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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 10 > Entry
Singer, celebrities party like it’s 1980
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buzz must admit, we’d never heard of Atlanta songwriter Keri Hilson. So when an invitation came to attend her birthday bash hosted by music maestros Timbaland and Polow Da Don, the whole “flashback” theme caught our attention.
Being such a knucklehead for old-school jams, we went back in time Saturday night at King Plow Arts Center. There were plenty of Adidas jogging suits, Jheri Curl wigs and girls in napkin-size shorts and roller skates. It was a hoot.
Up in the VIP area, guests noshed on lavish, savory, decadent — McDonald’s. Yep, the buffet was catered by the Golden Arches, complete with cheeseburgers and Happy Meal boxes scattered about for effect.
Buzz loved the whole vibe, stopping to groove a bit to Salt N Pepa’s “Push It” and Kurtis Blow’s “The Breaks.”
Then, since we were there to check out Hilson, who turned 25, we got a surprise.
The leggy, wonderfully polite and beautiful Hilson gets writing credit for Britney Spears’ “Gimme More,” Ludacris’ “Runaway Love,” Ciara’s “Ooh Baby,” and is featured on Timbaland’s No. 1 hit “The Way I Are.” You could’ve sooo slapped us silly.
We also found out the wizard of words is about to release her own CD next year.
“Writing songs has always been a means to make this happen,” Hilson says, referring to “In a Perfect World,” on which “Henny and Apple Juice” with Snoop Dogg and Ludacris is slated as the first single. “I’ve been in the background, and now I get to live both lives, and it feels great.”
Well, here’s to you, Keri, and, at a mere 25, knowing how to party glam-style.
Celebrities pack the room
And speaking of Keri Hilson’s flashback party, the night was packed with ridiculous star power. Here’s a Buzz breakdown.
Producer Polow Da Don, host of the event, arrived on the red carpet in a nifty green, white and yellow Lacoste jumpsuit (we think it was supposed to scream ’80s). Timbaland, co-host, was a no-show because of an emergency.
Jagged Edge, who arrived beyond fashionably late, almost didn’t get inside because of security, but managed to talk their way in. Those guys always have been smooth.
Bone Crusher was spotted in the VIP area chilling on the balcony (no, he didn’t touch the cheeseburgers).
“It was definitely worth it,” the rapper said, referring to his stint on the “Celebrity Fit Club” reality show on VH1. “I lost, like, 54 pounds and my stomach was way out here.”
We asked Usher’s brother, James, how it feels to be a new uncle. “It feels good,” says the young hipster who’s a spitting image of the superstar.
Has he bought his newphew a gift yet?
“Uhh, no, not yet,” he noted with an almost embarrassed grin — Gasp! Get to Lenox now, James.
Chamillionaire, Jazze Pha, Johnta Austin and Cee-Lo were also in attendance. Buzz asked Cee-Lo about Gnarls Barkley’s Grammy nod for “Gone Daddy Gone.”
“I was surprised,” he said, admitting he didn’t watch when the nominees were announced last week.
But the biggest grand entrance, though, had to go to Jermaine Dupri and Nelly, who arrived in a stylish black-on-black Bentley. Nelly drove, and after sitting in the car for about 20 minutes, they finally were whisked through the back door to the festivities.
Singer, jazz lounge ooze sophistication
Atlanta comedian Don “D.C.” Curry, famous for his BET “Comic View” standup and roles in “Friday After Next” and “Grace Under Fire,” opened in October his jazz and blues lounge, Star, in Castleberry Hill.
When Buzz checked out the place recently, we were totally smitten with singer Tabitha King’s live act.
King parlayed through Chaka Khan’s “Sweet Thing,” breezed through “My Funny Valentine,” and Curry even took the mike on “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” which the diners and drinkers really got into.
“The audience motivates me,” says King, who also performs at Grown Folks and Crows Nest in College Park. “When everybody enjoys what I’m doing, it makes me perform even better.”
And King performs wonders. Her sounds are a melodic stream of sophistication Castleberry Hill needs. Sure, there’s the commendable Noir, M Bar and Slice, but Star has potential to set itself apart from these cookie-cutter hangouts.
“We don’t have any anti-hip-hop sentiment here,” says Curry, in his suave black suit. “But we do have a distinct character.”
That character is marked by silver-haired couples dressed to the nines, young men in blazers, ladies in dresses, white people, black people, Asians. It was a joy to be in this crowd for its sheer diversity alone.
Curry and co-owner Billy Tyler are planning a grand opening in January.
This is David “The Leisure Guy” Graves’ final Monday Buzz.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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