Month: July 2011

I OFTEN connect people from different industries and areas in order to give them all better mutual synergy that will, hopefully, lift us all higher through our careers and lives.

Whether it’s introducing artists to managers or managers to great publicists, it’s all love.

So imagine my surprise to get an email from one friend who has, in the past, negotiated seven-figure book deals for his clients Rio Ferdinand and Usain Bolt, which read, “Jas, thanks for introducing me to Jay Z’s camp nine months ago. We’ve been talking and just signed a nine-figure business deal. I’d like to take you out to dinner to say thank you.”

Next thing I hear, the deal is the now widely publicised Jay-Z meets Ashley Cole and brings Jay’s 40/40 club and restaurant to the UK and Europe. All set up via an intro from me!

Well, in exchange for that, I expect lifetime membership to all the 40/40 franchises as well as the coveted black 40/40 card – as well as any other gifts that may want to fly my way.

So my mates and now Ashley Cole’s business partners, Chris Nathaniel and Paul Boadi took me for dinner where we all excitedly discussed the imminent arrival of 40/40 London. It will be a slicker, sexier, more urban version of the Ivy and Soho House-type establishments, but be perfect for the elite power players and tastemakers in our scene.

Chris reminisced about the past nine months with stories of emails flying across the Atlantic, international conference calls all on LA time, hopes going up and down as the deal was in the making, and finally reaching the point where they signed the contact and met with Jay-Z to discuss the finer points.

As well as that, there are plans for a huge urban village-type structure in Lewisham, south London, which will house rehearsal studios, recording studios, hairdressers, a cinema, nightclub and other areas for like-minded people to come together and make what we have even bigger.

These are big visions and I have no doubt that with the mutual bonding of street hustle and business acumen, they’ll build a solid empire that we can all be a part of and be proud of!

JAS GETS HER (RIZZLE) KICKS

Rock stars: Jasmine with Rizzle Kicks

AFTER a lovely meal, I dragged the boys down to Camden’s infamous indie rock venue Barfly to see the new kids on the block that are taking over national radio station playlists.

Called Rizzle Kicks, this Brighton-based duo comprised of 19-year-olds Jordan and Harley, have begun to get airplay on stations as diverse as Choice FM, Capital FM and Radio 1.

Having known each other since they were kids, they’ve grown up together, shared the same friends, same experiences, same schools and above all, a passion and taste for music that’s taken over both their lives.

They’ve already come a long way since their early days, where they took the D.I.Y. approach to making music and shooting videos with their director friend Tony Lockerbie and posting their creations on YouTube. The approach earned them over 500,000 YouTube views, a record deal with Island Records and admiration from the likes of Jessie J and Norman Cook.

As well as working on their debut album, the boys are also preparing a new mix tape and are also readying a new video. These boys are destined to go far.

SHOE HEAVEN

ICE ICE BABY: an ice scupture filed with shoes

THE same evening, I popped over to a show from River Island, where tall, leggy lovelies were rocking the store’s autumn/winter Christmas collection. Fabulously trendy folks were air kissing sipping neon coloured cocktails as the DJ spun the tunes.

Real shoes were encased in blocks of ice for over-the-top sculptures, and in the doorway, plastic penguins greeted guests as they arrived. In addition, fake snow was scattered all around to create the winter theme – meaning my summer sandaled feet had to stay sturdy, as mini white bobbles threatened to take me down! Winter in summer – the world has gone beautifully nuts!

JASMINE AND MOBO CEO KANYA KING RIDING THROUGH SCIILY,ITALY.

I was lucky enough to attend a very lush soirée. The invitation read ‘’Natalie Massenet and Jeremy Langmead invite you to join Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana to celebrate the arrival of Dolce&Gabbana at Net-a-Porter and Mr Porter, at home at The Village offices in Westfield. That’s strange I thought. ‘‘A party in an office in Westfield? How unsexy. How wrong could I have been? I took my mate MOBO CEO Kanya King with me as my guest and we had a quick dinner in the open food court in Westfields before searching for the ‘’Office’’. We were directed to the top floor to a pair of sliding glass doors. Once past thosedoors was a hidden short, fast elevator that transported us to a top floor that the general public would never have seen and was a massive expanse of black and white monochrome sexiness. Black plush carpets, white walls, monochrome artdeco furniture, bars where we sipped martini gold cocktails, a room with an Italian Sicily set up with Vespa bikes where we were encouraged to pose in front of a wind machine fan (and Kanya and I took full advantage of that)…it was total and utter sexy Italian fun-very Dolce!. All kinds of royalty were in the house from Kanya KING, to QUEEN Laitifah and stylist PRINCE Richard Shoyemi, who had arrived dressed as an Indian prince!. Queen Latifah chose to wear adolce black tuxedo, white shirt and a gold chain necklace for her appearance; When Queen Latifah arrived the guests all took a sharp intake of breath at her glamzonian beauty as dolce celeb PR girl Ruth dragged her through the crowd.

JASMINE WITH Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji.

Naomi Campbell rocked a forest green leopard print cocktail dress, Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji, ex Sugababe and current solo star Keisha Buchanan was sassy in a snow leopard mini dress, Beyonces sister Solange was sporting long, thick, black braids. Ladies were jostling to catch the attention of model David Gandy, Naomi’s cousin Gerry Deveux was looking sharp, Alexandra Burke repped in a fuscia pink strapless lace gown, Kelly Osborne was dynamic, in a full black gown and leather jacket, Jamie Winstone and her sister Lois Winstone (who’s in a band London-based hip hop trio Crack Village) was very cool.

JASMINE WITH KANYA KING, VANESSA AMADI AND KEISHA BUCHANAN.

Loads of fashion mag bigwig editors were in the house, retail entrepreneur and investor (Jaeger and Aquascutum) Harold Tillman, Pixie Lott who chose for the occasion a white lace cocktail dress, peaches and the other pixie who wore floor length sequined and animal print gowns , PR maven Vanessa Amadi in a 70’s Farah Fawcett look, models Jaqueta Wheeler and Jade Parfitt, Tolula Adeyemi,Tara Ferry, Otis Ferry, Isaac ferry (Bryan Ferry’s offspring) and Natt Weller, Henry Holland and so many more my head was spinning 360 degrees constantly as I continued to clock more fabulosity!

My London 360 TEAM went along to ‘Intelligent Movement: A Celebration of Hip Hop’ at the Southbank Centre last week to catch up with some of the original pioneers about the four pillars of hip hop culture and to assess how it continues to influence the community in the capital. The event was a culmination of DJ’ing, MC’ing, Breaking and Graffiti and featured a host ofevents by some of London’s leading hip hop collectives as well as crowd-pleasing international performers.We were particularly interested in looking at how this event catered to the array of musicians, poets and artists known for using hip hop as a platform to culturally and politically engage and educate their fans. Over the four-day event, London 360 heard opinions from the likes of Akala, Kate Tempest, Poetic Pilgrimage, The Peoples Army, Manny Norte, Charlie Dark, The En4orcers and primary school rap collective Power To The Pupils. MOBO award-winning UK hip-hop artist, revolutionary thinker,and my mate Akala kicked off proceedings with an animated talk which examined hip-hop and the traditional art of rapping, taking us as far back as the Medieval Malian empire. His provocative opening debate highlighted hip-hop’s cultural roots and questioned many modern-day representations, which contradicts its heritage. Most poignantly referencing some of the leading urban talent in the UK (Professor Green / Maverick Sabre) asking them to be more responsible when representing black people in their art. What followed was a successful ruffling of feathers which led to a fiery, passionate exchange by the artists on twitter.
Later that evening, the Purcell Room hosted the RAP party, presented by DJ Charlie Dark it was a celebration of Rhythm And Poetry and featured some of the best hip hop inspired poems I have ever heard. The line up was immense and the auditorium heaving. Featuring favourites such as Kate Tempest, each poet took to the stage, fully embracing the gravity of hip hop finally being recognised and celebrated by such a venue as the Southbank Centre and delivered their poignant hip-hop related poems followed by their two favourite hip hop tracks of all time. This was a unique music experience that treated hip hop fans and poetry lovers alike to some of thebest lyrics, bass licks and beats hip hop has ever been responsible for giving to the music world. A great event-we must make this a regular on the annualLondon calendar!

To finish the week I held a girlie pyjama party at my crib. We are eternally 12 years old as one of my mates once famously quoted. And then on Sunday night I drove up to London’s dance epicenter-Sadlers Wells which had been taken over by hundreds of young kids imitating pirates, fairies in  ‘’Step into dance’’.The Step Live showcase celebrated the achievement of pupils from the Step into Dance programme, which is a partnership between the Jack Petchey foundation and the Royal Academy of Dance. The night featured over 400 dancers from 26 schools including special needs schools  Walking into the Sadlers Wells reception, attendees were immediately bombarded by body poppers and break-dancers. Parents watched the talented hip-hop battles in amazement. Pupils between 11-18 years old we spoke to said dance filled them with confidence and that they found it much more fulfilling than watching television. Later On stage were contemporary, ballet dancers and body poppers in a Variety of costumes- an enchanting evening!

Now I’m off to write scripts for the team filming at the reggae festival of the year-the One love peace festival at Wembley Arena on Sunday 31st July where the line up includes; shaggy, sean paul, ky mani marley, gyptian, john holt, aswad, busta rhymes, sandra cross, levi roots, natty king, etana , skepta and more. As I caught up with Sean Paul before he flew into town he told me “I’m really looking forward to the One Love concert and performing for my UK fans…i know its been a long time and I’m anxious to show them what I’ve been up to”. Then my old pal Shaggy reached out to state  “I’m really looking forward to performing for my British fans, feels like I’ve been away from the UK for so long. Can not wait to bring Summer In Kingston to that stage!”Tony Gadd, From Aswad said: “We are thrilled to be a part of this phenomenal event. For us it is particularly special, remembering the late great Bob Marley, someone who we consider to have been a real godfather to us. London is our home so being a part of a movement to positively influence our young people through the ‘put down your guns and knife’ initiative will be an honour”. Promoter, Omari Ricketts  concluded ‘’As we mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Reggae Icon Bob Marley, the sentiments extolled through his One Love message are precisely what we want to convey through the One Love Peace Festival and being mindful of the state of our community as we watch our young people die on our streets, we want to use the powerful medium of music to educate and unite the world.”  . See you all down there!

JASMINE WITH DAVID ”HYPE-HYPE” HAYE

David Haye came, chatted enough hype talk and alas didn’t conquer. He did set himself up but isn’t that what makes a great personality? Had he not so much talk many probably wouldn’t have bothered getting into the fight anyway. He did a pretty impressive job lasting 12 rounds-something many fight experts predicted wouldn’t happen. He didn’t win this time around but he’s still a winner. The world saw him take on the champ. He put enough effort into it. He’s a proud cocky South Londoner and so his post fight talk wasn’t as gracious as it could have been. In fact his opponent whom I really wanted to dislike was such a well mannered, gracious gent I was won over in seconds. don’t write David off though. This man is a huge,ambitious personality that will be back with a vengeance. He has a big personality and a natural charm that makes us all gravitate towards him. He will take another path to his inevitable victory.

JASMINE WITH SLAUGHTER AND MAY LADIES Ngozie Azu – (Lawyer ) and Caron Johnson – (Systems Support Administrator).

A few weeks ago I received an invitation from the African & Caribbean Diversity group to attend an event that one of their corporate sponsors –law firm Slaughter and May were putting on.

Described as a ‘CityWomen’s Panel Event’ with speakers from ‘leading organisations in Banking, Legal and Marketing Sectors’ I was intrigued to go check it out as usually the inspirational panels I speak on are mostly music and entertainment industrybased. The event was up in Moorgate in the heart of the city where tall, glass and steel skyscrapers that look like a new age modern world dominate the skyline. The theme for the evening was WHY DIVERSITY MATTERS – BEING AN ETHNIC MINORITY FEMALE PROFESSIONAL IN THE CITY; this was an idea which one of the BME Network Committee member’s, Isoken Idemudia (lawyer) came up with. I raced up to the building and was ushered into a conference room full of other similarly power dressed females on a mutual mission to run the world. I was pleased to meet 2 of the organizers- both from Slaughter and May and members of the BME Network Committee, a pair of ladies that aredoing pretty well for themselves up in the high powered male dominated world of law! – both Ngozie Azu – (Lawyer ) and Caron Johnson – (Systems Support Administrator) were eagerly meeting and greeting all their guests and playing perfect hosts. After drinks and mingling we were all seated to hear a brief talk from a few selected ladies that have achieved above and beyond and their thoughts were thought provoking and made me acknowledge that we all experience the same things in our career journeys and are unified by evenings like this that prove we are not alone.

The first quote that had me relieved was by  Sarah Lee, a partner at Slaughter and May who happens to be half Chinese. She revealed that however high up the corporate ladder she goes her hands still tremble under the table!. Good to know! Another high flier- African & Caribbean diversity’s Chief Executive Brenda King MBE reminisced about her way to the top. Nigerian solicitor andPartner at Sidley Austin LLP, Elizabeth Uwaifo, said as a student her confidence was undermined when others deliberately mumbled her name but thename is now a source of confidence and strength as it is a constant reminder of her heritage and uniqueness.

Diahanne Rhiney, the Chief exec of 15 degrees told how one year early in her career she made £3billion for her then employer and got a £2000 bonus!! Outraged she set up her own business.  She spoke about why it’s not ok to stick a black or disabled person in a box. Her dedication and hard work has equaled success and she’s since been awarded many awards. . She has all the staff at her company work one day a week in the community for free as she believes in the power of giving back. Carol Lake, Managing director at JP Morgan said ‘’People have expectations of you-have your own. Plant those seeds early. Be fearless live life. Be adventurous. Have a love for humanity cos careers are great but life’s better!”

There was a Q&A session straight afterwards where the usual dilemmas of juggling family and the career dominated- (have a great house husband!), and even questions about the argument for black women having natural or relaxed hair in the workplace and how their hair has affected their careers. It was a very enlightening evening that made me feel confident about the number of strong, articulate, ambitious women of all colours that are striving for diversity and high positions in the professional world.

There was a Q&A session straight afterwards where the usual dilemmas of juggling family and the career dominated- (have a great house husband!), and even questions about the argument for black women having natural or relaxed hair in the workplace and how their hair has affected their careers. It was a very enlightening evening that made me feel confident about the number of strong, articulate, ambitious women of all colours that are striving for diversity and high positions in the professional world.

JASMINE WITH LISA MAFFIA

From one set of strong women-to another strong woman!.Something that’s affected most people’s lives is cancer. That word that fills most with dread. The sad losses that people cant understand. The miraculous ones that fought back and are still with us . A few of my nearest and dearest have lost close ones to cancer. When people in my life have been affected by it it’s been hard to know what to say. To find the right words of support and comfort. So when a long time friend-So Solid Crews lead lady Lisa Maffia revealed to me over lunch that her mother has been diagnosed I felt the familiar dry mouth of fear that I would say the wrong thing but wanted to help support her family, but how?. Lisa admirably was extremely calm and positive and in her strong as ever manner told me she was running the Race for Life on Saturday 30th July on Clapham Common with her friends and family to raise money and awareness for the cause. I was gob smacked and touched by her strength, positivity and refusal to play the ‘pity me victim’ card. As a mother herself Lisa is able to compartmentalize feelings of mother and daughter and has remained strong through her fears and emotions whilst she and her family work through this bump in the family road. If you recall So Solids turbulent, meteoric rise to the top you’ll know that Lisa has experienced a lot of things in life but she told me nothing compares to this. Lisa added ‘’It has made me realise how precious life is. Thinking about the possibility of losing my mum has shown me how important a charity like Cancer Research is and events such as Race For Life are”. Lisa told me she is looking to gain as much support through sponsorship via the Just Giving page (http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/teammaffia <http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/teammaffia> ), and I know her friends are supporting her as she goes through this challenging time.

Running in ‘’Team Maffia’’ on Clapham Common with Lisa will be her mates (Su-Elise Nash (Misteeq), Keisha Buchanan (Sugababes), Anna Richardson (Presenter), Jakki Degg (DJ & Model), Rebecca Moore (IDOL Mag Editor), Alisha White (BNTM Runner-Up), Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace (BB6 and Actress) aswell as many of her family.

You’d think with this and bringing up her daughter that she has her hands full but she’s still managing to juggle business with her ‘’House of Maffia’’ projects as well as her solo music career. She enthused “When it comes to music I’m heading in the Dubstep direction, the scene is changing rapidly each year and I’ve been waiting for a new sounds that I like and Dubstep is that sound”. About her So Solid brethren she confessed ‘’I don’t see all of them as much any more but I have love for the times we spent together, i mostly see Romeo as we still regularly work together doing clubP.A.s”. She’s also looking forward to the summer season where she’ll be visiting 9 islands and Dubai!. She takes that moment to reflect on the good old days stating, “Having no responsibilities and having fun…Why did I have to grow up-LOL!””

Despairing about the negative turn many young people are forced to take due to their circumstances Lisa says she still feels positive when she encounters the youth ‘’Young kids respond enthusiastically when they approach me, and usually the first question they ask is “What’s it like to be famous?” but I always tell them to follow their dreams and focus on being really good at whatever it is…. no need to seek fame, if you’re good, fame will follow!”

Then as we ate up and got ready to return to our respective grinds Lisa revealed ‘’look out for me in a new movie m=coming soon- I’ll be featuring in my debut film production “Devil’s Dandruff” based on books by Jason Cook in 2012 and also as a voice over in animation “Rat’s in Space” by Jason Cook & Lisa Cachia!. Go Lisa-see you on Saturday 30th on clapham common where the LONDON 360 NEWS TV crew will be filming your Race For Life!!

JASMINE WITH SHAWN CARTER AKA JIGGA AKA JAY Z.

The UK’s summer months are always chock-a-block with fabulous events all over the country and I for one wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world with London’s current social menu.
Honestly-every day there are hundreds of free or vip events taking place every few meters across the capital. What an engaging, dynamic city we live in. the world literally can be your oyster if you pay the system correctly!.
If half of this stuff had been available to my generation leaving college I might be running the BBC by now! Lol!. There are so many young people that read this column and write to me hoping to make their career path media or music related. There are as many organizations out there working hard to give young people a leg up via their educating structures and placements (LIVE, LIVITY, CATCH22, MEDIA TRUST, ETC). If you’re attempting to break into the industry now and cant there’s a glitch in YOUR matrix cos its easier now than its ever been.

I like to work hard and party hard. Life work balance is important. So as well as reading scripts and looking over edits by my LONDON 360 reporters this week, doing radio pundit call in’s with BBC radio stations as well as writing my columns-I managed to squeeze in a lil fun.

JASMINE WITH HARVEY.

Last weekend Hackney Empire played host to the now regular COMEDY ROAST UK where a well known face in the community agrees to sit on a red velvet throne for acouple of hours and get a right nasty roasting from a panel of 5 comedians. In the past victims have included Richard Blackwood, Robbie gee and Mohammed George from Eastenders. Last weekend was one that had theatre going comedy lover’s lips watering-it was time to sock it to Harvey. Yes he of the sweet boy 21 seconds so solid days that infamously wed the nations sweetheart alesha Dixon only to mess up publicly and have an affair with javine. He who seemed to get back on the career road like Chris brown post drama but still kept rubbing up people the wrong way. Anyway-alpo and the comedy roast team had convinced Harvey to get cussed for the night and oh did he! Roasters axel the entertainer, Kane Brown, Kevin J, Funmbi, Jamie Howard and roastmster compere Richard Blackwood.
Comedian Funmi just had Hackney Empire roaring with his line “I’m Nigerian-i can’t even bring a Jamaican gal home. Mum this is Marsha, “mum: she can marsh out’’.Kevin J is killed it! This lithe white comic ALWAYS has new jokes! That’s why he gets so much credibility with the mainly black audience. When Harvey first came onstage he was wearing sunglasses. Within seconds the audience forced him to take em off. Showing clearly from the start that they wanted to see the whites of his eyes as he took his verbal lashes.
Comic Axel referred to Harvey as his former band mate Nuetrino as a diss. Hilariously Nuetrino was in the audience. A double diss!. Then the comic lashed out stating that comedy roast organises had tried to get so solids main man megaman but couldn’t afford him so they settled for Harvey. Axel took it where the crowd wanted by swinging the 1st ball out of the park and going in on the harveyaleshagate scandal and continuously talked about ‘’gap tooth javine” throughout all this Harv was drinking alcohol straight from the bottle hard. I wondered how he would manage to organise a retort diss to all at the end with his brain soaked in alcohol? The cusses continued to fly thick and fast (pretty much like Harvey). ‘’ In So Solid videos I didn’t know if I was watching you and Romeo or Brokeback Battersea” (Funmbi) .  “Harvey reps South London but was born in Devon-how gangsta is that!” (Funmbi).
All the comics were mean but it was newcomer Jamie Howard who really shone with his original lyrics! Sharp cusses! Hilarious material! Jamie had a tight set with a joke every second!
Impressively, at the end when it was Harv’s time to cussback, he cussed Richard Blackwood for his bankrupt days, joked about giving the white comedians equal opps and impressively gave as good as he got in an articulate manner.
I’ve always thought Harvey was wasted and held back by his own issues. He has so many options and doors open to him. So many wasted opportunities. I’ve clashed with him in the past when we worked together. He had the decency to admit his errors and apologise. I do admire his passion but I wonder if it will all end in his pain.
Harv finished off by thanking everyone and requesting the crowd (not begging) to buy his new single featuring Gyptian. Out July 21st (gotta give a broke brother a break with a plug!)

Sony Music kick started the week with a fabulous function. The New Bond Street Armani Store was transformed into a mini music festival  – albeit a VIP one complete with Vodka cocktails and fashionista’s! In amongst the uber expensive clothing rails with not a pair of Wellington boots or a drop of mud to be seen, only chic biker jackets, skinny jeans and killer heels graced this crowd!! The music and fashion crowd when not air kissing and tweeting on I-phones, managed to enjoy great performances by 3 sony music acts- Oh Land, Lissie and Aloe Blacc. Food and drinks were being served for a specially invited VIP audience of only 200 guests and even though indie or country music isn’t usually my bag, I had to admit that live music in all it’s forms is always impressive when coupled with fabulousness people and fake grass carpets!.

JASMINE WITH MISS KNOWLES AKA QUEEN B AKA BEYONCE.

Then as if to cement their status as the record label that has always thrown the most fabulous parties they kicked in another goal by restaging Beyonces Battersea Gas Station party in a quick 3 days (Battersea couldn’t guarantee safety for stage weight etc), Sony brought the party home to West London at Shepherds Bush Empire where you knew something big was about to go down when the whole of West London’s roads became gridlocked in the early evening. Very big black cars that are so expensive we cant pronounce their names lined up all around shepherds bush green as A Listers all stepped out to watch Beyonce perform a 30 minute set. I know I’ve said VIP before but seriously even I was impressed to speechless! Stepping out of their various modes of transport were folks whohave probably never stepped outside of their Mayfair square mile were designer and guru Tom Ford, designer Ozwald Boating with his daughter, designer Patrick Cox, Piers Morgan, Ridley Scott, Stella McCartney, designer Matthew Williamson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ewan McGregor, Johnny Lee Miller, Jude Law and more. Inside were hip-hop business legend Steve Stoute and Faisel Durrani, Wretch32, Tinie Tempah, Adele, Alexandra Burke, Alexis Jordan,JLS, Jessie J, Julian MacDonald, Mr Hudson, Pixie Lott and more. Can you see now why if Shepherds Bush were scooped up in a cyclone and disposed of half of the showbiz industry as we know it would’ve been extinct! Not even the BRIT AWARDS has a guest list like this!

JASMINE WITH ROC NATION NEXT BIG STAR-LADBROKE GROVES FINEST-RITA ORA!

I knew it was a real big deal when you saw the industry legends that had come out to play. Sony music past and present were in full force and it was an impressive army of music power players that have shaped our charts in recent years. They all came out to honour Queen Bee and included Jim Sabey, Jodie Dalmeda, Mervyn Lynn, Matt Ross, Fiona Ramsey, Carl Fysh, Gary Deny and Gordy Hagan. Beyonce came on quite late but no one cared as it was like a huge catch up party in the venue. When she did make her grand entrance in her favourite canary yellow mini dress and sexy silver stilettos the crowd erupted. They’d already become hysterical spotting Jigga in the balcony and chanted Jay Z like the best football fans would. Bey played a few songs from her new album Beyoncé’s 4 in a very high-energy show! Plus several well know chart hits by other musicians, such as The Sex, It Is On Fire by The Kings Of Leon and Bohemian Rhapsody by The Freddie Mercuries. A great moment was when she sang Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (Mama)-as her mama Tina Knowles sat with her son-in-law Jay to watch their girl do her thing.
At the VVIP after party- for only 100 people, DJ Jarren C (BANGFM RDAIO and regular celeb party spinner) , spun the music in the very small backstage bar. This bar is legendary and usually looks like a grimy, old pit. Tonight it had what looked like the blingiest 60 second make over and was transformed into a sexily lit, white fur/animal skin rugs, leopard print curtained, red rose laden glam pit!. To add to the intimacy-even though the bar is tiny-it was full of A-LISTERS yet still spacey showing how exclusive this lil get together was! To my right were Tom Ford and Stella McCartney, to my left Jigga, very immaculate Bey and team RocNation. All around me were players at the top of their game. Ozwald introduced his daughter to Stella and Jay. Gwyneth chatted and laughed with Jay. Rita Ora attempted to fend off many an admirer. Adele was so keen to sit with team Jigga that even though therewere no seats available in the area she plonked herself down on the floor!. Mr Hudson wore an interesting jazz shoe and 3 quarter length trouser combo. Love Alexandra Burke but many were saying she needed to calm her hype as she wasclearly very over excitable in this room of her peers yet she was clearly not relaxed enough around them to just be cool. Early in the night when Jay and I were speaking I thought it only polite to introduce him to those standing eagerly next to me dying for him to simply acknowledge their existence. After he graciously shook hands with them al it was like the Obama effect with them all gushing and high with delight. One even kept exclaiming ‘’oh my gosh-his hands are so soft-its as if they’ve been bathed in silk!’’ LOL. One thing that was intriguing was that both Beyonce and Jay’s recently signed act Rita Ora were wearing practically the same red suit and high heels combo outfit and both flanked him when seated so it looked like a scene fresh out of an old blackspoitation movie. Expectedly there were a few music industry newbies and oldies who still hadn’t learnt that at a function like this its not very polite, credible or classy to stand around Bey and Jay like stalkers and gawp or try and get a picture. Before the party the record label folks had addressed their concern about guests that might do this not being of the right caliber and true to force, a few heads that managed to get in still forced their way into his space. Awkward and cringe.com. They’ll learn one day bless them.