Clocks should be set ahead one hour - spring forward- Saturday night. The official time is 2 a.m. Sunday, local time.
In a matter of weeks OUTTOWN will celebrate blogging 1,000 posts. Stay tuned for the GRAND party celebration!
Don't forget to check out SNAP HONEY the upcoming production from Maatology Productions March 18-20! (CLICK ON PIC TO ENLARGE)
As we continue our celebration of Womens History Month from an ILLI MO arts and entertainment point of view, we spotlight the late Barbara Ann Teer.
Ms. Teer was born in East St. Louis, Ill., on June 18, 1937, and moved to New York City after earning a bachelor of arts in dance from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. On Broadway, Ms. Teer was dance captain in “Kwamina,” a 1961 show choreographed by Agnes de Mille, and appeared in 1966 as an actor in William Inge’s comedy “Where’s Daddy?”
As executive director, not only was Ms. Teer in charge of fund-raising and administration, she also wrote and directed for a music, dance and theater troupe that appeared at Lincoln Center and on the public television program “Soul.” The company toured in Bermuda, Guyana, Haiti, South Africa and Trinidad, as well as in the United States.
After receiving honorary doctorates in the mid-1990s from the University of Rochesterand the Southern Illinois University, she referred to herself, and was known to colleagues, as Dr. Teer.
The Oprah Winfrey Network announced this week that it is overhauling its schedule in the face of low ratings and anxious advertisers.
From reports, the channel's most popular series, "Behind The Scenes," which follows the backstage making of Oprah's talk show, is being moved from Fridays to Sundays beginning April 27. "Behind The Scenes" will be paired with "Master Class" on Sundays. Following the latter's end, a reality show about Naomi and Wynonna Judd will air after "Behind The Scenes." Further celebrity reality shows will be coming soon.
In addition, OWN is cutting back on its original programming--from four days a week to three. This goes against what OWN's chief executive Christina Norman told the New York Times last week: that people want more original programming, not less.
The announcement came on the same day that the New York Post reported that OWN executives were trying to calm jittery advertisers, who are nervous about the relatively soft ratings the channel has had since its blockbuster launch in January.
There have been about 135,000 people watching OWN, according to the Nielsen Company, and only about 45,000 of those people are women ages 25 to 54, the demographic that the channel is focusing on.
Those ratings levels, down about 10 percent from Discovery Health’s levels last year, are being carefully watched by people who would like to rebuild cable channels around other celebrities, and by investors who worry that OWN is a drag on Discovery’s stock.
Ms. Winfrey and her partner, Discovery Communications, have preached patience, especially because she will have a minimal presence on the channel until after “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that is filmed in Chicago, ends its 25th run in September.
She emphasized that new episodes of the 12 series that have premiered so far were generally doing better than the Discovery Health programs that they replaced. But the channel is down overall because people aren’t sticking around for repeats.
She said her goal this year remains to double Discovery Health’s ratings and accumulate 50 million to 60 million viewers each month. Nielsen said the cumulative audience for OWN was nearly 42 million people in January, up from 37 million who tuned into Discovery Health at some point in the same month last year.
Hmm interesting that even Oprah has to bow down to who is paying for her channel-- the advertisers. In this flood market of reality TV and viral videos, the network definitely has to find programs that will keep the audience they are trying to maintain. Our suggestion: Bring back the TV Movie of the Week like back in the day. Lifetime made its mark with these movies with an emphasis on women issues.
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Chicago reared superstar rapper Kanye West made newz this week for lawsuits that were pending around him, one with music and the other his personal biz.
A lawsuit in which another rapper accused West of stealing the lyrics for "Stronger" was dismissed last week. Virginia rapper Vince P. (a.k.a. Vince Peters PICTURED RIGHT) claimed that Kanye West's hit, from 2007's Graduation, was a cribbed version of his own song of the same title. Vince P alleged that in November 2006 he played his song for John Monopoly, who at the time was a member of West's inner circle. West's legal representatives, Pryor Cashman LLP, requested that the case be dismissed, citing that the songs were not similar enough to warrant copyright infringement. Judge Virginia M. Kendall of the Northern District of Illinois agreed and granted Cashman's motion to dismiss the case on March 3.
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Marion "Suge" Knight's lawsuit against West stemmed from a shooting in 2005 at a Miami Beach nightclub looks like will get settled. The infamous Death Row Records co-founder was shot in the leg at a pre-VMA party held for West at the Shore Club. Knight sued the Chicago rapper, claiming he was ultimately responsible for the suspect security at the venue.
Late last year a Miami judge threw out Knight's lawsuit, which sought over a million dollars in damages, due to a lack of evidence. Knight still had the option to appeal, but he ultimately decided to stop pursuing the case. There have been reports that an undisclosed settlement between both parties was reached.
"I thought we had a good chance at an appeal, but Suge's mom was very ill and that weighed heavily with him," Marc Brumer, Knight's attorney, told MTV News. "I can't talk about anything else but the case has been settled."
West's civil litigator Adam Josephs of Josephs Jack was unable to comment on the actual settlement but said, "It's nice to put this matter behind us and move on."
Now this is puzzling to us. If Knight;s camp decided not to appeal, then that means the lower court's decision stands which was the case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. So our question is, if Ye;s camp and Knights camp came up with a settlement, then isnt that admitting to some guilt on Ye's part? Usually people settle before they even take the case to court if they see they will lose the case, but in this case , pun intended, the judge threw the suit out meaning Ye was not charged due to lack of evidence on Knights part. Hmmm.
In unrelated Ye newz, A representative for a top London
++++++++++++++++++++++++In other lawsuit newz, St. Louis native singer/songwriter Akon is suing his former booking agent for breach of contract and trademark infringement. The singer/producer and bosses at his Kon Live Touring, Inc. company filed a complaint against American Talent Agency, Inc. on last Thursday, in New York.
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The plaintiffs accuse ATA's officials of failing to pay "earned performance fees" and "booking unapproved appearances and performances for Akon". Akon's company terminated its relationship with ATA in 2010 and instructed bosses there to immediately stop providing any further booking services on the star's behalf or exploiting Akon's name, picture or likeness for commercial purposes.
But a spokesman for the star says, "Despite terminating the booking agreement, ATA has secretly booked appearances for Akon in, among other places,
"ATA has yet to pay Kon Live Touring at least $750,000 in performance fees for live shows Akon already performed and it continues to falsely advertise itself as Akon's booking agent on the ATA website. Creative Artists Agency, LLC is Akon's exclusive booking agent."
Well its a no brainer here on who's guilty prima facie (on the face), but the question is when Akon's camp broke ties with ATA, was it a legal break? Cuz as they say, there's two, sometimes three and four and etc, sides to a story.
In more Oprah newz, The media mogul has shared five pages from her hand-written journals, which are featured in the April issue of "O, The Oprah Magazine."
In the spread, Oprah talks about her first dating experience, her filming "The Color Purple," among other revelations. The magazine's iPad app will exclusively feature 11 additional pages of journal entries, including this one dated
The April magazine also marks O's first-ever poetry issue, which features Maria Shriver as guest editor (another O Mag first) and hits newsstands on March 15.
Speaking of revelations, St. Louis bred rap mogul Nelly 's Behind The Music documentary was aired on VH1 Monday. On the episode, he revealed his checkered childhood which involved drug dealing, being a teen parent and living a life of crime, the physical abuse of his father, being displaced to several homes, the incarceration of his half brother, St. Lunatic member-- City Spud, the death of his half sister Jackie, dealing drugs, his commercial success, his depression, the Tipdrill controversy and meeting his on-off again relationship with singer Ashanti. Interviewed along with Nelly were
And in more court ish, Former Illinois givernor and currentreality show star Rod Blagojevich and reality show star asked a judge Wednesday to cancel his retrial and immediately sentence him, arguing that financial woes would prevent him from mounting an adequate defense.
Blagojevich insisted he isn't admitting guilt to the 24 counts against him, including one conviction of lying to the FBI according to the motion filed in the U.S. District Court. He is accused of trying to sell President Obama's old Senate seat. When Obama was elected President, it fell to the then Illinois governor to appoint a replacement to Obama's Senate seat.
Now Blagojevich claims he's so cash-strapped that his lawyers haven't been paid in nine months. He argued skipping the retrial would save money for both himself and taxpayers.
Critics say Blagojevich is just trying to avoid a retrial in which he could be sentenced to additional jail time. Many were surprised last year, during the original trial, when Blago was found guilty on just one count. He could face up to five years in prison on that lone conviction.
The retrial is set to begin April 20. U.S. District Judge James Zagel and federal prosecutors would have to agree to dismiss the remaining counts against the former governor for him to get a pass on the retrial.
ILLI MO REALITY
ILLIMOIAN contestants Kaisa Pilewicz ofWheaton, Ill. (RIGHT)and Monique Weignart from
On American Idol, last week's results show dwindling the Top 24 to Top 13, of the two ILLIMOIANs, Hailey Reinhert of
UPDATE: She was in the Bottom Three in Thursdays Results show and was SAFE.
Two well known personalities made public appearances recently in St. Louis. First, civil rights figure Andrew Young (RIGHT)spoke at the Touhill Performing Arts Center for the University Missouri--St Louis Ethics Project that took place Feb. 28. On Tuesday, TV personalty and well known doctor Dr, Oz hosted a luncheon and lecture downtown at the Four Seasons Hotel at Lumiere Place.
Speaking of the Fox Theatre, The Intimacy Tour featuring singers Kem, Musiq Soulchild and opener Ledisi took place last Saturday at The Fox Theatre.
According to a review from Riverfront Times, " The Detroit native exuded "grown man swag" as he took the stage in dark-colored slacks and a button-down shirt with a fedora...(he) added to the theme of intimacy by often taking a seat and prefacing his songs with a little background information. "I might be able to carry a tune, but songwriting is what I do,"...Ledisi joined him for the duet "If It's Love." Accoridng to a reveiw in the St. Louis American, " Fans were eager to show their appreciation...Because of his jazz and R&B hybrid delivery vocal style, Kem is most commonly compared to the style of Al Jarreau. But anyone ( like those in the full house of the Fox on Saturday night) who looks and listens closely will take note that his arrangements, natural ability to draw people in with his storytelling and live shows can't help but give him credit as an artist in his own right .His encore performance of the lesser-known tune "I Get Lifted," wasn't as strong as the rest of his set, but Kem easily abolished any doubt of his ability to headline a show.
Kem also showed his charitable side when he gave a cash reward to a young honor roll student he'd met with backstage (We didnt get the amount of money)
The mid liner Musiq Soulchild according to the reviews was just OK.
From the RFT: Given Musiq's lengthy career and high profile, his performance was relatively short - so favorites such as "Mary Go Round" and "Dontchange" didn't make the cut.
From the American: Vocal missteps, timing issues between the singer and the band ruined any opportunity for Musiq to offer a memorable performance.
He attempted to pull radio hits like "Teach Me," "Love," and "Half-Crazy" out of his bag of tricks to woo the crowd, but he never managed to establish a connection.
Every ounce of energy set up by Ledisi was lost in Soulchild's shuffle by the time Kem was to take the stage - but it didn't matter.
Opener Ledisi was mesmerizing according to the reviews.
RFT: (She) immediately grabbed the crowd's attention with her jazzy, expressive vocals and her playful personality. The soulful chanteuse wasn't shy about mentioning her four Grammy nominations (she did on more than one occasion), but a paltry twenty-minute set was sufficient time to show that she'd come by them honestly. Accompanied only by a single guitarist and a backup singer (who would occasionally play the shaker), the acoustic arrangement was ideal for Ledisi to show off her intoxicating voice .
The American: Ledisi left quite an impression on the crowd, as they seemed reluctant to let her leave once her brief time onstage came to an end.
Her big talent made the 20-minute set seem especially tiny. However, it was refreshing to see an artist who has been flying under the R&B radar garner such praise and attention from a city known for being skeptical of unfamiliar faces.
2011 Grammy Award winning indy band Arcade Fire will be at the Scott Trade Center April 21.
2011 Grammy nominee
Tickets go on sale March 12 for the May 21 stop of Tim McGraw's "Emotional Traffic" tour at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Primus is performing May 29 at the Pageant
Rapper Talib Kweli will perform April 19 at Pop's.
Veteran actor Antonio Faragas will star in the St. Louis Black Rep’s next production The Real McCoy starting March 16 at the Grandel Square Theatre (SEE BLACK REP BITZ BELOW)
ADD: Walter Mosley will be at St. Louis County Library Headquarters (1640 S. Lindbergh) to read from and discuss his latest book, When the Thrill is Gone, on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. For more information, call (314) 993-4400.
Two authors with STL ties are making imprints in the city. Award winning journalist James S. Hirsch (RIGHT), who attended the Missouri School of Journalism, will discuss his biography of Willie Mays at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters on March 24. On Wednesday. author Paula McCain (FAR RIGHT) discussed and signed her novel
Last weekend, the 4th Annual Traffic Music Awards, produced by 314 Hits, took place at The Ambassador. This was the first time the awards were expanded to three nites (dubbed Too Much Action) Over 40 awards (more like Couvassier gift boxes), were given out to the winners in the categories of music, TV, and businesses. The majority of the awards were given out on Sunday.
THE BIG WINNERs all copped two awards
Black Pearl Entertainment who won Best Tattoo Shop, Best Business and Label of the Year
Rapper Yung Ro for Club and Radio Song for "Candy Girl."
Rapper T Will with Mixtape of the year ("Follow the Arch") and Video ("Moolah")
Mp Tre for Group of the Year and Best Collaboration ("Crush" with Ebony Eyez)
Ray the Kid kicked off the first two wins of Sunday nite with Song and Street Song for "All I Do is Shine."
Three time nominee Gena was left empty handed.
Promoter Mocha Latte (FAR LEFT) lost the Host of the Year award (that she has won for three consecutive years) to Mo Lyric.
Here is the partial list of the the winners during the three nite affair
Studio of the Year Phat Budda Studios
CD/Album of the Year Nelly "5.0"
Music Video of the Year T-Will "Moolah"
Mixtape of the Year T-Will The Deal "Follow The Arch"
Graphics Designer/Company of the Year Money Graphics LLC
Beauty Shop of the Year Shi Salon
Coemdian of the Year Ms Funy
Model of the Year Bri
Dancer/Choreographer of the Year Money Bound Angels
Group of the Year MoTre
Label of the Year Derrt Ent.
R&B Artist/Group of the Year Bradd Young
Female Artist of the Year Rubie July
Song Writer of the Year Mz. Bell
Club Song of the Year Yung Ro "Candy Girl"
Radio Song of the Year Yung Ro "Candy Girl"
Host of the Year Molyric
Barber Shop of the Year Loose End
Venue of the Year Envy
Clothing Designer/Company of the Year Ambition / Kyle Quicc Collier
Collaboration of the Year MoTre
Promoter of the Year Hella Fly
Producer of the Year Tarboy
Alternative/Rock Artist/Group of the Year Option Control "No Way Out"
Film/Videographer of the Year Rem Rod Films
Male Artist of the Year Ruka Puff
Song of the Year Ray Da Kid "All I Do Is Shine"
Street Song of the Year Ray Da Kid "Shine"
Radio Personality of the Year Staci Static Hot 104.1
DJ of the Year
For the complete list of winners go to http://www.314hits.com/
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MOVIN ONS
St. Louis native model and former America's Next Top Model finalist Gabrielle Michelle had relocated to New York cit to pursue her modeling career (So we guess her reveal a few months ago about quitting modeling was more like saying quitting modeling in St. Louis. LOL) Also, former Delux Magazine exec is spending is time working in Boise, Idaho. He will commute from both cities.
STL PISCESians B-DAZEs (March 10-13) Rapper Chingy, singer David Peaston, promoter Daryel Oliver, comedian Tahir Moore, fashion designer Janet Wright, dee-jay DJ Krisstyle, promoter David Damo Morris, TV producer James Thomas, model Kenneth McClure , fitness trainer Brandon Demps, and promoter/graphic designer Miata Lewis,.
BLIND PICZ . Who was the brotha who was in his own world with a bottle of Gray Goose at the Traffc Music Awards last Sunday?
BLIND DISHZ . Which STL personality was spotted exiting Golds Gym on Lindbegrh in St. Louis?
HINT 1. This person is a male
PRO-MO-CIAL-I-CIOUS. Who got it in this week? Promoters Mocha Latte and Phil Assets
Mocha Latte. This lovely sista of Monopoly Promotions is about to join forces with Mo Spoon of MPAC to host March Mania at The Loft (SEE MOCHAs CORNER) this Friday and her regular hosting gig at Saturday Night Live. Ladies Night at The Label. She willa lso host Tru Ent and t Dumas' Fire and Ice Fashion Show thsi Sunday at Jive and Wail in downtown St. Louis (SEE EVENTS BELOW)
Phil Assets. This brotha continues to get it in every week as thr CEO of his group Liquid Assets. This Thursday , his group is prepping to reveal the nominees for the 3rd Annual Notice Me Awards at Redd Hott Thursdays at Club Amnesia. The group also will be at the club at its regular party events Fierce Fridays and Sucessful Saturdays
WORDZ TO THE WHYZ???????????????????????????????
Why are energy drink companies forming Tigerblood products based on Charlie Sheen's reference to his own concoction of Tigerblood? Why are people filling out e-line applications to apply to be Charlie Sheen's intern? Why are there reports that Oprah was pissed off at Aretha Franklin for going on Wendy Williams' talk show than on hers? Why is Wocka Flocka gonna go nude for an upcoming PETA ad? Why are women fluttering over Chris Brown's frontal nude sexting pic? Why did a STL Parkway teacher resign just because it was discovered she had a past doing prono movies? Why did coach Phil Jackson rip Miami Heat players for crying in the lockerrom? Why couldnt Foxy Brown think of posituve thinsg she dioes in the communtiy when she phoned in to the Tom Joyner Mornin show this week? Why is Tiki Barber tryin to make a comeback to the NFL? Why is PETA protesting Mike Tyson's pigeon show? Why doesnt Berry Gordy ever age? Why did rapper Ebony Eyez bring her purse up on stage to perform with Mo Tre at the Traffic Music Awards? Why did a reverend in
EVENTZ THIS WEEK (Mar 10-16)
Grammy Award winning veteran singer/songwriter Janis Ian will perform as a part of the Old Rock House’ s Listening Room Series March 11,
Old school hip hop artists Salt N Pepa, Kurtis Blow....
BIz Markie.....
MC Lyte and Kool Moe Dee
will perform at Chaifetz Arena March 12
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
When • 8 p.m. Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. March 12
Where • Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard
How much • $25-$65
More info • 314-534-1111 or 314-534-6622; metrotix.com or dancestlouis.org
Mocha has teamed up with Mo Spoon of MPAC for March Mania Fri March 11 at the The loft everyone free til 11 p.m. open bar ti midnite
Mocha's monthly poetry showcase Got Lyrics will take place March 16 at Exo.
Mocha hosts Ladies Night and Saturday Night Live (secind Saturdays) every Saturdays at the Label.
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R.E.A.L. Love Celebration is a community empowerment and psycho-educational event that celebrates healthy relationships and teaches Black males and females of all ages how to initiate meaningful dialogue and develop healthy relationships based onR.E.A.L. love.
Based on the fact that almost 50% of Black women are not married and 69% of Black children are born to unwed Black women, the theme for this year’s celebration is entitled“A Black Woman’s Worth: My Queen and Backbone”.
Day 1 -
WHAT: Film Premiere and Panel discussion of "A Black Woman's Worth: My Queen and Backbone"
WHERE: Tivoli Theatre (TICKETS AVAILABLE at BOX OFFICE)
6350 Delmar in The
WHO: Filmmaker - Dwayne L. Buckingham
Mocha us hosting and moderating this.
Day 2 -
WHAT: Spoken word performances by various artists & live music performances of the film soundtrack
WHERE: Legacy Cafe
WHO: Soul and R&B artists Prolyric and Tarlise
Mocha is hosting.
Day 3 -
WHAT: Educational workshop - How to Love and Respect A Black Woman
WHERE: Centennial Commons
WHO: Dwayne L. Buckingham and Dr. Shonta Smith
Sponsored by RHCS, CHAARM/St. Louis & Global Nation
Mocha is hosting.
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LOOKING FOR JOB READINESS AND TRAINING/GED MUST BE 19-21 BETTER FAMILY LIFE CAN HELP!! CALL KIP WILLIAMS 314-679-3376. THEY ARE ENROLLING NOW!! THEY HAVE SO MANY SUPPORT SERVICES:LEGAL ASSISTANCE, CRISIS INTERVENTION/COMMUNITY SERVICES OPPORTUNITIES,DAY CARE,SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE.
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Mocha's column COFFEE TALK can be seen in the weekly The Evening Whirl newspaper published on Mondays.
For more info on these items, contact Miss Latte at 314.646.9917 orsgalvin26@yahoo.com
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ADs SPOT
STL Come Out, April 17th @ Fubar $10 Hip-Hop/R&B show. purchase online before Mar 19th and save $3 off… http://lnk.ms/LQJ2n
Rhythm & Words Wednesdays 2nd & 4th Wed every month Meshon's Bar & Grill 410 N Tucker Blvd
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ThundaGrownd Thursday Variety Showcase Final Thu. of every month8:30pm - 10:30pm $5 cover Big Moe's1072 Tower Grove St across from Sweetie Pie's on Manchester
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Word Therapy @ Club Paradise :Open Mic Final Friday of the month $5 cover first 10 on the sign-up list free 812 Martin Luther King Dr,East St. Louis
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New CD "ThundaGrowndPresentsA.D. Fire & Adrenaline"
Aireez DaRychuss music available online now
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=aireez&x=11&y=21
MORE INFO on AireezDarychuss
http://www.facebook.com/rychuss
http://www.sonicbids.com/rychuss
http://music.blackplanet.com/rychuss
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THE REAL McCOY
By Andrew Moodie
Elijah McCoy may be the greatest inventor you have never heard of. A prodigy since birth, his lifetime of study eventually led him to an invention that changed modern transportation forever, the self-lubricating steam engine. And that’s just one of the many inventions society can thank him for, as we’ll learn in this historical work making its U.S. Premiere. His personal and professional lives can be measured in equal parts triumph and tragedy as he struggles to make his way as an African-American inventor at the turn of the 19th century.
The Real McCoy By Lynn Nottage
March 16 –
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UPCOMING SHOWS
Black
By Frank Higgins
April 20 – May 15
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The Montford Point Marine
By Samm-Art Williams
May 25 – June 26
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For OUTGOING BITZ GO TO
http://maatology.blogspot.com/2010/03/ongoing-bitz-april-week-one.html
FI N.
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