A Review: The Rickey Smiley Morning Show
The Rickey Smiley Morning Show happened this morning, Friday, October 25, 2019. The extravaganza took place at Birmingham, Alabama’s BJCC inside of the Concert Hall. The show was slated to begin at 5AM, but the line outside of the venue started forming sometime around 12AM this morning.
The show is free, but the seats are first come first serve. Locals and those traveling from out of town alike, have been waiting all year long to get a glimpse of Birmingham native Rickey Smiley and his morning show gang. The excited fans rushed into the venue when the gate opened shortly after 4 AM for the rare chance.
Before the show, 95.7 Jamz DJ’s started the party off with music and their longtime host/DJ Young Dil. AT&T was also present in the building and randomly awarded several hundred dollars in prizes throughout the morning.
The Rickey Smiley Morning Show Gang looking out into the audience
When Rickey Smiley and his morning gang finally made it to the stage, the crowd could not have been more elated. Smiley along with his crew- HeadKrack, Ms. Juicy Baby, and Da Brat talked celebrity gossip for the first half of the hour. Notably missing from the stage was Gary With Da Tea who was reportedly under the weather.
This year was quite special as it is the last year with HeadKrack who will be branching off from Smiley to start his own morning show. Also, this is the last Magic City Classic broadcast before Smiley takes over for longtime radio host Tom Joyner, who is retiring from radio this year. Locally, Smiley will move from the hip-hop radio station 95.7Jamz to the more mellow 98.7 KISS FM.
The morning show went on as usual with a prank call, the Wake Up Call, and celebrity gossip, but this year there was a plethora of special performances.
A local six year old, Bailey B, came out and preformed an adorable original rap and after her performance, Bailey shouted out the Birmingham child Kamille Cupcake McKinney who was found dead after being kidnapped earlier this week.
Rickey Smiley smiling in a McDowell outfit
Rickey Smiley who was initially dressed as an employee of the fictional restaurant McDowell’s from the movie Coming to America changed into an Alabama Sate University shirt in support of his favorite Magic City Classic team. Once casual, he got down and dirty to step with the Omega Psi Phi college fraternity which he meet at a local Battle of the Bands.
Rapper Mystikal performing hit
Soon after, rapper Mystikal came to the stage to perform two of his hit songs. Rickey Smiley was not at all pleased with the audience’s subdued reaction to the star’s performance. Rickey admitted that he hated people in the front reserved seating areas because they felt entitled. He stated the real party was in the back of the crowd, because he feels they are his REAL fans.
Rickey invited the people from the back seating areas and the balcony to come to the front and stand along the stage. The audience obeyed and the real party began.
Music was played the stage became filled with people and there was dancing and shouting all around. The Concert Hall became a club as the party got super rowdy. One woman with an ample behind began to twerk on the stage. Rickey responded by jumping on her back and riding her like a donkey while playful swatting her behind. She responded by pushing him to the floor and dancing astide of him.
The morning show host said that the crowd’s adulation and party atmosphere was the greatest moment of his life and this was the party he always hoped for to celebrate the Magic City Classic. He also teased that he was now part of the popular #MeToo Movement after the unexpected grind from the female fan with the bountiful backside.
The Omega Psi Phi Que Doggs preforming
The show went on with a surprise melody of hits preformed by Da Brat. Hit dance songs from the early 2000’s such as Lean Wit it, Rock Wit It and Laffy Taffy blared across the auditorium and the energy stayed high. Surprise after surprise happened as Smiley found another little person like Ms. Juice in the audience, and danced with the pair. Caver High School’s marching band appeared and preformed Old Town Road and Beyonce’s rendition of Before I Let Go.
The show ended on a positive note as Rickey spoke about the importance of therapy. Birmingham’s mayor Randall Woodfin and the host affirmed the importance of allowing children to attend an HBC’s and a performance from gospel artist James Fortune closed out the show.
Of my years behind the scenes of the Magic City Classic presentation of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show, I must agree with Mr. Smiley, this was the most exciting to date.
If you attended the show, comment below your favorite moment.
