Manhattan University’s Spring Fest Features: “A Band Named Jadakiss”

I recently had the pleasure of seeing my close friend Emil at his school while visiting New York City.

In both of our times in college so far, I had never stopped by because of the extremely upsetting fact that his school, despite being named “Manhattan University,” was actually located in the Bronx.

Emil had recently made the two-hour trip involving two trains and a cab ride to visit me in Connecticut, so I began to feel some guilt about my inability to take a train to the next borough over.

Better late than never, I guess.

I begrudgingly got off the final stop of the one train and walked to one of the campus Buildings. I was greeted by Emil and a couple other friends. After exchanging hellos, we began walking around.

We walked around the neighborhood until we found a second-hand shop where we played with toy cars and tried on dumb shit until we got bored. At that point, we decided to walk back up to Emil’s campus.

The Manhattan University Dining Hall (Referred to in the shorthand [although I was never told what the “longhand” was] as “locks”) was an experience like no other.

Upon entering the building, I was immediately overwhelmed with a dry heat and the smell of melting cheese. I walked through the food options and frowned at the crusted-over counters with dried sauces. Noticing my expression, Emil reassured me that Fridays were always the worst.

We ate protein bowls, and I was introduced to some more buddies. Most studied bio-med like Emil. We bonded over a shared love for NASCAR as we ate “Mighty-Mini” ice cream sandwiches.

The rest of the day was spent with more walking around in the Bronx until we could no longer.

I took the hour-long train ride back to my home, but not before letting the words “W links, I’ll pull up again tomorrow” fall out of my mouth a little too easily. By the time I got home, I kicked myself for making such a promise.

It was fine, though, because when I arrived at my house, I recieved a text from Emil explaining that there was a school fair the next day. He also added that “a band named Jadakiss” would be performing.

The last time I heard someone talk about Jadakiss was when I still wet the bed. I was excited to see what he had been up to in recent years. I couldn’t contain myself. Just like old times.

The next morning I changed my sheets, jumped on the train, and excitedly got off the final stop of the one train. I had a bicycle with me so I spent some time riding around a nearby park while waiting for Emil to meet me.

We walked back up to the campus main lawn, which was decorated with fun-fair attractions overnight. One of them looked like that one ride from Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

I met some more of Emil’s friends, one of whom did not know how to ride a bicycle. So after we got tired of the amusements, we decided to teach him how. We then spent some time climbing rocks and chatting.

Later that night was the concert. We almost ended up missing it since we kept getting lost.

The set was fine. It was very short. And was mostly just him doing his features. It was a free concert though so I kinda feel like an asshole for doing anything but appreciating it.

After a couple state-mandated “stay in school, y’all”s, Jadakiss was off. So was I after I remembered that I was still technically in the Bronx.

I bid Emil and my new friends farewell and took the train back home for another hour. It wasn’t that bad—maybe I’ll make another trip soon.

Probably not for at least a year though. I think that does it for my annual trip outside of my home borough…