Pooch Hall and Mehcad Brooks, stars of BET’s hit TV show “The Game” will host a Valentine’s Day event you do not want to miss. Special Guest, Sprite Slam contestant TJ Fontenette aka “MR 720″ with a live performance by Vaughn Anthony of John Legends. For more information visit www.dmnsallstar2010.com
VOLKSWAGEN TO SPOTLIGHT “PUNCH DUB” GAME IN SUPER BOWL AD, ONLINE CAMPAIGN TOUTING PRODUCT FAMILY
HERNDON, VA – Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today a new campaign called “Punch Dub,” an update on the classic Punch Buggy game, designed to increase model awareness and familiarity by reminding consumers of all the Volkswagens on the road. The “Punch Dub” campaign is based on the classic game that kids used to play back in the original Beetle’s heyday called “Punch Buggy” (or “Slug Bug”), where the first person to see a Beetle would yell,”Punch Bug” and playfully slug his or her friend. Volkswagen will debut the “Punch Dub” (as in VEE-Dub) campaign in a 30-second ad during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIV and through a new online campaign. The ad, which includes a special cameo by actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, will show a variety of people in different driving situations gently slugging others in the arm every time they spot a Routan, Tiguan, CC or any other Volkswagen model.
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Nicki Minaj kisses Lil Wayne
After Nicki’s oh so fabulous performance last night on The David Letterman Show, she immediately flew out to Miami for some Young Money fun at club Play. She performed “Shakin’ it for Daddy” with Robin Thicke.
Nicki Minaj and Robin Thicke
More pics from Club Play:
Drake and Nicki Minaj
Young Money
Drake, Lil Wayne and Eninem after their performance
We loved it! The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards were full of surprises and the best was saved for last when Drake, Eminem and Lil Wayne performed. We couldn’t help but miss Kanye West during this performance. We hope to see him very soon. The highlight of the show for many seemed to be during Beyonce’s acceptance speech when she thanked her “husband” also saying “I love you.” They’ve been together since 2003 so it should not come as a shock! Check out some Grammy Photo’s, you might have missed!
Akon
Ciara
Sean Paul
Common
John Legend
Jennifer Hudson and Hubby David
Wyclef and Ciara
Usher and Mya
Neyo and Guests
Ashanti
Everybody say “WTF”, the title of the latest release from Shawty Lo was shot Tuesday in Atlanta and featured industry’s royal bad boy Lil’ Wayne.
The project bought together power teams Young Money, D4L, and Yung Joc’s Swagg Team under the masterful eye of video director, Mr. Boomtown, the much sought after director who has spellbound us with many of the recent most hot releases.
To put together such a successful undertaking of these 2 world class artist without a hitch takes a uncommon power team such as Rici Keels and Drekia Glenn, the behind the scenes no nonsense tag team that has become two of the hottest industry plugs based out of Atlanta, Georgia.
Constantly pushing their innovative ideas into their projects have brought them much success with dealing with the Hip-Hop community. Both have been noted as “Women to Watch” in today’s entertainment field by providing their clients with artistic consulting ,management, booking, casting, and project management.
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“People can’t exist without judgement,” was one of the things that the eclectic singer Joya Bravo said to me during our interview. The line stood out to me because it was such a powerful thing to mention. The line just added more reasons to why Joya’s is extremely unique and down to earth. She was spotted by a representative from McDonald’s who was impressed with her talent and decided to make her one of the star’s of McDonald’s Dollar Van Demos national commercial which airs now. I caught up with Joya Bravo and she had alot of interesting views and outlooks, we also discussed the commercial.
HipHopWeekly (Lathleen):Tell us about the McDonald’s commercial,how did it come about?
Joya Bravo: Well, it started with me doing a show a while back called Dollar Van Demos, and after I did it, a couple weeks later, I guess someone from the Burrell agency or McDonald’s put it together and thought it would be an intelligent idea to have the dollar menu and dollar cab kind of coincide, so they were looking at different artists and they choose me and another artist named WordSpit, who is definitely someone to look out for as well. It’s great exposure for me and I also co-produced the music that’s on the commercial as well.
HipHopWeekly (Lathleen): How does it feel doing this commercial for the first time?
Joya Bravo: It was really awesome, I mean, I don’t want to sound like I’m dismissing it, but I tend to really move quickly and so it’s like it’s done and it’s already out of my head. But, I’m very appreciative for that kind of opportunity that McDonald’s would choose me to put on TV.
HHW: Who is Joya bravo?
JB:Joya Bravo is a being, basically created by the most high to bring music back to the music industry.
HHW:Where are you from?
JB: My family is Jamaican I was born in queens, I did all of my schooling in Atlanta and all my holidays in New York, so I relate best to New York, I’d say queens is the easiest answer but I was really mostly raised in Atlanta and back and forth.
HHW:What separates you from other artists?
JB: I’d say that I’m extremely eclectic and I’m kind of fusing a lot of different types of music together, and I know a lot of people are doing that but my whole project is perfecting eclectism and also popularizing consciousness through pop music. So I think a lot of people get into the music industry for the riches and the fame and all that stuff but I feel like, I want to show people that if you have the right goal in place, you can really do anything as long as you’re working towards the greater good, or something bigger than yourself then things just kind of flow and anything is possible.
HHW:Who is your inspiration?
JB: Beyonce, Serj Tankian from System of the Down, Grace jones, and Lauryn hill.
HHW: How did your journey begin?
JB: I started dancing first at the age of 3, then I began playing the violin at the age of 9 then right around the same time I started in theater, and I always kind of had this alter ego on stage, and it would just be really big, I was not like that in everyday life but eventually when Destiny Child came out with “Bills Bills Bills” I was playing around with it in the hallway and one of my colleagues basically told me I could sing. It just kind of went from there, and I was like I can really do this I use to just come home and practice whether it was singing or playing the violin for six hours straight and I would continue watching Aaliyah, Brandy, Beyonce and they would just inspire me so much, and I always knew I had a greater goal in mind.
HHW:What advice do you have for upcoming artists?
JB: Well like Mike Myers aka Austin Powers told me personally, thank God. First is, accepting your true self and second is never ever giving up. I was actually working at a grocery store and I was a cash register. He came in there the first time and I was too nervous to say anything so the second time he came in I was like ‘do you mind if I ask you a question’ as im ringing his stuff and I said ‘what advice do you give for up and coming’ and he said be true to yourself and never ever let go or never give up.
HHW:What projects are you working on now?
JB:Right now im working on a full project called Perfecting Eclecticism and the intro is out, its called Moving Day, and it’s actual a sampler of a bunch of 08, 09 popular beats and you can actually download it at www.myspace.com/joyabravo. It’s kind of like the Lord of the Rings you have like an intro, a sequel a trilogy or really you can think of it as food it would be like an appetizer an entrée and a dessert and something else, a drink.
HHW:A lot of people dig your style, and taste of dressing, who is your favorite designer?
JB:Clothing lines, I really dig Yves Saint Laurent (YSL)
HHW:Anything else you want hiphopweekly readers to know about you?
JB:I guess its just really, I really want people to know that people can’t exist without judgment, people cant exist and really grow, and I think the biggest change has come with xenophobia which is the fear of understanding or the fear of difference. I’m just ready for an audio revolution. OH YEA! ONE MORE THING I DID NOT WRITE THE LYRICS FOR THE MCDONALD’S COMMERCIAL! [Laughs]
www.twitter.com/Joyabravo
www.twitter.com/Lathleen
Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteEnergetic, fun and ill are three words that seemed to be attached to Brooklyn born rapper Wordspit. Hip-hop being a natural passion since the tender age of 5, this East New Yorker has caught the attention of the right people at the right time. Representatives from McDonald’s handpicked the emcee to feature in a McDonald’s Dollar Van Demos national commercial. Wordspit brought his original style on set and never thought in a million years that he would be chosen. Well he was, dope talent simply cannot go unnoticed. I caught up with the star of the commercial and discussed his career as well as his success.
Hip Hop Weekly (Lathleen): How do you feel about the McDonald’s commercial?
Wordspit: I feel great about it, I just can’t wait to see me in action! I’ve been getting a lot of great feed back from it, take the good with the bad, some people don’t like it, some people love it, I just think it’s a great opportunity.
HHW: Who is wordspit?
Wordspit: Wordspit is an Emcee from East New York, Brooklyn, I like long walks on the beach…nah I’m kidding ..I like to tell stories and just, you know express myself through my music.
HHW: What separates you from other rappers, what makes you different?
Wordspit: What makes me stand out is just having relatable content, like lyrical content that relates to my listeners, you know, I give 100 percent within my music, so I don’t need nothing else. I think every time I do something, it’s something I’m going through and people just relate to it. But when it hits the stage, and it comes out on stage, I give my heart and my soul on stage and by doing that, people just feel the connection to me, and that’s what matters the most, the connection with people.
HHW: Okay, and how do you feel when you’re on stage?
Wordspit: Oh, I love performing! Performing is like…since I don’t drink or smoke, performing is what gets me high, you know, that’s where its like everything is spinning like…it’s just a great feeling, it’s like electric.
HHW: A lot of people described you as fun and energetic. Where do you get your energy from?
Wordspit: I get it from the people, the more energy they give me, the more energy I give back.
HHW: How did you get started in the business, How did your journey begin?
WordSpit: Hip hop was something I always wanted to do since I was young, so as I got older and was able to do it, I started going to open mics and everything just started from there.
HHW: Who inspired you?
Wordspit: Nas, Canibus, LL cool J as well..it’s too many to actually name.
HHW: Pick one!
Wordspit: Canibus
HHW:What advice do you have for young rappers out there who are trying to get into the industry?
Wordspit: Just be persistent and keep at it, like once one door closes, another door opens, opportunity is always around the corner, and you just can’t take no for an answer, cause once you take no for an answer, then its basically over, you lost, Once somebody says no, you just gon’ take that and me I personally don’t take no for an answer, I just keep going.
HHW: What are your views on the crisis going on in Haiti?
Wordspit: wow…wow it’s like.. I can’t even explain what’s going on in Haiti, all I can just say is my heart goes out to them.
HHW:What is your nationality?
Wordspit: My father is trini and my mom is half Haitian half Italian
HHW: What do you want hip hop weekly readers to know about you?
Wordspit: We the illest!
HHW: Any projects that you are working on now?
Wordspit: I have the coolest B-boy stance out which is my album, I also have three videos out online, one of my recent videos out is Poet’s Haiku.
Check Out behind the scenes footage from the commercial. Interview with Joya Bravo coming soon!
GoodGirlPR wanted to let you know of Dr. Catrise Austin’s book lecture at the Mid-Manhattan Public Library. Dr. Austin will be presenting a slide lecture on her new book ” 5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile”.
Tuesday, January 19th at 6:30pm 455 5th Avenue at 40th Street on the 6th Floor. Learn how to get a Hollywood smile!
Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteDiego Ca$h, a 25-year-old artist [signed to Carmelo Anthony’s new label Krossover Ent.] and I sat in the corner of a cozy New York City location and discussed life, growing up and his transition into becoming a rapper. Upon arrival, I was expecting the average cocky and stuck-up rapper, but instead was greeted by a very laid back and humble Diego Ca$h. He casually sported jeans and a pair of Michael Jordans, and through his adorable hazel green colored eyes he was ready to let the world know his story.
Ca$h grew up with NBA star Carmelo Anthony and explained the joys of working with him, “it’s great, we been doing it together for a while now and we’ve grown together, I know genuinely it’s not just a check for him, he genuinely wants to help me out and see me succeed.” I couldn’t agree more with the word genuine, it’s rare in this industry that you will find someone that is behind you sincerely.
Ca$h has been rapping for 8-9 years now and it wasn’t an easy journey. He revealed the trails and tribulations that helped his stardom, “I was in school, I didn’t have direction, then in 2003, I got shot and was laid up for three months, it was then I realized I wanted to pursue my dreams and enjoy life.” Ca$h, who is Puerto-Rican, was born in Brooklyn, moved to New Jersey for a little while, then spent most of his time in Atlanta. I couldn’t help but notice the light down south accent in his voice. “It’s crazy cause when I go down there, they say I sound like I’m from New York but when I’m up here they say I sound like I’m from Atlanta,” he said smiling.
Ca$h loves rapping, but the one thing he loves the most about it, is, “the vibe and the feeling, ain’t nothing like that feeling when you in the studio, and you hear that beat and everything is just coming together.” The stage is another aspect that Ca$h enjoys, “Oh it’s great, I feel a rush, awe I love it, and it’s nothing like when it’s packed and they really rocking with you.”
Although he is a Nas fan, growing up Ca$h told me his inspirations didn’t only come from celebrities but more so from the people around him, his close friends and family, especially his 2-year-old son.
Ca$h has worked with artists like Gorilla Zoe and Cassidy but one of his favorites to work with was a producer named Soundz whose done songs for singers like Brandy and Usher. “That’s my man, me and him play the same role in each other’s lives. We started together, it’s amazing to see how far we come.”
Ca$h told me that his new mixtape drops Valentine’s day weekend called C.O.D Cash on Delivery, while the single he has out now is titled “Nuvo (what it is).” Ca$h also participates in a group called The Block Boys which features Gorilla Zoe, Supplya, Kollosus and himself.
“I have a CD for you,” he said to me. The CD turned out to be his new single “Nuvo (what it is)”. On my way home, I had the CD on repeat and I must say Diego Ca$h is certified an artist to watch, with extreme talent and a bright future.
Follow Diego Ca$h on Twitter.com @Diegocash and don’t forget to visit his website. www.thisisdiegocash.com
Follow me on Twitter.com as well @Lathleen
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Contact one of these organizations, all of which are vouched for by the Haitian community:
“Carma Foundation”
Donate at: http://www.carmafoundation.org/
American Red Cross
Donate at: http://www.redcross.org/
OR
text “90999″ from your cell and an automatic $10 will be donated.
Yele Foundation
Donate at: http://www.yele.org/
OR
Text “501501″ from your cell and an automatic $5 will be donated.
Mercy Corps
Donate at: http://www.mercycorps.org/
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TwitHopWeekly: Celebrity Tweets
HHW Link-Up: EliTaste
DefJam Records DJ Nickiee
