Arnez J on Opening for Prince, His Basketball Past, and Surviving His Father's Shooting

Opening for Prince

• 🎤 Arnez J recounts being flown out by Prince to open for him, an experience he describes as one of the most wide-open moments of his life.
• 🎶 He initially didn't believe it was Prince and met Larry Graham, who was Prince's mentor, during rehearsal.
• 🗓️ The tour with Prince took place in the late 80s or early 90s, specifically around 1990, after Arnez J played with the Harlem Globetrotters.

Basketball and Athleticism

• 🏀 Arnez J compares his athletic abilities to NBA stars like Jordan and LeBron, stating his game is more like Tamika Catchings, with handles, speed, defense, and shooting ability.
• 🌟 He played with Sweet Lou Dunbar before his retirement in 1996, and also played with Orlando Antigua, the first Puerto Rican player from Pitt.
• 🤕 Arnez J mentions that a past hip injury, possibly from playing ball or imitating Uncle Charlie's splits, still causes him pain.

On-Stage Encounters and Resilience

• ⚠️ Arnez J emphasizes that he doesn't typically deal with hecklers but asks that people do not run on stage during his performances.
• 👊 He describes his hands as "monkey grippers" due to a history of fighting, noting that his tough upbringing in Poughkeepsie required him to be ready to defend himself.
• 🚫 He states he is not afraid to try anything except drugs or drinking, due to negative experiences with alcoholism in his family.

Childhood Trauma and Survival

• 💥 Arnez J reveals that his father, a Vietnam veteran, shot him three times during a flashback where he mistook Arnez for the enemy.
• 🏃‍♂️ While watching the movie "The Dirty Dozen," his father had a flashback and ran to get a .38 caliber gun.
• 🩹 Arnez J ran through a glass door to escape and didn't realize he had been shot until he reached a friend's house, where the bullet wounds were discovered, thankfully missing vital organs but causing lingering hip pain.