THE WEEKLY EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE
AUGUST 2014
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Nicki Minaj The bombshell
Editor’s Note
W
SUB EDITOR Gordy Munro PRODUCTION Daniel Riley daniel.riley@streetcredmagazine. com PR & MARKETING Amanda Bowen amanda@streetcredmagazine.com
hat an incredible year so far! The main highlight for me has to be Street Cred magazine going weekly.
At first I was scared because it’s obviously double the work and having to keep on top of what is out there a lot more and my god its so far been a fun experience. THE WEEKLY EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE
AUGUST 2014
EDITOR Mark Dwayne editor@streetcredmagazine.com
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Nicki Minaj The bombshell
This weekly concept is definitely the trend we needed and as I write this I am thinking what to give you next week! My exciting grows daily being the journalist for this section.
CATCH STREET CRED ON: www.streetcredmagazine.com twitter.com/@streetcredmag facebook.com/streetcredmag
The weather hasn’t been to bad this summer either which makes a huge change! Lots of exciting news in this edition as always... Enjoy Street Credders and keep smiling - it feels good even if your down. Mark Dwayne MDG
@StreetCredMag /markdwaynemdg /streetcredmag Mark Dwayne MDG
The views expressed in Street Cred magazine are not necessarily the editors opinion so do not try to kill him if you read anything you feel offended by. The magazine is a positive and fun read and is not with the intent to threaten anyone. All images are copyright of their respective rights holders.
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CONTENTS GRIMEY (5-6) - Nikki Minaj, Simon Cowell, Tulisa, Cheryl, Akon. Fashion lick (9-11) - Michael Kors Store, Lipsy
COVER STORY (12-15) - Nicki Minaj Big Screen (17) - Begin Again WHATS ON (18)
White dee’s column (20) Chantelle’s Spot (21)
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GRIMEY NEWS
COWELL DENIES GAY RUMOUR
JW
ay-z and Beyonce ord has it that are the Drunk in onset stage spylove who up but Tuliwhat is sa happeing with sellingbehind drugs doors anda is there alsoclosed says he knows few peoreally divorce onslept the way? plea that have with media The couple haveCowell. been seen to be mogul simon
crazy in love on beaches living Simon denies what hasand been itsaid up and playing happy families..who wants to get on with knows going is on? his life.what A gayisdaddy common We will soon out these days so itfind wont be and a bigwe feel will be revealed after dealmore if its true. WHO CARES? the tour.
NIKKI minaj ASS OUT ON ALBUM COVER
O
k we loved the fact you dissed Nikki Minaj for taking your style and we agree yes she did steal your throne but come on Kim leave it alone why are you still releasing battle records ?
It doesn’t look good it looks too desperate now and it looks like that this is all your going to be known for. We know you’re hurt but you got to let it go its a tough business.
Tulisa is back on x-factor and career looks promising ow its good to be friends with Simon Cowell as he has a soft spot especially for women.
W
Great guy, also she has been offered 500k to appear in “I’m A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here” so all isnt bad!
He said Tulisa has had a hard time with the drugs scandal and he is to bring her back on the show.
We wish her success as we hear she attempted suicide and we don’t wish that on anyone.
GRIMEY NEWS
be more honest
A
recent video filmed by TMZ of Akon expresses that Jay Z and Beyonce relationship is too private which has caused people to speculate it too much. He also says the couple should be more open and stop being so corporate, we agree Akon something ain’t right but all will reveal
NIKKI minaj ASS OUT ON ALBUM COVER
A
Cheryl cole on x-factor, why?
S
o she gets booed at recent auditions and we can see why she is so not relevant for the show at
all and not a hot celeb at all. Why are you a judge? Like really why?
THE EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND CUTTING EDGE LIFESTYLE
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rtwork for Anaconda was released by Nikki Minaj on Instagram and wow what a stir of course its Nikki with her ass out but there is no surprise with this at all. This will be a seller..new album out which also features Beyonce with a tune called Flawless which is also making huge waves worldwide! Nikki is the bizniz..sorry Kim :(
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MICHAEL KORS OPENS LIFESTYLE STORE IN THE BULLRING
M
ichael Kors is now open at Bullring. The store is located on the Upper East Mall.
Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products under his signature Michael Kors collection and MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS labels. These products include accessories, footwear, watches, jewellery and women’s ready-to-wear, eyewear and a full line of fragrance products. With an innate
sense of glamour and an unfailing eye for timeless chic, Michael Kors offers a luxury lifestyle as pragmatic as it is indulgent and as timeless as it is modern. The brand’s in-house team designed the store experience to echo the label’s casual-chic aesthetic, using elements like zebra-print furniture, sleek metal fixtures, mirrored surfaces and glossy, large-scale vintage photographs to evoke jet set glamour and timeless sophistication.
FASHION LICK
FASHION LICK
Faux Leather Waterfall Jacket in Black
COVER STORY
Nicki Minaj The bombshell
WOW! What can I say about Nicki Minaj aka Onika Tanya Maraj. The first thing that comes to mind is pink lipstick!
Her then wacky sense of style, gritting of the teeth snarly smile and unique yet wickedly great lyrical content and style. NOT GOOD! Her talent should be first!
They way she converts her rapping tone from soft and mellow to gritty and grimy in one sentence is kind of SICK and not to mention the actual lyrical content.
COVER STORY
COVER STORY She cannot be knocked for that, the lady is seriously talented! So why is so well known for other things first? Onika Maraj is one of four children raised by parents who had a violent relationship and argued relentlessly. Her dad was an alcohol and drug abuser and once tried to kill her mother by setting their house, that she was in, on fire. Nicki’s coping mechanism was a form of escape by creating different characters. These characters then became part of her, her alter egos, ‘her fantasy had become reality’. They were was one called Cookie, Nicki Teresa which was where the colourful hair came from she considered herself as a ‘healer for her fans’. Then there was Rosa and Roman who only came out when she angry. Roman is an angry gay man with a lot to say; he features on many tracks in her first album PINK FRIDAY. Nowadays Nicki holds down a mellow look, she has undergone a major transformation! She looks good! We can actually see her Nicki stated that she got everyone’s attention with her weird style of rap!
She used her negative experiences from her childhood and although unorthodox and perceived as weird she generated Nicki Minaj who has now broken Michael Jacksons record for the most billboard top 100 hits! Weird, odd and interesting she may be, talented and risqué she definitely is! Nicki had a plan and executed beautifully, well done Nicki!
DID YOU KNOW? Nicki Minaj… • …had intentions of subduing her sexuality because she wanted people to know that nothing in life is going to be based on sex appeal! • …refers herself to a king rather than a queen • …believes she has bigger balls than men • …has been described as the BLACK Lady Gaga, Nicki has rejected the comparison • …was the most followed rapper on Twitter but due to a dispute with her fans who wanted to leak her then unreleased album lost over a million followers
Now that Nicki has firmly arrived at the peak of her career with many attributes, she has put the outlandish and orthodox behaviour behind her.
• …honed down her outlandish style to be taken seriously
In regards to ‘behind’ she spent $10,000 on that, and that isn’t going nowhere and I don’t think she wants it to, it’s safe to say that the attention seeking WORKED!
• …Mattel produced a Nicki Minaj themed doll valued at approximately $15,000
Don’t tell young children that! She gained our attention, got people talking about her, be it good or bad, maintained and maximised her persona as well as her genuine, natural TALENT!
• …Has an alter ego who she claims is her twin brother
• …Was paid $50,000 to appear at an NBA all star party, however she arrived late and left early so now she is being sued the amount she got paid plus more to cover their loss of revenue and hotel arrangements Words : Chantelle Guy
B
egin Again is a beautiful little movie. Part romance, part comedy and part musical-drama; all of the individual pieces come together to form this engaging and emotionally involving adventure. Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave are college sweethearts and song writing partners who move to New York when Dave lands a record deal with a major label. Unfortunately, his new found fame changes him and leads him astray, leaving Gretta heartbroken and alone in an unfamiliar city. However, a chance encounter with a disgraced, alcoholic record label executive (Mark Ruffalo) triggers a partnership that promises to change both of their lives forever. Written and Directed by Irish filmmaker John Carney, he once again proves that he is right at home in this particular hybrid of genres, as evidenced by his 2006 hit, Once. He is able to perfectly balance the cinematic elements with the musical elements, meaning that you’re never distracted by the sudden change in tone. There’s one scene in particular that really sticks with you and that’s when Dan (Mark Ruffalo) is watching Gretta sing one of her original songs on stage. It’s just her and her guitar; very simplistic, very pretty. However, as Dan watches, his musical mind goes to work and the stage comes to life as he begins transforming this quaint little song into a chart topping hit. The instruments that surround Gretta take on a life of their own and begin playing along with her, making her song sound like something com-
BIG SCREEN
Review pletely different. It’s a difficult scene to describe, but it is intelligently and beautifully constructed and is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face. The performances from the entire cast are fantastic. Keira Knightley is believable and sympathetic as the lovelorn Gretta, making it easy to identify with her and engage in her story. James Corden is hysterical as Gretta’s comic-relief best friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Steve – who is nowhere near as good as he thinks
be able to tell the difference; it’s very odd, but she gives a strong performance nonetheless. However, the standout performance here comes from the always brilliant Mark Ruffalo as Dan. He is a virtuoso of alcohol, energy and foul language and he gives a performance that is sure to garner some recognition as soon as awards season rolls around. I honestly believe that Ruffalo’s character is single-handedly responsible for the film’s 15 certificate, as he never passes up an opportunity to cuss his way out of a situation, or in to one for that matter. In fact, his language is so foul that he would be right at home in a Quentin Tarantino movie and nobody would question it. Begin Again is a “feel good” movie of the highest standard. It is a simple, engaging and thoughtful piece of cinema that makes you think about the beauty of the world around you and the importance of the relationships we share. It is sweet without being too schmaltzy, It is funny without trying too hard and it is uplifting without being too “in your face” about it. It is the kind of movie you’ll put on to cheer yourself up when you’re feeling low and if that isn’t a compliment, I don’t know what is. Seth Rogen recently tweeted about Begin Again and his tweet says more in 140 characters or less than I could in an entire review, so I will sign off by sharing with you his thoughts on the movie; “Please go see the movie Begin Again! But only if you like joy and laughter. If not – run! See something else!” Well...you heard the man!
wORDS by antony brown he is – and Hailee Steinfeld brings a certain level of sass to the role of Mark Ruffalo’s rebellious daughter, Violet. However, her character is a complete carbon copy of her character from 3 Days to Kill starring Kevin Costner. She plays a misunderstood and defiant teenager with daddy issues who dresses far too provocatively for her age. You could literally take her scenes from 3 Days to Kill and edit them into Begin Again and you wouldn’t
WHATS ON Asking Alexandria Birmingham Academy 1, Birmingham 07 Nov 2014
U
K sensation, ASKING ALEXANDRIA are back after taking a break in early 2014.
The band are back, currently touring the U.S on the Rockstar Mayhem tour with Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Trivium and more.
Coming Soon The upcoming UK tour will see ASKING ALEXANDRIA play 15 dates to nearly 30,000 people – double the numbers of their last, sold out headline UK tour - across the England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Ireland. The Manchester date is already sold out, four months in advance.
Skillet Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton 13th October 2014 Skillet recently made headlines when their last album, Awake, became one of just three rock albums to be certified platinum in 2012, forming an improbable triumvirate with the Black Keys’ El Camino and Mumford & Sons’ Babel. The news that Skillet had sold more than a million albums in the U.S. came as a shock to all but the band’s wildly diverse horde of fans, male and female, young and old-known as Panheads-whose stillswelling ranks now officially number in the seven-digit range. This remarkable achievement was announced just as Skillet was putting the finishing touches on their eagerly awaited follow-up album.
WHITE DEE’S COLUMN
‘White Dee’s’ Column a princess who did go to the ball. A big big thank you to Maria for doing her hair, Eclipse Hair & Beauty Salon, Dudley Road for the nails, and a special shout out to Tyson Leon, Leon Security Group for providing the transport and the personal escort in the form of Dan-Dan, as a person born and bred in Birmingham, I understand how we need to support our local business and try to get them the recognition they deserve. After the stressful planning and hoping that it would be a night Caitlin would never forget the look on her face was totally priceless, and the constant crying done by myself at the transformation into a stunning young lady was worth it. Bring on her wedding day haha. Finally a great big congratulations to the DRUM for an amazing Simmer Down festival which took place last in Handsworth Park. The festival highlighted loads of homegrown Birmingham talent, past and present, I wasn’t feeling very well so could only stay for a couple of hours, but the feedback has been fantastic.
I
t’s that time of the month again time for me to chat away a year older than the last time I did my column, happy birthday to me :-) and to hope you still find the time to read my column.
Whoever thought up the idea of bringing prom over to this country? Well it definitely wasn’t me and when i left school, we just left and that was that.
Well what’s happened this month that you may or may not find interesting - every mothers nightmare - yep its prom time.
Obviously there are things that can be planned in advance, but the day of the 17th July turned Caitlin into prom zilla haha.
As the mom to 16 year old Caitlin I just knew it wasn’t going to be straightforward haha! Dress, hair, nails, make up, transport, teenage tantrums and as the kids say it ‘the good old bling’.
But all things said and done, it went off well, and as beautiful as she looked, it didn’t cost a fortune. Being a single mom you always want the best in life for your children, the best doesn’t always cost the most. Caitlin looked like
Musical Youth, Apache Indian, Diego Flex, some of the cutest dancers you have ever seen, and the legends that are Steel Pulse, played, sang and interacted with a crowd estimated at about 20,000. Stalls for all occasions, plenty of food, good atmosphere, once again fantastic security (Leon security group erm 2 mentions in 1 column!) and the event in true Birmingham style went trouble free, people came from all parts of the country to attend. Its at times like these that i can honestly say - IM PROUD TO BE FROM BIRMINGHAM. Thanks to everyone who took part in celebrating the DRUM’s 20th Anniversary - heres to many many more. So once more I say ‘bye for now’ and see you next month (or will I??)
Questions, comments or suggestions for White Dee? Get in touch with her by emailing whitedee@streetcredmagazine.com
Word on the street CHANTELLE
Disneys Dollys
I
remember reading the likes of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid, and Aladdin etc as a kid and loving them. Now as an adult and mom I watch the films with gritted teeth! I don’t like what I see! These ‘princesses’ are totally NOT helping our young girls to aspire to be genuine princesses. They wait for a Prince to sweep them off their feet, kiss and marry them. They all wear the most figurehugging of gowns with their breasts slightly oozing out of the top whilst the waist area is small and sometimes tiny. Don’t even get me started on Bratz dolls and Barbie or the one new Monster High!
I don’t want to go in on them too much because they are just toys and if we felt so passionately about them we wouldn’t buy them for our children. I did, but I also educated her at home, and I continue to do it to a point where she herself can identify when a woman either relies heavily on a man or that a woman dotes on the man so much that she don’t do for herself and when their physique or clothes is just unbelievably… WHAT???? REALLY???
We all call our kids PRINCE, PRINCESS, LITTLE MAN, LITTLE WOMAN therefore should we exploit them to this media, these toys and these ideas… YES! So we can show and teach them what it’s REALLY like and how it should be, could be and would be. Our children are royalty in their own right, to me it’s more than a status it’s a state of mind.
Chantelle’s
REMEMBER parents that we are our child’s first teacher SO TEACH ‘EM RIGHT!
The hilarious weekly column
Am I even bovvered? SMH, CBA, LOL!
I
have become a very self-pleasing person, in terms of my career, love and social life. I ensure that my career and its activities fulfil me as well as others and I operate that general rule to ALL areas of my life. However I have detected a small flaw in my attitude towards my operations for eg ‘Chan ‘Lucy’ is watching you dancing on the street!’ Am I bovvered? Or ‘Chan, ‘Misha’ was talking about you!’ I’m not bovvered!
I tend to have a very blaze attitude towards negativity. I see it like this, if it isn’t improving me or benefitting me, my circumstances or my family then I AM NOT BOVVERED!
I am not saying that I am living the right way as I have detected that my attitude towards some things may be too relaxed such as when things break or unexplainably go missing!
And I don’t get worked up, or stressed out easily. Some people amire me, some get annoyed with me and some try to purposely get me mad or stressed! I AM STILL NOT BOVVERED!
I just tend to put it down to the fact that maybe I’m not meant to have it. Getting angry, upset or sad omits a dark energy that can make you feel quite sick! I CBA with all that!
THE EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND CUTTING EDGE LIFESTYLE
MAY 2014
Spot
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If I’m wrong, I do welcome the opinions of others and if I’m hurting someone I will seek to make amends but as I haven’t done either with my way of living then I will continue to live my life and towards negativity and dark moments I will shout AM I EVEN BOTHERED DOE!!!
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