Friday, February 19, 2016

NO. 248--SPOT BITZ (FEB 19-25)


HEY OUTTOWNERS, OUTSTAGRS AND COUTURIANS....CHECK OUT WHAT WE ARE STAGIN THIS WEEK! 











Maatology is also seeking gents for the 8th Annual Mista


 Couture Charity Style Contest up until  FEB 16.  If you or 

someone you know who has style and a great personality,

 email to snaphoney2011@gmail.com for more info

UPDATE:THE DEADLINE IS NOW MARCH 16
.
You can go to YOUTUBE and type in MISTA COUTURE to

 see past videos!


For all of your entertainment coverage in the St Louis area check out New Scene News. Go to http://www.newscenenews.com/


OK NOW TO THE BITZ THIS WEEK



This week the big story is when conservative host Tomi Lahren invited Charlamagne on her Blaze TV show to debate whether or not BeyoncĂ© should have incorporated the Black Panther and black pride themes in her performance.

She earned the infamous “Donkey of the Day” award from popular radio personality Charlamagne tha God. The host of Power 105.1 FM’s Breakfast Club says he hands out the dubious honor each day to someone who deserves credit for “being stupid.”

The 16 minute conversation was more of a class lesson for


 Lahren on The Black Panthers by Charlamagne explaining


 to her that the organization is not a terrorist group. 


Our question is, did she know who Charmalagne even was before she was Donkey of the Day? Dount it. It is likely that she was plugged in by her producers about it. After seeing the video, it is so obvious that she didnt have a clue about th ehistory of The Black Panthers and just history, period. We think Facebooker Angela Watson of New York said it best when responding to this issue:



"This chick thinks she is slick, The blaze is on the rocks 

and  they purposely went after the biggest name in

 entertainment to stay afloat. This girl is nobody and

 before her rant and fake outrage, nobody knew her

 name. Don't give anymore attention to yet another dumb

 air head bottle-blonde trying to be famous. Charlamagne

 just gave her another 15 minutes."





Kanye West made news as always this week when he

 performed an erratic set on Saturday Night Live (It was good

 to see R&B artists El DeBarge and Kelly Price performing 

with Ye) and performed two songs from his latest CD, "The

 Life of Pablo." that he released officially after SNLhad gone

 off the air.  But the real news was when he was backstage 

prior to him performing. Now Page Six has what it claims is audio from the set. They call it a "meltdown," but it's really more self-declarations of importance and a musical artist upset about how things aren't going according to plan. "They took my fucking stage off of SNL without asking me," says a critical Kanye. "Now I'm bummed." Then he calls Taylor Swift a "fake ass" and declares himself 50 percent more influential than any human being dead or alive, including Stanley Kubrick, Pablo Picasso, Pablo Escobar, and Apostle Paul.
It is obvious that Ye is going through a possible cut-my-ear-off situation. Everyone is saying that its his ego, but we think it could be him going through a mental breakdown. In other Ye newz, it was reported that he had gone on Twitter to say he was over 50 million in  debt and asked Facebook creator David Zuckerberg for a loan.  Now we know Ye is crazy. Our Early WORDZ TO THE WHYZ....Why would he get on Twitter to post that? Then again, it is Ye.






The Grammy Awards was aired this Monday and the Grammies drew 24.95 million viewers and a 7.7 rating among adults 18-49. That’s a drop of 9.4% from last year to the lowest demo Grammy result since 2009. Viewershipwise, the LL Cool J hosted show was dipped 1.4% from 2015 – again, that’s the worst the Grammys have done since 2009 when 19.04 million viewers tuned in.

As far as the award show itself, it was just OK. It was too many performances and not enough actual awards given out during the telecast (only six were given out). The highlight was Grammy Award winner Kendrick Lamar's Black Lives Matters influenced performance which was powerful and Adele's pitch challenged and sound challenged performance of "All I Ask."The tributes were what made most of the news especially the ones that were maligned (Maurice White and Natalie Cole). Check out our WORDZ TO THE WHYZ below for more on the Grammy Awards.

As far as our Grammy Award predictions, we was 60 percent in our choosing of the winners:
Here are our choices and who actually won:

Record Of The Year
OUR PICK: UPTOWN FUNK-MARK RUNSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME

Album Of The Year
OUR PICK: SOUND AND COLOR-ALABAMA SHAKES
ACTUAL WINNER: 1989-TAYLOR SWIFT

Song Of The Year
OUR PICK-THINKING OUT LOUD ED SHEERAN and AMY WADGE
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME


Best New Artist
OUR PICK--: MEGHAN TRAINOR
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME


Best Pop Solo Performance
OUR PICK--:THINKING OUT LOUD--ED SHEERAN
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
OUR PICK-UPTOWN FUNK-MARK RONSON FEAT. BRUNO MARS
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME

Best Pop Vocal Album
OUR PICK---1989, TAYLOR SWIFT
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME

Best Dance Recording
OUR PICK--WHERE ARE U NOW, SKRILLEX AND DIPLO feat JUSTIN BIEBER
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME

Best Dance/Electronic Album
OUR PICK-SKRILLEX AND DIPLO PRESENT JACK U
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME


Best Rock Performance
OUR PICK-DONT WANNA FIGHT-ALABAMA SHAKES
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME


Best Rock Song
OUR PICK-DONT WANNA FIGHT, ALABAMA SHAKES
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME


Best Alternative Music Album
OUR PICK-SOUND AND COLOR, ALABAMA SHAKES
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME
 Best R&B Performance
OUR PICK-EARNED IT, THE WEEKND
ACTUAL WINNER: SAME


Best Traditional R&B Performance
OUR PICK-LITTLE GHETTO BOY, LALAH HATHAWAY
ACTUAL WINNER-SAME
Best R&B Song
OUR PICK-EARNED IT
      Ahmad Balshe, Stephan Moccio, Jason Quenneville & Abel Tesfaye
ACTUAL WINNER--REALLY LOVE, D'ANGELO

Best Urban Contemporary Album
OUR PICK-BEAUTY BEHIND THE MADNESS, THE WEEKND
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME
Best R&B Album
OUR PICK-BLACK MESSIAH, D'ANGELO AND THE VANGUARD
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME

Best Rap Performance
OUR PICK-ALRIGHT, KENDRICK LAMAR
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
OUR PICK-GLORY, COMMON and JOHN LEGEND
ACTUAL WINNER--ALRIGHT-KENDRICK LAMAR and BILAL

Best Rap Song
OUR PICK-GLORY, Lonnie Lynn, Che Smith & John Stephens, songwriters
ACTUAL WINNER--ALRIGHT, KENDRICK LAMAR

Best Rap Album
OUR PICK-TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY, KENDRICK LAMAR
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME



Best Gospel Performance/Song
OUR PICK-WANNA BE HAPPY, KIRK FRANKLIN
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME


Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
OUR PICK--FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
ACTUAL WINNER-I'LL BE ME, GLEN CAMPBELL


Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
OUR PICK-THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING
ACTUAL WINNER--BIRDMAN
Best Song Written For Visual Media

OUR PICK-SEE YOU AGAIN, Andrew Cedar, Justin Franks, Charles Puth & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters
ACTUAL WINNER--GLORY, COMMON and JOHN LEGEND



Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
OUR PICK-BLAKE MILLS
ACTUAL WINNER-JEFF BHASKER
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
OUR PICK-UPTOWN FUNK
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME


Best Music Video

OUR PICK-BAD BLOOD, TAYLOR SWIFT and KENDRICK
ACTUAL WINNER--SAME

Best Music Film
OUR PICK-WHAT HAPPENED MISS SIMONE
ACTUAL WINNER--AMY-AMY WINEHOUSE




R.I.P. to evangelist Denise Matthews former sex siren/singer/actress Vanity who died this week from renal failure. at the age of 57

OLD BITZ


Singer and videographer Pascal is coming to ABC TV (Channel 30-KDNL)in St Louis late Saturday/early Sundays starting this weekend with a hilarious comedy bit show with interviews, and shorts called "Late Night With Pascal."




Renowned photographer Steven Williams launched his first

book Shades of Color. It is a photo series of men of color

capturing the beauty, spirit, and humanity with empowering

imagery. This book is about diversity, and what we don't see

in a world of color lines. He hopes to begin a new trend in

empowering the future of men and women of color. If you

want to place your order or donate, he have launched an

Indiegogo to fund this series. There will be many perks and

pleasures along the way. For more info go to






This week we spotlight Chicago based jeweler Jurran Yarbrough, creator of the jewlery line, Kilojoules.



OS:When did you decide to create your own jewelry line?

JY:I decided to create my own jewelry line in April of 2012 when I created a rosary for myself and received positive feedback the first night I wore it to a club.  The first night I wore the rosary someone asked me to make them two rosary style necklaces; and Kilojoules was born from there.

OS:In one word how would you describe your jewelry?

JY:Energetic

OS:Which piece of jewelry has been your most popular seller or has been a people's fave?

JY:The Slim Signature Kilojoules Bracelet and The Kilojoules Dream Catcher Necklace

OS:Explain your process of creating jewelry? Don't leave out any details. Lol

JY:I don’t really have a structured process.  I see things that inspire me and then I use my creativity to make a design my own, its all about an energy and feeling that speaks to me when the piece comes together.  And I always leave the door open for the piece to evolve over time.



OS:Have any celebs worn your jewelry?

JY: celebs have worm my jewelry just yet, but this is something me and my marketing team are actively working on.  We have gotten the green light to send a piece of jewelry to a Basketball Wives celeb.  I just got notification that she has received the piece and can’t wait to wear it during her next up coming filming project, and also as agreed to plug the bracelet and the brand on social media at that point.  So I’m excited.  We also are in communication with a once popular female R&B artist who is currently resurrecting her career.  This looks to be very promising, but just waiting on the details on getting access to her at here up coming performance date in Chicago. 

OS: Are you from Chicago?

JY:I was reared in Waukegan, Illinois , which is 40 mins north of Chicago.  And I moved to Chicago in 1999.

OS:What s your education background?

JY:I attended a magnetic elementary school which was big on the visual and performing arts. I also graduated Cum Laude from Waukegan High School in an advanced placement college prep program.  I later received my BS Chemistry from Illinois State University, and obtained my MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management (Devry).



OS:.Why the name Kilo Joules for your line? It's quite creative name involving chemistry terms as jewelry making contains chemistry?

JY:In an attempt to personalize my brand I looked to my chemistry background to find a name that had meaning.  A “joule” is generically a scientific term representing a measurement of energy.  As far back as I can remember I have always said that I can get a feel for people by the energy the give off.  Then there is the obvious phoenetic similarity in the word “jewel” and “joule”.  So you take my background in science, coupled with what I create, and the skill of reading peoples energy; and there you have KILOJOULES a term in several ways personally tying  back to me.   

OS:What are your hobbies outside of jewelry making?

JY:I’m a big technology head.  I also have been name Mcgyver and Bob-the-builder because of my knack for ingenuity and being a handyman, which I enjoy.


OS:What is your long term goal with your jewelry line?

JY:Long-term I’d like Kilojoules to  be a well known brand in Men’s fashion accessories. I’m currently working more with women jewelry.  I also have plans for pet collars, clutch wallets, and handbags. 

OS:.Whats the best contact for people to reach you to order?

JY:My online store is currently still under development but prospective clients can go to www.kilojoules4.com to see the limited selection available online, view my photo album, and my PRESS or CONTACT US pages to communicate with Kilojoules.  Moving forward I’d like to have a strong online presence while at the sometime still being able to service a portion of my clients through one=on-one interactions.

Attachments area
                                                                                             FIT BITZ


This week we feature Grammy Awards host LL Cool J who is known not just for his music and now as an actor but he has been an icon in the fitness game with his chiseled frame.



 

                                                                            
This week we feature 2016 Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter John Legend who rocked the red carpet with this unique black  diamond dotted tux jacket. Legend has quickly one of the dapper dans of the red carpet in Hollywood.

.





WORD TO THE WHYZ????

 

AT THE GRAMMYS. Why did  Bow wow kept saying the show was going to start and didnt ? Why was teh sound so horrible? Why were there performances than awards given? And why does the R&B cateogory keep not getting televised (unless Beyonce is nominated)? Why was Taylor Swift getting overly excited in the audience when Ed Sheeren won a Grammy? Why did Bruno Mars scream out Beyonce's name before she announced he won Record of the Year? Why didnt Rihanna and Lauryn Hill perform? Why was Tyrese singing Brick House during the Lionel Richie tribute? And why were there so many pop artists performing on the Richie tribute? And Why were their so many odd duet pairings?


OTHER WHYZ? Why are the Republicans trying to stop POTUS from sleecting a successor to the late Supreme Court judge Scalia? Why did the Miami police union president say he will not have his police force protect Beyonce when she tours later this year? And why didnt those NFL protestors fail to show at teh headquarters to protest about Beyonce'sSuper Bowl performance?  Why did boxer Manny Pacquio call gay people animals? And why does actor Marlon Wayans always shows his butt in mostly all of his movies? And why does Fox z news St Louis host Kim Hudson always say that she is a vegetarian during all the food segments?LOL 


If you have a fitness pic, a style pic or an artist or event you 

would like featured on SPOT BITZ, email to 

snaphoney2011@gmail.com!

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

NO. 247--STAGE VIEWZ-- AND IN THIS CORNER...CASSIUS CLAY

Photos by West End Word


"Remember one thing, son, 

every name has a story to it."

This is what actor Phillip Nixon, who plays Cassius Clay Sr,


 said  to actor, Trigney Martin, who played his son, Cassius

 Clay, Jr in a scene about what their names meant.

This prolific line is part of the stage production of "And In This


 Corner....Cassius Clay," the story of the young life of

  Muhammad Ali.



Written by Detroit native/Chicago bred playwright Idris

 Goodwin,  and directed by Metro Theater Company's Julia

 Flood, "And In This Corner", which is currently staged at Lee

 Auditorium inside the Missouri Historical Museum in Forest

 Park, tells the life of Ali growing up as

 a youngster in a segregated Louisvllle, Kentucky in the 

1950s and 1960s and how the racial and social climate

 influenced his aspiration to become a boxer.





Actor Trigney Martin plays the title role of Cassius Clay

Overall "And In This Corner" is an entertaining rendering of Ali and gave a good dose of what his life endured when trying to make sense of racism and following dreams.


The standout is Martin who plays Clay. His energetic approach to the role was a a delight to watch. Although it seems a bit challenging seeing Martin playing the role starting off as a 12 year old, he is still able to embed the innocence of a youngster and him morphing into a young, assertive man. Martin also handles the rhyming Shakespeareanesque monologues in between most transitional scenes nicely  as well as  channeling Ali's vocal cadence during the monologues during Ali as a young man. 


A lunch counter scene from the play. From left to right:Katy Keating, Erik Kuhn, Martin and Jaz Tucker.


The ensemble cast also does a respectable job including actor David Wassilak who plays Clay's boxing coach Officer Joe Martin and Jaz Tucker who plays his socially conscious friend Eddie.

The set design also is quite impressive. The staging


 comprise of rotating panels to transition each scene and

 the portable boxing ring to show some of the boxing

 scenes with Martin. Historical footage from the time period

 including Clay in Rome during the 1960 Olympics and Dr 

King on Washington D.C. grounds during the I Have A

 Dream also helped incorporate the social state of the

 times.





The ensemble cast and the silhouette of a boxing scene of Cassius Clay fighting in Rome, Italy.

The only drawback of

 "And In This Corner"

 is its a One Act Play 

and only 70 minutes long. But, from a particular discussion 

with the playwright and director after the premiere Feb 12, 

the time factor is set based on young students in schools

 coming to see the matinees during school hours. Thus, this 

play can easily be revised as an actual Broadway play where

  his story could be delved more and how the social injustices

 of the times affected him and his relationships with his

 family, his friends and his boxing trainer.

But, besides that, it is definitely a play worth going to see


 especially for those who enjoy biopics.

"And In This Corne Cassius Clay" runs until Feb.-28


 with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m.

 matinee on Sundays. Tickets are $12-$18 and available

 at http://cassiusproject.com or by calling the Metro Theater 

Box Office at 314-441-5792.

-30-