Aubrey Up Close

Yesterday I visited a blog, that turned into a 3 hour stay! I had been hearing about Malice (of the Clipse) and video blogs he had been doing…but I had yet to click on links that kept popping up on my twitter timeline. Well, yesterday I was eventually led to www.maliceoftheclipse.com and I was engaged to watch all of the videos on his site. Now, I have always been a fan of the Clipse and their music…but regardless, I really appreciate what he is saying in his vlogs and I think his voice can really speak to many people (especially those in hip hop culture), to provoke change and understanding. He has a book coming out on Valentine’s Day “Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind and Naked” …. I can’t wait to get my copy. In the meantime, here are a few of the most thought-provoking video blogs … real, honest >> food for thought.

The Official music video for Jae Millz ft. Chris Brown is (finally) here!! One of the many hats I wear is as a manager to Young Money artist Jae Millz, so I shifted into PRODUCER mode to get this video done. It’s a really fun video, that I think is so refreshing in the music/rap/hIp hop game… The “Dead Presidents” (face-paint) theme is taken from thE movie and also Millz’ same name mixtape released over the summer where the Green Gobblin track first appeared. The song will now be the first single off his forth-coming debut album, “Nothing Is Promised,” slated to release next summer. Everything was pretty much shot on green screen with the exception of the opening (alley) scene. There are lots of fun visuals and it’s definitely a song you want to move to and this pairing works well with CB doing his dance thing and RAPPING, while Millz adds his Harlem-bred talent! Check it out, let me know what you think… Next stop is a red carpet awards show! FOREVERMILLZ.COM

Directed by Antwan Smith of Vigorous Films
Edited by Lution Media
Produced by Sway Mendez, Aubrey Aquino and Remy Pierre
Make-up – Kimberly Keppard
Stylist – Abriel Bolton

***ALSO for you novice and aspiring video directors/editors/producers, we teamed up with MusicMatrix.com for a video editing contest and you can go in and remix the video with unused scenes, etc… AND THERE ARE PRIZES!!!***

A video project I have been heavily involved in is the “Green Gobblin” music video by my artist, Jae Millz featuring Chris Brown. The video was shot recently in Miami, while I was in Mexico…so there was a lot of careful pre-production that went into it, to minimize my phone time in Mexico! lol BTW, it’s GOBBLIN with two “b’s” because as Jae said….there’s 2 “Goblins” in the video…him and CB! Oh isn’t he SOOO creative!?!?

At any rate, now the video is in post, being edited, and I’m overseeing/supervising all the cuts, effects, etc… This is my first hands-on experience with a “music” video, but I’m finding that my editing know-how as well as (news) writing, reporting, producing background is actually helping a lot. And — I just know what I want, how I want it and definitely what I don’t like!! So, along with a few other key opinions (director, Jae, other producers and editor) this is going to be ONE HELLUVA MUSIC VIDEO!! CB is rapping, we’ve got the Dead Pres theme, Mack Maine makes a cameo and we linked up with Music Matrix for a video remix contest!! The Official GREEN GOBBLIN music video is set to premiere on http://musicmatrix.com on Dec 15, and we’ve also got a South Beach launch party in the works! Be on the lookout, you’ll be sure to see this vid popping up everywhere and getting a strong buzz! Red Carpet..here I come!! In the meantime, here’s some behind the scenes videos and photos.

Thank you’s to everyone on Team Millzy: Director Antwan Smith, Producers Sway Mendez & Remy Pierre, Makeup Artist Kimi, Stylist Brie, my models Jovana and Carin and everyone else who’s supported and helped make this video a reality. And I can’t forget our sponsors – Fever, Nuvo, Ciroc and Music Matrix! Green Gobblin…December 15!!!!

Jae Millz OFFICIAL website http://ForeverMillz.com

My artist Jae Millz released his latest mixtape yesterday, “The Flood Never Ended.” It’s the 4th installment in “The Flood ” series and this one plays more like a street album with no freestyles! Music on this “DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar present” CD release, also features VADO, Yo Gotti, Show Tufli, Meek Mill and Tity Biy.

Listen and download NOW! DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar present: THE FLOOD NEVER ENDED Welcome Home Weezy Edition >> http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/en/view-album/4948-the-flood-never-ended

And… *The first 100 (t-shirt) orders at http://forevermillz.bigcartel.com will receive a signed copy of “The Flood Never Ended!” LEGGGOOO

Also, check out this video for “Remain In The Sky” …one of the songs off The Flood Never Ended. Video directed and edited by Wolph Creations.

I finally finished editing a new episode of On The Flipside!! I shot the intros and wraps on location during a trip to NYC a few weeks back. I’ve definitely been bogged down with other projects and priorities, but I didn’t want to neglect my passion project too much. I’m trying to at least do 1 a month depending on what I have going on!! Anyway, this new show features an exclusive with NBA star turned rapper, the LA Lakers Ron Artest, performing in Hollywood at Highlands Club with the Slam Girls. I also catch up with (my favorite) the Oakland Raiderettes for their annual calendar release party, then there’s highlights from retired NFL player Fred Taylor’s foundation launch event and an interview with Olympic Gymnast Nastia Liukin about her new “Super Girl” clothing line at JC Penney! Be sure to TUNE IN!! http://ontheflipsidetv.com

Special thanks to One9 for his help with this episode!!

I attended a press event at the Delano on Miami Beach this evening.  Jay-Z and BING have teamed up with a fun, very creative way to promote his forthcoming book DECODED with an interactive game on BING. The book will be released on November 16. BTW…my friend Luxury Mindz has a page (photo he took) in that book too, so look out for it!!

Basically, we all gathered in the pool area of the Delano Hotel and Jay-Z, along with the CEO of BING  made an announcement about his book and showed a video that pretty much showcased the billboards and different marketing of how this Decode Jay-Z stuff works. Now, this is pretty cool..the first person to “decode” a particular page wins that page autographed and there will only be one…and the first guy/fan who successfully decoded, was present…and they presented him with his page! He came all the way from London and he explained how he was able to do the decode. Then, they asked us to all go over to the pool…

Well, when they turned the lights on..this is what we got… the next page to decode! Pretty amazing… it’s the lyrics to Big Pimpin’ if I’m not mistaken. *Sidenote – as I attempted to take the above photo with my blackberry, I sort of had to get up to the very edge of the pool and you know when you try to hold the camera over someone’s head to take a picture…uhm, well I was pretty much doing that over Beyonce’s head (well to the side)…except I didn’t realize it was her until my girl pointed it out to me (after the fact)!! LOL I can be a little oblivious at times… I mean, it’s not like she was wearing a red dress or anything!?!? YES, she was in RED….Ha! Anyhoo, no harm done, but I felt bad…I’m not one to be all pushy, but I was so taken by the pool, I had to snap a photo…and since I was on paparazzi status…I decided to take one of Jigga too!

Here’s the official DECODED + BING description from the press release:

Today Bing, the decision engine from Microsoft, launched a multi-platform search experience and interactive game to help fans decode JAY-Z’s life and lyrics found in his debut book, DECODED. Through an unprecedented partnership with Bing, JAY-Z’s words will be taken off the page allowing readers to find the very locations that inspired them.

Online, fans will find a one of a kind search experience built on Bing technologies using Bing Maps and Bing Entertainment to walk the streets JAY-Z walked, searching and deciding how to decode his life and lyrics at every turn.  Over the course of one month, five to ten pages will be unveiled each day, allowing fans to come together as a community to compile DECODED online before it hits bookshelves.  200 winners and one grand prize winner will be selected from the people who help uncover the 300-plus pages, located in 15 locations around the world and in Bing Maps.

You know, maybe I should get in on this puzzle solving stuff, I really like exercising my mind, and one of my friends was telling me (not too long ago) how popular this scavenger hunt stuff is getting. So, go ahead…it’s your chance to Decode Jay -Z with BING! http://bing.com/jay-z

I am so excited about my newest piece of jewelry, that I had to share it with everyone! JenLove Jewelry made me my very own Charm Bracelet, and not just any charm bracelet, but one laced with lots of LUCK!!

When she approached me over the summer about what type of charms I might like on my bracelet, I thought I can always use a little “luck.” Well, she outdid herself with this silver bracelet adorned with clovers, hearts & horseshoes…and I love the “key to my heart” to which there is also a lock! The lavender flower is a great accent as well to highlight all the purple, blue and green tones of the other jewels and beads.

Check out this post she wrote about me on her site: http://www.jenlovejewelry.com/2010/10/aubrey-aquino-bracelet-and-jenlove.html

A BIG THANK YOU to Jennylyn… This is such a special gift… I’m a LUCKY GIRL!!!

Photographer OG of Luxury Mindz did a mini-photo shoot with me while I was spending some time in Austin, TX. Here are a couple of his favorite images from the shoot…

A lot of his work includes shooting documentary style photos of popular hip hop artists like Jay Z, Chamillionaire, J Cole, Asher Roth, etc… You can see his work here: http://ogphotographer.com/ I was pretty flattered he wanted to take pix of lil ole me! It was super HOT when we trampled through downtown Austin searching for different backdrops, but I don’t think you can really tell the heat index in the pix!