(Editor’s Note: Huge thanks to Erik Abel for taking the time to fill us in on what he has been up to since packing his bags and moving to New York. For those unfamiliar, Gen.Erik is a member of Animal Farm and has been one of the hardest working members of the Northwest Hip Hop scene for the last five years. He’s definitely missed within the community and we’re honored that he reached out to us. We’ll be posting monthly updates of his progress and adventures in NY. Enjoy!)
by Erik Abel
What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been! I said goodbye to a long and happy, but increasingly unhealthy relationship with Portland (http://soundcloud.com/animalfarmteam/gen-erik-dear-portland) and sold off over half of my family’s possessions in hopes of making it big in the Biggest Apple of them all. Huge thanks to everyone who came through Berbati’s for the send off. I really will miss so many people in Rip City.
Of course, the moving company decided to send a shady character only a few hours before our flight with no paperwork in a Budget rent a truck. Shouts to Luck-One for keeping my wife unharmed until I got home to deal with the movers. We still haven’t received any of our possessions, but I thought it was 50/50 we would ever see our stuff again in the first place.
Aside from losing everything we own, the move has been exactly the change of scenery I needed. NYC is truly the Mecca of everything entertainment, besides strip clubs (Portland still owns that title). The first event that grabbed my attention was Slick Rick appearing with Evil Dee from Black Moon and Da Beatminerz. After making quick stops at every drinking hole in Soho, we stumbled into Sutra with the goal of making fools of ourselves. Luckily, Slick Rick was mad cool and I got a chance to build with him and his wife, who also manages him (Check the Pic).
A couple days later, I had the opportunity to go to the DMC National Championships with DJ Rob Swift of the X-Ecutioners, who I have been working with for the past few months. Walking into the DMCs with Rob was like walking into the NBA Championships with Michael Jordan or into the AVN Awards with Jenna Jameson (I had to look that last one up). It was amazing to see the respect that everyone has for Rob Swift and I was blessed to meet legends such as Lord Finesse, Cutmaster DC, Break Beat Lou, Jazzy Jay, and this year’s champ and runner up DJ Vajra and I-Dee.
The craziest thing about New York is seeing that all of the legends I used to look up to are normal people who are hustling to pay the bills like the rest of us. It was also a pleasure to meet up with Portland legend and 5 Fingers of Funk MC Pete Miser, who has been a resident of Brooklyn for 13 years now. He has a wealth of knowledge and has been making a living licensing his music for quite sometime now.
I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I’m here and I don’t have to catch a 6 AM flight back to PDX on Monday morning.