It was the kind of moment I’m going to tell my children about. Something I’ve dreamed about for years. 60,000 people in Central Park for a concert to end poverty. The Global Citizen Festival was the largest syndicated charity concert in online and broadcast TV history and it felt like it. When I got on that mic it felt like I was in a vortex of pure energy. It felt like there was only room for greatness. Backstage before I got in front of the people, I was bumping into people like Katie Couric, Olivia Wilde and K’naan. There were Noble Peace Prize winners talking about their latest initiatives to make a global impact. It was the kind of company that inspires me and everyone was in awe of the magnitude of this event.
There have only been 2 other concerts given the green light by the New York City Parks Department to happen on a Saturday at the Great Lawn, Simon and Garkunkel and more recently Bon Jovi. The Global Poverty Project was at the heart of what made this all happen. Their vision to unify a variety of the most incredible charities under one umbrella inspired us all to be involved to create a movement to mobilize for change to happen now. If you haven’t signed up to become a Global Citizen click here.
#1 – Lamorne Morris of New Girl shows his competitive side with a heated game of 1-on-1.
#2 – Cassie Steele from The LA Complex, bakes a very special cake.
#3 – Eva Marcille, the star of Girlfriend Confidential LA, gives quite the makeover!
At this point I think we all expect Kanye to only put out incredible music. Well once again Mr. West proves to be the kind of artist who doesn’t just know how to show off his talents, he knows how to showcase others too. The way he put together Cruel Summer is impressive. The G.O.O.D. Music roster is obviously abundant with talent but the way Kanye uses them in all the right spots is what distinguishes this album. The music ranges from braggadocios rap at its finest (Mercy, Clique) to songs with more introspection to them (Bliss, Creepers). It all works together as a cohesive album that I can actually listen to all the way through. In this single driven market that’s really saying something. Cruel Summer is one of the best group efforts I’ve ever heard in hip hop and it’s already sold over 200K. Download it here.
#1 – The Wanted’s tour experiences and jokes on each other got their Q score up!
#2 – Matthew Morrison talks about a guilty pleasure and his experience on Glee.
#3 – Mindless Behavior gives us insight on fangirls, teen stardom and backflips!
The highlight of my New York Fashion Week experience was hosting a showcase event for Case Mate that featured a performance from Common. Lately the word freestyle has been used loosely and a lot of MC’s are getting away with just reciting prepared rhymes but Common is one of the few MC’s that still actually freestyles. That skill for spontaneity was on full display right here.
G.O.O.D. Music is definitely earning it’s title this week. Most hip hop fans have gotten their ears on the leak of Cruel Summer and this album Big Sean put out for free (so we’ll call it a mixtape). Detroit is packed with incredible collaborations with Common, Jhene Aiko and J Cole (among others). While a lot of the mixtape is more of the fun we’ve come to expect from Big Sean, songs like Once Bitten, Twice Shy (produced by Hit Boy) have real depth.
Download it here.
#1 – One of the hottest restaurants in the city, Sons of Essex, showed us some NY hospitality and Adrienne Bailon of Empire Girls let us know about her love life in the city.
#2 – A ridiculous Central Park work out with Keith Rivers of the New York Giants.
#3 – Gawker is one of the most popular sites in the world and the fact that it’s based in NY and it’s tone is heavily inspired by the city is no coincidence. AJ Daulerio, the editor-in-chief of the site, explains it’s success.
Some meat on the bones of this free album. It came out earlier this summer but I’m finally getting a chance to chew on it. Well done Mr. Chrys and your executive producer Timbaland knows a thing or two (or 3…or 4) too.
#1 – Naughty by Nature talks generational gaps and working with Tupac.
#2 – 2 Chainz tells us how he connected with Kanye West.
#3 – Sean Price and Prodigy share their best tour stories.
