I’m in a cafe in the lobby of Mitte´s Backpackers listening to KRS-One shout “Queens keeps on faking it.” Not a spectacular moment, except that I’m in Berlin, and remembering when I first heard those fighting words. I was roller-skating (or trying to learn how to) with my friends Nicky and Ginger up and down the sidewalk in front of my house. We weren´t allowed yet to leave the block! The only music that I’ve heard so far has been that of my bros & sisters back home. I asked a new German friend, one of my drivers, Wolfram, to play me some of his music. He was listening to Jayzeeee! Jay-Z, y’all! This even more impresses on me my main concern about the state of hip hop, my beloved hip hop today. We, young, black Africans in America have the ear of the world, literally, and what do we have to say that isn´t about “bitches and money.” Ugh, it´s pathetic.

Please excuse typos, as I’m on a totally different keyboard. See! The # sign is where the ´ is, the y is where the z is, and I can’t even find the @ half the time to log on. Last night, I thought that I might be sick, which impressed upon me more than anything the importance of taking my vitamins while I’m here, drinking enough water and eating well. Now if only I can find a veggie menu!

Two days before shooting, and my objective today is to dissect my script again, and make sure that all of my crew members are on the ball. I think that I’m over my jet lag, almost. I forgot to take my melatonin last night, and spent 4 hours in the middle of the night in that hazy netherland between sleep and wake. It’s 12pm here, but 6am at home. See, who says that I can’t be productive at 6am, mom!

Choos! (That´s German for Ciao!)