Happy New Year Flavour Mag readers! I hope 2011 has kicked off to a wonderful start. The end of 2010 was quite a whirlwind for me over here in Atlanta, I moved apartments yet again (my fourth in a year – Ugh), the day before Christmas Eve hence my slight delay in getting this blog up but I’m back full throttle with a complete run-down on all the fabulous goings on in the “A.”
So, before I get started I just want to make a massive shout out to my client, award-winning producer Drumma Boy for making Billboards top 10 producer of the year list for 2010 (whoop whoop), coming in at #2, beating out Will.I.Am, The Dream and Stargate respectively! Not only did he thrash his competitors, but he also came in Vibe Magazine’s Top 10 list as well.
I’m hoping the kind editors at Flavour Magazine gives him the nod he deserves when it comes to their own year end run down this year (wink)!
December came and went in a flash. I attended a really fabulous invite only shindig for Ambassador Andrew Young, the American politician, diplomat, pastor and former Mayor of Georgia (for those of you who don’t know you should so Google him). The food was exquisite, the company diverse (Chris Tucker was there!), and entertainment eclectic.
There was an opera singer and then music from Jazze Pha’s new protégé, Rain a hot new young’un who he’s grooming to become his new Ciara. She’s a real sweetheart, and her Pops is a hottie too (oops, lol!).
After that I headed to Luda’s restaurant Strait’s in which local Atlanta man about town and radio presenter Taiye “Wild Afrikan” Samuel was celebrating his Bday… had an amazing time, shout out to Chaka Zulu (Luda’s manager) for making sure my friends and I were well taken care of.
Moving on, record exec Devyne Stephen’s Xmas gala was a treat! It was just as fabulous as the year before. Babyface, sung a traditional Christmas Carol, and Devyne conducted an orchestra, a bit OTT if you ask me, but you guys know what the Yanks are like… EXTRA!!! None-the-less, a bunch of celebs turned up in support including Keri Hilson, Toni Braxton and BabyFace as well as Akon and the UK’s fav, Kelly Rowland, in fact Devyne has just come on board as Kell’s co-manager so looking forward to seeing what he’s got in store for her, although, to be fair, she hasn’t done too badly on our side of the pond so I’m really curious to see what direction she’ll be moving in next.
I recently took a trip back home to plan Grammy Award winner, Nate Walka’s UK debut party hosted by DJ Manny Norte and Alesha Dixon. For those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a fab night, and I just want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all who made it out that night and showed us support. Was great to see so many old faces and new ones!
My friends and I brought in the New Year at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a historical landmark in Atlanta where Martin Luther King was once a Pastor. The sermon was inspiring, and was a great way to bring in 2011.
The top of the year brought in surge of snow and frost to Atlanta, which literally brought the entire city to a standstill, I was homebound for about a week which did my head in and reminded me about how much I missed home, and living in NY for that matter. A couple of snow sprinkles would never shut a city down like NY for a week, it was absolutely ridiculous. What Atlantans spend their taxes on really escapes me!
The Grammy’s are taking place soon, so make sure you check out my next blog entry for all the juicy tidbits. Until then, have a good one and thanks for reading!
Jx
Julia Huie-Martin is owner and founder of The BRIDGE Public Relations. She is Flavour Magazine’s official US correspondent and resident columnist. The opinions and views expressed here are that of Julia and do not necessarily reflect that of the publisher. For comments and views expressed, please address to Julia. Click here [www.thebridgepr.co.uk] to contact Julia with your enquiries/comments.