Meek Mill (Feat. Rick Ross) - Ima Boss

Cali Swag District Member M-Bone Shot & Killed

The makers of the popular "Teach Me How To Dougie" song and dance suffered a loss last night.  TMZ reports Cali Swag District member M-Bone was fatally shot in his hometown of Inglewood, California last night.

Details developing when you read on...

Reports are saying M-Bone was a victim of a random act of drive-by shooting violence.  The group's leader Smoove posted this tweet this morning saying: "Ma life changed drastically in the. Blink of an eye rip mbone."
Sad.  The group started a "Dougie" dance craze last year and the song climbed and stayed on the chart since its debut.  Their second single is "Where You Are", which samples Michael Jackson's 1972 hit "I Wanna Be Where You Are"

According to their label at Capitol Records, their debut album, The Kickback, was scheduled to be released this year.

Christian Louboutin Rollerball Spikes “All Black”

Christian Louboutin’s popular Rollerball Spikes loafer takes on a darker aesthetic with the upcoming release of this all black version. The neat and precise matte black spike alignment is applied to a black leather upper with a casual profile. Available for pre-order now at Christian Louboutin with a retail price of $1,195 USD.

Swizz Beatz: Reestyle Collective

Earlier this year Swizz Beatz spearheaded the launch of Reebok’s all-new platform known as the Reestyle Collective. Bringing together Swizz Beatz’s passion for creativity, the Grammy Award-winning artist was given a new medium in hopes of pushing the agenda of creative content. While sneakers were at the forefront of the launch, Swizz Beatz’s influence will result in a manifestation over dance, music art and style thanks to his careful curation. From a product standpoint there stands to be more than just footwear on the horizon, incorporating the sensibilities of Beatz’s own style.
We caught up with Swizz Beatz as he spoke about leading the charge with the Reestyle Collective and what he hopes to achieve with this new undertaking.
Prior to the likes of Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Kanye West, signature shoes were left mostly to athletes. What sort of influence do rappers/music artists offer that athletes don’t? Or what different angles to they have?
Athletes obviously make a lot of sense because they use the shoes for their lives – shoes are like their MPC. Rappers and recording artists are trendsetters and are connected to the people who make trends happen – the people that are fly in the streets, you look at them and say, “I want to be like them, I want to dress like them.” Music artists speak to style, and athletes speak to performance.
Can you talk a little bit about the model you ended up creating? What was its inspiration? Why a high top?
When I first saw the Kamikaze I thought WOW, I need those. The design and the colors were crazy! The Kamikaze is not my signature shoe – I’m working with Reebok to give my creative eye and approach to more than just product. This is a deep partnership.
Do you look into the Reebok archives for inspiration? What was the design process for you like?
I’m inspired by art and music. Growing up in the Bronx, I saw a lot of street art, and I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but I knew we didn’t tag over a Keith Haring. Then I was introduced to Basquiat and Peter Max, I take a lot of my artistic inspiration from them. A couple of years ago I decided not to just invest in art but to invest in myself, and started taking art classes. So art is a huge part of my inspiration. Not to mention the fact that I’ve been wearing Reeboks since I was a kid, so I know how dope Reebok can be.
Among the colorways, you have some more understated ones as well as a really crazy version. What did you have in mind for the colors?
A lot of that comes from Reebok – the collection isn’t about standing back in the corner, they’re for people who want to stand out. I’ve been lucky to design and get some pretty amazing kicks – did you see those metallic snake-skin Kamikaze joints? Now those are sick. But in the fashion and car world we’d call those concept shoes. You know it’s showtime when someone has those on.
Part of your role is to head up the Reestyle Collective, can you tell us a bit more about this project?
The Reestyle Collective is a whole ‘nother project. I’m working with Reebok to enlist a group of mentors to help up-and-coming artists across the globe find their audience. The mentors will be people like me, leaders from the worlds of art, music, fashion, film and design, and they’ll help young people make their own footprints.

Pusha T - Blow

Ace Hood - Mr. Hood

Ludacris & Jermaine Dupri Perform "Welcome To Atlanta" At Turner Field After Braves Win!

Bow Wow - I Do This

Nike Gato Beach

Nike drops a new challenge red/white colorway in the brand’s Gato Beach. Perfect for the summer season as well as the anti-sandal crowd, the shoes feature distinct tonal styling amongst a one-piece, easy-to-wear design. Reasonably priced at $42 USD, these are now available through Nice Kicks, amongst other fine Nike stockists nationwide.

Nike SB Koston One Collection

Here’s a quick glimpse at the full collection for the all-new pro-model Nike SB Eric Koston. With a simple design, the sneaker combines high quality materials with advanced technology (like a thick, removable Zoom Lunaron insole) for a shoe that’s both lightweight and comfortable. Designed in a total of six different colorways, the sneaker should be available through select Nike SB retailers within the next few months.
Source: FRESHNGOOD.COM

Barbara Kruger @ L & M Arts Exhibition Recap

This past weekend represented the opening of artist Barbara Kruger’s latest exhibition at the L & M Arts. Taking place in her hometown of Los Angeles, the event was the first of its kind in over 10 years with several pieces of her signature style seen in the West Gallery, paired with a multi-channel video installation titled “The Globe Shrinks” from 2010 in the East Gallery. Kruger’s bold commentary on society has become highly influential, factoring into several key aspects of pop culture including the influence in Supreme’s now infamous box logo. The exhibition will run from now until July 19, 2011.
L & M Arts
660 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
United States

Photography: Brandon Shigeta for Hypebeast

NBA Baller Dahntay Jones of the Indiana Pacers Goes Shirtless For Charity

The Indiana Pacers may be nowhere in the playoffs anymore, but that hasn't stopped the star guard of the team, Dahntay Jones, from getting some shine.  The 30-year-old, who is currently dating WEEN and Hip Hop Social Action Network front woman Valeisha Butterfield, recently did a photoshoot for his charity.

Pics of Mr. Jones when you read on....

The pics were taken by his charity, the Dahntay Jones Foundation, and done by famed NYC photographer Gabriel Antoine. Proceeds will benefit educational and after-school fitness programs for underserved youth.

HAPPY 45th BIRTHDAY JANET JACKSON!

And the Taurus Love continues.  Janet Damita Jo Jackson turns 45 today.  And she's making the 40's look good as hell.

Our birthday gallery tribute to one of the most fabulous Jacksons around when you read on...
Janet has had a roller coaster year of dealing with the aftermath of her brother, Michael's, death, starring in the hit movie Why Did I Get Married Too?, selling out dates on her #1's tour, hitting the NYT Bestseller's List with her book True You, and having a hot man--her boo Wissam Al Mana--on her arm through it all.
Peep our birthday gallery-o-pics to celebrate Miss Jackson If You Nasty's 45th birthday.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANET!

CNN Anchor Don Lemon Reveals He's Gay In His New Book

CNN anchor Don Lemon has come out and revealed he is gay.  And he's using his brand new memoir, Transparent, to do so an to tell his story.    Don tweeted a NY Times story last night that discussed this very subject, and he said he wanted to be the first to tell his fans.

Details when you read on....

Don made headlines when several months ago, while having Bishop Eddie Long's alleged sexual molestation accusers on his show, when he revealed on live tv that he was sexually molested as a young boy as well.

Now, weekend anchor Mr. Lemon, who is 45 years old but barely looks a day over 25, has written his own personal story in a book called Transparent.   While he's extremely nervous and scared of what he is revealing to the public, he has been in this business since college and he says it's time to do so.

“People are going to say: ‘Oh, he was molested as a kid and now he is coming out.’ I get it,” he said. "I’m scared.  I’m talking about something that people might shun me for, ostracize me for.”

He also aware of how him coming out as a gay male in this very public media will affect him as an African American male.  The NY Times reports:

“It’s quite different for an African-American male,” he said. “It’s about the worst thing you can be in black culture. You’re taught you have to be a man; you have to be masculine. In the black community they think you can pray the gay away.” He said he believed the negative reaction to male homosexuality had to do with the history of discrimination that still affects many black Americans, as well as the attitudes of some black women.
“You’re afraid that black women will say the same things they do about how black men should be dating black women.” He added, “I guess this makes me a double minority now.”

And he's looking at the upside of things as well: CNN has assured their support of him, and he wants to be that role model he didn't have himself growing up, which caused him to hide who he was for 45 years of his life.

When he informed the publisher of his new tack, the initial reaction was caution. But when the editors saw the material, they embraced it. It was left to Mr. Lemon to experience a bout of nerves and suggest at one point that the most personal material be taken out.
“But as I started to read it back, I said, no, leave it,” Mr. Lemon said. “I abhor hypocrisy. I think if you’re going to be in the business of news, and telling people the truth, of trying to shed light in dark places, then you’ve got to be honest. You’ve got to have the same rules for yourself as you do for everyone else.”
He has been assured of support by CNN, which has booked him as a guest Monday on its daytime show “CNN Newsroom.” He will also be on Joy Behar’s show on the network’s sister channel, HLN. A few other possibilities remain “up in the air,” he said.
Mr. Lemon said he knew that coming out this way would stir up a degree of comment about other television news personalities, and whether any would acknowledge being gay.
“I think it would be great if everybody could be out,” he said. “But it’s such a personal choice. People have to do it at their own speed. I respect that. I do have to say that the more people who come out, the better it is for everyone, certainly for the Tyler Clementis of the world.”
“I think if I had seen more people like me who are out and proud, it wouldn’t have taken me 45 years to say it,” Mr. Lemon said, “to walk in the truth.”

Wow.  Well hats off to Don for taking this extrememly bold and respectable step of showing the world his true self when he has so much to lose.  Congrats to him on his memoir.

Kanye Goes Full On Make-Out With Random Blonde Chick In Cannes

Mr. West hit his Carlton Hotel balcony in Cannes, France to have an all-out Shakespeare moment.  Pics of Kanye having a full out make-out session with a random blonde chick when you read on....

After performing "Golddigger" with Jamie Foxx the night before (how appropriate), 33-year-old Kanye West was spotted having a good 'ol time putting on a show for the cameras outside his hotel balcony today.  He and a blonde chick kissed and made out much to the cameras' liking:

So was it a publicity show for the paps....or was Kanye just being Kanye?  Either way....*eyebrows raised*....

Rapper Cassidy ARRESTED For Suspicion Of MURDER & PAROLE VIOLATON!

We haven't heard from "Gets No Better" rapper Cassidy in a minute.  But he was surely just arrested this weekend in Jersey.  Deets inside...

Cassidy, government name Barry Reese, was arrested in Hackensack, NJ yesterday after being named a suspect in 2 attempted murders, as well as violating his parole.  The 28-year-old is now considered "armed and dangerous" and "high risk."  According to North Jersey news:

The Philadelphia Police warrant squad called the Hackensack Police Department on Saturday morning to tell officers there was an open warrant for Hackensack resident Barry Reese, also known as the rapper Cassidy, Hackensack police Lt. Timothy Lloyd said.
The warrant was for violating probation, but Reese is also a suspect in a murder and two attempted murders in Philadelphia, Lloyd said.
Philadelphia police told their Hackensack counterparts “to consider this person armed and dangerous,” and this was a “high-risk warrant,” Lloyd said.

5-0 waited for Cassidy to leave his house before doing a surprise arrest:

Reese left his house about 1:30 p.m. and was followed by police to a local convenience store, Lloyd said.
An undercover ERT officer went in the store and positively identified Reese, he said.
When Reese came out of the store, “the ERT units moved in and conducted a felony motor vehicle stop,” Lloyd said.
Reese “was very surprised,” Lloyd said. The officers who arrested the rapper “did an outstanding job,” he said. “Without the proper teamwork going on, this could have spiraled out of control quickly.”
No one was injured in the arrest, Lloyd said.

Goodness.  He is now waiting to be extradited back to Philadelphia.

Whatever happened to THIS Cassidy?  The one who used to roll with Swizzy and did songs with Mashonda?

Jordin Sparks Loses 30lbs Saying, "I Made It (Weight Loss) A Priority"

Jordin Sparks recently spoke to Ryan Seacrest about her infamous bikini tweet which got folks talking about her newly svelte figure.  Deets inside....

One of the first things radio show host Ryan Seacrest asked former "America Idol" winner Jordin Sparks about was how she lost 30lbs.  Jordin dished that she was going through a breakup (with Steph Jones), and she just decided she wanted to start 2011 off in a more healthy way, so she made losing weight her goal.

'Instead of just talking about being active, I made it a priority,' she explained.

She continued,

'I was talking to somebody and then we just decided we would be friends, and it was one of those things where I was turning 21 and New Year's was coming and it was like I'm not going to start my resolution on New Years day, I'm going to try to start it early and just stick to it.'

Then Ryan asked her about the tweet sent round the world when Jordin posed in her polka dot bikini.  She told him,

"...the funny thing was I just wanted to lay outside and I took a pic of the bathing suit cause I mixed and matched it and I was like, "oh this looks good! Should I post it, should I not?"
'There was a little internal war going on... but it was for me personally a huge step cause if you would’ve asked me six months ago if I would’ve posted a picture, I would’ve said no, no, never.'

In addition to flaunting her new body, Jordin is out promoting her new single "I Am Woman" from her up-coming album.

Alicia Keys Finally Defends Her (Non) Homewrecking Ways

For over 3 years, Alicia Keys has been branded a homewrecker ever since she first started dating her now-husband Swizz Beatz.  After news broke that Swizzy was still very much married to his wife, at the time, Mashonda Tifrere, Alicia remained quiet for years about being the woman who allegedly broke up Swizz and Mashonda's relationship.  Until now.

Alicia finally defends herself for the first time when you read on....
In the June 2011 issue of ESSENCE magazine, cover girl Alicia Keys speaks out against those scandalous homewrecker accusations--years after they began.
YBF first broke the news of Alicia and Swizz's relationship back in 2007, with most people not believing it as Swizz was still very much married to Mashonda.  But with pics of the two surfacing on vacay together, throwing birthday parties for each other, and cell phone kissy pics leaking, the evidence piled up.

Now, Alicia tells Essence that Swizz and Mashonda were "completely separated" before they started dating:

We didn't start seeing each other until months after they had separated,' she said. 'I was aware of all the false things that were being said about me it definitely hurt."

Mashonda says the oppsite though in plenty of interviews, very public Twitter rants, as well as on the reality show "Love & Hip Hop."  Maybe the definition of "separated" is the issue.  Legal vs. the feeling of separation.  Swizz has said in interviews he had no longer felt "close" or married to Mashonda in his mind and heart.   But still, Mashonda has maintained that she and Swizz had just had a baby and were still sexually involved and no papers were served when Swizz and Alicia started dating--she had no clue he wanted a divorce.
Alicia, who became engaged to Swizz 1 month after he and Mashonda's divorce was final, continues with her side of the story saying:

I was sure that if I engaged it would become back-and-forth like some sick entertainment, which goes against everything I believe and would have made things worse.
Things are really good now,' said Alicia who also revealed that her love with Dean is 'intoxicating and whole'.
Kasseem is very present in his children's lives. I wouldn't be able to love him otherwise.  We are doing what is best for the children,' she added.

Meanwhile, Swizz also conceived another child with a British singer Jahna Sebastian while married to Mashonda, which he wholly admits.
On why she didn't speak on this matter until now, Ms. Keys always recalls some advice Oprah Winfrey told her for many years: 'She whispered in my ear and said "Keep some of you for you."
Alicia and Swizz are now extremely happy with their baby boy Egypt, who was named after the African country since that is where Alicia visited years ago when she wanted to relieve the pressures of success and fame.  And Mashonda has always maintained that Swizz is a great father to all 4 of his kids.
Source
 

Chris Brown and Rihanna Get Reconnected....On Twitter!

Chris Brown and Rihanna have reconnected....on Twitter.  The two artists are now following each other and we have the deets (and Rih's biting words to a fan about it) inside....
Since yesterday, Chris Brown and Rihanna have been following each other on Twitter, and it didn't sit well with one of RiRi's stans.

One fan voiced displeasure at the news of the Chris/RiRi Twitter situation, so Rihanna had to shut the fan down telling them to calm down. See the exchange here:

What do you think about the pair communicating via twitter now?