Wyclef Jean and Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis have released a documentary chronicling their experiences as co-founders of the nonprofit organization Yele Haiti.

The pair shot “Hours After The Quake: Picking Up The Dead in Search of The Living,” using a handheld camera.

The two founders showcase the plight of the Haitian people in the aftermath of the tragic 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010.

The documentary sheds light on the ongoing fight to recover from one of the most devastating earthquakes in the history of mankind.

Over 3.5 million people were directly impacted by the natural disaster that killed more than 316,000, injured 300,000, orphaned 1 million children and left another 1.2 million people homeless.

Throughout the documentary, Wyclef calls for a “State of Emergency” and can be seen coming to the aid of dying Haitian residents, as he rides through the streets amidst crumbled buildings and roads.

The documentary shows that Yele Haiti provided 4.3 million gallons of water to Haiti 5 days a week throughout 2010, distributed 98,000 hot meals, 270,000 nutritional bars, and canned goods serving over 200,000 people.

Periods of the movie are graphic in nature, showing dead bodies being removed from the destructed streets during the early periods of the earthquake’s aftermath.

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Source: Allhiphop

Swizz Beatz  is a music producer, artist and a multifaceted mogul-in-the-making but is he also a pirate? According to Universal Music Group, indirectly, he is. Swizz Beatz, born Kasseem Dean is the CEO  and a principal investor in Megaupload, the second highest trafficked file-sharing site on the Web. As we’ve seen with their support of the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA) bills the recorded music and film industries aren’t too keen on sites that make it easier for users to share or pirate copyrighted material.

Things have gotten especially sticky for Swizz Beatz since he enlisted celebrity friends like Kanye West, The Game, will.i.am and Sean “Diddy” Combs to sing the praises of Megaupload in a series of promotional Web videos. The problem with the aforementioned artists and others who’ve spoken on behalf of Megaupload like Mary. J Blige is that the parent company of their respective record labels is Universal Music Group (UMG), one of the main corporate interests lobbying to get sites like Megaupload more strictly regulated or even shutdown under the proposed anti-piracy bills.

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Source: BlackEnterprise

It’s every successful parent’s hope for their child to follow in their footsteps. In the case of rapper/actor/entrepreneur Chris “Ludacris” Bridges his 10-year-old daughter Karma Bridges has done just that—twice over. The budding entrepreneur, alongside her father, recently launched, KarmasWorld.com, an interactive Website that uses music and games as educational tools. Geared towards elementary school students (grades 1-6), Karma’s World reinforces the message that learning can be fun. “When you talk aboutBlack Enterprise and we talk about building wealth for our families and our kids,” says Ludacris. “I’m extremely proud and extremely excited about this.”

Blending entertainment and education, the site currently features nine original songs that are all performed by Karma. With subject matter covering everything from mathematics and geography to proper manners and self-esteem, the music contains a family-friendly message that’s also a learning tool. Listeners can sing along to the lyrics, which are posted on the site, and with their parents permission can purchase any of the songs via iTunes. An additional batch of tracks will be added to the library in the coming months. “People may have heard about kids songs but they may have never heard them in this way,” says Ludacris. “It’s like urban and pop songs mixed together.”

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Source: Black Enterprise

In this season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you probably won’t see Kandi Burruss pulling wigs, bragging about how “rich” she is, or throwing drinks. The Grammy award-winning songwriter is using her newfound reality-TV stardom and turning Kandi Koated Entertainment into Kandi Koated cash.

Life after Xscape has included a notable transition for the multiplatinum singer, lauded for penning TLC’s mega-hit “No Scrubs.” Burruss has racked up an impressive roster of career highlights, working with top artists including N’SYNC, Whitney Houston, Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys and Mya. The singer-turned-mogul has kept busy by launching a series of strategic business ventures and has effectively delved in untapped markets by continuing to use each new season as an opportunity to showcase her growing empire.

Since debuting on the show, Burruss has released her sophomore solo album, Kandi Koated, opened her own clothing boutique TAGS, and launched Website  KandiKoatedNight.com, where she, other celebrities and experts discuss sex and relationships. She also has her own top-selling Spades card-game app with Konsole Kingz, and will be starring in her own spin-off show, developing talent on The Kandi Factory.

BlackEnterprise.com talked with Burruss about how she’s diversified her business interests, how she’s found more success behind the scenes, and why it’s important to have multiple streams of income in building wealth.

BlackEnterprise.com: You’ve been in the music business for a long time. What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from Xscape to now?

I wish that we would have toured a lot more because an artist’s money is really in the touring. You can make so much money on the road, and we just didn’t stay on the road like that. We didn’t like being out of town, away from home, [and we] half way weren’t getting along (laughs), so for whatever reason we didn’t take advantage of that.

Also, [I would have liked] writing more on our projects. I did do a little collaborating here and there but it wasn’t enough to say I got the largest percentage of the song. It wasn’t enough to get really big checks off of.

So me personally, I didn’t start seeing real publishing checks until after the group broke up, and I started writing for other people. When I started getting those checks I was thinking, ‘We should have been writing’ (laughs). You live and you learn. I learned a lot— from [how] you have to be more involved in your business. Even now, I still make mistakes. You know, trusting the wrong people sometimes.

Your store TAGS just celebrated it’s second anniversary recently. You and your business partner, Peaches, are doing an amazing job. What made you partner up for this venture?

Well, the main reason was because I don’t really know the whole business of how a store runs. I feel like just because you have money, it doesn’t mean that you can just open up a business and know nothing about the business. So, that’s why I partnered up with my friend because she had a store before and she knows how to run it and how to go and buy the stuff and stock the store. Eventually, I may one day branch off and do my own thing, but as it is now, it works. Don’t have to be at the store everyday to know its taking care of itself.

Let’s talk a little bit about your portfolio and the importance of having multiple streams of income.

Well, when I was young, I used to read a lot of financial books, and one thing they would say is you should have multiple [sources] of income to stay or become a millionaire. I definitely think that’s true because, say for instance, as a songwriter you maybe hot, then, what if you’re not hot anymore? Then you go through a period where you don’t feel like writing anymore. Those checks aren’t going to be as big as they were.

But, you still have these other things that are popping and making money. As far as me being a singer or in the music business that’s up and down. I wanted to have businesses that were not just about the music that I could still maintain and make money. So that if I ever chose to say “I’m leaving the music industry” I still had money coming in from something.

For more on how Kandi Burruss ventured into the billion-dollar adult toy industry, check out the full exclusive BlackEnterprise.com audio interview on BE Next.

Source: Black Enterprise

Position: Editorial Intern

Location: New York, NY

Interested in writing for an up-coming business web portal? Looking to get writing exposure in the entertainment industry? NYC-based Business Web Portal, IndustryPlug (www.industryplug.com) is seeking an energetic, detail oriented writer for IndustryPlug’s editorial internship position.  The ideal candidate will be in tune with the stories that interest our readers, will demonstrate headline-writing talent, and will have great writing and re-write skills.

Responsibilities:

-Assist in identifying and developing new content

-Update content to website using our content management system

-Coordinate with editorial staff to integrate content into e-letter

-Send out regular e-letter to users of the website, including latest additions and updates

-Work alongside editorial team to update content to our blogs and social networks

Qualifications:

-Have excellent verbal and written communication skills

-Ability to clearly and effectively summarize a wide variety of content

-Skilled headline writer

-Be a self-starter, able to work independently on assigned projects and research independently

-Excellent Internet and Computer skills.

-Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Word/Excel/Powerpoint)

-Familiarity with Wordpress + online content management systems is a plus

-Familiarity with social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)

-Ability to meet tight deadlines

About IndustryPlug:

IndustryPlug.com is a business web portal for young cutting edge individuals between the ages of 18-34. We feature content that the modern-day professional needs to develop their career and create financial wealth as an executive and/or entrepreneur. Our readers are creative, innovative and business savvy.

Application Instructions:

Please send resumes, cover letters and writing samples to careers@industryplug.com. Job title should be in the Subject line. Please note that this is a non-paid opportunity.

Position: Graphic Design Intern

Location: New York, NY

IndustryPlug (www.industryplug.com) is seeking a talented graphic designer to work with our Creative team.

Responsibilities:

-Assist with editorial, online, marketing and branding projects (icons, web ads, collateral, etc)

-Assist with Online image searching and maintain database

-Resize, cut and optimize graphics from external sources

-Create attractive and dynamic designs which conform to company branding

-Liaise with creative team and editorial team to deliver assets upon request

Qualifications:

-Must be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop)

-Must have experience preparing PSD files for web and working on banner ads

-Knowledge of HTML and CSS is a plus

-Knowledge and experience with cross-browser and cross-platform issues a plus (IE, Firefox, Safari, etc)

-Experience w/ Social Media a plus

-Ability to work in a team and communicate clearly

-Works well under pressure and able to meet tight deadlines

-Able to work independently and good at multi-tasking

-Enthusiastic w/ a desire to learn new skills

About IndustryPlug:

IndustryPlug.com is a business web portal for young cutting edge individuals between the ages of 18-34. We feature content that the modern-day professional needs to develop their career and create financial wealth as an executive and/or entrepreneur. Our readers are creative, innovative and business savvy.

Application Instructions:

Please send resumes, cover letters and writing samples to careers@industryplug.com. Job title should be in the Subject line. Please note that this is a non-paid opportunity.

Jay-Z covers the latest issue of GQ Magazine’s annual “Men Of The Year” issue.  Joined by Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, Michael Fassbender and Mila Kunis also appear on separate covers of GQ’s biggest issue of the year.

The Brooklyn-born rapper graces the magazine’s December cover for its annual “Men of the Year” issue, on newsstands Nov. 22.

In the issue, the 41-year-old reveals that it was wife Beyoncé’s decision to announce she was pregnant at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.

“It was actually Bey who wanted to (announce) it,” he says. “You want to be in control of your life.”

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, also opens up about a time growing up in which he couldn’t be in total control — when his father walked out on the family.

“If your dad died before you were born, yeah, it hurts — but it’s not like you had a connection with something that was real,” Jay says. “Not to say it’s any better — but to have that connection and then have it ripped away was, like, the worst. My dad was such a good dad that when he left, he left a huge scar. He was my superhero.”

A superhero turned villain that Jay-Z eventually confronted.

“[I talked about] what it did to me, what it meant, asked him why. There was no real answer,” he says. “There was nothing he could say, because there’s no excuse for that. There really isn’t. So there was nothing he could say to satisfy me, except to hear me out. And it was up to me to forgive and let it go.”

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Source: Daily News

Producer/songwriter Ryan Leslie has been named the first ever Artist in Residence at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. In his new post, Mr. Leslie will interact with students for the 2011–12 academic year. He will give group lectures, critique songs and mentor students as part of the school’s experiential education mandate.

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Source: Singersroom

Based on his high profile as a rapper and music producer, as well as his recent success revitalizing the Reebok brand, Swizz Beatz has been hired by British automaker Lotus to assume the title of VP of Creative Design and Global Marketing. A video on the Lotus site shows Swizz on his first day of work, arriving at Lotus headquarters in a helicopter, checking in with CEO Dany Bahar, visiting the design studio, and advising a group of dubious Lotus employees by disclosing that prospective buyers are looking for “flashy” sports cars. The day ends at the racetrack, with Swizz going for quick spin in a Lotus vehicle. Time will tell where this ride takes the Lotus brand as well as its newest executive.

Source: Freshness Mag

The days of having just one internship to boast about are long gone. With competition being as intense as it is, there can never be too many sites under your radar when searching for the next big opportunity. Here are four great websites to help you land your next entertainment, fashion or beauty internship:

FreeFashionInternships.com
You want to work in the fashion industry–an industry where there aren’t any set steps for success, you’ll have to lend some of your creativity to moves that get you to the dream job. Your first step should be to check out what opportunities FreeFashionInternships.com has to offer. Created by a fashion intern, turned-fashion-publicist, you’ll find opportunities from indie, to couture, to merchandising and beyond. And just like the name of the site suggests, this info is free. You’ll have to work the rest.

UrbanInterns.com
Not only is UrbanInterns.com a free source for internship opportunities, but you can also find opportunities for part-time and freelance gigs there too. Leaving your dorm room to make a few dollars and gain some work experience related to your field of study, doesn’t have to be a major requirement.  Another plus is that employers from top companies also frequent the site looking for new talent, so you’ll want to create a profile and upload your resume, picture and bio so the jobs can find you.

StyleCareers.com
Ideal for those beginning their senior year of college and thinking more and more about scoring a fashion related job upon graduation, StyleCareers.com is a rich resource for fashion, beauty, and even home styling career information that could help.  Right now at  StylePortfolios.com, a StyleCareers website and hot spot for recruiters, image portfolios are free to create while the site is being relaunched.

IndustryPlug.com
Here, at IndustryPlug.com, we keep you plugged into the latest in entertainment news, as well as the latest jobs and internships in the entertainment industry. Join our Mailing List so that you’re among the first to know about openings in top entertainment companies like Sony Music, BET, 5WPR, Marc Ecko and more.