You might have noticed that the blog network is down on Clutch and we wanted to let you know why. Well – we have decided to switch things up a bit and incorporate more fashion, beauty, money, career, decor, celebrity news and more into our daily blog – News.Gossip.Info. At this time, we are in the process of updating the site design for the changes. If you were a big fan of Stylistic, Fuchsia, Paper, Pad, The Edge or Golden – don’t worry – it’s still here, just in News. Gossip.Info. Stay tuned for the updated site and changes.

As always, thanks for supporting Clutch! We owe every bit of our success and growth to you. :)

xoxo, Dede
dsutton@clutchmagonline.com

The post Editor’s Note: Updates and Changes appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

This past weekend we learned that Baatin one of the members of the legendary Slum Village passed away. At this time, there is no further information on what caused Baatin’s death, but our hearts couldn’t be more broken. Our prayers and condolences go out to his family, friends and millions of fans all over the world. Baatin, you will always be in our hearts and your mark has definitely been left in hip-hop.

Somebody said that radio would never ever play, Some of that Detroit, motor city for play, Honestly earning my dough, keepin it real ya’ll, Countin my cash, just showin you how the boss ball, I never thought that we would make it up this far, Grippin my cream color Cadillac, north star, Detroit motor city finest is who we are.” – (c) Baatin — Get Dis Money, SV

RIP Baatin and Jay Dee!

The post R.I.P. Baatin of Slum Village appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Today is a special day here on Clutch Magazine — It’s our two-year anniversary! I cannot believe it has been two years, but it has. On April 1, 2007 Clutch Magazine Online was launched and I can honestly say we never thought we would have the love and support of hundreds of thousands of men and women all of the globe. Personally, I just want to say thanks to not only to our readers but to the Clutch family – I love you all. Stay tuned this week to hear from the beautiful men and women behind Clutch!

Happy Anniversary Guys!!!

Our anniversary is a time to look back at the good times and a time to look ahead to live our dreams together.

Its Our Anniversary – Tony Toni Tone

xoxo,

Dede

The post It’s Our Anniversary! Clutch Celebrates Two Years Online appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

* Sorry about the slowness of the video – for some reason my video program on my mac made it go slow-better quality next time — promise!

FYI: Over the next few days the site will change up a bit due to us still tidying up and making additional changes. Thanks for your patience!

The post Video Editor’s Letter #001 – Dede Sutton appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

One of my favorite websites “In Her Shoes” did a profile on little ole’ me. Thanks to one of my favorite media moguls/fashionistas Renae Bluitt for the wonderful opportunity to be featured on her website. Please run over to “In Her Shoes” and check out all the fabulous content (and my interview) that “In Her Shoes” offers. Also, please make sure you bookmark the site and tell-a-friend about it too — it’s the blog to watch in 2009.

Check out my interview here….

Some of my favorite posts thus far from “In Her Shoes“

For more information on In Her Shoes please visit www.inhershoesblog.com.

xoxo,

Dede
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com

The post In Her Shoes: Dede Sutton of Clutch Magazine appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

The Internet is buzzing about Keri Hilson’s remix for her hit single “Turnin’ Me On“. In the remix with T-Pain and Lil Wayne there are a couple of lines that are making people speculate that it’s about Beyonce, Ciara — possibly both. So we had to ask you — what do you think — is Keri getting her diss on?

Alleged Beyonce/Ciara Diss:

“Your vision cloudy if you think that you da best/You can dance/she can sing/but need to move it to the le… (Don’t do it to ‘em shawty!)”

“Just check the credits, ho…”

Thanks Gotty @ The Smoking Section!

UPDATE: Rumor Shut Down: Keri Hilson Deny’s Diss Track Against Beyonce & Ciara (Ciara Calls In)

The post Keri Hilson Dissing Beyonce and Ciara? You Decide. appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Hi Everyone,

We wanted to let you know that due to server issues over the past few days, we have decided to push back the issue to the 9th of March, which is next Monday. Don’t worry, everything is fine; we just want to make sure that all website issues are taken care of before we release the new issue. Look for our new issue newsletter in your email box on the 9th!

Thanks again for your continued support!

xoxo,

Dede
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com

The post Editor’s Note: The New Issue of Clutch Now Drops on March 9th appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Hi Everyone! We apologize for being down for the last two days. We were experiencing server issues. Thanks for continuing to support Clutch and get ready for some exciting updates and changes coming soon.

xoxo,
Dede
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com

The post Memo: And We’re Back! appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

This issue represents new beginnings for Clutch and we couldn’t be more excited! Not only are we officially a bi-monthly magazine, we have launched the first blog network for African American women. The blog network serves as a daily supplement to all the things you currently love about Clutch. The blogs are:

The Edge
Entertainment news & hearsay from the fringe of mainstream culture. The Edge provides the freshest, most insightful “hip-smart” commentary of those in the know. We administer a daily dose of the most intriguing chatter about everything from your favorite personalities to rants about TV, film, music and much more.

Stylistic
All fashion, all the time. Stylistic is the ultimate fashion sanctuary for urban stylistas worldwide. With daily styling tips, collection reviews, looks for less and more, every feature is meant to keep Clutchette’s both fashionably self-confident and knowledgeable shoppers.

Fuchsia
African American beauty at it’s best. Fuchsia is our beauty and hair blog that serves as a daily supplement to Clutch’s beauty department. Fuchsia features product reviews and trend reports on the latest in hair, makeup and skincare.

Poor Kid
Our children are indeed the future. Poor Kid is a daily fix for young parents balancing parenthood and life. Our parenting and family blog features tips, product reviews, advice and resource for young, hip African American parents.

We can’t thank you enough for continuing to support us. Like always, we promise to keep getting better and better. Now, go check out the new issue and the blogs! We really hope you like them. They are made especially for you.

Clutch & Lipglass,

Dede Sutton
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com
Twitter l Myspace l Facebook

The post Editor’s Letter: Making History appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

So, it should come to no surprise that I have some lessons to share with you that I have learned over the last couple of months as a young entrepreneur. I have to say, I have grown so much personally and professionally because of the things I’ve experienced over the last three months. Many of the lessons I knew were coming, but I didn’t know they would come so quickly! For instance, I’ve learned how to be more assertive; how to ask the right questions (and truly understand the responses given); how to think longterm; how to be more patient; and most importantly, the lesson of not compromising myself and my brand for financial gain.

Clutch is my dream and passion, but it’s a business as well and it has bills and salaries that need to be paid, so the financial part is extremely important. But I’ve learned that all money is not smart money. If you take an investment that compromises what you want and deserve, then that is not smart money. Therefore, I just want to say to other entrepreneurs out there, be patient and keep doing what you are doing . . . because one day soon you will be rewarded.

Believe me, I have to say that to myself almost everyday! But I believe it; I know this experience is already written and I am just waiting to turn the pages to get to the good part. From the outside looking in, Clutch may seem very seamless and easy, but it’s far from that. I also want to tell the entire Clutch family, thanks for continuing to stick with me. I made you a promise and I plan on keeping it.

To all our readers, thanks again. I know I rarely show my face, but just know that I am in the background working to make Clutch better for you. Below is a song by one of my favorite vocalist, Amel Larrieux that I would like to dedicate to anyone who is questioning their worth, dreams or chosen path in life. Please know that you have “Infinite Possibilities” and anything is possible with hard work and faith.

Clutch & Lipglass,
Dede
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com

[See post to listen to audio]

The post Editor’s Letter: Infinite Possibilities appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

To learn more about or shop DSW please visit www.dsw.com

The post Calling All Shoe Fanatics: DSW is Now Online! appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

We all know flats are a girl’s best friend, especially in the summer! Though flats are a given summer staple — metallics are a color staple that if isn’t already added to your wardrobe — must be…and soon. Lately, everyone from Angela Simmons to Kelly Rowland have been spotted out on the town in the most adorable silver flats. So Ladies, make sure that while your out picking up your brights to add a splash of color to your wardrobe this summer — to pick up an always chic pair of silver flats…and while your are at it get a pair of gold ones for me.

The post Summer Staple: Silver Flats appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
*pick up to three responses

The post Clutch Presents Our 1st Annual Summer Blog Academy! appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Q: Did you always want to be a designer?
I don’t really think of myself as a designer. Actually sitting down and ‘designing’ clothes takes up the least amount of time during my typical day. I spend the majority of the day on the phone, email, at factories, in mid-town buying fabrics, managing sales, photographers, artists, paying bills, etc. However, to answer your question I had no idea I was going to be a ‘designer.’ I was always really into clothes and always loved the feeling of expression through wardrobe. You can say a lot with clothes without ever opening your mouth. It’s a really cool concept. I just knew wherever my life was going to take me, it was going to be to a good place. So it has brought me here thus far, and I was right.

Q: Most entrepreneur’s kicked off in another career field or path before breaking away to pursue their passion. So dish…what was your everyday hustle before MadeMe?
I have always worked in fashion. My first job out of college was working for Umbro x Kim Jones, then I moved to Supreme as head of production, and in between I did some styling here and there. I also did a bunch of freelance gigs for other ‘streetwear’ brands. After compiling all of that experience, I decided to start my own brand.

Q: Is there a story or meaning behind the name “MadeMe”?
Yes, there are many reasons why I called my brand MadeMe. I will always make product for ME! I will only produce garments or products that I believe in 100 percent. It’s also an expression of of how I see the world. It’s everything that Made Me who I am. It’s all my experiences channeled into one expression. Also, it’s a funny little play on the word Madame….get it MadeMe??!?! How clever!?!

Q: What are the inspirations behind your current collection?
Ooohhh La La!!! There is a lot of inspiration coming from anything and everything French. I grew up in Canada, so I was exposed to the language a lot when I was younger. I miss being immersed in the French language so I wanted to reflect on my LOVE for the French language, it’s so sexy and beautiful. That being said, there is also a lot of sexual references in the Fall 2008 MadeMe collection. Mmmm, how sexy?!?

Q: We are sure you spend lots of time on the web. What are some of your favorite sites or blogs?
I actually don’t spend a lot of time on the web. I am so busy, that when I actually have some free time I don’t spend it on the computer. However, I do have some favorite sites and blogs. I love my girls over at Worship Worthy, Around the Girls, Mob Living, and Clutch of course! For shopping purposes, I love the support I get at Karmaloop.com and Cultistshop.com. I am also a huge Madonna fan so I always check out madonna.com and madonnalicious.com for my daily Madge updates.

Q: What designers or other brands do you respect or look up too?
This game is hard. It’s very difficult to have a successful and profitable clothing brand with longevity. I respect every designer/business owner who has been able to produce clothing at a certain success level season, season after season. That’s why someone like my mentor James Jebbia (owner/founder of Supreme) is such an amazing person to work with. He made a multi-mullion dollar brand out of nothing. He began selling tee shirts on the street in Soho and now owns seven stores world wide, manages one of the most sought after brands in the world, and does it all while turning a profit and keeping the Supreme cache. Pretty impressive if you ask me.

Q: How do you feel about about being labeled as a “streetwear” brand. Do you think that pigeon holes you and your design expectations?
I know the term ‘streetwear’ comes with some pretty strong connotations. People think it’s like eating Cheese Wiz instead of Brie, it’s fashion but NOT REAL fashion. Well, all I can say to that is streetwear is who I am. I wear ‘street’ clothes, I have worked in the environment for a long time, it pays my bills, and allows me to eat. And to answer your question, no I don’t think it pigeon holes me. I can make whatever I want to make, and find some place for it in this big world. I think there is so much potential for growth in the women’s ‘streetwear’ market. We ladies can make whatever we want to make out of it! It’s up to us.

Q: On a typical day we can catch you rocking…
I will just tell you what I am wearing today to give you a hint of what I dress like on the regular. I will start with my shoes; Supreme x Vans Chukka, Purple Stussy socks, gray Opening Ceremony jeans, a studded belt I got in Tokyo, a vintage White Snake (yes the band) tank top from the Rose Bowl in LA, a MadeMe flannel button down sample for Fall 2008, and a pair of vintage Balenciaga sunglasses (yes, I wear sunglasses at my computer). My look today is kind of trailer park meets Soho. WORD!

Q: What’s next for you and MadeMe?
Lots and lots. Just building the brand day by day. I am working on a pretty dope footwear collabo for Spring 2009, building new images for my site, finishing Fall 08 design! Stay tuned!

For more information of Erin and MadeMe Clothing please visit www.mademeclothing.com

The post Street Chic: MadeMe appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

I want to take the time to thank God, Nikki Duckworth, Nicole Mitsch, David “Mr. Dave” Jaguttis, Summer Hamilton-Smith, Erin Whitlock, Sylvia Arthur, Dale Coachman, Rashana Hooks, Alisha Tillery, RifRaf, Flithy and Kristy, Teneille Craig, Zettler Clay, Yvonne Foxx, Keisha Smith, Mika Pettigrew, Shantel Brown, Tremaine Loadholt, Collier “Nena” Lunn, Nicole Walton, Kayla Calloway, Latoya Peterson, Jennifer Valentine, Mary & Bennie Sutton, James Harris, Kevin Powell, Jason Orr, The Tyson Brothers, Sunseeker Media, Renae Bluitt, Luanna Sutton, Sheena Neal, Lianne Farbes and any and everybody who has ever contributed to Clutch in any way. I especially want to thank the Clutch family for sticking with me and their dedication to make Clutch the best it can be. You guys will never know how much I love you!

So what’s next for us?! Well, this year is going to be full of surprises, so be on the look out for some really big news and the launch of our new sister site, “Brown Fashionista.” I want to say thanks to everyone for supporting Clutch and we promise we are not going anywhere; we will continue to grow and get better each and every month.

Peace and Lipglass,
Dede
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com

The post Editor’s Letter: It’s Our Anniversary! appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Q: When did you start designing jewelry?
After graduated from Central Saint Martins, then a Creative director for an advertising agency in New York and at the height of my career I started designing jewelry to start something more profound, important and precious. I guess, I was always designing and communicating a message, so the move from advertising campaigns to highlighting global issue using people as my billboard is not that different and I made the move back to London, to grow Super Fertile into a fashion house. Our headquarters is in east London, where all the magic takes place.

Q: Being a Sri Lankan native, how has your culture influenced your designs?
I was born in London and spent the greater part of my life in the UK and the US though from three to ten years old I lived in Sri Lanka and India. If there is one thing that I remember is that Sri Lankan culture is being ruined by war and primitive uncompromising traditional views. I guess this sentiment is echoed by many people who originate from a country that has been ravaged by post colonial corruption and war. I relate to the natural beauty of cultures and people the world over and this influences my designs. That aside, I do have a close affinity for India and her rich cultural past from where the Sri Lankan Tamils descend.

Q: As a well traveled trendsetter, what is your favorite place on earth that gives you the most creative energy and inspiration?
There are so many places. India is beautifully rich in art, music, colour, architecture, needlework, natural materials, etc. It’s like a 24/7 factory of arts. What is unusual about India is that it changes everyday yet hasn’t changed its essence in over 4000 years. They also have such a charming ‘can do’ attitude without having any knowledge, experience, education or tools and sometimes ability – the children really make you smile with their curiosity and joy despite the terrible poverty. The purity and strength of this innocence is an inspiration to Super Fertile and an intrinsic part of me, and I take inspiration from the art and works of Jaipur, Agra and Rajistan.

In Europe I love to visit the art works of Spain and Paris.

Q: Tell us about your latest collection “Tourism”?
The collection came about from being frustrated by not being able to visit Sri Lanka because of a stupid war that has been going on for the last 20 years. I simply wanted to reverse the media trend of showing only violence in this country and the promotion of men carrying guns as somehow heroic. This small minority causing trouble is now the iconic representation of Sri Lanka. I wanted to speak for the majority, for the women and children, for the beautiful landscapes, the amazing wildlife that are now largely forgotten or undiscovered.

The media seems to focus on the negative, so when you Google Iraq, for example, you get images of American soldiers with guns in rubble. This is not Iraq! Iraq has culture, music, fashion, children playing, sports champions, great architecture, etc. I wanted to create a positive tourism poster for the most dangerous countries that we cannot visit.

I started googling for positive elements of countries which are portrayed as being too dangerous to visit. Did you know that Iraq is a great sporting nation in weight lifting? Total surprise! I became a bit obsessed searching the internet, books and libraries. Surely there must be more to Lebanon? What are we missing about Colombia? The cultural diversity in the Central African Republic? Women’s fashion in Afghanistan? Amazing fishing community and tropical fish in the middle of Sudan? Finding all these little wonders from parts of countries becomes addictive. It was a duty and a mission to design a necklace showing the precious beauty of these nations in the form of a tourist poster portraying a proud identity. For example, Sudan in silver or gold becomes instantly precious. Anyone who comes across this collection gasps and wows, they pick their favorite countries by comparing the other countries, they pay attention to the subjects, images, details and cultures. The truth is that these little wonders have been there all along. These necklaces are to be cherished as are these nations.

Q: What type of materials, crafting skills and technologies do you use in your designs?
The first thing is always the message. From this, the idea, the design, the form, the materials and even the size are derived to create a piece that helps to communicate the message with maximum impact. Yet precious and durable and affordable.

We have a highly skilled production team in India that hand crafts every piece using traditional cutting, plating and molding methods. It’s always a challenge to find techniques to create such unique designs that are affordable, highly artistic , unique and precious. We work with silver and gold but the handcrafting, workmanship, concept and design are the more precious aspects of the piece.

Q: Your company is named “Super Fertile.” Is there a meaning behind the name?
I wanted a name that reflected the magic of fresh new life and flourishing growth, both in the physical sense and the creative concepts and ideas. For me, a new born child, a plant and a wonderful creative idea are all miracles that come forward despite all the odds. The ‘Super’ is our way of turbo charging this natural process!

Q: Who are some of your favorite designers?
I pay more attention to great artists and I don’t mean a flash in the pan recording artist. Pablo Picasso is always an inspiration to me, Escher is a mind-blowing visual genius, Freda Khalo for honesty, the Chapman brothers for innovative sculptures and authentic traditional art forms from all over the developing world despite their limited access to materials and technology. In Africa, children make their toys from tin cans, they are my favourite designers!

Q: Out of all of your collections, what is your favorite and why?
The current one ‘Tourism.” From the original concept, the research, the designs, the production down to the photo shoot for the look book, I adhered to original concept with determination, conviction and creative drive. At one point I was scouting the UK for nine models of the nations in question. That’s hard enough but dressing them in national costume really tests your creativity – they don’t do Columbian dress in Wal-Mart and Iraqi national dress hasn’t hit the high street yet! Joking aside I went to every length to maintain the authenticity of the collection and communicate the message in the clearest terms.

Q: We are dying to know – what artists are currently in rotation in your iPod?
Bombay Jayashri to calm me down and Spank Rock to get my heart racing again.

Q: What’s one thing you want people to know about you?
My local council (Merton) educated me, and gave me the foundation to go after my dreams, I never forget the people who really helped me.

Q: What’s next for you and “Super Fertile”?
We have so much to do — you have to wait and see! And as long as there’s issues, we will do a collection, and right now, there are just so many to do! And we will keep going!

The post Kali Arulpragasam: Super Fertile appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

The post Patiently Waiting For… appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Speaking of empowering, the other day I was chatting with a friend about our image in the media and how we interact with each other. After the conversation, I couldn’t shake one of her comments, which was when Black women have knowledge or know-how a lot of us choose not to pass it on to other sisters. I can say that definitely struck a cord with me and that very day I vowed to pass on any and everything I could to women who were interested in learning anything I have been blessed to obtain in my 28 years on this earth.

I would like to challenge all of my sisters to support and love one another in 2008 and beyond. Let’s build and repair and try to live by the following manifesto. Even though it is entitled “The Woman of Color Manifesto,” it can be translated to all ethnicities. But because I am a proud African American woman I wanted to speak directly to my gorgeous sisters.

The post Editor’s Letter: The Woman Of Color Manifesto 2008 appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Trin-i-tee 5:7 knows about facing the storms of life. The group, comprised of Chanelle Haynes, Angel Taylor and Adrian Anderson, had to hold on to their faith as two of the girls’ native New Orleans was submerged in 2005 due to the ravaging effects of Hurricane Katrina. Now that gospel’s best-selling female trio has weathered the storm, they’re back with a brand new project, T57, and the challenge not only has made them stronger, but the maturity of the songbirds is reflected in their new musical collection. Clutch caught up with Adriane of Trin-i-tee 5:7 to find out more about their latest project, “T57″, which was just nominated for a Grammy.

Clutch: What’s the story behind your name, Trin-i-tee 5:7?
1st John Chapter 5 and 7.

Clutch: How did the three of you meet?
Angel and Chanelle came up together in New Orleans. Interestingly enough I met them when the group became my clients; I am a professional makeup artist and worked throughout the entertainment industry prior to joining the group.

Clutch: You are often referred to as “The Destiny’s Child of Gospel,” how does that make you feel?
Being referred to as “The Destiny’s Child of Gospel” is a compliment as it means they see us at a level of professionalism and that we have a “presence” that is appreciated.

Clutch: It’s been five years since The Kiss, your last CD, what have you guys been up to?
We decided to step back and become more educated and better positioned corporately. This is a business, and we had to become more business minded for our long term good…Gotta have the “BIG PICTURE” in mind. The hurricane (Katrina) was unexpected and added to those years as well.

Clutch: Tell us about your new project.
T57 is our victory and celebration! It is our maturity, humility, understanding, evolution and continued contribution to adding beauty to the world we all share.

Clutch: Do you have a favorite song on the new CD?
Well it varies (chuckles). “Beautiful Girl” is it’s own treasure. “I Still Love You” is passionate, vulnerable and honest and just has that pull that grabs you and takes you in. Everyone can relate to that! “Like You” is special and “I Need You” is raw and real.

Clutch: You ladies are always so stylish and polished. In secular music image is very important, is it in the gospel industry?
Thank you, we appreciate it. Image is always important. As an artist, it’s a matter of ‘Is it important to you?’ Well, it is to us, and we love getting to express our personalities. We love fashion and glamour, we enjoy being women and the fun that comes along with being three different women. Tina Knowles has done a beautiful job styling us as she listens intently to us and then translates via her gift of imaging and style.

Clutch: You speak as entrepreneurs frequently. Why are you so focused on the business side of the music business?
It is honorable and responsible to be educated in the industry you are a part of. We have to have the long-term in mind because this shapes our lives for the future. We want to bless others and be blessed from the fruit of our labor and this requires our direct involvement.

Clutch: So, are any of you attached?
We are single at this time, yet we are social and balanced.

Clutch: What does each of you look for in a significant other?
A man of substance, someone with sincerity, integrity, kindness, accountability, faith, vision, cleanliness, a sense of humor and style.

Clutch: When did each of you know you were called to worship God through song?
For me (Adrian), I had been nurturing my relationship with God and living in the love of Christ internally learning daily heartfelt application. I knew when I wanted God more, I was at the perfect place to learn that my heart and dreams matter and that GOD DREAMS A BIGGER DREAM than we ever can. Visually it is through song to the public, however it really is honoring God intimately with my whole life. It’s in my day-to-day interaction with my family, friends and people.

Clutch: If we were to look in your closet, what designers would we find?
In our closet you would find House of Dereon, Dereon, BeBe, BCBG Max Azria, Calvin Klein, Seven Jeans, True Religion Jeans, H&M pieces, Gap, Steve Madden and Ralph Lauren.

Clutch: Who are some of your musical influences?
Some of our musical influences are Vanessa L. Williams, Amy Grant, Selena and I love the Old Standard singers . . . class lasts forever.

Clutch: What’s one thing most people don’t know about Trin-i-tee 5:7
We have a charity arm (The Ambassador’s of Hope & Triumph) and we encourage one another to pursue other interests so we all develop in various areas. Being a part of a group or team should never limit your personal growth and development!

Clutch: It’s a new year that is sure to be filled with blessings and successes for each of you. Do you have any New Year resolutions?
Our resolution is to live and love deeper, give more, build consistently and create a body of work and a brand that adds joy and light to the world.

For more information on Trin-i-tee 5:7 please visit www.trinitee57.com and www.myspace.com/trinitee57.

The post Trin-i-tee 5:7: Stylish, Hip and Saved appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Q: You have accomplished so much in your career! What keeps you motivated?
I have a very simple philosophy. When I wake up and my legs work and my eyes work–I’m motivated. I think too many people get caught up in complaining. I say if God gives you another day–it’s a blessing.

Q: Clutch is a magazine for African Americans, and we understand you have a very beautiful and intelligent woman on your side. If you were to describe your wife in a few words how would you describe her?
If I had to describe my wife in a few words, I would say calm, fulfilled, spiritual and balanced. I feel all three are critically important because my life is crazy, hers is back and forth. In this day and age to maintain a strong marriage you have to be fulfilled, balanced and spiritual, cause that is what is going to guide you and keep all the craziness away.

Q. This year has brought many acts and symbols of racism all over the U.S. Why do you think so many cases uprooted this year into the spotlight?
First of all race is in the DNA of America. Race has been at the forefront of this civilization. It’s the one topic people do not like to discuss because it is so deeply embedded. I think we have always seen that, whether it’s Don Imus, Jena 6 or nooses. Racism has always been there. Primarily because we don’t like to be honest and confront who we really are, and that’s a problem. I think when you confront your inner most feelings and who you really are then that is when you are going to see a change. That’s why I have a history of being honest and challenging people. Because we don’t want to be honest with ourselves–we make excuses.

Q: In the controversy over the hip-hop star Nas’ s choice to name to his album The N Word how do you feel about him using the word for the album title, and what’s your stance on the use of the “n” word in the Black community?
On Nas:
First and foremost, I need an explanation and understanding from him on this issue. I need to know what’s the point, does it even have a point. See that is the difference. I just refuse to say “we are taking this word back.” There are some things I don’t need to take back, there are some things I don’t even want, and so I don’t understand the rationale behind it.

On the use of the “N” word:
When I ran the Chicago Defender we put in on the front page. I said two things; either we stop using it or stop complaining when somebody White uses it. I’m sorry, you can’t have it both ways. I don’t use the word anymore, and in fact, if someone around me uses it I say “hey, don’t use it,” and that is where it starts. People ought to just say enough is enough.

Q: In your opinion, what’s the one issue Black/African Americans need to fess up to and start to deal with?
Education. There is nothing else in this country, nothing that can remotely compare to getting out of poverty than education. We have to own up to the reality that in order for African Americans to escape this pit that we are in, we are going to have to confront this issue of education.

I don’t get folks dropping out of school. I just don’t get it. We have to be stupid, ignorant, crazy about the issue of education. We have to return back to the time before Brown Versus The Board of Education when parents preached, “I might not be able to get an education but, I bet your butt will.”

Q: What’s your outlook of the future of people of color in media? How has it change from when you first started to now?
Clearly what has to happen is we need more. We are seeing a change in the industry because of niche publications, online magazines, websites and blogs. So,we are seeing more people expressing their views and using their voice.

Q: What advice do you give to an upcoming journalist?
The same thing that Bernard Shaw would say which is simply, “if you don’t know how to write you won’t succeed.” I tell anybody that wants to be on television that looking pretty, having the right clothes means nothing compared to what comes out your mouth. So, people have to develop their skill set and then understand the skill set. You must know how to construct the story, how to add the questions and how to be aggressive. That is what is boils down to.

Q: What makes you proud to be a African American Man?
The rich history. People ask me all the time who is my role model–is it Bryant Gumbel, Martin Luther King Jr.? No..it’s my Daddy. My parents have been married for 40 years. My Dad has always been in our lives, he is the person that fed me, clothed me and raised me. So, I am not afraid to walk into a room confidently. I talk confident, so I am not going to be shy. I’m not going to be weak and just bow down. Because of what he taught me, I am the proud Black man I am today.

The post Roland S. Martin appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Q: You started your career as an intern at Rolling Stone. Did you ever think you would be as successful and accomplished as you are today? Or did you always know this was your path and you were going to excel to the top?
Without sounding too arrogant, I did think even as an intern that I had the skills to become a successful Rolling Stone writer. I just had to find a way into being a writer, I had to find the door in. I can now see that I needed to learn a lot, but I always had the confidence that I had the skills, and what I didn’t have I could learn quickly. And I spent a lot of time reading old Rolling Stone stories and analyzing what made them good so I could figure out how to be good.

Q: Did you always want to be a writer?
I left college after my junior year in hopes of becoming a writer. Somewhere in my college years the dream began. I’m not sure where.

Q: Your most recent book Never Drank the Kool-Aid” is a collection of interviews/essays from your career as a Journalist. What’s the story behind the title of the book?
In the late 70s a crazy religious figure named Jim Jones led his followers to a plantation in Guyana, and then one day he told them all to drink a certain liquid. It wasn’t Kool-Aid but in the popular lingo, the Jim Jones story fused into the saying drinking the Kool-Aid to mean being a blind follower. So what I’m saying with the title is that I never drank the Kool-Aid that the stars I was interviewing were offering, I never thought wow, this person’s just great, and I’m going to write the story they want me to write. I always went into every story with an open mind and a challenging mind, asking tough questions and not accepting them as they want to be accepted.

Q: Who is your favorite writer/author of all time? Do you have a favorite book? If so, what is it?
It’s hard to pick one favorite author (I love Ellison, Didion, Rushdie, Amis, Roth…) but I think Nabokov is unbelievable. I’ve learned a tremendous amount reading him. Lolita is probably the greatest American novel of the last century.

Q: Lately, hip-hop and black culture are used simultaneously. How do you feel about hip-hop becoming the current representative of our image and culture worldwide?
Hip-hop has long been the lingua franca of my generation, and it’s only right because it truly represents this generation, for better and for worse. I think it’s a mistake to think hip-hop and black culture are synonymous, they’re not, there are many places where they don’t overlap at all. Black culture is perhaps more diverse now than it ever has been, and hip-hop is very racially diverse and it’s also international repped in Japan, Europe, South America, Africa, all over the world. Hip-hop comes from black culture and black culture often seems dominated by hip-hop, but by no means are they one and the same. There are many points of overlap but many points of disconnect.

Q: Recently you and Jeff Johnson (Cousin Jeff) hosted BET’s heated debate “Hip-Hop vs. America.” While most hip-hop artist don’t accurately portray the actual image and realities of Black America and do little in helping us kill stereotypes and generalization that are placed on us, do you think hip-hop has become a scapegoat for the problems and issues in our community?
Yes, I think the elder generation has become increasingly afraid of the impact hip-hop is having on the world which is funny because hip-hop is as tame as ever. But they’ve been scared of hip-hop consistently for the last 20 years or more. Every generation has to have music that scares their parents, but this is insane. I was actually very disappointed in the older generation for turning the Imus controversy into a referendum on hip-hop, which really allowed the racists to slip away. Why not a referendum on shock jocks or noose-placers? There’s been a preponderance of nooses this year all over the country, that’s much more dangerous than the preponderance of the words bitch and ho. What was lost in the Imus stampede was that nappy-headed ho was really the least of his comments. What he immediately went on to reference was Spike Lee’s School Daze and the scene where the wanna-bes faced off against the jiggaboos. He was calling those girls jiggaboos. That’s not a word that you hear often in hip-hop or anywhere in black culture; that’s one of those deep curses that you never hear thrown around because it’s too heavy. That’s where he took it and the massive pile-onto hiphop lost sight of the real enemy. But to the older generation hip-hop is the real enemy as was disco before us and rock n roll before that and jazz before that. But none of those musical cultures ruined their generation and hip-hop isn’t ruining ours. For God’s sake, heavy metal didn’t come under as great an attack after Columbine where many people died because older white people aren’t afraid of heavy metal.

Q: What do you love about being a Black man?
Everything. The power, the bravado, the force, the style. It’s a proud thing to be most of the time.

Q: What’s one thing every black man should do before they die?
Go to Africa and see the beauty there, the culture there, the poverty there, the history there. That’s where we’re from and if you don’t have some relationship with Africa, then you’re missing a part of yourself.

Q: What’s currently in rotation in your iPod? (Assuming you have one :))
Of course I have an iPod—never leave home without it. Top of the rotation right now is Jay-Z’s American Gangster, one of his best albums ever. There’s also MIA’s Kala, Radiohead’s In Rainbows, and Kanye’s Graduation.

Q: Right now we can see you on BET’s “Black Carpet.” How did your relationship with BET come about?
After I was fired from CNN, BET called. They thought I was someone who’d be a good fit for them, and I think they were right.

Q: Tell us about your upcoming show “I’ll Try Anything Once”?
It’s very exciting and very stressful for me. I go out and do crazy things, exploring people’s passions. In the first episode I participated in a real demolition derby in Indiana, the heart of derby country. In other episodes I’ll be a rodeo clown, I’ll be a wide receiver on a women’s semi-pro football team, I’ll be doing movie stuntman training, all kinds of things. I’m usually risking injury or embarrassment, but I dive in headfirst. It’ll be a lot of fun to watch, a lot more fun than it was to make. People compare it to a more intellectual version of Jackass, but it’s not about just doing crazy things just to do them. We’re exploring why people love to do the peculiar things they do. It’ll be on Treasure HD which you can get if you have the Dish or Cablevision iO.

Q: Do you have any other upcoming projects in the works?
I’m working on a novel about the second son of God, a little black boy named Judas Jackson who has all the powers of Jesus but isn’t really interested in helping people, he just wants to make money. And also on a book of essays about hip-hop culture.

Q: On an off day we can find Toure….
…playing with my new baby, Hendrix. He was born November 14th, so he’s still a little baby and there’s lots of little things to do to take care of him, but just holding him when he’s sleeping is awesome. I also love reading, going to museums or the movies and doing Bikram yoga.

To learn more about Touré please log-on to www.toure.com

The post Touré: Never Drank the Kool-Aid appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Clutch caught up with our favorite Hollywood starlet Sanaa Lathan. Read on as we talk fashion, love, friendship, and the sun with Sanaa!

Clutch: We absolutely love you, Sanaa! We truly believe you are one of the top fashionistas in entertainment today. How do you stay on top of trends and continue to be fashion-forward? Wow . . . thanks! Well, I love to shop! I love to cruise boutiques and look for original pieces. So, I guess I would credit it to that.

Clutch: We love to see you, Gabrielle, Essence, and Regina out on the town together. A lot of us live out our Hollywood dreams through you ladies. What’s a typical day like with the girls? Aww . . . I am really fortunate to have such good friends! A typical day with my girls consists of shopping, going to the movies and out to eat, reading scripts together and other regular friend stuff. We are very supportive of each other and always make sure we push each other to do our best.

Clutch: When you’re not working on projects, what do you do to unwind and relax? I visit family and friends, spend time with my pets, and exercise. One of my favorite ways to unwind is to hike. Yes . . . I love to Hike!

Clutch: What TV shows do you have to watch or TIVO on a regular basis? I really like Larry King Live, Intervention and Oprah.

Clutch: So many people feel like they know you because of the roles you have played and your everyday personality. How do you stay so down to earth? Remaining humble and understanding that my job is a privilege and a public service. It’s a great feeling to be doing what you love and get paid for it.

Clutch: Who are some of your favorite designers—and are you aware of any up-and-coming designers that you love and are waiting for the world to be exposed to? You know, honestly I really don’t wear lots of designer labels. I usually wear most high-end designers when I have an event, but not too much for every day. But, I do love Tracy Reese and Marc Jacobs.

Clutch: When shopping could we ever spot you in Target, Forever 21, H&M or a vintage shop? (laughs) Oh, yes . . . I love H&M! A lot of my everyday wardrobe consists of pieces from H&M or boutiques.

Clutch: The ladies here at Clutch notice that you rock Clutch bags on a regular basis. If you were to let us rumble through your bag, what would we find? Lipgloss! I really love my lipgloss, Trident gum, I.D., money, you know . . . the necessities.

Clutch: Your skin is always so beautiful and has such a healthy glow. What are some of your beauty staples?
I love LeMer Moisturizer for my face. I also use a Vitamin C Facial Wash from the health store. I just always make sure stay moisturized.

Clutch: So, you know everyone wants to know if you are . . . Happily Single? Attached and loving it? Or are you letting love find you? (laughs) Attached and loving it!

Clutch: Since you are out on the scene regularly, I know that lots of guys approach you all of the time. What’s the worst pick up line you have ever heard? The best? (laughs) Hey girl got a minute . . . I say no . . . he says I got two I’ll lend you one. And that wasn’t bad—It kinda made me laugh. The best? Well, luckily I haven’t had a pick-up line in a long time.

Clutch: When a guy approaches you what’s the first thing you notice? It’s so many things—teeth, eyes, if they can speak well, and humor.

Clutch: What’s the biggest relationship lesson you’ve learned? The biggest relationship lesson I’ve learned is that love is an action not just a feeling.

Clutch: If you weren’t an actress, what do you think you would be doing right now?I would be teaching! I really love working with kids. I am always reading and learning new things—so I would be a teacher.

Clutch: In the movie Something New it states that the statistics for married African American women are pretty low. Why do you think that is? Unfortunately, a lot of our men are either incarcerated or have other things against them. Black women are going up the corporate ladder much faster and as a result they don’t have the male counterparts that are on their level. And honestly, for our men a lot of it is not their fault.

Clutch: If you came out with a book on dating what would be the number one tip you would give to women seeking a mate? The number one tip would be “cool as a cucumber”—a relative told me that once. When you like someone, it’s not that big of a deal. When you like a guy and he’s acting up—the cooler, the better it will go. Also, never put your eggs in one basket without the commitment.

Clutch: What are some suggestions you would give to a young, black female interested in becoming an actress? Get in an acting class immediately and see if it’s something you really like. In this country, people don’t value acting as much as they should. It’s truly an art and needs to be studied like a student would study engineering—those are the best things you could possibly do.

Clutch: How do you stay motivated to do your work? I love what I do and I feel very happy to be able to make a living doing it! I am always just trying to contain my excitement if anything.

Clutch: We really miss you on the big screen! Do you have any projects in the works?
Yes! I just finished taping the movie version of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Diddy, Phylicia Rashad and I actually got nominated for a Tony award! It will be airing on March 1st on ABC.

The post Sanaa Lathan appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

During that time I was very difficult to be around—so much that even my closest friends would hate to be around me. One day, my best friend at the time let me come over his place, and as I sat on his couch I began to look through his magazine collection—which included GQ, Fader, Complex, Essence (for his lady “friends”) and some other “booty” magazines (I also saw my issue of Cosmo that I left at his place a couple of weeks prior). As I flipped through the pages I was like “where are my sista’s, and If I see another ‘Karma Sutra’ or ‘Ask Jake’ article I am going to burn down this apartment!” And of course my tough love friend said “Stop complaining man! If you don’t like it, stop supporting it and start one.” At first I wanted to curse him out or start crying—since at that time, those were the only two emotions I was capable of expressing.

But out of his sarcastic comment I started to smile, and said “I will.” On my way home that night all sorts of ideas started to flow, and for the first time in months I saw hope and light in my life. That next day I started researching and planning; it took two years to put my plan into action. At first I was focused on becoming a print publication, but I saw other startups that didn’t make it five months in the publishing business and I already knew that the print advertising game was no joke. Since then, I’ve moved back to Atlanta and as of last year I celebrated my 27th birthday (yup . . . I’m old) and some of my friends started asking if I was ever going to relaunch Clutch. Honestly, I had always wanted to but I went through so much during the initial launch I was kind of scared . . . but I got over it and here we are!

To me, Clutch is so much more than an online magazine—it’s my life saver. I am so blessed that we have been able to come this far, and I want to thank everyone for supporting us. The ladies and gentlemen of Clutch are creative, intelligent, and funny. Even though we are a small team, we are dedicated to putting together an online magazine that would make our parents, peers, and ancestors proud. And for me it’s fulfilling my promise to my Daddy that I will continue to elevate and love my community, as he did while he was here on Earth. So, if you ever wanna drop me a line please feel free!

Peace and Lipglass,

Dede
dsutton@clutchmagazine.com

The post Editor’s Letter #001 appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

I truly believe getting a college education is essential and will aid in obtaining a challenging career as well as help you mentally grow but sometimes I ask myself was it worth it? Was it worth the debt, stress, parental and family expectations that a lot of people including myself go through after graduation? Is a degree even needed in order to be successful? Honestly, it seems like a lot of individuals without degrees get in the door a lot faster than those of us with degrees. I know this is not true for all industries, but in some this is a reality.

For instance, take Nikki M. – she was the top student of our class in undergrad and went on to New York University where she obtained her masters… guess what!… no job – can’t find one to save her life and she is eager and has experience. Now, take my other friend Faith, she has no college education and works for Daimler Chrysler she makes over $55,000. Lastly, there’s Mike-he graduated top of his class at Morehouse, he’s now an intern at a record label in New York. Mike is hoping and praying that his internship will open up an entry-level opportunity for him.

I can go on and on about intelligent and eager college graduates that have either great internship or work experience and are still waiting for that call back. When and if they finally get a callback from the hundreds of resumes they have submitted it’s usually an entry-level position starting at $30,000. And, yeah…I know someone is saying “that’s life..work your way up like I did,” you’re right, but $30,000 come on…when your loans are $35,000 + (if you went to an HBCU or private institution…you know what I’m talking about), gas is $2.89 per gallon and all the bills of being an adult are starting to roll in – we are often pushed right back into our bedroom at our parents home gazing at the same four pink walls while sleeping in our “princess” canopy bed.

I am a firm believer that education should be free and if they are going to make us pay for education there should at least be enough jobs available to handle all the grads of the world. If not, make it easier for young entrepreneurs to start businesses to help aid in the employment decline. There are so many reports stating that employment is available for anyone who wants a job…. HUH…IS IT! Tell that to Nikki and everyone else out there temping with a degree as an administrative assistant or working at Kroger to help pay the rent along with the EVIL, HEARTLESS SALLIE MAE crew.

Good Luck!

The post Degree = Job…Maybe Not appeared first on Clutch Magazine.