Program Notes

Tonight on CNBC catch Newbos: The Rise of America's New Black Overclass at 9pm ET. Featuring multimillionaires and billionaires Oprah Winfrey, Bob Johnson, Lebron James, Baby Williams of Cash Money, and other sports and entertainment industry figures. I actually thought this show would be different and actually showcase black people who didn't make money through entertainment. And they wonder why all we want to become is entertainers and athletes.

Also Tonight on CNN is the encore continuation of Black in America at 8pm & Part 3 of Black to the Future:The 90s on VH1 at 9pm & 11pm. {I haven't really been into this show this week}

Saturday, February 28th at 9pm is the premiere of Storytellers: Kanye West on VH1.

Kanye West had the audience on their feet as he taped an episode of "VH1
Storytellers" at The Sony Stages in Los Angeles. The 90-minute episode will
feature West performing songs from his critically acclaimed album 808's &
Heartbreak in addition to past hits. Following in the "Storytellers" format,
West will answer questions from the audience and give viewers a unique
opportunity to hear the inspiration behind such hits as "Flashing Lights,"
"Stronger," "Good Life," "Touch The Sky" and from his new album 808's &
Heartbreak, "See You In My Nightmares," "Robocop," "Amazing," "Say You Will" and "Heartless."

Class is in Session: The Alexyss Tylor Show

Monie Love: Monie In The Middle

Jamie Foxx: Blame It

I'm glad it was star-studded, other than that its very forgettable.

I didn't know November was Hip Hop History Month!?!

More than likely you didn't either.

For the past 34 years Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation (if you don't know who they are you need to Google) have been celebrating HHHM and now there is a global push to have HIP HOP HISTORY MONTH be recognized and celebrated by all. This is all well to the good.

The petition just started and needs your signature: www.petitiononline.com/push4hhm/petition.html

For more information about Hip Hop History Month visit the following links:

www.hiphopelements.com/hiphophistory.html
www.zulunation.nl/HipHop_HistoryMonth.phtml

Behind the Scenes @ ASW

Lisa Leslie announces her plans to retire after this upcoming WNBA season.

New Look A.I.

Snoop Dogg Signs Multi Rights Deal with MTV

Snoop signed a '360 Deal' with MTV. Which basically means he signed his life away. Just kidding. It really means he's down exclusively with MTV his music, media, DVDs, etc will all be through MTV which I guess is a good thing. Anything Viacom-related gets the side eye. Ask Dave Chappelle.

Read the details here.

All-Star Saturday Night

Slam Dunk contest was fiyah! Loved Nate Robinson for pulling off jumping over Dwight Howard, that was the epitome for me. And Bubba Chuck cut his braids, can't wait for the game tomorrow.

I really didn't pay attention to all the other events, but Kenny Smith & Reggie Miller are hilarious, I just listened to them talk ish for two hours. Dallas is going to be crazy next year, maybe I'll make it then.

MC Trouble f/The Good Girls: Make You Mine

Loved this song!

Main Source: Fakin the Funk

Michelle Obama on March cover of Vogue

Will Smith tops Forbes.com's bankable stars list

Will Smith was voted Hollywood's most bankable star according to a survey of 150 Hollywood insiders conducted by Forbes.com for its first ever "star currency" list.

The website gives Will a 10 out 10 and ranked him above such stars as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who all tied for second with a score of 9.89. Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson rounded out the top 10.

Read more here.

Source: AP

Have You Been Checking Out True Hip-Hop Stories?

D-Nice has been dropping these gems over at his site for a couple of months now. Make sure you go check them out. Here's the latest featuring Buckshot (of Black Moon).


True Hip-Hop Stories: Buckshot (of Black Moon) from D-Nice on Vimeo.

Past features include Monie Love, YZ, Masta Ace, Doitall from Lords of the Underground, Kwame, and Dana Dane.

Diva Speak TV - You Gotta Watch It!!!

This was just too funny this week. Sad Moments in Black History, CB & Rihanna, & 50/Rick Ross Beef. A must watch!

New Book Reveals Behind the Scenes of Bad Boy Entertainment

How many of you remember Mark Curry? Not the comedian, but the artist. Probably not many unless you were heavy into Vibe Magazine, YSB, and The Source back in the 90s. Anything Bad Boy related I copped.

Former Bad Boy artist, Mark Curry, has penned a new tell all book Dancing with the Devil about his days signed to Sean Combs' label (1997-2005) and the fast paced up and down world of the entertainment industry. I read an excerpt of the book, and I AM HOOKED, I HAVE TO READ IT!!!!

He will be hosting a book signing/meet & greet tomorrow in Philly at Hibachi Penn's Landing (325 N. Colombus Blvd.) from 5pm-8pm. The event is free and open to all ages. The book will be available for purchase.

"Dancing with the Devil" reveals STARTLING NEW DETAILS about events in the
fast paced, controversial, and sometimes deadly world of hip-hop music. In
revealing the dark side of the industry, Curry hopes to PROVIDE A ROAD MAP FOR REFORMS NEEDED BEFORE MORE ARTISTS END UP IN POVERTY, IN PRISON, OR IN THE GRAVE. Learn how Puff burned the Bad Boys of Hip Hop in this tell all book.

Visit www.markcurrybook.com

A-Rod Admits He Used Steroids from 2001-03...

and he's not the only one. So will he get ran out of baseball like Barry Bonds? I suspect more players will fess up if nothing happens to A-Rod and he's still respected because he finally told the truth??? Just need to mention he tested positive during survey testing when players weren't disciplined, 104 tested positive in all. So must all of today's great baseball players get the side eye, now? {Read More}

Source: Fox Sports

Casting Call for Upcoming Likeblood Music Video

Likeblood is currently casting for their next music video which will be shot on
Wednesday, February 11th

at

BWX Lounge (www.bwxlounge.com
2733 Annapolis RD Hanover MD 21076
Coach bus service will be provided from DC Metro to the location.

This video will be extremely high profile and will include a number of celebrity guests.

We are looking for both actors and models to play both featured roles and background performers. All talent must be 18 years or older and must be available during at least one of the following time slots on Feb 11th:

2p - 6p
6p - 10p
8p - 12a

Food and drinks will be provided. If you are interested, please send an email to musicvideo1002@gmail.com by FEB 6th, 2009 with your head shot/photos, resume (if applicable) and preferred time slot. If you are selected, additional details will be sent to you regarding the details of the shoot. This is not a paid gig.

Check out Likeblood's last video, "Like Us," here!

Throwback Thursday: Da Youngstas "Pass Da Mic"

Riggity Rip a Rhyme....lol. Everything was iggity something back then. I had to post this. Philly stand up! Da Youngstas was mad tight back then. I remember I used to have an autographed pic of them on my bedroom wall, lol!

Throwback Thursday: U.M.C's Blue Cheese

I remember watching this video like at 1 am in the morning on Krush Rap with Mike Elliot. I was like 11 years old and used to turn my tv down really low, so my mom wouldn't trip about me being up that late to look at some videos. Then after Krush Rap would go off, I would watch Pump It Up with Dee Barnes. Those were the days!

NYLON TV + Pharrell

Ludacris Casting for Nasty Girls

Spotted this over on Kanye's blog. Reminded me of my favorite episodes on Maury, BOY or GIRL! These days you just never know, lol!


Nasty Girl Casting from DTP TV on Vimeo.

But on a serious note, I can't wait for the recession to hit the modeling hoe industry. Damn chicks really got to do this for a couple dollars and some camera time? Life as a shortie shouldn't be so rough. Talk about shucking and jiving. Its 2009! This ish is played out and should have went out with Bush. My President is Black and so is My First Lady, and they got two black daughters. So can we please, CHANGE where it would really count?

Actor Joaquin Phoenix Says He's Serious

Maybe you peeped the below video and thought Joaquin Phoenix was drunk or just wanted to get a few laughs. You were wrong. Dude is seriously retiring from acting to concentrate on music. And yes, he wants to rap and he's working on an album according to his rep. If you don't believe me read it right here. Hopefully Joaquin is taking a Jay-Z style retirement because Hip Hop money ain't Hollywood money and he's a great actor. I won't knock dude though, we all have to start somewhere I guess and its not like he's 34 working at Burger King and is a wannabe rapper. He can actually finance his pursuits and he won't be doing it for the money.

More Grammy Week Events

• The inaugural MyHangSuite Brunch (Feb. 7, noon-3 p.m.) will feature performances by 2008 Grammy nominees Heavy D, Janelle Monae and Wayna featuring Kokayi at the O Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Hosted by KCRW DJ and MyHangSuite co-creator Garth Trinidad, the event also boasts acts J*Davey, Res and a special guest DJ set by Macy Gray. Ticket proceeds will benefit rapper Common’s urban youth charity, the Common Ground Foundation. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.myhangsuite.com.

• Songwriters Ne-Yo, Chris “Tricky” Stewart, Johnta Austin and Manuel Seal will share their creative philosophies on “ASCAP Presents … The Hitmakers Panel” (Feb. 7, 1 p.m. —3 p.m.). The free session will be held at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, moderated by Billboard senior correspondent Gail Mitchell. This event is FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. {More Info}

TV musical drama pilot ordered by ABC loosely based on Pharrell Williams

You may have heard about Pharrell signing on as a producer of this show last year and wondered what happened. Well television producers MCG and Mark Gordon have gotten the green light for their show "Limelight".

"Limelight" is a soap featuring contemporary music and dance, centering on
teachers and students at a New York performing arts school. The pilot is based
loosely on the experiences of hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams, of the
Neptunes.

Sounds like "Fame", which I think is a great thing. Today's kids & teens need a show like this to inspire them, if they'll actually watch it.

Speaking of the Neptunes, Chad Hugo will be featured during a panel discussion on "How I Wrote That Song" along with T.Pain, Will.I.Am, Keri Hilson, and Makeba Riddick in celebration of Grammy Week on Saturday, February 7th from 1-3pm at the Key Club in LA. This event is presented by BMI. Tickets are $10, $15 on day of event and are available through Ticketmaster and www.keyclub.com. No excuses if you're in LA, check out those prices! {More Info}