Style

Players set to face off against each other in the 12th annual Jordan Brand Classic Regional Game in Brooklyn, N.Y., were recently announced, showcasing the best talent at the high school level. The company, a division of Nike, unveiled the names of the regional players in a press release.

Basketball stars on the home team include Kentan Facey, a Long Island, New York, native who will attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, Jaquan Lynch, a Brooklyn athlete who is set to attend Florida International University, and Jonathan Severe, who hails from Flushing and is currently undecided about college. 

These and other home players will face off against the away team, which consists of players like DeAndre Bembry, a New Jersey native who will attend St. Joseph's University, and Tyler Roberson, another New Jersey son, who said yes to Syracuse University.

All games will be played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, which is also the home of the Brooklyn Nets. The event is set to take place April 13, and will kick off with the International Game at 3:30 p.m., followed by the Regional Game at 5:30 p.m. and ending with the All-American Game at 8:00 p.m. - all games will air on ESPN 2. 

Not only with the games be fun to watch, but it was recently announced rapper Drake will perform shortly after the Regional Game is played, Hip Hop Wired reports. 

Will you be watching the games April 13? Are you rooting for the home or away team?

Rapper Raekwon is most well known for his harder lyrics in his Wu-Tang Clan raps. However, his most recent sound is more fashion-based, thanks to his love for footwear. 

The self-proclaimed sneakerhead admitted to Women's Wear Daily that he owns more than 1,000 pairs of sneakers and that he loves his collection so much, he tends to rap about them in his songs. Raekwon also opened up about the brands he rocks most, giving credit to Adidas, Nike, Jordan, Timberland and Gucci among other sneaker and shoe companies. 

Even though his love for kicks might have happened anyway, the rapper discussed falling in love with sneakers after seeing the members of Run-DMC decked out in their Adidas kicks and jumpsuits back in the 1980s. He's been addicted to looking fresh ever since - he has so many shoes he typically forgets what he has.

The rapper's latest album, "Fly International Luxurious Art," or "F.I.L.A." is set to drop in June. Raekwon let WWD in on the title's meaning, claiming the album, "is all about glamour. lifestyle and fashion." And that "all of those elements are going to be in the music."

It seems as if Raekwon is sticking to his guns - he dropped his most recent EP, "Lost Jewelry," Jan. 8, and the title alone hints at his love for fashion and bling.

Are you surprised by how many sneakers Raekwon has? Will you listen to his new music?

Nicki Minaj has become the Lady Gaga of hip hop, and despite her rise to fame for her eccentric and sometimes over-the-top antics, she does have some talent and a flair for fashion. The artist, who has transitioned from music to judging on the hit show "American Idol," recently let her true colors show in the April edition of Elle magazine. 

The woman behind the costumes
Minaj is almost unrecognizable on the cover shot - she is wearing a tight half-zipped leather jacket and black jeans with minimal makeup and her "natural" blonde locks down. The rapper looks almost elegant and chic, rather than overdone and cartoon-like - a nice change indeed. 

It's not just her look that is stripped down in the pages, Minaj also speaks candidly about her upbringing and how being bullied as a child has made her who she is today. The rapper discusses moving to America from Trinidad and how music became her outlet in school, since the other kids were so mean to her. From there, she made it a goal to get into the music industry to make her family proud. 

"My goal in the beginning was to buy my mother a house. Now I realize, 'Okay, if I really focus and become a key player in business, then I can build an empire,'" Minaj told the publication. "I'm thinking of a legacy that I can be proud of and wealth that my grandchildren can use to go to college. So world domination - in terms of providing for my family - is absolutely my goal."

Overcoming fears
Even though Minaj's life has changed for the better, she did admit she felt a bit scared to pose for the recent shoot without her signature pink lipstick, wild hair styles and extreme women's clothing. 

"... I felt naked. It was scary! So this photo shoot was a real accomplishment in my eyes," Minaj told Elle. 

Despite her desire for "world domination," Minaj might not have what it takes to run an empire just yet. Fox News reports the rapper was more than 15 minutes late for the first live show of this year's "American Idol." 

The rapper slinked into her seat after the show had already gone to air, blaming traffic on the mishap. According to the news source, fellow judges Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Randy Jackson were upset by her tardiness, though host Ryan Seacrest was the most visibly shaken. 

Do you think Minaj has what it takes to create an empire like Beyonce? Do you like her more modest Elle cover better than her usual style?

Haters are always going to hate, but few can criticize Beyonce for bouncing back to her pre-baby body following the birth of her and Jay's baby, Blue Ivy, more than a year ago. The diva, who admitted to gaining close to 60 pounds during her pregnancy, recently dished on how she got her figure back in the April edition of Shape magazine. 

Bey opened up in the pages of the publication, admitting it may have been harder to shed the weight if she hadn't committed to shows just a few months following the January 2012 birth of her first child. The singer added that maintaining an easy workout schedule throughout her pregnancy also helped keep her muscles strong and ready to bounce back. 

"I didn't have a lot of time to lose the weight, because I scheduled a show three months after I gave birth, which I would never do again," Knowles told the reporter during the recent shoot. "I'm not a person that is naturally very thin. I am a person that has to work at keeping my body in shape."

The gorgeous singer and role model added her post-baby workouts included tons of cardio and lunges as well as a super healthy diet - mainly consisting of vegetables and lean meats. Even though Bey was able to bounce back in just three months, she's quick to point out she had help from trainers and dietitians, and that women shouldn't be so concerned about losing weight following a baby, but should rather enjoy their children and lives first.

"Not everyone is supposed to be the same. Be healthy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the beautiful things that make you you," Bey told fans in the upcoming edition.

The singer will likely not have any trouble keeping her rock hard body this year, as she's set to hit the road for her Mrs. Carter world tour on April 15. Queen B offered fans a taste of new music on her iam.beyonce.com website, sharing a new track called "Bow Down/ I Been On."

Do you think Beyonce is back to her pre-baby weight? Are you excited about her tour?

Rapper Wiz Khalifa is already off to a great 2013 - he not only had his first child with fiance Amber Rose, but just announced he'll be teaming up with Converse for a new project. Khalifa took to his Twitter page March 12 to announce the good news. 

"Finally got my converse deal!!! I'm [expletive] amped!" the rapper wrote to fans on his account. "I did an ad for my boys but this [expletive] here is MAJOR."

Despite the happiness Khalifa clearly feels about the new project, he didn't let any of the details of the collaboration slip. MTV reports fans might not be too shocked about the recent partnership, since the rapper has had such a long history with the brand. 

Khalifa has been rocking different pairs of the Converse brand from the time he first broke onto the scene, and has continued to rep Chuck Taylor All Stars of all shapes and designs ever since. Converse has also featured the rapper in a few of its advertisements, but it seems the latest deal is going to be big.

HipHop DX reports Khalifa won't be the first rapper or major celebrity to partner up with the iconic sneaker and clothing company. Big name artists like Kid Cudi and Big Boi have also worked alongside Converse in years past. 

Since Khalifa reported the deal was "major," many are speculating what it could entail. According to MTV, Khalifa could be getting his own line with the company, or he could even be working to come up with a clothing line based on his unique and sometimes out-there fashion sense. 

What do you think Khalifa will be doing with Converse? Would you wear his shoes or clothing or is his style too unique for your taste?

Terrell Owens' major ego problems may have caused issues on the football field, but these same issues could be just what the doctor ordered for his new line of work. Yard Barker reports Owens recently announced he's signed on with the Los Angeles branch of the global Next Management modeling agency. 

Owens' former personal assistant, Adrienne Williams, broke the news of Owens' new endeavor via an Instagram shout out. 

Williams posted a photo of Owens posing with the caption, "Congrats to @terrellowens for signing w/ Next Models LA...coming to a billboard near you! #werk."

Owens' publicist, Diana Bianchini, then sent out an email confirming her client's new job. 

"Terrell has had a modeling contract in the past," Bianchini wrote in an email. "Most can see why this would be a natural fit for him. NEXT approached him. He signed about a month ago and we are all very excited by this deal."

The agency wasted no time in showing off its latest model - Owens already has a profile on the agency's website that showcases him looking dapper in a white button-down, drinking a glass of wine. 

Do you think Owens will thrive in the modeling world or do you think he is better off trying to get back on a football team?

Singing sensation Miguel had a great 2012 thanks to his hit "Adorn," which earned him a Grammy for best R&B song.  It seems as if 2013 will be just as impressive for the singer - he's currently on tour with Alicia Keys and was recently asked to write a fashion piece for The New York Times.  

Miguel is just as well-known for his singing as he is for his sense of style, making him a perfect choice to teach fans how to dress. For his first piece, dubbed "What I Wore," Miguel discussed dressing for a day out in L.A., as well as what to pack for a long trip outside the country.

"I put on a vintage white burnout tee, gray Calvin Klein blazer, orange Costume National pants and Pierre Hardy gray leopard creepers," Miguel writes in his style article. "It was almost that rock-star business mogul look - allow me my aspirations - especially with my vintage John Lennon-style Ray-Bans and my usual accessories."

Fans of the singer's style can check out the newspaper for inspiration. Even though Miguel may be into fashion, his true love is certainly music, and he'll soon have a chance to sing on a very prestigious stage. Rolling Stone reports Miguel is set to act as the musical guest on the April 13 edition of Saturday Night Live.

Do you think Miguel has a good fashion sense? Are you into blazers and tighter jeans or do you prefer T-shirts and sneakers?

Music has always played a large role in the lives of people young and old, and how people listen to their favorite tunes has continued to change for the better. Music players have gone from eight tracks and records to Walkman's and iPods, though most recently, going wireless is king. Hypebeast magazine reports one new Bluetooth-equipped product is sure to please both music lovers and sports enthusiasts alike.

Bluetooth basketball
Sports technology business 94Fifty recently announced its latest music player, a Bluetooth basketball. That's right, this specialized basketball not only allows fans to listen to their favorite pump up songs while hitting the court, but can also help them hone in on their skills. The company describes the products as "motion sensor basketballs for rapid skills development" that sync up to iPhones, iPads or other wireless tablets. 

94Fifty paired up with Spaulding for its latest endeavor and made sure to keep basketball skills in mind during the process. The ball not only produces high-quality sound, but also keeps track of an individual's abilities on the court, detailing everything from how well they shoot to how many dribbles and passes they make on average. More impressive, the ball also boasts workout plans and competition modes for up to four players, basically making it an interactive video game. The news outlet reports fans can get their hands on the 94Fifty Bluetooth Basketball in October -  it will cost $200. 

Bluetooth table
Fans of lounging around and listening to tunes are not forgotten. In fact, La Boite Concept, an electronic accessory company, recently came out with a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi table designed with leisure in mind. Freshness magazine reports the French brand announced its latest product, the LD120, that looks like a regular table until someone connects it with an iPod. 

The table lets music lovers rock out thanks to the seven built-in stereo sound speakers, multiple amplifiers, docking areas for MP3 players and a USB DAC hi-fi sound card to help increase the sound quality both for music and if watching movies or TV. 

These features may be enough to impress, but it seems like the company has truly thought of everything thanks to the table's sleek piano lacquer finish and leather tabletop, which helps keep vibrations from the music down. The table is currently available for purchase.

Would you be interested in either of these Bluetooth products? Do you think the basketball is worth $200?

Most people have a tough time deciding between a few different cable and internet providers. But what if a new product could make such decisions obsolete? Freshness magazine reports this may be exactly what the Roku 3 digital media streamer might be able to do, thanks to its 750 built-in channels and a dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity capability.

A larger processing unit isn't all the third generation of this product boasts. It also comes equipped with a remote control that doubles as a motion-sensing game controller and a headphone jack built in to the controller, allowing a viewer to watch TV without disrupting others.

Some may think this sounds too good to be true, but it's really as simple as it appears. According to Freshness, after purchasing the media streamer, all you have to do is plug it in and connect it to your current internet network. CNET reports the third edition Roku is certainly much better than its predecessors, and for the price ($99), it's worth trying out. 

Aside from the bonus perks like the headphone capabilities, the interface has also improved, allowing owners to easily get to their favorite sites like Netflix or Pandora in a flash. There is one drawback - Roku still doesn't have enough data to support YouTube, so fans of watching funny videos will still have to use their smartphones or computers.