BYT: Mary J Blige

Yup, DC finally got a Fillmore... and yup, R&B Diva Mary J Blige was there to ring in its arrival. She was pretty awesome, I gotta say the woman can sing circles around most, and her spirit on stage is truly genuine. Click the photo to check out my BYT review of her performance, and while you're there, feel welcome to comment — I love it when you comment, lol.

[Photo via Katherine Gaines/BYT]

BYT: Toro y Moi

So I got to see Toro y Moi (he played the Black Cat); it was pretty awesome. I wrote a review, because I had to (...yah, that rhyme was intentional). Anyway, peep my coverage; if you're feeling generous, leave a comment. As always, click the pic for the article.

...I'm having dinner hence the brevity of this post...
— and other reasons —

[Photo via Franz Mahr/BYT]

Fashion: Armani Jeans fw11 (Preview)

Rihanna x Steven Klein

...that #RihannaNavy just won't stop

eta: ...after the jump; check out the rest of the campaign.

Photo: ...A Beautiful Mine

Jon Hamm & Catherine McNeil x Mario Testino
US Vogue Dec 2008

music: "A Beautiful Mine" (Mad Men Theme Song) — RJD2


*********************


Click here for the rest of the editorial...
it's pretty boring, but the styling is nice.

Photo: Happy 30th B'Day Bey!

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ('4' Promo Shot)

music: "Birthday" — Destiny's Child

Photo: Mind Your Own... This is Family Business

Kanye West... one of my role models.

Fashion: Vogue Australia Oct 2011

Personally, I'm not a fan of Arizona Muse, but as her last name proclaims, she's been the model muse of 2011 since her breakout season back during the fw11 shows. Here she is on not one, not two, but three alternate covers for Australian Vogue's October issue. Photographed by Kai Z. Feng, styled by Naomi Smith, she looks extremely fresh with her hair slicked back, barely there makeup, and simple styling. I have to admit, despite her having only one look [she does this blank stare; it's her beauty that makes it work] she is growing on me. It began with her September 2011 cover for Vogue Korea (shot by Victor Demarchelier — yes, he's the son of Patrick) which made me begin to pay attention. With NYFW just around the corner, there's bound to be a new 'IT' model, so I'm not to worried about being tardy to the Arizona Party; but there's no denying how good she looks here. Preview her other covers after the jump.

[Images via Fashion Gone Rogue]

I'm trying to make us 3... From that 2... He still the 1

...there's already a twitter: @BeyJayFetus

Video: The Gilded Crown

The Gilded Crown — Eva Marcille
directed by Walid Azami
music by Lissie (Everywhere I Go)
styled by Jennifer Austin

...that's all

Kanye... The Musical? Fair Suck of the Sav!

Apparently, a pair of Sydney University students put together a satirical story of Kanye West's rise to fame. As expected, it will feature his music, but will also include original scores. The director, Philip Rosser had this to say about his work:

“This is a story of a struggle against the man to become the man. It’s about a guy who took a shot at the throne and didn’t miss.”

I'm kinda bummed I don't live in Australia, or have the money to fly out, because this seems really cool — despite its ridiculousness — especially because it's a two-man show. They've established a Facebook event for it — there's more info for you to check out. Here's to hoping they post it on YouTube/Vevo/Vimeo.

Error in the MLK Memorial? This is Embarrassing

This Sunday is the dedication of the new Martin Luther King Jr Memorial here in DC — it's a really big deal considering the individual and because it's the first memorial to a Black person on the National Mall. A group of my aunts, cousins, and I went this past Wednesday to check it out; it was quite a sight, made me feel really proud inside. The site overlooks the Potomac river, and the set-up is very clean and sleek... it's beautiful really. I plan to go back at night at some point, it's even better then I've been told. Anyway, this isn't about that; I came across a Washington Post article by Rachel Manteuffel which makes light of a particular error in the monument. If you click the pic above to enlarge it, you'll notice a quote on the side that reads: “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.” This didn't really strike me as anything to furrow my brow over [see what I did there] but Manteuffel instead points out that MLK never actually said that, but rather something a lot more detailed; in turn a lot more humbled and profound. Click after the jump for my commentary, I suggest reading the article first though.

Video: Miss You - Aaliyah (1.16.79 – 8.25.01)

Photo: My Fair Lady

Adele for Glamour Magazine Feb 11

Video: Rusko Identity Festival... + Rihanna???

Rusko — IDENTITY Festival '11 — 8.19.11

So it would seem Rusko threw caution to the wind and gave fans at the Camden, NJ stop of the Identity Festival a taste of an (until now) unreleased track by Rihanna in which he obviously produced. The audio in this recording is so unbelievably clear — I'm pointing this out to say, there's no way you can't hear how this will be an amazing single for RiRi. She has already alluded to a future re-release of her album Loud with added tracks; similar to what she did with Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded. I can only hope there is new music coming from Rihanna soon — though I'll admit, there really is no rush; I still find myself grooving to A Girl Like Me, Music of the Sun, and Rated R.

#RihannaNavy

Models: New Faces, Emma E. (Le Management)

Emma Estrup Løw, Strawberry Blonde, Green, 5′11.5″, Le Management
full name, hair, eyes, height, agency

[Images via MDC]

Music: "Thursday" - The Weeknd

1. Lonely Star
2. Life Of The Party
3. Thursday
4. The Zone (featuring Drake)
5. The Birds Part One
6. The Birds Part Two
7. Rolling Stone
8. Gone
9. Heaven Or Las Vegas

>> Download <<

I'm patiently waiting for this mixtape to download so I can give it a proper listening to... expect some form of commentary to be added later today. The Weeknd is the truth... fck what you heard.

eta: So I've gone through this mixtape up and down, back and forth, shuffled on repeat — it's definitely a step in the right direction for Abel Tesfaye, the man behind The Weeknd. Where is first mixtape House of Balloons sounded like a champaign chronic nightcap, his newest, Thursday, sounds like an acid trip (a depressing trip, not so much a let's rage kind of trip). The emotions of his first mixtape are still very much present here, but instead of pining for the woman, he's already had her and now doesn't know what to do with her. Young Money golden boy Drake makes an appearance on the track "The Zone" (pause; this song is oh so sexy... just have to put that out there), no big surprise considering how much he hypes The Weeknd. Drake vocally jumps rope in his verse, riding the music, adding a nice bow to the narrative built. What I like most about both HoB and Thursday is that they have such precise arrangements and such a mood where each song just sort of blends. Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying all of his songs sound the same, I'm saying the feel of the album is very cohesive — making it perfect for ambient music when placed on shuffle for hours at a time. This man is really trying to establish himself before making any major industry presence it would seem — HoB already garnered a lot of positive reviews, and Thursday is sure to do the same; but still he has a third mixtape on the way, Echoes of Silence. All I can say is, download and enjoy.

Video: Got 'Til It's Gone - Janet Jackson (ft. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell)

This little gem from way back in '97 came across my screen via Tumblr and all I can say is #FantasticMan. The video is set in an apartheid South Africa (so late 60s early 70s) and features just so much Black excellence I can hardly contain myself. Reading up a bit on its accompanying wikipedia article, I've discovered the J Dilla connection, and his response remix [apparently he produced the song, but wasn't appropriately credited]. Check out that remix down below... that little play button, yah, that one. Enjoy the wonder that is Janet Jackson (not to mention Q-Tip and a very brief glimpse of Joni Mitchell), enjoy the production talent that is J Dilla in both tracks, and check out Alek Wek making a very subtle cameo as well.



"Got 'Til It's Gone" — The Ummah (Jay Dee's Revenge Remix)

Leaving with One New Idea... For the Better

"How can we humanize the gender roles so that young men are raised to understand that they have all human qualities? We've had the courage to raise our daughters more like our sons, but fewer of us have had the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters. Those so-called feminine qualities are only the qualities you need to raise children: empathy, patience, flexibility, compassion. They're present in every man just as they are in every woman." -Gloria Steinem [A 21st Century Feminism]

This is my Go-To quote for nearly every essay/paper I've had to write for my major within Women's Studies [between the two colleges I've attended] — it's so true, and it opens to an even deeper discussion about the socialization of children about gender. I was first introduced to this speech by Gloria Steinem during a Jan Term course entitled "Women and Madness: A Sociological Perspective of the Female Mind." I was so fortunate to hear her speak and to meet with her (that's my fellow P.Inc [Peace Incorporated] co-founders and I in the photo above). Ms. Steinem is without a doubt one of the wisest souls I've ever met. Her talks are discourses, instead of lectures, a tool which enables her to touch on controversial topics without alienating her diverse audiences. After the jump is an audio recording (it will auto-play) to the talk which originated this quote... in her words, 'leave with one new idea... for the better."

Transformers x Steven Meisel (W Magazine Sep 11)

Flawless.

Models: Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson, Guinevere van Seenus, Jamie Bochert, Raquel Zimmermann, Jessica Stam, Candice Huffine, Aymeline Valade, Fei Fei Sun


[Images via W Mag]

The September Issue[s] - My Favorites

It's that time of year again — Fall is just around the corner, and if you haven't already begun getting your closet in order, all of our favorite international publications are letting us know what's "IN" for the season. I've compiled a list of my favorite covers for your viewing pleasure... check them out after the jump.

*** I swear I'm not showing M+M favoritism ***