Over the weekend, I was listening to Kanye’s College Dropout album for memories sake. There is just something about that album that put it way above par, and listening to it again just got me groovin’. Especially the very last track “Last Call”, that was just pure poetry. Anyway, before I digress, I wanted to watch some of the videos from that album, so I went on a YouTube frenzy.
Now when I got to the Gold Digger video, I recalled something I have been searching for ever since that video was released. These are two questions I have still been unable to get answers to even after all these years. You would think Google would have an answer somewhere. My search came close at times, but still no answer. The questions are:
(1) What is the brand of brown sunglasses Kanye West wore in the Gold Digger video? These were the dark brown almost aviator style sunglasses with piano black frame and mild brown tint. I’ve been trying to find them and still don’t know what brand they are. I think I’ve read somewhere before that they might have been YSL, but I don’t know for sure. If anyone has a clue, please provide full details: Brand, style, maybe even model/serial # and a link if possible. See a snapshot below:
(2) What is the name of the Model at the very end of Kanye West’s Gold Digger Video? She is the model at the very end wearing the white top and shaking her head while they were both uttering something. The only closest thing to an answer I was able to find was this info on RapModels.net which listed three Models from the video. But surprise surprise, the list was incomplete, and the only missing Model is the one I am looking for at the very end. So again, if anyone out there has answers, please share them. Below is another snapshot:
In fact, I have gotten so desperate for answers, than I am reaching out to all ye Internet overlords. Not only have I tried many search queries, but I am posting on this blog, Facebook, Twitter and even gone as far as to post these 2 questions on Quora. Someone out there knows something, so help me on my mission, I can’t be the only one who has been looking for this. So join my mission and share this!
We aim to change the face of fashion by representing models of all ages, sizes, cultures and abilities. Fashion belongs to all of us.
Every once in a while I check in with the Ben Barry Agency to see what else is new. This time I found this banner on the site that said “a real woman is every woman”. I really liked that statement. Based in Toronto, Canada, I’ve always admired the Ben Barry Agency for a very long time now. I actually first heard about the agency while I was in University, in my Entrepreneurship class lecture. My professor at the time also taught Ben, and that was when I found out that Ben also attended the same University.
Infact, Ben’s story was one of the inspirations that made me want to own my own Agency at the time. I liked his view on the industry and how he was determined to bring something new and fresh to the industry. He didn’t have it easy, but I think he was really on to something. Heck, considering the fact that he was featured on Oprah, that says something. The agency’s take on beauty and size is very different than most agencies out there. It is something to be admired.
The agency has a fairly good roster of Models and they continue to be the face of change in the industry by showcasing real women regardless of age, size or race. The world is shifting and is becoming more and more diverse everyday. The industry should be able to reflect this and appeal to people that actually matter, and these are every day real people. It would be great to have an RM Talk with the man himself at some point.
Describe yourself in 20 words or less
Fun-loving, God Fearing, Ambitious but playful.
5 things you love
God
Family
Cooking
Modeling
Being a Math Tutor
5 things you hate
Roller Coasters
Winter
Lizards
An indecisive mind
Cramps
Favorite food
Yam and Scrambled Eggs.
Favorite drink
I don’t drink. So I guess Cranberry Juice. lol
Favorite getaway
Orlando, Florida.
Fav music artist(s)
Asa – Eye Adaba
What you like to do during your downtime?
Watching a movie by myself while lying under the covers with the lights off.
Do you model just part-time or do you want to pursue this professionally?
Part-time for now.
Best modeling gig you have had to date and why?
Did a poster modeling Italian Handbags for a store in downtown ATL, can’t remember the name. It was a weird name. The photo shoot was fun and I went home with a nice leather handbag.
———————————— ReelModels is constantly looking for new faces to showcase. If you are interested, CLICK HERE for more information.
I just read this very moving appeal from Wikipedia Founder, Jimmy Wales. The appeal is to help protect and sustain Wikipedia. I am sure most people who use the internet have at some point or another used Wikipedia. I’m also sure many of us still do. Jimmy’s appeal reminded me of some of the little things we all take for granted sometimes. Wikipedia is a service that is FREE. Not only free to use, but it is also Ad-Free. Even more amazing is the fact that Wikipedia content is written by anyone who wants to contribute. It essentially contains a wealth of knowledge and information that in my opinion, is unparalleled on the web today. Such a simple concept that proves to be more power and useful than things that are not free. It also goes to show what humans can accomplish when we all work together and cooperatively towards a common goal.
Coming from a technology background, I appreciate the amount of resources and expenses that must go into keeping such a site of this scale managed, orderly and active. Wikipedia needs to stay, as it is one of those few online assets that was built up by the people for the people. So show your support and donate, I just completed my donation.
An appeal from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales
I got a lot of funny looks ten years ago when I started talking to people about Wikipedia.
Let’s just say some people were skeptical of the notion that volunteers from all across the world could come together to create a remarkable pool of human knowledge – all for the simple purpose of sharing.
No ads. No agenda. No strings attached.
A decade after its founding, nearly 400 million people use Wikipedia and its sister sites every month – almost a third of the Internet-connected world.
It is the 5th most popular website in the world – but Wikipedia isn’t anything like a commercial website. It is a community creation, written by volunteers making one entry at a time. You are part of our community. And I’m writing today to ask you to protect and sustain Wikipedia.
Together, we can keep it free of charge and free of advertising. We can keep it open – you can use the information in Wikipedia any way you want. We can keep it growing – spreading knowledge everywhere, and inviting participation from everyone.
Each year at this time, we reach out to ask you and others all across the Wikimedia community to help sustain our joint enterprise with a modest donation of $20, $35, $50 or more.
If you value Wikipedia as a source of information – and a source of inspiration – I hope you’ll choose to act right now.
All the best,
Jimmy Wales
Founder, Wikipedia
P.S. Wikipedia is about the power of people like us to do extraordinary things. People like us write Wikipedia, one word at a time. People like us fund it, one donation at a time. It’s proof of our collective potential to change the world.
It’s official, there is a serious feud between WMC – Winter Music Conference and UMF – Ultra Music Festival organizers. Earlier today, I got super excited when the official dates for WMC 2011 were finally posted. My joy quickly turned to a big exclamation mark when I saw the dates Mar 8 – 12, but I took it for what it was. Throughout the day, I just thought it was way too odd why the dates changed from the usual schedule of last week of March. I decided to search around on the internet as to why the sudden change after 25 yrs of tradition. I soon found out I was in for a surprise. Not only have the dates for WMC changed, Ultra and WMF are feuding. Ultra will remain March 25 – 27. So we have a feud, now 2 events in the same month and these 2 events are two damn weeks apart. Attendees have been pretty much left out in the dust to figure things out.
All I could think of in my head was, am I glad I didn’t book anything yet. A 25 year tradition which people from all over the world have been used to just screwed us all over without warning. So many people anticipated things will be the same, that they had already made all their bookings and reservations even before the dates were announced. I decided to do more sniffing around to find out WTF is really going on here. I was able to find this official statement from WMC:
At 12:57am today, Winter Music Conference’s founding Director’s received an email from Ultra Music Festival notifying them that the 2011 Ultra Music Festival would not be presented during and in conjunction with the 2011 Winter Music Conference. The notification was served despite a signed October 15, 2009 contract between the two entities which stated that the 2011 Ultra Music Festival would be presented during the five-day period in February, March or April 2011 designated and promoted by WMC as the ‘WMC week’. WMC organizers say “We were blindsided by Ultra’s last minute announcement this morning.”
Since the news broke out, everyone has been jumping in to give their piece of how they feel about the entire situation. Owner of Space Nightclub in downtown Miami, Mikey, shared his thoughts also:
With WMC comes WMC Drama, the two just seem to go hand in hand. This year the big D is all about the two different Dates (WMC and Ultra) which are confusing the fcuk out of everyone and raising all sorts of questions… What is up with the 2 dates? What is really happening? What is the inside scoop? What is Club Space doing? When should we come to Miami?
…
This year and once again, Ultra is trying to monopolize WMC by engaging exclusive contracts with all major DJs which will not allow them to perform at your favorite dance clubs. Last year they got Tiesto, Deadmaus, Guetta, Carl Cox, Armin…) to sign Ultra exclusives and this year they are going after everyone else.
…
WMC used to be about free parties with DJs and industry folks sharing and enjoying new music. Now, it is about greed and money with Ultra and all the clubs fighting over talent, hotels charging 4 times what they are used to and agents and DJs banking on the demand
You can also get snapshots of what various Artists and DJ’s such as Swedish House Mafia and Tiesto are saying at Miami NewTimes. Even MTV news has also picked up on the story. This must be really confusing to everyone and I am in the same boat right now. I really want to go to WMC, but Mar 8 – 12 does seem a little too early and the weather is still a little cooler then too. In the meantime chime in, which event will you be attending?
The dates for the 2011 Winter Music Conference have finally been announced. The dates are March 8 – 12, 2011. If you don’t know about WMC, let’s just say it’s the biggest Music Conference in the world. Anyone and everyone will be down in Miami. I try to make it down every year and I’m very excited for 2011. I sort of scratched my head though when I saw the dates. Typically, they used to have it in late March, around the week of the 23rd. Now it is much earlier, I wonder what changed or why. This messed with my schedule a bit, but I would have to figure it out. Anyway, there you have it…will you be down in South Beach to join the biggest music bash?
Some of you may have noticed the Portfolio section for ReelModels.com was just recently activated a few days ago. This section of the profile pages has always been visible, but it was never activated, so it really could not be edited. RM members will now be able to add items to their Portfolio via the Account Settings page. From the public perspective, visitors will be able to see listed items where available. The Portfolio section is located right underneath the Photos section.
Some additional updates are planned later, such as direct edits and perhaps a more detailed/dynamic Portfolio.
Describe yourself in 20 words or less
A Free Spirt.
5 things you love
Dancing
Travel
Cooking
Snowboarding
Painting
5 things you hate
Closed Mindedness
Bad Grammar
Tongue Piercings
Lying
Favorite food
Anything. Seriously. I eat a lot haha.
Favorite drink
Champagne! I never have it and when I do it’s heaven.
Favorite getaway
Colorado all the way! I lived there for a little over 2 years and that place is amazing.
Fav music artist(s)
Trey Songz, Usher, Drake and Kanye …baby makin music Oh! and Justin
What you like to do during your downtime?
Family is really important to me. I like to spend as much time as I can with them. Otherwise I like to just relax with friends and watch movies, read, or play with my dogs.
Do you model just part-time or do you want to pursue this professionally?
As of right now its a part time thing but i definitely wouldn’t be opposed to making this a career.
Best modeling gig you have had to date and why?
I did a runway show for sinful and affliction in milwaukee over the summer. All the dress rehearsals and getting our hair, makeup and clothes provided… I felt like a big shot lol it was so fun!! I met some great people working that show too!!
———————————— ReelModels is constantly looking for new faces to showcase. If you are interested, CLICK HERE for more information.
This publication of RM Talk is with a Photographer I actually met through a mutual friend. I first saw a couple of his photos he did for some of the Clubs in the Appleton area. At the time, I was then planning to actually do a photoshoot with my car, which frankly I just never got to. A while later, we then had a big birthday bash for the said mutual friend, Gerry was the Paparazzi on hand to capture all the moments and we had some really great photos. I figured I should get more insight to Gerry especially after seeing a lot of his work. I present to you Style & Action Photography.
Cameras: Canon 1D, a 5D, and a 50D. Lenses: 85mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4, 24-70 2.8 and a 100mm 2.8
First off, how did you learn photography, did you go to school for it or is it something you just picked up on your own?
I started learning on my own when I was 12 yrs old and I received my first camera as a Birthday gift. Then after graduating from high school, I attended a technical school where I took a couple of photography workshops. I have also attended multiple seminars in the United States.
What is in your equipment toolbox: cameras, lenses etc…?
I primarily shoot with three cameras a Canon 1D, a 5D, and a 50D.
My regular lenses are: 85mm 1.4, 50mm 1.4, 24-70 2.8 and a 100mm 2.8
What is the most important equipment to you?
Of course my eyes and my brain, but as far as camera wear is my 1D and my 85mm 1.4
How do you usually go about a typical end-to-end photo session?
I like to take my time for a shoot because I believe that most people tend to relax after the first 20 minutes, therefore it is easier to capture better and more real expressions. Usually I shoot on outdoor locations, but I also shoot in my studio.
Does anything inspire you when going into a photo session?
Of course! I get inspired from people’s attitudes, personalities, and looks as well as from music, films, literature, nature, architecture, and landscapes.
What are your thoughts on Film photography vs. Digital photography and which do you prefer or use the most?
I think film photography has a very unique pleasing look that along with its developing processes evoke melancholy and romanticism. On the other hand digital photography is revolutionary, more economical, and incredibly flexible for post-production. I switched to digital more than five years ago, but I often miss shooting with film.
A lot of the work I’ve seen of you are subjects, do you prefer shooting people over objects?
Subjects, definitely.
I have to say we had a lot of fun during the shoot for Mariana’s party, it was really cool having both you and Heidi shoot from different angles. The pictures came out great. Do you and Heidi usually tag team like that, or was that just a once in a while occasion?
Most of the time we work on our own, and only once in a while we shoot together.
Speaking of Heidi, did you 2 always have separate companies or was it something that just sort of happened after you met?
We had only one company for a long time, which is Heidi Lee Photography, and it was this year when I launched my own with featuring a different approach and target audience.
I know you just had a photoshoot with Katie also, I had to be in Chi town. I’ve always thought she had the eyes and features that would come out great on camera. I just saw the pix actually, how did that go and where was it shot at?
When I first met Katie I thought her eyes were really pretty and I was immediately inspired. It was a fun shoot that actually started kind of late thanks to Katie, and It was shot in my backyard.
I love the collection of photos on the site and how you categorized them. You seem to be able to capture people doing very normal things but making it look like ad campaign. An example of this is “Run” series with Lamont and “The Lifters” series. Speaking of which, Katie and I had an argument over “The Lifters”, she thought that was Heidi in the photo and I did not think so. A mutual friend of ours also sided with Katie, so I felt alone. Could you just clear it up now so that I can prove her wrong, was that really Heidi in “The Lifters”?
Thanks for the comment. It is actually not Heidi. Her name is Elana and I met her in the gym.
What is your best photo or photo session and why?
This would be impossible for me to say.
I know you also have a Radio Show with 90.3 WRST-FM Oshkosh. I have never tuned in, but would like to sometime. Ever since I moved to XM years ago, I just haven’t looked back. Anyway, what’s the radio gig all about?
I went back to school three years ago for the major of Radio, Television, and Film with the idea of producing and directing my own movies. I’ve always liked Radio and I wanted to have my own show, and since I have the chance now I went for it.
So umm, when do we get all the full takes for our pix from the party, haha…you know I would throw it out there again?
Haha, you are funny!
There you have it. If you are in the Appleton and Fox Cities area, you should definitely give him a buzz. Chances are you have probably seen some of his work around the area without even knowing it. Maybe we’ll have an indie film coming out from the mind of Gerry, I guess we’ll have to find out in the future. Stay tuned for the next RM Talk.
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