........M is For Mogul..........

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #30 (Executive Brand)

2011-12-13T17:06:00.000-08:00

"I'm Fucked Up In The Game, You Gotta Get Me Outta Here!"

-Clarence "Tango" Butler

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #29 (Executive Brand)

2011-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

"Come say hi to the badguy Don't say goodbye, I don't plan to die! 'Cause I get loose and I got troops And crazy juice."

-William Michael Griffin Jr

MOGUL Life Presents Swizz Beatz as VP of Creative Designs Lotus

2011-11-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

The legendary Hip Hop producer, rapper, painter, and oh yes, MOGUL has been named the VP of Creative Design for Lotus. This is yet another arrow in the quiver of Kasseem Dean. Adding to his Grammy, platinum records, and gorgeously accomplished wife. Kasseem is living the MOGUL life. Check out the video below.

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #28 (Executive Brand)

2011-11-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

"Tell Them People At the Top We Want Their Spot. We Are For Real. And Yet We Heard You Got It Locked, But Like Them Socks We're On Your Heels.
-Jermaine Lamarr Cole

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #27 (Executive Brand)

2011-11-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

"I Had Someone Tell Me I Fell Off...OooH I Needed That..."

-Aubrey Drake Graham

Hustlenomics Style Edition: MOGUL Fashion

2011-11-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #26 (Executive Brand)

2011-11-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

"...And When My Pen Hits The Paper...Awwww Shit!.."

-Antonio Hardy

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #25 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

"Pay attention, I'll explain why I can't be stopped, And how I came to be the man on every neighborhood block..."

-Bobby Sandimanie

Haute Empire...(Executive Brand)

2011-10-31T04:52:00.000-07:00

...............MUSE..................

Speak

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Come As You Are, As You Were
As I Want You To Be,
As A Friend, As A Friend,
As An Old Enemy

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #24 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

"A Young Chameleon, Adapt To Any Circumstance."

-Tony Cottrell

Haute Empire's "Grace Jones" Influencing Generations

2011-10-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

The extremely haute and avant garde Grace Jones's influence has propelled itself into today's age of pop culture. Young celebrities have taken on her image as their own without apologies. From the elaborately over the top Lady Gaga to the "popular simply because I'm fine" Amber Rose. I enjoyed Grace because she was different, more than different she is original. Originality is what we look for here at MOGUL, hints the reason we deliver to you today, Ms Grace Jones. I had the pleasure of witnessing her brother Noel Jones spit fire from his mouth while preaching the Apostolic word, where he referenced Grace on several occasions. Obviously this family has something to say and an authentic way of saying it.

The MOGUL life features people who have altered history with their specific BRAND (Executive Brand) of uniqueness. Unique to the core not longing to be anyone but themselves. Taking the elements of the day and infusing their own special antecdote to a dying world. This, my friend, is therapy. The injection of shocking, yet refreshing change. Something that repositions the regular to include the multifarious. The stamp that these particular individuals leave on the world is everlasting. Now we see this living on through the generation to come. For example:

Haute......................................Empire

Haute...................Empire...........

Haute..........Empire...........

Haute.........................Empire...........

"Now I Don't Care What You Dress Like Or What You Where...But Please Make Sure You Got Some Colors In There...Now It's All Very Well Stepping Out In Black & White, But You're No Girlfriend Of Mine Trying To Do That Right..."

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #23 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-25T19:48:00.000-07:00

"Put Them Pampers On My Knees, Because I'm Runnin' Shit!"

-Antoine McColister

Haute Empire...(Executive Brand)

2011-10-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

.................MUSE......................

June!

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Don't slap me
‘Cause I'm not in the mood
Don't slap me
‘Cause I'm not in the mood

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #22 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

" I Never Sleep, 'Cause Sleep is the Cousin of Death..."

-Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #21 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

"The Recipe For My Success Is 1 Part - Pain & Suffering 2 Parts - Brains & Hustlin Sprinkle It Over Hi-Tek Production We Bubblin Like Volcanic Eruption..."

-Talib Kweli Greene

Haute Empire...(Executive Brand)

2011-10-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

.........MUSE................

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- All you need is your own imagination
So use it that's what it's for
Go inside, for your finest inspiration
Your dreams will open the door

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteables #20 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

"Man a nigga don't want no trouble...
a playa just want to kick back with my gators off and watch my lil Girl blow bubbles."

-Antwan André Patton

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #19 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are."

-Anthony Criss

Information is King

2011-10-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

-The Most Valuable Commodity I Know of is Information-

-Gordon Gekko

Ask your customers/clients questions; Dig deep into the seams of how they think and what they like. A wise proverb once said "You have not, because you ask not." This explains the problem most entrepreneurs possess.

Asking the questions that matter...

Quite often we miss the point of what the customer is actually looking to gain from our product or service. We catapult passed the things that make our customers tick. We consistently assume we know what the customer/client wants or is looking for. Most of us think amiss that its price, price, price.

Price isn't always the issue, matter of fact your most desired customer isn't typically cost motivated. Everyone is different, and everybody has varied reasons on why they patronize certain companies. One person maybe service oriented, another could be quality driven, and another could be all about choices. Never make the decision for your customer, let them choose if this certain product or service is for them. This said, we don't know what is going through the minds of our customers because the techniques we use are not an exact science.

There are many ways to gather information from a customer, all I ask is that you use something and just ask the questions! A customer will tell you what is on their mind if you simply uncover their desires by asking probing questions. Ask via survey (e.g. written or audible), utilize text services, or even blog. People are eager to speak their minds and their favorite subjects are themselves. Make sure your questioning is tailored to fit each particular customer where possible.

Take A Sincere Concern With What Makes Your Client Click...

Information is king and as an entrepreneur we must conquer that kingdom. Gaining knowledge of how the customer thinks will enable your intelligence gathered to further your business. Knowing where your customer shops for groceries, clothing, or whatever is leverage. Uncovering what your client eats, what they drink, what they do for fun, or even their hobbies can allow you to better market to and tie down your niche. If asked who your client is these particulars should flow from your mouth smoothly.

One cannot PROPERLY build a marketing plan or aggressively street market if they don't have a solid picture of who their client is. Allowing a good number of your customers to verbalize their desires places power in your hands called information. With information comes the ability to land venture capital or bank loans, build foot traffic or buzz, and/or alter your business practices. Whatever need be, it will be revealed once you become authentically concerned with the thoughts and feelings of your clientele.

-Warrick Buffett

Promotions/Marketing/PR

Grass Roots Specialist
Cosmopolitan Media Group

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #18 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

"You Talk It, We Live It"

-Ruff Ryders

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quoteable #17 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

"I Don't Throw Darts At A Board. I Bet On Sure Things. Read Tsun Tzu, The Art Of War. Every Battle Is Won Before It Is Ever Fought."

-Gordon Gekko

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #16 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

"...Hanging wit the niggas dont pay the bills And being broke and 30 give a nigga the chills..."

-Christopher Wallace

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #15 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-10T05:07:00.000-07:00

"...I Got More Connects Than Federal Express To Get The Fresh Package Of Bless The Dog's Can't Fetch..."

-Reginald Noble

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #14 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

"You Had To Hustle, Cause That's How We Were Raised...On My Block. And You Stayed On Your Hop Until You Made You A Knot"

-Brad Terrence Jordan

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #13 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

"Don't Let Yourself Get Attached To Anything You Couldn't Walk Out On in Thirty Seconds Or Less If You Feel The Heat Coming Around The Corner"

-Neil McCauley

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #12 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

"I caught You Niggas Sleepin' With No Pajamas On..."

-Joseph Guillermo Jones II

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #11 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

"On Your Own Feet, Gotta Cook Your Own Beef..."

-William Roberts

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #10 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

"Chop It, Bag It, Stack It, Stash It. Get In, Get Out. That's An O.G.'s Classic..."

-Malik Thuston Cox

The Life

2011-10-04T14:58:00.000-07:00

Spiritual, mental, physical, financial. Mind, body, soul, and spirit. The four areas of everyone's life consist of these magnificent things. These are the elements that make up your full spectrum.

Balance is the key...If you are not feeding every area equally, then you are missing the point. Every aspect is vital to the lifestyle of the hustlenomics don or diva.

The Hustlenomics lifestyle is a complete life with vital elements that must be properly maintained. Not one arena can be neglected to live in perfect harmony.

-Warrick Buffett

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #10 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

"To Get that Cheese, You Gotta Hit The Block."
-Chad Butler/Bernard Freeman

hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #9 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

"Make Your Life A Hit, Don't Wait For The Hit To Make Your Life."

-Joseph Simmons

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #8 (Executive Brand)

2011-10-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

"Money Earnin makin more money...Don't need a honey, That's right, Cause I'm thinking with my big head. Fuck what my dick said."

-O'shea Jackson

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #7 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

"When They Start Hating Is When You Know You're Winning"

-Bishop TD Jakes

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #6 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

"Only Game I Play Is Real Life Monopoly, Properly."

-Christopher Brian Bridges

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #5 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

"Sophisticated Ignorance, I Write My Curses In Cursive..."

-Kanye Omari West

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #4 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

"No Time For Mistakes So I Over Plan."

-Jay Wayne Jenkins

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #3 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

"All about my cake that's why I married Betty Crocker."

-Dwayne Carter

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #2 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-26T05:46:00.000-07:00

"If I wasn't me I'd Probably Jock Me Too."

-Sean Carter

Hustlenomics Style Edition Quotable #1 (Executive Brand)

2011-09-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

"My Frame Pint Size, But My Name Highrise!!!"

-Sedrew Price

Always on the "Grind" By Warrick Buffett

2011-09-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

"Let your grind choose you"

The Mogul lifestyle has been brought to you by Americans of all races, colors, and creeds. The determination of the downtrodden to achieve greatness through mostly financial gain. I know, I know, financial prowess is not the only determinant of success, however it is the mostly sought after. Finances being the "All Mighty" of this somewhat God forsaken world brings me to my point. THE GRIND!

"In this world it's only you and your focus...or lack thereof"

Now, THE GRIND! is a good thing, but anything over done is horrible! I'm not writing this to go against everything I believe, although I am recording this manifesto as a cry for balance. My dear friend Russell Simmons is a highly respected man and a Mogul to say the least, but I have seen him transform over the years from a tyrannical business man to the balanced spiritual being that he is today. I follow Rush on Twitter and learn a great deal from his philosophical tweets and am grateful for his shared wisdom. Over my years of sweat and tears I have gained and lost friends. I have built and closed businesses. I have made friends and have kept enemies close. Through all of this I am the man I am today. Am I proud of who I am? I will not answer that with words, but I will show you with my grind.

I love being involved and moving at high speeds. I moved to the DC area because its fast. I'm a city boy and the suburbs were literally killing me. Now I'm in the city and I feel that the metro is killing me too, just in a different way. Like I said. I have learned a great deal and these lessons bring to me an uncharacteristic fear. I have preached against fear as the devil within destroying every fiber of the entrepreneurship that America has instilled in us from generation to generation. Being a victim of fear can be a good thing. How can being scared be a good thing? Well, have you ever been backed up against a wall and had to claw your way out? Make your fear a motivation. Make lemonade out of those lemons and swing strategically. The way you get your back off the wall is by developing a slight amnesia and forgetting the fail, but remembering the lessons taught by these horrendous experiences.

"Watch the field, but don't do it with your eyes"

Be consistent. Be persistent. Grind like a mogul and believe that you will get beyond the down times, because they will come. Remember to insure your every move like a game of chess, however some actions call for a sheer head first dive into murky waters. The affluent will tell you otherwise, because they never really had it like you. They didn't have to worry about banks saying no, or not having a family member financially stable enough to loan you the ten thousand dollars needed to start that venture. These so called "rags to riches" stories don't quite jive with yours now do they? The depths you came from don't typically offer elite finishes, but you vie to hit the top. You will find your authentic swagger.

"Use your fear"

Every great move maker has his/her own authentic way of doing things. They all share a similar level of thirst or desire, however they all differ in there own undescribeable way. The Mogul prides in their ability to live in their own skin nonapologetically. This beast of the grind realizes he/she lives in a world where no one can do what he/she does, the way he/she does it. A prominent factor in the outcome is confidence and preparation. Even mistakes can be gems. Some errors are not quite errors, but interventions. Even when one makes three lousy moves it's that one genious execution that places you in the lead. This correction could not be brought to light without sound preparation and simple confidence. Own your every step and watch how quickly you become the trendsetter hopefully you set out to become.

"Shut up...Listen"

Find your particular step and get on your grind. The grind is unforgiving and quite burdensome. It doesn't quite like anyone, and the silver spoon recipients don't understand this because they never truly had to look this fiend in the eye. Well you do. God placed us here on this Earth as rulers over the beasts. This does not disqualify your dominion over fear, or the grind. By locating your individual format the grind becomes your help meet. Your help meet then becomes the determing factor of your success, no matter what that is. The way you see the situation is exactly what it is. So adjust your situation and make sure your attitude is that of success, and you will reach your goals with the proper preparation.

Warrick Buffett
Founder of The Hustlenomics Lifestyle

"Get out of the way of your grind"

Here We Go Again! SMDH! Wayne Disses Hov...AGAIN!

2011-08-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hip Hop has been known for its many feuds and bantering back and forth by Gotti rappers dissing each other in a plethora of rhymes. These arrogant yet talented bunch of word play artists gain notariety and build wealth off the publicity garnered from disrespecting someone of greater stature typically. However some do it for other reasons, like T.I. claiming "King of the South" when artists like Ludacris are obviously more talented. Then you still have to acknowledge the greats like OutKast.

Here is the case. Hip Hop's net worth somewhat depends on these continued rivalries bringing forth shows like "Beef" and spawning rap moguls like Fifty Cent and Rick Ross to name a few. Well, Jay Z has seen his share of wannabees stepping on his toes, and some of the rappers we call top notch drawing first blood. Most recently Cash Money's Lil Wayne, self proclaimed the greatest rapper alive" anticipates his new album, and what better way to promote it then to dis the dude that, some say, sits on the the throne. Battling for number one, Kanyeezy and Hov launch "Watch The Throne" and Weezy awaits the release of "The Carter 4". In his newly leaked track "It's Good" featuring Jada Kiss and Drake, Drake disses Jay Z while introducing Wayne and the disses then continue.

Wayne was interviewed and was heard basically blaming the perceived dis on perception because he never mentions Jay Z's name. Hmmmm. A little spineless I say. Stand up and take claim, Al qaeda does. I read through the many blogs mentioning this particular verse and the comments show how blood hungry this hip hop world is. It's pretty much a consensus with Jay supporters that he doesn't need to respond, but the followers of Lil Wayne think otherwise.

I think you have two highly talented rappers and this is a stunt to sell albums on Weezy's part. I really don't think he needs it, but as one hip hop fan states "...It would be fun". Does hip hop need this sort of nonsense? Should Hip Hop feed this drama hungry world? Reality shows prove our hunger for drama and this event would definitely make money. So if it's about the dollars, then throw away the sense. Lets get ready to rumble.

Warrick Buffett
Cosmopolitan Media Group

The Plastic Ceiling: Credit Cards You Can't Have by Jeanine Skowronski

2011-08-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

provided by

Consumers generally accept that the best credit cards are reserved for members of the credit elite, but there are some cards that even a perfect credit score can't guarantee.

"There are cards that are invitation only," Beverly Harzog, an expert with Credit.com, tells MainStreet.

The most widely known of these elusive credit cards is the American Express Black Centurion. Amex (NYSE: AXP - News) refrains from formally disclosing the terms and conditions of the card; the only thing that a curious visitor can learn from perusing the issuer's website is that the Centurion is "rarely seen, always recognized."

But experts have gleaned, largely through interviews with the cardholders they could find, that the Centurion is generally awarded to existing cardholders who have charged $250,000 or more onto their credit cards in one calendar year. These big spenders pay a $5,000 initiation fee, with a $2,500 annual fee after that if they choose to add the card to their already fat wallets.

While less is known about the particular perks these cards net for their holders, it is generally accepted that they receive some pretty swanky travel perks, including exclusive discounts and free upgrades on all sorts of carriers. "The concierge will basically do anything for you," Tim Chen, CEO of NerdWallet.com, says.

Curtis Arnold, founder of CardRatings.com, adds that the card doesn't only offer travel benefits. A current cardholder recently told the website about a dinner Centurion hosted at Bergdorf-Goodman in which the free meal came with a complimentary gift bag full of personalized swag.

Of course, the Centurion isn't the only invitation-only card out there. Chase offers the Palladium card, which Harzog says carries a much lower annual fee (around $595) than its Amex counterpart, but requires an equally full private Chase bank account, believed to be around $20 to $30 million.

Additionally, Chen says, to remain competitive "a lot of financial institutions have cards that they will only offer to customers who use their private wealth managers."Ã‚Â This includes Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch, which both have their own cards tailor-made for their wealthiest consumers.

"There are probably a few others that we don't even know about," Harzog adds. "They're very secretive about these cards because that's part of the allure."
While the specific perks associated with these cards are guarded and can vary widely in terms and perks, there is one factor that seems to universally define them.

"They have a totally different look and feel from regular cards," Arnold says. The Centurion, for instance, is made of titanium, while the Palladium is made of the precious metal that shares its name and has the cardholder's signature permanently etched into it.

"They all have what I call a 'plunk factor,'" Arnold explains. "You're likely to get somebody's attention when you put it down."

"You've still got to look under the hood," Arnold cautions. He points out that Visa's Black Card, for instance — which touts limited availability and is largely considered to be Visa's answer to the Centurion — actually has more in common with cards in the tier below its billing.

Arnold says that there are plenty of top-tier cards that you don't need to be rich and/or famous to snag, and that offer stellar rewards for average consumers.

American Express Platinum Rewards Card

This Amex card carries a $450 annual fee in exchange from some pretty sweet travel rewards and is geared toward affluent consumers, but isn't closed to those who aren't in the highest income bracket.

United Mileage Plus Explorer Card

One of Arnold's new favorites, Chase's recently released United Mileage Plus Explorer card, lets cardholders book their first checked bag on United Flights for free (an estimated $50 savings per trip) and also lets them board their flight ahead of general seating passengers.

"I particularly like the Priority Boarding benefit," Arnold says.

You also get two passes to visit the United Club each year, which will gives you at least of taste of the high life.

Cardholders also earn and two miles per $1 spent on tickets purchased from United or Continental and one rewards miles for each $1 spent one everything else. The card has a $95 fee that is waived during the first year and carries a 14.24% annual percentage rate (APR).

Citi Thank You Prestige

One of Citi's elite cards, the Thank You Prestige carries a $500 annual fee, but "comes with a lot more travel perks" than other options, Chen says. This includes 24/7 concierge services similar to that of the Amex Platinum, though not quite in the class of the Centurion card.

Cardholders also receive unlimited access to swanky airport lounges, one complimentary ticket on a domestic flight per year and automatic gold status in the Hilton HHonors program. They also aren't subject to the pesky foreign transaction fees charged on purchases made abroad.

The card's APR is around 15.24%, depending on creditworthiness.

The Ritz Carlton Premium Rewards Card

Another new offering from Chase, the Ritz Carlton card offers 24-hour concierge services and exclusive discounts and upgrades at the well-known hotel chain it's affiliated with. This includes an automatic $100 credit to the hotel's restaurants or spa with each two-night stay.

Additionally, cardholders get five rewards points for every dollar spent at Ritz-Carlton hotels, two points for every dollar spent on airfare and one point on all other purchases. They also get admittance into airport lounges and a $200 credit for airline incidentals. The card has a $395 annual fee and variable interest rates around 15.24%.

FLASHBACK!!! Hello Good Morning Remix....

2011-08-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!!! I had to throw this one back at you. This is a FIYA! tune! Check it...If you haven't gotten down to this one then you're just dead. I'm sayin. Diddy promoted the hell outta it. and rightly so. Ricky Rozay made this one with his sick-wit-it intro! WHOOOO!!! Like I said, It's FIYA! Check the flashback,

Kanye and Hov! Come Together To Kill Em! OTIS!!! Official!

2011-08-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Gotta say I have been anticipating this one! When I heard the song I was blown away. Lyrically, musically, and damn sure fun is how I explain these beasts of the rap game! These dudes have surpassed where many dream to be. The video is simple yet where you wish you were. Yep! The black chicks are gonna be livid because they were not represented in this one. The lighter skinned chicks got their time in the light as the passengers in a dismantled, welcome to the terror dome, revamped Maybach! Uh huh, they entered the scene with blow torch and rotary saw headed towards a finely crafted Maybach! Had you thinkin, "What The Hell are they about to do"? Well Peep the video and show love to these lyrical "MONSTERS"!!! UUUUHHHH!!!

The Maybach dismantled in this video will be auctioned and the proceeds will go towards the East African Drought Disaster.

Entrepreneurship: Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain

2011-08-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

by Dan Schawbel, contributor

I recently caught up with Ryan Blair, who is a serial entrepreneur and author of the new book "Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain." Ryan established his first company, 24-7 Tech when he was only twenty-one years old. Since then, he has created and actively invested in multiple start-ups and has become a self-made multimillionaire. After he sold his company ViSalus Sciences to Blyth in early 2008, the global recession took the company to the brink of failure resulting in a complete write off of the stock and near bankruptcy. Ryan as CEO went "all in" betting his last million dollars on its potential and turned the company around from the edge of failure to more than $150,000,000 a year in revenue in only 16 months winning the coveted DSN Global Turn Around Award in 2010. In this interview, Ryan talks about how he re-branded himself after being in a gang, the issues with the education system, and more.

How did you shake your criminal record and re-brand yourself?

I remember when I was working my way up in the first company that employed me, I used to have nightmares that one day they'd find out about that I had been in a gang, call me into the office, and fire me. In the beginning I didn't talk much about what I'd been through. But eventually when I got to a point where I had established myself as a professional entrepreneur, I embraced my past, used it as part of my branding, and crossed over.

Ryan Blair

In this day and age people want authenticity. Now that the world is social, people know all about you. Assuming you decided to join humanity, that is. It turned out that as I started showing my true identity, so did the rest of the world. One of the reasons my company ViSalus is one of the fastest growing companies in the industry today is because we share our good, bad, and ugly. Like sharing a video of me playing a practical joke on one of my employees, for instance. As a result of embracing authenticity, I turned the company around from near bankruptcy to over $15 million a month today. Unlike our competitors, our distributors and customers know exactly who we are, and I'd say that corporate America has a lot of catching up to do.

What's your take on the educational system? Will a college degree help or hurt your chances at starting a successful business?

As a product of Los Angeles's public school system, in a state with the highest dropout rate in the nation (about 20 percent), I can tell you from personal experience that some of our brightest minds are being misidentified because of a one-size-fits-all learning environment. Because I had ADD and dyslexia I never got past the 9th grade.

I recall sitting with a career counselor in continuation high school, being told that I didn't have the intellect or aptitude to become a doctor or a lawyer. They suggested a trade school, construction, something where I'd be working with my hands.

The irony is that today I employ plenty of doctors and lawyers. Would you rather be a doctor or a lawyer, or a guy who writes a check to doctors and lawyers?

If President Obama phoned me today and told me he was appointing me Educational Czar, I'd turn education into a business, a capitalistic, revenue driven system, creating a competitive environment where each school is trying to attract customers, based on quality of customer experience.

As an entrepreneur, having a college degree or getting classroom training won't hurt your chances for starting a successful business, but it's ultimately not necessary. In Malcolm Gladwell's book "Outliers," he makes a point that it takes approximately 10,000 hours to master a skill set at a professional level. That means experience, over traditional education.

What three business lessons did you learn from juvenile detention?

I learned a lot about business and life from my time spent incarcerated. I like to call these pieces of wisdom my Philosophies from the Jail Cell to the Boardroom. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that in Juvenile Hall, new guys always get tested. When I went in the first time, I was just a skinny little white kid and I had to learn fast. People will be bumping into you on the basketball court, or asking you for things, testing to see if you're tough.

And everyone knew that if a guy let someone take their milk during lunchtime, they weren't as tough as they looked. Soon you'd be taking their milk everyday, and so would everyone else. It's the same for business, if you give people the impression that you can be taken, you will be.

Also, adaptation is the key to survival. In jail the guy who rises to power isn't always the strongest or the smartest. As prisoners come and go, he's the one that adapts to the changing environment, while influencing the right people. You can use this in business, staying abreast of market trends, changing your game plan as technology shifts, and adapting our strategy around your company's strongest competitive advantages. Darwin was absolutely right — survival is a matter of how you respond to change.

The last lesson I got from jail is that you have to learn how to read people. You don't know who to trust. It's the same for business because a lot of people come into my office with a front. I have to figure out quickly who is the real deal and who isn't. Based on that fact, I developed an HR system that I use when interviewing potential new hires that I call the Connect Four Technique. Yep, you guessed it. I make my future employees — and I have hundreds of them — play me in Connect Four.

Can everyone be an entrepreneur? Can it be learned or do you have to be born with a special gene?

No. Not everyone can be an entrepreneur. There are two types of people in the world, domesticated and undomesticated. Some people are so domesticated through their social programming and belief system, so employee minded, that they could never be entrepreneurs. And they shouldn't even bother trying. The irony is that this is coming from a guy who teaches millions of people how to become entrepreneurs. I'm literally selling a book about becoming an entrepreneur, telling you that not everyone should read it.

To be an entrepreneur, you have to have fighting instincts. Are instincts genetic? I don't think so, but you 'inherit' them from your upbringing. Now, if you're smart you can reprogram your beliefs. But there are still some people that would rather watch other people be entrepreneurs, like the people in the Forbes "richest celebrity list" than take the time to reprogram themselves, and live their lives like rock stars, too.

Is there a need for business plans these days?

When you've really got the entrepreneurial bug, the last thing you want to do is sit down and write a business plan. It's the equivalent of writing a book about playing the guitar before actually knowing how to play the guitar. You don't know what your new business is going to be like. And just like a guitar, a business will have to be tweaked and tuned multiple times, and you'll need long practice sessions and repetition, before you can get even one successful song out of it.

In my book "Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain," I actually included a chapter called "I Hate Business Plans" where I talk about this. Most business plans that get sent to me, I close within seconds of opening them up because they are full of fluff and hype. A business plan should be simple, something you could scribble on a scratch pad. No more than three pages of your business objectives, expected results, and the strategy to get there. But the best business plan is one built from a business that is already up and running and that matches the business's actual results.

The point is that you should be so obsessed with your business that you can't sleep at night because that's all you can think about. And that's your ultimate "business plan."

Dan Schawbel is the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, LLC, a full-service personal branding agency, and author of "Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future."

WHAT'Z THE 411: Carmelo, La La Move Into Historic Hit Factory Cond...

2011-04-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Carmelo, La La Move Into Historic Hit Factory Cond...: "Carmelo and La La Anthony have moved into the building at 421 W. 54th St., between Ninth and 10th avenues, a penthouse duplex at the Hit..."

Obama's Porn Problem With Liberals

2011-04-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

By McKay Coppins

Bing even more: If you know where to search, it doesn't take much Googling to find photos of women having sex with farm animals, videos that graphically depict simulated rape, or actresses made to look 13 year olds performing sex acts on adult men.

It's disturbing stuff, to be sure-and it may even be illegal.

But this week, news broke that the Obama administration had quietly shuttered the only Justice Department unit that exclusively fought adult obscenity (defined as criminally offensive material that has no "serious literary, political, artistic, or medical value" ). Amid a flurry of criticism, administration officials defended the move, arguing that limited resources would be better spent prosecuting cases of child exploitation. Meanwhile, conservatives such as Sen. Orrin Hatch seized the opportunity to accuse the White House of being soft on hardcore porn.

At first, it all seemed like another formulaic episode in the culture war: the religious right crusading against smut peddlers in the name of "family values" ; liberals rolling their eyes at puritanical Republicans and their censorship-happy agenda. But a closer look at the events reveals a kink in the common narrative-and a potential shift in culture-war battle lines.

Earlier this month, 42 senators signed a letter urging Attorney General Eric Holder to step up enforcement of federal obscenity laws. Among the cast of mostly Republican signers, one name stood out: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a staunch liberal from California, the de-facto porn capital of America. (Feinstein wasn't available to comment for this story.)

She wasn't alone: five other Senate Democrats, including Minnesota's left-wing warrior, Amy Klobuchar, also signed the letter, and they were applauded by feminists, leftist lawyers, and liberal academics. Together, this increasingly vocal segment of progressives is making the case that hardcore porn flies in the face of cherished liberal causes-and that Democrats should be leading the charge to take down its distributors.

"To be anti-porn is a progressive principle."

The Daily Beast reached out to several liberal anti-porn advocates and asked them to explain why defending adult obscenity is incompatible with liberal principles. Here, we summarize the left's case against hardcore porn.

It's Anti-Feminist

"To be anti-porn is a progressive principle," says Dr. Gail Dines, author of the 2010 book Pornland. "The progressive position is that we're opposed to anything that produces inequality, and porn absolutely feeds into sexual inequality-creates it, amplifies it, and justifies it."

As a professor at Wheelock College, a liberal arts school in Massachusetts, Dines is not lacking for feminist credentials. She has devoted the majority of her scholarly research to exposing sexism, and frequently lectures on how the media promote gender bias. She has no patience for the trendy argument that porn actually promotes female empowerment. On the contrary, she argues, the violent brand of smut that the Justice Department is ignoring poisons the public perception of gender relations.

"It legitimizes the idea that men have all the power over women," she says. "In pornography, women don't need good housing and fair pay; all they need is body-punishing sex. They're not human beings."

Dr. Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor at the University of Washington, says that by glorifying violent sexual fantasies, hardcore porn makers can encourage naturally violent men to act on their urges: "That combination of explicit sexual scenarios and a proclivity for violence against women is combustible."

It Makes Sex Ed Irrelevant

Along the same lines, Dines says comprehensive sex education-long a rallying cry among liberals-is competing with hardcore porn sites to shape young boys' attitudes toward sex.

"We know that at age 14, the vast majority of boys have looked at porn and probably masturbated to it," says Dines. "Literally their first introduction to sex is sites like bangedbabbysitters.com. These aren't adult men who can compare what they see to reality. They're young and vulnerable."

And while liberal sex ed advocates say condom-on-banana demonstrations can help prevent such tragedies as teenage pregnancy or adolescent STDs, Dines says the twisted messages that underlie violent porn can be just as dangerous as sexual naïveté.

"In hardcore porn, the more horrible and hateful you treat a woman, the better and bigger her orgasm," Dines says. "How can a boy masturbate to women being abused, and then look at women in their lives and see them as regular people?"

It's Racist

While racist depictions in mainstream media have dramatically declined over the years, Dines writes that contemporary pornography continues to "[get] away with a level of racism that is breathtaking in its contempt and loathing for people of color." No stereotype is off-limits. Black women are depicted as mouthy ghetto-dwellers who need a dominant man to cure them of their "attitude." Asian girls are subservient, obedient, and bred for male pleasure. Latinas are debased by their poverty, thus making them accessible to any man with a few bucks.

Given progressives' historical role in the civil rights movement, Dines says, it's absurd that the left would stand up for distributors of such racially offensive material.

It Can Actually Limit Free Speech

Traditionally, what's drawn liberals to defend hardcore porn is a passion for the First Amendment. But John Kang, a law professor at St. Thomas University in Florida, argues that it's precisely this commitment to civil liberties that should motivate liberals to crack down on distributors.

"It's fashionable in the contemporary Supreme Court to justify protection of violent hardcore pornography as the ability of men to realize themselves through some artistic format," Kang says. "But this is nothing but pure, pathological violence against women."

He echoes Schwartz's concern that such material can motivate abuse, assault and even rape: "If enough mentally unstable men watch this and want to recreate it, this actually represents a clear and present danger against women" -a constitutional exception to the First Amendment.

Or to put it another way, allowing the freedom of violent expression could suppress the freedom of innocent victims. As Kang wrote in a 2008 paper, this is a case where "the free speech of men silences the free speech of women."

Of course, it's unlikely that the White House will be moved to change its position by such a relatively small minority of liberals-especially as it gears up to fight another potential first amendment battle involving the FEC.

But porn opponents on the left, such as Dines, are characterized by their evangelism, and they're hopeful that the lower the porn industry sinks, the more their message will resonate. In the end, she says, the progressive case against hardcore porn has little to do with the Judeo-Christian views of sexuality espoused by the right.

"Corporate-owned media is designed to legitimize economic inequality," says Dines. "I would argue porn does the same thing when it comes to sex. You want sex to be fun and meaningful. You want your sexual autonomy to be your own, not some corporation's." Spoken like a true liberal.

McKay Coppins is a reporter for Newsweek and The Daily Beast covering politics and national affairs. His writing has also appeared in The Daily Caller and Salt Lake City's Deseret News.

Elle's May Music Cover Shows A More Eloquent Side Of Nicki

2011-04-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

Remember I told you that Gwen Stefani was the music icon gracing Elle's May Music Issue? Well I didn't lie to you. Gwen will be adorning the cover of one of the world's elite fashion publications, but sharing the light with another sexy mega rock star. Nicki Minaj. The May issue will have three cover artists, yes three. As we spoke of before sexy rockstar and mother Gwen Stefani, electric and seductive breakout artist Nicki Minaj, and swedish phenom Robyn will also have the honor of being an Elle covergirl.

Robyn looks great in her Prada threads on the cover of Elle Magazine

Other glamorous superstars mentioned in this issue are Stevie Nicks, Beyonce, Florence Welch, and Willow Smith.

Here are more of Nicki's spread in Elle.

WHAT'Z THE 411: The Flyest Lil DJ : The Youngest Female DJ Only 9...

2011-04-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: The Flyest Lil DJ : The Youngest Female DJ Only 9...: "The Flyest Lil DJ: DJ Beauty and Beatz ,only 9 years old has hit the Nation Capital. DJ Beauty and the Beatz ..."

WHAT'Z THE 411: Biz Markie’s DJ Fashion Brand Dockers and Report...

2011-04-13T09:21:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Biz Markie’s DJ Fashion Brand Dockers and Report...: "Dockers, enlisted Biz Markie to D.J. during their fall 2011 presentation, but the Journal reporter who were in attendance were a ..."

Notorious Roc Nation Member Memphis Bleek Speaks Jay & Beanie Sigel

2011-04-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

Memphis Bleek Repping Roc Nation

This week after a video shoot for “Kush Gang”, a freestyle over Ace Hood’s “Hustle Hard”, Memphis Bleek went on camera with M. Recks for ForbezDVD.com. Bleek offered some insightful responses to questions about Tru Life, Beanie Sigel’s attack on The Roc, and “the Big Homie” Jay-Z’s admonition that he’s gotten too comfortable.

We haven’t heard from Bleek in a while, and apparently he’s been jet-setting.

“I’ve been on a lot of tours with the big homie, holding the big homie down, I just came from Africa I was out there for a month,” he said recounting his whereabouts.

When asked about Robert Rosado aka Tru Life; recently sentenced to eight years in prison for gang assault which resulted in the stabbing death of another young man, and his problems with Dipset, he denied they had anything to do with The Roc. Still he maintains a friendship with the troubled rapper.

“He had has own situation, personal issues with them, you know what I’m saying, that ain’t got nothing to do with music. They know what it is, he know what it is.”

What did have something to do with The Roc, however, was Philly-based emcee Beanie Sigel’s 2009 attacks on Jay-Z and Bleek. Bleek didn’t respond in anger back then, and has the same levelheaded outlook on the situation today. In fact, he claims to have not even heard the record.

“I can’t listen to Beans diss me. I can’t even diss Beans. Like c’mon man we got money together, we starved together, we ate in the stu, we shared bitches, we shared blunts, we shared liquor. How can I diss you, when you my man? I’m a discredit everything we built up?” Bleek implored. “I’m a real nigga, my thing is I just won’t say nothing. Whatever he going through I hope he get to the end of it and go find the light.”

So since Bleek is making music and shooting videos, should we expect a future Roc Nation release? Bleek says no.

“Me, I’m trying to build my own empire,” he told M. Recks. For me to get respect I gotta branch out on my own. Everybody already thing I’m good because Jay say he’s good. But what they don’t realize is none of my albums went wood, that’s why I’m good. All my albums are successful; I got plaques for each and every album.”

Part of that empire is developing talent and giving some new blood a chance to shine.

“Ain’t no shot if I’m under Jay,” he recognized.

Naturally, Bleek went to Jay for advice in executing his plan.

“I spoke to the big homie, he told me I don’t work hard enough,” Bleek said.

According to the mogul, Bleek should be flooding the internet with music, interviews and videos. He admitted that in the past his work ethic hasn’t been the most consistent. In that same light, he gave nods to Odd Future and Freeway for their prolificness.

While “Kush Gang” is a step in the right direction, there will undoubtedly still be those who think Bleek can’t make it on his own. He’s ready for that.

“You can’t answer everybody, everybody got their own opinion.”

The Park Unplugged Featuring Joe Fri April 15th

2011-04-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Experience an intimate performance at the city's incomparable, soul-infused event, The Park Unplugged. Georgia-bred singer and record producer, Joe, graces the stage this week. From his timeless hits "I Wanna Know" to "Don't Wanna Be a Player," Joe brings a smooth R&B style that make his performances unforgettable, to the Unplugged series.

Joe - I Wanna Know

FRIDAY APRIL 15, 2011

Doors open at 5pm

Happy Hour 5pm - 8pm

Show starts at 7pm (3rd Floor)

21+ with proper attire & RSVP required

Click here to RSVP (list closes at 3pm Fri April 15th)

THE PARK AT FOURTEENTH

920 14th Street, NW

Washington, DC

www.park14.com

For more information or to make a VIP dinner reservation contact us at info@benyblaqentertainment.com

Gwen Stefanis Is Elle's New Cover Girl.

2011-04-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

Gwen Stefani Graces Elle's May Music Issue Cover

Gwen Stefani has a style all her own. She has always been that chick I thought was just cool and one ill rock star. Not the biggest No Doubt fan, but her electric persona and sexy ambience is all of that and Elle thought it should be the staple of their May Music Issue. You can see the video below as she speaks on her celebrity and mentions her up and coming No Doubt album.

In the issue she discusses how once upon a time songs were made that live for eternity, now she doubts whether or not the songs composed today will ever remain. Check the May Elle Music Issue out and leave comments.

WHAT'Z THE 411: 10 Biggest Revelations from B.I.G.'s FBI Files!!!!...

2011-04-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: 10 Biggest Revelations from B.I.G.'s FBI Files!!!!...: "Fourteen years after Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down, his death remains a mystery. But the case is still active, and the FBI just rele..."

Featured Mixtape Sedrew Price "Basic Training (the Collection)"

2011-04-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sedrew Price T.D.A.T. Mixtape Cover

When SeDrew Price dropped his first mixtape “Roll Da Mat Out” in 2005, his status was instantly elevated from a popular high school student to the Prince of Las Vegas. His raw and punch-line heavy lyrics had all who listened praising him as the next great talent in hip hop music. Feeding off of the success of his first mixtape, SeDrew spent the next several years in the studio dedicated to improving his skills with his new-found passion for hip hop. By the time SeDrew dropped “T.D.A.T” in 2009, the streets of Vegas were still spinning off of the buzz from his last five mixtapes, “Wake the F*#k Up,” “By Any Means Necesarry,” “Rap or Die,” “Rap or Die 1.5,” and “The Rebellion.” While Price is in the studio working hard on his latest project, “The New Regime,” he still wanted to deliver what many eager fans have been waiting for: an exclusive snapshot through time of SeDrew’s music. Featuring a dope Collection of the favorites / hits / classics from his last six mixtapes, “Basic Training” is your official crash-course in SeDrew’s lyrical evolution.

Download Sedrew's Mixtape here Basic Training

Chris Brown Leak!!! Treading Water...

2011-04-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

...A leak from Chris Brown's up and coming album slated for release later this year. Just off of a fresh release of F.A.M.E. Chris is already banging out new hits for us to enjoy. Take a listen and leave comments.

Britney Spears Signs Nicki Minaj for Concert Tour

2011-04-11T12:24:00.000-07:00

It's official. TMZ has learned ... Nicki Minaj will be Britney Spears' opening act for her upcoming concert tour.

Sources involved in the negotiation tell TMZ ... the deal was signed several days ago, and Britney is elated. Everyone involved in the concert is relieved Enrique Iglesias' ego couldn't handle opening for Britney and feel Nicki will be infinitely better.

Young Money Recording Artist Nicki Minaj

Minaj, who is on tour with Lil Wayne until the end of the month, currently has two singles on the Billboard Top 100 -- "Moment 4 Life" and "Did It On'em"

Everyone connected with the concert series thinks Nicki will create even more heat for the tour, which kicks off on June 17 in Sacramento, CA.

Platinum Recording Artist Britney Spears

TMZ broke the story Nicki and Britney were in serious negotiations.

Right after we posted that story, the comments and emails were almost unanimous that Nicki is an infinitely better choice than Enrique.

MOGUL Update: Lebron James and Audemars Strike a Deal

2011-04-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

The King himslef with AP execs--Philippe Merk, CEO of Audemars Piguet and Francois-Henry Bennahmias, President of AP North America.

Continuing to place one foot in front of the other will solidify James staple in the world of business and celebrity. Another moved engineered to keep him a comfortable man and grow an empire for his heirs. James is garnering his kingmanship. Sealing a deal with Audemars Piguet is only something other young urban children dream of, if they even know what Audemars is.

To add a little whip cream to the pudding, we get the chance to witness the signature time piece that James is developing. This watch will be auctioned with proceeds going to Lebron's charitable foundation called The LeBron James Family Foundation.

Middle: Singer Craig David and Right: Big 3 cast member Chris Bosh

The launch of James new endeavor came last week at SoHo House Miami. Crag David whooed attendees with song and fellow teammate and "Big 3" cast member Chris Bosh was also in attendance.

Please say hello to the newest Audemars Piguet international brand ambassador, Lebron James

WHAT'Z THE 411: Jada Pinkett Smith Doing the Mom Support Thing

2011-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Jada Pinkett Smith Doing the Mom Support Thing: "The Times magazine reports Jada Pinkett Smith admitted she’s putting her dreams aside for the future of her children. Her son and daugh..."

Billionaire Tom Gores to buy NBA’s Detroit Pistons

2011-04-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

DETROIT (AP)—The Detroit Pistons announced Friday that billionaire California investor Tom Gores has agreed to buy the struggling NBA franchise, ending a drawn-out sale by longtime owner Karen Davidson that stretched back before the season.

The tentative deal, which also includes The Palace of Auburn Hills and DTE Energy Music Theatre, must be approved by the NBA. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close by June 30.

Gores, the chairman and CEO of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Platinum Equity, also is buying the operating rights to the Meadow Brook Music Festival.

Billionaire Tom Gores

Davidson became the owner after her husband died in March 2009.

“We are pleased to welcome Tom Gores as the new owner of the Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports and Entertainment,” she said in a statement. “Just as my late husband, Bill Davidson, was the face of the Pistons, I am confident that Tom will bring the same energy, dedication and love to this organization. I look forward to seeing Tom follow in Bill’s footsteps, and carry on his legacy.”

Gores founded Platinum Equity in 1995, and in its 2010 list of the 400 richest people in America, Forbes put him in a tie for 153rd with a net worth of $2.4 billion. Gores, 46, is a Flint native and has a degree from Michigan State University, though he now lives in California with his wife and three children.

“I am very proud to have this opportunity to be part of such a tremendous organization,” Gores said. “I know it’s been a long process, and I appreciate the patience and support of the Detroit community. I have been impressed with the Davidson family and the way it has protected and built such a storied franchise.

“I grew up here, I am glad to be back and I am very excited about all the possibilities looking forward.”

Davidson had hoped to reach a deal to sell the team before the season. The Pistons were negotiating terms with Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch around that time, but those talks fell apart. Gores was among the other suitors last year, along with The Postolos Group president George Postolos.

“We are very pleased that the Pistons will continue to call the Detroit area home,” Ilitch said in a statement. “Even though we were only engaged in the sale process for a short period of time last year, I was truly amazed by all of the kind words and tremendous support we received from fans and the entire community.”

The Pistons play in suburban Auburn Hills, in Oakland County. County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said it’s a sale with “many complex parts,” referring to the team, The Palace and other entertainment venues.

"I wasn’t surprised to see long negotiations,” he said. “I am delighted with Gores’ ownership. He’s made it clear he’s keeping the team in Auburn Hills in Oakland County, and there’s no question where my loyalties are.”

Gores’ private equity firm made a popular splash a year ago in the community of Cadillac, 200 miles northwest of Detroit. Platinum Equity essentially bought the bankrupt Four Winns boat manufacturing company in a move officials said saved or created hundreds of jobs.

am completely convinced that unless Mr. Gores had bought the company and his particular interest in Michigan that the facility would close down, and they would have moved all their manufacturing out of Michigan,” said Paul Brown, vice president of capital markets for the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

The Pistons’ sale, if approved, will end the long and storied ownership of the team by the Davidson family.

NBA Commissioner David Stern released a statement through a league spokesman.

“We are pleased that Karen Davidson has found a worthy successor for ownership of the Pistons and we are looking forward to introducing Tom Gores to the advisory-finance committee at next Thursday’s meeting,” Stern said.

Spurned in his bids to buy the NFL’s Detroit Lions and NHL’s Red Wings, Bill Davidson became majority owner of the Pistons in 1974.

He acquired the team from the late Fred Zollner, the man who founded the team in Fort Wayne, Ind., in the 1940s. The franchise moved to Detroit in 1957.

Davidson bought Roundball One for the Pistons, making them one of the first pro sports team with their own airplane. He built a state-of-the-art practice facility for the club and was among the first to put luxury boxes closer to the court in arenas.

The Palace was built for $90 million—all of it Davidson’s money—and won instant acclaim as a sports and entertainment venue when it opened in 1988. The Pistons won three championships when Davidson was the owner, including back-to-back titles in 1989-90.

Alan Ostfield, Pistons president, said he believed Gores was committed to keeping the team at the Palace.

“We’re now in a downward cycle and he’s aware of that,” Ostfield said. “From a non-basketball perspective, he thinks he’s buying a business on the upswing.”

Gores, who coaches youth sports and serves on the board of trustees for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, will have a challenge returning the Pistons to prominence.

In 2009, Forbes valued the Pistons at $479 million, but that figure was down to $360 million this year.

Detroit won the NBA championship in 2004, part of a six-year streak in which the team reached at least the conference finals, but the Pistons went 27-55 last season and haven’t been any better in 2010-11.

Detroit was 27-51 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference heading into Friday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Empty seats have been common at The Palace this season, and that, coupled with feuding between coaches and players, have only added to a sense of gloom.

Coach John Kuester, who’s had a rough second season, did not speculate about his future, saying only that he was happy for the Davidson family and “excited Mr. Gores will bring a lot of excitement to the organization.”

Ben Wallace(notes), one of the key players during Detroit’s run to the 2004 NBA title, echoed his coach.

“I’m happy (Karen Davidson) was able to sell the team and happy there’s a new owner who loves Detroit and loves Detroit basketball,” Wallace said. “He’s going to try to change this around and get us back on track.”

General Manager Joe Dumars did not comment and Pistons media relations staff said Gores would not be attending Friday’s game.

One of the franchise’s all-time greats, Dave Bing, is now mayor of Detroit. Bing said Friday he was “pleased that there appears to be some finality to the ownership question” of a team he would like to see move downtown.

“While relocating the team to Detroit may not be an option or priority, they are always welcome back home to Detroit,” Bing said.

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER, Associated Press

Associated Press writers Ed White and Corey Williams contributed to this report.

WHAT'Z THE 411: Christian Louboutin Sued Yves Saint Laurent

2011-04-09T06:16:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Christian Louboutin Sued Yves Saint Laurent: "Yves Saint Laurent's spring 2011 collection features a pair of red suede shoes with matching red soles, which have prompted Louboutin to fi..."

Basketball MOGUL and Future Business MOGUL Lebron James Criticized for Making Money

2011-04-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Upscale Magazine's New Cover Girl Nene Leakes

2011-04-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

As a great deal of you know I am from Miami, by way of Las Vegas and now reside in the Nation's Capital Washington DC. I say all of this to say that the difference in cultures taught me immensely. One pet peave I've adapted over my many years of life is the use of the terms highclass and upscale. Take note of our predecessors whom have accomplished the sought after task of being deemed "upscale". These individuals, corporations, and trendsetters never once self proclaimed "upscale". Publications like Robb Report, Elle, GQ, Black Enterprise, etc are amongst some of the elite magazines of our time. With that said covers are extremely important as the brand of person or product gracing a publication's cover solidifies its worth as upscale or high class.

Nene Leakes of Atlanta Housewives

As I was going about my day's tasks I ran across "Upscale Magazine's" April edition and immediately commenced to the notorious head shake. Nene Leaks? Really? Have we lost sight of what high class really is. Do we really want some loose lipped, ghetto ass Atlanta housewife, or any of the housewives (New Jersey, New York, LA, Miami) at that representing the affluent of our race and culture? Upscale Mag has a double negative shooting them right in the eye, and that is the moniker gracing the cover and their recent choice of cover representatives. Who's next? Toya? or maybe Jennifer Williams from Basketball Wives. I think ettiquette classes are necessary for certain editors.

I hate dishing out negatives, but this one was screaming for justice. Just saying.

Rihanna's April US Vogue Cover

2011-04-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

The uber star and sex-symbol Rihanna has men and women alike placing her in their oh so sultry provocative imaginations. The Trinidadian rock star is at a place in her life where many wish to be, including the cover of Vogue Magazine. Daunting a curve hugging sheer Chanel gown Rihanna brings out the animal in most. The photography was done by Annie Liebovitz and styled by fashion editor Tonne Goodman. So if you have enjoyed the Little Red Riding Hood, or Jessica Rabbit look that Rihanna has been sporting then you will love how Vogue has captured this young beauty. Enjoy.

Herve Leger by Max Azria bodysuit and Alexander Wang Booties

Rihanna in Donna Karen one piece

WHAT'Z THE 411: Jay-Z Launches New Website

2011-04-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Jay-Z Launches New Website: "Jay-Z has launched a new lifestyle website that features on leisure, style, sports, art, design and technology with a few other fabulou..."

New 'Hangover 2' Trailer Is Too Hot For MPAA

2011-04-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

Like many, we were a bit concerned about the first extended trailer for this summer's "The Hangover Part II," not because it didn't look funny, exactly, but because it looked so much like the original film that the mystery -- one of the best parts of the first film -- would be gone. Director Todd Phillips must have seen some of the reaction, because he made sure everyone knew that the trailer was too PG-13 to show what the movie was really about.

But it must not have been PG-13 enough. The MPAA and Warner Bros have demanded that the trailer be pulled from all theaters.

Slashfilm obtained a copy of the letter sent to theaters, which states (emphasis theirs):

"Warner Bros. and the M.P.A.A. have instructed all theatres to remove The Hangover Part II trailer #2 from Source Code and any other placements. These #2 trailers need to be DELETED FROM YOUR SERVER." adding: "We greatly appreciate your immediate cooperation on this matter."

So, what's the issue? The trailer doesn't strike us as particularly offensive, but we do not have delicate sensibilities. Also: Why "Source Code," specifically? Did Summit just want the film as far away from "Hangover" as possible? Why? Is it the coarse language? Was Jake Gyllenhaal offended? (You do not want to offend Jake Gyllenhaal.) We are so full of questions. We asked the MPAA for comment, and they referred us to Warner Bros, who, of course, aren't commenting on the matter. (A Warner Bros rep hasn't responded to our request for comment.)

UPDATE: Warner Bros issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter regarding the trailer's hasty removal from theaters: "In our haste to meet the placement schedule for this trailer, we failed to properly vet the final version with the MPAA. We acted immediately to correct the mistake and removed the trailer from screens."

The only other time we can recall something like this happening was when the "Paranormal Activity 2" trailer was pulled from theaters after "numerous complaints" that the 72-second preview was too scary for the general public. Of course, many suspected that was a stunt intended to generate press for the film -- and this latest development certainly hasn't stopped people from talking about "The Hangover Part II."

by: Will Leitch

Kim & Nicki Just Can't Seem To Work It Out. The Beef Continues...

2011-04-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

I grew up on Hip Hop and followed Big and Juniour Mafia through the nineties. All the while Kim shocked me, made me turn my nose up at her at times, and also wowed me with her lyrical abilities.

When this chick Nicki came along I didn't know how to take her, but I did notice the vast similarities in style, however she had her own thing too. Nicki is the future and Kim has had her moment at the top. Lets see how long this oversized rump and massive effects female emcee can hold her ground. We are all interested in the outcome. Peep the two videos a nd check the Nicki and Kim collaboration by D Dot.

The Rapper's Dream Car Bugatti Galibier

2011-04-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Bugatti 16C Galibier

Bugatti has finally revealed to us its new four-door supercar concept just beore the Frankfurt Motor Show at an event for past customers and Bugatti-intenders. We have been referring to the French super car as the Bordeaux, but the actual car is called the Galibier. The Galibier was named after a strenuous

Alpine pass along the Tour de France.

One of the Galibier's most striking features is undoubtedly its two-tone outer shell, which is comprised of both polished aluminum for the doors and front fenders and a unique dark blue carbon fiber weave that shines through when illuminated. We also note a prominent center spine that recalls past Bugattis like the Type 35 and the classically beautiful Type 57.

A powerful eight-liter W16 powerplant is the source of the Galibier's excitement. Unlike the mill thrusting the Veyron to outlandish speeds, this particular version is mounted up front and is capable of running on ethanol fuel, which may allow Bugatti to unleash more horsepower out of the engine.

The Galibier's top speed is reported at 217 miles per hour (350 kilometers per hour). This is less powerful than the Veyron, but still one hell of a ride! OH YEAH! The price tag is around a whopping $1,000,000.

WHAT'Z THE 411: Kanye Launches Scarf Line

2011-04-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Kanye Launches Scarf Line: "Kanye West launch a new collection of scarves inspired by the artwork for his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.” Accordin..."

Did Diane Von Furstenburg steal Project Runway Designer's Dress?!?!?

2011-04-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Kato aka Korto Momolu

This year I was fortunate enough to attend the 2009 Emmy's as an on air reporter covering the event. As I stood on my designated X in the press pin, fanning myself to keep from delirium in the blistering heat, I saw in the distance the image of Project Runway designer Korto Momolu.

Fashion MOGUL Diane Von Furstenberg

"OMG, that's 'Kato'" I said to my cameraman. We called her over to get a few words with her on tape. I have to admit I was most excited about meeting her as opposed to some of the other celebrities walking the red carpet (my background is fashion). She is one of my favorite designers, Project Runway contestant or otherwise. The girl has serious skills and her dresses are beautiful. Speaking of dresses, earlier in the year I visited Nordstrom and saw the black and white geometric print dress with yellow trim she made for the Diane Von Furstenburg challenge on Project Runway. I loved that dress! Korto lost that challenge but I was thrilled to see it in Nordy's. The dress was in Diane Von Furstenburg's area. Interesting. I walked over and looked at the label inside the dress. It said Diane Von Furstenburg. Hmmm.....okay, cool. Diane bought the design from Korto despite her losing the challenge. Perhaps Diane recognized Korto's talent and offered her a position to freelanced for Diane's line.

Korto walked over to us and after exchanging greetings I inquired about the dress, however, her response is not what I anticipated. "I'm glad someone else saw that," Korto said. Apparently Korto was not made aware that Diane was going to produce her dress and sell it. Korto also mentioned seeing her dress in a magazine. Gasp! Even though I work in the industry and know that we can be a shady lot of characters, I did not expect this behavior from Diane. Would it have really made an impact on the books if Korto had been paid for her dress design or given credit? Korto refrained from speaking ill of the designer but after a stunt like that I definitely feel as if Korto should have won the Project Runway Allstar challenge, yet she came in second. And who was judging Korto and the other contestants? Diane Von Furstenburg. Korto had made the dresses of a couple of celebrities attending the Emmys. She is also promoting her handbag and accessory line. Her dress line will be launched during the upcoming Mercedez Benz fashion shows.

By Karmel of Peppered Style

M is 4 MOGUL Featured Video: Rick Ross "Devil in a New Dress"

2011-04-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: NBA Investigates Jay-Z Over Rules Violation

2011-03-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: NBA Investigates Jay-Z Over Rules Violation: "According to the AP, the rap mogul and part owner of the New Jersey Nets visited the college players after their victory over North C..."

"From The Runway" Thakoon

2011-03-31T12:27:00.000-07:00

Rococo Masai. When Thakoon Panichgul was doing research for his new Fall collection, he observed similarities between the costumes of Versailles and the clothes worn by the Kenyan tribe. Sound like a stretch? The designer made the connection in the first look out: a puffer jacket with detachable panniers à la Marie Antoinette, but cut from a red and blue plaid ripped from a photo of African warriors. Panichgul kept the juxtapositions going from beginning to end: A short-in-front, long-in-back ball skirt came whipped up from a yellow floral batik, and a bustled vest in that buffalo plaid was worn over a pair of cropped pants in an African paisley print. (Thakoon, it must be said, was an early adopter of mismatched prints.)

The irony is that clothes with such high, far-flung associations could end up looking so connected to the street, so sporty. Pointing out before the show how the pink taffeta he used for a down vest and a drawstring-hem skirt resembles the nylon from a windbreaker or a tracksuit, Panichgul described the collection as "fanciful, but pavement." The fact that that came across in the gilded environs of the Plaza hotel only goes to prove that this was his freshest, most alive collection in a while.

By Nicole Phelps

Christie's Raises $1.36 Million for Eco Charities

2011-03-31T11:59:00.000-07:00

Nicki Minaj performs for Eco Charities

The crowd took the eco theme seriously at Christie's second annual Bid to Save the Earth live auction and fashion show last night. "I wanted to wear something that celebrates lush greenery and a healthy earth," said Michelle Harper, wearing a hat adorned with a plethora of leaves. Emcee Seth Meyers pointed out that the planet's health is not in good shape at the moment, referring to the wave of recent disasters and crazy storms, but the SNL writer and performer managed to wring a joke out of the situation. "There were days where the blizzards were so bad that certain Chinese food restaurants wouldn't deliver," he noted. After weathering one of New York's harshest winters ever, Michael Kors, Jason Wu, and Rachel Roy couldn't help but laugh.

Michael Kors hanging out at Christie's second annual Bid to Save the Earth live auction and fashion show

The evening heated up when guests began bidding on fantasy experiences, like a $35,000 plane ride with Harrison Ford or a day with, "um, Bill Clinton, hello," as Christian Cota put it. Then the likes of Karolina Kurkova, Jessica Stam, and Coco Rocha took to the catwalk to model looks from the Runway to Green collection, which Net-a-Porter, one of the evening's sponsors, is selling on its site. And that wasn't all, folks. Nicki Minaj hit the stage for an unannounced performance sporting a green bouffant updo. "Nicki—at Christie's—is amazing," Thakoon Panichgul said. "I'm obsessed with her." The evening's live auction raised $1.36 million for various charities, including the Central Park Conservancy, Conservation International, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Oceana.

— Kristin Studeman

C Breezy hits Number 1...

2011-03-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

Chris Brown goes number one after his GMA tirade last week. As long as he keeps his head on his shoulders and not his ass; then he'll be fine. He sold 273,346 in his first week. The boy makes great music. Do you Chris.

M is 4 MOGUL Featured Video Travis Barker "Can A Drummer Get Some"

2011-03-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

M is 4 MOGUL #StyleTip Billionaire Boys Club new dome topper. The Blastivo Panama Hat.

2011-03-31T07:29:00.000-07:00

Style Tips

On an everyday basis a man should look his best. Even if your best for that particular day was sweats and a Tshirt. Hell I've seen these items executed exquisitely by strange passerbyers. Some of my lady friends can also vouch that they've seen a man or two in his bummy state, yet they would've handed over the digits regardless. Poppin my collar. So it can and has been done. The topic of this discussion is simply paying attention to minor details. Which is an important point. Peep the new Billionaire Boys Club "Blastivo Panama Hat" and add it to your wardrobe. Pin that one on your piece board. A.W.T. Out!

This Blastivo Panama hat is a new release from Billionaire Boys Club for Spring/Summer 2011. With a tightly woven straw design, the cap features a deep dimple on the crest and has a medium-width brim. Additionally, a cloth band encircling the hat features a stylish red and white zigzag stitching. Available in beige or black, the hat is priced at ¥17,850 (approximately $215 USD) and can be purchased through select Billionaire Boys Club store locations.

Why Can't Liam Gallagher Just Let Jay-Z Be Great? (PHOTOS)

2011-03-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Here we go again.

Oasis front man Liam Gallagher said in a recent interview with Spin magazine that he thinks people who wear Jay-Z's Rocawear line will be arrested. "You're going to be f*cking arrested wearing his gear and you're going to pull a really nice-looking bird wearing mine," Gallagher said.

This comes three years after the two musicians famously feuded after Jay-Z headlined the Glastonbury Festival and Gallagher was asked what he thought about the rapper's clothing line.

Back in '08, Jay-Z responded to Gallagher questioning the legitimacy of him headlining the mud-soaked Glastonbury Festival by opening his set with a cover of Oasis' hit "Wonderwall." He repeated the act last year at Coachella.

Gallagher has a clothing line of his own called Pretty Green.

Above: They could be twins: Liam Gallagher and Jay Z in their captain hats.

Article provided by Global Grind

M is 4 MOGUL Cocktail of the Week "Bourbon Cobbler"

2011-03-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

You'll need:

3 oz. Bourbon

½ oz. Simple Syrup

Lemon

Chilled Glassware of your choice

Cocktail Mixing Shaker

Ice

1.) Chill a glass either by having it ready in the freezer or by adding ice and water to the glass while you are preparing the cocktail.

2.) Pour the Bourbon & Simple Syrup into a glass with ice or Cocktail Mixing Shaker with ice. (Use a decent Bourbon, like Jim Beam, to make the cocktail, as the better the ingredients the better the final drink. However, do not use very expensive products as typically they are wasted when all mixed together. These should be reserved for drinking alone.)

3.) Shake well in the cocktail mixing shaker

4.) (If the cocktail glass has the chilled water & ice, used previously to chill the glass, dispose of the mixture now. The glass should be empty and cold.)

5.) Pour into the chilled glass. Lemon as a garnish.

WHAT'Z THE 411: Meagan Good Stars In Upcoming Film ‘Video Girl’

2011-03-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

WHAT'Z THE 411: Meagan Good Stars In Upcoming Film ‘Video Girl’: "Meagan spoke with Vibe.com exactly one year ago today about the project saying:“I just produced a film that should be out by the end of ..."

Jay is 4 MOGUL- Jay-Z’s $450 million Business Empire By Daniel Gross

2011-03-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

This is a superstar economy, in which A-listers live large while minor leaguers struggle. Hedge fund managers like John Paulson may rack up big returns, CEOs like Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman, Sachs bag huge compensation packages, and all-star baseball players like Alex Rodriguez ink nine-figure contracts. But few of them can match the combination of fame, public acclaim and monetary value that Shawn Corey Carter has racked up.

Who?

Amid the carnage of the music industry in the past decade, Jay-Z has managed to parlay artistic success into financial fortune valued at up to $450 million, according to Forbes. Jay-Z's many business successes (and few failures) are described in a new book by Forbes writer Zack O'Malley Greenburg, entitled Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office.

In 2010 alone, he earned $63 million, more than all but seven CEOs of public companies, writes Greenburg. While the money came primarily from touring, Jay-Z has a business interests ranging from music to nightclubs, from restaurants to apparel, from sneakers to a chunk of the New Jersey Nets. As Greenburg and I discuss in the video, the Brooklyn native, who spent a chunk of his teens selling drugs before devoting himself full time to rap, has "a unique ability to set trends and profit from them, almost to an astronomical level."

Early on, Jay-Z displayed an acumen for business. In 1994, unable to find a company to produce his debut records, Jay-Z, Damon Dash and a silent partner founded their own label, Roc-A-Fella Records. And when a distributor agreed to take on the album, he negotiated a deal to retain ownership of the master recordings.

In the late 1990s, he discovered that sales of Iceberg apparel rose after he began including references to them in his songs. But when he went to Iceberg and asked for an endorsement deal, the company demurred. Instead, he started his own apparel company, Rocawear. In 2006, Rocawear was sold to a brand licensing company for $204 million.

There's been much more: a line of sneakers for Reebok, the 40/40 nightclub chain, an ad for Hewlett-Packard, and an interest in the hot New York City gastro pub, The Spotted Pig.

Jay-Z's career and business interests are vivid testimony to the mainstreaming of hip-hop culture. Deals come his way in part because he is, simply put, much cooler and culturally relevant than older guys in suits. It's not simply that he can attract a crowd, but that he lends a kind of legitimacy to all sorts of ventures — including the efforts to build a huge arena/ development to house the New Jersey Nets in Brooklyn. The New Jersey Nets, as Greenburg notes, had long been a second-tier team in the NBA, and an afterthought in New York. Facing political obstacles and community opposition, Nets owner Bruce Ratner offered Jay-Z a small ownership stake in exchange for becoming one of the public faces of the project. Another potential bonus: the other owners thought Jay-Z could help attract top talent like LeBron James to the Nets.

That hasn't quite worked out. And, of course, as is the case with most serial entrepreneurs, Jay-Z has had his share of business setbacks. He spent a fair amount of time last decade working on a Jay-Z Jeep, which fell apart due to issues at Chrysler. A GMC Yukon painted Jay-Z blue never got beyond the concept car stage. As Greenburg notes, the singer makes a strong effort not to highlight failures. "He doesn't want to be seen as anything other than victorious." Greenburg adds: "Even Jay-Z fails, but that doesn't make him any less of a businessman."

So what's next? Despite all his operations, music and performing remain at the core of his business, and of his brand. And here he faces something of a challenge. In rock and pop, it's not uncommon for groups and singers to fill big arenas well into their 60s — the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, even Neil Diamond (who is now 70!). But hip-hop is a much younger genre, and Jay-Z is already 41. "He's the first guy who is going to be out there and seeing what the market is for aging rappers," said Greenburg. "But if he wants to tour all the time like the Stones do, he could certainly do that."

Jay-Z has succeeded in part because of a tough-minded mentality that make him insist that he own a part of any operations he's involved with. And that explains in part why he and his team didn't cooperate with this book. When he signed his book contract, Greenburg went to Jay-Z's team, sought interviews, and explained the book as a business success story that "would put him up in the pantheon with Warren Buffett and Steve jobs." Came the response: "What's in it for us?" He didn't want to help with the production of a book that he wouldn't partially own. Besides, he was working on his own book. When it was published last November Decoded debuted as #3 on the New York Times best-seller list.

Interested in a free copy of Empire State of Mind? Send an e-mail to: talkyourbook@yahoo.com and we'll enter you in a drawing.

Daniel Gross is economics editor at Yahoo! Finance

e-mail him at: grossdaniel11@yahoo.com; follow him on Twitter @grossdm

Beny Blaq Entertainment Presents "The Park Unplugged" Feat Jaquar Wright

2011-03-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

Beny Blaq is CEO of Beny Blaq Entertainment LLC in DC Follow him @BenyBlaq on Twitter

The scene for the MOGUL and his crew is typically fashion forward, music filled, and great fun. Getting together for us is award winning. So we venture out to the hot spots and the lesser known spots as well, to keep balance. You feel me? So my boy Beny Blaq (promoter extraordinaire) was throwing this event at Park on 14th. He sent out the blast texts and emails and we rounded up the crew. We hit the spot THICK! I mean housed our position and stood there with the hottest ladies in the place. When I heard Jaquar Wright was the featured performer I knew I had to be there,

Any of you that are familiar with my past know that from the time of UnSung Radio and The Untamed Tounges Poetry Lounge I hammered alot of Wright's music. She is one hell of a show! Yeah, she didin't sing my song "Do Your Worst", but she rocked it!

These gatherings are sexy and definitely a place for the crew. So get out and show some love. Ryan Leslie is the dude for next show on April 1st so get there. A.W.T. Out!

WHAT'Z THE 411: A Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor: Fashion Icon

2011-03-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

We lost an icon in the entertainment and fashion world in Ms. Elizabeth Taylor. A once dear friend of late, great Michael Jackson, Liz Taylor will be missed. Say hi to MJ for me. kisses!

WHAT'Z THE 411: A Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor: Fashion Icon: "Elizabeth Taylor on the set of National Velvet, 1943. Elizabeth Taylor, 1948. Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Father of the..."