Monthly Archives: January 2011

OMEKA POLK: THAT’S ‘MS. POLK’ TO YOU

Posted by admin on January 30, 2011 None comments

By Shamora Evans

ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: LEO

MEASUREMENTS: 34-27-41

S.T.I.L.L.: AT WHAT AGE DID YOU BEGIN MODELING, AND WHAT TYPE(S) OF MODEL ARE YOU?

OMEKA: I STARTED MODELING WHEN I WAS 19, HOWEVER, I BECAME MORE SERIOUS ABOUT MODELING WHEN I WAS 25. ALTHOUGH I LOVE TO PUSH MYSELF, AND I’M UP FOR ANY CHALLENGE, WHEN IT COMES TO MODELING, I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF A FASHION AND URBAN/EYE CANDY MODEL.

S.T.I.L.L.: DID YOU ATTEND A MODELING SCHOOL, OR WERE YOU “DISCOVERED”?

OMEKA: NO, I NEVER ATTENDED A MODELING SCHOOL. I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT MODELING JUST CAME NATURALLY. I KNEW A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT BELIEVED IN ME AND WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH ME AND GUIDE ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

S.T.I.L.L.: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A VIDEO MODEL, OR WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER BEING A VIDEO MODEL?

OMEKA: I HAVE ONLY BEEN AN EXTRA IN ONE VIDEO, HOWEVER, I AM NOT AGAINST BEING A VIDEO MODEL AS LONG AS IT IS TASTEFUL. EVEN THOUGH I MAY TAKE (IN SOME PEOPLE’S EYES) “RACY” PHOTOS, I AM STILL A MOTHER AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING I DO IS EXTREMELY TASTEFUL. I HONESTLY BELIEVE YOU CAN DO A NUDE SHOOT, AND DEPENDING ON YOUR POSES, LIGHTING, AND SETTINGS, IT CAN STILL BE EXTREMELY TASTEFUL.

S.T.I.L.L.: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SHOOT.

OMEKA: MY FIRST PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SHOOT WAS WITH A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE AND, BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY FRIENDS, IT MADE THE SHOOT A LOT LESS STRESSFUL. I WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED BUT NOT SURE WHAT ALL TO EXPECT. THE SHOOT WAS VERY LONG AND EXHAUSTING, HOWEVER, I PUSHED THROUGH. ALTHOUGH I HAD SEEN SO MANY PHOTO SHOOTS (WELL THE “FINISHED PRODUCT”), I HAD NO CLUE ALL THAT WENT INTO GETTING THAT PERFECT SHOT. I CAN SAY I WAS NOT TOTALLY PREPARED WARDROBE-WISE, BUT WE MADE THE BEST OUT OF IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET A FEW GOOD SHOTS. IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO BE OVERLY PREPARED AND TO MAKE SURE TO COME TO THE SHOOT WITH YOUR “A” GAME, OR IT WILL DEFINITELY SHOW IN YOUR PICTURES.

S.T.I.L.L.: ASIDE FROM MODELING, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CAREER(S), AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING?

OMEKA: ASIDE FROM MODELING I OWN MY OWN FASHION STYLING COMPANY, ALONG WITH MY BUSINESS PARTNER AND BEST FRIEND, L.A. HOLMES, CALLED ‘PARIS K.’ (WWW.PARISKSTYLE.COM). WE STYLE PHOTO SHOOTS, MUSIC VIDEOS, RED CARPET EVENTS, ETC. WITH A BACHELORS [DEGREE] IN MARKETING/PR, I ALSO DO PUBLICIST WORK FOR A D.C.-BASED HIP HOP GROUP CALLED “THE CO-OP”. I OWN THE BLOG SITE CALLED “O” ON THE GO WHERE I ATTEND ALL TYPES OF EVENTS RANGING FROM FASHION, MUSIC, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO TURN IT INTO A REALITY SHOW. I ALSO INCLUDE REVIEWS ABOUT RESTAURANTS, SPAS, AND RESORTS (WWW.O-ONTHEGO.BLOGSPOT.COM). BEYOND THAT, I DABBLE IN A FEW OTHER PROJECTS THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING VERY SOON.

WHEN I AM NOT MODELING, I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER (PARIS), TRAVELING, SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY, READING, ATTENDING CULTURAL EVENTS, AND RELAXING.

For bookings email: pariskpr@gmail.com

Twitter: pariskstyle

Willis Bell, Kelly Smith, and Universal Music Group Collaborate to “Stop the Violence”

Posted by admin on January 29, 2011 None comments

By Shamora Evans

All Around Music Group (AAMG)/Universal Music Group have joined forces to deliver a message promoting peace and discouraging violence using music during a 20-city tour from Massachusetts down the coast into the southern state of Georgia. There will be live performances in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts (Boston), and Georgia (Atlanta). The companies have collaborated for the “Stop the Violence” tour to encourage unification among the youth and the cessation of violent crimes in various communities along the East Coast. Music artists that hope to make a difference by participating in the tour include, but are not limited to: “Foxy Brown”, “Maino”, “Slick Rick”, “Rah Digga”, “Lost Boyz”, “Keith Murray”, “Red Café”, “DMC”, “Joell Ortiz”, “Claudette Ortiz”, “Jamel Thomas”, “Fortado Brother”, “Changing Faces”, “Whodini”, and “Biz Markie”. The tour will begin 2010 and concludes in 2011.

AAMG CEO, Willis “June” Bell, is largely responsible for the successful collaboration and utilized his extensive music industry knowledge, leadership ability, and marketing savvy to assist in bringing the tour to fruition. Bell also hopes to have an impact on the youth with the message conveyed by his show “Halfway There.” “Halfway There” is a reality show created with the goal of giving youth an inside look into the life of Willis “June” Bell at a Halfway house as he attempts to continue working in the music industry. Bell was incarcerated nearly six years ago after being arrested on federal drug charges and fighting accusations that he was connected to Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff’s case. Willis will use his life in the show to open the eyes of today’s youth and show them the consequences of becoming involved with narcotics, yet still encourage them to strive for success and reach for their dreams despite delays and pitfalls.

Willis’s partner, Kelly I. Smith, CEO of Atrato Entertainment, plays an equally important role in the development of the “Stop the Violence” tour, but also has established himself professionally as the business manager of several rising music artists, an expert in marketing and promotions, and a thoroughly experienced general manager handling property management, maximizing profits, and fostering relationships with those who are committed to serving a purpose and making positive changes. Also, holds a position as an A&R for All Around Music Group/Universal Music Group.

For more information about the “Stop the Violence” tour sponsored by All Around Music Group/Universal Music Group, please call (201) 726-7768 or write: Stop the Violence Tour, 1450 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.

To learn more about the reality show “Halfway There”, call (347) 288-9564 .

 

Favorite Author/Book

Posted by admin on January 28, 2011 None comments

Let us know who your favorite author is and what book of theirs you like the most. If you have a list of good reads you can add that as well!

NEW MOVIE: “Finding Me: Truth”

Posted by admin on January 22, 2011 None comments

By Shamora Evans

After the success of the urban film “Finding Me: Identity”, the multimedia production company OmeProductions LLC presents the second installation of the hit movie, “Finding Me: Truth”. The film is scheduled for release August 2010 and further explores the life and events of “Faybien Allen” (Ray Martell Moore), and gives the audience a different perspective to consider when discussing friendships, love, and relationships. In the sequel, “Finding Me: Truth”, we are reintroduced to “Faybien” one year later as he begins making the distinctions between the (at times) harsh truth and his created realities during self-exploration. While traveling the path of self-discovery, he also becomes acquainted with “Jay” (Maurice Murrell) whose background is quite different than his own and filled with darkness. Still, Faybien must remain true to his best friends, “Greg” (Eugene Turner) and “Amera” (J’Nara Corbin), during the crises that have arisen in their lives. Amera struggles with her insecurities when she begins to suspect that her boyfriend is having a relationship with another woman, and Greg is forced to reexamine himself when he loses his job and becomes financially unstable. All of the uncertainties presented force each of them to take a truthful look at who they have become, the depth of their friendships, and where Life’s journey is taking them.

Roger S. Omeus Jr., who wrote, directed, and produced the “Finding Me” series, began his writing and directing careers at St. Benedict’s Prep, in New Jersey, where he wrote and directed a drama while attending the school. His aspiration was to become an actor and a director, so he performed in all of the productions presented at his high school to gain the necessary experience. Omeus was also interested in photography and worked for seven years as a professional photographer at Pier 59 Studios, in New York City, which is one of the world’s leading photography studios. However, Roger returned to his initial dream and began his film career with the “Finding Me” series and is currently attending New Jersey City University to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. The writer/director/producer created “Finding Me” because he hopes “to touch the hearts of audiences that have been craving a realistic depiction of the inner city life and struggles of young people.”

For more information about “Finding Me: Truth” and “Finding Me: Identity”, please contact Christopher D. Weaver, Publicist-Christopherpr@omeproductions.com, or visit the film’s blogspace at www.findingmetruth.wordpress.com.

“E. NESS” is so “NESSESARY”

Posted by admin on January 20, 2011 None comments

 

By Shamora Evans
SM: MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE YOU AS “‘NESS’ FROM ‘MAKING THE BAND’”, BUT WE HAVEN’T SEEN YOU AS MUCH SINCE THE SHOW. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING SINCE THE SHOW, AND WHAT PROJECT(S) ARE YOU WORKING ON IN THE STUDIO RIGHT NOW?

Well, since the show, I’ve been working on my album that’s titled “Nessesary” that’s gonna be released with “Bad Boy”, and that’s been the focus of my career for the past six or seven years. I have a DVD called “What We Do” starring me, “Freeway”, and “Young Gunz“ and Chris Kennedy“. I got my little ‘ghostwriting’ credits from “Diddy” album, “Press Play”, for Track 11. I also got a film production coming up; I got a movie coming out called “Domestic”, and it’s about what it’s called. It’s a movie about domestic violence, and I’m in it and Malaysia Carter. My man “Nick Numbers” helped me produce that. I battled last year in the “World Series of Hip Hop” battle, and that was for 25 grand, and I won that against “Mysonne”. And, besides that, I’ve just been dropping my mix-tape series. On the new mix-tape, I have everyone from “Bruno Branks” to “Reed Dollaz” to “Gillie Da Kid” to “Buck J”, and it’s sorta our own kind of ‘Gangsta Grillz’ series. So, other than that, just staying recording and just tryin’ to stay out of trouble so my blessings can come down.

SM: WHO’S HANDLING THE PRODUCTION ON YOUR LATEST PROJECT, AND DOES IT HAVE ANY ARTIST FEATURES, OR COLLABORATIONS? IF SO, WHO DID YOU TAKE IN THE STUDIO WITH YOU?

Well, we’re in a day and time now where nobody be in the studio at the same time, anyway. But, I got a joint with “T-Pain”, one with “Will.i.am”, “J. Dilla”, and I got a joint with “Shawn Jay”, and “The Matrax”.

SM: THAT’S WHAT’S UP…NOW, YOU HAVE A VERY STRONG “UNDERGROUND” AUDIENCE THAT WAS ALREADY FOLLOWING YOU WHEN YOU WERE KNOWN AS A “BATTLE RAPPER”. WHAT’S THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF GOING FROM RHYMING IN A “BATTLE”, WHERE YOU NEED A FAST MIND, FAST RHYMES, AND POWER PUNCH-LINES, TO RECORDING AN ENTIRE SONG ON ONE SUBJECT AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSIC ARTIST?

Well, the battle was more “freestyle”, like extreme sports, where it’s a lot of improvising, and with writing a song, you can do things that could be conceptual. But, ultimately, your chorus has to be the ‘glue’ that holds your thing together. With free-styling, you can kinda go off the environment and what’s around you right then and, with the song, it’s more like recording contemplated thoughts. So, that’s been the difference between the song and the freestyle battle.

SM: ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT…SO, I KNOW YOU HAVE ACCESS TO PROBABLY ANY ARTIST IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW! (LAUGHS) BUT, IF YOU COULD ONLY WORK WITH THREE ARTISTS, WHETHER THEY BE RAPPERS OR SINGERS, WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO GO IN THE STUDIO WITH TO DO A COLLABO, AND WHY?

I definitely wanna work with “Kanyeezy” and “Jay” [Z], and I would have to say “Snoop”. Those are the three that I can’t get in contact with, but I would wanna work with them. But, the three I can get in contact with that I would wanna work with would be “Gucci”, “Jeezy”, and “The Game”. With the first three, I would like to work with them because that’s kinda like the ‘fan’ thing because I was watching them when I was coming up, and I watched them do their thing. And, for the last three, it would be because I personally know those three, and I have a personal relationship with “Gucci”, “Jeezy”, and “Game”…And they can’t get me with rhymes! (Laughs)

SM: I HEARD THAT…AND HOW CAN YOUR FANS (AND FUTURE FANS) BUY A COPY OF THE NEW MUSIC AND KEEP UP WITH YOU ONLINE?

I got an album on iTunes called “The Matrax” that they can get, and I don’t know how to get ‘em there to the site, but I know it’s on there, and that was released on February 11th. I wanna start promoting that right now. I also got some mix-tapes coming out. I got one with “Ace McCloud” called “Wrong Turn”, and I worked with some local DJs that’s grindin’ on that project. I also have a joint coming out with “No Phrillz” called “Super N.E.S.”, and I’m using the old ‘Super Nintendo’ theme for that joint, so they can be looking for that, too…And they can’t get me with rhymes!