Black Web 2.0

Yahoo! launched their  Yahoo! Go 3.0 beta yesterday, a tool for browsing the internet from your mobile phone through a bunch of mobile widgets.

It got me thinking…  Everyone I know checks their mobile phone as much (if not more than) they check things on their computer.  They all text more than they email and as phones have gotten more capable of browsing the internet and accessing wi-fi networks, they are also using their phones to browse the internet.  I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen once the iPhone price drop occurs.  So, I went on a quest to try and find the best black mobile sites out there… wait, let me change that, what I really did was look to see if sites that have a black target audience were capitalizing on the fact that more and more people are using their phones as their primary device to connect to the internet.

Now, I would be lying if I said I was surprised to find out that all of the sites I went to were not optimized for mobile browsing (minus the blogs that weren’t image heavy). (more…)

The American iconic TV program Soul Train, which ceased production in 2006 has been sold to L.A. based Mad Vision Entertainment and the private equity firm Intermedia Partners. This is a hell of a deal in my mind, as there is a tremendous opportunity to resuscitate the legendary Soul Train franchise which includes the longest running Black program in America, along with the Lady of Soul Awards, and the Soul Train Music Awards.

To provide a little more background, Soul Train is recognized as the first black music variety show ever offered on American television, as well as one of the longest running syndicated programs in American television history! The show was created in Chicago in 1969 by the former radio broadcaster turned entertainment industry giant - Mr. Don Cornelius.
(more…)

BET Webtools is a self-serve, grab-tool utility providing easy copy and paste functionality to help you obtain graphic elements. For banners, select the size that best fits your design. Once you’ve made a selection, “Copy” the related HTML below the banner. “Paste” the code in the appropriate location within your Website. Repeat for related captions.

Hmmmm.  I tried out a few of these slick-just-so-happen-to-be-IAB-standard graphics (see above).  BET could not possibly be trying to pimp peoples websites/pages/profiles/whatever with ads for FREE.  I must say I was impressed with the whole shebang until I saw this, I had already had my pick of the litter of widgets ready to go: (more…)

Do you remember when Tamayra Gray was up-and coming?

“A new, musical mini-version of Romeo and Juliet, directed by super-hot fashion photographer David LaChapelle is available for viewing online, only at the H&M website. Featuring Mary J. Blige, “American Idol” staring Tamyra Gray, and up-and coming dancer Gus Carr, the six-minute film was launched earlier this month to kick-off H&M’s fall jeans marketing campaign.”

I wrote that back in 2005, when I was a trend reporter for an international multicultural marketing firm looking for web trends. The microsite was hot. I found myself going back over and over again, sitting through a 6 minute flash page without hitting skip just to hear the music. At the time, it was innovative and enticing. However, while designers, developers and actionscripters try to force feed content down the throats of their audience through elaborate microsites with splash pages that have long since lost the ability to do anything awe inspiring (featuring been there done that interactivity that doesn’t really give any relevant information) I find myself asking, is the microsite dead?

(more…)

At first glance eVIPlist.com may look like another Digg clone. While the site does use Digg’s open API its business and web strategy is far from the typical “rank news/info” model that we typically see from other sites using the same API. While similarities can certainly be found between eVIPlist.com and other sites such as GlobalGrind.com, a deeper look into the content will show otherwise.

eVIPlist’s content appeals to a “party-goer” demographic…I should say more of a XXL magazine type of audience. More importantly what also sets eVIPlist apart from other sites we have seen launched lately is its longevity. The site has actually been around since the web 1.0 days but in a different format, it launched under this domain in early 2001. Originally the site was a social network that was hugely popular in the Washington DC metro area, in this state the site connected party goers and successfully bridged the online/offline gap in that area. Most of you know that I am orginally from the DC area so I must say that the site in general holds a soft spot in my heart (I truly miss DC and was a member of the site nearly since its launch).

Anyway, the reason I write this is not because I endear DC; or to compare it to GlobalGrind.com and other sites; or even to review it (Urban 2.0 gave a good review over on their site). I write this to take a deeper look at how offline activites such as events and user generated content can feed off of each other sucessfully at a local and national level within the urban online space. (more…)

Before Radio One’s OnOne, before GlobalGrind, there was Urban Box Office. The hopes for it were right up there with BlackVoices, BlackPlanet, and BET.com. But it was supposed to be even bigger. It was like a network of sites of everything urban. But what happened?

It looks like John Threat is directing a movie that answers those questions. This video clip appeared in my Facebook account today and I felt strongly about sharing it beyond the confines of Facebook.

Take a peek at the preview:
(more…)

Prior to today I hadn’t heard of WuChess.com, big thanks to TiffanyBrown for putting me on to the site. Straight from the about page:

Chesspark and the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA have partnered up to bring you WuChess.com.

Designed for chess enthusiasts addicted to hip-hop music, WuChess.com is the place where your favorite music, movies and celebs will be all while you get your game on. WuChess members will get exclusive offers such as MP3s you can’t get anywhere else, playing a surprise celebrity guest, access to one of a kind video clips and many more surprises. This is hardcore chess with half the stuffiness.

WuChess understands that it is important that today’s youth develop life strategy skills, so to help their efforts a portion of WuChess revenue will be donated to the Hip Hop Chess Federation’s scholarship fund.

(more…)

These days it seems like it is hard to get away from all the talk about Radio One’s interactive play. This weekend was no exception, while visiting family in the DC area I opened the Business section of Monday’s Washington Post and what do you know! Another story about Radio One, this article took a much more insightful spin on all the buzz the company has been getting. It focused on its stock prices and executive compensation instead…or at least that is what stood out most to me. In an article by Washington Post staff writer Anita Huslin titled “Radio One CEO Prepares for Shareholders” many intriguing statements were made by Alfred Liggins III, some of which include: (more…)

The Internet has been buzzing about the possible demise of Global Grind, the Digg-like Social bookmarking site targeting an urban audience. It’s unclear whether or not the rumors will be confirmed, but as one of only a few venture capitalist funded websites targeting an urban niche, I wonder what impact Global Grind’s failure could have on the urban web space. (more…)

Today Carol’s Daughter conducted a bloggers roundtable on Ustream in lieu of a press conference, bloggers and influencer’s were invited to participate, Black Web 2.0 was fortunate to be one of the participants. (more…)