News: Drake Splits From PR Agency Shortly After Rolling Stone Interview

That didn't take long. Just two weeks after Drake blasted Rolling Stone magazine for replacing his scheduled cover story with a last minute Philip Seymour Hoffman tribute, the Nothing Was The Same MC and his PR agency, ID-PR, have parted ways.
According to Billboard, though, it was ID that initiated the split and not their superstar rapper client.
Guess there is such a thing as bad publicity.
"Drake is an incredibly talented artist and we're proud of our results for 'Nothing Was The Same' and Would You Like A Tour? We wish him the best," ID said in a statement to Billboard.
Drizzy initially hired the agency to handle the public relations for his third solo LP, as well as his Would You Like a Tour? but things went south fast after an irate Drake took to Twitter to air out the magazine for ditching his cover, allegedly misquoting his statements and to proclaim that he's "done doing interviews for magazines" and that "the press is evil."
Drake did backpedal a bit on his initial negative reaction, taking to his blog to convey that he agreed with the publication's decision to run with Hoffman's death, but the damage was already done.
"I completely support and agree with Rolling Stone replacing me on the cover with the legendary Phillip [sic] Seymour Hoffman. He is one of the most incredible actors of our time and a man that deserves to be immortalized by this publication," he wrote.
Although ID will no longer represent Drake, considering that NWTS debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts and reached platinum status a month later and Drake's tour is currently selling an average of 94.58 percent of its available tickets, the agency is definitely leaving on a high note and a job well done.

I'm done doing interviews for magazines. I just want to give my music to the people. That's the only way my message gets across accurately.
— Drizzy (@Drake) February 13, 2014

Photos: Beautiful Angela Simmons Covers Vibe Vixen

Angela Simmons talks rebellion, critics, plastic surgery, rer new niece, being  niece to a music mogul & more with vibe vixen. It's a must read.
See the lovely pics below.

Photos: Eunice Efole, Omoni Oboli, Munachi Abi, Mai Atafo et al @ the opening of new House of Tara store

Industry leader in makeup and beauty, House of Tara officially launched its new luxury studio at the Centro Mall, Lekki with an exclusive VIP event at the rooftop of the Centro Mall on 23 February, 2014. The Centro Mall Studio is the 14th studio for the brand which has 20 new studios planned to launch nationwide.
 Speaking at the event, Ada Iwugo; a member of the board said “we are excited to launch our 14th Studio and we will also like to use this opportunity to announce that House of Tara would be collaborating with one of the top makeup brands in the world and those products will be available in all House of Tara retail outlets”
 Guests in attendance were treated to music by one of Nigeria’s A-list artists Bez as well as food from Chef Fregz and champagne.  The event also featured a live makeup showcase of four makeup looks achieved using House of Tara products.
 “House of Tara has been a pioneer in the industry since 1998 and has been a trailblazer in the areas of retail, distribution channel management and education. Following our passion of enabling the industry; in the next 12 months, we will expand even further, opening 20 studios around the country, providing jobs for many makeup artists and aspiring beauty reps.” House of Tara’s brand manager; Temi Akingbe said.
 Guests included Bola Balogun, Omoni Oboli, Toke Makinwa, Eunice Efole, Tewa Onasanya, Munachi Abi, Arese Ugwu, Mai Atafo, Omowunmi Akinnifesi, Linda Ejiofor, Anna Banner and a host of others.
 Rhema Akabuogu, House of Tara’s Retail Experience Manager said “Our Strategy is to offer an array of great beauty brands, education and an exciting experience at our retail stores”
 One lucky guest was rewarded with a product named after them and a lifetime supply of that House of Tara.

Photo Credit: Ameyaw Debrah                                                                                                                

News & Photos: Blast in Istanbul Restaurant in Doha, Qatar, leaves 12 dead, over 30 injured

An explosion in the Istanbul Restaurant near the Landmark Mall shopping center in the Qatari capital Doha has left 12 people dead and has injured at least 30 - four persons died on the spot and the remaining succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital.
The food joint had recently opened after renovations and is situated on a row of restaurants that get particularly busy late at night.
The dead were all of Asian or Arab descent and, as revealed by the head of Qatar's police force Maj Gen Saad al-Khulaifi, some of the injured were seriously hurt.
The authorities are treating this as an isolated incident because Qatar is a small, wealthy Gulf Arab state with abundant reserves of natural gas and little violent crime or civil unrest.
There are doubts that the explosion could have happened from the bursting of a natural gas tank placed on top of the Turkish restaurant.
Incidentally, in May 2012 a fire in the Villaggio Mall had killed 19 people (13 of them children who were in a daycare center inside) and investigation revealed that the fault lay in the electrical wiring - five persons have been jailed for this.

Photos: Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014: The winners

The Arab Woman Awards Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) 2014 winners were honoured at a red carpet gala reception held at the Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh. The ceremony, which was attended by over 300 women from the Kingdom, marks the first ever Arab Woman Awards to be held in Saudi Arabia.
Congratulations to these women.
See pics below.

Meanwhile, HRH Princess Lolowah Al-Faisal Bin AbdulAziz was honoured in the category of Education at the Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014.

Dr. Thoraya Obaid, winner of Arab Woman Award KSA 2014 in the category Women in Government.

Dr. Suad Bint Mohamed Bin Amer, winner of Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014 in the category of Medicine.

Amina Al Jassim, winner of Best Fashion Designer, Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014.

Lateefa Alwaalan, winner of Best Entrepreneur, Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014.

Lebanese television personality Diala Makki (pictured right) poses with the guests of the 2014 Arab Woman Awards KSA.

Nashwa Taher, winner of the Inspirational Woman of the Year award, Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014.

Lateefa Alwaalan, winner of Best Entrepreneur, Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014.

The Lifetime Achievement Award at the Arab Woman Awards KSA 2014 went to Samar Fatany

Photos: Oh Maria Maria, Carlos Santana Really Jazzed Up The Dubai Jazz Festival

ALL THAT JAZZ: Massive crowd gathered on the last day of the Emirates Airlines Dubai Jazz Festival to watch Carlos Santana bring in the Mexican heat to the cool winter night in Dubai. It was not easy getting in, especially if you had a regular ticket. The entry lines began at 6:30 pm Last Thursday and round about 9:00 pm the line was half way to the festival city as thousands of fans came in to dance to the blues. 

The 66 year old Mexican-American guitar king played along side the singing prowess of Tony Lindsay and Andy Vargas accompanied by trombonist, trumpeter, keyboard player and percussionists to create the sort of festival atmosphere which will be a bench mark for the Future Jazz Festivals. 

Did he perform "Black Magic Woman"? YES and "Maria Maria"?? YES YES!!!

DOPE CONCERT.

                             

Photo Credit: GTFWO Nox Voyager

News: Rita Dominic bags endorsement deal with Keystone Bank

According to reports, Nollywood actress Rita Dominic has been appointed as the new face of Keystone bank. She will be revealed as the face of a new initiative by the bank which will be launched soon. The bank plans to create a new type of account called the "Pink Account" which is meant to empower women. Rita signed this multi-million Naira deal last month.
Congratulations to her.

News: Son of newly separated, Robin Thicke & Paula Patton in a car accident

Earlier in the day yesterday Thur Feb.27, Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's son, Julian, was involved in a minor car accident, after being chased by paparazzi on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.
The couple's three-year-old son, Paula's mother and assistant were reportedly followed by several paparazzi cars down Sunset Boulevard. After trying to get away from the paps, Patton's black Range Rover suddenly bumped another car in front, causing a minor car accident.
It was reported that there were no injuries. Robin and Paula's son was in the back seat at the time of the incident.
Robin was scheduled to take the stage last night in Washington DC., after canceling his tour stop this week in Canada, to work on his marriage woes with Paula.
This accident comes after celebrity moms took the lead in the stand against paparazzi harassing and stalking their children in order to photograph them.

Video: Haha, Kanye West plays Kanye in his new movie, "Yeezus"

Musical genius Kanye West is taking his talents to the big screen.
A few months ago, we saw Yeezy make a cameo in the movie Anchorman 2, and soon we’ll be able to see him in theaters yet again. The role he’s playing this time is perhaps his favorite role ever — himself.
Kanye just released a trailer to an upcoming movie called Yeezus. The film, directed by Hype Williams, is based on the theatrics that is ‘Ye’s “Yeezus” tour.

The tour made its final stop in New York a few days ago, but if you missed your chance to witness the self-proclaimed rap god perform, you can catch the Yeezus movie that’ll be “coming to theaters soon,” Ye promises.
Will I now carry myself to the cinemas to go and see this movie when it eventually comes out??? NO.
Watch the movie trailer below.

                      

Kanye on stage, "Yeezus Tour"