Couple things... Tops is not a title sponsored event. The whole who's who factor was just not there diminishing the vibe - which is a good thing. As a promoter myself, I like to keep sponsorship to a minimum. After all, it's all about the party and the sounds, isn't it?

Don't get it twisted, though! The Appleton and Smirnoff Ice branding that weekend was great (especially for the patrons) but Tops was just a simple super all-inclusive party. Code Red, Coppershot, Bambino and Karim were scheduled to play and did play and it was just all good. Also, the promoters are such dolls. It's not all about the dough at the end of the night - it's all about making sure everybody's having a good time and promoting personally and properly. Oje not only made sure I was cool (he brought me an Appleton mug from the bar when I showed my concern that they were serving Barcardi and Coke for Rum & Coke) but he also went around making sure everybody else was cool. Personality and friendliness with your patrons is KEY KEY KEY. Trust me, it makes a big difference and really does show the patrons who took out good money to get in your party, that you actually give a shit that they are the reason you are getting paid in the morning. Last thing - The venue, Cosmos, was wicked. It was right on the strip within the vicinity of all the ray tay and they set it up beautifully with the bars on one side and the masses of food on another. There was no VX (booooo!) but the Appleton Special held strong all night along with the plastic Appleton mugs which on a long weekend are crucial.

So, those are the reasons why I thought the party was going to be good. Now, the party itself. The vibes were sweet! The music was loud and good. Karim mashed it up with his mixing and Supahype from Code Red with his hype pon di mic. This was a real beach party, too. Most of the female patrons were decked out in bikinis, and the guys in shorts and jerseys for the most part. I couldn't help but bus' the uniform - Marina and Timbs. Sarry! But the weekend had been so damn long, I had to be comfy. I knew this was going to be a long day.

Jawdy took the Whaddat Cam from me and did his thang. I chilled out on a wall for the majority of the night while he took the pics. I have to take this opportunity to big up Jawdy. It's good to be alive, don't it? Wha yuh seh? Head gone? Joke, yah! But, you lookin' good!

For those who know what time it is with that last comment, just close your gaped mouth and read. I must say that I was most content being alone and taking in the music. RETV was off duty that day (save for Macedon, our new cameraman) and it was all about chillin'. I saw Shotta D. from Realvibes.net was all up in the mix with his camcorder, so I guess you can look out for that video on the site (watch the bandwidth, Shotta!)

After night-fall, a likkle stage show started, spurned on by Supahype, the biggest mouth of them all. I was taking it in from my wall and Protoje a.k.a. Oje hit the stage. If oonu don't know 'bout Oje just turn up your comp's volume and tek him een. He sounds good, he flows good, he looks good and on top of all that he writes good. He was going on good at Tops but when I heard him spit something about Mic Chik, Whaddat.com, Fyah and Tru Honey, I nearly drop! I found my way next to the stage in seconds and for the first time in years, I felt like grabbing the mic and droppin' a two verse for a live audience. I kept my cool not wanting to step on any toes... or fall off the stage for that matter with my currently off-balance self. The stage show was over and it pretty much closed off the party. I took what pics I could with the waning battery life and beginning to wane myself, started looking around for my ride.