October 30, 2008

Is This Bad?

I'm actually kinda feeling Cassie's new song "Official Girl" :-\ Anyone else feeling this song too? I know I can't be the only one. And is it just me or does anyone else think she's kind of swagger jacking Aaliyah's style in the video?

Ice T At EOW.

This past Sunday marked another great night at EOW with performances by Ice T, Smooth Da Hustler, Scram Jones, and more. Check out some video footage below.

This Sunday (Nov.2) at EOW: Hustle Simmons.

October 29, 2008

Annoying Voting Ad.

I just saw this video on one of those entertainment news shows and it really irks the hell out of me. It's a bunch of celebrities telling you not to vote in order to point out how unwise it is not to vote. I completely understand they're point, but they come across as a bunch of smart asses. And honestly, if you're only reason for voting is because a celebrity told you to then you're pretty much a dumb ass anyway.

Remember Jon B?

The R&B singer? He had that song with Tupac? Well, his wife is a complete lunatic, lol! I was covering the red carpet for Ne-Yo's b-day party yesterday at The Whisky (in the W Hotel) and she caused quite the scene.

The guest list for the event was pretty strict so I guess they weren't letting her in and she pretty much went ballistic. And it didn't really help that he went into the event without her either. She was cursing out publicists and when Jon B finally came out to get her crazy ass she started screaming his name and demanded that they leave the event. So they did, lol. It was all quite hillarious and for that brief moment I almost forgot that I had been standing out in the cold for close to three hours waiting to get some quotes from these damned "celebrities".

This is the part where I would have added one of Jon B's videos to refresh your memory, but the embedding feature is disabled on all of his YouTube videos :-( Damn you SonyBMG! I guess a pic will have to do.

October 27, 2008

NY's Newest Bowling Spot: Lucky Strike.

Everyone loves bowling, and I mean everyone. Bowling is probably the one sport where even if you suck you can still have a great time and I love that. Me and a friend of mine had the opportunity to check out the grand opening of Lucky Strike Lanes, Manhattan's newest bowling lounge late last week. I was pretty impressed for the most part. There were a few aspects that were kind of off for a bowling alley. Take for instance the National Geographic-esque video footage playing on the giant screens at the end of the bowling lanes.

Kind of bizarre, but overall Lucky Strike has a pretty nice vibe. It's a little more laid back than the bowling alley at Chelsea Piers and not nearly as big. For all the girly girls out there they even have cute, leopard print balls and I'm sure you can also get your apple martini on :-) The food's pretty good too, be sure to check out their homemade potato chips with cheese sauce, Yum!

For more info on Lucky Strike Lanes check out their Website here and check out some pics of the celebrity attendee's from the grand opening. (Photo's taken by Marion Curtis)

Beverly Johnson


Cassie


Fabolous

Get To Know Janelle Ryan.

We all know that in the world of entertainment it's quite hard to make ones self stand out among the plethora of other starving artists. Director Janelle Ryan has managed to do just that with her standout video for Final Outlaw's "Hip Hop 4ever". Described as, "a powerful story of struggle, maturity, and the path towards freeing oneself from the mental prisons of society, addiction, and past pain", Janelle manages to convey all of this in a little under five minutes.

In a short interview with The D Diaries, Janelle discusses the concept for "Hip Hop 4ever", her directorial flare, and a few upcoming projects. Check out the interview and be extra sure to check out the video for "Hip Hop 4ever" below!


How did you come up with the concept for "Hip Hop 4ever"?

I came up with the concept for "Hip Hop 4ever" with Final Outlaw. It's important to me that I work very closely with the artist to create a personalized vision. It started with me writing down key words that immediately created imagery in my mind, such as rape, broken hearted, change, love, dishes, etc. I wanted the video to be extremely fast paced, not showing anything twice. And there were very specific details that Final Outlaw wanted to be included - such as the age/ethnicity of the rape victim portrayed. We then came together and created different scenarios, combining both of our ideas. After that, we did casting, location scouting, etc. It was a lot of fun!

Is "Hip Hop 4ever" a song you can relate to? And if so, how do you relate?

Yes, "Hip Hop 4ever" is a song I can relate to. I actually had the pleasure of seeing the song performed before I heard the track. His performance style and lyrical ability forces you to pay attention, so I took notice to the song immediately. Being a struggling artist myself, I can relate to demanding the industry to show you the respect you deserve upfront. I refuse to let anyone make me feel under-qualified, or let them question my ability. I worked very hard to gain the knowledge and confidence that I possess. It's just a matter of time before my persistence pays off. So keep the comments and opinions to yourself.

As a director, how would you describe your style?

That's a tough question! My directing style is simple, yet very personable. I like fast moving images, story-lines, metaphors, real people, architecture, colors, contrast, etc. I want the audience to feel overwhelmed with emotion when they watch my videos. I want the unexpected to happen, and I especially don't want them to see anything twice. I'm so tired of seeing the same old performance shots over and over again, What I loved about Hip Hop 4ever was the fact that the scenery was constantly changing, and just when you thought it was over... the video suddenly cuts off, then Final Outlaw appeared in the mirror as his alter ego and broke free of the handcuffs. When we held the video release party, everybody went crazy during that part!

When an artist submits a song for you to potentially direct/produce what qualities do you look for when deciding whether or not to actually work with that artist and make a video?

The song has to be decent, and the artist has to be capable of creating some kind of buzz. I'd prefer it if I actually liked the song... hahaha but I understand that my taste in music is different than other people. Right now, I'm more or less focused on directing Hip Hop music videos, but I plan to branch out eventually. Obviously, if the song is disrespectful towards woman, or is just flat out ignorant, then I have to pass. I've definitely received some awful submissions from artists recently. One artist sent me a song about woman who think they're cute, but they're not, so he's making fun of them in the song... it was just ridiculous. I also hold an initial meeting with the artist to see if we click, and to go over the logistics, such as time-frame, budget, etc. Then the fun begins!

What projects can we expect from you in the future?

I am currently working on music videos for two different Hip Hop artists. One video is in the location scouting and casting phase, which we plan to shoot the first week of November. And for the other one, we're in the process of soliciting investors to financially back the project. I'm also working on another amazing project for Final Outlaw that we will be releasing towards the end of the year. I don't want to give too much away, but all three of those videos will be something different, and really push the boundaries of traditional music video production.


Final Outlaw Hip Hop 4ever Directed By Janelle Ryan from Janelle Ryan on Vimeo.

Janelle Ryan's MySpace Page
Final Outlaw's MySpace Page

October 24, 2008

:o)

This just made my week! LOVE IT! Anyone else a super duper LOST fan?

Mouse In My House, Pt. 2

Two words, Fuck Fievel!

As some of you may know I wrote a blog recently on how mice don't seem to be as big of deal once you see them as one of your favorite mousey cartoon characters like Fievel or Mickey Mouse. But, forget everything I said in that blog!!! I'm so serious. Let me tell you why...

So I get home from a nice evening out, I got to check out MTV's concert for the veteran's (with 50 Cent & Ludacris) and I was also able to attend the Grand Opening of the Lucky Strike bowling lounge in Hell's Kitchen. A few minutes after I've settled down in my bedroom. I start talking to one of my roommates, she's in my doorway and I'm talking to her with my back faced to my window. All of a sudden she starts freaking out and yelling so of course I get all scared and I run in the hallway with her.

Don't you know right below my window sill I have one of those big containers from Target with a bunch of notebooks and other random stuff on it, but there was a mouse on top of my notebook on my container. Mind you, the scariest part of all of this is the fact that the container is a few millimeters higher than my bed and only about a foot and a half away from my bed. That damn mouse could have easily jumped on my bed!!! Instead, it jumped onto the window sill and back on to the floor. But that is hardly the point! I have come to the realization that mice have easy access to my bed :o( And that is not a good feeling, at all. Fievel and Mickey Mouse are somewhat tolerable when they're just running around in the walls, but coming that close to my bed?! I'm not rolling like that.

If anyone has ever had any problems with mice, PLEASE let me know what you did to get rid of them. Thanks :o(

October 22, 2008

Hurricane Chris Interview.

Hey everyone, check out my interview with Hurricane Chris on HipHopDX.

Click Here!

Cubannie Links.

I really need to get a pair of these ASAP. I give it two months max before you see the knock-off of these earrings in Claire's, on Canal Street, wherever.

You can buy them on Karmaloop.com for 35 bucks.



October 21, 2008

Sneak Peek At T.I.'s "Live Your Life" Video!

I love this song and I love T.I. even more. If you haven't bought or downloaded Paper Trail yet you're doing yourself a major disservice.

I haven't even checked out the sneak peak yet, I was that eager to share it lol.

October 20, 2008

A Night Fot Vets & The BRAVE Petition.

For some reason, in this country our government is so eager to send young men and women out to war, but when they return the government is also eager to turn their backs on them.

That's why this week (October 24) MTV will be airing "A Night For Vets: An MTV Concert For The BRAVE" a special which will feature live performances by Ludacris and 50 Cent along with the stories of the new veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. During the special MTV will encourage its viewers to sign the BRAVE petition, a petition which is a call to action for better benefits for veterans.

Sign the BRAVE petition here.

KRS One Freestyle At EOW.

Ah, great times at EOW.

This Sunday (October 26) at EOW: Ice T, DMC, and Smooth Da Hustla.

October 18, 2008

Hip Hop Ex Husbands.

I know the guys are probably gonna hate me for this one, but I've compiled a list of my Hip Hop Ex Husbands. This list is mainly the result of some Saturday evening boredom. It's cold outside, I got 'The Itis' from my Chipotle meal, and I don't really know of anything going on tonight so here goes...

(In no particular order)

#1 Common


I know a lot of ladies are feelin' me on this one. This is one fine ass dude! With those cheekbones and that body, daaaaamn! OMG, when I used to live in Fort Greene, Brooklyn I almost fell over my laundry cart in front of him. I kind of wish I did fall over it because he would have helped me up and we probably would have been happily married by now.

# 2 Mos Def


I've always loved Mos Def's music, but he's also quite attractive in my opinion and I absolutely LOVE this picture of him. I actually found out some interesting news about him recently. I forgot how I found out, but he was actually pursuing acting before he became a rapper. I don't know if this is new news for anyone else, but it was for me. Oh, and he recently divorced his video ho wife...Err, I mean actress wife :-\ So he's back on the market!

# 3 Game


Don't laugh! I know he's a total fruit loop, but there's just something about him. Maybe it's the tattoo's or the fact that he has no problem crying in public or his light eyes. I don't know, I just like the dude so don't judge me!

I have like eleven other Hip Hop Ex Husbands, but those were just a couple. Wow, writing this blog just made me feel like a total tween lol.

I'm Broke & I Need Accessories...

So guess where I'm going today.

Yup, Canal Street!!!

:0)



And after that I think I'm gonna hit up Chipotle for a Burrito Bowl. You most definitely can't go wrong with accessory shopping and Chipotle.

Similarities Abound.

I was listening to my MP3 player on the train last night and I came to the realization that the two songs I had just listened to sounded really similar. Not so much the beat, but the lyrical content. They both deal with issues of paranoia. Let me know if you're feeling me on this...

Goodie Mob - "Cell Therapy"



Geto Boys - "Mind Playing Tricks On Me"

October 17, 2008

Excerpt/Pics From Eminem's Autobiography.

Entertainment Weekly has just released an excerpt from Eminem's upcoming autobiography "The Way I Am" along with a few exclusive, never before seen pictures of Eminem (pictured below). "The Way I Am" will be released on October 21 and is available for pre-order on Amazon.




Here is part of the excerpt:

I've always had issues with my temper.

When I look back at myself during those years when everything was blowing up, I think maybe at first I was a little, you know, too aggressive and loud. It was like I had this voice and I had to be heard. ''Don't f--- with me,'' to the point where people must have been wondering, Why is this dude so angry? Is he on crack? Is he on crystal meth? I go back and see old interviews and even now I wonder, Why was I so hyper?

I went through a phase back then when I was shooting pistols in the air behind the studio and, you know, pulling guns out, pointing a pistol in somebody's face, not even realizing that I could've gone to jail for that s---.

October 16, 2008

Sneak Peek At Musiq's New Video!

Here's a sneak peek at the video for Musiq's "If You Leave" featuring Mary J. Blige. I think the actual video premieres on BET early next week. Check it out!


Exclusive: Day 26 Speaks On Danity Kane Breakup.

I've seen quite a few blogs about the recent Danity Kane breakup and I've shared my opinion on the matter on a few blogs. I pretty much feel that Aubrey was a little too high on herself and Diddy pretty much did what a lot of people probably would have done in his situation. As far as D. Woods, I feel like she was just an unfortunate victim of Diddy's wrath.

But anyway, I had the opportunity to speak with Day 26 yesterday and of course I had to ask them what their take on the matter was. Here is what Willie from Day 26 had to say...

"We really look up to Danity Kane and we learned a lot from them, you know what I'm saying? We got a chance to live with them, tour with them, put a record out with them. It's like we grew to love 'em. Just to see them going through that man, they're so much stronger together. We would love to see them together. Whatever they can do to get together, we hope they do it. But right now it is what it is."


P.S. Use my quotes without crediting me and I'm whoopin' ass! LOL, for real...

I'm So Happy!

I just ordered the Graffiti Fro bag by Amanda Diva!!! It's okay guys, don't be jealous.

You don't even understand, I've really been fiendin' (is that a word?) for this bag for the longest. Honestly, I'm like this bags stalker. I go to Amanda Diva's MySpace page just to look at it. Yea I'm weird, I know. So, I finally ordered it today...'cause you know my funds have been kind of low for a minute. RECESSION! Ahh!



:o)

I Talk A Lot Of Junk Sometimes, But...

Suge Knight is one dude I would never want to eff with. All jokes aside, you're not about to find my ass on the back of nobody's milk carton...

Suge Knight Assault Victim Goes Missing

October 15, 2008

Young Berg STFU!

Young Berg has got to be hands down the biggest idiot in Hip Hop. Actually, I take that back Young Berg is the biggest idiot in Pop. 'Cause we all know damn well this tween is not Hip Hop. In fact, I can only think of one Young Berg song. He's just that irrelevant.

After being bitch-slapped by Maino at a club in the A you think he would sit his ass down somewhere, but no. Instead of talking smack about rappers he's ventured off to the R & B world. In a recent video, he insults R & B singer/songwriter Ne Yo. Now I've poked fun of Ne Yo a couple of times, but it was all in good fun. I honestly can't hate on Ne Yo's hustle, plus I'm planning on attending one of his shows later tonight lol. Young Berg, on the other hand just has a severe case of diarrhea of the mouth. Check out Young Berg's idiotry in the video below.

October 14, 2008

Mouse In My House.

A few months after I moved into my current apartment I came to the realization that we have mice. For any female (and some males) that's a problem, a huge problem at that. They're nasty, they're scary, they're just plain disgusting. They also make annoying scratching noises at night that make you mad paranoid.

But this week, I realized something. Some of our most beloved childhood characters/cartoons are mice. I mean really, how can you be afraid of Fievel or Mickey and Minnie Mouse?! I'm onto something aren't I? And although I would like to be rid of these creatures the thought of Fievel running around my room is mildly amusing.

Lastly, I would like to dedicate this blog to my roommate Ashleigh for whom the mice have found a nice home in her closet full of Nine West's.

November 4!!!

Do you ever have those moments where you really just want to laugh your ass off? Personally, I have them quite often lol. Earlier today, I was browsing through the videos at Funny Or Die and I came across this video which I thought was pretty hilarious. Check it out.

Don't forget November 4! Let's make history :o)

Oh and LMAO @ John McCain's facial expressions.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Flobots

So I was on my computer earlier tonight and I was kind of half watching Late Night With Conan O'Brian and the musical guest for the show came on. I wasn't really paying too much attention to the performance, but then I started listening to it and I was really feeling it.

It was this group out of Denver, Colorado and they're called Flobots. They have a Hip Hop meets rock kinda sound. Here's the video for "Rise", the song they performed on Conan's show...

October 11, 2008

KRS One At EOW!

October 19, Ch Ch Check it out!


Read This Book!

Among the several books I'm reading right now is James Weldon Johnson's The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. I first read the book way back in 2002 for my African American literature class. Ever since my first read back in '02 I've been trying to find a copy of the book, but to no avail. It's just one of those books you have to have in your collection, its a hands down classic.

After attending the Women In Hip-Hop event in Harlem last weekend, I stopped by one of the local Harlem books stores. While browsing around I spotted The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man and it was only $2.50! So of course I bought it.

To give you a very brief synopsis of the book, it's about a bi-racial man who is so fair that he's able to pass as a white man. So the book focuses on the choice he has between either embracing and accepting his black culture or choosing to live as a white man. So if you're in the market for a new book you should definitely check it out.

October 9, 2008

Artist On Artist: Webbafied

I've always found it interesting hearing artists perspectives on other artists so I came up with this idea called 'Artist On Artist' where artists have the opportunity to critique other artists. I've only done one so far and it was featured on We Write Blog, but the result (shown below) came out pretty well in my opinion. So you can definitely look forward to seeing more of these in the future.



Brooklyn MC Webbafied recently shared with We Write his opinion on Killer Mike's controversial video "Pressure" featuring Ice Cube for We Write's first ever Artist on Artist.

No stranger to Hip-Hop, Webbafied has worked on and released a number of projects and has the opportunity to perform at venues across the country and in Europe. He has appeared in publications such as The Source: France and has been featured on several Websites including HipHopGame.com.



WeWrite: What was your initial reaction after seeing the video/hearing the song?

Webbafied: I was moved…

WeWrite: What's your critique for "Pressure"? Are you feeling it? Is there anything you would change?

Webbafied: I think the song is tight. I love the message in the lyrics and the production. The images were very graphic. Sometimes it was a little bit too much for me to digest. I realize that it is all reality, but seeing the twin towers blow up yet again is really not for me. I like the images that directly related to the lyrics though. The Malcolm X intro and outro were the highlights of the video.

WeWrite: How do you feel about Ice Cube and Killer Mike appearing on a song together?

Webbafied: I think it’s a great look when legendary MC’s pair up with guys from the next generation. Killer Mike is not brand new on the scene but he is no where near Ice Cube’s level. What better way to become a legend, than to work with a legend.

WeWrite: Are you a fan of Killer Mike? Of Ice Cube?

Webbafied: I’m a huge Ice Cube fan. I was really into his older stuff, but I always try giving his new stuff a chance. I remember that song Killer Mike did with Outkast, but I never really checked for his solo material.

WeWrite: Do you think that a lot of mainstream artists in Hip-Hop are afraid to make videos/songs with this kind of subject matter?

Webbafied: I think they are afraid to risk their success. This kind of video would never get play on any of the major video networks. Mainstream acts have so much power, but most of them don’t utilize it.

WeWrite: What projects are you working on right now?

Webbafied: I just started a new group called TOO MANY FISH. My man Molecule does the beats and I do the rhymes.

Webbafied

Obama Covers The Source.

This is definitely a good look for The Source. Hopefully, they'll gain a lot of the readers they lost after Benzino screwed things up over there.


October 7, 2008

Exclusive Diddy/CIROC Pics.

Here are a few pictures from the Diddy and CIROC advertising campaign which should be in heavy rotation later on this week.

I'm not really big on advertising campaigns, but I like it. It's grown, it's classy. So it works for me. Plus, it really makes we want a drink. Probably not CIROC though, I'm too poor. Georgi and Kool-Aid maybe...Nah, I'm playing. I'll get down with some CIROC.





Amanda Diva's Got Bags...

And they are HOT!

For those of you aren't familiar with Amanda Diva, she's pretty much a Hip Hop Renaissance Woman. She's an emcee, singer, artist, journalist, poet, and radio/TV host.

Currently, she's selling these great hand-painted tote bags with really funky designs and colors. I plan on getting mine on Friday and I can't wait!!! I think I'm definitely leaning toward the last bag pictured below, the one with all the bright neon colors.

To purchase any of the bags below, check out Amanda Diva's Myspace page here.

Oh, and if you plan on purchasing a bag you might want to do it soon because they're currently half off their original price of $50, but the sale might not last much longer.

Here are just a few of the bags for sale...




Styles P Show.

This seems like it should be a pretty hot show. Still debating on whether or not I'm gonna check it out.


Styles P - "Good Times"

Eminem...Best Rapper Alive?


According to the readers of Vibe Magazine, Eminem is the best rapper alive. Although I'm sure a lot of people don't necessarily agree with the results, myself included.

Vibe created the tournament a little while ago and have been eliminating rappers based on readers votes. The final round came down to Jay Z versus Eminem, with Eminem being the obvious winner. I do like both rappers, but my vote probably would have gone to Jay-Z. Other rappers in the tournament included Kanye West, Nas, Game, Lil Wayne, and others.

Honestly, I'm kind of surprised that the readers of Vibe chose Eminem. I would have thought they would have chosen Souljah Boy or D4L or something...I'm joking! Sorry, but I can never pass on a chance to poke fun of Vibe Mag. But honestly though, I really would have thought they would have chosen someone else, Nas or Jay-Z maybe. I really need to check their demographics...

Dirty South Trivia

For all you people who think you know all there is to know about Southern Hip Hop check out this online trivia game created by Asylum Records.

Click below to check it out! Oh and by the way, I sucked at it :-\

Dirty South Trivia

October 3, 2008

Guys Are Groupies Too.

After attending Hip Hop Honors last night, I realized something. And that was the realization that guys are some of the biggest groupies out there. For real! Now I know there's a big difference between being a fan and being a groupie. But these dudes were straight up groupies!

For example...Being a fan is seeing Fat Joe and if he's in your vicinity saying what's up and giving him dap. And on the flipside, being a groupie is seeing Fat Joe from 50 feet away and making your way through a sea of people only to get a glimpse of him.

I'm tired of female fans being labeled groupies just because they're women. You have plenty of male groupies and they never get called out. So I'm calling you mofo's out right now! :-)

Sarah Palin Scares Him.

While this wasn't necessarily the funniest of Diddy's blogs, he has a point. This lady runs around questions like a pro. Sarah Palin doesn't scare me, more so irritates. Seeing her as president would be scary as hell though, like Saw V scary.