All Articles Tagged "Global Grind"
Russell Simmons Is Launching A Digital Marketing Firm, Narrative
Nicholas Hunt/PatrickMcMullan/Sipa USA – - (Sipa via AP Images)
Ever the entrepreneur, Russell Simmons is launching a digital marketing, entertainment, and tech company called Narrative. The company will add to his empire, which still includes Def Jam Records and Phat Farm.
Simmons is launching with his longtime business partner Tricia Clarke-Stone. Both are clear that this isn’t a marketing agency that will be creating ads. “We believe we have a level of expertise that’s really rooted in creating immersive brand experiences across platforms,” Clarke-Stone told Ad Age.
“We think our future is working for agencies, not working around them,” Simmons added. The magazine says the company is starting with nine employees but plans to have as many as 20 by year-end, most of them in New York.
The company already has two clients — Global Grind, which is run by the two, and Boost Mobile, which is running a program with Global Grind. That site has already created campaigns for companies like Tide and Toyota. Narrative will also have access to the All Def Digital YouTube channel that will be launching soon.
Did He Cheat? Djimon Hounsou Addresses Rumors of Infidelity
Source: Sister2Sistermagazine.com
On top of rumors that money troubles were breaking up Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou’s relationship, Kolo Boof—the Sudanese-Egyptian author and poet who claims she was Osama Bin Laden’s mistress—came out with allegations that she slept with Djimon to get back at Kimora and that’s the real reason the two are splitting.
Russell Simmons told us Kimora’s approach to silly rumors—ignore them and let them die—but when Kolo accused Djimon of being unfaithful, he had enough. In a statement on his wife’s ex-husband’s site, GlobalGrind.com, he shut down the rumors altogether, saying
“It has come to my attention vicious lies and stories are being spread about myself and my family. I do not know, nor have I ever met this person. To that extent any and all claims are totally fabricated and for the press to be spreading these lies is irresponsible on their part. I am a man of integrity and would never betray my wife or my family.”
The NY Daily News seems to be the only outlet giving Kola’s story unnecessary attention. In January and February she was going hard on Twitter, making comments about how she had sex with Djimon more than Kimora, and with an autobiography on the shelves it’s no wonder she’s looking for ways to be relevant. Luckily Djimon nipped that in the bud quickly, as he should have. It’s good to know not only are the couple’s finances intact, their relationship is too.
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You Played Yourself: Miami Fire Captain Demoted After Trayvon Martin Rant on Facebook
Depending on what the case is, if you ask our Facebook followers if a person should get in trouble with their employers for things they say on their personal Facebook pages, a majority often say no. But I’m sure when folks read what former fire captain Brian Beckmann had to say on his account, a few people will rethink their stance for at least a moment.
In his social media post, Beckmann called out prosecutor Angela Corey (who charged George Zimmerman with second-degree murder for killing Trayvon Martin) for her choice to seek second-degree murder charges on Zimmerman, as well as the parents of “urban youth” for being welfare folks who can’t take care of their responsibilities. In his opinion of course.
“I and my co-workers could rewrite the book on whether our urban youths are victims of racist profiling or products of their failed, sh–bag, ignorant, pathetic, welfare dependent excuses for parents, but like Mrs. Corey, we speak only the truth.”
If that wasn’t enough, Beckmann finished his rant by saying, “They’re just misunderstood little church-going angels and the ghetto hoodie look doesn’t have anything to do with why people wonder if they’re about to get jacked by a thug.”
Though he thought himself to be mighty slick, according to The Miami Herald, someone took a screenshot of the post and sent it to Beckmann’s bosses. The folks at human resources agreed that his comments were not only inappropriate, but very unacceptable. It was decided on Monday that he would be punished for his words and be demoted back to a firefighter. Why? Well, because even though his Facebook has nothing to do with his work, by spouting a whole lot of nonsense and involving his co-workers in his post (“I and my co-workers…”), he shook the confidence of the public as someone who is supposed to be in charge. His disciplinary action report said this:
“While the opinion posted may have been personal, as a captain with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, it greatly disrupted the public’s confidence in our entire organization as a result of the reference to ‘my co-workers.’”
Not sure why Beckmann felt the need to try and pull the “urban youths who are products of their failed environment and crappy parents” in reference to the Martin case. Trayvon’s parents aren’t on welfare, and he was killed while trying to navigate the gated community his father lived in. And for the umpteenth time, can people stop playing stupid and fess up to the fact that EVERYBODY owns at least one hoodie!? Can we please stop acting like a hooded sweater is all the excuse someone needs to feel intimidated and open fire on someone not posing a threat to them? It’s tired at this point, and we all know the real reason Trayvon was targeted by George Zimmerman.
No need for me to do my own rant, so I’ll just wrap it up by asking you this: Do you think his department made the right decision to demote him? I mean, the man still has his job, but they just didn’t see him fit for a leadership role. Was that a good decision, or in your mind, were they wrong and is this just another case of free speech being attacked?
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Russell Simmons Says Adrienne Bailon Distraught Over Wardrobe Malfunction
Source: The Sun
Russell Simmons, shareholder to the site Global Grind (so THAT’S why they always have pictures of Angela Simmons!) took to the website today to talk about all the fuss over ex-3LW and Cheetah Girl Adrienne Bailon’s wardrobe malfunction at last night’s Caesars event in NYC. If you haven’t looked through our fashion gallery today (shame on you), then you probably haven’t seen the dress. But as you can see now, it was a pretty suspect one that had a see-through bottom.
I’m talking see-through back (but with beading covering the scandalous-ness) AND see-through front. However, the front had a big piece of fabric that was covering her up…or so we thought. Reality was, Bailon didn’t have any panties on underneath her dress, and when the wind blew that bad boy sideways, everybody caught a glimpse of her…vajay-jay (for some reason, we can’t say the regular V-word…). While she was smiling as she showed the world her business, according to Russell, who spoke to her this morning, she was actually mortified by it all. This is what HE claims she told him today. In tears:
The wind blew and despite what other girls may do, this is really a terrible accident to me. I’m really upset, but I’m even more upset about what my parents might think. I want to be known for my talent. I love the idea of being Hot, but I’ve never been in this business to sell sex, I’ve been in this business to sell my talent. The truth is, when you look at the pictures, you don’t realize that the wind really did blow my dress, and I don’t really know what else to say about it.
While Simmons wrote about the fact that he wouldn’t fault one of his daughters if it happened, the best response he gave was this: “Adrienne will be fine, as she is incredibly talented. This moment will blow over quicker than the wind that blew up her dress. Hold ya’ head up and your dress down. Keep smiling.”
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Should Rihanna and Chris Brown Just Get Back Together Already?
It’s been nearly two years since the physical altercation, and resulting media frenzy, between Chris Brown and Rihanna occurred. Since then, both stars have claimed they want to get out from under the shadow of the incident, and judging from the steady rise of Rihanna’s career, and the way Chris was able to bounce back, you could easily say they have. One thing the past lovers haven’t been able to escape, though, is speculation that they still want to be together, and when you look at the subliminal twitter affair they’ve been carrying on for quite some time now, it makes you wonder, should they just do it?
I came across an editorial on Global Grind recently that proclaimed C Breezy and Ri Ri are getting back together. The article was more about BlogXilla’s own infatuation with the celebrity couple as he talked about looking forward to reading daily blog posts and seeing photos of the pair out together. He wrote that he wasn’t ashamed to admit that he had gotten attached to “ChRihanna” and that he could relate to them in ways he can’t relate to Jay-Z and Beyonce. “I’ve been on line kissing my girl while waiting for a two piece and biscuit, and I can say that’s when love is at its finest. That’s when love is at its most pure, and seeing that moment between Rihanna and Chris was an added blessing as a fan.” Of course no couple should ever get together, or back together, to appease their fans but Rihanna seems to be more hurt by the split than onlookers.
There is a non-stop trail of tweets from “Just because I let you go doesn’t mean I wanted to,” to “I’ll always love you,” followed up by “Love U more than you know” from Chris. And then there were those in between tweets from mama Chris: “HELLO LADY I MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU!!!!!! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!!,” to which Rihanna responded: “Miss+Love u 2.” Plus Rihanna petitioned to have the parameters of Chris’s restraining order modified to allow physical contact, so long as it’s not abusive. The situation is utterly and completely speculative but it forms one heck of a case of circumstantial evidence.
If the young lovers truly want to be together, there’s no sense in attempting to keep it on the hush for the sake of disapproving fans who no doubt have just as much drama going on right under their own noses. I’m with BlogXilla when he says spare me the line about the message Rihanna will send young girls if the two reunite. That girl is already sending plenty of messages to teens through her lyrics and the way she dresses. Her position as a celebrity may put her on a pedestal as someone young women emulate but that doesn’t mean she’s a role model. It’s up to parents to set appropriate examples for their children. Besides, the public has clearly forgiven Chris. Is it no OK for her to do the same? Sure, we weren’t the ones who were assaulted but we are the ones who have made his redemption possible by buying his albums and supporting his shows.
It’s tough for anyone to say what they would do in a situation like Rihanna’s and most women don’t leave after the first incident. While I don’t believe the mantra “love makes people do crazy things” excuses Chris’s brutal attack, I do believe in lapses of judgment, mistakes, and opportunities for change.
The media would clearly never make it easy for these stars to reunite but if that’s truly the only thing holding them back, they might as well stop putting on a show at their expense and give most of the public what they really want—a C Breezy, Ri Ri reunion.
What do you think about Rihanna and Chris Brown getting back together? Can you see it happening?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
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Co-Founder of Global Grind Joins Interactive One
(PR Newswire) — Interactive One, LLC the digital connection for Black America and the digital division of Radio One, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROIAK and ROIA), the largest African American multimedia company, today announced that former co-founder of GlobalGrind.com, Navarrow Wright, has joined Interactive One as its Chief Technology Officer. Wright will be responsible for leading the technology, site architecture and IT strategies, to ensure Interactive One provides its consumers with superior product delivery and user experience.
“We are excited to have Navarrow join the Interactive One team. He brings a unique understanding of our audience and their use of technology that will continue to enhance our consumer’s experience across our portfolio of sites, and across mobile, video and other platforms,” said Mike Rich, Chief Operating and Product Officer. “Additionally Navarrow’s ability to conceptualize and develop progressive technology solutions that address consumer demand will ensure Interactive One sustains a platform that enables our products to remain nimble and deliver dynamic experiences for our audiences.”
Global Grind Gets an App
(Black Web 2.o) — Here at Black Web 2.0, we’ve been having an ongoing we’ve been having an ongoing conversation. on the necessity of black media to further embrace current and emerging technologies when promoting content. The majority of black print publications have launched websites with mixed success. We are still, however, waiting to see publications embrace mobile technology in the form of apps.
