The hardest working woman in R&B, Beyonce is working on new music. It’s a little bit unclear if this is a cast off from the B’day project or new music. My guess is that it’s new music. Bey has been rumored to be working on a new album, so she was about due for leak. It’s called ‘Beautiful Nightmare’. Yeah, the title is a little played given the ‘Beautiful Liar’ similarities… but I kinda dig the 80’s vibe. I guess the retro 80’s thing isn’t just in fashion…

Speaking of new music from the children of destiny, Michelle Williams is working on a secular album. She has two gospel albums under her belt with relative success… she has decided to see if she can do well on the regular charts. In this player are two of her leaked tracks. The first is called ‘Stop this Car’… which I am kinda digging. Its a mellow smooth groove, and it plays well with Michelle’s soft voice. The second leaked track is called ‘We Break the Dawn’… this one, feeling it… not so much. Its definitely a different sound for her. It sounds more like something Ashlee Simpson would sing… but… to each her own. Maybe it could work for her… Who knows?

Hopefully, Michelle’s secular effort will fare better than Kelly’s flop… both the release and the re-release. Maybe she will get more promotion than Kelly and actually get some real record sales out of this album… only time will tell.

Anyway, let us know what you think? Do you like these songs? Are they good candidates for singles or album fillers? Holla back.

The 3rd Annual Celebrity Spades Tournament in NYC was many things this year; a mixture of good and bad to say the least. But for all intensive purposes the celebrities did show up in full force.

(CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS HERE)
*Photos by DK Perryman-Wyzemenn Media Group

Felicia “Snoop” Pearson of HBO’s The Wire, BET’s 106th & Park
Hosts Terrence J and Rocsi, Styles P, Singer Jimmy Cozier, Actor Nicoye Banks, Remy Ma (looking better than ever), last years Celebrity Spades Champion and Recording Artist Joe Budden, radio personality Egypt, Cherri Dennis, Tashira (DMX’s wife), Sway, Irv Gotti (he’s sexy y’all I don’t care what you say!) and many more.

Now those were the positives . . . now onto the negatives; for starters - I still have no idea what the charity was . . . I certainly did not see any banners around or any mention of it in the press release. Then when we arrived, not only was a lot of the press, including us, (that had been personally invited to attend) not included on the red carpet access list but they ran out of wrist bands for the VIP area and spades players . . . so you can imagine the confusion going on as photographers, publicists, editors and managers were chasing around the staff to get their celebs or team members into the /Red Carpet VIP areas (this is why we didn’t have more photos in our Insider Access Gallery . . .)

On a positive side, once we were in the VIP area, it was refreshing to discover that it was well managed by security who made sure that the VIP area was groupie free. The event was sponsored by Ciroc vodka (which is definitely on the ‘Come Up’ these days) and it took place at Strata which was definitely an appropriate location since it has so many rooms that allowed Powermoves to appropriately designate the different red carpet, playing area, lounge space and VIP areas.

As with all events - shit happens and generally with each year things get better . . . and if anyone finds out what the charity was and who won the tournament be sure to give us a shout.

(CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS!)

“Building A Stronger Foundation in the Lives of Today’s Boys” is the motto for this new program that kicked off a panel discussion at Bread & Roses Intergrated Arts High School in Harlem this week.

MAN UP! is a self esteem and empowerment forum for young boys (ages 10-17). The program is devised to address issues of self-esteem, self-respect and respect for others, the transition from boyhood to manhood and the core Hip Hop 4 Life health workshop topics.

BET’s rap-it-up campaign and radio station HOT 97 both teamed up to support this campaign as a star studded panel of successful Black and Latin men joined together to convey an empowering message to the auditorium full of young men.

Founder Tamekia Flowers-Holland (in full HipHop 4Life gear) introduced each of the panelists Kwame(Music Producer), Ed Lover(Power 105.1 Morning Show Host), Soulja Boy(Hip Hop Artist), Mike Jones (Hip Hop Artist), Sammie (R&B Artist), Chris Sainsbury (Celebrity Fitness Trainer), Lee Rouson (Former NY Giants player and Super Bowl Champion), Franco Rosado (Youth Empowerment Consulant), Steven Marcano (CEO, My Lil’ Star) and Nicoye Banks (Actor). After which, she opened the panel discussion by asking each of the panelists to state their definition of manhood in one sentence. Among the responses, the one that stuck with me the most and that received an equal reaction from the audience was: “A boy plays house but a man builds one.” -Lee Rouson.

Ed Lover connected with the audience of young men instantly and took a father tone with the gentlemen as he explained to them that even celebs are not exempt from struggles and that they too have issues with families and being a black man in America. Nicoye Banks asked members of the audience to raise their hands if they were raised by a single parent and then encouraged those young men who had fathers who were not in their lives to find out why they left (if they were able) and to always remeber that it was not their fault and that they do not need to make the same choices as their parents.

The youngest of the panelists, Soulja Boy talked about responsibility and reflected upon the stuggles he encountered growing up in the rough areas of ATL. He said that in order to take responsibility as the man in his home he worked hard to get his music out on myspace and the computer so that he could take care of his mother and little brother since they were struggling at the time. Sammie (the singer of the song “I Like” and the second youngest member of the panel) also talked about responsibility and how he made the decision to put his music career on hold (since he was signed at 12) in order to finish high school before returning to the industry.

The panel took a different turn when Franco Rosado called out a young man who was in the audience sleeping and chastised him for being disrespectful. Franco got real with the boys and talked about how when he was a young man he would be on the streets at 3am trying to sleep with girls since he didn’t have anyone to tell him otherwise. He encourage them to listen to the words of the panelists and realize how much they are cared for as young black men. Tameika interjected and pointed out that African American teenagers have the highest new case AIDS rate and that AIDS is not just a gay disease and that they needed to be safe. Ed Lover piggy backed on this topic and asked the young men if they were sexually active, to our surprise, about 80% of the room full of young boys raised their hands. After Ed comically noted that half of them were lying, he also asked who was having unprotected sex and a small percentage of them admitted to this. Kwame brought the level of anxiety down by sharing a touching story about how he had to watch his younger brother deteriorate and die from AIDS related illnesses last year. He urged the gentlemen to take the 30 seconds or less that it takes to rap it up.

Hip Hop 4 Life’s Mission is to engage and empower youth to adopt a healthier lifestyle by partnering with health and industry professionals. The ultimate goal is to create a generation of mentally, emotionally and physically healthy leaders.

In 2008, the BET Rap-It-Up campaign is going to continue to conduct teen forums, testing and college tours by teaming up with industry celebrities and health professionals. As of yet the campaign has been very successful as their website has tallied over 2 million hits and has just won an Emmy for the campaign. As Nicoye Banks mentioned, currently their is a curriculum for professors and health professionals in development that will have 10 lesson plans (including HIV 101, Self Esteem and Healthy Choices).

We look forward to what the MAN UP! campaign will bring us in the future! It was an inspirational event that conveyed a relevant message that I will be sure to pass on to at least one young man in my life. To get involved contact ianna@hiphop4lifeonline.com

Riding on the heels of the American Gangster craze of Harlem’s wild days with the BET series, major motion picture AND Jay Z’s tour - Mayme Johnson is releasing a tell all book about the original gangster Bumpy Johnson (Frank Lucas’ mentor . . .or maybe not as the widow Johnson explains). At the seasoned age of 93, Mayme has done a lot of living. But as the widow of Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, the original American gangster, who ruled Harlem in the early 20th century, Mayme Johnson has done more living than most!

In her new book scheduled to be released in February 2008 Harlem Godfather: The Rap on My Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnsonsets the record straight once and for all. Co-authored with Essence Magazine bestselling author, Karen E. Quinones Miller, the novel is not only her first hand experience/account of her life married to the Black mafia boss, but also a vivid recollection of Harlem in its heyday.

With the release of the blockbuster film, American Gangster Johnson’s voice takes on new meaning. Her husband, Bumpy Johnson was an intrical character in the movie. Frank Lucas, the dope-dealer portrayed by Denzel Washington, says Bumpy Johnson was his mentor, teaching him everything he knew. He goes on to state that he was Bumpy’s second-in-command, and that Bumpy died in his arms in 1968.

It seems that according to Mayme Johnson, the film and BET series is not at all accurate. She alleges that Frank Lucas was a fraud. The widow Johnson says:

“Frank wasn’t nothing but a flunky, and one that Bumpy never did really trust. Bumpy would let Frank drive him around, but you’d better believe that he was never in any important meetings or anything. He would say, you can trust a thief quicker than a liar, because a thief steals money because he needs money, but a liar lies for the hell of it!”

(OUCH!)

We know good and well that older folk have no trouble telling the brutal truth and it seems that we will get plenty of no holds barred truth in this ‘tell all’ book that already sounds about 10 times more interesting than the predictable and lack luster film which received far too much hype for such a small bite.

Johnson also says that she was furious when she first found out that Lucas told a magazine writer that Bumpy died in his arms. Lucas, she says, was nowhere around the night that Bumpy died from a heart attack while dining at the famous Wells Restaurant on Seventh Avenue in Harlem. She says Lucas probably thought he could get away with the lie because he figured everyone who was around Bumpy at the time is now dead.

“Junie Byrd’s gone, Nat Pettigrew’s gone, Sonny Chance is gone, and Finley Hoskin’s gone. Frank would never have said any garbage like that if one of them were alive because he’d know they’d come after him,” Johnson says. “I bet he thought I was gone, too, but I’m not. I’m 93, and I don’t have Alzheimer’s or dementia, and I’m not senile. Frank Lucas is a damn liar and I want the world to know it.”

(DOUBLE OUCH!!)

Johnson says she thinks it’s a shame that Lucas was able to fool Hollywood into believing that he’s a bigger shot than he really is, and points out that if he lied about his relationship with Bumpy there’s no telling what else he may have lied about in the movie. States Johnson, as far as she’s concerned everything in the movie is now suspect.

“That’s why I’m writing this book after all this time,” Johnson explains, adding that while there have been legends, myths, and rumors flying around about Bumpy for decades, she’s never spoken out — even when the movie Hoodlum was released in 1997 and contained all kinds of factual errors about the man she loved - because she never thought the lies were malicious. “They just didn’t know better,” Mayme says. “But this . . . well, Frank does know better. These aren’t errors, these are lies.”

“This book is so important to me,” cites co-author Miller. “Mrs. Johnson is a living treasure. Her memory is so sharp it’s absolutely astounding. At 93, it is crucial that her story finally be told. She is the missing link to the urban legend that is Bumpy Johnson.”

It seems unlikely that at 93, Widow Johnson would write this for publicity and with Essence Magazine backing her up…well it seems that there is a new gangster in town; go ahead Ms. Widow Johnson and set the records straight with your ‘gansta self’.

To actually hear Mayme Johnson, read the first chapter of “Harlem Godfather” and to pre-order your copy of the book click here!

*For photos of Jay Z’s American Gangster tour in NYC check out our insider access gallery here.

Last night LIFEbeat made it onto one of VH1’s hit reality shows (not Smart Model, I Love New York or Gotti’s Way) - The Salt N Peppa show. This year LIFEbeat celebrated their 15th anniversary and invited Salt N Pepa to perform and shoot a public service announcement at Crash Mansion in NYC to bring awareweness to the AIDS epidemic.

In this episode, Pepa accepts the performance gig without checking Salt’s busy schedule. Pepa takes on the responsibility of planning the entire performance and sets out to choreograph a sexy routine, figure out the technical requirements for the stage, and find the right props (including a six foot condom) to make this a great event. But when Salt arrives at their rehearsal… things aren’t exactly what she was expecting.

The episode had the typical Salt N Pepa controversial chemistry. Pepa is wild sexy and crazy while Salt is a holy do no evil Christian (yawn). Pepa hires smutty dancers in poom poom shorts doing Lil KLim dances moves and a band that has not rehearsed their song. Salt (who was too busy to know that any of this was going on) comes in for a dress rehearsal and turns her nose up at everything Pepa put together and at the end, they compromise AS USUAL. During the first two episodes, their banter was entertaining but now in this fifth episode it is clear that this show is scripted and that it also needs some new believable story lines to play with.

Nonetheless, LIFEbeat got great exposure and it was very appropriate for them to team up with Salt N Pepa since they helped to kick off the campaign 15 years ago.

All factors considered - for an event without any major star power, on a Wednesday at 11pm in 35 degree weather, TRIPLE S-Rated overcame the odds that were against it and was a success!

TRIPLE S-Rated was an event designed by Christopher Street TV and Royalty Media Group to spread the message of CAUTION to promote safer sex. The proceeds from this event were donated to the Beyond the Street Tour (to encourage safer sex) and The RaShawn Brazell Foundation (to encourage unity and peace in the LGBT community).

From reading that blurb above one might get the wrong idea and assume that this was a safe sex party; but it could not have been further from that. Triple S Rated was a model search, music showcase and community awareness award ceremony all in one (hence the “triple” in the Triple S). Tyra Allure Ross and Smoov (co-host of MTV’s Dances from the Hood) served as the MC’s for the evening. Among the performers were Brooklyn’s very own B-boy Shorty Roc, JaGore Music Group’s Boy-Girl duo Rebel Starr and Baron who all performed their original tracks.

Columbia recording artist Jesse O was also slated to perform but was unable to since he was not feeling well (nonetheless he came out to support). During the award ceremony Lee Soulja, Nathan H. Williams and our very own Nathan “Seven” Scott were honored for their tireless contributions to the urban LGBT community.

Instead of having staff hands pass out condoms throughout the evening to hammer home the point of safe sex, the venue was plastered with lots (and I do mean LOTS) of yellow caution tape.

Even the models were not spared from this tactic. At first I was a little confused as to why the models were pumping down the caution tape lined runway wrapped in their own unique designs of the same yellow caution tape because I thought it was supposed to be a fashion show . . . but then I realized the message they were trying to bring home: ‘Safe sex is sexy and fashionable’ (ahhhhhhhh….clever clever Mr. Dwight O’Neal).

Congratulations to everyone who came together to promote safe sex and awareness in a new way!

Last week, members of the UNEQ Magazine fashion team headed out to Chelsea to support GMHC’s Fashion Forward (hosted by Tim Gunn from Project Runway). The event celebrated the fashion industry’s commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS and their support of GMHC for over two decades. The runway show presented the looks of such celebrated designers as John Bartlett, Andrew Buckler, Heatherette, Perry Ellis, Rag & Bone and Peter Som.

The evening was nothing short of classy, well planned and fabulous! During the reception hour sponsored by Stoli Vodka, attendees mixed and mingled. As if the wonderful company of our fellow LGBT peers, fashionistas, community leaders and friends of the LGBT community wasn’t enough - a silent auction also took place to keep the guests occupied prior to the show and to also raise money for the cause.

Some of the items in the silent auction were racks of clothing donated from designer showrooms, Broadway tickets from a host of different shows and much more. When the cocktail hour concluded and the guests were ushered into their seats by an incredibly dutiful seating team, a quick live auction commenced for an extended weekend in the Caribbean aboard ‘El Jefe’, a private yacht. The total package value of this excursion which provided full amenities for a total of 8 passengers was $50,000. Tim Gunn served as the auctioneer and sold the package for a total of $17,500.

Once the well poised and regal Chief Executive Oficer of GMHC - Dr. Marjorie Hill came out to welcome the audience and plug ‘Savor’ (a celebration of celebrity chefs also presented by GMHC taking place in March 2008), Peter Lichtenthal (President of Bumble and Buble) also thanked the attendees for their support. At the conclusion of the ceremonies and speeches, the runway show commenced with a line up of well known designers that would normally never be seen on the same runway together. Check out the photos shot by our very own photographer DK Perryman here.

Congratulations GMHC for the 1st Annual Fashion forward! It was truly a fabulous time and wonderful cause! It is clear that GMHC understands that because of the creativity within the gay community, there are plenty of other ways to bring awareness to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Much like the celebrity endorsed Keepachildalive.org, I AM AFRICAN and I Stand With Magic Campaigns - GMHC has begun to think progressively about ways to take away the negative stigma associated with the HIV/AIDS epidemic on a worldwide scale. Myself along with many others left the others feeling inspired, empowered and hopeful that we are only steps away from finding a cure and that by no means is this a fight that we are fighting alone!

*GMHC is a not for profit organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS.

Not too long after Deputy Dallas Mayor Dewaine Caraway called a news conference and proposed a new saggin’ ordinance which would prohibit men from wearing pants that sagged below their waistline . . . the NuVision Group released thePull Your Pants Up! song.

Now, in part I understand the efforts that are being made here; saggin (which I just learned spells ‘niggas’ backward) jeans have unfortunately developed a bad reputation and it seems to go hand in hand with a certain negative type of mentality (I know that this not always the case though). In my opinion, an ordinace or law is a step to far but I do understand the movement trying to get young men to stop this. What I don’t appreciate is the level of homophobia being perpetuated throughout the song. Read the lyrics below, you can go to the myspace page to hear the song

The so-called rap artist who sings the song has already responded to homophobic accusations saying that this is not true, but if you look at the key bolded lines below . . . it is clear to me how he feels about us. He clearly states that “real men” (implying that gay men are not REAL MEN) are not feeling sagging pants because it is “gay”.

LYRICS: As posted from their myspace page.

Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up Man *Pull Your Pants Up!

Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up Man* Pull Your Pants Up!

Verse 1

I’m the street priest I’m not here to Judge

This a letter to the streets talking to my thugs

From Girbuads to Monkey jeans to what you want to wear

I’m just saying man im sick of seeing your underwear

I think I speak on behalf of the community

You look suspect jail is were you soon to be

Behind bars it’s a code for the “N” word

The word saggin spelled backward is the “N” word

You walk the streets with your pants way down low

I don’t know! Looks to me you on the down low
Some of yall think its gangster to show your back

On behalf of real men we aint feeling that
We don’t understand man cause it shocks us

Can you make us understand why you show your boxers?

Cause if you stand up straight bet your pants fall

Might as well walk around with your pants off

Chorus:

Be a real man stand up! Is that your underwear man pull your pants up

I’m a grown man on my grind trying to shine

How you gone grind when your mind showing your behind

I think its rude but some of yall think it’s cool

Walking around showing your behind to other dudes

It looks retarded, degenerate, and real odd

Yeah you hard! But now it’s hard to get a real job

Verse 2

What’s up with it bro I’m just trying to let you know

Put a belt around your waist before your pants hit the floor

If you twenty and above and you still sagg

Man you grown and you’re wrong you should feel bad

A disgrace to your race were your pride at

Come on man pull up your pants and get your pride back

I’m not saying don’t show your swagg with your baggy jeans

I’m just saying don’t show your “eah!!” with your baggy jeans

Bridge

Pullem up!Whats up with bro?Pullem up before your pants hit the floor

Pullem up!Whats up with bro?Pullem up before your pants hit the floor

Pullem up!Whats up with bro?Pullem up before your pants hit the floor

Pullem up!Whats up with bro?Pullem up before your pants hit the floor Pullem up! Pullem up!

Pullem up! Pullem up!

Chorus:

Be a real man stand up! Is that your underwear man pull your pants up

I’m a grown man on my grind trying to shine

How you gone grind when your mind showing your behind

I think its rude but some of yall think it’s cool

Walking around showing your behind to other dudes

It looks retarded, degenerate, and real odd

Yeah you hard! But now it’s hard to get a real job

Bridge

Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up

Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up

Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up, Pullem up

Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up Man *Pull Your Pants Up!

Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up! Pull Your Pants Up Man* Pull Your Pants Up!

Chorus:

Be a real man stand up! Is that your underwear man pull your pants up

I’m a grown man on my grind trying to shine

How you gone grind when your mind showing your behind

I think its rude but some of yall think it’s cool

Walking around showing your behind to other dudes

It looks retarded, degenerate, and real odd

Yeah you hard! But now it’s hard to get a real job

Chorus:

Be a real man stand up! Is that your underwear man pull your pants up

I’m a grown man on my grind trying to shine

How you gone grind when your mind showing your behind

I think its rude but some of yall think it’s cool

Walking around showing your behind to other dudes

It looks retarded, degenerate, and real odd

Yeah you hard! But now it’s hard to get a real job

Check out this new UNEQ Magazine favorite by Grammy winning artist Wyclef as he makes his return to music with his new single!

Last night UNEQ Magazine team members got together with Frankie Endozien, Patrick Riley and the NYABJ (New York Association of Black Jounrnalists) and attended the advance screening premiere of the new Robert Redford film Lions For Lambs. I wanted to enjoy this film so much and for good reason. The film has an all star cast: Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Michael Pena and that YUMMY Derek Luke (from Antwon Fischer). Unfortunately though the film was anti-climatic and it ended “in media res” - leaving a theatre full of journalists disappointed.

If you are anything like me, you’ve probably been analyzing the title trying to figure out what it all means.The term “Lions for Lambs” comes from a statement that was made by a German officer in World War I about how the brave British soldiers were being led by cowardly commanders….hmmm did someone say the US troops in Iraq led by the Bush Administration?
Well this is precisley what the film is about without question.

“It’s not about war, it is about the conditions and decisions that put us in the position that we are in today.” -Robert Redford

So after I finally got past the fact that everytime I looked at Robert Redford I was reminded of the Green Goblin from Spiderman, I got into the plot. In what seemed like a never ending boring lecture from Grandpa, Robert Redford and writer Matthew Michael Carnahan set up three scenes with the star actors paired off (Meryl and Tom, Redford and Garfield, Luke and Pena) as they discuss and engage in the realities of the War on Terror in three very different settings and ways. Two of the settings involve discussions on the merits of politics and how they are far from trenches. The third shows two Special Forces volunteers (former A students of Redford in college) trapped on a snowy mountain in Afghanistan and surrounded by the enemy.

The film is highly intelligent and Meryl Streep (as expected) delivers some fiercely witty and memorable lines, but all in all it is a film that could have easily been a made for tv film. The only thing that I can hope happens as a result of this other wise uneventful film is that it sparks a series of discussions about the real War of Terror that we are living in today and the general idle mentality that the public has taken to the situation. But this is definitely not a film that you want to spend your 90 minutes viewing on a Friday night!

UNEQ Magazine gives Lions for Lambs a ‘C’ for the the film but an ‘A’ for the message and political relevance!