THE EYE OF ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
Feb/Mar 2012
£1.50 (where sold)
THE
LOVE ISSUE 2012
Who is...
Kim Kardashian Adele eckham David B n Gok Wo urr sh e Lady L hips s n Relatio e t Chokla
The worlds new business and fashion icon.
Join us online at... WWW.STREETCREDMAGAZINE.COM
EDITOR’S LETTER
Its 2012 can you believe it? Year of the Olympics and God knows what else we have instore.
Adele
30 14
The Big news all around the world is the long awaited birth of Jay Z and Beyonce’s baby. Gotta say a massive congratulations to the power couple that finally did it. Check out or gossip page where you can see the beautiful baby they call Blue Ivy Carter. As we go to press it really is sad news about Whitney who passed away in February, we celebrate the success of the no 1 female singer in this edition. It is very important to know about the massive contribution this star made to world of pop. This love issue is packed with your usual gossip cutting edge fashion and entertainment all round. Our 2012 cover this year is the hottest female on the planet Kim Kardashian. We go into who she really is in the entertainment business in a massive 4 page exclusive feature. Its valentines and many will be romanced or spending it alone and if you are, at least you have us to entertain you .. ha ha have a good one guys. Mark Dwayne
am
kh David Bec
Gok Wan
12
dashian Kim Kar
6
yonce Jay-Z & Be
Choklate
18
26
Published by InTouch Media, Fort Dunlop, Fort Park Way, Birmingham, B24 9TE. t. 0121 629 7728 info@streetcredmagazine.com www.streetcredmagazine.com
Editor-in-Chief: Mark Dwayne - Public Relations: Paivi Lehtonen - Head of Photography / Assistant Editor: Gordy Pix Photographer: Rosemarie James - Research & Features: Daina Andreson - DJ & Radio: DJ Mystikle Blue Grimey News Editor: Nicki Kelly - Design & Art: John Northam (Doublesided Media Group) www.dosime.co.uk
BRAND NEW RECORD STORE HQ MUZIK
Priory Square Shopping Centre, Birmingham 0121 448 4649 Opening Hours Everyday 10am - 6pm
Stocking the best in drum n bass, dubstep and urban music. CD Packs, Mix CD’s, Old Skool Tape Packs, Tickets for all major UK events, DJ Gear, Merchandise, T-Shirts, Hoodies, etc.
Mel B Look
ing Stunnin g!
Shes happily married and swimming in Spice Girl money but just cant crack America . Mel B on her own is a flop with her music an d awful films but sh e could do a kim Ka rdashion and just be the pretty face of the indust ry i mean wow, look at that bo dy! Cant deny M el B is sexy as he ll and wouldn’ t mind a bite :D
Baby has more mon an AmeriRecently on on the ceo ati can radio st ey Records of cash mon bragging as w Birdman 0 million 10 that he had a ade out m ue eq ch dollor ys that sa so al to him and ja an y Z will he is richer th guy owns is Th . ever be Wayne, Lil s hip hop star Keri Hilson, Nicki Minaj e a few and m Drake to na he is rich he just to prove of 100,000 g ba a t brough ound the ar w cash to thro people have studio. Some eh all the luck
6
GRIMEY
Katie begs Peter back! Peter refuses to say wh y he left the busty Katie Pric e but i think we all know what happend. Wouldnt be sur prised if he caught her in bed with some random bloke afte r a club night and lets face it, we know she is the type. Wh at we are annoyed with is the fact she had the opportuni ty to be a changed woman and got one of the realist guys aro und and now she is beggin g him back. Let it go Katie, you blew it! Word is Peter has moved on with another famous mo del. Bad move again we thin k but a lot lot better looking than Katie we here.
ey than sence
ABY!
FINALLY THE B
a baby So they had me of na e girl by th er, we rt Ca y Iv ue Bl to see are all dying like. s what she look oking lo is e sh Here Jay Z. e lik h very muc caused s ha by ba is Th stir all a massive orld for w around the don’t w on as re t wha other an st ju know its . Ha . by ba
Craig
is bu
Ok what is this then? The 7 d star Craig David has been at hard in the gym as you can see Looking more like 50 cent th the softy r&b guy no w. Wond if he will go into boxin g next. Bo
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Adele c leans u p the Grammys picking up 6! Finally we have a real singer that doesnt have to do Gaga like publicity stunts to sell records. This all proves. it can be done with talent. Adele is the UK’s biggest star and proving to be a massive hot all around the world. We salute you for picking up 6 Grammys baby!!
uff!
days t it e. han der o!
www.streetcredmagazine.com
GRIMEY
7
2012 The Club Paradise Tour European Dates: Date 3/24/2012 3/26/2012 3/27/2012 3/29/2012 3/30/2012 4/01/2012 4/02/2012 4/05/2012 4/07/2012 4/08/2012 4/10/2012 4/12/2012 4/13/2012 4/15/2012 4/16/2012 4/19/2012 4/20/2012 4/22/2012 4/23/2012 4/25/2012
City/State Dublin, Ireland London, UK London, UK Sheffield, UK Cardiff, UK Manchester, UK Glasgow, Scotland Paris, France Brussels, Belgium Amsterdam, Holland Frankfurt Germany Berlin, Germany Copenhagen, Denmark Stockholm, Sweden Oslo, Norway Birmingham, England Birmingham, England Liverpool, England Newcastle, England Nottingham, England
Venue O2 Arena London 02 Arena London O2 Arena Sheffield Motorpoint Arena Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Manchester MEN Arena Glasgow SECC – Hall 4 Palais Omnisport de Bercy Forest National / Vorst Nationaal Heineken Music Hall Jahrhunderthalle Max Schleming Halle Valby Hallen Ericsson Globe Oslo Spektrum Birmingham LG Arena Birmingham LG Area Liverpool Echo Arena Newcastle Metro Radio Arena Nottingham Capital FM Arena
DRAKE ADDS EXTRA DATES IN LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM TO PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ‘CLUB PARADISE’ 2012 TOUR
December 16th 2011- Due to phenomenal public demand, Grammynominated, Young Money/ Cash Money recording artist Drake, has added a 2nd night at London’s O2 Arena and a 2nd night at Birmingham’s LG Arena to his ‘Club Paradise’ 2012 tour. The news comes in the midst of his critically acclaimed Platinum sophomore album Take Care, three high charting radio singles “Headlines”, “Make Me Proud” featuring Nicki Minaj and “The Motto” featuring Lil Wayne, four new Grammy nominations and sold out performances in South Africa. Drake tickets in the UK are on sale now from http://www.livenation. co.uk/artist/drake-tickets?c=pr_ext_ drake_061211 A passionate and dynamic performer renowned for his energetic performances and creative stage designs, Drake's The Club Paradise Tour promises to be a sonic and visual spectacle on a scale unlike anything he has accomplished in his already legendary, critically acclaimed career. 8
LIVE
Following on the heels of the conclusion of the North American leg of The Club Paradise Tour, Drake will head to Europe, marking Drake’s first foray back into the European markets after his inaugural European headline tour, the bestselling Light Dreams & Nightmares Tour, in January of 2011.
Featuring Drake complete with his full band, the European leg of The Club Paradise Tour will make stops at arenas and theatres throughout the United Kingdom and Western Europe, beginning in Dublin, Ireland on March 24, 2012 at the 02 Arena, concluding on April 25, 2012 at the Nottingham Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. The tour will also make stops through Scotland, France, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark with additional dates to be added soon.
Released in November 2011, Drake's second studio album Take Care debuted atop the Billboard Top 200 chart at #1 and was the biggest firstweek Soundscan tally of Drake's career, with over 630,000 units sold. The eagerly anticipated album was the third highest selling debut of 2011, clocking in behind Lady Gaga’s Born This Way (1.1 million sold) and label president and mentor Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV (964,000), which Drake also appeared. Take Care arrived to a chorus of acclaim from critics and consumers alike with Rolling Stone raving that Drake "seamlessly blends those genres (Pop, R&B, Rap) in fluid, rich tracks.”, and New York Times anointing Drake as “hip-hop’s current center of gravity”.
Fans should consult local listings and venue box offices for ticketing information and keep checking Drake’s Facebook page, www.facebook. com/Drake for more listings and newly added dates. www.streetcredmagazine.com
SC Zodiac - All in the stars! Fire Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Fire signs are usually full of passionate energy and can be quite dynamic and temperamental. They can either keep you cozy or generate enormous destruction. While fire signs can burn out quick without fuel to keep it going, it can also start back up from the very ashes that it has disintegrated into. A single spark can set off a blaze of wild fire, so fire signs need to be nurtured and handled with care. Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Earth signs always have their feet on the ground, anchored by a strong solid foundation. Slow but steady, Earth signs are loyal and stable, sticking by their friends and loved ones through tough times. They are practical by nature and have good situational evaluating skills because of their level-headedness and logical thinking. But sometimes they can be too materialistic or too focused on the surface of things to see the layers beneath. Air Signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Air signs are all about ideas and putting things into motion. Just like the wind, they are always changing. While some are real air-heads, you will also find others who are powerful like a whirling tornado. Air signs bring a breath of fresh air when things start getting old. Like an invisible breeze, they can't be contained and you never know where they will take you when they sweep you off your feet. An encounter with an air sign is always an adventure. Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces The most emotionally sensitive of all the four elements, water signs are also intuitive, with borderline psychic intuition. They are mysterious by nature, with something
always lurking underneath the surface. Water signs can rejuvenate you, or they can drown you in their murky depths. Security is of utmost importance to them. After all, water needs to be held with a container, or it will dry right up and vanish. Zodiac compatibility actually became a part of astrology after a considerable period of time. Astrology is in fact not completely about horoscopes at all. Nonetheless when the need of understanding the relationships of people arose then horoscope compatibility also emerged within astrology as well. Ever since then this principle has helped in determining the traits of a person’s personality, their needs, their basic nature and these factors affect their personal life, their relationships and their career. It has even helped in determining various other intricate details regarding a person’s behavior. Today, personal and professional compatibility seems to be a must in any relationship. Compatibility is especially expected within the most complicated levels of personal associations. This is the reason that men and women look for suggestions whenever they are in search of specific factors regarding emotional bonds. Zodiac compatibility seems to be a very clever evaluation of the compatibility markets of people unlike the usual ones which people seem to be aware of.
Every zodiac sign is matched with one of the four elements; air, water, fire and earth. On the basis of this match, the twelve signs are then divided among these elements. Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius are the air signs, Pisces, Scorpio, and Cancer are the water signs, Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius are the fire signs, and Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus are the earth signs. The behavior of every person with a specific sun sign is influenced by each of these elements. Traits such as dreaminess, thinking and brimming with ideas are associated with people with air signs. Traits such as moodiness, emotion, creativity and a strong intuition are associated with people with the water signs. Traits such as creativity, aggressiveness, high energy and passion are associated with people with the fire signs. Level-headedness, materialism, a realistic approach to life and being down to earth, are associated with people with the earth signs. When discovering the elements that influence the signs of people, it is also good to know that their behavior is also affected by these elements. Zodiac compatibility then helps in determining what happens next. To determine the compatibility between two individuals it often takes quite a lot of common sense as well.
Facets of astrology such as the sun signs, twelve zodiac influences, moon signs, ten planetary influences and various other factors help in determining the zodiac compatibility of two people. These are the basics of the process of determining compatibility in which the astrologer seems quite familiar with but which seem to be unknown to the average person.
www.streetcredmagazine.com
SIGNS
9
STARS GO CRAZY ON SHAMBALLA BRACELETS...WHATS IT ALL ABOUT??? Made of macrame braided cord and assorted precious metals and stones, Shamballa jewelry is worn by some of the most popular celebrities such as Jay-Z, Michael Jordan, Heidi Klum, Boris Becker, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary Kate Olsen, Jennifer Flavin, Lebron James and many others. Every Shamballa jewelry item is a unique entity with different tastes and needs. The goal is to unite the therapeutic attributes of the stones to the mind and the body's natural ability to open and heal which brings to life the possibility of the enchanting and vital connection between your personal development and the universal creative force represented by the mystic details of the total package When wearing either Shamballa symbol you invite the possibility of connecting directly to the energy of creation. In essence reminding the mind and body of the natural ability to open and heal. When wearing a Shamballa jewelry item you enhance the possibility of being reminded.
10
FASHION
www.streetcredmagazine.com
14 Dalton Way, Priory Square Shopping Centre, Birmingham, B4 7LD.
0121 236 3041
www.harviesfashion.com - harvies@live.com
Gok has No limits and fashion tips! Gok Wan is known to many of us from his ground breaking TV programs like ‘How to look good naked’ and ‘Gok’s fashion fix’. All the girls love him and some guys like him too... after all he is not the guy whose going to steal their girl, but oh boy, he has the eye to make the girl look good and feel even better. He was born in 1974 in Leicester and worked himself to infamous London Central School of Speech and Drama. Soon after he found hair and make-up more interesting making his way all the way to The Sunday Times Style as a hair and makeup artist, the huge stepping stone to the fashion industry. When he was not satisfied to work on beauty only, he decided to build up his dream and move on to fashion styling fulfilling his love for clothes and looks. Gok has worked with some of the best photographers in the world and built up a portfolio of numerous magazines featuring his style including Cosmopolitan and Glamour. His best known clients include Vanessa Mae, All Saints and Bryan Ferry. Talking about his TV work he is admiring women who come to his show and his models are known to be all shapes and sizes, there are no body image limits for Gok Wan.
12
FEATURE
“I am so lucky, because all the girls that come on the show are beautiful, they give us their stories and more so these girls have given their absolutely everything.“ Gok Wan is seen as a genius for picking up the high street brands and putting them against the expensive designer clothes. He has shown that the same results can be achieved with much more better budget and that is what his show is all about, girls doing what they love the best; shopping with at affordable prices and still looking good. He himself wears high street brands and is not ashamed to announce it. “If you have too much choices, it’s as bad as having too little choices. So you go to your wardrobe and if you wanna be for instance the rock chique one day and you want to be suited and booted on another, if you just got too much choice it starts to become a little bit of mish mash. It knocks your confidence.” The new area for Gok Wan is his lingerie collection for ladies. He has his own Gok Wan Shape wear available in Simply Yours and it is specially designed to make everyone look fabulous. “It’s nothing to do with the outside, it’s all to do with the psychology of how you dress. I don’t think there is anything
as ridiculous as age appropriate dressing. Women should be celebrating their sexuality. I have taken the concept of underwear from 50’s and 60’s when the underwear was seen as giving you a structure to your body and give you the small waste and lift your bum. I wanted to create the underwear that looked like a really good vintage underwear. I think it should be worn every day. The problem in the fashion industry is, if we get dictated that we have to look the certain weight and shape every single day, then we are coming bad telling all those people they are not good enough, so I’m all about embracing to women what they need to do with their lives. To me silhouette is important. All my styling is quite sexy and I suppose in the weird way most of my clothing is related to 50’s and I can see that in the work that I do.” Currently Gok is working on his new TV series Gok Teens; The Naked Truth. He will continue to be the UK’s best loved and most seeked fashion guru for street people. The unique content of his work to talk to everyday people has made him a house hold name and the new glasses range in Spectsavers is just an extension to his talent, which has developed during the years. Words by Paivi
www.streetcredmagazine.com
www.streetcredmagazine.com
FEATURE
13
14
FASHION FEATURE
www.streetcredmagazine.com
H&M team up with global icon David Beckham to launch is new bodywear range The long-term alliance will allow David Beckham to produce and exclusively sell his eagerly awaited new DAVID BECKHAM bodywear line in around 1800 H&M stores in around 40 countries worldwide. It marks the beginning of a significant relationship between H&M and David Beckham, with new Bodywear products being launched seasonally. The initial range will be launched to coincide with Valentine’s Day 2012 from February 2nd. “Over the past year, I’ve been developing my Bodywear range with my team and I’m extremely positive about what we have designed and produced,” said David Beckham. “The final piece in the jigsaw was a retail partner who has the vision and capability to distribute these products globally. In H&M we have found the perfect partner to collaborate with going forward, I’m excited and looking forward to showcasing the range to H&M customers from February.” “David Beckham is a true icon both of sport and style. It is incredibly exciting for H&M to be entering into a long-term
www.streetcredmagazine.com
partnership with him for his DAVID BECKHAM Bodywear line. It is the start of an amazing adventure for us at H&M. Valentine’s Day in 2012 is going to be a very exciting time indeed”, says Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s Head of Design. Recognised in every corner of the world, David Beckham has consistently redefined the world he lives in. Considered by many to be one of the most marketable individuals in the world, Beckham and his business partner Simon Fuller in 2011 announced the launch of a new Brand Identity and DAVID BECKHAM branded product line, to include bodywear. “This partnership with H&M is an important step in the evolution of David’s journey from sporting hero to entrepreneur and icon”, said Simon Fuller, David Beckham’s long time business partner. “H&M’s enthusiasm and support for this venture, combined with their scale and reach, will continue to enhance the power of David’s image around the world.’
FASHIONFEATURE
15
Salon Tan & Beauty – Dazzling heights Selly Oaks first and only Tanning and Beauty Salon - Le Tan & Beauty, this years celebrates its 10th anniversary, so to find out more StreetCred visited to meet owner Susan LePoidevin . Q) “What is LeTan & Beauty all about?”
Sue: “Originally we named the salon LeTanfasique however about 18 months ago we introduced beauty treatments and thought that Tan & Beauty was a more apt name so we changed the name of the shop but
Sue: “We not only offer our customers both stand up and lie down sunbeds, we offer a full range of Beauty treatments from Waxing to Botox and from Manicures to Fish Spas. We also have a designated spray tan area and a separate private, fully equipped treatment room. Le Tan & Beauty is all about making our customers feel relaxed in a friendly, informal atmosphere, whilst maintaining the highest level of service and standards. All the girls are qualified beauticians and keep meticulous records of our clients requirements and previous treatments so that our customers are always at ease “
Q) “So at the moment is your target audience students?” Sue: “Obviously with the university just across the road we have a lot of students and at times such as the graduation ball or other functions we do a tremendous amount of spray tanning. However we still have a loyal regular, local customer base some of whom have been with us since day 1. We do have 2 ladies who travel from London to use us and of course it always nice to see ex students who call in” Q) “How passionate are you about your business?”
Q) “Where did the inspiration come from?” Sue: “We originally owned a local hairdressing salon which had 2 spare rooms, we converted one of the rooms to a beauty room and into the other we installed a stand up tanning booth. Before long we had queues forming to use the sunbed and so we decided that Selly Oak really needed its own Tanning Salon. After many months of sourcing the best beds and equipment and then converting this shop, including installing a new 3 phase electric supply we opened the doors of LeTanfasique” Q) “LeTanfasique? thought this salon was called LeTan & Beauty?”
16
BUSINESS
Sue: “Our customers love the friendly atmosphere and the fact we know them all by their first names. Clients like to sit and chat and have a complimentary glass of wine or a cappuccino and the lucky ones may even get one of our chocolates, that’s provided the staff haven’t pinched them all that is!”
Sue: “This is a major part of my life and we all just love the fact that we help make people look their best and as importantly feel special, you have to enjoy what you do and as you can see from the staff they have a real passion for it” Q) “Where do you want to take it to next?”
the business is still registered as LeTanfastique and out of sentiment I wanted to keep the ‘Le’ so the shop is now known as LeTan & Beauty” Q) “What kind of feed back do you get from clients who com here?”
Sue: “We are planning to expand the beauty side by converting the first floor into treatment rooms, that would then free up more space downstairs to install a least another sunbed. We are also looking to increase the retail side by offering our clients a further range of products as we currently tend to limit our stock to tanning creams and lotions as we have limited shelf space”
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Q) “What is it like working with your family?” Sue: “ Its great, we are all very flexible and help each other out, as I have 2 children and sometimes need to attend school things and visa versa. We all genuinely get on very well and that helps create a happy pleasant atmosphere not only for us but also for the customer” LeTan & Beauty certainly seem to have the right mix of relaxed approached whilst providing a very high standard of service, so next time you need a beauty treatment or want to top up that tan why not call into LeTan & Beauty – 602 Bristol Road – Selly Oak – B29 6BQ – 0121 472 4144. Say StreetCred sent you and you never know, you might get 1 of those elusive chocolates.
The No. 1 Tanning Centre in Selly Oak, Birmingham.
Threading | Tanning | Fish Spa | Nails | Botox Clinic | Pedicures | Facials | Massage Quote ‘StreetCred’ and get 10% discount.
602 Bristol Road
, Selly Oak, Birm
ingham, B29 6BQ
20% OFF WITH THIS ADVERT
KIM KARDASHIAN – Who’s that girl? Kim Kardashian has quickly risen to stardom in USA and is now one of the most spoken about celebrities and owns the title of the most googled woman on the internet. Her career has been well documented throughout and at the age of 31 she is now one of the most known brands with her own rights. She has done it all; modelling, acting and recording. She is also known to be an entrepreneur and she is classed as a socialite. Kim Kardashian was born on the 21st of October 1980 as a second of a four children to Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian. She grew up in the privileged neighbourhood in Beverly Hills and her preschool class mates included the highly successful Paris Hilton. Her parents are also well known American celebrities, the dad was a founder of Movie Tunes, Inc and also a former defence lawyer of OJ Simpson in his famous murder case. It was 2006 Kim went to business with the family and she opened a designer clothing and accessory shop called D-A-S-H with her other two sisters Kloe and Kourtney . All over she is a hard core business woman above anything else and puts her energy and inspiration to various projects she has going on. In the entertainment field Kim has had her own reality TV show ‘Keeping up with Kardashians’, which features her family and closest friends. “Even though it’s a complete reality, I feel like people treat it like a fantasitcom. You know we have the struggles, the fights. It’s the make ups, the break ups but it’s hard in every episode. It’s what you see what you get. It’s very hard to live your life in the reality show.” She has also been seen acting in the movies Beyond the Break and Disaster Movie. Acting never really became a serious career, it was just 18
COVER STORY
www.streetcredmagazine.com
www.streetcredmagazine.com
COVER STORY
19
something she wanted to try and do. Today Kim Kardashian has a business worth millions and she is one of the most wanted it girls on the planet. She had done plenty of interviews related to her businesses introducing handbags, clothes, perfume, skin care products and even Kardashian credit cards, just to mention few. “ I definitely see a big change this year. It seems like everything has completely intensified and it’s a lot greater than I ever expected. I think that my brand is very personal. Everything that my brand has developed is because I am very hands on and people think that I am relatable and I do have such a close relationship with my fans. They started to watch the show and they are the ones who kind of created the brand with me.” Kim married young, at the age of 20 she tied the knot with the music producer Damon Thomas. The marriage lasted 4 years and ended on the allegations of a domestic violence, of which Damon denied. Later on she married again Kris Humphries, but ended her second marriage after only 72 days as she claimed she fell out of love. She has been linked to several romances with celebrities like Kanye West and singer Ray J. Despite her claims that she has never had aplastic surgery, rumours say she is addicted to go under the knife. Her ex husband says he has financed her lipo suction and breast implants and she has been claimed to have a nose job done. Kim herself admits to have botox done, but denies all the other plastic surgeries. Today Kim is the hot stuff. Her curvy appearance has made her an idol for many girls and that body has earned her modelling jobs at Bongo Jeans as their face model. She has also modelled for Carl's Jr., Sugar Factory lollipops, and various other products. In December 2007 she posed nude for Playboy. The most recent appearance for Kim 20
COVER STORY
www.streetcredmagazine.com
is a role in ‘Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva’. She has confirmed that she will appear in several episodes starting this summer with the Season 4 premiere. You can follow Kim Kardashian in Twitter. Her twitter has become her sounding board. “ I am very précised. Sometimes I really can’t decide what nail polish colour I want to wear so I literally pick the one they ask me. When I was designing my fragrance bottle I wanted my fans to feel that they were part designing with me.” Kim is taking the fashion industry with the storm. She is a hard working woman with a solid family behind her and she pushes her limits to new areas. You can say she is USA answer to Katie price but with far more style and class. “I don’t ever see my self as not working so I just continue to building up my brands.” Really Kim is America’s sweat heart, looking for love and the perfection to her life. She dreams about having children and the perfect marriage. She has a solid support of her family and she clearly thinks the world of them. She is a hopeless romantic, but will she find her perfect match? Kim Kardashian Twitter: @KimKardashian
www.streetcredmagazine.com
COVER STORY
21
Whitney (1963 - 2012) There are those artists that god sends to earth now and again and this lady was an angel of music. Whitney Elizabeth Houstan was for sure the biggest selling female singer of our generation looked up to as the supreme female vocalist. Some have a hype thats not true where they are overated but when it comes to this woman ,you have to believe it all. Whitney really was the ultimate female singer that some of the best looked up too. Born in Newark (August 9, 1963), New Jersey, daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, cousin of the 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and goddaughter of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston was the only artist in the world to have released seven consecutive platinum albums. This is also the little church girl that used to do back up vocals for Chaka Khan in her teens. With such heavy musical influence around her she was bound to be an Icon. It is important for people to know especially the young generation to get an indepth look at how remarkable this woman was. Its really strange that
you can be touched by someone you have never had a conversation with yet you feel you know them very well. Whitney was able to connect with people spiritually and used her Music as a tool to get messages across. If you are to ask me what i thought Whitney was about i would simply say love. When you listen to any of her songs the words are clear and delivered with a powerful angelic melody. Millions all over the world related to Whitney especially the women as she was their voice. Songs spoke of love pain unity and upliftment. When i hear her music i feel the honesty and passion of a real woman. Although very beautiful, its her voice that made her the star she was. The groundbreaking hits like ‘Saving all My Love’, ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘Run To You’, ‘Learned from the Best’, ‘Greatest Love Of All’ and I will Always Love you would send shivers that not many artists are able to do. Whitney as a black female singer reached a success that no other female has been able to top with a staggering 117 million records sold worldwide. Whitney was also the first black female popstar to have a massive movie career. The
Bodyguard movie where she stared with Kevin Costner grossed over 400,000 million which is unheard of from any popstar. Although a short career in film she definitely made her mark as an amazing actress. Whitney was the Winner of six Grammy Awards, sold over 140 million albums an amazing 50 million singles for I will Always love you which became one of the biggest selling solo singles of all time. The pages of the Guinness Book Of World Records, Houston is included as the most awarded artist of all time. She wedded Bobby Brown in 1992 and they both had a child by the name of Bobbi Christina. Both were addicted to drugs and divorced 2007. Whitney admitted to being a victim and really tried to get help for the addiction. 2010 saw her comeback with a brand new album which failed to reach top ten but fans still supported her and attended concerts. Her mentor Clive Davis was said to have been a shoulder of support along with boyfriend Ray J. Things seemed to be getting better for Whitney and her career but word had it she got addicted to drugs once again. Whitney Houstan died February 12th at the age of 48, her life wasn’t perfect but we can highlight what we loved her for and that was the music. We are sad to see the loss of such a remarkable talent. We all have to go, but its sad the way some die, we wish some things could have been different. But as they say nobodys perfect
The new Euro-Pop sensation from the USA, brand new single, OUT NOW!
www.officialbliss.com
The MOBO Organisation & Urban Development present
The MOBO Tour 2012 In association with PRS for Music Foundation and Arts Council of England By arrangement with SJM Concerts FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED ARE LADY LESHURR AND CLEMENT MARFO & THE FRONTLINE WITH MORE NAMES TO COME EARLY 2012 INDUSTRY TAKEOVER @ THE MOBO ACADEMY IN COLLABORATION WITH PUNCH RECORDS, WITH SUPPORT FOR MUSIC FOUNDATION AND ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND MOBO UNSUNG COMPETITION LAUNCHES TO UNEARTH REGIONAL TALENT MOBO, Urban Development and PRS for Music Foundation are bringing in the New Year early with the announcement of The MOBO Tour 2012. This free tour is set to travel to eight cities across the UK, offering audiences the opportunity to see some of 2012’s freshest, new, emerging talent on stage and attend industry workshops and seminars (via Industry Takeover @ MOBO Academy). It’s also a chance for undiscovered talent right across the country to get involved in the MOBO Unsung competition. Thanks to funding from Arts Council England and PRS for Music Foundation all of this will be provided for FREE.
24
NEWS
Kicking off on February 22 in Birmingham, the tour will travel across the country and bring together the best of the UK’s new Urban talent. The first names to be announced are breakthrough MC Lady Leshurr (tipped to do big things in 2012 by RWD Magazine and Itunes) and MTV Brand New pick for 2012, seven piece hip-hop-rock collective Clement Marfo & The Frontline. A further five names will be confirmed in the New Year. In addition to bringing the pick of 2012’s most hotly tipped talent to a city near you, The MOBO Tour is also creating the opportunity for brand new, undiscovered talent to win the chance to perform on stage through MOBO Unsung. This nationwide competition is open to enter NOW and all would-be performers need to do to get started is upload a video of themselves performing to YouTube and email the link, embed code and details of which region they live in, to mobounsung@mobo. com. Entries will be hosted on www. mobo.com/mobotour for the public to view and a judging panel of industry experts will then select a winner from each UK region, who will take the stage as part of the tour in their local area.
regional finalists. This winner will then join an on-line ‘Battle Of The Bands’ competition where they will compete against other newcomers put forward by established artists (but more on this to follow!) with a public vote to select the ultimate ‘battle’ winner. To further support talent in all areas of the music industry, The MOBO Tour 2012 (with thanks to Urban Development’s ‘Industry Takeover’) and in collaboration with Punch Records will provide workshops and seminars in Birmingham on the day of the show. Industry experts from well respected organisations including SB.TV, RWD Magazine, PRS for Music Foundation, SJM Concerts, artists on the MOBO Tour and more will all be sharing their insider industry knowledge, answering questions and offering advice to audiences across the country. And all for FREE. The MOBO Tour, seminars, workshops and Unsung competition all highlight partners’ efforts to support, guide and nurture new and developing talent across the UK.
A team of radio DJs will select the MOBO Unsung winner from the 8
www.streetcredmagazine.com
CATCH THE TOUR, SEMINARS, AND WORKSHOPS ON THE FOLLOWING DATES: DATE Feb 22 Feb 23 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 27 Feb 28 Feb 29 Mar 1
GIG VENUE Library HMV Institute Manchester Academy 3 O2 Academy2 The Garage O2 Academy2 O2 Academy2 O2 Academy Islington Waterfront
INDUSTRY TAKEOVER MAC (with Punch Records) N/A Venue TBC The Mitchell Library The Sage Watershed Red Bull Studios N/A
CITY Birmingham Manchester Liverpool Glasgow Newcastle Bristol London Norwich
TO APPLY FOR YOUR FREE TICKET FOR THE MOBO TOUR OR INDUSTRY TAKEOVER VISIT: www.mobo.com/mobotour TO ENTER THE MOBO UNSUNG COMPETITION PLEASE EMAIL ENTRIES TO: mobounsung@mobo.com ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION MUST BE RECEIVED BY 15TH JANUARY TO BE ELIGIBLE. PLEASE STATE YOUR NEAREST MOBO TOUR CITY WITH YOUR ENTRY. FOR PRESS ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: Chloe Melick at INSIDE/ OUT at chloe@insideslashout.com/ 07770 366 243
26
INTERVIEW
www.streetcredmagazine.com
CHOKLATE - ‘To Whom It May Concern’ Seattle based songstress Choklate talks to Street Cred.
Interview by Gordy.
America has a pretty good track record for throwing funky and stylish artists over the pond for us in the UK to savour and Choklate first came to prominence here in 2006 with her self titled debut album and its array of soulful melodic tracks contained within. ‘Choklate’, ended up on my iPod when I received it five years ago and to be honest, back then I was just listening to and photographing music artists and not reviewing or writing about them. I have always had a penchant for soulful female vocals, with artists like Aretha Franklin, Sade, Toni Braxton and Beverley Knight amongst my most played and then America just sent me another. Choklate is an artist that offers the listener a luxurious experience of sound that is not just stuck in one genre but transcends as many as she feels is just for the track. Try and class this lady into Soul, R&B or Pop then you may as well throw her into the Hip Hop, Indie, Jazz and Blues sections too. Her 2009 released second (sophomore) album, ‘To whom it may concern’, gave us twelve competent and highly listenable tracks with not a single filler in sight. Utilising a host of Hip Hop producers including Vitamin D (Abstract Rude, Black Sheep, Young Buck, Darien Brockington), Jake One (Lifesavas, Strange Fruit Project, Supernatural, Boom Bap Project) and R&B/soul/jazz producer Donyea Goodman, the album was polished to perfection and released when matured like a fine wine. This year I received an email with a bunch of cool looking images and some new tracks and once more I woke up to the Seattle songstress, her real talk and undiluted pure vo-
cal ability. Needless to say an invite to feature in the magazine was sent right back. Gordy: In your own words tell our readers a little bit about yourself. I’m a singer songwriter hailing from Seattle WA. I’m the baby of seven, was raised in tough surroundings by a single mom who made sure I knew to pray and to never give up on myself. I like horseback riding and nature. Fall is my favorite season of the year. I have a love/hate relationship with music. Gordy: What is the origin of your name, Choklate? I was sitting in a session with my nephew, Kuddie Fresh and a bunch of his pals as they were recording music at my brother’s studio, where I lived at the time. One of the fellas referred to me as Chocolate Angel and I was quite the tomboy so this was infuriating. Once they noticed it got under my skin they teased me to no end about it. I eventually got them to drop the Angel part but the Chocolate nickname stuck. I spelled it with a “K” because it’s against invisible hip hop laws to spell and pronounce things properly and because my first name starts with a K. Gordy: How did you find your voice and decide on a career as a recording artist? My nephew and my big brother (Kuddie Fresh and Mike D of Seattle WA) noticed a talent in me loooong before I did honestly. I was just kidding around with music. I wasn’t very serious about it at all and thought it was obnoxious and far fetched to even consider a career in music... but with their help in releasing my first record locally in Seattle and then catching the attention of Seattle Tastemakers, John Moore and Vitamin D, along with the town’s favorite emcees, producers and vocalists, a career
www.streetcredmagazine.com
sort of sprouted and then again on a national level due to their respect on the world stage and the music reaching the ears and hearts of Indie Soul heads and aficionado's worldwide. At that point I was on fire with the possibility and found that there were actually people who would come to shows to see and hear the music, live. Once I was actually out on the road with shows the inquiries started picking up and we just tried to do our best to take advantage of the opportunities that were best for me. As time progressed I realised I’d been out on the road a few years and I think I’m slowly really beginning to consider this a career. Gordy: Although much described as a Soul singer, how would you personally describe your sound? I really like all sorts of music, all sorts of sounds and musical atmospheres. My sound is from my heart so I guess I sound like “heart music” to me and when I hear it I know exactly what crevice in my heart it escaped from. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s a mesh of hip hop, soul, sometimes pop and whatever other flavour I may be inclined to try at the moment. Music to me is like Skittles and I like to taste the rainbow. Gordy: Tell us about your style. Do you change it like the wind or favour a particular style. I definitely change it like the wind. I like to dress how I feel and I like to feel free so my style is very free. Whatever phase I’m going through at the moment is often reflected in my clothing, hair and accessory choices. Gordy: It’s said that you write all of your own music. How important do you believe it is for an artist to have such control of what they release? I believe it is as important as knowINTERVIEW
27
ing how to allow someone with the gift of songwriting to write for you AS an artist. When you are first on the scene, in Indie Soul anyway, it’s important to have an honest pen so that people really get a feel for who you are but I also think there is immense value in allowing someone who has the gift of writing to pen things for you. It’s all about balance. I’m working to achieve that balance. Gordy: Tell us about your latest album, ‘To Whom It May Concern’. How you decided on the songs to include, a bit about the songs within, what they mean to you and how they are relevant or inspirational to your fans worldwide. I really just sang until I was done. Recorded until I felt inside of myself that I was done. Some songs were obvious and others were a little less obvious. I try to keep good people around me to help make those sort of decisions. The songs sometimes are very literal and sometimes they are about situations in passing... things that I observe other folks going through, etc. Some of it’s very personal, It just depends. The fans all definitely determine their own relationship with the songs though. Gordy: What is your favourite track from the album? I don’t have a favorite. They’re all dear to me. I enjoy PERFORMING some of them more than others but I don’t have an actual favourite. Hope that’s not weird. Gordy: Where do you find the inspiration for the songs you release? Just real life, real emotions and situations. I wish I were a little more abstract at times. I love songs that are more abstract but my music is generally pretty pointed. And life manages to always be the subject. Gordy: Describe the feeling standing on stage knowing many eyes are upon you performing. Mostly nervousness if I’m actually thinking “many eyes are upon me”, otherwise it’s always my aim to be 28
INTERVIEW
lost in the moment of the music. Gordy: The vast American music market is greatly admired from the UK point of view. Who do you personally rate on our UK music scene past or present? I wasn’t turned onto or allowed to listen to, rather, secular music until much later in my life but when I did the British singers that I remember having an impact on my world were: The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Elton John, The Gorillaz, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse and most recently Adele to name a few. These all were and are phenomenal artists in my eyes. Gordy: You certainly have a good taste in British music. After your first albums release, did you find any difficulty in getting the follow up out there (inspiration, label pressure etc…) I’m finding that each time becomes more of a challenge. Not sure if that trend will continue but so far whenever it’s time to release new music it presents me with quite a bit of nervousness and challenging scenarios. Gordy: Drake is Mr Popular over here right now – how did the collab with him on ‘Overdose’ come about? The production team “Tha Bizness” set that up. I’ve had the opportunity to work with them in the past and they’ve worked with Drake quite a bit and set that whole thing up. It was a cool experience.
hopefully some releasing of some of my most favorite collaborations as well. I expect to get more into writing for other artists as well as just putting one foot in front of the other regarding expanding my career in this industry. God willing, I’ll be around a long while. Gordy: Finally, with such a name, do you like chocolate and what is your preference? Actually, I don’t like chocolate, I don’t eat it. I might do a Snickers. I like Snickers bars but that’s about it really; things with caramel, nougat, nuts and such I can tolerate but I’m not a fan of chocolate. Ironic, I know. Having supported luminous names on tour such as Dwele, Bilal, Eric Robertson, and Anthony David and appeared on records with the likes of De La Soul, Supernatural and Blacksheep, Choklate is certainly being noticed in the right circles. Both albums warrant a purchase and a place in a music lover’s collection and as for me, well I dial up Choklate on the iPod, hit play then hit rewind. Find out more about Choklate: www.choklateonline.com www.twitter.com/choklate www.facebook.com/choklatemusic www.myspace.com/listen2chok Interview by Gordy Monroe
Gordy: Any plans for a return to the UK soon? I hope so. I’m learning more and more about my fan base there and want to come and see them more often for sure. Gordy: What does the rest of the year and the foreseeable future hold for you? The rest of the year will be full of spot dates, gearing up for the release of this next project and www.streetcredmagazine.com
What about l ve? Its propably the most powerful feeling people can feel. It is the fundamental source when building up our personalities at young age. The way we feel love and the way we look in it depends how we have experienced it. There are different kinds of love, some romantic, some platonic and then there is the basic unconditional love between families. How do I know? I don’t think there is only one thing that tells you, but one sure sign is, they like to be around you. Even the silliest excuse to get your attention before it is safe for them to say they really like to be with you. There are all those smiles, eye contact moments and suttle touches. They are the sign. What is love? The base for any romantic love really is a friendship. The person who you fall in love with has to be your best friend, the one you don’t feel awkward around and you can be just who you are without anyone judging you or making you feel less worthy because of your faults. Modern time is over selling sex and we have come to an illusion that good sex life is base for the true love. This is not true either, after all you want to have someone you can share your whole life with, a companion who can talk to you and who you can be with without a pressure. If the friendship is not there, you soon will forget how to be friends in the first place, the relationship becomes a battle field and brings all the problems related to this into your relationship. I do believe that the true love is not self-
ish at all, its more about giving than receiving, simply because when you give you will get the pleasure of seeing your love happy. The big question always is though... do they feel the same or do the same ?
Relationship? So... you are in love and you think that you have got the one! Fantastic! Now, you want to move on to a serious relationship. I assume you have been dating for a while, but when should you think of taking the step further, certainly not before you feel ready. Pressure to do so adds pressure to the relationship and if your partner really does love you they will wait. If you have a pressure to move on too quickly, it will have a huge impact on the relationship and it will influence on the power structure of the relationship. One giving orders another receiving is never equal, it leads to mind games which usually lead into a very messy break up and bitter feelings. Honesty is the key and understanding both ways, if they don’t want to wait then they do not have the respect you deserve and maybe you were just meant to be friends. Babies? This is the big one. Some couples feel that the baby is the one who will save the failing relationship, but the truth is babies are very demanding and at the time when you two should be concentrating on each others, you will have to look after the little life you brought into the world. Parents don’t have much us time. Baby really should be the icing on the cake of the fantastic relationship,
not the life boat to the sinking ship. Why would you put a such a pressure on innocent life anyway? What if it all goes wrong and he was not the one? Well... it happens. Now a days more often than it should really. The only thing you can do is to let it go, do your mourning and move on when the time is right. The thing you should not do is to jump on next one as you need time for healing and getting back to your own feet. Can you separate as friends, I would hope so but that does depend on the fact how good of friends you were in the first place. There will be some damage, but if you work on it, you can get the friendship back. A good relationship is based on number of things, but roots out from the true love. When that true love is in place and you are with your soul mate then everything else will fall into a place and follows. If you feel pressured in your relationship, you will never really feel whole, you can’t be close to the person who pressurizes you as you feel intimidated. There is no right recipe for the good relationship as they come in many shapes and forms. One thing I do know... they should never be for the need of something, they should be because two people feel the connection in their hearts. They are always complicated as there are ones hopes, wishes and dreams involved and they always are very personal. Good luck guys! Have a happy life together and if it does not work out... well we just start all over again!
30
FEATURE
www.streetcredmagazine.com
Adele’s Touching Souls It’s when you don’t sing for money and fame but for the people you get real music and substance. British London Born and bred Adele is what you call the peoples voice and breaks all stereotypes of if your a female you have to sell sex. Finally we have a real voice from the UK scoring through the charts with big ballads winning grammys and yes a well deserved Brit Award winner. But the awards are nothing to make a fuss about, put away the fact she is contantly nominated and selling more albums in Europe than Lady Gaga. The talk about Adele is about how her songs touch peoples soul. Everybody is raving about adeles music. Adeles first album 19 was huge and stayed at the number one spot in the UK for weeks. Breaking down barriers and selling in the recession .How about ,seling a million copies in the UK alone and three million worldwide for your debut. 2011 Adele released 21 in the UK and a month later hit the shelves in the U.S and made the number 1 spot there and ten other countries. Our coverstar Adele is big business, bigger than you would imagine. But really shouldn’t be a shock with a talent like that. its amazing how someone from Croydon who had the dream to be a popstar has gone from being a fan and impersonating the spice girls to the UK’s no 1 selling artist Adeles debut album 19, received a Mercury Prize nomination for being creative and true to life stories of being heartbroken at 19 years old. Adele is the artist that has your mother and www.streetcredmagazine.com
grandmother singing all day long and the great thing is her albums are indepth personal and really relate to the public. We love adele and we can quite safely say that she is the best voice the uk has ever produced. You can see this girl doing Bond soundtracks like Shirley bassey. So what is the secret to the success? Adeles father saw she was true talent and sent her to brit school and thats what we see. There is no way there could be a songwriter like this and not go anywhere. Adele had to make it. UK over the lkast few years has struggled with showing our true talent over sees Robbie Williams Spice Girls is nothing to rave about. But now we have Adele to show off proudly and its so good she has made it without the X Factor which recently seems the only way to be a major star in this country is by going on that show. 21 the follow up is selling everyday by the truckloads. No denying the songs are capturing hearts young and old especially the piano Ballad Someone Like You which is now a classic in its own right. Everybody wants to work with Adele and it is even said that rapper Tinnie Tempah says Adele is on his wish list to work with. who wouldn’t want to work with adele who has beaten Lady Gaga for the number one. So a sold out tour in Europe America and Canada says this women is in high demand ...we really have a true star from Britain...we love you Adele. Keep it real
FEATURE
31
Active Birth Classes Showcase Midwife-Led Birth Units Things have moved on since the days of ‘Call the Midwife’ the new hit BBC drama. New parents these days are encouraged to learn as much about pregnancy and birth as possible, meaning the whole process is no longer a mystery when labour starts. Regular ‘active birth’ classes are now taking place every Saturday afternoon at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust midwife-led birth units, Serenity and Halcyon. Newly appointed Team Leader of the Units, Helen Giles explained: “The class is open to anyone booked in for a low risk birth at Serenity or Halcyon, and includes midwife led tour of the units if there are rooms free.” The classes, which run every Saturday from 2pm to 4pm are currently alternating between each of the units, but all can be booked by calling the Serenity Unit at City Hospital on 0121 507 5655. The classes give a full guide into the different options for a low risk birth including water births, what to expect and the different birth positions advisable. Helen Giles at the Serenity Unit shows off some of the equipment used during an active birth class.
Encouraging prospective parents to get in touch Helen added: “These classes are invaluable in helping prepare parents for birth giving them lots of information to help them make the right choices for themselves.”
To book your space in Street Cred Magazine or online at www.streetcredmagazine.com, call:
0121 622 7700
Richard Blackwood
‘Still The Man’ From stand up to MTV and his own show on Channel 4 this man has made a mark for being one of the country’s no 1 personality’s. He even had a few hit records early 2000. Richard Blackwood is a hard graft and unique talent. He has made it big in the UK and Overseas. Lisa B finds out what he has been up too lately with his role in Shrek Musical and his future in movies.... LB: So what’s happening with you right about now? RB: You know right now i am doing Shrek the Musical LB: Yes in the West End playing Eddie Murphy following in his footsteps right? RB: It is great to actually do that follow in his footsteps whether he knows or not , its Dreamworks the same people that made the film and now they have turned it into a theatre production. I mean they have been a success touring the states with it and now they thought lets see how we can crack the UK. The show is actually number 1 and its sell out shows everytime and even Angelina Jolie came to watch it. LB: Its really different to what you’ve done before isn’t it. RB: Yeh because its a musical, even though its comedy its not my words its a script and i have to make the script unny in my interpretation. That’s where the real work comes in and then you have to dance and sing make it look like that’s what you do lol LB: What about the future are we gonna have another Richard Blackwood show at any point? RB: I wish, i don’t know what god has instore for me right now i am doing my acting which is really what i am trying to focus on at the moment, not that i would rule out any form of presenting as it was MTV my own show that made me etc etc
“I say nothing good comes quickly, and if it does it doesn’t last long” www.streetcredmagazine.com
LB: Whats your advice to people who want to be in entertainment? RB: I say nothing good comes quickly, and if it does it doent last long i started stand up when i was 20 and i am 39 now so for me the person you want to be in entertainment you got to be ready to be in iot for the long haul also you have to be serious about it This think pays your bills your kids your mortgage and if you don’t take it that serious don’t do it It don’t matter how long it takes, your time will come when its meant to come not before it could take even ten years but hope that it takes long couse the longer it takes the more you hold it for. INTERVIEW
33
OASIS Market, Birmingham
mono B
A
R
Thursdays Shutdown Thursdays Friday Connoisseur Saturday Passion
The number 1 urban club in Arcadian Birmingham.
Launch of the all-new 6-series convertible With the launch of the all-new 6-series convertible just around the corner, BMW is now showing us a first official look at the 650i coupe. Not surprisingly, it bears more than a mere resemblance to both the Concept 6 Coupe that debuted last fall at the Paris Motor Show and the production 650i Convertible that was unveiled in Detroit in January. The new 6er coupe wears the same critical dimensions as its drop-top twin — longer, lower and wider than its predecessor, and with an overall appearance more akin to the graceful first-generation (E24) 6-series that was produced from 1977 to 1989. True to its roots, it remains a 2+2 grand tourer, but with even more space for the back seat passengers. Trunk space is generous as well at 16.4 cubic feet. Power for the 650i comes from the 400-horse 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that will also be found in the 650i convertible, as well as other large BMWs such as the 5- and 7-series and the X5/X6. An eight-speed automatic will be standard equipment, but as on the convertible, a six-speed manual can also be substituted. Acceleration to 60 mph breaks the five-second mark at around 4.9 seconds. North America is the only market to receive the manual transmission in the new 6-series. After the initial launch, perhaps even before the end of the 2011 model year, BMW is expected to expand the 6-series lineup with the addition of the 300-horsepower turbo-six version, to be known as 640i, as well as an xDrive option for both coupe and convertible. All of the technology options announced for the 650i convertible will also make their way into the coupe. 38
PHAT RIDES
These include the new full-color head-up display, the beautiful largescreen information display atop the center console, and the Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. One new feature that will make its debut on the 650i coupe is adaptive LED headlights, which will be standard. This new system, which also becomes available later this year on the 650i convertible, does
away with xenon and halogen lighting altogether, using as array of powerful LEDs to provide visibility in both high and low beams. The 650i coupe will make its official debut in front of the public at the 2011 new York Auto Show in late April, where it’s expected pricing will also be announced. Sales will begin in November of 2011.
www.streetcredmagazine.com
businesstyle.gr
GMK
w w w. gm k- exc lu s i ve. com | info @gmk- excl usive. co m