Alicia Keys will be performing a benefit concert for her HIV/AIDS charity Keep A Child Alive on December 1, 2009 in honor of World AIDS Day.  The concert will be broadcast from the Nokia Theater in New York City and will air on her YouTube channel at 8:00 PM EST.

One Night, One Voice, One Life at a Time — Tune in for Alicia’s live global webcast from the Nokia Theater in NYC – December 1st – WORLD AIDS DAY @ 8:00 p.m. (EST)

Related Links

• affrodite.net- Celebrities Making A Difference: Alicia Keys
• Oprah.com- Keep A Child Alive
• Look to the Stars- Alicia Keys to play charity show on World AIDS Day
• Yahoo! News- Alicia Keys to take 5 people on trip to Africa
• Alicia Keys official website- www.aliciakeys.com
• Keep A Child Alive- keepachildalive.org
• Facebook fan page- www.facebook.com/aliciakeys
• Myspace- www.myspace.com/aliciakeys
• YouTube- www.youtube.com/aliciakeys

In The Life Media, producer of IN THE LIFE, the only American broadcast series documenting the lives and issues shaping the gay experience for the past 17 years, will hosted its 2nd annual Season Premiere Gala on Thursday, October 15. 2009 at the Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) in New York City.

In addition to unveiling its plan to become the media production organization for the LGBT movement, ITLM honored NAACP Chairman, Julian Bond, and Emmy Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated actress Patricia Clarkson, both, outspoken advocates for LGBT equality, with the Pioneer and Producing Change Awards, respectively. Honoree presenters will include Maxim Thorne (Sr. Vice-President, Development & Communications, NAACP) and Mario Cantone (Actor, Comedian).

(source: email sent by In The Life Media w/ a few modifications)

As much as I wanted to be there, I was not able to cover this event, however, I received the below video that I am sharing with you.

Enjoy!

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- In The Life Media to honor Emmy award-winning actress Patricia Clarkson and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond at its Season Premier Gala
• Ifelicious Thoughts- all In The Life episodes and info
• In The Life website- www.inthelifetv.org
• Facebook fan page- www.facebook.com/inthelifemedia?v=wall#/inthelifemedia
• Twitter- twitter.com/INTHELIFE
• YouTube Channel- www.youtube.com/user/itlmedia

(New York, NY:  October 20, 2009)  Celebrities and athletes came out to the Big Apple to celebrate at the Liris Crosse Birthday Celebration hosted by Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics sponsored by Hennessey Black on Monday, October 19, 2009 at Marquee in the fashionable meatpacking district in New York City.

Model/Actress Liris Crosse arrived at Marquee shortly after midnight , dressed for the event in a stunning cocktail dress provided by Jovani, and diamonds by Rafaello & Co., where she was greeted by press and other supporters – NFL New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards, NFL New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, NFL New York Jets corner back Darelle Revis, NBA guard Nate Robinson of the New  York Knicks, NBA Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, BET Host Alesha Renee, NFL New York Jets linebacker Vernon Gholston, Rocsi and Terrence J of BET’s 106 and Park, Recording Artist Teyana Taylor, Tony Martinez of Kinetix  /Hennessey Black and industry heavyweight executives Jessica Rosenblum of The JRose Agency, Stephen Hill, Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Music Programming for BET, and  Michael Kyser of Atlantic Records – who came out to celebrate Liris’ birthday.

Fans and other party-goers welcomed the entourage and rocked to sounds by DJ Sinatra and Jesse Marco and enjoyed an impromptu set by Hot 97’s own legendary Funkmaster Flex.  The night carried on into the early hours of the morning with attendees enjoying fine offerings from sponsor  Hennessey Black.

Photos from the party…

Terrence J of BET’s 106 and Park, Model/Actress Liris Crosse, Michael Kyser, Atlantic Records executive, Fred Whitner. Model Alesha Renee and NFL New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Images by David Shellman)

Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Music Programming for BET Stephen G. Hill and Model/Actress Liris Crosse (Image by David Shellman)

Model Alesha Renee and Model/Actress Liris Crosse (Image by David Shellman)

Model/Actress Liris Crosse and NFL New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards (Image David Shellman)

NFL New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and Supermodel/Actress Liris Crosse, (Image by David Shellman)

Model/Actress Liris Crosse, NBA guard Nate Robinson for the New York Knicks (Image by David Shellman)

Model/Actress Liris Crosse taking a moment to admire gifted premium bottles sent over from event sponsor Hennessey Black (Image by David Shellman)

Model/Actress Liris Crosse blowing out her birthday cake, MARQUEE NYC, October 19, 2009 (Image by David Shellman)

Photo #10: (Image from Left to Right) NFL New York Jets cornerback Darelle Reavis and Model/Actress Liris Crosse (Image by David Shellman)

Thank you, Liris, for sending me this information about your birthday, and Happy Belated Birthday to you!!!

Related Links

Ifelicious Thoughts- Event Recap: Aaron Maybin and Liris Crosse First Annual Kings & Queens All White Affair

When I first learned about May K, I was immediately drawn to her dance club sound.  If you check out her myspace page (myspace.com/worldwidemayk), you can listen to her 2 singles currently out It’s Not Over and Laws of Attraction.  All the way from her home in Tel Aviv, Israel, May K always dreamed of living in New York City (NYC), and about 5 1/2 years ago decided to make her dreams a reality.  She has not yet released her first LP but is currently writing, recording, and creating a buzz over the airwaves in her new home of NYC.  We spoke a few weeks ago, and here’s what May K had to say.

ifelicious:  Tell me about how you ended up in New York from Tel Aviv

May K:  I came to New York from Tel Aviv with this huge crazy dream, and I basically started from scratch…5 1/2 years ago.  So, it’s taken about 5 1/2 years to get to where I am now.

ifelicious:  That’s a gutsy move.  Why New York?

May K:  I don’t know why, but I always wanted to be here.  As a kid, I had a picture of Times Square, and I used to just look at it and tell myself one day I’ll be there.  So crazy.

ifelicious:  How old were you at the time?

May K:  I was almost 20.

ifelicious:  What did you do to support yourself?

May K:  When I first got here, I did a little bit of everything from babysitting to housekeeping to work in stores.

ifelicious:  What are you up to now?

May K:  Right now, I’m basically concentrated on writing and recording and getting that whole thing really tight and really together.

ifelicious:  Besides myspace where can people hear your music or see you perform?

May K:  Well, I have a single out now.  It’s on the radio, on WKTU, I think Z100 pretty soon, probably KISS FM.  I hope to get some tours set up soon, though, because I want to perform but we’re actually working on it.

ifelicious:  Do you write your own music?

May K:  Well, I write or co-write most of it.  If someone hands me an amazing song and I connect with it, I’ll take it but most of the time it’s me and the producers and most of the producers I work with are also writers so we kind of write it together.

ifelicious:  When I listen to your singles I hear New York dance music meets European dance music.  How do you describe your sound?

May K:  Funny you say that…I love listening to mostly European hits and I also love the American music, you know, like hip hop, and I love dance music, I love house music.  So, I think there’s a little bit of everything in [my music].

ifelicious:  What do you like to write about when you’re writing songs?

May K:  I think mostly about my own experiences…I try to stay away from certain things, but I think writing about love is always relevant.

ifelicious:  So have you been in love?

May K:  Oh ya, I was.

ifelicious:  Was?  Not in love now?

May K:  No, I’m in a good place now (laughs).

ifelicious:  Are you looking for love?

May K:  No.  I kind of let it happen organically.  Whatever happens to come my way, I’ll accept it, and we’ll see what happens.

ifelicious:  Have you written songs for anyone else?

May K:  I wrote for, you know like in Israel there’s American Idol but it’s Israel Idol, it’s the same format.  I wrote a single for one of the finalists, and I’ve written a country song.  Ya, I love writing for others, too.

Check out May K’s latest video for her single It’s Not Over…

May K “It’s Not Over” official music film from MethodManagement on Vimeo.

Thank you, Derick Gallegos at Method Management, for hooking me up with this interview.

May K, I see big things coming from you and wish you much success.  Holla when your first LP gets released.

(From http://gaycenter.org/out) There was a party on February 11th to celebrate the Center appearing on the Real World. Housemates Katelynn, Scott and Baya showed up to watch it with us. They all became members of the Center and Scott spoke to us about his intention to ride in Braking the Cycle this year. If you would like to ride with him, volunteer or donate to the ride go to gaycenter.org/brakingthecycle. To see more video from the party and behind the scenes footage of the Real World at the Center, go to gaycenter.org/realworld. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to: http://www.gaycenter.org/support

(From http://www.gaycenter.org/out) On Wednesday, February 11, 2009 the Center made an appearance on an MTV Real World Brooklyn episode. Housemate JD Ordonez arrived at the Center with Katelynn and Sarah to start their internships. The first event that they and their housemates work on is the Center’s Braking the Cycle AIDS Ride benefiting the HIV/AIDS services of the Center. At a viewing party at XES Lounge fellow housemates Scott and Baya arrive with Katelynn to view the episode with other Center supporters. They become members of the Center and Scott explains how he will do the ride this year and Baya will support him. The rest of the video looks at the closing ceremony from last year. Look for more video from the MTV Real World housemates at the Center as the season continues. This video excerpt is from Out at the Center, a TV show of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of New York City. The show is made possible thanks to members of the Center and viewers like you. To find out more, join or donate go to:  http://www.gaycenter.org/support

Back in September 2008, I sat next to Mala Reignz at a networking event for ladies trying to make it in the entertainment industry.  We just got to talking, real talk, you know?  She handed me her mixtape.  I took it with no major expectations because everybody and their mama wants to be a rapper, but not everyone can rap.  So, I put Mala Reignz through my personal litmus test and listened to her Miss Rap Supreme mixtape in my car the next weekend as I went to/from  work and was instantly hooked.  The mixtape follows the challenges on the latest season of Ego Trip’s Miss Rap Supreme that aired on VH-1.  Since then, I have her mixtape in regular rotation.  Female rappers have a hard way to go in a male dominated genre, but this lady can hold her own.  Her 3rd track “Who Am I Freestyle” pays tribute lyrically to her personal struggles to triumph and in delivery to Mala’s spoken word roots.  It is a personal favorite of mine.  Her latest single “Whole Club Rockin” (track 13) is one to do just that with a signature techno, clubby backdrop over her power rap style.  These 2 tracks alone speak to Mala’s versatility.

I’m not from the NYC, but I know you all have a burrough loyalty like none other.  Mala Reignz represents da Bronx so you know you gotta peep her page now!

Update 1/6/09- I found the interview on WORLDDIGIBEAT.COM.  It’s definitely worth watching.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.768051&w=425&h=350&fv=m%3D46190868%26type%3Dvideo%26a%3D0]

Mala Reignz on myspace- myspace.com/malareignz

You Tube clip of Mala performing at the Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKaG18gmJL8]

The following You Tube clip is hawt!  Remix of Usher’s “In This Club” feat. Mala Reignz and J. Berry Love…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC5fxfVDzrM]

Finally, my personal fav “Who Am I Freestyle”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0R0zNT2mFw]

Her video for the song “BX Til I Die” (track 10) can be seen on Music Choice.

While Mala Reignz was not an actual contestant on the VH-1 series Ego Trip’s Miss Rap Supreme, here’s some more information on the show for those who aren’t familiar…

Last year, the irreverent hit series known as ego trip’s The (White) Rapper Show met head-on the trials and tribulations that Caucasian rappers (a minority in African-American-created hip-hop culture) go through on a daily basis. This time around, this exciting and ever-expanding series explores the intriguing plight of yet another disenfranchised group in the rap game–the female MC.

Female rappers have always had it tough in the male-dominated world of hip-hop. Striving to be heard and respected, hard-working ’80s pioneers like Pebbly-Poo, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante and Queen Latifah made it possible for future generations of lady lyricists to be seen and heard.

However, even with the late ‘90/early ’00s success of today’s household names like Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim, Da Brat, Eve and Lauryn Hill, the female rap game is in jeopardy… and even Alex Trebek knows it. In 2004, the Recording Academy nixed the best female rap artist category due to a shortage of eligible entries. The image of the female rap genre has taken further lumps in recent times as the once-reigning Lauryn Hill has inexplicably watched her career nosedive, BK bad girls Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown have both gotten locked up and Remy Ma has become the first female rapper ever to be accused of shooting somebody.

So what’s going on with female rap’s future and who will be the next great lady emcee?
(source: vh1.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2008

(New York, NY) Queer Black Cinema International Film and Music Festival will kick off Thursday, October 30th in New York with a night of live acoustic soul music performances by LGBT & LGBT friendly artists.  Festival goers will have a great opportunity to mix and mingle with filmmakers and industry professionals over smooth music and delicious chocolate treats.  The festival will continue Friday, October 31st with the New York and Opening Gala film of Kortney Ryan Ziegler’s “Still Black:  A Portrait of Transmen.” The film is a one-of-a-kind documentary that explores the everyday triumphs and tribulations of Black transmen.  “Still Black” is co-produced by Awilda Rodriguez Lora featuring Kylar Broadus, Carl Madgett, Louis Mitchell, Nicholas Rashad, Jay Welch and Ethan Young. QBC Int’l Film and Music Festival will take place October 30 – November 2nd at the Brecht Forum 451 West Street (between Bank & Bethune Streets), New York, NY 10014.  For more information on volunteering, sponsorship and/or tickets go to www.queerblackcinema.org.

“Still Black:  A Portrait of Black Transmen” is a neo-noir documentary that explores the lives of six Black transgender men living in the US.  Through the personal stories of their lives as artists, students, husbands, fathers, lawyers, and teachers, the film offers viewers a complex and multi-faceted image of race, sexuality, and trans-identity.

Trans theme films are becoming more visible with the new wave of film festivals that are trans centered.  However, people of color trans them fillms are still few far and beyond to exist, particularly films with people of color subjects made by People of Color filmmakers.  Ziegler and co-producer Awilda Rodriguez Lora, have taken on the challenges to use this film as a catalyst heighten the visibility and uniqueness of Black transmen- a group deeded obscure compared to the dominant images of transwomen.

Ziegler is no stranger to the academic arena as well.  She is best known for her “controversial” blog, BLAC (K) ADEMIC.  Currently, a doctoral candidate at Northwestern University, Kortney’s scholarly work focuses on queer performance art and experimental queer cinema.  The intellectual artist highlights and examines the films of Isaac Julien; queer artist, La Performera; hokum blues singer, Gladys Bentley; and drag king extroardinaire, Dred.  Kortney presented at numerous conferences in San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Chicago including screening her past work at Queer Black Cinema’s monthly film series, Frameline, Seattle Transgender Film Festival and Queer Women of Color International Film Festival at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

“Screening ‘Still Black’ is not only an honor for QBC but a necessity.  Many people whether they are a part of the gay and lesbian community or not still do understand fully the difference between sexuality and gender or what it means to experience transphobia and racism.  For some, the only image in film that has any transgender people of color as a reference famous actors and comedians who trade suits for dresses and perform in drag for comedic effect.  Many have misconstrued what it is like to be a transgender person in the real world- not a parody.  Universal 1999 film, “Life” featuring Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence attempts to discuss LGBT issues when the ‘Biscuit’ character played by Miguel A. Nuncey Jr. portrays a gay man (transwoman or dressed as women) who is up for parol but chooses to get himself killed when he tries to escape, fearful of his family acceptance.  Famous mogul, P-Diddy, attempts to include trans people by casting transwoman, Laverne Cox on his reality show,  Some may argue he missed the mark because there were next to no discussion about transphobia and racism which clearly took place on his show and why some people including Cox’s colleagues reacted the way he did during a few of the competition tasks.  However, I applaud Diddy’s efforts to make trans people more visible particularly on a major channel like VH-1.”

“Screening ‘Still Black’ and having Kortney here to present the film shows our commitment to represent the ‘T’ in the LBGTQ community,” proclaims QBC executive director Angel L. Brown.  A panel discussion is scheduled to take place around “Still Black” ad special invited guest on the experiences of being a Transgender of color.

Other films set to screen at the multi-day film festival that are transgender-themed or speak to gender fluidity are Hanifah Walidah’s “U People and Crossing”- a short co-directed by Trans Entities stars, Ignacio Rivera and Khane Morris.

The festival focus lineup includes:  New York premiere and Closing Gala Film “Friends and Lovers” TV series/featured film based on “Ski Trip” directed by award winning filmmaker, Maurice Jamal. Jamal is known for working on hit TV show “The Dave Chapelle Show” as well as writer/director/producer of “Dirty Laundry” featuring Rockmond Dunbar and Loretta Devine.  The four day multi-media festival will pay tribute to LBGTQ youth of color who left us all too soon due to homophobic hate crimes with centerpiece film “Dreams Deferred:  The Sakia Gunn Project” by Chas Brack.  Hit, narrative film, “Truth Hall” by Jaden Dixon is also a Centerpiece that focuses on sisterhood and the drama and deep rooted secrets that go on from college into adulthood.  The film also includes important key issues about Black Women with HIV and will highlight QBC’s annual “Just Be:  The Black Gay Erotica Poetry and Short Film Competition on HIV/AIDS Awareness Prevention.  “Truth Hall” most recently premiered at Urban World Film Festival 2008 and was the opening film at the American Black Film Festival 2008.

Other titles include popular online urban lesbian of color hit web series, “The Lovers and Friends Show” by Charmine Johnson, “Bitch Can’t Get A Date!” featuring radio personality and comedian Keith Price, “Seen, But Not Heard” by award-winning pioneer filmmaker, Cyrille Phipps, QBC’s premier of KIN4Life, “Make Up Girl” music video and many other great music videos, short films and features about and from the Black LGBTQ experience/perspective.

“This year, Queer Black Cinema is premiering a well needed Black LGBTQ film festival in New York outside of the pride festivities.  With the support of the LGBTQ community, we aim to go beyond the average LGBT outreach by challenging and encouraging straight allies, movie goers and professional film critics to not only attend the festival but write about some of the most socially conscious well needed films that highlight the Black LTQ experience as well, “ Queer Black Cinema founder Angel L. Brown states.

All festivities screenings will be held at the Brecht Forum- 451 West Street (between Bank & Bethune Streets) New York, NY 10014.  For more information on tickets, programming, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities visit the Queer Black Cinema website at www.queerblackcinema.org.

I know Paul Newman’s passing has taken front and center for the moment but I also wanted share that Terrence Howard lost his mother, Anita Williams, last Thursday, September 25, 2008 to cancer.  Love ‘em or hate ‘em or somewhere in between, everybody has a special connection to their mamas who were the umbilical cords to our souls.

Rather than run down Terrence’s accolades as most media outlets tend to do, I want to pay tribute to the woman herself because without Anita there would be no Terrence.

Below is the obituary that I’m re-posting from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Anita Williams.  I could not find an image of her online

Obituary:  Anita Williams/Mother of Actor, recruiter at Pitt (click HERE to link to original post)

Anita Williams got her talent the old-fashioned way.

She inherited it.

Her mother was a singer in Cleveland. Her grandmother, Minnie Gentry, was an actress who appeared on Broadway, television and the big screen.

Although Mrs. Williams spent a few years in Los Angeles and New York seeking to use her talents in the entertainment industry, she was content to become a devoted wife, mother and friend who lived and worked in Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Williams, of Monroeville, died Thursday after a long battle with colon cancer. She was 56.

A native of Cleveland with a degree in business administration from Cleveland State University, Mrs. Williams moved to Pittsburgh in 1993. She worked as a recruiter in the Human Resources Department at the University of Pittsburgh.

“There are so many positive adjectives that would describe her — patient, kind, loving, dedicated,” said her friend and co-worker Margie Schneider. “She was extremely proud of her family, all of her children.”

Mrs. Williams is the mother of one daughter and five sons, including Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard.

In a statement released to People magazine, Mr. Howard’s representative said, “Terrence will take some time to privately grieve with his family. He appreciates everyone’s support during this difficult time.”

While living in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, Mrs. Williams, who loved to sing, almost became part of a girl group, but it never got off the ground. Mrs. Williams worked for a time at ABC, where she encountered a number of celebrities.

“One time she met Stevie Wonder and she went to his house and they sang at the piano,” Mr. Williams recalled.

She also met music icon Prince before he made it big and football greats Lynn Swann and O.J. Simpson.

“When O.J. came in, the women were swooning, everybody but her,” Mr. Williams recounted his wife telling him. “She thought he was handsome but cocky.”

Mrs. Williams may have been a bit starstruck by the famous people she met, but she didn’t let on, her husband said.

“She didn’t run up for autographs because she said, ‘They should be asking for my autograph.’ She would play it cool, but afterward she’d get excited.”

Mr. Williams said he and his wife met when he was doing a play in New York with her grandmother, Ms. Gentry, who had appeared on Broadway in a number of productions, in films such as “Bad Lieutenant” and on television shows, including “Law & Order” and “The Cosby Show.”

At the time, Mr. Williams was an actor and model whose face appeared on a number of billboards in the city, he said.

The couple married in 1985. Several years later, they moved to Mr. Williams’ native Pittsburgh with their two young children. He works at Pitt’s Center for Instructional Development and Distance Education.

“We spent a lot of time eating food, drinking coffee and talking about the arts,” said Gladys Edmunds, a close friend for 10 years. “We just spent time sharing each other’s ideas and philosophies about life. … We would debate over who was the best singer.”

Mrs. Williams’ favorites were Diana Ross, Phyllis Hyman, Luther Vandross and Howard Hewitt.

“I just felt she was genuine,” said Mrs. Edmunds, “And there aren’t very many people like that.”

Mrs. Williams also is survived by her sons Tyrone Howard Jr. and Terrell Howard, both of Atlanta; Antonio Howard of Philadelphia; and Darnell Williams of Monroeville; her daughter, Ariana Williams of Monroeville; her mother, Marjorie Hawkins of Monroeville; her brother, Nathan Hawkins of Wilkinsburg; and 10 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Gene H. Corl Funeral Center of Monroeville and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh in Wilkinsburg. Services will begin there at 11 a.m.

I am a Rent fan (i guess they call us rent-heads).  Remember this post from waaaaay back?  I mean waaaaaaaay back, near when this blog started.

MY FAV MUSICAL OF ALL TIME, RENT TOURS THROUGH OHIO

Thanks, LaLa Tamago, for taking one of my most favorite impromptu road trips ever.

Aaaaaah!  I could watch that musical over and over and over and over and over again.  I know all of the songs.  I have all kinds of souvenir paraphernalia.  I am so glad that I caught it in NYC when it was running on Broadway, too, a few years back.

But now…it’s really over…

So here’s my tribute to a musical that typifies our generation.

What’s your favorite scene?  What’s your favorite song?

Did you think the movie was as good as the theater production?

Here are some links to articles as well…

NEW YORK TIMES MULTIMEDIA TRIBUTE TO RENT

NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE- “LIKE OPERA INSPIRING IT, ‘RENT’ IS SET TO ENDURE”

OFFICIAL SITE FOR MUSICAL “RENT”

NY DAILY NEWS ARTICLE- “‘RENT’ PAST DUE: MUSICAL ENDS 5,124 BROADWAY RUN”

This is an re-enactment of one of my fav songs “Light My Candle” (although I have so many favs on that soundtrack) from somebody’s school project, but it’s pretty good.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXrnbqz-9jM&feature=related]

(source of text from graphics I created:  Stage Agent)