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Get Genarlow Wilson Out of Prison, Then GET DOWN!!!

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Remember those Disneyland commercials from back in the day? Some sweaty baller would be leaving the field basking in the glow of a Super Bowl victory and the reporter would ask what they were going to do next. They’d stare directly into the camera and proclaim, “I’m going to Disneyland!” Well, acclaimed Atlanta attorney B.J. Bernstein could have shot a spot like that last night (12/6). After spending a couple years voraciously fighting to GET embattled Georgia teen Genarlow Wilson out of prison what better way to celebrate than by GETTING DOWN? Bernstein was among the booty-shaking revelers who turned out to support theArrested Development CD release party last night at Pure, a new event facility on Clairmont Road. If you’re 30 or older you probably already know that before it was a popular TV series, Arrested Development was actually the name of a Grammy-winning Atlanta-based a hip-hop group. They were on the scene when the phrase “hip-hop” was not so inextricably tied to images of misogyny and violence. The group, known for its thought-provoking and uplifting rhythmic hits like “Everyday People,” “Tennessee,” and “Mr. Wendell,” has a new CD out called “Since The Last Time” so they teamed up with 2007 Atlanta Magazine Best of Atlanta winner, Shelley Wynter of WAOK radio to host the event. The two big highlights of the night hands down was when high-profile attorney Bernstein joined a group of women dancing on the makeshift stage during a tribute song to women. The second, was the finale when half of the audience joined the group onstage in a lively round of “Everyday People.” At one point Bernstein was dancing with Wynter and it was the funniest sight ever. It was a lot of fun and I was able to connect with some high school chums there, including group member Eshe. Ah, the days when hip-hop wasn’t about posturing and perpetrating. Thanks Arrested Development for keeping it positive for all these years. --- Chandra R. Thomas