ISSUE 3 SEPT/OCT 2013
GADGETS UNI ESSENTIALS INTRODUCING GEKO
SPORTS PREMIERSHIP ROUND UP COMPETITION
FEATURE
KREPT AND KONAN
MOTORING BMW 4 SERIES
WIN A MEAL FOR 2 AT NANDOS
YOUNG KINGS KREPT AND KONAN
EDITORSNOTE Hello, And it’s a very warm welcome back to the 3rd edition of our fabulous lifestyle E-mag 24/7Livelistings. com. Last month we jetted off to NY, (see next month for our in-depth travel feature on the city), We had a lengthy but lovely translantic call with the delightful star of the Jackie Robinson Biopic, 42 Chadwick Boseman. We also got up-close and personal with our cover star Lisa Maffia who could barely contain her delight at the forthcoming So Solid reunion tour. We also profile one of the hottest up and coming UK rappers on the Grime scene Geko. we also observe Black History Month (BHM), by paying tribute to the music and record label that changed the shape of history and played a pivotal role in the US civil rights movement, Berry Gordy’s Motown. That’s not all, we introduce two fantastic new columnists, the Games Master who will give you his very unbiased account of the best games on the market and the irrepressible and opinionated but very likeable Swaggerville, who offers the uncompromising truth on life, love and much more. I could go on but I don’t want to spoil it for you, so grab a coffee, sit back, read and enjoy! See ya next month!
Michelle x
MEET THE TEAM THE TEAM BEHIND 24/7 LIVE MAGAZINE Gavin A Peters Features Editor
Jazinhino Phillips Motoring
Nicole Robinson Beauty
Andy Peters Sports/Fitness
Damien Brome Money & Finance
Grant Richards The Sneaker Pimp
Mazel John Fashion
Jammz Designer
Jimmy Swagger: Swaggerville Opinion Feature
Darren Lobban The Games Master
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B 21 24/7 LIVE Interviews Geko
31 Swaggerville: The Girl is Yours
32 Young Kings: Krept and Konan
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Feature: Film 42
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24/7FASHION
BACK TO UNI... By Mazel John It’s that time again when students everywhere are preparing to get back into study mode. We’ve created a few looks that’ll make the best of your tight student budget for trendy casual days and sexy fun nights out.
GIRLS: Student Night Out featuring a lacy dress.
John Zack lacy dress, £41.00/ Leopard print dress, £16.00 / Zara heeles shoes / Black platform pumps, £19.50 / Topshop vintage black purse / Yellow purse, £7.50 / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics pink blush / NARS Cosmetics brow makeup / H&M cheek bronzer, £3.00 / Rimmel eye makeup, £7.00 / Aéropostale shimmer lip gloss / NARS Cosmetics lips makeup, £18.00 / Rose perfume BOYS: Back to school featuring a hoodie sweatshirt. Hoodie sweat shirt / Converse black leather shoes, £54.00 / Tech accessory, £277.00 / STELLA McCARTNEY black glasses / Vintage eye glasses / PREMIUM BY JACK & JONES Field Chino Rubber JOS, £25.00 / TRUE RELIGION Lightweight Fleece Marl Grey Cotton sweatpants, £117.00 / Calvin Klein Jeans Print Tshirt, £19.00 / Jack Wills Brookfield Rucksack / Stationery, £2.00/ Banned Zombie Green Rucksack | Gothic Clothing | Emo clothing |…, £24.00
GIRLS: Casual Back to school featuring H&M Elizabeth and James silk shirt / V neck shirt, £8.00 / H&M jeans, £29.00 / Converse sneaker, £44.00 / Backpacks bag / Green purse / Oversized wayfarer / Madewell vintage glasses / Stationery, £2.00 / Field Notes Ruled Paper Memo Book (3 Pack)
BOYS: Student Night Out featuring long sleeve shirts J.Crew long sleeve shirt / UNIQLO Slim Fit Straight Colour Jeans A, £20 / NAKED AND FAMOUS Skinny guy stretch jean / River Island Grey colour block polo sleeve shirt, £27.00 / Grey leather boat shoes, £58.00 / Vans ZAPATO DEL BARCO Moccasins, £63.00
24/7NEWS
that the two had hooked up at New York’s Mercier Hotel last month and that Kanye had kept the meet a secret’. She only discovered the rendezvous had taken place when pictures of the two of them surfaced online. A source close to the pair revealed that because Ri-Ri has a reputation, she, [kim], has always been suspicious of the Diamonds singers relationship with Kanye, she was doubly mad because the singer admitted to spending the morning in meetings but not mentioning who the meetings were with. But Kanye is insistant that the meetings with Rihanna are entirely innocent, the source added that ‘things got quite ugly and she stormed out in tears’
Cheryl Cole’s mum reckons she is going to regret that massive tattoo With everyone from the likes of Jodie Marsh to millions of twitter user commenting on Cheryl’s humungous and arguably vulgar bottom covering tattoo.
He added ‘Kims problem is this, even if he and Ri Ri are making tracks it will inevitably lead to more meetings and then what else?‘
The Fight for this Love singer and former Girls Aloud member seems to be taking it all in her stride, but there is one woman’s opinion that really seems to matter and that are the thoughts of her mum Joan. According to friends close to the star, her mum was not best pleased with the ink and has gone on to tell her that ‘She will regret it when she’s older’ Meanwhile Cheryl has defended her tattoo by saying people are entitled to their own opinion, but personally I’ve never been concerned myself with other peoples body parts. Cole has a selection of tattoos including tribal markings a bird and Mrs Cole tattooed on her neck the Geordie singer has admitted that this will be her last tattoo.
Tamera Mowry: I lost My Virginity at 29 Speaking candidly to New York’s Hot 97 radio station she admitted that it was religious reasons that primarily kept her from having sex earlier. ‘I don’t know how to explain this, but I’m very religious, so I waited until I was 29 to lose my virginity’ the actress revealed ‘you may not understand this but I did it, then I felt guilty, then I became celibate until I got married’ . Her admission has been met with praise and backing from friends and fans alike, with her co host on the US daytime show The Real Adrienne Bailon supporting her stance by saying that having slept with just one person is ‘beautiful and dope’ and people thanking her for being a great role model for young people in Hollywood.
Kayne & Rihanna hooked up? According to reports Kim Kardashian is furious with Boyfriend Kanye West after discovering that the rapper had a secret meeting with Bajan beauty Rihanna. The Huffington post reports that Kim 32, was ‘furious 6
wide smash Blurred Lines. According to a well placed source Paula was furious with the performance and attempted to beat down the former Hannah Montana star. The source explained ‘We had to physically hold Paula back as she was ready to go crazy, she seemed a little inebriated like she’d had too much champagne’. It is alleged that Paula waited until the end of the show so that she could get close enough to Miley, then she lashed out. Although the source did not witness the alleged physical encounter first hand rumour has it the Hitch star actually put hands on Miley. Hasselhoff backtracks on Samuel L Jackson ‘Diss’ It has been reported that 90’s film and TV star David Hasselhoff was annoyed that he wasn’t invited to reprise the role of Marvel comics S.H.I.E.L.D director Nick Fury in the 2014 screen version remake of the 1998 TV film Nicky Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. The former Baywatch star made it quite clear – then backtracked- that he wasn’t happy with Samuel L Jackson playing the stealth spy on the big screen. He told Yahoo Movies that ‘Samuel L Jackson came in and he was a great Nick Fury, but he really wasn’t the consummate Nick Fury and I think that’s a shame because I think he’s a great character and a funny character’; A day after his ‘tell us how you really feel’ interview went live, the 61 year old changed his tune and reportedly said ‘I’m setting the record straight Samuel L Jackson is one of my favourite actors, a friend and I wish him well in all his roles he then tweeted the same quote and then added ‘especially Nick Fury’ . Luther the Movie It has been confirmed that the hit BBC1 Drama will not be returning to our TV screens for a fourth series. Instead series creator Neil Cross hopes to bring the critically drama to the big screen. The writer admitted that the series had finished because Idris Elba had gone on to be a big star playing Nelson Mandela in the forthcoming Nelson Mandela biopic A Long Walk to Freedom. ‘I’ve written the script and we hope to get the film made next year’ he told the Edinburgh Television festival. ‘Idris is a brilliant leading man and we’ve hoped to turn Luther into a movie for a long time’ Elba himself has expressed an interest in turning the story into a film before, telling audiences at a BAFTA preview for the third series that it is ‘definitily a goal’ Did Paula Patton ‘put hands’ on Miley Cyrus for twerking on her man? It seems all was not well back stage at the recent VMA’s and as much as they are showing a united front, actress Paula Patton was not happy with Miley Cyrus for twerking on her husband Robin Thicke in that now infamous performance of his world 7
24/7BAROMETER
WHAT’S
HOT? MARVIN AND ROCHELLES TV DEBUT Marvin Humes says him and his wise Rochelle Wiseman are buzzing as standing presenters on ITV ’s This Morning.
EVA PIGFORD MARCILLE
ANTM first African-American winner has announced her first pregnancy with singer/ songewriter Kevin McCall.
NAOMI CAMPBELL: THE FACE
The legendary supermodel has teamed up with Sky Living to launch the new reality medel search entitled The Face
JESSE J US TOUR
Pop Sensation Jesse J has announced plans to support Blurred Lines singer Robin Thicke on the US leg of his World Tour
POP LEGEND JOINS TWITTER
The purple one spark a twitter frenzy after posting his first few humourous but sparadic tweets.
WHAT’S
NOT?
WHO NOES
TYSON ON VERGE OF DEATH
According to reports, Singer/rapper has reportedly have had a nose job when her was a teenager according to entertainment site .Mediatakeout.
Former boxer Mike Tyson has recetly revealed that he is on the verge of dying and has an ongoing addiction.
MILLER BREAKS HEARTS
CEELO GREEN
IPHONE BACKLASH
The Prison Break star Wentworth Miller, broke the hearts of many female fans across the world when he came out as gay in the boycott of the St Petersburg film festival in Russia
F@%k you star, Green has talked about his battles over his image that left him in self doubt as a teenager.
Critics have feared the worst as sales of the iPhone 5s have been very disappointing .
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24/7GOSSIP or announced but there was provisional plans to release the book late 2013’ The book delay just continues to compound on Tulisa’s difficult year.
KYLIE, NAOMI AND KATE IN ADIDAS COLLOBORATION Kylie, Naomi and Kate in Adidas collaboration Aussie pop princess Kylie Minogue has joined forces with supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss to raise money for charity. The trio will customize Adidas’s celebrated Stan Smith Tennis trainers into works of art for a new exhibition to raise money for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual charity Stonewall. They are amongst a constellation of high profile names including Boy George, Sir Elton John and stylist William Baker Founder James Tailor said: ‘There is so much more to LGB artists than simply their sexuality, but that is what many exhibitions seem to focus on. While some works displayed contain nudity, the work itself deals with these such as non – conformity, identity and vulnerability. After a two-year hiatus the celebrated tennis trainer, The Stan Smiths are now available in stores again.
In june she was arrested along with friend and ‘rapper’ Mike GLC over her alleged involvement in an £800 cocaine deal to undercover reporters, then she was sacked from her role as judge on the X Factor after just two series. Just last month her £100,000 Audi was vandalised and then she faced claims that she assaulted a blogger at V Festival in Chelmsford.
Things seem to be going from bad to worse career wise for troubled singer Tulisa. The star who is currently on Police bail pending drugs charges has had the release date of her debut novel shelved until further notice. The 25 year old was due to release Sky this autumn but it looks like fans will have a long wait for the novel which was set to hit the shelves this autumn. A representative for the star confirmed that ‘ A release date was never confirmed
Ashley Walters has hit out at black British actors who complain about the lack of opportunities in the UK, suggesting that they should “stay here and try to change things” rather than “run away to the States” High profile stars such as David Harewood and Lenny Henry have voiced their concerns in recent months about the issue. But Walters, who starred in Channel 4 drama Top Boy, told Time Out London that he believes leading actors like Harewood and Henry could do more to create opportunities. “Here’s my theory: I looked up to people like Lenny Henry and David Harewood. They were the kind of people who made me want to get into this. But they don’t write enough, and they don’t direct enough,”
BEYONCE’S £1500 NANDOS CHICKEN BILL What Is it with Americans and Nando’s chicken? first it was reported that Nicki Minaj spent £3,200 at the tasty chicken eatery when she performed live in Manchester. Then speaking exclusively to The Voice Newspaper rapper Wacka Flocka Flame, professed his love the for the joint by revealing that he, ‘eats some of everything when he goes to Nandos. The last time I was there, I almost threw up because I ate too much food. I stuffed myself right before I had to go on stage, it was sick.”
TULISA BOOK DEAL SHELVED
ASHLEY WALTERS: ESTABLISHED BLACK ACTORS COULD DO MORE
Now Beyonce has joined the ever growing list of American celebrities that have fallen in love with the spicy chicken outlet. Following her performance at the recent V festival, the star spent £1500 at the Essex branch of the chain. The order included 48 whole chickens, 24 tubs of coleslaw, 58 wing platters and 48 portions of chips all of which was paid for cash. The Crazy in Love singer’s order was confirmed by the Nando’s Chelmsford manager and the receipt was later posted on twitter. She and her entourage must have been peri peri hungry!
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It’s obvious that it’s more difficult for black actors over here. So you can run away to the States or you can stay here and try to change things.”
MOESHA STAR ARRESTED Former childhood star, Marcus T Paulkin of the 90s hit TV series Moesha was arrested for domestic violence. Paulk is best known for playing the troublesome little brother of Brandy, on the sitcom. The 26-year old was arrested by police having allegedly hitting his girlfriend Andi Roxx on the chin and stomach during a heated argument.The fight began between the couple at a Beverly Hills Night club, when supposedly Paulk accused Roxx of not paying him enough attention. This later escalated when they returned home. Roxx was takien to hospital the next day and treated for internal injuries. Upon telling doctors and informing police of what had transpired Paulk was arrested after being advised by his attorney to turn himself into authorities.
IMAGEGALLERY
Gone Too Soon
24/7 Live this month takes a look at famous people in all walks of life, especially in the world of music and entertainment world who made an impact in some way or the other, but no longer with us. Many of who had untimely deaths, some of which dying very young too- we here at 24/7 Live take a look at some of those lives as we pay homage, R.I.P.
Christopher George ‘Biggie Smalls’ Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March , Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive by shooting in 1997 aged 24 Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16 71 - Sept 13 1996 Rapper Shakur was shot multiple times in Las Vegas. his assailant has never been identified, Tupac died aged 25
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) Undoubetedly one of the greatest singer/performer of all time died of an alleged overdose which was the result of an error by his then physician. He was aged 50.
Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) Grammy Award winning American singer was found in her hotel bathroom having accidentally drowned. It was alleged drugs was a factor. She was aged 48.
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Amy Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) The singer-songwriter died of apparent alcohol poisoning, She was 27.
Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack (born Brittany Anne Bertolotti (November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009) The actress died from multiple drug intoxication.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001) 90s R&B singer was traveling home on a private jet from the bahamas having filmed a music video when the plane crashed shortly after take off aged 22.
Lisa Nicole Lopes (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002) One third of the 90s rnb singing group TLC. Died in a car accident aged 30.
Heath Andrew Ledger (4 April 1979 – 22 January 2008) Died from a growing addiction to prescription drugs abuse.
Cory Allan Michael Monteith (May 11, 1982 – July 13, 2013) Canadian born actor commonly known for his role as Finn in the hit tv series Glee died from a drugs overdose aged 31. 11
24/7BEAUTY So summer is over, and autumn is here, We here at 24/7 Live have provided an essential guide to make you look and feel your best running up to Winter. We will also take a sneak peek at this years London Fashion Week. By Nicole Robinson
LADIES
HAIR Summer sun can damage your hair, so get a hair cut to trim away damaged broken and weak areas. Nourishing your hair during the colder months is essential and will put a spring back into it. Try these…
PUREOLOGY ESSENTIAL REPAIR END CORRECTING FROM £28.00
AMIKA FROM £25.00
UMBERTO HAIR REPAIR TREATMENT FROM 9.00
Extends life of cut and coloured hair. The treatment is packed with proteins and aid rebuilds and strengthens..
Pleasant light smell, nourishes and smoothes out hair to make it more manageable..
Conditioner and mask treatment. Nourishes hair and makes it shiny.
SKIN Get into the routine of of moisturising regularly, try using richer and creamier ones to lock in moisture from the colder months. Also exfoliating first will help your skin to absorb these more. Try These…
BODY SHOP: SHEA WHIP BODY LOTION £8.00
A-DERMA SKIN CARE CREAM £12.50
L’OREAL PARIS TRIPLE ACTIVE ANTI-SHINE £4.33
Light lotion that hydrates skin leaving it soft and smooth, with a nitty scent.
Skin Care cream with Rhealba® Oat milk is specially formulated to treat irritated and easily inflamed skin, soothes, moisturises and anti-irritating active ingredients.Paraben free.
Hydrates skin and helps to retain optimal hydration. Leaves skin smooth with a long-lasting matte.
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EYES Cooler weather drys out your skin, especially delicate areas such as under your eyes. Make sure you use a moisturiser. Rid dark areas by applying eye serum daily. Try these…
ARTISTRY LUXURY CREME LUXURY EYE FROM £85.00 FOR 15ML£8.00 Leaves skin around eyes firmer, reduces puffiness and dark circles and evens out wrinkles.
RAW NATURAL BEAUTY RAW SKINCARE AMBIATY EYE TREATMENT FROM £30.00 Leave skin around eyes hydrated whilst improving the appearance of the under-eye area. Softens lines with a youth appearance.
ZO SKIN HEALTH OLLUMINATE INTENSE EYE REPAIR FROM £40.00 Helps repair fine lines and wrinkles. Reduces tiredness under the eye keeping it firm, hydrated and helps promote collagen.
HANDS As your hands are constantly exposed- they will suffer from dynes especially in cooler season. keep them soft and hydrated by regularly applying hand cream. Try these...
CLARINS: HAND AND NAIL TREATMENT CREAM £20.00 Emoillent-rich treatment- with soothing sesame oil. Softens and comforts dry, chapped, irritated skin. Helps strengthen nails and condition cuticles for naturally youthful-looking hands.
RESURRECTION HAND WASH £27.00
L’OCCITANE VERBENA COOLING HAND GEL £14.00
Protects from degrading UV rays allowing them to use fewer preservatives. The fact that the botanicals make it smell divine and the bottles look beautiful is a happy bi-product of being focused on the best strategy to create gorgeous skin.
Enriched with organic verbena extract, moisturises and refreshes, leaving a powdery finish on hands. Enriched with mint and thyme essential oils which penetrates instantly and leaves hands soft and delicately perfumed..
MEN... Who says you can’t pamper or look after yourself this Autumn. Try some of these products to keep you looking sharp.
SUPER CLEAN FACE SCRUB £16.00
CORRECT - MULTIVITAMIN PROBLEM SOLVER £24.30PRICE: FROM £10.00
PAPYRUS REED REPAIRING SHAMPOO PRICE: £18.00
High performance gel eliminates impurities and removes dead cells. Keeps skin and pores clear and skin smooth.
A moisturiser packed with antioxidant vitamins, which protects against skin damage. Conditions skin building up strength and improving skin texture.
Moisturises and conditions hair, whilst cleansing it. Contains Amino acids to help revitalise and improve shine.
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24/7GADGETS By Gavin Peters ITS OFFICIALLY AUTUMN, AFTER A LONG HOT SUMMER BREAK. AS THE CRISP WINTER HEAD IN, HERE AT 24/7 LIVE WE HAVE COMPILED A FEW UNI ESSENTIALS WHICH WE THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PREPARE YOU FOR ANOTHER SCHOOLING SEMESTER. TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PRACTICAL GADGETS.
JBL FLIP RRP: FROM £99.00 The JBL Flip with Bluetooth® capability is an ideal wireless stereo system for smartphones and tablets. With performance that comparably priced products can’t match, the JBL Flip is the ultimate wireless portable stereo speaker for any environment.
MOSHI VOICE CONTROLLED TALKING ALARM CLOCK -TALK TO IT! RRP: £26.00 This is a voice-activated alarm clock that not only looks cool but will get you out of bed before mum gets a chance to nag you! Simply touch “Moshi” and she’ll ask you what command you want to execute. From here you can simply “tell her” to set the alarm, change the “sleep sound” and all while changing colours. key features -voice activated - large bright display
COLLINS BACKPACK RRP: FROM £57.00 The Collins Backpack is made for those who seek functionality and style. This case features tuckaway straps that allow the bag to convert from backpack to tote bag anytime you choose. Use the top handles for a carrying option or simply strap onto your back. Key features -High Density Foam protection system -Tuckaway straps that convert from backpack to tote bag - See more at: http:// www.brenthaven.com/collins-convertiblebackpack#sthash.gq8ST0Oc.dpuf -Side pockets with velcro closure are ideal for carrying water bottles - See more at: http://www.brenthaven.com/collins-convertible-backpack#sthash.gq8ST0Oc.dpuf -Multi-purpose front storage compartment
IBOOK TEXTBOOKS FOR IPAD RRP: FROM £399 Say goodbye to lugging around heavy texts and carrying them around all day. Save money as you no longer have to purchase expensive books, and keep up to date with current publications. The iBook will have all a students books on a single iPad, students will have no problem carrying them wherever they go. Key features -portable and easy to carry -store hundreds of textbooks -easy and convenient -interactive and 3d, non static
SONY SMARTWATCH RRP: FROM £79.00 This Android compatible watch keeps you discreetly updated & your hands free. key features -Read email, SMS and other notifications on your SmartWatch. -vibrates gently for every calendar notification. -keep up to date with social networking. -light and discreet. 14
Key features -Built-in bass port -Digital signal processing -Built-in microphone and call-answer button -5-hour, Li-ion rechargeable battery
JAWBONE UP RRP: FROM £99.00 Jawbone is a health and fitness wristband and app that tracks how you sleep, move and eat – then helps you use that information to feel your best. The wristband tracks your movement and sleep in the background. Key features -smooth and flexible to provide you with comfort -tracks your sleep, your activity and your food and drink intake and then syncs the information -precision motion sensor and powerful algorithms to track your steps -uses Actigraphy to monitor your sleep -Smart Alarm to silently wake you at the ideal moment in your sleep cycle
DYSON AM04 RRP: £349.00
LIVESCRIBE ECHO SMARTPEN RRP: FROM £159.00
SEAGATE BACKUP PLUS RRP: 129.00
Dyson AM05 fan heater uses Air Multiplier™ technology for long-range heat projection – it provides direct heat throughout the room. When used as a cooling fan it has powerful airflow and high air velocity to cool you effectively. There are no visible heating elements or fast-spinning blades, and the unit switches off automatically if tipped over.
A smart way to record and make notes simultaneously whilst uploading information on to your computer. With the touch of the button you can relive notes which are presented interactively. Never miss a word.
The Backup Plus portable drive from Seagate is the simple, one-click way to protect and share your entire digital life—without getting in the way of the rest of your life. Protect your stuff with easy, flexible backups. Easily increase transfer speeds with Thunderbolt™ technology or FireWire® 800.
Key features -Air Multiplier™ technology (heating and cooling) -remote control. It can be used to turn the machine on and off and to adjust oscillation, temperature and airflow power. -Select target temperature to the degree -Long-range heat projection so you feel direct heat throughout the room.
Key features -Record and play back everything you write and hear -transfer your notes and audio to your computer -2GB model holds 200 hours of audio. -The ergnomic grip design provides comfort during long meetings and lectures.
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key features -Protect...Photos, videos and more – on the go. -back up plus saves to drive
24/7 MOTORING
BMW 4 Series Coupé By Jazinhino Phillips Manfucturer: BMW Price from: £31,575 - £41,680 One, two, three into the four, BMW 4 Series Coupé is at the door, ready to make an entrance so back on up...The 4 Series is the latest offering from BMW which replaces the 3 Series Coupé. BMW felt the need to introduce this car because they felt that the 3 Series had too many different models. I do not understand the logic behind this decision, however I must admit this is an amazing looking machine. The aggressive styling look seems to work well although there
have been a few complaints about it not looking as good as the concept version. This car sits lower than the 3 Series, is longer, & has a wider wheelbase. This is possibly the lowest car BMW have ever made. All 4 Series come with 18 inch alloy wheels although you can opt for 19 inches if for you bigger is better. A clever feature has been added whereby you can open the boot by simply waving your foot under the bumper. This is brilliant if your hands are full or if you want to deceive people into thinking you’re the next David Blaine or Dynamo. This feature only works if the car key is in your pocket. You get rear & front parking sensors, USB, xenon headlights, dual climate control, cruise control, DAB radio, Bluetooth & leather interior as standard on the entry level SE model. Other models include Sport, Luxury, & Modern. Giving you a total of four models 16
to select from. There is even an option for the M Sport package. The car seats four people & also has 50/50 weight distribution. This car is likely to face direct competition from the Mercedes C Class Coupe & the Audi A5. It has the newest iDrive system the centre dial and has a touch pad on top, a six speed manual gearbox or an eight speed automatic gearbox are the types of transmission you can choose from. Three different engines are available at launch. Petrol engines are either the 428i 2.0 litre which produces 242 bhp or the 435i 3.0 litre which gives you 302 bhp. The diesel engine provides a 420d 2.0 litre with 181 bhp. There will be more engines to choose from by the end of 2013. Different driving modes include comfort, sport, & sport plus. These different modes changes how the car drives. Comfort mode focuses on efficiency while sport & sport plus is more geared towards performance. BMW wanted this car to be more sportier & aggressive than the 3 Series. I think BMW have managed to achieve this by giving the car a built in boot lid spoiler, a sinister looking front grille and wider
rear wheel arches. Due to the car sitting lower it corners better than the 3 Series although it does drive the same as the 3 Series on straight roads. The car is lighter than the 3 Series coupĂŠ yet has same interior as the sedan and touring models. If for some reason this car does not impress you then do not despair as a four door grand coupĂŠ and M4 will be coming in the near future.
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24/7MONEYWISE
The Economy FC: A Tanker For Turning
By Damien Brome Greg Dyke, the new head honcho of the England Football Association, recently declared that the set up was a “a tanker that had to be turned around”. He continued to wax lyrical about a recovery plan where the aim for England on the horizon was to reach the Euro 2020 Semi Finals before winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar In the same week, another honcho was making a speech. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, shared his thoughts on the state of the economy. iy was clear that, both men shared the same aims and were experiencing the same problems. I have decided to place a wide footballing lens over the British economy to examine the similarities between its structure and the England football team…Ladies and Gentlemen; may I introduce you to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) FC…
of national and international laws have been introduced by the Regulators in order to prevent “Casino Banking”, reduce excessive executive pay, eradicate tax evasion, money laundering and most importantly, stabilise the state of retail banking.
Defence: Joe Hart has been a bit suspect in goal recently, hasn’t he? But he can’t be solely to blame for any defensive misgivings that the team suffers. A good keeper is the final plug in an efficient defensive unit and swiftly redistribute the ball back into the midfield.
Much like the much maligned John Terry of England, these defenders might not be perfect but they tirelessly put their bodies on the line with some last ditch defending the aim is to build a solid base at the back upon which the economy can grow.
The defender positions in Team GDP are filled by the regulatory bodies – the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (formerly known collectively as the FSA), the Treasury and the good old HMRC. I see the Bank of England as the goal keeper – the last man standing.
George Osborne would argue that these tactics are working and that the OECD’s revision of the UK’s economic growth from 0.7% to 1.5% for 2013 would evidence this. Verdict: The defence is doing a half decent job, but it needs to keep concentrating to ensure the right results.
Much like in footy, the tactics of this unit since 2008 (and even more so since the 2010 General Election) has been nothing but thriftiness and defensive efficiency. . A raft
Midfield: It’s the perennial question that has never been answered. Not “why did Ryan Giggs choose to play for 18
Wales?” but “how can England balance its midfield?”
Cole” remains the sole owner of the left back position. The new lions are yet to make a real impact on the team and are still not seen as the “core” around which the team operates.
Despite having success at club level, Lampard and Gerrard have never quite managed to reproduce their best form during international games. which makes the England midfield unit a little less effective. Add to that the absence of a natural left-footed midfielder and you get the impression that the midfield needs more work.
Britain’s towards a service-based economy is comparable. The old industry giants - manufacturing, mining, building, the export of hard tangible product (aka English-made cars) to the rest of the world -have not found equivalents in the new economy.
The economy has a similar “we’re doing our own thing” feel through the North/South divide. The question facing the chancellor is, now London has seen some strong signs of recovery, how best to replicate it across the country?
A safe bet to stand up alongside finance will eventually be Technology Companies and Technology Start-ups – the “Jack Wilshere” of our comparison. Technology firms based on British shores are young, show tons of potential . Much like Wilshere, they have a tendency to pick up niggling injuries,. But given enough time and investment, they will shine and take the pressure off struggling team mates.
Verdict: Despite improvement more balance is needed across the midfield. Bale also made the wrong choice to play for Wales. Attack: Every team needs a world class player; Wayne Rooney has carried that mantle. When the going gets tough, “Wazza” can save the day - or so we thought when he burst onto the scene during Euro 2004..
Verdict: Phase out the old guard and Provide the grass roots support to guarantee the development of the youth and future success of the team. Manager: Is the manager the right man for the job? The issue in football and politics is the same – politics dictates this decision. Hodgson and Mark Carney seem to have the same sort of mandate; keep the wheels on and avoid disaster for the time being. Verdict: The managers seem to have the right idea, but the focus is on evolution, not revolution.
The equivalent player in Economy FC would be the financial services industry. Much like Rooney a decade ago, it was setting the world alightt and drawing the world’s largest businesses to these shores. Both Rooney and the City have been questioned over their love for what they actually do, as opposed to the huge fees and bonuses they can command.
There you have it. Like the England team GDP FC seems to be on the right road after a slow start after the 2008 crash. The green shoots of recovery have been spotted by the eagle eyed – the potential for success is evident. But much like the road to the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the road is long and arduous, with plenty more opportunity for stumbles and disasters. The defence need to remain on top form. The midfield needs to communicate better and relying on a single golden boy striker isn’t going to do us any favours in the long run…
Verdict: The attack requires its star performer to heal from recent injuries and rediscover form. More than one world class striker is needed. Old stars need to be replaced effectively: After crashing out of the 2010 World Cup it was evident that England’s “Golden Generation” had run out of ideas during the World Cup, were running out of time. Younger, hungrier replacements were required. Three years on and many argue that this agenda of replacement has not happened fully or effectively enough. Lamps still dutifully sits beside him in midfield. “Cashley
GDP FC and the England team; tankers for turning indeed.
19
24/7ENTERTAINMENT BUBBLINGUNDER
By Gavin Peters
He may be only 16 years old, but Geko has got a lot to say- and for someone so young he is on the road to big things. HOW DID YOU GET INTO RAPPING? I was 8 years old, i was a fan of rap- and one day i thought to myself i should try write a bar and i tried writing something with my older cousin and started spitting. From there it started and i was inspired by UK Grime- back then i was doing UK grime. WHEN DID YOU RECOGNISE YOUR TALENT FOR RAPPING? When i was about 11. WHAT AND WHO INSPIRED YOU AS A RAP ARTIST? life inspired me, grime was just a massive part and when life was getting serious a couple of things happened, family things happened and thats when i stared writing rap more. WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT FROM OTHER RAPPERS? Age. For my age the writing is a bit more grown and thats my focus BEING SO YOUNG, PEOPLE MAY SAY YOU DONT HAVE MUCH LIFE EXPERIENCE-WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THAT? most of [what i rap about], almost all of it is based on life experiences of course i don’t have much life experience, I’m only 16 but its all coming. [he laughs] Its stuff I’ve been through, thats what you hear on a tune- i just say what I’ve been through to be honest and whatevers coming is coming. TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR SIGNING TO GRIME COLLECTIVE USG- HOW DID IT COME ABOUT? I was a fan sending tracks and obviously i got recognised by U.S.G. member Koke he messaged me saying he felt the tune and said he related to it and did a youstream and he was like send your number through and he called, then thats how it started. -i was a big fan so i was happy you get me, so obviously it was like a dream come true- one day I’m like in the studio with him- it was a big step. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMBER OF U.S.G.? I aint got one- i like them all the same [he turns and
looks at his crew and laughs] BEING THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE GROUP DO THEY EVER TRY TO PICK OR PLAY PRANKS ON YOU? Nah, no way, [he tells his crew what i says and looks at me] don’t p*ss me off. [he jokes] WHAT WAS IT LIKE OPENING FOR A-LIST ACTS SUCH AS TINIE TEMPAH AND BIG SEAN? It was alright, a big experience for me and obviously to a big crowd performing to people don’t really know who i am- from that experience i learned something- it has given me a little more confidence. WHAT ARTISTS DO YOU LOOK UP TO AND WHY? I look up to jadakiss because he’s my favourite rapper- i like his flow and lyrics he just sick and good at it. WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING THE YOUNGEST PERSON TO REORD FIRE IN THE BOOTH WITH CHARLIE SLOTH? I was 14 when i done it, it was just crazy. Me at 14 in a BBC building doing that, it was just mad. WHAT DO YOU DO TO CHILL OUT? Go to my estate and chill wid da’ man dem and thats it really. YOU HAVE A GROWING TWITTER AND FACEBOOK FOLLOWING, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO YOUR FANS? I literally tweet everything, if you follow me on twitter you’ll know I’m always on twitter, tweeting- I’m on it 24/7 I’m one of them mad twitter freaks. YOUR FIRST MIXTAPE ’VOICE OF THE FUTURE’ WHAT WAS IT
LIKE PUTTING IT TOGETHER” it was alright- that was December 2012 when we released it- we were working on a lot of tunes and put them together on a mix tape and released it and got good feedback- i was pleased with the end result. YOUR LATEST SINGLE ’HEARTLESS’TELL US ABOUT IT AND WHAT INSPIRED IT? The track is about a man who tried to love a girl, fell in love with then took a step back, something that a lot of people might relate to. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WHAT WOULD IT BE? Taking real music instead of just music thats in the charts that don’t mean anything at all… [he grins] Im not gonna say no names. WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE? We [U.S.G.] are gonna release a second single, we don’t know exactly which one its gonna be right now- it might be like November and then ’Plan of The Future’ EP is gonna be on iTunes and release it in December. GEKO single ’Heartless’ is out now https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/heartless-ep/ id692037860 .
24/7REVIEWS CINEMA
RUSH (15) RELEASED 13/9/13
RIDDICK (15) RELEASED 4/9/13
INSIDIOUS 2 (15) RELEASED 13/9/13
Tells the story of an F1 driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), showing the rivalry the reserved Austrian and Engish racer James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth).
Vin Diesel returns to our screen in an epic adventure that is Riddick’ this new instalment see the galactic fugitive with a bounty on his head, as the army try to capture him.
Director James Wan serves up a second helping of the haunted house horror Insidious 2 which revisits the Lambert family, who continue to be plagued by evil spirits.
The film looks at their different private lives and also their careers. Culminating in Lauda’s near-fatal 1976 crash, and his recovery from it- and later challenges Hunts McLaren weeks later. If your into car racing this action packed film will not disappoint- with thrilling car racing scenes.
Left for dead on a lonely planet, he is fighting against all alien inhabitants and forced to send a message of help out. Full of high pack action, this film is sure not to displease those thrill seekers with epic action and scenes throughout.
This time the Lamberts look back into their past to discover they are tied to a parallel realm. Even more thrilling than the first this second edition, will have you jumping, with its sudden twists. Rating 3.5/5
Rating: 4/5
Rating: 3.5/5
JUSTIN AND THE KNIGHTS OF VALOUR (PG) RELEASED 13/9/13
DIANA (12A) RELEASED 20/9/13
THE CALL (15) RELEASED 20/9/12
A stunning animation tells the tale of a young boys dream of becoming a chivalrous warrior.
A compelling insight into the life of the late princess. Naomi Watts takes on the role in the tumultuous final years of her life.
Halle Berry, plays a LAPD 911 operator becomes obsessed with finding a serial killer, after answering a emergency call from one of his victims.
Director Oliver Hirschbiegel captures the last two years of the princesses life, showing an insight into her relationships with Dr Hasnat Khan and Egyptian heir Dodi Fayed. It’s questionable whether this adaptation has been done tastefully,
Turning detective she pieces together the murders location through noises and phone records. She is up against the clock to track him down as the killing spree intensifies before any more victims are killed.
But there are many parts that does not paint a true reflection of her life.
This exciting thriller is not just clever but will have yu gripped throughout.
Rating: 3.5/5
Rating: 3.5/5
Justin embarks on a quest to become a man that leads him through a host of helpers and hinderers along the way. A nice tale which all the family will enjoykids will enjoy this tale. Rating: 3/5
RUNNER RUNNER (TBC) 27/9/13 Runner Runner is a crime thriller starring Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck. Student Ritchie, (Timberlake), believes he’s uncovered an online poker scam and tracks down a dodgy entrepreneur. The mathematical student goes bust in a final hand of poker, but believes he has been had. He heads to Costa Rica to face Ivan Block, (Affleck), the man behind the elaborate site. Block then takes Ritchie as his protege. But things take a turn for the worse.
2 GUNS (18) Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg) are two undercover agents in double trouble as they go on the run from both a drugs cartel and the law. After years spent infiltrating the same criminal network, they’re cut loose when millions of dollars goes missing and only their newfound criminal skills can save them from jail or worse.
But his dream is shattered when he fails to make the grade, he consoles himself with a trip to the White House with his daughter.
Full off intense explosive action- Washington and Wahlberg at their best, intense throughout.
Whilst there the presidential residence is taken over by paramilitary group. Can he prove he’s got what it takes to save the president (Jamie Foxx) and ultimately the whole country?
Rating: 4/5
Rating: 4/5
BAGGAGE CLAIM RELEASED 11/10/13 Baggage Claim is an, urban comedy about looking for love in all the wrong places. Montana (Paula Patton) is an air stewardess distraught at the idea that her only remaining unmarried sister – younger! – is going to get married. Unable to contemplate going to the wedding without a serious boyfriend, she sets about using her airline contacts to track down her exes. It means a cross-country flight schedule and liaisons with the good, the bad and the ugly from her little black book. Baggage claim will sure leave you laughing with its smart wit and humourous comedy throughout. Rating: 4/5
WHITE HOUSE DOWN (12A) RELEASED 13/9/13 In action thriller ‘White House Down’, a Washington cop (Channing Tatum) aspires to make the leap from humble beat cop to White House security officer.
Rating: 4/5
THOR: THE DARK WORLD 3D RELEASED 30/10/13 Thor: The Dark World 3D is the next installment in the thrilling Marvel story from one of the directors of TV’s magnificent Game of Thrones. A dark force from before the birth of the universe has returned led by an evil genius that even the gods cannot conquer. It is, then, for Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to go into battle, not only to save Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) but to protect the universe from the evil Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) and the darkness he wants to plunge us all into. An epic adventure with stunning effects and action throughout. Rating: 4/5
CAPTAIN PHILIPS RELEASED 18/10/13 Captain Phillips is an edge-of-your-seat thriller based on a true story. Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) is master of an unarmed freight ship sailing through potentially dangerous waters. When he spots two speedboats coming towards him laden with heavily armed pirates, he knows that he is going to have a battle on his hands. it’s a race against time to get help in what was the first attack on a US cargo ship in 200 years. Captain Philips is a thrilling drama, packed with some exciting sea scenes and captivativing visuals, which is sure not to disappoint. Rating: 3.5/5
24/7REVIEWS MUSIC- ALBUMS
NAUGHTY BOY: HOTEL CABANA (23RD AUGUST) Naughty Boy, real name Shahid Khan is the mastermind behind some of this years biggest hits. Having churned out hits for Wiley, Never Be Your Woman and Chipmunk, Diamond Rings he also played a vital role on the number one hit album of Emili Sande, Our Version of Events. Releasing his own debut album, Hotel Cabana unravels through each track, taking us through a hotel where a series of unusual events occur. Featuring an array of colourful characters which take the form of Emili Sande, Tinie Tempah, Sam Smith and Gabrielle on the track; Hollywood. Featuring one of the tracks of the year; La La La is just one of the infectious tracks off the LP. The melodies and beats on the album are tight and the choruses do have commercial appeal. Hotel Cabana is full of personality and a pleaser. Rating: 4/5
24/7 Recommends...
KREPT & KONAN: YOUNG KINGZ (2ND SEPT) The South London duo, that is Krept and Konan release their latest project via iTUNES and it seems the momentum that their mix tape is gathering has paid off. Baring in mind that the pair are not signed to any music label- its amazing to see them debut at No10 on the official albums chart Top 40. The mix tape also features the likes of Giggs, Tinie Tempah & Chip as well as fellow “Play Dirty member” Yungen to name
but a few. Young Kingz sees covers most aspects of life from the pain to the victories, and includes the the clever wordplay that Krept and Konan do not shy from. The 19-track tape covers urban genres including grime, hip-hop, trap and R&B and what compliments all of these is the flawless production. Notable tracks on the album are the heartfelt My Story where it tells the story of Konan’s stepfather who was tragically murdered, brutal but honest emotions are conveyed on the track. Overall the album is a success in which Krept and Konan are able to transition from different genres effortlessly. The album is honest and does not hold back to any extent. Big things are yet to come from the pair, this mix tape is only the start of what is yet to come. Rating: 4/5
DRAKE: NOTHING WAS THE SAME (24TH SEPT) Nothing Was The Same is the third studio album from Canadian recording artist Drake. The progression from his last album to his present is noteable the album flows and you are eased into each track, each telling its own stories and the majority of the album mixes inspiration like Houston rap and 90s R&B. 2Chainz, Big Sean are just some of the names you can expect to feature from the album.
ARIANA GRANDE: YOURS TRUELY (2ND SEPT) Having being compared to a Mariah Carey, the 20-year old Nicklelodeon star wants to be recognised for her amazing singing voice also.
On a whole this latest offering from Drake, is consistent and has a subdued tone framed by sub-bass and synth washes. Drakes charm and charissma shines through on the album. Rating: 4/5
There is always a danger that a teen star will fall in the trap of being a one-hit wonder, however Grande vocal ability shows the maturity which many haven’t. Her first single; The Way is definitely a track which have cross over appeal as it is catchy and an happy easy listening track. The Pop/RnB album is definitely a good attempt from the young star with a mixture of ballads and up-tempo tracks. The track itself is easily listening and relatively quite happy throughout. Its hard not to compare Grande to an Early Mariah Carey- but I’m sure she will dispel this with her singing and vocal abilities. The album features the likes of Big Sean and Mac Miller to name a few. All in all the LP is well balanced and a worthy first attempt. Rating: 3.5/5
ANELLE MONAE: ELECTRIC LADY (13TH SEPT) Electric Lady is the latest offering from the beautiful and talented Monae. Its been nearly decade since her last independantly released debut music project, but this latest LP is set to do big things.
The first single from the album is, Queen featuring Erykah Badu, Monae poses an assortment of questions throughout her verses that recognises her independence and strength as a woman. The album does take romantic steps. Primetime featuring Miguel is a love ballad set to a slower tempo accompanied by clever song-writing. The singer who has closely be compared to Big Boi from Outkast demonstrates her versatile and energetic state of mind. The album is an infusion of genres, whilst sone song feature Monaes soft voice, other extremes are electro funk vibe songs. Electric Lady identifies Monaes artistic side from slow ballads to electro-funkto fast pace pop songs to Dance. As an artist she tires to break the stereotypical musical moulds as an artist and entertains through her timeless music. Rating: 4/5
SINGLES
EMINEM- BERZERK Its been awhile since we have heard from the blond-haired ’Real Slim Shady’ star, but this latest single is just a little slice of what is to come from his highly anticipated up-coming studio-release ’The Marshall Mathers LP 2’ Berzerk is an infectious which we see eminem shooting off words in all different ways. The production features a heavy beat which delivers to its listeners and well as a strong guitar rift.
J COLE FT TLC- CROOKED SMILE (16TH SEPT) This track is not what we are usually use to hearing from J Cole, as the track itselfhas a much lighter tone about it. Crooked Smile talks about embracing your flaws and not letting them be a problem.. Featuring guest vocals from 90s RnB group TLC, they definitely add another dimension to the track and it is refreshing to hear. Its an easy listen to track which all will like. Rating: 4/5
The track itself is amusing and critical as well as poking fun at Timbaland and the current predicament with Lamar Odoom’s alleged substance abuse. If your a real Eminem fan you will love this. Rating 3.5/5
JESSIE J - ITS MY PARTY Its My Party is the second single to be released from Jessie J’s second album which is set for release later this month. The mid-tempo rock style edged track sees J, belting out her vocals.
2CHAINZ FT PHARRELL- FEDS WATCHING (9TH SEPT) This reggae style inspired track produced and featuring Pharrell is the latest offering from American rapper 2Chainz. The track itself has a chilled out relaxed feeling to it and the overall production is very good, . 2Chainz may not be one of the best lyricists around but is voice does make an impact on the track. Rating: 3.5/5
DIZZEE RASCAL- SOMETHING REALLY BAD (23RD SEPT) This up-tempo track featuring guest vocals from Will i Am is definitely a big club banger. The overall production of the track is quite good. I think it would be fair to say of late Dizzee has really stepped his game up on the last few single he has done and this track is no exception. The beat on the track is quite addictive and will get you moving.
The track was inspired by her ‘haters’ and basically she can do whatever she wants despite people saying things. The track is a lot different from what we are used to and I don’t think that it is one of her best - Lets hope the album delivers. Rating: 3/5
Rating: 4/5
This track features Pharrell and Nicki Minaj. Produced by Pharrell the track has hit written all over it. The drum-driven song described as “an ode to Nelly’s dope-ness. Minaj brings a flare to the track through her tones and pronunciation of words and phrases and lyrically sounds good too. The track is definitely a pleaser and is sure to do well in and out the clubs. NELLY- GET LIKE ME (30TH SEPT
Rating: 4/5
24/7 GAMING THE GAMESMASTER Darren Lobban
The Return of Old School Gaming the standard difficulty settings and at times it will almost make you want to punch a donkey in anger and frustration, I said almost! Cause just when you reach that point you will get past that difficulty spike and be on your merry way so all you donkey lovers calm yourselves down a notch or two. Guacamelee is also a beautiful game to look at with it’s Mexican inspired artworks, the sound is also a treat for your ears with really good melodies and crunching sound effects.
If you knew of a time before dub step and vine, where kids did more than take “selfies” if you can remember playing video games before an iPhone then this review is for you, if you can’t then come back next issue and in the mean time go and do something constructive for thirty days you heathen’s. The first game which pulls the nostalgic heart strings is Guacamelee, this 2D game takes the best attributes from classics such as Castlevania symphony of the night and Metroid (which coined the gameplay term Metroidvania) like collecting power ups, leveling up your character of choice, having to find and collect items to open new areas and fighting that tricky end of level boss. What makes Guacamelee such an enjoyable experience is that it sprinkles modern day gameplay mechanics on an already impressive package which in my eyes pushes this game above all others in this genre. Guacamelee runs at a constant 60fps (frames per second) which means its super smooth without a hint of slow down, it has plenty of save points, the script writing is funny but can be skipt if you find it obtrusive. The gameplay will test your dusty old skills to the max, even on
I would recommend Guacamelee to anyone looking for something a bit different from the annual procession of Fifa or Call of Duty, you
know the people with a gaming soul. 9.5/10 Guacamelee can be bought on PC via steam or on PS Vita/PS3 via Playstation store for under £8. The second game which was originally released on the Nintendo entertainment system (NES) back in the eighties is called DuckTales remastered which follows the adventures of Scrooge Mc Duck (remember him and those other Disney cartoons like Darkwing Dark, Tailspin, Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers and Gummy bears?) Trying to add to his vast fortune with his nephews. Wayforwad has remastered this game for Capcom with some brilliant artwork and all the original voice actors from the cartoon, how some of those actors are alive now is beyond me but thats another article for another day. DuckTales plays much like those classic 2D
side scrolling games like Mario and Sonic the hedgehog but without as much class, if Mario and Sonic are Supermalt and Nourishment respectively then DuckTales is Orangina, you know that drink which you’d never ever ask for but if someone gives you a bottle of it to drink you’ll drink it without any fuss or bother. While looking good and playing fine DuckTales remastered has some strange oddities in it like having to press start then selecting ”skip cut scene” to get pass every lengthy cut scene which wasn’t in the original NES game and after you defeat the final boss Wayforward added a final chase sequence thats so cheap not to mention frustrating that i actually went out of my way to find two random donkeys and gut punched them, thats right donkey lovers now you can write in and complain about my animal cruelty. I do have to give a special mention to the games music which is fantastic across the board for this type of game, especially the moon stage which is a cult classic apparently. So should you buy DuckTales? Well yes and no, at its current price points there are other old school games that give you more for your chump change and its also quite a short game but if you want something nostalgic plus you want a new digital game then you could do worse a lot worse. 6.5/10 DuckTales is available on PC via steam, PS3 via PlayStation store, Wii U via eShop and Xbox Live Arcade for around £11.99
24/7 Food &Drink 24/7Live: Profiles Andrew McIntosh
By Michelle Martin With Caribbean restaurants firmly establishing themselves as an alternative to Indian food on the High Street, there is one chef and restaurant owner whose ultimate goal is to make sure that quality Caribbean dining becomes a firm staple for British diners from all walks of life. And with his eatery continually gaining acclaim from diners and critics alike, he is well on his way to achieving his goal. 24/7Livelistings.com spent an afternoon with award winning Chef, and Cottons CEO Andrew Mcintosh Situated in London’s cosmopolitan Exmouth Market, Cotton’s Restaurant and Rhum Jungle is EC1’s most popular Caribbean hang out. Serving high end Caribbean food, its opulent surroundings boast a regular celebrity clientele, which includes Alisha Dixon, Footballers Jason Roberts and Carlton Cole, Rapper Wretch 32, and Radio 1’s Twin b It’s been described as the ultimate Caribbean dining experience. A restaurant that prides itself on its professionalism and its mouth wateringly good food. Cottons is must for those who love all things Caribbean and would like, for an evening to be transported back to sunnier climes of the West Indies. For Andrew, the dream started as a child. ‘My mother was my first inspiration and instilled in me a love of food’. Said the talented chef ‘She was an incredible cook, I used to watch her in the kitchen and then I started to try and make things. I realised quite early on I had a bit of a knack for cooking and I actually enjoyed it, I found it easy’. He continued ‘it’s funny because I didn’t start off cooking Caribbean food. I wasn’t raised in London so I started on basic English food and some French cuisine’. Then as a teenager Andrew left the leafy suburbs of Kent to take up a role in the Kitchens of one of London’s top hotel restaurants.
‘I started my first shift in a Kitchen at London’s Charing Cross Hotel’ he answers proudly ‘It was my first job, and I loved it I moved to London especially for that job. I thought the restaurant was amazing, I stayed there for a year and then I moved over to the Intercontinental Hotel. Then after a few years I went on to work at some of the celebrity, or what you may call famous restaurants like The Ivy, Le Caprice, Langans Brassiere and The Opera Terrace. The food cooked and served there is traditional British fare’ I got the chance to work under David Cavalear, Gary Holy Head, Chris Calvin, chefs that worked under the famous Chefs!’ He adds laughing ‘In those days there would be like between 20 – 30 chefs in a kitchen so there was a really big team, I enjoyed the whole kitchen scene, it was lots of fun, after work we would all go out together. We all lived together in a staff house in those days you had to go through the system. It took about two years of training in the system to get to head Chef level at a restaurant. Today you can be a head chef at 19 which in my day was virtually impossible’. When talking to Andrew its clear that his love for fine dining and the whole kitchen experience shaped his career, 24/7Livelistings.com ask him why he decided to leave the comforts of a team and go it alone ‘It was always my goal to open up my own restaurant and because my background was mainstream classical food and fine dining I always thought that would have been the path’ he a I would’ve taken. ’ answers the charismatic owner ‘But in 2001 I entered Caribbean Master chef and I won. It opened up a new world of opportunities for me and gave me the confidence and experience to open my own restaurant’ adds the staunch Tottenham Supporter
And with that Cottons Exmouth market was born. Although Caribbean food is now at the fore front of his business, it is clear to see that traditional fine dining still holds a place in the South London resident’s heart and it’s reflective in the answer he gives when asked what his signature dish is. ‘Fine dining is my background and I still enjoy cooking that type of food, I’ve travelled the world cooking it. He answers smiling, ‘My signature dish is King Scallops on a polenta cake with Juiiene Vegetables served with a spice dressing.’ Sounds delicious and very high end. But for now his future lies in Caribbean food. 24/7Livelisings.com asks what is the next step for Andrew McIntosh and what advice would you give to anyone who wants to become a Chef. ‘For me it’s about expansion, that’s my goal for the future’ he answers confidently ‘ And for anyone starting out who is interested in becoming a Chef all I say to them is be dedicated to your craft and do your thing with a bit of imagination and a lot of creativity. As a chef one of the highs of you job is producing a dish that you are really proud of and that people compliment you on. Cottons - Islington 70 Exmouth Market | Islington, London EC1R 4QP For bookings call +44 (0)20 7833 3332 http://www.restaurant-islington.co.uk
24/7OPINION
THE GIRL IS YOURS Swaggerville By Jimmy Swagger Men on this planet out number women on a ratio of something like 1 to 9. Now if you take in to account the number of married, committed, gay and incarcerated men, each man is actually left with a possible pool of *takes out scientific calculator* 45 women. Now I understand very little about gambling but I do know that those are pretty good odds. Also taking into account there are more ”good women” than there are good men (this is based on statistics taken from popular culture mediums such as Terry McMillan books and Beyonce songs), we as men are winning and have every reason to walk tall with confidence in our ability to find and secure a woman who is as good as we would like. Well it would appear that this email didn’t reach all intended recipients, as many of you are not walking tall with confidence, in fact I’m seeing some very twitchy hunch backed behaviour. What am I talking about you ask? There are men out there so insecure in themselves that they physically shackle their women when other men are within the immediate vacinity of her. Actions such as grabbing her hand or throwing an arm securely around her to make sure she is not ’stolen’ from under their noses should they glance away from the nearby ”threat”, are not foreign practice amongst these applicants for male ovary transplants. Generally these actions are accompanied with staring the threat down with an angry look reminiscent of a toddler who doesn’t want to share their Farleys Rusks. Calm down bubba nobody wants your biscuit, actually nobody even noticed her until you
made a very obvious point of her presence and that she is with you. Ripping off your shirt and doing your best psychopath impersonation simply because another man showed your woman attention only serves to show the cracks in your confidence in the relationship you have with the woman in question. Exhibitions of jealousy are not the best way to exhibit your manliness and keep your womans river wet. If anything some of your behaviour can lead to her river running dry. Learn how to take a compliment, if another man shows appreciation for what you have you should take that as a pat on the back. Recently whilst sat in a ”bar” in Miami my eyes took set on what I must say was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in America.
I asked our ”barmaid” to go over and ask if the man with her was her partner or date. Our ”bar maid” came back with bad news that neither of us was convinced by. When the guy got up from the table I went over to the most beautiful woman in America and explained my appreciation for her beauty which she accepted with grace. I then went on to enquire about her relationship status and she confirmed that she was indeed in a very long term relationship with this man. When he came back to the table I introduced myself and explained to him as I had to her about my appreciation of her beauty, to which he laughed and we exchanged a few jokes and clinked glasses. I returned back to my table with the utmost respect for that man (lucky sun of a...) had he behaved like a he-bitch and shown signs of insecurity I probably would have tried to leave with her. Explain to me how you can have the attention of a woman and the opportunity to woo her with all that is you, and instead of wooing you’re worrying about another man that she may not have even noticed let alone see as a better option than your insecure self?
Let’s look at a scenario. You’ve some how managed to exhibit enough confidence to conjour a womans phone number out of her, and during one of your hoping and wishing sessions (also known as late night sales calls) you decide to question her about another man. What is your angle here? Well that becomes clear as your proceed to attempt to poison this mans character in the eyes of this woman. Do you think eliminating the competition is going to get you any closer to the prize? Maybe you should consider that you have now introduced competition to your game. So if you’re not emotionally capable of dealing with the attention a good looking woman receives then I suggest dating bridge trolls, so that it is you and you alone that is attracted to her.
24/7FEATURE Young Kingz’ Are Successful
By Gavin Peters Being able to to bag a top-20 single or album in the UK charts is a dream to many artists. Its even harder if you don’t have commercial appeal o qualities which the ever changing music industry wants. However, South London rappers Krept and Konan have gone against all the odds by released their latest mix-tape which has hit the Uk top-20 charts despite very little promo. When Casyo “Krept” Johnson and Karl “Konan” Wilson released their mixtape Young Kingz at the beginning of this month(september), they had high expectations, but never could have imagined that their mix taped would have reached the heights it did, charting at 19 in the UK Album charts. “A top 50 would have been good,” says Krept. “It was our first proper release for three years, so we just wanted people to like it,” adds Konan. “We didn’t expect it to go so crazy.” They recently told the Guardian Newspaper. Days later that had in fact been informed by their distributors that the album had peaked to number 8 in the midweeks. Even more to their delight was when they looked on iTunes only to see that they were No1 on the hip-hop charts
and No 10 overall, several spaces ahead of Rizzle Kicks. Its seems almost unheard of that having done very little for their campaign that they could have charted so well as an urban act. Many artists tour around the country and target big mainstream radio stations and even make special appearances on major tv shows. They had a little exposure of the mix-tape coming out but only on the smaller non-commercial media platforms which included You Tube, Charlie Sloth on 1xtra, and websites such as SBTV AND RWD. “Six weeks lead up, no radio, no TV, no press; just two net videos.” Krept added. Having no record label behind them to control what they do, the duo took it upon themselves to create their own momentum for the mix-tape. Social media became a contributing factor to their success. “We dominate online,” says Konan, proudly listing YouTube views in the millions. “We’ve mastered it. Twitter, Instagram and Facebook is what’s sold this mixtape. We’ve also had a lot of Twitter support from artists like Wretch 32.”
“Labels rinse two or three singles and by the time the album comes out months later, everyone has moved on to the next thing.” Konan told The Guardian. The pair first met as Teenagers in 1999, when they began rapping. Their first mix-tape Tsunami was released in 2010 sold 2,000 copies with an estimated 6,000 illegal downloads. Amazingly their cover of the Jay Z and Kanye West hit Otis, got an incredible 5million views. So confident with their brand they even set up their own clothing line Play dirty.
held next month in Glasgow. They have also announced will be doing a headlined show at Islington Academy this October, As they are moving in the right direction its fair to say that they will be gaining support from fans but industry support alike. Big things are yet to come from the duo, I for one come wait to see what they will do next. YOUNG KINGZ is out now.
A pivotal point in one of the duos lives was On 1st July 2011 was when a masked gunmen had burst into the family house of Konan, which resulted in his mother getting shot in the leg and step-father being murdered trying to protect his family. Konan talked about constantly looking over his shoulder not knowing who was responsible. “I knew I had to find something to distract me and the only thing I knew that wasn’t negative was music.” he told the Guardian. Despite their ups and downs the pair are on the rise and have also been nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBO awards, which are
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24/7FEATURE
VISUAL INSIGHT INTO LONDON FASHION
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24/7FEATURE THE SNEAKER PIMP: Nike Air Jordans
By Grant Richards Why is Jordan Brand as popular as it is? No, seriously, I’m asking you? What is it about this brand that on its own, can sit beside Nike, pretty much as a standalone brand in itself? Why is it people will go out rocking an outfit, copped wholesale, from Primark, but as long as they’re rocking some fresh ‘Breds’ (that’s Black & Reds for the uninitiated) then everything is alright in the world? Why is it that guys are swerving the CSA and paying their Baby Momma, just so they can get some new colourway of AJIVs from Footlocker? I could keep listing these questions that seemingly show minimal rationality. People have queued for days, robbed, maimed and even killed to get their grubby little mitts on some Air Jordans. Yes, some of that happens with other sneaker releases, but none as feverish as upon Jordan releases. Let’s go back a bit and touch briefly on the history of Michael Jordan and his wonderful shoes. Initially MJ wore Converse (who incidentally are now owned by Nike) and wanted to sign to Adidas (the mind boggles as to where we’d be now if he had?) but he eventually signed for the brand with the swoosh and the first Air Jordan was debuted in 1985. Every time Jordan stepped onto the court in this original red and black colourway he was fined USD5000, as the shoes broke NBA rules, in not having any white on them.
Maybe there’s something in this, right at the start of the brands existence. Perhaps owning a pair of AJs, mean that you are happy to give it the deuces to the status quo? Fight The Power!! Before drafting this piece I did some research and actual study papers exist relating to this topic. I ploughed through a twenty one page dissertation entitled ‘Cultural Meaning and Hip-Hop Fashion in the African-American Youth Sub-Culture of New Orleans’ and it offers up a variety of ideas as to why certain individuals choose certain trainers and fashion. Admittedly it is only a snap shot of one territory in the USA, however it touches on things that make sense, well to me
anyway. To simplify the study, it states that rocking certain creps give you an identity. You’ve got Jordans on and fellow Jordan wearers see you and without saying a word, you are part of the same crew. I’m not sure if I’m totally buying that 100%, but there is definitely something in it. Now I’m going to touch on the offkey elements. Why are people getting robbed of AJs? Why are people queuing outside retailers for limited edition offerings? Coz these sneakers cost bucks! Not only do they cost GBP135 at retail, they can command a very healthy increase at resale on the dreaded eBay. I say dreaded, I’ve been using eBay to cop my creps for over ten years, however this is where resellers (and scammers) make a pretty penny. You’d be hard pushed to go and buy some ‘safe’ shares (eg the ones that don’t fluctuate massively) and make a return on them, as you would make in buying some new Jordans, keeping them on ice for a while and then peddling them on eBay. It’s all about the Benjamins. What about actually looking at the designs themselves? The first two AJs, that not many owned, especially in the UK, had been designed by Peter Moore. It was then at the AJIII when legendary Nike designer Tinker Hatfield came in and things started to look dramatically different and the shoe started to spread to a wider market. Possibly partly to do with Michael Jordan’s stock rising, but also the fact that the III, IV and V looked like something you’d never seen before. I actually remember where I was when I first saw a pair of AJIVs. I was with my folks on a summer holiday in Hastings, for those itching to know. For me the AJIV is the most iconic shoe from the whole range. The scene in ‘Do The Right Thing’ where the fresh AJs get scuffed up, plays through my mind every time some fool, steps on my creps. For the main shoe in the collection, we are up to AJXX8 (that’s
how they list them, it’s not me being lazy with my roman numerals) and there are countless spin offs, including the Spiz’ikes which are a hybrid of various AJs and are dedicated to Spike Lee who done more for the brand, than just scuff them up in one of his films. OK, they look good, but so do many other trainers out there. I’ll never unearth the sole reason (pun intended) for why Jordan Brand is still so powerful, in sales, on the streets and on the basketball courts, but I’ll leave you with a quote I came across on www.rollingout.com from Terry Shropshire from 2011 that could be deemed as slightly controversial “People who clamor and fight to buy shoes they can’t afford, which is endorsed by a man whom has never shown interest in his own community, is the apex of stupidity, insanity and, yes, depravity.” An interesting perspective to ponder perhaps?
24/7FEATURE
BASEBALL BROUGHT TO LIFE
By Michelle Martin For many us in the UK Baseball is seen as primarily an American sport. A close cousin of British playground favourite rounders it’s something that we care not to understand or even play. But its history and one man’s in role the sport played a pivotal part in the Civil Rights Movement, which shaped the country’s past, present and future. This month see’s the general release the big budget film 42. It tells the story of the legendary baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Whose stand against racism and prejudice changed attitudes, thinking and the law in America through the game of Baseball.\\ It’s a thought provoking look at life and the struggles he faced by being the first ever African American Baseball player. Starring The Express star Chadwick Boseman and Oscar winner Harrison Ford, the film is also a beautiful love story with stand out performances from Boseman and his onscreen wife Rachel played by Nicole Beharie.
Actor Chadwick Boseman who assumes the role of Robinson speaks exclusively to 247Livelistings.com and tells us how he felt about portraying the legendary sportsman, working with Harrison ford and a strange dish he tried when he studying here in the UK. ‘It was overwhelming to be offered the part of such a an iconic figure’ admitted the star during our transatlantic call ‘ I was really nervous especially at first I talked to his family and I started to do research on him and his life and it became my goal to make him a human being because and at the time he did not what he was going to become a baseball and civil rights’. Set in America in the 1940’s the film charts a very pivotal part of Jackie Robinsons life, when he first got signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers and his burgeoning relationship which resulted in the marriage of the true of his life Rachel. 42 unashamedly showed what life was like for African Americans at that time.\ The of the N word prevalent throughout the film and sometimes makes for uncomfortable viewing. I ask Boseman if he thought it was
right for the N word to be used so in the film ‘Yes’, he answers without hesitation, ‘I don’t think you can tell a story about that time period and the injustices that African Americans faced You know you cant tell a story about this subject matter without using that word.I think it was not only important to use it but I think it was a good teaching tool. A lot of parents have talked to me about showing the film to their kids and explaining to them this is what life was like at that time and this is what this word means. I think it had to be used as there was no other way to do the movie’. The Film boasts a stellar cast which includes, Harrison Ford. Former Law and Order SVU star Chris Meloni, and Miracle at St Anna star Andre Holland, 24/Livelisting’s ask him what it was like to work with some Hollywood’s finest actors ‘It was an amazing experience’, answers the Atlanta Braves fan ‘making the film was very tiring because there was a lot of physical and emotional stuff. it was very draining but I woke up buzzing with excitement every single day for two reasons, one, I was playing Jackie Robinson and 2, I was working with Harrison Ford’. He continued, ‘it was just really exciting, he
was real cool, it was just a warm experience and he was a funny guy and he was really good at what he does I loved working him. During his training Boseman studied at the prestigious British American Drama Academy at Oxford and for that the playwright admits that the UK holds special place in his heart. ‘Oxford was where I first the possibility of me really acting opened up, I was directed and writing before I got to the UK, It was here that I first started acting’ Although he loved his time in the UK one thing he was not a fan of was, was British food. Er you know what the food was not my favourite thing’, he admits [Laughing] ‘but I did like some beef custard? You know what im talking about?’ he asks Baffled I admit that I have never heard of that concoction and it doesn’t even sound British, I ask him if he has made a mistake again he laughs and answers ‘No I’m telling they was trying to mix some crazy dishes, but I did try fish and chips, that was fine, I guess I can give y’all credit for fish and chips and some really good Indian food, but I what I was looking for. I knew that there was some Caribbean soul spots but I never found them.” 42 is currently showing is cinemas across the country
24/7FITNESS By Gavin Peters
With autumn looming upon us- it is hard to stay on the incentive of keeping fit and staying healthy. we here at 24/7 live have come up with a few healthy ways in which you can keep on track and not worry about post summer health regimes.
BROCOLLI Eating your broccoli is a good idea. This green, hearty, tasty vegetable is rich in dozens of nutrients. In fact, it packs the most nutritional punch of any vegetable. Broccoli is usually boiled or steamed but may be eaten raw and has become popular as a raw vegetable in hors d’œuvre trays. Benefits -Broccoli is high in vitamin C and dietary fiber; it also contains multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties -Beta-carotene and vitamin C are important antioxidants -calcium source for those who don’t consume dairy products. -is said to have properties to fight Arthritis ORANGES
vitamin C, oranges make the perfect snack and add a special tang to many recipes; it is no wonder that they are one of the most popular fruits in the world. Benefits -Juicy and sweet and renowned for its concentration of vitamin C, oranges make the perfect snack and add a special tang to many recipes; it is no wonder that they are one of the most popular fruits in the world -a single orange provides 12.5% of the daily value for fiber -pectin, which is very effective in persons with excess body weight. Pectin, by its action as a bulk laxative -Oranges also contain very good levels of vitamin A, and other flavonoid antioxidants such as alpha and betacarotenes.
Juicy and sweet and renowned for its concentration of
Training Tips for Autumn... Dress for the weather. When weather gets cooler, it can deter people from going outside to workout. This problem can be mediated by wearing wind-shielding clothing and dressing in layers.
Drink water People often feel less thirsty when it is not hot outside, but staying hydrated is just as important in the fall as it is when the sun a blazing down. Water will help your body stay energized longer.
Exercise earlier Try to work out in the morning or during the day. With the time changing and it becoming darker earlier, it can feel as if it is later in the day than it really is. This can make people more tired than usual. Get into a routine of working out early Fuel your body Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, to keep your energy levels up and your body functioning at its optimum.
TO HELP YOU KEEP A BALANCED DIET TRY USING THIS CHART AS A GUIDE TO AID YOUR DIET >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
*Always seek medical advice before undertaking any physical activites- especially if you are just starting.
24/7 SPORTS PREDICTIONS: FOOTBALL PREMIERSHIP ROUND-UP 2013/14
Worst signing Andre Schrulle. Cost ÂŁ18 million when Chelsea have better players who play in that position. The money spent on Schrulle could have been used to strengthen other parts of the squad. Wasteof Money.
By Andy Peters
Who goes down Aston villa, Crystal Palace, Hull City Players to Watch Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Ross Barkley (Everton). Both up and coming talents making their presence known, as a result guaranteeing starting line ups for both their clubs. Both plays have full international caps.
Who stays up Sunderland, Norwich, West Brom
Best signing Mezut Ozil. Full German International and still only 24. Most Assists last season for his team at national and international level. Was Real Madrid second best player and cost Arsenal only ÂŁ42 million in the last transfer window.
Best Manager Arsene Wenger. Worst Manger Manuel Pelligrini 42
European Spots Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool are the 3 main title contenders fighting for a champions league spot. Arsenal may have an advantage over the other two contenders as both teams have virtually new squads and spurs star man has been sold. Liverpools star man Suarez is on a ban which could turn out to be costly
Team To Watch Liverpool. They have an up and coming youthful team with plenty of talent.
Top Goal Scorer Luis Suarez would have been favourites because of his performances last season, but as he misses the first few games due to a ban this could pave the way for Robin Van Persie andOlivier Giroud.
Title Race Although Manchester united won the title last season it is the first time in two decades they have started the season campaign with a new manager. Likewise with rival clubs Manchester City and Chelsea have also started wit new managers so it will be interesting to see what happens and how each team adapts.
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24/7REMEMBERS BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL:
MOTOWN
By Michelle Martin In 1959 Auto- worker and songwriter Berry Gordy Junior had a vision. His dream was build a musical empire that revolutionise the industry, creating quality music groups and solo artist. he envisioned an establishment where ‘a kid could walk in door an unknown off the street and come out a polished performer.’ Born in 1929, Berry Gordy, Jr. was the seventh of Berry Gordy, Sr. and Bertha Fuller Gordy’s eight children. He tried many careers—boxing, record store ownership, assembly line worker and a tour in the U. S. Army during the Korean War—until he found a niche in the world of entertainment. but music was his true love.
taking on various administrative roles within the organisation. But with the success of Hitsville USA, Berry wanted more, he wanted a distinctive fuller sound with overtures of Gospel, but cleaned up with a pop flavour, that would appeal to black and white record buyers.
A gifted songwriter, He first came to prominence when he penned the Jackie Wilson classic Reet Petitie and setting up the Jobete Music Publishing Company. but Gordy wanted more so with a family loan, Gordy rented an eight room, two story house in Detroit. for several years, this location, the first headquarters and studio would become known as ‘Hitsville USA’.
So in 1960 The Motown Corporation was born. The first act signed to the Motown Label was a male harmony group called the miracles whose lead singer was a certain William ‘Smokey’ Robinson, from then on Berry went to sign Diana Ross and the
It was very much a family affair, with members helping out by
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impact.‘Into the ‘60s, I was still not of a frame of mind that we were not only making music, we were making history. But I did recognize the impact because acts were going all over the world at that time. I recognized the bridges that we crossed, the racial problems and the barriers that we broke down with music. I recognized that because I lived it. I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audiences would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands’ By the 70’s Motown moved to LA this was aimed at them branching out into the motion picture industry and they did so by turning out two Vehicles with Billie Holiday biographical film, The Lady Sings Blues and Mahogany both starring Diana Ross.
Supremes , The Four Tops, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Ruffin, the Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandella’s, Sam Cooke, and many more.
The Label still had a number of successful signings including Lionel Richie and the Commodores, Rick James, Teena Marie, The Dazz Band and the Group Debarge. By the 90’s Motown was home to some of the era’s most successful artist such as Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, 702, Brian McKnight and Erykah Badu.
After years at the helm of Motown Records, Berry took the role of board chairman, allowing the younger generation an True to his vision, Berry invested considerable time and thought opportunity into polishing Motown performers. The Artist Development Depart- to lead the company into a new era. He sold the company in ment taught them how to sit, stand and speak with elegance, and 1988 and Motown was absorbed into the Universal group act with refinement—no matter the setting. Their performance and the final artist signed to the label was A Tribe Called “uniforms” and choreography were the envy of street-corner singers Quest Founder Member Q Tip, who released of his solo offerand competing vocal groups everywhere. ing The Reneissance. Motown Specialized in a type of soul music it referred to with The Same year Berry Gordy, Jr. was inducted into the Rock the trademark ‘the Motown’ sound, a sound which typically used and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as the founder and helmsman tambourines to accent the back beat prominent and often melodic of the Motown musical empire. electric bass guitar lines. Pop productions techniques such as the use of orchestral string sections, charted hen sections and carefully arranged background vocals were also used. melismatic vocals rtfs were avoided believed steadfastly in the Kiss principle (keep it stupid, stupid). This musical phenomenon garnered widespread popularity amongst black and white audiences alike arguably breaking down barriers and assisting in the civil rights moment that was calling for change in 1960’s America. Veteran musician Smokey Robinson said of Motown’s cultural
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