Scenes from the Lamar Terrace Picnic, Overton Park, March 24, 2012
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At the Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, Memphis, March 2012
At the Lamar Terrace Picnic in Overton Park, March 24, 2012
Residents of Lamar Terrace Reunite for a Picnic in Overton Park, Memphis, 2012
Lamar Terrace, like almost all of Memphis’ housing projects, was demolished under the Federal Hope VI initiative, but more than three generations of former residents came together for a reunion and picnic at the pavilion in Overton Park in Memphis. I had done my share of hanging out in the Terrace in the early 1990’s, and had been invited to the event by friends of mine. Despite the stigma that outsiders often attached to projects like Lamar Terrace, the community was a tight-knit one, and many successful people got their start in the Terrace, including veteran Memphis rapper and actor Al Kapone.Â
Memphis Producer Lil Pat Backstage at the A3C Showcase at SXSW
Lil Pat, one of Memphis’ earliest and most successful hip-hop producers, backstage at the A3C hip-hop showcase at SXSW, March 17, 2012
Gangsta Boo (@GangstaBooQOM) and Drumma Boy (@DrummaBoyFRESH) Live at SXSW 2012
Memphis’ own Gangsta Boo and Drumma Boy appear at the A3C showcase at SXSW, March 17, 2012
At the @CuttingEdgeNOLA Showcase at the Victory Grill in East Austin #SXSW 2012
Cutting Edge NOLA is the oldest music conference and festival in New Orleans, and this year they sponsored a SXSW showcase at the Victory Grill in Austin, featuring many of the same performers they have had in previous Cutting Edge festivals. The 2012 Cutting Edge conference will be in September in New Orleans. Go to http://cuttingedgenola.com/ for further info or registration.
The Historic Victory Grill, East Austin
The Victory Grill is one of the oldest African-American nightclubs in the country, and one of only a select few stops on the “chitlin’ circuit” to still be functioning in 2012. Of course it sometimes books rock bands these days, and the front has become an excellent coffee bar called the Purple Bean. But it is very much still in operation, and during SXSW sponsored a daylong tribute to the memory of Miles Davis.Â
Madgods Temporary Hip-Hop Shop at SXSW 2012
Madgods, an Austin-based hip-hop clothing line, had this temporary store between Sixth Street and the Hilton hotel. There were some really cool designs, but, unfortunately, they didn’t have the shirt I liked in my size.Â
Majorette Jamboree at Elliston Academy, Memphis, 3/10/12
On Saturday, March 10, 2012, there was a majorette jamboree at Elliston Baptist Academy in Southeast Memphis. Although there aren’t as many drumlines as there used to be, jamborees are still a big part of Memphis culture. By some accounts, the concept of majorette and drummer jamborees began in Memphis in the 1960’s.
Reeperbahn Burgers at SXSW, 2012
The Reeperbahn Burgers stand is always a high point of SXSW (Taken with Instagram at Reeperbahn Burgers)