CONCERT POSTPONED - FREE PARTY OFFERED

The much anticipated Gucci Mane concert has been postponed until November 21st but all tickets for the October 30th concert will be honored according to the post on Facebook by event promoter, Walter Conwell:

“This week a judge denied Gucci Mane the privilege of leaving the state of GA to honor his obligation in Birmingham. the show has been postponed to Nov.21st with Nick Minaj and ALL TICKETS WILL BE HONORED. I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE TO ALL DISAPPOINTED FANS BUT AS A PROMOTER ALL I CAN DO I PAY THE ARTIST, I CAN NOT CONTROL THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.”

Additionally, the promoters have decided that the party must go on - offering a FREE party to all starting at 9pm at Club Continental tonight, October 30th.

**BREAKING NEWS** Trial of Mayor Larry Langford

It has been announced that Birmingham Mayor, Larry Langford, has been found guilty on ALL 60 counts. The jury returned this guilty verdict in just under 2 hours today in a Federal courtroom in Tuscaloosa. Larry Langford was not taken into immediate custody.

According to the Mayor-Council Act, the City Council President will become the interim Mayor until a special election is held. Although a new council has been elected, they have not yet been seated. Currently, Carole Smitherman holds the position of City Council President.

We will update you as additional information is received.

This is It Reviews Respectable, but Irrelevant

No This Is It review really matters, as This Is It reviews are entirely useless. Michael Jackson This Is It reviews look to be respectable, nonetheless. No This Is It review had been posted until today, which is usually the kiss of death for movies. But Michael Jackson’s This Is It is not just any movie. And no matter what This Is It reviews say, the “final” look at Michael Jackson is about to be a massive phenomenon.

As anyone alive knows, the Michael Jackson This Is It tour was supposed to be the King of Pop’s last series of shows. It was his last show, but not for the reasons anyone expected. With Jackson’s death, This Is It looked to be dead as well, until director Kenny Ortega and company decided to turn the This Is It rehearsals into a documentary film. Read more…

~ Robert Dougherty

Magic City Classic - A Star Studded Weekend

Just in case you need a little “star studded” motivation to get you out this Classic Weekend we have the short list of celebrities you can see sometime during the busy Classic Week.

• Steve Harvey Morning Show Crew
• Tom Joyner Morning Show Crew
• R. Kelly
• J. Holiday
• Hosea Sanchez
• Ray J.
• Melissa Ford
• Myammee (I Love Money 2 & Flava of Love 3)
• Brian McKnight
• Ne Ne Leakes (Atlanta Housewives)
• Ying Yang Twins
• Doug E. Fresh
• Jagged Edge
• Calvin Richardson
• Ann Nesby
• Ginuwine
• Kandi Burruss
• Drew Sidora (from the Game)
• Gucci Mane
• Brad James (Meet the Browns)
• Shonie
  
• YOU (Starring as the ultimate celebrity because you make the Classic!)
  

To find out where these celebrities will be hit us up on our Facebook page or visit the Urbanham.com’s Magic City Classic Event list. The most complete list online!

Downtown Mall vs Dome

I was talking to a friend that has been pretty active in purchasing what he calls “cheap” property around the city.  We started talking about city development and economic development opportunities and he suggested that the dome was not the best idea but a large downtown mall would be the ticket.

I am all for economic development and seeing something happen in Downtown Birmingham that could help change the dynamics of the city and give the citizens something to be excited about. You know, the kind of excitement a professional team brings to an area.  If a dome will do it then I am certainly for it!

With the dome we do have a few challenges and questions however.  First of all John Rogers who has been a long time advocate of the dome is suggesting now may not be the time to build it.  The questions continue to come up from economist, community leaders and citizens of what will we put in the dome?  Will there be enough support for the dome to make it a thriving entity in the city or will it need constant funding from the city.  Unfortunately no one really knows the answer to these questions.  It’s all based on hope and faith which in my world is often all I had to go on.

So this bring us to the discussion of a downtown mall.  Hmmm….. this may just be an easier program to sell to a community that can be a little picky on what it supports.   There is no doubt that we like to shop and eat out in Alabama.  A mega  mall is nothing more than a tourist attraction and we know this based on the success of the Riverchase Galleria.  I say success because before Two-A-Days (Hoover High School), Ross Bridges and all of the other “nice things” we find in the city of Hoover it seems all of this success was anchored by the Galleria.   Now don’t get me wrong.  I know the Galleria had it’s rough years and also faces declining support due to the economy. I am sure this decline is short term and we will see more growth around the Galleria in years to come.  I can remember friends and family living outside of the city, even the state planning to visit the area just to go to the mall.  This type of excitement gets pretty close to the excitement of having a pro sports team.  Maybe a more appealing thought to teenagers and retirees but still an excitement generator.

The construction for the dome is already moving forward and I would hate to see things come to a halt unless there was a “fail-proof” plan on the table.  These days that is just not likely to happen so lets start looking for that pro team!

Kayrn & Mingo Allen, making music and loving life!

If I ask you to name a power couple you would more than likely say Jay-Z and Beyonce, maybe President Obama and First Lady Obama or some other high profile couple.  From the surface fame and fortune makes power couple appointment relatively easy.  However, I believe power couples are those that can take negative situations and turn them into positive opportunities.  In my opinion it’s not the fame and fortune that makes a power couple but the willingness to stay together no matter what you go through, the ability to forgive and grow and the realization that their is nothing on this earth stronger than the bond of a family.

I spoke with Kayrn and Mingo Allen and realized there was a great story with this couple which includes growth, loss, hope and most importantly a tight family bond.  Kayrn, an aspiring singer and her husband Mingo who manages their newly formed entertainment group, Gifted Pen Entertainment, have jumped into the music industry full time. This energetic “power couple”  has discovered that their professional success is deeply rooted in their ability to work and live together.

Urbanham: Music certainly motivates the soul.  How has music motivated you in your journey as an up and coming artist?

Karyn: Music is a huge part of my life! It’s ironic that I relate triumphant and tragic times to songs that are playing during those times. I can remember listening to Teddy Pendergrass and The Commodores when I was little. I remember when I was about 5 years old and won Little Miss Boys Club. I had an interview at the television station and “Reunited” by Peaches and Herb was on the radio. It was so early in the morning that it was dark outside and cold. It’s almost like I relive a moment when I hear music. I still remember looking out the window that day!

Urbanham: How would you best describe your music?

Karyn: My music is a collection of stories about life and love. It’s food to hungry, music-loving souls! It really feels like I merged the 70s and 80s together, because there are sounds of trumpets, drums and smooth guitar licks. The stories that I sing about are either true to things that I’ve been through or that someone I know has been through. For example, “The Way Life Goes” was written on a day in my life when I didn’t know what else to say about what I was going through. I felt like life kept taking punches at me and even though I was defending myself the punches kept coming. All I could say was, “that’s just the way life goes” and that was pretty much it. In my song “Unbearable”, one of my girlfriends was upset about having to end a long-term relationship. As I continued to listen to her, the word unbearable kept popping in my head. When I got off the phone with her, I immediately started to write the song. It is one of my favorite songs, even though it wasn’t my experience. Life has ups and downs; how we handle those trials is the key.

Urbanham: What is the most memorable moment for you as an artist?

Kayrn: Recording “Shawty-Shawty”, because it was the first song that I’d ever professionally recorded. I was nervous and anxious, because I didn’t know what to expect. That day changed my life! It showed me that I could do more than I thought vocally. I found my own voice and that’s really important when you want to become a singer.

Urbanham: What do you want listeners to walk away with when listening to your music?

Kayrn: I want them to know that I’m real. I love the fact that life is a journey and my music takes my listeners on various trips while on that journey. I’m a human being just like they are and that I’m not exempt from anything. It’s so important that they know that if Karyn Allen can do it, then they can too. If Karyn can overcome it, then so can they! I want my music to feed and heal their souls, when they’re hungry and hurting.

Urbanham: What are some of the challenges you find in balancing a music career and family life?

Kayrn: Wow….you know what? It really is all about balance! There are so many challenges, like making sure that the children do their homework before I go to rehearsal. I love to cook, but now I do it less frequently than I did before. That can be hard, because now they come home and say, “Mom are you going to cook today?” In the past, dinner was served daily between 5-5:30pm. I’m at that place in my journey where I find myself constantly referring back to what’s important. The fact that I’m fortunate to be alive today, that I physically saw my husband and children. I’m thankful that I’m in my right mind. My family comes first! This is who I’m doing this for; I want them to have a better life.

Urbanham: Mingo, we know you are on board not only has Karyn’s husband but as a full time manager.  What has been the biggest challenge for you in getting the project ready?

Mingo: The biggest challenge in the beginning is convincing Karyn to do this. I’m always telling her things that she can do, because she does everything at an extremely high level. Sometimes in pursuing a dream, all you need is someone behind you to push you. In her case, that would be me. I am also the same person that has been there if she falls, so that I can catch her.

Urbanham: Most couples find it extremely difficult to work together.  How have you overcome some of the challenges of working together and also managing your home life?

Kayrn: We are best friends first. Our relationship started when we were 19 years old and we both love to laugh. I think that we knew that it would take us both to make the relationship good. Both of our sets of parents were divorced before we were 6 years old and we didn’t want that. Most people think that love keeps relationships together, but we believe that respect is 90% of what really keeps it together. Working together has its challenges, because sometimes work doesn’t end. In actuality, we have to stop ourselves from talking about work so much. We’ve recently started back going out on dates and doing “mommy and daddy” time.

Urbanham: Can you tell us about Gifted Pen and what this entity does?

Mingo: Gifted Pen Entertainment is our record label/management company; it also houses Mingo Karyn Publishing. The whole purpose of Gifted Pen Entertainment was to give undiscovered, real and rare talent a voice. We believe that opportunity is not given, but created. This company is the new frontier for where the music industry is headed. We will redefine how labels conduct business in this industry!

Urbanham: We talked earlier and you were sharing with me some of the things you have learned since working on this project.  What type of advice can you share with our audience on getting prepared for such an opportunity as a manager and as an artist?

Mingo: The best advice that I can give is for the manager and artist to take care of the business first. The talent isn’t going anywhere. There are so many talented artist who are limited in what they can do, because they won’t do the research. A label will not do more for you than you are willing to do for yourself. The knowledge is out there, you just have to seek it. In addition, my wife’s mother told me when I was 19 years old that, “if you can’t listen, you can’t learn”. So many artist don’t want to be told things that will make them better; all criticism isn’t negative. When Karyn was recording “Shawty, Shawty”, she wasn’t doing her best. I told her that and she was upset at first; most artist would be. Once she understood that it was only to make her better, I saw her grow as an artist.

Urbanham: How can people find out more about your projects and purchase your music.

Mingo: You can check her out at www.karynallenmusic.com to listen to her music and purchase her debut album “The Karyn Allen Experience”. You can also go to www.myspace.com/karynallenmusic, www.myspace.com/giftedpenexperience, www.facebook.com/karyn.allenmusic. In addition to those sites, she will be on Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby in November.

Saggin Pants: Letter from a college student

The other day, a friend of mine visited me in the lobby of my dorm just to chat while her laundry was drying.  As we were chatting, two young freshmen came by. One of the 2 boys wanted to ‘talk’ to my friend (as in date).  She asked him how old they were, and both of the boys replied 18.  My friend and I both laughed hysterically because we are both 22 years old.   After my friend left, the young men were still hanging around and one wanted to know how he could gain her interest.

The first thing I told him to do was to pull up his pants!  He asked why, and then said he liked  saggin ‘ his pants.  I told him to come over to my computer and spell the word  saggin’.   Then I told him to write the word  saggin ‘ backwards.

S-A-G-G-I-N

N-I-G- G-A-S

I told him the origin of that look was from centuries ago.  It was the intent of slave owners to demoralize the field workers by forbidding them to wear a belt as they worked in the fields or at any other rigorous job.  In addition, men in prison wore their pants low when they were ’spoken for’.  The other reason their pants looked like that was they were not allowed to have belts because prisoners were likely to try to commit suicide.  And, saggin’ pants prevents you from running.

We as young Black people have to be the ones to effect change.  We are dying.  The media has made a mockery of the Black American.  Even our brothers and sisters from Africa don’t take us seriously.  Something as simple as pulling up your pants and standing with your head held high could make the biggest difference in the world’s perception of us.  It is time to do right by ourselves.  We need to love and embrace each other. No one is going to do that for us.

It all comes down to perception.  What people perceive is what reality to them is.  We have to change not only the media ’s perception of us, but we need to change our perception of ourselves.

Remember all eyes are on you Black Man. All eyes are on you Black Woman.  All eyes are on your Black Child.  People point the finger at us and expect us to engage in negative and illegal activities, to manifest loud, boisterous behavior, to spend our hard earned money in their stores, buying goods we don’t need, or really want.  We have allowed not only the media, but the government and the world to portray us as a ’sub-culture. ‘ They have stripped our culture down to the point where the image of Black people is perpetuated as rappers, athletes, drug users, and consumers of junk food, expensive tennis shoes, expensive cars, expensive TVs, cell phones and not investing in homes for our families.

We are so much more !!!!!!!

To all our Black Men: It’s time to stand up.  There are billions of Black Women who want to do nothing more than worship the ground that you walk on.  We are so in love with your potential.  We want to have your back, we want to love, support and cherish every ounce of your being. But with that you have to show that you are willing to be the head of our households.  You have to prove yourselves worthy of our submission.  We need you to be hard working…Not a hustler.  We need you to seek higher education, to seek spirituality.  We need you to stand!  And trust us; we will have your back.  We know that it gets hard.  We know you get weary.  Trust and believe that

there is nothing that a Black Man and a Black Woman can’t handle with GOD on their side.

To all our Black Women: It is also time for you to stand up.  It is time for you to stop using our bodies as our primary form of communication.  It is time to be that virtuous woman that Proverbs spoke of.  You cannot sit by the wayside while our men are dying by the masses.  You are the epitome of Black Love.  It starts within you.  You need to speak with conviction to let not only our Black Men know, but the world, that you are the Mothers of this world.  You are so powerful.  You are so beautiful.  You need to love and embrace every blessing God has given us physically, emotionally and spiritually.

For all our Black Children: We need to love them.  We need to teach them.  We need to stand up for them.  We need to protect them.  We need to show them that there are no ‘get rich quick’ schemes.  We need to tell them that they WILL die trying if they submit to a life of crime and deceit.  We need to teach our children that no one will love them the way we can.  And be ing a basketball player, a rapper, or a drug dealer is not reality.  It’s not realistic and only a small percentage of people ever make it as a rapper or professional athlete.  We need to teach our children that we can be more than rappers and athletes.  We can be the owners of these sports teams.  We can be the CEO’s of OUR fortune 500 companies.  We need to believe in literacy.  I am almost certain if we were to look back to the 1930’s and 40’s, the literacy rates for Black American Children are probably still the same.

Please Keep This Going & Have a wonderful day

This is the year of empowerment. ‘

God will empower us to accomplish things this year that will be mind blowing’.

GOD BLESS,

Ellis Henderson

Fever: Triple Set kicks off Classic Weekend with 3 parties, 1 Cover within 1 Block

Fever The Triple Set kicks off Friday, October 30 and goes through Saturday October 31.  The deal is for 1 cover you get to kick it at three different parties, two nights all on the same block.

The Wine Loft, The 2210 Building and STEEL Urban Lounge will play host to the Triple Set and you can get weekend passes for only $ 45.00 or passes each night for $ 25.00.  Tickets are currently on sale at The Shop (5812 1st Ave North) & all Easy Money Locations.

For more information & VIP accommodations, call (205) 253-0259 or email feverbham@gmail.com

Urbanham.com’s Magic City Classic Event List is here! Check it out!

Urbanham.com is on the job and ready to deliver the most complete list of Classic Weekend Events you will find online.  Bookmark this list and check back often as more events are added all the way up to Classic Weekend.  So get your plans together because the city is yours and we will do our best to make sure you don’t miss a single thing!

Show me the list!

Promoters if you don’t see your event you can add it for FREE by clicking on Submit Event. Make sure you put your event under the Magic City Classic category in order for it to automatically show up on the list. To advertise your event on Urbanham.com or the Weekend Radar please call (205) 218-7416 or email members@mbi-llc.com.

“Youth Can Change Birmingham. . .Again!” The State of Birmingham Youth Town Hall Meeting

(Birmingham, AL) – In an effort to allow youth and young adults to voice their opinions and share their concerns about issues that will affect their future, the City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office-Division of Youth Services (DYS) and the Birmingham Young Advisory Commission will be hosting The State of Birmingham Youth town hall meeting on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the Boutwell Auditorium, from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

“Youth Can Change Birmingham. . .Again!” is the theme of the town hall meeting targeting 10-18 year-olds and college students up to 21 years old. During the meeting, attendees will address topics like education, crime, recreation, jobs, and neighborhoods. They will also learn about DYS’ P3 Initiative (P3 = Plan/Pact/Promise).

The Plan involves youth participating in the town hall meeting scheduled for November 22nd. Town hall participants will take part in documenting the results of the meeting and develop a Pact.  Participants will then substantiate their accountability through a Promise to actively implement the Pact while serving on either the Birmingham Young Advisory Commission or the Youth Advisory Council.

Youth interested in learning more about how they can be involved with the State of Birmingham Youth Town Hall Meeting or the P3 Initiative should contact Cedric Sparks, Sr.-DYS Executive Director or Beverly Meadows-DYS Public Information Officer at 320-0879.

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