Mics & Cameras
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Grand slam tennis champ Serena Williams who battles insomnia is endorsing Sleep Sheets
“I’m not a sleeper. I’m kind of like my dad; never slept much,” she told the Huffington Post. “I can really go off of five hours of sleep, but obviously that’s not healthy.”
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Williams work in collaboration with Sheets and scientists to help create the sleep-aid strips,
“As an athlete and businesswoman, I’m continuously on-the-go and have had issues sleeping for years,” said Co-FounderSerena Williams. ”I’ve tried other products in the past and I am happy that I helped develop Sleep Sheets®. Using them allows me to get a good night’s sleep, which means that I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start my day. As an added bonus, Sleep Sheets® are extremely portable and conveniently packaged so I can take them anywhere which is perfect for my lifestyle.” (via Press Release)
The original Sheets, strips treated with caffeine, are endorsed by NBA stars Amare Stoudemire and LeBron James.
[Via HB]
Bob Johnson, the former CEO of BET buys Image Entertainment
Bob Johnson, the former CEO of BET, has officially become the new owner of Image Entertainment. Bob Johnson’s RLJ Companies announced that Image Entertainment and Acorn Media Group would be acquired in a deal worth over $120 million. The merged companies are now known as RLJ Entertainment and is now one of the largest independent distributors of digital and video content, around the world. “I am looking forward to this unique business combination of Image Entertainment and Acorn Media Group,” said Bob Johnson. “I am excited to work with the management team to run a company that will increase the opportunity for independent and urban-oriented producers to reach a broader audience across the expanding number of media outlets.” Bob Johnson sold BET to Viacom for $3 billion dollars in 2003
50 Cent welcomes you to the “The Big 10″
KRS drops new single. Get ready for his 20th release
Derick G was on hand to catch some flicks from the “Sweat” video shoot from Bow Wow with a guest appearance from Lil Wayne. The track will be the lead single from Bow Weezy’s “Underrated” album set to drop December 6th
Lil Wayne knew drama would come for going after Jay-Z
VIBE: So you knew the repercussions of going after Jay before anything even happened?
LIL WAYNE: Well, I’m a man. I believe as a man you should know that. Every man should know the repercussions and consequences behind whatever they do before they do it. And of course, I know there won’t be any repercussions behind what I did.
Tyrese “Stay” video ft Taraji P. Henson.
Jay-Z & Kanye West- Who Gon Stop Me (Watch The Throne)
Tech used in America’s Got Talent
Watch The Throne tracklis.
All we need is the music and PRAY to the Watch The Throne gods these two don’t go back in the studio and delay the project even more. WTT hits August 2nd. Tracklist, below. Two joints Frank Ocean? Ok, I see ya. Pre-order the album here, folks.
01 No Church In The Wild (feat. Frank Ocean)
02 Lift Off (feat. Beyoncé)
03 Ni66as In Paris
04 Otis (feat. Otis Redding)
05 Gotta Have It
06 New Day
07 Who Gon’ Stop Me
08 Murder To Excellence
09 Welcome To The Jungle
10 Sweet Baby Jesus (feat. Frank Ocean)
11 Love You So (feat. Mr. Hudson)
12 Illest Motherfucker Alive (Bonus Track)
13 H.A.M. (Bonus Track)
14 That’s My Bitch (Bonus Track)
15 The Joy (feat. Curtis Mayfield) (Bonus Track)
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BET President Stephen Hill Cops To Screwing Up The Viewer’s Choice Award Mix-Up
That awk ward moment when you and your ex-girlfriend who you beat up both win an award at the same time…
What start ed out as an incred i ble moment for one music fan on last night’s BET Awards soon turned into an awk ward and embar rass ing award gaffe involv ing Chris Brown and Rihan na.
When Tiffany Green took the stage to present the Coca-Cola View ers’ Choice Award, she first announced that the win ner was Brown for “Look At Me Now.” Just a moment later she cor rect ed her self and stat ed that the real win ner was Rihan na for “What’s My Name.” Adding the con fu sion, Drake then hit the stage to claim the award for him self.
But the flub wasn’t over. As BET later tweet ed, Green had it right the first time and Brown was the real win ner. Of course, that info came too late for the fan who lost her big chance to shine in the spot light.
So, who was to blame for the unfor tu nate con fu sion? Despite the steady stream of barbs aimed at Green from view ers on Twit ter and Face book, the prob lem was all BET’s fault.
“That BET Awards View er’s Choice mix-up was due to human error,” Stephen Hill, BET’s Pres ident of Music Pro gram ming and Spe cials, explained in a tweet. “And I was the human that made that error. I apol o gize to ALL affected.”
Mighty big of you Mr. Hill, how ev er no apol o gy is going to erase ol’ girl’s embar rass ment, and that crazy lookin face she was makin’…
[via The Source]
MadMen gets paid to stay
Jon Hamm, star of AMC’s hit drama Mad Men, has just renewed his contract. In the deal, Hamm agreed to another three years of the show, and he’s getting a hefty raise, too. The actor will be paid $250,000 per episode. Given that the three-year contract includes 39 episodes, Hamm should be netting nearly $10 million by the time his contract is up and the Mad Men saga is over. It seems like a whopping sum, but without Hamm’s character, Don Draper, Mad Men would quickly lose its luster for many fans. The series is slated to run through seven seasons. Creator Matt Weiner has said the seventh season will spell the end of Mad Men. Previously, Hamm’s contract guaranteed his appearance in the series through the sixth season. The renegotiation allowed AMC and Lionsgate to nail down Hamm’s terms through the end of the series.
The actor-hip hop artist has finalized a deal for a multi-episode arc on the sixth season of the Showtime thriller.
Mos Def has finalized a deal for a multi-episode arc on the sixth season of Dexter, according to sources.
The actor and hip hop artist will play a hardened ex-con who claims to have found religion yet seems to continually find himself surrounded by violence.Michael C. Hall’s Dexter will reveal the truth of who he really is.
Production on the sixth season of the Showtime drama thriller begins in June with an eye toward a fall bow. Mos Def joins Colin Hanks — who will appear in all 12 episodes — as one of the upcoming season’s villains. Hanks will play Travis, Dexter’s main nemesis and a highly intelligent ancient artifacts expert who is linked to a series of grisly murders in Miami.
At this point it unclear in how many episodes Mos Def will appear. But he is one of multiple recurring characters who will populate the show after the dispatching of season five guest stars including Jonny Lee Miller, Julia Stiles and Peter Weller.
Mos Def has appeared in numerous television series including House, The Boondocks and the kid’s show Yo Gabba Gabba!
[HR]
Beyonce & Jay-Z get booed
HOT 97 has unleashed it’s performers for this year’s Summer Jam concert at The New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J on June 5th. Performers listed, below but not in that particular order!
The Diplomats
Wiz Khalifa
Fabolous
Waka Flocka Flame
Rick Ross
Lloyd Banks & Friends
Lil Wayne
Sherbert (Drake)
Birdman & Young Money
Chris Brown
Beyonce – Girls (Who Run The World)
DOWNLOAD: Beyonce – Girls (Who Run The World)
Sade Feat. Jay-Z – The Moon & The Sky (Remix)
Serena Williams’ sexy video game ad ‘unauthorized’
Steve Slim talks to his hometown about stay up
Steve Stoute an Industry Exec Says “Awards Have Clearly Lost Touch with Popular Culture”
Over the course of my 20-year history as an executive in the music business and as the owner of a firm that specializes in in-culture advertising, I have come to the conclusion that the Grammy Awards have clearly lost touch with contemporary popular culture. My being a music fan has left me with an even greater and deeper sense of dismay—so much so that I feel compelled to write this letter. Where I think that the Grammys fail stems from two key sources: (1) over-zealousness to produce a popular show that is at odds with its own system of voting and (2) fundamental disrespect of cultural shifts as being viable and artistic.
As an institution that celebrates artistic works of musicians, singers, songwriters, producers and technical specialists, we have come to expect that the Grammys upholds all of the values that reflect the very best in music that is born from our culture.
Unfortunately, the awards show has become a series of hypocrisies and contradictions, leaving me to question why any contemporary popular artist would even participate. How is it possible that in 2001, The Marshall Mathers LP—an album by Eminem that ushered in theBob Dylan of our time—was beaten out by Steely Dan(no disrespect) for Album of the Year? While we cannot solely utilize album sales as the barometer, this was certainly not the case. Not only is Eminem the best-selling artist of the last decade, but The Marshall Mathers LP was a critical and commercial success that sold over 10 million albums in the U.S. (19 million worldwide), while Steely Dan sold less than 10% of that amount and came and went as quietly as a church mouse.
Or consider even that in 2008 at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, after going into the night as the most-nominated artist, Kanye West‘s Graduation was beaten out for Album of the Year by Herbie Hancock‘s River: The Joni Letters (the first time in 43 years that a jazz album won this category). While there is no doubt in my mind of the artistic talents of Steely Dan or Herbie Hancock, we must acknowledge the massive cultural impact of Eminem and Kanye West and how their music is shaping, influencing and defining the voice of a generation. It is this same cultural impact that acknowledged the commercial and critical success of Michael Jackson‘s Thriller in 1984.
Just so that I’m not showing partiality to hip-hop artists (although it would be an entirely different letter as to how hip-hop music has been totally diminished as an art form by this organization), how is it that Justin Bieber, an artist that defines what it means to be a modern artist, did not win Best New Artist? Again, his cultural impact and success are even more quantifiable if you factor in hisYouTube and Vevo viewership—the fact that he was a talent born entirely of the digital age whose story was crafted in the most humble method of being “discovered” purely for his singing ability (and it should be noted that Justin Bieber plays piano and guitar, as evidenced on his early viral videos).
So while these very artists that the public acknowledges as being worthy of their money and fandom are snubbed year after year at the Grammys, the awards show has absolutely no qualms in inviting these same artists to perform. At first I thought that you were not paying attention to the fact that the mental complexion of the world is becoming tanned, that multiculturalism and poly-ethnicity are driving new meaning as to what is culturally relevant. Interesting that the Grammys understands cultural relevance when it comes to using Eminem’s, Kanye West’s or Justin Bieber’s name in the billing to ensure viewership and to deliver the all-too-important ratings for its advertisers.
What truly inspired the writing of this letter was that this most recent show fed my suspicions. As the show was coming to a close and just prior to presenting the award for Album of the Year, the band Arcade Fire performed “Month of May”—only to… surprise… win the category and, in a moment of sheer coincidence, happened to be prepared to perform “Ready to Start.”
Does the Grammys intentionally use artists for their celebrity, popularity and cultural appeal when they already know the winners and then program a show against this expectation? Meanwhile the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences hides behind the “peer” voting system to escape culpability for not even rethinking its approach.
And I imagine that next year there will be another televised super-close-up of an astonished front-runner as they come to the realization before a national audience… that he or she was used.
You are being called to task at this very moment, NARAS.
And to all of the artists that attend the Grammys: Stop accepting the invitation to be the upset of the year and demand that this body upholds its mission for advocacy and support of artistry as culture evolves.
Demand that they change this system and truly reflect and truly acknowledge your art.
Steve Stoute
145 W 45th St. 12th fl.
NYC 10036
I AM FOUR: This may be a sleeper hit waiting to happen
New XMen First Class looks like it might live up to the hype
Wale – The Break Up Song
Yes that is that Howard University’s campus & yes that MORGAN FREEMAN narrating.
Jimmy Choo for men
As man bags become the hottest item on the catwalk. Where have I been? Louie Vuitton Don’s may have to switch up there gear. Jimmy Choo has a new collection of shoes – just for men. These are not your Kenith Kole shoes. These are high end luxury shoes prices are in the $300 and up range. Chief creative officer Mellon said: ‘My vision of the Jimmy Choo man is one who exudes confidence and style whether he is an artist or an investment banker.
Boot up: The range even includes a pair of crocodile-print Hunter wellies…
Today, it has boutiques across the world, from London to Las Vegas – and a loyal following of fashionistas who are undaunted by £1,000-plus price tags. Last year, the label created a cut-price collection with High Street giant H&M, while the collaboration with Ugg proved just as popular. Mellon, who owns one fifth of the company, is the 64th richest woman in Britain.
Well look what we have here. Is Shady Records quietly building a lyrical empire right under our very noses? The answer is YES!
“Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse, it’s kinda phase two of Shady,” says Eminem. “It’s the new generation of Shady Records and as we’re trying to rebuild our label, it’s exciting for hip-hop and with all of these forces coming together and with what everybody’s capable of on the mic, it’s gonna be fun.”
1/11/11
Happy Tuesday!!!!!
Song of the day: keri hilson “gimme what I want”. Just because this song got me amped at 630 this morning!
Adam “MCA” Yauch of the Beastie Boys is still battling cancer. Reports surfaced that he was cured and in the clear but Adam released his own statement letting everyone know that he isn’t “out of the woods yet” and is still continuing treatment for a cancerous tumor that was found in July 2009. Get well soon!
Bobby Robinson has died at the age of 93. Bobby was the founder of Enjoy Records which was the home for Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Spoonie Gee, and more. He was also the owner of the first black owned business on 125th st in Harlem. Enjoy Records was considered one of the first homes for hip hop artists. Rest in peace.
A family dispute has ended in a fine of $50,000 for rapper the game. He punched his cousin after a family fight about funeral cost and now has to pay him $50,000 dollars. True Story!
Mixtape releases for this week:
Elucid- super chocolate black swain
Rockstar- diamondz, boys, and 808s
Mike jaggerr and dj wonder- the eleventh hour
Kid sister- kiss kiss kiss: the mixtape
Itunes: Britney Spears new single “hold it against me” will be an exclusive download on Tuesday
Albums release this week:
Showroom of compassion cake
Thank you happy birthday cage the elephant
Steel magnolia steel magnolia
True grit is stunning including myself. It is the number 1 movie again for this week with 15million. I’ve never seen a western do this well so yeah! Little fockers is second with 13.8 and the season of the which opened in 3rd with 10.7. I’m rooting for this movie just because nicholas cage needs a win with this one!
Opening this week:
The dilemma starring vince vaughn and kevin james
The green hornet starring seth rogan
Barneys version starring dustin hoffman and paul giamatti
DVD releases this week:
The social network ( just in time for oscar season)
Piranha 3d (if you don’t have a 3d tv, what’s the point?)
Alpha and omega
Heartbreaker
Ill be back with more when there is more!
Have the best Tuesday possible 
Hugs!
Damn, looks like some of those early negative criticisms might have hurt ol’ Harpo….
Oprah Winfrey’s new cable network is having some early growing pains.
After exploding out of the gate in the ratings (and on a Saturday, no less), viewership for OWN has declined significantly.
While OWN’s premiere averaged 1 million primetime viewers last weekend, Sunday dropped to 822,000. Monday fell to 394,000, followed by Tuesday hitting 315,000. In the network’s target of women 25-54, OWN went from an opening night rating of 0.6 to a 0.2 at the start of the week.
Compared to other women’s networks, OWN was still remarkably competitive, though entrenched rivals like Oxygen and WE have mostly closed the gap (with Lifetime remaining out in front).
We’re sure that this will turn around at some point, Oprah is not one to go down without a fight
Chris Brown Has a new song? Yeah, and guess what? It is not bad. Busta killed it though
I’m hungover and this sounds like complete and absurd noise to me. Not sure about this rapping thing, Breezy. “Look At Me Now” featuring Wayne and Mr. Rhymes will most likely live on Chris’ new LP F.A.M.E. which according to Chris might be a double disc.
http://hulkshare.com/p/player.swf Go From Herete
Marsha Ambrosius is in a word talented and she is who is on the come up. Sweet but does she have what it takes or will her music end up “Far Away” from memory?
Video: Miguel – Sure Thing
Miguel unleashes the visual “Sure Thing”, the second offering from his debut LP All I Want Is You. This shit? Man listen – flawless!
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