Dear Concerned Citizens, Are you smarter than AmericanJustice? AJ has been keeping it real instead of Keeping Up with the Kardashians! Join AmiJ for a shot of political satire and REMIX the controversial song You Aint Even Know It on 5/4 at the New Museum's Ideas City Festival

AJ will be featured in the Willing Participant project starting at 3pm Willing Participant is an urgent poetic response to the crazy stuff happening.

ALL ARE INVITED to participate as performers in our living sculpture.

5/4 3pm-4:30 Please meet at the SE corner of Chrystie Street & Stanton Street in Manhattan.

Bring a backpack or two

AmericanJustice is a cheerleader for the status-quo, self-made cazzillionaire, Forever21, running for office and running for her life.

Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to TEST AmericanJutsice's commitment to "We The People".

$earching for American Justice: The Pursuit of Happiness is a hot new political satire highlighted in Alternet’s 6 Activist Projects to Watch and featured in the Village Voice the NYT and Crunk and Disorderly.

$earching for AJ stars a vapid AmericanJusticewhose blind allegiance to the status-quo, highlights our search for justice.

AmericanJustice (AJ) aka “AmiJ” is a “d-list” celebrity in the mold of Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton. LegallyBlonde, LegallyBlind, Forever21 and FashionablyLate, AJ is totally OUT of touch with reality. AJ is a socialite yearning to be in BadGirlsClub and preoccupied with making red-carpet, public cameo appearances for unabashedly-ubiquitous social media self-promotion

May 25th AmericanJustice will occupy a gallery in Brooklyn. More info coming soon…. www.renaissancenbk.org stay tuned

June 2nd AmericanJustice will be placed in a box for SpreadArt's" Don't Box Me In" – Bushwick Open Studios! Again more info coming soon! Stay tuned

About Kanene Holder: Kanene Holder:

E3- Educator Using Entertainment to Enlighten. Holder is a multiple award-winning satirist and activist engaging audiences through dialog, media and memes. Holder blogs for the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kanene-holder/), received a fellowship from the Colin Powell Center for Policy Study and proudly betrayed her Brooklyn roots to live in and love Harlem. Holder collaborates with a number of visionaries including Michael Wiggins (UncleSam), Carmen Dixon (GeorgiaPeach), Natalia Nakazawa (GlamSquad), Ellen Bodkins (GlamSquad), Jabari Holder (pararazzi) and Herman Jean-Noel (paparazzi) to restore justice with humor and zaniness for all!

For more information : www.SearchingforAJ.com 

Here's your chance: YRB is giving away two tickets to see the dynamic, action/thriller before it opens March 8th. All you have to do is tweet or post on our Facebook page your best revenge story using the hashtag #DeadManDown and we will select the entry. Time is running out, so get started now!!!

The Halo Nation is one of the most dedicated fan bases in all of gaming. Comprised of millions of fans around the world, Microsoft and 343 Industries, in conjunction with soundtrack partner 7Hz Productions, are recognizing the passion of these fans with the “Halo 4” Soundtrack Remix Contest. Musicians and “Halo” gamers alike will have the ability to put their own spin on the “Halo 4” Soundtrack working with exclusive original stems from famed composer/producer Neil Davidge, competing for a shot at global recognition.

The competition starts Oct. 3 and will run through Oct. 29, with prizes awarded to the most original and creative tracks. Fans will have access to samples of Awakening, To Galaxy, and Nemesis from the “Halo 4” Soundtrack, allowing for a wide range of potential remix styles and musical genres. For full contest submission guidelines and rules, visit: Halo4Remix.com.

Entries will be judged by composer Neil Davidge of Massive Attack, “Halo 4” audio director Sotaro Tojima, and electronic musicians Sander Van Doorn and CASPA based on originality, creativity, and musicality.

Winners will be announced on Nov. 16.

(details on next page)

Story and Styling by Darius Baptist // Photography by Carlos Arias // Hair by Ursula Stephen for Motions/Epiphany Artist Group Inc // Make-Up by Lucky Smyler for MAC Cosmetics and Devoted Creations/Epiphany Artist Group Inc // Location courtesy of The Room Mate Grace Hotel NYC, NY

After bursting on to the scene four seasons ago on VH1’s highly rated reality show Basketball Wives, New York native and now self-proclaimed Miami Mamacita Evelyn Lozada has become one of the most sought out television personalities of today. Whether she’s cursing out a cast member, spending time with her daughter Shaniece or playing girlfriend and soon to be wife to football star Chad Ochocinco of the Miami Dolphins, Evelyn has set her sights on establishing herself as a brand. And from the looks of it, it appears to be a success. You would think balancing a book deal with Cash Money Content (The Inner Circle), a cosmetics line (E by Evelyn), an online upscale shoe boutique (Dulceshoes.net), planning a wedding and many other business ventures in the works would almost seem an impossible feat to manage. But not for this unstoppable force. With her new show Ev & Ocho chronicling the days leading up to the nuptials between Evelyn and Chad, she guarantees us that we are destined to see another side to her. Never one to bite her tongue, this give-it-to-you-straight woman has no qualms about the fact that the public persona she has isn’t quite as desirable as one would think. We sat down with Evelyn during our shoot to try and uncover another side of this complex personality. Whether you love her or hate her, one thing is for sure: Evelyn Lozada gives it to you straight, no chaser.

YRB: First up, let’s talk wedding. What details could you give us about it? Evelyn: I can’t really say too much because we’re filming, but what I can tell you is I’m wearing a gown designed by Ines DiSanto. Her designs are always sexy, fun and very couture.

YRB: Aside from the actual wedding, what else can we expect to see on Ev & Ocho? Evelyn: You’ll get to see a different side of Evelyn and Chad. Especially me, since I was on Basketball Wives, which had a lot of cattiness. With this show, you get to see me with my family, and how Chad and I interact with one another. Our show is a family show with a twist. I’m happy that I get to show a different side of me outside of the drama [Laughs].

YRB: How accurate has your portrayal on BBW been? Evelyn: Everything I say and do, I own up to. I haven’t always dealt with everything how everyone else would. With Basketball Wives, you only get to see one side of Evelyn. I would never say I’ve been portrayed in a bad light, because I take responsibility for saying and doing those things.

YRB: What would you say is the downside to fame? Evelyn: I would say the downside is that people only get to see one side. We want balance, we want to see different things but when we’re not in control, it’s just that: we’re not in control. YRB: You’re establishing your own brand with your book The Inner Circle and the E by Evelyn beauty line. What has that experience been like? Evelyn: I’m the busiest I’ve ever been. Not only am I planning a wedding but I’m promoting and trying to make my 15 minutes last longer. I never thought I’d be an author. My books are sold out in a lot of stores. It’s a blessing. It’s those things that make me work harder. It makes me think, “What else can I do?” It’s been great. Tiring, but great.

by Kela Walker // Photography by Keith Major // Styling by Darius Baptist // Grooming by Unique London

Walking into the intimate studio, there’s an air of awe and giddiness filling the space thanks to the man of the hour, Michael Ealy. One of the hottest men in Hollywood, Ealy is relatively apathetic to it all. He’s clearly unfazed and oblivious to the gawking and admiration of the women on set.

It’s hard to believe that the actor is 38 years old with years of experience in the industry. Not to be defined by any of the men he has played in various film and television roles (a thug in Barbershop, a troubled soul in For Colored Girls, a lawyer in The Good Wife), Ealy is clearly a man of distinction. Standing at 5’10”, his features are strong, sexy and mysterious – things that mean very little to him. Refusing to fall into narcissism or even egotism, Ealy addresses how he copes with sex symbol status, recalling advice Denzel Washington once gave him on the impermanence of good looks.

“Denzel explained to me a long time ago that looks are fleeting,” says Ealy. “None of this [gesturing toward his face] matters. It’s really what’s inside. It sounds cliché, but I’m much more interested in what’s inside. It’s about the character of the man, not the looks or sex appeal.” People have their own impression of who Michael Ealy is, but when asked to describe himself, it doesn’t come very easy for the actor. “I don’t really think about the kind of guy I am, but I am a guy’s guy through and through,” he explains. “I love to embrace new cultures and ideas, but at the same time I like to entertain things my way. I like my business to be handled professional. I don’t have a high tolerance for laziness, unprofessionalism. When you start dealing with someone who likes to be heard instead of listening, you can’t be in my life. If you are more obsessed with being heard than listening, it won’t work. I have found that listening has been more helpful to me in my life, helps you weed out a lot of people and bullshit.” So of course, one can’t help but wonder if this also applies to his taste in women. The Silver Springs, Maryland native says that he prefers a woman with “passion and talent” – not along the lines of a singer or dancer, but women who are committed to their interests. “If you are a cook or a teacher, be the best damn cook or teacher,” he says. “Have heart in what you do.” Watching Ealy be himself, you can tell that he is a no nonsense kind of guy, and listening to him, it’s more than evident that his childhood and upbringing played an important role in shaping who he’s become. Raised in a diverse area of the suburbs, he says, “We weren’t in mansions or anything like that” – and had what he terms a “normal” adolescence. “I was extraordinarily blessed to be able to grow up completely and utterly normal. My upbringing is boring because there is no trauma and no drama,” he says. “A lot of actors have something that happened. My parents were together, my sister – she didn’t get strung out. Everything was so normal. I often say I think that’s why I pursued acting. I pursued acting for the drama.” Ealy describes his native town as “special,” and talks about how getting an education was important to his family. He and his crew of friends were all about getting their college degrees, and yet it was those same friends who inspired him to chase his dreams of being an entertainer. Inspired by Spike Lee, two of his closest associates introduced him to the director’s films after they graduated high school. It was then that he realized he had potential as an actor.

In Hollywood, it’s not often you come across people that are truly as genuine and down to Earth as they appear on television with the characters they portray. But Kim Coles is that rarity. Most known as the loveable Synclaire on the successful series Living Single, this comedienne, actress, author and playwright has found a place in America’s heart, and with her caring and bubbly personality she has continued to keep you watching and supporting her in whatever she chooses to pursue. With a new co-hosting gig on the much buzzed-about game show Are You Normal, America?, Coles has found herself once again doing what she loves, and warming our hearts as only she can. I had the honor of sitting down with this hysterically funny woman to discuss everything from love and laughter to what it feels like to have Oprah as your boss. Believe me when I say it, this woman exudes humor.

Darius: I have to start off by saying I did not know you began in this business as a model. Not saying that you aren’t beautiful, but can you tell me how that started you to where you are now? Kim: When I was about 18 or 19 years old, my first job was working in Macy’s in the cook wear department. There was a sign in the employee dressing room that said someone was looking for models for a fashion show. I had finished high school, dropped out of college, thought I would work for a bit until I figured out what I really wanted to do, and this seemed like something fun to do. This wasn’t a major big time fashion show that I’m talking about, it was one of those church basement shows, but either way I figured it was important and I would give it a try. The thing about me modeling is that I always had a sense of humor with it, and the audience took to it well. This was long before the plus-size industry really took off, but I ended up modeling for BBW magazine and winning a beauty pageant because I did stand-up as my talent. Stand-up comedy and modeling are very closely related because as I was modeling I would always be making people laugh and one time the commentator didn’t show up for a fashion show so the designer was like “Kim, you’re funny, why don’t you go perform for people and keep them entertained before the show starts?” I started performing and making people laugh and it was good enough that I stopped being booked as a model and started being booked as a comedian.

Darius: How would you say the plus-sized industry has evolved? Kim: Well there’s a lot more opportunities. It felt to me like plus-size was an afterthought. Though people will tell you that it was special and it was wonderful, I got a sense that it’s a service they were providing because they had to. It wasn’t as fabulous as it is now. It’s gotten bigger and better and more chic. Back then, if you weren’t a size 14, 16 or 18, you weren’t a plus size model. Now, you could be a size 10 or 8 and be a plus-size model. It’s definitely grown. The meaning and definition of beauty have definitely grown, and so has fashion. Where it used to be an inconvenience, now it’s an industry that seems to respect the customer more. There’s room for change and growth, but I think it’s definitely better than it was in the ‘80s.

This New York-based tastemaker’s extensive musical knowledge and phenomenal personality has made her one of the most in-demand DJs in the country.

Going from being a music-obsessed waitress to deejaying for the President of the United States, Louisiana native DJ Kiss has come a long way in the music business. If you don’t already know who she is, you soon will. Being named one of the “25 Most Stylish New Yorkers” by US Weekly didn’t come as a surprise, considering a client list that includes fashion brands Versace, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. Recently starting her own blog, “XOXO, Kiss,” the globetrotting trendsetter is ready to take her career to new heights.

YRB: How did you get into deejaying? Kiss: I was taking acting classes during the day here in New York City – I moved here from Louisiana – and at night I had to do something, so I waitressed. I’m waitressing at this club, and I’ve always been a fan of music, so I started to befriend some of the DJs. One of the DJs, who is now my husband DJ M.O.S., we became really good friends and he noticed I was sort of a music fanatic. So one day he was kind of like, ‘Look, I would like to show you some of the fundamentals of deejaying because you already know music’ – and also I kind of begged him. From there, I just started practicing at home and got good enough to finally open for him. So I started opening for him and from there I started to get my own jobs. And voila!

YRB: What DJs have inspired you? Kiss: Well, first and foremost, my husband. I think he’s the best DJ. I’m not trying to be cocky, but I think he’s the best DJ in America. I’ve seen him slaughter so many different types of rooms. Sure, he can come and play at Avenue [in N.Y.C.] or whatever, but I’ve heard him play for a room of indie hipster kids and he had them on the floor, or a room full of 40-year-old black people, or a room full of 50-year-old white people that want to hear classic rock. So he is just so multitalented that he just inspires me. Beyond that, I love DJs like Beverly Bond. She was the first sort of full-on girl DJ that I saw in the clubs. I had always loved Spinderella, [but] when I was growing up, [Beverly] was the one that you could touch..

YRB: How would you describe your DJ style? Kiss: I’m versatile. Like my husband, I get booked for a multitude of different types of things as opposed to always being in fashion or always being in this or that, so I really have to be able to play for anyone. YRB: Do you think it’s harder for female DJs to get respect? Kiss: No, not in 2012. When I started yes, that was 2006, but now it’s kind of par for the course, and sometimes clients specifically want a girl. YRB: What song or artist always gets the crowd going? Kiss: The classics. I would definitely say anything Michael Jackson. Even newer classics, anything Jay-Z, anything Kanye… That type of stuff – always without fail, in any type of room – will get the crowd going.

YRB: What has been your most memorable event? Kiss: I’ve done so many great ones. Puffy’s 2012 New Year’s Eve party, that was really awesome. I got to spin for Madonna for an Oscar event. I’ve been doing Good Morning America as well, so all of those were really memorable.

by Nancy Dunham

Phillipa Margaret Brown never fell out of love with music. It’s understandable that some fans of the New Zealand-born musician, who named herself Ladyhawke after the 1985 Richard Donner film of the same name in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays a strong and exotic beauty, wondered if that was the case. After all, Ladyhawke released her self-titled synth-heavy debut in 2008 and immediately became something akin to the toast of pop, nabbing coveted Australian Recording Industry Association music awards and embarking on a two-year world tour. But to many fans, it seemed that Pip Brown, as she is called in her everyday life, just disappeared from the scene at a time when many musicians would be posing on red carpets, waving to fans from the stages of award shows and releasing new singles. Many other female musicians who emerged at the same time, including Lady Gaga, La Roux and other media-labeled “chicks with synths,” were doing just that. “I had toured about two years and I couldn’t write on the road. I just couldn’t do that,” says Ladyhawke, whose sophomore album, Anxiety, was released in late May. “I was in robot mode. I finished touring about February 2010 and started to write straight away.” That’s because Ladyhawke wanted to keep the music flowing despite her emotional exhaustion. It’s not surprising, considering she started her musical journey at 11 years old, learning the drum pattern to Smashing Pumpkins’ “Cherub Rock.” It wasn’t long after that she joined the band Two Lane Blacktop as lead guitarist, happy to be playing other musicians’ songs. When she relocated to Melbourne, Australia and joined Nick Littlemore in the duo Teenager, she found her own voice – or at least had it discovered. At the time, she had been contributing some music and ideas to Littlemore, mainly working out of her home studio. By happenstance, Littlemore had heard her singing one of her own songs, pushed her to record it and prodded her to continue making original music. The road to a major label debut on Island via Aussie indie Modular was winding, as she moved from a somewhat-in-the-background guitarist to an award-winning, hit-producing multi-instrumentalist who wrote, recorded and performed her own creations.

Add to that her sudden role as a fashion leader – “I’m really quite tall, so men’s or boy’s clothes have just always fit me better,” she says as a general explanation of her preferred jeans, t-shirts, hats and boots attire – and you can begin to understand why she stepped back for a while. “I took six months off,” she explains of her actions when her post-tour writing stalled. “I went back to New Zealand and isolated myself. I felt oversaturated with music. I got a little place and lived there and just chilled out.” Some musicians who hit such a crossroads talk about how they weigh their options beyond music. One classic example is Alanis Morissette, who said after the runaway success of her 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, she debated walking away, perhaps becoming a florist. That’s not something to which Ladyhawke can relate. She always knew that she would get back to music – she just didn’t know how. “I never thought that,” she says of leaving music behind. “I really love what I do. Sometimes you need to take a step back and tell yourself that a lot of people just don’t get it. People would harmlessly say in passing, ‘So, when is your next album coming out? What will it sound like?’ It was really bugging me. “They don’t understand it is a lot of hard work,” she continues. “It’s not just breezing along and drinking and partying all the time and living the rock ‘n roll lifestyle. It was really taxing on me and I was thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can do another tour.’ But I knew I’d write another record. I will write records for the rest of my life. All I needed was a couple months off.” And a chance to get back to her own roots. “We had a really, really crappy drum kit,” she says of working with songwriter-producer Pascal Gabriel for Anxiety. “Not a vintage one. It was a really crappy kit. We mic’d everything up and they recorded me and I played for ages and ages and got this drum beat, and when you hear a clacking sound, that’s me hitting the rim. Then I sat down with my guitar and came up with a riff and it just started to work.” espite her songwriting and guitar chops, Ladyhawke considers herself a drummer first. That’s why it seemed natural for her to go to the kit at Gabriel’s home studio. “We are such good friends,” she describes Gabriel, who also lent a production hand on her debut. “I need to be really comfortable in the studio. I don’t like big, posh studios. I like being at someone’s house, in a spare room or something. Pascal has a really homey studio. He’s got a cat and all of these cool gadgets and pictures. And his wife is a really good cook and would cook for us. The cat would wander around when we were working. She’d push the door open and sit on my lap. In a few tracks [on the album] you can hear her purring on my lap.”