IN THIS ISSUE:
Introducing CRUSH MODEL e-MAGAZINE Anita Baker @ DPAC Fresh Music Festival @ PNC 2012 Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival Summer Music Festival feature: Maze f/ Frankie Beverly, Patti Labelle, O’Jays, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Tank Urban Hangover Vegas Get-Away 2012
Blackopps Entertainment LLC is proud to announce that we are adding to our digital publications. We have received numerous requests and inquiries into providing an even larger platform for seasoned or up and coming Models, Photographers and everyone in the fashion Industry who would like to showcase their talents. It is our hope that this new endeavor has quenched that thirst for Fashion Forward Photography, Sophistication and Couture.
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Contributing Writers
BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT
KIEACHANEL
LEAH ROBINSON
MONICA DAYE
EBONY BURROUGHS
GREGORY DEVONN
TERENCE MERRITT
E-Magazine www.blackopps.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Damien Prout CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Audretta Hall, Noella Fe, Ebony Burroughs, Monica Daye, Gregory DeVon, Terrence Merritt STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sierra Jackson, Toya Merritt and Damien Prout FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Diamond District Photography
TABLE OF CONTENT Cover Story……....………………...……..….12 What Makes A Man Love………......……….18 Black Men VS Therapy..............…………….20 Blackopps Summer Madness...……………..22 Through My Lens…………………………...40 New Edition 43rd Annual Bimbe Festival
Blackopps Entertainment is an internet based marketing firm that specializes in Urban Entertainment Events. We are the premiere source for urban entertainment events and information in the Carolinas. Www.Blackopps.com Email: info@Blackopps.com
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Patti LaBelle, The O'Jays, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, and special guest Tank
Saturday July 21 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Charlotte, NC
COVER STORY -
Leah Robinson
The Fresh Music Festival is a tour featuring some of the hottest R&B Groups of all time. The Artist line up includes performances from: Keith Sweat, SWV, K-CI & JOJO, Guy and is hosted by none other than Doug E. Fresh. The Tour is expected to hit North Carolina at the Greensboro Coliseum on May 27th . I was fortunate to speak with JoJo from KC & JoJo to find out how it was going and this is what he had to say...
BOE: JoJo how are the prepar JOJO: “Hot!!! I haven’t seen stage again”.
BOE: Is there any destination o
JOJO: There isn’t one particu and give my fans something dif BOE: How did you feel when
JOJO: When Brandon first as waiting to give but was always plained how the fans will be im cial effects.
BOE: You and your brother ha near future?
JOJO: We would love to come waiting to for the right opportun
rations for the tour going for you so far? some of these artists in 15 years; so it is a pleasure to be here with them on
on the tour that you are excited about performing at?
ular destination that I’m excited about, I am just happy to be able to perform fferent. first approached with the opportunity?
sked I said “What?�, this is the kind of performance that we groups have been s turned down. It is more than a show it is more like a production. He then exmpressed by not only the stage setup, but with the acts, the lighting and the spe-
ave been dropping hits after hits since 1994. Can we expect anything new in the
e out with something new, however the industry is so different now and we are nity and person to make sure that everything will flow smoothly.
BOE: Is there anything that
JOJO: Don’t let anyone tell
BOE: Who has insipred you
JOJO: God of course he in were both gospel singers so
BOE: Anything else that yo
JOJO: We are working har dedication by putting on som
We would like to thank JoJo an their busy touring schedule to about seeing this electrifying c Done Communications for work By: Leah Robinson
Be sure to check out the FRESH June 23
Fayetteville, N
June 30th
Raleigh, NC
July 1st
Charlotte, NC
you would like to say to anyone afraid to pursue their dreams?
l you that you don’t have it, keep pushing and pushing for your dreams.
ur love and passion for music?
nspires me with everything that I do. Also my parents because my mom and dad me and my siblings grew up singing.
ou would like to say to your fans?
rd to give you the performance of a lifetime; to show our appreciation and mething New & Hot!
nd his management team for taking time of our o grant us this interview. We are very excited concert tour. We would also like to thank It Is king with us to make this interview happen.
H MUSIC FESTIVAL TOUR DATES:
NC
Crown Coliseum PNC Arena Time Warner Cable Arena
tionships can bring and will you last that will come?
Let me break it down a little further f
have to tell a white lie like “Yes baby
there are times you need to tell the tr
Daddy”. But all in all do not lie to a m number one ladies!!! Everything you
point in time as we all know. So stop
by a man that you are into right? W you do not respect him as a real man. There are avenues to success and there are many avenues to failure.
The other is will she stand by my side
For those women that really want to have a man in her life she should
statement. Standing by a man’s side i
follow these few words in order to be successful and not fail when in
good and bad. It is when you see him
search of that why do I not have a man?
can be very good or bad. Make him fe
ing and what you two are doing togeth First ladies men are not looking for their mother! Really they are not. Real men are not looking also. They are paying attention to you and yes he may be into you, but he is really seeking to find the person that
ing up and knowing he is right there a
level of success in his life and you sup
him he will be there for you, but that i
you are inside before making that plunge of getting to know you. Now what are men looking for in a true mate? One is she truthful? Two will
Last and always as part of a real man
she stand by me and three how will she reacts when pressure hits in
are hard. I’m not just talking about lo
our lives? Because you and I know that there will be times that life
on when both of you have changed th
tests you and your relationship. So can you stand the pain that rela-
ship. The so called spark has left and
When you know his habits, his ways,
t through the hardship and the rain
not coming home at ten because he is out with that one person you do not like…..(his boy). I’m not talking about when he gets up earlier in
for you. There are times that you may
y I like calling you Big Daddy”. Then
ruth “No I do not like calling you Big
man that you want in your life. That’s lie about comes to the light at some
p it! You do not want a lie told to you
Well he takes offense to that and that
e? To give you more I will define this
is not just being there when times are needing you to up lift him and times
eel more positive about what he is do-
her. Standing by a man’s side is wak-
and needs that push to get to the next
pply that support. As you are there for
is when you are with a real man. is how you will you react when times
ost of job and income. I am speaking
hroughout the course of the relationyou’re in the sixth to twelfth month.
, his manner’s, when you know he is
the morning cooks, cleans, and then says going to play ball and I’ll be back…..but he will be back after the games and the chilling out time with his boys. I mean the times you know his true colors and cannot stand some of his ways but you know he is the man you want from the front room to the bedroom. He is your dream man! The one you know you were always seeking to be next to. Your Real Man! Cont’ next month!
By Terrence Merritt
While on the road of therapy it has been discovered that our brothers seem to be the ones who will avoid sons why a man acts so guarded and secretive is a question that has been swirling in the minds of women be a man” is very true but when that man can’t express himself and communicate effectively that poses really afraid of??? Yes I said afraid because that’s exactly what it is… Do you fear being exposed? Does unknown “head doctor” all up in your business scare you? Or is the real question because you have the fe general don’t ask for help and especially within the black community.
the entire notion the most. The reafor decades. The saying “let a man s a problem. What it is that you are s the mere fact of not wanting some ear of asking for help? Most men in
Ladies have you ever been lost with your man? Sitting quietly while you pass that same street over and over again wishing he would stop and ask for help? Yes!!! And how frustrating is that? What you men don’t realize is that asking for help creates ways to make you a stronger man not weaker. It seems as if that nasty old pride you all hold onto like bulldogs to a chew toy is a HUGE part of it. If we really want to get technical how many of you men can say you go to the doctor on a regular basis? I’ll wait……………. It’s not until you absolutely have no other choice and nine times out of ten it’s driven by a female influence whether you want to agree or not. You have to be strongly encouraged by a woman who finds creative tactics into coercing you to see someone who can what? HELP YOU!!! This isn’t the way to go. Men hold so much inside that therapy is at times better for them then for women. The weight of the world is resting on their shoulders and this really can be an easy fix by simply speaking with someone who can be that emotional outlet in ways that will not judge or make you feel as if you are less than a man or simply put ”soft”. Barbershop talk on a Saturday afternoon does not count as therapy!! Just sayin… Did you know therapy allows for better communication and to see situations in a different light from an educated resource that has no prior knowledge about you. So why shun away from an added value to potentially extend your lifespan, make important life decisions or allow for you to speak from your heart in a way you never knew you could? We all operate through effective communication and if you feel the need to keep your emotions bottled up inside and not at least take the opportunity to explore the thought of therapy and how it can help you it can lead to you missing out on something good for the soul. Think about it!!! Till Next Month
~KieaChanel~
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VIP TICKET PACKAGE TO SEE
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