Business
RIP Hugh Hefner (Video)
September 29, 2017
Hugh Hefner. Playboy Magazine (and related enterprises) founder and mogul… All around player and lover of life… and young ladies (no hate, at all)… has passed at the age of 91… at the Playboy Mansion… of natural causes. A peaceful end to a remarkable life!
Actually, something about the way we saw him live, makes his passing from this mortal plane a bit less painful, doesn’t it? Forever in chill mode, cool parties, packed with the hottest people. A mag loaded with ‘unwrapped’ Eye Candy (that we actually did read for the articles… sometimes). So dope a player, that being his girlfriend took ‘girls from next door’ to Entertainment Television (E!) stardom (shout to Kendra Wilkinson).
And you know how we sometimes struggle to find noble things to say about the departed? Not even a struggle with Hugh Hefner. Black people like 1990 Playboy Playmate of the Year Reneé Tenison and legendary entrepreneur/activist/comic Dick Gregory will likely tell you about how Hefner was a player in a different way in life… hiring Black performers and integrating his Clubs (risking the business in some regions of the country). Yep, Hef was an impact player in the struggle for Civil Rights, a de facto activist, too.
Gonna miss you Hef. Thanks for the good times and good works. And farewell.
#RIPHughHefner
– @ojones1
Posted in Activism, Business, Celebrity, Human Interest, Lifestyle, Relationships, Videos | 
Tags: Civil Rights, CNN, Douglas Brinkley, Hugh Hefner, Integration, RIP Hugh Hefner | 
No Comments »
What Have You Heard About iPhone 8? Well, Here’s The Real Scoop (Video)
September 22, 2017
Even if you have never camped out in line to be among the first to get the new ‘you fancy huh?’ phone, this clip should let you understand why iPhone fanatics did. And this iPhone 8 though. That look, that sleek ‘body’ and it being so ‘just for you’ it knows you by touch (as in Touch ID)… Wow!
The phone’s release day is tomorrow. For those who are still undecided, too bad we couldn’t hear Siri’s voice to seal the deal. Hahaha!
Ray Allen Knows His Move From Boston To Miami Was Hard On The Fans. But Management & Teammates, They Should Understand… It Was Business (Video)
September 15, 2017
Plain talk from former Celtics standout Ray Allen. Here he is in Shanghai, telling his side of the story. In essence, he is letting viewers & fans know that it wasn’t him wanting to leave Boston, it was the Celtics… not doing what it took to keep him there. No beef with nobody on his side, even though some folks apparently reeeeally had HEAT for him for taking his talents to South Beach.
Ray Allen spoke in an exclusive interview with Tencent’s Lisa Hsu about the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Paul Pierce and being a champion. Tencent, ESPN’s partner in China, is hosting its annual Super Penguin Basketball Celebrity Game in Shanghai.
– ESPN
Makes some good points in this interview. Pro sports is BUSINESS, not personal. And there is NO loyalty. The Celts could have dropped Allen, and that would be that; not a tear shed.
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Interview, Sports, Television, Travel, Videos | Tags: Boston Celtics, China, ESPN, Lisa Hsu, Miami Heat, National Basketball Association, NBA, Pro Basketball, professional basketball, Ray Allen, Shanghai, Tencent | No Comments »
Sneaker Shopping With Meek Mill (Video)
September 7, 2017
Meek Mill’s don’t-call-it-a-comeback is coming along just fine. Through the beef with Drizzy, dealing with the Remy-vs-Nicki fallout… Philly’s son stood tall on his own two feet through it all. Never fake. Real, from head to toe. Right down to his shoes. Speaking of which…
Meek Mill goes Sneaker Shopping with Joe La Puma at Stadium Goods, and talks about looking up to Allen Iverson and moving on past his Puma deal.
– Complex
– @ojones1
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Fashion, Hip-Hop, Interview, Lifestyle, Product, Series, Videos | Tags: Complex, Joe La Puma, Meek Mill, sneaker shopping | No Comments »
Atlanta Fans Are Excited About The New Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Video)
August 27, 2017
Falcon Fans, college football fans, fans of spectacle… REJOICE! And witness opening day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Complete with attendee comments and cute cheerleaders. Now all that’s left is the Florida State vs. Alabama baptism next weekend.
Posted in Business, EVENTS, Interview, Sports, Videos | Tags: Grand Opening, Mercedes-Benz Stadium | No Comments »
Ice Cube Speaks On Performing On The Bill With Dave Chappelle And Getting His Hollywood Star (Video)
August 23, 2017
Ice Cube sits down with Jimmy Fallon and talks about his surprise performance with The Roots at Dave Chappelle’s stand-up show, celebrating 25 years of his seminal solo album “Death Certificate,” his star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and his Big3 Basketball League.
– @ojones1
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Comedy, Hip-Hop, Interview, Television, Videos | Tags: Ice Cube, Jimmy Fallon, The Tonight Show Starring, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | No Comments »
Sneaker Shopping With Rita Ora (Video)
August 18, 2017
Rita Ora loves shoes like a girlie girl; but SNEAKERS though! This is Eye Candy meets sneaker obsession… Nothing like a cutie in fly kicks, plus she’s kicking down a unique fashion strategy (way beyond ‘because they are cute’).
– @ojones1
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Fashion, Honeyz, Interview, Lifestyle, Product, Series, Videos | Tags: Complex, Joe La Puma, Rita Ora, sneaker shopping | No Comments »
Cover Story: Climate Gentrification Is Pushing Black Residents Out Of Little Haiti (Video)
August 18, 2017
Climate change is threatening Miami’s Black neighborhoods. Some fear they’ll be pushed out of their homes by climate gentrification. pic.twitter.com/AfZrAigCPi
— The Root (@TheRoot) August 15, 2017
It’s like we’re coming to an end, right? Little Haiti will be wiped away.
– Valencia Gunder
Redlining, gentrification… and now climate gentrification? Damn! Black folks can’t catch a break, can we? Pushed off living on the beach, being pushed out of where they eventually settled, and now the WEATHER is a driving force displacing the residents of Little Haiti in Florida. See the insights and angles explored in this mini-documentary from The Root. It was made with support from Participant Media, creator of “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” (the follow-up to that first film former Vice President Al Gore did: “An Inconvenient Truth”).
Little Caesars Pizza Portal Will Let Customers Grab Their Pizzas And Skip The Small Talk (Video)
August 15, 2017
Hot-N-Ready. That’s what Little Caesars is selling to the masses. Gotta say that the pizza is also pretty tasty (for the price). But now it looks like somebody somewhere in the company got a wild notion to ask, “Can I get something other than pepperoni, Hot-N-Ready, and FAST?”
Answer: Sure, if you have a smartphone and a way to come get it!
Watch the clip and see what the LC is cooking (and piloting) now. Tailor made pizzas on the go. The only way to get it better faster is adding mind-reading tech and drone delivery to this. But that’s not… possible… Is it?
Um… Hello? Have you been READING our posts at all?? It’s definitely possible in the future. But let’s try this Pizza Portal out for a while.
(Unless you are die-hard Pizza Hut or Papa Johns or something other… sorry. Hahaaa!)
– @ojones1
Flasback 1954: The Secret Of Selling The Negro (Lifted From The ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ Documentary) [Video]
August 9, 2017
You just have to watch this and take it in. It is from a bygone era, so do not terminology totally get you in your feelings. Realize though, that this was a way the ‘market opportunity’ the Black consumer segment was presented.
Film commissioned by the Chicago-based publisher of Negro Digest, Ebony, and Jet to encourage advertisers to reach out to African American consumers. The Secret of Selling the Negro depicts the lives, activities, and consumer behavior of African American professionals, students, and housewives. A Business Screen reviewer noted that the film focused on the “bright positive†aspects of the “new Negro family.â€
NOTE: The sponsor issued a companion booklet offering the “do’s and don’ts of selling to the Negro.â€
– Reelblack
Wow. This explains why we MUST have those sneakers or fly jewelry or whatever… Not bad, all things considered. Actually really insightful.
Posted in Activism, Business, Fashion, Film, Throwback, Videos, Vintage | Tags: I Am Not Your Negro, reel black, reelblack, The Secret Of Selling The Negro | No Comments »
Former Record Industry Exec Speaks On Suge Knight (Video)
August 2, 2017
Damn. By three minutes in former industry exec Virgil Roberts spilled that Suge Knight had the powers-that-be shook EVEN THOUGH Suge was NOT a true OG. Wow.
Well, he was around back when Suge was really reigning; and he is very forthcoming with his what-had-happeneds in the interview above. More commentary on that era after the jump.
(Whoa! He talked about the Vanilla Ice balcony strong-arm incident in this, too? Yes.)
Posted in Business, Hip-Hop, Interview, Relationships, Videos | Tags: DJ Vlad, djvlad, dr. dre, Eazy-E, Jimmy Iovine, Jimmy Iovine Giving Dre $1M, Marion Suge Knight, Suge Knight, Virgil Roberts | No Comments »
Prince Paul, Hank Shocklee, And Tom Silverman Speak On How Tracklib Provides Freedom At The Fingertips Of Producers And Artists (Video)
July 21, 2017
Now that’s how we start a discussion about sampling… with that “Impeach The President” joint! But on to the business: Sampling is at the heart of Hip-Hop, and by extension, the Hip-Hop business. But biz of bringing out hot Hip-Hop music can be slowed or obliterated by the expense and arduousness of clearing samples. Enter Tracklib.
Tracklib is a music marketplace where music producers discover, buy and license original recordings. Prince Paul, Hank Shocklee, and Tom Silverman explain.
This is big. And necessary! Watch right quick and learn.
Posted in Business, Hip-Hop, Product, Technology, Videos | Tags: Clearing Samples, Hank Shocklee, Prince Paul, The Liberation of Sampling, Tom Silverman, Tracklib | No Comments »
Up And Coming Dancer/Choreographer ShirJuanda ‘Bounce’ Woodson Debuts Her HoverKicks Ad (Video)
July 18, 2017
Wow! Have you been keeping up with ShirJuanda ‘Bounce’ Woodson? So beautiful. So talented. And her grind… how can someone start from the bottom, get it out the mud, and look so clean every step of the way? I will post a couple more vids (including a behind-the-scenes for the one above) after the jump to initiate those who don’t know and allow those who do to celebrate. Watch and realize that HoverKicks is just now recognizing what many already know… Bounce is the BUSINESS!
After creating her viral ’90s video to Boyz 2 Men’s hit “Motown Philly,” Bounce was discovered by Hoverkicks and asked to create their newest commercial for their famous light-up shoes line!!!
– HoverKicks
I feel very fortunate to have gotten in on her ‘friend wave’ before she can accept no more. We’ll hear more from Bounce to be sure. But for now, let’s salute to her success for just a sec.
(Time’s up! Bounce is already on the move to the next project. Trust.)
– @ojones1
Posted in Business, Dance, Hip-Hop, Honeyz, Product, Videos | Tags: Bounce, choreography, HoverKicks, I Am Bounce, ShirJuanda 'Bounce' Woodson, ShirJuanda Woodson | No Comments »
Sneaker Shopping With Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (Video)
July 10, 2017
Sean “Diddy” Combs goes Sneaker Shopping with Joe La Puma at Stadium Goods in NYC, and talks about the importance of Air Force 1s to his style, and what it was like buying kicks with Biggie Smalls back in the day.
– Complex
– @ojones1
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Fashion, Interview, Lifestyle, Product, Series, Videos | Tags: Complex, Diddy, Joe La Puma, Sean Combs, sneaker shopping | No Comments »
Jimmy Iovine ‘Defies’ Industry Conventions And Speaks On How The Music Business And Technology Really Work (Video)
July 10, 2017
Did you catch “The Defiant Ones” debut last night? Interesting. If you have not, there will surely be an encore presentation before the next ep. But for now, you should check out this interesting clip of gems from the defiant Jimmy Iovine… talking about the music industry, the effects of technological innovation on it and more like a ‘g’ (as in guru, as in the wise man on the mountain who has seen it all and saw you coming).
Pharrell Williams and Scott Vener in the OTHERtone studio with Jimmy Iovine of Apple Music.
– iamOTHER
Artists should focus on their art! Make good music first, THEN worry about ‘getting paid’ on the road and selling gear and getting YouTube hits. Of course, the industry is not helping. The art is dying because the priorities are screwed up: (1) The industry is still holding to licensing/copyright mantras that still keep money from artists (the source of the art) and (2) the technology is providing promoters (the gatekeepers for artists getting money on the road) a new, albeit largely inaccurate measure of an the ‘value’ of what the artist is putting out. A YouTube sensation who makes music in two weeks is just demonstrating that they can get clicks, NOT that they make music as good or better than artists that spend months crafting their music (who is not getting all those clicks). On the whole, those who crank out tracks in two weeks from the road CANNOT be making better music than folks who take the time off tour and focus on turning out their best product… even if that’s what the YouTube views say. Iovine called that click count chicanery ‘fake news.’
BOOM! And this comes from Iovine, a guy who has made A LOT of money in music. Watch the short, powerful clip above with all three eyes open though. Now, remember that Iovine is with Apple Music; another music-meets-tech entity, where the streams are not ‘totally free.’ EVERYONE has an agenda, even Iovine.
Interesting that this is a YouTube clip though.
Posted in Advice, Business, Interview, Series, Videos | Tags: Apple Music, Beats 1, IAmOther, Jimmy Iovine, music and technology, OTHERtone, Pharrell Williams, Scott Vener | No Comments »
La La Anthony Speaks On Parenting & Life Apart From Carmelo, Her Career And More (Video)
July 4, 2017
Have you SEEN La La looking so so DELICIOUS on “Power” on Starz? Have MERCY, she is so fine! Plus, an actually good actor.
LaLa breaks it down with ‘Ebro In The Morning’ on how she feels about Phil Jackson being fired, where her and Melo stand right now, and how she got her first big break.
– Hot 97
Great interview. Real talk. Gotta imagine that her radio background helps her communicate all this so well, too.
Around the 10-minute mark – even the list of friends is HOT, and ‘bye Phil-lecia’ hahaaa!
(Confirmed: La and the homie 4-IZE did ‘live together’ back in the day, just like he rapped on “How’d That Work Out?” She said it in here! Salute to the homie.)
– @ojones1
Posted in Business, Celebrity, Hip-Hop, Interview, Radio, Relationships, Videos | Tags: Ebro, Ebro in the Morning, Hot 97, La La Anthony, Laura Stylez, PETER ROSENBERG | No Comments »
Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine Are ‘The Defiant Ones’ (Video)
June 27, 2017
Getting close to the HBO four-part docu-series debut date: July 9th. Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre are “The Defiant Ones”. Got the latest trailer for that cued up above.
Posted in Business, Film, Hip-Hop, Producers, Relationships, Series, Television, Trailer, Videos | Tags: Andre Young, dr. dre, Eminem, HBO, Jimmy Iovine, The Defiant Ones | 1 Comment »
Ice Cube – “BIG 3” (Video)
June 23, 2017
Ice Cube made the moves off court to bring the bangers and hoopers on court for FS1 this Monday, June 26. You’re gonna check it out, right? We told you about it earlier on here. Now Cube’s got a video about it – a music video. Wanna see it? Here it go!
Posted in Business, Hip-Hop, Sports, Videos | Tags: BIG 3, BIG3, Fox Sports 1, FS1, Ice Cube | No Comments »
Politics: President Donald Trump Promised To Protect The Sick And Poor, To Give Them A ‘Better Deal’… And He Is Not… At All (Video)
June 22, 2017
Donald Trump ran promising to protect the sick and the poor. He's governing in ways that will seriously harm them. pic.twitter.com/ByWiTod0Ze
— Vox (@voxdotcom) June 19, 2017
Wow. Still hard to believe that we elected a U.S. President in much the same way we elected a class president in grade school – the guy that promised spaghetti and pizza for lunch and two recesses every day won… because we bought the lies. But when we did not get more pizza and play time, we lived. This VOX clip illustrates how, with Donald Trump as the ‘head of the class’ as President, many of us might suffer and DIE.
So… What folks hate about Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act) is exactly what Trumpcare (The ‘Higher Cost Care’ Act) will allow MORE of??? That’s not what ANYONE voted for, is it? IS IT?!
Just watch. It’ll make you wanna say, “I can’t…” until you realize ‘you have to’ (because the ‘Yes We Can’ guy is gone).
Donald Trump ran promising to protect the sick and the poor. He's governing in ways that will seriously harm them. pic.twitter.com/ByWiTod0Ze
— Vox (@voxdotcom) June 19, 2017
Sports: Floyd Mayweather And Conor McGregor Will Fight August 26th (Video)
June 15, 2017
The fans wanted to see this fight… and it will be the biggest fight ever in the history of two people punching each other.
– UFC President Dana White
Respect for the sweet science or claims of cage fighting’s supremacy aside, Dana’s probably right. This fight has plenty of haters, each of its combatants have plenty of haters, and both boxing and UFC have haters. With that much hateration – and even more folks who follow either or both Mayweather and McGregor in the nation – this is another event to net Floyd triple figures easy!
And some pretty juicy scraps for everyone else involved.
Like it or love it (and Stephen A. will tell you which L he’s taking above, hahaa)… the fight is on! Hitting pay-per-view screens in August… It’s Showtime!
Posted in Business, Cover Story, Panel, Sports, Television, Videos | Tags: Conor McGregor, Dana White, ESPN, Floyd Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Mayweather-McGregor, SportsCenter, Stephen A. Smith | No Comments »
