Professional Shout Outs

In my last post, I joked about how I tone down my work attire on days when I also have rap shows in the evenings. But sometimes when you have the annual Silver Society dinner to attend before your rap show, you don’t have that option. Then you have to show up to the rap show in your most professional business attire. Occupational hazard.

It’s always a bit of a shock to the system to go from my work events to Paul’s work events, but I kinda love it. It reminds me of how much we expand each others world views. At the Silver Society dinner, we heard a talk on some of the silver from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s recent catalog of their American silver collection. When I was in grad school, I spent a year long internship at the Met doing research on colonial silver for this catalog, so it was a topic near and dear to my heart. I formed great relationships with the two silver curators there, so I was super honored when they both thanked me for my work during their lecture. I got a shout out in a room full of silver curators, scholars, and researchers from major museums and institutions across the world. I felt like the coolest nerd in the room.

PremRock

But as soon as the lecture and dinner were over, I hopped in a cab and raced to Williamsburg to get to PremRock's release show for his new album, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. It's Prem’s fifth album, all of which have been engineered by Paul, and there was no way I was going to miss celebrating that achievement! Prem always puts on a fantastic show, and this new album is some of his best work. You can buy it for only $5 on his bandcamp. One of my coworkers came, liked what she heard, and bought two of his albums. Maybe we’ll be listening to rap (instead of classical) in the silver department soon?

Willie Green & PremRock

Prem asked Paul to join him on stage to perform a few oldies from their album, PremRock & Willie Green. Following a glowing introduction from Prem, Paul took the stage to a crowd chanting his name. It’s a good feeling to be celebrated for your work. I imagine the exhilaration he felt was equivalent to mine as I got shouted out at the Silver Society. I kid, I kid. Kind of.

So here’s my shout out to all the musicians that night- PremRock, Willie Green, Armand Hammer, Curly Castro, Zilla Rocca, Karma Kids, and Mo Niklz. This isn’t a hobby for these guys. This is their passion, their calling, and they put in the work. A special congratulations to PremRock, who treats his pursuit of music with the up-most professionalism. He is very deserving of all of his success.

Corporate by Day, Rap Show by Night

Dressing is always tricky when I know I’m going straight from work to a rap show. Occasionally, I’ll bring my evening outfit to work and change before leaving. Obviously I prefer not changing in a bathroom stall, so I've reached back to my Cosmo magazine days to try and choose clothes that “transition from day to night”. Mostly I just throw a blazer over evening outfits and that’s a pretty quick fix. Or sometimes I wear work skirts over mini dresses and then lose the skirt before I head out.

It didn't use to be as difficult. Working in the arts generally means a more relaxed office attire, so I could get away with wearing trendier outfits on rap show nights. But now that I work in an auction house, it’s pretty corporate. Blazers, suits, business attire. But on rap nights, sacrifices must be made and I might not look as professional as usual.

Corina Corina’s release party for her album, The Free Way, was last Wednesday night. Paul produced the album and was involved from start to finish, so it was almost as important a night for him as it was for her. Which meant I had to look fresh. After tearing through my closet, I found a black and white patterned dress and paired it with a clunky gold-tone necklace. Inappropriately tight for work, so I threw on a long sweater that came off as soon as I walked into the venue. Done.

This is the second album they've done together, and it’s clear there is a lot of mutual trust. She gave Paul freedom to experiment and get creative with the production on this one. Paul and I have been really into heavily produced albums lately. After Paul made his album, We Live In The Future, we started noticing how many major label artists were also experimenting with beat changes and more elaborate arrangements. Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience, both of Lana Del Rey’s albums, and most recently Pharrell’s GIRL. We listened to those albums a lot, and they were a source of inspiration for the production on Corina’s album. And allow me to have a brag moment, but Village Voice just called Paul one of East Coast's indie rap "it"-producers.

Paul also acted as musical director for the show. It was Corina’s release, so he wanted her on stage all night. She was joined by her four guest artists (rapper Henry Canyons even flew in from LA!), who also performed their own material. Paul arranged their solo sets to follow the joint songs they had with Corina. Which meant that she got to keep getting back on stage to perform instead of having a designated set time. I don’t think Corina’s smile could have been any bigger.

I know how much work goes into this, and I am so proud of how it sounds. The album's been on repeat on my iPod since it dropped, which is impressive, considering I've heard it a million times over the past year. But I've come to love listening to the transformations as an album evolves and gets fleshed out. When an album is finished, it's always something worth celebrating. And getting dressed up for.

Pictures from Corina Corina's release show. All photography © 2014 c. bay milin:

Corina Corina performing The Free Way

Melissa Czarnick on America, America

Willie Green, Corina Corina, and Johnny October

Dan Dillinger

billy woods

Angi3

Henry Canyons

Corina Corina and the perpetually mysterious billy woods

On Becoming Mrs. Green

So I didn’t change my name when Paul and I got married. It was never something I planned on doing. My mom never changed her name, so I grew up assuming I would keep mine too. Plus I’ve been working and building my professional network in New York City for almost eight years, and changing my name now seemed counterintuitive. Not to mention the paperwork nightmare that seems to be involved with changing your name. Willfully going to the DMV? No thanks.

me at work

But I was surprised by the reactions of some of our friends and family. Some thought it might be confusing for our future children. I can honestly say it never confused me that my parents didn’t share a last name. I knew my parents were married and that they loved each other and that was that. My dad didn’t wear his wedding band (he’s not a jewelry wearing type of man) and that didn’t confuse me either! It was also suggested that it would appear like I didn’t respect my man or that Paul’s masculinity would be challenged. Please. Paul’s ego is just fine. Especially concerning my love and respect. And it's not like I get upset if I'm called Mrs. Womack or anything. It just probably means you don’t know me that well.

Paul at work

I am, however, loving being Mrs. Green. Since a lot of people in the rap scene only know Paul as Willie Green, I’m ‘Green’s wife’ by default. Just last week, Paul and I were out with Corina Corina celebrating the completion of her second album. She got a phone call from a fellow musician and when asked who she was out with, she answered “the Greens”. I thought it was great. I'm good with being Mrs. Green.

People often jokingly ask me what my rap name would be, and I never have an answer for them. That’s Paul’s world, and I don’t pretend like I actually belong there on my own. I’m able to ride off Paul’s street cred as his wife, but let’s be real, Paul translates slang for me all the time.

But it’s more than street cred by osmosis. We both have our own identities, especially within our professional spheres. Paul’s happens to be a rap world- one where he’s spent years building his reputation and where he's earned his respect. And I’m proud of being Mrs. Green. When he’s in my world, he better be damn proud to be Mr. Merrill.

My Rap Video Debut

Mister E, Nasa, and the dad

So I have officially made an appearance in a rap video. A rite of passage as a rap wife? Our friend and rapper, Uncommon Nasa, is putting out a music video for his song “Twenty-Two” and needed extras. Since I hate being filmed, I had no intentions of volunteering. But Nasa asked Paul to be one of the main characters and when I heard that the extras had no lines and needed zero acting skills, I figured I might as well spend the afternoon with the hubs and help out a friend.

The video starts with a group of people in an elevator heading back to their respective apartments. As they get off the elevator, the film follows several of the characters and reveals their individual (and depressing) stories. The storyline doesn’t have the most cheerful premise, but I guess not too many rap songs are about puppies and rainbows.

Paul’s character was a pilot, so he had a Halloween shop jacket and hat to wear. When you squinted past the polyester suit, he looked very Denzel. Somehow, Paul seems to be finding himself in a lot of situations lately where he’s had to dress in costume. Which I have been finding incredibly entertaining. Sadly, as an extra, I did not get a costume.

In addition to a few other friends and rappers who volunteered to be in the video, Nasa also had a few Craigslist responders. A father and daughter agreed to be characters. The dad had been an extra in a number of big box-office movies and NY based TV series, so it was clearly a hobby he was passionate about. And then there was Mister E, a giant bodyguard-looking guy. Paul assumed he was a rapper with the name Mister E- thinking it was a play on ‘Mystery’- but he’s just another guy who likes his time in front of the camera while simultaneously maintaining a little anonymity.

Days like that are when I am reminded of all the interesting characters that make up this city. People's lives are so much more nuanced than what you can see on the surface. Which I guess is the point of the song. Life lessons through raps! I might have to consider being in more rap videos. Especially if I get free bagels again.

Christmas Cards From G Unit

It’s the holiday season and the rap world celebrates too! Last night was Yule Prog, an annual holiday rap show hosted by Uncommon Nasa and Backwoods Studios. Always a well attended event with a great line-up. And we've gotten a few Christmas cards from (married) rappers as well. Turns out they sign their real names on Christmas cards. But the best card still has to be from G Unit. Yes, the actual rap group. Before Paul went freelance, he used to manage a major recording studio in Manhattan and apparently got on G Unit’s Christmas card list.

This card should come with a parental advisory warning. But it’s so ridiculous, that I just can’t take it seriously. The cover of the card features the group holding guns and standing around a bloodied and bruised Santa with the caption “Violent Night”. 50 Cent looms over Santa wearing a jacket decorated with skulls and phrases like “war machine” and “built for war”. And then randomly between the Christmas tree in the background and the wrapped present in the foreground… there is a busted TV? I can’t figure out why it’s there.

The interior message is a reworked version of the Twelve Days of Christmas lyrics. G Unit style, of course: “12 careers ended, 11 million sold, 10 cases beat, 9 more million sold, 8 Rolls Royce Phantoms, 7 clips full, 6 brown paper bags, 5 years on top, 4 hundred million, 3 mansions deep, 2 guns tucked, and only 1 Ferarri F 50”. Definitely better than a bunch of turtledoves and pipers piping.

And then when I thought it couldn't get any better, I flipped to the back of the card- a Christmas tree with logos and handguns as the ornaments and with police tape and ammunition clips as the garlands. But the best part is the caption: “Have a safe holiday season!”. In case you were confused by all the weaponry and references to violence, G Unit still wants to remind you to be safe.

We couldn't get enough of it. It’s so disturbing and hilarious and way too amazing to ever throw away. So Paul hung it on his wall of rap memorabilia in his studio.

Also, I think we've been decorating our Christmas tree all wrong. Next year, we’re getting gats.

Starring Paul as Black Santa

The staff at Greenlight loved helping
with our scavenger hunt

My sister has been planning a “surprise day” as her Christmas present to me, Paul and two of her closest friends for months now. This Saturday, we all met at Maria’s apartment (except for Paul who had another assignment) and she revealed that we were going on a scavenger hunt through Brooklyn. Maria LOVES planning these kinds of things. We, on the other hand, may have been a little skeptical. 

She gave us the first of our clues (which were all written in rhyme by the way) that led us to Brooklyn Kolache Co. where we had kolaches and our next clue waiting for us. From there we went to Greenlight Bookstore where we received books, and then to Green Grape where we picked up wine. The next clue led us to my apartment where we found Paul dressed as Santa Claus. Oh yes. Full suit, beard and stuffed belly. It was amazing. He even did a santa voice.

Check out the kicks on Santa /
Lenore wants to know who the
hell this guy is

Since Paul had agreed to the Santa suit on condition that he didn’t have to go into public, he changed back into regular clothes to join us as we finished the hunt. The last clue led us to one of our favorite bars, Crown Inn, where the bartender had our drink order ready to go. After drinks, we headed back to Maria’s apartment where we knew to expect a nice homemade dinner. But what we weren’t expecting was a roomful of our closest friends too. It was the best surprise to come into after what ended up being an amazing day full of surprises.

It was a great Saturday, but the scavenger hunt took us all over Brooklyn. We walked from Crown Heights to BedSty to Clinton Hill to Fort Greene to Prospect Heights and back to Crown Heights. So Sunday we stayed in and took it easy. And Paul, having found that the Santa pants were actually quite comfortable, now has a new pair of pants that he wears around the house.

Kitchen Evacuation - Discovering Carol Bove

Paul had rappers in the kitchen this Saturday, which meant a kitchen evacuation for me. Paul is producing Corina Corina’s sophomore album, The Freeway, and she had a rapper come in to record a guest verse. The album is really coming along, but she’s asking for a little financial help through an indiegogo campaign.

It’s hard for artists. It’s not exactly a financially sound career path. But could you imagine a world where no new music or paintings or books were created? It would be horrible! Everyone benefits from artists taking risks and pursuing their passions. Most of my artist friends work several jobs just so they can do what they love. It’s definitely not the easy route. So if you make good money and can afford to invest in an indie artist you admire, do it!

Since I had to clear out of the kitchen for the afternoon, I went with a few friends to the High Line in Manhattan to check out the art walk ‘Caterpillar’. The artist Carol Bove has seven site specific sculptures on view along the last stretch of High Line that is still untouched and overgrown.

The sculptures were made out of I-beams and powder-coated steel. The I-beam sculptures have rusted from exposure and resemble their dilapidated train track environment, while the powder-coated steel ones are a shiny, crisp white that stand in stark contrast to the setting. I liked that Bove included pieces that appear to be relics of the train line, reminding viewers of it’s history, as well as futuristic looking sculptures that address it’s imminent fate as the High Line.

This final section is planned to open in 2014, when it will look like the rest of the well-groomed High Line. So even if you’re not that into the art, it’s still pretty cool to get up and see what the tracks look like after thirty years of neglect. The tours are free. And for that great price, you get an art tour and a sneak peek at NYC's history.