Think Group Media Newsletter Just Think Vol. 42

In This Issue
Just Think Vol.42
Marketing Buzz
Artist on the Rise
Remember When?
La Familia
Upcoming Events


Just Think Vol.42:The Groupie Epidemic
By A. Evans
Twitter.com/AdotEvans

Disclaimer: As always, I write these articles to stimulate minds and to get the thought process in motion.... Please read the disclaimer twice on this article.

By now we have all seen video footage of Groupie Bowl, I mean Super Bowl Weekend in Miami, as well as Reggie Bush's jump-off giving her own personal tour of his crib as if she owns it. On a daily basis we see the most outlandish things on Media Takeout and Bossip regarding women and the ever growing trend of being a proud groupie, and attention whore. If you were in Miami during the festivities, or have ever attended an All Star or Super Bowl Weekend, then you already understand my reasoning for bringing this topic up. What I tend to hear if that women claim they go to Super Bowl and All Star Weekend to "find a Baller", imagine that.Imagine a group of young women putting money on the side planning a trip for the sole purpose of meeting a professional athlete, or entertainer. Why would one have a mentality as such, where does it come from, and where does it end? This week I wanna briefly discuss the groupie phenomenon, proud jump-offs, and those who crave attention.

Why Is It Cool?
When did it become so cool to be a groupie yet alone a proud one? Where does the groupie mindset begin, is it taught inherited or passed down? What would your mama think? Or is she with you trying to get her groove back? Are we not in the age or era of the Superwoman, the independent strong woman? Is it the spotlight that does something to us, and that include fellas, cuz let's face it there are dudes who are groupies too (smh). Why? Why do people actually plot on trying to hook an athlete or entertainer? Is it the money, perks, or attention? Do these groupies actually think the person they're after is going to take them seriously? Here's a little reminder ladies, "If you start out as a jump-off don't ever think that you will be wifey, no matter what you are being told, it's not gonna happen."(Please read again)

The craziest thing to me in jump-off, groupie culture is how women constantly put themselves out there dealing with or trying to get with a dude who is in a position of power and already has a main chick, but gets mad and wants to put him on blast on facebook, or nowadays on the side of a billboard in Times Square when things don't work out the way they had planned. However, on the flip side, I can honestly say that the fellas who entertain these women are to blame as well, they cater to the fantasy and make it seem cool to entertain these groupies and jump-offs, maybe it's an ego thing, maybe it comes with the territory. Or maybe its deeper than that.

Final Thoughts
As usual for the sake of remaining "P.C" I won't go too deep unless requested, however I will say this ladies try not to get too starry eyed in an attempt to fulfill some sort of fantasy, keep in mind just because someone tells you they play for the New York Giants, doesn't mean they actually do, they could be a red shirt freshman that goes to Morehouse. Fellas if you're gonna entertain these jump-offs let it be known up front what their role is don't sell em a dream and then end up on a billboard on i75 north. Don't put yourself in a position to catch a charge, or an STD. Let's have a little more respect for ourselves as well as each other. We're quick to call ourselves Kings and Queens lets act like it then, because all the princes, and princesses emulate everything we do... As Always Peace & Love

What Do You Think?




Marketing Buzz: JaWAR
By Steve Canal
Twitter.com/SteveCanal
Twitter.com/ThinkGroupMedia

COACHING, CONSULTING & MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING ON

JaWar, Motivational Speaker, Author and Business Consultant has given informative seminars in Atlanta, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New Orleans, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas and many others.


He created the presentation to identify and share vital information in a step-by-step process necessary for success and ultimate longevity in business with aspiring entrepreneurs and those willing to demand more out of life. JaWar shows the attendee how to be a successful entrepreneur and arms them with the tools necessary to prosper in an extremely competitive business environment.


JaWar has assembled a workshop that merges extremely valuable information with his own personal style to deliver easily understood and empowering information. He challenges conventional views of how to succeed life and business by seriously exploring and promoting independence using his three step success system -THINK, PLAN, EXECUTE.


He inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to aim high, create windows of opportunity and persevere through challenging stages of a budding career. In addition, he encourages networking so that those who attend the presentation may build alliances to work together toward a more prosperous future.

Follow JaWAR's Movement Here







Real Talk: Tiger Woods and the death of side chicks
By Cedric Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes


While I was walking to the train this morning I read a Daily News headline about our beloved Tiger Woods, it said "this better be good". I asked myself, 'what better be good?' , obviously they were referring to the statement Tiger is said to make today regarding his infidelities and sex addiction rehabilitation.

Who really cares? This was supposed to be a personal matter that was made public by our sensational media where a who's who of who's cheating is more important than the 2 wars we're in right now or our crummy economy.

I'll tell you who else is to blame, THE SIDE CHICK. It's Tiger's several side chicks who helped speed up his demise with the American public. Many a side chic spent Valentines Day alone this past Sunday and for the cheating man who left them in their solitude, you my friend are creating a ticking time bomb!

There are no morals in America anymore. It's all about who gets who the fastest. With the history of our country I wonder if we ever had morals but that's a topic for another day.

There used to be a sacred trust between a man and his mistress. Mistresses knew their role, they were number 2, never to be number 1. That's it, end of story. They were happy to spend the little time they could with the man because they understood that they were not his priority. These women held themselves accountable for their actions because it was by choice that they were someones mistress.

In today's sick world of cheating, the mistress has betrayed her lover, who is betraying his family. She's really become more of a Robin Hood for hoes. She steals from the rich, (women with a man) and gives to the poor. Meaning she takes the man, ruins his relationship with the wife and then he's available to have more of the poor, bitter single women who are glad to have anyone to warm their beds at night. Note: All single women are not the poor, be imaginative with this analogy.

The side trick has become the cape crusader, she finds herself in the spots where men who have significant others frequent. She plots on her prey. She warms his insecurities, she's an ear for his troubles in his failing relationship or marriage. In fact, I say that the mistress is the largest perpetrator of all. She betrays the man with whom she's built this superficial relationship and she betrays her women kind by manipulating their possible weakness as a mate.

Oh it's a dirty world out there and I for one believe that we have to fight these masked avengers. These women who spill the beans and ruin families creating a cycle of cheating men and bitter women.

I have the solution to cure men of the wicked side chick. One solution is for single men to act like there in relationships thus tricking the sneaky side chic into thinking she has a victim when truly she will be the victim. Yes I challenge single men to strike back for the sake of cheating men everywhere and bruise the sneaky side chic so much that she thinks it necessary to turn to women. We don't need those types of scavengers hiding themselves amongst the good women who have the potential to be a wife.

But the greatest solution of all is this. My brothers we have to stop cheating. Yes release yourself from the desires of your loins and chase the devil and his side chick apprentice away. There's a war going on outside no man is safe from and the side chick is winning. You can defeat her but first you must deny her. Death to the side chick!







Remember When?
By A. Evans
Twitter.com/AdotEvans




Reebok Pump & Reebok Classics (54/11's)
Before the Allen Iverson takeover, before retros were retros before chicks knew what Stuart Weitzman's and Manolo Blahnik's were there was a craze in New York, now I'm not sure if this craze spread like wildfire in a town or city near you, but I do remember in my native New York the fellas sported the Dee Brown Reebok Pumps and the chicks sported the Reebok Classics also known as the "54.11's". The Reebok Classics were called the 54.11's because that's how much they were after tax, they came in all types of colors red, purple, pink, black, yellow etc. Of course my sisters had every stinking color I'm talking green, blue, brown it was retarded. And it always seemed like ladies would get at least two new pair on Easter. The craziest thing about the Reebok Classics was the leather, the leather was soooo freaking soft that the front of the shoe would develop creases and wrinkles after like three weeks. Chicks use to put Vaseline on em to try and protect the leather lol comedy.

Now the Reebok Pumps were a new phenomenon because Dee Brown wore them in the Dunk Contest and won. Basically it was the Pierre Flyer effect "they will make you jump higher", now they were suppose to be specifically for basketball but you know how we do, we were wearing em to be fly. I remember seeing how many times could we pump up our sneakers before the pump would pop. I don't remember exactly how it went down but I'm sure somebody had to buy a second pair.






La Familia: My man, yes...but a husband you are not!
By Shelli Tinae
Twitter.com/EllaBleuEvents

I'm trying to get a clear understanding of what being "committed" means in these days and times. A piece of paper will undoubtedly legalize the union but, theoretically, you both were still monogamous prior to the ceremony. You use this time as a testing period to see if this person can hold your interest...for life. Guidelines and boundaries are established early on in the relationship, even if they are subtle exchanges of information.

Often we solely say, "Yes we are together," and just expect the other party to be on the same page; we expect them to act along the perimeters we deem feasible. So, I don't have this down to a science, but thank God for my blog family because now I want us to create a list: GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND rules vs. HUSBAND/WIFE rules.

But first tell me if you think the GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND titles are juvenile since we are no longer girls and boys.

Here I'll start:
I think I'd rather refer to my mate as my "man," because a boy, he is not! On the other hand I think, to hell with the technicalities and I just want to conform to the norm. Saying "boyfriend" will cut to the chase: "yes that's my dude, but we aren't married, and we aren't engaged."

GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND COMMITMENT GUIDELINE # 1:
Agree to an exclusive relationship

HUSBAND/WIFE COMMITMENT GUIDELINE # 1:
A formal commitment to an exclusive relationship

PLEASE ADD TO THIS SO WE CAN GET A GOOD LIST COMPILED AND FIND OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT'S EXPECTED AT THE START (GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND) AND THE END (HUSBAND/WIFE) OF A RELATIONSHIP.







Grub Report: Chow Baby
By Fabian
Twitter.com/TheFabe

The Real Chow Baby
1016 Howell Mill rd Ste A,Atlanta, Ga 30318
p:404-815-4900


Chow Baby: Atlanta's first do it yourself stir fry restaurant. This was my first time going here so it was all a new experience. The concept is pretty simple,you pick the ingredients,they cook it and hopefully whatever you chose went well together. Not to worry though you are allowed as many trips to the stir fry bar as you like until you are either full or found that perfect combination. The stir fry bar has choices of rice/noodles then you add vegetables/fruits to your bowl,then its sauces or spices then you choose whatever meat you would like to add, you also have the option of adding a colored stick to indicate wether you want your food prepared as a salad, soup or wrap.My first bowl was ok but nothing to brag about ,the second one however was the taste i was looking for : chicken, rice, broccoli, cheese, Thai seasoning and a few other vegetables hit the spot. Wether you're out on a date or just need to grab some lunch/ dinner i would suggest a stop at Chow Baby.





New Wave: AirThemOut.com

A community built to "Air Out" Anyone or Anything

Airthemout was created because we felt there was a dying need for
people to voice their opinions and concerns on a public forum!

We're committed to providing an open forum to Current events, new music, blogs, and or anything controversial or relative in nature! We will not hold back or pull no punches! We are AIRTHEMOUT!

www.AirThemOut.com


Upcoming Events

Sol Fusion -The iRock Edition
Hip-Hop & Rock Fusion
Aja
3500 Lenox Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA
March 5th, 2010

F.A.M.E. PR WORKSHOP
10:00am - 1:00pm
Taught at Perimeter Place Towers (South Terrace) 115 Perimeter center place, Atlanta GA, 30346
March 6, 2010
To Register Click Here

Tuesday Jam
The Havana Club
3112 Piedmont Road
Atlanta, GA
1st Tuesday of Every Month

Milk & Honey
The Mark (formerly Karma)
79 Poplar Street
Atlanta, GA
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of The Month
Brand Ambassador & Model Resumes Accepted at www.ThinkGroupMedia.com



Don't Waste Ink...Think

Keep Haiti In Your Hearts

Stay True To Yourself...

Sincerely,

Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com

Think Group Media Newsletter Just Think Vol.41

In This Issue
Just Think Vol.41
Marketing Buzz
Remember When?
Artist on the Rise
Upcoming Events


Just Think Vol.41: The John Mayer Interview
By A. Evans
Twitter.com/AdotEvans

Disclaimer: As always, I write these articles to stimulate minds and to get the thought process in motion.... Please read the disclaimer twice on this article.

By now we have all heard about or have read the infamous John Mayer interview. The first time I read it I was confused about what he was trying to say and how he was trying to come across. I didn't want my emotions to interfere with logic, so I went and played called Call Of Duty (Gamer Tag AdotEVANS) and eventually went back and read the interview again. Now I'm still not sure what John was trying to say, but I think I have an idea.(That's a lie, I've created ideas that might explain) My question to you all is "What do you think John Mayer was trying to say in his interview that led to him using the ever controversial "N" word? Is an apology enough or should this be blown out proportion like a Tiger Woods scandal or Kanye rushing the stage during an acceptance speech? Which scenario is more offensive? A word that supposedly disrespects an entire race or isolated incidents that only involve a few individuals? Could it be the "N" word loses power if we all use it or does it still have the vibe of hatred and disrespect it once had?
What's "N" a word?
Whenever a Caucasian person or someone outside of the African American race uses the"N" word does it automatically mean they are racist? Or does the usage or intent determine the level of sensitivity? Since Mr Mayer used the "N" word with an "er" at the end do you think he was trying to imply something or was "Mr. Waiting for the World to Change" trying to deflate the intensity of the word, as well as the concept of having a ghetto pass since he has a nice African American fan base? What are your thoughts and ideas? Should people outside of the African American community be able to use the "N" word even when trying to make a point? Whats in a word? I won't voice my Malcolm X, Che Guevara, Paul Mooney views for the sake of staying on your good side(as if I cared), but as always I will dish out a dose of food for thought. I honestly feel that in 2010 we need to realize that words are merely sounds that have the power we give them. We write words and speak words, they are "OUR" instruments. Words are merely an attempt to describe us and our experiences. As humans made in the likeness of a higher power, how could we be subjected to the limitation of a word? We are soo much more...

I'm in no way saying it is OK for anyone to use hurtful and hateful words, or at least run around like Michael Richards, but what I am saying is if we continue to let the mere words of an individual upset us, then we might as well only use 5% of our brains.(Please read again)

On the flip side when does enough become enough? Sure there's nothing new under the sun but when do we at least try to evolve? When does using the "N" word and then publicly apologizing for saving face become expired? When does it become played out ? When does that type of behavior lead to national exploitation and criticism? Can it? Will it? Or is there a privilege or level of exception in America? Or should we just accept that there are some things in this country that are acceptable as long as you have money? Hey we can always blame it on the rappers and athletes right?

Final Thoughts
Aside from the usage of the "N" word John Mayer referred to his genitals as "White Supremacist" and then proceeded to name African American women he thought were attractive, of course they were in Hollywood. The way Mayer said these things was in the same fashion as John Turturro in Do "The Right Thing". It was so similar to the scene where Turturro looked at the average African American as inferior but looked at Prince and Michael Jordan as what a black person should be. Is that what Mayer thinks of African American women? Let me guess he has "Black Friends" so what he says is not offensive in any fashion or form nor does it seem a bit outlandish. If I said I had "Militant" private areas how would that be taken? What if Kanye said that in an interview what would happen? I see the tabloid covers already, tweets would quadruple, and Perez Hilton would start a petition. My point in bringing this up is to point out how these things are accepted in society (I mean it did get published right?). It appears even in 2010 things are a little one sided, how can you honestly promote yourself as a hippie waiting for the world to change and then make statements as such? Regardless of the words and or of its usage, it appears some people can get away with saying things while the rest of us have to kiss the ass of the people who are allowed to say these things, I for one think we need a "WHY Part 2" from Jada ... As Always Peace & Love

What Do You Think?



Marketing Buzz: What "ThugLife" Can Teach Us About Twitter
By Steve Canal
Twitter.com/SteveCanal
Twitter.com/ThinkGroupMedia
Advertising Age Article

This Ignored Demographic Shows What You Can Learn When You Look Beyond Social-Media Elites

While most in the social media bubble would have you believe that Twitter's output consists solely of links to "relevant articles," "breaking news stories," "unique insights" or retweets of all three (along with the occasional "what I'm having for dinner" tweet from the latest Asian-Fusion-locavore bistro) a look at Twitter's Trending Topics reveals otherwise.

While the aforementioned geek patter is certainly in there, it's generally dwarfed on the trending topics list by tweets about Disney Channel stars the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus (put out, one can safely assume, by middle-school-aged females) and tweets from another demographic, 20-something African-Americans tweeting in what can best be described as ghetto slang.

And what's fascinating is a.) how large and active this demo is; b.) how much their notion of how to use Twitter differs from that of the tech and media crowd; and c.) how much the self-proclaimed "Twitterati" like to pretend they don't exist. The Twitterati -- the digital/tech/social media specialists who "discovered" Twitter back in 2007 -- will grudgingly debate the existence of tweens on Twitter, as if there were a real possibility that 31-year-old programmers in Palo Alto were tweeting endlessly about Miley Cyrus -- but I have yet to see any mention of this young African-American demo.

And that's too bad, because the way these folks use Twitter is more universal, more inclusive and more fun than the way the experts generally suggest using it; most of their tweeting is around broad topics that invite clever responses, rather than current topics that invite the sharing (or, more accurately, showing off) of knowledge. As I write this article, the hashtag "#ThugLife" has been in the top 10 all week, and a poster on the Brizzly app describes its popularity thusly: "Users are tweeting their 'baddest' things they've done, as like a thug."

Which is sort of half right. The tweets are not serious nor are they meant to be taken seriously. They're jokes, and the hashtag serves as a sort of "can you top this" repository of over-the-top "thug" behavior.

So @Quenette_VA, who describes herself as a "college student & music lover," tweets: "I'll fil a zip lock full of baby powder & throw it into a crowd of crack heads #thuglife via @o_so_bad) LMAO!!!"

And @iPutYouOn, who says he is "Gods son...MyMothers child...and my Brothers Keeper," notes: "I just cut the sleeves off my snuggie #thuglife"

@Ghostwrita® of East Atlanta, goes for the literary allusion with "I read a Clifford the Big RED Dog book out loud in front of a group of Crip gang members. #thuglife"

The main thing to note here is that, unlike many of the Silicon Valley and Alley Twitterati, who take themselves and their tweets oh-so-seriously, this crew is having fun. The tweets are meant to be funny, and the funniest and most outrageous of them will wind up getting retweeted. Yet despite the fun and the humor, the flow of the hashtag is uniquely Twitter-like in that it mixes people who already know each other with strangers who are interested in the same topic -- or joke, as the case may be.
It's an interesting use of the medium, and the people participating in these hashtags seem to be getting as much value out of them as the Twitter-Is-a-Serious-Business-Tool types who busily append words like "Genius!" to their retweets of a fellow blogger's "Top 10 Reasons Location-Based Services Are the New Twitter."

So then why won't the powers that dominate the tech and business press admit that this demographic exists and that they use Twitter as much, if not more, than the stereotypical power user? Could it be because they're actually having fun with Twitter and that's a no-no? Twitter is, after all, supposed to be serious. So while the Twitterati trip all over themselves to point out the noble Iranian students using Twitter to further the revolution, a bunch of trash-talking 20-somethings from a markedly different social group are just not the image they want to project. Even if they do dominate the trending topics list week in and week out?

It's too bad, because there's a lot that both technology and marketing types can learn here.

To begin with, technology consistently evolves in unpredictable ways. And in the same way YouTube was supposed to be a place to share videos of your kids' birthday parties with grandma and grandpa, we now see how Twitter can be a way to share something other than "valuable links" or "crowd-sourced information." In fact, it can even be a passive medium; for every person posting to threads like #thuglife," I'm sure there's someone else just sitting back, reading the tweets and laughing.

That leads us to another valuable lesson, this one for marketers: People like to have fun and be entertained wherever they are -- even Twitter. Given that the conventional wisdom is that Twitter is only good for customer service, to share information or to run giveaways, the news that it's also a great way to entertain the troops is a real breakthrough. One that can lead to expanded use for the medium in more creative ways than just issuing press releases as bit.ly links.


Remember When?
By A. Evans
Twitter.com/AdotEvans



Before the era of PlayStation and Xbox, there were two gateway consoles that were very popular in the 80's. One of these devices might seem foreign to some of you, some of you probably had an older sibling, cousin, or uncle who had the first device to left, this dinosaur (Atari) was the gateway to the device to the right. It's crazy to think we found hours of enjoyment playing Asteroid, Battle Zone, Space Invaders, and of course Pong, but by far the game that everyone remembers is Pac Man.

Now for all you real "80's babies" you definitely remember the device to the right(Nintendo), this was the console that changed the way we would look at and play video games. Remember blowing into the cartridge to get them to work? What was your remedy alcohol, saliva, or did you go and buy the Nintendo cleaning solution? Remember when you first played Mario Brothers, Duck Hunt and all the games that would follow? Excite bike, Kontra, Blades of Steel, Mike Tyson punch out etc... For those of you who would like to relive these day simply go online and google Atari or Nintendo emulator and time travel back to your youth...The good ol days.



Artist On the Rise: Ben "CrushEndo" Marc
a.k.a. Crush
Music Producer/Songwriter/Vocal Arranger
www.crushmusicgroup.com
www.twitter.com/crushmusic

"Don't just hear it, Feel it!"

In a world flooded with so many self-proclaimed "beat makers", Ben "CrushEndo" Marc, better known as "Crush", is way more than just that. He has been producing music since the age of 16. Now at age 25, Crush has produced over 500 tracks for various artists and has also done an abundant number of ghost productions for major producers. After graduating from Florida A&M University, Crush felt it was time to further his music career, which led him to move to Atlanta, GA. "The music industry is a very rough industry to get into, so all I can do is to continue to make good music until it takes." His love for good music seems to be what continues to push this young producer as heard in each of his productions.Crush founded 'Marc My Words Publishing' and 'Crush Music' in 2009, in an effort to give his creative works a home that they deserve. Crush's major work began when he executive-produced Hip-Hop artist Keith Units first project entitled, "Servn My Purpose". Raved by critics as "a breath of fresh air", (Indie Magazine), Keith Units and Crush went on to move over 10,000 copies. Now currently working other projects, Crush is showing a great deal of versatility with production in genres such as R&B, Pop, and Alternative.What many people did not know about this young music producer is that Crush is also an exceptional songwriter. "My definition of a music producer is being able to compose, write, arrange, and bring the artists voice and vision to life", states the musical savant. So far Crush has written over 40 songs for artists, many of which have been published, and there are definitely more to come. With a big smile on his face as he talks about future projects, it's obvious that CrushEndo's love for his craft is genuine.

"I'm currently working with artists in genres such as Country, Rock, and Techno. I just love music that much."

Look out world because this music genius is hungry and nothing will stop him from taking a big bite out of the music world. One thing you should remember though; Crush does not want you to just hear his music, he also wants you to "feel it!"






Grub Report: Burger Joe's
By Fabian
Twitter.com/TheFabe


It's a cold windy day and hunger is setting in. The question of the moment is Soul Food or Burgers? Either option sounded great,but time was of the essence. Opting for the latter choice, we went to Burger Joe's. Their menu has something for everyone: veggie burgers,turkey burgers,salads,ribs and even fish. Choosing to keep it simple, went with the Bbq bacon cheeseburger with fries. For the true burger fans and folks who don't care about eating "pretty" this is for you, word to the wise,keep some napkins handy. Burger Joe's may not be a large restaurant but the flavor and menu options certainly rival many. Check them out whenever you're in the area.



Upcoming Events

Ella Bleu Presents: Buddy Pass
Vino Libro
933 Garrett St. Atlanta, GA
4:00pm-7:00pm
February 21, 2010

Sol Fusion -The iRock Edition
Hip-Hop & Rock Fusion
Aja
3500 Lenox Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA
March 5th, 2010

Tuesday Jam
The Havana Club
3112 Piedmont Road
Atlanta, GA
1st Tuesday of Every Month

Milk & Honey
The Mark (formerly Karma)
79 Poplar Street
Atlanta, GA
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of The Month

Brand Ambassador & Model Resumes Accepted at www.Thinkgroupmedia.com


Don't Waste Ink...Think!

Keep Haiti In Your Hearts

"Stay True To Yourself and Never Talk About It Unless You Lived It!"

Sincerely,

Steve Canal
CEO
Think Group Media, Inc.
www.ThinkGroupMedia.com

Think Group Media Newsletter Just Think Vol.40

In This Issue
Just Think Vol.40
Marketing Buzz
Real Talk
La Familia
Indie Film Review
Upcoming Events



Exclusive 1 on 1 with Donell Jones
By Stephanie Gergeres
juicyhighlights@gmail.com

I recently had a Juicy One-on-One with Mr. Donell Jones and I must say he definitely has been on the grind. Although, we haven't heard from Jones in a minute he has definitely been keeping some secrets up his sleeve and is definitely coming back with a big bang. Even though I am a very big Donell Jones fan, I really wanted to know what he has been too and also find out the 411 for his curious fans that still has love for him. Check out the interview and let me know what you think.

Juicy Highlights: What is the definition of a true R&B artist and do you feel that you represent that?

Donell Jones: Umm, I definitely feel like I represent that, I think the definition of a true R&B artist is someone who perfects their crafts and who is really serious about their music. Someone who won't change just because there is a different style of music that's out and they will stay true to themselves and just represent R&B to the fullest and I definitely feel like I am one of those type of artists.

JH: I asked some of your fans on Facebook some questions and they want to know what inspired "A Portrait Of A Woman" and "Knocks Me Off My Feet"?

DJ: A portrait of a woman was inspired by, umm this young lady, that I was in a relationship with and I wasn't doing the right thing and at that particular time, I just felt like, we had broken up and I had thought about all the things and the reason why we had broken up and I wanted to write a song and I kind of wrote the song to apologize and kind of letting all the other women in the world know how special they are even if they are with men who aren't showing them respect, even at the end of the record I did say "or you'll end up like me," so I mean, it definitely was something that I just kinda of wanted to send that message out there to her and to let her know that I was sorry and basically that is where that song came from.

JH: Are still friends with her today?

DJ: Oh! Definitely, were still friends.

JH: Do you feel that you are given enough credit as an artist, because I feel that you are underrated and so do you feel the same way?

DJ: I do, I do, but I don't let it bother me, I think the reason why I've gone so much under the radar is because, the record companies that I was under never took me as priority to them and so they had other artist that they wanted to push more than me, even though I continued to make good music and you know, I just wanted to keep my fans happy but I don't think that they felt that my music was important to them as it is the people that listen to me.

JH: Are you an independent artist now or are you still with jive?

DJ: Oh no, I am definitely not with Jive. I am definitely independent, I have started my own music company called "CandyMan Music Inc" and you know I just feel like there is nobody out there who can push me more that I can push myself.

JH: Are you in the process right now of starting your label?

DJ: Yes, were in the process right now, I have a great team of people behind me and we are going full fledge this year and umm, I am really happy about this new label and I am also really happy about this new album to come with it and one of them being that my fans don't have to wait 3 or 4 years between albums any more. Now I can release albums as I see fit because, back in the day I had to wait because the other artist were coming out around the same time as me or something like that so now I just feel real good about the opportunity that's coming around.

JH: What can the fans look forward too as far as the new album?

DJ: Hits, top to bottom. If you follow my career, I always try to make albums that I didn't focus on singles I've always try to focus on making an album that you can always play from beginning to end.....this one is going to be the one , that you put on and you relax to it, you know. If you're going to drive a thousand miles you can listen to it or you can make love to your significant other and you can just listen to the music. It's going to be an all purpose music , and it's going to be that feel good music and I can't wait for my fans to get a whiff of what I've been doing for the last couple of years ....

Click here for full interview

What Do You Think?



Marketing Buzz: The OBM Group
By Steve Canal
http://www.twitter.com/SteveCanal
http://twitter.com/ThinkGroupMedia



The OBM Group is a Boutique Digital Marketing agency specializing in Search Marketing, Email Marketing, Banner advertising, Social Media and Mobile Marketing Campaigns .The OBM Group Work with Brands in Developing On-line Marketing strategies, spearhead projects from concept to completion. We Implement, execute and manage Digital Marketing Campaigns for brand awareness or lead generation, delivering industry-leading performance for branded response advertisers by combining industry standard methodology and custom behavioral modeling strategies using quality and advanced analytic insights. Our Strategies is unique for advertisers looking for measurable performance and ROI from all online campaigns.


Real Talk: When The News Shuts Off
By Cedric Shine
http://twitter.com/NativeNotes


When the news shuts off
All the problems of the world fade away
No more thinking about
Blacks vs. browns and the war in LA
Dead mothers and sons
Resting back in Iraq
When the news shuts off
We're not worried about that

When the news shuts off
All the problems of the world fade away
Remember Hurricane Katrina
Oh I guess now all them people are ok
But I know that they're not
But unfortunately this breaking news report
Isn't about them and it's not about you
It's about this here news and what sells to me and you
And what sells is only destruction
Framed as truth through blatant lies
I was a media major
Trust I see through their disguise

When the news shuts off
All the problems of the world fade away
Genocide what
In Darfur
NO WAY
Well why not Ced
There's people there dying everyday
I say no way
Because the news won't tell me
And we the people
Of this united states
Love it
You know why
Because it doesn't affect our day

Well turn the corporate news off
Turn your consciousness light on
It's not a black or white thing
We're all weathered through the storm
So when the news turns off
You've already been informed
That action is now
The news is for entertainment .... later on



La Familia: To Wear or Not to Wear a Scarf to Bed
By Shelli Tinae Price
http://twitter.com/EllaBleuEvents

For black women hair is ALWAYS an issue. Whether it's fried, dyed or laid to the side, hair is a focal point. We decide on all activities based on whether or not our hair will get messed up. I want to work out but my hair...I want to go swimming but my hair...I want to be sexy in bed but my hair...These challenges are the reason why I chose a natural hairstyle so it didn't interfere with my active lifestyle. Most black women haven't chosen the natural route so the men who love them need to be more understanding. Look at it this way, if you want her to sleep without a scarf more often - then offer to pay for some of those expensive hair bills. A compromise has to be found because I guarantee you she will not abandon the scarf completely.

Since I was a toddler a scarf was apart of my nightly wardrobe. From blue bandanas to momma's old nylon stockings, to silk scarves and bonnets - the head wrap was a staple in my house. When I was younger it was easier on my mom so she didn't have to do anything on a busy school morning but re-twist my ponytails that were flattened like pancakes during my nights sleep. As I got older and did my own hair, I continued wrapping my hair at night because without them my hair would be all over the place.

The scarf became a ritualistic necessity.

Before I locked my hair, I can remember not wanting a man to see me in my scarf at night so I would sacrifice more hours in the mirror the next morning just to save myself from embarrassment but after a few rendezvous' that scarf was put to use. Is the scarf sexy? Maybe not but neither is a dew rag or snoring in bed. Women - black women in particular, make sacrifices at night to maintain our sexy during the day. I know some men feel like women should be damn near perfect for them all the time but that's neither fair nor realistic. If it bothers you that a woman needs to wear a head wrap every night and you are starting to find her unattractive, then you may be best dating a woman with natural hair. She is more carefree about her hairdo and seldom wears a scarf to bed. The other option is to remember that wearing a scarf is not a character trait so remember the reasons why you chose her in the first place.

Ladies, do you wear a scarf to bed? Guys, does it bother you to see a woman sleep in a scarf?




Event Recaps
by Fabian
twitter.com/thefabe

Fulton County Revitalization Forum

Fulton county Board of commissioners, Atlanta Technical college and the Georgia department of labor came together to hold The Fulton revitalization forum to discuss reclaiming african american males in the community.The panel consisted students currently enrolled who had went through trying times just to make it to college and were an example to the younger kids in the audience. Guest speakers were Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, John H. Eaves (chairman,fulton board of commissioners), Gary A. McGaha, Phd (president, atlanta metro college),rapper Mike Bigga (aka Killa Mike),John Lewis(US house of Rep) and many others. Everyone made great points and suggestions but the star of the night was Mike Bigga who presented to the parents that it not only takes a village to raise a child but engaging your children or their friends doesn't cost anything. Simply talking to your kids is not enough but being an active participant in their daily lives is required.

The reception was prepared by the culinary student of Atlanta Tech and was prepared to perfection.

To see video of the speeches and more photos of this event, please visit the photo section



Stewper Bowl at Opera

by A. Evans
twitter.com/adotevans
Super Bowl Sunday 2010, I attended The 2Live Stews Second Annual Stewper Bowl sponsored by Crown Royal, State Farm Insurance and Coors Light, held at Opera Nightclub in downtown Atlanta. Inside were three levels of seating, plasmas everywhere as well as a giant projection screen to accommodate everyone in attendance. Outdoors on the patio was a buffet, and assortment of food, as well as handful of vendors. Of course Konsole Kingz were in the building with plasma screens and X-box 360 consoles enabling attendees to engage in John Madden 2010.

Before the doors opened the line was backed up to the parking lot, in anticipation of the collision between The New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. As soon as the doors opened it was on, fans poured in ready to cheer for their team while the legendary Don Cannon got everyone in their zone prior to kick off. There were a few celebrities in attendance who didn't feel like making the trip to Miami and decided to kick it in the "A".

Overall the Second Annual Stewper Bowl was definitely a great expereince, the food was on point, the bar service was great, the music was on point, and the game was more than exciting.
Aside from the New Orleans Saints winning Super Bowl 44 I'd have to say the highlight of the Stewper Bowl were the Halftime Festivities, as the always delightful, Coors Light Girls took the stage completely covered in silver body paint entertaining the crowd dancing, posing for pictures and tossing tshirts and other branded gifts into the audience. Even if you aren't much of an NFL buff you would've enjoyed this.

To see all the pics and video from this event please click here


*Photo's Courtesy of "The Fabian" twitter.com/thefabe, Think Group Media



Indie Film Review: The Brothers Bloom (2009)
By A. Evans
http://twitter.com/AdotEVANS
Staring: Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, and Robbie Coltrane
Directed by: Rian Johnson

Am I My Brothers Keeper?

The Brothers Bloom is a movie about two well renown con artists Steve (Ruffalo) and Bloom (Brody) who have been conning people and cleaning them for money since their childhood. Stephen and Bloom have always executed fool proof plans, Stephen has always served as the brains of the operations while Bloom is the actor, Stephen writes out the blue print and Bloom acts it out, their formula is priceless. Bloom has the ability to transform into anyone Stephen needs him to be, there's only one problem Bloom wants out. Stephen convinces Bloom to take on one last gig after tracking him down in Montenegro, Bloom considers the offer as long as it's agreed that this will be his last job with his brother. The mark is an unsuspecting kooky heiress named Penelope (Weisz) who is seeking thrill and adventure after growing up in an overbearingly sheltered environment. All Bloom has to do is seduce Penelope and get money out of her. Things appear to be going well and The Brothers Bloom appear to be on their way to successful con, That is if Bloom doesn't fall in love with the mark.

The Brothers Bloom is hilarious, yet brilliant, this film displays the power of ambition, as well as the power of love. Life is what you make it you can either chose to live a lie or live truth and make the best of it. A great watch, goes well with a sandwich and fries and kool aid lol.




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