Ghetto Girls

by Anthony Whyte

  “Really?” Miss Katie asked. Coco nodded. “That’s good. Seems as though that singing and dancing is beginning to pay off.”

  “Oh yeah. We get a—I mean, the winner gets a record contract and five thousand dollars.”

  “Wow! That’s nice,” Miss Katie said. “Well, you better get set and go take first prize, baby.” Miss Katie was caught up in the excitement.

  “So, I’m off, then. I’ll give you a call an’ tell you if we won. I mean…”

  “What time are the finals?”

  “Supposed to start at eight, but you know these people and how their time goes. They’re on that CPT thing.”

  “Aw, but y’all gonna just knock ‘em dead. Well, you knock ‘em out. Good luck,” Miss Katie said, hugging and kissing Coco on the cheek. “Here’s a set of my keys. Take care and be safe.”

  Outside, Coco lit a cigarette and headed down the block. Miss Katie watched her bop around the corner, puffing on her cigarette. Then she was gone from sight.

  At first, Coco thought the other girls had not arrived at the parking lot across from the club as planned. She headed for the deli on the corner. Then she spotted them sitting, hugging each other. I wonder what could possibly be up, thought Coco as she approached the girls. Danielle sat on a fire hydrant, her arms around Josephine. They looked as if someone had just lost the family pet.

  “What’s up, yo?” Coco asked. She saw tears on their faces.

  “It’s man trouble. Who’s doing who?” Josephine cleared her throat and nodded toward Danielle.

  “No, no, no. Don’t tell me Mr. Lover man is…” Coco began but an infuriated Danielle cut her off.

  “That fucking bastard,” Danielle yelled. “I’m walking down da fucking street to find a phone to call his nasty ass and guess what?”

  “What?” Coco asked.

  “Da nigga was riding around with some other bitch. He wasn’t even answering da beep.” Danielle continued.

  “Well, what? That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s anything to him,” Josephine said.

  “C’mon Josephine, if she didn’t mean anything, why did he make a U-turn as soon as he saw us? Huh? Tell me, why?”

  “Nah, he didn’t do that?” Coco asked.

  “He did.” Josephine deadpanned.

  “Yo, as soon as his eyes caught mine, he was out. He busted an illegal U and almost caused a couple of accidents. He was up to no good,” Danielle said.

  “Well, y’all know my steez, yo. Fuck a nigga. I don’t want one! Don’t need one!” Coco said.

  “He’s cut off. Off like; ‘see ya, Cory.’ I still have some more of that chronic.”

  “Da one that smelled like cookies and cream, yo?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Danielle said. “Let’s break ourselves off a piece, yo.”

  Coco deftly rolled the spliff. The three girls took turns toking. Before long, the weed had all three mellow and calm.

  “Fuck a nigga. There be plenty more,” Josephine said.

  “I ain’t sweating that shit. That’s behind me, Jo,” Danielle said.

  “That shit was like, pow. Don’t want no more. I’m chilled, yo,” Coco said.

  “Let’s go check out da competition,” Danielle suggested.

  “Yeah, yeah, let’s start da show outside right here,” Josephine said.

  “You are absolutely bugging, girl. Whatcha had for breakfast?” Danielle asked.

  “I’m just amped know wha’ I’m saying?” Josephine swung around and hopped up on the hood of a parked car. She made a couple of ballerina twirls and jumped on another unfortunate car.

  “Yeah, I feel lifted too, yo.” Coco said. Coco jumped forward and bounded onto the hood of a third car. She sang loudly. Noise erupted from several car alarms. Danielle joined in. She leapt from hood to hood, setting off more alarms. The noise caught the attention of the parking attendant in his booth.

  “Hey,” he shouted, peering out of his small window. Then he made his way toward the girls, still dancing on cars, singing a repertoire that ranged from Diana Ross through Grace Jones to Lauren Hill.

  “Get your jail-bait assess outta here,” the attendant yelled.

  The girls jumped to the pavement. “It’s show time,” they announced and dashed for the club. There, they quickly sought refuge in the restroom. But the attendant anticipated that. He and two security guards waited outside the restroom. The girls were resourceful, though. They emerged at staggered intervals. Coco, in an Afro wig and make-up, greeted Josephine, also disguised. They watched the three men stare in lustful wonderment at Danielle.

  “Yo, we should sit up front,” Josephine said.

  “We go on in one hour, right?” Danielle asked.

  “C’mon, we could see much better over there,” Josephine said.

  “Unh-uh, it’s much better over here,” Danielle argued.

  “Fuck it. Let’s just sit, yo,” Coco said, finally settling things.

  They enjoyed the other performers and applauded each act. Then they were introduced.

  Da Crew came together onstage. They wore Afro and blonde wigs like mops. The stage came alive as the girls rocked.

  “Let’s treat this like warm-ups,” Danielle said goofing on stage.

  “Ya mean sorta laid back?” Josephine asked.

  “Yeah, yeah, you know.”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, get ready. That’s your cue girls. Are you with me?” the emcee asked. The girls flashed thumbs-up.

  “And now, for our next competitors. Ladies and Gentlemen, get ready for Da Crew.”

  Da Crew attacked the stage in a frenzy. The bass line carried the chant, “Knock ya out.”

  “Take it easy,” Danielle said.

  “Fuck that. Let’s ketch wreck, yo.”

  The baseline dropped and Danielle moaned a Diana Ross classic, ‘Touch Me in the Morning.’ Danielle’s acappella chant reached a crescendo and another baseline riff brought Coco’s raw rap to the forefront. With both hands holding the mike, she dazed the small audience. Josephine and Danielle made dance moves that astonished the crowd and dazzled the judges. Da Crew was destined for the finals. Busta and Eric viewed the girls’ performance on a video screen in Busta’s comfortable office, sipping champagne at the bar.

  “Those girls are real good. You should bring ‘em out,” Busta said.

  Eric smiled, his eyes still on the video. He arose and looked out at the audience of judges and performers. Now he got a true sense that Da Crew could perform well. But this is an amateur show, he thought. Did they have the discipline to take it to the next level?

  “I could work with them.”

  The words tumbled out of Eric Ascot’s mouth, testimony to the girls’ performance.

  Out in the large room, Da Crew bowed amid cheering, each with a smile of accomplishment. Then they were off the stage.

  “Damn, I got da munchies, y’all,” Josephine said.

  “Yeah let’s go get sump’n to eat, yo,” Coco said. She lit a cigarette.

  A few minutes later, they were in a diner, enjoying spicy Buffalo wings between long gulps of soda. They laughed and smoked.

  “Hey, thanks to reversible jackets and wigs we were able to perform in one piece,” Josephine said.

  “Word,” Coco agreed.

  “Just think about it. By the end of the night, a new star will be born,” Danielle said.

  “What, you’ve been pregnant this whole time?” Josephine asked.

  “Stop bugging, girl. I’m talking about us. Da Crew. We’re gonna get ours.”

  “Here, here,” Coco said finishing her soda. She lit another cigarette. Her mother’s plight flashed through her mind. She smiled at the girls as a couple of boys waved and whistled.

  “There they go, like packs of dogs looking to bone something,” Josephine said. The girls laughed. They saw two cops tell the boys to move on.

  “That’s right, arrest ‘em, officer,” the girls yelled from the diner and laughed. Neither the police nor the boys heard.

&
nbsp; “Yo, tonight let’s rip up da stage,” Josephine said.

  “I think we could win it all. It’s our chance at the big time. To the top,” Danielle said.

  “Yeah, yeah. I wouldn’t be down otherwise, yo,” Coco said.

  The girls paid the tab and began the walk back to the club. They shared a cigarette as they envisioned victory. There were more cars in the parking lot now, more guests for the festivities. The moment they had been looking forward to moved closer.

  “Yo, I’m telling you. Can’t nobody stop us but us, so let’s do this right, ahight, yo? Is we ready for this?”

  “Hell yes!” The girls shouted.

  “Amen. I’m feeling it!” Josephine said.

  “Yeah, yeah, this is the big pot of gold. We’ve truly got to believe in ourselves. We know what we want, right?” Danielle said.

  “Yeah,” the girls shouted. They laughed, already triumphant.

  “Well, let’s go take it,” Danielle said. They formed a circle, exchanging high-fives.

  The girls saw the trio approach: Lil’ Long, Vulcha and a beautiful, statuesque woman. Kamilla’s strapless suede dress made even Danielle breathless. Vulcha held her at his side like a prize. It was obvious from her body language that she didn’t want to be with him, or perhaps to be here. Perhaps this scene was not sophisticated enough? Da Crew remained in their circle. The trio was standing next to them.

  “Hey, Coco, Danielle and Jo, what’re y’all doing out here? Flipping, smoking that weed? Try some o’ this. This da shiznit,” Lil’ Long said. He offered a rolled cigarette.

  “Go ahead, spark it,” Danielle said.

  “Oh yeah, you know Vulcha, and that’s his new thing, feel me?”

  “Hi. I’m Kamilla.”

  “I’m Jo.”

  “I’m Coco.”

  “Hi. Did you take classes at the Ninety-second Street Y? No, no, your face... Well, hi, I’m Danielle.”

  “Your face seems a bit familiar. Sixteenth Street dance classes?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. You taught there?” Danielle asked elatedly.

  “Well, I was a student. Not for long.” Kamilla’s voice faded. She seemed uncomfortable.

  “Here you go,” Lil’ Long said passing the joint to Danielle. She puffed and passed it to Josephine, who choked and quickly passed it to Coco. Coco declined and the joint found its way to Vulcha.

  “What will y’all be doing after you win?” The question hung momentarily in the air.

  “Oh, it’s open,” Danielle said.

  “Well, why don’t y’all hang wid us. Let me show y’all a mackadacious time,” said Lil’ Long. He winked at Danielle.

  “Maybe,” Josephine answered.

  “That’s peace,” Lil’ Long said. He pulled Danielle away from the group and spoke to her one-on-one. She returned to the girls.

  “Who he think he be, trying to be on some kinda smooth talk?” Danielle asked.

  “Why don’t y’all chill wid me so I can show y’all a mackadacious time? Mackadacious! Lil’ Long can’t even spell Mack,” Josephine said. The girls giggled.

  “Now he’s big-pimpin, yo?” Coco asked with disdain.

  “Look at them wid that tall, shapely woman. Who did they jack for her?” Josephine asked.

  “We ain’t got time to worry bout that. Let’s get ready to tear this shit up, yo.”

  “Yeah, do what we came here for,” the lively Josephine said.

  The girls walked into the club. Guests filled most of the seats now. Lil’ Long and his party sat next to the stage. The beautiful Kamilla showcased like a captured bird. Da Crew went back-stage and took their position.

  “Yo, that’s one of da Chop Shop Crew. That’s Wise. Oh shit, and there goes Silky Black,” Josephine said.

  “Shush,” Coco and Danielle cautioned.

  “Stop acting all bugged out,” Danielle said. “You’ve been going all day. It’s irritating.”

  “Ahight yo, them Chop Shop niggas getting ready to ketch wreck,” Coco said.

  “Yo, they da bomb,” Josephine said high-fiving both Danielle and Coco. The emcee’s voice came through clearly and sent chills down the girls’ spines.

  “From da B.X., Edenwald, here are Da Chop Shop Crew. Ladies and Gentlemen, put your hands together and let’s turn da party out.”

  The walls shook with the reverberating bass. As the quartet took the stage, sending the club wild, club-goers stood and screamed. Silky Black rolled with the crew from B.X.

  “If you want some, step up an’ get some now. If you want some…” went the hook. The audience participated unselfishly. The Chop Shop Crew was in charge. No one came close.

  “Yo, they are so nasty,” Danielle said.

  “We got to rock shit out like them. They ain’t front’n,” Josephine said.

  Coco stared intently as the performers stole the audience’s soul and kept it throughout every song. They forced the audience to participate until they gave in to the tempestuous sin and lost their souls altogether. At the close of their performance, the Chop Shop Crew walked away with more hearts and more fans. The coup was complete. Who could follow that? Coco wondered.

  “Them niggas rocked this shit, yo,” she said.

  “They coming on later, at the end,” Josephine cried.

  As the group emerged from the stage, Silky Black wished all the competitors luck.

  “You notice he was smiling when he looked at us?” Danielle asked.

  “Niggas feel da real when they see it,” Josephine said.

  “There are about seven songs to go before we’re Numero Uno,” Danielle said.

  “Ahight, so let’s sit and chill. Draw on our power,” Josephine said.

  “You’re still bugging, girl. Stop!” Danielle yelled.

  “Yo, yo, y’all chill. Let’s sit over here, yo, cuz the both of yous bugging,” Coco said and moved clear of the stage. The other girls joined her.

  “There’s no smoking back here, miss,” a voice said. Danielle turned around to attack, but she saw the source of the voice and she smiled, putting the cigarette out.

  They trembled as each contestant was announced. Even though they’d performed before, they felt butterflies in their stomachs. Their breaths came in short gasps as they watched other acts qualify for the finals. They jumped around together as the emcee began their introduction with short biographies. Then their turn came.

  “Here we go; ladies and gentlemen. Our final finalists for you are Da Crew.”

  They ran to the center of the stage and were met by the lights. There they stayed, marking their territory like cats, making it difficult for anyone else to follow. Danielle sang and moaned her way into everyone’s heart, while Coco rapped soul to go, words flowing from her mouth like no ordinary lead singer. She was vicious in her lyrical assault, took no prisoners. Josephine provided background vocals and hammered out a rap. She made steps that deceived the naked eye.

  The audience had been caught napping. They had slept through six lullabies. The seventh rocked them awake. The club kids jumped to their feet, moving with the beat. They clapped their hands, even while they sought refuge from the heat of Da Crew. But there was no shelter from this storm. Coco shouted into the microphone.

  “An old lady told me to knock out da competition, leave ‘em dead, blood oozing from their fucking heads, rolling off with da lyrics. I kick like Bruce. My vocabulary is like a fist of fury when I come to say me and Da Crew ain’t fucking here to play. Tell you something. All y’all want mo’? Well, let me give ya Jo.” And so it went, big with a pop for Da Crew. They renewed the onslaught of the Chop Shop Crew, whose members took notice and began discussing the girls’ performance.

  “Yo, them honeys could open for us.”

  “No question, they could do a li’l sump’n.”

  “Yo, we should find out who managing them girls. They’re nice.”

  “Muthafucking right.”

  “And they got all those moves, too.”

  Upstairs in a b
ooth, watching the video re-play was Busta, Eric Ascot, Sophia and Deedee. They watched Da Crew, re-run after re-run.

  “They were without question the best,” Eric said.

  “I told ya they’re the butters,” Busta said. The judges are gonna have to give those six other acts honorable mentions or something. Let me go see how they’re doing. C’mon, maybe I could get ya rocking on da mike or hitting us with a li’l sump’n, sump’n on da turntables.”

  “Don’t think so. My days living like that are over, B.,” Eric said.

  An elevator took them down to where the finalists waited nervously. Deedee walked to Da Crew and hugged the girls. Eric, Busta and Sophia shook each finalist’s hand, wishing all good luck.

  Josephine noticed the gesture. “Everyone is so cool tonight,” she said. “I’m so tired, but it feels great, like this should go on forever. This is really cool.” The four girls continued hugging. Eric and Busta kissed each girl on the cheek.

  “You were the best. Your show was great,” Eric said.

  “Yeah, you were the best,” Busta said. “ I can’t dispute da truth.”

  Deedee and Sophia chatted with Da Crew. Eric and Busta wandered off to meet the other guests and judges.

  “I’m saying, yeah, I would love to work with them,” Eric said.

  “Yeah, well then that’s it. You know they won. You’ve seen the response. Let’s check what the judges say,” Busta said. There was a burst of music, then the boom of the emcee’s voice.

  “We’ve got Eric Ascot in da house tonight.”

  “And we’ve got his niece, Deedee,” Deedee said standing in the shadows.

  “And don’t forget his woman, cuz she is up in da house, too, y-o-o.” Sophia had caught the mood. Da Crew heard and laughed along. Even Coco chuckled.

  The girls began pacing around, forming their usual circle, accompanied now by Deedee and Sophia.

  “Wonder what’s taking so long, yo?” Coco asked.

  “Yeah, it was only seven acts to choose from.” Danielle said.

  “Hmm, I don’t like all this waiting around. For what?” Josephine questioned.

  Coco lit another cigarette and sat on the floor. The wall supported her back. She seemed tired. Deedee noticed and went off to get two sodas. She sat next to Coco and gave her one. The pair watched Josephine and Danielle, who were roaming the club, attracting males.