Keepingitreal

TARP Bailout to Cost Less Than Once Anticipated

WASHINGTON — Even as voters rage and candidates put up ads against government bailouts, the reviled mother of them all — the $700 billion lifeline to banks, insurance and auto companies — will expire after Sunday at a fraction of that cost, and could conceivably earn taxpayers a profit.

A final accounting of the government’s full range of interventions in the economy, including the bailouts of the mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is years off and will most likely remain controversial and potentially costly.

But the once-unthinkable possibility that the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program could end up costing far less, or even nothing, became more likely on Thursday with the news that the government had negotiated a plan with the American International Group to begin repaying taxpayers.

The rescue of the troubled insurer included $70 billion from the bailout program that was enacted two years ago, at the height of the global financial crisis late in the Bush administration, initially to prop up big banks.

At the White House on Thursday, the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, briefed President Obama about A.I.G. and about the broader outlook for the expiring rescue program, putting the projected losses at less than $50 billion, at most. Yet neither the White House nor Congressional Democrats are likely to boast much in the month remaining before midterm elections. For most voters, TARP remains a four-letter word.

Brian A. Bethune, the chief financial economist in the United States for IHS/Global Insight, while critical of parts, called the program over all “a tremendous success. Now obviously, they can’t go out on the campaign trail and say that, because certainly, for a lot of voters, it’s just not going to resonate.”

The “bank bailout” was the first big issue, before the Obama administration’s roughly $800 billion stimulus plan and its health insurance overhaul, to stoke the rise of the Tea Party movement. After supporting TARP, several Republicans have lost elections largely because of their votes. For many Americans, TARP is more than a vote; it is a symbol of big government at its worst, intervening in private markets with taxpayers’ billions to save Wall Street plutocrats while average Americans struggle through the recession those financiers spawned.

Fewer than three in 10 Americans say they believe the program was necessary “to prevent the financial industry from failing and drastically hurting the U.S. economy,” according to a poll in July for Bloomberg News.

“This is the best federal program of any real size to be despised by the public like this,” said Douglas J. Elliott, a former investment banker now associated with the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. CONTINUE READING...

Wrong Winner Announced on ‘Australia’s Next Top Model’ Finale

Tuesday night’s live finale of ‘Australia’s Next Top Model’ was not pretty as a picture … in fact, it was a downright nightmare.

The show’s host Sarah Murdoch, daughter-in-law of News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch, announced the wrong girl’s name as the winner of the reality competition on live TV.

Kelsey Martinovich was initially crowned the winner of ‘Australia’s Next Top Model’ during the 90-minute live finale, but after about one minute of celebrating, the ‘Top Model’ learned … there was a mistake.

“I don’t know what to say right now … I’m feeling a bit sick about this,” a panicked Murdoch began.

Turns out, Amanda Ware was the actual winner, according to a very close final vote cast by viewers. A “miscommunication” backstage led to Murdoch saying the wrong girl’s name on stage.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Kelsey,” Murdoch explained. “This is a complete accident, it’s Amanda [who won].”

Ware, 18, was then declared the rightful winner, and slinks off with $20,000 in cash, an eight-page spread in Harper’s Bazaar, a modeling contract, a $25,000 Levi’s campaign, a car, and a trip to New York.

How do you make that kind of Oops!?

“It was fed to me wrong,” Murdoch claimed.

“This is what happens when you have live TV folks, this is insane, insane, insane.”

“At the time of the result announcement there was a miscommunication between the broadcast truck and the stage,” a spokesman told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Sarah handled what was a difficult situation with utmost professionalism and grace.”

Don’t feel too bad for the almost ‘Top Model’ though. The network announced they are awarding Martinovich a $25,000 consolation prize for the embarrassing gaffe.

But there was no catfight on the catwalk–Martinovich took the blow like a champ.

“I am thrilled for Amanda, we have grown so close during this amazing experience,” she said afterward. “I understand that live television has its risks and nothing is going to stop me from achieving my dream of becoming a successful model.”

 

 

NEW MUSIC: CHRIS BROWN - “YEAH 3X”

♫ Chris Brown  - Yeah 3x 

♫ ALTERNATE LINK ♫ 

Ever since his performance at this year’s BET Awards, things have been looking up forChris Brown. So now, he’s ready to take a stab at releasing some new material.

The new track, “Yeah 3x” is the first single from Chris’s upcoming fourth studio album, F.A.M.E., which Chris has frequently talked about on his TWITTER. The new track is produced by DJ Frank-E.

Although Chris found chart success with “Deuces,” a track from the Fan of A Fanmixtape with Young Money’s Tyga, his last album, 2009’s Graffiti failed to perform the way he had hoped, producing only two singles. F.A.M.E. is slated to hit stores this fall.

 

Recovered, refreshed El DeBarge wants a 2nd chance

 NEW YORK – It took El DeBarge more than two decades to get off drugs — and he says watching performers like T.I. and Bruno Mars get into trouble over them only proves that every one needs a second chance.

"My heart goes out to Bruno Mars, my heart goes out to T.I.," DeBarge said in a phone interview Tuesday from his Los Angeles home.

"I know there's a lot of people out there experimenting with drugs. I know. I did it because I was curious. I said, 'Hey, let me try this.' And it took me 22 years to un-try," the 49-year-old singer said.

DeBarge added: "They're very talented and I'm here to show that the second chance is ours."

T.I. was stopped on Sept. 1 after making an illegal U-turn and Los Angeles police say they found several pills confirmed to be a controlled substance. The rapper, 29, had been released from jail in June after serving 10 months on weapons charges and is still on probation.

Mars — the 24-year-old rising newcomer who's appeared on and co-produced two of the year's biggest hits with B.o.B's "Nothin' on You" and Travie McCoy's "Billionaire" — was arrested on Sept. 19 for having 2.6 grams of cocaine.

DeBarge, who was jailed for two years following a 2008 drug possession arrest, returned to the stage this year's at the BET Awards. He's planning to release "Second Chance," his first album in 16 years, later this year.

"Just call me crazy, but after a long 22-year drug bend and me being able to come back and being embraced by fans like this and just to be alive and still have my chops, I think that's awesome," DeBarge said.

The singer's career saw its peak in the 1980s when he led four of his siblings in the clan DeBarge. The R&B group had No. 1 hits like "Time Will Reveal" and "Rhythm of the Night." The group's music was also given new life through use by artists like the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac and Ashanti.

DeBarge's upcoming CD will feature 50 Cent, Fabolous and Faith Evans. He starts a tour with Mary J. Blige on Oct. 7 in Washington.

DeBarge said he never lost his voice, but did lose his confidence about his career.

"I was praying the whole time while I was on drugs: 'Oh God please, you got to get me off this. You got to help me.' So he said, 'OK.' ... Because I found out that God not only wanted me to have faith in him, but also to have faith in myself. And so once I did that, my confidence showed me that it was always there, I just had to believe it again."

___

Online:

http://www.eldebargemusic.com

Ga. megachurch pastor accused in sex scandal

 ATLANTA – As a Christian author, gospel singer and leader of one of the nation's best-known black megachurches, Bishop Eddie Long finds a wide audience for messages such as marriage is "between one man and one woman." Those words hung heavy Wednesday over accusations that the TV preacher, a married father of four, used jewelry, cars and cash to lure three young men into sexual relationships. Lawsuits filed Tuesday and Wednesday say the young men were 17 or 18 years old at the time, enrolled in New Birth Missionary BaptistChurch's ministry for teen boys.

A lawyer for Long, who writes books on heterosexual relationships and has strong ties to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s family, adamantly denied the allegations. Few at Long's 25,000-strong church will discuss the situation, and the grounds were quiet Wednesday save for a small group walking in prayer. But those who will speak say they are supporting him.

Lance Robertson, who joined New Birth nearly two decades ago and has coached youth basketball there, said Wednesday that members were hurting.

"I support and will stand with my bishop, but right now in the court of public opinion, it does not look good," Robertson said. "This affects too many people. As the bishop goes, New Birth goes. He built New Birth."

B.J. Bernstein, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said she opened her investigation after getting a call from one of the men. The Associated Press normally does not name people who claim they are victims of sexual impropriety, but Bernstein said all three — Maurice Robinson, 20, and Anthony Flagg, 21, and Jamal Parris, 23 — have consented to making their identities public.

Bernstein said she didn't trust local authorities to investigate the claims.

"This is a really large church that's incredibly politically powerful," Bernstein said. "There are pictures of this guy with every politician around. With something this important, how can I trust that word didn't get back to the bishop?"

DeKalb County Sheriff Thomas Brown has been a member of New Birth for more than 15 years and sits on the advisory board for Long's Longfellows Youth Academy. He said he would stand by the bishop and bristled at Bernstein's suggestion that local authorities couldn't be trusted.

"I take offense to that," he said. "It does not merit a dignified response."

Bernstein said that her case hinges on her three clients' testimony and that she doesn't have much physical evidence backing up her complaint. Bishop sent dozens of e-mails and phone calls to her clients, though they weren't "overly sexual," she said. Bernstein said she plans to subpoena records from Long that will show he traveled with the young men to New York, Las Vegas, New Zealand and elsewhere.

Long has been silent since the lawsuits were filed, though he did have a news conference planned for Thursday. But urban radio, Internet sites like Facebook and Twitter, and cable television news shows have been abuzz.

Atlanta radio host Frank Ski devoted much of his 4-hour morning show to the issue. Ski, a 12-year member of New Birth, called the accusations "painful" and said he doesn't believe them.

Ski said he and his fellow church members are generally supportive of Long and are awaiting the outcome of the case.

"This church is used to the controversy coming against him," Ski said. "It's all about faith. When you have faith, you understand that those kinds of things will happen."

Robertson, the church's youth basketball coach, said he wants to hear Long respond to the accusations.

"The bishop has helped so many people," he said. "It's not uncommon for him to mentor young men and groom them to be productive members of society. The bishop's heart has always been in the right place. But the New Birth family, we're weeping. This is not a good day for New Birth."

Long, who was appointed pastor of New Birth in 1987, presides over an empire that claims athletes, politicians and entertainers as members.

President George W. Bush and three former presidents visited the sprawling New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the Atlanta suburb of Lithonia for the 2006 funeral of Coretta Scott King, the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Long introduced the speakers and the Rev. Bernice King, the Kings' younger daughter, delivered the eulogy. She is also a pastor there.

Today, New Birth sits on 250 acres and has more than 25,000 members, a $50 million, 10,000-seat cathedral and more than 40 ministries. CONTINUE READING...

Voros: Androids attempting to take over digital world

In the darker corners of science fiction, man-made androids often bite the human hand that programs them.

Usually the story includes something going terribly wrong during the android development process. Errors introduced by accident or choice trigger devastating consequences that make for great movies pitting man versus automaton.

Harrison Ford, for example, plays a government hit man in the futuristic sci-fi movie "Blade Runner," where he must eliminate slave androids that have developed minds of their own.

In the real world, today's androids come from Mountain View-based Google and do not look anything like us. Rather, they come in the form of software and can be held in our hands without fear of bite.

Google's Android operating system may not mean much to you now, but in the future it could mean cheaper cost and more services to the 5 billion people on Earth who have cell phones, smartphones, computer tablets or any other handheld device.

Unlike Apple, which keeps its iPhone and iPad software source code under lock and key, guarded by a bridge troll that collects a toll every time it is opened, Google's Android operating system is freely available to any company.

The open-source nature benefits consumers in the long run, since there are no costs to be passed on at the retail level. Applications for the operating system also do not require the innovation-stifling approval of a grand poo-bah like Steve Jobs. There are 70,000 apps available right now for Android.

Now there's evidence that Android is making serious inroads at conquering the digital world as its availability widens.

New figures announced last week show that the share of phones in the U.S. running Android increased to 17 percent from 12 percent in the period through April, research company ComScore said. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion fell to 39.3 percent from 41.1 percent while Apple's iPhone software ran on 23.8 percent of smartphones, down from 25.1 percent. Microsoft's share fell to 11.8 percent from 14 percent. Palm, the smart-phone vendor bought by Hewlett-Packard Co. this year, was unchanged at 4.9 percent.

So while others lose market share or hang on to what they have, Android saw a 42 percent jump in its adoption rate. But don't expect the brain trust at Google to be content with smartphones alone. That's just one piece of the digital pie. CONTINUE READING..

It’s All Hip-Hop’s Fault

More than any other genre of music, hip-hop is said to be responsible for the societal issues of the Millennial generation. Rappers’ glorification of life in the street is partly blamed for the high incarceration rate of young Black men. Misogynistic lyrics are seen as the culprit for Black women being reduced to bitches and hos in every day life. And the over-sexualized images of women in videos are designated as the reason that young women believe their booty has more value than their brain. It’s all hip-hop’s fault.

But maybe hip-hop is undeserving of its constant criticisms.

Today jazz is revered as one of the greatest genres of all times. However, just as rock and roll was coined the “devil’s music,” just as hip-hop is considered not to be music at all, jazz was also originally detested. It was a well-known fact that musicians of the 1940s and 1950s were heavily involved in drugs. Much of their life was spent playing music in nightclubs where drug life was rife. Some of the legendary jazz artists—Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker—struggled with known drug addictions. The difference is that, as influential as jazz was, it was not seen as the cause of everything wrong with the baby boomer generation.

The musicians our parents idolized did not lead exemplary lives. James Brown—women abuser. Ray Charles—heroin addict. Marvin Gaye—notorious womanizer. Etta James—heroin addict. But their music was respected without the assassination attacks on the art form, or their character, that many hip-hop artists receive.

As gruesome and vulgar as the lyrics of hip-hop can be—both necessarily and unnecessarily—hip-hop is poetry. Like every other genre, hip-hop is a form of artistic expression. The story may be unfamiliar to some, but it remains nonetheless real.

The influence of hip-hop culture on youth is undeniable. In the same way that rock and roll was associated with promoting sex and drugs, hip-hop is correlated with everything wrong with the Millennial generation. As easily influenced as children are, blaming the actions of rappers, their lyrics, and the image they portray for what is wrong with our youth, is a cop-out on addressing the root of some of the problems.

Hip-hop is often blamed when education, public policy, poverty, and the de-intellectualization of American culture should be held accountable. Hip-hop is the mirror in which American culture, Black middle-class American culture especially, detests the reflection that it sees. Be it in the pursuit of profit or class superiority, the message that the defamation of hip-hop at the hands of elders sends to youth is crystal clear. Black youth culture is disposable, and therefore, Black youth are disposable.

Parents have a far greater responsibility to raise their children then a rapper who half the time doesn’t even believe in, or live, the rhymes he spits. Indeed, some of the elements of the music are problematic. In particular, I take issue with the false image several of them present to the world. Case in point: Lil Jon, Plies, and others who all hold higher education degrees, but never rap about the importance of education. Yet I still cannot fairly attribute the societal ills that plague Black youth to hip-hop culture . CONTINUE READING...

AIDS in the Black Community: What’s the Hold-Up?

AIDS in the African American community has seemingly lost its luster. Despite the concentration and growth of AIDS among African Americans, improvements have been limp. Discussions have seemingly become more sparse, as many circles have conceded HIV/AIDS to be a “Black person’s disease.”

The Congressional Black Caucus will meet on September 15-18 to elucidate on a national AIDS strategy. Community leaders recognize AIDS as a persistent ill and they do a decent job of keeping the topic on their tongues in public forums. Black publications don’t let it stray too far from their pages and websites either.

Special reports are being conducted on it. Public policy scholars from many universities continue to bilk grants from the government to study it. But yet, the effects are still pervasive. Blacks account for over 50 percent of new cases of HIV/AIDS infections. And this was nine years ago.

Many within liberal and African American circles believe that the government planted AIDS among “certain” people. According to a 2005 Washington Post article, almost half of 500 Black people surveyed believe AIDS is a man-made disease. Even more believe a cure is available, but withheld from the poor. Does embracing this conspiracy encourage nihilism and prevent wholesale improvement? If the cause and spread of this disease is beyond our control, then why take preventative approaches? Why take the extra effort to use prophylactics and sterile needles?

The success of Magic Johnson has led many to believe that AIDS can be usurped with hard work and the right “treatment.” This doesn’t help in the government skepticism department, and it certainly doesn’t help thwart the prevalence of AIDS. Johnson has done a lot to dispel the myth that he is cured. He even warns against infected people thinking that HIV/AIDS is easily beatable.

“You can’t take that attitude that you’re going to be like Magic,” says Johnson. “Since I announced 15 years ago, hundreds of thousands of people have died of HIV/AIDS. There will be more people dying. The virus acts different in all of us. There’s no certainty that if you get the virus, you’re going to be OK.”

Arthur Ashe wasn’t as lucky. Neither was Eazy-E. Neither are countless others whose tales won’t even register on the radar blip of, say, Timothy from the Bronx Academy of Fine Arts.

Robert R., an African American male from Missouri, was the first confirmed case of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. He died in 1969, when he was 16 years old. Doctors estimate almost 20 years passed since the first AIDS symptom and its confirmation, in 1984. His sexuality was questioned, but never proven. From the onset, it appears this disease has been linked to closet behavior. CONTINUE READING...

Young Women Stage ‘Fashion in Action!’ Demonstration at New York Fashion Week

On September 9, the opening day of New York Fashion Week, a group of young Black women staged a silent demonstration. The 20-something ladies wanted to acknowledge the first time in their lifetimes that Essence magazine– a formidable Black women’s print beloved by scores Black girls for 40 years–does not have a Black fashion director. The group of professional and educated women, many of whom are fashion and media insiders also stood in protest of the added fact, there are no Black fashion directors at any mainstream fashion or lifestyle publication.

Dressed in all black, the walkers carried signs of every fashion director in Essence magazine’s 40 year-old history. Large signs in bold font read “I Am Susan Taylor,” “I Am Kevin Stewart,” “I Am Harriette Cole.” Signs also read simply, “I Am A Black Fashion Director.” The demonstration was informed by the iconic 1968 “I Am A Man” march.

The walk began at the Essence magazine headquarters at 50th street and concluded at 63rd street in front of the Lincoln Center, the new home of New York Fashion Week.

CLUTCH magazine was on hand for the demonstration and walked in solitary and support of the cause.

The organizers were moved to action after discovering Essence magazine hired a White fashion director. The walk’s participants were primarily inspired by Michaela angela davis, a fashion and media veteran who boldly spoke out to several media outlets, and exclusively to CLUTCH about her sadness on the print’s shocking decision.

Davis was not only a muse for what the organizers deemed, “Fashion In Action!,” she was an on-hand organizer, and trailed the ladies for the entire walk. CONTINUE READING...

MTV Video Music Awards 2010 nominations

BEST COLLABORATION

B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
Title: Airplanes
Album: B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Director: Hiro Murai

Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga
Title: Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Album: I AM...SASHA FIERCE (Deluxe Edition)
Director: Hype Williams

Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé
Title: Telephone
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Jonas Akerlund

3OH!3 featuring Kesha
Title: My First Kiss
Album: Streets Of Gold
Director: Isaac Ravishankara

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Title: Empire State of Mind
Album: The Blueprint 3
Director: Hype Williams

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Ke$ha
Title: Tik Tok
Album: Animal
Director: Syndrome

Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg
Title: California Gurls
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Mathew Cullen

Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga
Title: Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Album: I AM...SASHA FIERCE (Deluxe Edition)
Director: Hype Williams

Taylor Swift
Title: Fifteen
Album: Fearless
Director: Roman White

BEST MALE VIDEO

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

Usher featuring Will.I.Am
Title: OMG
Album: Raymond v. Raymond
Director: Anthony Mandler

B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
Title: Airplanes
Album: B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Director: Hiro Murai

Drake
Title: Find Your Love
Album: Thank Me Later
Director: Anthony Mandler

Jason Derulo
Title: In My Head
Album: Jason Derulo
Director: Kai Crawford

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO

B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams
Title: Airplanes
Album: B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Director: Hiro Murai

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem
Title: Forever
Album: Music Inspired From The Film More Than A Game
Director: Hype Williams

Jay-Z & Swizz Beats
Title: On To The Next One
Album: The Blueprint 3
Director: Sam Brown

Kid Cudi featuring MGMT & Ratatat
Title: Pursuit Of Happiness
Album: Man on the Moon
Director: Brody Baker

BEST NEW ARTIST

Ke$ha
Title: Tik Tok
Album: Animal
Director: Syndrome

Jason Derulo
Title: In My Head
Album: Jason Derulo
Director: Kai Crawford

Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
Title: Baby
Album: My World Part II
Director: Ray Kay

Nicki Minaj featuring Sean Garrett
Title: Massive Attack
Album: N/A
Director: Hype Williams

Broken Bells
Title: The Ghost Inside
Album: Broken Bells
Director: Jacob Gentry

BEST POP VIDEO

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dog
Title: California Gurls
Album: Teenage Dream
Director: Mathew Cullen

Ke$ha
Title: Tik Tok
Album: Animal
Director: Syndrome

Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga
Title: Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Album: I AM...SASHA FIERCE (Deluxe Edition)
Director: Hype Williams

B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars
Title: Nothing on You
Album: B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Director: Ethan Lader

BEST ROCK VIDEO

30 Seconds To Mars
Title: Kings and Queens
Album: This Is War
Director: Bartholomew Cubbins

Muse
Title: Uprising
Album: The Resistance
Director: Hydra

Paramore
Title: Ignorance
Album: Brand New Eyes
Director: Honey

Florence + the Machine
Title: Dog Days Are Over
Album: Lungs
Director: LEGS

MGMT
Title: Flash Delirium
Album: Congratulations
Director: Andreas Nilsson

BEST DANCE MUSIC VIDEO

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull
Title: I Like It
Album: Euphoria/Jersey Shore Soundtrack
Director: Mike Baro

Cascada
Title: Evacuate The Dancefloor
Album: Evacuate The Dancefloor
Director: Max Nichols

David Guetta featuring Akon
Title: Sexy Chick
Album: One Love
Director: Stephen Schuster

Usher featuring Will.I.Am
Title: OMG
Album: Raymond v. Raymond
Director: Anthony Mandler

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Florence + The Machine
Title: Dog Days Are Over
Album: Lungs
Director: LEGS

30 Seconds To Mars
Title: Kings and Queens
Album: This Is War
Director: Bartholomew Cubbins

Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé
Title: Telephone
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Jonas Akerlund

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
Title: Airplanes
Album: B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Director: Hiro Murai

BEST ART DIRECTION

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Florence + The Machine
Title: Dogs Days Are Over
Album: Lungs
Director: LEGS

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

30 Seconds To Mars
Title: Kings and Queens
Album: This Is War
Director: Bartholomew Cubbins

Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga
Title: Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Album: I AM...SASHA FIERCE (Deluxe Edition)
Director: Hype Williams

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Lady Gaga featuring Beyoncé
Title: Telephone
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Jonas Akerlund

Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga
Title: Video Phone (Extended Remix)
Album: I AM...SASHA FIERCE (Deluxe Edition)
Director: Hype Williams

Usher featuring Will.I.Am
Title: OMG
Album: Raymond v. Raymond
Director: Anthony Mandler

Janelle Monáe featuring Big Boi
Title: Tightrope
Album: The Archandroid
Director: Wendy Morgan

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Title: Empire State of Mind
Album: The Blueprint 3
Director: Hype Williams

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Mumford and Sons
Title: Little Lion Man
Album: Sigh No More
Director: Fred & Nick

Florence + The Machine
Title: Dog Days Are Over
Album: Lungs
Director: LEGS

BEST DIRECTION

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Title: Empire State of Mind
Album: The Blueprint 3
Director: Hype Williams

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis lawrence

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

P!nk
Title: Funhouse
Album: Funhouse
Director: Dave Meyers

30 Seconds To Mars
Title: Kings and Queens
Album: This Is War
Director: Bartholomew Cubbins

BEST EDITING

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis lawrence

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

Rihanna
Title: Rude Boy
Album: Rated R
Director: Melina

P!nk
Title: Funhouse
Album: Funhouse
Director: Dave Meyers

Miike Snow
Title: Animal
Album: Miike Snow
Director: Sebastian Mlynarski

BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)

Lady Gaga
Title: Bad Romance
Album: The Fame Monster
Director: Francis Lawrence

Eminem
Title: Not Afraid
Album: Recovery
Director: Rich Lee

Muse
Title: Uprising
Album: The Resistance
Director: Hydra

Green Day
Title: 21st Century Breakdown
Album: 21st Century Breakdown
Director: Marc Webb

Dan Black
Title: Symphonies
Album: ((un))
Director: Chic & Artistic

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO

Dan Black
Title: Symphonies
Album: ((un))
Director: Chic & Artistic

Gorillaz featuring Bobby Womack & Mos Def
Title: Stylo
Album: Plastic Beach
Director: Jamie Hewlett

Coldplay
Title: Strawberry Swing
Album: Viva La Vida
Director: Shynola

The Black Keys
Title: Tighten Up
Album: Brothers
Director: Chris Marrs Pillero

Apollo Brown Makes A Beat

Music’s Best White Soul Brother?

 White soul men have been around for decades. Jerry Lee Lewis, Rob Parissi from the 70′s band Wild Cherry who sang “Play That Funky Music White Boy,” and the three White brothers that made up The Bee Gees have all arguably set the stage for all of the sultry-singing White boys who rocks our iTouches and Pandora stations today.

Not without their own share of controversy, allegedly stealing the Black man’s moves, or even a Black woman’s riffs–hello Elvis! White soul men have dominated the charts, with their screaming multi-cultural female fans in tow.

These days Robin Thicke, and Justin Timberlake are the White soul singing leaders. But these artists ascend from a long line of contemporary White boys who seem to have the rhythm and blues seeping out of their melanin-less skin. CONTINUE READING...

Lauryn Hill Explains Why She Was Gone For So Long

After her anticipatory “Rock The Bells” performance, Lauryn Hill sat down with Toure for Fuze TV explaining why she was ghost for so long in the public eye. Lauryn says that parenting and being a stay-at-mom was one of the main reasons. “I wanted the real life as well. You know, out of public scrutiny. I wanted to be able to live, reclaim my private life, to reclaim my individuality.” The popular singer says she wanted the freedom and now she’s ready to express herself again. Lauryn further explains that she never did music for the attention. But now she’s ready to make her own space again. On her new album, Lauryn says, “we’ll see.” The challenge of course for the “Miseducation” singer is releasing the album with no label politics.