Savannah-born and raised rapper Brandon “Pote Baby” Wilson hosted a three-day community celebration, including a night of bowling on Friday, a music executive panel discussion on Saturday, and a day of giving that ended Sunday at 520 Tavern on Abercorn Street.
Arriving mid-day for the block party, I find owner Gary Gordon welcoming guests as Keeshan “KeeshGotHits” Williams played Pote Baby’s music. Adrianne Henderson of Twisted Bar Lab and Hookah Experience mixed herbal flavors.
After 15 years of knowing Gary, I might be just as proud of his three restaurants as he is and get even more amped when he shares, “We are rolling out our new 520 Wings food truck next week with a replica of our restaurant menu. My goal is more catering, pop-up food truck events, and food truck festivals.”
I have my second sighting in the past month of gorgeous Taylor Jordan. I’m used to seeing Taylor’s signature artisan bath soaps and bath experience boxes and am excited to learn that she is actually teaching people how to make their own soaps today.
“I am providing glass bottles, seven different dried flowers and the Epsom salt. Seeing everyone experience the raw form of chamomile, blue cornflower and eucalyptus while making their own soaps is as exciting as teaching them about my opalite, amethyst and clear quartz crystal necklaces,” shares the Wilmington Island native.
Once “Pote Baby” is free to talk, the 23-year-old tells me, “The past three days was a way for me to bring solidarity to my city. I want the sense of community that I had as a child to come back. Hosting three days of events is a way to say thank you to the city that raised me.”
Sporting a LRG tie-dyed bucket hat, Pote describes himself as a gumbo artist: “an artist who is a melting pot of flows, melodies, styles and seasonings.” Pote tells me he was influenced by early-1990s southern hip hop, from Fergie and T.I. to Ludacris and Nellie, and that “my music is honest, all inclusive.”
Making sure Pote Baby is everywhere he is supposed to be is his manager, business partner, and fellow Savannah-native, Donny Slater. “Four years ago, I was attending an artist showcase at Sulfur Studios, heard Pote perform and the rest is history. I am building his business infrastructure, I handle his marketing and deploy my personal resources.”
Making a call to PR giant Jennifer Abshire got this three-day community weekend on the map, said Slater. “Pote is one of the few rappers to actually give back to the community.”
At last year’s event, Pote gave away 100 pair of Reebok sneakers. This year, apparel company LRG contributed 200 pieces of clothing, including jeans, bookbags, hoodies and face masks. Says Slater, “Puma has signed on to be the sponsor of the next Pote Day.”
After getting the deets, I mingle with 20-year-old twins Asia Mayor and Nyasa Reynolds. After introducing the twins to James “JB” Bennett, I follow him over to snap a pic of his two-week old baby, a custom-built Vaydor. Learning that this is one of 60 kit cars built in the world, I ask the Jamaican-born New Yorker what he does for a living.
“I own Kool Vibes – Pizza & Wings at 4501 Montgomery St. We are coming up on our first anniversary,” shares the uber-fit military veteran.
Next up is another veteran, Amaya Carr. While posing with branding consultant and fellow Windsor Forest High School grad Regine Stepherson, I head inside to snap a pic of the 520’s team – Yolanda Walker, Adrianna Rivers, David King Berrien, Michael Henderson and Taylor Jamerson.
And, as it always happens, the last person I meet is the best surprise of the day: LaVerne Haynes, the founder of MyGirls+, a small nonprofit founded in February that helps young girls with self development.
The mother of four says, “Realizing there isn’t a lot for young girls to do, our girls meet every Sunday at Salon Saria. Helping with their self identity and to build their confidence, I plan events and am working on a trip to New York to walk down Wall Street to give the girls a glimpse of culture outside of Savannah.”
While I’m posing a group of MyGirls+ members for a mini-photo session, Pote Baby walks over and asks to join the pic. My final pic is my best photo of the day and it shows me everything I need to know.
Pote Baby sits in the middle and is surrounded by six young ladies, doing exactly what he said he would – bring a sense of community, solidarity and family to our future generations. Well-played young man, I will see you next year – same day, same time, same place!
Invite Bunny Ware to your gathering, gala or other social event. Contact her at 912-844-1122 or email at bunnyware@aol.com. See more columns by Bunny atSavannahNow.com/Lifestyle/.