You’re Invited to the Best Coronavirus Quarantine Party in the World
Dear Level Reader,
I attended a packed party Saturday night. There were over 100,000 people in the space talking up a storm. Some very important folks danced freely. Notables included Michelle Obama, Lenny Kravitz, Rihanna, Oprah, Jadakiss, Will Smith, Charlamagne, Buju Banton, and Ellen Degeneres. Would you ever think these folks would be in the same room in the eye of this pandemic?
The invite was sent wide from one man: D-Nice. Everyone in the world was welcome. That night Derrick Jones spun classic records for nine hours on Instagram Live. In my mind #ClubQuarantine looked something like the photo above. It was a much-needed break from the coronavirus news cycle and social-distancing violations (Are we really playing basketball in outdoor parks?!?). The playlist was a mix of soul, R&B, Afrobeats and hip-hop. The rainbow room had a ball.
Social media continues to be the great equalizer. Derrick thought out of the box everyone is contained to these days and delivered a service that was needed. I saw a tweet from one writer that summed it up nicely: your playlists can’t replace the DJ experience. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
That message is more about music than the DJ. Think of how many of your greatest life memories are linked to music. Especially those wonder years. There’s a song assigned to your first breakup, your wedding has a tune tied to it, and special markers with your children all have a soundtrack.
Coronavirus still doesn’t have its defining song. It’s too early. The narrative is in progress. There’s that bizarre Cardi B moment that charted on Billboard, but that certainly isn’t Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
With all that’s happening, a virtual party is probably low priority for you. But trust when I tell you that dancing in your living room to songs spun by one of the best party DJs on the planet will bring you joy. And if it doesn’t there’s no long commute back home.
I’ll be at the next one. Hoping Barack and Ta-Nehisi Coates pull up.
Jermaine Hall, Editor in Chief
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