DIME PIECE:: Esther Baxter Oils Up For A Good Cause

Esther Baxter teamed up with fellow model and friend to bring awareness to the current oil spill crisis in here PSA photo shoot using REAL OIL! Vibe caught Ms. Baxter on set and chatted with her about her most recent career moves and details of her relationship with Joe Budden.

VIBE: How did you get involved with the Oil Spill PSA?

Esther Baxter: Well, I was just talking to a friend of mine one day who also models and we felt like we needed to get involved. It just didn’t make sense to us that more wasn’t being done to fix the problem. I mean 70,000 gallons of oil are being spilled out everyday. Plus, not enough people in the industry are aware of it. So we decided to try and help the cause and bring awareness to the problem. No one in the industry has really took the initiative to speak out and help bring attention to the cause, so hopefully more people will catch on and help after this.

In the last few years you’ve been relatively quiet on the modeling scene. What have you been working on?

Right now, I’m getting into acting. Basically, I feel like I’ve conquered the urban modeling and video scene. I was one of the top video models and top paid. So I just felt like it was time to build my career further and challenge myself. Really, acting is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve done a few commercials and TV shows here and there but it’s time to really build my career.

know you don’t want to talk about anyone specific, but are you happy with your love life?

Yes, I am. I’m very happy with it.

But is it even possible to keep you love life private with Twitter and all the gossip blogs out there?

Actually, I think it is. We (she and Joe Budden) kept our relationship private for a while. A lot of people don’t even know how long we’ve been together. It wasn’t until recently that we didn’t deny it anymore. But I don’t care what people say. Why go to certain extents to try and hide it?

Do you see wedding bells in the future?

Um…I don’t get into any relationships without thinking about that and seeing it happening.

So marriage is a possibility in your current relationship?

Yes….

Read more of the interview here

Air Drake!

In celebration of Sir Richard Branson launching his first Virgin Airlines flight between Toronto and Cali cities, Drank was givin' a plane of his own. Toronto's hometown hero Drake was the perfect person to help celebrate.

COVERS:: Janet on the August Issue of Essence

"It took me a good minute to get here, it really did. But I love my life. I only wish I had this confidence when I was younger..."--Janet Jackson

MixTapeCircuit:: Young Jeezy & Yo Gotti, Dj Scream & Memphis Bleek, Big Mike & Grafh, and Dj Dirty Yella

VIDEO:: Keri Hilson speaks on loosing her virginity

In case you missed Ms. Keri on the latest episode of MTV's When I Was 17, here is a clip where Keri Hilson talks about losing her virginity after high school.

DROPS:: This Week's New Releases

Here are a few releases that are scheduled to hit the shelves this week. When you cop em, let us know what you think.....

The Dream - Love King - June 29
CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW




Dwele - W.ants W.orld W.omen - June 29

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW

Here are a few from last week that we forgot to mention...

Eminem - Recovery - June 22

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW



The Roots - How I Got Over - June 22

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW

VIDEO:: T.I. and Chelsea Lately share their "Special Relationship"

Awwww like most of us, Chelsea has a big ol' crush on Mr. T.I.P. Good times, good stuff.

Watch Miss Goddessbody interview Mr.Magic Coffee about the current out roar about Magic Power Coffee!

Mike Epps at his best!

Lakers Win Game 7 Battle!

Birthday Bash 15 in ATL

ATL's HOT 107.9 had it annual Birthday Bash summer concert this past weekend and we've got a video of some of the performances by Luda, Luke, Ciara, and Trina just to name a few!

BirthDay Bash 15 in ATL from DTP TV on Vimeo.

Ciara "Ride"-2:20 mark, "How Low Can You Go"-3:20 mark, Luke-4:oo mark, and Trina & "My Chick Bad"-6:55 mark.

LMAO:: Ron Artests's 'Champion' Video

Ever since his 'victory speech' was aired on ABC after the NBA Finals game last week, the world has been patiently waiting for Ron Artest's single, 'Champion', to drop.

As promised, Ron has delivered a video for his 'song' via YouTube:

For more laughs, check out his performance at LA'S Power 106 studios just hours after winning the NBA title last week.

ALBUM REVIEW:: Drake's Thank Me Later

Drizzy Drake Rogers, Young Money’s most acclaimed artist, has officially released his [debut] album entitled Thank Me Later. For those of us who have followed this man since he was heavy on the mixtape grind, [this release marks] a proud moment. The mixtape world’s 'Best Kept Secret' has revealed his genius and art to the world on the large scale, this time backed by a major label. The album offers [a variety of selections that you can both ride and vibe to]. Drake seems to pick up where his Grammy-nominated So Far Gone mixtape left off on the smooth and mellow intro track (Fireworks). The album slowly picks up speed and hits us with a track you can thump on the way to the club, appropriately entitled “Show Me a Good Time” featuring everyone’s favorite Barbie, Nicki Minaj. A heartfelt track entitled “The Resistance” offers us an inside look into the more honest and vulnerable side that we have grown to love.

The album boasts features from YM’s president Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Alicia Keys, and Jigga himself. Swizz Beatz, The Dream, as well as his October's Own contributed their production skills to this project. Whether you are new to hip hop’s newest phenom or a long time fan, this album will not disappoint. This is sure to be a first of many LP’s that will inspire, elevate, and satisfy anyone who can recognize real talent. A definite must have for the CD collection even if you prefer MP3’s, classic.

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW

10,000 Reasons To Work For Oprah!

Oprah celebrated the the 10th birthday of her O Magazine with her staff by surprising all those who came to work yesterday with $10,000 AND a leather-bound iPad! EACH employee was presented with their thank-you gifts no matter how long they had been employed there.

I bet the new-kid-on-the-block must feel like the luckiest person on earth!

A Hearst spokesperson states:

"These were personal gifts to the staff from Oprah to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the magazine."

Slim Thug speaks about his blog that hated on Black Women

Slim Thugs Comments About Black Women...Controversy????

Happy Birthday to the late Tupac Shakur

Lakers Force Game 7

Brief Encounter ::: Sammie Returns!

23 year old Sammie is back and showing that he is joining the likes of Trey Songz and Chris Brown for what is slowly but surely becoming the 'Young and Sexy R&B Takeova'. He is currently promoting his latest mixtape titled Its Just A Mixtape. We also found a behind the scenes video of him at work.

Big Boi Gets Personal & Talks About What Separates Outkast From Every Other Artist

REMEMBER ME?:: Montell Jordan

Where do all the 'has-beens' go when their ride of fame is over? Take Montell Jordan for instance. Did his name ever come up when reality show producers brainstormed about who they wud offer a second chance at fame?

Apparently so.....look at what we found!

"Montell Jordan is sharing his journey with fans via "Montellevision," a web based reality series that follows Jordan and his family through the course of life offstage.

Webisodes of "Montellevision" are featured on Montell's YouTube channel..."

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT!!! SN: Looks like he's a Kappa too.

Afraid to Live But Not Afraid to Die: The Autobiography of Young Black Men

I was just browsing the net today and came across an interesting article that voiced the confusion of the mentality of today's black men.

"I ask this in all sincerity in an age where it appears that a large corpus of young black males would rather take the easy way out, denigrate the importance of education and think of all outcomes in terms of money, yet not show any penchant to work for what they want. I do not know if it a sign of the times, or the veneration of a culture that reveals drug dealing and making music about sordid topics more than the sustainable values of family and self-determination.

From ghetto street fights on Youtube to videos that display women as being nothing more than meat, many of us promote this under the guise of "keeping it real." We have more knowledge about the mundane than that which may assist our personal growth and development. We can make time to know about Lil Wayne but nothing else of substance.

Why?" READ MORE

Your thoughts????

NCAA delivers postseason football ban

Jill Scott: Funky Fresh in LA

Jill Scott decided to switch it up on us on her current tour with Maxwell this summer. The newly mother of her 1 yr old son hit the stage at the Staples Center this past weekend lookin' funky, fresh, dressed to impress and ready to party!



Here's a snippet of her performance...

WSHH & Ciroc Memorial Day Weekend In Miami 2010! (Diddy & T.I Make It Rain Inside The Club)

So Focused: Kobe Bryant Ignores Chris Rock & Phil Jackson Confronts Chris! "Your Interrupting The Game"

Lebron James Talks To Larry King (Growing Up In The Projects Without A Father, Love For His Mother, Michael Jordan & The Chicago Bulls & More)

Trey Songz Rate UR Fav Industry Chicks!

Hmmm Nicki is a 9.4 and Rhianna is a 10....Interesting.

VIDEO:: The-Dream ft. T.I. "Make Up Bag"

When things go wrong between you and your girl, these two suggest dropping 5-stacks on a new purse to make things better. I cant say this is the best remedy for an argument BUT I can say that this song is a HIT!

Watch and discuss....

NEW MUSIC::: Janelle Monae ft. B.o.B. & Lupe Fiasco "Tightrope Wondamix"

Janelle Monae rips it vocally and lyrically alongside B.o.B. and Lupe Fiasco on the remix to her lead single Tightrope. Like the original, this track was remixed by Monae's Wondaland production crew. This is one that both soul and hip-hop heads are sure to enjoy!

Listen and us know what you think.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

COVERS:: Ludacris on the JuneIssue of The Source

"What contributes to my longevity is that I stay a fan of music, period" says the Atlanta native. "I get motivavted by beats more than anything else, even if i'm not a fan of a certain song, I might be a fan of a certain beat, and that might spark that interst and remind myself of why I'm here."

Source

COVERS:: Nicki Minaj on the June/July Issue of Vibe

“People don’t get when you’re off, or you’re having a bad day,” she says, obliquely referring to the photograph that bounced around the blogs of her hand- in-hand with Diddy, looking especially miserable. The speculation was inevitable: Had she been crying? Was she just tired? Are they doing it?

“When I grew up I saw females doing certain things, and I thought I had to do that exactly,” she says. “The female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot . . . and I thought that to have the success they got, I would have to represent the same thing. When in fact I didn’t have to represent the same thing.”

“I’m not abandoning the funny voices. I just did a crazy tribute to ODB’s ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya,’” she says, perfectly impersonating the late Wu-Clansman. “But it’s coming up more with the album. I had a teacher in elementary who would stand on her table and whisper. We’d all turn around like, ‘What is this lunatic doing?’ But she would achieve what she wanted. She wanted us to stop talking and listen. I feel like I need to mellow it down so people can hear what I have to say.” SOURCE