‘The Coalition’ Stars Adrienne Bailon, Jackee Harry & Denyce Lawton [Trailer]

5 sep 2011, 16:48

NFL Baltimore linebacker turned Hollywood producer, Terrell Suggs launches  a new film production called Team Sizzle Films. The first film is a romantic drama called The Coalition, starring Jackee Harry (227, Sister, Sister), Denyce Lawton from Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and actress-singer Adrienne Bailon from Disney’s The Cheetah Girls.[/p]Tagline: Hell hath no fury…and then you meet the whole team.[/p]

Breakdown of Jay-Z’s verse on ‘No Church In the Wild’

5 sep 2011, 06:45

[/p]Journalist/Author Toure dissects the lyrics of Jay-Z's on No Church In the Wild. Oftentimes we take a liken to a particular song because of the melodic hook or the pulsating beat and never do an in-depth analysis of the lyrics. Toure explores the religious, spirituality, and philosophical undertones of each verse.[/p]Jay-Z’s verse on No Church In the Wild is one of the most interesting on Watch the Throne as it combines religion, spirituality, and philosophy. I tried to unpack most of what I heard but I’m sure there’s things I’m missing. It’s a deep verse. (Again, my point system is based on amateur boxing with 2 points for great lines, 1 point for good lines and 0 for anything else. But in this verse there's no 0s.)[/p]Tears on the mauseoleum floor
Blood stains the coliseum doors[/p][2 points for the first line and 2 points for the second—These are great, brief images, like complex snapshots made by words—those sorts of photos that seem to suggest a scene. These give us moments of power asserting itself on weakness. In some grand, giant building, a mauseoleum, someone has been made to cry. On the door of the grand, giant stadium someone’s blood has been spilled. (Possibly many someones.) In societally-massive places someone has hurt someone else and left the mark of it behind. Thus Jay-Z slides into the song as a detached narrator, passing no judgment on these scenes, like a director starting the film with still images that tell so much but leave many questions, too. Also, really nice poetic work here rhyming a pair of four-syllable-then-one-syllable words.][/p]Lies on the lips of a priest?
Thanksgiving disguised as a feast?[/p][2, 2—In the song’s first two lines, the images were literal but in these two lines the images have turned figurative. But still we have power asserting itself on weakness. Priests were once among the most powerful men in society—a time evoked by words like mauseoleum and coliseum. This lying priest is hurting the people who believe him absolutely just as the person (or people) who cried and bled in the previous lines were hurt. Also, this figurative image becomes more literal because the previous two lines were literal so he’s accustomed you to see images from the words so that when you get a figurative line you see that, too. So I visualize the lies—these malicious words sitting on his lips like diseased spittle, about to fly out to the people’s ears. The following line (about Thanksgiving) concludes the series of images with a celebratory moment that’s really a Trojan horse allowing the powerful to take advantage of the weak. Interestingly, the first three lines suggest old Europe— mauseoleum, coliseum, a place where Priests had hegemony—while the fourth line, the line about Thanksgiving, clearly evokes early America, though perhaps at the beginning of America they were still more European than American. Perhaps.][/p]Rollin’ in the Rolls-Royce Corniche?[/p][2—All these lines are getting 2’s because of the overall story they’re telling and how well they fit together to build something that’s greater than the sum of the parts. Is this particular line great in a vacuum? Maybe not, though the alliteration is nice, but what makes it great is how it fits with the lines we’ve been given before. Jay’s been a detached narrator so far, giving himself no place in the story and not even passing judgment on the scenes he’s painting. Here he enters the story in style. In style linguistically—there’s an elegant subtlety to how he inserts himself into the narrative. He doesn’t say “I” but you know it’s him rolling in that expensive car. It’s almost like he’s driven into the story casually—because you wouldn’t drive that car fast. Keep this image in mind—Jay driving. He’s not just bragging. He’s placing himself as a character within the narrative. This is the moment where the verse becomes something of a scene.][/p]Only the doctors got this, I’m hidin’ from police?[/p][2—Jay’s been talking about the interaction of power and weakness but here he locates himself within that conversation but he makes it unclear who’s got the power. He’s got a car that only doctors can afford, that only the rich can get, so it’s a signifier of his power but he’s gotta watch out for the police because they’re the power and they’ll stop him for Driving [An Expensive Ride] While Black. So Jay’s both powerful and not so powerful at the same time.][/p]Cocaine seats?[/p]All white like I got the whole thing bleached?
[2, 2—More great, precise imagery. The whole car is cocaine white, the crispest, sharpest white available. This continues the tangible, writerly detail he’s been giving us the whole song. And the bleaching is not just a reference to the car itself. “The whole thing” refers to Jay’s business and persona—he was in the streets and now he’s bleached his life. He’s clean. He’s a business, man. “Cocaine seats” puts the ghost of his old life into the air but we know there’s nothing that cops can stop him for. Except maybe Driving While Black.][/p]Drug dealer chic?
I’m wonderin’ if a thug’s prayers reach
[1, 2—Drug dealer chic is what Jay’s style is all about but it’s not a line that’s blowing me away. But it links nicely with his allusions toward his coke-dealing days and his next line (I’m wonderin’ if a thug’s prayers reach) which goes back to the interplay between power and weakness and who’s truly powerful as well as launching us toward the religiosity alluded to in the song’s title and intro and discussed in depth in the next few lines. But it’s a great line in and of itself, a great philosophical question—do the prayers of an immoral criminal reach God’s ears? Does God take care of everyone or just those who are good? Keep in mind “I’m wonderin…” which may seem like a throwaway but isn’t—it’s there that the verse starts a trip into his mind. I see him cruising in his Corniche, pontificating, gettin all philosophical and shit.][/p]Is Pious pious cause God loves pious?
[2—This is an awesome line that deserves much more than 2. Jay’s taken the spiritual/philosophical question of the previous line to another level and dropped a deep and legendary philosophical question. This is the legendary Euthyphro dilemma in which Socrates asks “Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?” We’re talking Socrates now? We’re asking what is the source of what is Godly? Why are the things considered morally good considered that? How do we know what is Godly and why? In a polytheistic society, like the one Socrates lived in, this question was all the more complex: what if one god favors one behavior and another does not? This line, right after wondering if a criminal’s prayers would be answered by God, makes for a really deep pair of thoughts. In quick succession Jay’s wondered about the relationship to God of society’s moral lowest and highest. This, in a pop song?][/p]Socrates asks, “Whose bias do y’all seek?”
[2—Before he quoted Socrates, now he name checks him and gives us his own summary of what Socrates is saying. Whose opinion matters to you? Are you following reason or faith? This is a pop song?][/p]All for Plato, screech
[2—Now he’s naming Plato, Socrates’s homie. I can’t believe this sort of philosophical discussion and historical namechecking is flowing so smoothly in a pop song. But the 2 points here really goes to the seemingly insignificant “screech” which is a pivot point in the verse. It’s an onomatopoeia, of course, but it works two ways stopping two things. First it stops this line of deep philosophical discussion he’s been giving us. This is the pivot where he turns sharply and moves away from philosophy and into more classic Jay talk. But also, go back to the image of him in the car, when the Rolls enters the narrative. Jay describes the Rolls that he’s sitting in then says “I’m wonderin…” and the lines after that are a continuously deepening series of philosophical thoughts moving from a thug’s relationship with God to Socrates’s pondering the nature of piety. All these are thoughts he’s having as he’s rolling in the Rolls. It’s as if the voice of his inner monologue had been going in a voiceover. And then the car—the vehicle in which he’s having these thoughts—comes to a hard stop, a screech, and he snaps back to real life.][/p]I’m out here ballin’, I know ya’ll hear my sneaks
[2—Here’s a nice little double-entendre. He’s out in the streets ballin—either living large and/or playing basketball. If the latter you’d hear his sneaks, because while playing sneakers naturally squeak and even, maybe, screech. Or, if you’re ballin as hard as he is, your sneakers would be immediately noticed, or perhaps so stylistically loud they’re heard.][/p]Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy laid beats
[2—Clever, clever: One third of the real Holy Trinity built literal things while Kanye builds music piece by piece, similar to carpentry. If that were the whole idea then this would maybe get a 1 but it’s followed up by…][/p]Hova flow the Holy Ghost, get the hell up out your seats.
[2—Damn the payoff is large: Jay-Hova is another third of the Holy Trinity he’s describing (along with Yeezy). He’s always talked about his writing and rhyming ability is beyond conscious, it’s God-given—as if it’s God flowing through him, he says. There’s something mysterious about the Holy Ghost and something mysterious about his ability to him, so it makes sense for him to link himself to that in this analogy. Who’s the God in this triumvirate? Is it God or is it the audience? Also, knowing Jay, he didn’t place the word hell there lightly, at the end of a verse filled with references to religion, spirituality and philosophy.][/p]Preach
[1—This is interesting. It’s a cool way to finish a verse that’s had so much religion and philosophy in it and it nicely lands the verse in a single word that locates us within the Black church experience as “Preach!” is a normal part of the call and response in a Black church. But “preach” is never an exclamation you use to praise something you have said. It’s always to praise something someone else has said. So for Jay to say this about his own verse is a bit weird. I wonder if it might’ve been better for Kanye to jump in here and say this word, speaking about Jay’s verse and then for Jay to say it about Kanye’s verse at the end of the song.][/p]

BTS of Kelly Rowland Runway Magazine Cover [Video]

5 sep 2011, 02:36

[/p]R&B diva Kelly Rowland strikes a pose for the cover of  Runway Magazine. The shoot took place at  MILK studios in New York and the man behind the lens was no other than Derek Blanks.[/p]Check out the visual for the Behind The Scenes:[/p]

Ludacris’s DJ Puts Him On Blast via Twitter

5 sep 2011, 00:58

The city of Atlanta is abuzz during the 7th annual LudaDay Weekend with celebrity spotting, block party, mansion party, basketball game etc. You would think everybody is happy. However, that is not the case. Luda's personal DJ, DJ JayCee took to twitter to inform his followers, why he's not at none of the functions.[/p]


According, to DJ JayCee: "@ludacris doesn't like his own DJ enough to let him rock at any of the events so why bother attending?

When asked if he could perform, @ludacris stated  "I don't oversee the event planning but I'll make sure it happens next year".

Well, during his visit to V-103 Luda mentioned initially, he would have to call up celebs and sponsors and now they are calling him to get involved. I doubt it would have been hard to incorporate his DJ as part of the package deal.[/p]

Do you think DJ JayCee was wrong for airing a private matter or do you think he has a valid point? Let us know your thoughts.

PICS: Ludacris, Idris Elba, the Isleys, El Debarge & More at REUNION Concert in ATL 9/3

4 sep 2011, 23:01

[/p]Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta has been a whirlwind of parties and events, especially High Level Media’sThe Reunion Concert” sponsored by Soul Headphones by Ludacris and featuring the Isley Brothers, El Debarge, Chico Debarge, Carl Thomas and host Idris Elba. Fans and celebs packed Chastain Park Amphitheatre yesterday for a high-energy evening of classic soul and R&B, including Ludacris, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Real Housewives Phaedra Parks and Kandi, Jasmine Guy and more.
[/i][/p]

 

MORE PICS HERE

Photos: James Pray, Jazmyne Simmons

Ludacris Takes Over Atlanta Radio V-103

4 sep 2011, 20:14

[/p]Ludacris stops by V-103 radio station to promote LudaDay Weekend and drop off the 1st song off his forthcoming mixtape 1.21 Jiggawatts Rich & Flexin. 1.21 JiggaWatts will be released on twitter via @?Ludacris[/p]Props to ExclusiveAccess[/p]

Cassie – Radio (ft. Fabolous) + Make You A Believer (ft. Jadakiss)

4 sep 2011, 19:27

The best thing about these two songs are the feature rappers Fabolous and Jadakiss. I repeat, Cassie can not sing! But, do not take my word for it. Let your eardrums be the judge.[/p]

Video: Lowkey ‘Obama Nation’ Part 2 f/ Black The Ripper x M1 of Dead Prez

4 sep 2011, 19:03

[/p]Lowkey is known as the biggest rapper in the UK, who is often sited for his anti-Obama views and the ongoing war in the Gaza strip and Palestine, which caused him to be detained by the Israeli police.[/p]The political activist Lowkey’s new single ‘Obama Nation’ features include fellow UK native Black The Ripper and M1 of Dead Prez. The song is off "Soundtrack To The Struggle" due to hit retail on October 16, 2011[/p]

J.Cole Gives “God’s Gift” to Toronto [Video]

4 sep 2011, 18:24

J. Cole‘s Cole World: World Tour hit the stage at the Sound Academy in the city of Toronto. The crowd showed Cole a lot of love and in return, he premiered "God's Gift" which is off his upcoming Cole World: The Sideline Story album that’ll be in stores on September 27[/p]


Spotted at HustleGrl

New Video: Tyga “Rack City”

4 sep 2011, 18:11

Tyga takes the camera into the strip club to show us the lifestyle of "Rack City". The video was directed by Alex Nazari