Blackopps Entertainment November 2011 Edition by Blackopps Entertainment

A CIA 1 1 20 LL TBA O S FO ION P M CHA

IN THIS ISSUE: AGGIE/EAGLE FOOTBALL CLASSIC CHRISTMAS WITH AARON NEVILLE @ The Carolina Theatre CHRISETTE MICHELE @ The Carolina Theatre DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES @ DPAC O’JAYS @ DPAC KENNY G @ DPAC BILL COSBY @ DPAC BLACKOPPS PHOTO ALBUM NOVEMBER 2011 EDITION

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Contributing Writers

BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT

AUDRETTA

NOELLA

HALL

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

MONICA

EBONY

DAYE

BURROUGHS

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sierra Jackson, Toya Merritt and Damien Prout FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Diamond District Photography GREGORY

TERENCE

DEVONN

MERRITT

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

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From: The Staff & Management of BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT

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TABLE OF CONTENT Blackopps Photo Album…………………………………...……………..6

Self, Sex and Relationships Part II.………………………………………24

Faith As A Verb…………………………………………………………..30

Blackopps Beauty of the Month………………………………………….32

In Tha Booth With - Ashley Mar Shell…………………………………..36

Blackopps Night Life…………………………………………………….40

Shop @ Blackopps.com………………………………………………….5442

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Introducing….

Mr. Terence Merritt BIO…..My

name is Terence Merritt. I am located in the Marietta, GA area. I taught college for over three years here in Atlanta. I am a strong believer of self help and I believe in the sharing of knowledge and conducting research in my chosen fields.

I have a novel out on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble called “Their Backs against the Wall”. I feel that a person is at his or her best when they are being tested by GOD, or life. I believe that you have to love you first. If you do not then I feel no one else will.

have been in the Army for six years. I have been a manager and leader in the world of auto dealerships. I have seen Germany twice, Japan, Korea, London, Greece Spain, Italy, and some Islands here on this coast. I am a people person and have been able to assist others in making sound judgment calls on their life. I really believe that I will achieve. I have to achieve and GOD has given me the talent and skills to achieve and if you follow me I can show to achieve.

Now such as time continues to roll forward I have made mistakes. Let me show you where I went wrong and lead you to not repeat the mistakes that I have. GOD first then You because at the end of the day it is just all you.

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Terence Merritt NOVEMBER 2011 EDITION

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Terence Merritt Self, Sex, Relationship Part II Last month I ended the article with you taking time out of your day once a month. To get away from the kids, your mate, your love interest, your friends, your family and get into you. This is all about finding yourself, who you are and the people that are in your life. Looking at self is never an easy job and at times may require us to hit “reset” in an effort to break the cyclic mistakes within our lives. This method is not the same as pressing restart on your laptop, as that only returns us to where we left off once we rebooted. So many challenges are a part of our days and lives that we as individuals feel overwhelm. This is the reason to go find you and for this we need to look into the most important people in our lives. Many may think that it is family. But truly we talk and associate more with our so called friends and associates more than our own family.

within your life to enhance it, make sure they are not there to harm it either. GOD has placed people in our lives for a reason, a season or a life time. Where do they fit in or do they fit in at all in your life time? I recall when I had just graduated from college and only had enough gas to return home. I stopped at a restaurant and decided to get a cup of coffee in preparation for the long drive on I-95 North. When I walked in, I noticed an older man sitting on a stool. He looked at me and inquired of my destination. I informed the gentleman that I was on my way home. He asked how far I had to go. The waitress then arrived with my coffee and he asked me to sit and have breakfast with him. He told the waitress to give me anything that I wanted, and he gave her a twenty dollar bill. He then told me that if I didn’t utilize the entire $20 in that sitting that I could have the change. He then smiled and we talked for at least two hours about life. I shared with him all that was going on in my life at that time.

As we become older and wiser we find that friendships can be a great addition to our lives or a possible hindrance in our personal development. Many times those that are closest to us may very well be those that seek to hold us back. With that I want you to know that there is nothing wrong with evaluating their intent. The word friend has become a word used loosely and has lost its meaning. If you want to know how to find out if a person is a friend to you do a quick look at your relationship with that person. Ask questions of yourself like when was the last time they came to see you when you where down? How often has this person had their hands out for help from you and it’s not reciprocal when you need help? When was the last time, or at any time, has this person done something for you solely out of the kindness in their heart? Today I want you to go forth and re-analyze your life and those that are close to it. If they are not - 28 - BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT

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I shared with you this short story because GOD knew that I was very hungry, and he brought this man in my life to feed me; not just for nourishment but food for my life as well. He was there for a reason and that reason has remained with me for a life time. In closing if you are not surrounding yourself with friends that nourish your mind, body and soul, my suggestion is to reevaluate their purpose in your life. Remember that GOD places people in our lives for a reason, a season, or a life time. Ask yourself which category are you in your friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lives or to which category are they in yours? When you value Self, the answers become clear.

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I f f c th th r f s th th

F ti G n a th c e G

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Faith as a Verb

I once read an article that described fear as an absence of faith, suggesting that if you experience fear, you have no faith. I disagree. When researching the word faith I discovered that it is, in the New Testament, a translation of he Greek word pistis, which has much greater meaning han to strongly believe. Pistis implies complete trust and reliance in God. If we apply these definitions to the word faith, it is reasonable to deduce that to have faith requires some action on our part; To trust and rely on God. So to he article's definition, I define faith as the ability to act in he face of uncertainty and/or fear.

For many, an absence of faith isn't the equivalent to quesioning the existence of God, but instead is the insecurity in God's active presence one's life. For the believer and the non-believer, I submit that an absence of faith says more about you, than it does about God. My personal belief is hat God is always present, but maybe the faithless are too consumed by their situation or circumstance to accept that even in the fray of things, when things seem their bleakest, God is still in it with us.

Lastly, faith doesn't really have anything to do with things working out in a way we might consider, for the best. I have a coworker who's caring for a grandmother with stage 6 Alzheimer's and finds herself questioning whether or not her prayers are wasted because she has always prayed for her grandmother to be healed. The thing is, that's not really how faith works, in my opinion. To me, being able to endure the difficulty of a thing is faith at work. Not knowing how you manage to go to school, take care of kids, take care of a sick family member, work full time, and still manage not to down a bottle of sleeping pills to escape it all is faith in action. The disenfranchised minority taking on the powerful majority is faith in action.

The lesson is that faith is actionable. There is definitely a time to wait but often times, God creates opportunity where we should act on our own behalf as much as possible, be purposeful, and allow God to guide us from within. God can do... and does, through us because we are all threads of Him (or Her).

What might be more important than knowing and acceptng the presence of God, is the idea that God isn't this exernal, intangible, vapor. Well, I guess in some ways God s just that, but God is also reflected in you. This is where our religion stops short in the totality of what it is to beieve, but that's another installment of documented thought all together. The point is, we are all pieces of the divine puzzle and God, in all his (or her) omnipotence, is in us. I submit if one can somehow be comfortable with the idea hat God exists within, maybe faith in the most difficult of imes is a little easier to hang on to. For me, the knowledge that my God and myself are one, without even rying, helps me navigate life a little better, because if God s in me, then I must have everything I need to succeed and endure. In this total acceptance, my prayers are more of a realignment and solidification of the actual relationship nstead of asking for some type of miracle intervention of sorts. NOVEMBER 2011 EDITION

Ebony M. Burroughs Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. ---Booker T. Washington

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The Blackopps Entertainment BEAUTY OF THE MONTH

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NC born and bred, Ashley Mar Shell bombarded NC’s local music industry on release of her debut EP “Not That Girl” (iTunes avail. Prod- Conscious, Mix-C ous knack for self-promotion, undeniable grind, and a genuine support for o Ashley created a remarkable buzz, and the streets watched in awe as her f opportunities rushed in. With hits like “Call me Up” (Which debuted on K9 catchy tune that invades your membrane, and “Not That Girl” a tribute to w ships, and her latest single “Witch Vodka?” (Official SoundVision video avail has the ability to appeal to the masses through crafty relatable lyrics and s natural beauty, business wits, and a demanding presence, Ashley Mar Shell is reckoned with. From promotion and event hosting, to organizing independen signer showcases, and most recently scoring a movie role, Ashley Mar Shell with brains to match, running full speed on the road to success. Official Site http://ashleymarshell.kabalmusic.com/ Call Me Up http://youtu.be/p6xs87zKvGQ Witch Vodka http://youtu.be/UL4hRp6kfJs Drake's Marvin’s Room cover by Ashley Mar Shell and Syd'Mo. http://youtu.be/-vbe2A890hY (Explicit Lyrics) Facebook- www.facebook.com/ashley.m.shell ReverbNation- http://www.reverbnation.com/ashleymarshell Twitter- @ASongBirdTweets YouTube- Ashley Mar Shell For booking, collaborations, etc. contact Christina Mial @ Ashleymarshell@gmail.com - 38 - BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT

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nly 8 months ago with the Chaka Harley). With a seriother independent artists’, fan base skyrocketed and 97.5’s 919Radio in July), a women in abusive relationon YouTube), A. Mar Shell soothing vocals. Dipped in s an irrefutable force to be nt artists’ and fashion deis a true NC Prima Donna

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We provide an e

Clubs, Plays, Concerts,

Be sure to tell your frien on Black

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extensive listing of

, Parties, Trips and More.

nds, you found your event kopps.com

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B LACKOPPS

ENTERTAINME

N OVEMB Sun

Mon

Tue

29Aaron Neville

30Christte M

To add your event info to the Blackopps Enterta - 42 - BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT

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NT CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BER

2011

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

4First Friday

19Aggie/Eagle Classic

NC State Homecoming 24 THANKSGIVING 25

NC State Homecoming

Michele

ainment Calendar send to: info@Blackopps.com NOVEMBER 2011 EDITION

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KENNY G HOLIDAY TOUR COMING TO DPAC, DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The biggest-selling instrumental musician of all-time, smooth jazz saxophonist Kenny G brings his much anticipated Holiday Tour to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center on December 15, 2011. Tickets go on sale now!!! Online at DPACnc.com DPAC Ticket Center: 919.680.2787, 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC Ticketmaster.com / Ticketmaster Charge by phone at 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster outlets including Crabtree Valley Mall Tickets start at $39*. Friends of DPAC members may place their orders on Thursday, July 28th. Joining the Friends of DPAC is free, and you can register at www.DPACnc.com/friendofdpac. Fans should check local listings for updated tour and ticketing information. "Kenny G is truly an artist whose sound is perfectly matched for the keen acoustics of DPAC," said Bob Klaus GM of DPAC. "The holidays are always special at DPAC and we think this new addition to our December line-up will be a real treat." Kenneth Gorelick, better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American saxophonist whose fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986. Kenny's main instrument is the soprano saxophone, but he also plays the alto and tenor saxophone and the flute on occasion. A phenomenally successful instrumentalist whose recordings make the pop charts, Kenny G's sound has been a staple on adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio stations since the mid-'80s, making him a household name. Kenny G is a fine player with an attractive sound (influenced a bit by Grover Washington, Jr.) who often caresses melodies, putting a lot of emotion into his solos. Because he does not improvise much (sticking mostly to predictable melody statements), his music largely falls outside of jazz. However, because he is listed at the top of "contemporary jazz" charts and is identified with jazz in the minds of the mass public, he is classified as jazz. Kenny G is the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era, with global sales totaling more than 75 million albums. In 1994, Kenny G won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition for "Forever in Love" He has established the Kenny G Miracles Foundation to raise money for music charities. His holiday concert promises to be another unforgettable evening that DPAC is famous for. For further information please go to www.kennyg.com. DPAC's upcoming lineup includes Maze featuring Frankie Beverly (Aug 19). For more information about these and all DPAC shows please visit www.dpacnc.com.

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Dereon (eFashion Solutions) Warrior One Dress (2416) You are the one. One shoulder draped piece at chest leads to shirred side seams for an extra flattering fit on this dress. Lurex logo embroidery rests at upper center back.

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Dereon (eFashion Solutions) Broken Hearted Dress (4267) A timeless classic! Sexy sleeveless dress features a double v-neckline, patent studded shoulder detail and rouched detailing at side-seams

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Dereon (eFashion Solutions) Spread My Wings Baby Terry Hoody Dress (3708) Dress to impress. Trendy hoody dress features a stud embellished notch lapel leading to an asymmetrical zip front closure and a lurex embroidered logo at left 3/4 length sleeve. Ribbed detailing at cuffs and lower body

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Isabella Jacket (2148) This lovely layer adds a touch of preppy glam to your look. Short sleeve jacket with hidden hood, thick drawstrings, zip front closure, and side snap pockets. Embellished glitter design with embroidered lurex logo detailing accents left chest and upper back. Thick banded hem

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) The Misfits Hoody (8997) Good girls go bad in this Misfits Hoody. Sequined interior of hood with metallic drawstrings leads to a deep v-neck accented by flocked, print, and sequined repeat signature pattern on right chest. Rays of sequins make way to matching graphic adorning backside. Features a shirred high waist, half zip placket, and kangaroo pocke

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Striped Sweater (6562) Stand out in stripes. Long sleeve sweater features an allover striped pattern and a v-neckline leading to an off-centered button front closure. Details include a logo pendant at left chest, front scoop pockets as well as ribbing at collar, cuffs and hem.

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Rocawear Sweater (6560) Stunning in studs. Long sleeve off-the-shoulder sweater features a rhinestone studded ?Rocawear? logo at chest. Ribbing at collar, cuffs and hem

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Your Lover Sweater (7216) It?s love at first sight! Long sleeve sheer sweater features lace detailing at upper bodice with beaded accenting, an embossed logo pendant at front waist and a single button closure behind neck. Scoop detail at upper back.

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Snowball Fight Cardigan (8898) Get ready for fun in this stylish cardigan. Allover checkered print accents a ribbed scoop neckline, RW flame logo spans at button front closure and self tie belt. Lurex stitched RW flame sits at center of upper backside.

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Neighbor Cardigan (8810) Cool comfortable style. Long sleeve cardigan features a button front closure, an "ROC" patch at left chest and pork-chop front pockets accented by a 99 logo. Details include elbow patches and ribbed accenting at cuffs/hem.

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Valedictorian Cardigan (8522) You rule the school with this Valedictorian Cardigan. Striped design accents this layer with matching ribbed trim, a v-neck, and colored buttons on placket. Flocked logo crest patch puts an official seal to the look. Embroidered RW flame logo is stitched at upper back

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) Corner Sweater (8625) Get hooked up this season. Long sleeve sweater features a shawl collar leading to a double button front closure, epaulette tabs at shoulders as well as ribbing at collar, cuffs and hem.

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Rocawear (eFashion Solutions) L/S Reboot Sweater (8544) Give your style a reboot with this comfy top. Cable knit design on a v-neck sweater detailed by a logo pendant at chest, patch at left hem, and loop logo tag on right long sleeve. Ribbed trim.

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Sean John (eFashion Solutions) Core Straw Fedora (6333) Fedora hat features an allover woven straw pattern, a contrast band accented with an embroidered signature logo at crown, and an interior sweatband

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Sean John (eFashion Solutions) Stripe Band Fedora (4165) Solid fedora features a striped band on brim accented with an engraved logo plaque at side and an interior sweatband.

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Sean John (eFashion Solutions) SJ Logo Cufflinks (2571) 2 gold tone ?SJ? logo cufflinks. Cufflinks come in a keepsake box

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Sean John (eFashion Solutions) Dobby Stripe French Cuff (2649) Textured allover stripe long sleeve woven. Features a point collar, button front placket and french cuffs.

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Feedback

FEEDBACK We at Blackopps Entertainment are always trying to make your online experience better. Your feedback helps us to mold and shape our e-magazine and our services to suit the needs of our viewers, our customers and our sponsors. Let us know what you think of this first edition of the Blackopps Entertainment e-mag. Your input and comments are vital to the success of our business. Thank You.

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