Dr. Dorothy Irene Height passes away at 98 years old.

The social activist, women’s advocate, and educator passed away at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. at 3:41 a.m. According to TheRoot, she died of natural causes.

She is best known for her involvement in the Young Women’s Christian Association, being Chair and President Emerita of the National Council of Negro Women, being the 10th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and standing on the same platform as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Up and coming artist Ashton Travis drops new mixtape.

Ashton Travis, crowned “Mr. Freshman” of the Class of 2013 at Howard University, has dropped his highly anticipated mixtape appropriately titled, Mr. Freshman. This project offers everything from written rhymes to freestyles and spoken word to smooth R&B, not to mention a divergency of different sounds production-wise. Travis says it best in his introductory track “For Ever, For Always, For Love” when he says, “I was born to be a star like holdin’ shift and pressin’ 8.”

Download it here!

Wale Speaks On Haiti x Charles Hamilton x 2010 from 25 Magazine on Vimeo.

We caught up with Wale after his performance for the Hands for Haiti benefit concert at Howard University for a follow up to this interview. Check it out!

It’s on youtube too!

Brandon Hines and Mickey Factz perform “Live Water” off mixtape The Leak Vol. 2 live at GFCNY’s Black Apple Showcase at S.O.B.’s. #howardu

Fuze the MC releases the single from new mix-album.

Fuze the MC teams up with Andorian for “I’m That Guy,” the single off of his forthcoming mix-album Stereo Typical Music.

Give it a listen.

Download here

A recap and photos of Howard University’s Homecoming 2009 Yardfest.

Words by Stacy-Ann Ellis.

The district shut down for Howard University’s Yardfest on Friday, October 23rd, one of Homecoming’s highly anticipated events. Alumni and current students crowded the yard to see free performances and appearances from celebrities and Hip Hop and R&B artists. The event was hosted by Howard’s own Jae Murphy and Howard alum Angie Ange.

Performers Nipsey Hussle, The Clipse, Big Sean, Cameo, and headliner Fabolous were initially announced to perform at Yardfest, but the Homecoming Steering Committee wowed the crowd with surprise performances. Raheem Devaughn, Don Juan, Pooch Hall, Melanie Fiona, Lance Gross, Wale and others all hit the stage sending the masses into a frenzy.

The rain came for a short stint during Wale’s set, but it didn’t stop his fans from rapping along to his current hits “Pretty Girls” and “Chillin.”

The final performance from veteran R&B group Cameo, satisfied members from the older crowd and some of the younger ones who knew the words to their songs as well. Dressed in glitter and patent leather, there was not a dull moment in Cameo’s performance.

Howard students, alumni, and other visitors were entertained by a variety of performances, and left Yardfest ready to kick off their Homecoming weekend.

View Photos Below

25 Magazine catches up with Price Tag and Oktane of Audio Push before Howard Homecoming Yardfest.

The world is infatuated with the jerking frenzy that is taking over hip-hop, and the Audio Push was ready to bring Howard University along on the bandwagon. The California natives gave a high energy performance, not holding back any extreme jerking  moves, but 25 Magazine got to catch up with them before they set the stage on fire:

25: How are you feeling Howard’s Homecoming so far?
Oktane: So far it’s crazy!

25: What are you going to bring to the stage today?
Price Tag: It’s gonna be dope. When we perform, we’re going to make sure this place is poppin’.

25: What songs are you going to perform?
Oktane: We’re going to do “Teach Me How to Jerk” and then perform our second single, “Go.”

25: Tell me about your album.
Price Tag: Well, right now we have a mixtape called The Soundtrack and it’s dropping October 26th. Then our album is coming out in March 2010 called Birth of Audio.

25: Thanks for giving us the updates. Good luck on your performance!

Words and Photography by Jasmine Whiting

Howard University students gathered in Cramton Auditorium Wednesday,  for a conversation with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and Robert Greene, to discuss their new book The 50th Law. Greene, the author of The 48 Laws of Power, was approached by Jackson to write a guide to success based on his own life experiences.

During the event four student groups presented entrepreneurial endeavors to Jackson and Greene. R Cube BINS, a company promoting “going green” on Howard University’s campus, was the $500 grand-prize winner. There was only one winner, but Jackson and Greene were both very impressed with all of the contestants’ creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

View Slideshow Below

Diddy Supports Howard University Student Protest.

WASHINGTON – Students at Howard University gathered in front of the university’s administration building in protest Friday, September 4th. According to The Hilltop, university paper, in the “Take A Stand” protest students had the following demands:

1. All Students must be validated by Sept. 25, 2009 (no extensions on the deadline).
2. Howard University advances technology and goes completely paperless by the 2010-2011 school year.
3. Howard University must have a library that is open 24-hours a day by the end of the fall semester 2009.
4. Howard Financial Aid office must extend its business hours by the end of the fall semester 2009.
5. Howard must disseminate a budget visible to students that shows the allocation of student money by the end of fall semester 2009.

The protest has also garnered celebrity support from Sean “Diddy” Combs on twitter (@iamdiddy).

Check out 25 Magazine’s latest photo shoot and behind-the-scenes video!

Like A Boy: Androgynous Fashion Shoot

(See the spread in our new viewer here)

Style Editor: Otibho Okojie | Asst. Style Editor: Ashley Jones

Stylists: Kevin Hunter, Ashley J. Crudup

Photographer: Jasmine Whiting

Hair & Make-up: Donette Lowe

Special thanks to the Goodwill of Greater Washington for providing all of our vintage looks! Live green, look haute.

Androgynous Fashion Shoot Behind-the-Scenes Exclusive from 25 Magazine on Vimeo.

c. Sabrina Little

While most H.U. students are dressed in their Sunday best to go to the on-campus job fair, Will White throws on a pair of sneakers, a hoodie, and a Yankee fitted cap to start off his day. Currently the president of the University Fashion Council and the head honcho of Uforiya model troupe Will White is making things happen with his up and coming fashion line, J’adore Black Market. French for, I adore the Black Market, J’adore Black Market is making a buzz, and it makes sense to pass on a corporate job at Bank of America to some desperate accounting major for an opportunity of a lifetime.

The Grind: What is the purpose of University Fashion Council (UFC)?
Will White: It’s like a vehicle for HU students to enter into the Fashion Industry. Most of our members have non-fashion majors, and [most join] due to the UFC’s great networking with people in the industry.

T.G.: How did the Uforiya Model Troupe come about?
W.W.: Two years ago when I was a sophomore, the UFC president at the time, LaTica Ray suggested the idea for it. I then got about 12-15 of my close personal friends and we started HU’s first and only model troupe.

T.G.: J’adore Black Market is your clothing line you started 4 years ago. What three words would you use to describe your line?
W.W.: Urban, punk, and fusion: Simply because I’m influenced by everything. Changes in my life, music, and things I see everyday. I went to Barcelona two summers ago and just seeing the graffiti influenced the direction I wanted to take my line for that upcoming season.

T.G.: What’s in Will White’s closet? Do you have any specific brands that you favor or stores?
W.W.: I wear anything! [laughs]. My style can be based off of anything really. Fashion is an outward extension of inward self so one thing I do need in my life to survive are sneakers. It’s a must for me to buy a new pair at least once a month. A hot spot that I would definitely recommend is Annie’s Cream Cheese. It’s a vintage shop in Georgetown.

T.G.: So what’s on the “To-Do List” for the rest of the school year?
W.W.: I designed 7 looks for the Redskinettes calendar and I plan on continuing with more projects with my line. This year I am in charge of the Spring Fest Fashion Show. Spring Fest is like Homecoming in the spring time. So it’s a big deal and I am putting everything aside to focus on it 100%.

T.G.: Where does Will White see himself in 5 years?
W.W.: A celebrity! [laughs]. I really want to get into Public Relations and I used to be an actor when I was younger, so anything relating to that or design is where I want to be.

T.G.: Why shouldn’t we sleep on Will White?
W.W.: Because Will White works hard!

The Grind: So tell me about this mix-tape you’re selling right now?
DJ Anonymous: This [mixtape] took the most work! I decided to tackle different markets and worked with a different combination of artists such as DJ Fah-D, DJ P-Cutta, and DJ Rockko.

TG: Who are your influences?
A: DJ Funkmaster Flex, he used Deejaying to sponsor himself, DJ Jazzy Jeff, because he was the 1st deejay to make the “Transformer Scratch” popular, DJ Quicksilver, who used his radio show to showcase his skills, and of course my mother. She always played older records in the house, and that’s where I developed my “old soul” as a DJ.

TG: What do you feel is necessary in order to become a good DJ?
A: As a DJ there are different areas you need to master in order to be successful. You have to have good Networking skills, also you need to be able to market yourself, and have good [DJing] skills overall.

TG: So, what do you think sets you apart from all the other up and coming DJ’s?
A: My promotional genius. No DJ in the area promotes them self better than me. The most important thing to do as a deejay is to be good at promoting yourself.

TG: Can you give us one of your self-promotional tricks?
A: I usually pick up the random flyers I see all over campus, and call the numbers on the back to network.

TG: So is there anything else you do besides DJing?
A: I love promoting, and I’m currently managing an artist on campus, Purple, a female Rapper from Oakland, California. I plan to produce and arrange her upcoming mixtape.

TG: What can we expect of you in the future?
A: Well, I want to release an album called Mekka Musik; a collaboration of the hottest artists in H.U. Also, I’m going on the road with the upcoming singer Tiffany Evans in the winter. I’m trying to expand myself, because if you do all your events in the same location it devalues your rep.