Hip-Hop Line of the Week: Week 2

This weeks line comes from "Fabolous aka Loso Just Case You Don't Know So." This line comes from one of his best mixtapes ever. "There is No Competition." The name of the song is "Takin' Pictures."

"It's Loso Croft you can call me Tomb Raider/We break in homes we the living room raiders/Snatch wifey come back for the groom later/ Throw her in back of the van like she was on Room Raiders.

Drink of the Week: Week 8

The Drink of the Week is:
Nutcracker

This is the drink of choice during the hot summer on the streets of NYC. To be honest the streets are the only place that you can find one of these. If you live in this area you know what I'm talking about. You wont find it in the liquor store or at the local pub. A few hood spots sell them but for the most part you will probably have to find the guy walking around pushing a cooler to get one.

Nutties will cost you $5, $7, or $10 dollars depending on where you get it from and the size. The crazy thing about nutties is that I have no idea what is in it, and I can usually tell what I'm drinking the moment I take my first sip. Nutties are a hit because they taste great and get you nice and drunk, very qucikly, and thats all I ever asked out of any drink. Lmao.

Friendship

If you have someone you can bond with or call on, you have a friend or some people like to just say associate. A lot of people take the word very serious. I feel friendships are one of the most important characteristics of human interaction. Your family is chosen, but your friends you pick. Family members can also be friends. I value friendship. I believe I have the greatest group of friends anyone can ask for. I even include the friends of friends my friends. I don't take the word as serious as others. I can call someone I meet a few times a friend. What has that person done to me to downgrade them to an associate. Probably nothing. Just because you aren't in my inner circle doesn't mean we can't be friends. The people in the inner circle are a different kind of friend though. They are more like family. These are the people you will kill for, go to jail with and definitely make money and celebrate life with. I wouldn't take all of the money in the world if I couldn't have my friends around to enjoy it with me. I know this may sound a bit trite but it is very true. And not all people think like this.

The saying in my inner circle is "You must get 'juked'. It comes with the territory." Just basically expect things to happen. Your friends will ask you for some outstanding favors at moments you definitely don't want to do it, but you are almost obligated to do. For example, it is New Year's Eve and your friends a flight to catch. It is snowing and the airport is 30 minutes away and you thought they had another form of transportation, but they don't. You don't have anything super important to do, so you have to take them to the airport. Meaning of super important work, court, funeral and etc. If you need to go get a haircut or wanted to go to the mall or even worst want to go see the new guy/girl you just met(definitely forget that). Oh well, I'm sorry that will have to wait for another day. So you just except that you're friends just got you. But your day will come and you will be able to get them back with some off the wall favor. You don't get mad just except it. And don't do you favors out of spike. Situations will arise in your life where you will need to call on a friend and when you remember that they "juked" you a few weeks earlier a smile will come to your face.

All a friendship needs to be successful is loyalty and honesty. Just be real with each other. Of course there will be times that that person is pestering you. That is when you tell them. Or sometimes you don't have to because the friend will usually know when and when not to bother you. Love and respect your friends and thank each other for teaching each other how to be not just better friends but better people.

Sexy Black

The Art of the Blazer

In the past couple of weeks. I’ve been exposed to some pretty fashionable people. Starting with my internship with the 2009 Charleston Fashion Week (don’t sleep on it, it’s a very big event and will only get bigger www.charlestonfashionweek.com) and then with my Spring Break trip to Aggieland (pretty much the most stylish HBCU on Earth), I saw the good, the bad, and downright UGLY of trends. But being the person that I am, having the sixth sense of fashion that I do, I was able to spot out a subtle trend lurking amongst us, the blazer.

For most the blazer is related to the staunch, rigid world known as Corporate America. While one can be very stylish in a 2 or 3 piece business suit, the upper half (and in some cases the lower half is cause for another discussion) is not limited to the board room. As I soon found out myself during CFW, the piece acts in the same way that it does with a business suit, by giving an outfit structure. In the same respect, it is also like a piece of jewelry because it can also act as an accent as well. Here are some ways that you can add the blazer to your outfits:

- The Wild Side- To bring that blazer out of the office, try finding ones that have fun prints on the inside so that the sleeves can be rolled up and your inner wild side can be exposed. Pictured here is one of the blazers I wore during fashion week that has my fav print. Lepoard!!!


- Sexy Black!!- Your can also use black as a way to pull a look together. For instance, when wearing an out that that has several different colors, putting on a black blazer can make it easier to find accessories and shoes to match.

- All Shapes and Sizes- The beauty of a blazer is that it does not only come in one type. To make an outfit fun, try blazers that have ruffles, tuxedo, or a cutaway style.

- Accessorize the Accessory- As with any item of clothing, adding just one accessory can carry the entire outfit to a new level. For instance, adding a belt that has color or jewels, or even a scarf can really make the blazer stand out.

- Vintage Style- Step outside of your own closet and raid whichever of these closets are closest to you: you mom, aunt, or even a very stylish grandma. There you will have access to all the padding that made the 80’s and 90’s were made of, especially blazers. These items will look wonderful over a cute pair or leggings or hot mini dress/ skirt.

With this trend, it will be hard to go wrong because the blazer in itself is a staple item. Whether you’re going out to a party or to a movie, the blazer is always a crowd pleaser.

Best Places to Find Blazers: Express, The Limited, J Crew, and Thrift Stores

Karen Michele

Hip-Hop Line of the Week: Week 1

In relation to his new album that dropped last Tuesday--I must put D-Block front man aka Mister Top 5 Dead or Alive for this weeks line of the week. This line comes from his latest album "Last Kiss" song "Cartel Gathering" featuring Ghostface Killer and Raekwon the Chef.

"My Clientèle is Supreme and it's proven/ that I'm only built for the Link and it's Cuban/I'm a pioneer not a vet/ The Last Kiss is a French one not a peck."

2009 NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs are finally here. This is where legends are made and all of the frauds are sent home packing. I need the NBA playoffs in my life to balance out the MLB season taking over Sportscenter. This years playoffs should be a memorable one. It has great teams and even greater players. I am waiting to see Kobe, Lebron, DWade, Paul Pierce and many more try to take the game in their hands to help their teams win the NBA Championship.

Teams are getting better by the year. You have the young teams such as the Portland Trailblazers and the Atlanta Hawks who could very easily creep their way to the NBA Finals, but then you have the teams with the superstar talent and a phenomenial supporting cast such as the Lakers and the Cavaliers. Teams will battle it out for 40 days and 40 nights over a span of two months to capture their childhood dreams.

For all of the fans who say NBA players aren't as hungry as college players--yes, that may be true, but when it comes to the playoffs there is no other sport I would rather watch. The playoffs is where the players give it their all. They dive for loose balls, take charges and actually get down in a defense of stance to lockdown a defender. And that is "real basketball." Even though, I did enjoy the NCAA tournament; especially after watching the UNC Tarheels cut down the nets.

So tomorrow, wash your car, give your dog a haircut and get ready for the NBA playoffs. There should be enough intriguing matches and scenarios hyped by the media to keep your attention brewing for the next two months and every now and then you can turn to a Yankee game and watch them lose. But it's time for the NBA Playoffs and I love this game!


Finals Predictions: Kobe vs Lebron, I'm sorry Lakers vs. Cavs. I'm going to give the series to the Cavs in 7 games. Home court advantage is going to be the key to the series.

Drink of the Week: Week 7

The Drink of the Week is:
Slushies

In essence to my friend Greene throwing a "Bring back SpringBreak Party" right before the end of the semester and his main drink of the night is the Slushy. Therefore, the drink of the week is Slushies. Choose any flavor you like. If you've ever been to Wet Willies or Fat Tuesday's you know what I mean. I want a 190 octane with an extra shot as we speak. All you need is liquor with a high percentage of alcohol preferably Everclear, ice, blender and whatever you else you want to mix with it. It's a beautiful weekend for must of us on the East Coast; so take advantage of the weather and have a slushy. You can even go to 7-11 buy a slurpee and add the liquor yourself. Whatever you decide to do. Just make sure you drink responsibly.

Double Standards

Over the past few weeks I have had many conversations with friends, of both sexes, about the double standard that exists in our culture when it comes to sex. Many women feel that they would be slandered by men and labeled “sluts” and “whores” for doing half the dirt that men do and get away with. Almost all of these women felt like society should hold both men and women to the same set of standards when it comes to sex. Are these women right? Should we look at men and women equally when it comes to sex or is it right that they are held up to a higher standard?

The main reason that men are able to get away with more is because we have always set the rules. As far back as ancient Egypt men have always been the dominant sex. We were the ones who created the laws of the land and had the power to change those laws to our liking. We had free reign to do what we wanted to do, when, and whenever we wanted to do it.

Even though we have always wanted to please our woman and treat them like queens they didn’t have much power. A woman’s main responsibility was to mother our kids and make sure dinner was on the table when we came home. History makes us believe that their major responsibility was to do what we wanted and satisfy us.

I believe that this lack of balance in the relationship between men and women is a major reason why we have the double standard about sex that we currently have. Pharaohs in Egypt fathered countless children from different women. The women were supposed to remain faithful and loyal to him. Even though our society has moved on greatly to balance the relationship between the sexes, and that “old school” behavior is not acceptable today, some of those thought patterns still remain the same.

Men today who are not in a relationship are expected to run wild and have as many partners as they can. Men talk about the bodies that they have collected through their years like boxers talk about their wins in the ring. Even though this might not be the wisest and healthiest way to live today with the consequences that can occur, it is still the way we live. We never claimed to have always thought with our upper head when it comes to the opposite sex and sex.

Women though, are supposed to wisely pick and choose the people that they get involved with. Those who spread their legs quickly to many men are looked at as easy victories. While those who are selective and do not bounce from guy to guy to guy to guy are looked at as quality victories. Trust me ladies you want to be that quality victory.

Your buddies who are easy victories might get more attention, but it’s not the type of attention that you should want. We use them to help us train and prepare like boxers use sparring partner before a major pay per view bout. At the end of the day they are nothing more than confidence builders who keep us from getting ring rust and in fighting shape.

Ladies you got to understand that this double standard benefits you in the long run. We use this in determining who is used for random fun and who gets to come home in meet the folks. It may not always be the best way to make decisions, and its usually not the only criteria, but hey it works for us.

Drink of the Week: Week 6

The Drink of the Week is:
Ciroc and Welch's Passion Fruit

I have been doing a lot of reminiscing about my college days recently with friends. And most of my best times in college happened on drunken nights. One of these nights happened senior year when me and my homeboy decided to start pregaming at 2pm for a birthday party that was happening later that night.

Ciroc and Passion Fruit was the drink of choice that night. If my memory serves me right I think it was the first time we drank Ciroc. The sweetness of the passion fruit completely masked the taste of Ciroc and got me wastedddd. I had a great night. Lol!!!

Drink of the Week: Week 5

The Drink of the Week is:
Mimosa

Enjoy the beautiful weather out today with a nice Mimosa. You can either sip on this with your brunch or just randomly throughout the day to maintain a nice gentle buzz.

1st Annual Top 25 Under 25

Here is Classmagonline's First Annual Top 25 Beautiful Woman Under the age of 25. The list consist of actresses, models, singers and more. All of these woman are gorgeous in their own personal way. This list took weeks of debating and surveying, but we finally came up with 25 beautiful woman that may have crossed your eyes on a movie or TV screen or in a magazine. So sit back and enjoy the beauty.

Tyler Perry and His Portrayl of African Americans In Movies

World renown playwright and screen writer Tyler Perry has been creating plays and movies that make you laugh, cry and think all at the same time. While creating his works some say he typecast African Americans in a never evolving perception. The critics want his characters to be more evolved and not like the black face of the early twentieth century.

While reading an article about Perry on Bossip.com, this question sparked some interest: Does Tyler Perry have a moral responsibility to use his influence to create more positive images of black people in movies or do you feel he owes blacks a quality product designed to entertain, which is what we pay for?

Well I personally feel he doesn't owe blacks anything or anybody else. I feel that his characters are well evolved and are great depictions of African Americans. He is writing about life whether it is from personal experiences or something he has read. There are crackhead parents, orphan children, battered wives and more. He is reporting everything you watch on the news and read on your favorite blog site. He shouldn't be accused of not having positive images of Blacks.

None of his films has young blacks killing each other on the streets, wanting to become rapper or athletes--if he did that then I might say he is perpetuating negative stereotypes about blacks. He does write fiction with very real situation but at the end of the day it is fiction and entertainment.Tyler Perry is an amazing writer and the stories he creates are easy to relate to. That is the main reason for his success. The people can go watch the movies and plays and feel like they can relate to whatever is going on. That is what causes the laughter and tears.

There will always be critics. We need critics to cause debates and disagreements. Because these disagreements create thought provoking issues that must be debated and both sides must be heard. And the thought provoking issues can possibly be the key to solving many of the issues of the world.