Blackopps Entertainment LLC is proud to announce that we are adding to our digital publications. We have received numerous requests and inquiries into providing an even larger platform for seasoned or up and coming Models, Photographers and everyone in the fashion Industry who would like to showcase their talents. It is our hope that this new endeavor has quenched that thirst for Fashion Forward Photography, Sophistication and Couture.
www.Crushmodelmagazine.com COMING JULY 2012!!!
Contributing Writers
BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT
KIEACHANEL
LEAH ROBINSON
MONICA DAYE
EBONY BURROUGHS
GREGORY DEVONN
TERENCE MERRITT
E-Magazine www.blackopps.com PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Damien Prout CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Audretta Hall, Noella Fe, Ebony Burroughs, Monica Daye, Gregory DeVon, Terrence Merritt STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS: Sierra Jackson, Toya Merritt and Damien Prout FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Diamond District Photography
TABLE OF CONTENT Through My Lens…………………………...3 Cover Story……....………………...……..….10 Changed Roles “Who Asked for It?”...…….18 What Makes a Man Love a Woman?...…….22 Blackopps Summer Madness...……………..24 Events…………………………….…………..26
Blackopps Entertainment is an internet based marketing firm that specializes in Urban Entertainment Events. We are the premiere source for urban entertainment events and information in the Carolinas. Www.Blackopps.com Email: info@Blackopps.com
919 - 860 - 6200 "Call In & Let's Talk Sports!"
Bill Murphy
"The" Erroll Reese
Anna B
K-Mac
How to Listen to the Sports Shop on Saturdays from 9-11 AM: 1. 620 AM The Buzz in Raleigh Durham 2. Download Wralsportsfan App in the App store or Google Play 3. Thesportsshopradio.com (Listen) 4. Wralsportsfan.com (620 AM Listen) 5. "Tune In Radio" App on Android and Apple
Saturday Mornings 9AM - 11AM 620AM THE BUZZ
2012 Uptown Charlotte Jazz festival As the evening sun descended in the west, the temperature of this 2nd day of the Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival descended as well. The scorching hot upper 90 degree day soon broke into a breezy and comfortable evening; a perfect evening for cool Jazz. The festivities of this 2nd day were kicked off by the Atlanta based jazz Trumpeter Joey Summerville....he laced the evening with his hip/funk styled jazzy selections....his band followed suit with a tight harmonious rhythm that got the crowd engaged, intrigued and in that cool jazz state of mind. This jazz journey has just begun. Up next was one of the most highly recognized and revered British Jazz band in the world...the wildly popular band Incognito!!! This eclectic mix of race and nationalities proves the adage that good music is truly color blind....Incognito has been a long standing powerhouse in the world of jazz and beyond. From the vocals to the horn arrangements to the funky vibe of the rest of the band lends no doubt to why they are a fan favorite.... The legendary songstress Maysa, soon joined Incognito on stage to add a sweet vocal cherry on top of this delicious musical dessert. The audience seemed transfixed on the vocalist…hanging on every note. The crowd seems to be waiting and yearning for that much anticipated favorite “Deep Waters”…and yes…they delivered!!! The previous performers have put the crowd into a heighten state of musical euphoria…..and the next performer was to push us over the top. Boney James…came on stage and that was that…pupils were dilated, mouths were gaped open and the crowd rose to their feet at the sight and sounds of this cooler than cool jazz maverick! Boney rocked, yes, rocked the crowd with his music, his style and yes…his swag! Boney took over the evening and the audience was enchanted by his captivating and soul stirring sounds. Once again Tammy Greene (aka: The Jazz Diva) has out done herself. The Uptown Charlotte Jazz Festival is quickly becoming the premiere Jazz Festival in the Carolinas. By Damien Prout
Will my real men please stand up!
Or are my ladies in your way? We are fighting an uphill battle and surely as a black community when it comes to relationships and the roles we play. We as women have less men these days to choose from and when we talk about black men well we mind as well pull a number, take a seat and wait for a while, a long while!!. The days when courting a woman was the thing to do and making sure you are giving her what she needs because it was all about her and the life you are establishing for the two of you. Does this sound familiar or am I speaking another language? Probably a little of both because we have grown so accustomed to the way things are now we have lost sight of how true healthy relationships are supposed to work. Who is to blame? My ladies or my fellas? Ladies you would say that you are strong? YES! You are educated? YES! To
top it off you are a sexy Mutha F**** Ohhh shut your mouth!! Right? Absolutely you are!!! My fellas you would say you are the man? Hell yeah! That you are secure in your manhood? True true! You don’t mind taking a backseat to a woman? Welllll I don’t know about all of that!! What’s up with the hesitation? Is the woman catching onto your game and now you believe she is passing you up? You know by making a higher salary than you or driving a better car and the real stinger is that she might have better credit than you. Now you have a sense of defeat and feel less of a man because that woman is expecting things from you she would ordinarily take the lead on. In her mind it’s time you iron her clothes and have her dinner ready when she gets home. This strong, educated and fine woman is now wearing the pants!!! Feels good right ladies we finally got the upper hand!!! Yeahhhhhhh!! Round of applause!!! I wouldn’t clap too loud or too fast hold on a second. Wearing the ants?? Hmmmmm have we really thought about this? Think about it we are all the way to the top of
our game, we have a great career, independent and we think key word think we don’t need a man because we got this. Just as the saying goes: there isn’t a strong man without a stronger woman behind him holds true for women as well. Who is your rock to lean on? Who holds you at night and who makes love to you? Surely not that pillow or those batteries!! Now the roles have reversed and women are taking care of men and the men are in the mind set of if she wants to wear the pants let her. In fact while she is on her high horse of independency I will do nothing and soak up all her money because she wants to obviously be the man. Is this the message we really want to send to our men ladies? I’m sure the hell not but sadly we are. Men you say we as black women are too opinionated and that we don’t let a man be a man. Some but not all is true. Being with a black woman can be a challenge because we do have something to say and we want you to listen key word listen to what it is we have to say. If you listen you will realize what we are saying is not intended to be combative but allowing us to express ourselves and our opinions. Reverting back to the old school days the men would allow for opinions to be heard but in the end the man will make the ultimate decision and why? Because he is the man and the man was considered head of house-
hold. The role of a woman was and still should be submissive to the man. Men it is not for us to shut the hell
up and do what you say without a word or opinion and if not you will find another who will perhaps from another race. The balance of power has shifted to where the roles of a man and a woman are not where they are supposed to be. A man has always been able to handle the challenges we as black women throw out and though it can be intense at times he used to be able to handle it and handle it well!!. Now it seems as if men don’t want to stand up or try. Taking the lazy way out and not wanting to work on it in order for it to be right. Men need to get back to the old school ways of thinking and ladies sometimes we can sit down and not have to comment on every little thing. Is this the reason why the ratio of black men who want to be with a black woman has diminished so much over the past fifteen years? Think about it!!! Til Next Month~ KieaChanel
What Makes a Man Love Part II
I want to now finish and tell all my readers
day and time. Not coming straight from me, but fro
the age range of 21 to 55 years of age. This is in
that I have the privilege to interview or talk to ove
when you think of those two words (Real Man) wh man that is physically fit. A man that has a great
when to say what is needed, do what is needed, an
ed when he is needed! I hope the latter of the three
I have interviewed and also just had goo many men and women over the years of my time
So many of us have a different outlook of what a r
amples I gave before were from women and men which? I bet you can, but until then let’s dissect
provide in the introduction of this article. The fir
physically fit. Women believe me when I state t
physically fit. Yes we really do. But does this s
man? No! I mean not being in the right mental and
a bearing on how you do what you do as a man, b
from being responsible or a true provider for his think back to a young lady that said this to me. I
does a fit man looks like to her? Her response was
stand this was a woman that was in the age range
then ask another woman in the age brackets of 35
and her response was Denzel Washington. How w
es a Woman
like their celebrity dreamboats is beyond me and many other real men in this world. Honestly? Really? Women come on! Your average Joe does not look like, sound like, make money like and does not have the body like celebrities! If this makes for
s what a real man is in this
a real man, then many men will never be one! Do yourself a favor and look at the
om many of your peers in
man that is fat as hell and shape him into your dreamboat! That is reality and you
ncluding men and women
can do this! But really stop looking at the outer parts of the men you meet only. You
er the last four years. Now
are missing out on a real man most of the time when you look with your eyes only
hat do you think about. A job or a man that knows
nd be the man that is need-
e.
and not you mind or heart! Second is that a real man is a man that has a great job. When I was told this I was upset. Why? Well it showed me that a lot of women seek men with a large bank account and that does not make for a real man. I know a lot of men today personally
od ole conversation with
that makes more than you can imagine and this made some into the biggest jerks you
as an author and mentor.
could meet. I am not saying that a man cannot make a good to great income and not
real man is. The three ex-
be a real man. No I am not! What I am saying is that some men that does make good
n. Can you guess which is
to great income mostly are men that want to play the field. Be a playa and the wom-
the three examples that I
en that want these men make it easy for them to do so. Are there real men that are
rst was that a real man is
well to do? Yes there are, but women please think about his first. If he makes the
this. All men want to be
money that you are asking for in your real man, you best believe he knows that is all
stop us from being a real
you want. So in conclusion you are just a woman he will use and abuse and then
d physical stated can have
you’re hurt like damn what I do wrong, girlfriend what I do wrong.
but it does not stop a man
s family. When I say fit I ask her a question. What
s T.I. Now you do under-
Finally the last was as you guessed. The response from men, a real man knows when to say what is needed, do what is needed, and be the man that is needed when he is needed. EOUNGH SAID! See you next month and we will discuss “What Makes a Woman Loves a Man”. Your man in the streets and in your heart…..
e of 25 to 30 years old. I
5 to 48 the same question
women want a man to be
Terence Merritt
WE ARE GIVING AWAY FREE TICKETS AGAIN TO
We are looking for the 20th, 30th and 40th person to send us an email to:
Summermadness@Blackopps.com The winners will each get a pair FREE tickets to this event. Tickets are compliments of LIVE NATION and Blackopps Entertainment LLC
BLACKOPPS ENTERTAINMENT LLC is proud to once again present our SUMMER MADNESS FREE TICKET GIVEAWAYS. We are poised to give away tickets to some of the hottest events of the summer. Clubs, Plays, Concerts, Parties and even Blackopps Entertainment Merchandise. All you have to do is join to win...that’s right...it’s FREE to join! Are you signed up yet? It’s easy !!! You can join our email list, friend us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. You can actually do all three if you like. The more the merrier.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Shannon Cheathem (One of the Winners of our FREE Ticket Giveaway)
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