25 Magazine recaps VH1’s “Behind the Music: Bobby Brown”

Words by Letese` Clark

The last season of VH1’s series “Behind the Music” featured the first boy band, New Edition, but it was missing the story of an original member, Bobby Brown. The self-proclaimed “Bad Boy” revealed his truth about his leave from New Edition, publicly destroyed marriage, and destructive drug addiction. At the age of 14, Brown acquired fame along with New Edition for the hit single “Candy Girl,” but his fame with them was short lived. Unable to share the spotlight and follow demands, Brown walked off stage during a concert in 1985, and soon the group voted him out. In 1989, the urban rock-star introduced the world to his sex appeal when he released Don’t Be Cruel and was arrested several times for performing sexual acts on stage. “I don’t believe the word no, and once you tell me no I’m going to do it harder,” Brown says.

Contrary to popular belief that the downfall of the once peaceful marriage between Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown was due to him bringing her down, the two split because of their destructive personalities. His loneliness and lack of music being produced led to his abusive drug usage. After Karrine Stephens exposed a clip of him lying passed out on her couch, a humiliated Brown decided it was time to reconstruct his life and get sober.

With music and love back into his life, Bobby Brown is finally content and back on track. He leaves viewers with this final piece of mind: “I will never stop being Bobby Brown.”

25 Magazine recaps VH1′s “Behind the Music: Lil Wayne”

VH1 series “Behind the Music,” has finally returned with a new emphasis on rap artists. The series kicked off with the “reigning king” of hip-hop, Dwayne Carter, better known as Lil Wayne. The narcotic driven artist gives the VH1 staff insight on his childhood in New Orleans, family, career, and reckless behavior. Wayne found music to be his inspiration and began with Cash Money at the age of 9, then heightened his fame with the renowned Hot Boys, and eventually went solo with his debut album The Block is Hot in 1999. Once he stopped writing all his lyrics down, Wayne took his music more seriously. “When I stopped writing, I’ve noticed that everything was real now, I can’t speak about nothing than what was real because I can’t write nothing,” Carter says.

From then on, he pulled everything out of his head and was on the path to becoming a true icon. Few have known Mr. Carter to ever be over the influence. He attributes his  initiation to drugs at the age of 11 for his addiction. Wayne’s life is interesting, though not nearly as hardcore as he portrays it to be in his music. However, he did face some trials, from accidently shooting himself roughly a centimeter away from his heart and losing his childhood to the devastating Hurricane Katrina tearing apart his hometown.

“In 27 short years, Lil Wayne has already lived a lifetime of tragedy and triumph, and while his future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: He has no intentions of slowing down.”

This episode, Isaac started the show off  pulling a prank on the contestants. They were to remember a dress that Issac had showed them so that they could sketch it, using only memory. But, Issac tricked the contestants and told the designers that they were to sketch Kelly’s dress, not the dress on the manikin.

Lidia, Daniella, and Johnny were the closest at sketching the dress. Daniella’s eye for detail won her the challenge, which allowed her to be a deciding factor during the next elimination.

In the elimination challenge the designers were to design an outfit for a woman of any body type. Kelly and Issac picked out the models for the designers. Daniella and James-Paul struggled during the challenge with their model. They were obviously not used to working with women their size. Yet again Daniella prevailed and won the elimination change. The judges loved how she used black and navy blue in the design for her plus sized model.

Angel happens to always second guess her designs but they always come out better than she expected. This was not the case during this challenge. Angel had to re-do her design due to its abnormal look on her model. She was unable to finish the full design. Daniella saw the poorly designed dress and put Angel in the bottom three.

I don’t know what Merlin was thinking when he chose to design his dress. The dress did not fit his model at all. The judges were not pleased in his work. Issac and Kelly saw Merlin’s drive and desire for fashion and decided to keep him.

Keith also was put in the bottom. His oversized dressed and his disastrous craftsmanship eliminated him from the competition.

Next week Reco and Haven get into it. Let’s see what erupts from their beef.

-Alycia Witherspoon

This week on The Fashion Show, the drama gets deeper amongst the contestants.

After winning last week’s challenge, Daniella was appointed a team captain. She had a bit of trouble with teammate Andrew’s designs and gave him guidance in designing his rain coat. Little did she know that Andrew would completely jack her original piece, a short coat that transformed into a full length trench coat.

Andrew’s trench coat won the challenge, making Daniella bitter. At judging, Daniella called Andrew out on his theft, but Daniella was shunned by the judges who told her, “there are secrets in this industry, that me and Isaac have kept for years.” Daniella felt embarrassed and quickly told the judges she wished she had never mentioned the incident.

Apparently Markus didn’t get the memo. His attempt to make a coat that held accessories in the collar, flopped. Cleary Markus needed the most help in the group.  The sewing was horrible and the lengths of the coat were not the same, leading him to elimination. So I guess there will be no fling between Markus and Johnny after all.

Haven also had trouble grasping the challenge. She tried to make a coat that had oversized pockets. The coat was average but the shape of the coat was questionable to the judges.

The last team was led by Lidia who designed a mermaid like raincoat. The coat was unfashionable and failed to be one of the judge’s favorite, but since her team won the mini challenge, they gained immunity from elimination.

The next episode looks interesting since the designers are no longer working in teams. Let’s see how this goes.

-Alycia Witherspoon

(Photo Source: BravoTV.com)

This week on “The Fashion Show,” contestants show their determination to win that 125,000 dollar prize. Anna’s team executed their challenge with only forty dollars to spend on each outfit. Anna and Daniella had the best looks bringing their team the win. Hands down, Anna’s outfit was FIERCE. But, it was Daniella’s black jumpsuit and sheer jacket that won the challenge. I really wished Anna won so that I can buy her outfit online.

James-Paul’s team shined in the challenge as well. Their designs were cohesive, all being hot pink and black. They also resembled Tinsley’s style the best. I was glad that Daniella was not on James-Paul’s team again because two people with such strong personalities don’t mix.

Haven’s team didn’t have the same touch as the other teams, and failed to deliver three fashionable outfits for Tinsley Mortimer. Johnny’s dress was the worst. The floral bottom of the dress was in style, but the unevenness of the top of the dress was ridiculous. It was well understood that Johnny was not the best at sewing, but the extra lip he gave Isaac Mizrahi was not necessary. “I didn’t know this was America’s Next Top Seamstress,” Johnny said. That comment was just a little over the top.

Laura’s dress for the rock concert was horrible and her teammates knew the dress would throw off their theme. The front of the dress had potential, minus the sheer pink ruffles at the bottom. It was definitely not typical for New York City socialites like Tinsley Mortimer. The design failed to reach the expectations of the judges causing Laura to be sent home.

On a juicier note, there is an obvious crush between Johnny and Markus. Johnny admires Markus’s savvy clean cute style and says it’s very similar to his boyfriend’s. Hmmm…let’s see what happens.

-Alycia Witherspoon

(Source: BravoTv.com)

To all you “Project Runway” fans please do not fear; “The Fashion Show” is here! The new designer reality show hosted by Isaac Mizrazi and singer Kelly Rowland premiered May 7, 2009 on Bravo. This season started off with a bang, as the contestants had little time to get acquainted before they were given their 1^st challenge: to take a plain black tee shirt and turn it into a fashionable dress in only one hour. Harper’s Bazaar Magazine Special Projects Editor Laura Brown, guest judged the dresses and contestants Johnny R., Merlin, and Keith came out on top. As a reward, the three were granted immunity, appointed team leader, and chose the team members up for elimination.

The three teams were given the challenge to choose a woman’s must-have item and create 5 cohesive outfits with the item. Team 1 chose the harem pants as their must-have look. Team 2 decided on an interchangeable pencil skirt/mini dress, while Team 3 agreed on the bolero jacket.

Merlin’s team (Team 3) struggled with the look of their Bolero jacket and couldn’t agree at first on the dark navy blue color, which Merlin often complained looked too much like “a granny.” Johnny’s team’s (Team 1) harem pants were too bulky to be worn anywhere but the gym. Keith’s team (Team 2) made their interchangeable skirt/dress too tight for the already slim models, which turned out to be a disaster on the runway.

The who’s who of the fashion industry attended a fashion show featuring each of the teams’ lines and voted on the winners of the challenge. However, none of the designs were a hit. Kelly Rowland told them straight up that there was “not one must-have piece that I care to have.” Isaac Mizrahi added, “If any of you were working for me you would be fired.” In the end, Johnny R’s Team, designers of the Harem pants, was safe. Merlin’s team won the challenge and contestant James-Paul’s outfit was voted as the best look and selected for sale online. This left Keith’s team on the chopping block, with Kristen and Johnny having the lowest scoring outfits. Kristin’s outfit was called “bargain basic” and Johnny’s outfit “trashy.” A judgment was finally made and Kristin was allowed another chance, while Jonny got the boot.

Damn, it’s only the first show and I’m hooked. Check out the first show here.

Meet the Contestants:

(Photo Source: BravoTv.com)

Angel: Works with color-changing material and light up fabrics in her line Angel Chang, and previously worked with Donna Karan Collection, Viktor and Rolf, and Marc Jacobs. (Green tunic and black leggings)

Lidia: Graduate of FIT, and originally worked with Diane Von Furstenberg, until starting her own line. (Burgandy/brown Outfit)

Daniella: Has worked with such talented designers as Alexander McQueen, Luca Luca, and Les Chiffoniers and aims to start her own line soon. (Black Blazer, lavender shirt)

Kristin: Graduate of the Illinois Institute of Art in 2003, and created Organik Revolution, a women’s line that is sustainable to the environment. (Blue Dress, gray Jacket, brown Boots)

James-Paul: This designer uses geometric shapes to design his pieces. He also designs garments for Vivienne Westwood studios. (Black Jacket, white socks, and flip flops)

Laura: A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design and aims to use sustainable products in her clothing. (Gray cardigan, khaki skirt, orange tights)

Merlin: An eccentric designer from Honduras who picked up a knack for fashion by accident. Since then, he has designed for many artists and brings his theatrical taste to the world of fashion through his line Merlin Castell. (Really loud red jacket and red pants)

Reco: A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee and a graduate of Tennessee State University, Reco now owns the 423 Clothing boutique in Chattanooga. He also started a line called The House of Chapple. (Back: Denim jacket, red Sneakers)

Markus: Markus is the Fashion Director, at the fashion magazine Nolcha and is looking to launch his own label MARKUS KETTY.  (Black jacket, purple scarf)

Keith: Formerly designed with Perry Ellis and Ralph Lauren before starting his own line of women’s evening wear called Keith Lissner. (Brown blazer, black pants)

Johnny R.: The creative director of Welcome Hunter’s, a new store featuring edgy designers. He also aims to start his own line of adventurous and risky clothing under the Welcome Hunter’s label. (Black Jacket, gray Shirt)

Andrew: Has created a successful line of women’s underwear that has been featured in stores such as Kitson, Fred Segal, and Patricia Fields. (Blue shirt, Black vest)

Anna: A native of Atlanta, Georgia. Her personal designs have been worn by Rachel Bilson, Shannon Doherty, as well as a few MTV VJS. (Peach sweater, black shirt)

Haven: Recently launched the EliaH Joel clothing in January 2009 with friends and is also working on a children’s line called Lalu. (Yellow Blazer)

Jonny: Designs men’s suits with a rock and roll edge. He also began designing Afroman Skateboards in 2002. (Black suit jacket, Black jeans)

- Natelegé Whaley

]]> http://www.25mag.com/blogs/previously-on/previously-onthe-fashion-show-season-premiere/feed/ 1 http://www.25mag.com/blogs/previously-on/previously-ons2e7/ http://www.25mag.com/blogs/previously-on/previously-ons2e7/#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:10:25 +0000 Kendra Desrosiers http://www.25mag.com/?p=299

By Amirah Bey

It seems Lily didn’t take too seriously the age old adage; home is where the heart is, when S and Eric were growing up. And lately S feels like Lily is catering too much to Bart’s demands. So S freaks out on Lily for being Bart’s puppet. Yet after a stunt in the presence of InStyle, S realizes it’s not Bart she’s angry with it’s her crappy mother.

Lily talks to Eric, the only member of the upper-east-side clique with any sense, who tells Lily, “Yeah you’ve pretty much sucked as mom – no need to get all parental now.” But the VanDerWoodsen-Bass clan commiserate and make-up over sushi.

Dan enjoys his new bros-over-hoes relationship with Nate. Yet little does Dan know, Nate’s only befriended him because he’s poor now; Archibald just wants to be around other po’ folk. He undoubtedly wants to learn “shopping on a budget” tips, and which generic brands taste almost like the real thing.

Dan finds out Nate is poor after breaking in to his house and seeing that he’s sleeping on a pallet in the shell of his former home. Dan offers Nate a place to stay at his crib, but Archibald’s all like, “I’m not some charity case, leave me alone you psycho Brooklynite.” Yet Rufus tells Dan, “If you don’t succeed, badger them until they finally relent, that’s what real friends do.” But the Brooklyn Humprey logic holds water as Nate decides to stay with the family until who knows when.

Vanessa gets all “fight the power,” and is protesting about a speakeasy in Brooklyn that is due to be shutdown and sold. Consequently, she picks up some of the scheming, manipulative lessons that the Uppies have been putting down. V black mails Blair into getting signatures for the wannabe-landmark, with photos of the Duchess and the Lord in a passionate embrace.

Blair, disgusted with being under Vanessa’s thumb, sends chuck on a seduce-and-destroy mission to get Vanessa, and consequently Chuck’s arch-rival, Danny boy. The prize – Chuck gets some of Blair’s “Good, Good.”

Things go a little too far for Blair, who really only wants Chuck’s sinful, wickedness all over her body, who can blame her, when Chuck seems a tad too interested in Vanessa. So Blair ends the wager and tells Chuck to meet her in her boudoir.

Just when things are getting all hot and heavy, in slow mo nonetheless, Chuck pulls the “tell me you love me” stunt Blair pulled on him. Blair, whose pride is indeed overpowering her lust says, “Chuck Bass I will never say those three words to you.” Chuck then decides to turn the tables and tells Blair it is high-time she chase after him. He should have asked me, I’d have told him. “Oh Chuck Bass, Chuck Bass how I love thy deviously, manipulative ways, GG would be lost without you.”

But that’s all . . . XOXO.

Ok, so why did I think Mike was dead for like half of the episode? He wasn’t, he and Susan are divorced though. And all the commotion had me forget that they have a child together! Knowing how things go down on Wisteria Lane, that kid is going to have a complex. Especially when he finds out that his mommy is sleeping with the painter.

Speaking of little people, Gabby has two of her own now, but her four-year-old isn’t that “little,” as she has a bit of a weight problem. And true to Gabby being Gabby, she tries her own offbeat but always sincere attempts at helping her daughter exercise, one of which forcing Juanita to run after the car on the way home from a friend’s birthday party.

But it’s not all bad news on the Desperate Housewives’ season premier, Bree and Katherine’s friendship has never been stronger now that they have their own catering business together. Plus, Bree has just published her first cookbook and dedicated it to Katherine! Aww, right? No. Bree has gotten her head all swollen and thinks that she is just the cat’s pajamas. In that new cookbook, she forgot to give Katherine the credit on the recipes she came up with. Especially one which involves a spun-sugar veil that Bree has not been able to successfully make. But don’t worry, Katherine gets her revenge. We also find out that Danielle, Bree’s daughter, came to take her son Benjamin back. Now that she’s married and everything…

The drama continues into the home of the Scavos. And the culprits are of course the twins, Porter and Preston. I have been saying that they need to get their butts whipped with a belt, shoe, switch, extension cord… whatever, since the first season! But Lynette and her pansy husband Tom wouldn’t listen. So what happened now? The twins are running a casino out of the family restaurant. Lynette “grounds” them, but Tom un-grounds them because, having been a band nerd in high school, thinks they’re just the coolest kids on the block. That family is just too complicated for me…

Moving on. Edie returns back to Wisteria Lane after being gone five years, and she brought a husband with her. You know he’s suspect at the beginning because he forces the man living in Edie’s old house to move out by giving him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Everyone loves him because he has taught Edie tact and grace. But all is not well, as I suspected, when he tells Edie that she needs to be nice to the people on her old street, so “it’ll be easier.” What will be easier?! I don’t know, and neither does Edie, or why they even moved back there in the first place…

Oh yes, and Lynette decides to throw a party for her return, and Edie thinks it’s because the women wanted to apologize. She’s of course crushed when she finds out it is really a “we forgive you” party. Haha! Always good times with these crazy ladies.

Until next week, stay Blessed.

Uh oh, the second Mrs. Bass has a secret. And we’re not talking the naked painting of her by Mapplethorpe that Poppa Bart was none to pleased with. Bart reveals to Lilly Bass that he had a private investigator look into her past and find out all of her gossip-girl-blog worthy secrets. Turns out, Lilly is actually the mother of Dan Humphrey, and allowed S and Dan to have an incestuous relationship. Okay not so much – but wouldn’t that be an XOXO humdinger!

In this episode Jenny from Brooklyn gets in hot water with Daddy Rufus after Queen B snitches that she hasn’t been attending school. Queen B rats out Jenny to get back at her for revising the seating chart she devised for Momma Waldorf’s fashion show in New York Fashion Week. Queen B placed her merry band of hangers-on in the 2nd row of her mother’s show to reclaim their loyalty from S–who effortlessly had been named the new leader of the pack. Jenny from Brooklyn none-the-wiser that Queen B created the seating chart suggests moving S and her new celebutante friends to the front row. After battling it out with Daddy, Jenny from Brooklyn tells the headmistress where she can shove her preparatory education, instead opting to quit school and try her hand at the fashion biz.

But Jenny from the block and her dad Rufus aren’t the only ones having trouble, S and Queen B have a royal clash as newcomer and socialite Poppy struts onto the scene. I’m not too fond of Poppy-seed, hopefully she strolls her best-friend-stealing ass right back out of the Upper East Side. But I digress, S and B’s feud climaxes with S rambling on about her fabulousity, and how she always has to dim her shine so she doesn’t put out Queen B’s candle. S tells Queen B, “either get used to being second best and a super sidekick, or we can’t be friends.” Okay not so much, but her self-aggrandized tirade went something like that. Also, in an odd twist of fate Jenny from the block and Queen B become friends.

Danny Boy starts hanging out with Satan’s godchild Chuck Bass in attempt to channel his badass side and make his writing more interesting. S’s step-bro shows Danny Boy a good time, getting him hopped up on shots and ecstasy and in true Chuck-style fashion he throws a drunk and high Danny Boy out of his limo and onto the streets of New York City after stealing his shoes, cell phone and wallet. I believe gossip girl said it best calling Dan, “shoeless and clueless . . . that’s all,” – Oh GG, Madame of Upper East Side scandal, how you tickle my funny-bone with your tittle-tattled wit.

Danny Boy does however gain Chuck’s trust after a bar brawl where he defends Chuck in a sour altercation. Chuck opens up saying he believes he’s the reason his mother croaked. However, Danny Boy quickly looses favor after Chuck finds Danny’s notes, and discovers he’s been used and vows to get even (can’t wait to see what Chuck cooks up this time). Lonely Boy’s going to end up crying in the arms of the Brooklyn bunch when Chuck is through.

But that’s all – XOXO!

For people that have been fans of “The Game,” you’re used to watching the show on Monday’s at 9:30PM, well now it airs on Fridays at 8:30PM and I’ve been waiting for months for the season to start. With all the talk about how the show might get the off switch, I was very elated to see it back on the airwaves.

This season starts off with Melanie running back into Derwin’s arms. She surprises him at his door with a kiss (or 20) and tells him how much she still loves him. To her surprise, Derwin’s “ex-girlfriend” Janay is there, telling him that she is pregnant with his baby. What? Pregnant?! Yeah, I know, I was taken aback by this information as well. Despite the baby momma drama, Melanie still wants to be with Derwin and sticks by his side. Talk about through thick and thin.

As the premiere continues, we find out that Jason is still trying to rekindle things with his soon to be ex-wife, Kelly. He goes to the house to try to talk to her but her hillbilly mama and trifling step-father are there to let him know that it’s not gonna happen. When Jason refuses to leave his house, his mother-in-law rips her shirt open and threatens to call 911 and report that Jason beat and rape her. The commotion makes Jason leave and Kelly continues to question whether she should talk to him or not. And where does Jason go to escape the marital chaos you ask? Malik’s house, where Malik is hiding from his momma in fear she caught on to his “good news.” He got married to the sultry Robin Givens and forgot to tell his mom. Now Malik has his loveable assistant Tee-Tee on the look out for Mama Mack as he tries to console fellow teammate Jason.

What’s in store for the next episode? Will Melanie continue to stick by Derwin’s side? Will Kelly really divorce Jason? Will Tasha find out that Malik got married and didn’t even tell her (of course she will)? Find out next Friday at 8:30 PM, or you can just tune in here next week!

By Anique Hameed

Okay. I love Daniel. There has never been a time in UB history when I didn’t think that Danny had the skills and style to be a top flight player in the mag industry–well maybe except for that stage of drunken despair and jealousy–if he ever decided to step out of the Mead family shadow and into the spotlight with his own venture. Wrong. In this episode Dan continues to prove that Player Magazine is not the proper place for him to use his honed talents, excluding picking out the world’s hottest women. I guess we have to give him a break since Alexis gave him the boot, made Wilhelmina editor-in-chief at MODE, and allowed Willie to turn his office into a nursery, in addition to his new custody battle for his new found French 13 year-old son, Daniel Jr..

Betty arrives at a shoot for Player Magazine, which was supposed to be highlighting top female attorneys in America–an idea from her colorfully cute “Idea Binder” full of pitches that were originally meant for MODE–only to witness models in dark, drag-esque make up donning white powdered wigs, black bobs, skimpy pink bras and judges’ robes at their ankles posing for her concept. For some reason I feel like that was not the look she was going for. Betty, feeling nervous about her career security after witnessing the mess Daniel made of the attorney shoot, heads over to MODE (with Dan’s noted copy of Willie’s first issue mock-up) to get some advice from his bro/sis Lex and leaves the issue mock-up on the table. Alexis takes a look at Daniel’s notes and criticizes Wilhelmina for lack luster EIC debut.

Wilhelmina later takes Betty out to lunch and attempts to use the race card and compliments to gain her friendship. That friendship thing so did not happen but a job offer as executive assistant to the editor-in-chied did come about. After a juvenile lovers’ quarrel Betty left Daniel at Player Mag to play for Team Slater. Even though injecting Botox into Willie’s wicked face and planning a launch party on short notice was not in the job description, Betty jumped over massive hurdles to please her new boss.
Never fear, Betty and Danny reconcile after he gets his job back as editor- in-chief of MODE and all seemed right in the land of UB until someone pushed pregnant Christina–still dealing with the issue of the heroin addicted hubby–down the stairs at MODE. Let’s all hold on to our power animals and pray that Willie doesn’t get back her share of the company and try to shake things up.