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YRAG ENTERTAINMENT

WEEKLY MAGAZINE

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In This Issue

Phyllis D. Coley Gary N. Jones

En Vogue

Staff

Fashion

Editor-In-Chief Entertainment Director

Movie Review

Music Editor Clubs and Nightlife Restaurant & Food Editor Unsigned Artists Reporter Fashion

Restaurant Review Janet Jackson at Essence Ear to the Streets

Movie Reviews Graphics & Layout Photographers Sales

Yrag Entertainment Weekly Magazine is your source for local nightlife and entertainment, celebrity interviews, gossip, restaurant and movie reviews, and reports on unsigned artists.

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Unsigned Artist

En Vogue

The female vocal quartet En Vogue was conceived and put together by the production team of Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, both former members of Club Nouveau.

Foster and McElroy wanted a vocal group who could exude sultriness and intelligence in addition to vocal proficiency, and as producers, they wanted material that would fuse R&B and girl group traditions with hip-hop and new jack swing rhythms. The two held auditions and settled on a membership of former Miss Black California Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson, and Terry Ellis. The new group performed two songs on Foster and McElroy's FM2 album, and the producers crafted an image of them as stylish, sophisticated, and sexy. Originally called For You, the women switched to the more elegant Vogue, and then En Vogue after learning of another group with a very similar name.

En Vogue's debut album, Born to Sing, appeared in 1990 and launched the pop crossover smash "Hold On," which peaked at number two and helped the album go platinum. The group attracted comparisons to the Supremes, even though groupmembers shared lead vocals and intentionally designated no particular singer the "star." In between albums, Herron appeared in the film Juice. When En Vogue returned in 1992 with Funky Divas, critical and commercial response was overwhelming. The album's wide array of styles, from pop and R&B to rap, rock, and reggae, were lauded in print; the first three singles -- "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)," "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" (both covers of songs written

by Curtis Mayfield), and "Free Your Mind" (which borrowed a chorus line from George Clinton) -- reached the Top Ten, and the album went multi-platinum. En Vogue were in the Top Ten again in 1993, backing Salt-N-Pepa on their hit "Whatta Man." As En Vogue was recording its third album, Dawn Robinson left the group. Before they released the record, "Don't Let Go (Love)," a song the group contributed to the Set It Off soundtrack, became a number two single in early 1997. Six months later, the band released their third album, EV3. The group's first compilation, The Best of En Vogue, was released in the summer of 1999. 2000 saw the release of Masterpiece Theater (originally titled Something New, Something Old, Something Borrowed, Something Cool) but immediately after an interview on BET the group was informed that they were dropped by their label due to slower than expected sales.

In 2001 Amanda Cole was added as a fourth member but soon after Maxine Jones announced her desire to spend more time with her young daughter and departed. Returned to a trio, the group started touring again and in late summer Rhino released their second compilation, The Very Best of En Vogue. Things were quiet until the group returned at the end of 2002 with a contribution to the Deliver Us from Eva soundtrack and their first Christmas album, The Gift of Christmas, on a small, independent label Discretion Entertainment. Promotion for the album was so limited that only those who regularly visit En Vogue fansites were aware of it and to make matters worse, Amanda Cole left the group in the middle of 2003 for a solo career. A false rumor that ChantĂŠ Moore had joined the group proved untrue and talks with Dawn Robinson and Maxine Jones failed to bring either back to the group permanently. In September of 2003 the group appeared out of nowhere for a small European tour with Maxine Jones filling in temporarily for Cindy Herron (who had just had her fourth child) and a new member, Rhona Bennett, made her debut. Bennett had recorded an album as simply Rhona for Sony in 2001 (which included the hit "Satisfied"), and also had a recurring role on The Jamie Foxx Show. Jones and Herron traded places again and the new trio released Soul Flower in early 2004 on 33rd Street Records. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

EAR TO THE STREETS MISS JACKSON GETS NASTY AT ESSENCE AND THEY LOVED IT! Janet Jackson enthralled the Essence Music Festival audience Friday, kept them on their feet for more than two hours and reminded fans why seeing her in concert was worth waiting two years.

From the opening notes of “The Pleasure Principle” to “Control” to “Rhythm Nation,” the Grammy Award-winning singer enticed, teased and brought her fans on a journey through her No. 1 hits.

“She was unbelievable,” said Ed Downs of Miami. “It was definitely worth the wait. I’m happy to see her make a comeback. It was impressive.”

Jackson marked her return by closing the festival’s first night inside the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. It was her first time at the festival, which runs through Sunday.

Former NBA player Anferenee Hardaway called Jackson’s performance “absolutely perfect,” and said no one could tell she had been off the concert circuit for any length of time.

“She definitely gets better with age,” he said, smiling.

Fans got a glimpse of Jackson’s new, sassy, shortcropped hair and her signature, shapely figure on the finale show of American Idol where she rocked classics like “Again” and “Nasty” and her latest release, “Nothing,” from the soundtrack of the movie, “Why Did I Get Married Too?,” which she also starred in.

But near the end of her show Friday, they were treated with even more as she depicted a risque, S&M scene with a male participant from the audience, whose hands and arms were strapped into a straight jacket as Jackson – in a flesh-toned body suit – worked him over, whip in hand.

He mouthed, “Thank you,” and couldn’t take his eyes off her, getting roars of approval, looks of envy and applause from the crowd.

FASHION MONICA LEADS THE SUNGLASS GAME These hot glasses Monica is wearing supposedly are Mykita x Bernhard Willhelm Franz 24K Limited Edition Gold Sunglasses at the hefty price of $775!! They may just be worth it .

Check out some of the hottest glasses in 2010

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse The third instalment of the super-successful vampire film franchise

Movie Review:

It’s mostly good news: after the ponderous, labored ...New Moon, The Twilight Saga returns with an enjoyable third movie.

Compared to the relentless inertia of the last outing, the Z-movie CGI, the questionable, deeply conservative moral message, and a Michael Sheen performance that seemingly saw him channel fuck, I don’t know what he was doing to be honest with you -

Eclipse is a work of wonder.

And it is enjoyable. Much like the polarizing first movie was, which I hope in time will come to be reassessed as a fine supernatural high-school drama - albeit akin to a below-par episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer on Virgin On Demand, viewed through the fug of flu when you’re off work sick one day (rent Lost Boys for your vampire kicks first though).

It’s got spirit and it’s got laughs. Bella (Kirsten Stewart) doesn’t spend scene after scene moping and sucking her bottom lip anymore. The numerous occasions where Jacob (Taylor Lautner) gets his pectorals out are spiced with humor (there’s a great exchange with vampire Jacob whether he exclaims he is, just by being a werewolf and not the living dead, “hotter than you are”).

And by opening and ending with action sequences – and ramming a bunch of them home in the middle - new director David Slade has breathed some thrills back into the franchise. It’s got some edge too (unsurprising given Slade’s debut feature was 2005’s highly controversial Hard Candy). Say what you like about the muchdecried CGI wolves, but I think they look badass.

After watching the faithful recreation of the source material in the last movie, I think even the uber fans – the Twi-hards – the people who sit crying on internet forums and cutting themselves because a line in the film is paraphrased from how it appears in the book – will bow down to their R-Patz calendars for Slade’s creative license. I sorta wish he’d gone a bit further mind, and written into the script that dithery Bella couldn’t decide between the vampire or the werewolf and so decided to fuck a zombie instead.

But here’s the bad news.

Like all the films thus far, it’s way too long. There’s some terrible wigs placed upon the heads of the Cullen clan. Distractingly bad wigs in fact. And, if you’re not a Twilight fan (or like me, just someone who’ll watch anything with vampires/Kirsten Stewart in it) Eclipse isn’t going to be movie that will lure you into the fold.

You will enjoy it though, I’m moderately certain of that.

James McMahon

Sullivan's Steakhouse is a 1940's Chicago-style steakhouse offering the finest certified angus beef, select seafood, veal, pork, lamb and chicken entrees, appetizers, soups, salads and side dishes (including Sullivan's renowned horseradish mashed potatoes). Sullivan's House Specialty is the 20oz Bone-in Kansas City Strip. To complete your meal, we offer some fabulous desserts. Desserts are made inhouse and we are sure you will find one to please you. Sullivan's has an extensive wine list and complete inventory of bourbon, single malt scotch and cognac.

Sullivan's features the finest steaks and seafood, unparalleled martinis, and great live jazz!

Our bars boast live entertainment seven nights a week and are graced with beautiful baby grand pianos, as well as high-end cognacs, single malt scotches, an incredible wine selection and a fully stocked cigar humidor. Nobody throws a party like Sullivan's. Join us every Thursday in our bar for Swingin at Sully's for incredible food and drink features.

We have 19 restaurants located in major cities across the United States, with more on the way. Come feel the buzz, and see how incredible a dining experience can be!

Sullivan's of Raleigh 414 Glenwood Avenue Suite 103 Raleigh , NC - 27603 Tel: (919) 833-2888 Email: sullivans.raleigh@steakco.com

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