HIP HOP BLOG

Supermodels are often told to dress down so that designers can view their figures unadorned by excessive clothing. Here, Chanel Iman pulls off this jeans and a t-shirt look effortlessly and so can you.

Southpole jeggings:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/southpole-side-studded-stretch-jegging/103233389?color=Blue

Essentials orange polo:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/essentials-contrast-color-block-polo/BHA111218?color=Orange

Luxirie by LRG jacket:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/luxirie-by-lrg-french-terry-jacket/LRG80804?color=Purple

Instead of heels keep the look casual with these Pastry studded sugar rush sneakers:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/footwear/pastry-studded-sugar-rush-sneaker/PA114510?color=Black

So we all know how the Super Bowl ended but for those who could care less about which team won it's all about the half-time show and commercials. This year there were fewer commercial highlights than usual but still some were touchdowns. Check out our picks below.

Remembering the Legacy of Civil Rights Leader Fannie Lou Hamer; Walter Mosley on Marginalization in Literature

I'm envious of civil rights leader, Fannie Lou Hamer. After all, if the only thing she ever did was utter the words, "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired," she would still have a place in history. After 26 years of gravity on earth and four years of professional writing I have yet to come up with any such singular brilliant line that so well defines the sentiments of a generation.

The quote still resonates today as evidenced by the rousing reaction it inspired from the audience gathered at the Dwyer Cultural Center for the one-woman show, "The Fannie Lou Hamer Story." Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group in association with The Arts & Entertainment Alliance and Jackie Jeffries presented the play as part of the inaugural, Harlem Theatre Arts Festival. Playwright and actress, Mzuri gave a masterful performance and expressed that her motivation is reaching the youth with Hamer's message of voting and human rights advocacy work. "Many of the young people are disconnected but if you teach the young they will become the greatest advocates," she says.

Education and youth are also significant to Navarrow Wright, CTO of Interactive One. Wright was a featured speaker at Grind Spaces for Minorities in Tech, which was founded by, Clive Henry. Wright noted that there is a need to encourage communities of color to harness the power of technology in business, arts and culture in order to close the digital divide. "The digital divide is about education and literacy," he notes. "We don't see technology as a means to economic development and that's the shift we have to make. We need visual representations of that."

When it comes to images February's Harlem Arts Alliance Visual Artist of the Month, Leon Nicholas Kalas covers the entire spectrum from paintings to collages to sculptures made out of old soda cans. Still with so much impressive work, Leon finds his greatest success overseas due to what he considers the financially exploitative downtown New York gallery scene. "The New York galleries are crazy charging like $5,000 for a month's show. I learned overseas they appreciate you as an artist and it's not about making money out of your art," he notes.

For most creative talent there is no escape from the challenges of their industry. In literature one of the avenues of exposure for people of color has been through imprints. At his Hue-Man Bookstore reading for his latest novel "All I Did Was Shoot My Man," Walter Mosley expressed his ambivalence toward imprints. "You get marginalized and it's impossible to get out of that place," he says. Still Mosley realizes that sometimes the compromise is necessary to launch one's career. "But if the only place you can get printed is an imprint then do that," he advises.

As I listened to Mosley read from his novel I realized that we both have yet to write one line as definitive as Hamer's. So yeah, I'm still envious but with great respect and admiration mixed in there too.

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

By now, you have heard about the unfortunate passing of Don Cornelius, the creator of the iconic "Soul Train" brand. Certainly this was not the way we wanted to kick-off Black History Month. As creator of the longest running U.S. TV show in first-run syndication, Cornelius introduced African-American culture to a wider platform with his brand of music, dance and celebrity interviews. Everybody from Marvin Gaye to Michael Jackson to Stevie Wonder to Janet Jackson made memorable appearances on the show. Still it was the famous 'Soul Train" line which usually stole the show as dancers pulled out their best and not so best moves. Cornelius' place in history is cemented as a supporter of African-American culture and as a reminder of why we should all celebrate love, peace and soul.

Here are our favorite "Soul Train" moments:

Choreographer Laurieann Gibson obviously influenced her former client, Lady Gaga with these "less is more," looks that make you wonder what's underneath it all. If you're feeling particularly sexy you can strut your stuff like the both of 'em but uhm, we suggest you also choose a pair of leggings and a top.

Apple Bottoms killer red boots:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/footwear/apple-bottoms-beau-boot/BEAU?color=Red

Baby Phat faux fur jacket:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/baby-phat-faux-fur-jacket/1352BP?color=Black

Radio Personality and Author, Big Boy Isn't Getting with the
Celebrity Weight-Loss Program and Estelle Gets Personal

Fitness guru, Denise Austin and Ensure drinks nearly killed me. Okay, I am being dramatic. But I was diagnosed at the age of 13 as dangerously underweight after I subjected my already skinny body to a fitness/diet kick inspired by watching too many weight-loss infomercials. The experience left me paranoid for a few years; confusing bloating with the immediate onset of 10 pounds. I held back this tale from radio personality, Big Boy for fear he would deservedly give me the side-eye during our interview at Hue-Man Bookstore.

Big Boy visited Harlem to promote his new book, "An XL Life..." which details how his gastric bypass surgery and health strategy helped him lose 300 pounds. However you shouldn't expect him in a Weight Watchers commercial anytime soon since he expressed reservations surrounding celebrity endorsements. "What are we really telling these kids? They can't get these meals delivered and they don't have the free personal trainer. So they don't get the same result that some of these rich people can get," he says. "Everybody can't be on the red carpet in six weeks and I'm afraid of people losing reality."

I had to face reality this week when I realized that I am only one person and could not attend every event on my calendar including, Aloft Harlem's "Max Eternity, Man of Mystery Legends" exhibit presented by mobiXpay and Avisca Fine Art Gallery; Diane Davis' "Where Chaos Meets the Sublime" exhibit; and The Morningside Players presentation of "A Staged Reading of New York, by David Rimmer."

Instead I went from discussing shedding pounds to talking shedding tears, as I learned that singer Estelle is ready to invite listeners on an emotional journey with her forthcoming album, "All of Me." I made it just in time to her private playback session at, Open House despite stopping to help a woman who fell flat on her face on the subway platform.

Immediately Estelle and I recalled this scene at the 5:15 mark where she invited me on-stage. Then she revealed that a difficult break-up is what drove her to tears during her passionate performance of "Thank You" at the Black Girls Rock! awards. "Three weeks after getting the song I broke with my guy. So I dreaded getting up there to sing that record," she says. "I was more angry that day that I let it go on for so long but everyday since then I've been having a ball."

While Estelle is enjoying life I expressed my concern over her lack of mainstream success, since she deserves a wider market. She is not as worried since she believes that UK singers are usually less focused than their U.S. counterparts on such topics. "Our general energy is not the hype machine whereas Americans are born and bred to make it shine. I am learning the industry and to keep my integrity."

At that moment my thoughts on celebrity weight-loss ads and mainstream artists were confirmed; you can't always follow the hype.

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

For millions getting that morning cup of coffee or tea is an essential part of the day. Therefore a few savvy designers have seized upon this opportunity to design cup sleeves and holders for hot drinks, with a few even making ones for cold drinks. Check out some of the most inspired items below.

Jung-Woo Lee for Ek Design’s umbrella with coffee holder

Jimmy Choo’s RIKA

Ryan Jongwoo Choi’s smart holder

Cup Couture Cold Cups Sleeve

Crafty Staci’s reversible sleeve

Designer and creator of Jypsea, Meca McKinney understands the value of vintage goods, recycling and of course style. As an accessories designer her hand-made pieces have been featured on stars such as Res, Ciara and Letoya Luckett. Now you too can get the look and pair it with your favorite Jimmy Jazz products.

Long Fingerless Leather Gloves in Caramel Leather

Pair these gloves with this Essentials belted fashion sweater:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/essentials-belted-fashion-sweater/9W404?color=Black

Navy & Tan Snakeskin Duffel Handbag

This handbag will look great rubbing up against this Dereon denim jumpsuit:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/dereon-top-gun-denim-jumpsuit/D102409X?color=Blue

Black Leather Cuff trimmed in Black & White Snakeskin

These cuffs perfectly balance out the eclectic style of this Ecko tank top:

http://www.jimmyjazz.com/womens/clothing/ecko-active-tank/EMT1124R?color=Grey

Money is said to make the world go round but it also can be a laughing matter. Don't believe me? Well, just ask Heidi Montag. Yeah, I'm serious ask Heidi.

Heidi Montag says no to plastic:

New credit card laws:

The New f****** Citibank: