"Your job is to be Emmitt James", he quoted his lovely girlfriend Jamai and partner, on stage that night at the Var Gallery. A reminder that his talent and work ethic as a Hip Hop-Jazz/DIY Renaissance Man is absolutely not something to give up on. It was a "word". Not just because the support underlined her own commitment to their survival but because it was a sign of hope for all of us who take our creativity as seriously as any other type of labor. We are soul entrepreneurs eating off our passions. [Still very hungry].
The Too Cold to Tour, set was an intimate packed house that postured how Emmitt James presence in the Mil is a celebrated welcome back as if he never left. With the network strong, the family in the building, and his hand very much on the culture that cultivated him, he showed up and showed out.
With songs like, "WR-4R" (Will Rap 4 Rent), "Jagger James", and "Covenant", he entertained us. He shared his anecdotal rhetoric [yall gotta pay attention to those gems]. He made us laugh and say "emmm hmmm" with branded quips like, "Vagetarian" [I mean eating can save lives lol]. He reminded us what the hell a good live set should feel like and how important it is to shamelessly plug that you have merch for sale in the back [Cassettes, shirts, and 1 more velvet thong left *shrug*].