J-EyE Speaks #2: #TeamBelieve
Hey what’s up people? Been a lil while. Well, I’ve been finishing up my NEW project Music, Heartbreak and Humility. I apologize to all the true J-EyE fans who have been waiting for the August 4th release date. I had to push it back to September 1st. Had to make sure it was RIGHT for yall. Trying to make a classic lol. In any case stayed tuned for that September 1st release date as well as the September 8th Release Party!! Details on that coming real soon!!!
Today I have an article I want you guys to check out. It was written by a true J-EyE supporter and honorary #TeamBelieve member Kelly Ann Smith. She’s a writer for the East Hampton Press. Shouts out and a big HUG for Kelly!! Check it out……
EAST HAMPTON PRESS – August 3, 2011
THE VIEW FROM BONAC
TEAM BELIEVE
BY KELLY ANN SMITH
It’s always nice when my best friend Dawn comes to visit for the
weekend from Brooklyn, but it’s especially nice in the summer. There
is usually an event to attend, and this summer was no different. Last
year it was a garden party with L.L. Cool J and this year it was a Zen
affair at Russell Simmons’s house.
Dawn works for an entertainment lawyer who represents a lot of
famous musicians. She’s worked with him for over two decades and he’s
getting ready to retire, so it’s good timing that she has formed her
own company, Break of Dawn Entertainment.
Her second career is due to a chance meeting with two young men a
year ago. Now Dawn, Vito and Junn co-manage J-EyE, a very talented
rapper/singer/songwriter also from Brooklyn. Check out his website at
jeyemusic.com. His new music drops on Sept 1st. J-EyE is following Mr.
Simmons’s lead as a positive role model. He donates his time to New
York City schoolchildren by going into the classroom and reading
stories to students. His tag line is “Dream Big…Achieve Bigger.”
He’s named his team “Team Believe” and made me an honorary member.
Vito and Junn came out from Brooklyn last weekend too, and the four
of us were lucky enough to attend the 12th Annual Art for Life benefit
held at Mr. Simmons’s home in East Hampton. Mr. Simmons is an
extremely inspiring guy who started his career as a manager to early
hip-hop artists like Run DMC, Will Smith and the Beastie Boys. He
formed his own record label Def Jam and went on to produce Def Jam
Comedy as well as Def Jam Poetry, television, Broadway, you name it.
In 2007 Mr. Simmons wrote his first New York Times best seller, “Do
You: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and
Success.” I’d be writing my own book if I went on to tell you how much
this man has accomplished in his 54 years—everything from fashion to
finance.
Needless to say, He doesn’t do much music these days. He practices
yoga daily and oversees his various businesses, but it seems that Rush
Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the non-profit organization he founded
with his artist brother Danny Simmons, is where his passion lies.
And models. It was obvious that Mr. Simmons has an eye for
beautiful women. And women love heels. I have never in my life seen
more women wearing $2,000 Christian Louboutin shoes than I did that
night. Drool. The most amazing part was that none of the women were
falling down, walking awkwardly or getting their 8 inch spike heels
stuck in the grass as I would if I was wearing a pair of shoes that
extravagantly high. Maybe that’s why they are so expensive. Louboutins
make you walk better. All the pretty models and actresses navigated
gracefully around the property without a care in the world, with me in
my sensible $69 cork and canvas wedges. But I’m getting off topic.
Mr. Simmons invites all his friends and colleagues together and
asks them to open their wallets to bring art programs to New York City
school children. The event was so star-studded, there was a red
carpet.
His brothers Rev Run and Danny, ex-wife Kimora Lee, her handsome
husband actor Djimon Hounsou and all their kids, who grew up on
reality television, were on hand. Friends of Oprah, Dr. Oz and Gail
King, designer Donna Karan, model Jessica White and music honcho L.A.
Reid were in the audience. Actor Ed Norton and singer Mary J. Blige
were honored. Mentalist Lior Suchord, who claims to read people’s
minds, correctly guessed the names of random audience members’ first
loves, much to their surprise. American Idol singer Jennifer Hudson
hit a few high notes. It was a special night.
Bombay Sapphire was the official sponsor and besides serving yummy
drinks, has partnered with Rush Philanthropic on the Bombay Sapphire
Artisan Series, “a nationwide search to find the finest undiscovered
talent in the field of visual arts.” The deadline is August 31.
Starving artists can find all the info on Bombay Sapphire’s Facebook
page.
Former TV talk show host Star Jones worked the crowd, raising a
quick $250,000. The best part is, if you missed the benefit,
CharityBuzz is hosting an online auction through August 10.
Some of the “experiences” being offered include two VIP tickets to
a Justin Timberlake concert (highest bid as of July 31 was $9,000);
meeting Alec Baldwin on the set of 30 Rock ($4,750); working out with
Gwyneth Paltrow in the Hamptons this summer ($3,000); Sunday brunch
with Russell Simmons and Christie Brinkley at the American Hotel
($1,600), just to name a few.
If a date with Anna Wintour in her Vogue office for $1,000 is too
rich for your blood, no worries. Text “RUSH” to 50555 to make a $10
donation. As of July 31, the event had already raised $1.4 million. In
the five years they’ve been working with Rush Philanthropic,
CharityBuzz has raised $700 million, according to Glenda Luft. It has
conducted auctions for five other recent Hampton benefits, among them,
Super Saturday, with money going toward ovarian cancer and Ellen
Hermanson’s Heat event benefiting breast cancer.
My all-time favorite summer event is a little less glamorous.
Except for Candice Bushnell, there are no Louboutin heels at “Author’s
Night,” on the lawn of the East Hampton Library on August 13, but that
doesn’t mean it’s any less of a temptation for me. I want to buy every
book and talk to every author. It’s really hard to limit myself. One
of these days, I’ll write my own book and money will be no object.
Nothing wrong with dreaming. J-EyE will become the next Jay Z and
Team Believe will never have to worry or skimp again. Signing off to
go read Mr. Simmons’s latest best seller, “Super Rich: A Guide to
Having it All.” It was in the gift bag.
KellyAnnSmith Lives on Accabonac Harbor with her husband and three
dogs and is fascinated by Bonac culture, pop culture, agriculture,
poetry and nature–human and otherwise.
Leave a Reply