Kendrick Lamar is on the cover of GQ Style’s Holiday Issue
Kendrick Lamar is arguably the best rapper in the game right now. He focuses his musical talents on shedding light on social issues, which grabs the attention of the younger generation. That just solidifies why he's so needed in the rap game.
The Compton native covers GQ Style for the first-ever Holiday issue and he opens up about how his “Alright” track morphed into this generation’s protest anthem against police brutality.
Meeting for the first time, the 29-year-old rapper sits down with super-producer Rick Rubin at the producer’s Shangri La Studios in Malibu for a candid conversation about how “Alright” was created, how mediation has become an important factor in his life and how he studied Eminem’s raps as a teen to help mold his flow.
Below are the highlights:
On how “Alright” became a protest song:
"You know what? I was sitting on that record for about six months. The beat's Pharrell. And between my guy Sam Taylor and Pharrell, they would always be like, Did you do it? When you gonna do it? I knew it was a great record—I just was trying to find the space to approach it. I mean, the beat sounds fun, but there's something else inside of them chords that Pharrell put down that feels like—it can be more of a statement rather than a tune. So with Pharrell and Sam asking me—Am I gonna rock on it? When I'm gonna rock on it?—it put the pressure on me to challenge myself. To actually think and focus on something that could be a staple in hip-hop. And eventually, I came across it. Eventually, I found the right words. You know, it was a lot going on, and still, to this day, it's a lot going on. And I wanted to approach it as more uplifting—but aggressive. Not playing the victim, but still having that We strong, you know?"
On why it took him over six months to come up with the lyrics:
"I didn't have any words. P knew that that record was special. Sam knew that the record was special. They probably knew it before I even had a clue. So I'm glad that they put that pressure on me to challenge myself. 'Cause sometimes, as a writer, you can have that writer's block. And when you like a sound or an instrumental, you want to approach it the right way. So you sit on it.”
He added, “I remember hitting P on a text like, Man, I got the lyrics. And typing the lyrics to him. He's like, That's it.”
On why meditation has become a way of life for him:
“I have to have at least 30 minutes to myself. If it's not on the daily, every other day, to just sit back, close my eyes, and absorb what's going on. You know, the space that I'm in. When you in music—and everybody knows this—the years are always cut in half, because you always have something to do. We in the studio for four months, that go by. Now you gotta go on the road for five months, that go by. Next thing you know, five years going by and you 29 years old. You know? So I have to find a way to understand the space that I'm in and how I'm feeling at the moment. 'Cause if I don't, it's gonna zoom. I know. I feel it. And I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It just goes and then you miss out on your moment because you're so in the moment you didn't know the moment was going on, if that makes sense.”
On studying Eminem’s style as a teen:
“The clarity, I got my clarity just studying Eminem when I was a kid. How I got in the studio was all just curiosity. I had a love for the music, but it was curiosity. The day I heard The Marshall Mathers LP, I was just like, How does that work? What is he doing? How is he putting his words together like that? What's the track under that? An ad-lib? What is that? And then, Why don't you go in the studio and see? So I do that. Then it became, How's his words cutting through the beat like that? What is he doing that I'm not doing, now that I'm into it? His time is impeccable. When he wants to fall off the beat, it's impeccable. These are things that, through experience and time, I had to learn.”
On the direction of his next album, the follow up for To Pimp A Butterfly:
“It's soon. I have ideas, though. I have ideas and I have a certain approach. But I wanna see what it manifests. I wanna put all the paint on the wall and see where that goes. Maybe you can help me with that.”
#RHoA: Kenya Moore's New Home has it’s biggest edition yet…Guess what it is?
There are toilets and then there is the Koehler Numi. And when it came time to outfitting the bathroom in Moore Manor, Kenya Moore made sure she included the pricey toilet in her home. In fact, she shared an interesting tidbit or two about the purchase. "My one splurge #Mooremanor #kohlernumi toilet and bidet. Never have to touch it and it cleans itself, plays your own music and cleans u," The Real Housewives of Atlanta homeowner shared on Twitter, where she also included a little video of the magical throne.
It turns out that Kenya picked this particular toilet because she has "a 'thing' with toilets... This is the real #gameofthrones #yesitplaysyourownmusic heated seat, self cleaning, Cleans your rear and blows it dry even heats the floor under your feet. Sensors sense when you are close and opens on its own," she added.
My one splurge #Mooremanor #kohlernumi toilet and bidet. Never have to touch it and it cleans itself, plays your own music and cleans u 😘👸🏾 pic.twitter.com/enDEX1dsWi— KENYA MOORE (@KenyaMoore) October 20, 2016
For those perhaps looking to invest in the toilet, it's listed at $6,338.50. And that price tag comes with a number of features, like an "elongated bowl offers added room and comfort," "touch-screen remote control with magnetic wall-mount docking station," and, yes, "emergency flush supports up to 100 flushes during power outage." So, Kenya should be ready for anything with Numi in her life.
Kenya and the Atlanta crew return November 6 at 8/7c
New 'Empire' season 3, episode 5 delayed until November 2016
Both the presidential debate and World Series will take over 'Empire's' time slot for 2 weeks.Empire tv show logo image via Flickr.com Empire tv show logo image via Flickr.com ADVERTISEMENTS
Alright, "#Empire" fans. You may have noticed that you didn't see your favorite show, turn up last night when you flipped to FOX. The reason for that, is because almost every major network, which includes FOX, is covering the very last presidential debate for 2016 between the Democratic candidate: Hilary Clinton and the Republican candidate: Donald Trump.
You might want to watch a different channel tonight
If you're not into the whole political or presidential debate thing, you might want to find something else to watch, tonight. I personally, will be tuning into this last debate as I've found them to be quite entertaining, since Trump is a candidate. I just love to watch him insult Hilary. It's great TV.
Episode 5 is scheduled to air on November 2nd
You can expect to see the new episode 5, labeled, "One Before Another," show back up in the FOX lineup on Wednesday night, November 2nd, 2016 at 8pm central time on FOX, so be sure to mark that date down on your TV calendars.
The MLB World Series is also interrupting the show
One other thing. The show is also getting pushed out of the FOX line up due to the "MLB World Series," which is why episode 5 won't air on October 26th instead. The editor did note in the press release for episode 5, that episode 5 might get preempted if the "World Series" gets extended to a game 7. Basically, that means it will air at a different time on that same night, or worse case scenario, not air at all on that night. Hopefully, one of the teams will be dominant and end the "World Series" in like 4 or 5 games. We'll see.
Shine looks to get deadly payback
FOX did drop a few spoiler goodies for episode 5 to tide you guys over. I've supplied the promo/spoiler clip (below) for episode 5 that FOX released last week. FOX also revealed the official plot summary for episode 5. In it, they revealed that we're going to see Andre and Lucious in major trouble as Shine is definitely going to be looking to get payback after Lucious and Andre beat the crap out of him and forced him to sign the Empire contract.
Hakeem and Jamal do a special performance
Next, we learn that Jamal will end up teaming with Hakeem to try and pull off a performance that he thinks can help pull his career out of the current slump it's in.
Cookie gets shocked during probation officer meeting
Last, but most certainly not least, something or someone is going to totally surprise Cookie when she meets up with her probation officer for what she thinks is a just a routine session.
The episode 5 promo clip shows some intense action
Also in the promo clip (below) for episode 5, we see some more details for the episode, and it looks pretty crazy as Shine is spotted gathering up a bunch of guns and saying: "Lets go kill some Lions." He also is spotted, showing up at Andre's place with the gun pointed right at him. More scenes with Cookie, Jamal, Lucious and Hakeem are shown. I mean, there's just a lot going on. Be sure to check it out, below, and stay tuned.
New Music: Avery*Sunshine – Come Do Nothing
Just when we wondered where the sunshine went, Avery*Sunshine reappears with her new single, “Come Do Nothing.”
A funky jazz joint about how love makes us think, act and be crazy. With enticing vocals, Sunshine summons familiar feelings that many of us have experienced during the ebb and flow of relationships. Sunshine is done with her boo—but not really. She’s still willing to cook him some gumbo and enjoy his company. She admits that she misses his presence as she sings, “I can’t sleep at night from wishing you here with me … Come on over here with me / Come do nothing here with me.”
“This is a song that shows the duality that most of us experience in relationships…’I can’t live with you but I can’t live without you.’ What better way to tell your ex or significant other how much you miss them than by telling them to ‘come on over … we can do absolutely nothing and I’ll be satisfied,” explains the Philly born singer/songwriter.
Sunshine has garnered ongoing praise since her eponymous debut album in 2010. Industry legends such as Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, and Babyface have sought her mesmerizing talent. Avery*Sunshine will release her anticipated second album for Shanachie Entertainment in February 2017.
Come and listen to “Come Do Nothing” below HERE
New Hip Hop Music: Common Feat. Bilal – ‘Home’
Common feels right at “Home” on his latest release from Black America Again.
Following “Letter to the Free,” the Chicago MC is once again joined by Bilal on the new track from the forthcoming project. Here, the Chicago wordsmith speaks to himself over hard-hitting drums.
“Your staff will be a microphone,” he raps. “Your name is Common, you was born to fight the norm / Take house ni**as out of darkness ’till their lights is on / I’ma put a hyphen on your name / Rapper-actor-activist / You the one that could reach into the black abyss.”
Both “Letter to the Free” and “Home” are cuts off the forthcoming Black America Again, which is due Nov. 4. Additionally, Bilal is featured on two more tracks: “A Bigger Picture Called Free” and “Joy and Peace.”
But Bilal isn’t the album’s only guest. Black America Again also includes appearances by Stevie Wonder, Marsha Ambrosius, BJ the Chicago Kid, and John Legend, among others.
LISTEN HERE
As the album’s release date approaches, Common is making his promo runs. Part of that includes Pitchfork’s “Over/Under” web series. Watch his episode below to see why Oprah, Will Smith, Kanye West, and playing the White House are underrated and why Halloween and baldness are overrated.
Monique Pressley Ex Lawyer of Bill Cosby is Representing the Man Suing 50 Cent
According to our friends over at thejasminebrand Bill Cosby’s former attorney, Monique Pressley, is representing Larry S. Johnson and Blake Keller in a lawsuit for copyright infringement, fraud and breach of contract filed against Power TV series executive producers.
The suit names Mark Canton, Curtis Jackson, Randall Emmett and David Knoller, Power show creator and executive producer Courtney Kemp Abgoh, Starz Entertainment LLC, Anchor Bay Entertainment LLC, CBS Television and author Nikki Turner. In an exclusive statement, Johnson’s team explains:
Mr. Johnson first sued the Defendants in Virginia in 2015 without counsel, and now will continue the fight through this action seeking to put an immediate stop to, and to obtain redress for, Defendants’ blatant, purposeful and massive infringement of the copyright in Mr. Johnson’s two-part manuscript entitled “Tribulations of a Ghetto Kid”, edited by Mr. Keller. As he does with all of his works, Mr. Johnson wrote this protected work over 12 years ago under his pen name ‘The Ghost’. Both Mr. Johnson’s work and Power TV Show share basic elements such as the exploration of the life of an African-American protagonist drug dealer using his ill-gotten gains to transition into the realm of legitimate business. However, even beyond the basic elements, and the glaring likeness of the main character, Power TV show infringes so far as to borrow character names, plot lines, and nearly identical language from Mr. Johnson’s protected work, making one strikingly similar to the other. Defendants have brazenly and improperly exploited Mr. Johnson’s manuscript without authorization in order to further their own gain. This conduct must immediately be stopped and Plaintiffs Johnson and Keller must be compensated for Defendants’ wrongful acts.
Power is a crime drama television series airing on Starz. The show was created by Courtney Kemp Agboh and is produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. It premiered on June 7, 2014. The series follows James St. Patrick, nicknamed “Ghost,” owner of a popular New York City nightclub “Truth.” In addition, he is a major player in one of the city’s biggest illegal drug networks. He struggles to balance these two lives, and the balance topples when he realizes he wants to leave the drug ring in order to support his legitimate business. He also has to keep his marriage with Tasha (Naughton) and his relationship with AUSA agent Angela Valdez (Loren). With help from his partner in crime Tommy Egan (Sikora), he tries to manage a double life.
Derrick Rose, Friends Cleared Of All Charges In Civil Rape Trial
A federal jury in Los Angeles ruled in favor of NBA star, Derrick Rose, and two friends on Wednesday, clearing them of all charges in the civil suit accusing them of gang-raping a woman in 2013.
USA Today reports: Rose and two friends, Randall Hampton and Ryan Allen, were accused of sexually assaulting a woman — referred to Jane Doe in court records to protect her identity — on Aug. 27, 2013 while she was incapacitated.
Rose, however, said at Knicks Media Day last month he wasn’t “worried” because he knew he would be proven innocent. Criminal charges were never filed by the Los Angeles Police Department but there is a pending investigation into the matter.
An LAPD detective investigating the case was fatally shot last week. Investigators said “there is no indication that her case work had any connection to her death.”
Doe was seeking more than $21 million in damages ($6 million in compensatory; $15.5 million in punitive), and Rose chose not to settle, electing to go through with a trial that started Oct. 4. The former NBA Rookie of the Year missed several practices and all but one preseason game during the proceedings.
In the complaint filed on Nov. 15, 2015, Doe alleged the “defendants drugged Plaintiff at Defendant’s residence, and, after Plaintiff’s friend helped her get home safely in a cab, Defendants trespassed in to Plaintiff’s apartment while Plaintiff was asleep and each sexually assaulted and raped her.”
Rose and Doe were in an an open relationship for two years, but it ended months before the alleged rape. Both sides agreed that on the night of the alleged incident, Rose invited Doe and a friend to his Beverly Hills home, where they consumed alcohol with Allen and Hampton and the NBA player himself. Both sides also agreed that sex occurred on the night in question.
Doe, however, contended that she was intoxicated and drifted in and out of consciousness. She claimed suspicion she had been drugged.
The plaintiff testified she returned home, vomited and woke up with the three men in her bedroom.
The defense painted a far different picture. The three men say Doe sought out sexual relations with them aggressively and had planned for them to visit her. The defense leaned on suggestive text messages to support this argument. They claimed Doe opened the door to her building and gave no indication of being intoxicated when she led each man into the bedroom.
After several seasons playing for his hometown Chicago Bulls, this year Derrick Rose was traded to New York.
Pics from The 5th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball Honors Love & Hip Hop’s Milan Christopher, Vision Church of Atlanta’s Bishop OC Allen, Senator Vincent Fort, and more!
Atlanta, GA (October 16, 2016) – On Saturday, October 15th, The Gentlemen’s Foundation brought the Harlem Renaissance to the city of Atlanta for the 5th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball. The Atlanta Marriott Marquis ballroom was filled with influential LGBTQ community leaders, politicians, allies, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and tastemakers alike as the soulful sounds of the roaring 20s and unlimited cocktails flowed. Community activist Darnell L. Moore and television personality Miss Lawrence (Real Housewives of Atlanta and Empire) served as hosts for the evening. Guests will also enjoy complimentary gifts from allied sponsors, casino tables, live performances from R&B Diva’s Monifah and The Dingalogues, and more.
Originating in 2011, the black-tie gala and awards program celebrates the accomplishments of gay and transgendered men who have demonstrated a commitment to social change through the enhancement of the quality of life within the minority LGBTQ community. Partnering with the cause of justice and equality for all, the honorees boldly embody what The Gentlemen’s Foundation, Inc. (TGF) idea of a “true gentleman” – one who is confident in himself, generous in his giving and proud to stand tall in his truth. They include Founder of FTM Fitness World Neo Sandja (Gentleman of Service), Senator Vincent Fort (Gentleman of Alliance), Political Strategist Devin Barrington Ward (Gentleman of Promise), and Award-winning Journalist Darian Aaron (Gentleman of Excellence). Bishop OC Allen of the Vision Church of Atlanta took home the Gentlemen of the Year as Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood’s Milan Christopher earned the Gentlemen of Artistry award. A special tribute to the victims of Orlando’s PULSE Club shooting was held as survivor Joshua Lewis sang an original selection in honor of those 49 individuals killed during the hate crime. See all the pics!
Great time had by all.
Who was the best-dressed at the Kenzo event, Lupita or Elizabeth Olsen?
I sort of love that various designers choose not to do their biggest events during the hustle and bustle of a fashion week. And we just saw the launch of Kenzo’s capsule collection with H&M. The event was held at Pier 36 in NYC, and it was very well-attended.
The standout is obviously Lupita Nyong’o, who looked like a total boss in her Kenzo ensemble. She really pulls this off!
Like, remember when we were obsessed with Elizabeth Olsen and whether she was dating or banging Tom Hiddleston?
For the record, I do think they were dating/banging on-and-off for the better part of a year. While people are still interested in Olsen, it does feel like she dodged a major PR bullet when the Tiddlebanging took over the gossip world. Olsen looks even better now, right? But not in this pajama ensemble.
Ladies, Joe Jonas Hits The Locker Room Shower In Sexy New Spread
The 27-year-old DNCE frontman has been working hard at getting swole ever since the band released their debut single “Cake By the Ocean” last year, frequently posting shots of his bulging biceps on Instagram.
The new pictorial, shot by Pantelis, shows Joe gripping his torn tank top while getting soaked in a locker room shower, tugging it to the side for a subtle nip slip, and lying on the ground while unbuttoning his pants.
In an interview between the pages, the singer dished on an equally titillating topic: The first time he got caught watching porn.
’I would use my address to log into the websites, and I did this for seven days straight,” Joe told the magazine.
“A month later – and by the way, my dad was a pastor at the time – for a week or two straight there was a postcard with a naked woman on it saying ’Come join us again Joe’ or ’We really miss you’ or ’You naughty boy, come visit us again.’”
#EGGPLANT NATION! Meet Mr. Benjamin Boner!
Meet Benjamin Boner Well to see more you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSWF!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
ENJOY!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
THE BEACH PARTY
Ohhh the Caribbean Mullet. Business in the front, beach party in the back!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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