23 | THE VOICE JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2012
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POSTER BATTLE WIZKID & D’BANJ
BABY BLUE Doing it her way In pictures
Chris Brown from virtuous to villain
Baby on board
Marvin and Rochelle share baby joy
24 THE VOICE DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2012
PLEASE DON’T JUDGE ME How did teenage heartthrob Chris Brown go from virtuous to villain?
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HIT: Here he is in the video for 2004 debut and subsequent hit Run It. Cue the formation of super fan group Team Breezy
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UP CLOSE: The couple released a series of loved-up pictures via social networking sites. Here’s the infamous bed shot
PLEASE DON’T JUDGE ME: Brown appears in court to face two felony charges for assault ing Rihanna in 2009
THE SHOW MUST GO ON: Later that year, following months of abuse online, Chris Brown releases third solo album Graffiti
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NEW GIRL: With a new album under his belt, Chris begins dating model Karreuche Tran
BLOND BOMBSHELL: Chris drastically switches up his look in early 2011 by bleaching his hair blond. The new colour paired with the tatts removed any remaining ‘good boy’ clichés
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BABY FACED: The fresh-faced singer appeared in this editorial with his dog Diamond. Butter wouldn’t melt
MILK TEETH: The singer’s winning smile was apparent from nursery days
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OH DEAR: The singer was pictured shirtless after an appearance on Good Morning America (GMA). It is believed he smashed a window after being questioned about Rihanna
GOT MILK?: The singer starred in the popular Got Milk campaign in 2008. Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson have also featured
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: Chris began dating fellow pop sensation Rihanna in early 2008. They had been friends since 2005
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AND SO THE TRANSFORMATION BEGINS: Chris finds solace in tattoos. He starts with his ‘sleeves’ and later moves onto his chest.
NEW ME: He releases diss track Deuces, thought to be aimed at Rihanna. The new tatted up, mean-mugging Chris is worlds away from the person we once knew
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ROMANTIC RIVALS: In June this year, Chris fought with rapper Drake in a nightclub. Drake had a brief romance with Ri Ri. The fight was reportedly over her
KISS ME QUICK: Rihanna shocks the world when she puckers up to Brown at the MTV Video Music Awards in September
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SETH PINNOCK
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE: The following month, Chris and Karrueche break up. Chris releases candid ‘I’m in love with two women’ video
REUNITED: Rihanna cuddles up to Brown backstage after his show in Europe. It’s back on.
THE 22-YEAR-OLD architecture student founded the Midnight Oil Summit four years ago to encourage unity within the Christian faith. This year, Seth, who is also a youth minister and community choir director, welcomed over 2,500 young delegates from across the country to a two-day summit run by students, for students.
Through a series of fundraising events, including bag-packing in local supermarkets, Seth and his friends were able to raise a staggering £22,000, enabling them to host the first ever Midnight Oil Summit in 2007 for 800 attendees. Seth has also set up design company Spin Creative Unit which develops websites, busi* www.rarerecruitment.co.uk
ness cards, flyers and other merchandise. Clients include the production company currently touring with UK superstar, Tinie Tempah. When asked how he balances his commitments, his answer is simple: "I don't. I just have to have it all at once. I want my life to be an example for others."
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@youngvoicesmag
DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2012 THE VOICE 25
www.voice-online.co.uk/entertainment
UK rapper Baby Blue talks to YV’s Akilah Russell about new music, her relationship with Estelle and embracing the ‘new’ her
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ALMOST didn't recognise British rapper Baby Blue when I first saw the video for her single Magnetic Eyes with Drum and Bass stars Matrix & Futurebound. The young tomboy, who used to spit raw bars over hard-hitting
hip-hop beats as a teenager, had blossomed into an all-singing, all-rapping, song-writing stunner. In fact, when I caught up with the 23-year-old recently, I suddenly found myself playing the embarrassing 'aunty' who spots you in the shop, pinches your
cheeks and points to her knee to show you how much you’ve grown. However, she confirms that I am not the only one who has noticed, telling me with a giggle that she “gets it all the time”. “People always say to me
now, 'where's the hoodies and the trainers?' When I first came out I was wearing the most colourful Adidas tracksuits, I had bright New Era hats and stuff; that was how people were used to me looking. “Now, I'm just a bit more grown up because obviously I have grown up as a person so my style has changed. In terms of music, I tend to experiment more I am not really afraid to do what I want to do in the studio anymore. I am not boxed in by certain types of music.” The emphasis on her new look automatically raises questions about the life of a female rapper, as she agrees that her male counterparts do not face the same pressure to “be perfect”. She explains: “The pros of being a female rapper is that you can stand out more. In the UK, so many guys want to rap, so it is quite easy to get lost in the crowd, but as a female you automatically get noticed.” She continues: “Also as a female you get to explore territory in your music that most guys don't, such as relationships and raw emotions, whereas guys often feel like they have to come across as hard,” she laughs. “The cons are we have to work about 100 times harder than the guys just to be on the same playing field as them. People always think because you're a woman, it should be about the way you look or the way you dress. To get taken seriously as an artist is a lot more difficult.”
Solidarity amongst the few British females who have dared to pick up the mic, despite facing such adversity, can be found in the south Londoner's friendship with singer and rapper, Estelle, who found success stateside. When Blue was 19, the American Boy hit-maker took her under her wing, and even flew her to New York to record song Hey Girl for her debut album The 18th Day, which also featured Grammy-award winning singer John Legend. “Because she [Estelle] lives in America now I don't see her as much but we are still in touch. In fact, I went on the road with her a couple of years ago and we basically visited something like 30 cities. It was just an amazing thing to take part in,” she says. Once hailed the 'The Uncrowned Queen of the UK,' I ask if she'll be the next star to swap fish and chips for ham-
ALICIA KEYS:
The singer was forced to add a second date to the London leg of her Girl on Fire tour after selling out O2 Arena
burgers and fries. “Well I think it is a positive time for the UK 'urban' music scene at the moment. It has gone 'mainstream' if that's what you want to call it but there is no point putting out music and not trying to at least sell some records.” “I look at people like [UK rapper] Wiley doing well in the charts and it just shows that music is moving forward and people aren't afraid to take risks,” she says. With the idea of forward thinking in mind I ask her to predict where she will be in 10 years time. After a pensive pause she begins: “Well… In ten years time they will say…Baby Blue did it her way!” Matrix & Futurebound's 'Magnetic Eyes' featuring Baby Blue will be released by 3 Beat Records on December 9
ROCHELLE HUMES:
The Saturdays star Rochelle revealed she is expecting her first child with hubby Marvin from boy band JLS
BUFF OR BUSTED? Dear Kat, I recently got into a relationship with a guy I really like and everything has been going really well, but yesterday he told me that he got another girl pregnant. He says it happened before he met me. He says he will be there for his child and that he wants us to stay together, but I am not sure if I can do this. A part of me knows that things won’t be the same, but I really like him and want to be there. What should I do? Timony K, 19
CHRIS BROWN:
The singer was accused of 'verbal rape' following a public spat with a US comic on Twitter
Hi Timony, I’ve been sent a similar dilemma before and I’ll tell you exactly what I told the last reader. A baby is for life, not just for Christmas. Any decision made about a child, including how one will affect your life, must be taken treated with utmost care and attention. This new addition will undoubtedly disturb the balance of your relationship as you know it now. Your boyfriend’s time will rightfully be split between you and his child – can you handle this? Have you thought about how you will deal with his communication with the mother of this child? They will need to talk (and possibly see each other) regularly. This will take a mature approach, understanding and patience. Ask tough questions, be ready for tough answers. Communication is key.
BUSTED
TWEET OF THE WEEK Rihanna tweeted an intimate picture showing her hugging rumoured lover Chris Brown backstage at one of his recent concerts:
BUFF KIM KARDASHIA N Pretty, chic, slick
BOBBI KRISTINA:
The teen announced that she has split from controversial boyfriend Nick Gordon
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“I dont wanna leave!!! Killed it tonight baby!!!”
MC HAMMER
Wrong, wron g, wrong
: Rihanna
JADEN SMITH
26 THE VOICE DECEMBER 6 - 12, 2012
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