Bye-Bye Fat Beats

A number of world renowned Hip-Hop artists and producers will gather in New York all this week, to pay homage to legendary record store Fat Beats (est. 1996).

Fat Beats announced they would close their remaining physical locations in New York and Los Angeles.

To celebrate the company, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, Ras Cass, Artifacts, J-Live, Pacewon and others will perform in-store at the New York location.

The free events begin today (August 30th) with Artifacts, Da Beatminerz and Immortal Technique and end on the store's final day on Saturday (September 4th), with Just Blaze, A-Trak, Pete Rock and DJ Premier.

Organizers are in the process of launching a similar farewell event later this month, leading up to the stores' final day on Sept 18th.

All performances will be from 4-9PM.

The schedule for the New York location is as follows:
Monday, August 30th: Artifacts, Da Beatminerz, Immortal Technique, and more
Tuesday, August 31st: Ras Kass, Sav KIllz, DJ Ready Cee, panel discussion, and more
Wednesday, September 1st: Bobbito, Mayhem, Riz, Juggaknots, Sputnik Brown, and more
Thursday, September 2nd: Rob Swift, Torae, DJ Concept, DJ Amir, and more
Friday, September 3rd: Masta Ace, J-Live, Pacewon, Tanya Morgan, and more
*FINAL DAY* Saturday, September 4th: Just Blaze, A-Trak, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and more

'Takers' Killed 'The Last Exorcism'

The real numbers are in and Takers has the highest-grossing film for the weekend ending August 29.

Takers took in an amazing $20.5 million from the box office, beating it’s rival, The Last Exorcism, by just a little less than $200,000.

The independently-produced crime drama originally drew attention for its diverse ensemble cast, including movie veteran Matt Dillon, franchise stars Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, and recent award-winners Idris Elba and Zoe Saldana. Takers also stars singer Chris Brown and rapper T.I. in their second and third major film roles.

Both artists also served as executive producers for the project, which was produced by Rainforest Films and T.I's Grand Hustle Films.

Box office estimates originally had Exorcist leading the weekend by $300,000 over Takers, bringing in $21.3 million. The numbers were close, but Takers, which went into theaters as the weekend’s underdog, came out on top. Rainforest Films co-founder Will Packer stated: “Hollywood expected us to do closer to $10 million since we were smaller and on far less screens.”

The cast, particularly Idris Elba, T.I. and Chris Brown, thanks all their Twitter followers, as they created a campaign where followers were encouraged to post pictures and tweets about the film.
 LOOKOUT!:  According to Variety, T.I.’s second Screen Gems offering will be a drama titled Boulevard, which was being developed at the time the agreement was signed.

Suge and Kanye Feud Over $1mil Lawsuit

According to Marc Brumer, former Death Row Records CEO Marion "Suge" Knight's attorney, Suge and Kanye West feuded over Knight's allegations that West is responsible for injuries he received after he was shot at the VMA party West hosted at The Shore Club, in 2005.

In addition to being shot in the leg during the celebrity event, Knight claims he lost a diamond earring valued at $135k.

The Associated Press reports that the latest meeting took place yesterday (August 26th) in Miami, with Knight present and West attending by telephone. Brumer's report is that it ended fruitlessly. Knight's lawsuit claims West is responsible for his injuries because there was allegedly not enough security at the event.

This is the second attempt to reach a settlement over the dispute. The pair met in a lawyer's office in New York in June, but an agreement could not be reached. 

According to Brumer, the case will most likely go to trial.

Phressh Fashion in Tinsel Town

You can find Phressh Buzz Magazine being represented in Hollywood all this month reporting all the rage in fashion. We've had our eyes on one of L.A.'s hottest fashion-prenuers.

Tara Pearson is the owner of Tall Girl Talent Management, a new agency with an understanding that everything needs representation. "We find events, designers, and artists and ensure they are represented correctly." said Pearson. "We specialize in placing special talent at very special events." Tall Girl Talent Management was launched in November 2009. The upcoming fashion show, Lights! Camera! Action!, is a culmination of everything the company has done so far.

"I believe that I can create a great model as long as she has a great attitude. It's not about size or height." Pearson stated. "It's about confidence and respect." Tall Girl might have started small but supporters anticipate it's growth to be "beyond our wildest imagination". You can find Tall Girl talent in several photo shoots, music videos and more fashion shows in the near future.

Follow up on Tall Girl Talent Mgt! 323-253-9241 or email at tallgirlmanagement@gmail.com

Also join us tomorrow with Gianni Mercedes (http://www.giannimercedes.com/), a designer whose threads will be sported by our Phressh Girls on the runway at the Pre-Emmy Fashion Show hosted by L.A. Fashion Corner.

PBM Grapevine

Rumor has it that there's a top rap star sex tape coming out. Sounds enticing? Think twice. PB Grapevine found an exclusive still of this rapper and a mysterious man gettin' it in. The picure isn't too clear. Can you tell us who you think this is?? YOU DECIDE!

Pastor Troy on ESPN?

Pastor Troy gives some details on expanding his portfolio with ESPN.

With a 21-album discography, music has always been an big part of Pastor Troy's life. Now, he is putting aside his recording to focus on a licensing deal with ESPN.

"I messed around with ESPN for football season for the show NFL Live," revealed Troy in an interview with OzoneMag.com. "We got some licensing deals and stuff like that and that sh*t is stupid! I’m just getting into all these endorsement deals and stuff, because rap is so big now you just gotta find your niche and keep grindin’ it out. That ESPN joint opened up a lot of doors though. So when you watchin’ Sportscenter and you hear that 'Murder Man,' don’t think your TV goin’ crazy, baby! It’s me!"

Pastor Troy's latest release, King of All Kings, is in stores now.

Mock Funeral Procession Protests Gun Violence In NY

Harlem, New York rapper Jim Jones joins Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons during the "Tsunami of Peace: Ride, Walk & Rally Against Violence" this week. They will be joined by rappers Juelz Santana, Fat Joe, Maino, Salt and former New York Giant Michael Strahan during the rally, which takes place in all five of New York's boroughs.

In response to the rise of gun violence throughout New York this summer, the event is being produced by longtime community activists Erica Ford (Life Camp), A.T. Mitchell (Man Up Inc.), Rev. Vernon Williams (Harlem Clergy, Community Leader's Coalition) and Gloria Cruz (Million Mom March).

"The organizers of the Tsunami of Peace rally are here to promote a culture of peace, instead." says Ford. "In addition to the mentoring, the educational programs and the training of young people that we do every single day, we are gathering to say that more needs to be done by all sectors of the society, including all elected officials, parents, students, neighbors…everyone. No one has all the answers, but together we can solve this problem."

The organizers of the rally plan to stage a funeral procession in all five boroughs. Hertz vehicles will assemble in each borough at 10:00 AM. The vehicles, donated by dozens of local funeral homes, will meet at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge at noon. From there, activists will walk over the bridge into Manhattan to peacefully congregate at City Hall Park located on Chambers and Center street.



In Queens, the Hertz vehicles will assemble on Guy R. Brewer & Baisley Boulevard. In Brooklyn activists will gather at Thomas Boyland & Atlantic Avenue. In Staten Island, the procession will leave from Jersey Street & Richmond and in the Bronx activists will leave from 156th Street and Morris Ave and in Harlem. The vehicles will leave from 12th Avenue and 125th Street.

The Peace Walk and Ride over the Brooklyn Bridge will take place at 12PM and the Peace Rally in Manhattan will kick off at 1PM.

"We cannot accept the constant violence and death in our communities as the norm," said Russell Simmons, CEO of Rush Communications. "Time to stand up."

Phressh Buzz

Taking Care of Business
Today, the multi-platinum Rap star Lil' Wayne, and his Young Money Touring, Inc. company sued the Ujaama Talent Agency and its principles: David Nelson and Erskine Isaac. Despite his incarceration on Rikers Island, Lil Wayne remains active with his money.


Up until recently, Ujaama assisted Wayne and Young Money in scheduling tours. Nelson and Isaac allegedly kept monies due to Wayne and Young Money from last year's America's Most Wanted Tour. An estimated sum of $375,000 has not been paid since Wayne's incarceration in March.

Phressh Buzz

Hope for Haiti Means No Hope For Wyclef

Wyclef Jean told the Associated Press that he had a positive meeting with the current President of Haiti, authorities in the Caribbean country made a decision to deny his run for President. Wyclef was not included on the list that was released Aug 19, which contains the candidates that meet the legal requirements to run in the November election. According to a council official who spoke with Reuters, Jean’s candidacy did not meet several legal requirements.

Update: Via TwitLonger, on Friday Aug 20th  2010 Wyclef posted:

Keep The Faith -

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you today that the board of elections in Haiti has disqualified me from my run for the presidency of the country

 

PBM Grapevine

Summertime Lovin'


Congrats to all of this summer's newlyweds! Definitely the highlight of the year, many celebrities were wed in this season of sunshine, romance and fun.

Tying the knot in a private estate in Miami, Cliford "T.I." Harris and Tameka "Tiny" Cottle became Mister an Missus T.I. Harris. Friends of T.I. and Tiny received a gray silk box with an invitation inside detailing their courtship within two weeks of the wedding: Once upon a time, the 'King of the South' was strolling through the mall and locked eyes with a 'Tiny' princess...He approached her with his Southern charm and after conversation he walked away knowing that this princess would one day become his queen." Celebrity friends on the guest list included Bow Wow, Jamie Foxx, Usher, Ashanti and El DeBarge. Monica and Toya were bridemaids with Kandi Burruss who, according to guests, sang with Tiny in the R&B group Xscape.

Alicia Keys, 29, and star producer Kasseem "Swizz Beats" Dean heard wedding bells as they exchanged "I do" at their home on the Mediterranean Sea. In the intimate setting, close friends and family cheered sa the two lovebirds were finally wed during a setting presided over by Dr. Deepak Chopra, also a friend of the couple.

Many didn't even know the comededian Martin Lawrence was engaged until after the wedding! Martin and his longtime girlfriend, Shamicka Gibbs, were married in their home in Beverly Hills. Apparently the wedding took place in their backyard and their two daughters were in the ceremony.

Also enjoying summer nuptials are LaLa Vazquez and Carmelo Anthony, who were married in front of over 300 people at New York's Ciprani restaurant; Kevin Liles, currently Trey Songz's manager, said "I do" to his love Ericka Jones at 6th Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. Guests in attendance included Trey Songz, Russell Simmons, Kelly Price and Yolonda Adams; Tamera Mowry and former Fox News correspondent Adam Housley are now engaged; Zoe Saldana and CEO of My Fashion Database Keith Britton are betrothed after ten years of dating and Keith's proposal in Italy.

PBM Grapevine

What's the word on the street with celebrity fails?? Let's review to top five of the week:

5. Rhianna- Queen of pop sports a striped see-through shirt. The problem? She's not wearing a bra! TMI, Rhi-Rhi. FASHION FAIL!

4. Gavin Marchand - You can find Foxy Brown's brother in prison for the next five years with 3 of his buddies for credit card theft and stealing Hermes purses. If you wanted a purse, you should've asked your sister! UNNECESSARY FAIL!

3. Earl Watson - Wife of the NBA star, Jennifer Freeman, known as Claire on My Wife and Kids, must of been fed up with his alleged cheating that recently was rumored to end up in pregnancy. In retaliation, little ol' Jen bit him twice and attack him with an iron like a madwoman. Now he wants to 'work things out'. SERIOUS MARITAL FAIL!

2. Trina - She may have an @$!* big as the sun but we now know her mouth can compete. Photos were released of the female rapper showing her head game on her diamond-crusted mic. Showing off her tongue skills fo' sho'! SEXY FAIL!

1. Usain Bolt - Right before his Stockholm track meet, Usain experienced a serious back injury, preventing him from running for the entire year...due to EXTREME FREAKINESS! Girlfriend and reality star from College Hill, Milan, must've worked him a little bit too hard. SUPER FAIL!

PBM Column - Child Prodigy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I’m sitting amongst the old heads listening to their wisdom. “Women always have something going on.” “Men don’t communicate properly.” On the horrible truths of the sexes was what these two men and women rapped about in a circle. They were sharing life lessons of sorts in a circle of which I was part of.

As I listened, I heard some truths and I heard some fallacies. I processed the information and decided to speak. “Well, women do have something going on and no, guys don’t know how to communicate clearly.” Soon, I recognized the mistake I had made. Like a magnet, the old heads hounded on me and the surface of my philosophies by asking what turned out to be a very belittling question: How old are you?

Generally, this question is the first step to admiring my accomplishments or recognizance of my vast intellect. I wasn’t prepared for my answer to be a validation for how much naïveté I possessed.

By this time, I knew that mentioning my upcoming birthday would mean nothing to my experienced peers. I was already being placed at the bottom of the barrel. I knew my over-grown brain (ignore the hyperbole) and the wisdom I had put in it wouldn’t be noticed and slowly, I slinked back, away from the “knowledge” they were trying to teach me. With every fact of life being followed by a stab at how young I am and blatant disregards for my life experiences, I was pushed out of focus, away from the conversation, an outcast of the main event.

As I waved my metaphoric white flag of silence, Hip Hop slipped into my mind. I welcomed the thought, similar to how warm buttered biscuits and bacon was welcome to my stomach. Hip Hop, just the thought of it, could be likened to a warmth only felt when at home. It was peaceful. While watching the old heads like a window shopper gazing in the window, I realized how Hip Hop was as much of a “baby” as I was. Maybe Hip Hop and I are something like each other.

I haven’t been acquainted well enough to know Hip Hop like some and yet, with it I feel connected. A twenty-something in the world, Hip Hop is simply doing what it takes to survive, be loved, noticed and appreciated. In the beginning, Hip Hop was new, black and full of life. Youth was a good look for it, it was so innocent. As it grew up consciously, no one could match this outlet. An easier life, knowledge, love and passion were the keys to good music and great Hip Hop.

Many friends and lovers have come and gone and loved and hated, building upon the foundation that rooted Hip Hop and cultured it to be what it is today. Despite the support, Hip Hop has become a glorified project. A project with busted windows, rusted play grounds, squeaky doors, water stains on the ceiling and aging wall paper. The floors are old, the stairs are weak and its perimeter is covered in vandalism and piss. The creators, founders and keepers of this project are mostly gone and the others are either misusing it or neglecting it. A new top coat of paint can only fool us for so long and right now in 2010, we’re starting to see that paint chip.

Despite the cosmetics of Hip Hop today, the foundation is still there, ready to endure its reconstruction. Hip Hop, despite common belief, is not dead and nor is it dying. If it were dying, then its death would be metaphorical to signify the change it is experiencing. The bottom line? Hip Hop is ready to be reborn. After being broken down b y deadly rivals, the gangster image, corporate conspiracy and even the wave of the new technology, 2010 calls for a revamp in the way Hip Hop is managed.

Such is the life of a twenty-something. We are raised under our parents’ management and after that, we’re explicitly under the authority of ourselves and the law. Remembering our first lessons strengthens our roots, but with time, change is bound to come and with it we must go.

I sit back and shake my head.

Those old heads know some things but of all the things they know, I am not one of them. Is Hip Hop? Maybe not. Studying its history is healthy, but going back to basics is only so that we can learn from it. What have we got now with Hip Hop but a neglected project? If we continue to do what we’ve always done, using the same methods, traditions and styles, we’ll get the same results. We’re young, but we should not be underestimated. Despite our naïveté, we can still teach lessons to the masses, young and old.

-Written by Brytney R.

PB Playlist - July

1. Common - I Used to Love H.E.R.
2. A Tribe Called Quest - I Left My Walet In El Segundo
3. Prince - 1999
4. Xscape - Just Kickin' It
5. NWA - Express Yourself
6. Drake - Over
7. Nipsey Hu$$le - Feelin' Myself
8. Kem - I'll Never Hurt You
9. Lupe Fiasco - I'm Beamin'
10. Alicia Keys - Unthinkable (I'm Ready)
11. Ludacris - Sex Room feat. Trey Songz
12. Drake - Fireworks
13. Katy Perry - California Gurls feat. Snoop Dogg
14. B.o.B. - Airplanes feat. Hayley Williams
15. R. Kelly - Exit
16. Usher - OMG feat. Will.i.am.
17. Nicki Minaj - Your Love
18. Cali Swag District - Teach Me How To Dougie
19. Eminem - Not Afraid
20. Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be