Urban Lifestyle

Venus Williams *(Via Fox Sports) – After 16 consecutive years of always showing up at Wimbledon, winning five titles along the way, Venus Williams pulled out of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament Tuesday, citing a lower back injury. Williams, who turned 33 on Monday, never had missed Wimbledon since making her debut there in 1997, although she lost in the first round a year ago. She won the singles trophy — it happens to be called the Venus Rosewater Dish — in 2000-01, 2005 and 2007-08, to go with two more major championships at the U.S. Open in 2000-01. But Williams has been dealing with a bad back for a while, playing only three matches in the last two-plus months. She was clearly hampered by the injury during a three-set, three-hour loss to 40th-ranked Urszula Radwanska of Poland in the first round of the French Open last month, then cited her back when she and younger sister Serena withdrew from the doubles competition in Paris. Get the full story at Fox Sports.

Zulay Henao, Metta World Peace, Caryn Ross, & Craig Ross *Celebrities turned out in Hollywood yesterday for a VIP screening of “World War Z,” starring Brad Pitt at Paramount Pictures. It was the ultimate screening experience as stars, including LA Lakers star Metta World Peace and his son Ron Jr., placed their 3D glasses on for the action thrill ride of their lives! After screening “World War Z,” celebrity guests including actress Camille Winbush, who’s all grown up and gorgeous since the “Bernie Mac Show,” sipped cocktails and nibbled on gourmet treats catered by Cyber Cafe, while posting their film reviews to Twitter and Facebook. Most said the film kept them at the edge of their seats. “World War Z” opens this Friday, June 21 nationwide! Guests at WWZ Screening after event

*What’s the recipe for cooking up a No. 1 record? Well according to Robin Thicke it’s a music video mixed with a dash of nearly naked supermodels parading around in thongs. The Billboard topping single “Blurred Lines” dethroned Macklemore for the top spot this week while igniting a few fans who’ve taken offense to it’s message. The video was so steamy that Youtube banned it at the end of March. Despite being a partner of Youtube, Thicke still has a home over at Vevo. Robin, Pharell and T.I. are seen in the music video fully clothed while three models dance and flirt with them. They make use of nonsensical props like a needle and a lamb, which serves to be random and seemingly humorous. At one point in the video, the words, “Robin Thicke has a big dick,” is displayed in large Mylar balloons. If the video isn’t enough to make some female fans uncomfortable, the song itself takes care of the rest. The lyrics of the song “Blurred Lines” suggest that girls want wild and crazy sex but are too afraid to say so and plays on theproblematic thinking that no means yes. “Good girl, I know you want it,” sings Thicke, who has all of his clothes on, as one of the near-naked models dances and pouts next to him. “Talk about getting blasted, I hate these blurred lines, I know you want it, but you’re a good girl, the way you grab me, must want to get nasty.” Between the lyrics of the song and the visuals and nudity of the video it’s no surprise some female fans have taken offense. “Has anyone heard Robin Thicke’s new rape song?” Lisa Huyne wrote in a post on her blog, Feminist in L.A. “Basically, the majority of the song (creepily named ‘Blurred Lines’) has the R&B singer murmuring ‘I know you want it’ over and over into a girl’s ear. Call me a cynic, but that phrase does not exactly encompass the notion of consent in sexual activity … Seriously, this song is disgusting—though admittedly very catchy.” Watch a reaction to Robin Thicke’s music video: Tell us if whether or not you think Robin blurred the lines between sex and art!

Days after revealing the coverart for his upcoming album(s), The Block Brochure 4, 5, 6, E-40 hooks up with Lil Jon for a visual for the club banger, "Ripped." In the clip, the duo turn up like they ain't gotta work tomorrow, hitting the club and getting ripped with a slew of ladies and the [...]This post appeared first on BallerStatus.com.

*Everyone from the Jackson family seemed to be in attendance during the wedding between Taj Jackson and Tayana Jackson with one notable absence: Paris Jackson. The ceremony, which was held Sunday afternoon at the family’s Hayvenhurst home, “was like a family reunion,” says a source inside the wedding. Guests included Prince Michael Jackson, Blanket Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Jermaine Jacksun, La Toya Jackson, Tito Jackson and Joe Jackson. When it came to the topic of Paris being a no show, mum’s the word. “No one said a word about Paris,” a source told E! Online, adding that the 15-year-old, who was being treated at UCLA Medical Center following her alleged suicide attempt, “wanted to come but they wouldn’t let her out of the hospital.” “I think everyone was trying to block it out and just enjoy the wedding,” our source adds. “You wouldn’t know anything was going on, except that [Katherine] looked sad. She didn’t look her normal, happy self.” The family seems to be trying to keep a positive outlook towards Paris and her troubles. “She’s optimistic Paris will get the help she needs,” we’re told. “She doesn’t think Paris realized at the time how serious the consequences of her actions would be. The hospitalization has hit Paris hard that this is serious.” Paris’ brothers, Prince Michael and Blanket, seem to be coping well. They both reportedly spent the night having a good time amongst family. “Blanket and Prince are very well-adjusted. You wouldn’t know anything was wrong,” the insider claims. “They were hanging out and laughing with their cousins, having a great time. Prince’s girlfriend was there. He didn’t leave her hip the entire night. And Blanket was really outgoing, but he only talks to the people he’s close with.” All in all the wedding flowed smoothly and without a hitch straying away from the usual drama associated with the Jackson family. In fact, the nuptials featured the key hallmark of the family: music. “Jermaine got up and sang three songs,” the insider says, adding that the singer “dedicated one to his mother, Katherine.”

Wesley Warren Jr. is standing normally after Dr. Joel Gelman and three other surgeons, including plastic surgeons, successfully removed a 132-pound mass in his scrotum in a 13-hour surgery, April 8, 2013. *In October 2011, we reported the unusual case of Wesley Warren Jr.; the man with a 132-pound scrotum. The huge, double watermelon-sized scrotum prevented the Las Vegas resident from sitting on toilets, having relations with women, driving a car, anything that we take for granted in our normal day-to-day function. But, he has finally decided to undergo surgery that he feared would essentially “castrate” him and leave him without his manly equipment and/or function of it. After dropping 132 pounds, Warren is a new man! But, after carrying this fleshy luggage between his legs for these last few years, he will endure an intensive recovery, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (more…) Wesley Warren Jr. before his operation

The stuff people pull on the Internet is ridiculous, sometimes demented. Rapper J. Cole recently witness this when a fan extorted the rapper for a retweet this week, posting a message and photo of a little girl with a gun to her head ... that said he would shoot her if Cole did not respond [...]This post appeared first on BallerStatus.com.

*This Sunday (June 23), Oprah Winfrey’s OWN presents a one-two punch on the topic of African American women. It all begins at 9 p.m. with an episode of “Oprah’s Next Chapter: African American Women in Hollywood,” featuring Alfre Woodard, Viola Davis, Phylicia Rashad and Gabrielle Union. Immediately following at 10 is the world television premiere of “Dark Girls,” a two-hour documentary from Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry that explores the prejudices that dark-skinned women face throughout the world. For “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” Winfrey sits down with the actresses at the Bacara Resport & Spa in Santa Barbara. The four women talk about the challenges, criticism and competition they face as African-American women in Hollywood – topics not often discussed in the entertainment industry. When EURweb sat down with Davis in February for “Beautiful Creatures,” the Oscar-nominated star opened up about the lack of quality roles for black actresses and understanding the backlash within the black community over her role as a maid in “The Help.” “Dark Girls,” according to OWN, “goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices that dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It explores the roots of classism, racism and the lack of self-esteem within a segment of cultures that span from America to the most remote corners of the globe. Women share their personal stories, touching on deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes of society, while allowing generations to heal as they learn to love themselves for who they are.” Below, a first look at Sunday’s “Oprah’s Next Chapter” episode and “Dark Girls” documentary.

*When you bought your smartphone the only thing on your mind was the dreamy web access, GPS, unlimited photo apps and you’d have bragging rights for a while about your new, so awesome, phone. But, what you didn’t count on is that your super duper cell would also make you a prime target for theft. Law enforcement and prosecutors are joining forces to help you protect your technologically advanced, very expensive piece of equipment with something old school. The car security systems of the 80?s and prior were not as advanced as they are now and often car buyers would have a kill switch installed. The device was used to disable the engine which prevents thieves from making off with a vehicle once they get inside. Now police are suggesting that smartphone manufacturers put them in cell phones, according to MSNBC. (more…)