Book Review- Still Dirty

Author: Vickie Stringer
Publisher: Atria Books
Pub. Date: July 2008
Cost: $23.95

Pages: 226


Yup, Red is Still Dirty. She will stop at nothing to get what she wants. No matter how hard she tries she can’t stop herself from being the little devil that she is known to be.

The book begins where we left off in Dirty Red. She and Q are being chased by Bacon who is beyond P.O. and ready to blow their heads off at the airport in front of everyone. They just make into the plane and leave Bacon frying mad.

They are on their way to Mexico so that they could get their minds right, but Q wants Red to stay her distance. He is planning to get out of the business and the last thing he needs is the drama that Red brings.

Red sees that Q is trying to avoid her at all cost but that is her man and she will stop at nothing to make sure that he knows that this relationship is for the long haul... or until Red is ready to let it go. Q is pissed that he allowed himself to be caught in the tornado with Red but he admits to himself that he loves Red and that he would do anything for her.

All of the same characters are there and looking to give Red what she deserves. Sasha was ordered to kill Red by her boyfriend Catfish, but she leaves the city with Blue, the old boyfriend of Red that will never forget when Red took it upon herself to destroy his car.

Terry is spending time in jail for her attempted kidnapping of Kera and Mekel’s baby. She realizes that it was her own actions that were wicked and that she had momentarily insanity that put her there, but she will never forgive Red for leaving her there to rot.

What will she do when she runs into Red? Will she beat her up? Will she kill her?

Kera has changed her ways and she has now dedicated her life to Jesus. She is trying to take Mekel’s mind off of Terry and trying to hide a secret… one that will make destroy her. Now that she has left the fast life, she is earning a honest living by working as a customer service clerk at the bank, and that is where she sees Red. Red is definitely not pleased to see her and makes sure that she mentions Terry, Kera’s enemy. At this point Kera looses her religion and vows to get revenge on Red in the worse way.

There are a few new characters that link everyone together so that the ultimate plan can be executed against Red, but what they fail to remember is that Red is the best at plotting and scheming, and she is prepared for whatever they got to give, but nothing compares to what Bacon is about to do to her. It is an act that will blow the minds of the readers.

Who lives? Who dies? The many twist and turns in this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end in one day. Be sure to look for the continuation because the ending demands that there is one.

Kudos to Vickie Stringer for delivering yet another Dirty Red book.

Reviewer- Heather Elitou

Book Review: True to the Game 3

Author: Terri Woods
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication: July 2, 2008
ISBN: 978-0446581684

New York’s Best Selling Author, Terri Woods, has done it again in True to the Game 3.
The story line was very a great follow up to her True to the Game series and I was pleased with how the story began and unfolded. Terri Woods takes what you think is the end, and crafts it as just the beginning of a wild ride.

Gena is being hunted by all of those who know that she has Quadir’s 20 million dollars. There are the Cops who want the money and they will do whatever it takes to get it... if only they can figure out where it is. Rik owes some big time bosses money and he knows that Gena is holding some cash since she offered to give him some. He can’t see why she wouldn’t give it to him if he asked her, especially because he doesn’t need a lot... that is until the cops figure out that he knows her so now they want him to ask Gena for all the money but Rik has other plans.

Two other mysterious persons are also looking for Gena—one wants the money and the other wants revenge for the killing of his little brother and he’ll stop at nothing to find her and quench his thirst for revenge.

Gena isn’t aware that there are people after her and the money until family members pop up hurt, and people she thought she knew show there true colors. But an unexpected visit from someone she thought was dead will help and guide her through the troubling times... or does he also want the money?

This book was filled with adventure and it was not your average run of the mill, drug selling book. I love to read mysteries, and this was definitely filled with whodunnit’s. Terri stayed on point and didn’t stray from the original plot of the story.

Music's New Artist- Skip Tha Problem

Every artist has a story and the story of Skip Tha Problem is one worth listening too. New York's own, is looking to follow in the fotsteps of some of the greatest MC's to step out of his beloved city.

Skip was given the nickname at birth. He was born and raised in St. Croix U.S.V.I where he left to pursue rapping and now resides in the Bronx, NYC.
Skip started rapping in 2002, but he always been a big fan of rap music. He describes his music as a cross between East Coast rhymes with a southern twist. Some of his influences include Tupac, Master P, Biggie, and KRS One. Skip is the first rapper and is without a doubt the hottest rapper hailing from the beautiful island of St. Croix.

Backed by Carnegee Kingz, an independent union lead by former Interscope recording artist Brasco. Skip is expected to take the industry by storm with his highly anticipated first solo album, which is set to be released summer 2008. He says if he was not rapping he would be a salesman because he can talk fire out of hell and water from a whale!

We had the chance to chat it up with chance about his CD and what people can expect in the future.

Tell us about your CD.
A zillion bars of painis the name of my new mix tape! It is made for true hip hop heads. On this mixed tape i took back to essence when it was about what you say not who you are.

Do you surprise yourself with what comes out in your music?

Very much! Sometimes I shock myself when I write. I'm like, "yo, you heard what I said?" because that bar is sick! Also the feedback I get from my music from the crowds is awesome. For instance, I was at the club last week and the dj played my record, "Make it Thunder" and the crowd went bonkers I was real surprised they took to it like that when they never heard the song before.

How did your music career begin?
Growing up in the islands, we mostly listened to reggae and soca music, but I was always a big fan of hip hop music. So when I moved to New York, I would bug out with my friends freestyling on the block, but due to my lyrical content all my friends wanted me to start battling. So, we would go to other people blocks and I would battle the nicest rappers winning 90 percent of the time. That's when I decided to make music a career and I took it to the next level.

What was the reason for putting this CD together? Did you see a need?
At the time, I started recording tracks for "A Zillion Bars of Pain". I felt like hip hop needed a breath of fresh air, they needed a new face and that was me. Plus, the fans kept asking for something to listen to. There is also a need for good, real music.

What did you think when you completed your CD?
I thought that all my hard work payed off because I put together a mixtape that I was comfortable with and that people would like it.

How do you keep your music fresh?
I listen to everything from rock n roll to Gospel. I watch movies and most important I read a lot of books which infulence my music, also my everyday life experiences.

Which of your songs is your favorite?
I got a couple of favorites on this mixtape. But I would have to say "Fitted to Da Left" because I wrote and co-produce this record.

What is your goal for 2008-09?
Well, I have a new album coming in the Summer in 2009 and were planning a college tour for Spring 2009 to promote the album! I'm looking to do more performances so I will be in a city near you!! Hopefully I will have a major deal real soon too and of course I'm going to keep hitting ya'll with good music.

Peace Infinite Magazine and check me out on myspace.com/thaproblem26

Young, Hip & Chic Celebrates Women With Class

Philadelphia, PA- This week on Young Hip & Chic, Tweety Elitou pays homage to the great women of yesterday that made class and beauty what it is today.

On the most recent webisode, the vintage look is in the spotlight. “This show was very special to me,” says Tweety Elitou. “Not only am I a big fan of the vintage style but it was also personal because it made me think of my great-grandmother and the beautiful women of her day.”

The beautiful women that Tweety refers to are Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Audrey Hepburn, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, and Grace Kelly. “These women were not just awesome talents but they set fashion styles that are classics and can never be forgotten,” states Tweety. “I love the flowers that Billie Holiday placed in her hair, I loved the clothes that Grace Kelly wore, and who is more lady and classy than Lena Horne?!”

YHC ventures to the Curiosity Shoppe in Philly, PA and speaks with stylist, Blu, about what makes vintage styles hot. YHC also visits The Beauty Studio also in Philly, PA and speaks with salon owner Naneke about what hair styles are sure to take you back.

Get in the know about vintage and learn more about the fashion by watching it here:


About YHC

Young, Hip & Chic (YHC for short) was developed while Tweety was watching TMZ, Extra, and E! “I was watching these shows because I like to see what people are wearing but I was becoming so tired of seeing Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton without panties! Not to mention, I thought to myself, these are role models?” Tweety passionately expresses.

YHC is to celebrate the art of fashion by educating people between the ages of 12-19 years of age that fashion, in fact, is an art that is expressed from the designer to the people that purchase it. Each week, the show will focus on different styles from antique, to grunge, to whatever trend is evolving and revolving. YHC will also inform people with fashion facts, the history of fashions, and the meaning of words that are heard and not often explained. “I think that to be a fashionista, you have to know the five W’s of fashion—who, what, when, where and why.” Tweety explains.

“The overall experience of YHC is to show that fashion can be fun; to know that clothes do not make you, you make the clothes, and being a diva is so overrated,” she explains. “I think that loving who you are from the inside shows on the outside, and that love of fashion, makes you a true fashionsita!”

YHC can been seen biweekly on Saturday at: http://www.infinitemag.net/, http://www.youghipchic.blogspot.com/ and www.youtube.com/infinitemag. Feedback is encouraged as it may appear on the next show.

YHC is also looking for stylists, beauty experts, designers, models, etc. that are looking for exposure and credits for their resumes and books. The show is also looking for sponsors that want to reach a young, hip and chic audience. So far YHC has reached on board The Beauty Studio, Hatchette Book Group, Curiosity Shoppe, and Teenvogue.com. To get further information, contact: younghipchic@gmail.com

About Tweety Elitou
Tweety is of Native American descent and comes from a very artistic family, which explains her colorful background. She is no stranger to the world of fashion. “I have been loving fashion since I was really, really little. My favorite store was the Gap because I loved the styles and how I could dress it up or down, anyway that I wanted, and I was only four!” she says. At the age of six, she graduated from John R. Powers modeling school in Philly, PA with top honors. While attending elementary school she grew in love with art and excelled not only in her basic learning of Math, English, Science and History but also in Art. She has won awards for her artistic work from the School District of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Free Library not just her visual works but also her poetry. She is an Evoluer Girl established by the great fashion diva and educator, Cheryl Wadlington, and was voted the most improved in fashion. Tweety also writes fashion articles and book reviews for her families well known art blog, Infinite Magazine. She has co-created covers for books, The Road to Emotional Healing and The Soul of Poetry for Neshee Publication. She makes jewelry, designs her own clothes, and loves photography in front of and behind the camera—a love that she shares with her dad.

Tweety has appeared in Naturally You! Magazine. As an Iconz Model, she has done several fashion shows including the Sensationel Hair Idol in which the King of Hair Glynn Jackson stated, “She is a joy and pleasure to work with and I wish I had more models like her, she fills my heart.” She has been a guest judge for the Jo’ni Modelz, Inc- Rip the Runway Competition, and she the protégé of Essence Best-Selling author, Miasha and the spokes girl for her foundation, Ask Miasha. “Tweety is a great girl and very inspiring. She someone that other little girls will look up to and I am so proud of her,” says Miasha.

She will be releasing her first book, Girl Power: The Go-To Guide for Teens to Becoming Perfect Young Ladies, and is now working on the sequel, Girl Power Two: Building a Better You! All of this while maintaining straight A’s in school every year.