The 6th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball

Comedians Sampson McCormick and Tammy Peay
will host 6th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball

The release has gone out and it is that time of year. We are upon the 6th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball!

For those who don’t know, The Annual Gentlemen’s Ball is an event for the who’s who in Urban LGBT. The couple who throws it are amongst the upper of the uppers in the Atlanta scene. Not to mention, they are FINEEEEEE!!!! Ha.

In any case, if you are ready to attend, get your outfit together like you are heading to the Met Gala….

The nation’s best and brightest thought leaders, visionaries and social influencers will celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ of color genius during the 6th Annual Gentlemen’s Ball, Powered by UPS, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30th, 2017 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Under the theme, “We Are Royalty,” this year’s formal celebration is the signature event of The Gentlemen’s Ball Weekend set for September 29th through October 1st. Three days of programming filled with activities for guests and allies to recharge and reimagine their lives.

Empowering experiences include: a health & wellness fair, workshops on love, relationships and financial planning, along with parties, mixers and socials before and after the ball.

“We are Royalty speaks to a tradition of excellence and service our ancestors exemplified in their efforts to build strong and loving communities,” says Gee Smalls, co-founder of The Gentlemen’s Foundation, the charitable organization that produces the ball and weekend line-up. “It is only fitting we expand our award honorees to include all LGBTQ men and women of color daring to be the change needed to solve the challenges before us.”

The message of unity extends to the ball’s cohosts, comedians Sampson McCormick and Tammy Peay, who will deliver their respective brands of wit and charm throughout the evening.

“To lift-up the brilliance that exists among us is simply amazing,” says Peay, whose acclaimed career includes film, television and stage performances, including Roger Omeus’ “Finding Me: The Series,” the first-ever Pride concert at Carnegie Hall and the weekly “Talk ‘N Tea” online radio show. “This is our time.”

Ellesse & Metropolis Studios Announce “Make It Music” 

Ellesse has launched the new initiative ‘Make it Music’. In partnership with Metropolis Studios, the brand has created a series of monthly studio sessions that have been filmed and recorded for distribution across press, social media and online.

Throughout 2017, the series will feature a diverse range of music genres and artists including Belly Squad, Blackwaters, Laurel and Fenech-Soler. The audio will be recorded, mixed and mastered by the studio’s Grammy award-winning engineers and video content produced at the sessions will be hosted by ellesse.Gavin Newman, Metropolis Events and Content Director stated:

“Metropolis Studios has always been at the forefront of supporting great talent, so it’s very exciting when a brand like ellesse shows a down to earth commitment towards helping spread the music.”

Metropolis Studios is known globally as the world’s No.1 independent recording studio. Around 50% of the UK Top 40 is recorded, mixed, mastered or creatively treated in the iconic complex.Renowned acts including Queen, Michael Jackson, Madonna and the Rolling Stones have worked with Metropolis Studios throughout the years.

First to kick off the series will be UK hip-hop artist Paigey Cakey and indie-pop act Jerry Williams.

Paigey Cakey

Paigey Cakey is a rising success collaborating with the likes of Stormzy, Abel Miller and Chip. Paigey is becoming an increasingly influential female artist within the UK’s growing hip-hop and rap scene. From Hackney in London, Paigey has formed her own individual form of music using her own rhythms and melodies:

“Growing up my biggest inspirations were Miss Dynamite and Missy Elliot. Before I was Paigey Cakey I was actually ‘Hype Dynamite’ because I’m hyper and because I just wanted to be Miss Dynamite.” Paigey states, “I used to look up to Teyana Taylor. I loved her kind of swagger before she had the baby, cos she used to be real tomboy. She had her sexy days too.”

Jerry Williams

Acclaimed one to watch in 2017 by BT, Jerry Williams draws her inspiration from bands such as Vampire Weekend, Slow Club and Coldplay. The 21 year old released her debut EP ‘Cold Beer’, a collection of songs narrating and documenting her life growing up in Portsmouth:
“I wrote ‘Cold Beer’ about a night out I had in London. I was just about to play a gig and this guy put a cold beer on my leg as I walking up to the stage. I don’t know, it made me think. It was a cool concept like “oh you put the beer on my leg, were you trying to get my attention?” so I just made up a story around that.“

Once a month, Make it Music will release two music artists simultaneously to feature in exclusive interviews, live performances and bespoke content. The variety of music artists will include a range of unsigned, break-through acts as well as more established, recognised talent. 

Andy Reid, Marketing Director commented:

“The Make it Music project creates an fantastic partnership between ellesse and some of the best acts and artists coming through right now. We’re incredibly excited to be involved with this talent”.

Cartier Art called out for Scamming

Here at TrueSlamBook we tell it like it is. Yesterday we received an anonymous submission about a recent bamboozling that had taken place in Atlanta. This one hit close to home as it could happen to any of us on the team. With Social Media Phenoms being an emerging source for unique clothing, we had to bring this one to the forefront and make you aware. 

Before we get into our take, take a look at what was sent in. 

Designer ScamFashion Dont'sAnd last but not least, the scammer in this case:Cartier Art

Now, lets get into the story as it was relayed. 

  1. Atlanta Rapper Influence paid Cartier to make him a jacket for a concert. 
  2. Influence paid half up front and was to pay the other half on delivery. 
  3. Upon initial delivery, the jacket was an ill fit and alterations needed to be made. Said jacket was taken back by Cartier for the alterations to be executed. This took place on a Friday. Influence advised he was to receive the coat the following Tuesday. 
  4. Tuesday came and went. Wednesday stopped bye then left. Thursday swung through and left. By Friday, Influence was over it and began to talk to his team about it. 
  5. Friday morning the leak was sent to us. 

As you take a moment to sip that tea, we’ll wait!

Okay! Now that you’re done lets talk! As of now, no statement has been made by Cartier Art. He has blocked Influence on Social Media and is refusing the reply back to text messages or emails. 

Now, we aren’t one to take sides…….. However, we do have one question for Cartier Art. Is this how you run your business? You take from the very community and base of people who support you? 

We will follow this case and keep you updated. Who knows what may happen as we hear Influence is not one to be played with……….

Rapper InfluenceRapper “Influence” CEO of “Hustla Apparel