We've decided that every weekend we should give you a list of all things JUCY. It will keep you entertained after you've read us and until you get your gossip fix with the Sunday World Online. The first installation of the Jucy top 5 is 'blogs you should read'. These are well written, visually appealing, original blogs that we love reading and you might too.
First up, Studio 83 Mag. Studio 83 was started up by George Matsheke (pictured)in 2006. It has gone from print incarnation to the online downloadable mag now. Each Studio 83 mag has a theme. The last one was the Travelling Issue and had writer, world traveller and all round cool girl Akona Ndungane on the cover. It has a clean format, fresh design. The content is well thought out, and the site has cool weekly features like education Wednesday (cool people), Chicks dig Thursdays (hot women)and stories on travel and design.I've had a crush on the magazine for days!
Juciest bit?: A smorgasbord (google it) of design,cool gadgets, beautiful people and news.
Check them out here. Click the button to see more JUCY sites.
Next up, Bella Naija. The blog is an established, well run, jucy blog. It started off as www.bellanija.blogspot.com and has progressed in content, style and writing over the years. It is the portal to everything fashionable, social and thought provoking for young (and young at heart) urban women. Bella Naija is a Nigerian blog but does not focus on Nigerian issues only. If you are a young fab, dynamic, driven woman you will enjoy Bella Naija.
Juciest bit?: Bella's take on hair, complexion, clothes and identity. It feels like a conversation you would have with your girlfriends. Check them out here
Back to South Africa. Mahala is run by Andy Davis, who has worked on publications such as Student life, big corporates like South African Banking giant FNB and he has developed a non profit surfing company that allows children who would not be able to afford surfing equipment the chance to learn the sport by collecting old surfing equipment and giving it to them to use.
His blog is bend over laughing-tears in your eyes-cant breathe type funny. It is witty, insightful and has a clean design and structure. Besides the very cool culture feel of the blog, I also like how the blog deals with the inevitable racial drama that happens if you leave South Africans in a chatroom for more than oh, 5 minutes.
Juciest bit?: Look out for Montle Moorosi's pieces which are always amazing, slightly cynical and inspire fierce debate in the comments section.
Check them out here 
The next site isn't up yet but I know it's going to be FIRE! It's called JustCurious and is run by our recent 'People You Should Know' interviewee, Lelo Boyana (pictured). The site promises to be different from other blogs in the way it approaches it's subject matter. The site seems like it's going to be packed with exclusive content and news from the world of soccer, music, celebrity, lifestyle and culture. It will be "cheeky, bold" and tell it like it is, giving it's viewers a never before seen look at celebs, punchy interviews and opinion pieces.
Just Curious launches on Wednesday the 25th of November.
Juciest Bit?: If the response and love from the Brown Shuga blogs is anything to go by, the site will become an online destination for those into celeb news and gossip. The site addy is http://www.JustCurious.co.za. We'll post more on Just Curious on Monday.
Anywhoo... The last blog is one that has inspired many blogs in South African and abroad, They YBF You know how we don't do overseas goss at Jucy, but this African American site is an integral part of so many people's day. Run by Natsha Eubanks (pictured),the site has at least 30 million readers.It's an American celebrity website that deals with rumours, paparazzi snaps and entertainment news. It's updated at least twice a day, is stylish, witty and the comments on the site are hilarious. (Unless it's a Rihanna/Beyonce post, then people just act country and start swearing at each other).
The Juciest bit? It celebrates young fabulous people doing well in their industry and even when Natasha doesn't like something/someone they don't do that trashy, character assassination vibe. They are very quick with their updates.
So that's it then. My top 5 blogs list. If you feel I've left out any cool ones, or you've started a cool blog,let me know in the comments section. And please look at the one's I've suggested so you see the standard we are working with!
Have a fab, safe and JUCY weekend!!xoxo
Friday, November 20, 2009
Jucy Top 5: Blogs you should read.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Zimbabwe's First Fashion Week
Internationally recognized catwalk and photographic model Priscilla Chigariros’ long dream of giving back her fashion and modelling gift to her birth country and establishing a solid fashion platform from which to spring off new design talent has finally come to fruition. The Zimbabwe Fashion week media launch takes place on Thurday 26th November 2009 at FTV Café Village Walk in Sandton, with the after party taking place at Moloko where fashion industries doyens, celebrities and beautiful people will be in attendance. The South African launch is to give fashionistas, socialites and business people who a taste of what is to come when the official launch takes place early 2010 in Harare.
Priscilla who is the sole owner and executive producer of the week-long spectacle, has ten years experience as a professional model boasting a career that started with her clinching the 'Super face' title of 2000 in the annual Supermodel search run by Zimbabwe Sun Hotels. This title made her the automatic runner up to represent Zimbabwe in the Face Of Africa competition the following year. To date Priscilla has worked on campaigns, advertisements and shows like the Vukani Fashion Award Show, SA Fashion Week, Guess Jeans, Virgin Mobile, Coca Cola lite. She has done shoots in publications such as Destiny Magazine, True Love, Elle Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Y Mag.
Priscilla was 18 when she won a contract to model in South Africa which she only took up in 2001. She says "I have since modelled in Paris, France, Milan, Barcelona, Spain and South Africa. 10 years later I decided modelling was not the only challenge I wanted to conquer, I also wanted leave an indelible mark on the African fashion scene hence the decision to host Zimbabwe Fashion Week. Along the way I have picked up many skills and developed many talents, namely Interior design, Project Management and Administrative skills. All of these I feel will contribute greatly to the successful execution of this project."
Chigariro went on to say "I created a clothing and accessories brand and realized there was no platform in Zimbabwe for me to show my products so I decided to do something about it. Fashion weeks all over the world have launched the careers of countless designers worldwide and created industries where previously there were none. I believe that there is a lot of talent in Zimbabwe that is only stifled by a lack of a platform such as this one."
The participating designers at Zimbabwe Fashion week will each be expected to present a comprehensive collection of at least 12 garments. A competition for up and coming designers will be integrated as part of the fashion week festivities and this is to new designers to the world of the established and successful a definite cocktail for inspiration and sharing of ideas. It is during this event that Priscilla will also be unveiling her collection CHROME.
If aspirant designers want to enter the competition, the model and future mogul has some advice : "The judges will be looking for originality as well as innovativeness. It is important to realise the world is going through a lot economically as well as environmentally. They will be looking for designers that are aware of all these factors and how they translate them in their designs and fabric choices."
The event is aimed at rekindling the fashion flair that characterized Zimbabwe before the economic melt own and as signs of economic growth and investment opportunities continue to flicker, there could not be a better time than right now to introduce Zimbabwe Fashion Week and kick start the vehicle of re-construction. Chigariro does not want to position Zimbabwe Fashion Week as a strictly Zimbabwean event but is also finalizing a list of industry heavyweights from South Africa who will be guest judges and also present their collections to emphasise the spirit of oneness as designers and
The shows will take place over a three-day period kicking off on a Thursday and culminating in the finale on Saturday night. The exhibition hall will be open from mid day till the last show in the evening.
On the last night, a gala evening will be held. The evening, will be limited to couture designers. In keeping with the décor style for the evening, Thursday and Friday will be divided between young designers as well as more ethnic designers. Exhibition Stands and advertising for fashion related products and services would be present for the duration. There will be model scouts on the evening. Six Zimbabwean models currently working the ramps and fashion pages in South Africa will grace the event. One of the judges for this competition will be Karl Dorn who is the Boss Fashions agency leader.
The Zimbabwean fashion industry flourished so much in the mid to late 90s with key names like Creed Katsande, Sonny of Savor Makolinsky and David Gwaze who specialized in the Savile Row tailor made suits and grace the prestigious Supermodel event annually. New school names like Brenda Sibanda and Peter Rakubva took the spotlight in the early 2000s hence the spirit of a fashion conscious and dynamic society never really died. This why there is an optimism and confidence on bringing a focus to Ziimbabwe, a country blessed with a collage of successful catwalk stories like Jonathan Denga, Langa Sibanda, Lenah Zinyama, Rachel Stuart, Debbie Jones and Priscilla herself.
For news and event updates around the Zimbabwe Fashion Week project, please visit www.zimbabwefashionweek.com.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Skwatta Kamp Record drops on November 25th
Slikour, Shugasmakx, Nish, Flabba, Bozza, Nemza and Infa have reunited and are about to drop their latest album “FAIR AND SKWEAR”. The 12 track album apparently "represents what you would expect and step-by-step (track by track) the journey will enlighten you on how each member has grown, matured and their life experiences."
The album features tracks produced by Trezpass, Stethoscope and Tagz and features guest appearances to the likes of Clu, the soulful sounds of Max Hoba, Lungelo and the first lady of Skwatta Kamp Relo.
The album Fair and Skwear is scheduled to be in stores nationwide on the 25th November with two singles from the CD“Batshele” and “Summer Song” already on the airwaves.
The title “Fair and Skwear” was inspired by the group having come full circle. The the title embodies an end of the old and new beginnings, says group member Shugasmakx when asked why the album title “Fair and Skwear”.
Skwatta Kamp has planned a national tour-taking place from Mid December till end of January. The “Summer Song” single music video will be on air soon so keep a look out for that.Skwatta Kamp, Fair and Skwear in stores 25th November
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
O-Acess Season 4 Starts Today!
O Acess Season 4 is starting today. According to a Channel O release: "Keri Hilson may have been in the country recently but the first South African to get the real scoop on the R&B superstar was none other than O Access' Nonhle Thema"
“It was incredible,” says Nonhle of her time in the US with Hilson. “The single ‘Turnin’ Me On’ was just huge at the time of our shoot and we got to hang with Keri during an album signing session in New York where she walked around the city, signing autographs and giving away copies of her album. People were going crazy for her and it gave us real insight into what it’s like to be a star at that level.”
Nonhle and the O Access team also went behind-the-scenes at the video shoot for Hilson’s single, ‘Knock You Down’ featuring Ne-Yo and Kanye West, capturing all the drama, emotion and hard work that went into creating the show-stopping clip.
And, in her inimitable way, Nonhle didn’t waste time in getting under the skin of this in-demand superstar: her one-on-one interview gives viewers a chance to hear from Hilson herself how she moved from being a below-the-radar songwriter to a world-class solo artist, the inspiration behind her album In A Perfect World and how she came up with the hit song ‘Turnin’ Me On”.
Says Nonhle, “The show we did with Keri is a brilliant way to introduce Season 4 of O Access because I can honestly say that we took things to a new level this time around. Like what happened with Keri, we got to spend some real time with the world’s biggest entertainment stars and there were always things that happened that were not planned but that make for great television.”
Indeed the scoop comes at a time when Hilson’s star has never been brighter: she has just been nominated for Favourite Soul/R&B Female Artist and T-Mobile Soul/R&B Breakthrough Artist in the American Music Awards and already the Grammy bets are on this incredible multi-talent.
As fans have come to expect, it’s not just Keri Hilson who finds herself unable to resist Nonhle’s charm: Season 4 of O Access sees the VJ travel across America to bring African viewers a unique and intimate viewpoint on some of the world’s biggest stars.
With Nonhle in the driving seat, the previous three seasons of O Access have been among Channel O’s top-rated shows and season 4 is showing every sign of becoming the most-watched ever.
Adding to the world-class gloss on O Access is a brand new look and feel that underscores what everyone knows – and that is that there is only one place to be each Tuesday at 21:00: tuned into Channel O for O Access Season 4!
Catch the first episode of O Access on Tuesday November 17 at 21:00.
Channel O is available across the continent on DStv channel 320.
QuickJucy: New Moves, Music and Signings
Controversial radio DJ Phat Joe, whose real name is Majota Kambule, has joined Heart FM in Cape Town. Phat Joe was unceremoniously dropped from Kaya FM after his remarks about Caster Semenya and the Athletics South Africa saga. Majota will host the Bokomo Hearty Breakfast Show along with wingmen Nick Feinberg (sports anchor) and Julian Naidoo (the traffic guy), as they ruffle the Capetonian feathers. Joe, who joined Kaya FM in March ’08, has a history of stormy relationships with broadcasters, including Etv and Yfm.
Storm Records presents the first video off Sauce Kid’s debut album, African American. The Song, “Na Me Be Fine Boy”, was produced by H-Code. The video was shot by Storm’s own Bobby Boulders in South Africa a few months ago. The song is already receiving radio airplay and good reviews. The video features appearances from Sasha, Pincode & Tamarasha.
Check it out here or download the full press release.
Talented Nigerian dancehall artist General Pype recently shot his first video for another album from Storm Records. A slight man with a big voice, Pype was first heard on the club banger Strong Thing on Sasha’s Album, First Lady. That brought him to the attention of the execs at Storm and since then he has been busy developing his craft and has made some other major hits with M.I on Teaser (the video is expected any second now) and also on the radio smash Monkey Banana where he again delivered in a major way on this Sauce Kid single which features Ghetto P.
Again, check out the video and press release here.
Rounding out the Storm hattrick, music heavyweight HHP has apparently been signed to Storm Records, owned by media mogul Obi Asika. Storm has been home to Ikechuku, Naeto C and D'Banj amongst many others. The deal will apparently see HHP's music deleiivered across West Africa. We'll be sitting down with HHP soon to find out more about his album, his collabo with Nas and much much more. Keep it locked to Jucy, Celeberity gossip, Fresh from Africa!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Jozi Split ways with Bongz
There have been whispers that Jozi are splitting for a while now. The Jozi CD launch added to whispers that all was not right with the group. When a Vuzu Tv blogger asked Ishmael why Bongani Fassie was not there, he said he was sick. When the same question was posed to DA L.E.S, he said that he (Bongz) was in studio. After being questioned about the inconsistency, Les said that Bongz was sick and in studio, that it was slang. *side eye* Anyway to see what the story is click on the click here to read more button!
*UPDATED*
A source very close to the action said that Bongani and Lance Stehr, owner of Ghetto Ruff Records had a massive blowout and that Bongz has left Jozi.I was told that Bongani left because he was unhappy with the way Jozi has been marketed, money issues and lack of equal oppurtunity among the group, and allegedly blames Lance for these woes. However, after a long convo with Lance Stehr, head of Ghetto Ruff, I've deided to get my Debrah Patta on and do a full on journalistic investigation.
I'm going to do a proper follow up story on this but for now what I've heard is:
-Bongani has left the group.
-Jozi has NOT split, Da Les and Ishmael will continue to work together.
-Bongani will be concentrating on Fassie records whilst Les and Ishmael keep the Jozi fire going, touring France, among other countries.
I'm on the streets of another city but have been promised a sit down session where I will listen to the recordings of Bongani stating his reasons for leaving Jozi, look at the account books (don't think I want to see how much money they made though, it may make my little blogger heart jealous!) speak to Jozi and get the low down on the parting of ways of Jozi and Bongani Fassie.
Keep it locked to Jucy, celebrity gossip and entertainment news, fresh from Africa!
