Not too long ago, I made a post about what I consider to be the phenom that is the "1-sided shave": In the post, I low key ranted about my frustration with designer/DJ Kesh's protest sans Diddy and Cassie on Twitter, saying that Cassie didn't start the movement, but many females before Cassie [including herself, see picture above] did. Here are a few excerpts from her blog regarding the "issue":
"1. I just wrote a whole post about this 'ethnic girl shaved head' trendkill & read it over and thought WHAT A FUCKIN WASTE OF MY TIME. There were pictures & evrything! So i deleted it and decided i'll just make a few points for ALL the people kickin up a fuss about who started what.
3. Kelis did it 3 years ago ..... forgive me if i wasn't paying attention but i was too busy writing out t-shirt buyers names on envelopes on my shitty rental bedroom floor and not listening to RnB music to notice.
4. I had no idea who JDavey was until after i shaved some of my hair. I don't listen to trendy hipster music or read music blogs to know who they were. After people said i copied her i was like WHO? googled Jdavey and was like oh... that's a mohawk. Different thing.
5. I'm not even going to talk about cassie or rihanna because theyre living a different life to me with teams of image consultants and stylists who comb through fashion blogs, magazines and trend reports and apply all the best things to their 'look'.
So let me just say again. I DID NOT START ANYTHING."
...Ok, hon'. You said you refuse to discuss Cassie or Rihanna, yet oh, do my eyes deceive me? You just blogged about them. Get outta here... I have been aware of Kesh's fashion sense for quite some time now, however, this whole backsliding-talk that she's been dishing out regarding who started what--or didn't start it for that matter, is a tad annoying.
If you look around, online, magazines, etc. you will see [if you haven't already noticed] that more an more women, particularly women of color are shaving either one side, or both sides of their head. Most recently, R&B singer Keyshia Cole donned her own version with red stars styled in her 'do. Four months later, Cassie is still rocking her one-sided shave; and Rihanna reportedly shaved the sides of her head for a photo shoot with Italian Vogue.
Photo & excerpts via: Kesh's Blog
First of all, I must say, "WOW". I absolutely adore Amber Rose! When I saw this online I was giggling and clapping my hands like a kid going to Disneyland. *clears throat* Ok, let me re-group now... Amber was first featured in Complex quite some time ago, but since she has rose to fame, Complex couldn't resist doing another shoot with her. Check out the interview and dope photos below.
Amber Rose's take on gossip blogs:
Amber Rose: This is my life, this is how my life’s been since I was a kid. I’ve always been popular, my name has always been in somebody’s mouth in high school. I don’t lose no sleep over this shit. Some of the stuff, when it’s extremely far-fetched and stupid, I just laugh. I don’t lose a minute of sleep over this.
Complex: Has your recent fame opened more doors for you?
Amber Rose: Obviously, Kanye is a super-duper megastar so he definitely gave me the fast track to the top, and I love him and appreciate him so much for that.
Complex: What’s one thing about ’Ye that really blew you away about him?
Amber Rose: Well, the fact that there can be a noise in the background, or like a windshield wiper and he will start beat-boxing or banging on the dashboard and start doing some type of beat and it sounds so fresh. I remember when he first did something like that and he just closed his eyes, and gets in the mode. I was like, “Wow.” You have to be a genius to that. He’s amazing.
Click here for the full interview
Amber is currently signed to Ford Models, one of the most, if not the most prominent modeling agencies in the world. She also plans to venture into acting. I'm not mad at you Amber, can't knock the hustle. I'm rooting for you!
At first I wasn't going to post this 'cause I've already seen this on 1,928,029 blogs already, but the styling, the photography and Teyana's swag was just too on point for me not to. Teyana is the new face for New York based clothing line, Married to the Mob. Check it out...
Brooke Nipar is an Los Angeles based photographer who has shot spreads and magazine covers for some of the industries highest esteemed pop culture magazines, such as Nylon, VIBE and Luire Magazine Japan. Her simple yet eye-catching approach is what makes her photohraphy have an appeal all its own. Check it out...
Milk and Honey - Goapele from goapele on Vimeo.
I've ben listening to Goapele for quite a long time now since here debut back in 2002. Think you haven't head of her? You probably have: she is best known for her song "Closer", which has been featured in movies and short films. I love her last album, "Change It All", definitely a good look. Her latest LP should hit stores sometime later this year.
I would like to start off by saying, "I love your music--especially, your latest effort, So Far Gone"... I noticed that you have been having injury, after injury--the first one being from you playing a game of basketball, tearing your ACL and still performed at the BET Awards. Then, the other day you performed with Lil' Wayne, skipped across the stage and fell. This fall caused even more damage, and now you have to get surgery. I go online today and read reports and see video of you performing--again--against doctor's orders. In life, sometimes God will speak to us through the circumstances, and He sends us messages... I am saying this in hopes that you take a hint and see the pattern that I'm seeing here. The bottom line is, you need to press "pause" for a moment. I know things are moving at vast rate for you, but you need to take a break. You are blessed to walk and move around as you please, and I hope that you wouldn't want that to change just because you made some poor decisions...
- LaLa Nicole "Ms.L"
Complex: How do you feel about your album and the way people are receiving it? It’s tough out here right now.
Keri Hilson: It’s doing very well. Especially given this industry—even though the business is hurting, the album is still achieving its projections. I’m proud of the album, but you can never expect how the world will receive you or your music.
Complex: So far, your biggest hits have been performed by other artists—Britney Spears, Omarion. Does that fact bother you at all?
Keri Hilson: No, it’s money in the bank. That’s my means of living. There’s two sides of me, and neither takes preference. One is just a dream that I fought long and hard for. Songwriting was my Plan B. My whole life, I’ve fought to just do this. I didn’t know that I’d be able to take off as far, or as fast, as I did, but I knew I had a talent and that I should pursue it, because there’s money in it. When I wasn’t able to perform, and lost the record deal, I took the path of Plan B, and now I love them equally. I can’t have one without the other. Even at my biggest, I want to be writing for other artists. Even at my peak—the highest I can be as an artist—I always want to be keeping my creative juices flowing, keeping money in the bank, putting my intellectual property out there.
She's so fresh...
