A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and to YUPNtwk and Connecticut Office of The Arts for your support.

The post Power Of CT Held Their Annual Power Brunch CT Featuring Entertainment Marketing Guru, Karen Civil appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Monica ‘Thundercup’ Lin. Photo Credit: Dalia Sandoval

Popular Demand and Eyelust’s Monica Lin checks in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen!

Monica Lin is the truth. A rising star, to say that she’s just an internet personality would be totally wrong. Better known to her Instagram and Twitter followers as Thundercup, the Taiwanese-American is a marketing director at Popular Demand, a Los Angeles-based clothing brand.

As an influencer, Lin has also worked on various collaborations with brands such as Puma, Nike and The Grammy Awards. Lin got the nickname, Thundercup when she started her streetwear blog called “Thundercup.”

Her site got much traction from Complex, MTV and more because of the exclusivity of articles and photos of notables like Young Money’s Lil’ Wayne and his TRUKFIT clothing line.

Additionally, Thundercup had her hands in internet radio. In 2015, she launched a radio show called The Plug on TheMixShow.com. The show which boasted a slew of guests like Lil Dicky was interactive and gave folks a look into the future of rising stars.

In 2018, Lin is still on the grind. Her and Kiona Stowers, a Popular Demand Colleague, launched, Eyelust, an LA based women’s eyewear brand.

2 years ago, i told my kiona (my partner in crime) “let’s create something dope for women.” today, i’m super excited + proud to announce that the @eyelusteyewear online store is now OFFICIALLY LIVE!!! ?? https://t.co/mhJAE8sauD ?⚡️ pic.twitter.com/okMqDIkUDT

— MONICA LIN (@thundercupLA) December 15, 2017

Eyelust was founded with one goal: to help every woman build the ultimate eyewear wardrobe. Through Eyelust, every girl will be able to buy fashion-forward, designer quality sunglasses at an affordable price. As two working women, Monica and Kiona both struggled to find time to hunt for good, designer quality sunglasses that weren’t overpriced.

“People think that sunglasses are only for the summer or for the beach,” Monica ‘Thundercup’ Lin told me on Scoop B Radio.

“But you can really wear them year round and it kind of just tops off your outfit.”

The duo created Eyelust to serve as a one-stop shop for sunglasses that were on-trend and affordable enough for every girl to build a collection they love.“Kiona and I personally make sure that the quality and personally go through the check list and would we wear this,” said Thundercup.

Our online store is now officially LIVE on Eyelust.com! This is 1/10 looks from our official Debut Collection featuring @kehaulanisanares. Tap link in bio to shop ? (Style: ‘Glossy’ in Pink) | #Lusties #Eyelust

A post shared by Eyelust Eyewear (@eyelusteyewear) on Dec 15, 2017 at 11:47am PST

“I think that is what sets it apart from other eyewear lines because either they are really big companies or they are just trying to sell fast fashion. We are personally curating everything and personally making sure that everything is up to our standards. At the same time, affordable I think that is what is going to help us in terms of reaching an audience and being able to be relatable to our customer.”

Monica ‘Thundercup’ Lin. Photo Credit: Mike Le

Eyelust’s Instagram, which started as a fashion inspiration page, has already garnered over 20,000 followers.

With the experience and network that the Eyelust team has, it’s a no brainer that they will be utilizing social media along with influencer and celebrity friends to help reach the goal in a short amount of time. The brand will also serve as a platform to help highlight other inspiring women.

In addition to the growing eyeglass line and running the show at Popular Demand, Thundercup is an inspiration to other Asian women. She says the feedback has been great on social media. “I get messages from young people in general but also specifically from young asian girls or students,” she said.

“And they want to know how I got into my career path and all that kind of stuff. I am happy to be able to provide a resource to these girls and to just young people, in general.”  

Added Lin:

“I really love diversity I went to international school when I was younger and I love learning about different cultures and trying new things and being able to share Asian culture and Taiwanese culture to the rest of the world is really awesome to me.”

Make sure to check out more on Monica and Eyelust by visit eyelust.com

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: Monica ‘Thundercup’ Lin launches Eyelust sunglasses with Popular Demand colleague, Kiona Stowers & discusses staying true to Taiwanese roots appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Media maven Karen Civil and RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Gemini Keez of Keez Cam

Karen Civil checks in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio. Press Play Below To Listen!

The entertainment industry is hugely male dominated.

That’s a fact! But, male dominated doesn’t mean male controlled.

If 2017 has taught us anything, it has been women using the power of their voice to combat sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace.

Notables in the entertainment and news workplace have felt the fury, too. Former NBC Today Show anchor, Matt Lauer, hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons and American film producer, Harvey Weinstein are some of the names that have been implicated in the tumultuous scandal.

Hip hop has been male dominated forever and a day. You see differences in pay, women and their bodies objectified and more.

“We’ve fought for a very long time,” cultural influencer Karen Civil told me on Scoop B Radio.

“We’ve fought for a very long time and I’ve been in places where the victim was looked at as the person who did something wrong and because of that their voices were lowered because they felt like they were messing up a workplace or messing with your career and your ability to go far.”  

Civil turned her fascination with the internet into a lucrative career. Her website, LiveCivil.com is a hub that aggregates content in news, music releases and celebrity interviews. Her point of entry in mainstream began as an intern with Funkmaster Flex. She’s also been responsible for connecting the dots on a marketing level with Beats by Dre headphones during their early stages with Monster headphones by marketing artists and athletes.

As a result of the current women empowerment movement, many are losing their jobs and awareness of the severity of sexual harassment in the workplace has been a great awakening for many. “I love that this Me-too campaign was created because it shows that we’re not going to take it,” said Civil.

“I love the fact that it’s happening in this day and age with the president that we have now because it shows that we’re not going to silence our voices we’re here and you’re going to respect us.”

Sounds empowering.

Last year, Civil was the director of cool during the Presidential election for Democratic hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton. While women were inspired this year to vote in critical state’s like Alabama, millennials seemed inspired to vote last year. “Young millennials came out in full force and voted for her,” said Civil.

“But I feel like situations like this make us more aware because we see what’s happening around us. So we need to make sure that we’re voting on every level and shows the importance of educating yourself on politics and what’s happening around us.”

With 2018 jump starting next week, million dollar question for Civil: What’s your New Year’s resolution? “Being more in a positive space,” she said.

“Because of the world that we live in I always prepare for the worst, but I need to stop doing that and mentally prepare for the best and stop thinking more negatively so definitely being in a more positive mindset.”

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: In wake of Matt Lauer & Harvey Weinstein sexual harrassment allegations, strategist Karen Civil shares importance of women using their voice appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Karen Civil and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Angie Vasquez

Karen Civil checked in with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson & Scoop B Radio. Press play below to listen! 

Cultural influencer Karen Civil turned her fascination with the internet into a lucrative career. Her website, LiveCivil.com is a hub that aggregates content in news, music releases and celebrity interviews.

Civil’s point of entry in mainstream began as an intern with Funkmaster Flex. She’s also been responsible for connecting the dots on a marketing level with Beats by Dre headphones during their early stages with Monster headphones by marketing artists and athletes.

Karen Civil at Karen Civil Day at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Photo Credit: Angie Vasquez/Scoop B Radio

Last year, Civil was the director of cool during the Presidential election for Democratic hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton.

This year, Civil put her hand into the role of producing a commercial with retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo and rapper Teyana Taylor.

According to Civil, she has two more commercials coming with one more forthcoming on Christmas.

Throwback: Karen Civil and RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson host panel in Chicago. 

While she’s mum on the commercial and its contents, Civil hinted at a certain basketball marathon on Christmas day on ABC, TNT and ESPN. “It’s great because it’s about integration,” she said.

Stay tuned.

Click here to listen to the interview on Scoop B Radio, fully. 

The post Karen Civil discusses producing a Christmas commercial & her 2018 goals on Scoop B Radio appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Karen Civil hosts 3rd annual Karen Civil Day. Photo Credit: Angie Vasquez

Check out Karen Civil and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on episode 10 of Scoop B Radio

If you paid attention to Twitter and Instagram, you may have noticed a minor snafu that had folks talking during the first half of the Brooklyn Nets’ contest against the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center last night.

Apparently, Barclays Center staff thought that Power 105 The Breakfast Club’s Angela Yee was social media influencer Karen Civil. 

Barclays Center got Angela Yee and Karen Civil confused last night at Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards game. Photo Credit: Scoop B Radio

Civil, is a rising cultural influencer who turned her fascination with the internet into a lucrative career. Her website, LiveCivil.com is a hub that aggregates content in news, music releases and celebrity interviews.

During a timeout, Brooklyn Nets public address announcer, Olivier Sedra invited the crowd to welcome, a courtside seated, Civil who was seated next to rapper, Dave East.

Except, WELL, Karen, wasn’t there. “I missed my flight,” Karen Civil told me last night.  

“So I’m coming from LA. So I definitely, I told myself I’m going to sleep for 15 more minutes. It turned into three hours.”

Joked Civil: “So Angela is my doppelganger,” she said.

“It worked. She might fill in for me a little more. Nobody could really tell the difference.”

Wait cause Kai face is priceless ?? @DaveEast pic.twitter.com/z85WUoq28U

— Melanin Mamí ? (@BiigNBeautiFULL) December 13, 2017

we just gon ignore the fact that they called Angela yee Karen civil ? ?? https://t.co/3qZzjmhYsd

— tay ? (@richgirltay) December 13, 2017

ok 1 why they called angela yee karen civil ?? & 2 why she at the game with him? ? pic.twitter.com/CqN1tXIXJg

— allure. (@RIDE0RDIETY) December 13, 2017

 

Civil would eventually arrive to Barclays Center and the arena’s game time staff corrected the slight error by rolling out an evergreen video tribute of Yee, a Brooklyn native and acknowledging her as the host of Power 105’s The Breakfast Club.

Salute to @karencivil for having her 3rd Annual #KarenCivilDay at the Barclays Center tonight in BK!!!!!

A post shared by Charlamagne Thagod (@cthagod) on Dec 12, 2017 at 7:18pm PST

The Brooklyn, NY-born and Elizabeth, NJ raised Civil would later be acknowledged, as well.

When you late for your game and @angelayee your doppelgänger. #karencivilday pic.twitter.com/VfJnXWtl0E

— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) December 13, 2017

I’ll take those @KarenCivil checks any day! https://t.co/Qws6NjsvSZ

— Angela Yee (@angelayee) December 13, 2017

Oh and by the way, it was her day: Karen Civil Day, that is. An annual event, last night marked its third annual celebration at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

Along with Angela Yee, Civil sat courtside with her best best friend, Ming Lee, Roc Nation’s Lenny S, rappers Dave East and Cassanova, singer/actor Mack Wilds and Lip Service Podcast host Lore’l. 

Karen Civil’s Live Civil Foundation has been active in Haiti. Most recently, in 2014, her foundation, according to Forbes’ Sidnee Michelle, began the planning and production of the Live Civil playground in Pétionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince Haiti in 2014. The Live Civil Playground, with the help of funding from notables like Meek Mill, Nipsey Hussle, Mack Maine and DJ Steph Floss will afford approximately 300 kids to learn and help teach children strategy building and problem-solving.

A special thank you to our #LiveCivil High Fivers! ?? #KarenCivilDay pic.twitter.com/Tq6JztVa6H

— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) December 13, 2017

“It’s just about giving back and making sure that I create a platform and a space for people to learn, grow, educate themselves and their business and entrepreneurial endeavors,” she said.

Of Haitian descent herself, Civil’s point of entry in mainstream began as an intern with Funkmaster Flex. She’s also been responsible for connecting the dots on a marketing level with Beats by Dre headphones during their early stages with Monster headphones by marketing artists and athletes.

Last year, Civil was the director of cool during the Presidential election for Democratic hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton, of course lost the election to Republican candidate Donald J. Trump.

A year later, Civil is still trucking. She’s added producing as a feather in her cap. The media artige recently produced a commercial with retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and rapper Teyana Taylor.

According to Civil, she has two more commercials coming with one more forthcoming on Christmas.

While she’s mum on the commercial and its contents, Civil hinted at a certain basketball marathon on Christmas day on ABC, TNT and ESPN. “It’s great because it’s about integration,” she said.

The Nets beat the Washington Wizards, 103-98. Brooklyn’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert each scored 16 points.

After the game, Civil stuck  around for a meet and greet that was curated by Ashley Taylor and her Cleveland-based Elmnt 13 branding company. Civil signed copies of her book, Be You & Live Civil: Tools for Unlocking Your Potential & Living Your Purpose

Sold out! Thanks to everyone who came out tonight to @barclayscenter! #karencivilday pic.twitter.com/DLyTqp74c4

— Karen Civil (@KarenCivil) December 13, 2017

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: Karen Civil hosts 3rd annual Karen Civil Day & explains Barclays Center, Angela Yee snafu appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Amber Rose, Karen Civil, Cordell Broadus, Nina Parker and several others were the center of attention during the AIDS Healthcare Foundation KYST. Check out the photos below. We found it intriguing, the way the students interacted with the celebs and celebs with students.

*Photo credit: Bob Levey*

Sexologist Shannon Boodram standing in front of the KYST, AHF Chalk Board.

Don Benjamin Know Your Status Tour

Karen Civil greets the students at TSU as AHF presents the KYST

With AIDS Healthcare Foundation other artists aggressively promote content that is related to the STD epidemic. Check out the “Take Me Away” video by Flawless Real Talk. 

The post Snoop’s Son Cordell Broadus and Friends Support AIDS Healthcare Panel appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Cleveland Cavaliers in house DJ, DJ Steph Floss is a fan of the movie Juice.

He’s such a fan that Floss, also a personality on Cleveland’s Z 107.9 FM says that Omar Epps and the late Tupac Shakur, stars of the film made him want to become a DJ.

According to Floss, his older brother introduced him to the Ernest R. Dickerson movie that dropped in 1992. From there, he’s been hooked. “I fell in love with DJ GQ who was Omar Epps’ character,” DJ Steph Floss told me on Scoop B Radio.

Check out DJ Steph Floss and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio.

“As a result of that, I realized that this is exactly what I want to do,” he said.“I love music, I have no problem being in front of people and taking charge of crowds. I thought it would be dope if I could be a DJ.”

In addition to Juice, Floss also discussed his vegan diet, his love for the Cavs and his alma mater, Ohio State.

Suggested Articles:

The Next Big Showcase’s Cliff Po & DJ Tarzan Making Dreams Reality in NYC & NJ

Scoop B Radio: Turner Sports’ Steve Smith Talks Career & More

The post Scoop B: Cavs’ Steph Floss Says Juice Inspired Him To Become A DJ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.