Mother Monster tweets that all proceeds from sales of prayer bracelets will go to those affected by Friday’s tragic disaster. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga’s Japanese Tsunami relief bracelet Photo: Bravado USA Lady Gaga is doing her part to help those affected by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday (March 11). The devastating quake triggered a 10-meter tsunami and now threatens Pacific coastal areas, including Hawaii and the West Coast. The star tweeted on Friday that she has designed a special wristband with all of the proceeds going to benefit those affected by the disaster. “I Designed a Japan Prayer Bracelet. Buy It/Donate here and ALL proceeds will go to Tsunami Relief Efforts. Go Monsters,” Gaga wrote. She then shared a link with more information about the red-and-white bracelet on which the words “we pray for Japan” are written along with an image of a hand making Gaga’s signature monster paw gesture. “Little Monsters, show your support for Japan with this ‘We Pray for Japan’ wristband! Choose your price to add an additional donation with your wristband,” the description for the bracelet reads. “All proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts.” Gaga is the latest celebrity to reach out and help shed light on the devastation left by the tragic events in Japan. Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift , Adam Lambert, Diddy and many more sent their prayers to those affected via Twitter. Britney Spears encouraged fans to donate to relief organizations, tweeting , “So tragic. My heart is breaking for Japan.” “Just heard about the huge earthquake and tsunami in Japan,” Kim Kardashian wrote . “My prayers are with everyone in Japan. Seeing all of this footage in Japan is devastating! Please help the people of Japan by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.” Related Artists Lady Gaga
Photo courtesy of the AJC About 80 law enforcement officers conducted a major raid across metro Atlanta this week aimed at arresting dozens of members of the violent street gang 30 Deep, according to the AJC.com . Deputy U.S. Marshal Gavin Duffy told the AJC that some of the people targeted were “guys with a paradigm for violent crime.” The marshals’ Southeastern Regional Fugitive Task Force had arrest warrants for 40 suspected gang members on charges ranging from minor probation violations to serious felonies. By Thursday, about 30 gang members were in custody as well as another dozen of their associates found with guns, drugs or their own warrants. The task force of marshals, Atlanta police and other law officers was specifically timed to coincide with the murder trial of a suspected 30 Deep gang member in Fulton County Superior Court. Operation Zero Deep targeted that gang, as well as others. Read more at the AJC.com. RELATED: Witness Intimidation Complicates 30 Deep Murder Trial RELATED: 30 Deep Gang Leader Sentenced To Life RELATED: VIDEO: What Set Is Lil Wayne Claiming? RELATED: Dear Lil Wayne, Stop Promoting The Bloods
With The Hunger Games casting rumor mill spinning wildly – Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss ? – a young actress on a hit show wants to make it clear: she’ll take the lead role! “Katniss is such an incredible character,” Troian Bellisario told E! News this week.”She is in such a creatively beautiful world and such dire circumstances, but she’s also such a strong girl that’s becoming a woman and I would love to play that.” The Pretty Little Liars star hasn’t auditioned, but says: “I know that we’ve been talking to the people about at least getting me in the room. And the fans have been really supportive in my lust for that role and I just hope that they keep voicing their opinions.” What do you think of Bellisario as Katniss? Would she be a good choice?
I figured I’m slow to rise, so I might as well post links to other people who actually take this internet thing seriously…. I also figured that I’m not that interesting of a site…at least based on my twitter and my traffic…so that I should just direct you to real websites as clearly you’ve ended up here by accident… Gotta Love Those Bollywood Hotties FOLLOW THIS LINK Who Has the NBA’s Hottest Dance Squad? FOLLOW THIS LINK Free Cam Shows Are the Best Kind, No? FOLLOW THIS LINK Gabrielle Union is Always Easy on the Eyes FOLLOW THIS LINK Guess Which Blonde Hussy Was Out Last Night Getting Drunker Than I am This Morning? FOLLOW THIS LINK Realhouse Wife is a Looking Good Sweetheart or Possibly a Deformed Mutant of the Day FOLLOW THIS LINK Everybody Has Got to Love Sexy Twins FOLLOW THIS LINK Laura Dore is the Stuff Dreams Are Made Of FOLLOW THIS LINK The Best Kind of Safe Sex Takes Place With a Banana FOLLOW THIS LINK Bai Ling Almost Did a Swan Dive Out of Celebrity Rehab FOLLOW THIS LINK
Shady Records rapper talks to ‘RapFix Live’ on Thursday (March 10). By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway Yelawolf Photo: MTV News Most young artists dream about life on the road, touring and rubbing shoulders with stars backstage. But for Yelawolf, that was an existence he experienced early in his life. His mother, who he describes as “super rock and roll,” dated a stage designer, and soon her son found himself meeting Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon and Randy Travis, among others. “I definitely saw pieces of this life early,” Yela told “RapFix Live” on Thursday (March 10). That authenticity is what still powers the upstart Alabama rapper. His video for “Pop the Trunk” personifies his gritty appeal. He recruited his actual parents and hometown friends to star in the clip. “We took a camera to Gadsden, my hometown, and we shot this video with no script,” he explained. “I went to the locations that I was talking about and I got the people that I was talking about to play themselves.” Recently, Yelawolf aligned his talents with Eminem, inking a deal to join his Shady Records . The move bolstered the label’s roster, as he was also joined by underground supergroup Slaughterhouse. The move re-ignites the collective that’s also home to 50 Cent and D-12. “It’s a huge deal being able to have a mentor in someone who’s done this for so long and been through so much,” Yelawolf said of joining the team. “And also artistically, just pushing me to be better. Being around them dudes will make you better naturally. So, we’re excited, man.” Share your comments about Yelawolf below! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Yelawolf Related Artists YelaWolf
“Are you taping or writing this down? Because I talk really fast,” director Ava DuVernay politely informs via speakerphone. Ava has been fielding phone interviews since 6 a. m., but six hours later she’s none the worse for wear, eager to chat about her directorial debut with the independent feature I Will Follow . Winner of the Narrative Audience Award at the 2010 Urbanworld Film Festival , I Will Follow is a moving semi-autobiographical drama that stars Salli Richardson-Whitfield as Maye Fisher, a successful make-up artist with a sexy boyfriend (Blair Underwood), whose world is turned upside down by the death of her beloved Amanda (Beverly Todd). WBW: 30 MORE Black Women You Should Know About Audiences are already familiar with Ava’s work as a documentary filmmaker with the critically acclaimed My Mic Sounds Nice which aired on BET, and TV One Night Only: Essence Music Festival 2010. With I Will Follow, Ava has now turned the camera onto herself to explore personal themes of grief, love, forgiveness and renewal. With only her life savings and a rolodex full of professional and personal contacts she’d acquired from running her own P.R. company (The DuVernay Agency), Ava completed her film in just 15 days at the film’s only location, a house in Topanga Canyon, California. Committed to preserving the beauty and legacy of black cinema, Ava has also partnered with various black film organizations to create the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM). The ultimate goal of AFFRM is to empower and foster new black indie talent and provide more truthful and contemporary images of the African-American community. “We all have a story to share,” Ava says. “Just pick up the camera and tell it.” Ava tells The Urban Daily how she transitioned from documentaries to feature film, why we shouldn’t look to the major studios to green light quality black film projects, and her views on Idris Elba’s and Anthony Mackie’s recent comments about Black Hollywood. TUD: Tell us about I Will Follow and the inspiration for the movie. Ava DuVernay: It’s about a woman who’s successful, has a hot boyfriend, career, and then things kind of fall apart. Something happens in her family and she has to pick up the pieces and maintain her balance and kind of save herself. I think that’s something we all experience. This film is based on personal experience—I brought my personal story dealing with loss and loyalty. The actors involved tapped into their own personal experiences. It deals with trying to keep your self in control when things get out of control. It’s something a lot of people will be able to associate with, to identify with. People on the festival circuit around the country come up to me and said “I saw myself in this character.” I Will Follow is based on your relationship with your aunt, Denise. Can you tell us a little bit about her? She was an amazing woman. She was one of the people in my life that meant the most to me. She was an incredible person. Hopefully this movie will be a tribute to her memory. How did you assemble the cast for this film? It was a combination of professional and personal contacts. I first contacted Aisha Coley. She was the casting director of Secret Life of Bees . Omari Hardwick I had seen on Dark Blue and I thought to myself ‘Wow, he’s good.’ So I asked Aisha to reach out to him. Salli Richardson-Whitfield was on a list of actresses I really wanted to work with. I always thought she was underrated–great actress, drop dead gorgeous. Blair Underwood is someone that I knew from working in P.R. and we became friends. I always had him in mind when writing his character. What was the transition from doing documentaries ( This is The Life , My Mic Sounds Nice ) to doing a scripted feature? With a documentary you walk in with your camera and a set of questions. You’re inquisitive and you’re curious. You get in there and just have a conversation with people. With my documentaries I have an idea of where I want to lead them, I’m trying to converse with them and get to the essence of what I’m trying to learn from them and form that into the documentary. You work closely with your editor and try to come out with something interesting. With film, you’ve got wardrobe, actors, production design, and the whole world opens up. Instead of investigating someone else’s world, you’re creating a world from scratch. With documentaries and film you’re using two different muscles, and I’ve been fortunate enough to use both. And I hope to go back and forth between the two. When you decided to do I Will Follow , you looked at your bank account and said “This is my budget” and basically green lit yourself to make this movie. Was it always your intention to have your film as an independent project or did you consider going with a major studio? I always believed in self-distribution and not waiting for people’s permission, particularly with big corporations, to share my story. I’m very much a control freak (laughs). I would like to collaborate with like-minded companies who want to work on distribution ideas. Major studios are looking for different types of stories, and that’s fine. If they want to do Transformers 13 , cool. I want to do something else. So I’m not going to beg or force my vision on corporations, if that’s not their bottom line. As indie filmmakers, the ‘Woe is me, the studios don’t want my stuff’—your job is to do your own projects and to take care of yourself. These people have their agenda and we have our own agenda too. I’m really into self-empowerment and to create and distribute our own stories. I want to be in a position where I’m not asking permission to share my vision. I want to get filmmakers into that cycle. People tend to forget that most A-list directors started off as indie. Right. Martin Scorcese did Boxcar Bertha through Roger Corman that only cost a couple of thousand dollars. You didn’t go to film school like most directors. You actually started in publicity doing campaigns for directors like Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood, and when you’d meet them for lunch you’d pick their brains about filmmaking. What did you learn from them that you were able to apply to your own directing process? I learned that it could be done. The main thing I learned from them, aside from the technical process and dealing with actors is that these directors were just people, like me. They’re just human beings that want to tell a story and they found a way to do it. Why could I not do the same? That’s the best lesson I got from my ‘bootleg’ film school. As a little black girl, who loved movies, I never thought I could make one. Everybody’s got a story; go make that film. There’s someone out there thinking ‘I want to make movies, but I can’t afford film school.’ What would you tell them? Do you think it’s necessary to go to film school to be a good director? Film school is wonderful. It’s creative and allows you to play, to learn theory. I wish I had four years to chill and just learn about film. Film school is a great place to hone your skills. Is it necessary? No. If you’re a 16-year-old girl and want to make films, if you have an iPhone, do it. I just saw an incredible 12 minute short shot on an iPhone. Two of the biggest stories to hit the media are statements from Idris Elba and Anthony Mackie. During a lecture for the Project Lens/Artist Spotlight series at Rutgers University , Elba stated that the Oscars aren’t designed for us and that we should focus on making more films. In an interview with Grio.com , Mackie also said we should make more films and find our own distribution deals. Do you agree or disagree with them? I agree. I think both brothers made a call to action to filmmakers. It’s getting a lot of attention from the press and I think that’s positive. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to not have major studios involved in our projects. I don’t think it’s a doomsday thing. The only movie featuring a black woman so far this year is Big Momma 3. There’s more to come with Madea’s Big Happy Family and Skank Robbers . What are your feelings on that? The studios are looking at big budget pictures, they’re looking at gags, and comedy, and that’s ok. For folks that enjoy that, fine. I don’t hold anyone outside of our community responsible. There are certain (white) filmmakers who think that’s funny. They have a star that thinks that’s funny, who went on record saying, “If you saw the check, you wouldn’t blame me.” Ok. Do you. I don’t blame anyone for what they’re doing. I can only take care of me and the filmmakers and the black moviegoers that think like me. People who tell me Love Jones and Love and Basketball are their favorite films. What that says is ‘I want to see adult dramas, contemporary images of myself.’ The studios are not interested. I Will Follow opens this Friday March 11 th . TO FIND THE AMC THEATER NEAR YOU EXCLUSIVELY SHOWING “I WILL FOLLOW” AND TO BUY TICKETS CLICK HERE You can find Ava ( @AVADVA ) , I Will Follow ( @iwillfollowfilm ) and AFFRM ( @AFFRM ) on Twitter. RELATED POSTS: Salli Richardson-Whitfield Sought New Challenge With “I Will Follow” DuVernay’s “I Will Follow” Called Best Film Of 2010 Yo-Yo Says Album “Can’t Compete With Swallowing Coke Bottles”
No matter what stage in life you’re at, it isn’t always easy to make new friends However, making friends later on in life can be much more difficult. There may be colleagues at work, people you know at the gym, somebody you walk past every day? How many would you trust with a secret, or a problem? For people who have moved away to a new town, or whose relationship circumstances have changed, having to make new friends can be a daunting prospect. Following these suggestions can help make finding new friends a bit easier. 1) Do something ! Don’t stay in waiting for new friends to suddenly appear. They won’t. Sign up for an evening course and you could learn a new language, become a wine expert, improve your cooking skills, or make better use of your computer in just a few weeks. Go on the works night out, anything rather than spend another night in front of the TV. 2) Get Connected . If you can’t find a hobby or a social activity that interests you, why not see if there’s an event near by on something you have been interested in.. These are a great way of meeting people, and can be invaluable if you have moved to a new town, and don’t know anybody. As well as like minded people, these clubs offer many social activities and social group events which can range from quiz nights at a local pub, to foreign travel, and may include special offers on such products as medical insurance. 3) Speak Out, or Just speak . Although easier said than done, try not to be shy when meeting people for the first time, even though you may feel you lack confidence. When you are in a social situation, aim to make the first move, and other shy people will be glad you broke the ice. Accept that you won’t like everyone you talk to, and not everyone will like you. 4) Look Around. You may be able to tell a little about a person from the way they dress, or from what they are carrying. If somebody is carrying a camera, listening to a favorite song make eye contact. If they are reading a book or magazine, walking a dog, or pushing a pram, you might have something else to talk about. Look around. 5) Ask. Try to ask open questions such as “What do you think of …?” rather than “Do you like …?” as they require a more detailed answer, and encourage conversation. Questions that require a Yes or No answer don’t make for an easy conversation. 6) Do something you like . Like minded people can often become friends. If you’ve always wanted to do something different, or take up a new activity, this could be the ideal time. From abseiling to zoology, there’s bound to be a local club or society that you can join. If you’re an avid reader, why not join a book club. Volunteer work can be very rewarding if you have the free time. If you’re an animal lover, there may be an animal rescue center that you could help out. There is always something that you can do in a small way. 7) Social networking You can also make friends online using social media sites or chat rooms. However, these types of friendships are not usually the same as real life friendships. You might have a great time talking to someone in a foreign country who likes the same music and films as you do, but this friend probably won’t be able to give you a lift if your car won’t start. Look into ‘meet up”. Be active in building friendships . Once you’ve made friends, don’t forget to get a phone number or email address, and be positive! Contact your new friend, but don’t be put out if they are too busy or unable to meet you for a while. Remember not to seem clingy or desperate. If you have the opportunity to make more friends, then do so, don’t feel like you have to rely on just one person. Related Stories: Make Lent 2011 The Best Ever Think Before You React, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff Is Anyone Happy?
Lil Kim ‘s Black Friday mixtape has finally started showing up in mailboxes as evidenced by a photo we spotted of a real copy of the mixtape. Now that the mixtape is in the people’s hands, we have the tracklist for the project, which interestingly enough includes the song that started the beef, Baby’s “Grindin Makin’ Money” featuring Nicki Minaj. 1. Intro 2. P*ssin’ on ‘Em 3. Champagne Poppin’ (feat. Wiz Khalifa) 4. Hustle Hard 5. M.O.E. 6. Killin’ ‘Em (feat. Fabolous) 7. 6 Foot Tall 8. Clap, Clap (feat. I.R.S.) 9. Kimmy Girl (feat. Keri Hilson) 10. Gimme Brain 11. Cheatin’ (feat. Rihanna) 12. Exclusive Radio Interview 13. Grindin’ Makin’ Money (feat. Baby aka Birdman & Nicki Minaj) 14. Racks 15. P*ssy Callin’ (feat. Lil Boosie) 16. Black Friday 17. Faded (feat. Red Café & Rick Ross) 18. IRS Freeestyle 19. Lights, Camera, Action 20. Buy U Music (feat. Keri Hilson) Spotted @ Rap-Up.com RELATED: Lil Kim Remakes Rihanna’s “Man Down” [AUDIO] RELATED: Here Is Your Lil’ Kim Black Friday Mixtape & Ustream Interview [PHOTO]
It’s a slow week for nudity on DVD & Blu-Ray, with The Walking Dead shuffling onto DVD, Rachel McAdams keeping her Morning Glory under wraps, and Carla Gugino taking all day, Every Day to lose her bikini bottoms. Your best opportunities for onanism this week come from Blu-Ray, where the medieval mammaries of Excalibur go hi-def. Your sword will be brandished and in hand when Excalibur (1981) gets the Blu-Ray treatment. Director John Boorman never bores, thanks in part(s) to Helen Mirren as the evil Morgana, who shows off her breasts through a fishnet top. Cherie Lunghi also shows her Lunghis as Guenevere, and Katrine Boorman adds another chesty scene to prove that the Time of Arthur was full of boobs. Rachel McAdams is Becky Fuller, a television producer who tries to revive a struggling morning show by bringing on new anchor Mike Pomeroy ( Harrison Ford ) in the 2010 comedy Morning Glory , not nude on DVD. We may not get to see Rachel’s morning glory, but we do get a juicy jiggle in Rachel’s McButt when she rolls around in her McPanties. Glorious. Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt are a couple in crisis in the 2010 comedy-drama Every Day , nude on DVD. He’s bored with his job, troubled that his son is gay, and losing his relationship with his wife, while she’s trying to care for her dying father. Amidst all these real-life problems, we also get a quick peek at Carla Gugino ‘s bare butt. Now there’s something you could get used to seeing every day! Ravenous flesh-eating zombies have overtaken the planet and it’s up to Rick Grimes ( Andrew Lincoln ) to lead his people to safety in the FX series The Walking Dea d , nude on DVD. Don’t look for any skin here, but this is FX, so expect sexy content from female costars like Sarah Wayne Callies . Now you can inspect Sarah’s post-apocalyptic panties frame by frame, searching for the elusive Walking Nip.
Suit alleges Sony Music paid wrong group to sample song for use in ‘Ain’t No Other Man.’ By Shawn Adler Christina Aguilera Photo: Denise Truscello/ WireImage Sorrows continue to come as battalions for pop superstar Christina Aguilera who, less than a week after getting arrested for public intoxication, may be back in hot water again due to a federal lawsuit filed against the singer and Sony Music by TufAmerica, according to TMZ.com . The lawsuit, filed in New York, claims Sony paid the wrong distributer for rights to the 1968 song “Hippy Skippy Moon Strut” by Dave Cortez and the Moon People, which Aguilera sampled for her Grammy winning hit “Ain’t No Other Man.” TufAmerica reportedly owns the rights to the song, which Sony arranged to sample through deals with Condigo Mysic and the Clyde Otis Music Group. TufAmerica is seeking to nullify other publishers’ claims to the rights, as well as punitive damages. The lawsuit comes at the tail end of a rough year for the 30-year-old diva, which began with the poor sales of her album Bionic and continued with a canceled U.S. tour , a flop in her big-screen debut “Burlesque” and a divorce from her husband Jordan Bratman . Aguilera’s woes got worse in 2011, with a now infamous flub of the National Anthem during the Super Bowl pre-game show, and an arrest on March 1 for public intoxication . “She was not capable of taking care of herself. … She was incapacitated, not belligerent, but just intoxicated,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department spokesperson Steve Whitmore said of the arrest in a press conference. Aguilera will not be prosecuted for the misdemeanor offence. “Ain’t No Other Man” was the lead single on Aguilera’s third album Back to Basics. For it, Aguilera won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Related Artists Christina Aguilera
