THE COSMOPOLITAN CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Get the look for summer With Top Shop, Miss Selfridge and more...
Catching up with Keri Hilson “I’m also very sarcastic, it’s my nature and I can’t help it”
May/June 2012 £1 (where sold)
Get in shape the easy way
The one simple technique to get the body you want
HOT GIGS INSIDE! New British hiphop takeover!
JESSIE J From finding fame, to pop culture and dating Tinie Tempah
FASHION / TRAVEL / BIG SCREEN / GADGETS / INDEPENDENT ARTS / HEALTH & FITNESS / CARS
Cool, Sophisticated, Trendy and Cutting Edge
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hat a buzz! Great to be with you all again guys and feeling the massive support from our readers. This month we give you a brand new look Street Cred. Our aim is always to be a positive cutting edge entertainment and lifestyle publication and show and highlight popular culture with a difference, we bring variety as well and speak the language of our readers. The music business is obsessed with sexual images recently and it really doesn’t have to be that way to sell. As a magazine we keep it tasteful and classy. It's very easy to gossip about the bad things the stars get up to but our readers come to our magazine for different reasons and that is to get an exciting and informative read, but most importantly it's about escapism. We always aim to give you what is new and cutting edge. Of course we show what you’re aware of but also like to introduce things that get unnoticed which eventually become the in thing. Being Street Cred is knowing what is happening and keeping updated with the trendy lifestyle. Our cover star this month is Jessie J, we celebrate her success since the days of performing on our stage as an unsigned artist. Check out the special by the girl who is now the UK’s no 1 superstar. So much stuff to drool over in this issue, check out the stars that SC has been hanging around with at Club Fifty Six in London. This is the exclusive VIP venue where we actually staged Jessie J in 2007 and is now the hot spot to find classic celebrities. Interviews are big this month like R&B star Keri Hilson who is set for big things this year. All this and more in Street Cred! Now stop reading me and turn the pages and get into the world of Street Cred. We're talking exclusive national and international juice. Get stuck in.
Contents News 4 Fashion 14 Big Screen 30 Gadgets 34 Gig Guide 38 Jessie J Feature 44 Health+Fitness 50 Clubbing 52 Travel 78 Cars 84 THE COSMOPOLITAN CUTTING EDGE ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE
May/June 2012 £1 (where sold)
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Get the look for summer Win trendy fashion accessories
Get in shape the easy way
Catching up with Keri Hilson “I’m also very sarcastic, it’s my nature and I can’t help it”
JESSIE J
The one simple technique to get the body you want
20 HOT GIGS INSIDE! New British hiphop takeover
From finding fame, to pop culture and dating Tinie Tempah
BEAUTIQUE / TRAVEL / BIG SCREEN / GADGETS / INDEPENDENT ARTS / HEALTH & FITNESS / CARS
Mark Dwayne
Contributors Sony BMG Universal Island Another Level ents Greg Branch Veronica Fairhurst Ambitious Productions Sony BMG Outside
Organization Live Nation G Star Pepsi Co Cartier French Connection Paivi Lehtohen Sara Jones
Editor Mark Dwayne Assistant Editor Daniel Riley Sub Editor & Photography Gordy Munro PR and Features Paivi Lehtonen
Catch Street Cred on: www.streetcredmagazine.com twitter.com/@streetcred facebook.com/streetcredmag 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.
NEWS
G-STAR RAW Opens new Hong Kong sto
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ore
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ith 680 square meters divided over two levels, the new Hong Kong flagship store is G-Star’s largest flagship store to date. The opening of this new flagship store further supports GStar’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The new Hong Kong store is located in Leighton Centre and showcases many special features including a floor to ceiling LCD panel installation which will be streaming video content, a custom dressing area and it’s unique façade.
The façade is constructed from a double layer of Corten steel sheeting – that gives the façade a ‘rusty’ look - a material never before used in Hong Kong - cut with a custom-designed G-Star pattern. Soaring more than six storeys high, by day the raw nature of the steel contrasts sharply with the surrounding concrete buildings and by night, built-in lighting washes the surface creating a big G-Star lantern visible from far away.
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Brandy opens up about her past with VH1
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s she prepares to embark on the next chapter in her career with the release of her sixth album Two Eleven, Brandy reflects on the past on VH1’s “Behind the Music.” Despite selling over 20 million albums before the age of 21, Brandy admits to being the “unhappiest teenager in the world.” The former “Moesha” star opens up about eating disorders, lying about her marriage, and the fatal car accident that she was involved in. Now 33 and with a daughter of her own, Brandy has finally found happiness. “Now I feel like I’m in control of my life,” she says.
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Chris Brown is “Fortune”-ate
rammy Award winner Chris Brown released his eagerly anticipated new album Fortune on May 8th (RCA Records). Fortune is available in both Standard and Deluxe editions; the latter includes additional songs and a special collectable cover. Leading the way to the May release was the album’s infectious first single “Turn Up The Music,” written and produced by The Underdogs and Fuego. Described as an “energetic pop banger” by Billboard, Brown’s directorial debut video for the song debuted at #1 on VEVO and has been viewed over 8 MILLION times within its premiere week. His last album F.A.M.E has sold over 200K copies in the UK with over a million single sales.
Ashanti the Braveheart
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raveheart is the upcoming fifth studio album by American R&B/pop singer Ashanti set to be released on 19 June 2012. It will be the first album released in over four years since the 2008's The Declaration. Ashanti worked with a variety of producers such as Alex da Kidd, Danja, Rico Love, Cool & Dre, Warryn Campbell, Carvin & Ivan, Common, Darkchild and Tank. The Woman You Love is the lead single from Braveheart which features Brooklyn native rapper Busta Rhymes. It was written by Ashanti and Busta Rhymes and produced by Jerry Wonda and Shama "Sak Pase" Joseph.
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Wiz Khalifa on Kanye and Tupac
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iz Khalifa was stopped by Funkmaster Flex to talk about Kanye West's new song,"Way Too Cold," after his performance at Coachella. When asked if he was surprised to hear his name on the track he responded, "Yes, because he said my name. I've gone a long time without anybody actually saying my name out loud like that. It wasn't a bad thing...It was wild but it wasn't nothing negative. Everybody got positive from it. So, it's positive." Khalifa also said he's never met Kanye. They also discussed the Tupac hologram at Coachella, which Wiz says was dope, "It was dope for me, just as a fan, seeing it and in respect to Pac and what he's done for the game, just to have his energy up there." However, he said seeing Tupac was enough and he doesn't need to see anymore.
Usher is looking for himself
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even–time Grammy Award winner Usher will release his eagerly anticipated new album Looking 4 Myself on June 11th (RCA Records). Looking 4 Myself comes on the heels of his multi-platinum chart-topping collaboration “Without You” by David Guetta. Usher has been ranked by the RIAA as one of the best-selling artists in American music history, having sold over 43 million albums worldwide. Billboard named him the second most successful artist of the 2000s decade, with his career-propelling 2004 album Confessions being ranked as the top solo album of the 2000s decade. Usher has attained nine Hot 100 number-one hits (all as a lead artist) and has attained seventeen Hot 100 top-ten singles.
Something G.O.O.D for Twista
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wista has collaborated with Kanye West before, and now Twista speaks on the possibility of taking that relationship further and singing with G.O.O.D. Music. Twista spoke to XXL on it, saying "It’s very possible," he continued, "My main producer, Traxter, is working a lot with [Kanye] lately, so that’s a possibility." “I don’t think [Kanye] really got nobody like me over there, so you need a person like me up in there,” he added. “It’s an easy vision. Can we make a hit together? We tried once or twice…it worked.” They worked together on Twista's biggest hits, "Slow Jamz" and "Overnight Celebrity."
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NEWS
Eva and the NEXT generation of Pepsi
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oday actress and star of the hit TV show Desperate Housewives Eva Longoria surprised lucky New Yorkers with a first taste of new Pepsi NEXT, the first cola to deliver real cola taste with 60% less sugar than Pepsi-Cola. To continue fuelling the “Drink it to Believe it” excitement, actress and star of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Paula Patton will bring Pepsi NEXT to Los Angeles fans on Monday, April 9th at The Grove at 1:30 PM PDT. “I’ve been a member of the Pepsi family for years now so it’s a natural NEXT step to help launch new Pepsi NEXT,” said Eva Longoria. “I’m hoping to turn cola lovers in New York into believers!” While consumers may be surprised and delighted by the famous faces serving up PepsiNEXT, it’s the full cola flavour that will stay front and centre, proving nothing overshadows great taste. “When it comes to Pepsi NEXT, tasting is believing,” said Angelique Krembs, Vice President TM Pepsi Marketing. “Whether it’s partnering with Eva and Paula to serve up free sips, sampling at local Walmart
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pepsinext that invites cola lovers to opt-in for a chance to watch themselves “taste” new Pepsi NEXT through the power and humour of improv. Supercentre stores across the country or inviting fans to “try” Pepsi NEXT online, it’s all about encouraging a first taste. We know that once cola lovers taste Pepsi NEXT, they’ll believe real cola flavour with 60% less sugar than Pepsi-Cola is possible.” Can’t wait? “Try it” online with the Internet Taste Test, a unique experience on www.facebook.com/
The first cola to deliver real cola taste with 60% less sugar than Pepsi-Cola, Pepsi NEXT uses the perfect balance of ingredients and flavors to create a deliciously rich cola experience that gives consumers a reduced sugar option without sacrificing real cola taste. Come experience Pepsi NEXT by visiting facebook.com/pepsinext and share your “Drink it to Believe it” story on Twitter with @pepsinext.
“I’ve been a member of the Pepsi family for years now so it’s a natural NEXT step to help launch new Pepsi NEXT” 9
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GADGETS
NEWS
Cartier looks back to the 70’s for recent exhibition Cartier celebrated with a cocktail party and preview at the opening of a special exhibition commemorating the designs of Cartier in the 70s and the dynamic city that served as inspiration. The exhibition includes the first nail bracelet originally conceived by Aldo Cipullo for Cartier New York in 1971. Daring and chic, the bracelet featured a simple nail design gracefully wrapped around the wrist. It quickly became a classic symbol of the rebellious spirit and raw energy in New York City during that era. It was open to the public from April 13th – May 8th at the landmark Cartier Mansion on Fifth Avenue. The evening concluded with an after party at Skylight Studios, which was transformed into a 1970s-inspired Cartier club, featuring bordeaux velvet banquettes and gold accents. The Misshapes started the party off with a DJ set, followed by a surprise performance by up-and-coming artist, Rita Ora. Guests danced late into the evening to a DJ set by James Murphy
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HOT FASHION NEWS
Fergie goes Fergie is continuing her foray into the glamorous life with yet another fab gig: the Black Eyed Peas frontwoman is the first-ever face of Wet n Wild. The brand announced the partnership, and the singer will star in a series of campaigns beginning later this year. “I’m someone who goes from light neutrals during the day to some really dramatic looks at night for the red carpet,” Fergie tells PEOPLE. “I love that I can find all of these colours with Wet n Wild. Plus, the company and I come from the same [California] hometown!” In addition to serving as a brand ambassador, Fergie will launch some signature Wet n Wild products, too. “I think the brand is a realistic beauty buy for every woman out there,” she explains. “It’s beauty for all. It’s on-trend, it’s affordable and it’s easily accessible.” The star will shoot her first campaign photos in March, and will wear Wet n Wild products to Sunday night’s Grammy Awards. “[Fergie’s] versatility and range is perfectly aligned with Wet n Wild,” the company’s COO, Bill George, says in a release. “She has the unique ability to go from hip, edgy and sexy to red-carpet glamorous. We couldn’t be more thrilled to work with her.” Tell us: What do you think of Fergie partnering with Wet n Wild?
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FASHION
Orange Hoodie £25 Striped Vest £12 Chambray Cargo Shorts £30 Burton 0845 121 4514 www.burton.co.uk
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Navy Shawl Collar Suit Jacket £79 White Shirt £26 Bow Tie £6 Navy Waistcoat £45 Navy Suit Trousers £40 Burton 0845 121 4514 www.burton.co.uk
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FASHION
Rocking it like a star! This stage ready look can be found from Topshop this summer. Versatile outfit for the shopping drip or clubs. TOPSHOP 0845 121 4519 www.topshop.com
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FASHION
Topshop brings bold strong colors live! Style that suites the city chick in town or club! Must have essentials! TOPSHOP 0845 121 4519 Topshop.com
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FASHION
Black Spot Mesh Dress ÂŁ85 Evans 0845 121 4516 www.evans.co.uk
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Miss Selfridge is bringing the bold lines and colours on the little black dress. These dresses are a must for the heavy raver. Retro style dresses are bringing the romance back to the fashion in a sophisticated and modern way. missselfridge.co.uk
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Adidas Take The Stage is here
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With London 2012 on the horizon and some of Britian’s finest in attendance, who better to draft in than Keith Lemon to do some behind the scenes investigating for us. He may not know much about the Olympic Games or sport in general, but, Keith is more than willing to learn. Stay tuned here to see more from Keith as he learns about some of his co-stars in the new Adidas advert. This city is the stage where greatness is made. You can go
from the top deck straight to the top of the charts. A high street honey can become the height of fashion. YouTube sensations turn into primetime stars. Even a hoop hustler can get a million fans. Wherever we go, the paps are never far behind and whatever we do, we’ll have an audience. This is the stage where greatness is made... ...and you’re up next.
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FASHION
Truly Scrumptious
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upermodel Heidi Klum has teamed up with Babies 'R' Us to create a new children's collection. The supermodel and mother-of-four has teamed up with Babies 'R' Us - the infant department of Toys 'R' Us - to create a range, which includes everything from clothing to bedding to cuddly toys. She told WWD: ''I made beds, curtains, blankets, washcloths, bath toys, wall decals, lamps, rugs, hampers, stuffed animals, security blankets and night lights. If you think about the nursery, I'm doing everything. I tackle everything from shoes, socks, underwear and pyjamas to dresses, jeans, leggings and sweaters.''
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As well as making her designs practical and aesthetically pleasing, Heidi wanted to make sure the collection addressed educational aspects as well. Speaking about a reversible blanket featuring an underwater scene/jungle scene, Heidi said: ''It's much better than just laying on a pink blanket. I think it's something that stimulates brain development.'' Truly Scrumptious by Heidi Klum will be available for babies and children up to five-year-olds and will retail in all Babies 'R' Us stores and online.
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EXCLUSIVE
Exclusive: Keri Hilson
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INTERVIEW
Q & A With Keri Hilson
MD: Hey Keri how are you finding the UK Tour? Keri: This is my first tour headlining I am loving the experience and I've always loved the UK so for me this is a big thing. I can express myself more because when supporting Neyo I had very little time on stage. MD: I was quite impressed with the dance routines as I didn’t know you could move your body like that. Keri: Thank you! It's crazy because I don’t love to dance but I can't help it but some things are just an expression of how you feel in that moment, but I do enjoy letting loose so it's good for me. MD: You’ve worked with many artists, and one of my favourites would be Kanye West who did Knock You Down. How was it working with a genious like that? Keri: Well it was produced by Snager and it was already done with Neyo on it so it was complete and ready to be mastered for my album. I found myself in New York filming something with Kanye and we were vibing all day on this shoot, and at the end of the day he said to me how do you feel about your first album cause I know you feel great about it and I was like I love it but the only thing missing is you and he was like well why cant I be on the album? And I was like well its being mastered tomorrow. As we was speaking it was being sent off to Canada, he said well if I do something tonight will it make the album? And I was like hell yeh so we booked the session quick before he could change his mind and that is how he got on the knock you down single.
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MD: I notice you have this whole male type swagger as pretty as you are but your very hip hop Keri: Yeh I got the direct approach, I guess it makes me stand out you know I don’t take things too seriously. I say things directly yes I am confident I make no apologies for who I am or what I do. I don’t approach music to paint myself perfect id much rather women say damn. I never really said that out loud and I can say how I really feel. MD: I see you are extremely hands on is that important as an artist? Keri: I am a songwriter and vocal producer and arranger and lyricist you have to be involved fully in your project
I’m also very sarcastic, it’s my nature and I can’t help it
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MD: What do fans love about Keri do you think? Keri: I speak from my heart I don’t do this whole pranser thing sometimes i am a little too truthful, they like you know what when you talk to me I’m being genuine. I’m also very sarcastic its my nature I cant help it ha
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MD: So whats your thoughts on the current state of r&b music as it’s a lot different recently? Keri: It’s still hot but all the dance kinda thing is something that the labels have gone into and that is something we cant help. A lot of the artists don’t have control in what is been put out there but I say there is a lot of cool stuff I mean ‘Beautiful People’ by Chris Brown is great and people are a lot more open minded about what they hear these days but have to say artists really need to fight for themselves a lot more and take control.
INTERVIEW
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Artists really need to fight for themselves a lot more and take control
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Kim Kardashian, Usher and Nicki Minaj strut their stuff in a variety of wacky outfits, but somehow they still work!
? s k r o w t u b y z Cra
Blue shoes? Really?
BIG SCREEN SUPERHE
RO SPEC
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IAL!
ne of the most talked about films of this year, Marvel’s “The Avengers Assemble” has proven to be a smash hit right across the globe, smashing box office records in America set by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
to the beautiful Scarlett Johansson as the deadly ex-Soviet spy, Black Widow. The film surprises with a perfect blend of action, suspense, and comedy all rolled into one and is a must see film for this year, even if you are not really a superhero film fan.
The Avengers Assemble broke $200 million in it’s opening weekend in America alone, skyrocketing up to over $600 million worldwide, setting it up to be only the 12th movie in history to reach $1 billion. The film itself is brilliant, from Robert Downey Jr’s quick wit and sharp comebacks as Tony Stark (Iron Man),
There is one final thing you must remember if you are going to see the film. This is a Marvel film, and they have a tendency to add extra scenes during or after the credits, which point towards another upcoming Marvel film! Stay in your seat for the credits and make sure you don’t miss out on anything!
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BIG SCREEN
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!
Clockwise from top right: Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk.
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Spider-man set to amaze
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arc Webb dramatically reimagines the beginning of the story of Spider-man in The Amazing Spider-man, set for release in July 2012.
Going back to the roots of the franchise, with a new Peter Parker/Spider-man in the form of Andrew Garfield, this film introduces Peter’s parents and the mystery surrounding them leaving him with his Aunt and Uncle. While chasing the answers he so desperately seeks, he inadvertantly helps his fathers co-worker finish a serum that will change him into The Lizard...
Rise of the Dark Knight
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hristian Bale reprises his role as the Dark Knight of Gotham City in the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Epic Trilogy.
Easily one of the years most anticipated films of the year after the success of the previous film “The Dark Knight” 4 years ago, The Dark Knight Rises is set 8 years after the events of the second film, with a new terrorist leader “Bane” emerging and overwhelming Gotham’s finest. Batman resurfaces after 8 years of silence to protect Gotham City in it’s time of greatest need, a city that branded him it’s sworn enemy after he took the fall for Two-Face’s crimes.
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The Dark Knight Rises will be in cinemas on 20th July 2012
GADGETS
DRE AND GUETTA MIXR- ING IT UP
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eats™ Electronics LLC, the company co-founded by legendary artist and producer Dr. Dre and Interscope Geffen A&M Chairman Jimmy Iovine, introduce the Beats Mixr. Developed in conjunction with two-time Grammy Award winning producer and world-renowned DJ David Guetta, the Beats Mixr is a headphone designed specifically for DJs, combining ground-breaking sound quality with an ultra-compact design.
“The Beats Mixr is designed as the ultimate weapon of choice for DJs, providing them with a direct connection between the music and the audience.” said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen-A&M Records and co-founder of Beats by Dr. Dre. “As David can attest, the quality of headphones can make or break a performance and the Beats Mixr will provide DJs with studio quality sound along with the impact of a live concert in product that is durable and flexible enough to withstand the most intense performances.” The Beats Mixr is simply strong, light powerful and brings the Beats sound quality not only to profes-
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sional DJs but also to consumers that seek the highest headphone experience. The perfect choice for DJ’s of all types from hip-hop to electronic music, the Beats Mixr is able to handle the highest of sound levels without compromising the studio quality sound expected from all Beats by Dr. Dre products. The Beats Mixr volume levels have been optimized to perform in loud, high noise nvironments whether it is in a club, a recording studio or on the street, and its unique design also llows the wearer to conveniently swivel the ear cup 180 degrees in order to listen to the external environment. Beats by Dr. Dre has always been committed to restoring the emotional connection between the artist and the listener and allowing consumers to feel music the way the artist intended. Which is why Jimmy Iovine chose David Guetta, one of the world’s greatest DJs and producers, to help design the Beats Mixr and deliver an unrivalled superior quality audio experience. “The process of creating the Beats Mixr headphones was completely collaborative between me and Beats by Dr. Dre,”
GADGETS
said David Guetta, two-time Grammy Award winning Producer and DJ. “Our vision was to create the perfect world class headphone for DJs and music lovers alike and the outcome is truly amazing! I use headphones every day in the studio and every night at gigs, so I know how important the difference in quality is and want to share that. The sound is better than anything I’ve experienced before because it doesn’t distort no matter what volume I am playing music at. They’re easy to travel with because they’re so light and compact. I love using them when I’m DJing, creating music or just when I’m listening to music on the move.”
The Beats Mixr is available at HMV and Apple Stores in Europe. The product is available in both black and white (Apple Exclusive) in matte finish. The product is listed at a suggested retail price of £249.95. David Guetta’s album Nothing But The Beat was released on 26th August 2011 through Virgin Records (EMI), hitting No1 in charts in multiple major markets and includes global hit singles such as Where Them Girls At, ft Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj, Without You ft Usher, Sweat – Snoop Dogg, Little Bad Girl ft Taio Cruz & Ludaris, Titanium ft Sia, – plus acclaimed electronic club beats by Guetta, including tracks with Afrojack and Avicii.
Dr Dre, David Guetta and Jimmy Iovine
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ADVERTISING If you are interested in advertising with Street Cred, a publication that reaches a diverse consumer base, then don’t hesitate to get in contact with us! Tel: 0121 250 3534 Email: advertising@streetcredmagazine.com
Jay Z and Will Smith getting App-y
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uperstar pals Jay Z and Will Smith have joined forces once again to invest in a new video-sharing application for the iPhone. The rapper’s Roc Nation firm and Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment company are among a group of new backers for Viddy, a program which allows users to create short videos and share them with friends on the Apple smart phone. It is not known how much the pair invested in the business, which already boasts over 10 million users. Jay Z already has a number of ongoing projects with Smith - he signed the I Am Legend star’s singer/actress daughter, Willow, to his Roc Nation record label in 2010 and they are currently working on re-imagining hit musical Annie for the big screen, with the Whip My Hair hitmaker in thetitle role. They also previously teamed up as co-producers to bring another top musical, Fela!, to the Broadway stage.
GIG GUIDE
Return of the Queen Lil’ Kim returns to the stage after a long absence from the music scene
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il’ Kim has announced her Return of the Queen came from prison in 2006 or 2007 I was just unhappy tour, kicking off on May 11 in Austin, Texas. with my label,” Kim began, during her sit down with Sucker Free. “I wanted to get off and I didn’t get The 11-stop tour is taking Kim from locations like released, I wasn’t dropping—I had to pay them. At the Pensacola, Fl. to New York and end of the day, that takes time; Philadelphia. Shows are also for two years I fought and fought scheduled to hit the Midwest in and fought and finally there was Markham, Ill. and Milwaukee, a break.” Wis. before hitting Ohio on June 1 and wrapping up in West Hol“During those two years I did lywood on June 13 at Key Club. my Hollywood thing, doing reality shows, ‘Dancing with the Kim dropped her last album in Stars’ and all that good stuff,” 2005, and she says that contracshe continued. “But in between tual issues are to blame for the delays. She recently me ‘Dancing with the Stars’ I struck up another deal told Sucker Free that signed up to do “Dancing With with Trackmasters and it didnt work out. That took the Stars,” while striking up a deal with Trackmasters, another year or two. And contractually, by the courts, which ended up not working out. During the lawsuit I could not record any music—I wasn’t supposed with Trackmasters, Kim was not allowed to put out to put any music out. Technically Black Friday was any music unless it was a free project. a mixtape, so I was able to get away with that but they could’ve come after me if I would’ve put out an “The wait and the long time was because when I album.”
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The wait was because I was just unhappy with my label
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GIG GUIDE
Watch The Throne
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fter the phenomenal success of their chart topping album Watch The Throne, a 35 date sold out, critically acclaimed US tour and hot on the heels of their huge success at the 2012 Grammy Awards, winning the award for ‘Best Rap Performance’ (for their track ‘Otis’), superstars Kanye West and Jay Z’s collaboration ‘The Throne’ will be bringing the Watch The Throne tour to Europe in 2012.
For this project, music icons and pop culture visionaries Jay Z and Kanye West joined their extraordinary talents to form the group ‘The Throne’ and released the most anticipated album event of 2011, Watch The Throne. The longtime friends and music innovators inspired each other to new heights with their collaboration on Watch The Throne recorded in person at various locations around the world.
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Over a year in the making and a truly global affair, the duo recorded in London and Bath in the UK, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Paris, and New York City. The album features production from The RZA, The Neptunes and Kanye’s longtime collaborator Mike Dean. The short list of featured vocals includes Frank Ocean, Beyoncé, Curtis Mayfield and Mr. Hudson. OTIS The lead track, “Otis,” brilliantly weaves Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness.” Since the track’s release, the flood of praise for the track has been nothing short of deafening. Entertainment Weekly declares the track “the most wellexecuted rap song of the year.” Both Jay Z and Kanye West have each appeared as guests on the other’s stage, and now they come together for never-before-seen performances not only from their collaboration, Watch The Throne but also songs from their classic catalogue.
It’s a wonder to behold - and a throne well worth watching. – LA Times
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GIG GUIDE
MADONNA
Worldwide tour - 50 and FIT
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he announcement of Madonna’s 2012 World Tour followed an extraordinary week which along with her Bridgestone Super Bowl halftime performance saw the release of Madonna’s new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin” from her highly anticipated new album MDNA on Live Nation/Interscope Records. MDNA is already No. 1 on iTunes in many countries including the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Italy, Sweden and the Netherlands. The single’s video which stars Nicki Minaj and MIA
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previewed on her YouTube channel. The Madonna directed Golden Globe Award winning film “W.E.” is on general release. Madonna’s phenomenally successful “Sticky & Sweet” Tour reaffirmed her status as one of the most successful touring artists of all time. The historic tour included such incredible touring feats as a 70,000 seat sell-out in Werchter, Belgium, a 76,000 seat sell-out in Helsinki (the largest show ever in Finland by a solo artist), 40,000 tickets sell-out in Oslo, Norway, and 72,000 tickets sold out in one day in Tallinn Estonia. Other record breaking ticket sales around the globe include 650,000 tickets
sold in her series of South American dates, 72,000 dates, 72,000 tickets at Zurich’s Dübendorf Airfield - the largest audience ever assembled for a show in Switzerland, 75,000 tickets in London and four sell outs in New York’s Madison Square Garden (60,364 tickets). “Madonna’s track record as a world class entertainer and touring artist speaks for itself. Her artistry, talent and creative productions get bigger and better with each tour and Madonna 2012 will be no exception.” commented Arthur Fogel, CEO Live Nation Entertainment Global Touring and Madonna tour promoter. In the course of her
phenomenal career, Madonna has a record breaking 37 Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles Chart along with a record breaking 40 Number 1’s on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play Song Charts. No other act has more Top 10’s on the Hot 100 or Number 1’s on the Club Chart. Madonna has sold over 300 million albums and holds the record for the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. She is a seven time Grammy winning singer, songwriter, producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last CD “Hard Candy,” debuted at Number 1 in 37 countries .
GIG GUIDE
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GIG GUIDE
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he winner of The Voice and the fellow final seven contestants from the most talked about TV programme of the year will hit the road and will be coming to a city near you for The Voice Live Tour from September 2012. You’ve watched them in the blind auditions, seen them sing their hearts out in the battles, supported them, tweeted them, now it’s your chance to see for yourself the singer who is eventually crowned champion of the show and the 7 fellow finalists – a group of the most talented singers in the UK, live on stage. The Live Nation promoted show has confirmed eleven shows beginning 12th September in Bournemouth and stopping in Cardiff, London, Brighton, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester and Sheffield. The tour will feature performances from the shows winner and top contestants, ALL selected, trained and mentored by four of the most successful figures in the music industry: Jessie J, will.i.am, Danny O’Donoghue, and legend Sir Tom Jones. Buy your tickets to get your final Voice fix and see your favourite contestants before your very eyes and hear
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for yourself why they made the final eight. WA night of spectacular, breath-taking vocals awaits. The Voice Live Tour Dates 2012 All shows start at 8pm Wednesday 12th September - Bournemouth, International Centre Thursday 13th September - Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena Saturday 15th September – London, O2 Arena Monday 17th September – Brighton, Brighton Centre Wednesday 19th September – Birmingham LG Arena Friday 21st September – Glasgow, SECC Arena Saturday 22nd September – Aberdeen, AECC Sunday 23rd September – Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena Tuesday 25th September – Liverpool, Echo Arena Wednesday 26th September – Manchester, Manchester Arena Thursday 27th September – Sheffield, Motorpoint Arena
GIG GUIDE
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COVER STORY
The 24-year-old british singer Jessie J has been able to fill out arenas, sold out numerous concerts and is now the black lipstick ‘it girl’ of UK. Another nickname she goes by is the evil one out of the judges on BBC’s The Voice UK where she is known to be brutally honest. Everybody is raving about this girl. JJ is now one of today’s biggest selling solo artists smashing the charts in Europe as well as America. From when we first found her at our Network Live event, we knew this girl was going to become huge.
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It is safe to say that the UK has landed in terms of credible urban talent, especially the young acts who have forced their way in with their own unique sounds. To hear underground music you would usually have to go to clubs or talent shows and we are not talking X Factor who are all of a sudden letting street type music come through slowly. The sounds that are in now are what the industry used to turn their nose up at. I suppose we have to give thanks to acts like Tynchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah Chipmunk, Labrinyth, Taio Cruz, N Dubz and dare I say it the teen sensation JLS who are responsible for today’s urban influence in today’s pop market. Ok, its good to be big in the UK, but we all know to prove your worth you have to crack America and that’s what Jessie J has done easily.To see JJ make it huge is something we are very proud of as we as a magazine can boast to be one of the first magazines to back her even before she was signed. As you know SC is always ahead and looking to the future of stars and we knew from day one that our cover star was going to be the next big thing. We are proud to say that we showcased Jessie J at our Streetcred Network Live talent showcase in London in 2007. As you can see from our pictures it is a very young Jessie J amongst promo shots on our stage wowing a hardcore music loving crowd with her jazz like neo soul vocals. This girl looked like a signed superstar already and had that in your face attitude then. A big shout out to our photographer Gordy Pix who hosted Network Live and shouted about Jessie J being the hottest raw talent in London and was responsible for booking her in Club 56 formerly the hill. Our talent shows in London have showcased many artists before they rose to stardom and Jessie J is one we are definitely proud of being involved with in her early development stages. The night we staged her we had executives from Sony who were scouting and they did say that they had their eye on her. After a short period from our talent show we have seen Jessie J shoot to the top of the charts with cutting 46
COVER STORY
edge singles ‘Do It Like A Dude’ and “Price Tag”, she released her debut album Who You Are (2011) which charted at number two in the UK. Other releases from the album include “Nobody’s Perfect”, “Who’s Laughing Now” and “Who You Are” and Domino JJ has a remarkable story and is definitely someone that deserves the status she has achieved. At a very early age she knew that she had music running through her veins and she enrolled to Collins performing arts where she bagged herself a role in West End musical Whistle Down The Wind written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, at the tender age of 11. After completing BRIT school, she joined an all girl group which didn’t last long as her talent outshone the rest. At the age of 18 she was diagnosed with a heart condition and she had a minor stroke but recovered and started living her dream At first Jessie was signed for Gut records, which unfortunately went bankrupt, but determined to make her career in the industry, she carried on her writing and later on signed a contract with Sony AVT. Her songs have been picked up famous singers such as Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and even Rihanna has had her Jessie moment. Jessie won her BRIT award as a Critics Choice 2011 and her first number one
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I’d hate it if everyone in the world liked me, my music and what I wore
After her smash hits Jessie J has quickly become a nation’s’ pet. BBC can be proud to have her in Voice UK and it seems there is not one person who does not like Jessie’s honest approach about life and her music. She is openly bisexual but is not one hundred percent confirmed to be in a serious relationship with Rapstar Tinie
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Tempah. ‘ I am simply saying that I want to learn to be on my own even though I love to be a girlfriend’. says a likeable feisty JJ ‘ I do not have the time for the love at the moment and I am determined to be known for my music and not my sexuality’
No matter how much Jessie wants to be out of the limelight for her personal life the cameras
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COVER STORY
will always be on her. Let’s face it, we know she can sing but her image is going to be a major talking point and we love a diva. We know she has an outrageous dress sense and her main fetish is catsuits with black lipstick. She brings the goth element to the urban genre which makes her stand out amongst the rest. To make an impact image is key but now Jessie has established herself she aims to tone down the wild looks and be more mature as she is older ‘I won’t lie, when you’re first bringing out music and you want people to notice, you probably overdo it, especially as a girl. But I started looking at photos and thinking, ‘Jess, it’s too much –as she quotes in Company Magazine ‘ the outfits, the hair’. I became a bit of a cartoon. I just wanted to tone it down. I’d hate it if everyone in the world liked me, my music and what I wore. 48
COVER STORY
It’d make it boring and I wouldn’t have anything to work towards. It’s not to everyone’s taste but I can only be me.” Jessie commands so much respect in the industry that even Will I Am is said to have learned a few tricks and a possible collaboration is in the pipeline. Not leaving her roots, Jessie is to be reunited with Andrew Lloyd Webber in the near future. Being a respected top selling superstar with the potential to be a UK Madonna, Jessie has no problems with finding the stars who want to collaborate with her, even Gary Barlow has put the competition between the X Factor and Voice on the side and agreed to perform with her in Sony radio awards ceremony. Also rumours were flying around that Simon Cowell wanted to sign her to his label but not so sure that will work as she was partly responsible for taking many of Britains Got Talent viewers but we will see. Jetting between UK and USA is just proof that Jessie now has a status in the industry. Somewhere between The Voice UK and other commitments she still has some time to pop into a studio.
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I am determined to be known for my music and not my sexuality
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Maybe soon there will be another album for us to hear. All we know is the story has just begun we haven’t seen nothing yet, knowing Jessie’s vision we are to see something really major in the pipeline... well done girl knock them dead.
Words: Mark Dwayne
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HEALTH & FITNESS
Most of the ladies have tried all the quick fix diets going, we have done weeks after weeks of cabbage soup, drank disgusting chinese dragon tea and bought a number of pieces of fitness equipment which is now lying under the bed. Did we really get any results? Nah.... we did loose a little bit of weight, but when we got bored with it, it all creeped back twice as wobbly. So, what is the secret for the successful weight loss? The first thing to do is to check your lifestyle. Are there factors that are making you eat maybe more than you should, and what is your fridge filled with? Counting calories is a good start, but unfortunately unless you are really dedicated to fix those numbers, after a while it gets boring and little by little you forget it. Whether you do your shopping weekly or daily really is not an issue. They say that the healthy food is more expensive but really, you can get a pack of fruit for the price of a chocolate bar, and if you really love your chocolate, dates are a good substitute. Little changes take you a long way, remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Exercise is the best and most proven method of losing weight. It does not mean that we all should become gym worshippers, daily tasks use calories as well, cleaning up the house burns about 300 calories per an hour when it’s done with a good tempo. Dancing is a good way to lose weight. Walking is under rated and yet one of the most effective weight loss techniques. The good news is, all of those are for free too! Your body burns calories after 45 minutes of exercise, so anything done over that is a plus! Well, a minus in this case. Playing with the kids in the garden for an hour is fun, gives them some family time and makes that belly a little bit smaller. Swimming is one of the best ways to use every muscle in your body and water has a fantastic toning effect too. Quick diets that celebrities often market are sometimes dangerous for health, we all remember the fuss about the Atkins diet, which turned out to increase the risk of the heart disease and give bad breath. What ever method you are thinking about, if you think you might be in a health risk, you should consult your GP first just to be on the safe side. So if you are dreaming of that designer bikini and not sure about how you rock it... well, put a smile on your face and be assured there are ways to do some justice to your curves. Words : Paivi Lehtonen
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Lose the Belly?
Harvey
Derek Chisora and Steve Runningman Fifty Six Club in north London is proving to be the VIP hotspot on a Saturday night boasting attendance from top celebrities such as Jason Derulo, 112, Ja Rule, Only Way Is Essax stars and many more. This is an atmosphere that reminds us of the now defunct Hannover Grand parties on a Wednesday. Street Cred’s Gordypix has captured some of the best shots as you can see. Fifty Six venue is where we hang most to get the up close shots of the stars and of course the revellers who attend create an awesome party atmosphere. DJ Runningman and Sweet P make sure the floor is always packed by playing a wide variety of credible music. This is the place to get your Street Cred!
Wretch32 and HotStuff
Lyeracis
Sweet P
SC PARTIES
Partying with Street Cred
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SC PARTIES
There ain’t no party like a Street Cred Party! Street Cred have thrown some of the biggest and best parties in Birmingham over the last few years, and here is a collage of some of the people, stars, and DJ’s that have made it all possible! Make sure you’re at the next big party we throw and you could see you and your friends on the pages of our fine magazine!
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B LISS
INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW
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f you think of three hot girls, energetic performance and voices that just go together in harmony, the first thing that pops into your mind is Destinys Child. Well, Beyonce has now rocketed herself to the top and Destinys Child is a sweet memory that we all remember forever. So…. that can only mean that there is a space for a new girl group to take over, right??? Wrong, that space has been claimed by the American girl group BLISS, who promote lipstick music and they are hot in America! On the point of making it to the very top, these girls genuinely love their fans, talk to them on Facebook and appreciate the fruits of their hard work. We have met Alexis, Taryn and Cali, and they are so the most uplifting and friendly group. They are not afraid to put themselves into the middle of people and take it as it comes. Their dance routines rock any stage and are
tight! BLISS loves the UK and people in here. As party people we are their kind of people, and on the tour in UK they loved the reception of their music and uniqueness. We had the pleasure of an interview with the girls, In America BLISS have been sharing the stage with big stars such as Mary J Blige and P Diddy and there is a good reason for it! Girls are now preparing for the world tour and they also have their own reality show running on US TV. This impressive track record just shows, that they’ve got that something you need to have to make it big. Watch this space!!!! These girls are set to be the biggest thing since Destinys Child and will not be surprised if they become even bigger. The Bliss experience is something to be seen. On their recent UK promo tour they stopped by at the Streetcred party in Birmingham with
support act Richard Blackwood. We talk to the girls about their debut album Lipstick which is scheduled for release this year. When I say they can perform they can perform I mean they can really perform to extent where they have the same energy as Usher or Chris Brown. Its been a very long time since we've had a delicious looking girl band with curves in all the right places. As an act that isn’t known in the UK they have created such a massive stir with the guys and their single released off their own label has over 1million views on YouTube. Check out how these girls stay fit and what they have to bring to the music industry. Remember where you read about them first. Bliss: We just finished our album entitled lipstick music, it's an empowerment and uplifting album, lipstick
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its quite for the girls and it's about your alter ego. You transform into another dimension. It's for the battered women, the parent that struggles with her kids through school a woman that has her down day but when she puts on lipstick she can be someone else. MD: Lets talk about the performance because god you can move! Was that something you feel you bring to the table more than other girl bands? Bliss: We had to separate ourselves from everyone else out there, we train everyday. Taryn is a professional dancer and she creates the routines. We really put in the work and make sure we give you the ultimate stage show. MD: Have to say it's probably the best group I have seen in years you actually tick all the boxes as you have tight music as well as hot dancing I was so impressed and honoured to stage you here brought me right back to the days of when I hooked up with Destinys child. Bliss: Thank you MD: How have you found making the album? Bliss: It's been fun we had a good time its RnB but we got a new sound; electrosoul pop n b. There is something for everybody on the album you know we are a fun group MD: What track of the album really connects you all? Bliss: Only one for me, lipstick is the movement and we really connect with that MD: How you finding touring around the world? Bliss: We love it doing what we love to do and we really love you guys in the UK y'all know how to party
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INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW
Shola Ama : The Return
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ts been a long time since we heard from this Brit and Mobo Award winning Diva Shola Ama. One things for sure she is a name you can never forget simply because all of her songs are classics that still get played on radio and in the clubs today. Shola Ama has always supported Streetcred magazine and she was actually our second cover story. From 1997 we have always been intouch . We recently showcased her comeback at our SC Party in Birmingham. This was an exclusive show where she performed classics such as the garage smash Imagine, Your The One, You Might Need Somebody’ Sweetest Taboo’ and many more. As you can see from the images, our girl is glowing and in good spirits. SC writer Jay.S managed to get an interview backstage to talk about where she is going with her music career, helping her sister Sadie Ama with her music and being a full time mother. Jay_S: Its great to be here with the most talented underated Shola Ama, so girl tell me what you have been upto Shola Ama: So much I don’t know where to begin, I have had a lot of time off because i have an eight year old son I’ve been recording and helping my little sister with her career, writing and being active.
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Jay_S: So you been working on recent songs? What can we look forward to? Shola Ama: I am writing my album now and I am really excited for everybody to hear it ‘cause its been quite a while since I put anything out but it will have a lot of me in it. Jay-S: So what we talking the kind of style? Shola Ama: You know what its got Garage it will be R&B but the modern style and then there is just real classic songs I really wanna take it back to basics let people hear good meaningful music again, real songwriting but all in all abit of a mix Jay.S So you’ve been helping your sister, how is she getting on in the industry? Shola Ama: Shes doing great! Shes recording her EP and I’m doing mine so it’s a bit crazy but alot of fun, but it’s likely we will have them out around the same time. Jay_S What advice can you give to up and coming people who want to be in the industry? Shola Ama: I say record record record, perform perform perform get yourself online big time, let as many people as possible hear you. Its all about the experience , any chance you can get to perform do it keep writing because even if you don’t make it you can write for other people its a really tough industry girl I’m in the industry and its tough for me I say just keep pushing.
INTERVIEW
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I am writing my album now and I’m really excited for everyone to hear it!
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NEWS 2Pac lives
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ringing 2Pac on stage was the idea of Dr. Dre, and 2Pac performed a very realistic set on stage with Snoop Dogg and other stars. The company that provided the projectors was called AV Concepts and a CGI studio called Digital Domain actually created the digital 2Pac. Digital Domain is the company that created the CGI effects that brought the young Jeff Bridges to the screen in Tron: Legacy. The process of projecting the image uses overhead projectors and a thin sheet of reflective mylar film. The illusion was so well received that there is talk of the holographic 2Pac going on tour.
Marc & Jsplit offi Lo cial
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arc Anthony has made his breakup from Jennifer Lopez official by filing for divorce months after the superstar couple announced their separation. The Latin crooner filed his petition Monday in Los Angeles. He cited irreconcilable differences but did not put additional details of the split, including the date he and Lopez separated, in the filing. The former couple announced they were ending their marriage in June after seven years. They have twin children together, and Anthony is seeking joint custody. The pair had been a high-profile couple and maintained a business relationship even after their announcement, appearing in the reality television series “Q’Viva!” and promoting it together. Anthony’s marriage to Lopez was his second. She had been married twice before when the couple wed in June 2004. Anthony has delved into acting and producing in recent years, and appeared in the 2006 film “El Cantante” with Lopez. Lopez has seen her career rebound since joining “American Idol” as a judge. She released an album titled “Love?” last year.
ns ia h s a d r a k e th s t e e m e y n a k
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im Kardashian and Kanye West might just really be “official” now. Although Kardashian is still embroiled in some divorce drama with ex Kris Humphries, she and West seem to be hitting it off in quite the peachy, romantic fashion. From Kim’s attendance at West’s runway show during Paris Fashion Week to West alluding to “Kim” in his “Theraflu” song, followed by a few public outings, date nights and recent Twitter love shout-outs, this pair seems to be moving rather quickly—in standard Kardashian fashion. While they’ve apparently been friends for some time (perhaps a good thing for the success of this relationship), Kardashian reportedly just brought him home to meet her family, figuratively, that is, as the meeting didn’t exactly occur at their house in Los Angeles, but in New York City. Even pregnant Kourtney Kardashian was recently spotted hopping a flight to the Big Apple to perhaps be a part of it all! Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were seen strolling around NYC on Saturday, where she headed after she and sister Khloe Kardashian Odom promoted their Kardashian Kollection fashion line on Friday in Chicago. Smiles and sweetness apparently radiated all around this couple—literally, too, as they toted ice cream cones—with West perhaps showing off his softer side. He certainly is more on Kim’s level—height-wise, that is. But the real dessert of the day apparently was the big get-together with the fam. As TMZreports, “Kanye and Kim were excited for the family gathering and the opportunity to show them just how great they are together.”
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NEWS
Rihanna Feeling Awful
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ihanna struggled to enjoy the month-long vacation she took at the start of 2012 as she was ridden with anxiety thinking about work.The We Found Love hitmaker invited a group of friends to join her on a Hawaiian holiday after she wrapped up a lengthy world tour promoting her Loud album. The singer tweeted photos of herself soaking up the sun in a bikini and goofing around on a surfboard, but now she reveals the time off was torturous because her mind was racing with career concerns. She tells Elle magazine, “(I had been) dreaming about it for the entirety of 2011... (but) I felt awful. I kept thinking, and that drove me nuts. “I kept feeling like something wasn’t getting done, like I was being irresponsible. I knew this was going to be a big year, and I felt like I wasn’t doing anything about it. I had such anxiety, I was going crazy.”
BGT : Mr Zip Have you ever been in that situation where you’ve lost your keys and you’ve lost your phone? Zipparah Tafari - aka Mr Zip - stole the show on Britain’s Got Talent when he rapped about losing his keys and phone and forced his way into our heads for the rest of the weekend. But he won’t have to worry about misplacing his keys any more - he’s been offered a job as the face of an electronic keyfinder.
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cheryl to give up smoking
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heryl Cole wants to stop smoking because she fears it is damaging her voice.The 28-year-old ‘3 Words’ singer wants to follow in the footsteps of Adele and ditch the habit for the sake of her careerW. It will be the third time the former ‘X Factor’ judge has tried to quit, and reportedly follows a lecture from her management. A source told The Sun newspaper: ‘’Cheryl’s tried giving up before but it was never that serious. ‘’This time around the pressure is really on - because her singing voice is her job.
50 Cent sued
Cent is being sued over a song which he released three years ago online for free. According to TMZ, the lawsuit was filed in New York by Robert Poindexter of The Persuaders. Poindexter claims that Fif used a snippet from the band’s song “Love Gonna Pack Up and Walk Out” on his song “Redrum.” Because 50 posted the song online for free, Poindexter feels like 50 thinks he has immunity from any copyright claims. Poindexter is suing 50 Cent for unspecified statutory damage and asking for $600,000 in punitive damages, plus interest.
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KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS REneWED FOR 3 MORE SEASONs! Prepare to watch Kim Kardashian cry fake tears over at least a half dozen more divorces, E! viewers, as the network announced today that it has renewed Keeping Up with the Kardashians for three more seasons. The new deal is worth $40 million for the family, and that figure does NOT include all the revenue Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and kompany will earn by simply Tweeting and pretending to be your pal on Facebook. The contract also does NOT cover additional seasons of Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, Kourtney and Kim Take New York or Khloé & Lamar, along with any future spin-offs producers can conjure up (Kris Does Menopause? Kendall Studies For Her Learner’s Permit?)
THE VOICE : SPOILER ALERT!
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ans of The Voice are nervous they will find out which acts are evicted each week after it was revealed that the results show will be pre-recorded.
The Sunday edition of the BBC talent show will be recorded straight after Saturday’s show but not broadcast until the next day, meaning there is a risk that winners’ names may be leaked by audience members. The Voice is proving popular with viewers A similar method is used for filming Strictly Come Dancing and the couple who are being sent home are often revealed on internet forums before the results show is aired. And the risks are even greater with The Voice, with a source telling the Sun: ‘There is a lot more Twitter activity around The Voice.’
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P Diddy - Raps First Billionaire? P Diddy has been named the richest man in Hip Hop by Forbes magazine. His empire Bad Boy Records Sean John Clothing Fragrances and new Ciroc Vodka venture has been estimated a wealth of 550 million. This brings the rapper turned media mogul close to being hip hops first Billionaire. Everyone in the industry knows that when it comes to a hot party P Diddy is the man and all this guy does is celebrate his wealth with his celebity friends. Hear you see pics of an enormous New York secret party hosted by the man himself and sponsored by his own Ciroc brand. Attendees were Drake Nelly Rick Ross Spike Lee Denzel Washington among many others. See you at the next one Diddy.
INTERVIEW
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e’s been a signed artist for three years now, his vocal talent is applauded in the industry and he has featured on some memorable tracks with Chipmunk and Bashy but now the boy has grown up and is ready to clarify his own identity. Loick Essien, for a 21 year old, has achieved a fair amount in his career and looks like he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon. From childhood model and actor to Richard Blackwood’s MTV co-host and now rising music star, his new track and video, ‘How we roll’, is sweeping YouTube and the lists are buzzing over this young gent. The single is released on the 3rd of July and his eagerly awaited debut album entitled ‘Identity’ comes later this year. So what music growing up inspired you to become a singer. “I used to listen to the big ones; I am really an old school fan. Artists like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin have had a big influence on me. I also love gospel music and I think gospel still has a big influence on what I am doing today. I love gospel because of all the tones of the voices and the power of the songs. It’s just the whole delivery. Clark Sisters had a huge impact on me. I still listen to the gospel music.“
meaning, not only for me, but also for the people who wrote it. I hope that people get the message and the feeling of the song.” What about the future? What will you be doing in the short term and over a longer period? “Later on this year I will be at the iTunes Festival supporting The Script on the 13th of July. The tour is being planned, but it’s not sealed yet, so I can’t really release the details for that yet. You can follow the updates of all the information on the internet. I hope to see myself in five years time reaching more people with my music. I wish to be in the position to make more songs with bigger scale.” If you could work with any artist, who would it be? “I would love to work with Usher, Eminem and Kanye West. I am a really big fan of their music and I find them very innovative and creative and they always plan what they are doing.“ How do you relax between your working schedule? “I relax by sleeping. What people don’t see in this industry is how you travel a lot, your lack of sleep. The schedule is quite hectic sometimes and you don’t get to rest enough. Fans don’t really see this side of the business.”
Loick and Load : Ready to Roll What are the differences between working in the UK and working in the USA?. “I don’t think that in music there is a big difference between the USA and UK, but I do think that in the USA the artists are more advanced with working together. In the USA there is more ability to work with other artists. The UK urban scene is quite new, but given a bit more time I think we will catch up and will work more together and produce mutual projects.” What makes your music and style unique? “I think my music is unique as it represents me. It tells people that I am a positive person and I have a positive outlook on life. I’m always smiling. I like bright colours; they represent me as a person and complement who I am. My favourite colour is charcoal green. It’s quite deep.“
So what wise words does Loick have to share with those looking to make inroads into such a competitive business as is music? His advice is very down to earth and real, shared with a simple metaphor. “I would advise anyone getting into the industry to stay focussed. You have to watch your own car, if you are watching other cars you will crash.“ While we await the release of ‘Identity’ with anticipation, we can be satisfied to know that this young man is heading in the right direction with his positive outlook. With various summer appearances coming up, there will be a chance for all to see just what Loick is bringing to the party. Words: Paivi Lehtonen
So who have you been working with to create the new album? “I just came from LA finishing the album. I worked with Labyrinth and Rihanna, but I think that people really will be quite surprised when they see the credits on the album. I don’t want to tell too much as I want to keep the surprise factor.” What about the next video? Which song will we see next? “I have lots of choices for the next video, but nothing has been decided yet. Whats your favourite track on the album? “My favourite pick of the ‘Identity’ album would have to be ‘You kill me’. It is one of my favourite songs, and it has a special
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Paivi with Richard Blackwood - Who discovered Loick
Malkit’s Star shines on Broad Street Malkit Singh MBE is the first Asian artist to be awarded a star on the Birmingham Broad Street Walk of Stars. Malkit, also known as the King of Bhangra, was presented with the special honour in recognition of his global contribution to Bhangra music. This event will be taking place at Gatecrasher, one of Birmingham's most popular music venues. The internationally renowned singer has lived in the city since 1984 when he first moved to the UK and began work in a denim factory. He has always had a passion for music and his talent to write and perform was soon recognised. It was not long before Malkit began a new career as the front man of the world’ longest running Bhangra group, Golden Star. His trademark anthem, 'Tutak Tutak Toothiyan,' is the most successful and fastest selling Bhangra song of all time and the album ‘Up Front’ won Malkit a platinum disc. Some of his other hit songs have been featured in mainstream films including ‘Jind Mahi’ in Bend It Like Beckham and ‘Gur Nalon Ishq Mitha’ in the film Monsoon Wedding. In 2008, Malkit received an MBE from the Queen for his Services to Punjabi music. He has also been recognised in the Millennium edition of the Guinness Book of World Records as the best-selling Bhangra solo artist in the world. Malkit welcomed the news saying, “I am extremely delighted to receive this honour by the City of Birmingham. Although Bhangra music originated in Punjab (India), it was in Birmingham that it was recognised and has since become popular amongst all communities throughout the UK.”
Broad Street Events Manager, Nichole Samuels, added, “Malkit Singh is a global sensation. His music has transcended to people of all ages and cultures. I am proud that his contribution to Bhangra music will be officially acknowledged on our golden mile. He will join the likes of Tony Iommi, Julie Walters, Lenny Henry and Beverley Knight.” Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Anita Ward, presented the star to Malkit on Thursday 10th May at 6pm at Gatecrasher. At the event, Malkit will perform a selection of his biggest hits.
INTERVIEW
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enna Star is a name which is known in Europe. Since he immigrated from Jamaica to UK, this artist is making a lot of noise with his notes and old school style reggae. His determination to make it in the industry has paid off and he is getting recognized amongst the wider audience. He already has worked with some of the biggest stars in the industry such as Freddie McGreggor, Marcia Griffiths, Luciano, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man. I had a chance to hang around with him a day when he was doing his latest video shoot in Birmingham. A friendly man with the smile on his face is making it big in Europe and he is ripping the European reggae lists reaching his place in Top Ten charts. So, tell me about Tenna Star?
Tenna Star
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Let’s start from my childhood. Alright, I’m born in Kingston Jamaica and come from a big family. My mum is my inspiration. I get all my strength from my mum. Lot of, us my brothers and sisters, we all sing. I got a younger brother who is in the business as well, his name is Mark Ten, he is also a vocalist. We were all singing in the church, that’s where I get my discipline, but saying that, I grew up in a ghetto. I was exposed to everything. It started from there really. I went to school
A Jamaican Star is Rising like everybody else. My mum and dad, my dad has passed away now, you know what I mean, and tried to make the best of us. The economy is not that great in Jamaica. My mum tried to do her best for us and I love my mum for that dearly. That’s where I started really, started singing. We are right in the middle of Kingston where we lived, it’s called Reddings Road, very famous for the names like Buju Banton, Sanjez, Gerry Ganzy, all from that one area. It’s like magic, this is happening all the time. What do you think that it is in that area that brings so much music? Well you know what it is, these names I was calling, back in the day we just loved the music and singing the songs. No one was looking like “ oh we are gonna be a star” or nothing like that. Singing and enjoying the music and expressing what we were feeling. These names that I called, I knew them before they were famous. But it had an influence on all of us. We learn from each others. The music bounces from there. How did you come to UK, what made you come here?
time I have been here in England, as I said before, I go back and forwards, so I have been here 5 years now, and as I said, music as well because I have recorded with other companies, it’s happening for me. I’m very fortunate that I can do what I am doing. What do you get out from the music, what does it give to you? Peace of mind. Relaxation. We got so much energies blocked inside of me, injustice, a lot of things are happening where I come from, still happening in the world, to have a voice and connection to say something about it without being rude, without becoming across as a hostile, music sooths it. What about the future, are you going to stay in UK? My home is in Jamaica, always will be. At the moment, my decisions are based on what I am doing at the moment. The future is going to be shaped with the reality of what the directions are. So is an Album coming out?
When I first came to UK, I came for a tour. We went back, I came again. Not much at the time was happening in Jamaica. It was very hard at the time, so I came here and found someone but you know I was back and forward, but I stayed here because I got my kids here. But I like it here, because England has created something, the early migrants who have come here from early 40’s and 60’s created that culture where lovers rock came from, so that helped me to stimulate when I am sort of far away, because remember, Jamaica you have to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and I don’t flight so, you know, another culture another people. Then I settled in Birmingham. This is the longest
Yeah, we are now putting most of the tracks together. We have recorded probably around 9 tracks already, but we are not going to rush it, we are going to take our time. There is going to be 14 tracks on it. People can find my music now on Google. You can find Tenna Star on Facebook, Twitter and Reverb Nation Words : Paivi Lehtonen
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NEWS
Nicki & Nokia illuminate Times Square
T
ens of thousands of people watched as Nicki performed a medley of her hits before some of the world’s leading visual artists turned the prominent building into a living, breathing entity using cutting-edge CGI technology with 60ft waves appearing to cascade down the building. Nine of Times Square’s famous electronic screens showed the fantastic reaction of the crowd. The unique visual event, to launch the Nokia Lumia 900 in North America, was choreographed to an exclusive Nokia Lumia remix of Nicki’s hit ‘Starships’, performed live by DJ and producer Doorly. The entire show was filmed as part of the singer’s new music video for the ‘Starships’ remix. Nicki said: “When Nokia came to me with the idea to make a building come alive and to perform in Times Square in front of my fans to celebrate the launch of the Nokia Lumia 900 there was only ever one answer.
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“To see the idea on paper was amazing but to see it for real blew me away. It brought Times Square to a standstill. The absolute bonus for me is that my fans, who have been so loyal to me, are now part of the video for the Starships Nokia remix. “Performing in my home town of NYC the same week as the release of my new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded is amazing and it really is a dream come true.” To see more of the event go to www.facebook.com/ nokiaus The Nokia Lumia 900 is available now in the UK from free to £199 on O2, Vodafone and Orange. With 4G LTE speeds and outstanding design, the Nokia Lumia 900 lets customers access their email, music and social media quickly. l Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their Nokia to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another.
“To see the idea on paper was amazing but to see it for real blew me away.” 77
TRAVEL
Stag and Hen breaks for Under £100! Girls’ Night In For some, celebrating the last night of freedom is best done surrounded by one’s closest friends and family. Set in five acres of countryside, just west of the M25, the four star Crowne Plaza Marlow offers a sanctuary near the city for a suitably luxurious girls’ night in. For just £81.50 per person, ladies can enjoy overnight accommodation in one of the hotel’s 168 stylish guest rooms, an hour-long spa treatment, dinner in the AA Rosette award-winning Glaze restaurant, use of the leisure facilities including indoor pool, sauna, steam room , Jacuzzi and outdoor hot tub, and a full English breakfast the next day - all under one roof. Alternatively, order room service and a movie for a perfectly indulgent pyjama party. For further details, or to book, contact 01628 496 800 or visit www.cpmarlow.co.uk
We’ve searched out a number of breaks for under £100, which would be suited for Stag and Hen parties up and down the country. From relaxing spa and pyjama parties, to VIP clubs, we should have something for everybody!
Prices and packages are subject to availability. Advanced booking is required. Contact the individual hotels for information.
Bargain
Boogie
Night
With re tro-chic hen do scene, a making a come night so back to grooves akin the s of send-off the Capital off g up the best 7 tag and e 0s rs fo London r the bride or g a suitably psyc and 80s hedelic room-to Docklan ds has t Boogie eamed u be. The Crown Bu e Plaza p with t course d s to offer an ov he L ern in iting fou ner with drinks ight break, inc ondon lu , r of the city’s ret a cruise on the ding a two entranc Boogie ro hotsp e, all fro Bu o m as litt also inc le as £95 ts, and VIP nig s visludes a h f tclub per pers ull break return t on fast the o 201 next mo . The package Situated 2. rning to in Lon ease the contem porary f don’s thriving D o ockland ur star h rooms a sa o nd luxu ry suites tel boasts a wid rea, the cocktail , an awa e range bar, fitn of b rd-w es stunnin g waters s centre, leisure inning restaur edant, id f acil ev For furt her deta iews over Roya ities and spa, p or visit lus www.cp ils, or to book, l Victoria Dock docklan . c ds.co.uk ontact 0207 0 55 2000
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Budget City Break - Belfast
TRAVEL
A city bursting with culture, nightlife and legendary Irish ‘craic’, Belfast is the perfect destination for an action-packed hen or stag weekend. With the Ramada Encore, revellers can now enjoy a specially tailored two night break with arrival drinks, a two course dinner with beer or wine in the SQ Restaurant & Grill, and breakfast each morning for just £95 per person. Situated in the city’s stylish Cathedral Quarter, near to the bar and club scene of the Golden Mile, the Ramada Encore is the ideal base from which to enjoy the very best of Belfast. A range of activities are also available to add to the weekend package, from burlesque classes for the hens to paintballing for the stags; each just £25 per person. To find out more, or to book, contact 028 9026 1800 or visit www.encorebelfast.co.uk
Cut-Price Country Escape Surrounded by the English countryside, the 320-acre estate of the Crowne Plaza Resort, Colchester - Five Lakes presents the ideal setting for a little R&R before the big day. Hens can indulge in a luxury overnight spa break from £99 per person, including lunch, pre-dinner cocktails or champagne, three-course dinner, ESPA or Clarins treatment, and breakfast the next day. The entire party can also enjoy a late checkout and complimentary use of the leisure facilities, which include swimming pool, spa bath, sauna and steam room, while the hen is treated to a free room upgrade. Stags, meanwhile, can unwind on the green with an overnight golf break from just £89 per person. The package includes two days on the course - 18 holes each day, a three course meal in the award-winning Brasserie 1 restaurant, a full English breakfast in the Sports Cafe and complimentary use of the Resort’s leisure facilities. For further information, or to book, contact 01621 868888 or visit www.cpcolchester.co.uk
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ADVERTORIAL
Salon Tan & Beauty - Dazzling Heights Selly Oaks first and only Tanning and Beauty Salon - Le Tan & Beauty, this years celebrates its 10th anniversary, so to find out more StreetCred visited to meet owner Susan LePoidevin. Q) “What is LeTan & Beauty all about?” Sue: “We not only offer our customers both stand up and lie down sunbeds, we offer a full range of Beauty treatments from Waxing to Botox and from Manicures to Fish Spas. We also have a designated spray tan area and a separate private, fully equipped treatment room. Le Tan & Beauty is all about making our customers feel relaxed in a friendly, informal atmosphere, whilst maintaining the highest level of service and standards. All the girls are qualified beauticians and keep meticulous records of our clients requirements and previous treatments so that our customers are always at ease “ Q) “Where did the inspiration come from?” Sue: “We originally owned a local hairdressing salon which had 2 spare rooms, we converted one of the rooms to a beauty room and into the other we installed a stand up tanning booth. Before long we had queues forming to use the sunbed and so we decided that Selly Oak really needed its own Tanning Salon. After many months of sourcing the best beds and equipment and then converting this shop, including installing a new 3 phase 80
electric supply we opened the doors of LeTanfasique” Q) “LeTanfasique? thought this salon was called LeTan & Beauty?” Sue: “Originally we named the salon LeTanfastique however about 18 months ago we introduced beauty treatments and thought that Tan & Beauty was a more apt name so we changed the name of the shop
but the business is still registered as LeTanfastique and out of sentiment I wanted to keep the ‘Le’ so the shop is now known as LeTan & Beauty” Q) “What kind of feed back do you get from clients who com here?” Sue: “Our customers love the friendly atmosphere and the fact we know them all by their first names. Clients like to sit and chat and have a complimentary glass of wine or a cappuccino and the lucky ones may even get one of our chocolates, that’s provided the staff haven’t pinched them all that is!” Q) “So at the moment is your target audience students?” Sue: “Obviously with the university just across the road we have a lot of students and at times such as the graduation ball or other functions we do a tremendous amount of spray tanning. However we still have a loyal regular, local customer base some of whom have been with us since day 1. We do have 2 ladies who travel from London to use us and of course it always nice to see ex students who call in” Q) “How passionate are you about your business?” Sue: “This is a major part of my life and we all just love the fact that we help make people look their best and as importantly feel special, you have to enjoy what you do and as you can see from the staff they have a real passion for it” Q) “Where do you want to take it to next?”
Sue: “We are planning to expand the beauty side by converting the first floor into treatment rooms, that would then free up more space downstairs to install a least another sunbed. We are also looking to increase the retail side by offering our clients a further range of products as we currently tend to limit our stock to tanning creams and lotions as we have limited shelf space” Q) “What is it like working with your family?” Sue: “ Its great, we are all very flexible and help each other out, as I have 2 children and sometimes need to attend school things and visa versa. We all genuinely get on very well and that helps create a happy pleasant atmosphere not only for us but also for the customer” LeTan & Beauty certainly seem to have the right mix of relaxed approached whilst providing a very high standard of service, so next time you need a beauty treatment or want to top up that tan why not call into LeTan & Beauty – 602 Bristol Road – Selly Oak – B29 6BQ – 0121 472 4144. Say StreetCred sent you and you never know, you might get 1 of those elusive chocolates.
The greatest combat and strength based sports event on the planet
over 15,000 sq ft of: Workshops seminars demos tournaments celebs discounts freebies offers
>>> COMPETITION <<< The lovely people organising SENI have given us a pair of tickets to the event, as well as everything you can see in the goody bag below! For your chance to win the lot, answer the following question!
Which celebrity did Cage Fighter Alex Reid marry in Las Vegas? Send your answerrs in an email, along with your preferred contact details to
competitions@streetcredmagazine.com Competition closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 23rd May. No entries after this time will be accepted. The draw will take place on Friday 25th May, and the winner announced on the website shortly after being contacted by one of the team.
Hanging onto the Dream
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ot very often do we hear inspirational stories about people who have fought their way away from the difficulties of life and been successful. Arnold Henry is one of those people who at very young age decided what he wanted to do with his life and where does he want to go. As a tallest person in his class, his choice was a basketball, but from the Caribbean St Lucia, he had a little chance to make it to the big arena of USA. He had a dream which he decided to fulfil “ My childhood was very difficult. I lived with my mother, my step father and my younger sister and brother. There was a lot of abuse in my household and to me the sports were the way to stay away from home as much as possible. My inspiration and drive to succeed was really to help my family into a better situation and I wanted to get out. We were financially ok, but my mother fell ill and she was unable to hold her job as a housekeeper in a hotel.” Why basketball? “ I chose basketball because I was always the tallest person in my class. I saw some highlights of Michael Jordan and thought to myself: “ If he can do it, I can do it too.” I was not chosen the first time around to my school team, but I practised everyday and became better and better. I started to gain awards and 2001 I was chosen as a National basketball player of the year. I was discovered by my coach and a very good friend from Carolina, who came for a holiday to St Lucia and saw me playing. He spoke to me and told me he is
going back to USA and will talk to his friends about a talent he found from St Lucia. The next week he called me and offered me a full scholarship in USA.” So what inspired you to write a book about it? “I wanted to write the book because I wanted to share my dream with those people who may be experiencing hurdles in their lives. I want to tell them that there is always a way to reach what you want and if you believe in yourself and your dreams you can jump over the hurdles and achieve your full potential.
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PHAT RIDES
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This is the Bugatti Veyron, the fastest production car in the world, shown here with a mirror finish. After receiving amazing reviews from all three Top Gear presenters, even being hailed as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the greatest car ever made and the greatest car we will ever see in our lifetime.â&#x20AC;? by Jeremy Clarkson. A very high honour indeed... 85
Where have all the "good men" gone?
HIP HOP SPECIAL
A Few Good Men are a hip hop/turntablist outfit from Birmingham and Leicester with a big following in the midlands. They consist of DJ’s Rhize, Roc1, Psykomantus and E double D. On 28th April they hosted a YO! MTV Raps remembrance night at The Hare and Hounds pub in King’s Heath, Birmingham, so we decided to go along and catch up with the guys in between some Big Daddy Kane and an ice cold beer…
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HIP HOP SPECIAL
So guys give me a little history on the crew: Rhize: Well…wow, where do we start…ha-ha. We first started out as myself, Rhize and the mighty Roc1 back in ’98. At the time there was a lot of turn-tabling and scratching going on and we used to go and do our thing at all the ChampionshipDJ competitions . We decided to link up, we’d spent a lot of time together and the name just came to us ‘A Few Good Men’.It was a scratch thing and then after a few of years E double D came on board because we all used to practice in the same vicinity and because of the same kind of movement of people that we all used to hang around and then E became the third member. Psykomantus was the latest member. Roc1: Yeh, Initially it was just scratching and then 2 years ago Pyskomantus decided to put on a night at the Hare and Hounds and then we all came back together as a hip hop outfit ‘A Few Good Men’, more music orientated, we still do the scratching and all of that but our common denominator is music and hip hop. We all bring something very different to it. We realised that it wasn’t just about the scratching there are 4 identities that actually all bring something different to it but we all understand the same goal. The three of us Myself, E double D and Mantus are all the oldies and Rhize he’s slightly younger than us but yet he brings the legacy. He’s one of the reasons that it keeps moving forward because it’s not just about old minds like us, it’s about new minds like Rhize. He’s picked up what he’s learnt from us oldies and he’s brought something new and fresh to the table. So two years to present day we’ve realised that we’ve brought something back which has was always been there, but we’ve brought it back.
Would you say that Hip Hop is making a revival amongst the youth of today? Roc1: Yeah, it’s weird, I mean the originally concept of Hip Hop has done dips and peaks all the time. I think Hip Hop for most young people is the norm now but like the whole Culture is the thing that’s forgotten. That’s the thing which makes us special, in a sense that we’re not just bringing the music, because anyone can bring the music now. We try to bring what comes with it, the culture and the history behind it and the feeling of it. We’re bringing something that other people aren’t bringing.
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So who would you guys say are our generations hip hop heroes? Rhize: Oh goodness gracious, that’s a good question. How far back to you want to go?! Tonight’s a good example really…all the types of artists we’re going to play are all ones that inspired us to make a night like this. DJ wise you’ve got Cash Monies, Afrikan Bambaata, Jazzy Jeff, and all of the originators, and when it comes to MCs you’ve got different ones from public enemy to Ice T, Ice cube and that’s how far back we go. Roc1: I mean KRS is a good figure now because he’s still on it now. Even though the industry is a full blown engine now, people like KRS one are still kind of stuck in the middle of all of it now, kind of like ‘it doesn’t matter what Jay Z or anyone else does cause bam I’m still here’. People still respect that. To some of the Americans’ credit is that they respect legacy. Even if they’re not today’sheroes they still respect the legacies, like Jay Z will still respect Kane.
Do you think there are any artists out there at the minute that measure up to the kind of hip hop heroes that inspired A Few Good Men? Is there anyone current that you’re rating? Rhize: There’s a lot of present MCs that are old school heads but they’re jus bringing a newer ‘nowadays’ flavour to it so they’ve still got the original-ness to them but they’re bringing it out in a diff way. If you went back and asked them who their inspirations are, they would tell you more or less the same as us. Roc1: Common is good, he’s still kept the culture. I’m not a big fan of Kanye West but because he’s got a lot of heritage,He’s brought something to a new generation but every so often they still let you know that they know it. Roots Manuva are still in that mix of it. They’re current in the sense that they still think people kind of recognise them but they still push the heritage through. There are still a lot of MCs out there that do it but they try and adapt to here and now as well. Nas is still one of the young people’s favourites too but yet if you listen to some of his albums, even though we always gauge it from his old ones, he’s still very much a hip hop head. GFK is another artist who is very current, people seem to love the whole Wu-Tang thing but he never forgets his roots musically.
HIP HOP SPECIAL
We came to your show here back in January when you were supporting Grand Master Flash and it was a great gig. Have you worked with any other big heads in the game? Both: Wow, yeah loads. Over the years, we’ve worked with loads, there’s been too many…
What would you say has been your best experience with working with these artists? Rhize: One of my favourites was Premier and KRS was a good one too. We supported him twice. De la soul, DJ NY, Souls of mischief, Craze, Cash Monies, Faster ace, Big Daddy Kane….ha-ha, the list goes on… They’ve all been here you know, it’s a shame YouTube wasn’t around then and we could record these things and get the word out. Roc1: They’ve all stood for different things but what we liked about certain artists was the inspiration of being with them as normal people. When you work with them at night you don’t get the benefit of seeing them as real people, you just get to see them as artists and performers. De la Soul were especially very good as artists and they were just like ‘look we’ve
been in the game 15 years but we are still normal people who go through ups and downs’. Primo is very inspiring too, considering his history and his massive legacy. He was just like I’m still a regular hip hop guy from the streets, it doesn’t matter how much money I’ve made, I still go through my ups and downs, and he’s still so passionate about it all. I think that’s the driving force behind A few good men. The hip hop game in the world is so driven mainstream and it’s so big now it’s kind of like being a romantic if you already remember a legacy. Legacy is the reason you’ll be in the game 10,15,20 years. If you’re in it now just to do your thing, make money and represent then you will take a couple of years or even months and your gone and that’s the truth.That’s just how the game is and I suppose if you want to be like that then there’s nothing wrong with that. If you want to go in there make music, be credible, be out by 2 years and have a vision for that that’s fine. For people like ourselves it’s all been driven by legacy and that’s why we’ve been around 20 years. Rhize: It’s quite easy to do things like this when you’ve grown up on it and it’s inside you, it’s from the heart and that’s what drives us and keeps us going. Especially for the kids it’s a healthy reminder to show them
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as well when we were young there were older people doing their thing that we looked up to so it’s our turn to do that for them, even though I’m kind of young myself. Roc1: Yeah Rhize is living proof of that, he’s younger than us but his hearts in the longevity of it. I mean
most people of his age they make the music, do it, hopefully get top 40 then they’re gone and that’s it, because it’s a diff scene from what I grew up in. What are A few Good men doing at the moment? Rhize: We all bring a different angle and a different spice to the group we’ve all got our own projects on the side. Roc1 is doing his radio thing switch radio on Wednesday’s 7-9pm hip hop, soul and funk. Roc1: Pyskomantus is doing his MC thing as well. Rhize is with his crew… Rhize: ...yeah I’m in a group called Da Mighty Elementz. How does Da Mighty Elementz differ from what you’re doing with A Few Good Men? Rhize: It’s a lot of live orientated stuff where you’ve got your keys, guitars, bass etc. so I bring the DJ element to that and it brings out a whole diff feeling and diff style. So what’s your next move then? The next thing will be nationwide for A Few Good
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Men, watch out London!! And Da Mighty Elementz are looking to take the world globally. Haha. We think we’ve got a good brand, nationally there aren’t enough people doing this. It kind of goes in swings and roundabouts, people get into it for a bit but don’t stay with it. That why we say look this is what were about and we want to keep plodding it really and showing people that hip hop is alive, you can have the top 40 stuff as much as you like but it’s from the old school that it all came from. Well what can I say the atmosphere in the small room upstairs at the Hare and Hounds was Vybezing! There were people there of all ages and backgrounds tucking into a healthy slice of hip hop history. It seemed that every tune played, created more noise from the crowd than the last one. It was all aided by a huge screen playing legendary hip hop videos from biggie and 2pac to Pharcyde and Roxanne Shante. If you would like to follow A few good men or Da Mighty Elementz on their epic journey click on (www. facebook.com/Da-Mighty-Elementz) , www.dmemusic. com or www.weareafewgoodmen.tumblr.com
NY Yankees gear up with Rocawear
J
NEWS
ay-Z’s Rocawear has announced a partnership with the New York Yankees. According to a press release, Rocawear will have branded signage in Yankee stadium, in addition to integrated promotion through the 2012 season. “Jay-Z has been a long-time fan of the Yankees, regularly attends games and has even included his favorite team in song lyrics, so this was a natural partnership,” said Jameel Spencer, EVP Marketing, men’s division, Iconix Brand Group, Inc. “Rocawear, along with Jay-Z are very excited to be working with the Yankees for the 2012 season. We feel another championship in ‘12!”
INTERVIEW
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Dray Delta set to hit it BIG
nce in a while as a music writer / reporter you get the opportunity to meet a future star or an artist virtually on the brink of doing something massive. When I was asked to write this exclusive, I had no idea that this was going to be one of those moments!
EP which I’ll tell you about in a second.
Lets start from the beginning: It’s a cold, rainy evening in Central Birmingham and I’m due to review House of Fraser’s Fashion event, so I poised and ready to hit some free champagne and give my credit card a proper workout. This isn’t a plug for the shop I mentioned so I guess I should really get to the point.
This was a performance uncommonly different for a number of reasons, I suppose firstly; Delta’s flow and imaginative use of symbolism some how reminds me of the originality of the early Streets material that I listened to in a record shop lock-in at the age of 17. And secondly; after listening to a few of his new tracks whilst trying to remember how many drinks I’d had, Delta has a captivating use of language from a realists perspective, coupled with unique sense of humour.
The headline act on stylish stage they must have hired in was a young gun from North London called Dray Delta performing a selection of new track from his forthcoming
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Delta has just finished his set when I decided to introduce myself, expecting to get the luke warm reception common with some of these: “boil in the bag” rappers I meet so regularly.
INTERVIEW
Delta duely agrees to meet me for an interview, but as it sometimes is in this industry a couple of months pass before I can get a date in his diary for an interview which happened to be on location of a photo shoot for his forthcoming EP- Work and Play which is out in XXX XXX. So in the time between, I got some research done and was impressed by what I found.
story behind his track: “Boby Brown,” a track which is about the sorry state of Ugg boots when they have passed their wear-by date. The joke hear is that Dray likens the ski slope angle of the all so infamous bad boy of rap – Bobby Browns hair cut with the shape of the the now crusty out of date Uggs worn by girls refusing to let their little lamb –furred friends bite the dust.
Delta is a formidable “Lyrical expressionist” who cut his musical teeth battling the likes of Durrty Goodz and Crazy Titch on pirate radio stations all over the country. He has also worked with G-range, Nutty P and Mr Soundz and has gone on to set the 1Xtra airwaves alight on Charlie Sloth’s Fire in the Booth showcase. The interview went on and Dray started telling me the
If you don’t know what these look like ladies the YOU OWN A PAIR! Anyway, the track is laced with slick lyrics crafted carefully over a catchy yet well produced beat. “Bobby Brownz” is out now and look out for Dray’s forthcoming (May 2012) Mixtape.
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UP AND COMING
The new young soulstress with a heart of Old Skool.
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o much talent in the UK is unheard and even though we have Britain’s Got Talent you don’t get to see much of the raw urban acts that many of us want to see.
Right now we have our eye on this young girl who is currently making a buzz on the streets as a singer songwriter and presenter. Her name is Jay_S. You may have caught her interview with the legendary Shola Ama on SC TV and Richard Blackwood. We also showcased her at the SC Chatroom party where she did an amazing rendition of Killing Me Softly. Jay_S is a young a bubbly soulful singer coming from a family that has experience in music that is looking to make waves in the entertainment industry. Already she ghost writes for singers and produces R&B and funky house music , for a 23 year old you’d be surprised at the type of music that moves her. ‘ growing up I listened to what my mum and dad listened to, and that was good soul and reggae.’ Says a bubbly Jay_S ‘I just loved earth wind and fire Cameo and Diana Ross. I find those musical influences have helped me to be really melodic. Sometimes my friends wonder what the hell I am singing as I always hum old tunes from the 70’s.
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But my best time for music was the 90’s I loved Mariah SWV Jade TLC and that just made me fall in love with music more’ Jay_S started out in a girl group called Madam Sound and auditioned for X Factor two years ago, this was fun times but sadly fell apart when Simon Cowell said that they didn’t go well with eachother. The words of Simon influenced the girls to split up as he wanted to completely change their sound and look. At first they took the advice but as time went on they found they couldn’t get along as the whole concept of Madam sound went down the drain. Jay S decided to embark on a solo career and invest in her mini studio which has enabled her to produce her own music. She is currently collaborating with many grime and hip hop MCs in Birmingham. At the moment she is a popular choice to have as a female on underground tracks. ‘Ive seen alot in my life, many of my friends and family have lost their way but they all look to me and I love that.I am really greatful for the support of my dad who is also a musicaian and I learn alot from him as he is well experienced in that field. I really do love music as I feel its a great way to reach people. I don’t really want to
UP AND COMING
Jay _ S
be the typical image led act I want songs out there that have meaning and can uplift young people’ We’ve put Jay_S in the spotlight this issue and we definitely feel she is one to look out for. This could be the new R&B star from Birmingham. Right now she is available for performances of her own songs and covers.
If you want powerful and sultry vocals then Jay_S doesn’t fail to please. You can contact Streetcred for booking details. Look out for her new mixtape to hit the roads this year. We will keep you updated.
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Dannii and the rest of the judges loved us, but Simon wanted us to change - I could only be me
”
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£675
£650.00
This platform style sandal utilizes the feminine and sexy mix of soft suede and mesh to create a luxurious base for a scattering of Swarovski crystals. £1200
GMK leather fashion accessories are beautiful, exquisite, and quite likely like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Some call this work
inspired, and many appreciate it’s aesthetic and artistic nature. Yes, every single GMK creation that is offerered is a unique work of art, -the sort of handmade leather fashion accessories your friends will envy and you’ll treasure for ages. If you’re looking for something beau-
tiful, something exclusive, something absolutely extraordinary... look no further. Adding GMK handmade leather fashion accessories to your wardrobe will provide you with an inspired style and look. GMK handmade leather fashion accessories are worn with an outfit to spruce it up some and provide you with a new and stylish look.
Choose from an array of men's and women's leather belts, leather bracelet cuffs, and other fashion and handmade leather costume jewellery options. GMK's leather fashion designs will take your breath away, and GMK wants to make sure that you will fall in love with the work and the GMK brand can't wait to introduce you to the wide array of exotic leathers GMK offers. In fact, GMK features stingray leather, crocodile leather, buffalo leather, cow hide leather, sheep leather, pony skin leather, and other leathers that you will have trouble finding in any common marketplace shop -- you will truly admire the look and feel of our products from handmade leather unisex fashion accessories to a multitude of handmade leather accent pieces. So... Come on in, GMK welcomes you and can't wait to expose you to collections full of innovation and creativity. Leather has been used in fashion for centuries and continues today to be a popular choice among many fashion designers. Genuine leather is both a durable and flexible material which makes it so versatile that it can be made to match anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s style and preferences. Finding the perfect handmade leather fashion accessories to add to your wardrobe can give you that extra stylish look you want.