Pages

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Philly has a Week of Fashion

The show you've been waiting for is now here! The third webisode of Young, Hip & Chic (YHC) is now here along with all the others so you have to catch up.

In this webisode, Tweety E. covers all of the fashion events taking place in Philly, PA therefore bringing you Philly Fashion Week. Tweety was invited to the Teen Vogue LaCoste Event, Chichi & Chichi E, and hosted FBH Philly Fashion Weekend. Check out the clothes of these great designers including Ying Edge and Marie D. Madearis.

So, enjoy the show and, be sure to leave a comment because I'd love to hear your feedback!








NOTE: Are you a designer or stylist (clothing, jewelry, etc) looking for exposure? Do want to be featured on the show? Have an idea for the next show? Email us at younghipchic@gmail.com!

Broaden your audience and reach the new generation by advertising on my show that is being acknowledged by Teen Vogue!!! Please email younghipchic@gmail.com

Monday, September 15, 2008

Literary Review- Keep the Faith

Author: Faith Evans
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 0-446-19950-8
Pub. Date: 2008
Price: $24.99
Pages: 353

Keep the Faith was a book way overdue, but right on time too. This book reads like a long conversation between you and your favorite cousin playing catch up after missing each other for a lot of years.

Faith Evans keeps it real abut her life with Biggie Smalls, aka The Notorious B.I.G. who is considered by some, the greatest rappers of all times, and she clarifies a lot of the rumors that evolved around her entrance into the music industry, life, with her husband, and dealing with life after his death.

Faith wanted to make it clear that her career started before her encounter with the soon to be martyred rapper Christopher Wallace. She had success writing and working with people that included Christopher Williams and Al B. Sure. She was later introduced to Sean Puffy Combs who fell in love with her musical style both her voice and her lyrics and immediately wanted to sign her. It was during a photo session that she met who was soon to be the man that changed her life and become the father to her daughter China and son CJ.

Faith was always attracted to men that had a little thug in them. When she was a youth, she was in a relationship with a man that was abusive and that relationship played a part in the type of men that she would soon choose later in life. She was also in a relationship with a fellow musician named Kiy who fathered her daughter. It was at a photo shoot that she met Biggie Smalls and they became friends. They begin to hang out a lot and then a relationship began to brew.

There was a lot of drama between the beginning and end of their relationship which includes multiple affairs that Biggie had with women who included Charli Baltimore and Lil’ Kim. There were confrontations and phone calls that led to arguments and some knock down, drag out fights but in the end, Faith was always forgiving of her man and they stayed together.

Faith also speaks on the many friendships that she had in the music industry that included Missy Elliot, Monie Love, and Mary J. Blige. She talks about how Missy instigated the fight between her and Lil’ Kim. How her and Monie Love would play pool together and how she and Mary were very good friends but Mary ignored her at the funeral of Biggie.

Overall, the book was a great read because it was not a tell-all, but a book of clarity that many people who are hip hop junkies will be pleased with. It gave an inside look to the Biggie Small situation in almost its entirety. There is a lot that many people didn’t know and had their own conceptions. Keep the Faith invites you in to the affairs of their lives without holding her tongue.

I was one that had my opinion of what went on between her and Tupac Shakur, who is also an artist that has become a legend in the hip hop industry. I saw the infamous picture that she spoke of in the book that sparked off the drama between the two feuding rappers. I read the article where Tupac and Suge Knight spoke about Faith. It was not until reading Keep the Faith that I had to take a change to my thoughts.

Check out this book and share you thoughts…

Heather Elitou- Reviewer

Book Review- Stained Cotton

Author: Quentin Carter
ISBN: 978-0-9799517-1-8
Publisher: Triple Crown Publications
Date: 2008
Pages: 290

In Stained Cotton we are taken to the mean drug streets of Kansas City, Missouri where in Westport. In this part of town, everybody knows you’re a big time hustler if you’re rolling on 20’s or higher, women are plenty, and your drug empire is covering the city.

Qu’bon is a drug hustler and a playa. He loves all types of women, but he wants a white woman because he thinks that black women are too ghetto and full of attitude even though he has one at home. A white woman is someone that you can chill with and not give you too much lip. There is a lesson ion his naïve thinking—it doesn’t matter what the color of the woman is because if you pick the wrong woman trouble is just around the corner.

O’bon is Qu’bon’s older brother and runs drugs with him. He has a more mellow side to him then his brother, and many have said that he was not really cut out for the drug game, but O’bon is already a player whether he likes it or not, and he must throw the dice in order to stay alive or he will pay the ultimate price.

Besides the drug dealing these two brothers are sent on a wild and deadly roller coaster ride when they meet Katrina and Nancy, two white girls who want to experience the life of a black female.

Katrina is in the game full blast when she meets Qu’bon, turning from a college girl to a street girl running. She runs the clubs, sells drugs, and stealing cash, but she learns a hard lesson which runs the risk of her meeting her demise.

Nancy has always admired the sass and strength of the black woman, but she still keeps her head on and tries to tell her sister to slow down. She is unsuccessful in her pleas and finds herself being dragged into danger. Can she keep her head on straight long enough to change the downward spiral that her and her sister are caught in the middle of? Is the life of the black woman really this hard?

The overall message of this book is that a woman can be drama no matter what color she is because when a woman is filled with drama, then drama will follow and that if you have the heart and the mind of your woman, she is in fact your woman. The color of a woman’s skin does not make her less a problem it is the mind state. Qu’bon and O’bon both thought that getting white women would be different, but Qu’bon quickly found out that wasn’t true.

Although some of the situations in the book seemed a little too far fetched, it does not take away from the book because hey, its fiction.

Check it out!!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Literature: Hiding in Hip Hop by Terrance Dean

Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Atria; 1st Atria Books
ISBN-10: 1416553398


Hiding in Hip Hop was a great behind the scenes look into the personal lives of our favorite celebrities that are living on the DL. Although most people anticipated reading this book as a tell all book that would reveal the sexuality of some of the stars that are labeled “suspect”, Terrance Dean waved his personal life into each page and making his encounters with the gay celebrities a “guess who” instead of a “I’m telling.”

Just as it was fun and exciting as it was to figure out what artists were creeping, it was cool just get the behind the scenes look of how to get into the industry and be a success.

Terrance Dean didn’t have it easy. He was raised by his loving grandmother who was in an abusive marriage, his mother and little brother dying of aids and his relationship with his family was spiraling into an end.

Terrance experienced several sexual encounters with both males and females but nothing compared to what he experienced in LA and NY.

What is most likeable about this book is that Terrance takes his time explaining how his life he made lemonade out of the life that dealt him lemons. From being molested, death, arrest, sexual desires, fulfilled and admitting his sexuality.

We had the chance to chat with Terrance about the reason that he wrote his book and why he felt the need to share it with the public.

How did your writing career begin?
My writing career began very early in life. I would keep journals and write everything that was happening in my life. I wanted to see the patterns in my life, where I was going, and the people involved. I was always looking for a spiritual evolution to who I was.

How would you categorize your book?
My book is a memoir. It is not a tell-all. I am writing about my life and my experiences. And I guess people want to categorize it as a tell-all because they liken it to Karrine Steffans book. I did not tell anyone’s names. I did not want to ruin anyone’s careers, families, or livelihood. We still have not gotten to the point in the black community where we can talk openly about sex and sexuality. Also, I am not being vindictive and nor am I scorn. I wrote about my life, and I guess you can say it is a tell-all because I tell all my business. However, when any other celebrity or author (white person) writes a memoir and names name their books are seen as memoirs. Unfortunately a black person writes the same book and it becomes a tell-all.

Tells us about your book, Hiding in Hip Hop.

Hiding in Hip Hop, uncovers a hidden and well-known unspoken secret. Deep within the confines of Hip-Hop is a prominent gay sub-culture. It is a world that industry insiders are keenly aware of, but choose to ignore. From the testosterone of men striving to be on top and in control, to the “by any means necessary” bravado in an industry that thrives on power, homosexuality is a reality at nearly every level of Hip-Hop. Hiding in Hip Hop is a heartfelt sojourn of a young man searching for self, love, and sexual identity in the most homophobic places – the black family, community, church, and Hip Hop.

What was the reason for writing this book? Did you see a need for this book?
I wrote this book for the many men and women of color who are a part of the entertainment industry and feel as if they have no voice in a culture that demonizes and dehumanizes who we are as same gender loving people. We have made many contributions to this industry, be it in front of the camera, and behind it, we are thoroughly ingrained within the entertainment industry, and yet, we are made to feel as if our contributions are insignificant. It is a well-known industry secret that deep within the confines of Hip Hop there is a prevalent subculture of down low men and women. I also wrote this book for the many people who struggle on a daily basis personally with their family, and community. This book is about the human spirit and the will to succeed in spite of the challenges and obstacles one faces in life. Lastly, I wrote this book for myself. It is a testimony of my life and the journey of coming to terms with my sexuality and the power of living into my truth.

When you first released the book, what were people’s responses?
I am completely surprised by the response of the book. I actually thought no one would have an interest in what I had to say as it related to my life. I am extremely thankful and grateful for everyone’s support and love. I am glad that so many people have expressed to me how their lives have been affected by what I have written.

What did you think when you completed your book?
I have finally told my story. I am free. I am healed. I am whole and it feels good. Also, I knew a lot of people would connect with the book because of its contents. My story was every person’s story who has loved, lost, hoped, and prayed.

What issues, if any, do you thing should be addressed in the hip hop industry?
The issues I feel should be addressed in Hip Hop are sex and sexuality. It amazes me how so many young, old, smart, intelligent and wise people are part of the culture, yet they are so limited in their thinking when it comes to sex and sexuality. The very things you witnessed and experienced as a child are the same experiences you have in this culture, yet many artists are afraid to speak up or out.

Where did you get your inspiration for your book?
I looked at my community, my experiences of my life. I decided to release my memoir because I knew I had a story to tell. I had experienced so much in my life and I knew my story was the experience of so many black people. I wanted to encourage and inspire others with a powerful message that would resonate beyond anyone’s personal obstacles or challenges.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I hope that I am still able to keep people interested in my writings; books that inspire, touch, and move the human spirit. These books motivate, encourage, and uplift people. I am that type of writer. I am also looking to produce for television and film, and write more articles. I also hope that people will remain supportive of my career as an author. That is very encouraging.

What is your goal for 2009?
My goal is to complete two books and get them into the public. I also have some other projects I am working on that will be out in 2009. I am working on cologne for men, a line of women’s lingerie, and a television project. So everyone watch out for them.

Be sure to check out Terrance Dean at: http://www.terrancedean.blogspot.com/

Heather Elitou-Reviewer