ENTERTAINMENT THE CIVIL WAY!

The Senegalese-American singer Akon will be launching a football influenced clothing line timed to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Afrikon F.C. designed by Akon is a socially responsible lifestyle sports brand of African inspired clothing that is sourced and manufactured in Morocco, Africa with the motto “Made in Africa – Made me beautiful”. The capsule football collection features jerseys, polos, track jackets, and t-shirts for men and women.

A percentage of proceeds from each garment sold at Afrikonfc.com will go to the brand’s social charity partners, which aim to empower underserved African youth through education, sports, community development and wellness services, including the singer’s own charity Konfidence Foundation.

Putting a crew on it’s exactly the easiest thing to do in Hip-Hop. Sure, 50 did it for awhile with G-Unit. Kanye is currently doing it with everyone under the G.O.O.D. Music umbrella. And Wayne with Young Money. That said, they happen to be rare cases. I’ve always respected Ludacris and the way he managed to hustle the industry (and is still doing it).

The brand “Disturbing The Peace” has always been one that’s known, but for the most part never really made any defiant impacts on the genre. Flashes in the pan, yeah. But never anyone who could compete with the start power of Luda. Well, Chingy did, but no one has heard from that guy in about a half a decade.  With all that in mind, I could be just “hating” though.

Even still, that’s not to say some good music hasn’t resided from Luda’s Hotlanta based camp. One artists who always interested me was I-20.

Download: Young Jeezy – All White Everything (Radio Rip)

Jeezy fans are in for a treat this week as the official video & CDQ version of this song are set to be released on Friday. “TM103″ coming sooner, then later.

Heads up: Hithiphop

Download: M.I.A. – Steppin’ Up

After releasing her XXXO remix with Jay-Z last week, M.I.A. drops another new joint that will most likely be featured on her new album “/\/\/\Y/\” which hit stores on June 13th.

What would Nicki Minaj have to gain with fighting? She isn’t the one trying everything possible to say relevant. I’m done with this issue.

Shayna D from Sirius Radio has something going here. Her “Diva Lounge” event is something that could potentially go on for years. The purpose of the event is to bring women who are making moves in the business world to connect and network. At their most recent meeting held last week at Honey Lounge in NYC, Jean Grae was honored for her accomplishments in the field of Hip-Hop and a pioneer and trailblazer for female MC’s.

The talented lyricist was gracious enough to be the next installment in our “Civilized Talk” series. Grae spoke her mind on:

• The femcee landscape as a whole
• The Nicki Minaj/Lil Kim fiasco
• Where she sees female MC’s heading in the future.

As a FYI, look for Jean to be performing alongside Talib Kweli this Sunday at Brooklyn Bowl. Her new album Cake Or Death is on the way and be sure to keep up with her on Twitter and her personal blog.

Photos taken by photographer Techie / Video by D’s EyeZ Productions

T.I. is hard at work to reclaim the spot he was forced to vacate before reporting to prison during the spring of 2009. A mixtape with DJ Drama and DJ MLK, defiant comeback single and an album and movie set to be released the same month show Clifford is hell bent on doing just that. Not that he’s fallen off that far, but a year away from whatever it is you love doing is always going to have its resounding impacts.

XXL recently caught up with Tip for their July 6 issue. He’s still got the same drive which catapulted him to rap’s elite and he’s still got the edge and he is by no means ready to had over his “King of the South” title to anyone who he deems undeserving. How do you really get under The King’s skin, you ask? Label him a “snitch.”