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Jay-Z and Beyonce Presidential Fundraiser

 

Just prior to President Obama being re-elected; Jay-Z and Beyonce held a successful fundraiser to help his re-election campaign at the 40/40 club in NYC. This event took place on Tuesday night (September 18) and Obama's DJ tells MTV why the soiree was so important.

One of the perks of being President of the United States is the pomp-and-circumstance that follows you everywhere you go. And while former President Bill Clinton has said that he misses hearing "Hail to the Chief," it's possible that President Obama might someday pine for the days when he had his own DJ.

For now, though, Obama's West Coast turntablist, DJ Adam 12, is happy to cue up some choice election-hyping cuts for the commander-in-chief, as his East Coast counterpart did on Tuesday night when the president was in New York at a $40,000-a-head 40/40 Club fundraiser? hosted by power couple Jay-Z ... Beyoncé which raised $4 million for the Obama re-election cause.

 

MTV News caught up with Adam 12 (aka Adam Bravin, half of the darkwave duo She Wants Revenge) before the event to talk about why he's gotten involved in the campaign.

"I think it sends an important message for Jay-Z and Beyoncé to throw this fundraiser ... that it's important for people that support the president to actually support the president," said Adam 12. "I know that Jay-Z and Beyoncé had gotten some flak recently for not supporting their community. I think this just goes to show that they do support their community."

While introducing Obama to the 100 or so guests at the party, Beyoncé said, "I can't tell you how proud we are to host tonight's event with President Obama ... we believe in his vision."

President Obama had some high words of praise for his hosts at the party, as well, joking that he's actually got a lot in common with rap superstar, and new dad, Jay. "Jay-Z now knows, you know, what my life is like," he said. "We both have daughters. And our wives are more popular than we are ... So we've got a little bond there. It's hard, but it's OK."

He also noted that first lady Michelle and his daughters Malia and Sasha were mad at him because they could not make it to the fundraiser on a school night. Obama thanked both stars for their generosity toward his children and singled out Beyoncé for being a good example to the girls.

"Beyoncé could not be a better role model for our daughters because she carries herself with such class and poise," he said. "And has so much talent."

On September 1, during Jay's Made in America music festival performance in Philadelphia, the rapper rolled out a special message from the president on the big screen as tens of thousands of fans cheered on. "To me, the idea of America is that no matter who you are, what you look like or where you come from, you can make it if you try. Jay-Z did it," Obama said in the pre-taped message following "Public Service Announcement." "He didn't come from power or privilege. He got ahead because he worked hard, learned from his mistakes and just plain refused to quit. That's what 'made in America' means."

If fans and fellow musicians feel the same way about Obama as Jay, Adam 12 encouraged them to get involved. "I think that people should put their money where their mouth is," he said. "DJs across the country, artists across the country, no matter what kind of artists they are, it's one thing to support it and just talk about it, but it's another thing to actually go out there and do something."

And while he realizes not everyone can have a glamorous, multi-million dollar fundraiser, Adam 12 said everyone can pitch in.

"That's obviously the highest level of something you can do in support of raising money for the president," he said of he 40/40 party. "But I think it's important for everybody ... it sends a clear message that everybody can do something, whether it's make some phone calls, knock on doors, have a little party of your own, throw a club, whatever it is you can do in whatever town that you're in, you should be doing that if you actually do support the president and you want him to be re-elected."

Hopefully, he said, the Jay and Beyoncé event will set a trend and other artists of that caliber will step up and do the same.

 

Jay-Z and Beyonce Host Presidential Fundraiser

By: Mark Landers

Optimum Enterprises Entertainment Magazine features Daymond John. It goes without saying, but Daymond is a "Mover and Shaker" in the fashion world. His creative vision helped revolutionize the sportswear industry in the 1990s. As founder, president and chief executive officer of FUBU—“For Us, By Us”—Daymond created distinctive and fashionable sportswear and a host of other related gear. FUBU's phenomenal success made mainstream apparel companies realize the potential for fashionable sportswear that appeals not just to trendsetting urban youth, but to mainstream teens as well.

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Daymond was born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn but spent his childhood in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens during the 1970s. An only child, he grew up in a single-parent household headed by his mother, who was a flight attendant for American Airlines but often held more than one job. His first foray into the apparel market came when he wanted a tie-top hat and was put off by the price. Daymond asked his mother to teach him how to use a sewing machine, and he began making the distinctive tie-top hats in the morning and then selling them on the streets of Queens in the evening hours.

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One day in 1992, he and his friend sold $800 worth of hats and realized their ideas had definite potential. They created a distinctive logo and began sewing the FUBU logo on hockey jerseys, sweatshirts and t-shirts. Daymond lured some longtime friends into the business and asked old neighborhood friend, L.L. Cool J., to wear a t-shirt in a photograph for a FUBU promotional campaign in 1993. Daymond and his mother mortgaged the home they collectively owned for the $100,000 in start-up capital. Even more amazingly, she then moved out so the quartet could use the home as a makeshift factory and office space.

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FUBU officially emerged in 1994 when Daymond and his partners traveled to an industry trade show in Las Vegas. Buyers liked the distinctively cut, vibrantly colored sportswear, and Daymond and his partners returned to Queens with $300,000 worth of orders. FUBU soon had a contract with the New York City-based department store chain Macy's, and they began expanding their line to include jeans and outerwear. A distribution deal with Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung allowed their designs to be manufactured and delivered on a massive scale.

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As CEO and president, Daymond guided FUBU to a staggering $350 million in revenues in 1998, placing it in the same stratosphere as such designer sportswear labels as Donna Karan New York and Tommy Hilfiger. Over the last 16 years, Daymond has evolved into more than a fashion mogul. In 2007 the street-smart businessman penned his first book, Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Branding & Lifestyle, which was named one of the best business books of 2007 by the Library Journal.

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Known as the "Godfather of Urban Fashion," Daymond is regarded as one of the most sought-after branding experts and keynote speakers in fashion and business today. With multiple business ventures on his resume, Daymond can be seen sharing his knowledge and business genius on numerous business and entertainment television programs. 

Optimum Enterprises Entertainment Magazine's Tribute & Farewell to Paul Walker

Paul Walker definitely made an impact on the lives of not only his fans, but certainly his "Fast & Furious" co-stars as well.

 

Optimum Enterprises Enterprises reports, just one day after Tyrese Gibson visited the crash site, breaking down in tears, another "Fast" co-star Vin Diesel came to the site Monday and spoke to the mass of fans who gathered to honor the actor. "If my brother were here right now and saw all the love that you're bringing here," Diesel, 46, told the crowd via a police loudspeaker. "If he could see for himself that all of you have showed up to show my brother love at this hard time. That his family gets to see all of you show the love that you've shown Paul."

 

See: Inside Tyrese Gibson's Emotional Visit to Paul Walker's Crash Site

He continued, "It's going to stay with me forever. I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for coming down here and showing that angel up in heaven how much you appreciate him."

Walker, 40, and Roger Rodas died Saturday in Los Angeles in a fiery car crash.

Diesel also took to Facebook last night to post a tribute to his friend and co-star on six "Fast" movies.

After quoting Thomas Campbell, "To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die," Diesel gave Walker his own personal message.

 

Related: Paul Walker's Father Recalls Last Talk With His Son

"Pablo, I wish you could see the world right now… and the profound impact, your full life has had on it, on Us… on me…

"I will always love you Brian, as the brother you were… on and off screen," he said, using Walker's name from the "Fast" movies - Brian O'Conner.

 

Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty in the hit film series, also posted her own message on her Facebook page Monday.

"I'm gonna carry this torch for you brother, with a forced smile on my face and Im gonna open my heart just cause your telling me to," she wrote.

 

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