AFROPUNK

Wow. That statement, “everything falls into place when you never really plan but simply expect to have fun”, is nothing but true. Thats what the annual event of AFROPUNK was for me. It was my first experience of it, and when I tell you I had a blast. For those who don’t know, the ‘Afropunk festival’ is something that started in Brooklyn in 2005. Its an annual festival for the culture. Black Culture; & it a beautiful thing. It showcases Black Artists’ form of Art from film, fashion, to live music. It’s a two day event and they recently have been doing an annual show here in Atlanta for a few years now. I attended both days in a spur of the moment thing as my weekend pass was a gift. Initially never even planned to get a ticket and go, so maybe it was meant to be? Ha. Hmm…maybe. I’d say so though; it opened my eye a little bit more.

I met this wonderful young lady by the name of Maya, (names have been changed for confidentiality)……no just kidding. Her name is Maya, (now “MAYAAA+ AFROPUNK LA” in my iPhone…[cause she flew here from Los Angeles for the event]). *shrugs shoulder emoji. Anywho, I met here at a Midtown bakery here in Atlanta the Saturday morning before the event that evening as she was walking to her table. I saw the way she was dressed and simply sparked a conversation. “I love your coat its pretty dope”! (it was this see-through white clear type of jacket, it was fresh). “Thanks!”, she replied. I then asked was she going to the parade here in Atlanta as it was to start in about an hour at that time. “Nah. Im going to AFROPUNK”, she brashly said. I was like ME TOO! The rest was history. I hadn’t really planned to go with anyone except one person I was meeting there so hey the more the merrier right? The night was insane. I called up a big stylist friend of mine here in Atlanta by way of New York, he pulled a few pieces and I rocked the night. After an entire bottle of Chardonnay, three shots of Jack, we arrived. By then a dear friend of mine wanted to tag along. I had NO clue where my new found associate Maya was, it was people EVERYWHERE. Never really had been to anything like it other than ART BASEL in Miami. A favorite rap artist of mine was performing that night, LEIKELI47; (big fan b-tee-dubs). The only artist I wanted to see and I walked in right on time! We literally squeezed through EVERYBODY…no really, EVERYBODY. With me leading the way, it was rude but what the hell. I told everyone I passed, “I’m sorry but Im gonna be that guy tonight”. Well it worked, we made it all the way to the front, haha. The CRAZIEST part is that once there and watching her perform as everyone including myself recited every lyric, I turned to my left behind me and there she was. I screamed, she looked at me for like a second the screamed too. Ha! It was MAYAAA+. The night was painted.

The next night I witnessed [and was really introduced to], Anderson .Paak. He put on a hell of a show! Sort of a D’Angelou & Jimi Hendrix style of my generation. Im hooked on all of his music now. That night it was only Maya and I. I had walked in right in time of the show ONCE AGAIN. HA! Its was somewhere between an exhilarating and therapeutic experience. Met some really dope creatives at Afropunk and definitely look forward to attending Afropunk in New York soon.

It was a festival of self freedom. That’s what I enjoyed. Being Unapologetically YOU. Creating and living in your own lane. Milking the moment. I like that, '“milking the moment”. MILK THE MOMENT FOLKS. Don’t be trapped by dogma. That shit sucks.

-ÁJ