Featured
A Prince Amongst Men – R.I.P Prince Rogers Nelson
I was randomly at the Prince tribute last night in Brooklyn and saw what you hardly see in music or anywhere else for that matter; 100% diversity. The level of diversity that can only be described as annoyingly cliché. The kind that world leaders and musicians strive for and promise but know deep down in their hearts can never truly be achieved so it just gets reduced to rhetoric on the campaign trail. For we the people are just too distinct and particular a species to ever live in harmony. Or are we?
As I stood in a sea of people who responded to Spike’s Lee’s impromptu call to pay homage to a true genius, icon and legend, I saw a grown Spanish man try with little success as he fought back tears while he mouthed every single word to most of Prince’s staple songs. I saw a Caucasian cop on patrol standing on the stoop in Fort Greene mouthing every single word to most of Prince’s songs and couldn’t help but wiggle his utility belt for the groove was too funky not to. I saw thugs, nerds, old, young, men, women and every race and color show up to honor a man that clearly meant more to us than we acknowledged daily.
From the rhythm less Caucasian woman who danced to her own beat but sang every single lyric (she bumped me at least 17 times) to the O.G who was still auditioning for Soul Train with unnecessary dance moves but sang every single lyric (and somehow managed not to bump 17 people), the common cause was consistent; Everyone was there to thank Prince for all the joy he had brought throughout our lives.
As with most little brothers, my musical exposure came from my older brother and I remember distinctly the Purple Rain album on heavy rotation in our room. I was a “Doves Cry” kinda guy and ‘til this day, I get incensed when radio stations and Deejays don’t let the song play out to the feverish violin solo crescendo that I seem to be the only one who appreciates. My brother would play the actual song Purple Rain until I wanted to drown myself in Lake Minnetonka.
Everyone has a favorite Prince song and if you’ve ever been to any party, anywhere and of any genre, you know that all you need to do to kick things up a notch is throw on some Prince. Kiss, Red Corvette, Let’s go crazy, etc.. Prince could easily turn up like DMX or swoon like Sinatra. Whatever you desired musically, Prince left no one insatiable.
Whatever you desired musically, Prince left no one insatiable.
There is really nothing that hasn’t already been said about Prince so I wont even attempt to. His contributions to me and many others was his music so my focus during his passing will be what brought me the most joy and nothing else. On a day that I was personally giving thanks for my own life, we were all vividly reminded once again that “Life is just a party and parties weren’t meant to last.”
R.I.P Prince Rogers Nelson June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016
Almost every year for the past 6 years and on the same day, I’ve posted the same pic of me in the hospital during my temporary and untimely demise in 2015. A few weeks after I was back to “normal”, I asked Eric “Why’d you take the pics?” And he said, “I knew you would want to write about it if you lived.” Eric was right. Eric was often right and Eric always had my best interest at heart. I am going to miss my friend.
You ever meet someone and become friends immediately?! Well this was not the case with Eric. Before he was my manager at Morgan Stanley, I would often see this 6’4″, giant white guy walk up to the only black woman at work, say something then walk away without any hint of human emotion. Naturally I thought he was a jerk until I asked her “Yo, is that dude bothering you?” She laughed and proceeded to tell me he was a great person, which I ultimately got to experience first hand. Little did I know this Italian from Staten Island was more Brooklyn than most Brooklynites.
Eric was not with the shits!! If there were ever someone who lived their life in direct, honest and no uncertain terms, that would be Eric. He would ask me questions at work like “Why are the other consultants making more money than you?” I knew the answer to that question and so did he. Eric then proceeded to increase my salary by 15K. After arguing with all our managers that “You need to hire Alfred!”, they eventually did 1 year prior to the 2015 incident. In the hospital, one of my friends asked me, “What if you didn’t have health insurance when this happened?” I would be in debt for the rest of my life is the obvious answer. I still am in debt for the rest of my life but at least, it is to those who made sure I had a more enjoyable life and for that, I will gladly repay.
My mom loved to tell me the story of how she met Eric. After they told her I was going to be in the ICU for some time, she told the doctor “Well I’m not going anywhere.” She then hears a voice from that back of the room that says “Well I’m not going anywhere either!” That was Eric and in true form, he was at that hospital every single day until I was discharged.
Eric passed away in December 2021 of stage 4 cancer. After feeling faint on his way to my bbq, he went to get checked out and was diagnosed. During the past 5 years, Eric lost his mom, twin brother and dad. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like but I’m glad that pain he was feeling is no more.
From being my manager to my business partner, writer, book editor, artistic director, and most importantly, my friend, I am going to miss you MC Krispy E a.k.a “Enrique Pollazo!” And although you told me Enrique means Henry in Spanish and not Eric, it was too late!
Sidebar. The day I was discharged, while everyone was deciding what was best for me, no one had remembered that I would need clothes in order to leave the hospital. Eric shows up (unasked) with all the clothes I had on the day I coded, laundered and ready to go. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve friends like this but i need to keep doing it! Sidebar complete.
Rest in Peace Eric. “Be Good.”
I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a panel discussion on writing your first book, presented by the Harlem chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Alongside Jim St. Germain, Author – A Stone of Hope: A Memoir and Dr. Keneshia Nicole Grant, Author – The Great Migration and the Democratic Party: Black Voters and the Realignment of American Politics in the 20th Century. We opined on pain points, benefits and strategies regarding our inaugural voyages into authorship. Feel free to watch for your self and I hope this provides some insight to all those looking to make the same voyage. Enjoy!
