The band played for two and a half hours before saying goodbye to the faithful, but even then the faithful demanded more. After they had done an encore of four raps they had performed all the raps on both albums plus the dedication to Yinka. When the band came off stage they were pouring with sweat. Marga Man, Mallam, Sam, Kori and all the others who had been watching in the wings knew that this was the best performance the band had ever given, and the fans knew they had been a part of something very special.
A ring of security guards surrounded them as they made their way back to the dressing room, and once in the dressing room the guards made sure that no one outside the band’s inner circle had access to them. Their family and friends treated their backstage passes like precious passports.
The boys had always liked meeting fans and signing autographs, but for the London gigs all the advice said that there should be no signings after the shows. So there was a long wait for the fans to disperse, and then the few that did wait around barely got a glimpse of them. The tour bus pulled up right next to the stage door, the guards made a human corridor that allowed the band to walk straight on to the bus, and as advised the boys looked straight ahead and said nothing. Even on the bus they couldn’t be seen because all the curtains had been drawn.
This time Marga Man had hired the banqueting hall of an expensive Docklands hotel for the after-show party, and once again the security was tight. The DJ Rapcity provided the music, and his contract stressed that no Positive Negatives tunes should be played, and that at least sixty per cent of his tunes should be by British bands. Marga Man had invited many of the usual suspects but he had also invited many dedicated fans who he had recognised as such when they turned up at the music shop partly to buy CDs but also to make enquiries about the band. By doing this Marga Man gave at least some fans an opportunity to make contact with the band.
Amongst the fans was Fingers, who had turned up with a friend. On seeing Ray, Fingers approached him with his arms wide open.
‘X-Ray-X,’ he called out to him. They hugged and touched fists. ‘Every night’s a night to remember with you guys, but tonight was even more than that. I got some wicked photos too. Every hip-hop band in the world should have seen you perform tonight, that’s how it should be done. And that new joint is dark, man, those lyrics kill me. People love the website, but everyone including me wants to know when you guys going Stateside? You gotta go and spread the word, let them know what’s happening.’
‘The States may be happening,’ said Ray.
‘For real?’ Fingers asked excitedly.
‘For real,’ said Ray.
‘Yeah, Positive Negatives in the Big Apple, I can see it now. Can I come?’ asked Fingers, straight-faced.
Ray laughed. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’
The guy who was with Fingers joined the conversation. ‘Any plans to go anywhere else?’ he asked.
‘Well, I’ve heard a little talk about certain parts of Asia. Our beats are selling there, and Australia, but they’re just all in the pipeline, nothing’s for sure right now.’
‘You should go to Africa, I’m from there, Africa needs you. And I want to thank you for that rap you done called “Refugee Me”. That tune is intelligent, yes, that tune means a lot to me. I brought you a present.’ He handed Ray a small book the size of a matchbox. Ray looked at it, amused by its size and intrigued by its title, Wise Words of Africa.
‘Thanks,’ said Ray. ‘I haven’t even read it yet but I know that it’s a good book.’
‘Don’t forget. I wanna be on your Stateside tour, hey, and your African one.’
‘I’ll speak to a friend in a high place,’ laughed Ray.
Ray was also being pressured by others in the nicest possible way. Just after Fingers and his friend left, the three band members were confronted by Kori and her two friends Lizette and Thara.
‘First of all,’ said Thara, ‘we want to say that you did a great performance tonight, and second of all we want you to listen.’
Kori raised her hand as a signal to DJ Rapcity, who then stopped playing and the three girls began to sing. Kori took the lead and the others harmonised. It was a soulful, quirky song about the need for women to control their men, and it didn’t take long for the trio to attract the attention of everyone in the room. As the song progressed into the third verse everyone began to clap along in time and Prem began to hum a bass line. The song ended on a high note with all three girls holding a close three-part harmony in perfect time. The crowd was enthralled. They clapped enthusiastically and called for more, but the girls shied away. When the applause died down the band members began to praise the girls’ vocal skills.
‘You hear that,’ said Ray, ‘my little sister, voice like an angel. A superstar, believe me.’
‘Majestic,’ said Tyrone.
Kori put her arms around Prem and Ray. ‘Never mind all the praise, I say no praise without a raise, so can we tour with you? We’ve almost rehearsed a full show, and if you have us as support you won’t have to go looking anywhere else, will you? So when you’re ready, we’re right here, and we’re called Zen.’
Ray laughed out loud. ‘Zen, what kinda name’s that?’
‘It’s deep,’ said Kori. ‘So deep you wouldn’t understand. Just think of us starting the show for you, it’d be cool, we’d bring some niceness to the show.’
‘I was just thinking that,’ said Prem.
Ray wasn’t too sure. ‘You’re good, no, you’re great, but you got a soul and R’n’B thing going there. Our fans are hardcore hip-hop fans, they may not be into it, you know what I’m saying?’
Kori used her arm around Ray’s neck to give him a shake. ‘Don’t I remember you at the MOBO Awards saying that all music is cool, and that we’re all finding ways to express ourselves? So what’s changed now?’
‘Nothing,’ said Ray. ‘I’m just saying that when fans come to our gigs they expect to hear hip-hop and not other stuff. And I’m not saying other stuff is bad, it’s just the fans.’
‘Well you’ll just have to educate them,’ said Kori.
‘You can’t argue with that,’ said Prem.
‘I can,’ said Ray.
‘Don’t,’ said Prem. ‘I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be strangled.’
After Ray, Prem and Tyrone had agreed to think about it, Kori let go and peace reigned once again.
It had been a good night. Even the after-show party was a success, so the fans were happy, the crew were happy, and the band were happy. Marga Man smiled contentedly. Positive Negatives were back.
Chapter 23
Good Morning TV
‘The hip-hop rapper known as Reel Steel has been arrested for the possession of a firearm. The arrest took place last night at a concert being given by hip-hop band Positive Negatives. Reel Steel, whose real name is Lawrence Dale, is a prominent member of the group the Western Alliance, who are believed to be sworn enemies of Positive Negatives. Dale was stopped and searched by security staff as he tried to enter the concert. Whilst conducting the search the security staff discovered a small hand gun. Officers who were on duty outside the venue were called and an arrest was made. The band’s management had no comment to make. Dale will appear in court later this morning.’
Chapter 24
All Chaos on the Western Front
Ray rushed out of the taxi and threw a twenty-pound note on the seat. ‘Keep the change.’
‘This is twenty mate – the fare’s only four pounds,’ said the taxi driver.
But Ray ignored him and raced into the music shop. The newspaper in his hand was opened at the appropriate page. He handed it to Marga Man.
‘Have you seen that? They came to our concert armed, and we have to play on their territory tonight. What are we going to do?’
‘What can we do?’ Marga Man said, unmoved. ‘We just do what we do, we can’t not do de concert because of their antics.’
Ray pointed to the newspaper in his hand. ‘Come on, Marga Man, what
would one of their crew be doing at one of our concerts with a gun?’
‘We don’t know.’
‘I think we should call the concert off,’ said Ray sternly.
‘No way,’ Marga Man said, scanning quickly over the newspaper article. ‘You have fans, they await you. You can’t let these thugs stop you. I have already organised even tighter security, so rest easy. You are an artist, Positive Negatives is a creative force, do your art, be creative. Let me worry about security matters.’
‘I don’t know,’ said Ray.
‘I do,’ said Marga Man.
Just then, Prem and Tyrone entered the shop, both clutching different newspapers that were carrying the story. ‘Did you hear what happened at our gig last night?’ asked Prem in a raised voice.
‘We know,’ Ray replied.
‘Serves them right,’ Prem said. ‘Who told them to come to our gig with armoury?’
‘It’s tonight that bothers me,’ Ray said. ‘I don’t think we should do the gig.’
But both Prem and Tyrone disagreed with Ray.
‘We have to do it,’ said Marga Man.
‘True,’ said Tyrone.
‘OK. Whatever,’ said Ray. ‘What time are we leaving?’
Marga Man handed the newspaper back to Ray. ‘Don’t worry about these people. I’ll pick you up in the bus at three, we must sound check around five.’
‘I see it differently from you guys,’ Ray said. ‘These guys are out for us. There is war, can’t you see it? These are the guys who killed Yinka. OK, I’ll go to the concert but I’m not going to be an easy target for them. If they fuck with me I’ll fuck with them back. This is serious, we’re going on their territory. I’ll see you later.’ Ray walked out, leaving the others with raised eyebrows.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Marga Man. ‘Yu can’t blame him, him just lose him woman and him still dealing wid dat.’
Later that afternoon they travelled to west London on the tour bus, and just as they arrived Ray’s phone rang. He looked for the caller’s number, but there was none. He answered.
‘Welcome to hell, baby rappers.’
It was the same voice as always. Ray’s face twisted with rage as he switched off his phone. ‘There it is again.’
‘Don’t let it get to you,’ said Tyrone. ‘We had calls this morning too.’
‘Did you? So why didn’t you tell me?’ said Ray, his temper rising.
‘Because it’s no big thing,’ said Tyrone.
Ray turned on Tyrone. ‘No big thing? Your girl hasn’t been taken out, that’s why you can say it’s no big thing. You have your girl and everything’s cool with you, yeah your baby’s coming and you’re earning, but look at me, man, you lot don’t give a fuck about me.’
Tyrone was badly hurt by Ray’s words but he didn’t say anything back. He just gave a cold stare right into Ray’s eyes. It was left to Marga Man to cool things down.
‘Come on, we got work to do, let’s do it. Or do you want to start a fight amongst yourselves? Dat would be very positive. Come on, look at de amount of backup we have.’ Marga Man did a one hundred and eighty degree turn and as he did so the various security guards nodded their heads, acknowledging their presence.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Ray softly.
‘It’s cool,’ replied Tyrone.
Hammersmith Palais was another large venue. Bunny and the sound crew had brought an extra powerful PA system that caused the venue to seriously vibrate. Fans from east London, many of whom were at the previous night’s concert, had travelled over to see them, and soon after the sound check word reached the band that queues had begun to form outside. The boys ordered food in and after eating they stayed around the dressing rooms reading newspaper reports and keeping each other’s spirits high.
Time passed quickly and soon it was time for action. As the band stood at the side waiting to go on stage there was an edginess about the boys. Prem was nodding his head as if he were listening to music of his own, Tyrone was standing still as if in deep contemplation, and Ray was playing around shadow-boxing and whispering lines from his raps. The bodyguards looked on like mourners at a funeral, expressionless and silent. When Marga Man turned up the mood changed.
‘Right, yu ready for dis?’ he asked, upbeat.
The boys all answered ‘Yes.’ But not as enthusiastically as Marga Man would have liked. He wanted more.
‘I said are yu ready for dis?’
This time they replied with more volume.
‘OK, well let’s go mek some noise in west London.’ He clenched his fist and stretched it forward, the boys gathered around and, with all fists connected at their centre, Marga Man started to speak and the rest joined in.
‘Let wordy great minds think alike, sweet Hip-Hop be our guiding light.’
‘Your public awaits you,’ Marga Man, said before walking on stage.
As Marga Man arrived on stage the sound system music stopped and everyone turned towards him. He had said nothing but still he received applause. He waited for a moment before speaking, to make sure that the audience was in place and ready to hear what he had to say. Then he spoke, proclaiming as if announcing the coming of new prophets.
‘Hip-hop comes from de angry streets, it goes into de recording studio, and den it goes back on de streets. It is created by real people for real people, without de people dis music means nothing. Dis is de music dat record companies can’t control because it is de music of de soul, dis music is hated by politicians because dis music is powerful but it seeks no vote. De media people hate dis music because it is not created for television programmes and it is not created by men in suits. Lately yu may have heard de media people talking whole heap a bullshit about hip-hop.’
There was a great roar from the audience accompanied by boos.
‘Yes,’ Marga Man continued. ‘Whole heap a bullshit. But don’t let dem fool yu, de music yu are about to hear is about unity, unity of all people against boredom and conformity. De music yu are about to hear is de music of resistance, de music yu are about to hear may have come out of de East End but it is for de people of de north, south, east and west.’
There was another great roar.
‘De music yu are ’bout to hear is de music of Positive Negatives.’
The roar rose in decibels and intensity.
‘Let’s do this,’ said Ray.
As they walked on, the venue’s line of security men at the front of the stage tightened and the band’s own security took up positions on the sides of the stage. If there was anyone in the crowd being hostile they were completely drowned out by the cheers of joy coming from the majority, and the nervousness of the band quickly melted away as they began to musically hypnotise the crowds. The crowd stayed under the influence of the music, completely in tune with every word that was rapped by the boys, regardless of speed, accent or inflection. It was another long, hot and energetic gig, and nothing went wrong, everything went very right. Once again the band had to do four encores before the crowd would begin to consider going home.
After the show the security blocked off all routes backstage while the boys cooled down, washed and changed. The feeling was good. The crowd had been as welcoming as an east London crowd or any of the crowds that they had encountered at other gigs. Tyrone was raving inside, but calm outside, Ray was raving outside and inside, raving about how good it had gone and making up lines of rap about the gig, Prem was dancing around contentedly, and Marga Man was quietly content too.
Soon Marga Man gave the security guards permission to let the guests in. Skelly from the record company made an appearance before leaving for another gig, and Fingers turned up, followed by many other guests including Kori, Lizette, Thara and Sam. A mini party began backstage, and as always Fingers was in high spirits, trying to photograph everyone in sight, and he had plenty to say.
‘Positive Negatives rule the world,’ he shouted out loud as the people mingled.
‘We know that,’ shouted Kori in response.
/> Ray approached Fingers. ‘To sleep with your eyes open is to dream out loud.’
‘Yeah, right,’ said Fingers.
Ray smiled and said, ‘No matter how long a log stays in the water it will never become a crocodile.’
‘What are you going on about?’ Fingers asked.
‘It’s wisdom man, I got them from that book your mate gave me last night.’
‘OK,’ said Fingers, as he thought back to the night before. ‘Yeah, he’s always reading books and saying mystical things. You know that track of yours, “Refugee Me”? He knows it by heart, the guy studied it as if it was college coursework, I tell ya.’
‘Well, when you see him, tell him I said it’s a cool little book, I’ve been dipping into it all night,’ Ray said, pulling out a copy of the new CD from one of the large side pockets of his trousers. ‘Give him this for me.’
‘He’s got a copy already,’ Fingers said.
Ray pulled out a pen. ‘Well, give him this one anyway; I’ll sign it for him. What’s his name?’
‘Alem,’ said Fingers.
Ray signed the CD and handed it to Fingers. ‘I’m not sure if this has as much wisdom as the book but it’s the thought that counts.’ Ray was smiling, but Fingers looked scared. Then Ray realised that Fingers was not looking at him but over his shoulder. Ray turned round, and standing in the doorway was Dragon, surrounded by six other members of the Western Alliance.
Gangsta Rap Page 19
