I'm So Over Reality Shows

I think I may be in the minority when I say I'm over reality shows. Maybe I'm in the majority. Or Maybe I'm just growing up. Either way, I'm over a bunch of grown people fighting for no apparent reason. My hate-hate relationship began with the latest season of Bad Girls Club, I loved season 4. The show was over the top but now it's just annoying made for TV drama. Are you really gonna argue with a bunch of people you don't know daily?

Last night I was watching Basketball Wives 2 and I'm so over these 30 and over women starting high school drama. Evelyn and Jennifer need to sit down somewhere. Am I the only one who found Jennifer's confrontation of the party host annoying? Why is Jennifer with all her marital woes and ish, worrying about if someone posted her friends number on Craigslist? Why does that involve her? Please don't get me started on Football Wives. VH1, please don't give these women a season 2. I know they may need the money, but I don't need them. I don't want to watch them hating on Pilar because her life is everything they want theirs to be. Let's be real, they're hating on Pilar because she's "on the money train" and they have money woes.

I could go on and on for days about reality shows, but I won't because I don't want to. The ironic thing is Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives, Bad Girls Club, Teen Mom, and 16 and Pregnant, used to be my favorite shows, now I'm over it. Besides fake drama, the only thing I've seen these shows do is ruin the lives of the participants. Jon and Kate, Heidi and Spencer, Teen Mom stars, Nene and Gregg, and more people than I care to name. The point is, having a camera in your face for 18 hours a day is not normal and anyone who thinks it is, isn't. I'm looking forward to watching more scripted shows, scripted as in someone actually wrote the words as fiction, and leaving the reality show garbage alone. If you care BET has two new series premiering in January.

Celebrate You: Don't Beat Yourself

If you follow this blog, you'll know I'm an avid football fan. I love the NFL network and all things Baltimore Ravens. A few weeks ago, I was looking at football stats online and the #1 team in the NFC is the Atlanta Falcons, who beat the Ravens but that's besides the point, and its because they do not beat themselves.

What is considered beating yourself in football? In my last year or so of watching football, I have watched great teams become lazy and lose a game they should have won. Is that your life? Are you getting this close to the finish line and giving up? Do you know you are that close to the finish line? My favorite poem is called "Don't Quit" and my favorite line is : "And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out." The light is always darkest before the dawn and don't beat yourself. Too many people give up on life before their life even starts.

My Dad often says, "if you're 40 and you're going to live to be 80, that means you have 40 years to change your life." I don't know about you, but 40 years is a long time to revamp your life. In our society, we pretend that once people reach their 40s, it's time to put them away and time to move on to the 20 year olds. The reality is every 20 year old will be 40 and every 40 year old used to be 20. What does that mean? It's never too early or too late to begin living. If you wanted to be a painted and you're 40, why not be a painter. Life is too short to tell yourself what you can and can't do. Let someone else tell you no, then find someone to tell you yes. It may take you days, weeks, months, or even years but one day someone will tell you yes. Don't beat yourself in life, you never know who you may become.

How is 2011 going to be better than 2010?

Wake up, wake up, wake it's the first of the month. It's time to cash those checks and pay bills. This is not any first of the month, it's the first of the last month of 2010. That means 2010 is pretty much a wrap. I ask myself yearly "how is this year going to be better than the last one? Although I made some strides in 2010, I didn't do all I wanted to do so I'm planning to do those things.

Begin your 2011 right:

write down:

3 personal goals- they can include school, relationships, weight loss etc

3 financial goals

3 spiritual goals

etc

Where do you want to be at the end of 2011?

World Aids Day

Today is world AIDS day and although I have a ribbon, it's hanging on my dream board so I can't represent how I want but I'll represent here. AIDS is almost 30 years old and although we've made strives in reducing AIDS cases, there is still a lot to do. Your favorite(?) celebs have died a digital death so they can raise $1 million for AIDS research, which I love. Although I still have my opinion of Alicia Keys' personal life, I love her humanitarian spirit. If you want your favorite celebs to have digital life again, you can text the name of your favorite star , (participating in the campaign) to 90999 to donate $10. Once a million is raised, then your stars will come back to life.

Keri Hilson- The Way You Love Me

Video: 2; song: o. These are my stats for Keri Hilson's new material. As much as I love Keri Hilson, which I really don't, her visuals outweigh her audio ten fold. This video is cute but the song is too raunchy to be played on the radio.

Only for the Ladies!

Ladies, I am tired of the men getting their love with the collections showcased. I don't know if its because of lack of info or we're not putting ourselves out there like that, but I wanna see some heels and dresses on this site. If you know someone with a collection catered to the ladies or know where we can find something for the women, please hit me at officialviimag@gmail.com. Also, check out the main site viimag.com.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been a minute since I've posted but I've been busy with work and stuff. I wanted to take a moment and say Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your extended weekend, eat well, and don't go broke tomorrow.

Nike 6.0 x DeLorean Dunks

Nike's 6.0 line unveils the DeLorean Dunks. Modeled after Marty McFly's car of choice for leisure time travel, the famous DeLorean DMC-12.


The DeLorean Dunks sport a matte silver upper with an outsole that references the DeLorean's tail lights. A Belfast stamp on the tongue recalls the Irish factory where the car was originally produced. Horizontal stripes along the back mimic the DeLorean's rear window shades. The small details show the attention and focus Nike 6.0 took towards the DMC-12 Dunks.





Even the box itself pays tribute to the DeLorean's fold out doors.


The very limited shoe will be released on Black Friday (Nov. 26th) and will be available only at select nationwide retailers. If you want to avoid the madness that is Black Friday, you can try your luck online at Store.Nike.com

T.I. feat. Kanye West & KiD CuDi - "Welcome To The World"

T.I. - "Welcome To The World" (feat. Kanye West & KiD CuDi) by WWW.VIIMAG.COM

From T.I.'s King Uncaged No Mercy album, Mr. Harris enlists the talents of G.O.O.D. music representatives Kanye West and KiD CuDi. Enjoy!

No Mercy lands in stores December 7th.

Kanye x Complex Mag : Project Runaway

Fresh off of the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy yesterday, Kanye lands on the cover of Complex for their December/January issue.

Inside of Complex's December/January 2011 issue you get a behind the scenes look at the creative process for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, as well as commentary from key contributors to the project. Those key contributors include Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Pusha T, KiD CuDi, Pete Rock, & Nicki Minaj to name a few. We have an excerpt from the Complex piece, with Q-Tip describing his trip to Hawaii.

“I’d never worked the way Kanye was working in Hawaii. Everybody’s opinions mattered and counted. You would walk in, and there’s Consequence and Pusha T and everybody is sitting in there and he’s playing music and everyone is weighing in. It was like music by committee. [Laughs.] It was fresh that everybody cared like that. I have my people that listen to my stuff—I think everybody does—but his thing is much more like, if the delivery guy comes in the studio and Kanye likes him and they strike up a conversation, he’ll go, ‘Check this out, tell me what you think.’ Which speaks volumes about who he is and how he sees and views people. Every person has a voice and an idea, so he’s sincerely looking to hear what you have to say—good, bad, or whatever.
“In art, whether it was Michelangelo or Rembrandt or all these dudes, they’ll sketch something, but their hands may not necessarily touch the paint. Damien Hirst may conceptualize it, but there’s a whole crew of people who are putting it together, like workers. His hand doesn’t have to touch the canvas, but his thought does. With Kanye, when he has his beats or his rhymes, he offers them to the committee and we’re all invited to dissect, strip, or add on to what he’s already started. By the end of the sessions, you see how he integrates and transforms everyone’s contributions, so the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. He’s a real wizard at it. What he does is alchemy, really.”

KiD CuDi also reaffirms Q-tip's statement about Kanye's work in the studio.

“It’s very casual; we’re all creative people, so it’s not a stressful thing for us to create in the studio. We’re not in there pulling our hair out. We all have good ideas, and that’s why the records usually come out the way they come out - everybody adds their flavor, and it ends up being a masterpiece.”

You can read the entire article (before it hits stands) online here.

Over at NYmag there is a oral history of the making of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Also at NYmag, is artist George Condo's explanation for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy artwork.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is in stores now.

Nicki Minaj - HoneyTV Interview

Nicki Minaj waxes about her last 9 to 5, 'massive (fan) attacks', her worst performance experience, the last time she cried, and more

Down low we have Nicki Minaj performing "Roman's Revenge" and her current single "Right Through Me" on the 106 & Park soundstage.

Pink Friday is in stores now.

T-Pain feat. Rick Ross - "Rap Song"

Here is the visual for T-Pain's "Rap Song" (featuring Rick Ross), which is single #? off of Teddy P's (yet to be released, steampunk inspired) fourth album, rEVOLVEr. Todd Angkasuwan directed this frozen in time trip through the club, as T-Pain referentially woos the lady of his affections in an attempt to convince her to "make love to a rap song". Co-starring Rick Ross, with cameos from Mistah F.A.B., Lil' Eazy, DJ Khaled, Flo-Rida, Shad "Bow Wow" Moss, Mack Maine, Gudda Gudda, Lil' Twist, and Sophia Fresh.



Buy "Rap Song" on iTunes here.

Swizz Beatz x Reebok Collabo Preview

After collaborating with the lux french designer Christian Louboutin (for a pair of flashy studded sneakers and loafers)...




...and helping automaker Aston Martin design a (currently) untitled new 4-Door...


...Swizz keeps his creative juices flowing with his recent announcement via Twitter.

"THE samples came in Wheww SWIZZ & REEBOK are about to change the game 2011 stay tuned,"


Swizz announced earlier this year that he plans to make moves in industries outside of music, so he can expand his personal brand.

"This year, I'm just graduating the whole Swizz Beatz brand. I'm going more Kasseem Dean, which is my government [name]...Kasseem Dean is the guy that travels all around the world, that deals with art, that does all the philanthropic work, that's scoring movies, that's doing clothes with major designers. All those things fall under the Kasseem Dean category."

I wonder what's next for Kasseem Dean brand, because these shoes aren't that bad. Whad'ya think?


No word on a price or release yet for the Swizz x Reebok collabo, so stayed tuned.

Soulja Boy feat. 50 Cent - "Mean Mug"

Soulja Boy and 50 Cent's mutual admiration for each other has extended beyond a XXL cover. Their musical collaboration, "Mean Mug" wasn't originally slated to be on Soulja Boy's third album, The DeAndre Way", Soulja must of had a change of mind.

"Mean Mug" was just added to Soulja Boy's third album The DeAndre Way, which was pushed back from November 2nd to the 16th and now (finally) to the 30th.

Speaking OF their XXL cover...



...(I know it's a little late in innernets --yes, I said innernets-- time, but) 50 Cent's look reminds me of something from my childhood. I just can't figure it out...



Umm, yeah. That's it! ;D

Down low, we have the behind the scenes footage from 50 Cent and Soulja Boy's cameo in G.I. Joe cover shoot for XXL's November 2010 issue. Further down, is the cover and tracklisting for The DeAndre Way.

1. First Day Of School
2. Touchdown
3. Hey Cutie (feat. Trey Songz)
4. Speakers Going Hammer
5. Pretty Boy Swag
6. 30 Thousand 100 Million
7. Mean Mug (Feat. 50 Cent)
8. Blowing Me Kisses (Feat. Bei Maejor)
9. Fly
10. Grammy (Feat. Ester Dean)

Bonus Tracks:
11. Steez
12. Boom
13. Do It Big
14. Xtra

G.O.O.D Friday - CHAIN HEAVY

You may remember Kanye rhyming this song for the folks over at facebook a ways back but for some reason the song didn't appear on kanye's album track list and everyone has been asking about other songs that were suggested to be on the album, so in the mean time this is what we have for your listening pleasure




Kanye west feat. talib kweli and consequence - Chain heavy by WWW.VIIMAG.COM

Video Fab: Rihanna ft. Drake: what's my name

Rihanna and Drake are cute and do I sense a trend of lavendar nail polish? I like the innocent vibe Rihanna is giving off and am I the only one who thinks Drake was looking at Rihanna like "what is she wearing" instead of "damn!". Just saying. Anyway, the vid is cute although Rihanna looks like five clowns threw up on her.

Michael Jackson - Michael (Tracklist)

Here is the tracklisting for Michael Jackson's posthumous album, Michael, dropping December 14th.

01 Breaking News
02 Hold My Hand f. Akon
03 Hollywood Tonight
04 Keep Your Head Up
05 (I Like) The Way You Love Me
06 Monster f. 50 Cent
07 Best Of Joy
08 (I Can’t Make It) Another Day
09 Behind The Mask
10 Much Too Soon

Akon? 50 Cent? No hate. Just confusion, lol.

Since the release of Michael's first single,"Breaking News", there has been some controversy regarding the vocals. MJ's estate released an official statement regarding the allegations. You can read it in it's entirety below. Below the official statement you can listen to "Breaking News" for yourself, and derive your own opinion.

Dear Fans,


As the Michael album was being put together, it was decided to bring Teddy Riley on board to work on several songs, including “Breaking News,” a song Michael recorded with Eddie Cascio and James Porte in late 2007 while living at the Cascio family home with his children. Riley produced and submitted “Breaking News” to Sony for inclusion on the album. At that time, no one ever mentioned that the vocals we heard on the Cascio songs, which were basically in demo format, might not be Michael. It was known, however, that the background vocals were a combination of Michael and James Porte.

After the tracks were submitted to Sony, three of these Cascio songs were selected to be on the album, and “Breaking News” was one of the three. The day after the submission and selection of the album tracks, for the very first time, the authenticity of Michael’s vocals on the Cascio tracks was questioned.

Because of these questions, I was immediately asked by co-Executors John Branca and John McClain to conduct an investigation regarding the authenticity of the lead vocals on the Cascio tracks.

Six of Michael’s former producers and engineers who had worked with Michael over the past 30 years – Bruce Swedien, Matt Forger, Stewart Brawley, Michael Prince, Dr. Freeze and Teddy Riley – were all invited to a listening session to hear the raw vocals of the Cascio tracks in question. All of these persons listened to the a cappella versions of the vocals on the Cascio tracks being considered for inclusion on the album, so they could give an opinion as to whether or not the lead vocals were sung by Michael. They all confirmed that the vocal was definitely Michael.

Michael’s musical director and piano player on many of his records over a 20-year period, Greg Phillinganes, played on a Cascio track being produced for the album, and said the voice was definitely Michael’s. Dorian Holley, who was Michael’s vocal director for his solo tours for 20 plus years (including the O2 Concert Tour) and is seen in the This Is It film, listened to the Cascio tracks and told me the lead vocal was Michael Jackson.

These are all engineers, producers and musicians who worked on tours and/or in the studio with Michael when he was recording Bad, Thriller, Off The Wall, Dangerous, Invincible, HIStory and Blood On The Dance Floor, and they all reconfirmed their belief that the lead vocals were Michael’s voice on the Cascio tracks.

The Estate then retained one of the best-known forensic musicologists in the nation to listen to the vocals without any instrumental accompaniment (“a cappella”), and to compare them with a cappella vocals from previous Michael songs. This expert performed waveform analysis, an objective scientific test used to determine audio authenticity, on the Cascio tracks, as well as previously released tracks with Michael’s voice, and reported that ALL of the lead vocals analyzed (which included Cascio tracks) were the voice of Michael Jackson.

Sony Music conducted their own investigation by hiring yet a second well-respected forensic musicologist who also compared the a cappella lead vocals from Cascio tracks against previously released vocals of Michael’s, and found that Michael’s voice was the on all sets of the raw vocals. The Cascio tracks were also played for two very prominent persons in the music industry who played crucial roles in Michael’s career. Both of these individuals believed that the lead vocals were Michael’s.

Just to be absolutely certain, I also contacted Jason Malachi, a young singer who some persons had wrongfully alleged was a “soundalike” singer that was hired to sing on the Cascio tracks, and I confirmed that he had no involvement with this project whatsoever.

Sony decided that, given the overwhelming objective evidence resulting from the exhaustive investigations outlined above, they wanted to release a record that included three of the Cascio-Porte tracks – because they believed, without reservation, that the lead vocal on all of those tracks were sung by Michael Jackson.

Although there still seem to be concerns being expressed in some quarters about the authenticity of the lead vocals, notwithstanding the opinion of those who worked with Michael, and two independent forensic analysts, ultimately, Michael’s fans will be the judges of these songs, as they always are. We take all fan comments very seriously, and as I’d stated above, there is nothing more important to the Estate than Michael’s music, his legacy and his fans.

Michael’s fans are extraordinary in their quest for accuracy and their passions to raise their voices in a search for truth! We join with them in our care and concern for Michael. We are continuing to follow up with those who have worked in the studio or on tours with Michael, and if any new information comes to light, we will keep you and the fans advised.

Thanks,
Howard

Howard Weitzman, Esq.
Attorney for the Estate Of Michael Jackson
Santa Monica, CA

Here is the first single, "Breaking News" from MJ's posthumous album, Michael (dropping December 14th).

Keri Hilson - "Pretty Girl Rock"

"My walk, my talk, the way I dress, it's not my fault so please don't trip."



Keri Hilson channels Diana Ross, TLC, Janet Jackson, Josephine Baker and others in this clip for her new single "Pretty Girl Rock". Produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, this is the second release from Hilson's upcoming second studio album "No Boys Allowed". Keri states "It's not meant to be a vain record. I want everybody to feel like they can do the 'Pretty Girl Rock'. It's like the hair brush in the mirror, don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful, 'cause you are. Everybody is beautiful."



Keri Hilson's "No Boys Allowed" drops December 21st.

adidas Originals Roundhouse Mid (Noble Ink/Infinity/Black)

adidas Originals are back at it, with a contemporary retro model in the form of their Roundhouse Mids. New to the house of adidas Originals, The Roundhouse exhibits a nostalgic retro flair. Equipped with a bulky silhouette, mid-foot strap, and an EVA midsole used for comfortable and reliable cushion. The mixture of materials and color make it one of the best eye-catching sneaker models from any brand as of late.



You can also get the Roundhouse Mids in Black/White...



...or in an Aqua colorway.




The adidas Originals Roundhouse Mids are available now at adidas Originals retailers. You can cop the Noble Ink/Infinity/Black colorway at Extra Butter.

Feeling like 2003 again

Its seems all the old artist are on their way back to the forefront.. this is ever so apparent with artist like Nelly and Kelly Rowland back in the mix and people like Mystikal doing songs even Camron and the diplomats getting back together it’s no surprise when you see Lloyd and Lloyd banks back at it, but no one would have ever suspected Cassidy and Mya have would come out of retirement. its starting to look like O3 all over again... don’t believe us?..... well here are some new tracks from some old faces you may recognize





Feelin like O3 Ep by WWW.VIIMAG.COM

Beverly Bond and BET's "Black Girls Rock! (2010)"

"Black Girls Rock!"



After witnessing last night's event, yes they do!

Here are some photos and performances from Beverly Bond's "Black Girls Rock!" event that broadcasted last night on BET. Sunday night marked the fifth, but first ever televised "Black Girls Rock!".



Hosted by actress Nia Long, the event highlighted the positive achievements of women of color. In an effort to highlight the diverse spectrum that comprises women of color, "Black Girls Rock!" celebrates and honors the brilliance of black women around the country for their achievements.



“This historic partnership with BET marks the beginning of an empowerment movement for women of color across the globe because 'Black Girls Rock' all over the world. Our girls are not being told how amazing they really are or how amazing they really can be. It is time that we start telling them. It is time that we start shouting out to the entire world that 'We Black Girls Rock!'" - Beverly Bond, founder/chief executive officer/executive producer of "Black Girls Rock!"

Here is a list of recipients of "Black Girls Rock!" awards from last night:


Actress/singer/producer, Raven Symone received the "Young, Gifted & Black" award.


Hip-Hop/R&B artist, Missy Elliott received the "Visionary" award.


Actress/singer Keke Palmer was the recipient of the "Who Got Next?" award.


Iconic actress Ruby Dee was named a "Living Legend".


Teresa Clarke, founder of Africa.com, received the "Shot Caller" award.


Major General Marcelite J. Harris, who was the highest ranking woman officer in the Air Force and the the country's highest ranking African-American woman in the Department of Defense, was the recipient of the "Trailblazer" award.


Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant received the "Motivator" award.



A few of the performers included Monica, Shontelle, Fantasia, Kelly Price, Keyshia Cole, Keri Hilson, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott, Ledisi, and VV Brown.





In one of the most memorable moments of the night, Kelly Price, Marsha Ambrosius, Jill Scott, and Ledisi sing a rendition of Nina Simone's "Four Women".

Here are some more performances below:

Jill Scott - "Golden"


Keri Hilson - "Breaking Point"


Monica - "Still Standing"


Shontelle - "Impossible"


Keyshia Cole - "I Remember"


Fantasia, Marsha Ambrosius, Ledisi, & Kelly Price - "Brand New Day"/"I'm Every Woman"

To learn more about the "Black Girls Rock!" foundation, you can visit their website here.

I must admit, I applaud BET's recent efforts in improving it's programming. With "Black Girls Rock", The View-esque "My Black Is Beautiful", the comeback of BET News in the form of "Conversations with Ed Gordon", and the re-launch of "The Game" in January 2011, BET has taking considerable action against the numerous complaints they have received about their programming. I just hope they keep the ball rolling.

Look of the Week: Mary j. Blige

Mary is look of the week because she understands how to dress for cooler weather. I love fall but some people, Keri Hilson, understand how to dress for fall. Mary shows you can be covered up and sexy at the same time. Take notes.