LaRussell gets billing for Momo’s Cafe – Times-Herald

Entrepreneur and independent rapper LaRacell decided to open one of his favorite restaurants – Momo’s Cafe on Georgia Street – to everyone.

By offering a pay-what-you-want system, guests can do just that, and LaRacelle pays the bills for the rest of the year.

LaRacell and Momo’s co-owner Manny Melendrez are friends and fans of each other. The rapper has done this before and paid for everyone to eat at Momo’s, but only for one-day brunches. With this latest announcement, LaRussell will now be accepting the check at Momo’s until the end of the year, along with a newly renovated interior.

Melendrez had been friends with Laracell for the past couple of years. So when LaRacelle wanted to bring his pay-what-you-want system to local businesses, Melendrez was thrilled.

“We became friends in business, but I never thought this would happen,” said the Momo co-owner. “You have to share the love. You have nothing to lose by giving back to the community.”

Momo’s Cafe had more than 400 guests at the partnership’s debut on Monday. In the line that wound along the sidewalk, many guests came prepared with cash in hand.

“I saw this on the news last night,” said Derrick Chambers, $5 in hand. “So whatever I can afford, I’ll give.”

Tyrann White, a LaRussell fan, came to Momo’s and subscribes to the pay-it-forward mentality.

“I know Larocello and Manny – they are my people. I’m still going to pay for the food just because I support the cause and what he’s trying to do,” White said. “No one does this anymore. It’s different when you involve the whole community.”

Childe Davis didn’t know LaRussel or Manny, but he still paid sticker price for his meal.

“When you get a blessing, no matter how it comes, you have to bless,” Davis said. “You have to give it back to the community, all of us.”

“We see money very differently. So we understand the flow of that energetically,” said Imani “Millie” Mills of the GoodCompenny team at Momo’s, who is helping. “You can’t be skeptical when moving with us and working with us. You just have to be willing to take risks and take risks.”

As an entrepreneur, Laracell always tried to move differently. His mantra is “It’s different!” — rings true with this latest deal. His pay-what-you-want system for local concert tickets, albums and merchandise is becoming his trademark as a self-directed independent artist.

“I think people will be on board, and I think people are skeptical, but they want to see more of it,” Mills said. “I think it will change a lot of people’s minds. We may not be the only ones who do this. If you take care of people and they take care of us, it will always be in motion.”