Snoop Dogg No More- How About Snoop Lion

Talk about rebirth, nearly 20 years after releasing his debut single, "What's My Name?," Snoop Dogg -- born Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. – shall now be referred to as Snoop Lion, so say the rapper during a press conference in NYC on July 30. The legendary hip-hop star has taken on the new identity after undergoing a spiritual and artistic rebirth in Jamaica. "I didn't want to be Snoop Dogg on a reggae track. I wanted to bury Snoop Dogg and become Snoop Lion, but I didn't know that until I went to the temple and received the name Snoop Lion from the Nyabinghi priest," he explained. "From that moment on, I started to understand why I was there and was able to create something magical in this [Reincarnated] project, something I haven't done before in my career."
Married to high school sweetheart Shante Taylor since 1997, Snoop has three children: Cori, Corde and Cordell. The rapper, famous for profane, over-the-top tracks about sex, drugs and partying, believes his new music will give him "a chance to perform for kids and grandkids."
According to him, the image makeover was a necessary step in fulfilling his musical destiny. "I have always said I was Bob Marley reincarnated," the rapper said. "I feel I have always been a Rastafari. I just didn't have my third eye open, but it's wide open right now." Marley's son, Rohan, 40, gave Snoop his blessing at the press conference, which was held at the popular Caribbean restaurant - Miss Lily's in New York City.
"There comes a point where you say I done it all, or there isn't much more to do," Snoop said. "This was like a rebirth for me." The 13-time Grammy Award nominee added that "rap is not a challenge" anymore. "I had enough of that. It's not appealing to me no more. I don't have no challenges. I'm 'Uncle Snoop' in rap. When you get to be an uncle, you need to find a new profession so you can start over and be fresh again. I want to be a kid again."
“This awakening was necessary,” he told a press assemblage at Miss Lily’s jerk joint in New York’s West Village on Tuesday. “I don’t even know why, I don’t know how. I thought I was going to make another gangsta record. I thought I was going to do another pimp album. I thought I was going to do what I do. But this called me and put all of that to rest.”
The album, Reincarnated, featuring the lead single, “La La La,” was produced by Major Lazer, the team known for their work with Beyonce, Usher, M.I.A. and Santigold.

“Snoop wanted real reggae music,” Major Lazer’s Diplo explained. “He wanted to sing and find a new voice. It’s a dream for a producer to work on an entire record. I always work on a song here or a song there, but working on an entire record is very rare to do that with an artist nowadays. There’s no label here. It’s Snoop putting together the project and Ted. That’s 100% creative control. That doesn’t exist anymore.”

Snoop isn't the only celebrity to change his professional name: rapper Sean Combs has gone by Puff Daddy, Diddy and P. Diddy, Los Angeles Lakers forward Ron Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace and "1 Thing" singer Ameriie added an extra "i" to her name.

Truth And Fashion Media Company Plans To Shake Fashion Industry

 A newly launched media company is out to shake-up the fashion industry and challenge our idea of beauty. Truth and Fashion is an all encompassing website with the mission of changing society's perspective on fashion and beauty by showcasing the world of curvy models. Based in New York with an international following, Truth and Fasion was founded in 2011, and is only media company to feature breaking news as well as an archive of a model's portfolio of work. 
Positioned as the premier online resource for the best models over the fashion industry's standard size of 0 and 2. Along with current news, videos and behind-the-scene captures, the site boasts an archive with over 10 years of editorials and campaigns from some of the industry's top models.
The company is founded by Erica Lynn Young, a serial entrepreneur with 10 years of experience in the fashion industry. Young is dedicated to the cause of seeing plus models represented in high-fashion, which has been echoed by many top publications recently such as Vogue, Glamour, and Essence. "Truth and Fashion is here to create a new visual culture for beauty and fashion. While there has been a lot of media attention on the subject, there isn't a resource for people to easily find photos and editorials of inspiring curvy women. The truth is that fashion can be beautiful and diverse."
As the plus-size fashion and modeling industry continues to grow, Truth and Fashion is anticipated to be the destination for photographers, casting directors, agents, editors, art directors, models, and other fashion insiders to learn more about plus models. It also encourages fans to share and follow their favorite models.

New York City All A Buzz For The Food Network Wine and Food Festival

Tickets for the fifth annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival (NYCWFF) presented by FOOD & WINE  magazine are now on sale.  This year he Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary from October 11 – 14, 2012.  To date the Festival has raised over $5 million to help fight hunger with the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® campaign.  Once again this year, there will be an array of new and returning parties, seminars, wine dinners, brunches, and more one-of-a-kind events has been planned for this year's celebration.  A selection of highlights including the Festival's official fifth anniversary party will take place on Friday, October 12 at 82 Mercer in SoHo, where New York City's finest pastry chefs will gather to serve up cakes, cupcakes, artisanal ice cream and more luscious treats for GODIVA presents SWEET! 
Celebrating Five Years of NYCWFF sponsored by ZED Moscato Rose hosted by Sandra Lee with Special Guests. Everyone's favorite Sunday pastime – brunch – will make an exceptional showing at this year's Festival, with no less than six different experiences to delight any palate:

• Blackberry Farm Brunch
• Chef Meets Farmer Brunch with Sue Torres, Part of Local presented by The Corcoran Group
• The Lady and Sons Family Brunch hosted by Paula, Jamie and Bobby Deen
• Whimsical Indulgence Brunch featuring Gabrielle Hamilton and Hedy Goldsmith
• Locavores Brunch, Part of Local presented by The Corcoran Group
• Chef Meets Farmer Lunch sponsored by Wine Spectator with Jesse Schenker, Part of Local presented by The Corcoran Group

A variety of events make up the special series of Local presented by The Corcoran Group, but some featured offerings include: The Lobster Place presents The Oyster Bash sponsored by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company hosted by Ben Sargent , Cocktails and Caviar presented by Chopin Vodka at The Double Seven hosted by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos , Food Network's Next Iron Chef hosted by Alton Brown , Sandwich Showdown with Food Network's Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro , and much more!
There will be a unique series of Pairing Seminars hosted by FOOD & WINE:

• Modern Day Jewish Food hosted by Kutsher's with Josh Wesson
• Pickles and Marinades – The Korean Way hosted by Roy Choi with Mark Oldman
• Dessert & Wine Party by GODIVA with David Funaro & Anthony Giglio
• High-Tech Happy House with Dave Arnold & Wylie Dufresne
• Vietnamese Home Cooking with Charles Phan and Andrea Robinson
• Best of Blackberry Farm with Anthony Giglio
• Fried Chicken from the Soul hosted by Art Smith with Andrea Robinson
• The Art of the Sandwich hosted by Sara Jenkins with Anthony Giglio
• Blue Smoke BBQ hosted by Kenny Callaghan with Mark Oldman
• Red Farm Dim Sum/Dumpling Seminar hosted by Ed Schoenfeld & Joe Ng with Josh Wesson
• Torrisi Family Dinner Seminar hosted by Torrisi & Parm with Ray Isle

Patrons and supporters of the NYCWFF should not miss new events like Bank of America presents: "On The Chopping Block: A Roast of Anthony Bourdain" hosted by Mario Batali produced by Carolines on Broadway, Cocktails Ever After with Bethenny Frankel presented by Skinnygirl, and the special schedule of events to take place at The International Culinary Center in SoHo, including master cooking classes, celebrity chef dinners and tasting/cocktail events.
Fan favorites like the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite with KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations presented by MasterCard, S. Pellegrino's Meatball Madness hosted by Giada De Laurentiis , Cooking Channel's Meatpacking Uncorked presented by The Corcoran Group, Blue Moon Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray , Avion Tequila presents Tacos & Tequila sponsored by Creekstone Farms hosted by Bobby Flay , and so much more return for a celebration of epic proportions that is sure to delight everyone's taste buds!
100% of the Festival's net proceeds go toward helping the community based organizations fight hunger.  Southern Wine & Spirits of New York is the exclusive provider of wine and spirits at the Festival.  Research has shown that over three million New Yorkers have difficulty affording food.  The Food Bank For New York City is there with a solution.  The Food Bank helps by offering a meal today, resources for a more secure tomorrow and nutrition education to help them lead healthy lifestyles.  Food Bank For New York City is the only hunger-relief organization to take this integrated approach.  The Food Bank tackles the issues of hunger on three fronts: food distribution, through soup kitchens and food pantries; income support, by connecting those in need to benefits available to them, such as food stamps and earned income tax credits; and nutrition education, helping individuals and families make healthful food choices on limited budgets.  
Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign benefits more than 16 million children in America struggle with hunger. The No Kid Hungry® Campaign catalyzes innovative coalitions among governors, mayors, businesses, chefs, teachers and community leaders to connect children at risk of hunger with the programs that can help them. We also invest in community organizations that fight hunger and teach families how to cook healthy, affordable meals through our Cooking Matters® program.