In the famous words of Fat Joe, “Today’s price is not yesterday’s price,” when it comes to D-Nice. The man that captivated the world just by playing the music he loved during the pandemic with his now revolutionary IG Live parties, has done it again with the live version of Club Quarantine. Accompanied by some VIP friends on stage and a packed house, this night was truly a moment.
This past Sunday was everything we needed it to be more. D-Nice, who was already a legend in the world of hip-hop, elevated his status that much more after crushing the Hollywood Bowl. With superior sonics, nostalgic nuance, vivid visuals, and soulful synergy brought by the talent that blessed the stage and the CQ family that filled the outside venue from the front row to the rafters, CQ Live was the party we all needed.
D-Nice has come a long way from when Club Quarantine was called “Home School,” when I was tuning in with maybe 100 other people. What started with a few was now thousands as the Hollywood Bowl was completely sold out. Allow me to set the scene; “Funky fresh, dressed to impress in all white and his classic hat to match, D-Nice stood behind the turntables like a king addressing his kingdom. Summer dresses, CQ T-Shirts, Jordan’s, sandals, seersucker suits, snapbacks, gangsta brims, and every other fashion possible were on full display as everybody came together to say and live two simple words, “We Outside!” You already know how the family reunion goes down; picnic baskets with snacks, wine flowing, beer-drinking, and somebody’s uncle showing he still got it was that outside energy we all missed.
From the opening of the show, where D-Nice had CQ comments playing on the jumbotron screens, to Erica Campbell and Karima Kibble giving us the Sunday Gospel Brunch vibes, or Chis Spencer and Donnie Wahlberg bringing the energy as the hosts for the evening, the mood was set for a night to remember.
An absolute night to remember is an understatement; CQ Live was like the family reunion you always wanted to go to. Kiana Ledé gave us the sexy soulful love with her joint “Rather Be.” Common gave us that pure hip-hop with the old school windmill to match as he showed off the b-boy moves and gave us “The Light” we all needed. Tank was a surprise performer and all the ladies next to me kept saying, “When is he going to take off his shirt?” LOL! The brothers of Omega Psi Phi went absolutely ape sh*t along with the rest of us in attendance, as George Clinton rocked that “Atomic Dog” and more as another surprise performer. The legendary Sheila E showed up and showed out and taught the CQ Family what the “Glamorous Life” is all about and you know she flexed those unmatched drum skills. The only time anyone felt “nobody’s supposed to be here” is when Deborah Cox hit all those amazing notes from her hit “How Did You Get Here.” Deborah also gave us some Whitney love with “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and the family obliged as everyone was on their feet. Trey Songz had anybody driving or any neighbors on Cahuenga Blvd knowing his name as the women sang it loud and proud. D-Nice’s favorite group did what they do best and had everyone two-stepping in the dark as the Isley Brothers had us all groovin’ with a few of their classics.
The classics didn’t stop there; of course, D-Nice blessed the family with some memorable moments as he moved the crowd by getting us through the night the same way he got many of us through the pandemic by letting those turntables breathe. This was more than a vibe; this was a movement and I can only imagine how amazing the upcoming Brooklyn and Atlanta shows will be.
On this memorable night, if you didn’t come with friends, you made friends or reconnected with family you met in the livest club online. On this night, we were truly one nation under a groove as we did “Da Butt,” watched Us star Sterling Brown, rock out to “All About the Benjamins,” and body rolled alongside Spice Adams. D-Nice also paid respect to the legendary Biz Markie as we all sang in unison, “You…you got what I need…” On this night we were just friends having fun as a family and if you know anything about CQ, there is an anthem that brings it all together. D-Nice ended the show with the classic Sister Sledge joint, “Thinking of You (Dimitri From Paris Remix) accompanied by an array of fireworks that capped off the evening in true CQ epic fashion. Although masks were required because we are not quite out of this pandemic yet, it was a moment to just exhale and “Let it Breathe.”
