Trends R’ Us: Boyfriend Cut Jeans

Even though every magazine and newspaper is pushing skinny jeans as the must have of the moment the simple fact of the matter is that not everyone looks good in a pair of skintight jeans. Another style that is far more forgiving is the boyfriend cut which is tight around the rear but relaxed in the legs. The best ones around at the moment are Yanuk Worker Boyfriend (see above), Hudson Boyfriend and Miss Sixty Perkins.

It’s about time Levi’s got in on the act with a pair of this season’s big trend – boyfriend jeans. After all they were the originators of this look when women started wearing their boyfriend’s old 501s. Brands like Current/Elliott picked up on this and created their own versions and now Levi‘s returned the favor by copying them back with this pair of 501 Boyfriend Cut jeans which are available at LevisStore.com for $78.

Levis the 501 Boyfriend cut jeans are the perfect throw on anytime jeans, that give you room to truly make them your own. Take a closer look of the $78.00 jeans. Click on photo below for a larger view.

Note to the Fellas: Kanye West rocked a Levis denim jacket.

Kanye at a fashion show.

Double denim is a tricky look to pull off but Kanye West demonstrates below how to do it with style – make sure that the jacket and jeans are different shades of blue.

Looks like some of  his emulators, who too often dismiss Levis for newer, “cooler” brands, will find themselves rummaging a thrift store bin to find one very soon. Don’t you just love the irony of trends and celebrity style…

Check some more photos below of celebs rocking the boyfriend jeans.

Katie Holmes is certainly fond of her baggy PSPS jeans, she seems to be wearing them everywhere at the moment.

Shenae Grimes turned up on the set of 90210 wearing a pair of Current/Elliott jeans

Isla Fisher snapped wearing a pair of Paige jeans whilst out shopping in NYC with daugher Olive.

Jessica Alba wore a pair of Current/Elliott jeans for a visit to Toys R Us with daughter Honor

Sarah Jessica Parker wearing Current/Elliot’s while photographed out in New York

Now Here’s a Quick Tip for the Ladies…

How To Properly Wear The Boyfriend Jean

As the boyfriend jeans rise in popularity (partially due to a revolt by tired drainpipe denim wearers), we are going to see the baggy, ill fitting look more and more often. The trouble with this is the Katie Holmes type women of the world seem utterly hell bent on giving this cut of denim a sullied name.

I’m no ranging fan of this cut, but I can recognize that it is possible for it to be done well. Here are a few bits to keep in mind while sizing up the possibility of wearing this type of denim:

• The leg may be loose, but keep them reasonably fitted around your bum; you don’t want your rear looking like a sack of wrinkles.
• Cuff them for a country look, but keep in mind this is extremely informal.
• Avoid a cropped length without a cuff; loose jeans that are too short for your legs spell instant visual disaster.
• Experiment with rips, tears and colors but keep the look in control as to avoid over-trending.
• Plan to wear streamlined footwear like thin brogues and ankle boots; don’t go with strappy sandals that scream over thought, over styled.

From left to right: Current/Elliott super loved boyfriend jeans ($229), Current/Elliott hickory boyfriend jeans ($206), Rogan Sovereign Jeans ($300); all from La Garçonne

Source: VIA Email Sources

Hip-Hop News: Tupac’s story subject of legal battle

Morgan Creek alleging estate has backed out of agreement…

Morgan Creek is in a legal turf war with the estate of Tupac Shakur.

The Rick Nicita production banner has sued Amaru Entertainment, the company run by Afeni Shakur, the late rapper’s mother and executor, alleging in a Los Angeles Superior Court filing that the company has backed out of an agreement to sell his life rights for a film adaptation.

Negotiations between Morgan Creek and Amaru began in November, about the time former CAA partner Nicita joined the banner, for life rights that would form the basis of the untitled project.

According to the complaint, a written contract was in place for life rights, with Morgan Creek claiming that Amaru is “refus(ing) to honor and perform a contract of a production of the film based on the life of Tupac Shakur.” The company seeks damages and other relief.

But late Wednesday, Amaru‘s lawyers denied the existence of a deal.

“There is no agreement with Morgan Creek, there never was, and there never will be,” said Amaru attorney Skip Miller, adding that the court filing is an attempt to force his client’s hand.

Miller said negotiations for a biopic on the controversial rapper were under way at several studios and that Morgan Creek attempted to sabotage those talks with threats of litigation. “They have scared away Paramount, Fox and others, and we are going to sue them and recover millions (in damages),” Miller said.

Morgan Creek and lawyer Patricia Glaser declined comment.

The timeline laid out in the company’s complaint presents a complicated series of events, but the key moment came in December, when Morgan Creek said it requested a term sheet from Amaru and was given a counterproposal that “set forth, in meticulous detail, the precise comprehensive terms, including material terms, that (Amaru) required to enter into a contract for the project.”

Those familiar with the case said that negotiations broke down in January, after Fox Searchlight released “Notorious,” a biopic about Shakur rival Biggie Smalls. The movie underperformed at the boxoffice, and a rift between the parties developed shortly after.

Shakur, who has sold more albums worldwide than any other hip-hop artist, led a colorful, made-for-Hollywood life. The New York-born, Oakland-raised rapper was a prolific artist at the dawn of the gangsta-rap era and was charged with and incarcerated for a number of crimes. He also sold millions of records based partly on his experiences, including chart-toppers “Me Against the World” and “All Eyez on Me” and several posthumously released albums.

Shakur died after a 1996 shooting that likely was the result of an East Coast-West Coast rap feud.

The hyphenate acted in a number of Hollywood roles, including the romantic drama “Poetic Justice” and the basketball drama “Above the Rim.” His music has appeared in countless pics, including “8 Mile,” “Friday After Next” and “Blood Diamond.”

Over the years a number of scripts have gone into development on the rapper’s life, with none gaining traction. A documentary, “Tupac: Resurrection,” made $8 million for Paramount in 2003, and Sylvester Stallone was at one point developing a project about Shakur‘s death and the subsequent killing of Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G.

Other hip-hop tales in development include “Tougher Than Leather,” the story of ’80s hip-hop pioneers Run-D.M.C., which “Notorious” scribe Cheo Hodari Coker is attached to write for Davis Entertainment.

Life rights and collaboration with an executor are not always necessary with a public figure like Shakur, though they would be essential if the filmmakers hope to include music, as they would in this case.

♦ Read the complaint

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Just In: D.A. Wants Felony Evidence on Chris Brown Case

As bad as the last week has been, Chris Brown may not have even seen the half of it.

At the request of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, the R&B star is being investigated for a variety of felonies, including domestic violence, assault resulting in great bodily injury and—based on specific allegations made by Rihanna—even attempted murder, a source close to the L.A. Police Department’s investigation tells E! News.

But as they build their case, the source says, prosecutors fear that making any serious felony charges stick could prove difficult in a case where there are no direct witnesses other than Rihanna and Brown.

Brown is accused of beating his longtime girlfriend in the early morning hours of Feb. 8, causing them both to cancel their scheduled Grammy performances that night.

Rihanna told police that, while the two were fighting in his rented Lamborghini, Brown said to her, “I’m going to kill you,” while his hands were around her neck. The Barbados-born songstress, who is reportedly cooperating with the cops’ investigation, also told authorities that Brown choked her until she lost consciousness.

Brown was booked by police on suspicion of making criminal threats, but the D.A.’s office wanted further investigation into the incident before it decided on pressing charges.

The 19-year-old singer has been free on $50,000 bail and is currently back home with his family in Virginia.

“Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired,” Brown, 19, said over the weekend via his rep in his first public statement since his arrest. “I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person.”

Rihanna, 20, was treated after the incident at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was discharged the following night. After canceling her upcoming public appearances, she spent last week with her family in Babardos before departing for parts unknown.

Source: E! Online

Music News: Diddy Talks New Album

If you thought Diddy’s smash LP Press Play was high on concept, get ready for his next project. The New York media giant is taking it to that proverbial creative place recognized around the world as “there.” And when he takes it there, he will not be alone. Diddy is part of team on the album he’s titled Last Train to Paris, scheduled for September 22.

“It’s a profound love story, man,” Sean Combs told MTV News Wednesday night via phone from L.A. “It’s about this tumultuous love roller-coaster relationship that occurs. It’s everything from love, pain, sex, God, celebration. It’s a lot of things rolled into one. It’s a conceptual album.”

“One of the things, I wanna give you that’s not out there yet is that it’s not me as a solo artist,” Diddy added. “It’s a group I put together; myself and two girls. Two young ladies, you may know them or you may not. It’s almost like some back-in-the-day Loose Ends-type sh–. We’re going to be telling the story of Last Train to Paris.”

The story of the album starts when Diddy’s character and his female bandmates go on tour overseas, where he meets the woman of his dreams.

“I’m infatuated with her, really blown away,” Diddy said. “We wind up spending the night together. I never get her name. When I wake up, she’s gone. A couple of months go by, and I bump into her again on tour overseas. We get together, and she’s attached to my hip. For three months! She’s on my hip for three months. I tell her to come to New York, Miami, all the places where I get it poppin’, where I really do sh–. You know how men pop sh–, like men do sometimes when they’re trying to make a woman fall in love.”

As the story unfolds, Diddy and his love have a misunderstanding and separate.

“She just breaks out on a n—a,” Combs revealed. “But an absence makes the heart grow fonder. She’s singing to me; I’m performing to her. We’re in two different parts of the world. She’s remembering all the good times, and I’m thinking about if I had another chance, I wouldn’t f— it up. So, I go on tour and I’m in London. I get a tip that she’s in Paris, and it’s 9:45 p.m. or something. It’s one of the foggiest days in London, so I can’t take my plane. I can’t drive, the road is shutdown. The only way I can get there is the last train to Paris, and it leaves in 20 minutes and I’m 15 minutes away. It’s that whole intensity of what happens on the train ride — and will she be there when I get there — is something else you’ll hear.”

The presentation of Last Train to Paris won’t just be for your listening pleasure. Puff Daddy is also going in front of the cameras to include a short film with the CD.

“A movie is going to be shot to it too,” Diddy said. “It’s definitely going be an album you can seamlessly see. Not after the fact. When you get the album on that day, September 22, you will be able to see the whole album on your computer. I go into production of the movie in May.”

“The movie is more of visual presentation. It’s not like I’m playing Prince and sh–,” he added, dismissing the notion that Last Train will be his “Purple Rain.” “You know how, when you on your computer and you’re listening to an album, you have your screen-saver on — instead of screen save, you’ll be able to see the album in motion. And the presentation of the album will be different from the videos. I’m out here in L.A. right now, meeting with directors. I’m looking for somebody who can do it within the budget and do it guerrilla style.”

Diddy laughed when he said that blockbuster guru Steven Spielberg will not be on his list. “Cross him off,” the mogul joked. “I’m looking for the hot film student.”

With a while until the project has to be in stores, Diddy hasn’t confirmed his guest list of people that will get on the mic for him, but production-wise, he has a pretty prestigious core on his side. The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Rodney Jerkins, the Hitmen, T-Pain, Mario Winans and the Neptunes have all contributed lyrics and beats.

Pharrell Williams also talked to MTV News about the project on Wednesday. “I thought it was sick,” he said of Diddy’s concept. “I think he’s a super-smart guy who knows where things are going. He told me, ‘Yo, just make me sick beats. I want them to dance; I want them to have a good time.’ … I was like, ‘Wow.’ For me, it was like making music for a movie.”

“The album is going to be hard,” he said of the sonic feel. “It ain’t going to be no European dance/trance music. The clubs I’m in, they don’t play that. I’m from a club [called] DC10 in Ibiza. That’s what kind of gave me inspiration for this album and that sh– is funky and soulful and hard. A lot of cats have got on dance music and fused sh– together recently. I think they have a done a great job. I’m showing a different club. The club I’m bringing to the mainstream is at the after-hours club, the underground club.”

Diddy said he currently in the process of trademarking the name of the group that he will be in for the album, as well was figuring out how he is going title the LP. It may be “Diddy as …” or just Diddy. He also said he’ll have a new series coming up on MTV called “Making His Band,” which will be about finding the musicians he wants to tour with.

Source: MTV

Check out Diddy Live In The Studio Vol. 1

Music News: Happy 25th Anniversary to Def Jam

Last week, Def Jam Records released two iTunes-exclusive compilations called Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, in honor of their 25th anniversary. Now, with the second annual Record Store Day approaching, Def Jam has decided to release a physical double-disc set in support for the day.

L.A. Reid, chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group, explained the significance of Def Jam’s success throughout the late 20th century, saying, “25 years as a thriving, successful Hip Hop and R&B label-a company that has always put its artists first and maintained deep roots in the urban community-is a giant accomplishment in anyone’s book.”

Continuing, Reid adamantly described his perspective of the urban powerhouse label. “From a personal standpoint, I can say that Def Jam had tremendous meaning and significance in my own career as a musician, producer and independent label head, long before I actually arrived at these offices five years ago.”

As a theme, the double-disc compilation features 25 different records, with a different artist for each track. Each record is also represented by a different year, from T La Rock’s 1984 single “It’s Yours,” to Rihanna’s 2008 smash hit “Disturbia.” Also included on the compilation will be Hip Hop legends LL Cool J, Jay-Z, and Public Enemy, just to name a few.

Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 are tentatively scheduled for release during the week of Record Store Day, which occurs on Saturday, April 18.

Source: theurbandaily

J & J Throwbacks: Taking It back to 1996 With The Fugees

The Fugees were a critically-acclaimed New Jersey hip hop group that rose to fame in the mid-1990s, whose repertoire included elements of soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group are rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel. Deriving their name from the term refugee, Jean and Michel are Haitian Americans, while Hill is African American. The group recorded two albums — one of which, The Score (1996), was a multi-platinum and Grammy-winning success — before disbanding in 1997. Hill and Jean each went on to successful solo recording careers; Michel focused on soundtrack recordings and acting, though he found commercial success with his song “Ghetto Supastar”.

History…
The trio released their first LP, Blunted on Reality, in 1994. The album spawned two underground hits, “Nappy Heads (Mona Lisa)” and “Vocab”, but failed to live up to the reputation of the group’s live shows and gained little mainstream attention.

The Score became one of the biggest hits of 1996 and one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time. The Fugees gained attention for their cover versions of old favorites, with the group’s reinterpretations of “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley & the Wailers and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack, the latter being their biggest pop hit. The album also included a re-interpretation of The Delfonics’ “Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide From Love)” in their hit single, “Ready or Not”, which featured a prominent sample of Enya’s Boadicea without the singer’s permission. This prompted a lawsuit resulting in a settlement where Enya was given credit and royalties for her sample. The Fugees have continuously thanked and praised Enya for her deep understanding of the situation, for example in the liner notes for The Score. The Fugees won two 1997 Grammy Awards with The Score (Best Rap Album) and “Killing Me Softly” (Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group).

The Fugees on the cover of Rolling Stone.

In 1997, the Fugees all began solo projects: Hill started work on her critically acclaimed The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; Jean began producing for a number of artists (including Canibus, Destiny’s Child and Carlos Santana) and recorded his debut album The Carnival; Michel, with Mya and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, recorded the single “Ghetto Supastar” for the soundtrack to the Warren Beatty/Halle Berry film Bulworth.

Refugee Camp, while a name sometimes credited to the trio, also refers to a number of artists affiliated with them, and particularly Jean. John Forté was an early member, rapping and drum programming on two of The Score’s tracks, and was currently serving a 14-year prison sentence for cocaine trafficking. His sentence was commuted in November of 2008 by President George Bush.

Short-lived reunion…
The three Fugees reunited and performed on September 18, 2004 at the concert in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn featured in the film Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, headlining a star-studded bill that included Kanye West, Mos Def, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Common, Big Daddy Kane, Dead Prez, Cody ChestnuTT and John Legend. Their performance received mostly positive reviews, many of which praised Hill‘s near a cappella rendition of “Killing Me Softly with His Song”.

The Fugees would make their first televised appearance in almost ten years at BET’s 2005 Music Awards on 28 June, opening the show with a twelve minute set. With a new album announced to be in the works, one track, “Take It Easy”, was leaked online and eventually released as an Internet single on September 27, 2005. It peaked at #40 on the Billboard R&B Chart and was met with poor reviews, noting its radical departure from the Fugees‘ sound.

In 2005, the Fugees embarked on a European tour – their first together since 1997 – from November 30 to December 20, playing in Finland, Austria, Norway, Germany, Italy, France, England, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Slovakia. The tour received mixed reviews. On February 6, 2006, the group reunited for a free show in Hollywood, with tickets given away to about 8,000 fans by local radio stations. Later that month, a new track called “Foxy” leaked, a song dubbed the “REAL return of the Fugees” by several online MP3 blogs. Dave Chappelle, the Fugees and the rest of the film’s line-up also toured several cities in February and March, under the moniker Block Party All-Stars featuring Dave Chappelle, in promotion of the film’s release.

However, following the reunion tour, the album that was said to be in the works did not materialize and was postponed indefinitely as relationships between band members apparently deteriorated. During an interview with SOHH.com, Michel confirmed that the group was “straight dead”. He indicated this was due to Hill having “some things she needs to deal with.” In August 2007, he reiterated this, stating, “Before I work with Lauryn Hill again, you will have a better chance of seeing Osama Bin Laden and [George W.] Bush in Starbucks having a latte, discussing foreign policies, before there will be a Fugees reunion […] At this point I really think it will take an act of God to change her, because she is that far out there.” On March 4, 2008, Jean admitted on the Howard Stern Show that he believed that Hill suffered from bipolar disorder and stated that “she needs meds”.

Sources: Wikipedia, Tinypic, YouTube

Check out their video below: Fugees – “Killing Me Softly”

Music In Ya Ear!: Damian Marley Feat. Nas – Road To Zion

Video of The Day! : Damian Marley Feat. Nas – Road To Zion

This song is hot! Enjoy!

Wire Talk: Beyonce Performing At The Oscar’s?

E! Online is reporting that Beyonce’ is among the music talent scheduled to perform for Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Also rumored to sing are “High School Musical” stars and real-life couple Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, and “Mamma Mia!’s” Amanda Seyfried.

E! cites sources who claim Beyonce’ and Oscars host Hugh Jackman had been practicing at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City before the entire lineup of performers began rehearsals last night in Hollywood.

“No word yet on what they’ll be singing and dancing to,” wrote E!’s Marc Malkin. “First-time show producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon have kept a tight lid on their plans, but have continually stressed that they intend to shake things up on the movie industry’s biggest night of the year.”

The 81st annual Academy Awards will telecast live Sunday on ABC from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre at 8:00pm EST .

Tune In: Candy Girls on E!

Since the creation of music videos there has always been a fascination with the women featured in these videos and next month E! will give its viewers a chance to get an inside look at the world of video modeling with their new reality show Candy Girls.

As part of the show, E! Entertainment will take a look at the extremely competitive and sometimes misunderstood field of video modeling. Candy Girls will focus on the lives of about five women and the ups and downs they face as video models.

“This series introduces E!’s entertainment-obsessed viewers to an aspect of the industry that has not previously been revealed,” Lisa Berger, Executive Vice President, Original Programming and Series Development of E! Entertainment Television said in a statement. “While these women may be recognized for their sexy personas, viewers will find there is much more to them than meets the eye. With cut-throat attitudes, strong opinions and an unapologetic passion for luxury goods, these music industry divas are sure to create an exciting and dramatic series.”

Danielle, one of the women the show will focus on, is actually the owner of Bella, one of the more exclusive music video casting agencies. Candy Girls will revolve around the women of Bella including a handful of their video models Olivia, Bianca, Brooke, and Terricka.

Consisting of several seasoned video models, some of Bella’s models have been featured in videos by Keyshia Cole, Jay-Z, Will Smith, Nick Cannon, 50 Cent and more.

Candy Girls will premiere on Sunday, March 8th at 10:30pm ET/PT and is executive produced by Jason Carbone, Leah Landon and Troy Carte.

Source: hiphopdx.com

Can’t wait to see it!

Just In: Rihanna’s Family Says Stay Away From Chris Brown

The news shocked the entertainment world, yet celebrities were asked for their reactions regarding the Chris Brown assault case. Crazy, indeed, but with the stars of today not knowing the full breadth of the story, they chose to play it safe, with the man responsible for the victim’s career (Jay-Z) not saying anything about the situation at all.

UPDATE: Rihanna’s Family Says, “Don’t Go Back To Chris!” (People) –

Members of Rihanna’s family in her native Barbados thought boyfriend Chris Brown “flew so far under everyone’s radar that we just didn’t think he was that [abusive] type,” a relative tells PEOPLE for its new cover story, on sale Friday.

Brown was arrested Feb. 8 for allegedly assaulting Rihanna in Los Angeles. He has issued a statement of apology, saying he would seek therapy, and he may face charges from the district attorney.

The turn of events comes as a shock to the family. “He was always looking after her needs,” says the relative, “making sure she was happy.”

Rihanna, who turns 21 on Friday, and Brown, 19, were a “perfect match,” an MTV veejay tells People. Now their future together is unknown.

But as far as her father, Ronald Fenty, is concerned, when it comes to Brown, his daughter should “move on.” A relative agrees: “I don’t want her to go back to him. I don’t think anyone does.”

Source: theurbandaily

Here’s my thought…

I think that everyone should let them be. People tend to forget that they are young, and they are going to go through it. They need to understand that this is a life experience for the both of them. They need to figure things out on their own and see if being in this relationship is healthy for them. If they choose to be together they need to learn how to communicate and not get physical or violent towards one another. This is like I said an experience that they hopefully will overcome and realize if they should or should not be together and just being good friends and become a voice to those who are in their shoes. Like I saids before and I say it again. I wish them both much success and luck.

I ♥ you both!

Kiss Kiss,
jnelj4u