Black Vibes

Finally,
we are beginning to get the truth about the marriage of Juanita
Bynum and Bishop Thomas Weeks, III.  For the first
time since the attack, the popular television evangelist spoke publicly to
the media.  In a very informal press conference at the Atlanta
Intercontinental Hotel, Bynum, surprisingly dressed in a
pink sweatshirt with white letters saying Daytona Beach Florida and a denim
skirt, shared her position.  It seemed that Bynum was as
comfortable speaking about her new calling as she was dressed.  The very
attractive pulpit princess was painted to perfection with every hair in
place.
Bynum said she did not want to be seen as a victim or as
a damsel in distress. 
"I did not prepare a written statement because I felt like whatever I
said today I wanted it to come from my heart," said Bynum. 
"This is such a difficult moment for me because this is my first time
speaking out publicly about what I've been through, but I just wanted to
first go on record to say that I forgive my husband and I wish him all the
best." 
Clearly, this is not the first tumultuous marriage the prophetess has had
nor, according to her books and sermons, is it the first time she has been
physically abused by a man that she loved.  Bynum is known
and admired by thousands as a fiery evangelist whose no-nonsense,
lead-by-less-than-perfect-example ministry was seemingly personified by a
fairytale marriage to a Godly mate that has gone bad. 

The story book romance, which included a million-dollar wedding, became a
nightmare the other week after Thomas Weeks traded in the
scripture Proverbs 18:22 says "Whoso findeth a
wife, findeth a good thing, obtaineth favor of the Lord," when he allowed
himself to become so unglued that he now finds himself charged with wrapping
his hands around the throat of his wife and squeezing the life out of the
dynamic and inspirational preacher-wife.  He then flung her to the ground
kicking her then raising his foot and stomping her in the Renaissance
Concord Hotel Parking Lot in Atlanta, Georgia.  Obviously, Bishop
Weeks laid down his religion and transformed into Ike
Turner and gave Juanita a pimp like old fashion
whipping. 
Juanita Bynum's example now shifts from empowered
single-turned-spouse to spouse-turned-survivor, which can be considered
another feather in her preaching cap. 
"I got a lot of phone calls wishing me well and people were saying they
were praying for me and I think at that point I began to feel week and
helpless and I came out today because I made a decision to choose my
position and I don't want to be seen as a damsel in distress or the victim,"
Bynum said. 

Although,
it is still very unclear why Bishop Weeks became so violent
and attacked his wife, it is not a shadow of a doubt that Juanita
Bynum will not allow this unfortunate situation to hold her
back—she declared domestic violenc

See a playa po' trippin, pimpin's the method

To runnin you try to play me in slow-vision

Picture how I'm mackin cold women

Bendin and grinnin my hair spinnin

While we smokin on Henny, Still Po Pimpin'

With over a decade of experience in the game Chicago lyricist Twista still delivers rhymes with the verbal precision unparallel to most. Despite being pulled of the from a McDonald concert series because of his "controversial lyrics" Twista stays true to what he knows best... Hip-Hop. Unlike many of his peers he understands the importance of evolving along with the music. Twista recently took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with BlackVibes.com

BV: When did you first start rhyming? How did that begin?

Twista: Hmm (thinking)... I was about 11 or 12 when I first started hearing rap, that's when I got interested. When I was 13, I started writing lyrics but I didn't write them for myself. I had more like a producer's mind state; I wanted to write for the people around me. Its wasn't until I saw Krush Groove and I started hearing the Human Beat Box, that's when I thought, ...man I gotta start rapping now!' I started writing lyrics for myself but it was over when I saw Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. When them ni66az came out with ...the Show' and ...Lodi Dodi' I had to be a rapper, I thought I was gonna die if I didn't become a rapper.

BV: How did you come up with your style? Did you start off rhyming close to how you rhyme now or did it evolve?

Twista: It was slow. (pausing for a moment, he goes into some back in the day rhymes, not quite recalling all the words but giving you a sense of the rhythm and pace.) That's some of my freshman in high school sh*t right there!

BV: How did Chicago influence your rhyming?

Twista: Chicago didn't influence my rhyming right away, it started early but it didn't take shape until later on. I say this because Chicago is the birthplace of house music and stepping music. I was used to the Chicago house sound, the dunh, dunh dunh dunh. At that time I was rapping slow so I didn't associate the two. It was actually after I started with the Twista style that I realized, ...wait a minute my raps are the same tempo and same rhythm as these house songs. (Pauses to remember a verse from Po Pimpin' and begins rhyming). It's the same thing... dunh, dunh, dunh. The house music had a subliminal effect on my music and my style.

BV: You had been putting it down for a while, but it seems like ...Kamikaze' was the album that broke through and introduced you to a new audience. Why do you think this is so?

Twista:My whole career I had put out certain songs and acquired a certain fan base. The "Kamikaze' album was launched by the first single ...Slow Jams' which was produced by Kanye who was this new genius producer at time with coming out with this new sound. Kanye just happened to be from Chicago and we just happened to be homies.

We came with a record that we new was a hot, but this one just catapulted to another level. It introduced me to a new wider audience and you had a different base of people talking about me. So my whole album got a chance to be heard by the masses because of the success of the first record.



BV: So this go round, what approach did you take in doing this album?

Twista:I took the natural unrushed approach. I have a studio now so I can go in and do things the way I see fit. G gave me a lot artistic freedom on the A&R tip because he knows I'm a well-rounded artist. I was able to just do songs when I was inspired to, whether I was in the ca

As much as certain elements of the media want us to believe that the Hip-Hop community cannot and will not try to work together or get along, it's great to see some of the industry's biggest names get together on one stage in Hip-Hop's Mecca...New York! Much love to those who had tickets to this show because I *guarantee* you there won't be another stop on the Screamfest Tour that puts it down like this.




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BlackVibes.com

Wait...Did He Say The "N" Word At The End???

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Makin' The Next Hit is coming back to Atlanta, and is set to have final auditions. Here are the dates and locations.



Seeking Rappers, Singers, Models, Producers, DJ's, Promoters, & Comics.



Friday August 17, 2007 @3PM:

Athlete's Foot- Underground

84 Upper Alabama



Saturday August 18, 2007 @12NOON:

Athlete's Foot- South Dekalb

2700 Candler Rd

Saturday August 18, 2007 @ 6PM:

The Gallery on the Plaza located @ STONECREST MALL (Right across from the AMC Movie Theater OUT ON THE PLAZA) 2929 TURNER HILL RD

Sunday August 19, 2007 @12NOON:

Athlete's Foot- Southlake Mall

1210 Southlake



THE WINNERS OF THE SHOW WILL RECORD A SONG WITH JAGGED EDGE, BE SIGNED TO 581 MUSIK GROUPE, AND RECORD A NATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO.

Auditions are free and open to the public. Walk-ins are accepted but you may send your name, phone number, city of residence & talent category to auditions@thenext.tv

Call 678-613-7739 for more info.

Philadelphia native, Kevin Michael, 22, partners up with the multi-talented, Wyclef Jean on the original version of "It Don't Make Any Difference To Me", better known as "It Don't Make Any Difference To Me (One Love)".

WATCH Kevin Michael and Wyclef Jean promote a positive message...... with SWAGGER!!!

Click Here To Watch Kevin Michael ONLY @ BlackVibes.com!

Also don't forget to catch Kevin Michael on tour with MAROON 5 and LILY ALLEN!!!

Kevin Michael

Tour 2007

9/6-15 w/ Lily Allen

10/15-31 w/ Maroon 5

SEPTEMBER

6 San Diego, CA - House of Blues

7 Las Vegas, NV - The Joint - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

10 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues

12 San Francisco, CA - The Warfield

14 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom

15 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre

OCTOBER

15 Boston, MA - TD Bank North Garden

16 Washington, DC - Verizon Center

18 Columbia, SC - Colonial Center

20 Sunrise, FL - Bank Atlantic Center

21 St. Petersburg, FL - St. Pete Times Forum

23 Orlando, FL - Amway Arena

24 Duluth, GA - Gwinett Civic Center

26 Houston, TX - Toyota Center

27 Ft. Worth, TX - Ft. Worth Convention Center Arena

29 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center

31 Salt Lake City, UT - EnergySolutions Arena

For more information on Kevin Michael, please visit KevinMichael.com or myspace.com/KevinMichaelMusic.

Fashion house Liz Claiborne Inc. says founder Liz Claiborne, whose styles became an important influence for career women in the 1970s and 1980s, died Tuesday.

Her company released a statement saying "we lost not only our founder, but an inspirational woman who revolutionized the fashion industry 30 years ago. We will remember Liz for her vision, her entrepreneurial spirit, and her enduring compassion and generosity."

There is still no word on the cause of her death. She was 78.

R. KELLY SING-A-LONG CONTEST

Users step up to the mic to sing "I'm a Flirt". Grand Prize winner's track is posted on R. Kelly's Myspace.com page and more!

Click Here To Enter Now!

As the undisputed king of R&B, R. Kelly never seems to be far from the current soul scene. Be it collaborating with his homeboy Snoop ("That's That") or trading verses with Ciara ("Promise Remix"), this Chicago soul man has displayed a consistent brilliance throughout his fifteen-year career.

Since 2002, R. Kelly has blessed his fans with a new album every year, and 2007 will be no different. While the rest of the music world slept, R. Kelly has been inside his famed studio the Chocolate Factory making countless beats, laying down mackadelic vocals and creating wonderful music.

Much like his musical forefathers Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway (the latter two also hailed from Chi-town), R. Kelly makes songs for ladies lounging in suites as well as homeboys b-balling in the streets. Aptly titled Double Up, Kelly's new disc features a wide ranch of songs that pushes the sonic envelope while staying true to his game.

"Everything I did in the past, I'm about to double up on it," says the windy city maestro. In other words, the listener will not be disappointed with the fierce production, superior lyricism and hyper collabos one has come to expect from a Kells project. Just in time for summer, with its whirlwind of backyard barbeques and beach parties, Double Up is filled with enough anthems to dominate the season.

Firing the soul shot heard around the world, "I'm A Flirt (Remix)" is the self-expletory title of the first single. Over a smooth mid-tempo groove, R. Kelly lays down a bit of nightspot realness. "Soon As I See Her Walk Up In The Club (I'm A Flirt)/ Winkin Her Eyes At Me, When I Roll Up On Them Dubs (I'm A Flirt)/ Sometimes When I'm With My Chick On The Low (I'm A Flirt)," he sings. Joining forces with his homies T.I. and T-Pain, Kelly has constructed the perfect player's anthem.

With an exquisite video shot by famed photographer Timothy Saccenti, the scorching single has already become a popular request on YouTube as well as in heavy rotation on BET and MTV. "Having worked with so many hip-hop artists over the last few years, I decided to throw some of that magic on my own record," says R. Kelly.

Enlisting a posse of hard-hitting' rhyme slayers for Double Up, Kelly proves himself a versatile performer who can vocally hang with anyone on the mic. From the big beat blast of "Rock Star" with six-time Grammy Award winner Ludacris to the bombastic appearance of Rick Ross on the thunderous "Put Some Money On It," Kelly voice and outstanding production is pure fire.

Hooking-up with his old buddy Snoop, the two do their thang on the title track. With a kick of killer bass, this song is bound to have folks hou

BLACKVIBES.COM INTERVIEWS AMEL LARRIEUX... BACK AGAIN......

She blessed us with her presence on her last album,Morning, and now she's back again to talk with us about her latest kick. And as always, with open arms, Blackvibes.com was elated to chop it up with singer/songwriter Amel Larrieux. And if you're a true fan, like many of our staff-writers, you may be eager to find out what this powerhouse performer has been up to. Well, it goes a little something like this:

BV: Hey Amel, how are you doing?

Amel: I'm good thank you.

BV: So, the last time we spoke with you, you had just finished the Morning album. What have you been working on since then?

Amel: Doing the same stuff, you know, working on my music, raising two kids, and recording this album.

BV: So, creatively, what was the process like for this album?

Amel: Well it's a lot easier in terms of preparation because I wasn't writing... so there was less editing to do... and less picking apart of my work, because I usually do that when it's something that I've written. But then creatively, it was time to make sure it was really a true expression of myself as opposed to versions of songs that have been done before. We didn't want them to sound the way they've been done before. So we're just trying to make sure we had the right combination of instruments and, you know, getting the right group of musicians together and rehearsing the songs enough so that we kind of knew what our approach would be... even though when we got in the studio we would do it enough times in different ways so the producers would have something to choose from. So... that's how it went.

BV: That's great. So this album... as far as the different musicians you work with, how did you incorporate your own sound?

Amel: Well because Laru produced everything else I've done, except for Groove Theory, he has the production credit on this as well. [So] it will definitely always reflect the producer, and that's part of the reason why he was my main contributor on this because I've liked working with him on my other projects because he gives me this individual sound. And I think I was able to kind of keep my individuality without going too gratuitously to the left. You know... just being able to do an album with traditional standards with a little twist in it so it's a little bit more me.

BV: So if this album were a color, what color would it be?

Amel: (laughing) – Ahhh... I need a little more time with that one...

BV: (laughing) – Ok. We'll come back to that one later... [My girlfriend's question. Not mine.]

Amel: (laughing)

BV: Your song off the Groove Theory album, Keep Trying, got me through a tough time. I wanted to tell you that personally.

Amel: Awww, glad to hear it...

BV: Was there ever a time in your professional career when you considered doing something else or you were just overwhelmed?

Amel: Oh, all the time!

(Both laugh.)

Amel: Yeah, I mean, it's a constant battle with myself about whether I can continue doing it. But I love doing it in the end. So I will continue until I can't do it anymore. But I think it's just like any other human being, you know?

BV: Right.

Amel: I'm lucky that I like what I do, but I just think about people who hate what they d