I hope the lord forgives me for this one cause I don't know Katy Perry from Adam and I'm certainly not qualified to determine what her capabilities are as an artist but I can't help but feel after hearing her debut single "I kissed a girl...." don't artists run the risk of doom after launching their career with such a 'controversial/brave/tongue-in-cheek' debut. So many spring to mind - Meredith Brook's Bitch, Sandi Thom's Punk Rocker, etc.
These songs will certainly guarantee radio airplay and might end up at the top of the charts however the stigma that sticks for the rest of the artist's career is this silly debut that people sadly can't detach themselves from.
You are looking at an illustration that is donning the current cover of the New Yorker magazine. The illustration depicts presidential hopeful Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim and his wife as a terrorist.
The illustration on the issue, titled The Politics Of Fear, depicts Mr Obama wearing sandals, robe and a turban, and his wife Michelle dressed in camouflage and combat boots, with an assault rifle strapped over her shoulder. The setting is the the White House's Oval Office with the couple doing a fist tap in front of a fireplace in which an American flag is burning. Over the fire hangs a portrait of Osama bin Laden.
Is this really funny and more importantly is this really necessary? At what point do we draw the line with satire and blatant lack of reasoning? The response to this image is inevitable - it is going to spark rage amongst many stakeholder groups and continue to cloud the hopefuls' campaign.
In a statement, the magazine said the cover "combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are, the burning flag, the nationalist-radical and Islamic outfits, the fist-bump, the portrait on the wall? All of them echo one attack or another.
Right......does this make it okay then?
To be brutally honest, as much as I can try to see the funny side of things, I cannot help but feel slightly unsettled by some of the connotations that this images drums up. It is great that intelligent, political journals like New York Magazine have supported Barack at some point in his campaign but are they really supporting him for the right reasons?
Images like this should really make us question what are the ethos and reasons for their support and more importantly - at what cost?
Clearly summer is in full swing and we are all trying to put a presentable face out there. To some it comes easier than others hence why the Renaissance Man has taken it upon himself to point men in the right directions for the coming months.
Our edition is solemnly focusing on how to add a LOUD touch that will make all the impact this summer. We're talking accessories. Here are some of our MOST outlandish picks for elevating your presence a notch.
Hermes 32 mm reversible leather strap in Black/Gold, Box/Togo calfskin & 5382 buckle, silver and palladium plated Ref. 052000CAAB080 & 052170CK05 £295
I just read a quote by Mariah (from a local newspaper) on reasons why she felt her last single "Bye Bye" bombed and it went something like "My fans prefer me single...", I thought - you damn Skippy!
The truth is, I will love Mariah for the rest of my existence. She makes me love her more and more with every new release and unsurprisingly music video and the new promotional vid for Loving you long time featuring T.I is no exception.
This is the new HOT HOT HOT vid which makes the thirty something look like she's just discovered a gym. She looks fantastic and marriage might be doing this superstar some good.
Anyway, judge the video yourself. I'm just glad Nick's butt is not in the video, she clearly learnt from the last Bye Bye shambles. No one wants to see it - put it away peeps!
So Solange has decided that after having a baby at the ripe age of 17 and playing second fiddle to her superstar sister that she's going to go back to her original passion....music.
Yep, how could you have forgotten that her real reason for her fame was her hugely successful solo career. How could you????? Yep, she's back. Didn't we miss her???!
She's wearing her musical influence on her sleeve with her recent efforts - a cross of 60s soul/ Amy Winehouse/ Pop-starlet, it is so confusing that I can't actually decide on what her "I Decided" single is all about. No pun indeed.
This is my problem with kids of privilege, just because a record deal is like asking your father/mother for a $100 bill doesn't mean you have to take it.
The same question I found myself asking as I looked at the billing list of the recently concluded O2 Wireless Festival at London's Hyde Park last Thursday.
Like any other festival fanatic, I was determined to scout all the new acts as I was in desperate need to reshuffle my music collection after all that's what Summer is all about.....isn't it?
At a hollow tent away from the main stage where the likes of the fabulous Hot Chip and Mark Ronson thrilled the many drunk punters was a tent which honestly resembled a circus backdrop; dark and littered I must confessed I was terrified as I approached it's entrance.
As we moved closer, it was evident that we were about to experience something quite special, what stood in front of us was the 29-year old, DC-raised woman looking every bit the star in fitted clothing and my personal favourite, stilettos.
It was almost unbelievable to hear the voice which powered through her standing mic backed by an all-male band, I quickly readjust after a few songs and basked in the glow of what is simply a fabulous talent.
Upon getting home, I trawled through the Internet to find background information on mu new love story and quickly realised that the person whom I thought was relatively unknown had been hailed by several credible music publications as "the one to watch" and has several TV appearances under her belt including The Ellen DeGeneres Show. I guess she's not so unknown after all, we're just ignorant here in England.
Anyway, here is Alice Smith with what I think is her most recognised song so far, this is Dream
Unless you've been asleep for the last 7 days, you would have heard about Italian Vogue's upcoming July issue featuring only black models.
The special issue include more than 100 pages of black-"ness", including the cover, which features images of black women taken by the acclaimed New York based photographer Steven Meisel. The pictures will be accompanied by articles on successful black women in arts and entertainment.
This issue has been regarded as "A breakthrough in fashion barriers"....what angers us is this idea that this edition is expected to be the worst-ever selling by the renowned publishers. Industry insiders claim black girls just "do not sell". What does that mean?
Is that implying that Vogue enthusiasts will suddenly not by their favourite read because a black woman is on the cover or black people don't have buying power or they can't read or are simply unfashionable?
I will not answer any of these questions cause these implications are simply too disturbing to comprehend.
Ay yo I'm slippin' I'm fallin' I can't get up Ay yo I'm slippin' I'm fallin' I can't get up Ay yo I'm slippin' I'm fallin' I gots to get up Get me back on my feet so I can tear shit up!
I been through mad different phases like Masons to find my way & now I know that happy days are not far away If I'm strong enough I'll live long enough to see my kids doing something more constructive with they time than bids I know because I been there now I'm in there sit back & look at what it took for me to get there First came the bullshit the drama with my mama she got on the fly shit until i split and said that I'ma be that seed that doesn't need much to succeed
How many of us held on to these words for years?......Only if he could have done the same.
This is the disturbing mugshot of (not guest featured in a while) Nate Dogg, taken after he was arrested for trying to run his wife off the 405 in LA last night.
His 2001 duet with Mos Def and Pharoah Morch springs to mind:
Oh no Brothas aint scared to hustle Its been seven days, the same clothes Ask them originals cause they know Mos def, nate dogg, and pharoahe Step away from the mic they too cold The funk might fracture your nose
I have no words to describe how good this record is. You have to hear and own it to believe it!!
Yeah To you foreva from me to you I heard somebody say church, I'ma need a suit I'ma need a coupe, I won't need a roof Flyer than Beetle Juice Beetle Jucie Beetle Juice I got the floor I'm tryna see the roof Didn't wear a bulletproof so I got shot and you can see the proof Blind eyes can look at me and see the truth Wonder if Stevie do But I'm a leave it to God not B but even U Cause I'm a murder Y kill O and even U Man I got summer hating on me cause I'm hotter than the Sun Got Spring hating on me cause I ain't neva sprung Winter hating on me cause I'm colder than ya'll And I will neva I will neva I will neva fall I'm being hated by the seasons So fuck ya'll who hating for no reason
Remember our SW19 chic post, where we suggested how to dress on and off the tennis court for the next fortnight in SW19 London. Well, it looks like it wasn't only fans who were taking note, the players also have dug deep and are displaying their own brand of individual style this year.
We are most proud of Roger Federer (donning a natty white cardigan) and Ms Serena Williams (spotting a short white mac coat), this is why Wimbledon is such a prestigious event. Nothing beats it.
Word on the street is - Maria Sharapova is going to re-invent women's on-court attire today. We look forward to it as she plays her first round match later today.
This truly wounds my heart. I've just found out about racist paraphernalia sold by a Republican vendor in Texas as part of the anti-Obama campaign. These buttons have slogans such as "Let's keep the White House White..."
It is really depressing that despite the triumphs of the Democratic party and the achievements of a potential great leader, some Americans still demonstrates ignorance of the highest calibre. Please don't get me wrong, I was never naive enough to think for a second that the next five months were going to be easy however I never conceived it possible that this type of derogatory message could make it into Republican campaign rallies. This is simply mouth-dropping.
C'mon Americans (white, black, yellow, blues ... whatever your political preference, we can do better than this). You are way too intelligent to treat democracy with such shallow roots.
I'VE ACTUALLY GIVEN UP HOPES OF GETTING MY DESIGNER HANDS ON A PAIR OF WIMBLEDON TICKETS THIS YEAR.
I can't even get First Round Centre Court seats, can you just imagine? Yet I'm sure come Monday afternoon all you will see are these 2nd rate citizens with their ill-fitting clothes eating sweets at SW19as Roger Federer serves his trademark backhands. The injustice of this world. Do they not know who I am?
Since I can't get my hands on tickets, you can be assured that for the next fortnight my look will be GRASS chic. This is tribute to the delightful Wimbledon-inspired collection from Ralph Lauren.
So far everyone I have seen in the trademark green and purple jacket looks wrong so you know it means those rich-pansies just don't rock it right.
The collections has everything Belts, Caps, shorts and of course, the trademark Polo's. so whatever you're budget, you get something and look like me perhaps.
Just talking about it is making me what to purchase.
Stay in some old-dusty ultra cool gear this summer. Invest in some out-of-this-world jackets, shoes, bags and other accessories. If that sounds good, it's all about Rokit Vintage Clothing. It is the vintage outlet regularly featured in the press and is a favourite amongst stylists and lovers of vintage.
I recently discovered their Covent Garden store and although it's a tad expensive, it's a guarantee for future purchases. Drop in this weekend -
