April 2008 Archives
Too much, or not enough?
Tags: Ashanti, Ciroc, R&B Live, Ryan Leslie, Smart Car, Sylvia Rhone
Wednesday April 22, 2008
Here we go again, a day in the life of the Executive Assistant to the E-I-C. It was a hectic night, but I can't complain. Did three events in four hours, four events if you count a small afterparty at Virgils in the heart of Times Square. One thing I learned tonight, there are some clearly defined do's and don'ts people need to be hip to. First stop...
Diddy's Ciroc Tasting Event, Audrey Lounge @ The W Hotel, N.Y., N.Y. Yes, another music mogul with his own liquor, how...predictable. I'm not hating on Sean though, do your thing--get your people drunk crunk. Ciroc, a vodka, is packaged very cleanly like VOX vodka, and it goes down as smooth as SKYY vodka, has the aftertaste of BELVEDERE, but because it's D-I-D-D-Y, it is distilled from grapes, which makes it the "Ultra Premimum" of all vodkas. High and lows of the event...
DO: Have a celebrity mixologist. (I see you Mr. Dale Degroff!!!)
DON'T: Hold an event in a place so small, it becomes inevitable to touch someone's ass.
DO: Invite tastemakers and media.
DON'T: Not invite Diddy himself, or a rep to speak on his behalf.
DO: Get the crowd involved in how to make the drinks.
DON'T: Get noticeably drunk at a tasting, it's just lame.
Next stop: the U.S. debut of the 2008 "Smart Fortwo" car, at Pace Wildenstien N.Y., N.Y. The car, which strategically made its debut on Earth Day, has to be the smallest car I've seen in my life. It's 8 feet long, 5 feet high, and drives an average of 42 miles a gallon. The car was featured in blue, yellow, and red, and it really made me want to "go green." Strengths and weakness...
DO: Have a rep at each car to answer any/all questions.
DON'T: Have that rep not know the answers to any/all questions.
DO: Pick a location that is open and airy.
DON'T: Have a bar that doesn't carry tequila, if it isn't sponsored by a particular liquor.
DO: Have culturally diverse guests.
DON'T: Put good food on top of rice cakes. (Beef and rice cakes dont mix)
DO: Hand out eco-friendly gift bags in brown paper bags, cute look...I guess.
Spotlight Live Lounge, NY, NY. What do you get when you put Sylvia Rhone, Danyel Smith, Llyod, Mike Kyser, Free from 106 Park, Angie Martinez, Gayle King, Shanti Das, Kevin Liles, Alisha Renee, Irv and Chris Gotti, Ashanti, Emil Wilbekin, Q-tip, Angel Lola, Shirea Carroll, Mona, Ryan Leslie, Anthony Anderson,Stephen Hill, Flo-rida, models, industry insiders, and all those who got next in one building? The chaotic but exciting event - "R&B Live" held twice a month. This was the third I attended, and by far the best. I'm sitting next to the highly respected President of Universal Music Group Motown Records -- thee Ms. Sylvia Rhone trying to make sure I stay in my place without looking like a cornball. My likes and dislikes of the night....
DO: Have a line outside around the block.
DONT: Have additional line inside just to get upstairs.
DO: Shine like Universal's new artist Suai, who knew how to work the stage with 5 inch thigh high boots.
DON'T: Have an awesome voice like new songtress Grits, but sing songs that discuss killing your father.
DO: Be as hype and stylish as Ryan Leslie, who obviously stole the show.
DON'T: Come to the stage like Ashanti dressed to the nine's, but cackling and laughing at her own jokes, that weren't funny.
DOUBLE DON'T: Think because your a plantinum recording artist that your intro can be longer than your performance, when most came out to support you Ms. Ashanti.
DO: Have all types of media to cover the event.
DON'T: Let them block the view of the stage.
DO: Have the privelage like me to sit directly next to Sylvia Rhone, Q-tip, or known figure in the industry.
DON'T: Get in any of there paparrazi pics (we must crawl before we run!)
DO: Put on your biggest smile, image means a lot.
DON'T: Go anywhere without a breath mint, or gum...it will be your downfall. (I'm just saying a few hellos I recieved, I smelled before I heard.)
DO: Try and make it to the next R&B Live Event!
Lesson: The coolest things happen when you don't force it.
Big Ups: Armelle Crump (Universal Motown), Shanti Das (Universal Motown), Dante Simpson (DSA Media), Brandon Hatler (Sunshine Sachs), Antoine Phillips (Giorgio Armani), Andre Cole (BET), Sonya Moore (Nation's Resturant News)
Hip Hop Everywhere
Tags: Danyel Smith, Khia, Miss Rap Supreme
What I'm Reading: Bliss (Crown Publishers) by Danyel Smith. Nooooo not because the author is my boss....well ok at first I was trying to get the brownie points, but now I've discovered it's actually a good train read back to Jerz. If you are trying to find out what the music/entertainment world really gives, this is it, as authentic as it gets. I mean, look who wrote it.
The main character Eva Glenn--is that chick: a successful powerful record executive in the hip hop/R&B genre who knows the industry inside and out. However, as the story unravels, so does she. She begins to realize she may not know herself as well as she knows the business. Readers take a journey with Eva through her drama, her highs, and her lows until she finally reaches the place where she comes to terms with herself. Although the book takes place during the late '90s, we all know "ain't nothing new under the sun," - not too much has changed. My advice: 1. Pick up a copy. 2. Get into it. 3. Get hip to the game.
What I'm Watching: VH1 Ego Trip's: Miss Rap Supreme . This show is pure comedy...I can't clown it too hard because I will tune in every Monday night @ 10 p.m. (EST) to watch. The show which premiered Monday night, gives ten loud-ghetto-butta faces, with questionable rhyming skills and who have a horrific fashion sense, a reality show similar to last year's Ego Trip's: White Rapper Show. Hosted by MC Search and MC Yo Yo, the premises of the show is not to be bashed as much as the candidates who are battling to be "Ms. Rap Supreme." So who we do we have spittin' on the mic?
Truth is MTV's Real World weirdos don't have anything on these characters. From left to right: Brie, a scary-looking boxer chick who thinks pigtails are gangsta. The swagger filled female Chiba,whose car accident permanetly damaged her left eye, causing her to wear her weave and gobs of Prostyle gel pasted around her eye. Then there is Nikki2States, who after four kids and saggy breasts clearly is the angry black woman in the group. Next, the Russian New Yorker Byata has a laid-back personality that has clearly made her my fav. Ms. Cherry, who delivers her rhymes with a southern accent and a lisp, might need to take a vacay from the mic to go to speech therapy just so we can understand her. Yes that is Khia (My Neck, My Back) who is already winner for the complete foolishness title. Lioness, the German rapper whose claim was "I spit like a llama" had her ass sent home during the first episode. The very masculine Reece Steele,daughter of old school rapper LA Starr, and has me convinced they need to check her for an Adam's apple. D.A.B, whose initials may stand for dingy/ditzy ass broad is the ex-heroin addict, who is using her rhyming as therapy. Last but definitetly not least is the more than overweight big girl Lady Twist, whose "twist" is she is the bootleg version of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
I urge you to tune in and partake in one of the many reasons Nas probably states hip hop is dead. Seriously, if your're watching for the love of hip hop you will be highly disappointed. However, if you are like me and simply want to be entertained by the challenges, drama, and foolishness, tune in to VH1 every Monday night at 10 pm (EST) and watch the remaining nine girls try to catch their 15 8 minutes of fame.
Unless you're Khia...
LESSON: Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind...Romans 12:2
BIG UPS: Jozen Cummings (Vibe Magazine), Elliott Wilson, Shawty Lo, Nelly, Charles Wade, and Bobby Valentino, Angela Watford (Vibe Magazine)
4 Stops, 3 Events, 2+ Drinks, 1 Night
Tags: Blender Theatre, Danyel Smith, Diddy, Janelle Monae, Legacy Studios, Michelle Williams, Robin Thicke, Something Easy, Unexpected
Thursday April 3, 2008
5:30 In the car off to Legacy Studios for Robin Thicke's listening session, we (Danyel Smith Vibe's E-I-C, Sean Fennessey Vibe's Associate Music Editor, and myself Asst. to the E-I-C) are really supposed to be there at 5pm, but it's cool - late seems expected in the "industry." In the car everyone is on their Blackberry, I think at one point the driver even pulled out his...
5:46 What the %^&^? The elevator doesn't work? At 279th flights of steps we finally reach Robin's listening room. We are greeted by his publicist Amanda, manager Miguel, Andre Harrell, fresh fruit, champagne, wine, and Mr. Thicke himself. Well to be honest I didn't even think Robin was really there. His music was already playing when we walked in to the room, so we all just began to get into it. One guy didn't look up to make introductions, had on a not so fashionable Zorro type hat, and dressed in black from head to toe. I'm wondering who is this guy? As soon as the first song stopped he lifted his head and theatrically revealed himself, said hello proving Robin was definitely in the building.
6:03 We're already late for our next event, but oh well I am feeling Robin's album right now. His album titled, Something Else, is well - something else. The album has smooth songs and at one point I think I started giving Robin the dreamy eyes. The man has talent shown on the tracks "Magic," a song about a special relationship that has sound reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. "Sidestep," a song for the old and the young to get thier two step on. "Ms. Harmony," a very airy, wispy, and light song, that tells of the struggles of a woman finding herself in love. After playing us "DreamWorld " a ballad which he discuss the deep things in life - how VanGough missed out, Marvin Gaye's relationship with his father, and racial tensions, Robin jokes, "figured that would be my club banger." Everyone laughs, I'm loving Robin's sincerity and swag. The album should be available late June, but he states "I wish I could have it out in two weeks, the sooner it is in people's hands, the sooner the celebration begins." I'm not mad at that...I grab a quick snapshot and make my exit.
6:31 Danyel, Sean, and I are back in the car, discussing how dope the Robin Thicke tracks are, and how much Sean F. doesn't look like Robin Thicke, shattered dreams....
6:42 Drop Sean off back to the office, and Danyel and I head to Michelle Williams' listening session. We are on a Robin high, and I am hoping Michelle delivers.
6:46 We realize we gave the driver the wrong address, now we are headed uptown when are suppose to be going downtown...u-turn. Did the driver just roll his eyes??
7:08 Electric Lady Studios, 52 West 8 Street NY, NY. Out the car, and up only one flight of steps, we enter Michelle's listening session. The music is blaring and the first face I recognize is - AJ from BET's 106 and Park. Where you been? Glad you decided to join the land of the living. Next I see Emil Wilbekin (E-I-C of Giant Magazine) in all his fashionable glory. There are plenty of others in attendance to support Michelle new album, Unexpected, but I don't see Michelle. I grabbed a glass of wine, couple of beef skewers, and got my network on.
7:40 Working my way half way through the room, I sat back one of the plush couches filled with coats and purses and actually listened to the music. There is no hymns and Jesus praises, her new sound is more similar to Britney's "Give Me More." Just as I was about to go for a second glass of white wine, a super dooper slim figure in skinny jeans, hot pink tank, and mock neck leather dark purple jacket comes in doing a techno-chicken like dance move. Is that Michelle? She swipes her side bangs away from her face and wha-la one third of Destiny Child has arrived.
7:46 She works the room, thanking everyone for coming out. I'm watching her in a trance, noticing how different she looks with her new shoulder length jet black bob, and obviously fake eyelashes. Her makeup is flawless and she seemed very happy. The kind of happy that gives sporadic movements and an abundant amount of laughter. I almost want to say Michelle calm down, but I don't. Instead I go over and introduce myself and say it really good meeting you. (Everyone says that, when in the next second they forget what your name is.)
7:52 Music ceases. Michelle speaks about what brought her to this new place in her music. "The album is called Unexpected, because when I first started on the album two years ago it sounded nothing like this." She's right these tracks coming from Michelle will make you drop your jaw. I'm trying to figure how her established fan base like my mother - who would rather shout hallelujah than holla is going to take this change?
8:06 Back in the car, we let the driver know this is our last stop - Diddy's exclusive showcase for Janelle Monae at Blender Theater NY, NY.
8:18 Soon as we arrive greeted at the door by Mike Kyser (former VP of promotion at Def Jam) who led us into the private pre-party being held downstairs. I go to the bar get my second glass of wine, and take in the room. I see a few of my fellow Vibe heads, and ex-Vibe heads, Ed Lover, and people who I've met at other events. Chilling I take a seat, even though people make their way upstairs to watch Janelle in action, I remained seated downstairs. The show starts (there are t.v's for our viewing pleasure) and Diddy's gives his famous "tonight we are making history" intro for Janelle. He walks off stage and away from the cameras. As we decide it is time to go, Puff himself comes downstairs and greets Danyel. As they chop it up, I get an introduction and a few words from Mr. Combs, and I was taken back. That close to Diddy will shake you up - his ever present power is sick!
9:12 On a Diddy high, Janelle's showcase comes to an end. The industry semi-elite return back down stairs for a meet and greet with Janelle. I'm getting tired, but I don't want to leave without saying hello. She has a sound totally different, and the difficulty in describing her music is what makes her special to me. Before I say good-bye to Janelle, I say hello again to Diddy and get a good four minute convo. Four minutes is more like forty when speaking to Puff, so I was pleased.
9:16 "Hey Janelle, I'm Shirea from Vibe...." we smile, chat, hug, and take a photo. I can't really do too much more, so I guess I'll call it a night...
10:47 See what happens when you have one more drink? Yes, I'm still here. I've spoken to Janelle's AR, the Retro kids, and a super funny upcoming comedian. Time for me to go, I have to go to work tomorrow.
Lesson: Sometimes all you get is one opportunity - seize it.
BIG UPS: Thailan Pham (People Magazine), Malaika Batson (Sony BMG), Mitch Martin (Wonderland Arts Society), Clyde Belcon (CMV Photography), Damien Lemon, Jackpot and Low Key (BET)
