There is a popular saying that there are only two things in life that are guaranteed, death and taxes. Well, I would like to add a third one to...
If your summer plans are not ironed out yet, the Hot 97 Summer Jam is the perfect way for hip-hop fans to kick off a sizzling season. Summer Jam...
I thought it would be good to have this film reviewed by someone who wasn't a Trekky, someone who wasn't even a Star Trek fan to deliver an...
We have all witnessed what happens when Zane puts a pen to a piece of paper to create a phenomenal novel. Now, Cinemax has given us another...
Back in 2004, I was a novice to the printing and magazine industry hoping to launch something amazing. I had a pocket full of ideas and a concept,...
At her recent show at New York City's Gramercy Theatre, Lil' Kim went into a performance of her last major hit single, "Lighters Up." She...
We all know one… or two...or three…or perhaps even more. They come in varying shapes and sizes and, especially in today’s world, all different...
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There is a popular saying that there are only two things in life that are guaranteed, death and taxes. Well, I would like to add a third one to that list: change. It happens to all of us throughout different stages of our existence. Even Grammy award winning Rap artist Eve has acknowledged this necessary fact of life during several interviews she’s done to promote her latest album, Lip Lock.
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We have all witnessed what happens when Zane puts a pen to a piece of paper to create a phenomenal novel. Now, Cinemax has given us another opportunity to witness Zane’s work come to life on the small screen, every Friday evening in Zane’s The Jumpoff. This is Zane’s second television series. Her first series, The Sex Chronicles, focused on the lives of a group of girlfriends. The Jumpoff however, focuses on a group of five, 30-something frat brothers as they face various twists within their lives. We had the chance to speak with three of the actors from the show, Kinyumba Mutakabbir (pictured far left), Tanjareen Martin, and Amin Joseph (pictured center) as well as the show’s creator, Zane, to discuss the series and some things that we can expect when watching Zane’s The Jumpoff on Friday nights. Kinyumba is a former college football star turned model and actor. You may recognize him from Calvin Klien ads, or from Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Tanjareen Martin, an Inglewood native, claims to have heard every possible joke about her name. She has a background in broadcasting and has produced episodes of The Judge Joe Brown Talk Radio Show, as well as Love For Sale, featuring singer Mya and herself. Amin Joseph is a Howard University Theatre Arts graduate who has recently starred in G.I. Joe: Retaliation and appeared on the show "Southland." Together, Zane and the members of the cast provided interesting perspectives on providing entertainment for an underserved demographic, as well as, insight to their respective characters and roles within the grand scheme of Zane’s The Jumpoff.
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Back in 2004, I was a novice to the printing and magazine industry hoping to launch something amazing. I had a pocket full of ideas and a concept, which led me to rapper, Turk née Tab Virgil, then signed to Koch Records. They wanted to put him on my cover and essentially set me up with my first interview, with an artist who has sold millions of records through Cash Money Records, as part of the hit-making crew, the Hot Boys and as a solo artist as well. As a Hip-Hop afficionado, I was very familiar with the rapper and could spit back his verses on various Cash Money classics. Just like that I had locked up my first major artist and my first cover story for what I had dubbed, 'Not Your Average Magazine.' Then I found out Turk would be doing the interview from prison, as he was dealing with a federal term for a shooting in his home in Memphis. Just like that my excitement faded
We all know one… or two...or three…or perhaps even more. They come in varying shapes and sizes and, especially in today’s world, all different shades and colors as well. If you ask them what they’re doing, they’re always “grinding”. If you ask them where they are, they’re always “in the lab”. They are certainly not an endangered species as at least one can be found on just about any block, in any neighborhood, anywhere. If you haven’t guessed yet, this person that we all know is none other than the infamous “aspiring rapper.”
With the increase of smaller and more affordable recording technology in the ‘90s, and the explosion of the internet in that decade and the ‘00s, the aspiring rapper population has seemingly multiplied. While some may think of this negatively, it has provided a way into the industry for some artists who could have slipped through the cracks otherwise. For example, many of Cash Money Records early ‘90s album releases were recorded entirely in Baby’s kitchen. In 2007, Soulja Boy was introduced to the world with his first major single release “Crank That (Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em),” a song that was completely produced and recorded within the confines of his bedroom. However, these are only two examples of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people who try every year to break into the music industry.
One young rap artist who is steadily gaining notoriety however is a twenty year-old Newark, NJ native who goes by the name of Kazzie. He is signed to eOne Records, a respected indie label, through his team NWEMG. Recently, he collaborated with Wacka Flocka on a track called, "We Don't F*ck With That," which is enjoying rotation on MTV, New York’s Hot 97 and was also premiered as a 'New Joint' on BET’s 106 and Park. His solo single, "Get It" is also beginning to impact radio as well.
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I thought it would be good to have this film reviewed by someone who wasn't a Trekky, someone who wasn't even a Star Trek fan to deliver an unbiased opinion on another journey into the Star Trek saga, delivered by J.J. Abrams. So there I was in a theater filled with Star Trek fans, just an urban entertainment journalist, there to support Zoe Saldana (plays Uhura) as she ventured Into Darkness.
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At her recent show at New York City's Gramercy Theatre, Lil' Kim went into a performance of her last major hit single, "Lighters Up." She introduced it with her rendition of "Empire State of Mind," singing and rapping over the track Jay-Z and Alicia Keys made famous. Check out the video of the entire performance here...