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Jasmine’s matchmaking led to the pairing of Ashley Cole and Jay-Z who will open up a swanky new bar and restaurant in London next year
I OFTEN connect people from different industries and areas in order to give them all better mutual synergy that will, hopefully, lift us all higher through our careers and lives.
Whether it’s introducing artists to managers or managers to great publicists, it’s all love.
So imagine my surprise to get an email from one friend who has, in the past, negotiated seven-figure book deals for his clients Rio Ferdinand and Usain Bolt, which read, “Jas, thanks for introducing me to Jay Z’s camp nine months ago. We’ve been talking and just signed a nine-figure business deal. I’d like to take you out to dinner to say thank you.”
Next thing I hear, the deal is the now widely publicised Jay-Z meets Ashley Cole and brings Jay’s 40/40 club and restaurant to the UK and Europe. All set up via an intro from me!
Well, in exchange for that, I expect lifetime membership to all the 40/40 franchises as well as the coveted black 40/40 card – as well as any other gifts that may want to fly my way.
So my mates and now Ashley Cole’s business partners, Chris Nathaniel and Paul Boadi took me for dinner where we all excitedly discussed the imminent arrival of 40/40 London. It will be a slicker, sexier, more urban version of the Ivy and Soho House-type establishments, but be perfect for the elite power players and tastemakers in our scene.
Chris reminisced about the past nine months with stories of emails flying across the Atlantic, international conference calls all on LA time, hopes going up and down as the deal was in the making, and finally reaching the point where they signed the contact and met with Jay-Z to discuss the finer points.
As well as that, there are plans for a huge urban village-type structure in Lewisham, south London, which will house rehearsal studios, recording studios, hairdressers, a cinema, nightclub and other areas for like-minded people to come together and make what we have even bigger.
These are big visions and I have no doubt that with the mutual bonding of street hustle and business acumen, they’ll build a solid empire that we can all be a part of and be proud of!
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JAS GETS HER (RIZZLE) KICKS
Rock stars: Jasmine with Rizzle Kicks
AFTER a lovely meal, I dragged the boys down to Camden’s infamous indie rock venue Barfly to see the new kids on the block that are taking over national radio station playlists.
Called Rizzle Kicks, this Brighton-based duo comprised of 19-year-olds Jordan and Harley, have begun to get airplay on stations as diverse as Choice FM, Capital FM and Radio 1.
Having known each other since they were kids, they’ve grown up together, shared the same friends, same experiences, same schools and above all, a passion and taste for music that’s taken over both their lives.
They’ve already come a long way since their early days, where they took the D.I.Y. approach to making music and shooting videos with their director friend Tony Lockerbie and posting their creations on YouTube. The approach earned them over 500,000 YouTube views, a record deal with Island Records and admiration from the likes of Jessie J and Norman Cook.
As well as working on their debut album, the boys are also preparing a new mix tape and are also readying a new video. These boys are destined to go far.
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SHOE HEAVEN
ICE ICE BABY: an ice scupture filed with shoes
THE same evening, I popped over to a show from River Island, where tall, leggy lovelies were rocking the store’s autumn/winter Christmas collection. Fabulously trendy folks were air kissing sipping neon coloured cocktails as the DJ spun the tunes.
Real shoes were encased in blocks of ice for over-the-top sculptures, and in the doorway, plastic penguins greeted guests as they arrived. In addition, fake snow was scattered all around to create the winter theme – meaning my summer sandaled feet had to stay sturdy, as mini white bobbles threatened to take me down! Winter in summer – the world has gone beautifully nuts!