Our favourite time-sucking video community YouTube has today launched a new global competition called Your Film Festival, which will see one aspiring film-maker win $500,000 and work with Ridley Scott to bring their ideas to life on the big screen. What. A. Prize.

YouTube is working with the Venice Film Festival and Emirates to begin the global competition, which aims to find the best story teller who can showcase their skills in a video hosted on the site in under 15 minutes.

Audiences across the world will then cast their votes before ten finalists are jetted off to the Venice Film Festival. The overall lucky winner will then go on to work with Ridley Scott and a production team to turn their short clip story into an actual movie.

If you desperately want to show the world just how creative and talented you are with a camera you’ve got until the 31st March to upload a story. From what we can tell the entry criteria is pretty vague, just submit a story that’s 15 minutes long, whichever genre you please, and the most popular will win. Even if you don’t decide to enter yourself, the entries are bound to be pretty entertaining and diverse, perfect afternoon procrastination videos and probably a little more insightful than that talking cat.

Check out the official Your Film Festival channel for more information.

By now, you have probably heard all about the amazing advantages of drinking Kangen Water®. In order to truly understand the ways in which Kangen Water® can help many areas of your life, it will be beneficial to get to know the company behind the product.

Enagic® is a 37 – year – old, privately owned Japanese company that manufacturers the alkaline ionized Kangen Water® System. Since Hironari Oshiro founded the company in 1974, it has expanded operations globally to most of the major countries where people are trying to lead healthier lives. To date, the company has sold well over 400,000 water ionizers in Japan alone. Now they are making Kangen Water® available to the world.

Enagic® provides an exclusive warranty, so you know you can trust the performance and quality of the water you are drinking. In fact, Enagic® is one of the few international water ionizing companies that are fully licensed and ISO quality certified. We stand behind every product we sell.

You deserve a full life of health and happiness, and drinking cleaner water can help you to achieve those goals. Enagic® is confident that Kangen Water® will help you to start realizing a better lifestyle. And you can save money by using our Enagic® Water Systems to ionize water and filter out impurities conveniently in your home or office.

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You can trust Enagic® to provide you with a superior Alkaline Ionized Kangen Water® System. Start hydrating your body with the highest quality water available, and discover today what it can do for you!

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Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,500 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

For Immediate Release – (New York, NY – November 22, 2011) – A-Alikes release single “Bridges to Nowhere” off forthcoming album Us Against Them.

Known for their politically-rooted lyrics, Occupy Wall Street was the appropriate backdrop for the “Bridges to Nowhere” video shoot capturing the sign of the times and radical change for which the revolutionary-spirited hip-hop group is known.  “Bridges to Nowhere” was produced by the late DJ Metaphysic [June, 2011 passing], who also produced for such artists as Immortal Technique, Dead Prez and Action Bronson to name a few.

A-Alikes branched off into film after the release of their last album I Eat You Eat [2006] with “Ballot or the Bullet” documentary chronicling President Obama’s election [screened countrywide and abroad, 2008].  Ness, one half of the A-Alike duo, cites DJ Metaphysic as the catalyst for completing the album and further attests, “Us Against Them is about a world in transition… it’s about conflict, it’s about community, it’s about us and it’s about them.”

The video shot by Exile Ramirez, features Afaya (also featured on previous lp I Eat You Eat), as well as spoken word poet, J. IVY (featured on Kanye West’s first project) and  cameo appearance by Russell Simmons.

A-Alikes’ involvement in Occupy Wall Street was reported in Huffington Post article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/14/occupy-the-hood-occupy-wall-street_n_1009850.html.

From music to the big screen A-Alikes remain steadfast in their advocacy for political freedom and progression. Stay tuned for more videos by A-Alikes in coming weeks.

Us Against Them will be available on iTunes and A-Alikes.net the first quarter of 2012.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE80K3awXPI

*****

More on the producer:

Robert W. Temple III, also known as Young Trip, was born in Flatbush, Brooklyn on June 11, 1989.

Trip, born in to a music-rooted family, has been dabbling with instruments since he was a child: At the age of 6, Young Trip showed interest in the keyboards and by age 8 he played keyboard melodies, learned to program sequencers and eventually made his own beats. By 10, Trip arranged two tracks and called them “Traitor” and “Stay Focused.” These two tracks were the fire that started his 400-track and growing catalogue.

Of course, Young Trip’s brother, Bad Boy Entertainment platinum producer Garrett Blake and cousin Printz Board, multi-platinum music producer, writer and music director for Black Eyed Peas, both serve as tremendous influences to this super producer in the making.

Young Trip is poised to change the landscape of our evolving culture with his boundless exploration of sound.

Contact info@hanaassociates.com to schedule a listening session.

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What is Mix-Hop? Aquavibe is the answer with its uncompromising, eclectic blend of hip-hop, turntablism, r&b, rock, soul and dance fused together for one original sound.  Mix-hop as they describe it is culture remixed and genre evolved. Aquavibe transcends popular trends while remaining unapologetically original. Its live. Its new. Its a spectacle – and don’t you look away.

Committed to the Groovement for the past 10+ years, the five-member band have album sales on six continents, and have performed at numerous reputable venues including Pianos, Lion’s Den, Southpaw, Nuyorican Poets’ Cafe, CBGB’s, Caroline’s Comedy Club in Times Square and a little place you may have heard of: The Playboy Mansion, which they not only rocked the socks off, but three of Aquavibe’s songs are featured on the soundtrack to the mansion’s video game [Playstation, X-Box, PC], and the members are featured characters in the game as well.

Aquavibe has provided music for several indie films including 2007’s Blackout and cameo in the upcoming Accountants Story. Lead singer and musician, D1, produces all of the band’s music and has composed commercial music for the likes of ESPN, Samuel Adams and Victoria’s Secret. Emcees Dyverse the 1^st and Paradox or “Dox” are successfully expanding into film careers in front of and behind the camera.

Aquavibe’s new lp, What Is Mix-Hop?, is set to splash winter 2011 [on iTunes] with a bevy of potential singles showcasing their creative versatility while lending a unique vantage into their onstage presence.

For more information visit www.aquavibe.com

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Adtl press:  http://theindustrycosign.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/aquavibe-dont-wanna-go-home/

Mikey T The Movie Star is moving up the industry ranks with his production company and lifestyle brand, Movie Star Music, catering to artists of all walks, and film makers. Projects released under the brand have garnered over 5 million views online collectively and over 1.5 million on youtube.  Currently, Mikey T is dominating the mainstream media scene with a drive to start his own label imprint to bring his vision to light.

Mikey T, 23, contends that he holds the title to one of the most consistent and relevant brands in contemporary hip-hop, and says ”It’s Movie Star Everything from here on out.”

Q. Where are you from

A. I grew up in Connecticut for the larger part of my life. I was working in the tri state, really getting money on the indie scene between Boston and NYC. In the last year I moved down to Miami, FL. I’m having a lot of breakthrough success out here; I made a lane for myself.

Q. Who is Mikey T

A. I’m the CEO of music label Movie Star Music. It’s a movement, like Interscope. I work with artists, directors and producers. I was a boss before the saying was popular… a natural leader. I fell back from rapping to build my brand.

Q. Describe your beginnings in hip-hop 

A. I discovered it growing up. Life was hard; I was naturally influenced by music. My grasp of the game came from the streets, hearing news from my homies back in 1998 – like all the kids get news from top blogs, today. At a point I became bored with the game and set out to establish my brand.

Q. Describe your motivation for reporting on certain sites and blogs

A. I’ve had a lot of success on all the online blogs I appreciate all the love from all the top websites; my goal is to stay relevant 52 weeks a year. I’m the guy that will have gone from the internet – to the magazines – to the T.V.

Q. What do you want the Movie Star brand to be known for

A. My brand is the next major entity in hip-hop. I’m extending it beyond websites by doing broader promotional campaigns for major and indie companies. It will be a means of releasing music to promote and get correct distribution and placement.

Q. Who are some artists you’d like to work with

A. I’d like to work with artists who are working to develop their careers; the artist who needs the proper boost he can get because of the scene he’s in, as well as major labels like Def Jam and Sony, helping to develop their rosters, as well as all the artists on my Movie Star Music Group label.

For more information on Mikey T follow him @ twitter.com/MTMovieStar

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Adtl press  – Hip Hop Weekly Magazine | September 2011 issue

]]> http://hnaprnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/movie-star-status/feed/ 0 HANA ASSOCIATES PR NEWS IMG_1581 IMG_1578 http://hnaprnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/kevinlilesgeneratione/ http://hnaprnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/kevinlilesgeneratione/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:28:01 +0000 Essohana Glinski http://hnaprnews.wordpress.com/?p=1566 ]]>

Kevin Liles’s rise to presidency at Def Jam Records [at the ripe age of 30 in 1998] has laid the foundation for countless other ventures to take shape, which has created jobs, inspired lives and changed the world.

Liles’s flatiron-district powerhouse is the place where his “Make It Happen” doctrine infuses our culture, daily.  He shared his perspective about our evolving culture and our place within it.

 *****

What’s your opinion of contemporary hip-hop?

My personal likes and dislikes are up to me and it should be up to every consumer out there to say “I consume the things that I like.” But, to be a true artist you have to be able to sell art. What I don’t consider art is when you walk down the street and nobody knows who you are, which happens when it’s more important to make a hit single than to be a brand. The first three words of “artist” is art. So you have to be art. You can’t just be a song. But then again you might be in it to just be a song. It’s like iPod saying they’ll only sell 60 Gigabytes, not Nanos.  Or Mercedes Benz only selling Maybach not C-Class, but not everyone is a Maybach. So there are differences that exist in hip-hop.

Are there fewer artists with iconic potential, today?

There’s only one LL. There’s only one Jay Z. When Jay came out you didn’t know he’d be an icon. But when he came out you knew there was something special about him. To give any artist iconic status (at the beginning of their career) is a biased assessment. Icons are created by doing iconic work. Jay did it his way and that allowed him to flourish. Kanye did it his way and that allowed him his own lane. It’s like   Trey Songz:  You know what you get when you ask for Trey. He’s a brand; his point of view is 16 – 30 year old females. Simply put icons project, “I am what I am, be with me, respect me, love me, hate me, but I am what I am.”

What should indie artists be doing to get noticed by major record labels?

I think they’re doing it every day. They’re making records and labels are finding artists on the internet. One of my great signings was Ludacris. He started putting his own records out and 15 million records later… There are different opportunities now. It’s not just about the street corner and the cypher. The internet has exposed people to the world. The act of discovery is different, but the branding and the art development of it is the same.  Look at Kid Cudi:  Artists get found in so many different ways, but they still have to be developed. Artist development is key.

How common is it for artists to finance their careers?

It’s more common now for people to finance their albums, as did Master P., Ludacris, Cash Money, Jay Z, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin.  People self-financing their albums is nothing new.  The internet makes it possible now for more people to put out what they want, when they want.

What are the biggest misconceptions indie artists have about what is required to succeed in today’s music industry?

That someone else will work harder for them than they will.  You can’t pay someone enough money to believe in you the way you will believe in yourself.  I love when people say, “I’m a C.E.O.” just learn what a “Chief Executive Officer” really means.  I love when people say they’re a record label – but learn how to monetize a piece of product before you put it out. A lot of times you need disruptive innovation to reboot and redefine an industry.  If you’re an indie artist and don’t see a value proposition, why get involved? Remember Rocafella:  They could have gone anywhere, but they signed on to Def Jam because there was a value proposition. Nikki Minaj signed with Lil Wayne because there was a value proposition. If artists feel like they can make it without me, then I shouldn’t be their manager.  If we can’t offer value to one another, we shouldn’t be together. But if together we can rule the world, then let’s rock out!

As an “ambassador of culture” what in your opinion is the formula for success?

Find your will – whatever you have a passion for – plus success. What is success? It might be financial, physical, spiritual or mental. But with it comes responsibility. My formula now is passion + success = responsibility, not cash. Responsibility to always be in search of freedom; freedom to wake up every day and do what your heart tells you to do.

What are the benefits you’ve seen from the Make It Happen Foundation?       

The foundation was something I started because I wanted to acknowledge a lot of the good work I was seeing.  I was being stopped by kids every day saying “I read your book and it helped me to be a better lawyer” or “be a better doctor.”  I thought, I need to write another book, but I also thought that I needed to open business academies around the world for kids in the summers [which would show their commitment because they’d be sacrificing two weeks of their play time]. I launched a program at Morgan State University for 13 and 14 – year – olds and they’re learning things that I never knew at that age, like P.N.L’s, business plans and presentations. I also plan to open academies abroad.  If you provide a platform, they will figure it out!  They are Generation E:  Entrepreneur, Education, Empowerment, Employment – all of those E-things that are very important for our culture. Not everyone is born into a family business. Not everyone’s born with the ability to go to great schools so I’m glad we have this platform.

Where do you see hip – hop in five years?

Hip-hop of the future will be more digital. Albums will be called “playlists.” Hip-hop will be more commoditized and linked to private equity companies.

Dame Dash?

We had a lot of fun. We did an amazing job of building one of the greatest artists and labels of all time.

What’s your mantra?

Never ask someone to do something that you’re not willing to do yourself.

You called on the voices of the most recognized artists in the game to encourage voting during Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign.

I try to tell all people that we have a responsibility to not only our president, our country, our state, our community – but to our block. All those places get touched by you taking responsibility. You shouldn’t complain if you’re not willing to do anything about it. Politically, find somebody you’re passionate about, and vote for them. That will equal change.  When you’re sick and tired of being poor, what are you going to do about it? Poverty is unacceptable. CNN’s Steve Perry said this morning, “You’re sick and tired of underperforming public schools? Sue the school. You’re paying tax money, sue them.”  When you’re sick and tired, do what they did in Egypt: Revolt.

What can we expect to see of Kevin Liles in the near future?

I’m focusing on entertainment, media and fashion. I partnered with Z!ink, and with MWW [Public Relations (where I’m president of entertainment], education marketing NEXGEN EDU – a “study when you can” program: I believe the future of school is online. Kids can get the same education, but they can’t get the same experience. Do what works for you. Your clothes and shoes are tailored to fit you, so should your education needs. I’m also focused on the telecommunications industry, TruComm, and KevDar - a high component purity company. My world continues to evolve.

Last words?

God is good to me because I’m good to Him. Who says you can’t love hip-hip and love God, and not have a street named after you, and build stadiums and schools? I have the opportunity to work with some of the greatest talents in the world: Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Big Sean, Nelly, Bow Wow, Terrence J, Estelle and Selita Ebanks just to name a few.

For more information, visit www.kevinliles.com and twitter.com/kevinliles1

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Adtl press:

http://forbezdvd.com/blog/2011/10/04/wmg-vp-kevin-liles-speaks-on-entrepreneurship-and-his-make-it-happen-foundation/

http://theindustrycosign.wordpress.com/tag/morgan-state-university/

http://www.blackstarnews.com/news/121/ARTICLE/7712/2011-10-16.html

http://www.suprememanagement.net/2011/10/15/no-x%e2%80%a6-no-y%e2%80%a6-generation-e/

http://www.wikio.com/themes/Kevin+Liles

http://www.zimbio.com/Kevin+Liles/articles/UBecHaLVvIM/WMG+VP+Kevin+Liles+Speaks+Entrepreneurship

The forthcoming album hearkens to Lord Jamar’s long-standing subscription to the The Nation of Gods and Earths [Five-Percent Nation] – a soundtrack to the Hardbody-Godbody way of life:  “It’s good hip hop, but has these elements on it because it’s who I am.”

A member of legendary, classic hip-hop group “Brand Nubian” Jamar reflects on the evolution of the industry over the past 20 years: “Everything changes… I don’t think I’m changing according to other people, but I am changing according to my own evolution. Even with Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down, statistically, people weren’t expecting me and Sadat to succeed.”

Jamar has an appreciation for other genres. Influenced by classical, spanish and old soul music, the beats dictate his music production.

“Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding impacts me and grows within me, daily.  Although I’m changing, I’m staying consistent with my core message.”

Widely known for his role on HBO’s OZ as “Supreme Allah,” and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Third Watch, The Sopranos, and most recently in Dennis Leary’s television show Rescue Me, Jamar is looking to expand beyond music and do more acting and production.

Lord Jamar says, “Whenever you’re pursuing your dreams you’re doing a courageous thing… It may have sounded absurd to some people [being an emcee] because I wasn’t from any of the 5 boros; I was from Westchester… I pursued it despite the naysayers. Same thing with acting; I didn’t have acting under my belt, but I wanted to do it. Courage comes in different ways, like whenever you’re pursuing something you love, but you’re not sure about.”

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 Adtl press:

http://www.suprememanagement.net/?p=1538&preview=true

http://hotspotatl.com/national/atlantashottesthiphop/brand-nubians-lord-jamar-goes-from-hip-hop-to-hollywood-back/

http://theurbandaily.com/music/casey-gane-mccalla/brand-nubians-lord-jamar-goes-from-hip-hop-to-hollywood-and-back/

http://theindustrycosign.wordpress.com/2011/09/08/known-associates/

Copia  http://copianyc.com/ , for all of your fine dining and private party occasions.

Mozel tov!