BET Cancels 106 & Park After 14 Years On Air…And I Have So Many Memories From Visiting!

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It’s the end of an era. After more than 14 years on air, BET will finally say goodbye to its daily music video countdown show, 106 & Park, with the final show on December 19. The network made the announcement yesterday via BET’s President of Music Programming, Stephen Hill.

“We have pride in being involved with the show that has welcomed almost every movie star, music superstar, and fresh-faced talent you can name,” Stephen said. “We’ve all laughed with and been entertained by the young men and women hosts that have charmed us at 6 p.m. (and more recently 5 p.m.) each weekday.”

He went on to promise to remain in the digital world, as well as with their popular specials like their annual New Year’s Eve countdown, 106 & Party.

Though my generation of late 20-somethings have long since stopped watching this program, it’s definitely a feeling of nostalgia, as we were the first audience that they catered to! We’ve watched Free and AJ when we got home after middle school and high school. We felt the emotions when they left. We were annoyed by Tigger and Julissa‘s entrance, and skeptical but eventually delighted by Rocsi and Terrence later replacing them. (It was around then that a lot of us went on to college and kind of grew out of the show.) Literally none of us cared about Bow Wow and Keshia Chanté, and clearly the current audience didn’t care too much either. I wonder if Bow is regretting balling out on Erica Mena‘s birthday last week, now that he’s soon to be out of a job…
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Exclusive: Machine Gun Kelly Talks Debut Film ‘Beyond The Lights,’ How Far He’d Go For A Role…And Hints At New Single Coming Soon!

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This Friday, Colson ‘MGK‘ Baker will make his big-screen debut, starring as Kid Culprit in the romantic drama, Beyond The Lights. The Cleveland rapper was introduced to the masses in 2011 with the success of his breakout single “Wild Boy,” but has since remained relatively quiet on a mainstream level since his 2012 Bad Boy/Interscope debut, Lace Up, as he toured the world and shot not only Beyond The Lights, but two more as-of-yet unreleased films as well. He’s also been preparing his sophomore effort, which he says may have its first single out within weeks.

Suffice to say, MGK has been a busy guy, but unless you’re a fan or follow his social media, one likely wouldn’t know that he’s been up to much of anything. To many, this film will be his re-introduction of sorts, and what better way to do so than with a role that showcases not only his acting chops, but his rapping as well.

“When it came time to cast the role of Kid Culprit, I knew I wanted a real hip-hop artist,” the film’s writer/director Gina Prince-Bythewood said about choosing MGK for the role. “I saw the video for ‘Wild Boy,’ and he just seemed to exemplify who the character was. So we had that first audition, and I was intrigued by him a lot. Then I had him come back and read with Gugu, and their chemistry was so good! We want an artist who wants it badly because they’ll give you everything, and he really did.”

I got the opportunity to watch the movie before I spoke with MGK last week, and I truly enjoyed it. As a woman working in music, the pressures Noni faced were all too familiar, and the roles of her mother and Kid Culprit are common figures we meet often. I was really impressed with Kells‘ acting too, as I wasn’t sure what to expect from him, but I automatically connected with his character, rather than getting the vibe that he was out of his element.

Below, check out what MGK had to say about his debut role, why he wouldn’t change a thing about it, why his five-year-old daughter is a little jealous about it…and get an itty-bitty clue about his forthcoming single from his sophomore album!
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(Photos) Machine Gun Kelly Premieres ‘Beyond The Lights’ [Cleveland, OH]

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This past Thursday night, Machine Gun Kelly gave his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio a special screening of his big-screen debut Beyond The Lights before it hits theaters on November 14. Having forged a friendship with Kells and his crew over the last year+, I had to make my way to the 216 to support…and I can honestly say I had the most amazing trip I’ve had my entire year.

The day after meeting everyone’s family at the premiere (which was really cool since you don’t often get to see that side of your friends in the industry,) myself, Kells, his manager (and my good friend) Ashleigh and their videographer Casey piled up in a rented mini-van (LOL – needed it for all the equipment and people) and drove through a pretty rough area of Cleveland. As we were driving to shoot the video to his new single and Kells was showing me where he went to school, where Slim went to school, where he, Slim and Dub first lived, the radio was playing a commercial that proudly advertised “our very own Machine Gun Kelly” in his starring role, and it was a moment I can’t even find the words to describe.
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(Photos) Me Doing Misc. Cool Shit – October 2014

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I hit the Bay to kick it with my HBK homies for HBK Halloween, MGK‘s show in Long Island, IAMSU‘s show at Webster Hall, 1oak with Ty Dolla $ign and Travi$ Scott, and Kehlani, Big Sean and Aziz Ansari all stopped by Hot97!
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Exclusive: Elijah Blake Discusses the “Drift” EP, Celebrity Crushes, & Growing Up In the Industry with Harley Quinn!

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Elijah Blake Phone interview

There aren’t many names left in the industry that Elijah Blake hasn’t worked with! Being featured as a songwriter or collaborating artist with the likes of Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Usher, The Game, Common, and countless others, Elijah Blake is next up on the screen, having just released his new EP, titled “Drift”! Suprisingly, the project has only one feature, nabbed by J. Cole, on the “Venture” single. The 5-track EP contains fan favorites like “Wicked” and my personal favorite, “Strange Fruit.” After streaming the album, and talking with Elijah, this is one of the most creative projects I’ve heard this year, because of its out of the box concepts! “Strange Fruit” is a popular song, not only for its usage of the famous poem of the same name, but for the incredibly dope Outkast “Elevators” sample!

Hailing from Florida, Elijah Blake is an artist is every sense of the word, bringing his vision of love, pain, and music to the world through carefully planned and articulated projects. In an exclusive phone interview this week, he talked to me about his ultra-meticulous process when songwriting for himself and others, his painful childhood growing up with an abusive father as told in the single “6” featured on the album, why he’s not into industry chicks and just wants a regular girl, and the right way to act around a celebrity. Get into it below!

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Interview: Mila J Talks Quitting Her Day Job, Writing For Herself vs. Others, Her “Mains” and More!

Marisa Mendez Leave a Comment

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Mila J has been building quite a buzz as of late, thanks to the success of her singles, “Smoke, Drink, Break-Up” and “My Main.” Of course, her stunning looks, powerhouse vocals and dance moves don’t hurt either! Jhene Aiko‘s older sister ran the risk of standing in the shadow of her successful younger sibling, but Mila J has completely carved her own lane, and after years of set-backs with failed girl groups and even a shelved album, the talented triple-threat has established a promising solo career, and finally released her debut EP yesterday, M.I.L.A. (Made In L.A.)

The 5-song EP features the aforementioned singles, as well as the Problem-assisted “Pain In My Heart,” the B.o.B.-assisted “Champion,” and the ride-or-die love ballad, “Times Like These.” The project, completely co-written by Mila, definitely shows the California singer’s range as an artist, and is the perfect appetizer until we get the real meal early next year. Fresh on the heels of its release, I hopped on the phone with Mila to discuss the EP, as well as how she quit her day job, her plans to write for others, Ty Dolla $ign (because I’m me so of course I had to add him in there,) what’s the deal with her and Rome from IMX and more! Check out the interview below.
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Editorial: 7 Things You Should Know By The Time You’re 23

Ashley Leave a Comment

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This past week, I celebrated yet another birthday. I didn’t do anything special or extravagant – another year passed and I saw how truly precious life can be. The last 365 days have become the foundation of which I’m going to build my life upon, and I’m fine with that. I have been blessed to be surrounded by a loving family and the great staff here at LifeIsTremendez. There are some things in life I’m STILL trying to figure out. We have all had that time in life where we assumed we would be at a certain part in our lives at a certain age and…I’m no different. There are certain things I have yet to accomplish (not living on a futon in my parents basement is at the top of the list). However, I do feel at 23 there are a few things you should know how to do or at least have the desire to learn.

Ashley Spinnelly
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