HEY OUTTOWNERS!

Its THAT TIME AGAIN!!

TIME TO Get TOWNED!!!

This week, for many school age children, it was Back to School. The bell has sounded and class is in session!

DONT FORGET TO RSVP TO:

The team of Ma'atology Productions and Makeover For A Cause is back for a third installment of the star studded MISTA COUTURE CHARITY STYLE CONTEST to find out which gent in the STL area got some "sense" in style. Come check out some of the STL's style kings and see who will win bragging rights and a trip to NYC to walk in OLA STYLE fashion show during a NYC Fashion Week.

It will be hosted by New York native/STL based stylist Ola, Marcus Ma'at Atkins of OUTTOWN Blogspot and Hypeman Dwight Stone of KATZ 1600. The contest will be judged by Tan Hollywood of Hollywood Modeling Productions, STL TV's Christia Parker, designer of Moda Christia Fashions and we are speaking with native fashion designer AJ Thouvenot of Season 8 of the hit show "Project Runway."

Sexy IN STL TV will film the show for future broadcast!

Please RSVP by August 20th to manfashionshow@yahoo.com

so we can guarantee you a seat.

Tickets ARE $10 AND PARTS OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO MAKEOVER FOR A CAUSE FOUNDATION Go to http://www.mommemakeover.net/

THE BIG ILLI MO A&E STORY THIS WEEK: President Barack Obama’s Midwest Economic Bus Tour this week. The new sleek black bus, dubbed the Obamabus, was a road version of Air Force One, an imposing vehicle with mixed U.S. and Canadian heritage. Obama went through southern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa and closed at various small towns in western Illinois (including Alpha, Atkinson and Morrison)--all states he carried in 2008. Nearly 1,000 US flags lined the streets Wednesday of Atkinson, Ill., for the arrival of Obama which according to reports were more than there were people who actually live there..During his last stops in Illinois he held two town hall meetings in Alpha and Atkinson talking about his economic plan for his upcoming re-election. During his last day of his tour on Wednesday, the White House reported that the President will deliver a major speech on the economy shortly after Labor Day. Obama returned to Washington, D.C. Wednesday night to start his vacation.

Talk about a tour. If this isn’t reminiscent of a rock tour, we don’t know what is. How cool is it that Obama is chauffeured around in the first bus version of Air Fore One!

In unrelated Obama newz, he will be at the memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The dedication at the national mall is happening on Sunday, August 28th in Washington, DC. Also attending will be ST Louis born poet/educator Dr. Maya Angelou.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As expected, the much publicized and hyped duo CD “Watch The Throne” with rap superstars Chicago bred Kanye West and Jay Z earned a #1 debut on the sales chart on Billboard Magazine this week with 436,000 copies sold, according toNielsen SoundScan. This marks the second-largest sales week of the year for any album, behind only Lady Gaga's Born This Way, which started with 1.1 million right out of the gate. The rappers sold a huge chunk of their album digitally, as Watch The Throne reportedly sold 321,000 downloads, marking the second-largest digital week ever (also coming in behind Born This Way). Billboard reports that Throne broke iTunes' one-week sales record with nearly 290,000 copies sold through the retailer. It surpassed the previous iTunes record that was set by Coldplay with 2008's Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends, which shifted 282,000 iTunes downloads in its first week. The collaborative effort also marks the 12th #1 album for Jay-Z and the fifth for West. The CD also debuts at No. 1 on the R&B and Rap Albums chart

The CD so far has three singles that are charting on the Hot 100 which include the first official single, “Otis:” (that is currently at No. 36 after peaking at No. 12. It moves up to No. 7 on the R&B –Hip Hop charts) and two debuts on this week’s Billboard chart: “Who Gon Stop me” at No. 44 and “Niggas in Paris” at No. 75. West also has a fourth single on the chart “E.T” the former No.1 single with Katy Perry that is at No. 32

In unrelated Ye newz, The Maybach: The German luxury car that got gets sliced and diced with a blowtorch and power saw in Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Spike Jonze directed video “Otis” are planning to auction the Frankenbach off for charity: The vehicle used in this video will be offered up for auction. Proceeds will be donated towards the East African drought disaster.

In more Ye newz, he was a surprise addition to a Prince concert in Sweden recently. Kanye joined Prince onstage during his performance. West didn't perform with Prince, but he did take the mic to yell, "Now everybody throw your hands in the sky right now. Let me hear you say, if you feel alright, say hell yeah!"

Chicago native and Emmy award winning talk show co-host of “The View” Sherri Shepherd tied the knot at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago last weekend, marrying TV writer, Lamar ‘Sal’ Sally. Shepherd’s wedding featured eight bridesmaids including celebrity friends and co-workers Elisabeth Hasselback, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kym Whitley, and Niecy Nash.

When it came time to walk down the aisle, Shepherd was reportedly accompanied by her six-year-old son Jeffery, a move that had more than one meaning.

“I want Lamar to know that when my son walks me down the aisle, you’re not only getting me, but you’re getting this little boy,” Sherri explained to People magazine earlier this year. “He’s going to give me away because it’s symbolic that he’s giving me away for this man to protect me and protect him.”

Sherri and Lamar got engaged last December when he presented her with a three carat princess cut diamond, following their courtship of nearly a year.

For more details regarding the happy couple’s special day, the Style network captured the whole event with their cameras and will air the highlights as one-hour special, Wedding Fabulous: Sherri Shepherd Gets Married, on September 13.

________________________________________________

Folks are talking about Rolling Stone Magazine;s recent list of the Kings of Hip Hop and placing St. Joseph. Mo native rap superstar Eminem at the top as the King of hip-hop. Rolling Stone has made the proclamation based on several categories and numbers from sales and Grammys to social media followers, Billboard presence, airtime play and more. Coming in second place to Em was Lil Wayne, followed by Drake in at third. Kanye West and Jay-Z came in at fourth and fifth. And placing six was Nicki Minaj the only woman on the Kings list.

What do you think? Should Em be No. 1. It’s kind of “Elvisey” if ya get our drift.

++++++++

Speaking of polls. Oak Park, Ill,.native and Emmy Award winning actress Betty White, has been named the most popular and most trusted celebrity with Americans and the person most likely to drive up the business of a brand she might choose to endorse, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday. White scored an 86 percent favorable opinion, beating Oscar winners Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Clint Eastwood in the survey of the 100 most popular personalities. She easily edged out Britain's Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (5th), Oprah Winfrey (6th), and U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (15th) in the most trusted personalities ranking.Some 44 percent of those questioned said they would be more likely to do business with a company if White endorsed it.

NBA great and celebrity star Dennis Rodman was inducted into the Naismith Memorin NBA Hall of Fame ceremonies held in Springfield, Mass, last Friday, Rodman, who played with the Chicago Bulls from 1996-98 during the height of his flamboyant hairstyles and dress, was accompanied by coach Phil Jackson who coached Roadman during his stint in Chicago. His teary and emotional wrought speech was focused mainly on his life as a father to his children.

It seems as though Chicago native and award winning singer/actress Jennifer Hudson has been making more newz lately for her weight loss than her career. She has been reported as saying that she was more prouder for her 80 pound weight loss than for winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls.” She also said that when she was heavier, she didn’t consider herself plus size because of where she was raised where being a size 16 was normal.

There has also been talk that J Hud supposedly has diva attitude. Rumors are circulating that after she won the Oscar, her attitude changed over night. According to insiders, she can be unapproachable, arrogant and belligerent.

Then J Hud when H.A.M. on a tweeter on Twitter recently involving her weight loss. She was taken to task by a Twitter recently for recent claims that she is a size zero, with the follower questioning her weight-loss methods: "Did you get surgery to assist in your weight loss? Or is it all weight watchers?"

In the Tweets back and forth, the user eventually told Hudson: "B**** you have crows feet, laugh lines, your knees knocked, and on the Essence cover you had stretch marks. Do you really?"

He also attacked her fiancé (and father of Hudson's two-year-old son), David Otunga, saying: "Your husband is gay, everybody knows but your blind a**. But you can't see that because your starving a** is going nuts."

Hudson hit back at the fan, tweeting: "lol u funny! Thank u for your hate n clearly the gym ain't working for u cuz u look a mess" before finishing the exchange by adding: "watch what u say cuz I might have to buy a plane/flight n come show u some of my southside n then come back home to where . . . your not!"

WORDZ TO THE WHYZ: Wow, why would J Hud even bother tweeting back to him.?And it’;s a him not a her that tweeted it! Snap. LOL .

As far as her career, Hudson's Winnie Mandela biopic will debut in theaters this fall

"It's going to The Toronto International Film Festival on September 16, I'm so excited," Hudson told Chicago’s WGCI radio station's morning show of the release date for "Winnie." "I just got to see the film for myself."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

There were mixed reactions from opinionmakers regarding the decision by the committee of the Bud Billiken’s festivities to make Chicago native and R&B superstar /producer R Kelly the honorary Grand Marshall in this year’s parade that his the precursor to the beginning of school after the summer. in his hometown last weekend amid his checkered past with the now infamous child pornography charge ad his admittance that he can barely read. Nevertheless, his fans had nothing but love for the superstar who is currently healing from a removed abcess inside his throat,. Families cheered for Kelly as he waved at them while being carried on a float as his blared from a sound system.

What do you think? Do you think The R should have been part of a parade which involved children and promoting education? We say why not. No one is perfect and why should we frown up on the committee’s decision. It’s a parade, not his bedroom.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chicago native actress LisaRaye McCoy says she is not the reason Stacey Dash got fired from the VH1 show Single Ladies. LisaRaye sent the world a message while vacationing in Italy. She says the decision to let Dash go was a network decision.

We smell a PR move goin on!

ILLI Mo REALITY

On the reality show based competition programs our STL reps are still advancing in the in their places singer Amber Bullock made the Top 3 last Sunday on BET’s Sunday Best as two singers were eliminated and fashion designer Laura Kathleen on Lifetimes Project Runway this Thursday had Immunity this week for winning the challenge last week so she automatically advanced to the next round. She is now in the Top 12 . .

THE BIG STL NEWZ STORY THIS WEEK IS:

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder this week addressed the talk in regards to his involvement with a stripper with a round of interviews for the media.

His explanation, via the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Kinder said he saw Chapman again earlier this year when he stopped at the bar she was working at to use the bathroom. He said he ordered a glass of wine and recognized her when she asked him to pose for a photograph.

He said the photograph "took a split second." He said he did not ask Chapman to email it to him, and that he does not know how it came to be published in the Riverfront Times.

Kinder, a Cape Girardeau, Mo native, also said he's only been to the cabaret (DIAMOND in Sauget)10 times since the mid-1990s and stopped visiting after he realized it was inconsistent with his Christian upbringing.

Kinder, who is widely expected to run for governor next year, said he first visited Diamond Cabaret in Sauget after a baseball game in St. Louis when he was a state senator in the mid-1990s..

Even after the story, questions about the nature of his relationship with Tammy Chapman remain.

Left unaddressed in the article is the more serious allegation leveled in the Riverfront Times that Kinder aggressively pursued Chapman and became rough with her during private dances.

It's also unclear if Kinder was asked about whether he ever approached Chapman to move in to his Brentwood condo that's paid for by his campaign committee.

The woman, Tammy Chapman, this month told the Post-Dispatch and other media outlets that Kinder was a frequent customer and sometimes made her uncomfortable in a Sauget strip club in the mid-1990s. The Riverfront Times earlier this month published a photograph of Chapman with the lieutenant governor.

So the question now is, will this affect his candidacy to run for Governor of Missouri next year? Well, if former President Bill Clinton survived his wondering eye and “third leg” during his term of office, we are sure that Kinder will be OK. We are sure we wont get the full details because he is not accused of anything, but being an adult. Now the allegations on his condo being paid with political funds could be u for a hearing no doubt, but being a heterosexual red blooded man who is single isn’t against the law.

The St. Louis Rams had its pre-season exhibition game Sunday at Edward Jones Dome losing to the Arizona Cardinals Opener on a 17-13 scored game. Larry Fitzgerald caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, helping the Arizona Cardinals spoil a solid debut by No. 1 pick Sam Bradford
Steve Breaston caught seven passes for 132 yards and Tim Hightower and LaRod Stephens-Howling combined for 103 yards rushing for an offense without Beanie Wells (knee).The Rams (0-1) displayed daring on Bradford's 1-yard touchdown pass to Laurent Robinson on the final play of the half to tie it at 10. Their next game will be against the Tennessee titans Aug 20 also at Edward Jones Dome.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Former Mizzou grad, and St Louis native and current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiverJeremy Maclin reported back to the practic efield this week after his recent health scare. Several tests concluded the Missouri native is not suffering from a debilitating condition. Maclin had started showing symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, night sweats, and other symptoms in February, but has been feeling better as of late. Though the Eagles do now know what exactly caused the symptoms, major illnesses like lymphoma were ruled out after tests came back negative

He had missed all of training camp due to the illness

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The St. Louis Cards will begin a three-game series starting Friday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field,

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The former Del Taco building in Midtown will not be demolitoned but will be attarcting new businesses to the facility. The developer of the property, Rick Yackey, who owns the building and nearby Council Plaza reportedly spoke to about 15 people at the building, during an informational meeting Wednesday nite called by Alderman Marlene Davis. ,

Jeff Vines, who helped rally support for the building, said it was great to hear the building would be kept mostly intact as a new owner was found.

"We have a great opportunity to do something awesome that will become a focal point in the city," said Vines,in a recent St Louis Post story, wearing a "Save the Saucer" T-shirt.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Popular nightclub Envy got burned down Tuesday morning following the Industry Niights bartending event there. Florissant police say Envy Ultra Lounge has had troubles in the past with unruly patrons.

So far, the cause of the fire has not been determined. The Florissant Valley Fire Protection District's chief said it appears the fire started inside the entryway on the side of the club facing Parker Road. They are investigating every possible cause, from electrical to a smoldering cigarette, even arson.

Authorities said the club closed at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, and 45 minutes later passing motorists called in the two-alarm blaze.

No one was inside, no one was hurt, but Envy is heavily damaged.

Florissant Police said Envy, which is temporarily closed, has had troubles lately. His officers respond to calls of disturbances at the nightclub so often, the city set a hearing for later this month to discuss Envy's business license. The owners of Envy are accused of failure to keep an orderly place so the city had summoned the owner to plead his case on the accusations

There is a hearing set for August 25th which could result in the business license being suspended or revoked.

Hmmm, it is quite interesting that the fire occurred soon before the owner, Phil Assets (nee-Apines) was set for a hearing on his business license. Assets just purchased the club from former owner Jon Burns a few weeks ago. This is the second instance of Assets being involved in license issues , the other indirectly involving the closing of Lure Nightclub in downtown St Louis and the owners, The Trupino family, closing it after disturbances and shootings outside the club last fall which caused the city to close it down and their renaming it Club Amnesia. Regardless soft how the fire happened, it seems a though the hearing is still going to take place and if the city rules to shut it down—well, it s already shut down from the fire. We will see what happened but if arson was the case, it doesn’t look good for the owners.

GrammY Award winning country superstar Taylor Swift (picture by RiverfrontTimes) current tour stopped in St Louis last wekened at the Scott Trade Center show. A reviewer from the RFT said:

Although Swift's constant costume changes and frequent running across a massive stage set-up found her voice occasionally breathless and a tad reedy, that voice spent most of the night belting out naïve lyrics, usually in an accent between her own and Dolly Parton's, with a surprisingly experienced fervor. And you can say what you will about her poptastic songwriting, but the 21-year-old future diva plays guitar, piano, ukulele and a pretty mean banjo.The theatrics were equally diverse.”

And Much to the surprise of the St Louis audience, she sang Nelly's "Just a Dream" as well.

Speaking of Nelly, the St. Louis bred rap mogul will perform Labor Day Weekend Sept 4th in a concert dubbed "Nelly" Live on The Lake (@ The Horny Toad Lake of the Ozarks. with special performances by St. Lunatics, Dolowite, Chingy, Jibbs, Gena, Nikko Smith, Dr. Zhivegas, MoTre, Via Sleep and more. Log in towww.nellyfest.com for ticket and lodging info. Get your tickets now for the largest Labor Day Concert Period!!!!! Advance tickets $35 Gen Admission $60 VIP

In related newz, Nelly will make an appearance at Big Terrence b-day party at The Broadway this Friday nite after his concert at The Pageant .

CELEB-SITE

Deb Peterson of the St. Louis Post reported that actor Eric Roberts and singer/actress Nia Peeples are living in the St Louis area filming a movie in the "23 Minutes to Midnight," which is being produced by locally based Pirate Pictures Deb reported that the stars and the other cast are staying at the The Cheshire on Clayton Road in Richmnd Heights

Emmy Award winning actor/activist Michael J. Fox is one of the major headliners of Southeast Missouri State University's speaker series for 2011 and 2012. The university says Fox will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. His talk is titled "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist." The other headliner is former St Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner who will speak in February 2012.

Pop/rock singer John Waite will perform at the Old Rock House Sept. 12

The Bangles and Lucinda Williams are new concerts coming to the Pageant in October . The Bangles perform Oct. 8 and Lucinda Williams Oct. 12,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

According to WDAS-FM’s website, R&B singer Johnny Gill’s latest comeback may have hit a snag. He is being sued by the owner of his new record label Notifi Records after going off on Twitter. He called the owner, Ira Dewitt, a deranged nut. He says she deliberately leaked tracks from his new CD. At 45, Gill was hoping this would be his latest comeback, but many people say this was not a good career move.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Grammy Award winning St Lunatics member Murphy Lee is gearing up for his "WINE & WOMEN TOUR" STL AT THE OLD ROCKHOUSE AUG 31ST GO TO HTTP://METROTIX.COM TO BUY UR TICKETS TODAY..

Grammy Award nominated Chicago native singer Syleena Johnson will headline for Café Soul’s 5^th Anniversary at The Loft Sept. 16

East St . Louis native actress Ginger Brown reprised her role as a Capricorn Nightclub waitress this week the ABC on soap opera “One Life to Live”

The St. Louis filmed movie “Streetballers” , starring St. Louis native and former NBA player Jimmy Mckinney and director Matthew Krentz, recently aired on BET

There has been some radio shakeups at Radio One’s stations Foxy 895 and more recently Hot 104.1.

SUCH AS

This week dee-jay DJ Sno got fired and DJ Finsta’s popular weekly Sunday Home Jamz segment got cancelled. The reason for their firing has yet to be disclosed but OUTTOWN is not at liberty to disclose it as of this blogging but it has been scooped that Finsta may return at a later date. .

ALSO:

A week ago, Hot 104 program director Mickey J (FAR LEFT) got fired and will be replaced by Boogie D, who was originally replaced by Mickey J in 2009. In April, Foxy 95 personality Niecy Davis (who reported to Mickey J--PICTURED LEFT)) was fired after the station went to a more interactive playlist based on listener’s choices. The only remaining local personality is Megan OMG

Last week we erred that recent NFL Hall of Famer and former St Louis Rams player Marshall Faulk was on the cover of this month’s; issue of Delux. Well, much to our err, it is not Faulk on the cover but former Rams layer and Youth Line America Foundation chair Roland Williams.

Last weekend, there was a grand re-opening of the Ethiopian-owned Sheba’s Restaurant on 6605 Olive.

++++++++++++++++

STL singer/musician Kenny Deshields filmed a music video this week for his single, “:I Love You I Do” on the J Bucks Rooftop in downtown St Louis with Johnny Andrews of the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Lastly, Hella Fly Promotions promoter Dano Johnson is recovering well from gunshot wounds he encountered by assailants last week after leaving a nightspot. He posted the folliwng comment on his Facebook Page recently: Good Morning Don't Matter How I'm Feeling Cause I'm Still Healing... Let's Go Today I Wanna Pray 4 Anybody Going Thru Losing A Loved One..... Or Anybody Who's Lost A House Or A Place Of Business Please Pour UR Blessings On Them.....I Also Pray That I Continue To Heal Properly & Have A Great Recovery In JESUS Name Amen....Have A Blessed Day :

LOOK LIXE

STL native model Paris Caldwell (RIGHT) and Grammy Award winning singer/guitarist India.Arie

BLIND DISHZ. Which rising rap star may make an appearance at the 3^rd Annual Mista Couture Contest this Sunday?

HINT. He just made national news on a music video involving the current “direction of rap music.”

PRO-MO-CIAL-I-CIOUS. Which STL movers and shakers are getting it in this week? Singer Silky Sol and fashion stylist/event promoter Ola (TIE) and Missouri Black Expo founder Tom bailey and rap mogul Nelly (TIE)

Silky Sol. (FAR LEFT) This energetic sista will be one of the co-hosts of the 20^th annual Missouri Black Expo (SEE EVENTZ BEOW) at the America’s Center Saturday and Sunday (she also will perform that Sunday). She will also get in her weekly weekend singing spots at her "GROWN A$$ FOLKS"""PARTY""EARLY ON SATURDAYS"'AT THE AVENUE"" and """"BRINGING THE ""HOT SAUCE"" TO THE LION'S DEN BAR AND GRILL (formerly 50 YARD LINE) on Sunday

Ola.(LEFT) This classy New York native continues to get it in with her fashion promotion of her design OLA Style. This weekend, on Sunday, she will be highlighted during the Missouri Black Expo’s Fashion segment and later that night (SEE EVENTZ BELOW) , she will co-host the show Mista Couture (SEE BITZ ABOVE) that she co-produced that will take place at The Mandarin.

Tom Bailey, (RIGHT)This gent is celebrating the 20^th year of his being the CEO of the successful Missouri Black Expo that will take place at The America’s Center in downtown St Louis,. Prior to the Saturday and Sunday activities (SEE EVENTZ BELO\W) , there was a meet and greet of the vendors and celebrities who are scheduled to participate this year that took place Thursday at the Roberts Tower.

Nelly. (FAR RIGHT) This rap mogul and superstar will be on site in the St Louis area this weekend. First he will perform at a charity concert entitled Heart of A Champion (SEE EVENTZ BELOW) for Vatterot College Friday night at the Pageant. Later that night he will be the guest at event promoter Big Terrence b-day party at The Broadway (SEE EVENTZ BELOIW) And it was just announced recently that he will headline a concert at the Lake of the Ozarks Sept 4. (SEE BITZ ABOVe)

WORDZ TO THE WHYZ??????????????????????????????????

Why folk split on Rolling Stone calling Eminem the King of Hp Hop? Why is will smith coming out with another album? Why did Rush Limbaugh call Obama, Or-Bameo as in Oreo? Why isn’t Holly Robinson Peete on “The Talk”:anymore? Why didn’t Ashton Kutcher reveal his investment in Internet companies when he did the story about it in Details Magazine? Why did Abercrombe and Fitch wanted The Situation to stop wearing their clothes? Why did the husband to "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Taylor Armstrong commit suicide? Why did all of a sudden The View’s Joy Behar get married after living with her boyfriend for nearly 30 years especially after she was vehemently against marriage on the show? And why did she get married during the same time of her co-host college Sherri Shepherd? .Why did Kobe Bryant get bollistic in church injuring the wrist of the guy who he thought took his pic with a cell phone? Why isn’t STL based singer Silky Sol a national recording artist on the blues scene? Why did rapper The Game cause a jam up the LA County phone line? Why are folk up in arms that R Kelly was the Grand Marshall to the Back to School Bud Billiken Parade? And why haven’t you RSVP’s to Mista Couture yet? LOL email manfashionshow@yahoo.com before Aug 20!

MO ILLI MO EVENTZ THIS WEEK

STL LEOians B-DAZEs. Rapper Ebony Eyez Williams (PICTURED), City officer Charles Bryson, promoter Big Terrence, dee-jay Dj Enoch, actor Duane Martin Foster, promoter April Spencer, rapper/promoter J Grynd, photographer Jeffrey Wilson, singer Tiffany Glasco, journalist Byron Lee, and actor Jaron Hicks,

MEDIA NIGHT for ISSUES OF LOVE

brought by JPEK CreativeWorks and Dwayne Bess Group

Thursday, August 18 · 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Location

Syndicate Lofts

915 Olive Street

4th floor / Media Theater Room

Come and join us Thursday August 18, 2011 for a sneak preview of Issues of Love, hosted by Nicole Colbert and Facilitated by Vickie Newton. This exclusive event will occur at the Syndicate Lofts, downtown St. Louis, 915 Olive Street, 4th floor Media/Theater room.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stl Black Pride will host its activities at INDIGO HOTEL - COMFORT INN SUITES

4630 Lindell This Friday is The Black Pride Opening Reception & Kick-Off Party @ Indigo/Comfort Inn 4630 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, Mo. 63108.. Time 7pm-10pm Reception & Kick-Off Party w/D.J. Enoch & St. Louis' Finest Entertainment 10pm-1:00a.m. $ Donation. The play SNAP HONEY will be performed Saturday there at 5p.m.

For more info on other activities go to http://www.st-louisblackpride.org

MISSOURI BLACK EXPO MAIN STAGE LINE UP

HOSTS:

Bonita Cornute – KTVI Fox 2

Arvin Mitchell, National Comedian

Silky Sol, Soul & Blues Artist

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 2011

9:55 a.m. Opening Ceremonies Drumline Drum Corp Opener

Harris Stowe State University Drumline – Music Director – C. Gooden

10:00 a.m. Opening Prayer with Pastor Michael Jones – Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church

11:00 a.m. Prizes & Exhibit giveaways at MBE!

12:15 p.m. MBE Literary Corner presented by Hue-man Books and Café & Missouri Lottery:

Deborah Gregory, Toya Carter, Farrah Gray, Tanya Wright, Tony Johnson, Keli Goff, Patrick Shaffer, Sharon McGhee

1:30 p.m. St. Louis Community Credit Union presents:

"Building a Legacy: Financial Empowerment in the African-American Community"

Moderator: Carol Daniel of KMOV-TV and KMOX

Patrick Adams – Pres/CEO -- St. Louis Community Credit Union

Chris Krehmeyer – Pres/CEO – Beyond Housing

Eric Madkins – Senior Housing Director, Urban League

S. Wray Clay – VP, Community Development – United Way

MISSOURI BLACK EXPO YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT

3:05 p.m. Young Prince (Youth Hip-Hop rapper)

3:15 p.m. Teen Swag USA – Evolution of Music (vocals and dance)

3:25 p .m. Team Ex-Clusive (youth hip-hop rap artists/dancers)

MBE MUSICFEST Presented by Missouri Lottery, Lumiere Place Casino, River City Casino, &

3:35 p.m. 2011 MBE Musicfest presents Notifi Records own – Lonny Bereal

(New Single Release featuring Kelly Rowland – "FAVOR")

4:00 p.m. 2011 MBE MUSIC FEST presents Legend of Hip-Hop -- Kurtis Blow!

4:30 p.m. Motre (Male R&B Group)

4:45 p.m. MaTiff Dance and Entertainment Company featuring choreography by Loreznzo "Zoey" Earl & Ebony "Blaque" Bryant

5:00 p.m. "Let's Be Heard" Music Concert presented by NAACP --

National Hip- Hop Recording Artists: Huey, Gena, Oops, Sevin Li, Little St. Louis, Forever

Hosted by St. Louis’s Own – Tony J

FASHION SEGMENT

5:45 p.m. Ambition, Inc. – Designer: Kyle Collier (St. Louis, MO) w/special guest live performance

6:15 p.m. Overton Vaughn Carter Clothing Line (Chicago, Illinois)

featuring Aloha Mischeaux

Stage Set Up – Live Band

7:00 p.m. Tiffany Elle (Female Pop and R&B Vocalists – Live Band)

8:00 p.m. Show Closes

HOSTS:

Bonita Cornute – KTVI Fox 2

Arvin Mitchell, National Comedian

Silky Sol, Soul & Blues Artist

+++++

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011

10:00 a.m. 2011 Missouri Black Expo’s City Wide Church Service hosted by:

TRINITY MOUNT CARMEL – Pastor Charles Roach

11:30 a.m. .12:00 p.m. 2011 Missouri Black Expo’s City Wide Church Service hosted by:

TRINITY MOUNT CARMEL – Pastor Charles Roach

12:30 p.m. Celebrity Health Speaker brought to you by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Company

National Gospel Recording Artists: Yolanda Adams!

12:45 p.m. Black Slope Music’s own National Gospel Artists – Ernest Pugh album Earnestly Yours with the hit singles “Rain on Us” and “I Need Your Glory”

1:00 p.m. Eli Lilly -- (Diabetes Presentation)

1:35 p.m. MBE Literary Corner presented by Hue-man Books and Café & Missouri Lottery:

Deborah Gregory, Toya Carter, Farrah Gray, Tanya Wright, Tony Johnson, Keli Goff, Patrick Shaffer

2:35 p.m. Genarld and Family – Live Gospel Band/Choir

3:00 p.m. Gospel Rap Artists: -- Scooda Thomas

3:10 p.m. Youth Female vocalists – Morgan Palmer

3:15 p.m. 2011 Missouri Black Expo Praise Dance Festival

MBE Gospel Choir Explosion! Presented by Verizon How Sweet The Sound

4:15 p.m. FRIENDLY TEMPLE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH MASS CHOIR

MOUNT ZION MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH MASS CHOIR

4:40 p.m. Black Slope Music’s own National Gospel Artist – Shawn McLemore with new album

“One Percent Miracle – Any Minute Now”

5:05 p.m. Fashions Show at MBE featuring:

Ola Styles, Inc. presenting Mom*Me*Makeover Fashion

5:30 p.m. Sponsorship Recognition/presentation – Mr. Tom Bailey

6:00 p.m. 2011 MBE MUSIC FEST presented by Missouri Lottery

Notifi Records National Recording artist -- Johnny Gill

6:45 p.m. SWAN ENFLYTE LIVE BAND (Funk, Pop, and Hip-Hop)

8:00 p.m. Expo Closes

We thank you for the opportunity to provide activities that enhance our citizens of the State of Missouri. Please give me us call with further questions at 314 361-5772

Nelly's The Heart of a Champion Scholarship Fundraiser for Vatterot College will be held on August 20th 7 p.m at The Pageant. Companies and individuals who are interested in purchasing sponsorship tickets may inbox TEAM TOPHER at topher@derrtyent.com or abesipr@gmail.com for more info. Please request your tickets to support our future leaders today