Reality television is nothing new to Da Brat, although after participating in VH1’s Surreal Life, she thought it was a wrap. Settled back into the music grind, she started her own label, Rare Breed Inc., and signed long time friend and rapper MR. [pronounced mister] and two groups from Arkansas; Ment 2 B and Pressure Conna.   With the label started and her goal of being the new Jermaine Dupri in her sights, studio work and a crazy schedule killed her eating habits. That’s when she got her second taste of reality television and became a cast member of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. Throughout the season, Da Brat made it clear she was there to lose weight, it wasn’t about the cameras. We spoke with the slimmed-down Brat to find out just how she’s going to stick to the program.AllHipHop.com: I hear we got delayed yesterday because you were going to the gym. Sounds like you are sticking with the plan from Celebrity Fit Club. Da Brat: Yeah, it’s tiring though. My a** is tired.AllHipHop.com: Did the show give you the idea to start working out and losing weight, or was it on the way for you anyway? Da Brat: Yeah, you know it’s kind of hard to get in the habit of working out, so when the show called I automatically thought it would be a great idea as far as losing the weight and doing it with a team. I was thinking about trying to lose weight anyway, but I can’t control my eating habits and [I was] having a few too many drinks or whatever. I thought it was a great idea for me to go ahead and do what I had been wanting to do, but with a little help.AllHipHop.com: You didn’t look overweight really, so how do you think they knew to ask you to be on the show? Da Brat: You know what? That’s a great question because I have the same question. I don’t know, because maybe some of the people who were working on the show saw The Surreal Life and felt like I’d be great on the show – or maybe they saw a picture and I looked heavier than I did before. I really don’t have an answer for that question. I’m curious about that too, but I’m happy they did call. I appreciate the TV time, because a lot of my fans have been missing me and they’re happy to see me and they’re rooting for me. They hate Dustin and ask why didn’t I kick his a**, you know?AllHipHop.com: Why didn’t you? Da Brat: Because one, I’m on TV. Two, he wants to give you a good lawsuit — to anybody right now really because he’s not doin’ well on the money tip. And three, I’ve been in enough trouble where I learned not to do stupid things anymore.AllHipHop.com: What were your eating habits before the show? Da Brat: Popeye’s Chicken!! I would go to Popeye’s everyday. I love me some Popeye’s Chicken. I love me some fried fish, I love breading. Oooh, I love french fries, onion rings at Burger King. I would grab me a Whopper with cheese and extra mayo. All that stuff is a no-no. That stuff will have your a** with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. I used to like salty things, and I wasn’t really into sweet stuff. I would occasionally love some red velvet cake or some good old-fashioned pound cake or hand-churned ice cream or something like that… and extra butter in everything. Major flavor.   I’m a country girl. I grew up in Chicago, but trust me, my grand mothers are from Mississippi and my grandfather was a chef, so everybody in my family throws down. When it’s Thanksgiving, it’s macaroni and cheese, corn bread, collard greens, candied yams, turkey and dressing. It’s the worst of everything you grew up on. So my eating habits weren’t too hot. When I’m on the road and on tour, at the radio station, then the venue I grab something quick. That might be three double White Castle burgers with some onions rings, you know what I’m saying? All the wrong things.   I would eat late, because I’m in the studio until four, five and six [a.m.] and sometimes I don’t go to bed until eight in the morning. I was eating all through the night, or we’d order something or go to the Waffle House, the IHOP or whatever is open 24 hours that is really good. So, we go to the diner and maybe have some shrimp, and you have to dip the shrimp in some nice sauce, so my eating habits sucked – and to put on top of it lots of Patron. Lots of vodka and beer. A couple of Corona’s with grenadine in it, I like how it turns pink.AllHipHop.com: Wait a Corona with Grenadine?   Da Brat: Yeah, a Corona with grenadine. It gives a little sweet flavor and takes away the harsh beerness, kind of, and it’s pretty good. It’s cute in the bottle, it turns pink.AllHipHop.com: You know, Grenadine is concentrated pomegranate syrup . . .Da Brat: So it probably has lots of sugar in it.AllHipHop.com: Yup, I may have to try that mix. Da Brat: No, No, No, don’t make me make you make that, but it’s good! I’m telling you it’s f***ed up to eat like that, and you don’t realize it until you start eating different and you see how your body feels. Your body feels completely different when you eat. You don’t feel lazy, you don’t feel like going to sleep. It’s about portions now, when you get satisfied stop eating no matter how good it is. It’s hard when you smoke. When you smoke you get the munchies and you want to keep eating, especially if it’s good. I didn’t cut down on doing that so imagine having to be disciplined after smoking it’s a very hard thing […]

21. Philadelphia 76ers- Josh McRoberts, F, Duke The second of three first rounders the Sixers have, Philly is going big on this one.  Problem is, this is Josh McRoberts after his sophomore year at Duke, not his senior year of high school at Carmel, Indiana.  He could earn a starting spot in Philadelphia as they need to draft more big men.  Josh McRoberts being rated this high proves how overrated this draft is. 22. Charlotte Bobcats- Derrick Byars, F, Vanderbilt He might just be one of the most versatile players in this draft.  At 6’7’’, he can play the point, off-guard, and small forward spots.  He’s someone new head coach Sam Vincent can use to give opposing teams headaches defending. This might be the best pure shooter in this draft.  Shooting-wise, he’s the anti-Adam Morrison.  This pick could make their guards except Raymond Felton lethal jump shooters. 23. New York Knicks- Marco Belinelli, G, Italy Some sites are comparing Belinelli to a young Ray Allen.  He better be that good since the Knicks need a shooter.  Did I mention the Knicks could really use the #9 pick?  Just making sure. Now there are rumors floating around that this pick is promised to DePaul sophomore Wilson Chandler.  Isiah needs to know that there IS a second round in this draft if these rumors are true. Isiah Thomas can draft, that’s for sure, so I expect him to combat this great move by trading David Lee for Brian Cardinal straight up.  Go NY! Go NY! Go! 24. Phoenix Suns- Aaron Brooks, G, Oregon Now that we know the Marcus Banks experiment has officially failed, the Suns can use this pick to draft the guard who will one day replace Steve Nash.  Brooks seems like a good candidate for that job and can be a spark plug alongside Leandro Barbosa on the 2nd unit. 25. Utah Jazz- Tiago Splitter, F, Brazil The most enigmatic player in this draft, Splitter’s contract with Tau Vitoria in Spain needs to be bought out before he plays (it is reported to be a $500,000 buyout.).  Splitter could go anywhere from 11-25 in this draft.  This buyout clause will scare many teams away as some feel that he has regressed in his development while in Spain.  I think he is another big man that can help Mehmet Okur, Carlos B#####, and Paul Millsap.  If they can get Splitter over here, we will finally be able to see whether he is worth the hype he was given a couple of years ago.  Simply put: ESPN International Analyst Fran Fraschilla will have a busy night. 26. Houston Rockets- Sean Williams, C, Boston College This is a risky pick.  This has nothing to do with his skills on the court, but for why he was kicked off the Boston College basketball team this year.  People questioned his dedication to the game after he was kicked off for smoking marijuana.  If he could get his act together, he’d be the absolute steal of the draft.  However, if he messes up, then it’s a wasted pick.  This is one to think about because the cons could outweigh the pros.  It’s up to Sean to work on that.  A Texan, he possesses scary shot blocking ability.  This pick can fill the void Juwan Howard left when he was traded last week to the Timberwolves. 27. Detroit Pistons- Petteri Koponen, G, Finland This will be Joe Dumars’ apology to the Pistons fans for drafting Darko Milicic 2nd overall in 2003 (It was still a good pick, no matter what people say).  Koponen isn’t ready yet, but he can stash him away overseas for another year until he is ready.  They have a budding star in Amir Johnson, so it would be right to develop a young PG in case Billups is not long for Detroit.  Dumars has the freedom to take a gamble on this pick, especially if he picks Rodney Stuckey at #15. 28. San Antonio Spurs- Jared Dudley, F, Boston College Usually, the Spurs will draft someone and keep him stashed away until he’s ready.  Last time, it was Ian Mahimni.  This year, they’ll go after the potential understudy to Bruce Bowen, a tough-as-nails defender who can blossom into a good role player once Bowen retires.  He could learn a lot from that savvy crew of boring veterans. 29. Phoenix Suns- Ali Traore, F, France The Suns will rip a page out of Brian Colangelo’s book and go international with this pick, but if the Suns trade Shawn Marion, he could see more playing time than I anticipate alongside fellow Frenchman Boris Diaw.  It’s a low risk pick as the Suns will be looking to wheel and deal.   30. Philadelphia 76ers- Taurean Green, G, Florida Although the Sixers’ biggest need is another big man to play alongside Samuel Dalembert, this is a good pick as they also need a PG.  Andre Miller might not be there by the time Philly is done rebuilding and Louis Williams is not developing fast enough.  Taurean Green is a savvy PG who comes from a winning tradition in Gainesville.  Green has shot up some mock boards due to his impressive workouts.  With a second round pick later in this draft, Philly could turn out to be the draft’s big winners… that is after the Trail Blazers (who have 4 second rounders) and Sonics.

  Life is more than drama for Washington, DC native Taraji Henson. The doe-eyed actress has a penchant for evoking tears with her various performances, however she is working tirelessly to build a versatile on-screen presence. A Howard University graduate and stage actress, Taraji began her mainstream career on television with spots on shows like Sister, Sister, E.R. and Felicity. After a few years of television, it was her breakout role in the 2001 film Baby Boy alongside Tyrese that raised her stakes in Hollywood.   While shooting her next movies, Taraji embarked upon the the Lifetime channel’s series The Division, ending the run in 2004. In 2005, the highly acclaimed movie Hustle & Flow was released to audiences, and Taraji Henson became a household name. It didn’t hurt that she sang on the chart-topping original soundtrack for the film either. She followed with roles in Four Brothers, Animal and Smokin’ Aces, while simultaneously keeping up her television work with parts on CSI, Half & Half and House MD.   We recently spoke with Taraji about a number of topics that have affected her career growth, as well as her adamant desire to stay away from being typecast. Now on the verge of releasing her new film Talk To Me, Taraji is serious about opening the minds of her fans. The movie stars Don Cheadle as a vibrant, politically active radio host with a jaded past, and Taraji had a lot to tell us about the ways she embraced the ‘60s era for her role.   AllHipHop.com: When you seek out a role, what is it that’s most important to you about the character that you play? Do you look at the other actors and parts in correlation to your role before you pick one?   Taraji Henson: Certainly that, when I knew Don Cheadle was attached [to Talk To Me], who wouldn’t wanna work opposite Don Cheadle? Certainly whoever’s playing opposite me is a big factor, but it’s not like people have given me scripts. I have to fight for every role that I’ve gotten except for Four Brothers, John [Singleton] just gave me that one. When I’m looking at a character I’m just looking for a human, somebody that’s dimensional, that has layers and [is] not one-note. As humans we have multi-layers and different sides. Even if the character isn’t jumping off the page, I will bring those dimensions because I want people to identify with this person. I want people to walk away and be moved by the performance, because I feel like if no one walks up to me and says, “Girl, you in that movie…” then I didn’t do my job.   AllHipHop.com: Have you generally found that the scriptwriters have had a back story for your characters, or have you had to make them up?   Taraji: Sometimes it’s in the script, sometimes it’s not right in black and white. They don’t say she was born in such and such, she had this and her mother died. First thing I do is read the script and I pull out all the information that is written there, and I also pull out what other people are saying about that character and take that in. From there I build the story, but I do back story for all of my characters whether it’s in the script or not. Most times what you need is in the script, but then you have to add to it to give the character the dimensions that they need.   AllHipHop.com: In Smokin’ Aces you worked with Alicia Keys, in Baby Boy and Four Brothers you worked with Tyrese, and Three Six Mafia consulted for Hustle & Flow. What has been your experience working with [musicians on set]?   Taraji: Well, I’m gonna get out of you what I need, unless you’re just dead or a vegetable. You will feel the presence of what I’m doing, which hopefully will in turn trigger something in them to give back, because I’m not gonna look right. [laughs] I’ve done it for so long and I come from theater, I know how to do that. I’m gonna get what I need from the person I’m acting with whether they are blind, deaf or dumb. [laughs]   AllHipHop.com: Who has challenged you the most in your career, and who was the most fun to work with?   Taraji: I would have to say Don Cheadle, because he is the greatest to me. His body of work – he doesn’t play the same characters over and over. He’s not afraid to go wherever the character needs him to go, whether it’s putting on a dress and wig, it doesn’t matter. I’m a character actress, and I’m trying to build that repertoire of work where every character is different and it’s like, “God is there anything she cant do?” That’s how I feel about Don, and I say fun because this project talked to me. It was so much fun, musically driven and it was a rollercoaster ride. We had a ball; we watched old footage from Soul Train going down the Soul Train line.   When we first arrived in Toronto we did the hair, camera and makeup tests it was like “Hey Don,” “Hey Taraji,” “I’m so glad you working on this,” “Yeah me too” – and then they put the wigs on us, and the chops on him and the clothes. We stepped out of that thick trailer and it was just Petey and Vernell right there transformed before your very eyes. I was like, “Hey sugar,” he was like, “Hey baby,” and that was it. Vernell and Petey were born as soon as they donned us with those wigs.   AllHipHop.com: Did you learn anything about the ‘60s that you had never known in researching that role?   Taraji: Yes I learned a lot – a lot of things that you have to learn when you’re in school, you’re kind of like “Eh.” […]

11. Atlanta Hawks- Javaris Crittenton, G, Georgia Tech   Originally the Pacers’ pick, this pick was given to them in the Al Harrington trade (Hawks fans, Billy Knight did something right for once), the Hawks have a second chance to pick a PG and calm the worries of fans who may want to commit dat after passing up a PG with the #3 pick.  Crittenton could very well be the best PG in the draft and playing alongside Joe Johnson would do wonders for his career. Now they can go after the PG of the future.  However, the Hawks can’t leave this draft alive without drafting a PG and what do ya know? The potentially best one (and local kid) will still be there.  For once, the Hawks will have a solid backcourt.   12. Philadelphia 76ers- Al Thornton, F, Florida State   Thornton at 12 is a steal for a Sixer team building around Andre Iguodala.  With Samuel Dalembert finally starting to come around as a center, they can afford to go after another pure scorer.  The downside to this pick is that Thornton is already 24 years old, so you’re already limited to how far he can develop.  We’ve never seen him play in huge games because Florida State wasn’t good enough to get there, but with that team in that horrible Atlantic Division, they can rebuild faster than Allen Iverson can help lead Denver to the semi-finals.   13. New Orleans Hornets, Julian Wright, F, Kansas   New Orleans would be shocked and elated if they got Julian Wright here.  He’s lanky and has raw talent.  It may take him more time than originally believed to get better, but the upside is there.  He is a “long” player like Jay Bilas loves to say 50,000 times on draft night.  A jack-of-all-trades type of player Wright’s wingspan makes the SF position in New Orleans very promising for the future.  He and Chris Paul will be a great combo alongside the young big men the Hornets have.  Now if Peja Stojakovic was healthy, this would create matchup problems for everyone.     14. Los Angeles Clippers- Acie Law IV, G, Texas A&M   With Shaun Livingston’s career possibly over after that stomach-turning injury he suffered this season and Sam Cassell nearing the end of his career, the Clippers will need a savvy PG who can carry a team into the future.  Law provides that and is not gun shy about taking the big shot.  They’d be better off getting a SF, but Yaroslav Korolev will get a shot to prove himself and PG is the emergency need for them.   15. Detroit Pistons- Rodney Stuckey, G, Eastern Washington   A rumored promised pick, Stuckey provides the Pistons with backcourt help that was nonexistent during their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cavaliers.  Don’t rebuild, retool.  The Pistons will have to regroup well via the draft if they want to keep Chauncey Billups around and keep Flip Saunders from losing his job next season.   16. Washington Wizards- Jason Smith, F, Colorado State   Jason Smith would be another big body the Wizards could use.  He’s a good low post player and can make that pass out to Gilbert Arenas for the game-winning three.  With last year’s first round pick Oleksiy Pecherov on the way, Smith will fight to get minutes.  However, with Brendan Haywood falling out with head coach Eddie Jordan, Smith will have good odds to play a role with the Wizards.  They’d be one decent center away from dominating the East.  Smith is too frail for it, but he does add depth to their power forward spot.   17. New Jersey Nets- Thaddeus Young, F, Georgia Tech   Thaddeus should have gone back to school.  However, he’d be a good replacement for Vince Carter if he leaves via free agency.  If they part ways with Kidd, Young would be a good player to build around, but it will take some time.  Thaddeus possesses the skill set that can make him a perennial all-star.  Jason Kidd could help him get to that point.    18. Golden State Warriors- Nick Young, G, USC   Too bad he declared, because it would have been fun to watch him and incoming freshman OJ Mayo wreck the Pac-10 Conference.  With Jason Richardson possibly being traded and Matt Barnes testing the free agent market, this could be another good guard to place alongside Mickael Pietrus, Monta Ellis, and Baron Davis.  He’d blend in with Nellie-ball as it is not conducive to big men.  They will try and use this pick as bait to land Yi Jianlian, but they will not regret taking Young if he falls to them. 19. Los Angeles Lakers- Morris Almond, G, Rice I think this draft pick is a moot point considering Phil Jackson hates rookies and tries not to play them.  Almond would be a great shooter for the Lakers, one that Sasha Vujacic has failed to become and a dependable person that Kobe Bryant (if he stays) would be comfortable passing to.  He’d be a good person in their second unit now that we know Smush Parker will not be back to LA.  I guess we’ll know if he’s good after Phil leaves, whenever that will be. 20. Miami Heat- Rudy Fernandez, G, Spain The Heat can use another combo guard since Jason Williams is entering the last year of his contract and Gary Payton is finally leaning towards retiring..  Fernandez could very well be Dwyane Wade-lite, a flashy guard who plays with reckless abandon, a very good fit for the Heat.

Well, if you were struggling to stay awake throughout this year’s NBA Finals matchup or simply decided to stop watching and watched Celebrity Fit Club instead like I did, remember that the NBA Draft is a little less than two weeks away.  Although completely overrated in my opinion, this draft has the potential to change the fortunes of many teams (and in the cases of Boston and Memphis, let us know that blatantly losing makes you a loser no matter what).  Without further adieu, take a look at bx_rep’s Official Ill Community Mock Draft for the 2007 NBA Draft coming June 28.   1. Portland Trail Blazers- Greg Oden, C, Ohio State   This is a lock for Portland.  After seeing the workouts and training combine the NBA had over the last couple of weeks, Oden is the clear cut favorite for this pick just as he has been since his senior year of high school.  Oden is a game changer on the defensive end and when paired up with reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, a another up and coming center LaMarcus Aldridge, and maybe (or maybe not… more on this later) a 20 and 10 guy in Zach Randolph, the Blazers will be taking over the Western Conference… one season at a time.   2. Seattle Supersonics- Kevin Durant, F, Texas   No team needed a top 2 pick quite like the Seattle Supersonics who could possibly leave Seattle by 2010.  Durant is a franchise savior and although lifting 185 pounds for him is a chore, he will be no worse than the man he may either replace or play alongside: Rashard Lewis.  A Durant /Ray Allen /Chris Wilcox combo could be just what Seattle needs to keep their team going.   3. Atlanta Hawks- Brandan Wright, F, North Carolina   Ladies and Gentlemen, this is where the draft truly begins.  Now you were considered not cool last year if you were a GM who didn’t make a trade on draft night.  Billy Knight to Hawks fans is considered not cool because he drafts at every position except one that the team desperately needs: a point guard.  Now they could very well deal this pick, maybe for the Trail Blazers’ Zach Randolph, or go for Greg Oden’s Ohio State point man Mike Conley.  I think Wright is a good pick for one reason: they have the #11 pick in which they can still go after a PG.  However, if Knight drafts another swingman, prepare for ATL to get violent.   4. Memphis Grizzlies- Al Horford, F, Florida   The first team in the “tanks for nothing” club (Boston, I’ll get to you in a sec) seems like things are looking up.  They have a new coach (Mike Iavaroni) and star forward Pau Gasol seems like he’s on board to stay.  For a team that had the worst record in the NBA this season, they do have potential.  Adding Horford to play in the low post alongside Gasol could open up things for guys like last year’s first round selections Rudy Gay and Kyle Lowry as well as swingman Mike Miller and forward Hakim Warrick.  Horford is a winner who will teach this team how to go back to being the 50-win Grizzlies rather than unsuccessful tankers.   5. Boston Celtics- Yi Jianlian, F, China   Before I start, people: just because Yi is Chinese DOESN’T mean he’ll be the next Yao.  Anyway, there’s a very good chance Boston trades this pick as requested by star player Paul Pierce.  They are Memphis East, a team that was only horrible due to injury and have potential stars.  In the Celtics’ case, they have emerging forward Al Jefferson, guard Gerald Green, and point guard Rajon Rondo.  Adding Yi could boost their Asian fanbase in the Bean the way Daisuke Matsuzaka is doing for the Red Sox.  However, don’t be surprised if Phoenix makes a run at Yi with Shawn Marion as trade bait after the Hawks got to keep their first round pick.   6. Milwaukee Bucks- Joakim Noah, F, Florida   While Noah may remind you of Anderson Varejao, Noah is better.  He’s a glue guy that will hustle on every play and could become a 12 and 8 guy with a couple of blocks per game.  These are the guys you win titles with (ask Billy Donovan). If the Bucks can keep either guard Mo Williams or Charlie Bell, this is a no-brainer considering Bobby Simmons hasn’t done much since signing that big time contract.  This move makes the Bucks’ front court the lankiest, yet most likely to succeed trio in the East.   7. Minnesota Timberwolves- Corey Brewer, F, Florida   To many who know me on this site, this is obviously the pick I’m most interested in.  With Kevin Garnett’s time in Minny possibly running out and being led by the worst GM in basketball (I’m trying to be nice, guys) in Kevin McHale, Minnesota needs an impact player now.  Although Corey Brewer’s weight (185 pounds) makes T.I. look overweight, Brewer is a lanky guy who is also part of the Florida Gators pedigree.  An excellent defender, he can add pressure to guards and forwards while allowing Randy Foye even more freedom on the offensive end.  Scary.  In the Wolves’ case, this is the guy you can use to keep KG if he and All-Rookie first team guard Randy Foye play well.   8. Charlotte Bobcats- Jeff Green, F, Georgetown   Green is an NBA ready player who is not great at any one thing, but is consistent across the board. Although I personally would have loved to see him stay at Georgetown and have a shot at a National Title, Green seems mentally and physically poised for the rigors of the NBA.  He is ready to help Charlotte now and would be great insurance in case Gerald Wallace leaves via free agency.  If Wallace stays, it could be time to admit wrong and trade the […]

    In Hip-Hop fashion, it’s more about making “a statement” than making a statement. As confusing as that may be, anything that’s perceived as propaganda is often considered cheap, and thus undesirable.    For Edwyn Huang and his Hoodman Clothing line, it’s entirely the opposite. At over 30 dollars a pop, Hoodman shirts are artistically designed to promote Barack Obama, world peace, and racial equality in the media. While these issues may appear small, the matter plenty to Hoodman’s designer and creator. A law student when he’s not bringing ideas out on cotton, Huang uses Hoodman as an outlet while he slangs sneakers, runs secret stores, and collaborates with Democratic candidates’ staffs.    Beyond just looking fresh, Hoodman stands for something, and so does its founder. With a fresh line of reworked Nintendo prints for the summer, get to know the man behind the stencils, and why it’s more than just stitches to this well-traveled visionary. At Hoodman, if you’re mind is over matter, it ain’t hard to tell. AllHipHop.com:  You do definitely have t-shirts that walk the political line. How do you feel, as a designer, to see people gravitate towards it, some for political graphics and some for just style?Edwyn Huang:  Well, I use “cool” to sell the politics. For instance,  Bill Maher and other social commentators point out that liberals are boring. A lot of times it almost seems like we don’t have enough pizzazz, we’re not selling our candidates and things like that. I wanted to use cool to generate young voters, especially among minority/immigrant communities too. You just need more people involved with the political process. My parents both immigrated later on, my mom when she was 15, my dad when he was 27 or 28, so they never really schooled me on American politics/social issues and weren’t involved. A lot of kids like me don’t get that type of education at home so we don’t have an interest in government, politics. I feel Hip-Hop was the first thing that woke me up to it all and I owe a lot to the culture. I hope through street culture, we can make it cool to be involved politically or just to be socially conscious. I talk about politics a lot, but that really isn’t my thing, it’s the manifestation of an interest in social problems and cultural evolution. AllHipHop.com:  In the year that you have been doing this, have you seen proof of success in that effort?Edwyn Huang:  Yeah, yeah, definitely.  The Ali Speaks shirt that said, “I ain’t got no quarrel” sparked a lot of interest. We used the Arabic word for “Iraq” so a lot of people would ask what it said cause they couldn’t read it. And that’s why I wanted to write that in Arabic so that people have to ask about it, to say, “What does that say?” even though you could probably assume it always people want to ask and make sure. And then also with the Barack [Obama] t-shirt featuring Rakim shirt where it says “Barack O. is President,” we did the writing small on purpose because you have to look closer. And everyone that wears it tells me that when they go on the train everyone’s staring at the shirt now. And now they started to understand it, at first they thought bit was weird but now they like they’re like, they’ll just stop, [and say], “You can read it; it’s a Rakim record.” Our goal with every shirt is to create dialogue, whether people agree with our messages or not, having a debate gets us closer to the truth, or at least a compromise.AllHipHop.com:  Do you find that you have an appeal outside of people that haven’t ever heard of 4th and Broadway Records?Edwyn Huang:  I definitely have an appeal outside, and I want to retain that, because I’m not trying to close myself off to anyone. I’m here to start dialogue about these issues. So I’m gonna dabble in other styles, and things like that. For instance, in our next line, I don’t want to give too much away, but we have a Bill Maher shirt coming out that reps Bill Maher.  Bill Maher is not somebody that is associated with Hip-Hop you know, but I wanted to bring him to our audience for those that aren’t already watching the show. I’m trying to slowly bring other figures that aren’t necessarily recognized in the culture, to the culture. AllHipHop.com:  Why Hoodman?  What’s that name mean to you and why is that the name is of company?Edwyn Huang:  Okay, that’s a good question, because when I came to New York, one of the first stores I shopped at was Union. I went in there and it blew my mind. Back in Orlando, there wasn’t anything like it. I listened to all the music, got all the references in the clothes, and streetwear just took the whole Hip-Hop experience to another level. I couldn’t believe that there was this option of clothing to be able to wear something everyday that I really associated myself with, that I could really connect with, that I could really see myself in. Back in the day we wore Tommy, Polo whatever, and that s**t had nothing to do with me, I don’t know where to find a horse. I wouldn’t know where to f**king go play polo. None of that lifestyle, none of it connects with me, but I remember we all wore it.  I think in New York, we take it for granted that the culture starts here ’cause in a lot of other places, you where and listen to what you can find. AllHip-Hop.com:  I talk to a lot of people who are into fashion scene in New York I know it’s very territorial, as an outsider coming in. did you feel the rather of that?Edwyn Huang: No, nobody really bothered me that much about that. Because I think they saw, that I was getting at these things from a new […]

She has been compared to Mary J. Blige and even Aretha Franklin; pretty prestigious contrasts for someone who hasn’t really penetrated the American market. You may however be familiar with Joy Denalane stemming from her lead off single “Change,” which features Lupe Fiasco, a track that has been pretty heavy on the mixtape scene stateside for a minute. The South African/German songstress gives us an insight to her world with her sophomore project, Born & Raised (Sony/BMG). The album, put out on Nesola which she and husband producer Max Herre created to house their talent is a fresh reprieve from an abundance of young girls performing cute dances and monotonous hooks. Yeah it is music for the grown and seasoned music lover. With production credits falling predominantly on the shoulders of her husband, Joy Denalane looks to the likes of Chicago’s own No ID and New York’s G#### to add some diversity to a rock solid album. The bulk of the production is driven by dramatic drum rolls, up tempo organs and gentle piano rifts providing Denalane with a compatible backdrop for her artistry. Soul searching and lyrics affirming the journey she has traveled are screaming out on Born & Raised. Tracks like the Raekwon assisted “Heaven and Hell,” “Stranger in this Land” and “Let Go” are all capable of touching a nerve with many and most. Lyrics like “When it feels like a cycle you just can’t break/It seems like we don’t learn from the mistakes we make/You look at the pieces that you can’t mend/Start over, it ain’t over start all over again,” may sound like an excerpt from a book in the self help section in Barnes & Nobles; but at the end of the day the content is all relevant.Proving subjects that we are all familiar with, relationships, self esteem, upbringing, can be done over and again time after time, Joy Denalane doesn’t allow us to shake our heads in disapproval; we can only nod in either agreement with her words or with the refreshing sound she provides. “I took my first steps on a spot lit stage/It was clear I was here to stay,” she sings on the title track, and with no ego apparent you can’t help but believe.

  In the past decade or so this question has gained momentum in the black community, and, depending who you ask, the answers will vary wildly, but will always be expressed with great passion. My father will call any black person who doesn’t vote Democrat a fool and to him it’s a very simple matter of good vs. evil, rich vs. poor, racism vs. equality. But for a younger generation of college educated, industrious blacks the question, to quote Eddie Murphy, quoting Janet Jackson is, “What have you done for me lately?” And lately that hasn’t been much.   Historically, blacks were primarily Republican supporters, because of “the great emancipator” Abraham Lincoln. This began to shift with the reign of FDR, who supported various social programs (The New Deal) that benefited poor blacks. These programs fractured the Democratic Party along the Mason-Dixon, and finally broke completely when LBJ signed the Civil Rights act of 1964. At that point, the majority of southern Democrats (Dixiecrats) who were strict segregationists fled to the Republican Party, leaving the black vote behind.   Up to LBJ, the main goal of blacks was equality under the law. After that though, black goals became much more unclear, especially after MLK’s death. Since then, blacks have lacked a certain clarity of vision, that clarion call for organization and a focused political message. Likewise, there is an inertia that drags black leadership back into the past.    If you don’t believe me, look at these three major African-American groups and check out their goals. The Congressional Black Caucus says their focus is, “Leadership, Education, Public Health, and Economic Development.” The NAACP’s mission is, “to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.” And Al Sharpton’s National Action Network provides for, “extensive voter education awareness and the national platform revolves around activism against racial profiling, police brutality, women’s issues, economic reform, public education, international affairs, including abolishing slavery in Africa, job awareness, AIDS awareness, and more.” Guess if you can’t pick one then you choose them all.    Now just looking at these goals side by side one can’t help but notice that they seem vague and gravitate towards the pre-civil rights agenda: equality and anti-discrimination. Likewise the Democratic Party’s rhetoric seems in lock step in these sentiments. Just take a look at the African-American section of the Democratic Party website and you’ll notice that two of their top headlines center around discrimination:   Fox News Story on Voter Fraud Features Only African Americans New Report: Katrina Hit African Americans Harder Than Whites   That last headline should be filed under, “No s###.”   It’s these goals that many young black entrepreneurs find dated and, to varying degrees, obsolete, at least within the racial context. Yes they understand, as Kanye says, “racism still alive, they just concealing it,” but they also understand that with the advent of Civil Rights Act, these inequalities have been redrawn under the lines of education and economics. It’s not about materialism but it’s about justice as dictated by wealth, and the key word is opportunity: opportunity not based on a racial standard, but on merit.   Not only that, but young blacks are also frustrated by what we see as our leadership and the Democrats substituting rhetoric for results. Take for instance the case of Bill Clinton. Described by Toni Morrison as ‘our first black president,’ Clinton’s support of blacks was questionable. Without a doubt, his passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act targeted poor blacks and weakened their already dubious economic status by cutting off government aid, while his Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act created more prisons and added fifty new federal offenses to the books including gang membership. I wouldn’t exactly call such policies the work of a ‘friend’ of the black community.    This is why, in the George W. Bush era, the GOP has made strides in seducing the black vote. We’ve seen people of color promoted to positions of power, and, to be fair, these people have been some of the more competent officers in this inept squad of idiots. Furthermore, the GOP has run several blacks in high profile elections last year such as Michael Steele, and all the while Bush and company has been slick in not addressing their appointees’ racial backgrounds. The whole thing is quite alluring.   But let’s be practical. Let’s escape our historical and racial context, and study the present. Yes, Bill Clinton wasn’t our first black president, and it was foolish to make that assumption. And maybe I’ll go so far as to question the racism of the Republican Party, but does any of that make up for the fact that under Bush we faced perhaps three of the greatest screw ups of any presidential administration ever? We’ve seen tax cuts that have lead to the greatest division of wealth in this country since the 1930’s,  we’re stuck in a war based on lies and misinformation, and Katrina (‘nuff said). Also the top candidate for the GOP in the 08’ election is Rudy Giuliani, a man who instituted and ingrained racial profiling standards within the NYPD. The question now isn’t, ‘Do blacks owe the Democrats their vote?’ but ‘Does anyone (other than the super wealthy) owe the Republicans their vote?” And the answer to the latter is a resounding ‘No!’   In the short term it would seem that the political destinies of blacks and the Democrats remain connected, but in the long term that relationship is in doubt, as we demand a greater part in the political process. No longer will we tolerate idle rhetoric about racism and discrimination; we demand specific policies committing real resources to education and health care that will allow blacks to compete in the marketplace. But more importantly, Democratic leaders will have to understand that we’re not going to accept our token roles anymore. Like any other constituency in […]

Bob Marley’s legendary Exodus will be released exclusively via USB memory sticks, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the landmark release.   The Marley album is the first major label catalog artist to have an album released via the new USB memory stick format.   Not only will the USB memory sticks include the 10 original tracks on Exodus, but they will also include other audio and video content, including three video tracks of Marley at the Rainbow Room Theatre in London.   Fans can purchase the USB memory sticks online at www.bobmarley.com along with other memorabilia, including the Exodus 30th Edition Anniversary CD, DVD and LP, Exodus 30th Anniversary book, and exclusive Exodus t-shirts that are based on the original tour t-shirt.   Only 4000 of the limited edition USB memory sticks and 5000 Deluxe CD/DVD’s will be sold. Exodus, which was proclaimed as the best album of the 20th century album by Time magazine, was released by Marley in 1977 and was recorded while he was in exile in London following an assassination attempt.

Warren G is one half of the Hip-Hop representation on the fourth season of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. Along with the other half, Da Brat, the G-Funkster is challenged with moving a different sort of weight. During the course of the season, the celebrities were divided into two overweight teams and the squad that dropped the most percent of body fat wins the cash prize. All the way through to the finale there was escalating bad behavior, fun, games and challenges. AllHipHop.com spoke with Warren G about his new diet plan and why he chose to lose weight in front of the cameras.AllHipHop.com: So why did you decide to go on Celebrity Fit Club?Warren G: Well, I got a phone call one day and one of my people said, “Celebrity Fit Club called and they want know do you want to be a part of the show.” When I first heard them actually I was like, “Oh hell naw, I’m cool.” I thought it was sort of like Surreal Life type thing. So the producer called me, I came down and I sat with him and he explained the whole show to me. The way he explained it, it wassomething that can be good for me as far as losing the weight that I gained. Because I got a physical and the doctor was like, “You gain 15 to 20 more pounds and you are gonna be eligible for diabetes and high blood pressure which runs in your family.” So I was just like I have to do something to keep it off. They called me down, I accepted the offer and it turned out to be something good for me.AllHipHop.com: How did the producers of the show even know you’d gained weight?Warren G: I mean, really, that’s what I’m trying to figure out. AllHipHop.com: Did they think you were fat and how did they know that you gained weight?Warren G: I mean, I was getting chunky because I was having fun going to tailgate parties, football games, coaching Pop Warner Football and just eating hot dogs, ribeye steaks, fried chicken, fish and drinking beer. All that stuff catches up to you. My face started getting fat, I had a potbelly starting to form. [laughs]AllHipHop.com: Yeah, we’ve seen the pot belly on the show. You really handled yourself well on the show, you were the voice of reason on many occasion. Have you watched it?Warren G: Yeah, I watched it a couple of times. I learned that from Oprah. I know a lot of people really ain’t feeling Oprah too much, but I learned being the person you are on that camera is the person you have to be in real life. I want people to see me. AllHipHop.com: After you knew you were going on the show, did you start cutting back on food or did you just go crazy and eat everything?Warren G: Oh, I was eating. I was eating. I think I had probably about a month or two before the show started so I was eating my ass off. I knew once the show started, I was going to have to do something that was going to be hard for me as far as changing my eating habits. Once I went on the show, I had to do the detox for nine days. It was killin’ me. I didn’t eat any meat. I didn’t eat nothing – just vegetables, lentil beans, fruit and oatmeal. I couldn’t eat nothing but that, so I did that. I kind of got used to it, I started putting my own twist to it with the egg whites and stuff. Awww, it was off the chain!AllHipHop.com: Break it down.Warren G: I was mixing egg whites with spinach, onions, garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes. It was like an omelet, but I would scramble it. For my side, I would have some lentil beans. Eggs mixed up like that with some nice good lentil beans and a cup of water? Oh, it was off the chain, I had a ball!AllHipHop.com: What did you miss eating while you were on the show?Warren G: Mainly rib eye steaks. I kept thinking, ”Damn, I gotta have me a nice well done ribeye hooked up G-style, smoking it on the grill and just letting it… [takes deep breath, pauses and sighs] Just eatin’ it up!” [Laughs]. There were a couple of times now, don’t get me wrong, I cheated with some cookies or I might’ve had something when I went up to a video shoot that Snoop was doing. They had fried chicken going and I snatched one little piece, but I knew I was gonna work that off in 15 minutes that was going to be gone.  They say it wasn’t abnormal to cheat, so I did it. I tried not to, but I did.AllHipHop.com: Courtesy of the hilarious promos currently running on VH1, everyone now knows, that your weight loss, did some things for your sex life. Ahem.Warren G: [Laughs] My sex life was already off the hook, that just added to it, a little more stamina and I got the blood pumping a little bit more.  The workout helped enhance, but I was straight already.AllHipHop.com: Do you cook differently for your family now too?Warren G: Yeah, I use olive oil and stuff like that. I really don’t eat rice or pasta and as far as bread, I eat 5 grain. I won’t eat just regular bread, that white bread ain’t no good. I put a twist on everything they taught me. I can eat a steak or chicken and cook it on the grill.I can have a nice four ounce steak with some vegetables on the grill. Then I can maybe have me some brown rice. I’m still eating like I was eating before, but I’m not eating that white rice, pasta or bread. I don’t have a problem with it. People [in Hip-Hop deal with] stress a lot and have anxiety. I used to […]

“[My] attitude [is] like f**k it, they hating anyway.” Young Jeezy, “Corporate Thuggin’” If I were to die suddenly under odd circumstances and the law, my family or friend would look at what happened they would probably stumble on a few odd trends in my life. Upon looking at my music playlist, they would see the songs and artists that I played over and over and over. Many of those songs would be those of one Jay Jenkins, professionally known at Young Jeezy. Yes, Young Jeezy, the Snowman. In all reality, I can say without question that I have listened to Young Jeezy just about every day since he came out in 2006 on Def Jam Records with Lets Get It: Thug Motivation: 101. Weird, huh? I mean, for me, selling family and community destroying drugs is a social abomination and selling it to your own people is damn near treason being the semi-militant Black man that I am. I can’t defend those nefarious activities, but I also can’t say that Jeezy’s rearing defines how I process his music. One thing I can identify is that Jeezy – and those like him – is a survivor of odds that most people refuse to identify with. Me, I can identify with the will to climb out of the hole, clean off the dirt, only to be met by those that despise you anyway. I can relate to the struggle of being Black in America, being human in America. I’m like water…you can try doing that dam, but damn it I’m going to ease through one of those crack. I mean, nothing is going to stop me from doing what I need to do for my family. So, even though Jeezy is telling his life in song and no longer overtly indulges in the street life that should have found him dead or in jail, he’s still a social pariah to many. Those that hate you –critics, racists, middle America, urban America – are going to hate you regardless of your income or your social status. Me, I’ve been through my share of trials and the more I move along in life, the journey gets no easier. People still loath you, even if you haven’t done a thing to them (AllHipHop, as a company, can attest to that). You will still encounter people that judge you without knowing you or your background of adversity. Eventually, you conclude that you have to do what’s best for you – haters be damned. Word to Oprah. “I don’t make music for the critics/ they don’t understand, because they ain’t live it.” – Young Jeezy I know it’s popular to smash, bash and batter Hip-Hop these in these super politically correct era. Opportunists, come out to play! Unlike you’re dissenter, I also know that artists like Young Jeezy have existed for years in some form or another. Another one of my favorite artists, Willie D of the Geto Boys, was known to get extremely nasty on the mic, but, like Jeezy, he peppered his message with gems. When Willie D said, “F**k you, b***ch,” he wasn’t talking about a woman – he was talking to the Ku Klux Klan (1990’s “F**k the KKK”). Same with the big homey Ice-T, who once said to the PMRC, “The more you try to suppress us, the larger we get.” And that’s how I feel about my life and those that attempted to blindly try to eradicate Hip-Hop like we were roaches. Those people don’t define us, nor do they know our struggles growing up. Perhaps they do know, but opted to ignore. That’s right. Hip-Hoppers define who we are and if those detractors want to take away the money, the sponsors, the love and support then we’ll find another way to get it. That’s me. That’s Jeezy. That’s Hip-Hop. We came out of the smoldering ashes of the Civil Rights era, under the thumb of 70’s socio-economic oppression only to find empowerment on our own terms. And that’s whether or not you were middle class or in the trap. I’m a college educated person who has had/has/lost the potential of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Do you think I had a Black man for a mentor? What about a White man? I had my loving mother, but did any other older, successful writer/business person/ so-called activist step up, harness that potential and help guide me through these treacherous waters? No. No. NO. Word to Amy Winehouse. “What you talking about? (Girl singer) Living my life and I’ma get it all no matter the price/ When I did it you know I done it the best / sit back and just hold your breath What you talking ‘bout? (Girl singer) Changing the game and show you half these rappin a** n****s is lames? When I did it you know I done it the best / sit back and just hold your breath” Young Jeezy, “What You Talkin’ About” </i> The End On “Lets Get It/ Sky’s the Limit,” Jeezy says, “The World is yours and everything in it, its out there get on your grind and – get it sky’s the limit!” Many rap fans and those intelligent idiots called rap critics may not realize that that’s a partial quote from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If.” It’s a poem I hold dear to my heart, far before Jeezy intertwined it within his hood poetry. Kipling (1865 – 1936) was the India-born, British-bred author and poet and I bet Jeezy and I relate to his poetic work for similar reasons too. The first stanza of “If”: “If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too […]

The LG KE850 Prada, with its smooth interface and sharp touch screen that isn’t made to be operated by a stylus but actually by the user’s finger, lately has heard comparisons and been accused of a rip off  (by non mobile world community) to Apple’s iPhone, which is kind of strange considering LG announced this phone and its unique touch screen features an entire year before Apple announced its much ballyhooed phone.    As you can tell by the Prada, this is a joint venture of LG and the highly chic fashion brand.  It’s not the first collaboration between a fashion line and a cell phone manufacturer. Dolce & Gabana paired with Motorola to give us the Motorola V3I or V3T (depending on where you live) in gold with the D&G logo (with a extra 150.00) stamped on the phone, but no added functionality. LRG, Dwayne Wade, Diane Von Furtsenber  and Sharp/Danger hooked up for the Sidekick 3 with similar, lackluster results.  So when LG had announced that it was indeed true that the LG Prada was in launch mode and that it would come with a one-of-a-kind touch screen to fully operate the phone with no keypad whatsoever  I was very excited.               When I got my hands on the LG Prada I was highly impressed with the sleekness of the phone, weighing in at a petite 12 mm depth, and a waiflike 85 grams.  Easily concealable, it can rest in your breast pocket (or pants) with ease, and while sporting a nice robust 3 inch screen to operate the phone.  Remember the phone has no keypad so this 3 inch screen that packs a impressive TFT 256k Touch Screen (240 x 400 Pixels). LG appears to understand the importance of ergonomic interface, and gives a very crisp and easy way to operate the phone. Without a doubt, the absolute best responding touch screen I have ever dealt with. (The iPhone, which will rely solely on the touch screen better operate at the same ease or it will be a failure right out the door.)               Under no circumstances would I consider this a Smartphone, but it does come with a document viewer that supports Powerpoint, Excel & Acrobat files.  One thing I found cute, yet frustrating is that all documents are reformatted to fit the screen in its entirety which means no scrolling while viewing.  With a 3 inch screen, the Prada isn’t one of the top tier phones for web browsing, with images being compressed and text not being in the right place, this can become very annoying and is suited more for leisure than the business end user.  In addition, web media networks missing the web browser is not what you would consider fast at all with it just depending on GPRS & Edge so this web browser is no faster than the Sidekick 3.                On a happier note the LG Prada doesn’t disappoint with the media features.  The 2 megapixel camera is really sharp and clear and has the resolution to back it up.  American heads will love it while the UK & other mobile countries might scoff at it considering 3 megapixels is the present standard everywhere but America of course.  The phone doesn’t impress with 8 MB shared memory, but it does come packaged with a 125 MB Micro SD (ScanDisk) card slot for expansion, and the MP3 functionality is surprisingly very similar to Apple’s iPod shuffle.  It was good quality listening about on par with the Sony W810 phone.                Unfortunately, this first-of-its-kind phone will fall victim to the iPhone mania that will be unleashed world wide on June 29th.  The LG Prada shouldn’t be slept on and if you want a stylish media phone then definitely give it a try if you got the bread, 600 Euros or $689.00. However, it’s a beautifully stylish media phone that doesn’t disappoint in the people it is being marketed to (although no 3G, and no Wi Fi). This phone will definitely get you some cool points in whatever crowd you are in when you whip it out.

Glofish X800 (Eten)The Glofish X800 is an extension of the original Glofish, but it now obliges users with the standard 3.5G for cell phones. This drastically reduces the time downloading broadband data, like a plethora of business emails or images from your myspace page. The newest version of Glofish comes fully equipped with Windows Mobile 6.0, GPS capable and WiFi enabled. This means your phone will pick up all the hotspots or can actually show you how to get there. This pricey treat also comes packed with two cameras, a VGA (video) on the front and a sweet 2.0 mega pixel on the back. This allows the mover and shaker to make video calls and take good quality pictures.The only glaring downside for the Glofish is it doesn’t have the capability to play Mp3’s like the Apple iPhone and a number of emerging competitors. Eten quickly makes up for this deficiency by including an FM radio, Skype support and a MicroSC memory expansion slot. Additionally, there is a charming 2.8-inch 640×480 VGA screen in high-resolution. The lack of Mp3 player creates a slight dilemma when you’re ready to slap down $900 for the Glofish. However, if you are ready and able to spend, go, but there aren’t too many sea dwellers that measure up to the Glofish X800.($900; Etencorp.com)

    Darrin Henson may be a lot of things, but passive is not one of them. The charismatic entertainer gained worldwide recognition from his choreography and dance work, all the while planting the seeds that have developed into a formidable dramatic acting career. With television work including the popular Showtime series Soul Food and the powerful HBO film Life Support, and movies like Stomp The Yard, Henson is only beginning to catch his pace in the types of roles he has prepared himself for.   We talked with Darrin Henson recently about the various upcoming movies he has, how he chooses his roles, his independent success with the four-times platinum Darrin’s Dance Grooves, and why staying true to his roots is just as important as his growth.   AllHipHop.com: Let’s talk about the movies you have coming up, like The Salon and The Last Stand.   Darrin Henson: Right now I’m filming a movie called The Express in Chicago; it’s basically about the Ernie Davis story. I’m playing a young Jim Brown. If you know anything about Ernie Davis, he’s actually the first person to win the Heisman Trophy, but Jim Brown helped to recruit him to Syracuse after he left. That’s the movie I’m doing now; that’s a Universal film. The film that I’ve just completed is called A Good Man Is Hard To Find, which is a Fox film due out in November. It stars myself, Golden Brooks, Deborah Cox, Darius McCray, Mel Jackson, Melissa DeSousa and Hill Harper. It’s a very powerful film on family and relationships.   AllHipHop.com: Going from choreography to doing TV shows like Soul Food and movies like Stomp The Yard, how important has it been for you to show people the diversity of your skills and talents?   Darrin: I don’t really think about how to impress people, I just do what I love to do. When I feel like choreographing or dancing, that’s what I do. If today I felt like I wanted to just dance, I would go back to dancing. I don’t live my life to please other people, but hopefully people are pleased by the work that I do. I don’t think about one thing when I’m doing the other – when I’m acting I don’t think about dancing at all, because I’m working on my craft as an actor and I’m telling the truth about these characters. The same thing, when I’m dancing I don’t think about acting. The two are very separated and segregated in the terms of my mind and how I focus on them.   A lot of people do stories and they’re like, “Darrin Henson just booked a new movie, the choreographer and dancer.” I’m like, “No, I’m Darrin Henson the actor at that time, and if you’re discussing choreography and dance then I’m Darrin Henson the dancer and choreographer.” Now, if it’s about being a renaissance man and an entrepreneur, then I can see how someone would be interested in all aspects of that. But when Denzel Washington is doing a movie, they don’t talk about how he spends time on the football field with his son when they’re talking about him playing Hurricane Carter or Malcolm X. The two have nothing to do with each other.   AllHipHop.com: I think that people are inspired by people that have diversity to their talent.   Darrin: Absolutely, I agree with that when you’re talking about the process of evolution. But when you’re talking about a feature film and the characters, and then all of a sudden ‘N Sync’s name gets thrown in there, it kind of throws me off, because it’s like one has nothing to do with the other. That’s not a plague on your questions; it’s just a plague on me as an individual who takes what he does seriously in both worlds.   AllHipHop.com: Did you have any formal acting training? Darrin: I had acting coaches, absolutely. I didn’t go to school for dancing, that was just the natural ability that I had growing up in the Bronx. I’m not the only one; you got [Rock Steady Crew’s] Mr. Wiggles [and] Crazy Legs, and so many people who did the same thing. AllHipHop.com: As far as picking movie roles, is there a standard that you set for yourself in the types of roles that you choose?   Darrin: Absolutely. I like to choose roles that send people on emotional rollercoasters. I like characters that have arcs. Playing Lem five years on Soul Food and seeing how he was this young man that grew up to be a good man, a good father and a business runner, that’s a great part and character. In The Salon, I play an attorney named Michael Edward who’s really just trying to take Vivica Fox’s character’s business through Eminent Domain and then they wound up falling in love, that’s a great arc. Playing an attorney who has to deal with his personal values and work ethic, that’s a tug of war; playing Jim Brown, what more can I say? The man historically has done so much for our people. He’s set a precedent and a standard for sports and as a man.   In [the HBO film] Life Support with Queen Latifah, [I played an] undercover record company producer. For me that was strong, because there’s a lot of cats running around here living that lifestyle, and it’s time to tell on them because if they’re not gonna take the responsibility then we need to bring that to the light to create dialogue. I’m an actor, that’s what I do. The same way Tom Hanks played that character in Philadelphia, these stories need to be told. Look at what Queen Latifah did, she played a woman with AIDS. That’s powerful, we see her in Bringing Down The House, and then we see her play this woman. It’s incredible, and in this movie I’m playing opposite Dennis Quaid – huge actors. That’s what I’m talking […]

NFL defensive end Charles Grant and his Charles Grant S.A.C.K. Success Foundation will host a star-studded group of celebrities during the Bayou Bling.   The Edge 3M Sports and Entertainment-planned event, which takes place June 22-24 in Atlanta, will feature a free youth football clinic, celebrity basketball game, silent auctions and VIP affairs including the Rolls Royce-sponsored player’s ball on June 23.   For Grant, Bayou Bling holds a special place as it reminds people that those affected by Katrina are still in need of assistance.   “Many people think because Katrina has passed that New Orleans has completely healed,” Grant said. “There are still so many people without homes, schools and recreational facilities throughout the city. I am dedicated to making a positive impact in my community and seeing New Orleans completely rebuilt.”   Super producer Manny Fresh, the Denver Nuggets’ Allen Iverson, BET’s Rocsi of 106 & Park and more than 20 NFL and NBA stars are expected to attend.   Proceeds from the event will go towards various Foundation projects including Hurricane Katrina playground builds, Access GRANTed scholarships, the Grant Go-Getters youth recognition program and the Charles Grant Kids Day Out.   “There is no better investment than our youth,” added Edge 3M president Marshawn Evans. “For several years in a row, Charles has donated more time to New Orleans-based community projects than any other Saints player.   While it is not a competition, the charity weekend is a testament to his unwavering commitment to giving back to the Atlanta and New Orleans communities.”  

Hip-Hop games certainly have potential when first announced. As with any culture’s chance in the medium, the built-in fan base gives developers an established market rather than a bare proving ground.  For whatever reason, most Hip-Hop games are rarely anything above average or gamer worthy. Once in a blue moon, development companies will deliver a game that satisfies both the Hip-Hop fan and the gamer.               Here at AllHipHop, we have a personal affinity to such games. Some times they leave us, like you, with a feeling of regret and disappointment. These 5 games are memorable not just in their ability to have good soundtracks, but the fact that they’re innovative in their fields and are simply just plain fun.   Def Jam Vendetta ( Playstation2 | Gamecube)        Mix rappers and a surprisingly deep fighting engine and you get Def Jam Vendetta. The game was surprisingly good, as both its single and multiplayer gameplay could have you hooked in. The chance to fight as your favorite Def Jam artist or against your least favorite rapper sweetened the deal.   PaRappa the Rapper (Playstation | PSP )               Usually when asked about timing and pattern games, most people will tell you that they are not feeling them. If you then ask someone to tell you the beginning of  PaRappa the Rapper, they can say it without hesitation:   “Kick! Punch! It’s all in the mind   If you wanna test me, I’m sure you’ll find  that all the things, I’ll teach ya is sure to beat ya,   nevertheless you’ll get a lesson from teacher now”   The lyrics stuck in your head like over-chewed gum and even now, if someone were to present the disc, most of us would find it hard not to test Master Onion once more.      Def Jam: Fight for NY (PlayStation 2 | PSP | Xbox  | GameCube )                 Few Sequels distinguish themselves. Fight for NY did just that, becoming a sequel that didn’t just rehash the elements in the previous game, but a game that built on what the fans really wanted. Its pick up and play nature mixed with it’s great graphics and improved multiplayer resulted in plenty of nights of trash talk and good times.               Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (Playstation 2)     This is a young man’s struggle to acquire fame and power. A concept that recurs in the gaming world and one I am sure you have heard before, but few games can match the quality of game play with the realism, character development, dialogue, and voice acting. Throw in a quality soundtrack and a Graffiti-powered backdrop, and you have the makings of an underground classic.     Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ( Playstation 2 | XBOX | PC )     Unless your address is beneath 1 Rock Avenue, you’ve heard of this one, with all the controversy and publicity it has gotten. Most who played it won’t hesitate to call it a masterpiece. Its look and feel brought the streets of LA to life; its full expansive world a joy to navigate, and many of the quirks and bugs of the previous versions (and its many biters) were fixed. In addition, many features were added ( Swimming!), and Rockstar  Games did not rest on its laurels to give us the quintessential gameplay experience.    

Somewhere at this very moment, an otherwise intelligent person is going about her daily business with the words “something something um-ba-rella, ella, ella, ay, ay, ay” repeating over and over in the background of her mind. Even if only once, she heard the lead single from Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad (Def Jam) and since then, has been powerless to stop the song’s hook from dominating her thoughts. After enough time, she’ll probably convince herself to buy the album. Luckily for her, the bad taste it leaves in her mouth might be the wake-up call she needs to help lock “ella, ella, ay” in the same dark corner of her brain as “my humps, my humps, my humps,” and “oops, I did it again.”Now on her third album in as many years, Rihanna’s challenge is proving that she’s more than just a pretty girl being used to sell “Urban” flavored bubblegum. Sadly for her, this album will do nothing to help her plight. While most of the songs on Good Girl Gone Bad are mildly enjoyable, Rihanna herself is the least important factor. “Don’t Stop the Music” is a fun dance number, but mostly because of clever effects that simulate the sound of a bass-heavy song heard from outside the club. Rihanna’s vocals are incidental. Pop music has always been full of poor singers who make up for it in personality, but any personality Rihanna shows here is borrowed from a more talented songwriter.“Rehab,” written by Justin Timberlake, comes off as something that didn’t make the cut for his own album and was therefore sold to Rihanna; the same goes for Ne-Yo’s “Hate That I Love You.” Rihanna doesn’t bring anything to either song that any other mediocre singer wouldn’t. Even with an arsenal of Pro-Tools vocal sweeteners, she doesn’t deliver on the few lower-key arrangements (“Question Existing”) where her best efforts still amount to flat, unremarkable singing.With all that said, believe it or not, Good Girl Gone Bad is still fairly enjoyable up to a point. That point will likely come after three or four plays, but even after that, at least one or two tracks will probably make it to that playlist you turn on while you’re getting ready to hit the club. Still, “not a complete waste of time” isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement and Rihanna doesn’t deserve one.Cute, at best.

It’s spring – the short skirts are out, the Yankees are a handful of games back (the Pirates are nearly mathematically out of it), and most Hip-Hop junkies are speaking about what releases are to come in the remaining two and a half quarters of 2007. Not me. I look forward to Pharoahe Monche’s Desire; I hope Jean Grae keeps her promise of three releases in as many quarters; I can use a few more leaked Kanye West tracks too. Still, my iPod, my CD rack, and my most current milkcrate is still stuck in the past – 2006 to be right and exact. One of my biggest qualms with the near death of Hip-Hop has been its reliance on looking into the horizon rather than celebrating its footprints in the dark. This is not a new phenomenon either. I can recall Ja Rule’s campaign for Pain is Love was half dedicated to speaking about The Last Temptation. Master P pioneered this with his No Limit catalog inserts too. While neither example likely speaks to the fundamentalist Hip-Hopper, let us not forget that both artists arguably half-stepped honorable albums (well…Ghetto D) for that tired adage, “strike while the iron’s hot.” In December, I looked back on the year past with a bitter taste in my mouth. So much about the way we listen to albums changed. The computer and copious hard drives encourage hoarding, clicking through tracks, and most certainly the download replaced the UPC scan. Moreover, most of the radio stations I follow showed their true new colors in all but ignoring Hip-Hop without pretty packaging. MTV continued to show me more of what’s in Ghostface’s house than what’s actually on his album. And the same label that made stars out of The Geto Boys and Do or Die, seemed to exclusively test Trae’s album on the long-thought perception that you can go gold without leaving Texas. I was disgusted, and blaming it, as I admittedly still do, on every rapper whose name begins with a “Young”, a “Lil’”, or is young enough to get a paper crown with their meal at Burger King. 2006 was not all bad – not in the least. I am convinced that The Roots released the best album of their careers. A part-time Philadelphia resident myself, I can honestly say that the gestalt of music provided on Game Theory is very reflective of every inch of this city. Equally, Black Thought had more to say than ever before, and when he needed a breath, Malik B. was right there beside him again – as well as a pointed Peedi Peedi. Rawkus Records, a label that had seemingly been reduced to a staff of owners, returned with Kidz N The Hall, a duo that (I think) can compete in a round-robin tournament with Black Star and Company Flow. However, less than six years after the arrival of the aforementioned groups, it was difficult to find the sickle logo in stores, let alone on airwaves. School Was My Hustle is everything The College Dropout couldn’t tell you. It’s leaving an Ivy League school only to go for broke with the taste of champagne dreams leading the way. This isn’t just about that bastardized label of “conscious” Hip-Hop either. Frankly, I would much prefer if DJs would spin “What You Know” right now than the ad-lib driven, “Big S**t Poppin’.” The Chronic was burned right until the can of Dogg Food opened, and a true King is he who can get his album played for two years, not one. Potential is being wasted for the misperception of relevance. There was comeback and reinvention. Although Mac Dre followers may’ve caught feelings, E-40 became the face and mouthpiece of Hyphy. My Ghetto Report Card is brilliant. For the first time since the early ‘90s, a Bay artist was getting exposure in several core markets. But instead of carrying a wonderful album into the next year, the same listeners are demanding that Mistah F.A.B., The Pack, and others push the envelope further. Why is nobody talking about Nas or Jay-Z right now? It’s taken me six months to realize that Kingdom Come, beats aside, is the sound of Hip-Hop’s balls dropping. 9th Wonder, Soul Supreme, Dangermouse – where the f**k you at? Somebody remix this, put the oven on reheat, and get these kids to digest Jigga’s whole-wheat wisdom. Hip Hop is Dead was the antihero to Jigga’s straightforward approach. Now united (and it felt alright), why can’t we hold these albums up together and get a good look at two distinct voices saying the same thing – “wake up!” But you didn’t, I didn’t, we didn’t. We slept. When Ghost dropped, we wanted T.I., when Game dropped, we wanted Jay, and when Jay dropped, we politicked about Nas. Now it’s a year late and a few million shorter, and instead of giving Young Buck his props, it’s 50/T.I. fever again. We’re more hung up on if we’ll ever get Detox than recognizing Timbaland’s evolution as a visionary. Lil’ Wayne’s cornball one-liners on “We’re Taking Over” sadly prevail over Redman’s wordplay throughout Red Gone Wild. Don’t even get me started on the independent scene. Devin the Dude gets more press than a fresh boob job, and “your favorite rappers’ favorite rapper” still can’t get on the radio. Rock the Bells has the potential to be our Woodstock, and it sold out on both coasts. Everybody is riled up to see Wu-Tang Clan and Murs, as they ought to be. But why is this same passion not felt in radio, in video, or in most mainstream press? Rappers – the great ones – have become proverbial 1950s housewives – preferred seen and not heard. Rappers are in danja. Jake Paine is the Features Editor of AllHipHop.com and can be reached at Paine@AllHipHop.com.  The views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com or its employees.

As I write this, it’s 12 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon. I’m laying down flipping between the Mets and the Yankees, bouncing back and forth between AIM, emails and trying to write this on my sidekick, flipping through a script, and my iPod is sitting right next to the remote, waiting for me to figure out that I really don’t need to hear Bobby Murcer and Michael Kay narrate the game. By the way, I just realized that Eric Gagne is on the Texas Rangers (if you don’t know baseball you can ignore that one). I’m in the middle of what I like to call purgatory. Somewhere between being completely immersed in my career, and probably one step from leaving it all behind. If you ever wanted something, you probably understand what I’m going through…it’s something like the last few months of senior year in high school or maybe the week between finals and graduation in college. The few minutes after you downloaded that song you had to find before you play it. It’s a bittersweet place to be. The funny s**t, is that people try and tell me to enjoy this time. Can you believe that? After this from what I hear my life isn’t gonna be the same anymore, and the pace I think I’m running at is gonna look like Diddy tryin’ to keep up with the Kenyans in the New York Marathon. So I try and enjoy it a little bit, but its not so easy especially when I’m dealing with acute writersblockitis. Thank AllHipHop.com for giving me a chance to write something other than songs…hahaha! Summertime looks like it’s gonna be real busy. I’m gonna be going on a tour with my homie Sickamore in July and August, so make sure when we breeze through your city you come check us. I’m also involved in an independent film that’s in pre-production right now and a couple other things I can’t really talk about right now…but that’s just the business I guess. Last but not least, if you’re in NYC on May 29th, I’m gonna be at Club Midway (clubmidway.com) in Lower Manhattan, and June 13th come check The Champagne Convention concert. For more details on shows, check my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/esso) I’m gonna have a few friends with me, and of course, I’m gonna tear it down!! GONE E http://www.myspace.com/esso http://www.essomusic.com  The views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com or its employees.

Writer, entertainer Mighty Casey has compiled a course listing for the Black Rapping School! Check out the Course Book! Misogyny 101. In this class upcoming rappers will learn techniques such as making it rain on hoes, pouring champagne on b###### and swiping credit cards down the cracks of fat a####. Advanced students will learn how to urinate on young girls and tactics needed to avoid paying child support. Rappers will learn how to make their own new misogynist nick names and the many different pronunciations of the word b####. Advanced Vocabulary 203 Just as the Eskimos have 500 words for Snow, rappers have 500 words for cocaine. In this class students will learn all the proper slang terms for guns, weed, heroin, police, females(see misogyny 101), and low income housing. All rappers must understand and use all regional slang in order to boost their national appeal. Beef 606 In this class rappers will learn how to get the necessary media attention by starting altercations with other rappers. Students will learn how to threaten other rappers lives and family members, question their manhood, and find(or make embarrassing) photos of rappers and get them to the public. Rappers will learn how to promote their gang affiliations to seem more credible to the buying public. Advanced thugs will learn how to actually smack enemies’ children, shoot up their moms houses and f### their baby mommas.(Black Rapping School is not responsible for any injuries or deaths that may occur during rapper’s altercations) Economics 502 In order to maintain their image rappers must learn how to waste money on frivolous unnecessary things.. A true rapper must learn how to waste his money without investing in anything similar to Richard Pryor in Brewster’s millions. Rappers will learn how to buy tacky expensive jewelry with no resale value, putting unnecessary rims on expensive cars just to crash them, impregnating multiple hoochies in order to spend 18 years on child support, and wasting money keeping their entourages dipped, and once again making it rain . Rappers are discouraged from investing in their own community or giving to charity and encouraged to give their money to white, car dealers, liquor companies, jewelers and high end fashion lines. Coon history 203 IIn order to be an effective coon, a rapper must know about the history of exploited blacks in entertainment. A study of minstrel show material will supply rappers with enough facial expressions, dances and chant-al-long songs to make them big stars. Students will also study 70’s era Blacksploitation movies for pimp fashion tips, over the top gansterism, and stereotypical black thug images to emulate.  The views expressed inside this editorial aren’t necessarily the views of AllHipHop.com or its employees.