April 2012

Dawn Richard, a member of Danity Kane and Diddy Dirty Money, recently expressed her feelings on the hip hop game, while rocking some of the season's hottest women's urban clothes. Richard spoke with Regard Magazine about the breakup of her girl group and what she's got going on now.

Richard admits that moving on from Danity Kane was difficult, but she is enjoying being an independent artist as her first solo album, "Heart Trilogy," has a totally different vibe than what she feels people would expect from her.

"It isn't a different direction. It's a continued one. I've just progressed the sound I already had," Richard told the magazine. "It shows growth, strategy, and creativity. Why would you ask a person to buy and believe in a brand that never works to be better? I want to challenge people to grow with me. I like pushing the limits. For this project, I chose to be me. And that in itself, is taking things in a different direction."

Something else that's changed is her personal style. Richard reports she now likes hip hop clothes that are modern and cling to her curves. Her favorite obsessions are shoes and shades.

"My must haves are shoes...shoes.... shades...and shoes!," she told the magazine.

TheUrbanDaily.com reports Richard announced she would be making a solo album back in May, 2011. 
 

The gorgeous Paula Patton truly seems to have it all - a booming career, a gorgeous and talented husband (R&B crooner Robin Thicke) and an adorable son, Julian. People Magazine recently voted Patton as one of the most beautiful women in the world and the stunning actress spoke with the magazine about her success and her best beauty and fashion tips.

In the upcoming issue, Patton admits with a youngster running around she typically only has time to apply a touch of makeup, though it is enough for her.

"I always love a lip," Patton reveals to People. "A berry color, or even a soft nude. Plus a little color on my cheeks. It makes such a big difference on your face, and lets your eyes come through. Colors that are bright affect my mood, and put me in a happier place."

Makeup isn't the only thing that drives Patton, she also enjoys dressing up in sexy urban women's clothes to spice things up with her husband, she revealed during an interview in Complex Magazine.

"It's a hell of a lot of fun to be sexy," Patton told the news provider. "I love to play dress-up in skimpy clothes." 

It's hard to believe, but April 25 marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Lopes was the "resident rhymer" of the R&B trio TLC and her catchy lyrics and her outlandish hip hop clothes are still missed today, BET reports.

According to the source, TLC arrived on the music scene in 1992 with their debut album "Oooooooohhhh… on the TLC Tip!" The group emphasized girl power and worked to promote safe sex - Left Eye is even seen wearing a condom package behind her glasses over her left eye in one of their music videos.

ABC News reports fans and her former group mates expressed their feelings on the 10 year anniversary of her passing.

"The word anniversary means a celebration. For us her death will never be a celebration, its still something that hurts," Tionne, "T-Boz" Watkins said in a statement.

Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas added, "Lisa is our sister. You never get over losing a family member. We love her and we miss her and that isn’t ever going to change."

Although Left Eye is physically gone, her memory may soon be living on on stage. TMZ recently reported that TLC's 2012 reunion tour may include a hologram version of Left Eye, similar to the Tupac hologram at Coachella. 

Actor Jaleel White who played Steve Urkel on "Family Matters" has resurfaced thanks to "Dancing with the Stars." In an effort to put Urkel behind him he's been spotted out and about in mature causal looks like the one below. Betcha never thought you'd want to cop Urkel's style until now.

Start with these Girbaud jeans:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/clothing/girbaud-x-edge-jean/88M5QA13?color=Medium%20Blue

Button up in this Coogi plaid top:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/clothing/coogi-premium-plaid-shirt-with-taping/C72201?color=Multi-Color

Rock these Reebok hi-tops for a contrasting brown effect:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/mens/footwear/reebok-bb4600-hi-sneaker/V51612?color=Brown

Young, successful women may enjoy letting their hair down on the weekend and going out in the best hip hop clothes, but a recent PEW Research Center Study has found ladies are more serious about getting ahead than men of a similar age. 

According to the study, 66 percent of women interviewed between the ages of 18 and 34 admitted that having a successful, high-paying job is important to them. Just 59 percent of men in the same age group also had this desire. Women also placed getting married and having a family higher up on their priority list over men of the same age.

"They're not backing away from wanting a successful marriage and wanting to be a successful parent," Kim Parker, the associate director of Pew Social and Demographic Trends, told MSNBC. "They're saying they want all of those things."

Women continue to take the initiative in terms of getting ahead both financially and in their personal lives and it may have something to do with the plethora of solid female role models ladies have today.

BET reports VH1 recently aired a special featuring famed celebrity stylist June Ambrose. During the video, Ambrose opens up about how she balances her fabulous career with spending quality time with her family.

"I feel like my career and my personal life have become one because my career is so personal," Ambrose said in the video, according to BET. "I have children so I've learned when to shut down. I've learned then to put the phone down. I cook a meal because I love to cook and creatively it's an outlet and I think those things still allow me to be creative, but it allows me my family time as well."

Ambrose also admits in the video that she is an independent woman and she "never wants to wait on a man." This attitude may not work for all relationships, but it shows young women out there that it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. 

Jay-Z continues to be a jack of all trades and most recently, the mega mogul changed gears from rapping and creating hip hop clothes in exchange for social media. ComplexMusic.com reports Jay just launched a new Facebook game called EMPIRE.

According to the news outlet, the new game gives players a chance to fulfill the type of rags-to-riches triumph Jay-Z had growing up in New York City. Jay's company sent out a press release to the media describing what the game is meant to represent.

"EMPIRE takes you on a journey from the streets of Marcy Housing in Brooklyn to the hotspots of the rich and famous: from hustler, to entrepreneur, to business mogul," the statement reads. "But, don't forget friends and family, or your karma will suffer. Make the right choices and you can have it all: cash, bling, fame, street cred, and good karma."

Rolling Stone Magazine reports EMPIRE is still in testing mode, but fans of Jay-Z or the concept are able to sign up now to start playing.

Jay certainly has a lot on his plate these days. The mogul is still creating music and raising his new daughter Blue Ivy with Beyonce. It was also reported earlier this month that Jay will be teaming up with the New York Yankees in a deal involving his clothing company, Rocawear.

Artist Bruno Mars is certainly a breath of fresh air both lyrically and fashion-wise as this R&B crooner is ditching traditional hip hop clothes in exchange for a mod style. EBONY magazine reports Mars is able to transcend from the pop genre and back into R&B all while staying true to his "unique sense of style that has not gone unnoticed."

His live performances are always full of old school doo-wop flair, but his lyrics scream 2012. It's this wild mix of the two worlds that helps keep him on top. EBONY reports another item of urban clothes that fellas and ladies like are Mars' fashionable hats.

Mars does not discriminate against any hats as he goes from fedora to newsboy caps and back to beanies without any hesitation. Most guys out there may prefer the standard ball cap, but it may be smart to pick up some new options this summer to stand out in a crowd.

Mars spoke to Billboard Magazine about his music, his fashion, his goals for the future and how staying true to his sound is key to being successful.

"It's a rare thing that happens especially in this day, where it's real hard to sell albums," Mars told the news outlet. "I'm traveling to places that I've never even heard of and there are all these people singing the songs back - and English is not even their first language. It's like, what the [expletive] happened?"

Although Mars may have fans out there wanting to recreate his unique style, don't expect him to switch over to starting a fashion line like Jay-Z's Rocawear or Nelly's Apple Bottom. Mars believes he wouldn't be able to do it all.

"OK. Now I'm here [meaning he's made it], what’s next? A clothing line?' That's not what I'm trying to do," Mars told the news outlet. "It's like, ‘Don't be a [expletive]. Remember your dream. Do your music and keep it special.'" 

A few interesting links to get yourself all tied up in.

Nike's goes wolf grey. Read it.

Where is the justice? George Zimmerman set to be released from jail. Read it.

Is this art racist to you? Read it.

If only the voices in Kim Kardashian, Nene Leakes and Paris Hilton's head would tell them to delete their Twitter accounts too. Read it.

Would it be wrong to play the song "Stayin' Alive" to celebrate this great news? Read it.

Metallic platforms are in. Read it.

Britney Spears may literally be a "Slave 4 U." Read it.

Esperanza Spalding Aims to Free the Slaves and the CULTURE CRASHERS Debut

When one has been given a platform to reach millions of people across the world it helps to have a message to maximize one's impact. Such is the modus operandi for jazz songbird, Esperanza Spalding. During her VIP World Tour dress rehearsal she previewed her set list for her upcoming tour and plans to donate tour merchandise sales to the organization Free the Slaves, in an effort to help eradicate modern slavery. For Spalding it's all about using her buzz wisely.

"We are going to squeeze every juice we can out of this hype while we have it," she says. "There are more slaves today than there ever were and that's shocking. Free the Slaves works with the community to break the cycles of poverty so they have options and don't fall back into slavery."

Although Spalding has no scheduled tour dates to pass through Harlem, individuals can still donate to the cause here.

While he may not be lending his name to fighting slavery, iconic vocalist, Jeffrey Osborne is supporting the rebranding efforts of the legendary Soul Train brand. Osborne joins a stellar line-up which includes Patti LaBelle, The O'Jays and more to kick off the first ever Soul Train Cruise in February 2013. Taking a cue from the reinvention of Soul Train, Osborne revealed plans to release his first ever collection of jazz standards. For the covers album he is collaborating with the legendary George Duke and expects to have it released before year's end.

"George Duke and I are slated to do a project of jazz standards like 'My Funny Valentine' and 'When I Fall in Love.' I've always wanted to do that my whole career. Most times companies wanted original material but I can do what I want to do now," he says.

It's all about giving the youth opportunity to do exactly as they wish through CULTURE CRASHERS, the youth initiative created by Souleo Enterprises, LLC (full disclosure: that's me) and presented in partnership with the Harlem Arts Alliance. The project mentors youth in all creative areas and then books them as opening and intermission acts for various venues throughout the New York City area. CULTURE CRASHERS made their debut this past week at the Harlem Arts Alliance's Quarterly Evening Meeting and received high praise for their performances which included 17-year-old jazz guitarist and singer-songwriter, Solomon Hicks, 14-year-old playwright, actor and visual artist, Aliou Abdussami and 15-year-old musical theatre performer, Georgie Exinord.

Attendees were so impressed that the cast of the hit off-Broadway play "Black Angels Over Tuskegee," invited Abdussami for a backstage meet-and-greet and all of the CULTURE CRASHERS received booking offers on the spot to perform at several upcoming events. Overall it was an inspiring start for a program just barely 2 months in existence.

CULTURE CRASHERS is currently holding auditions to enroll more youth; seeking the support of rotating mentors to donate whatever time they can give; as well as venues/events interested in booking the youth for opening or intermission performances. The mission is to provide youth with a platform like Spalding to promote a cause and like Osborne to have the opportunity to follow their true passion.

For more information on CULTURE CRASHERS please contact: info@souleouniverse.com and admin@harlemaa.org.

CULTURE CRASHERS logo credit: Giselle Bradshaw.

Souleo Enterprises, LLC is the umbrella company that creates and produces entertaining, empowering and informative media and philanthropic projects by founder, Souleo.

This article is courtesy of our partner The Harlem Arts Alliance

The Harlem Arts Alliance is a not for profit arts service organization celebrating 10 years of service to a prestigious list of members such as the Apollo Theater, the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Columbia University, Harlem Stage (Aaron Davis Hall) and over 850 more cultural/arts institutions and individuals. The weekly column, Harlem Arts Alliance Presents: On the "A" w/Souleo, covers the intersection of the arts, culture and entertainment in Harlem and the greater NYC area.

For more information on HAA please visit: www.harlemaa.org

For more information on Souleo please visit: www.souleouniverse.com