This week, Scottie and Sylvia start the show with a cuffing season check-in. Then, they process their feelings on a year without homecoming and reminisce on their HBCU experiences! Come for the do's and don'ts for future homecoming's, stay for Scottie and Sylvia's recommendations on where to get the best food and HBCU merch (shout out to Hall Pass: https://hallpass.shop/)
Okay, Now Listen Season 1 Episode 14 Transcript
[Music In]
Scottie Beam: You are now listening to Okay, Now Listen, a biweekly show where we chat about what's on our minds, what we're bingeing and what's blowing up our timelines. I'm Scottie Beam, a media personality, content creator, music enthusiast and a wing connoisseur, still. Yes.
Sylvia Obell: And I'm Sylvia Obell. I'm a culture writer, host, producer and lover of Beyoncé. Still. Yes. Praying for Ivy Park bad. Please --.
[Music Out]
Scottie: [crosstalk] Ooh, please God, send me a box. I just need a Ivy Park box.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I mean, you know like, I just want like a crumb. Like a, like a ha -- you know, like, I actually know I really want that brown crop tab one that's loose because it's so hard to find like a loose crop top that like will hide your back fat and all that other stuff. So like I was like, ooh this looks really cute.
Scottie: Mhmm.
Sylvia: But I would -- I've never been avle -- able to even get my hands on Ivy Park with my own money. [laughs] Like even when I'm like --.
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: I'm trying to buy this, I can't do it. Let alone get the little influencer box that some of us -- ahem -- one of us has already been blessed with.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] And so maybe maybe she'll just allow my prayer to get past hers.
Scottie: [crosstalk] You can call me, you can call me --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Can she just get her prayer passed?
Scottie: [crosstalk] You can call me Ivy Park Beam.
Sylvia: Can I get one?
Scottie: Excuse me.
Sylvia: Can we just pray for that Sylvia gets one now? [laughs]
Scottie: Hello. Listen, I, I appreciate you. [laughter] I love you as a friend Sylvia but I also will be looking out for myself. Ivy Park Beam is in the building. Please I ask you, send my friend [laughter] some, some like you know, merch but also think of me too. Please. I'll take --
Sylvia: All is fair in love and Beyoncé.
Scottie: Listen, I love you.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] All right. Yes.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Okay. First things first. First things first, Sylvia.
Sylvia: Hmm?
Scottie: I gave you game last episode. Game.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Boy! And boy did Twitter not let me forget it. [laughs]
Scottie: [laughs] 100 percent. We need a update. The people want to know if you started building the roster. The people need to know. Let's go. And I need to know if I ain't talk to you for a whole damn week. So let me -- tell me you something.
Sylvia: I mean, listen, I, I feel like step one, it's like, you know, when you're doing a science experiment, like the first one, you gotta like, gather data. You gotta like, gather, you know, get out and then rea -- you know, get out in the pool and get your little tests. It's like, I feel like I've, you know, trying -- week one has really been spent trying to open myself up to meeting people who could be on my roster in a safe way. Cus it's hard. Like, in my defense we're in COVID --
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: So I did spend all but one day in my apartment since our last conversation. [laughs] and that one day, I dipped my toe out, you know what I mean, was to be with some, you know, like a small group of fellowship Aggie's, you know, cus -- and we'll get to that. But I, I'm trying --.
Scottie: But you don't need to step out. You don't need to step out.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah. No. Like, I'm really like yeah, that's limited. I also signed up for a dating app.
Scottie: Yay!
Sylvia: Our EP Jasmyn Lawson was playing about holding me -- my neck to the fire. So.
Scottie: That's right.
Sylvia: I -- you know, we're gonna see how that goes, you know what I mean. And I will say you wanna talk about check ins and updates -- mhmm. Nobody ho -- I mean, you did claim you were gonna help me meet some niggas, Scottie, virtually. You did say that.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yes, I did say that. And I am a woman --
Sylvia: You said that. It's been two weeks. There's like a lot -- apparently there's a line of friends behind me who are also waiting for their turn. [laughs]
Scottie: I am a woman of my word, but I need -- I did not know how mediocre [laughter] some niggas are until I went on live and I asked for them to jump in my DM and talk to me about who they are.
Sylvia: Welc --.
Scottie: Some niggas couldn't even scratch the surface. [laughter] But I don't -- you know, I don't need depth depth but for my Sylvia, I need a bit more depth than what they were giving. And so I said, okay, I have --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] So you saw how ghetto, you saw how ghetto it is out here.
Scottie: It -- no, no. I knew that ghetto Sylvio. [laughter] I already knew the ghetto exists. I just knew -- I just thought that I had better [laughter] on my profile than I did. Who the fuck am I to think that I had superb niggas following me? [laughs] Absolutely not. So --
Sylvia: I feel like the quality niggas also are afraid to -- would be afraid to put themselves on the auction block literally that is your IG live.
Scottie: [crosstalk] That's true. Afraid of rejection, stuff like that. But you know, man up. Man the fuck up.[laughter] Like I got, I got some -- I mean, like Sylvia I'm just -- yeah. Like I have some fire ideas. I just need like, just give me three, four quality niggas to give you. And then from there you will do whatever you wanna do. But I'm just gonna end --
Sylvia: Yeah. Well maybe we don't do it so publicly. Maybe --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Oh my gosh.
Sylvia: I know I would love it to be less public. Maybe you just reach out like, you know, maybe we did do it the old fashioned way. Instagram Live removed? But --.
Scottie: Well maybe I can do an Instagram Live talking about, again, talking about the niggas that I want. Hopefully this reach -- and I'll save it on my profile because last time I forgot to save it and put it on there and keep it there because people were like, what are you talking about? I was tagged in something. What are you talking about? And I was like, [laughter] I don't have time to be explaining shit. I don't even know you.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] And you can tell them that they can message you privately if they feel like they are --.
Scottie: Yes. I will do that, Sylvia. Sure.
Sylvia: That way they may -- cus maybe they're, like me, horrified at the idea of doing this publicly. So.
Scottie: Fine. Sylvia, we will little respect your wishes. [laughter] But I am getting on that motherfucking Live. And I'm going to come with a list of demands.
Sylvia: I'ma have to put my notifications on for your ass cus I missed it last time.
Scottie: The last time. Oh, you missed that one? Yeah, yeah, yeah. My left --- my list of demands. But, you know, there's that.
Sylvia: Alright. Okay.
Scottie: But I'm glad that you decided to get that dating app together. I can't wait -- and I also need to see it. Can you please screenshot what the fuck it says? What's the bio? What's going on? Like, what are you saying?
Sylvia: You want receipts?
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: You want receipts. All right. Well, I'm -- well, the one I applied to we ain't gonna do no free -- I ain't gonna say nothing --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Nope. Nuh-uh.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Until until I know it's good.
Scottie: [crosstalk] And a check.
Scottie: But let's just say it requires a, it requires secondary verification and application approval. So I'm waiting for that. Cus it's like one of those that are not just open for everybody. I'm dipping in --.
Scottie: Mmmm. Okay.
Sylvia: Step at a time. It's the one Jasmyn had me put on. So.
Scottie: I like this.
Sylvia: Once they, once they approve your girl?
Scottie: Free to play.
Sylvia: I will, I will run all the copy by you. [laughs]You can select my photos.
Scottie: So excited. Oh, yes. I can't wait. And we doing that one in the bathtub, too. All right. Let's move on.
Sylvia: Oh god! [laughs].
Scottie: If, if you don't know what I'm talking about, go on her Instagram right now --.
Sylvia: Please --.
Scottie: And find --.
Sylvia: Don't go [laughs] --.
Scottie: Find the tub picture I'm talking about with her in the robe. Was there a robe?
Sylvia: I'll never forgive Jamell Hill for that.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: Anyway, back --.
Scottie: Okay.
Sylvia: Back to today. Cus honestly, it's it's a rough week for me.
Scottie: Mmm. Why was it a rough week?
Sylvia: Black folks to check on your Aggie friends --.
Scottie: Oh. [laughs].
Sylvia: If you have any. We're not okay. We're not okay. And like, it's [laughs] --- we --.
Scottie: Yo, the fact that it's so sincere [laughter] that I dead ass was like --.
Sylvia: [laughs] She said, wait what happened?
Scottie: What? What happened? Wait, what's going on? Thought we were going off script. I'm like, wait what's happening? What's going on? [laughter] Okay. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Keep going.
Sylvia: No it's on script. But the script was scripted properly because our producers know --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Right, right.
Sylvia: That I am not okay! [laughs] And when I realized that this recording was actually definitely taking place the exact week that my ass would have been getting prepared to go to Greensboro, North Carolina, and live it the fuck up. It's it's set -- it's like --.
Scottie: Oh Jesus.
Sylvia: You know, I -- like it was still on my calendar, Scottie. That's where it hurt. It's like, you know, like when you clear things off but then there's little evidence, crumbs that you forgot to sweep through. Like the hotel reservation was still saved to my calendar even though I got the -- my money back. Thank God.
Scottie: Of course. Shit.
Sylvia: But [laughs] we -- it was like prepare -- It was like, oh, Google calendar, what do I have to do this weekend? Oh, you're stay at the Sheraton in Greensboro? No, bitch! I ain't going!
Scottie: [laughs] Yeah. No, I was -- I'm hurt. I am -- first of all, I had -- I know we say this every fucking episode --.
Sylvia: [laughter] [crosstalk] Places to be!
Scottie: [crosstalk] But I had plans. We should change this episo-- I mean this whole podcast to "I Had Plans 2020" --.
Sylvia: That's when we -- Okay, I had plans.
Scottie: Okay. I have plans. But like so this year was supposed to be the year I show the fuck out. You hear me? Last year--.
Sylvia: Oh, this year? As opposed to last?
Scottie: [crosstalk] Last year be -- last year I didn't go.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oh you didn't -- I feel like --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Last year I was doing the -- I did the homecoming tour with Pepsi.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That's what you did.
Scottie: [crosstalk] And I would have working. I wasn't able to go to Spelhouse homecoming. So I missed it. I was like, you know, I got a grind. I got to work, trying to -- whole clown talking about, oh, you know, I gotta get this money. I gotta do this. I gotta do that. So that next year I can show the fuck out. I could buy my own little section. I can buy my own little bottles. It's going be crazy. And then this shit happens. And I have all this saved homecoming money that I knew --.
Sylvia: [laughs] Just burning a hole in your pocket. You know what you can do? You know what the, the alum listening, the -- those, you know, those people are gonna be like, donate it. [laughs]
Scottie: I know. I know.
Sylvia: Give back!
Scottie: [crosstalk] But here's the joke.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Give back to your HBCU.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Here -- Here's the joke. I didn't graduate. So y'all can have --. [laughter] No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding y'all. I'm kidding. I'm going to donate, sis.
Sylvia: She's a little serious. [laughs]
Scottie: I'm a little serious cus y'all niggas didn't give me not a degree. But I still give back. I still donate too. Because HBCUs are super important. And it's essential. And I do want my kids to go. And I want my kids' kids go. So in order to keep that going, I have to --
Sylvia: I want them to exist. Yes. I mean, I think that that's a real thing because these homecomings --y just to talk about the impact, even just beyond our lack of ability to have fun. There -- this is the big money makers for the cities they're in. Especially for somebody like me who like my school's in -- not in like a predominately -- like it's not in a D.C. or in Atlanta.
Scottie: Yeah. Right.
Sylvia: It's in Greensboro, North Carolina. Like, what else is happening there that's not Aggie related?
Right.
You know, I know, like, it's the same way for, like, the FAMU students, the people whose schools are just like random cities, it's like they're big, like one of their top money makers of the year, both for the university and the cities. So like a lot of people have been talking about, like, you know, there's been a lot of like how can we fill the gap? Virtual homecoming type stuff. I know, like A&T has apparently stolen Jasmyn Lawson's hashtag, as she made it clear to me about stay at homecoming with the Beyoncé thing but that's a hashtag I've been seeing: stay at homecoming. Like they're trying virtual events. See -- I know you've seen it, too, like brands like BET, YouTube. Like.
Scottie: [crosstalk] YouTube. YouTube had a great -- it was -- had a pretty great one. Like I watched it. It was fun to watch. Had a good time. It had me, you know, what You -- what YouTube did is had me like sit there and reminisce on the good times. And I had such --.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: An amazing time just looking back on my Facebook pictures. I was looking at my Facebook pictures and watching the YouTube special. But, you know, we might not be able to turn up at our homecoming this year, but we can at least reflect back on some of our best moments, our best moments, Sylvia, from last homecomings. And also give some love to our HBCUs.
Sylvia: You're right, because, you know, you know I love to get on your nerves about how much I love me -.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Oh my.
Sylvia: Some North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. And the Aggie Pride is alive and well, y'all. For those who can't see me, know, I'm geared up! I'm strapped up in the merch right now. A&T on my chest. 1891 one on my chest. The original mascot dog, not the new one, on my chest. [laughs].
[Music In]
Scottie: Listen.
Sylvia: So let's, let's get into it because I miss my Aggies and I, I just would love to talk and reminisce. So let's do it.
Scottie: So before we get into our [sings] walk down memory lane -- our homecoming lane. Some folks might have never been to a homecoming or even known what it is like. So, Sylvia, because you're great at explaining, can you share with the people a little bit -- the Black people, not the white people -- I want you to give the Black explanation [laughter] about what these homecomings are all about.
[Music Out]
Sylvia: Yes. And, you know, first and foremost, I'd love to pour some out for the Black people who never got a chance to experience HBCU homecoming pre-COVID. I --
Scottie: Oh my gosh.
Sylvia: I'm sorry that your community failed you in that way.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Stop it! Sylvia!
Sylvia: I mean, even if you didn't -- no, I don't even mean that you didn't go. Not that you didn't attend, but that you never even went to a friend's homecoming like later?
Scottie: Yeah.
Sylvia: Like your friend never brought you? Like your HBCU friend never brought you to homecoming? Or you know, I mean like that sense. Like, everybody has the right to go to what school they want to. That's not what I mean.
Scottie: Yes, Sylvia.
Sylvia: You know, we chose. We, we voted to be free. We're free! Make your choice. [laughter] I'm just saying that if you have not attended or at least got to via Instagram story virtually experience somebody else experiencing homecoming --.
Scottie: True.
Sylvia: My apologies. We -- homecoming is technically about a football game. [laughs] That -- but only those of us like, m-hmm, A&T, who have good football teams --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] [laughs] Oh my gosh.
Sylvia: Actually acknowledge that part of homecoming. But, you know, it's -- it's usually based on a certain weekend. They kind of spread, at least HBCU ones, out. I think they allow us to maybe have two or three a week. So they usually all in October. They spread us out because you can't have two many niggas in one spot. It's gonna be an issue. But homecoming is really just a time where alumni come back to campus and we celebrate our school pride. And, you know, so we rooting on the team, there's step shows, there's concerts where like real artists come. Like our HBCU concerts are really like, homecoming concerts are where you got to see your favorite rappers and rappers' rappers for like the free -- five, ten dollars tops. Like, I saw -- I've seen Rick Ross, T-Pain, Jeezy, Drake and Nicki Minaj, like J. Cole, obviously cus I went to school in North Carolina. Like it -- there's so many stars that I got to see that I would now have to pay hundreds of dollars to see that I got to see for free. They were coming to us.
Scottie: That's right.
Sylvia: Us! And I know some schools, m-hmm, Howard would like to make you think that they're the only school that celebrities go to but that is incorrect.
Scottie: No.
Sylvia: They are at most of the top five to six HBCUs you, like, you will find big stars there. We all have like famous alum because, you know, the Black arts movement is big. Like I -- it's really just, I think so technically, yes, it's about coming back to campus for a football game and there's tailgating and fish fries and the yard is packed and people on the plots drinking and there's parties that surround it throughout the week. And like, you know, some schools have a full calendar week. Like, I know. A&T does. We start with Sunday with the gospel to, to ask ahead of time for God to forgive us for how we're about to act for the rest of the week. There's a pep rally. You know, there's a comedy show. There's all these things. So it's that in like structure but spiritually, it's the time where we get to go back and go back into the bubble that only really exist at HBCU campus where you are the majority again. You're the majority. You are surrounded by Blackness. I see a lot of memes, especially right now 2020, like where in the world is it safe to be Black? I think, I don't think there is a place, but I feel the safest when I am at my HBCU campus surrounded by people in authority who understand, respect and are looking out. We look out for each other and it's like, it's fellowship. That's where I'm looking for, it's the fellowship of just coming together with people who knew you before, knew you when, da-da-da-da-da, have a history with and just love you. It's like a, it's like a big ass cookout, but huge, essentially and it -- multiple days. And it's a great time. And yeah. So homecoming, it's -- it's one of those things which you really have to experience to really understand. But there's nothing like it. There's no place like homecoming, you know, like that's, that's really it.
Scottie: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Like, even though I spent only spent two and a half years at Clark Atlanta University, it was the probably the best two years -- two years and a half [laughs] --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Over the cap that extra semester --
Scottie: [crosstalk] The half!
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Cus Lord knows, they charged you for it.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Hello!
Sylvia: They charge you for that semester --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Hello!
Sylvia: [crosstalk] So you can count it!
Scottie: So it was, it was extremely special. I always try to make it back for homecomings because aside from, you know, whatever was happening with me at Clark at the time, mentally and emotionally, I have built some of the strongest bonds at that school ever. And I could never, ever, ever have a, like a distaste in my mouth for any HBCU, especially that's created an experience like mine. I am so grateful. And when I say like, I am so grateful, they -- these friends, the people that I've met, the experiences that I've had, literally stay with me to this -- so I am 30 years old and I still can laugh and smile, just thinking about some of the times I've had at that school. Some of the most endearing moments, the -- the relatable moments, the moments where I felt like I was alone, I wasn't alone. We've had deep, in-depth talks with each other that I just know, I still haven't gotten anywhere else.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Scottie: You know, especially when I was learning about myself at that time, learning that there were people like me, that were similar to me, that had some of the same experiences, really helped me grow. And it didn't necessarily hel -- help me grow at that moment. But I took those things with me for later on in life to apply, and it worked out. So when I go back to homecoming, when I go to homecoming, it really is a mental check in for me because my friends are there and it's, it's kinda -- it is self care, talking to --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It is!
Scottie: Friends, checking in and like, updating.
Sylvia: Its spiritual. People think I'm playing. I mean that like --.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: It's good for your soul.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: Like, it's -- I remember one homecoming, the one time I've been laid off. Like I remember home -- it was like a week or two before homecoming one year. And I was like, damn, should I'm not go because like now I don't have much money, you know, like I whatever -- like I, you know. It was like all these things. I mean, you know, I was just thinking like, should I go? And remember my mom saying, like, no, you need to go now because like, you need to be around that loving experience and know that you had a life before this job. You're going to have a life after it.
Scottie: After. Absolutely.
Sylvia: Like all of those things, like it's real because it's going back to your core group. Like you said, the friends I've met, the A&T are lifetime friends.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: Like these are my girls like we at this point, because, like you said, we're 30. It's been about ten years of friendship, a decade of --.
Scottie: Yeah. Yeah.
Sylvia: Like, friendship with these people, these men and women, such as it is just women that but like --.
Scottie: Yes!
Sylvia: It's a bond that, it's kind of like I guess like when couples go back to where they first met, you know what I mean?
Scottie: Yeah.
Sylvia: But like friendships. It's like you go back to where it started for all of us. And that common bond unites people in a way that is really unexplainable but it's forever. And I think that's why we say like, whatever product, everybody has their a little chant. For us it's Aggie Pride. That's what that means. Like we take pride in this shit.
Scottie: And also like seeing the growth in people like.
Sylvia: Yes.
Scottie: Shit. Y'all. Let me tell y'all something. [laughter] The growth? Even like my friends that know me from college, every time like ,every time they see me, they're like, yo, I am so proud of you because you see the growth. It is there.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Right.
Scottie: It is apparent. You know, I -- I think all of us had our own shit, you know --.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: And we saw right through the shit and we saw you do some fucked up shit, but we saw you grow out of that.
Sylvia: And the people can really be proud of you. It's not like people who just followed you on Twitter, like in the --.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: In the middle of it or whatever. They've seen the evolution of you. And that's family. That makes people family. And it is like you have those inside jokes that you can't make in your regular day life, in your workplace, that you can make there with these people because they get the references. But to to drive the point home, go into an HBCU, I know we both feel no regrets.
Scottie: Nope. Zero.
Sylvia: Best decision I ever made was to go to an HBCU. There's nothing like it. And it's -- was a beautiful four years. And I think, again, that's why homecoming feels so special because you get to go back and have a taste of that. Because when you go into the real world, you realize how much we took for granted, that bubble. Because, I mean, they tell you, they say, they're like listen, it ain't gonna be like this when you get out here, bruh. Bruh, you're going to have to whatever. But I, I loved, I loved my A&T upbringing. I loved my professors. I write and acknowledge them all the time because it's -- the level of care and nurturing that happens even there, it's like they just get that we're working at a disadvantage. And like -- and that we -- they get how things have been set up against us. So, like, it really --- it's the fu -- like it has the, the additives that we need that I feel like everybody should get to experience if you're a Black student in this country.
Scottie: I think yes. Yes. Especially if you have to walk in with your Blackness all the time. Take a motherfucking break. You know, you don't have to do that here.
Sylvia: Outside of, from getting a great education, you know, HBCUs also know how to throw a goddamn party, right?
Scottie: [crosstalk] Child.
Sylvia: Homecoming is definitely -- has nothing to do with the educational stuff we spoke about and everything to do [laughs].
Scottie: [laughs] Nothing.
Sylvia: With the partying. We ain't even going stunt, we not gonna cap here on this podcast.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Not on to you here.
Sylvia: What I, what I do love about like yes, there's a lot of rivalry's like within the HBCU community about our homecomings. We joke and we laugh. It's very much like that shit where it's like, these are my cousins, right. Like the other HBCUs were cousins. We can talk about each other --.
Scottie: But you better not come out a motherfucking mouth and say anything. Absolutely not.
Sylvia: If ain't go to that one HBCU --.
Scottie: Absolutely not.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You're not allowed to make the jokes. Not allowed to have beef.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I cr -- I reason allowed cursed out -- I recently cursed out, I swear, I recently cursed out a whole ass Uber driver -.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] What?
Scottie: Because he wanted to come outside his mouth and talk about why he went to King University and you know why he's happy he didn't go to Lincoln University -- watch your mouth. Watch your mouth.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Watch your mouth. Right.
Scottie: Yeah. And then by the end of the ride, our dialog was so great that he said, that he's going to try to talk his son into going.
Sylvia: And that's the change we want to see in the world. Thanks for being the change there, Scottie.
Scottie: Thank you. Thank you. Well --.
Sylvia: Back to these rivalries, though. [laughs].
Scottie: [crosstalk] Oh yeah, sorry. I be -- But yes. Rivaries --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] But back on these rivalries --
Scottie: [crosstalk] I'm not big on them but, yeah.
Sylvia: While there are some that are better than others. And I will say, I'm going to be gracious here. Obviously, Spelhouse is in that mix. You know, you have y'all great years.
Scottie: [crosstalk] It is.
Sylvia: I'm at the AUC down there. I mean, I understand it takes three universities to match our one university's energy. But you guys get it done. [laughs].
Scottie: You cannot speak. Because you have not went. I need y'all to go -- first of all, I went on a whole ass tour. I went on a homecoming tour last year.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] When we come back, you're coming to GHOE and I'm going to Spelhouse.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I'm going to GHOE and I need to see it. I need to see it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] We will create a scoreboard.
Scottie: [crosstalk] And I want everything to be from the fine --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] We will have a criteria roster.
Scottie: From the fine ass frats, okay? I mean, and down like I need them all because --.
Sylvia: Yes. And I know, like I know, for example, that there's everybo -- I feel like homecomings have categories, right. Like, are the parties lit? Usually always. Like but also I think some of the narrow home -- like the narrower points that sometimes give other people the edge is like, one thing I can say about GHOE is like we're welcoming to everybody. Ain't no like you have to have gone there to enjoy it or like to understand how it operates. Like I've like, sometimes like there's some HBCU alum -- I mean places where like I've been in D.C. During Howard's homecoming, that was the only time that I've ever like actually been there. I've never purposefully gone. But there's times -- like for example, last year, I was there for our wedding. There -- it was a Hampton wedding during Howard's homecoming, which to me was a special kind of petty [laughs] that they did it in D.C. But I literally was like, it's so much of this -- like because it's a big city, I can even see the different differences in like when you're homecoming is in a city, where it's always going to be other stuff going on versus being in the city where it's solely deva -- devoted to your school and what y'all our doing.
Scottie: Mhmm.
Sylvia: But let's talk about the things that are dos and don'ts for every homecoming, because I know that getting the party tickets ahead of time is definitely a do.
Scottie: [laughs] Yes.
Sylvia: Because the motherfuckers sell out because the capacity --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] And that's when you have to call the fucking promoter. The niggas that you know, [laughter] because they promised tickets to every fucking bo -- Oh, I got you. I got you. Nah, I got you definitely. What you doing tonight? Nah. Definitely. I got you --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Get that shit in writing! Get that ticket --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] For real.
Sylvia: Before you get there.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Don't trust not any nigga --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Get the -- whatever verification you need. Don't wait till the night of that party. Cus that nigga's phone's gonna be off --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Off.
Sylvia: And he's going to be inside having a good time.
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: Drinking the money -- the drinks that everybody's money paid for.
Scottie: Facts.
Sylvia: So, again --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Get them tickets.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I say to you --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Please.
Sylvia: Get your tickets secured. Secure your tickets because the -- nobody wants to be that person in the crew who gets left at the hotel because you will get left at the hotel. [laughs]
Scottie: [crosstalk] Oh no no no -- See, the thing is, I will say that there are people that don't get left at the hotel but get left at the door because they be like, oh, no, no, no, no, no. I'm just gonna show up at the door.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oh. [laughs]
Scottie: And I'ma know somebody. And then I'ma get right in. I'ma be fine. Just, you know, we just all gonna walk in because people will think that if we walk in with like a crowd --.
Sylvia: We walk in together. [laughs]
Scottie: Yo. And I've see the humblest moments where niggas is like --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Stop. Humbleness.
Scottie: Nah. I'm sorry you gotta wait.
Sylvia: It's like, I did your homework all through freshman to senior year, nigga. I did your algebra homework. And you can't let me into this party?
Scottie: Yo.
Sylvia: Hell no.
Scottie: I let you have my cash card. And you mean to tell me that you let me in?
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Have all my Aggie bucks.
Scottie: Damn. My flex dollars? Damn, that's crazy. So yeah.
Sylvia: It's wild. But yeah, it's like the episode of Girlfriends when they get -- when they try to get into the club.
Scottie: Yo.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] And like Maya and Toni? That is the closest thing to what it be like at these doors. Okay. It is hilarious.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Facts. I could take you, I could take you. I do not know him. I don't know him.
Sylvia: But I would like to say as somebody who left in like college to -- went to a big city like New York, experienced industry Hollywood level parties. Like at this point I'd been to the Oscars, my niggas. So at this point, I can better judge how childish it is of certain people to hold lines when the club is empty on the inside. Just let niggas in.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Aw, that's another thing.
Sylvia: Just let them in, like. You know, like early like, just stop trying to look like the hottest party at homecoming because the the club line is wrapped around the block. Like nigga it's homecoming. Just let people get in and have a good time. We're not here for the pomp and circumstance sometimes.
Scottie: It's because they be having that whole you -- free drinks before 11:00. And so to be holding this motherfuckin line, that is out --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Till 11:00.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Of -- right. Till 11:00
Sylvia: [crosstalk] 11:02, in that bitch. [laughs]
Scottie: Right. And then that's when you see the line moving. You like damn nigga. Like y'all at five women sip on some champagne.
Sylvia: Drink for free.
Scottie: You sip some Alizé just so that y'all could save money. Get out my face, yo. I would --ooh, I'd be so mad. The club promoters are my nemesis. I can't. I cannot stand club promoters.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] [laughs] Listen.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Shut the fuck up. Shut up. Ooh. Oh. Please. This is a don't. Do not, please do not. You want to make it to the end of homecoming here alive and on this earth. Please don't break no stroll line. I ask you all the time. [laughter] It is -- it is not your business. I don't care how drunk you are. I don't care if you didn't see them behind you. I don't care. [laughter] Be aware of every surrounding that you have. Every -- all your surroundings.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Please. Your back and your front.
Scottie: xPlease. If you break that str --stroll line, there is nothing that I can do, that Sylvia can do that -- [laughter] There's nothing we can do. You just have to go about it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] And it's -- and it's hard -- And the training is hard because every school knows certain stroll songs that were like other people's songs.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yes. Yes.
Sylvia: So like, I just hear the song. And I know to move out the way. If you knew, you be like oh that's my shit!
Scottie: [crosstalk] Nope.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Like no, girl.
Scottie: [crosstalk] No, no, no. This ain't your shit. Not today.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You goin dance -- we gonna get a drink and we gonna dance by the bar right now real quick cus it's about to get --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] We goin watch some stroll.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Dangerous.
Scottie: [crosstalk] No.
Sylvia: Yo, you know, you hear a boo -- you hear a "go, boo, hit the ground," child? Wow, run.
Scottie: You hear, "fuck them other niggas cus I'm down from a" -- you know, hey, I should move out. I should move out my way because the Alphas are coming. Or "she got a donk." You hear that? You know that the Deltas are here and you should probably steer clear because they will Molly-WAP your ass all up and through that homecoming.
Sylvia: Is -- was that their song? I feel like everybody has other things. Like I think like, I know it's -- that's how I know I'm getting old too. I know "Back That Ass Up" wias somebody's. I feel like you might have been the Deltas. I know they definitely danced to "Diva" Beyoncé that year because like that came out like while we were in college.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Sylvia: And like, you know, they call themselves like the devastating divas --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah. Divas. Yeah.
Sylvia: So like that kind of stuff like, I for -- I know like -- I know the songs when I hear them, but sometimes it's like, oh whatever. But speaking of, since you brought it to the Greek world for a second there --.
Scottie: Ooooh!
Sylvia: Who has the best plot at your homecoming? What is the plots everybody used running to for the food or the better drinks? Like what is, what is that situation like at Clark or Spelhouse? I don't even know how y'all frats work. [laughs]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I like to keep my options open. I try to make sure that I grab a little of everything from everywhere.
Sylvia: Oh, I see you -- you're going to be diplomatic being has --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I'll -- I'll tell you, I'll tell you where I end up.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Okay.
Scottie: I end up at the Alpha tent every time because that's where you go to look for the men. [laughter]I'm not saying what kind of men. Cus I'm not about to get shot or in trouble. I'm minding my business, but I will have you know, I get my Que oil. I do.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That juice flew -- yeah.
Scottie: I take that very seriously. I have to go get the Que oil. But --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Packs a punch. It packs a punch.
Scottie: [crosstalk] For -- right. But for a good time, I head on over to the Alpha tent because that's where --.
Sylvia: The eye candy is. [laughs]
Scottie: The eye candy.
Sylvia: I usually end up at the Alpha plot too. I do think that like the convenient thing about A&T is that the plots are all very close. Like literally there's a side -- like a, like a little skinny street separating like the Alphas from the Que plots. Like at A&T it's Mu Psi and BE. Like they're right across from each other. And like the Kappas are like -- plot -- is right on the other side of the steps that everybody stands on, like in the yard pictures. Then like up the hill is like the Delta plot, down the hill is the AKA plot. But they're all like -- it's on this row, I guess, if you will. Like this like street, like think of of a New York City block. It's all on the same block, essentially. So it's like that's the pictures at GHOE that you see where it's just crowds of people down like on one street and like one hill. It's like everybody's on all the plots and you're just seeing everybody. And it's just a very -- everybody ends up at the plots after the game, essentially. That's like the main thing. There's definitely like, you know, I quite enjoyed the fish -- the fish plates, that the Ques make at A&T. I, I stop and get a plate of that for sure. Thank you to all of the men who have provided me nourishment.
Scottie: Yes.
Sylvia: Because it's important. You want to talk about like, a rule of homecoming, eat, coat your stomach because it is a marathon, not a sprint. And especially the day, the Saturday of the football game, because we're starting so early, you start in the day and you end when you die. And it is -- it's a long road. And as we get older each year, I realize how much I've modified my evenings because usually I could do the football game and the party at night. Like, now I can only do like, I'll do the day party Friday, the night party Friday, the yard Saturday. I stop doing the Saturday night parties because we got -- we prefer to start going to now things in which we now as older people can like, oh let's go to a bar. Let's hang out in somebody's like, somebody rented a big ass Airbnb. Let's all have a kick back there. Like we kind of have made a slightly chiller -- like there is still a Saturday night party happening for the kids who can handle that. There's several. There's a ton.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I stopped going. I stopped going
Sylvia: Me and my friends have stopped goin to the Saturday night party a couple of years ago because we are tired and the yard has worn us out. It's worn us out and we're tired and we're drunk.
Scottie: Another Do. Do mind your business and I mean this whole heartedly. Mind your business. If I disappear, don't ask. Don't call.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Oooh! Oooh!
Scottie: It happens.
Sylvia: Oooh, you wanna talk about people disappearing at homecoming?
Scottie: Now, you want me to say that your friend -- it's important to like, I know, like we try to make sure we stay together during tur -- tailgate. Tailgate is the time. Like Friday usually you know you want to chill out, still a little bit. You get drunk. Yes. Everything. But you want to make it to Airbnb, you know, or your hotel so that you can get ready in the morning. Saturday is the most important day. I don't care what any -- to me, tailgate is It for me. So.
Sylvia: No -- yeah, that is the day.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, it's the It.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Cus that's the day ever -- you're going to see everybody.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Right. It's the homecoming.
Sylvia: Cus not everybody is going to make it -- buy a ticket to the party.
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: Some people are gonna get caught up at the door, like we said.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Right. Right.
Sylvia: Some people got too drunk at the day party. Didn't make it. The only place that everybody is making it is -- the yard on Saturday.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Is Tailgate -- That is free. That's why. So now--
Sylvia: [laughs] That is why. And they can bring their kids.
Scottie: Right. But see? I'm not even -- I haven't even seen that yet. I want to see that. But --.
Sylvia: Oh people bringing babies.
Scottie: Yeah, bring their babies. But what I was going to say is, you know, friends, mind y'all business. If I say, yo, I'm out. I'll give you the sign off.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Just let a bitch know. That's all I'm saying. Like get -- let--
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, yeah. No. I have to tell my friends --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] One person in the crew know --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Or the text in the group chat. Text the group chat group.
Sylvia: Yes.
Scottie: Yo, you know where I'm going. I'm out.
Sylvia: And re -- but we also know that reception is terrible the day of the yard -- most yards, because there's too many a people --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That is true. That is true.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] In one given space. So you really do gotta give the whole --.
Scottie: Or your phone is dead.
Sylvia: Like hey, look into my eyes, sis. I'ma see you later. [laughs]
Scottie: I'ma see -- I'm out. Right.
Sylvia: So because there is a lot of yard politics too, because we all know the awkwardness sometimes of not just running into people who you may have hooked up with in the past or exes, but also like there's the people who, like, could have beens, should have beens, maybe have beens, one night hook ups --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Oh yeah. Cus you was in a relations -- cus you was in a relationship in college and you knew you had you a few niggas that you was like, if I wasn't in this relationship --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Single.
Scottie: I would definitely hit. So, yes, those were the ones that especially if y'all are both single, why not? Like it's homecoming. We'll never talk about this again. I -- Not saying that I did it. I've never, I've never done that, which is crazy.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Not saying that she hasn't done it. [laughs]
Scottie: I have -- no, I haven't. I haven't done that. That's crazy.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You haven't what? What are we saying?
Scottie: I haven't done that. I have not hooked up that -- with somebody from, like from college that I was like, ooh, you know, one day I'ma, I'ma hit you. One day I'ma hit you.
Sylvia: Have you not hooked up with anybody period during homecoming?
Scottie: I've hooked up with a person during homecoming and it was a, a constant person during homecoming.
Sylvia: Oh so like, you had a, you had a homecoming buddy.
Scottie: Yeah.
Sylvia: If you will. Like a, like a homecoming like -- cus that's the other thing. We all have those peoples sometimes when we're single asterisk. [laughs]
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: We're going to leave that, when we're single asterix here.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah.
Sylvia: Even though some of y'all niggas is be leaving your girlfriend at home on purpose. But --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Which is crazytown.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That's a conversation for another time. [laughs]
Scottie: That's nuts, yo.
Sylvia: I mean, the only thing crazier than people who leave their girlfriends at home are the people who leave their wives at home on purpose.
Scottie: [crosstalk] That's so crazy.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Because those exist as well. But to me, I just think it's funny how people do have like that, that's -- sine people trying to set it up also a little bit before homecoming. Get the -- like a couple of weeks leading up to it.
Scottie: Facts.
Sylvia: Where you're like, how -- whom, whom I gonna set up. Like who am I gonna set it up with? Or like, who are, who are my options? Where's my potential homecoming roster option ABCD?Y,you know, because it's a it's a hodgepodge and it really a lot of time ends up on circumstance and who you actually manage to run into and see. And you know, there's those looks you get like that look -- somebody give you that look across the yard.
Scottie: Mhmm.
Sylvia: Like c -- And you're like, oh. I see what time he's on.
Scottie: I have a great --not a, not a crazy story, but a homecoming story.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Please.
Scottie: Where there is a picture that exist where all three of my niggas are in the same picture with me. And it's so random. [laughter] It's me taking a picture --.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I got stressed.
Scottie: With one of them. The other nigga is in the background. And the other nigga like, you can see a side of him. [laughter] Like just one side. And it's like, wow, it's all three of them in the same, you know, listen--.
Sylvia: Happy Homecoming in one photo. [laughs]
Scottie: For real. For real.So, yeah. And, and I was definitely like, you know, I was single during that time. But --.
Sylvia: Of course.
Scottie: I was saying yeah, it's imp -- like some people, I don't know, you know, some people reach out a few days before because they got to check the temperature, yo you com --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Get that guarantee, as Darren Brand calls it at A&T.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Where you going? You coming? Oh, a'ight. I just want to see if you was coming. Yeah. Alright.
Sylvia: You going, you going to homecoming this year? It's not cus they want to just cheers with you or take the shot would you at the places. [laughs]
Scottie: [crosstalk] Facts. Facts. [laughs] But it's, it's always been like, tailgate for me, tailgate is my thing. I love it. I cannot wait to go to it again.
Sylvia: No. Yeah. I do think the Do or rules in general is very much what -- when it comes to rekindling old flames or my -- or like old crushes or you know, you know, whatever, we all grow and move to cities and get to meet new people who we went to school with and stuff like that. But any of those said situations, staying low is key on that list because like people do treat homecoming like Vegas. Like what happens at homecoming stays at homecoming.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Which have things? Show.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] And it's like you, which you -- because sometimes, I'm not saying it's been me, but sometimes you [laughter] might find yourself making out with somebody at homecoming then like, who you ain't seen in a while. And then you go and look at them up on the Gram and it's like, oh that nigga has a whole girlfriend? [laughs]
Scottie: You gotta, you gotta sit this one out. You gotta just walk away. That shit's crazy.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It's like, to me, it just be like, I'm like, wow, you niggas is bold. Y'all just out here -- you know how many cameras are out during a homecoming?
Scottie: [crosstalk] They don't care
Sylvia: [crosstalk] The cameras are everywhere. You can get caught in the background of somebody's shit but --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] They don't care. They don't.
Sylvia: I feel like to me, the -- my most, well, when it comes to this category of homecoming, my most homecoming, like HBCU scenario of this was one time I was kissing or I guess you could say making out with somebody in the hallway of my hotel that I was staying at. And while I guess technically it was like the stairwell. You know how hotels have like stairwells in them.
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: We were coming out of said stairwell, and which, you know, nobody uses -- nobody is coming up the steps. Especially if you're on like the, the 35th floor. If anybody sees you coming out of a stairwell, with a dude, they're not going to think that you guys were just in there remembering the cheer for the football game earlier [laughs] it's like, whatever. So we come out of this stairwell, guess who the fuck is in the hallway?
Scottie: I can't even. I don't even have it. Who?
Sylvia: Jesse Jackson. [laughs].
Scottie: Jesus.
Sylvia: Civil Rights leader. [laughs] Famous Aggie alum. [laughs] Noted. It's like this is to me the quintessential HBCU experience cus only an HBCU homecoming can you get caught creeping by a Civil Rights leader that you read about history class. Like why? What? [laughs]
Scottie: Yo. That is incre-di-ble. Yeah. Nah, I've never had that. But that, that's something to remember. That's something to remember.
Sylvia: But you -- I mean, it's, it's, it's something to tell the kids about when they're grown. You know, there's a lot at homecoming stories that kids will never, never learn about. But yes, I think when it comes to the whole messy portion of homecoming, which is how people be acting with each other, in that sense, it's very much a understanding of -- I say treat it like Scottie says to treat cuffing season. No expectations.
Scottie: Zero.
Sylvia: Don't think because you and a guy had a moment at homecoming that it's gonna happ -- that he's going to circle back --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Sis. It never happened.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] When he gets back -- when y'all get back to the same city y'all probably both from.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Sis, it never happened, it never happened. As soon as your feet touch that -- [laughter] the W floor, let me tell you something. It's away. It's gone. It's you erased. It does not -- it did not exist. It does not exist. Also stop lying to niggas. That's -- this is my last one. Stop lying. [laughter] Everybody's stop lying talking about, oh I always had a crush on you. You don't know -- you didn't know me. I hate that shit.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You have a crush on me now. [laughs]
Scottie: Thank you. You did not know me. You did not speak to me in college. Stop it. I always have something for -- you don't even know me. You have no idea. Stop lying. Just say you want to get to know me now. Or you want to get to know me for this day or these days but don't say that you always liked me. You don't know me. Y'all niggas be straight up lying. Straight up lying just to have a moment. But yeah.
Sylvia: You know. I just want -- shooting your shot under, I get it. The shots are limited. The drunker you get, the, the messier the shots you take are. But like --
Scottie: [crosstalk] No. But that's when the real shit start coming. Now it's -- I love that drunk --
Sylvia: It's really why, how we been -- and then like, you'd be having a hard time not trying to tell yourself, is how is it not fate that me and the person in the crowd full of people found each other? It's like, no girl. It's not. It's, it's the devil, honestly. [laughter] And you will be left alone later for it.
Scottie: Please.
Sylvia: But on that matter, there is one more I definitely want to bring up, which is to the young students, current students/young alums on the yard. That is not the time to network.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Awww.
Sylvia: Don't ask me --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, don't do it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] For advice --
Scottie: Don't do it.
Sylvia: On -- at 5 p.m. on the yard. When -- if you see me on the yard after the football game and my sunglasses are on and I have a cup that's probably not what it says on the outside on the inside, I am not in the place to give you any good --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Sound advice.
Sylvia: Cus I am here about to make terrible decisions my damn self.
Scottie: [crosstalk] On purpose. On purpose, by the way. On purpose.
Sylvia: So I'm -- I am nowhere in the position to counsel you on your life because --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Absolutely not.
Sylvia: Here I am at homecoming still acting a fool. So who am I? I dedicate time when I go to homecoming now, like especially usually the, the Friday before I get there, my JOMC department -- shout out to Crosby Hall -- has like a thing for alum and the students to talk. And like, I usually like a little panel or something. Like I dedicate time while I'm at school to make that happen. At the parties and at the yard, not the time to tell me you want to -- always wanted to work at BuzzFeed, Essence, Netflix. None of that. None of that. It's not the time, kids.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I can't. Let me tell you some, sis.
Sylvia: Don't give me your card. I'm gonna lose it too. [laughs]
Scottie: I don't got it. I remember I said that to somebody once when I went to homecoming. I just, I said those li -- that line. I said, I don't got it. [laughter] I don't got it. Not, I don't have it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It's like what is it? Everything. [laughs]
Scottie: [crosstalk] I don't got it. I don't-- I'm sorry.
Sylvia: What is the it?
Scottie: Yes. Because if you think that I can give you any sound advice right now. Well first I'm doing, I'm doing well. My face is doing -- like I, I am okay. I'm not as bad --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] I'm in a blissful state.
Sylvia: Right. I'm not as bad as I think I am because I be like, girl, I'm drunk. I be telling this girl, you drunk. Whoo! Girl, you drunk. But if I can give you the impression that I look like I can talk or I, I can have a conversation with you, although also during homecoming I am a crybaby. I cry all the time.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] You get emotional when you see everybody.
Scottie: I get emotional because those faces are like literally it's art to me. It's like it reminds me --.
Sylvia: Yeah.
Scottie: It reminds you of songs that literally hit my heart every time I hear it. And some of those faces are the exact same. So I am very emotional. I just I'm not in the place to tell you what it takes to be a radio personality. I don't know at this time. [laughter] I can't --. I don't know.
Sylvia: I don't even remember -- at that point in the day, I don't even remember how I became a media personality.
Scottie: [laughs] Right. I don't know.
Sylvia: Don't know you can become a media personality. [laughs]
Scottie: I don't -- I have ho idea what any of this means.
Sylvia: I'm just trying to stay close to my friends.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Right. [laughs]
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Keep my phone charged and prosper
Scottie: [crosstalk] That's another thing. Please respect. Please respect that I'm trying to make sure my friends don't leave me because, like, that is scary.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Cus like we said, the assumption is bad. [laughs].
Scottie: Oh my god.
Sylvia: If I can --When you lose people at homecoming it's really like you, like you at war.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yo.
Sylvia: You lost like a soldier. Like in the fields.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yo.
Sylvia: And it's like, will this nigga live past today? Will I ever see her again? I hope so.
Scottie: [crosstalk] [laughs] One time -- I don't drink and smoke. I choose one cont -- just decide to stick to one.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That's smart.
Scottie: But one homecoming I decided to drink and smoke.
Sylvia: Every homecoming honestly. [laughs]
Scottie: I lost -- no I ca -- I'm too -- that that will make me emotional wreck. But I decided to do that one time and I lost my friends. And when I tell you, I sat on the curb with a stick --.
Sylvia: No! [laughs].
Scottie: [laughs] Eating fried shrimp and fries. Trying to -- I'm like, have you seen -- I'm trying to -- but I have like, sunglasses on. So I'm thinking that people can't see me or I can't see. I don't know what's happening?
Sylvia: [crosstalk] What can -- Can you leave not br -- like crumbs. Like fish. Like the catfish crumbs.
Scottie: And people are talking to me -- [laughs]
Sylvia: Not bread crumbs but fried chicken crumbs from the tray so I could find you. [laughs]
Scottie: Yo. I was a mess. I was talking to all these people. Everybody's like, yo. You know, Scottie, what's going on? Blah, blah, blah. I'm like, have you seen my frien -- and they're like who? I'm like my friends. My friends. I want to say hi
Sylvia: [crosstalk] And they're like, who are your friends, girl?
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yeah, I don't know my friends.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Who are they sis? [laughs]
Scottie: Right. I'm like, I don't know my friends. I was a mess. I felt like I was six years old and I could not find my mother. I was losing my mind. So yeah. If that's you. If you can't drink and smoke, don't try to do it during homecoming. Another time, sorry, this is, this is it. I tried an edible for the first time during homecoming --.
Sylvia: The first time?
Scottie: Sylvia. And I took shots of CÎROC. I won't tell you who's responsible. I'm sure he listens to his podcast. But he said, Oh no! It's - eat it! It's fine. You won't even feel it till -- [laughter] you won't even feel it till ten, ten hours later when you know that alcohol is out of your system.
Sylvia: A lie. The lies niggas tell on the yard is something to be --.
Scottie: [crosstalk] What?
Sylvia: It's honestly, some of the all star best lies you've ever heard in your life.
Scottie: Oh my God.
Sylvia: I've actually gotten an edible on the yard, but not -- but my --And this is a Don't. Don't hand me something. I'm drunk. If I think you handing me a mint --.
Scottie: [laughs] A mint. I'm gonna eat it.
Sylvia: I'm -- I'm thinking you told me my breath, like is my breath a little tart?
Scottie: [crosstalk] Eat it.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It's a mint. This is an edible? You know, times that they -- I wake up the next day and I'm like, what happened?
Scottie: Yeah.
Sylvia: And they're like, oh. But when you took the edible-- that was an edible!? [laughs] Like, do you love me? Do you care about my life, friends? Like I don't --
Scottie: [crosstalk] The crazy shit, dawg.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] It's so many stories that --
Scottie: [crosstalk] I'm crying because that shit is funny.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Cus it's real. And we all have those drunken moments where the crazy things you do with your friends. Like I have had to knock bitches out, put them over my shoulder and like get them to the hotel room for their own safety. Like we have in the middle of, you know, breaking up drama or like whatever else made pit stops. But, you know, it's funny to me, but the thing about homecoming is you're never more resourceful at multitasking as a unit. It reminds you that you're with the people who you've learned how to do these emergency situations within the first place.
Scottie: Mhmm.
Sylvia: Like when people get drunk and it's like we got it down to a system. All right. [snaps] She acting up. We know the signs. Get her to the car. Order the Jimmy Johns and we're on our way. It's the only thing that's open right now. Get my Zaxby's plates waiting for me as we stop by to get it.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Whoo! Zaxby's.
Sylvia: And then go to the hotel after. Thank you. Because I need -- that's the only place where I can get wings and things, in addition to preparing for the things I have to do for the second half of the day. So, yes. Let's -- matter of fact, let's end this with the two or so -- like one or two things that you are the saddest that she won't be able to do this year. Because I think sometimes for me those usually fall in line with food. Like for me, one of the for sure devastations of my life is that I will not be able to have a cookout tray in the year of our Lord 2020. Cook out for those who don't know, it's spread out. But when I was in college, it was only in North Carolina. I had never seen a day in my life until I went to A&T. And it's basically like a grill. It's like, literally it's cookout. It's like if your uncle who cooks the grill -- who met -- who stays to the grill because he's the one who's good at it, opened a fast food restaurant, that's what cookout would be. And everything is against the environment. Nothing is green. Styrofoam plates, styrofoam cups, everything is sty -- But the food. Baby. Any kind of tray you want, any kind of combination of size and meats and burgers and sandwiches and chicken. And I promise you it will never been more than $8. Usually it's around $6.75, regardless. I'd be like yo, let me eat a chedder style cheeseburger tray, frosty's and fries, onion rings, a hushpuppy and cookies and cream milkshake and niggas be like, all right, that'll $7 bucks. How? It's the only place where, like, in -- influx doesn't happen. And I appreciate that about cookout. I miss -- I am devastated I won't get the chance to taste that high cholesterol, good ass food. That's definitely one for me. What's something for you that you're really sad that you're not going to get the experience at homecoming.
Scottie: I would like somebody to take a moment and hit me up on Twitter and Instagram and let me know how Sausage Lady is doing on the promenade. [laughter].
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Is she okay? Is she still in business?
Scottie: [crosstalk] If you know who I'm talking about, how she's been. What's going on with sis? If she has an Instagram, please let me know so I can tell her how many days and nights she has helped me leave the drunken [laughs] place that I thought that I -- like, that I thought I would never make it out of. So I need Sausage Lady to know that like she's been it for me. You know, she's always gonna be it for me. You are number one, baby. You are the real true MVP that's first.
Scottie: [laughs] All-star MVP.
Scottie: All -- for -- forever. That's first. Thumbs Up. Thumbs the fuck Up diner. I need to go. I have -- like I really thought that I was going to be in Atlanta. Like, I really was gonna do it.
Sylvia: We were gonna be right there.
Scottie: I love Thumbs Up. I also love Flying Biscuit. Jesus, those biscuits be flyin for real. [laughter] Them niggas fly.
Sylvia: Those biscuits be flying.
Scottie: Right into my mouth. And my la -- well, it used to be J.R. Crickets. But J.R. Crickets was like lacking. Like they been slacking for a minute now. So I had to chill off that. But let me tell you something that never, never, never lets me down. American motherfucking Deli. That's who.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Okay.
Scottie: Shout out to American Deli. Give me a check. You can pay me in wings. That's fine. I'll take whatever. I love American Deli. Best wings that I've ever had. I know they're gonna kill me because there's a bunch of other places. Shout out to Miss Crumpy's. I know that was one. I don't know what happened to Miss Crumpy's.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I feel like you don't have to. You feel like you have to shout out everybody’s place Atlanta? [laughs]
Scottie: No, no, no. Because I really -- when I say a wing connoisseur. I really think y'all think I'm playing.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] No, no. Oh --
Scottie: I do not play when it comes to these wings. And when I come down for homecoming, I go specifically for wings out of -- Mr. Everything's, another thing. Okay. Yeah. And that's it. I'll put my foot down there. [laughter] Shout out to Mr. Everything. But I don't play when it comes to food in Atlanta. I love food in Atlanta. If you want to tell me more about the -- other places in Atlanta, let me know. Hit me up on Twitter. I love to have the conversation.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] We love --.
Scottie: American -- American Deli wings? Anytime! I don't 00 And Zaxby's. And that's it. You said Zaxby's. But Zaxby's --
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I love Zaxby's. I love Zaxby's, like I said cus now --
Scottie: [crosstalk] Zaxby's -- the garlic bread.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Shout out to the Waffle House.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Let me tell you something -- oh, shout out to the Waffle House.
Sylvia: Do they still -- Are they open? Do they still sell All Star Specials? Like it's been --.
Scottie: Yes. Yes.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] I feel so remove --. I mean, since the COVID hit. Is it still, like you got me like, it's been so long since I've seen one.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yes. I've seen niggas at the Waffle House. Absolutely.
Sylvia: I'm -- actually I'm sure, because Atlanta's wide open. So actually I'm sure those ones are --.
Scottie: [laughs] Niggas.
Sylvia: Still well in business. But I -- Yes. And so for me, yes. So cookout was mine. My final one is going to be -- and this is an ode to, like I know you gonna pop down this too, the music and the feeling of -- I feel like homecoming is one those times where I will still only hear certain songs I hear once a year because they remind me of college. And I think, like for me, I'm really sad that I'm not going to get to have us like a, all -- I call it a free zone. Because it's the place where I lay as -- I am forced because of this is the paradox of being the Black woman. But I lay my feminist ways to the side [laughter] to ratchedly rap out loud lyrics that stand against most of the things I stand for as a woman, you know? And it feels good in moment. And I, I feel like if the only time of year where I just kind of put my head down, be like, [raps] yeah. My name is Suzie. And Gucci think I love hi.
Scottie: [crosstalk] [raps] And Gucci think I love him.
Sylvia: [raps] I fucks with all them ballers --.
Scottie: I think I'm loyal but --
Sylvia: [raps] Okay. [inaudible] You know what I mean? Like I, I really am going to -- it's sad to me. Yes, people, especially -- you know, people, swag serp everywhere. But there's nothing like swag serving at homecoming with the niggas who you actually started doing that shit with before the Internet knew about it.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Yes.
Sylvia: There's also just nothing like just hearing that trap -- like 2 Chainz. Like you have -- Scottie has a playlist and I hope that they maybe put in the details here. It says, CAU Homecoming. But it's really if you went to college in the early -- in the early 2010s, like this is the playlist for you. I just missed the experience of rapping.
Scottie: Right.
Sylvia: Sweating ratchedly like with my girls, just drunk. And just everybody knows all the songs, all the lyrics. Nobody is confused.
Scottie: Someone said my playlist belongs in the Smithsonian. So that should pretty much tell you that. Yes. Like --.
Sylvia: I used it to get in the mood today. It was -- I was twerking in the bathtub doing my makeup.
Scottie: The the -- the influence that "Make It Rain" by Travis Porter had. Let me tell you something.
Sylvia: You wanna see some ass?
Scottie: Oh, my God. Like -.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Let me see some cash.
Scottie: [crosstalk] Cash.
Sylvia: [raps] Keep those dollars coming and --.
Scottie: Oh my god.
Sylvia: That's gonna make me dan -- That's actually a feminist manifesto. I ain't goin hold you.
Scottie: [crosstalk] That's it! That's it!
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That specific -- There was, there was some sort of stroke of feminism in that one. [laughs]
Scottie: Oh my God. Like it just --.
Sylvia: Ugh, shout out to the DJ's that you know, we -- you know, that kept us going. And I hope that you guys are -- I'm sure that you guys are all doing your D-nights lives -- least the A&T ones this week.
Scottie: I'm sure. Also it being like against the law to not know "Knuck If You Buck". And I mean--.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] That's for sure.
Scottie: You need to know "Knuck If You Buck", especially if you're in Atlanta, you are sup -- I know from top to bottom, I know people who only do like two verses and they out because that's usually when the DJ cuts it off.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yes. [laughs]
Scottie: But if you know from ,top to bottom it's important if you went to AUC. Yes.
Sylvia: And you at least know Princess's verse. You know what I mean. But if nothing else -- [laughs].
Scottie: Mmm, mmm, mmm.
Sylvia: But yes. So that is the thing. And it's really just a culture of it. And I think just the experience of that culture and I think definitely this year, out of all the years makes me have a higher appreciation for the people who keep that culture going on social media, virtually, all the HBCU Instagram pages. A&T specifically, GHOE’s Dos and Don'ts that like what -- is a page that like, always carries that for us. And I really feel like as things have gone virtual, it's nice to be able to know oh, let me go here and like see people post the videos and the jokes. Like we still do what we call Aggie Pride Shot Fest every Sunday when homecoming is supposed to start at midnight, like the start of the full week. And everybody still did that online this weekend and posted that. So like, I love that we're finding ways to adapt and still feel the homecoming spirit regionally. Whatever maybe. I just ask that everybody, especially Aggies, because we're the last ones up -- a lot of other people's things have passed. Please stay safe. Please stay at home. Homecoming is like we'll -- so that we can all be there next year or the year after. That is my only wish. But yeah, man. Shout out to homecoming.
Scottie: But next year, but next year we out here. Do understand.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] We out here.
Scottie: We out here. Please, please make sure that you donate to HBCU and make sure that --.
Sylvia: Yes. Donate, donate.
Scottie: Or buy some merch, shit. They make some money from that too.
Sylvia: [crosstalk] Yes, where -- is there like a Black owned merch spots? Like for us, it's Hall Pass. Shout out to Tabitha, Hall Pass Shop like they -- I love their merch. I'm wearing like actual A&T. Like I bought this from the bookstore cus I like to give back --.
Scottie: I'm about to say, yeah. I buy from the bookstore. I've never -- like, I buy from CAU's bookstore and also Morehouse's bookstore. So yeah. Right now I'm having, I'm having Xavier University on.
Sylvia: I see. She's -- I'm wearing my HBCU on my chest. But -- [clears throat]
Scottie: Oh my -- Oh yeah. Well my mother stole mine because she's so damn proud of a girl who literally didn't graduate. But yes, there's that. But yeah. So thank you. This was great. Had a good time.
[Music In]
Sylvia: All right. That's our show. Thank you all for tuning in.
Scottie: Our show is a production of Pineapple Street Studios in partnership with Netflix and Strong Black Lead. Shout out to our team. Executive producers are Agerenesh Ashagre and Jasmyn Lawson. Our Lead Producer is Jess Jupiter. Our Music is by Amanda Jones. Special thanks to Max Linsky and Jenna Weiss-Berman.
Sylvia: Make sure you share your thoughts with us on the episode using the #OkayNowListen. Follow Strong Black Lead on the socials @Strong BlackLead and follow us too. I'm @Sylvia Obell.
Scottie: And I'm @Scottie Beam.
Sylvia: Until next time folks, stay blessed.
[Music Out]