New York City Imbible Blog Citysearch: Get Your Swagger On with Mickey "MeMpHiTz" Wright

Meet Mickey "MeMpHiTz" Wright, Vice President of Jive A&R, the new face of P. Diddy's latest Sean John ad campaign, and the man responsible for signing T-Pain, J-Kwon and other superstars to the Jive label. With so much on his plate, 2008 is shaping up to be a year of big things for the young record exec, so when we were approached about giving him the opportunity to reach our readers, we were happy to oblige. Read on for MeMpHiTz's list of his favorite spots to get his swagger on in NYC, in his own words ...

CLUBS

Corio
Last summer my boy Ant Rich did a weekly party at Corio (this is where I discovered DJ Love on the Run), and I never missed it. Those were some of my most memorable Summer ’07 nights! It’s the perfect place for a chill vibe with great music. Don’t let the small space fool you though; we got it popping in there! The running burlesque show in between DJ sets is legendary.

GoldBar
Besides the specialty drinks that get right quickly, the room is incredibly fly, the music is always upbeat, and the women dancing to the tunes are some of New York’s finest. Also, the décor is second to none as far as clubs go.

Soho House
The only place in New York where you can have glass of wine from an award-winning selection, order some food at the bar, take the food to a screening room and watch a pre-screening, then go to a rooftop for some more drinks and pool time. It’s a members only club, but Ant Rich (who is a founding member) always takes care of me.

The Box
Anyone who knows Memphitz knows that I am a HUGE fan of outright outrageousness. The Box falls nothing short of that. The cabaret-style performance coupled with the exclusivity at the door makes for the type of nightlife experience you can only get in New York.

Love
Every Thursday I go to Love and watch Q-Tip, Kid Capri, DJ Premiere, and other legendary DJs put it down. They remind me of when I originally fell in love with hip-hop and why I got into this business in the first place.

SHOPS

Flight Club
By far the best collection of rare kicks in New York. If they don’t have it, tell ‘em what you want and they’ll get it for you eventually.

Barney's Co-op
Co-op is the best place to shop if want to stay cutting edge in terms of fashion's freshest brands, while still carrying the classics. Plus the sneaker buyer is on point. It’s also the greatest selection of denim that I’ve encountered since moving to NY. That’s what I call urban chic!

Seize Sur Vingt
Now that I am a Vice President I feel the need to spruce it up every now and then. When I’m looking to get a suit custom-made or increase my button-up game, Seize Sur Vingt is my spot. The manger, Richie, aka, DJ Love on the Run, is one of my favorite club DJs in NY, and he lets me go in the backyard and drink wine while I’m with a lady going through fabrics and patterns!

A-Life
Two words: purple carpet. How can I not love a store that's entirely covered in purple carpeting? With Global brands like Nike and Adidas overly producing their styles, A-Life is my new favorite sneaker brand. The silhouette is super original, unlike other start-up sneaker lines, and their patters and colors are always wild.

Sean John
Although my man Diddy pretty much sends me whatever Sean John I need, it’s still fun for me to frequent his 5th Avenue flagship store. How many former college drop-out interns own stores on 5th Avenue? Puff is amazing, and so is the store.

RESTAURANTS

Virgil’s BBQ
I’m not saying that any place in NY can compete with Memphis BBQ, but when I miss home this is the closest substitute.

Blue Ribbon
Their seafood platter will have you poking at the top, wishing they gave you more lobster. The Park Slope branch is just as good as the one in Soho and it’s in BK where I am a resident.

Phillipe
About two years ago we got sick of Mr. Chow’s horrible waits, small space, and inconsistent prices, all the while still craving the food. Phillipe Chow's offers the same menu, but it’s not the zoo that Mr. Chow's is. There’s also a private room in the basement that’s amazing for dinner parties.

Cipriani's Downtown
I’m not gonna lie; I’ve had better Italian food. But you’re not going to get a better scene than Giuseppe Cipriani's restaurant, a staple of New York’s downtown social-climbing scene. The bellinis are still a classic, and the club upstairs is still among the flyest places to frequent (if you can get in!!!). The oversized Peter Beard paintings are a nice touch.

Stanton Social
Great menu, great music, great scene, and the aesthetics are incredible. Plus the Lower East Side has become my new favorite playground so the location is great.