Wednesday, October 27, 2010

TYLER PERRY - OSCAR WORTHY? NEW IMAGE FOR TYLER? [FOR COLORED GIRLS]

I will be going to see the movie and I have high expectations for it as the play and book of poetry by Ntozake Shange is beautifully written and is a classic! I know many people were raising eyebrows at Tyler taking this project on as his most dramatic films are Why Did I Get Married, it's sequel and Precious which he did not write.

Read below the NY Times article about Tyler Perry's dramatic turn and possible new image when it comes to his movies.
MeaLee

LOS ANGELES — Is Tyler Perry capable of highbrow cinema? The studio behind his 10th movie is determined to make audiences and Oscar voters look beyond his track record and answer yes.

Mr. Perry is the most successful black filmmaker ever. His nine pictures — from the comedic romp “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion” to the melodramatic “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?” — have brought in over $530 million at the North American box office. He also has an enormous business in stage shows and two television series on TBS.
But Mr. Perry — who writes, directs, produces and frequently stars in his films — also has a reputation as a one-man schlock factory. His movies are reviled by many critics, who complain that his original source material panders and stereotypes, while his directing is sloppy and unsubtle. Now comes “For Colored Girls,” an attempt by Mr. Perry to make a radical turn toward the art-house crowd.

READ MORE after the jump


NEW MUSIC VIDEO - NICKI MINAJ [RIGHT THRU ME]

Nicki Minaj releases her newest video off her debut album Pink Friday [which has a new release date of November 22nd]

MeaLee

NEW MUSIC: "THE SHOW GOES ON" - LUPE FIASCO






The first official single from Lupe Fiasco’s highly anticipated third album Lasers, due out March 8, 2011.

~♥Shené

Saturday, October 23, 2010

KANYE WEST SHORT FILM "RUNAWAY"

The Kanye West directed short film accompaniment to his single “Runaway” which is taken from his forthcoming album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.




Check out Kanye's interview with MTV after the jump..

Friday, October 22, 2010

OFFICIAL ALBUM ART WORK: CHRISETTE MICHELE [LET FREEDOM REIGN]

Official cover for Chrisette Michele's new album Let Freedom Reign scheduled for release November 30th!
She is KILLING THEM with those lashes! I love CM I can't wait to hear her new music!

MeaLee

TRACK LIST: KID CUDI MAN ON THE MOON II. THE LEGEND OF MR. RAGER


Kid Cudi has release the OFFICIAL tracklist for his followup album: The Moon II. The Legend Of Mr Rager to be released on November 9th. Cudi's new project will feature collabs with many of our favorite artists [Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Cee Lo Green] and I'm sure that all 17 songs will make it a push play album!

1. “Scott Mescudi vs. The World” feat. Cee Lo Green
2. “REVOFEV”
3. “Don’t Play This Song” feat. Mary J. Blige
4. “We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up)”
5. “Marijuana”
6. “Mojo So Dope”
7. “Ashin’ Kusher”
8. “Erase Me” feat. Kanye West
9. “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young”
10. “The Mood”
11. “MANIAC” feat. Cage and St. Vincent
12. “Mr. Rager”
13. “These Worries” feat. Mary J. Blige
14. “The End” feat. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper, and Nicole Wray
15. “All Along”
16. “GHOST!”
17. “Trapped in My Mind”


MeaLee

Thursday, October 21, 2010

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - CHRIS BROWN [YEAH 3X]

New music video from Chris Brown dropped today via his Vevo. Ok Breezy I see you! No lie he is very very talented. What yall think? 
MeaLee



NEW MUSIC - BLACK EYED PEAS - TIME OF MY LIFE (DIRTY BIT)

They always [always] bring it! Listen to the newest single released from BEP a remake of Time Of My Life (Dirty Dancing Theme Song Remake). With Dirty Bit they put a whole new electronic/dance/dirty pop spin on a classic. BEP I see you.

A whole new meaning to the line "No one puts Baby in the corner" (Dirty Dancing Movie insider lol)

MeaLee

CLICK HERE to LISTEN & DOWNLOAD

HAPPY 93RD BIRTHDAY DIZZY GILLESPIE

Today would have been American Jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie's 93rd birthday! I got to meet him many many years ago and needless to say as a little girl fascinated by the way his cheeks would expand all I did was kept bugging him to make his cheeks blow up like a balloon lol. Like a wise and patient grandfather he gave into my requests. His music mesmerized me and I grew up listening to his music. He still lives on through his music!
MeaLee




JIMMY MCMILLAN - THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH PARTY

Don't you wish politicians would keep it real? Jimmy McMillan certainly tells it like it is. McMillan is running for the governor of New York under the "Rent Is Too Damn High" party. Since his entertaining performance during a debate on Oct. 18, buzz has been spreading about the self-proclaimed karate expert.
Christine
 

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - TRAVIE MCCOY [NEED YOU]

Official video for Travie McCoy's (of Gym Class Heroes) new single Need You!
MeaLee



Tuesday, October 19, 2010

EBONY CELEBRATES THEIR 65TH ANNIVERSARY

Ebony Magazine’s 65th Anniversary Tribute Covers for their November 2010 issue.

Celebrities of today are channeling iconic celebrities from the past in 12 different tribute covers, and so far, we’ve showed you Usher (as Sammie Davis Jr.), Mary J. Blige (as Diana Ross), John Legend (as Duke Ellington), Blair Underwood (as Sidney Poitier), Taraji P. Henson (as Diahann Carroll), Lamman Rucker (as Shaft), Omar Epps (as Muhammad Ali), Regina King (as Eartha Kitt) and Yolanda Adams (as Mahalia Jackson), Actor Samuel L. Jackson (as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), actress Nia Long (as Dorothy Dandridge) and actress Jurnee Smollett (as Lena Horne)


   
 
 
 


WILLOW SMITH - "WHIP MY HAIR" (SESAME STREET REMIX)

 
If you haven't seen the original video that the head writer of Sesame Street, Joey Mazzarino, wrote for his daughter then check it out below. Mazzarino and his wife are white parents of their 5-year-old daughter, Segi. They adopted Sedi from Ethiopia when she was just a year old. The song was used to encourage her to love her own hair and and not yearn for hair like the dolls she was playing with.
 

~♥Shené

WILLOW ON 106&PARK


She about to shut the game down! 


OFFICIAL ARTWORK: RIHANNA'S SINGLE WHAT'S MY NAME


Here is the official Cover To Rihanna’s newest single release What’s My Name.. Off her forthcoming album LOUD

 MeaLee

Monday, October 18, 2010

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - [OFFICIAL VIDEO PREMIERE] WILLOW SMITH WHIP MY HAIR

SAY WORD? I don't care YES I'm a grown woman and LOVE this song and video. I will be getting her album when it drops. GREAT music is GREAT music. Tell me when you hear this you don't want to whip ya hair! LOVE IT WILLOW!

PS I will now continue to whip my hair...
MeaLee



Friday, October 15, 2010

JAY-Z - THE HITS VOL. 1 - NOV. 22ND [PHOTOS & TRACK LIST]

On November 22nd Jay-Z’s The Hits Collection Vol. 1 drops and will be available in two versions [I'm sure many of you will buy both lol]. The difference? The Deluxe Version comes with Jay-Z: An Illustrated History an art book chronicling his long career featuring photos from many of J's career peaks. Of course there are more photos and the track list after the jump.

MeaLee




ALICIA KEYS& SWIZZ BEATS WELCOME BABY EGYPT DEAN

Alicia Keys and husband Swizz Beats are welcoming their new arrival. We wish them very well with the new addition to their family!


Alicia gave birth to a baby boy at New York's St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Early reports state they named their new son Egypt Daoude Dean. 

MeaLee 

 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

MUSIC VIDEO: RICK ROSS - “ASTON MARTIN MUSIC” FT. CHRISETTE MICHELE & DRAKE



~♥Shené

NEW MOVIE: BURLESQUE [CHER & CHRISTINA AGUILERA]

Burlesque stars Christina Aguilera as a small-town girl who ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer [Cher]. This movie marks Cher's return to movies (last movie Stuck On You in 2003) and shows off Christina doing what she does best - singing. The movie seems to be a good mix of Chicago and Moulin Rouge  and the trailer is definitely high energy and attention grabbing.

Check out a more in depth plot summary after the trailer
MeaLee



via IMDB.com

The Burlesque Lounge has its best days behind it. Tess, a retired dancer and owner of the venue, struggles to keep the aging theater alive, facing all kinds of financial and artistic challenges. With the Lounge's troupe members becoming increasingly distracted by personal problems and a threat coming from a wealthy businessman's quest to buy the spot from Tess, the good fortune seems to have abandoned the club altogether. Meanwhile, the life of Ali, a small-town girl from Iowa, is about to change dramatically. Hired by Tess as a waitress at the Lounge, Ali escapes a hollow past and quickly falls in love with the art of burlesque. Backed by newfound friends amongst the theater's crew, she manages to fulfill her dreams of being on stage herself. Things take a dramatic turn though when Ali's big voice makes her become the main attraction of the revue.

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - RIHANNA ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)

As her last video the colors are striking and bright, intrigues me to see what the rest of her album and videos will be like. This song has really grown on me and I find myelf randomly singing to the chorus to myself lol. 

MeaLee

NEW MOVIE: THE TEMPTEST [DJIMON HOUNSOU & RUSSELL BRAND]

I was blessed with a mother and teacher in high school who absolutely loved Shakespeare and taught me how to read and enjoy  his works. Past the old english language he speaks in and down to the nitty gritty of his tales you will find scandal, sex, love, murder, sorcery, betrayal, mischief and fantasy. Sort of like adding The Notebook, Young & The Restless, Harry Potter and The Lord of The Rings together lol. One of his best stories The Temptest [written and directed by Julie Taymor] is being brought to the silver screen and starring some Hollywood A listers [Russell Brand, Helen Mirren and Djimon Hounsou]. The trailer has caught my attention and this is one I will be catching soon after it premiers December 10th.

MeaLee

Per IMDB.com

In Shakespeare's fantastical thriller the magician Prospero orchestrates spirits, monsters, a grief-stricken king, a wise old councillor, two treacherous brothers and a storm at sea into a fantastical conspiracy bringing banishment, sorcery and shipwreck into the lives of two hapless lovers to stir and seal their fate. Here Prospero takes female form as Prospera, giving her journey of vengeance and self-discovery a wholly new resonance. As Prospera breaks her magical staff against an entrancing volcanic landscape at the end of her heroic quest, this poignant story of love and forgiveness translates into a riveting and filmic mystical tale, for our own times.

Monday, October 11, 2010

NEW MUSIC VIDEO: "GIMME DAT" - CIARA



Get it Ciara!

~♥Shené

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Saturday, October 9, 2010

ESSENCE COVER: KERRY WASHINGTON

Check out the behind the scenes after the jump...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

WHY DON'T AFRICAN AMERICANS SWIM?

I grew up thinking that everyone could and should know how to swim. My father was a certified lifeguard for years and volunteered at the local pools and Y's teaching kids how to swim and life guarding the pools when his work schedule permitted. My mother was a strong swimmer and since I could remember jumping int he deep in and swimming under water, on top of the water and taking diving and swimming lessons was apart of my Saturday mornings.

It wasn't until I was a little older hanging out at the city pool with my cousins or the pool at my father's condo did I realize that a lot of my cousins and friends not only couldn't swim but many were deathly scared of the water. This idea was foreign to me as I LOVED the water and look forward to swimming whenever there is a pool around.

Via BBC News I found some staggering statistics and some historic reasons as to why some black adults and children can not swim.

Theories for low black American swimming rates
  • Propagation of incorrect scientific theories such as black people being much less buoyant
  • Historic factors going as far back as slaves not being allowed to learn to swim
  • Denial of access to pools in 1920s and 30s causing ripple effect to present day
  • Lack of municipal pools in predominantly black neighborhoods in 1960s onwards
  • Perception of swimming as elitist or white sport

US swimming stats

  • USA Swimming/University of Memphis study found ethnic differences
  • 68.9% of African-American children with no or low ability to swim
  • 57.9% of Hispanic children
  • 41.8% of white children
  • Study quizzed 2,000 children and parents in six US cities
  • CDC recorded 3,443 fatal accidental drownings in 2007
  • Drowning is second greatest cause of accidental death in children under 14
  • African-American children aged 5 to 14 3.1 times more likely to drown



Continue after the jump [interesting stuff!]
MeaLee

NEW MUSIC VIDEO - SHONTELLE "PERFECT NIGHTMARE"

Second video/single off her new album No Gravity, Shontelle hits us with Perfect Nightmare. A great followup to the beautiful Impossible that is still all over the airwaves. The song is a surprise dance track as the song starts off slow and has the sound of a beautiful love ballad - and then drops the dance club beat, an infectious combination of a great track and catchy lyrics. Check the video out and make sure you pick up a copy of her new album if you haven't already.

MeaLee



Wednesday, October 6, 2010

TONIGHT on BLAKSTAR - CURRENT EVENTS

Tonight on BLAKstar we are discussing all the current events that are in the news and media. Join the conversation via our twitter or call in live 914.338.1556. You have something that's in the news you want to discuss, tell us about it! See you tonight!
MeaLee

7 WAYS TO SAVE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

I know we just started buying candy and thinking about what our little ones will dress up as for Halloween but it is never [ever] to early to start thinking about the Holiday Season as it is less than 90 days away! YIKES o_O I know it caught me off guard this year as it does every year.

After the chump check out seven easy ways to help you save some extra cash for the holiday season over the next few weeks.
MeaLee

Monday, October 4, 2010

NEW MUSIC VIDEO: FOREVER - THE FLOACIST FEATURING MUSIQ SOULCHILD

Former member of Floetry, Natalie Stewart better known as The Floacist is returning. She just released her debut single “Forever” featuring Musiq Soulchild. The songstress will release her solo album entitled "Floetic Soul" on November 9.

~♥Shené

KANYE WEST PERFORMS ON SNL






Before Kanye West appeared on the October 2 episode of "Saturday Night Live", the outspoken MC tweeted "25 Minutes to dress rehearsal ... Just saw [executive producer] Lorne Michaels ... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum .... Akwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard LOL!"

Awkward indeed, especially considering the superstar MC's single "Power" unfavorably name-checks the sketch comedy show with the line "F--- 'SNL' and the whole cast. Tell 'em Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass." Even though 'Ye seemed a little heated at the "SNL" crew, which took a few jabs at the Taylor Swift 2009 VMA business, that didn't stop 'Ye from not only performing the song but transforming the signature "SNL" stage setup as well.
 
via MTV
 
~♥Shené

CEE-LO GREEN'S LADY KILLER ALBUM COVER


~♥Shené
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