(New York, NY) Last night singer Adrienne Bailon hosted a launch event at the Hotel Rivington  for the Alize Mix Squad, an all-female DJ program featuring Nina Sky, DJ Kiss, DJ Rashida, Jessica Who? , DJ Niena Drake, DJ Dimepiece and DJ Eque. The event served as a re-launching  for the Alizé brand alongside some of the hottest female DJs in the game.

The Alize Mix Squad will serve as brand ambassadors and  host a series of swanky events in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Miami throughout the year.

Fore more information check the mix sqaud on Facebook or Twitter. 

(New York, NY) Veuve Clicquot celebrated its fourth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governors Island to benefit Hope Help & Rebuild Haiti. Hosted by Hugh Jackman , Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan and Nacho Figueras, the polo classic attracted celebrities—including Wyclef, Sanaa Lathan, Alek Wek, Naomi Watts—VIPs and over 18,000 people who all  ferried over in their Sunday best to enjoy a spirited game of polo.

The classic featured a fierce competition between Black Watch lead by Nacho Figueras vs Team Veuve Clicquot headed up by Rico Mansur.  After four intense chukkers (equivalent to quarters in basketball) that included spectators being invited to participate in the tradition of stomping of the divots at half time, Figueras lead  Black Watch to a 6-5 victory.

Beside spending  an beautiful afternoon sipping Clicquot and watching polo, the highlight of the classic as always was the fashion. Ladies in their fancy hats and gentlemen in their dapper ensembles made for great entertainment particularly for non-sports enthusiast.

Check out some pics from the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic below:

(New York, NY) The excitement around the annual Tribeca Film Festival continued last night as,  the Tribeca Film Institute paid tribute to the legendary career of Quincy Jones, with a star-studded celebration at The Maritime Hotel’s Hiro Ballroom.

Director Tamir Muhammad, hosted the special celebration, that brought out a slew of celebs that included songstress Marsha Ambrosius, who serenaded the crowd with a Quincy produced classic. Also on hand was veteran rapper Ice-T, who reflected on how Jones’ mentoring truly impacted his career—he won a Grammy for his feature on Jones’ 1989 “Back on the Block” album—and his life. Read the rest of this entry »

While a major must see, the Michael Rapaport direct A Tribe Called Quest documentary “Beats, Rhymes and Life” isn’t the only good flick playing at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival . To be honest, there are actually a number of titles in the festival that would suit the palette of the most discerning film buff. Check out a couple movies that we thought definitely are worth checking out: Read the rest of this entry »

Spring is here, which means its time to peel off those layers from those brutal winter months and get into your warm weather swag—and that doesn’t mean a fitted cap and white t-shirt. Lost? Well Glenn O’Brien, GQ’s own “The Style Guy“, has compiled a beautiful literary offering, “How To Be a Man: A Guide To Style and Behavior For The Modern Gentleman”, that will help wayward fellas get it together.  Read the rest of this entry »

(New York,NY) The 2011 New York International Auto Show has taken over the city this week, and Car lovers from near and far are flocking to the Jacob Javits Center to get a glimpse of what automakers have in store for 2011-2012 season. And while the excitement is reaching a fever pitch, it was the past week’s festivities that set the tone.

Last Thursday, the East Side House Settlement, a social-services agency in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx (my home town), held a gala preview of the entire show. Over 1,400 guests previewed the line up, viewed a curated display of cars presented by Lotus and enjoyed a private dinner for benefactors.

The Gala raised over $500,000 for the agency and will support their highly successful college preparation programs, in addition to promoting education and employment for the residents of the South Bronx.

Centric Spotted: Serena Williams (pictured above)

Like most projects that are shrouded in drama, the controversy surrounding Michael Rapaport’s A Tribe Called Quest documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest has only served to pique interest amongst faithful Tribe and hip-hop heads alike. The media “beef” between Rapaport and group members Q-Tip, Ali and Jarobi; is a movie storyline in and of itself, but that didn’t stop its inclusion in this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. And while I consider myself a fan of the group, I didn’t allow bias to cloud my thoughts.

The doc chronicles an era in hip hop that many of us 80’s babies long for every time we turn on the radio and are bombard with the foolishness they call music in 2011 (Granted its not all bad, just a good chunk of is…but I digress). Watching Beats, Rhymes & Life reminded me of why I fell in love with hip hop. Groups like Tribe created music that was expressive, reflective,  empowering and conscience without being preachy.

To Rapaport’s credit, the film does a great job of chronicling the evolution of hip hop through the lens and sounds of A Tribe Called Quest. Moreover, illustrating the impact that Tribe has not only cultural, but also on the next generation of artists.

Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.vimeo.com/22329616

Writer/Filmmaker Diana Ozemebhoya Eromosele has launched “Lectures to Beats”, an insightful docu-series that examines the variables that influence the human condition and life in general.

The first installment of the series—“Government Loves Me…Government Loves Me Not”—delves into the complex, and at times very dysfunctional relationship between African-Americans and the government.  With President Barack Obama staging his re-election campaign, this piece couldn’t come at a better time.

(New York, NY) A special screening of independent film Fire In Babylon hit the Big Apple last night as a precursor for the upcoming  Tribeca Film Festival, which officially begins on April 20th. The film chronicles the journey of the West Indies cricket team, who went from laughing stock of the sports world to an almost two decade reign of world dominance in a game introduced to them by their English colonizers.

In the larger scope of things, Fire In Babylon is an inspirational piece of cinema which illustrates the power and impact that Black people can have when united, focused and determined to win. The crux of the film takes place during the 70’s and 80’s during a period where many countries in the West Indies were gaining independence and seeking to define their own identity.

The remarkable performance of the West Indies cricket team, despite the taunts from the media and opposing players,  revolutionized team sports, re-define West Indian identity and showcased that black people were capable of excellence at the highest level around the globe. Really radicial stuff that everyone should see.

Watch the trailer below and for more information on Fire In Babylon visit Tribeca Film Festival online.

(New York, NY) Artists, philanthropists and noted dignitaries gathered at the Desmond Tutu Center in Chelsea to celebrate the Starfish Greathearts Foundation’ s annual Dinner of Hope and Charity Auction.

Featuring art donated by Jeff Koons, Richard Scott and Dion Cupido; the event was an effort to raise money for StarFish’s core initiatives—mentoring, after-school and home-based care programs—for South African children orphaned or effected by HIV/ AIDS.

A refreshing blend of art, music and culture; the event raised over $85,000. For more information visit Starfish Greathearts Foundation online.