Author Archive for bels
Financial Experts Says ” A Lot Can Be Learned From Hip Hop Artists”
In Summer 2012, Houston rapper Slim Thug released his first book, How To Survive In A Recession. The book was a surprise to most hip hop heads who were used to seeing Slim Thug in videos with flashy jewels and expensive cars. He even premiered once on the popular MTV Cribs showing off his sprawling home and fleet of cars. Well, years later Slim Thug decided to live a debt-free life which consisted of doing away with a few materialistic things he’d worked so hard far. He didn’t downsize because he was broke. Due to the recession, he took the smart route, man’d up, and began managing his personal finances properly.
Nowadays, there are more hip hop artists investing in stocks, opening businesses, and securing a great financial future for themselves and their family. Some music videos may tell a different story. But if you listen to their lyrics, you’ll notice that many of them are offering up some great advice about business and money. Recently, MSN posted several financial related quotes spit by several of our favorite rap artists. Financial experts reviewed each lyric and believed that fans of hip hop could actually learn a thing or two if we just pay attention. In case you can’t remember what a few of these rappers said, take a look at these lesson-filled quotes expressed by 50 Cent, Slim Thug, Yung Joc, Busta Rhymes, and Common.
50 Cent says, “I used to think that if I bought stuff that showed the world how much money I made I’d be happy. But that doesn’t work. For me, success was always going to be a Lamborghini. But now I’ve got it, it just sits in drive. My Rolls Royce has less than nine miles on the clock.” (quoted from interview with Daily Mail)
Moral of the Quote – Buying expensive items do not always guarantee happiness. Some assets, like cars, depreciate in value. So it is best to invest in assets that will increase your net worth. Then to find happiness, try giving back to the less fortunate.
Slim Thug says, “I always say if you can’t buy it three times over, you can’t afford it. Don’t drive a Bentley on a Benz income.” (quoted from How To Survive In A Recession)
Moral of the Quote – Simply. Don’t live beyond your means.
Yung Joc says, “Hold off on all the jewelry and cars. Straight up…(the rap business) not a 9-to-5. You go to work 40 hours a week, you’re not going to get the same amount of money…every week because it don’t work like that.” (quoted in interview with Hollywood Heavy)
Moral of the Quote – Be smart with your money. Always have it least 6 to 12 months salary saved up for hard times.
Busta Rhymes says, “Floss a little; invest up in a mutual fund.” (quoted in his 1997 hit “Dangerous”)
Moral of the Quote – Diversify your portfolio. Never leave all your money in one bucket. Contact a financial advisor or stock broker and find opportunities to invest and grow your net worth.
Common says, “But once you get grown and out your own/Bills upon bill upon is what you have/Before you get your check then you already spent half.” (quoted in his 1994 song “Rich Man vs Poor Man”)
Moral of the Quote – Keep your bills minimal. Always store away at leat 10% of each paycheck in a separate savings account.
What do you think of the financial advice given by these artists? Do you have any advice of your own that has proven financially effective for you? If so, please share in the comments.
New Music: B.o.B. – “HeadBand” feat. 2 Chainz
Ok…it sounds like B.o.B. is rejuvenating our crazy obsession with whistling on songs. In his new song, “Head Bang” he’s “whistling dixie” as he talks about his infatuation with a particular young lady. Off of his upcoming Underground Luxury album, B.o.B. enlists ATL rapper 2 Chainz to add his special sauce to the track. As confederate as the whistling sounds, the track is perfect for the clubs. If you’re doing the two-step or backing that a** up, it doesn’t matter. Everyone will still be able to get their boogie on.
Take a listen to B.o.B.’s new joint below and let us know what you think.
New Music: Ciara – “Body Party” Remix feat. Future & B.o.B.
On July 9, the world better get ready. Although, it’s been a long road for Ciara in this music business, she’s been able to maintain her relevance and push out a few good songs. Well now she’s back working with LA Reid and is ready to give us all she got.
“Body Party” her latest release garnered quite a buzz in the past few months. The ’90′s throwback tune is a classic amongst the Atliens who partied in local hot spots like Club 559, XS, Sharon Showcase, and Jelly Beans. So, it was clearly a no brainer to include her boo Future and Grand Hustle’s B.o.B to the “Rich-mix” (since both emcees are from Atlanta). Take a listen to the remix below:
For what we know now, Ciara’s self-titled album will feature collaborations from Nicki Minaj and Future. Production credits will feature joints from Mike Will Made It, Rodney Jerkins, The Underdogs, and others. You can pre-order a copy of the album on iTunes now.
ABC Is First To Offer Live ‘TV’ Streaming to iPhones
If you want to see television on-the-go and via your iPhone, now you have the chance. Live streaming has been available for several years, but mainly through third party applications. Now, one major network will begin streaming their television programs straight to iPhones.
According to the Wallstreet Journal, ABC will be the first network to offer live streaming to public TV stations. The network is currently streaming The View in New York and Philadelphia. It is not known if other major cities will evetually be added. For now, local residents can have the luxury to go about their daily routine and still be able to catch their favorite ABC television programs.
Learn more about this new development in the video below.
Nightlife: What’s Goin On TV Invades Club Deja Vu
When the sun goes down, the city of Atlanta becomes wide awake as many of the locals hit the streets. Known as the city that parties seven days a week, one hot spot in particular packs’em in for a guaranteed good time. Well, our folks at What’s Goin On TV recently hit up Club Deja Vu to get a glimpse of its nightlife and to support rapper Parlae. Check out the behind-the-scenes footage below:
Bernice Is Back w/More Tow Drama, But Stays Humbled By the Love From Fans
Our favorite tough girl is back! It’s been a minute since STACKS Magazine spoke with Bernice [READ HERE]. At the time, she was adjusting to the new fame, her role, and the overwhelming support from her fans. At one point she was released from her duties as a tow truck driver. But the Tremont Towing family welcomed her with open-arms. Since then, she’s been working hard on nights and weekends in the city of Miami and South Beach. Her hard work and dedication is all for the benefit of her lovely mother. Coming from humble beginnings, she’s on a mission to build an empire so that her mom won’t have to work anymore. She truly has a heart of gold. Of course, though, once you piss her off all hell can break loose.
In season 3 and 13 episodes later, the fans can expect to see some interesting conflict from the Miami-native and the Tremont crew. “It’s a lot of drama. It’s a lot going on, man. Definitely, inside house [Tremont] it’s a lot going on. Basically, the dad got hurt last year (Season 2). People who he trying to get to take over to pretty much run the company while he deal with his health issues…so it’s a lot“, says Bernice. With the show premiering tonight on Tru TV, Bernice is somewhat limited in what “tea” she could spill. But she ensures that the fans will get a more in-depth look into the interactions and emotions that flow within the Tremont office. The health issues with Robert Ashenoff, Sr (the Boss) and the newborn of Christie Ashenoff has made way for someone else to manage the day-to-day operations. This new turn of events has caused a huge stir in the office. From Bernice’s point of view, it’s a matter of control. Unfortunately, everyone can’t be the boss.
Basically, it’s the drama. Everybody want to be the boss. Everybody want to be chiefs, but don’t nobody want to be indians. It’s crazy. Christy have had the baby and she was out for a while just dealing with trying to run stuff. But, everybody help each other out. But, it don’t usually work out like that when money is involved. And everybody trying to get a couple dollars. It’s just crazy! Exciting, crazy, and a lot of drama. This year is going to be more drama-filled I would say.
South Beach Tow started off with the crew towing cars and reactions of random individuals who didn’t follow parking instructions. Over the seasons, however, each crew member’s personalities started to shine. The viewers became in love with the characters and not so much with the act of towing a car. Apparently, the producers of the show has recognized this and will continue to push the stories behind the cast. In season 3, this will be evident as more drama with the crew jumps off. While the company is in a management transition, the staff will be more emotional and conflict will arise. According to Bernice, yes there will be “hella” conflict. She says, “You know, depending on who take over and who’s the boss, everybody don’t like everybody. It’s just like a family. Some people can be good as a friend, but can’t be good as a boss. You feel me? It’s just crazy. A lot of bumping heads.”
Drama makes for good television. But fans don’t worry, there will still be a lot of car towing going on. Unfortunately, Bernice couldn’t give any specific situations that will occur this season. But rest to sure that there wil be some wild and crazy stuff going on with the citizens of Miami. And the people of Miami sure do love them some Bernice. After mentiong to her that our first interview garnered a boat load of comments and support from fans, Bernice is still humble. She hasn’t let the fame get to her head and probably never will. Fans see her all the time in the streets of Miami. She humbly stops to take a photo or even sign an autograph. Despite what we all see on television, she’s very nice and a lover of the people. All of this is still a bit overwhelming though. But she’s handling things quite well with her longstanding friendships and support from family.
One thing about it, I’m from Miami so people will definitely recognize you. I love the people. I’m a people’s person. It’s pretty much the same. It’s still overwhelming, like, I communicate with the fans. I try to stay as humble as I can. Before all this, I knew a lot of people. So now, you got a lot of people on your side, backing you, and who want to see you do well. Of course, you got the people who hate. As long as they hate to the point that they are watching (the show) to hate, I’m fine with that sh*t. It’s all the same. It’s the same with everything. It’s just surreal. I have to tell the truth. I’m just thankful that people are really f**king with us like that. It’s good for me.
Stalkers stand back though! LOL. With the popularity, Bernice has encountered a few strange occurences. We tend to hear about strangers showing up a celebrities front door step. Not only this is crazy, but it is also dangerous. And it will be if you show up at Bernice’s house. Luckily she has not received an unwelcomed visitor as of yet. But she says that she has had several strange phone calls. “No, but somebody been calling my damn house. I don’t know how they got my number. They must be paying for that sh*t to get all your information. [laughs] But, I’m about to change it and block it. Listen, I have no clue. My number been the same since I was in middle school. It never been listed“, Bernice explains.
You got to love her. She upfront and don’t take no mess. And she appreciates all her fans. With her filming schedule being as hectic as it is, she does plan to get out and meet some of the fans. So, there could possibly a city-to-city tour on the way. Bernice understands the importance of having a fanbase and would like to reach and touch them and show them some love. One thing is for sure, she never wants to lose touch from where she came from. She states, “they say “you don’t change, people change around you.” That is so true because you know people change around you everyday. But, I still got the same friends. We still hangout. We still love each other. We still have fun. If I f–ks with you, I f–ks with you and if I don’t I don’t.”
Catch Bernice tonight at 9:30PM on Tru TV’s South Beach Tow. Follow her on Twitter @Bernice_SBTow!
Regal Cinemas To Offer Luxury Amenities In 2014; Atlanta’s Top of The List
Now that everything is easily accessible on the internet, simple experiences like going to the movies few and far between. Who doesn’t prefer to sit in the comfort of their own home to watch a movie? Also, homes are now equipped with their very own “movie rooms”. These rooms are decked out with leather recliners, big projector screens, dimmed lights, etc. If families prefer to stay home rather than spend over $100 at the local theater, what can cinema companies do to keep us patronizing their businesses?
Well, Regal Cinemas has got the message and is implementing new luxury amenities at their facilities. With luxury theaters in California and Colorado, the city of Alpharetta (GA) will be next up to receive a new theater.
The new theater will be located near GA 400, on the outskirts of Atlanta. The Regal Avalon Stadium 12 x RPX wil feature leather recliners and dining tables, a restaurant-style menu along with standard movie snacks, and an intimate lounge style lobby/entry area. Wall-to-wall screens will feature the lastest in digital technology.
The Alpharetta location will open in 2014. In addition, Atlanta will also get theater renovations in the Atlantic Station location. This is probably because Atlanta’s hosts several major movie red carpet premieres at that particular facility. So, it’s only right to upgrade the theater accordingly and give the “stars” a high-end feel to the movie-going experience.
Vid: Pusha T – “Numbers On The Boards”
As a fan of Pusha T’s, his latest video took me back to the 90′s. That was time when east coast rap was in the forefront and you had great producers/artists like DJ Premiere, Das EFX, Smith & Wesson, Wu-Tang Clan, and various others give music back then a certain sound. Well, Pusha T’s “Numbers On The Board” give me that same feeling. It’s simple but unique sound, along with the Jay-Z sample, makes the song somewhat nostalgic. Kanye West and Don Cannon was probably he best choices to produce the track. Kanye is great for his unique cadence and sound choices. While, Cannon is known for his sampling technique. On top of that, you can’t deny Pusha’s a beast with the bars.
This joint is setting the tone for his upcoming album release. We can’t see what else is in store. But for now if you want to reminisce a for about 3 minutes, check out his new video below:
Pusha T’s My Name Is My Name is scheduled for a July 16 release.
New Vid: Kendrick Lamar – “B-tch Don’t Kill My Vibe” feat. Mike Epps
Finally, Aftermath/Interscope put the money up for Kendrick Lamar’s hit “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.” Considering the album was released months ago, none of Kendrick’s fans didn’t anticipate it would take this long to release a video. Anyhoo, the fans can be happy now. The new video is simple, but somewhat befitting for the California emcee who is lowkey and isn’t one to praise materialistic things. It’s about time an artist say F-k the big booty hoes, flashy jewels, and Bugatti’s in their videos. This is why Kendrick get so much respect. He is in his own lane…and he owns it.
The video features comedian Mike Epps. Take a peep and let us know what you think.
Can A Horror Film “Scare” Students Into Paying Off Their College Loans?
Do horror films have the capabilities to make people pay off their debt? A free educational program called SALT seems to think so.
To help college kids understand the importance of paying off their student loan debt, SALT enlisted the assistance from the SS+K ad agency. SS+K was solicited to create a multimedia campaign that would empower young adults with the know-how to manage their debt. One project that is included in this campaign is a horror flick entitled “The Red”.
“The Red” features a 20-something girl who becomes terrorized by red smoke. The smoke follows her at every turn, mirroring the financial strain of a post-college world. No matter how hard she tries, she realizes that there is no avoiding The Red. The only option is the face it. The smoke is supposed to represent “bad debt” or debt that is “in the red.” The film was directed by Borderline Films (Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin, and Josh Mond) and premiered in Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.. These cities held the largest student population and highest percentages of students with student loan debt.
Watch the film below:
To find out more about the film, go to www.FaceTheRed.com.
Founder of BET Launches New Urban Youtube Paid Channel “OnCue”
The uber strategic businessman and founder of Black Entertainment Televison (BET), Robert L. Johnson, announced the launch of two new paid Youtube channels. The new channels, “Acorn TV” and “OnCue”, will be two of several other channels that will fall under Youtube’s new “paid subscription” plan.
Johnson’s RLJ Entertainment will now give Youtube fans the opportunity to watch “theme-driven” videos. “OnCue”, for instance, will offer urban-only content that will showcase African-American films and digital television series. All of the videos will highlight the best in action, drama, romantic comedies/stand-up, documentaries, music, and stage plays. Content will include 35 & Ticking (starring Kevin Hart and Meagan Good), All Things Fall Apart (50 Cent & Lynn Whitfield), The Last Fall (Lance Gross), and I Ain’t Scared of You (featuring the late Bernie Mac).
RLJ Entertainment created these channels on the basis of giving audiences an alternative in digital programming. The “paid” subscription route will be profitable for shareholders, but also create an outlet for producers to air original content.
“Acorn TV” will showcase British TV-related content.
New Video: John Legend – “Who Do We Think We Are” feat. Rick Ross *NSFW*
John Legend is definitely in a sexy mood these days. His latest release “Who Do We Think We Are” can be considered borderline soft porn. The models bare naked breasts and sensually move about the video showing graceful love to party goers. The special added touch comes from Rick Ross, whose flow seems to fit right in since he’s been on that smooth boss sh-t lately. Visually though, this video does a fine job capturing the human body which is considered the purest art form.
As long as you are in a NSFW environment, take a peep at John Legend’s new video below.
NFL Player Asks Ex-Fiance for $800K Engagement Ring Back; Should She Return It?
Buffalo Bills Mario Williams made headlines this week but not for his football stats. Instead, the defensive back gained notoriety for being an “Indian-giver”.
For years, there’s been a debate amongst men versus women about if a wife-to-be should return an engagement ring if the relationship ends. Since, either parties can’t never seem to ever come to an agreement on the subject, many U.S. states have left it up to the law to decide. Hence the case of Mario Williams.
According to news reports, Williams recently requested that his ex-fiancé return a $785,000 engagement ring. Their romance ended and left Williams thinking about the huge investment he made for what was suppose to be his future wife. But, the ex refuses to return it stating that the ring was a gift. Word is that she is the one that called off the engagement and has no plans on returning the bling.
Unfortunately, the former lovebirds were residents of the state of Texas. Under Texas law, Lois Liberman (Williams attorney) says ,”the fact that the marriage is not taking place, the gift hasn’t been completed; it seems cut and dry based on Texas law that in fact she has to give the engagement ring back.” Simply put, Texas laws believes that a ring is not a gift until a marriage occurs. Other states consider just the opposite…that an engagement is indeed a “gift”.
Luckily for Williams he should come out as a winner in this case. But, if the ring was worth much less (ex. $10,000), would Williams have asked for it back??
What do you all think? Should an engagement ring be considered a “gift”? Let us know what you think.
New Mixtape: DG Yola – ‘Neva Gon Stop 2′ + “Stay Focus” Video
Well, the A-town rapper told us he’d never stop with this rap game. He’s back. Our boy DG Yola is stepping things up on his new mixtape release. Neva Gon Stop 2 is the follow-up to his first mixtape that hit the streets after his return home from lockdown. NGS2 is not cosigned by DJs. It only have only one or two features. But, that’s what’s cool about this project. It shows that Yola can stand alone. He doesn’t need all the extra hype.
NGS2 is a worthy listen and download. It does feature production by platinum-producer Midnight Black, Zaytoven, and others. Several songs like “Good Pussy”, “She Shine With No Lights On”, and “U Bad” are all catered to the ladies. So, the hood chicks and boss b–ches out there will appreciate Yola for recognizing them this time around. Don’t worry though…the rest is strictly for the fans and folks that can relate to Yola’s struggle and life experiences.
To download a copy of Neva Gon Stop 2, go to livemixtapes.com!
50 Cent Reveals New Business Venture; Announces “50 World Fitness”
What is 50 Cent investing in next? As a man who always seem to venture into the most unthinkable industries, has made profitable strides in the fitness arena with Formula 50 and now in the boxing arena. But, apparently that’s not it.
50 Cent recently took to his Twitter account to announce “50 World Fitness Coming Soon”. Although, this doesn’t seem to be too far out of reach for rapper-actor-entrepreneur, it does come as a surprise. No other details were given about 50 World Fitness. But, many are assuming that his love of health and fitness has garnered an idea to possibly open up several fitness centers. Who knows for sure? If this is what his announcement meant, then this could potentially be very lucrative for 50. There aren’t many more chain fitness franchises around anymore except LA Fitness and/or Gold’s Gym. 50 World Fitness could be the next best thing for all of us gym rats. As long as he offers a great monthly/annual registration fee and up-to-date equipment and amenities, 50 Cent may come out a winner.
This is just a speculation though. We’ll get back with you as more information is released.
The 6-Step Process Towards Debt-Relief…
Tired of credit collectors blowing up your phone? Tired of receiving collection letters in the mail? Well, you and a million other people are sick of it. But, the first thing that you have to come to terms with is the reason why you owe so much anyway. Many Americans, especially, engage in overspending and living above their means. We love to “keep up with the Joneses”, show-off the material things to our friends and family, and buy stuff that simply has no value. Overspending is a condition that we all suffer or once suffered from. How do we get help with this problem? Initially, it will take you to make the decision to want to change. Once you have conquered that, you are on your way to living a healthier financial life.
Okay. To get started on your debt-relief process, here are several ways to slash the amount of money you owe. Although these bullet points are not full proof, they will at least put you in the right direction.
- Obtain a copy of your credit report. Americans are given two free copies each year. Then, compile a list of unpaid credit cards and outstanding loans. Add up the balances. The total you end up with is the overall amount you are in debt with.
- Decide which outstanding balances you want to start paying off first. Some people choose the smaller accounts first. Outstanding balances that are low (a couple hundred dollars) is preferred because it will take the shortest time to pay off.
- Contact each credit lender/agency and speak with a representative about a possible payment plan. Before you start paying against the debt, make sure you have a steady income coming in. If you work, see how much you can put in a savings each pay check. After you’ve calculated your monthly household expenses, use the money you have left over to put in the savings. You can use a portion of that savings to pay off the debt or you can set up a separate account to store your “debt-money”.
- Pay more than the minimum monthly fee on your credit cards and loans. It is better to pay more than just the minimum. This will allow you to see your balance decrease much faster than anticipated.
- Transfer debt to a credit company with a lower interest rate. It is smart to consolidate or transfer debt from the card with the 20% or more rate to an account with a lower rate. This is a definite way to adjust your monthly minimum fees, thus giving you an opportunity to pay more against the balance.
- Watch what you buy if you can’t handle the monthly payments! Stay in your lane and learn to minimize your purchases. This will save you much financial grief later on.
Hopefully, these few tips can put your on your path to debt freedom. If you check online, there are many outlets that provide programs to help you sort out your debt (i.e. www.payoff.com). Information is always available. There is no excuse to continue to be in debt.
Good luck on your journey!
New Mixtape: Hustle Gang – “G.D.O.D.” [hosted by DJ Drama & DJ MLK]
Lately, there’s been several “gangs” or label crews popping up out of no where. Well, Grand Hustle is the next up to do so with their pack of emcees called Hustle Gang.
Their first compilation project, G.D.O.D. (Get Dough Or Die), was released to the masses yesterday. Headed up by The King, Clifford “T.I.” Harris, G.D.O.D. features most of the top tier rappers affiliated to the Grand Hustle label: Trae The Truth, Young Dro, Chip, B.o.B., Iggy Azalea, Michel’le, Travi$ Scot, Doe B, Big Kuntry, Shad Da God, Yung Booke, Spodee, Kris Stephens and Mac Boney. However, several familiar names appear on the new mixtape like Lil Duval, French Montana, Meek Mill, Mystikal, and Problem.
The overall mixtape is pretty impressive. The Hustle Gang is definitely trying to make a statement with this one…lyrically their team can spit with the best of them. With the inclusion of several production picks that seem out of the norm for Grand Hustle, G.D.O.D. is solid enough for a download and several listens.
So, listen to the free mixtape below and let us know what you think!
New Music: Tamar Braxton – “The One”
OKAY! She did that!
Tamar Braxton released a new track today that has been on repeat all day. “The One” is a feel good R&B joint perfect since the summer is on its way. It samples “Juciy” which gives the song that old school hip hop feel. In case you haven’t heard it, take a listen below…
“The One” can be purchased now on iTunes. Also, make sure you tune in to The Braxtons on Thursday on WE Tv!
Dollars & Sense: Why Corporations Do Not Support Freedom of Speech?
Lately there’s been a rash of artists under scrutiny for their lyrics and artistic expression. Although many might argue that artists should have the right to say what they want, corporations have a slightly different point of view. The most recent case involves Lil Wayne, rapper and CEO of YMCMB. The New Orleans born emcee was dropped from PepsiCo as an endorser of their Mountain Dew soda product. The reason was due to an offensive reference made about Emmett Till, a young man brutally murdered in Mississippi during the civil rights era.
Wayne’s offensive lyrics was recorded on Future’s “Karate Chop” song. Due to the widespread negative press and disgust by Emmett Till’s family, PepsiCo decided to end their relationship with Lil Wayne. As such with Miami-rapper Rick Ross who, also, was dropped by a major corporation for his drug and rape reference in “U.E.O.N.O.” Reebok severed their ties with the Maybach Music Group CEO, costing Ross several millions in endorsement money [READ HERE].
The recent string of events proves that there’s no such thing as “freedom of speech” to corporations. The “bottom-line” in revenue dollars is what companies are most concerned with. For Reebok and PepsiCo, the impact of the negative press translated into a decline in sales. But also, the offensive and derogatory lyrics could have potentially tarnished their brands. Words can be deadly. Yet, many artists fail to realize this and continue to degrade our women, glorify drugs and guns, and/or promote domestic violence. At some point, artists should be held accountable for what they say. Lyrics not only affect a company’s ability to sell products and make money, but they also confirm this negative perception of people and communities that are already oppressed.
At the end of the day, freedom of speech hurts us and the corporations. It shows that some artists aren’t versatile enough to talk about other things. Also, it shows companies that taking a risk by hiring an artist to endorse a product may not always be the best thing. You can make millions or easily lose millions. Therefore, it is certain that the way corporations issue endorsement deals in the future will take on a different approach. Don’t be surprised if stricter clauses are incorporated in these agreements.
What do you think? Do you think artists should watch what they say in songs? Let us know we’d like to know how you feel.
Hot 97 DJ Mr. Cee Says “I Am Not Gay” After Recent Arrest
Hot 97FM’s DJ Mr. Cee is back in the news again for soliciting a male prostitute.
Last week, Calvin Lebrun (aka Mr. Cee) was arrested in New York after picking up a “female” prostitute. The prostitute turned out to be an undercover cop. The legendary DJ aired out his disappointment this morning on Ebro Darden’s radio show. He claims that he was a target in a sting operation. According to the DJ, he stopped to make a phone call. This is when the prostitute walked up to him and offered up sex. He claims that the officers story changed around and said that it wasn’t a female, but actually a male.
The arrest follows another incident in which Mr. Cee was caught picking up a male prostitute. This second time around has really caused many of his supporters and industry peers to question his sexuality. Mr. Cee insisted that he is not gay during his radio interview.
“Let’s say if I’m lying, that’s my choice,” Cee proposed, after a Hot 97 DJ began to play Aly-Us’ “Follow Me,” a ’90s dance record often associated with the gay club community. “If I’m lying and I chose not to come out, that’s my choice.”
Due to the recent events, Mr. Cee says he will be stepping away from his radio gig for a while. He has been seeking therapy for his prostitution addiction. Whether he is gay or not, the DJ definitely has a problem that he need to correct. Hopefully, this new arrest has taught him that as a public figure these type of acts are embarrassing and detrimental to his career.
Get it together, Mr. Cee…
New Mixtape: Bloody Jay – ‘Get It In Blood’ [hosted by DJ Scream]
Who is Bloody Jay? I asked myself that a few months back while scrolling through my Twitter timeline. So, I Googled him to see what I could find out. After finding a mixtape and couple pictures, to my surprise, the rapper is affiliated with Rocko’s A1 label. Interesting…
I listened to a couple songs. I realized there was something different about Jay’s voice and delivery. Standing out from the crowd, especially in Atlanta, is always a good thing. So, Bloody Jay and the A1 family apparently knows this, because lately there’s been buzz building for the rapper. Rocko has made mention of him several times to the press (as he make his rounds after the success and controversy of his “U.E.O.N.O” song). Usually when the boss shots you out, this mean that you are of some sort of importance. Bloody Jay is next up from the A1 camp.
On Sunday, Bloody Jay’s Get It In Blood mixtape dropped at 5:55pm. Hosted by DJ Scream, the sound of the mixtape may be unexpected for some. Although the distinct flow that Future has made popular is copied at certain times by Bloody Jay, he is able to remain unique with his deep tone and lyrical content. If A1 exploit his differences and work with a versatile group of producers, I think Bloody Jay can solidify his spot in this game. The last thing we need is another rapper sounding like Future or Rocko.
Essentially, Bloody Jay is worth a listen and a download. Check out Get It In Blood on livemixtapes.com.
Lil Kim Reneges on $15 Million In Licensing Deals, Says Manager; Sues for Loses
Andrew Ro, former business manager of Lil Kim, is suing the Brooklyn rapper for $15 million.
According to TMZ, Ro has filed suit and claims that Lil Kim screwed up several lucrative licensing and endorsement deals. In August, the two entered a licensing agreement between Ro’s International Rock Star Corp and Lil Kim. When it was time to work, Ro alleges that Kim refused to participate in important business meetings if she wasn’t paid more money for her time. After Ro and his team completed the projects, like the perfume line, Kim refused to promote the product and eventually stopped taking calls.
Ro estimates that Kim’s lack of enthusiasm costs him approximately $15 million. Deals that were on the table for Lil Kim included the perfume line, clothing line, vodka drink, energy drink, a honey-maker, and even a Steve Madden shoe endorsement.
Andrew Ro’s attempt to sue derived from a cease-and-desist letter issued by Lil Kim’s attorneys. The letter claimed that Ro was getting her involved in bad licensing deals.
Photo Recap: R&B Divas ATL Season 2 Premiere Party @ Museum Bar
On Wednesday evening, Atlanta’s movers and shakers congregated at the Museum Bar in support of TV One’s R&B Divas. Regarded as the “Wednesday Night Social” event, the venue was packed with supporters patiently waiting to get a glimpse of what drama would unfold in Season 2. All though all of the “divas” were not in attendance, Nicci Gilbert and Keke Wyatt held it down as official hostesses. Other industry notables spotted were Chanita Foster (Beyond The Game & Divas & Cocktails), Brandy Lynn (Divas & Wildflowers), Egypt Sherrod (V-103FM), Shay Johnson (Love & Hip Hop Atlanta), DJ Traci Steele (Love & Hip Hop Atlanta), Wanda Smith (Frank Ski Morning Show), Lisa Wu Hartwell (Real Housewives of Atlanta – Season 1), and a host of other celebrities and industry insiders.
Below are a few VIP photos from the event.
Nicci Gilbert (Exec. Producer – R&B Divas)
Shay Johnson (Love & Hip Hop ATL)
Shay Johnson & Guest
Nicci Gilbert & daughter Brandy Lynn (R&B Divas)
Nicci Gilbert (R&B Divas)
Egypt Sherrod (V-103FM) & Mrs. Georgia
Brandy Lynn
Chanita Foster & Brandy Lynn
Keke Wyatt (R&B Divas)
Lisa Wu Hartwell & Guests
In case you missed our exclusive interview with the show’s creator and executive producer, Nicci Gilbert, check it out HERE.
Tune in to R&B Divas ATL each and every Wednesday night at 10PM on TV One!
On The Block: STORi Signs w/Motown Records + “Just Another Day” feat. Juelz Santana
Well, she’s may be a little too experienced to be featured in our On The Block series. But considering that we’re here in the south and haven’t heard of her, this could easily justify her entry. 
Meet STORi. The New Jersey singer/songwriter has been making moves for a while. Apparently, those moves must’ve paid off. She recently signed a deal with Motown Records. Her ability to paint vivid pictures with words helped her stand out from the crowd. STORi mixes rap verses with some dope melodies…reminiscent of Lauryn Hill with a little Joss Stone included.
Point is…she sounds good. Her peers seem to think so as well. She teamed up with Juelz Santana on the Queen Latifah-inspired track “Just Another Day”. The song is featured on FunkMaster Flex’s Why You Mad At? Me Or Yourself? mixtape. Take a listen and let us know what you think.
Also, STORi premiered an exclusive track with Trinidad James called “Pocketbook”. You can check it out on her official website www.IAmStori.com.
She’s definitely an artist we’ll be sure to keep up with!
2013 Marks 2nd Year for A3C Film Festival; Now Accepting Film Submissions
For several years now, STACKS Magazine has provided coverage of the annual hip hop festival held here in Atlanta. Mostly known for giving underground artists a platform to showcase their talents, A3C’s music festival garners the patronage of thousands of hip hop heads and lovers of the culture. Last year, the people over at A3C decided to stretch their creative juices to include a coinciding film festival. Well, in 2013, they will continue the mission by selecting several short-films to be premiered during the festival.
The mission of the A3C Film Festival is to use film to unite artists and fans of Hip Hop, Youth, Street and Urban Culture, transform the way audiences see the world, and support the vision of independent artists.
In case you are a independent filmmaker and want to the opportunity to have your short-film viewed by thousands of culture lovers, A3C is now accepting film submissions. There will be five categories in which you can submit. Each category has a required time frame and general rules to abide by. ALL submissions must encompass various aspects of Hip Hop, Youth, Street and Urban Culture – in relation to Style, Music, Politics, Education, Family, and/or Religion.
Categories
Narrative Feature – 60 minutes and over
Documentary Feature – 60 minutes and over
Narrative Short – under 60 minutes
Documentary Short – under 60 minutes
Music Video – under 20 minutes
The A3C Film Festival will jump off October 2 – 6 at 7 Stages in Little 5 Points. Final film submissions are due by September 6. To find the general rules and link to submit your film projects, click on this link – -> A3C Film Festival.
On The Block: K Hawk
Kendrick La’Dale Hawkins Sr (aka “K Hawk“) is a 21 year old emcee from Belzoni, Mississippi. He has been entertaining for several years but decided to take a serious approach towards his music in his freshmen year of college. Kendrick gave away 100 free mixtapes of his first mixtape entitled “Most Likely To Drop Hits” as promotion to other students in 2011. In a week, his name and songs had spread across the campus to more than 3000 students on a 7500 student campus. He has performed at many clubs and successfully entertained the audience with dances and great songs! Backed by Push Power Promo, Kendrick is now on his way to taking his career to the next level.
Take a listen to two tracks submitted by K Hawk called “Turn Up” and “Let Me Get In”. Both are pretty nice and could be possible club bangers.
“Turn Up” – Direct Download
“Let Me Get In” – Direct Download
For more information on K Hawk, email his camp at khawkkhawk20@yahoo.com.
Should Friends Do Business Together?; Tyler & Oprah Set Ground Rules
Photo courtesy of OWN
The best ideas often are derived when you and some friends are sitting around thinking of ways to make money. Every now and then, one of those ideas strike a cord and end up becoming a full-fledge business. So, as friends, you know become business partners. The journey of making the business successful are sometimes filled with a lot of disagreements and lack of better judgment. When this happens, the friends are now at a crossroad which oftentimes cause the demise of the business. So the question is…Do partnerships between friends really work?
We hear of stories where two friends start a business, but not being able to put differences aside end up hurting the business. Whether it is disagreements on how the company should operate, who should handle the finances, or isn’t doing their fair share of the work, these are the type of issues that can arise. So, what should friends do in this case?
Well, as you know, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry have joined together to bring several new shows to the OWN network. The two besties have established a pretty tight bond over the years. With Oprah’s television cable channel need to add more diverse programming, Tyler Perry’s expertise seemed like a great fit for OWN. This month marks the start of their joint venture. Tyler will be producing several new shows for OWN. But, many wonders if his addition will spark a new and profitable beginning at OWN. If it doesn’t, how will Oprah react?
In case you’re wondering what ground rules the two established prior to going into this venture, Tyler expressed his thoughts in the recent issue of Essence Magazine.
“The most important thing about coming together was making sure we would not lose our friendship because of the business. We had to establish ground rules,” Perry, 43, says.
He continues, “The main one: Both of us have to continue to live in our truth. If she doesn’t like something, say it. If I don’t like something, I’ll say it. And we’ll figure it out and keep moving on…”
Sounds simple enough, huh? Both parties should set some ground rules so that there would be no hard feelings if the business partnership didn’t work out. Secondly, put it in writing. Partnerships should be spelled out in a contract agreement. This way, if millions of dollars are involved, friends can just take it to court and let the judge decide. At the end of the day, you have to decide what is more important…the friendship or the business.
Master P Celebrates B-Day + His Greatest ‘No Limit Records’ Hits [Videos]
Percy “Master P” Miller, the CEO of No Limit Records, celebrated a birthday on April 29. He turned 46 years old. Thinking about the label and the contribution he made to hip hop, one can’t deny that Master P help revolution the culture and set the bar for independent artists.
Over the span of his career, Master P has accomplished more than most in the music game. With an estimated net worth of $350 million, P. Miller (as he’s called now) didn’t take an easy road to gain his riches. In fact, he’s been business savvy since a young age. His tough street mindset and gold grill didn’t deter him at all as a businessman. From the gate, P. Miller established himself as a man who went after his dreams. His label No Limit Records started off its road to riches in a record store and by the distribution of CDs out of the trunk of Miller’s car. Once establishing itself as a label to be reckoned with, No Limit Records sold millions of records spanning from 1993 until 2013.
Outside of music, P. Miller continued to brand himself and venture into other areas. He produced several movies, started a entertainment and financial management company, a foundation, and has his own television network. His work ethic and knowledge of the business passed on down to his own children Romeo and Cymphonique, of which both have solid careers in music and film.
To celebrate P. Miller’s birthday, let’s take a look down the road of No Limit Records at some of the hits that put the New Orleans music legend on the map.
“Bout It Bout It” – Master P feat. Mia X
“Make’em Say Ugh” – Master P feat. Mystical, Silkk The Shocker, Mia X
“Ice Cream Man” – Master P
“Heaven For A Gangsta” – Master P
New Vid: Trina – Round of Applause
Trina released a new video this week. Despite the recent tragedy with her younger brother [click here], she’s keeping the business aspect of her life on track. The video “Round of Applause” isn’t anything out of the ordinary for Trina. She keeps it stylish, hood, and engulfed with big booty chicks. All the right ingredients to serve the men what they want.
Check it out below and let us know what you think.
Trina’s Back 2 Business mixtape is out now. Check out Livemixtapes or Datpiff to download a free copy!
Rapper Chris Kelly of Kriss Kross Dies At 34; Authorities say “Possible Drug Overdose”
Chris Kelly, one half of the multi-platinum selling rap group Kriss Kross, was pronounced dead last night. Kelly was found unresponsive in his home and later pronounced dead at an Atlanta hospital. At the moment, the cause of death is unknown. But some authorities believe he died from a possible drug overdose.
Chris “Mac Daddy” Kelly and his rap partner, Chris Smith made a huge impact on the music business and hip hop in the 90′s. After being discovered by Atlanta producer Jermaine Dupri, Kriss Kross was signed to Ruffhouse Records at the young age of 13 yrs. The duo made headlines with their “backwards” choice of fashion style which created a new trend amongst lovers of hip hop.
Kriss Kross’ first album Totally Krossed Out sold over 4 million copies in the U.S.. Several hits derived from that album like “Jump” which stayed on the Billboard 100 charts for eight weeks and “Warm It Up”. In 1993, they released their second album Da Bomb. It peaked at number 2 on the charts and reached platinum status. Only one other album surfaced in 1996, Young Rich & Dangerous. The album went gold but marked the slow downfall of teir rap careers.
Chris Kelly’s family and friends says he kept doing music over the years. Family members claim he has over 100 songs recorded and that he also went back to school to learn studio engineering.
An autopsy will be conducted this week to determine his cause of death.
The group recently reunited at the So So Def 20th Anniversary concert. Check out their performance below:
STACKS Magazine would like to send our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and music associates of Chris Kelly. May he rest in peace.
