Sun, Nov 22, 2009
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Name:
shakaz0117
Comment: Take it back to New Orleans.
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Name:
nightshift
Comment: Does this man have pull or are they just catering to him b/c of his (tenuous) association w/JZ?
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Name:
huey
Comment: naw nightshift, what he wants to do is get a stronghold on the festival so he can ultamatly pimp more future wannabee bouncy's...fool wants to take over the hump and bump world forever...I DONT THINK U READY FOR THIS JELLO...
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Name:
nightshift
Comment: Thanks Huey, something about him gives me the "willies". It's right there between icky!! & uuuuueewww!!!
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Name:
ss69054
Comment: Alot of folks complained more this year than ever before about it being in Houston so it might not be a good place. I overheard bits of talk about them looking at Chicago as a hosting city. That might work considering the space (Grant Park) and all the hotels and shopping, etc. That might be cool until N.O. builds back up.
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: He's got an ulterior motive but no matter what his motive is it's selfish of him to try and keep the essence festival in light of the fact that NO needs the tourism dollars that come from it - they are still rebuilding. Funny this black man probably didn't even consider the benefit for anything or anyone but himself.
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: MCNASTY>i agree. it should go back to N.O.--when the city is rebuilt. why not let Chi town have it on a temporary basis. or Miami, or shoot, Cali for that matter. DON'T bring it to the ATL. they can't handle the traffic.
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Name:
xavixavi
Comment: I have been to EVERY essence since the beginning, and I can tell you that Houston was a total MESS, and much more annoying. I hated the hotel, the venue, the distance between stuff, everything. I went to Houston thinking that I would have a wonderful experience w/ a new town -- BIG let down.
If it is Houston this year, I will NOT be going. I'll take my tourism dollars elsewhere!
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Name:
prettieyez
Comment: I hope the peeps at Essence don't listen to this fool...There's nothing in Houston that excites me or wants me to go to HOT AZZ Houston. If they can't have it in New Owlins they need to move it somewhere besides Houston!! How about ATL, Chicago or Vegas to name a few!
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Name:
ss69054
Comment: Chitown hands down!!!
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Name:
gingerg
Comment: Chicago would be best. Most venues are within walking distance and there's the wonderful shopping on Michigan Avenue to consider. They also
have an array of delicious eateries.
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: I have to agree with one of the posters with regards to Matt Knowles because I don't trust him either. It was no surprise to me that Houston's Essence Festival turned out to be a mess. I anticipated that. Houston is NO New Orleans. However, I don't know how I feel about the festibal going to major cities like Chicago, ATL, NY, DC, ETC. Those places could easily turn out to be more costly to the patrons and equally inconvenient if not more. I don't know how I feel about it going back to New Orleans either. It's going to interesting to see what city Essence chooses as a host for next year. Hmmmmm...
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Name:
kady
Comment: Even before Hurricane Katrina, I always thought they should host the festival in another city for a change. Who wants to keep going to N.O. every freakin' year. I know I don't.
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: BRING ESSENCE HOME to NEW ORLEANS. The festival is held at the Superdome which has already been remodeled. In the CBD district, where the festival is held, there are no signs of Katrina. This area house the majority of the hotels, night clubs, restaurants, as well as the French Quarter and all of those are up and running. New Orleans is not totally written off of the map. THere are several areas that are still functional.
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: kady, thousands of folks that's why it gets larger every year.
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Name:
dollbaby2
Comment: is that man still married? I heard he cheated with one of B's dancers?
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Name:
STELLABABY
Comment: it should go back to new orleans,i will
go myself if possible.matthew knowles is thinking of himself as always.i would never go to texas after what was
done to the late james bird.new orleans
needs our support more than ever.
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Name:
sultry
Comment: matthew haven't you %*$!ed up enough stuff? the Essence awards do not belong to you.
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Name:
STELLABABY
Comment: and they definitely should not go to nyc.there are no venues within walking
distance of each other and the cabs cost a fortune and nyc is so dirty.and
yes i live in nyc so i know nyc would not do right by this event.they give
us black new yorker's a hard time when
we want to give any type of an event.and money wise you won't make a
dime b/c everything is so expensive and
over priced.peace and blessings
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Name:
letmein
Comment: As a faithful festival attender, I would LOVE to see it go back to NO. Someone up there ^^ wanted to know who wants to keep going back to NO? Thousands baby!! N'awlins is the "essence" of the festival, hands down!
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: Chicago is the only other city that can handle the essence festival and I agree with the poster that said IT SHOULD NOT come to DC. You'll go broke the second day with the price of hotels and dining here in our fair city.
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: . . . plus if you're complaining about the traffic from houston - child you ain't seen nothing till you bring something like that to dc - permanent gridlock!!
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: I don't think Chicago would be a good.
When is Taste Of Chicago? Isn't that relatively around the same time or month? Wouldn't that conflict or compromise that attention that patrons of the Essence Festival deserve? Just asking...
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Name:
MidtownATL
Comment: >nightshift Me Too! Its something about him, I wouldn't be surprised if..............
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Name:
Stephanie
Comment: This year was my first year attending the Essence fest and words cannot really describe what a HORRIBLE time we had. The concerts really sucked, the food was waaaaayyyy over priced ($3.50 for a small soda and $5.00 for three boney chicken wings and a stale biscuit) and the over priced black art, jewerly, and ugly clothes. The only thing I enjoyed was hearing Min Farrakhan and Michael Dyson speak. I will never, ever attend another one. We spent nearly $300 on cab fare alone. Plus the sound system at the arena where they held the concerts was criminal it was so bad. You know if Frankie Beverly sounded like shyt, it was bad. Everyone I talked to said it was nothing compared to what it was in New Orleans. Another plus was the people in Houston. They were so kind and sweet its now my second favorite place to visit after DC.
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Name:
Priceless
Comment: It sounded like Houston was too sprawlish for the festival to work there like it did in New Orleans ... I have never attended but if and when I do I want to go to NO
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: How about Charlotte, North Carolina? Never been there, but I hear it's up and coming and lots of people love it.
They says its becoming a major city and but it still has a close-knit-ness/small townish feel.
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Name:
dakoolestkat
Comment: MrUnapologetic37....I'm a native Texan who just happens to be living in Charlotte now. Charlotte is definitely up and coming but not sure if they are ready for an event of that magnitude. I went to the festival in NO back in 2003 and had a blast. Can't imagine any other city other than NO to host it.
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Name:
UrbanRoom
Comment: Houston sucked this year.
New Orleans was always very good.
They should try looking at NYC.
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: Hey Yall... CHICAGO-- I went to the Taste of Chicago this year, and yes it was held the same time of the Essence Festival. I think it would be a great place to have it, but there were like 2-3 million folks at the Taste during the first couple of days so I don't know if the city could handle the Essence folks, too. It IS, however, a great city to visit/do other things during that time although it is probably HOTTER than Houston or NO during the summer. HOUSTON: Truth be told, I hope they have it there next year because I am moving to Houston in about 2 weeks. CHARLOTTE: I currently live in Charlotte, and whatever they do, PUHLEASE don't have it there. BOOOOOOOORING. Although the CIAA tourney was good here last year... OK, that's my $.02
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: dakoolestkat>>> I currently live in Charlotte, and the Queen City folks get together from time to time. Although I'll be moving to H-town in the next couple of weeks, if you want to join the Charlotte folks, email me at bs11221972@yahoo.com and I'll be sure to keep you in the loop...
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Name:
thegamehunter
Comment: Im a Houston native and resident, so let me defend my city with these comments:
In the last three years, Houston has been the only city in America to host a super bowl, NBA all star game, Major League Baseball all star game and a host of other world class events not associated with the sports or entertainment world.
No one complained about the sprawl when they came to those events. The NFL said that Houston hosted the best superbowl they had ever had up to that point, and we know they;ve played in NO seven times, Miami six times, twice in San Diego, twice in Atlanta, etc.
Plenty of NBA players call Houston home, and the summer league games here in Houston at the Fonde Rec Center feature well over 100 plus NBA players.
Dont even start about the hospitality that was shown to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, who by and large, have been nothing but a tremendous burden and headache on the taxpayers, and have raised the crime rate to an unbearable level.
Houston is a big city without mass transit, which of course is a horrible mistake. I dont think you can duplicate a bourbon street type feel in any other city in America, and with events such as the essence fest, where more "hanging out" occurs than actual festival and workshop attendence, the people who came down here were upset that they couldnt hang out all night, throw beads, see each others body parts, and basically had no place to go after the concerts were over.
The essence fest people were looking for a couple of things: they wanted an indoor venue that could hold a minimum of 50,000 people. They wanted at least 20,000 hotel rooms, and they wanted meeting space. There are only four cities in the USA with indoor stadiums that can accomiadate 50k people (Houston, Detriot, Atlanta, and Indianapolis) and only a few that have 20k hotel rooms as well.
I think if they do bring the essence back to Houston, then the rules need to be relaxed as far as the consumption of alcohol, and they will need an entertainment district in which to hang out. When the super bowl was here in '04, everyone hung out at clubs and bars downtown. Downtown was packed, along with the Richmond strip (where a number of clubs and bars are located), and on the west side of the city as well. New Orleans has one central party location, and thats bourbon street, and thats what makes the essence or any other fest so unique to that city.
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: THANK YOU, Gamehunter-- I was rethinking my decision to relocate there for a minute.... Truth be told, up until the Essence Festival--I've only heard good things about Houston. Ummm, and I think you failed to mention one famous landmark-- Paul Wall's grill shop...
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Name:
MrUnapologetic37
Comment: Thanks, LawdHvMrcy & Dakoolestkat for your comments regarding Charlotte. That settles that, huh? As for NYC, I'm sorry, Urbanroom, I dont agree with you. I just move to NY and love it, but this is NOT a place for a festival the likes of Essence. NY would be entirely too darn expensive (lodging & transportation/cabs). Moreover, NY listens "only" to the beat of it's own drum. Essence patrons wouldnt get the treatment it's use to, but they may love the visit to NY in general. That's my additiona 2 cent.
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Name:
dakoolestkat
Comment: LawdHvmrcy....represent the Queen city!! LOL. I actually was gonna bring up the whole CIAA tournament thing but wasn't sure if anyone would identify with it..I never heard of it when I lived in Texas. If and whenever I move back to Texas it wouldnt definitely be to Htown. My email is nckoolestkat@yahoo.com.
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Name:
dcdouglass01
Comment: Let me put in a bid for my city: Minneapolis. There are more Black folk (many quite concious) up here than you would think (African Americans and an eclectic mix of Black people throughout the Diaspora. Total population: about 200,000), hence plenty of night life that caters to us. Downtown is compact, vibrant, and safe, and either airport makes getting into the Cities pretty painless. Good shopping (Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, Uptown, Mall of America, etc.). St. Paul, the quieter half of the Twin Cities, is 7 miles away and has some interesting venues of its own. And Minnesota Nice is real and welcoming. And I'm sure Essence could get Prince, Mint Condition, Morris Day, and others to provide entertainment.
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Name:
Priceless
Comment: thegamehunter, sprawl is not an issue for singular events like those you named, but a multi-day festival with workshops and whatnot are not the kind of events that a sprawled out place like Houston is good for
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Name:
SpecialK
Comment: Don't bring that festival to DC! They would regret. DC is over-priced and the hotel expenses alone would send you home early. The traffic here is "HORRID" so no, DC is not a good choice! Take it back to NO and help that city rebuild. Who the hell does M. Knowles think he is? He wants it to stay in TX so "HE" can capitalize off of it.
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Name:
Stephanie
Comment: TheGameHunter, Houston has some of the nicest people I've ever met. Everybody was so geniunely nice. No attitudes, nothing, but good southern hospitality. I'm real sorry about the problems you guys are having with the evacuees. But the truth it, New Orleans will never, ever be the same at least not in this life time. Second to DC, I'd move to Houston in a heart beat. I like Houston much better than Dallas plus they have some bomb churches down there. I just didn't like the venue. One of the reasons I went to the Essence fest is because it was held in Houston, but never again. I still have that Essence Cares speech in my head...
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Name:
eyesley
Comment: Bring it here to the Chi..we'd do it right! Yeah, NO would be the ideal place BUT the number of venues we could host it at, come on. We just had Palooza here for three days at Grant Park, on the Lake, no problems that featured Kayne & Common. Yes, the Taste is two weeks and nearing the end just after Labor Day. Two major acts come through every Taste. This year was the O'Jays & India.Arie. One the opening night at the Bandshell and with Millenium Park's open concert area where the Gospel Fest was in early June! That's two concert areas in a TWO block radius. Another 3 blocks is the Chicago Theatre. Kem was just there! Another 4 blocks to the south, Northerly Island! EWF & Mary J. just rocked that earlier this summer. All of the hotels, the shopping. Man, we'd hold it down until it goes back to Nawlins'. I'll rent out a room in my house and have cots in the basement!!!
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Name:
rjsincere59
Comment: Thanks gamehunter.....I'm not a native but I live in Houston currently. With all that the city was dealing with with Katrina at that time (and currently with a massive # of new residents to the city) it's a wonder anyone really has audacity to complain. And YES by all means the commute is time consuming. Houston is not just big with regards to population it's huge when it comes to land mass. If anyone ever relocate to Houston whether by choice or by force....you'd slowly mesh as all humans do......we just gotta complain about something tho...so chop me up and have at it if you must......but I have visited DC, came from Jersey, and anytime I have been to a new city the fact that it's different from my comfort zone is what makes me AND every other one of us slightly indiffernt at first.......it's kind of like a song you hear for the first time and you hate it but 3 times later ....it's your jam....it grows on you....or maybe it's just me...
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Name:
MafiaQue_1930
Comment: Move it to Billings, Montana, and turn it into a Black version of Woodstock.
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Name:
LawdHvMrcy
Comment: Aw shoot, I just typed a message and I can't find it! <<<Dakoolestkat>> I am repping Queen City to its fullest... Um, for the next two weeks, that is! lol <<<Priceless> Hey girl-- NBA Allstar weekend and the Superbowl are FAR FROM singular events. And, truth be told, 75% of the folks who are in town AREN'T going to the games-- they are going to attend the 'events' that are going on during the days leading UP to the games. I feel you on the sprawl, though. Houston is the fourth largest city in the country-- behind NY, LA, and Chicago...
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Name:
blackman
Comment: Bring the Festivities back to my hometown of New Orleans where it belongs!!!!! No better party City in the Country!!
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: co sign blackman - when something ain't broke why we break our necks to fix it.
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Name:
ss69054
Comment: How about the Essence Festival relocating to a carribean city or better yet to a different hosting city every year? Get creative!
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Name:
dollbaby2
Comment: being the blessed Harlem-ite that I am, I too must speak up for NYC, there is no place like it! like the saying goes - so nice they named it twice New York, New York!
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Name:
SweetieDarlin
Comment: EYESLEY> Amen to that Chicago would love to have that fest!! We could handle it. As far as Houston, I've visted often because my brother lives there and Houston people are extremely friendly, however Houston is huge. It can be difficult to get around. I think the idea of having different host cities is a good one, then we can get around and enjoy each city's hospitality.
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Name:
bigchassie
Comment: out of curiostiy what about ST Louis?
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Name:
McNasty
Comment: LMAO MafiaQue ain't no black people in Montana! haven't you heard.lmao
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Name:
VeeCee
Comment: McNasty, I'm in agreement with you that the Essence festival should NOT come to DC; the Stone Soul Picnic that is held every summer is enough. I can honestly see the Essence festival being more successful in Baltimore than in DC (and I'm from DC!). However, I have never been to N.O. and would love to see it come back there. And I wish Matthew "Know-it-all" Knowles would just go away!!!
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Name:
Southernbelle
Comment: Hey blackman> You know New Orleans has had time to perfect Essence and yes N.O. is still the same in this lifetime.
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Name:
fairydust777
Comment: I agree with the poster who said it should be moved to a different city every year.
As a native New Yorker I DO NOT think it should be there. Here are my suggestions:
1. Ontario, California - about 40 miles outside of Los Angeles, has one of the largest mall outlets in North America (Ontario Mills) complete with the Improv (same as one on Sunset in Hollywood), lots of shopping and eating. Besides Ontario Mills, there is the Victoria Garden. There are several forms of mass transit from cabs, to all night city buses ($1.50 each way) and the Metrolink.
2. San Diego, California - the poster who said there are no other bourbon type streets other than New Orleans apparently has never been to the Gas Lamp District in San Diego. The Gas Lamp District is known as the New New Orleans (even before Katrina). It has a lot of bourbon style streets, old fashioned gas lamps on each corner, various jazz and blue joints that you can go in and out of all night. Lots of hotels. Closeby is Seaport village. You can even take a dinner cruise on the Hornblower, you can go whale watching or see seals. There is plenty of mass transit and cabs. They even have trolleys. There is also a bus off of Broadway that for .25 cents will take you to Mexico if you choose to go there for a day. Lots of shopping in San Diego (check out Horton Plaza). They have a very large, nice modern Civic Center in which they could hold the concerts. Check out the human taxi cabs. There is so much more.
3. Las Vegas - for obvious reasons
4. Wilmington, North Carolina - nice beachside city.
5. Victorville, CA - new and upcoming town that will the future site for the bullet train that will take people from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Not far from the resort Big Bear which is the secret getaway for lots of celebrities.
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Name:
Strill1
Comment: Biggamehunter, you know your boy Strill1 is from the H and it really hurt me to see folks so dissatisfied with how the festival went down. Like you said... the Super Bowl was off the chain, NBA All Star went down (even though it was cold as hell for whatever reason) and the MLB All Star was a success. I wonder why the white folks come down here and have a blast but black folks just came down here and complained and sh!t on the city. White folks were like damn... we ain't know yall doing it big like this down South... 2 new convertable stadiums, a new basketball arena, nice malls, good food and decent night life. Black folks were like how come I can't walk to the club from here?
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Name:
ladybyrd
Comment: If Houston wins the bid, I think they should host it again. I have gone to the Essence Festivals and I enjoy them. Though, I agree that NO need the revenue, I don't know if the FIRST Essence Festival in New Orleans was glitch free. I doubt it...
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Name:
blackman
Comment: >Southernbelle you are soooo right!!! :)>McNasty, no doubt about it. No need to change a good thing.
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Name:
Teigh
Comment: Matthew Knowles -- force in the industry???? Then explain what happened to Urban Sanctuary? This reads like a story planted by his PR people, and/or his attempt to put out feelings to Time warner (who owns Essence) to get involved with the Festival -- news flash Knowles Essence is no longer Black owned and as part of Time Warner they have access to major record, film and cable companies and their connects -- they do not need you!!!
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Name:
soulsis
Comment: Essence back in Houston? Awww hell naw! Matt Knowles wants an opportunity to help, eh? If he wants to help Essence in Houston, tell him to buy a new sound system and working microphones in the Reliant Stadium!
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