So, our President (you know, Obama) was just #keepingitkanye before an interview with CNBC where he commentates on the Kanye West/Taylor Swift fiasco that took place last weekend.

What did the Obama have to say?

He’s a jackass.

Give it a listen [here].

I don’t know about you, but I love our President.

Cj

Read the Rolling Stone article [here].

Great read.

But, how do YOU think Obama has done so far?

Cj

This is My President Barack Obama at the All Star Game pitching the first ball.

Such a class act.

Cj

Peep the cover and a spread of Giant Magazine‘s July “Power Issue” featuring their list of the 50 Most Influential People. On the cover is Nick Cannon (Mr. Carey) as he is number 17 on the list that is topped with President Barack Obama. I don’t really see how Nick made the list let alone the cover, but I can’t knock it and his spread is very dapper.

More of Nick’s spread after the jump…. read more »

I ran across this picture of Barack and Michelle Obama from the 4th of July and absolutely fell in love with it.

Amazing.

Aisha

It was announced earlier this morning that one of the Black community’s most esteemed magazine publications, VIBE, would be folding. The news came as a shock to the MESH. team and we are deeply saddened because magazines such as this one have paved the way for young Black journalists, like ourselves. Below is a snapshot of the official last issue of VIBE magazine, which will not be hitting stands. It features The Dream and Christina Milian.

VIBE was an entertainment and lifestyle magazine started by producer Quincy Jones in 1993. Since then it has featured legendaries, such as the late Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, The Fugees, TLC, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, and many more. VIBE spoke to a younger Black audience, unlike it’s counter parts Essence and Ebony. The publication will be deeply missed and not forgotten.

Click [here] for the official statement from former CEO Steve Aaron and former CCO/Editor-In-Chief Danyel Smith.

Someone decided to get mouthy and compare VIBE to BET. Here’s what my MESH. PNC Aaron had to say..

Not only has VIBE been the proverbial parchment for such masters of the art of journalism as Keith Murphy, Touré, Danyel Smith, Dream Hampton, Aliya S. King, and so many others who are respected around the world, it has done, in its history, what BET has failed to do: retain readers, while still expanding upon it’s horizons and raising its legacy rather than resting upon it.

No other hip hop magazine has a subscription base of over 800,000 persons and is consistently the first to sell out on newsstands.
No other hip hop magazine has won numerous EDITORIAL awards for their outstanding caliber of writing.
No other magazine has been able to garner the noted respect of such giants as TIME, VOGUE, The New Yorker, Readers Digest, and so many others, on the superb quality of its content.
No other magazine pays attention not only to hip hop, but art, current affairs, literature, fashion, and so much more.

Read the Rest After the Jump

read more »

Barack Obama wrote an essay for an upcoming issue of Parade Magazine, and in an exerpt of that essay he speaks on the importance of fatherhood, and of how he considers that his greatest responsibility. Here are some quotes from the exerpt.

“In many ways, I came to understand the importance of fatherhood through its absence-both in my life and in the lives of others. I came to understand that the hole a man leaves when he abandons his responsibility to his children is one that no government can fill. We can do everything possible to provide good jobs and good schools and safe streets for our kids, but it will never be enough to fully make up the difference.“

In one part of the exerpt he discusses the day he was bringing Malia home from the hospital after she was born.

“I think about the pledge I made to her that day: that I would give her what I never had-that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father“

The full essay will be available on Sunday–Father’s Day.

Aisha

I love the power behind this picture. A little boy visits the White House and asks the President, leader of our nation, our homie Barack Obama “Can I feel your hair to see if it feels like mine?” Do you people understand how meaningful that is? Ahhh!

What a role model. He did it, so can I!

Cj

If you’re slow, then you haven’t realized that the founders of this blog attend Howard University, one of the premiere Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. Now that your caught up, it should be dully noted that the importance of HBCUs existence is a substantial one, one that after the Obama administration educational budget cuts can face even more challenges. HBCUs across the nation will no longer have nearly $85 million in funding. The cut comes at a time when many HBCUs (along with most high educational institutes across the nation) are suffering because of the economy. 

Peep the article (here).

Cj

One of our good friends, Kevin, showed me this earlier today. Its hilarious … and with a good message if you actually pay attention to some parts.

- Aisha

Madame Tussaud’s unveiled its newest wax figures in its famous exhibits of celebrities and public figures. The Obama’s wax figures were unveiled yesterday. The lifelike figures (the newest Michelle’s) were started in December and look incredibly like the First Couple.

I might just make a trip downtown to the museum.

Cj

Words that I’m always proud to say these days. Lets be frank–Michelle Obama is the business. Here is her cover of New York Magazine and some artist interpretations of our fly, sophisticated, powerfully elegant First Lady.

This last one is my favorite.

Barack, you sure did pick a winner.

-Cj

Bougie black people turn me on.

Okay, not bougie, but educated, motivated, stylish and innovative black people happen to interest me. BET’s Harlem Heights is our own version of MTV’s The City and after only two episodes during tonights premiere, im already hooked. The cast is made up of eight college-educated black people making moves in New York’s historic Harlem. The electic group consists of an up and coming lifestyle editor for a magazine, a designer itching to get her own name out there in the fashion world, a budding politician, an aspiring lawyer, the ex-girlfriend of a rap mogul, an actress trying to balance her career and social life, an entrepreneur, and a young father trying to set a better example for his daughter and community.

The first episode kicked off the season with a re-cap of election night 2008, which definitely set the tone for what was to come. So far I have no objections, these people actually seem to have some depth and it’s a step in the right direction for BET’s hope to transform their image. Harlem Heights airs every Monday on BET at 10 pm.

Unfortunately, Rip The Runway–which aired right before Harlem Heights, didn’t exactly make the cut. We’ve got to do better.

- Aisha

Laugh.My. [insert body part here]. Off!

Peep this pic of Kanye while in Paris for Fashion Week…

Okay Okay. Kanye’s flyy.

Peace.

Here is a nice tune from Trey Songz.

Trey Songz- If It’s Hood That You Want

Here is the President and First Lady’s First Dance to Beyonce’s performance of Etta James’ “At Last.”

Enjoy.

Today makes me smile.

This is OUR President. 

Go America!

One of the cool things about living in Washington, D.C. is that on any given day (such as today), you can wake up and the street in front of your residence can be blocked off because the leader of the free world is eating lunch just a few blocks away. Barack, you can close down any street near me. Though, if it were Bush, I would probably be pissed.

It’s nearly January 20th people.

Patiently awaiting for the “Elect” to drop off President-Elect Barack Obama’s title. So, to ease the anxiety the official inauguration poster was released.

Nice.

Runs at $100 dollars or $500 dollars for a signed & numbered copied.

I’ll just admire it via internet.  If you’re a big spender you can cop one here.