday(6.28.03) at Wazobia's for the cd/album listening party.  Wazobia's is a beautiful art and cultural shop on 2320 N. Charles st. owned by Kingsley Molen(see pics).  It features Wood Carvings, oils, jewelry, original paintings, etc.  DJ Oji wanted to make this a cultural event and this was the perfect place for it.  But again, I want to apologize in advance for not having all the pictures from this event.  I apologize because I don't have all the visuals to go with telling you that Baltimore House headz represented at this affair.  It was a good feeling being among all the good people and food and I just got caught up in the moment.  DJ's and promoters like Donny Burlin, DJ Soulgiver, DJ Biskit,  Chris Brooks, Cleo Khary, blackbookscafe.com, Bassee, Peter Barry(Una's dad-cool dude) and many, many others showed up for the listening party as well as most of the POJI records family (Sheila Ford, Momi, Una, Carolyn Victorian, DJ Pope, Stacy Morris, etc.)  If you weren't there you missed an excellent opportunity to network and this was also a nice place for the kids to come(except my 2 year old).  I love him to death but I would not want to pay for the broken artwork ☺.  I personally loved the tracks from the cd and purchased multiple copies to add to the give-a-ways at our Soul Fiesta on July 12th at Plush.  Have you ever brought a cd from a store for over $15 that really only had 1 or 2 good songs on it?  Well this ain't one of those cd's.  This is a true "Underground X-perience" and you won't have to eject the cd until the last song is over.  I think I even asked the same question twice about this one particular track called "So Glad to be alive".  It is sung by newcomer to the scene Rashaan Houston with guest vocals by Una and background vocal credits going to Una and DJ Pope.  Charles Dockins is also on keyboards on this one.  Watch out for this one.  A very good and informative press release on this whole cd came be viewed here on the POJI records website where you can also get info on how to pick up a copy of this excellent cd.  I would again like to thank all the plain ole' House lovers who came to this event and POJI records for making my weekend, and this was all before Sunday arrived. 

CD Track listing

1.  Chelsea   "Chelsea's Groove"

2.  Carolyn Victorian   "Dance the night away"

3.  Sandé   "Happiness"

4.  Una   "We lift our hands in the Sanctuary"

5.  Stay-J   "Wedding in Paradise"

6.  Una   "Nobody but you"

7.  Carolyn Victorian   "I'm feeling you"

8.  Rashaan Houston   "So Glad to be alive"    Hear Sample

9.  Original Man   "Strong Music"

10. Saint   "Libera Mi Alma(Free my soul" DJ Oji rmx  Hear Sample

11. Sandé   "Hope in your soul"

(sponsored by: Wazobia, POJI records, blackbookscafe.com, Natural Feelings, Stef-n-Ty, MKB)