So…I was poking around and found this. I’ve liked Estelle for awhile and hope her attempt to conquer America works. What do you think? (Hey D. I love her, but will someone tell her to stop wearing that dress with the star, thanks. -JBaker)
Listen here: Estelle x Swizz Beatz = Shine.
Plus, were you one of those who believed that Gym Class Heroes lead singer, Travis, was too cute to be a druggie? Keep readin’… (more…)

Normally, I am a basics girl…a good dark denim jean, white tee and I’m good to go. My real splurges come with the bags and shoes (Marc Jacobs, Tano, Chie Mihara, LV, Louboutin….and I wonder why I am in debt?) to inject whatever I’m feeling that day. So with the spring/summer season upon us, I’ve decided to flip things a bit–with dresses, more specifically dresses by Duro Olowu. (more…)

We’re serious about music here at Parlour, so this afternoon we’re begging for an intervention for underground hip-hop newbie and Erykah Badu’s new booty (boyfriend), Jay Electronica.
As I whined about briefly in Afternoon Tea, I went to Jay Electronica + Mos Def’s sold out show at NYC’s Nokia Theater last night. I was so focused on seeing Jay that I took a CAB FROM BROOKLYN and thankfully only missed two songs in his set. But as I stood there, I realized that I’d already missed his most popular song, a remix of the theme song from Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Who the hell plays their most popular song second in their set? That was his first mistake. (more…)

Aw man, just when we got reacclaimated to TV without the writer’s strikes, now the actors are gearing up to shut Hollywood down. (pictured: DeNiro and wife Grace Hightower – you know Robert loves the brownies, lol) [People]

Now Cubans can stay in Cuban Hotels. What a novel idea… [BBC]

Oakland, Ca reached it’s highest death rate in ten years in 2006. Here’s a multi-media breakdown of exactly what’s going down. [SFG]

In addition to badgering fans (and dsteel) with an exhaustive performance last night, Mos Def is playing Chuck Berry in the upcoming film about Chess Records, “Cadillac Records.” It’s the reunion of old boo’s since Beyonce is playing Etta James in the film and word on the street says that before there was Jay-Z, there was Mos D… [Billboard]

US Housing secretary Alphonso R. Jackson stepped down saying he wants to hang out with his family, but this announcement comes as he is being investigated for giving housing contracts to buddies inNew Orleans and the Virgin Islands. [NYT]

Like Popeye, Hillary Clinton says she’s gonna fight to the finish. [Guardian]

Back to the LA Times saga + Tupac + Puffy + Jimmy Rosemond + LA Times writer Chuck Phillips, Jimmy Rosemond, manager of the Game, says he’s suing the LA Times. We expect him to catch a FAT check. [Billboard]

Nelly’s coming out this summer, just like he was supposed to come out last summer, lol… [HHDX]

I have to imagine the most eligible of bachelors will cringe when they read this (and for that matter the bachelorettes too), but I have a confession to make. Here it goes: I’m married and I don’t have a bank account to call my own. There I said it. (more…)

Murakami
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Brooklyn, NY
April 5 – July 13
We admit that one of the only reasons we are going to this show is for the Louis Vuitton pop-up shop…but then again, everything Murakami does is pretty dope, so we are expecting an overall bright and sunny show. On April 5th, the Brooklyn Museum opens a retrospective of his work. If you are in New York, you can check out the exhibit and grab a cocktail during the museum’s First Saturday

Alexis Peskine, Freedom Fried
G.R. N’Namdi Gallery
Detroit, MI
Through May 3rd
Hey Detroit! Other than your mayor getting in a little trouble, there is something else to be excited about, the G.R. N’Namdi gallery is the home of Freedom Fried, a solo show by one of our favourite artists and all around really nice guy, Alexis Peskine. (more…)