Grammy-winning old-school crooner Charlie Wilson set the Mandalay Convention Center ablaze Friday night during the Hillshire Farm Friday Freedom Friday Party with his old and new joints. Hip Hop icon Doug E. Fresh shut it down, setting the stage for the “5-Hour Energy Midnight Comedy Jam Hosted by Nephew Tommy.”
On Saturday evening, the actual Ford-sponsored Hoodie Awards will pop off and will be shown on live webcast. The after party guest list includes the likes of rapper Common, Sherri Shepherd, comedian George Wallace, Steven A. Smith, Tasha Smith of Why Did I Get Married, singers Dwele, Joe, Tank and Keith Sweat, and actresses Loretta Devine, Holly Robinson Peete and Victoria Rowell.
The 5-Hour Energy Midnight Comedy Jam, which didn’t end until well past 2 a.m., got revved up to a roof-rattling raucous start with comedian Red Man. A white man who’s completely immersed in hip hop culture, Red Man got a rousing standing ovation after accounting for his life as a Caucasian acclimated to black culture and how black strip clubs saved his life. Melanie Comarcho and Lavell Crawford also blistered the audience until every drop of laugh had spilled onto the carpet inside the Mandalay Theater.
Harvey, whose awards will honor people’s commitment to their community from places as far away as Atlanta and Newark, was truly humbled and touched by the throngs in attendance Friday night.
“I can’t thank y’all enough for the way you have treated and honored my wife and me. I am truly touched,” he said. “Thousands of black people [are here] and there’s no fighting, no drama, no problems and we are getting our party on and celebrating the best in black America.” — terry shropshire
