Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Jay-Z Deconstructs Himself
“Everywhere I went I’d write,” Jay-Z recalls in his compelling new book, “Decoded.” “If I was crossing a street with my friends and a rhyme came to me, I’d break out my binder, spread it on a mailbox or lamppost and write the rhyme before I crossed the street.” If he didn’t have his notebook with him, he’d run to “the corner store, buy something, then find a pen to write it on the back of the brown paper bag.” That became impractical when he was a teenager, working streets up and down the eastern corridor, selling crack, and he says he began to work on memorizing, creating “little corners in my head where I stored rhymes.”
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
The world’s fourth largest Rolls-Royce market, the UAE – especially Dubai – earned a reputation for gluttonous ostentatiousness over the last several years as oil and investment money fueled a thirst for premium vehicles. Making Las Vegas and Monaco look like Iowa City, Dubai roads were filled with customized Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bugattis and Bentleys. It quickly became a market where Porsches were for middle-income spenders.
A Luxury Leader Shies From an Unwelcome Suitor
In the world of luxury brands, Hermès International has cultivated an image of purity by remaining true to its roots, shunning the mass production and outsourcing that many rivals have employed to improve profitability.
Lately, however, it has been attracting attention less for its expensive silk scarves and artisan-crafted handbags and more for the unwelcome approach of Bernard Arnault, the head of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the luxury goods giant.
As he has often done, Mr. Arnault, one of the world’s wealthiest men, came in quietly, surprising the family-controlled Hermès last month with the news that he had acquired a 17.1 percent stake.
LVMH said its objective was “to be a long-term shareholder of Hermès and to contribute to the preservation of the family and French attributes which are at the heart of the global success of this iconic brand.”
Nevertheless, many analysts, having watched Mr. Arnault assemble his empire, say they believe he would like nothing more than to have Hermès as another trophy.
Anderson Cooper's Drinking Buddy: Lady Gaga?
His '60 Minutes' interview with Lady Gaga won't air until the night of the 2011 Grammy Awards, but Anderson Cooper isn't holding back about one of the most memorable moments of their recent sit-down. Or maybe he's happy that he remembers it at all!
Cooper told The Insider that when he hung out with the Grammy-winning provacateur in England to shoot their Q&A, she had her own ideas about how to make the interview more relaxing.
"We actually ended up that day in a pub in London drinking Jameson, which I don't really drink," the longtime CNN journalist said. "So, she got me to drink, like, two of them. And by the end, I was ready to have the interview be over, because I really sort of couldn't ask anymore questions."
Cooper confessed a strong interest in meeting the singer face to face. "She's obviously a fascinating person," he said.
And while tippling Irish whiskey isn't standard protocol for most of his in-depth interviews, conducting multiple conversations in different locations is.
"What's great about '60 Minutes' is you spend a lot of time with the person you're profiling," he explained. "So to be able to spend a couple weekends with [Gaga] in various places over the course of several months, it's really cool. And it's really interesting....I'm learning stuff about her I never saw before."
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Christina Milian Cashes In To The Tune Of $4 Miilion Dollars In Her Divorce Settlement From The-Dream
Christina Milian has millions of reasons to smile today.
The La-Times is reporting the singer got nice chunk of change in her divorce settlement from The-Dream.
The-Dream has to cough up a lump sum of $4 million plus $5,000 a month in child support.
Not a bad payday for a marriage that didn't even last a year.
The pair were married in September 2009, but by July 2010, The-Dream was photographed all boo-boo up with his assistant.
In exchange for the settlement and continued support, Milian has reportedly signed a strict non disclosure agreement. So there won't be any books or talks dishing dirt on her ex.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Jay-Z to Release Biography in March 2011
Fresh off the heels of releasing his recent memoir, Decoded, Jay and publisher Penguin Group have announced that there will be a Jay-Z biography dropping in March. The book will be called ‘Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office’. It’s set to have interviews from the likes of Damon Dash, DJ Clark Kent and Questlove and more. Interested to see what Dame will say!
The book was written by a Forbes magazine staffer, Zack O’Malley Greenburg. It will “focus on Jay-Z’s rise to fame as a rapper from the Marcy housing projects in Brooklyn to a mainstay on the majority of Forbes’ top earners lists.” The book drops March 17, 2011.
Lady Gaga’s New York Restaurant!!
Lady Gaga has recently began to get herself involved in the restaurant business! The mega pop star is now an investor with her parents in Vince & Eddie’s, an Italian-American eatery on West 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.
Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, grew up on the Upper West Side. Her parents live “within walking distance” of the restaurant, and they’ve been regulars for about four years, said Peter Digiuseppi, the restaurant’s owner. Favorite dishes for the famous family include the chicken Milanese, the pan-roasted chicken and the flash-fried calamari, which comes with a lemon-lime jalapeno dipping sauce.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
iOS 4.2: Ten great features
iOS 4.2 marks the first time that all of Apple’s mobile devices are sitting at the same OS table. This unification brings a handful of key new features to all three devices, but it also finally catches the iPad up with Apple’s other mobile devices. This is the first time that users of Apple’s tablet can revel in major iOS 4 benefits like multitasking, folders, and a unified Mail inbox—features that iPhone and iPod touch users have enjoyed since June.
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Friends Say Eva Longoria 'Has Been No Angel, Either'
"Eva has been no angel, either," a friend of the couple tells me. "When they first got married, they both agreed to spend as much time with each other as possible. They knew it would be a challenge with them working in different states, but Eva's part-time taping schedule for 'Desperate Housewives' and the resources they had meant it wouldn't be that hard."
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T.I. On The Cover Of Vibe's Dec/Jan Issue
Days before he reported back to prison, T.I. sat down with VIBE's Erik Parker and gave his most candid interview to date. Here is an excerpt from the explosive cover story.
VIBE: How did you get a drug habit?
T.I. : I had a lot of work done to my teeth. Oral surgery, extractions, six, seven, eight root canals. Between January to February. As soon as I got out, I had a lot of stuff done. In the joint, you eat shit that is unhealthy for you. I had fillings that fell out and stuff that had to get dealt with. Of course for the pain they gave me oxycontin and hydrocodone. And, mind you, on October 13, 2007, I had cut off everything―weed, alcohol. Then I get these pills and I start taking them for the pain at first. And then I’m like, Wait―this shit makes me feel good. And it’s legal. After the pain went away, I kept taking it. I had like five, six prescriptions. So I had, like 80 pills. Everybody else might have a drink or smoke a blunt, I took a pain pill. Times when I had 18-, 20-hour days, I’d take a pain pill. And eventually I developed―I guess―the beginning stages of dependence.
Boy Dies In Fall From Luxury Suite At Lakers Game
A toddler has died after falling 50 feet from a luxury suite at the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Golden State Warriors in the Staples Center arena.
Police Sgt. Frank Alvelais says early Monday that the boy, believed to be 2 or 3 years old, was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he died. The boy’s name hasn’t been released.
The boy fell from the third level top tier of the luxury suites several minutes after the Lakers beat the Warriors 117-89 on Sunday night.
KTLA-TV says it’s believed the child was taking pictures when he plunged to the concrete floor.
Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times the boy was moving his arms, legs and head before paramedics took him out of arena on a stretcher.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Winnie Mandela biopic clip leaked online
A first glimpse of a controversial biopic about South Africa's Winnie Mandela which promises to restore her reputation as Mother of the Nation has been provided by the leaking of the official trailer on the Internet.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Dwayne Wade fashion spread in Esquire’s December issue
Camel-hair coat ($2,590) and cashmere cardigan ($1,395) by Gucci; cotton shirt ($415) and wool flannel trousers ($700) by Louis Vuitton; rose-gold Big Bang King Power Gold Split Second Power Reserve watch ($30,900) by Hublot.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
House Ethics Panel Says Rep. Rangel Violated Rules
Rep. Charles Rangel, once one of the most influential House members, was convicted Tuesday on 11 counts of breaking ethics rules and now faces punishment.
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Prince William Gives Kate Middleton Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
Prince William has honored his late mother by giving his new fiancée Kate Middleton the engagement ring that Prince Charles once gave to Princess Diana. “It’s very special to me. As Kate’s very special to me now, it was right to put the two together,” William said as the newly-engaged couple faced the cameras for the first time today. The ring is an oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds. William proposed to Kate on a safari inKenya in October, but he first asked her father for permission to propose. Michael Middleton said that he and his wife are “absolutely delighted” and “thrilled” by the engagement announcement.The wedding, which will take place in the spring or summer of 2011, is already being heralded as the biggest wedding since Charles and Diana’s. –Nadine Shabeeb
Basciano, Starks Open Cigar Lounge
"We started smoking cigars in this open space, so we decided why not share it with everybody," said Basciano, who makes his own E. Zarzuela cigar brand in a Dominican Republic factory he has owned for a few years with Starks and Stamford businessmen Howie Terrino and Santo Romano. "We got into this business by doing some charity work down there."
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Jay Electronica Signs To Roc Nation
Tonight, Jay E.’s friends, family, fans and critics are packed into The Box, to announce that he’s officially part of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation roster.
Earlier I spoke to Jay E. about the big news, and his plans. He said that the actual contract was signed on Saturday, after a few weeks of intense daily communication and creative courtship. How did it start? With a chance meeting at the Spotted Pig. How did Electronica know Hov was serious? His second replay email came attached with a verse. That ended up becoming the Jay Electronica and Jay-Z collaboration “Shiny Suit Theory” (featuring French chanteuse Charlotte Gainsbourg and The Dream).
There’s irony in the fact Jay-Z appears on a Jay Elec song that’s based on Diddy’s description of Jay Elec. Because Diddy has been mentoring and courting Jay for over a year, in the hopes of signing him as well. Electronica insists he values everything Puff contributed and hopes to have him involved in his career, but said “Jay-Z made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. And I have the freedom I need too.”
The natural of the underground, the anti-establishment, the independent artist is rapidly changing…so I’m anxious to see what happens when Jay the conglomerate and Jay the mystic mix commerce and art.
The natural of the underground, the anti-establishment, the independent artist is rapidly changing…so I’m anxious to see what happens when Jay the conglomerate and Jay the mystic mix commerce and art.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wonder Women
"This is proof that all you have to know is 'Hot Cross Buns' and you can still make it to Carnegie Hall," Julia Roberts joked during her acceptance speech at the 20th annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards last night.
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Swizz Beatz: Pupil of Paint
Some people can’t fathom the idea of why a prestigious artistic institution like NYU would name Swizz Beatz as NYU’s first producer-in-residence of the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts, but I say ahhh why not? As an alumni I realize the global “gangsta” of NYU, particularly in recognizing, capturing, spreading & protecting global culture in its world wide Branding. NYU represents New York’s cool factor to the world at its institution of academia. New York, New York so nice they had to name it twice, if you can make it here you can make it anywhere, the big apple, the mecca of the village arts movement, the birthplace of the Harlem Renaissance , the birthplace of Hip-Hop & the capital of the world in its global fusion. There’s a taste of every part of the world infused into New York & there’s a taste of New York infused in every part of the world.
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My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
When Kanye West sings about "jerk-offs that’ll never take work off," you’d best believe he means himself. Being crazy is this guy’s job, and judging from the sound of his music, business is booming. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is his most maniacally inspired music yet, coasting on heroic levels of dementia, pimping on top of Mount Olympus. Yeezy goes for the grandeur of stadium rock, the all-devouring sonics of hip-hop, the erotic gloss of disco, and he goes for all of it, all the time. Nobody halfway sane could have made this album.
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Monday, November 8, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
First Drive: Mercedes Benz CL550 And CL63 AMG Review
The Borscht Belt lives. All the Shecky Greenes, Rodney Dangerfields and Milton Berles in the world could not put the kind of smile on our faces that we got behind the wheel of Mercedes’s revised 2011 CL550 and CL63 AMG coupes in upstate New York. It was a chance to experience refinement, technology and balls-to-the-wall oomph as we had an opportunity to play with the new luxury Sports Coupe from Stuttgart.
Gucci And Christie's Team Up To Bring You The Least Sketchy Way To Buy Or Sell Vintage Handbags
Have an old Gucci bag from the 70's lying around? It might be time to go
through those family heirlooms because Gucci and Christie's are interested. Or,
at the very least, they'll give you a free appraisal.
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