LaChanze, Will Power, Kamilah Forbes and More live in performance April 30th

EVENT DETAILS: You are cordially invited to attend the Impact Broadway Spring Fundraiser Event Join us for an evening of performances, fun, food and celebration! Hosted By: Kamilah Forbes, Artistic Director Hip Hop Theater Festival Performances By: LaChanze, Tony Award Winner, The Color Purple Alexis Houston, Singer Alls Well Music Will Power, Playwright and Performer Monday, April 30, 2012 at Chocolat Restaurant and Lounge 2217-23 Frederick Douglass Boulevard corner of 120th Street New York 10026 5:00pm Doors Open 5:30pm-7:30pm Reception/Program Festive Attire RSVP to Nicole Judd by April, 23rd Email impactnicole@gmail.com or (718) 703-2260 Ticket: $50 Purchase Tickets online via Paypal link: http://www.impactbroadway.com/fundraising-benefit-reception/ WHAT IS IMPACT BROADWAY? Impact Broadway is a multifaceted youth, audience development program focused on empowering African American and Latino students to become active participants in the theater community. Impact Broadway Co-Founders Donna Walker Kuhne and Cherine Anderson For more information, visit www.impactbroadway.com

Sneak Preview: Nelson George and Diane Paragas' Brooklyn Boheme

Join us for a preview screening of Brooklyn Boheme, a new documentary from award-winning Nelson George, director of the HBO feature film, Life Support (2007), which won Queen Latifah a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Brooklyn Boheme takes a look back at the close-knit African American/Latino neighborhood in Fort Greene, prior to gentrification, when the community nurtured a new wave of original and uniquely talented artists, among them, Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Branford Marsalis, and many other creative innovators featured in this film.

Nelson George, Co-Director/Writer/Producer, Brooklyn Boheme; director, Life Support; author, City Kid, Hip Hop America, The Plot Against Hip Hop

Diane Paragas, co-director, Brooklyn Boheme; television writer/producer/director (BET, MTV and CBS News)

Presented with Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, Media Arts Dept., Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus

Sponsored by BET

Book signing of The Plot Against Hip Hop follows.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 7, 6:30 to 9:00 pm

WHERE: Kumble Theater, Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Flatbush Ave.

(DeKalb & Willoughby)

Don't miss next month's preview screening with Nelson George and Diane Paragas. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP at www.cencom.org. You can also e-mail info@cencom.org or call (212) 686-5005.

Malachi Rivers Releases His debut single, Love & Music featuring U.K.'s Own Maria Bentley from His Forthcoming album Stereo Sound Escape

Natural gifts of artistic flare are rarely combined into one and allowed such vivid expressions of individuality as with the unique sound of Emcee, Malachi Rivers music. Behind a lion driven force to live out his dreams is the serene humility of a unique and ubiquitous individual.

Having toured the states and Europe with rising and notable Jazz star Marcus Strickland "Twi-Life" Group as the "God Voice" in support of their acclaimed live recorded album Open Reel Deck, Malachi developed the lyrical chops, musicality, and stage presence to hold down two to three shows a night. Working with such barrier breaking talent as Grammy Award winning rapper Cee-Knowledge aka Doodlebug of the Legendary Hip Hop Group Digable Planets, Spoken Word Star J.Ivy (Kanye West, Jay-Z, John Legend), and two breakthrough producers, Jazz trained female drummer turned producer JoVia Armstrong and House/Techno head Brandon Durrette, Malachi's debut album Stereo Sound Escapeembodies musicality, love, lyricism, and the privilege to hear music that crosses borders and not just the charts.

Born Greg Owens, Jr. In Prince George's County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C., Malachi started from humble beginnings with a young mother and step-father who raised him to be a very spiritually aware, confident, and disciplined individual. "Growing up I saw it all drugs, abuse, you name it! However, when I heard music, especially Hip Hop, like Tribe, Digable Planets, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, and Arrested Development it was my escape. I started to feel like there was more to life than some of the things I saw. That's why I took on the name Malachi which means "my messenger" because I wanted to use music as away to get a message across. The last name Rivers came about because I wanted the message to flow like a river, sometimes its rough sometimes its smooth."

Malachi, began to take his love for music seriously auditioning and being accepted into a prestigious performing arts school in Maryland. Honing his craft vocally, Malachi studied Classical voice. "I was always told I had such a strong voice. I would sing Arias and Negro Spirituals all the time. Let's just say I was the young man who loved singing "Ol' Man River". After graduating Malachi, attended the University of Maryland where he developed an interest in spoken word poetry. Malachi, studied the craft, started a group with a female singer/poet and became one of the DMV's most dominant spoken word performers. Winning Slams, and performing alongside or for many outstanding performers including Saul Williams, Sonia Sanchez, Dick Gregory, and performing at the same spot on a weekly basis as R&B singer Raheem Devaughn.

After the group broke up, Malachi began to do some soul searching. Taking time away from the craft, Malachi enrolled in Broadcasting school, graduated, worked hard as an intern at Radio One in the DMV area and within a few months became the co-host of a talk show on a very new at the time XM Satellite Radio - "The Power". In less than a year Malachi was given his own show on XM Satellite Radio - "The Flow" called The "Nu Soul Lounge". The show played "Neo-Soul" Spoken Word, and "conscience" Hip Hop. Moreover, this was the blessing that got him back on track to his musical path. "I remember being behind the mic interviewing Dougie E. Fresh, and started "spittin" for him, being in a hotel room having a cypher with The Nappy Roots, being in a backstage dressing room rhyme fest with Eve and Beenie Man, vibing with India. Arie, talking to Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, John Legend, Q-Tip, and feeling like I never want this to end. So I left it all and moved to NYC to pursue my dreams as a emcee/poet."

Malachi delved right into the New York scene, with only $103 dollars in his pocket and a dream. Hitting up open mic spots and meeting an array of talent. Performing for a month in a musical at the legendary Nuyorican Poetry Cafe, frequenting the "mother of all open mics" Village Underground, and many other spots. "I remember studying what performers did to captivate an audience. By attending these spots it developed me even more as an artist."

Perhaps, even beyond the open mic scene the world of social media has done wonders for Malachi. "I've always been a person to network, so social media was a cinch for me." Through social media Malachi, met the man who he thanks as giving him the opportunity to perform at the legendary Blue Note Jazz Club and to see the world, Jazz star Marcus Strickland. Strickland discovered Malachi on Myspace and sought after his talents for his project. Malachi, was also able to meet U.K. soul singer Maria Bentley, who he has two songs with to date, JoVia the amazing female producer who produced three tracks off his forthcoming albumStereo Sound Escape, including his debut single Love & Music with Maria Bentley, and one of his Hip Hop inspirations Cee-Knowledge aka Doodlebug from Digable Planets, whom has blessed Malachi with a powerful collaboration.

"Working on the album Stereo Sound Escape has been the most rewarding part of my career
so far. To put it quite simply I just didn't give a damn about fitting into any sound. I think the album is more of an introduction of what I have to offer as an artist who uses music and words to convey feelings, versus fitting into any genre. It's all a part of who I am."

Hence, the album's name Stereo Sound Escape. "Traveling the world and performing, I was exposed to different sounds and musical elements. I wanted to be true to the sound that I know I can perform with my heart in it. Not what someone said is hot or the trend right now. I wanted to give myself and my listeners an okay, to step away from what we hear on the radio. If my music charts what a blessing, if it doesn't the blessing is still there because I am doing what I love."

“Through music we are able to find ourselves in some shape or form. We are able to visit a place that has been revealed to everyone. It's a special place that the person in the hood has visited, the rich socialite has nodded her head in, and the poor child looking for food has only imagined. However, it is the one place that we all cross paths, regardless of our life story.”

Malachi Rivers, is what you would call a true artist. As an emcee he is compelling and as a performer engaging. Beyond any musical genre. He performs what is in his heart and that alone is a major hit!

You can check out Malachi's new single, "Love & Music" at:

Soundcloud: Love & Music featuring Maria Bentley - Produced by JoVia

YouTube: Love & Music featuring Maria Bentley - Produced by JoVia

iTunes: Love & Music Featuring Maria Bentley - Produced by JoVia
Amazon: Love & Music Featuring Maria Bentley - Produced by JoVia

Inspired In New York Honors LEN BURNETT & DOUG E. FRESH

Inspired In New York Honors

LEN BURNETT & DOUG E. FRESH

Hosted by: CHERYL WILLS (NY 1 News Anchor)

Event Date: November 15, 2011 in NYC

LEN BURNETT, Co-CEO & Group Publisher of Uptown Media Group & Vibe Lifestyle Network and American rapper, record producer, and beat box legend DOUG E. FRESH are being honored by INSPIRED IN NEW YORK on November 15, 2011 at Tian at the Riverbank in Harlem, NY. Attendance is by INVITE ONLY.

Len Burnett & Doug E. Fresh were both chosen to be honored by The Honorable Senator Bill Perkins due to their many years as innovators and trendsetters in the Music and Publishing Industries. Both honorees will receive a proclamation from New York for their contributions in the fields of media, arts and entertainment.

The crème de la crème of the entertainment industry will be in attendance to support and honor these trendsetters and innovators on their very special day. Special gifts and door prizes courtesy of Seven Brown, Owner of Harlem Skin Clinic www.harlemskinclinic.com and the Power of One Harlem Rewards Card for $1.00 you will be connected & save with the small businesses of Harlem.

For press inquiries and further information contact: camille@cmegrp.com.

RSVP: rsvp@cmegrp.com

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "OUT Artist Lester Greene - Regular Person"

GAY HIP HOP ARTIST

Lester Greene

Regular Person

Wanting to strip himself naked, wanting people to see "the real me," Lester Greene unapologetically shares his fantasies: a black man indulging intimately with a white man, in his provocative and exciting new video "Real Person."

Lester shared with me how after releasing the video he felt so much at peace. I could hear and feel the comfort in his voice during our conversation. How amazing and freeing it is when you embrace the Shadow&Light and live in your truth. The universe just opens up even more and you simply soar.

Congrats Lester and wishing you good health and prosperity.

Rocking the rhythmical lyrics and the sexy beats while humanizing the "Regular Person," I invite you on this journey with OUT Gay Artist Lester Greene. Now let's get this video on LOGO soon!

A.A+W

with Cornelius Jones Jr.

Tune in next Wednesday for more

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness with Cornelius Jones Jr.

Stay connected with me:

www.corneliusjonesjr.com

FaceBook: Cornelius Jones Jr.

Twitter: CorneliusJonesJ

FaceBook Fan Page: FlagBoy Official Fan Page of the Actor

'The Game' Says There are 'Several' Closeted Rappers, Tells them to 'Be Gay and Proud': VIDEO

Rapper The Game spoke with VLAD TV about closeted rappers in the hip-hop industry

ARE YOU A MAN FAN?

Says the rapper:

"I don’t have a problem with gay people. Like, Beyoncé should’ve said, ‘Who run the world? Gays,’ because they’re everywhere and rightfully so. Do you. It’s a free country. Be gay, you can do that...Game don’t have a problem with gay people. Game has problem with people who are pretending not to be gay...The number one issue with that is that you could be fooling somebody and you could give them AIDS and they can die and so that in the closet shit is real scary. So, we’ve got to get into the real seriousness of it and it’s just not fair to other people..."

Adds The Game:

"It's not cool to be in the closet. If you gay, just say you gay. Be gay and be proud.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In 2006, The Game was criticized for remarks he made on DJ Jo Whiley's radio show when he referred to gay men as "faggots" and "not real men".

At the time the BBC decided not to take action against Whiley because she made a 'sincere, full and swift' apology and distanced herself and the network from The Game's comments, according to WENN. The BBC also said that it would not deny The Game future interviews: "The BBC does not ban artists, but we do have editorial guidelines making clear that we do not condone homophobic comments or bad language, which all artists are expected to follow when they are on air during a live interview."

The Power of the Queen "B" Beyonce!!!

4Ever Queen B
by Deshawn Moody

Mrs. Knowles(Carter) has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue since her beginning Diva days with one of the Best Selling All Girl groups Destiny’s Child. But lately the Press has been all over her. With all the controversy from her leaving her Dad’s Management ties to the upcoming release(leaked) album from the Queen B herself. You may have started to doubt our Down-South Maven but as always, the Queen never disappoints her true die hard Fans.

The epic “4” starts off with a Beautiful Ballad where B teaches us all little about the Arithematics of Love in the song titled “1+1”. Ne-Yo was there to lend a helping pen on this one. Next up on the Ballad train is “I Care” which quite frankly my Dear, I do. B shows us why she may still be Dangerously in Love as she belts outs notes and riffs to confess how she really feels. Not only does she give us new music styles and beats but we also get a Duo with the ATLien himself Andre 3000. The catchy bass thumping “Party” is actually the only song on the Album that is not a repeat on the Playlist. We travel back to the 80’s with the mellow tempo of “Rather Die Young”. Another favorite is “Start Over” because love should never die.

The Club banging “Countdown” will be one of the songs for the Summer. It gets the crowd bouncing all the way down to number 1 and is very Ala Destiny’s Child. The funky Brazilian bass sparking from “End of Time” makes it the number one Favorite of all time. This one pays a keen tribute to the late great King of Pop Himself. “I Was Here” goes deep into the Real life of the Queen as she soulfully expresses how she has left her footprints in the Sand of Life. “The Best Thing I Never Had” is said to be Irreplaceable Part II. This tune lets the X Factor know that it sucks to be in his Timbs right now. “Love On Top” is an Old-School feel with an All-time Classic Boy band groups. It makes you want to snap and two step all while clapping and hand swaying. Rounding out the bottom is none other than “Girls Who Run The World”. This Girl Anthem was the first release of the Album with a Premiere of a new transformed Shasha Fierce and her girl posse as they let Us all know that they are women hear them roar. Overall the new album “4” is one of the Moth’s best. Bey embarks on new territory as we are exposed to eclectic sounds and techno beats mixed with Jazz and smooth Caribbean tones. Rated Grade A, Gays Approved. LOVE IT!!

Open Casting call for new Tupac movie

An online casting call for the lead role in the recently revived biopic Tupac is underway.

The application process, set to run until April 30, asks individuals who think they embody Shakur’s spirit to submit a five-minute video in which they perform a provided courtroom monologue and their favorite 2Pac song.

“We’re looking for someone with the right mix of raw charm and charisma for the role,” producer David Robinson said in a statement. “At this point, we’re more concerned about finding someone with the ability to give their entire heart into the performance than just looks and personality.”

Tupac, directed by Antoine Fuqua, recently rebounded from a two-year setback in development caused by a series of legal battles. The film will follow Shakur’s controversial career from his rise as a rap artist and actor to his highly publicized 1996 murder. Shooting is slated to begin this summer.

Click here for more information: I Am Tupac

Nicki Minaj’s Branding Power Decoded

By BlackEnterprise.com

Most may view Nicki Minaj as just another rapper/singer/performer; but the multi-faceted entertainer is much more than that, she’s a bankable brand that’s only just begun to blossom. In a few short years, Nicki has influenced trends through her music and unmistakable fashion sense, and her involvement in cosmetics, television, hair and even the floral industry (Nicki has exclusive pink collection bouquets available on flowers.com for Valentine’s Day) has helped spike sales and visibility for a number of ancillary brands. Whether her detractors like it or not, Ms. Minaj is a one-woman marketing guru. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at some of the brands the young starlet has—directly or indirectly—helped bolster by association.

KELIS - Sums It All Up for Us, SO JUST SCREAM

Been running in place for such a long time
Stuck in a race in the wrong line
When it all came down on me.
And I haven’t had faith for such a long time
Am I outta place or out of my mind
Should it all fall down on me

Its not enough to live, so just dream
Its not enough to sing, so just scream

You’ll never know
If you don’t let it out
You've had enough
They’ll call your bluff
You cant back down lost in a crowd
You’ve won the right to scream and shout
They'll talk about you lost your cool
There is no point who makes the rules
So lets get to it
Now you’ll prove it
Break out

Scream and shout

Sound the alarm
Raise your arms
Your on your own
Your not alone
Big city got you on the ground
Afraid to fight don’t make a sound
So lets get to it
Now you’ll prove it
Push back

Scream and shout

Been running in place for such a long time
Stuck in a race in the wrong line
When it all came down on me.
And I haven’t had faith for such a long time
Am I outta place or out of my mind
Should it all fall down on me

Its not enough to live, so just dream
Its not enough to sing, so just scream

Magic set to help Vibe Mag get its groove back

By KEITH J. KELLY

NY Post

Vibe Ventures hopes that the magic is back now that it has a new ownership team led by basketball legend Magic Johnson and supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle -- who are pumping an estimated $12 million into the ailing company in exchange for a majority stake.

The current owner, InterMedia Partners, a private-equity firm headed by Leo Hindery that took over in a foreclosure sale in late 2009, is going to stay involved. "We feel we can take it to a whole other level," Johnson told The Post.

The former Los Angles Lakers star, who will serve as chairman of Vibe Ventures, was pegged by Forbes in 2009 as one of the five wealthiest African-Americans in the US, with an estimated worth of $500 million.

In addition to the flagship Vibe magazine, Vibe Ventures includes Uptown magazine and related digital ventures and the rights to 1,100 episodes of dance show "Soul Train."

"We plan to find a way to build the 'Soul Train' brand and get it back on the air," said Johnson, who also promised to promote everything from music awards and live performances to business seminars and overseas licensing.

Johnson said the Yucaipa/Johnson Fund, formed from Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. and Magic Johnson Enterprises, has about $550 million available for future deals in all fields. He said he is on the prowl for more acquisitions in the urban entertainment and media arena.

"When advertisers and marketers want to get that urban eyeball, we want to be the company that they come to," said Johnson.

Vibe once jockeyed with The Source for a lead role covering hip-hop culture, but The Source was rocked by financial turmoil and forced to sell to new owners. With yesterday's deal, Vibe will get its fourth owner in its 18 years of publishing. The Wicks Group, which purchased the magazine for $35 million in 2005 from Miller Publishing, defaulted on its loan from Capital Source Bank in 2009 and forced a temporary shutdown.

Hindery's InterMedia Group took over and revived the magazine later that year. It plans to publish six issues of Vibe and six issues of Uptown this year. Robert Miller, part of the original Vibe launch team and a past owner, is involved as chairman of the Vibe and Uptown Magazine Group.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/magic_set_to_help_vibe_mag_get_its_wzaIY4V9wl9nyD9biJzTyK#ixzz1DZD6xpe1

Kool Moe Dee Assumes New Role as Digital Content Guru

Kool Moe Dee, he of "Wild Wild West" fame, has now taken on a new persona: Dr. Media, a character that's part of this sometimes painful to watch group therapy session with characters playing Publishing, Hollywood and Network Television. The three are all freaking out about sustaining relevancy in the digital space, but somehow discussing Ashton Kutcher and getting a verse from the doc himself seems to put them all at ease. Or at least that's we gather since we couldn't help but fast-forward a few times.

This effort is brought to you by SoHo agency Barker/DZP it appears and is for NYU Stern's weeklong "Digital Transformation of the Entertainment and Media Industries" seminar. We think Kool Moe Dee would be better served just reviving his feud with LL Cool J at this point.