Hip Hop’s Most Fortunate… Where Are The Divas?
April 2nd, 2013 by Simone
Forbes released their Forbes Five: Hip- Hop’s Wealthiest Artists list last week. It was not really a shocker that Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sean Carter aka Jay- Z are at the top of the list. There are some people who would think that Jay Z would take the number one spot but the numbers don’t lie. Diddy earned $580 Million while Jay Z earned $475 Million according to Forbes. Bringing in the rear were Dr. Dre who earned $350 Million, Birdman at $150 Million in fourth place, and lastly 50 Cent who has managed to earn way more than his name sake with a reported $125 Million in the bank.
What’s the methodology behind this list? According to Forbes, “In order to complete our Forbes Five list, we followed the same procedure we use to calculate our list of the world’s billionaires: looking at past earnings, valuing current holdings, leafing through financial documents and talking to analysts, attorneys, managers, other industry players and even some moguls themselves to find the nitty-gritty details.”
Unfortunately, a report like this always garners the conspiracy theorists who like to argue about the means in which the money was earned. You know, the usual arguments that still revolve around Biggie’s mysterious death in 1997 and Illuminati claims on behalf of Jay Z’s fortune and domination of the game from the stage to the board room as well as his political connections.
How about we talk about how there are still no women on the Hip Hop scene among the top five earners. Currently, the only female voice you even hear on the radio who isn’t singing is Nicki Minaj and at times she trades bars for melodic verses.
The male top earners have been in the business for a while. The money they have on the books does not always equal their musical talent in the booth obviously. Most of their money is from side business ventures and mergers than from lending their voices to tracks these days. It is not just because of their longevity. They have noble drives and business sense. But there are many female MC’s with the same drive and business sense right? Are the woman in Hip Hop getting lower wages because their women the same way most of us are under earning for the same job at our 9 to 5’s?
The legends such as MC Lyte, does a lot of voice over work and makes appearances at award shows that are looking for an Old School performance act. Queen Latifah is memorizing lines instead of writing rhymes taking on some great roles on the big screen.
On the other end, Foxy Brown made a reappearance last year that was pretty much panned. Lil’ Kim is only making headlines right now for what she claims are doctored photos of her in the media.
What about hope for the future? The newbies, like Azealia Banks are spending most of their time beefing on Twitter.
I’m waiting for the day when lady MC’s are back to rocking their heels (or high tops) and the mic while climbing to the top of these lists.
Forbes Five: Hip- Hop’s Wealthiest Artists
Who do you think are the top five wealthiest women in Hip Hop right now?
Forbes Five: Hip- Hop’s Wealthiest Artists
Forbes Five: Hip- Hop’s Wealthiest Artists
BET’s 9th Annual Rip the Runway Taping With Boris Kodjoe, Kelly Rowland And More!
February 28th, 2013 by Tiffany
Boris Kodjoe and Kelly Rowland
BET has done it again with their ninth annual fashion event, Rip The Runway, filmed Wednesday night at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC! With a sexy venue, two stunning hosts, and a variety of new and popular performers, BET had the perfect recipe for another successful year for Rip The Runway! Following a performance at the Super Bowl and taking over the awards scene with appearances at the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards, superstar Kelly Rowland brought her fashion sense and rising sex appeal to Rip The Runway. Co-host and “Real Husbands of Hollywood” star Boris Kodjoe, added the muscles and just as much sex appeal to bring this year’s show to another level of sexy.
Boris Kodjoe
Boris not only brought his muscles and sexiness, but he also premiered his clothing line, Alfa Male, on the Rip The Runway stage. (This will be his second attempt at a successful line of clothing after he and his younger brother released Ziami in Germany back in 2003 and did a soft release in Atlanta in 2008. You can find more on his clothing line here www.worldofalfa.com).
Between Meek Mills, Jaden Smith, Trinidad James, Omarion, and Luke James BET had the perfect combination of talent and sex appeal, mixed with elite industry models and fresh fashion for the entire studio audience to enjoy. Jaden Smith proved that he is definitely talented and ready to make his mark in this industry as a performer and designer. Be on the look out for his new collection and very special model-sister Willow making an appearance down the catwalk once Rip The Runway airs March 20, 2013 at 8 PM EST.
Jaden Smith talks with BET’s 106 & Park
BET Rip The Runway Red Carpet Arrivals:
- Maybach Music Group’s own Rick Ross
- Meek Mill and Kelly Rowland
- Omarion
- Bria Murphy
- Teyana Taylor with BFF Karrueche Tran.
- Jada Pinkett Smith with son Jaden
- Sibling Bond: Willow and Jaden Smith
DVF Fall 2013 Show Brings Bold Prints, Colors And Glam
February 11th, 2013 by ChristenIf you’ve ever imagined yourself our clubbing during the height of the glam rock era, you might just find yourself adorned in Diane Von Furstenberg’s Fall 2013 Collection. Mixed with heavy prints, bold colors and bright patterns – the disco-infused theme wasn’t just the inspiration for the fall collection, it heavily influenced the runway soundtrack instantly transforming the DVF Fall 2013 show audience to a less-than-typical evening at the iconic Studio 54.
Fall 2013 show mixed with bold patterns
Fall 2013 show added metallics to the mix
One by one as each model graced the runway, we saw it all including DVF signature wrap dresses, blazer and skinny pants in “fetish pink,” gold lamé jackets, a turquoise floor-length halter dress, a rabbit-fur black vest, and a dress made of chain mail. Dizzying black-and-white prints were inspired by graphic artist M.C.
Fall 2013 show highlights of hot pinks and bold pairings
Fall 2013 show beautiful unconventional patterns
Fall 2013 show adds the glam of luxe fur
Diane Von Furstenberg described her woman for next fall: “Wrapped in a swirl of twisted chain link, she steps into the night. With an effortless glamour, she winks at herself and smiles at her shadow … In sky-high metallic heels, she swaggers across the cityscape … She is the rock star and the muse of her own life. Her clothes are her friends. Life is a party.”
Fall 2013 show prints outlined in pink
Fall 2013 show printed dress
Fall 2013 show vibrant glamour in blue
Discover more looks from the DVF Fall 2013 Collection below:
The #Grammys Dress Code Defiance: Rihanna, Kelly, J-Lo And More…
February 11th, 2013 by Christen
A #Grammys dress code for everyone appearing onstage during the Grammys telecast? Yes, it’s true! In preparation of last night’s ceremony, CBS sent out a memo to all talent appearing on camera politely reminding them about the network’s wardrobe policy.
The #Grammys Dress Code
The network encouraged celebrities to cover their butts, boobs and “genital region.” That last part is very important because it prevents anyone at home from seeing any “puffy” bare skin. I’m a bit confused on what constitutes “puffy” bare skin near the genital region, but I’m pretty sure that there’s a cream for that. CBS also wanted to make sure no one forgot to cover the bums and boobies – apparently, thong-type costumes and bare sides and/or under curvature of the breasts is classified as “problematic” for TV.
But in true rocker-style there were a few defiant celebrities that caused YES moments throughout the red carpet arrivals and we have our favorites right here…
Check out these celebrity Grammy appearances compared before/after “Memo-gate” and tell us, if it’s a mere coincidence or outright dress code defiance…
Jennifer Lopez’ Grammy dress stepped out – in full Angelina Jolie style, with her full right leg flashing in glory in a black Anthony Vaccarello gown. She paired her #Grammys dress with a black and gold envelope clutch, and swept her hair back with a chic top knot.
Her look isn’t as revealing as last year’s Grammy bling look but it definitely breaches this year’s dress code mandate by CBS… what did you think of J. Lo’s look?
Last year Carrie Underwood wore Gomez-Gracia’s long-sleeve backless “Starlet” Grammy dress featuring intricately embroidered sequins on tulle. This year, Carrie went for a sophisticated look in a Roberto Cavalli gown and a 381-carat diamond necklace. What do you think of Carrie’s #Grammys dress? (Did you see that Etch-A-Sketch dress shat she performed in? WOW!)
Last year, Rihanna donned a black silk custom Giorgio Armani Grammy dress gown. The dress featured a plunging neckline, complimented by a high slit, a dramatically open back and a mermaid silhouette cascading into an elegant train – (according to E! News) inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in ‘Scarface’ – this gown definitely didn’t leave much to the imagination. But last night, she wore a custom Azzedine Alaia dress, Neil Lanejewelry, and Manolo Blahnik shoes.
Taylor Swift is know for playing it “safe” on the red carpet and she certainly did that last year wearing a Dolce & Gabbana dress, Prada shoes, and Lorraine Schwartz jewels. This year, we didn’t expect her to come out on the red carpet with anything too risqué and she delivered wearing a J Mendel dress that had a little Grammy edge with silver straps. We’re not at all surprised that Taylor’s Grammy dress stayed within the Grammy dress code…although we appreciate her pushing the limits!
What did you think about the red carpet looks from tonight’s Grammy telecast? Were you surprised by any looks? Did you love them all? Do you think the #Grammys dress code affected any fashion statements this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below…
Fashion Takes On The Red Carpet At The 2012 Vogue Fashion Fund Awards
November 14th, 2012 by Christen
Burberry CCO Christopher Bailey and Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour attend the Ninth Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards
The fashion industry pulled out its fancy frocks and indulged to celebrate Seventh Avenue’s next generation of designers at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund dinner. The Fund, now in its ninth year, provides money and mentoring to promising designers. And over time, with its impressive list of winners and finalists who continue to build their businesses and attract acclaim, the program has set an international standard for nurturing talent and breathing fresh air into an industry that thrives on innovation. Burberry CCO Christopher Bailey and Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, Chanel Iman, Rachel Roy and Liya Kebede were among the stylish celebs who attended the 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards last night in NYC.
Model Liya Kebede with Proenza Schouler designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough and Liv Tyler
Model Liya Kebede, rocked a Proenza Schouler dress and black sandals alongside Proenza Schouler designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough (past winners of the design award) and Liv Tyler (also in Proenza Schouler)
Chanel Iman, in a low cut golden gown, was amongst the beautiful folks spotted last night at the 2012 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards.
NY Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz attended the stylish event
Designer Rachel Roy wore a winter white suit with a leopard blazer alongside BBC personality and fashion journalist Louise Roe.
This year’s big winner was Greg Chait for his lush knitwear-based collectionThe Elder Statesman. Tabitha Simmons, a former stylist and wife of photographer Craig McDean, was a runner-up with her fanciful footwear. And joining Simmons on the runners-up platform was jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer, wife of actor Tobey Maguire, who thanked her grandmother for teaching her how to make enameled baubles when Meyer was just 6 years old. They will all receive business mentoring. Chait wins $300,000; Simmons and Meyer will each get $100,000.
via Photos via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images North America/Dara Kushner/INFphoto.com
A Diva’s Guide To New York Fashion Week VIP Lounges
September 6th, 2012 by ChristenYou don’t have to hang out under the tents of Lincoln Center for New York Fashion Week to spot the latest styles & fashion collections. Filled with fashion editors, bloggers, celebrities and, of course, models, hotels & brands will be celebrating with parties, panels, shopping and specialty drinks all week long. If you know me, then you know I’m a “No Fuss” kinda gal. I just don’t do large crowds & chaos well…lol. Sure I’ll make my way at a few of my favorite shows & presentations – but more than likely I’ll be taking it smooth, easy and have the D&D team handle NYFW this season. (After traveling for 23 days straight – I think I deserve it.) So if you’re looking for me, here are a few of my places you might find me to relax, relate & rub shoulders with the tastemakers of New York Fashion Week.
MERCEDES-BENZ STAR LOUNGE IN LINCOLN CENTER. Known as the “sanctuary” within the tents of Lincoln Center. This invite-only hospitality suite is a haven for designers & celebrities to relax & reflect from the hustle and bustle of fashion week shows. In addition to hosting the Star Lounge, Mercedes Benz will also host a “Fit for Fashion” event on Friday, September 7th at 4pm in the lobby of Lincoln Center by the G-Class display. This invite-only media event, hosted by Joey Gonzalez of Barry’s Bootcamp along with special appearances by Supermodel Joan Smalls and Olympic Gold Medalist Alex Morgan, celebrates the brand’s most iconic SUV – the G-Class. Whether cruising the cobblestone streets of SoHo or going seriously off-road, its sculpted, muscular body and hand-crafted interior make it fit for fashion….are you? Mercedes-Benz is partnering with Barry’s Bootcamp to show you how. Rounding off the NYFW kick-off is an invite-only party to toast Carine Roitfeld’s CR FASHION BOOK on Saturday, September 8th at 9pm. Throughout the evening, a fleet of G-Class vehicles, the stars of Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week, will be showcased in front of The Frick Collection as well as used to transport VIP guests. Mercedes-Benz will have advance copies of CR FASHION BOOK in the Star Lounge for a sneak peek before the big reveal on Thursday, September 13th.
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, NEW YORK 80 Columbus Circle, at 60th Street, (866) 801-8880; Mandarinoriental.com/newyork. In MObar on the 35th floor of the hotel will be the “HTC Lounge: Media Headquarters for Fashion Week,” where fashion bloggers, editors and journalists can charge their phones, enjoy free Wi-Fi and snacks, and watch footage of runway shows above the scrum of photographers and editors on the streets below. There will also be an invitation-only designer Q. and A. series with Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs (Sunday), Yuna Yang (Tuesday), and Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte (Sept. 13). Can’t make it to the lounge? You can follow along on Twitter using the hashtags #MOFashion and #HTCMADE.
THE EMPIRE HOTEL, 44 West 63rd Street, (212) 265-7400; Empirehotelnyc.com.? During New York Fashion Week, the Empire will enable would-be models to get free makeovers inspired by the latest runway looks at the Allure Lounge Colored by Maybelline New York (updates @AllureLounge), Thursday through Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 63rd Street side of the Empire Hotel, off of the lobby. (Members of the news media and V.I.P.’s have their own lounge, Allure Upstairs). The public lounge will have live streams of fashion shows, free samples and refreshments. Maybelline makeup artists will offer touch-ups, the Ricardo Rojas Salon will give women “high fashion” ponytails, SkinMedica will offer skin consultations and Bioxidea will provide hand treatments. There will be iPads located throughout the lounge to allow guests to shop online with the hotel’s partners. And at a fragrance bar, visitors who make a purchase from certain designers on Macys.com or Sephora.com will receive a gift.
DREAM NEW YORK, 210 West 55th Street, (866) 437-3266; Dreamny.com.?Beginning Thursday in the hotel’s Ava penthouse lounge, the makeup artist Ramy will host a nightly “beauty therapy bar” where guests can sample products and have their brows shaped free. HUDSON HOTEL?356 West 58th Street, (212) 554-6000; Hudsonhotel.com.?With its intimate rooftop and proximity to Lincoln Center, the Hudson is bound to lure its share of fashion plates. For instance, on Wednesday there will be a street-style runway show put together by 20 fashion directors, editors and bloggers, including people from Vogue, W magazine, Bloomingdale’s, Complex magazine, Vice magazine, Selectism/Highsnobiety.
Will you be in the heart of New York Fashion Week excitement or are you planning to check out a few of the NYFW VIP suites & lounges?
Get In The Heat Of The BET Awards Action With The #FordHotSpot
June 30th, 2012 by Fashion StaffThe 2012 BET Awards weekend is finally here and with it Los Angeles is buzzing with drama and excitement! Just when viewers thought their anticipation for watching the BET Awards 12 couldn’t get any higher, Ford decides to give them the opportunity to enter to win a brand new vehicle – in this case, the all-new Ford Escape and $1,000. Ford is giving viewers of the BET Awards 12 the chance to win the keys to the Escape as part of the “Brand New Escape Sweepstakes.” The winner will be announced live during the BET Awards PRE-SHOW: LIVE, RED & READY, which kicks off at 6 p.m. EDT this Sunday, July 1.
The Ford Hot Spot – Where BET Entertainment and the 2013 Ford Fusion intersect
Ford Hot Spot, the exclusive backstage area where top entertainment bloggers and media will gather to blog and tweet about rehearsals and the BET Awards 12. The all-new 2013 Ford Fusion will help set the stage as TV personality/model Toccara Jones and actor Boris Kodjoe serve as exclusive hosts throughout the weekend interacting with all of the talent while securing some of behind-the-scenes buzz for this year’s awards show.
Host @IamToccara interviews Pleasure P in the #FordHotSpot (photo via @IamToccara)
2013 Ford Fusion
Join DivasandDorks for all the behind the scenes excitement as it unfolds in Los Angles at The BET Awards! Tweet all your favorite celebrities that’ll be in attendance (including Beyonce, Jay Z and more!) with the BET Awards Tweet Cheat Sheet below. See ya on the red carpet!!!
What Has Oprah, Jay-Z and 50 Cent Running To Facebook?
May 3rd, 2012 by Tech StaffAs once rivals, Jay-Z and 50 Cent have battled it out on the charts but now the two Hip Hop moguls turned businessmen have found a new way to define “What’s Beef?” online found with the help of Facebook’s gaming platform.
50 Cent’s Blackjack with Game Show Network (GSN) is a virtual casino, where Facebook users can challenge their friends or play the games dealer. ”I am excited to partner with GSN Digital on this venture to create an unparalleled social gaming experience for my fans,” 50 Cent explained to Hip-Hop Wired. “50 Cent’s Blackjack is filled with fun twists and innovative features that is sure to provide hours of entertainment.”
On the other hand, Jay-Z’s Empire will take more of a Sims-like approach where Facebook users can quite literally create their own empires as they work their way from “hustler, to entrepreneur, to business mogul.”
It’s a long way from the famous Jay-Z / Oprah interview in the heart of Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects – but even Oprah has gotten her hand into Facebook gaming creating a lane all her own. Oprah Winfrey Network and Oprah.com announced this week the launch of “Oprah’s Thank You Game” on Facebook facebook.com/owntv to spread gratitude around the world in an effort to thank half a billion people worldwide. The game launched in conjunction with the season finale of “Oprah’s Lifeclass: the Tour” (Monday, April 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT) where Oprah discussed mastering the art of gratitude.
Would you play any of these games on Facebook being brought to you by these heavy hitters in entertainment?
Think Like A Man is #1 At The Box Office & Now Available On Your iPhone!
April 24th, 2012 by Christen
“Think Like a Man,” based on Steve Harvey’s dating-advice best-seller, debuted as the top weekend draw with $33 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. That’s almost double what studio executives had expected for the Sony Screen Gems ensemble movie, which features Michael Ealy, Taraji P. Henson and Gabrielle Union.
Produced for about $13 million “Think Like a Man” took in nearly that much on opening day Friday alone, with business getting even better on Saturday. Sony executives had figured the movie might pull in about $17 million for the whole weekend. Now you can take “Think Like A Man” with you on your smartphone with the Think Like A Man iPhone App!
To help bring awareness to the movie, you can play the dating game with the Think Like A Man App for iPhone. This app lets you play along with characters straight from the movie. You choose either a female or male date and go through a series of comments throughout a lunch, dinner, and desert. The responses range from funny to serious. Make sure you choose the appropriate answer to advance your date. If you need help with an answer you can ask for help from Cedric’s Words of Wisdom which will have you rolling in laughter. The app is FREE and available in the Apple App Store.
Have you checked out ‘Think Like A Man’ in theaters this weekend? What did you think? Did you like it enough to download the app?
VH1 Divas Celebrate Soul: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
December 20th, 2011 by WAWA
Last night, VH1 Divas aired and it was a star studded event! The night honored Divas of Soul and soul cities such as Detroit, Memphis, Chicago, Philly and even honored the UK’s soulful sounds. I enjoyed the fact that the show honored artists like Amy Winehouse, Adele, Marsha Ambrosious and other soulful UK artists whose vocals have impacted soul music.
The show opened with JHud, Kelly Clarkson and Mary J. Blige. Their performance set the standard for the night and this was honestly one of the most amazing shows I’ve seen on television all year.
Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson & Mary J Blige Open for VH1 Divas Celebrate Soul
Other performers of the night included Erykah Badu, Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine, Jessie J (British soul singer who became a household name after she performed on the VMAs), Jill Scott, Chaka Khan, Estelle, Black Thought, Boyz II Men, Travie McCoy, Sharon Jones, Martha Reeves, Mavis Staples and tons of other great artists.
Florence Welch from Florence + the Machine
Good moments from the show included the amazing duets, including MJB and Chaka Kahn singing “Aint Nobody”, Erykah Badu, Black Thought and Jill Scott performing “You Got Me” and Ledisi and Marsha Ambrosious performing “Sweet Love”.
Bad Moments from the night included, legend Wanda Jackson singing a duet with Sharon Jones for the Amy Winehouse tribute. Poor Ms. Jackson didn’t know half of the words and performed in a half-hazard manner. Their performance was reminiscent of a geriatric talent show in my own opinion :/.
And Ugly Moments from the night included Estelle and Travie McCoy singing “Wake Up Everybody”. I’m sure everyone can agree that when Travie McCoy began singing in an off-tune note, coupled with Estelle’s raspy, inconsistent voice, it created an awkward and uncomfortable sound for everyone’s ears.
Travie McCoy
Nonetheless, the overall show was simply amazing and a great treat for the holidays! I highly suggest watching the encore performances on VH1!
