Jose Cuervo and Afropunk celebrated Cinco De Mayo in style with a buoyant Brooklyn bash at notable nightspot Villain. #CuervoNoChaser featured flowing flavored tequila and futuristic funk-soul forays from DJ Kitty Kash, DJ MOMA, DJ Lindsay and DJ Underdog. SZA, aka my personal savior and goddess singing siren, headlined the affair.
A line of fashion-forward revelers snaked around the block at the start of the night, each eager to get inside and start dancing, hob nobbing and sipping on several Cuervo flavors dished out by dutiful bartenders. The space was both minimal and well-adorned. Stark monochrome walls contrasted with glitchy projections and dulled-yet-colorful warehouse lights. A handsome vintage pickup was on display in one room, and brave voguers—myself included—gathered for photos, hoping to borrow some of its intrinsic glamour. I did a lot of poses on and around it. Security asked me to stop.
The crowd swelled steadily through the night, and as such, things got fun. A crowd of largely brown and black party people started talking, tipsily bumping into each another and taking gratuitous selfies and snaps. I made more than a few friends, and had a healthy serving of booze and pork tacos. For research.
The highlight of the night was SZA, who started her set with ‘Warm Winds’ my favorite song of hers. The track’s sultry soundscape paired with her flawless floating vocal took the crowd to an intimate, heady place. Ever the star, she ran through a full set of bangers and ballads, not once losing the crowd’s full attention.
As the night wound down, folks paired off, picked up their coats and called their ubers. I made my way out into the Williamsburg streets, giddy from a night of beautiful music and beautiful souls.
