Brandon Jan Blommeart's Playful Trash Monsters

It's strange but I actually came across these images while doing a google search for pic's of Blue M&M's. I've never seen anyone take boxes of DIET LIPTON NESTEA (YAES!), Shredded Wheat, paper cups and others assorted pieces of trash and turn them into such dope scultures. Adding to the coolness are the surreal backgrounds that artist Brandon Jan Blommeart, digitally renders behind the sculptures.

It's so cool to see these monsters playing with each other as if they were real or human (They look so CUTE and sweet). Blommeart was definitely thinking outside of the (trash) box when he made these and I'm intruiged to see what else he has up his sleeve. Check out more of his work at http://pandaclock.com/

Zhane - Crush

There are some songs that are just so beautiful, so sincere and so pure that they stay with you until the end of time. For me Zhane's "Crush" is the epitome of that type of song.

I remember when I was in elementary school and I first saw this video. The style and the setting were sooooo nostalgically beautiful to me and the song captured every bit of the desire I felt for some of my classmates. I was ALWAYS crushing on some boy but unfortunately for me my life so very well reflected the lyrics of the song. And so it always seemed to be that "I love him and he doesn't know me / I love him and he doesn't know."

I never got the boys but at least I got an amazing song that, to this day, still describes how I feel about certain men that I've come across in life. It's also one of my favorite videos from director, Paul Hunter. Check out the offical vid and a live performance by former Zhane member, Renee Neufville, below.

"Let me show you the way to go / If you really wanna go...Said If I could / Mail my heart / Right to you I would, yes" I could listen to her sing that forever.

*Side Lipton: Renee Neufville penned this song herself.*

Simply Rad

Rad Hourani premiered his new "Rad" collection a few days ago in New York. I must say the collection is very minimalist and simple with a great twist in details. I love the way the shirts, vests and jackets hang over the body and the way that his use of 3 basic colors (black, white and grey) and a few prints meshes the pieces together giving them a slick urban appeal. The boots (for both MEN & WOMEN) are HIGHLY dope. Any man that create heels for men is cool in my book :-]. My only reservation is about the cut of the clothes. While the tops may be versatile in size the shorts and pants may not be fitting for every size (i.e. regular sized people.). But I applaud his collection and his selection of androgynous, wierd, edgy and somewhat diverse models. It's Rad dude.














*LOVE those zippered knees.*


*BOOTS! HEELS for MEN! YAES!*

SOURCE

Tailypo

Tailypo is about this creature in the woods with jet black fur, sharp claws, is about the size of a dog and has yellow or blood red eyes. In the story a hunter, while searching for game in the forest, comes across this creature and cuts its tail off. The creature is none too pleased with this and later in the night as the Hunter lays down to sleep the creature comes to his cabin, slinks up to the foot of his bed, peers over the rail with his gleaming yellow eyes and in an otherwordly voice demands the return of its "tailypo." The hunter must find a way to survive through the night or suffer the creatures revenge!



This book scared the shit out of me when I was younger. Every time around Halloween the school librarian would read Tailypo to my class and later that evening I'd be afraid to go to bed cuz I thought the creature would come and get me! Pretty scary when you're 8 years old.

I was surprised to find that this tale is pretty popular in various North American cultures. Cool!

Dramatic Posing 101 with Tyra Banks

Modeling may not be the most "important" job in the world but it does require a skill set and for some people it is a way of life. To be a model is to create artwork with your body. You are essentially the paint & brush to the photographers hands & film. Learning how to cultivate that skill takes practice and experience.

In the past, I know I've been critical of this model . But Tyra Banks is one Supermodel who's definitely honed her craft. This woman KNOWS how to move in front of a camera. Every move she makes is fluid and the majority of her shots are dynamic and print worthy. All you posers, fans and Voguers get into the vid below and watch the magic unfold.

*Class begins at 8:10*

Almost Doesn't Count

I remember when Brandy's album Never Say Never first came out and I was so in love with the CD. "Almost Doesn't Count", like many of the other songs on the album, was my jam and I sang it like there was no tomorrow.

But I never REALLY understood what I was singing. But I was 12 years old then and now I'm 23. I've got some experience under my belt and I've felt love's embrace before...and I've also felt its absence. Now that I've been through that I fully understand (and feel) what Brandy was saying. I also don't doubt that the writers, Shelly Peiken and Guy Roche, have lived these words. They sound too real to be written by anyone other than a jilted heart. Check out a live rendition of the song below.

The Many Lyrical Faces of TwiZza

As I've said before I'm from the South and, being the musical lover that I am, I enjoy hearing sounds that embody our region and its musical landscape. Without a doubt TwiZza's "U-Haul" is definitely one of those songs that does just that.

The beat is a minimal concoction of snare hits, a BOOMING bass line and, strangely enough, bird chirps (Love it!). It's the perfect musical backdrop for TwiZza's wickedly brash and funny lines as he raps lyrics like, "Thug muhfuckinlicious/You know I'm so delicious/Don't front I see you looking/Wanna bite of these chocolate cookies?"

If that doesn't catch your attention then the infectious chorus will as TwiZza confidently chants, "He like the way I back it up like a U-Haul truck/He like the way I back it up like a U-Haul truck..."





While it's clear that TwiZza has a sense of humor this ATL (originally NC) emcee can also be thought-provoking as is apparent on the reflective track "That's Why." With fellow artist, Cadence, to back him up and a reggae flavored beat TwiZza lays bare his reasons for escaping reality with lines like", "So it's vultures in my cup with Vodka/To avoid the prescriptions by these fucked up doctors...It's the fact that I'm losing my religion unless I close my eyes/Unless the Hennessy is fueling the spaceship that I'mma ride."

TwiZza is definitely an artist to look out for and if you like what you hear then check out "That's Why" and "Bang Bang" on his MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/twizzamusic

X-Force is...My SHIT!

Anyone who knows me KNOWS that I'm a BIG comic book fan, specifically the X-Men line. I LIVE for X-Men comics. I could talk/type about them all day....I'm just a geek like that. But I won't stimulate or both you with such conversation. I'll just plug my current fave X-Men title, X-Force.

The comic focuses on a military-like squad of the X-Men that was put together by X-Men leader ,Cyclops. The team consists of Wolfsbane, Archangel, Warpath, Domino, X-23, Vanisher, Elixir and Wolverine. What sets them apart from other branches of the X-Men is that they function solely as a black-ops offensive team against threats to the mutant race. In other words, they are Cyclops' personal murder squad and they do their job ooooh so well. Blood, claws, bullets, disembowlements and decapitation ABOUND in this series. But what's even better is that writers Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost create great tension with their writing that evokes real emotion surrounding death, leadership, unity and friendship. Artists Mike Choi & Sonia Oback and Clayton Crain (ESPECIALLY CRAIN) provide amazing imagery to give visual life to Yost and Kyle's words. X-Force is without a doubt a great read. Get into it...ya Geeks!

Sessilee Lopez's Gas(oline) Jeans

Sessilee Lopez has scored her first national campaign for the season. This time with Gas Jeans for their Fall/Winter ads. The ads are simple and to the point. No fluff, no puff. Just jeans and 2 hot models. I love how Sessilee's Dominican roots seem so pronounced and how at times she looks as though she has East Asian heritage. But whatever ethnicity(ies) you see it all looks good.....God I LOVE that last leather jacket she's wearing. Leatha!!!









P.S. ~ The male model is Pete Bolton

Chanel Iman's Got Victoria's Secret

Chanel Iman has been modeling for Victoria's Secret for over a year now. She first modeled their Victoria's Secret Pink line for young girls last year. But within the last 2 months she's been promoted to their sexy adult lingerie line.







Personally, I've seen better from Miss. Iman (she's such a CHIC skinny minny LoL) But new pics of her in Victoria's Secret's ready-to-wear clothing have just hit the net and I must say it's an improvement. She's given better face but the clothes are surprisingly good, stunning at times, and she wears them well. Here's to hoping she walks for the brand in November.

Corneille - Back To Life

Every time I see this video I have to stop and stare. The cinematography is simple, clean and elegant and Corneille (pron: Cor-Nay) Nyungura exudes a soft sexiness that's only augmented by the fact that he's singing about his wife (the shower scene doesn't hurt either).

The way he sings of his love for her is beyond sweet. It's both moving and powerful as he sings lines like, "I could tell of your pain too/And I’ll die trying to love it away/But this much I owe you/If I can say/Woman/You loved me back to life..."

This romantic 32 year old singer who was born in Frieburg, Germany and raised in Rwanda has a heartbreaking history that would leave most people unable to sing about the solace of love. Corneille's father was a leader of the political party PSD and because of this Corneille's father, mother, brother and sister were killed during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Cornielle subsequently fled to Kinshasa and then back to Germany where he was cared for by some of his parents friends.

On his website Corneille explains how, even in death, his family was able to help him heal after the tragedy;

"For a good ten years after the genocide,” he says, “I lived in a great deal of denial. But I managed not to get too bitter because I had parents who always made me feel special. It’s a sort of pain that you can have closure with. I know I’m not going to be able to talk to my family ever again, but they left me with memories filled with such love that I don’t have that much anger.”

Despite this tragedy Corneille was able to forge a successful singing career, having previously released two hit French-language albums. Now he's released his first English-language album on Motown Universal titled The Birth of Cornelius.

I must admit that I also admire that the man's pretty honest about his desire for a simple and "real" life outside of stardom, as he explained to Vibe magazine;

“The only place I can take a lot of attention is when I’m onstage performing,” he says. “For two years I was like, ‘I’m stopping everything.’ I didn’t do any interviews. I stopped signing autographs. People would come up to me for one, and I would say, ‘No. I’m not going to give an autograph. I’d rather shake your hand. I feel like that would be a little bit more real.’ It’s weird to be put on a pedestal in that way, when you’re aware that it’s all bullshit."


Check out his video for "Back To Life" below and check out his MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/corneillemusic
*Side Lipton: The song "I'll Never Call You Home Again" is a painfully honest and brutal ode to the country and massacre that claimed his family's lives.

CORNEILLE "Back To Life"
Uploaded by thatsfunny. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Pierre Woods

Pierre Woods is the definition of class, strange cuteness (his face is strange & handsome) and down to earth "cool." This former college athlete (Yes. The man's got a bachelor's in marketing with an economics minor) has got it goin' on, both physically and in the world of modeling.

Signed with New York Model Management, this 27 year old model is a current face for legendary designer Ralph Lauren. Woods has also done print work for Vibe, UPTOWN (a shoot he produced himself), Style.com and Lauren's '08 Summer Olympics line. He's walked for the likes of D&G and Salvatore Ferragamo. Just last month he showed some (sexy) man-cleavage on Ermanno Scervino's runway in Milan.

I'm really rooting for this guy and I hope to see more of him this upcoming season. Next time you see him in a magazine be sure to pick up a copy. Now bask in the classic & strange beauty that is...Pierre.






















Check out a video of him with top model Doutzen Kroes as he shops for lingerie for his girlfriend HERE

Lisa Stansfield LOVES the Gays

I've been in LOVE with this woman ever since I saw her rock her signature gelled down twist of hair on her forehead look back in her "Been Around The World" video (WORK IT!). But I didn't realize that she had as much love for the gays until I found this video last year. It's dope of her to relate her music and video to her gay audience and kudos to her for making the couple interracial (Whoooh! Interracial gay love!). Other artists should be as bold. So check out her video "The Real Thing."

Lisa Stansfield - The real thing
Uploaded by Dante35. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Isn't the bald guy just BEAUTIFUL??



And check out my HIV/AIDS Awareness blog post that I used her video in.
Homophobia Undermines HIV/AIDS Research & Treatment

Jorge Ben Jor

"Oba, la vem ela" by Jorge Ben Jor is one of those songs that you listen to and you just can't help but to dance and smile :-). It is the musical equivalent of sunshine. Everytime I hear it I think of love in the favella's during summertime. Brown bodies running, dancing and smiling as rain drips down on them from a bright yet cloudy day. And lovers chasing each other through the streets of the shanty towns...*daydreams*

Anyhoo, back to reality. Jorge Ben Jor is an amazing artist who's been writing, composing and performing since the 60's. His blend of African and Brasilian sounds revolutionized Samba music and changed the landscape of popular Brasilian music. Plus he was kinda cute when he was younger. Hee Hee. I barely understand a lick of what he's saying but I don't care. Good music transcends language. So without further adieu check out "Oba, la vem ela" and the song "Xica da silva" from his landmark album "Africa Brasil."





If you like what you hear you can download his album "Africa Brasil" from the link below

Jorge Ben Jor - Africa Brasil


P.S. ~ Thanks to Profesora Simoes for teaching me about this guy. Sorry I was a better student personality wise than academically. LoL

More Millie Forte

Millie has released more tracks from the cutting room floor with an EP titled "ALT + CTRL + DELETE" and this time around the sound is even more experimental and out of this world than before.

What I like most about Millie is his ability to conjur mental images with his music. When he's at his best (Did I mention he writes and produces his own music?) vivid scenes of other worlds, other lives and other places come to mind.

Besides the beautiful "Good Day" and "Runaway Girl", Millie does this best with songs like "Pearly Whites" (a tranquil song about life after love is lost), "Fearless Little Bird" (a mesmerizing song about living freely) and "Move Me" with it's sobering lines, "And no this bottle of booze ain't no substitute/And the weed ain't either/And there's no one other than you, I've been so true/I just don't need you."

Millie even does a dark, tripped out rendition of Britney Spears' "Gimme More" (It's soooo heroine chic). Download the EP below.

Millie Forte - ALT + CTRL + DELETE

Helpful Hint: If the "download" option doesn't work just "open" the file and then "copy & paste" it to your music folder.

Ken Dahl - Cousin

I'm a bizarre child and I feel happy when I come across other bizarre & unique people. The other day I was presented with a song by a fellow unique soul, up and coming artist, Ken Dahl. The song tells the (tall) tale of Ken coming across a former lover at a family function and discovering that they are closer than he ever imagined. I can say with all honesty that I've never heard anything like this...well except Prince's song "Sister." The beat is absolutely sick and Ken Dahl's storytelling will have you ROLLING. Check it out and download it here.

Ken Dahl - Cousin

If you wanna hear more from Mr. Dahl himself (and you KNOW you do) check out his MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/kendoll4u. My personal faves are "Flawless", "If This Pussy Could Talk", and "Tomahawk."

To Her Lover's House, Joi Goes

"To My Lover's House, I Go" is a jazzy, fairy tale inspired tune from Joi's 4th album "Tennessee Slim Is The Bomb." The Raphael Saadiq produced track is an ode to enchantment as Joi travels "over the river and through the woods" for a rendevous with her lover and his "butterscotch, sugar & caramel creme/And strawberry kisses to go."

Besides the suggestive lyrics a la "You could be a shot of Goldschläger/Sweet and red hot in my mouth," there's something in the way that she sings that's simply enchanting and alluring. I could listen to her sing "I'm your dirty debutante, baby/From the dirty South" for hours. (Go ATL!)

Joi - To My Lover's House, I Go

Don't you picture Little Red Riding Hood when you hear this?

Tyson Beckford + Nicole Trunfio = Hot Sex On A Platter

Tyson Beckford and Nicole Trunfio posed topless together for famed photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (photographer for HBO's "The Black List") during Make Me A Supermodel's season finale....God I'd LOVE to be in Nicole's shoes...and topless in Tyson's arms. Hee Hee ;-)



Oh and here's that "Hot Sex On A Platter"

Samurai Champloo + Sex Trafficking

Trafficking: The recruitment, transportation, harboring, transfer or sale for the purposes of placing people in any type of forced labor, including, but not limited to forced prostitution, sexual services, domestic servitude, etc.

That's what we discussed today in my Sexual & Intimate Violence class. We also discussed the fact that over 2 million children are forced into prostitution every year. Half of them live in Asia. But the problem exists in EVERY country. My city of Atlanta is currently the #1 city for sex trade in America...sad.

During the discussion I thought of this episode of Samurai Champloo called "Gamblers & Gallantry." It focuses on a woman who's sold to a brothel by her husband after he falls deep into debt. The storyline is actually a pretty realistic account of what commonly occurs to some wives across the globe (sans the knight in shining armor stuff). And it's one of my FAV episodes of the series. Check it out.

VH1 Morning Rewind

This song has been stuck in my head for days now. I remembered the video being a lot better though....God this is kinda lame. Oh well. Still love the song :-) LOL

Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want
Uploaded by Dixvad59. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Something in the Rain

Words are useless...they can't explain how I feel. I just feel...a need...a desire. Something in the rain makes me feel...your skin against my skin...put your hands on my skin...

Janet Jackson-Anytime,Anyplace Live
Uploaded by dtwmjb1. - Explore more music videos.

The Perfect Night for Case Closed

It's a rainy night here in GA. The perfect setting for a good murder mystery and few provide better cases than one of my fave anime's, Case Closed. This anime is about a super sleuth teen, Jimmy Kudo, who's transformed into a little boy by a secret crime syndicate. Kudo continues solving (rather violent)crimes under the new identity of Conan Etigawa as he searches for the syndicate and a way to return to his old self. Okay, the show MAY seem corny at first but TRUST ME it's GOOD. You'll become addicted soon enough. I PROMISE.

Here's "The Art Museum Murder Case"






Check out other episodes on the users YouTube page.

Bry'Nt: "Hello, Goodbye"

Oooooohh! NY is in the HOUSE!!...well really CT. But that's how I feel everytime I hear Bry'Nt's new song "Hello, Goodbye." The song samples Junior M.A.F.I.A's "Get Money" and is a scathing and heartfelt chronicle of the demise of Bry'Nt's relationship with a former cheating boyfriend.

This song could've sounded like any typical jilted lover type of record but what sets it apart from other mediocre songs is the structure and the sincerity in Bry'Nt's words. Structurally, the song is set up like a phone conversation between Bry'Nt and his ex with an actor providing voice over in between verses.

Lyrically, Bry'Nt lets loose his sorrow and bitterness as he laments lines like, "I wish I never met 'ninja's'/I regret 'ninja's'/I just wanna go to sleep and just forget 'ninja's'/I don't miss him/ He's outta my system/You wanna talk in person, but/I ain't done hurtin'/Now I'm leavin'"

To top it off the exes comments at the end are HILARIOUS. I love a man that can laugh and make fun of himself.

Check out "Hello, Goodbye" and some other jam's like "Beat It Up," "Deep Cover" and "I'm The Shit" on Bry'Nt's MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/bryntmusic

and check out some articles I wrote on him on my other blog, Here and Here

Side Lipton ~ Love that line, "Found out about the time you let Nic play wit cha dick." Ooooooh! LOVE IT!

Darrell Walden Jr.

Oh Darrell...you are model perfection. Mr Walden Jr. is one of those underrated models whose beauty is simply ethereal and disarming. Darrell is signed with Next Model Management and has walked Giorgio Armani, Louis Vuitton, DKNY and Givenchy's (a shared exclusive between the two fashion houses) Spring 2009 shows. He also walked for Thierry Mugler, Hermes, Paul Smith, Franseco Smalto, & Matasomo in their Fall 2009 shows. I missed seeing him on the runway during the Spring 2010 shows. I hope he's doing some major editorial or campaign($$$) work. Here are some more shots of this ethereal beauty.