Definitely not located within the city, Rock The Bells 2012 heads over to the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. But the line-up is crazy.

Even though they beat the Heat a couple days ago here in New York, the season has been officially put to a close this evening in Miami. The Knicks lost 106-94 against the Heat and thus, eliminating them from the Playoffs. Carmelo Anthony had an incredible game and just made impossible shots possible through the entire game. But it wasn’t enough to stop the Heat. They had an incredible season filled with tons of ups and downs, but be sure that they’ll be a new and improved team in the 2012-2013 season.

Well, E L James, the woman behind the 50 Shades Of Grey phenomenon, will be at Barnes & Noble Union Square for a book signing and Q&A session with Dr. Logan Levkoff. Fans of all makes, sexes, ages and colors will be in the building trying to score an autograph or even be one of the lucky ones to get to ask a question. So if you want to meet Ms. E L James, then head on over to Union Square this Thursday May 10th at 7PM. The event goes in till 10PM.

Barnes & Noble Union Square
33 East 17th Street
New York, New York, 10003

Madalina Ghenea from Italy. God is good.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz took their son Egypt Daoud Dean to the Knicks game yesterday and the 1 and a half year old stole the show. Photos above…

Photos: Pace Prints / Juxtapoze

This past weekend, Shepard Fairey launched his “Harmony & Discord” exhibition at Pace Prints in Chelsea. On Saturday, May 5th, Pace Prints held the opening and tons of VIPs and art lovers gathered to see Fairey’s latest works, which were created at Pace’s studio in Brooklyn. Check the press release below…

Pace Prints is pleased to present Harmony & Discord, an exhibition of new works by Shepard Fairey, created in the Pace Editions studios in New York. This is Shepard’s first exhibition with Pace Prints and premiers his first works in handmade paper as well as the largest screenprints he has done to date.

Harmony & Discord references the global dichotomy of politics; what forces it creates on the grand scale and how that reflects on the actions and awareness of the individual. Responding to the energy of New York, Fairey worked on this technically complex body of work in a series of sessions at the Pace Editions studios. During this residency he also went out on the streets and made a number of large murals.

On view will be a number of silkscreens done with collage and spraypaint, as well as handmade paper, embossment and relief prints, and large metal plates with screenprint. Though Shepard approached the work in the same way that he does in his studio, Pace Editions provided the opportunity to scale the work to a larger size. Relating to the surfaces of his street work, the hand painted multiple (HPM) works in this series have backgrounds of stenciled pulp, collage, screenprint and embossment, allowing the image to pop off of its vintage, layered surface. This exhibition also marks the first time Fairey presents metal relief plates as art pieces, layered with silkscreen, furthering spatial extent within the work.

Subjects in the exhibition include Fairey’s Imperial Glory and Power images, both of which pay homage to Lichtenstein’s style while referencing issues of the military industrial complex. Also on view will be The Reagan and Friends series, depicting politicians and corporate bosses as manipulative salesmen. A more graphic grouping of works, which all utilize the target as a device, examines symbols, stereotypes and propaganda. Topics include war and peace, political corruption, global warming, and personal empowerment and responsibility.

Show runs through June 16th.

Pace Prints
521 West 26th St.
3rd & 4th Floors
New York, NY 10001
www.paceprints.com

Shepard Fairey: Harmony & Discord
Opening: Saturday, May 5, 12-8pm
May 5 – June 16, 2012
Pace Prints, NYC

A little bit late in posting this, but even if you already saw this, then hell, take a look at it again. Kate Upton links with Terry Richarson for a lil’ bit of “Cat Daddy” fun. Here are the photos, the GIFS, and the video of course.

Here are Eli Manning’s “bumper/commercial” photos from his appearance on Saturday Night Live this past Saturday. The ratings were good, not the best, but he did a great job and brought a good audience to watch him and Rihanna partake in the Saturday night tradition that is SNL. Highlights included the “Little Brother” skit and the opening monolog as well. If you want to see the episode in full, click here.

Rosa Acosta’s workout attire. Superman undies. Lawdmercii. God bless #datass. And God bless Instagram.

Another dope fitted. This one for the NY Mets with a Black/Orange styling. Available at FlightClub online and at the 812 Broadway location.

Flight Club
812 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Source: StrictlyFitteds

The game itself was nail biting to the very end. Even though there were a couple ups and downs with the score, the Knicks managed to take it from the Heat and force a Game 5 back in Miami. However, that came with a price as Baron Davis fell mid-play and was taken out in a stretcher with a dislocated right patella. It was an ugly game all through, but again, suspenseful as well. 89-87, Knicks, was the final score. Also during the game and pictured above were various tributes to Adam “MCA” Yauch of the Beastie Boys, which was definitely nice on behalf of the Knicks organization.

Fresher than your average is a statement, a lifestyle, a mindset, and most importantly, a Sneaker Battle! It is a battle created for sneakerheads by sneakerheads. The FTYA main goal is to provide a safe and creative place where sneakerheads can unite and battle their exclusive kicks. The outcome of the battle will consist of an ultimate grand prize winner who walks away with with it all! A trophy, new kicks, and of course bragging rights! Register at ftyasneakerbattle.com

Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-4586

And old photo of Starlight Park Amusement Park in 1920.

UPDATE: Didn’t even notice that was Phil Jackson. Thanks to Gregg for pointing out.

HOT 97 FM (WQHT), announces that megastars Nicki Minaj, Young Jeezy, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Wale, DJ Khaled, Waka Flocka, Trey Songz, Maino, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, French Montana, Mavado, Tyga and a colossal amount of surprise celebrity guests will conquer the main stage for HOT 97 Summer Jam 2012 presented by Boost Mobile! With this year’s epic line-up and over 55,000 fans expected to turn out for the most anticipated summer concert of the year, HOT 97 will take over The MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on Sunday, June 3 for HOT 97 Summer Jam 2012.

Every year, HOT 97’s Summer Jam sells out as loyal fans and music lovers converge to see the biggest names in entertainment perform. For just $45 you can be a part of the Take Over, with ticket price levels ranging from $45, $69, $99.50, and $135 through $175 for floor seats. A limited amount of exclusive HOT 97 Platinum Packages are available for $200. The Platinum Package includes premium show seats, access to the 50-yard line VIP Patio and passes to the Platinum Lounge including the ONLY full cash bar in the stadium, a view of the Live Broadcast and an unobstructed view of the live stage performances.

The World of Hip-Hop Comes Together For One Day at The MetLife Stadium Becomes District 97. June 3rd at Hot 97 Summer Jam 2012! Presented by Boost Mobile.

NICKI MINAJ
YOUNG JEEZY
RICK ROSS & MAYBACH MUSIC
J. COLE
WALE
MEEK MILL
DJ KHALED & FRIENDS
WAKA FLOCKA
TREY SONGZ
MAINO
BIG SEAN
2 CHAINZ
FRENCH MONTANA
MAVADO
TYGA

Tickets for HOT 97’s Summer Jam 2012 are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by clicking below…

Aside from Baron Davis, Spike Lee was spotted rockin’ some heat on his feets at last night’s Knicks game. Spike debuted the New York Knicks inspired Foamposites/Foams. Not pictured here, but on the heel, they even included both the Mars Blackmon and 40 Acres and a Mule logos. No word if this release will ever see the light of day, but if news breaks out that they are…we’ll definitely let you know.

(USA Today) - Adam Yauch, known as Beastie Boys rapper MCA, has died. Yauch died after a long battle with cancer. He was 47.

In 2009, Yauch announced he was being treated for a cancerous tumor in his salivary gland. He has undergone surgery and radiation therapy, and has not performed live since then. Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen Wengdu, and their daughter, Losel.

Yauch was born an only child in Brooklyn, New York. While attending Edward R. Murrow High School, he taught himself to play the bass guitar, and formed the initial incarnation of the Beastie Boys with Michael Diamond (a.k.a. Mike D. ). They played their first show on Yauch’s 17th birthday. Yauch attended Bard College for two years before dropping out to focus on music.

The group originally featured friends John Berry and Kate Schellenbach. After Berry departed the band, he and was replaced by Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock). The group began building their reputation with a song called Cookie Puss, based around a recorded prank phone call to Carvel. The song became a sensation in New York’s underground dance scene.

Two years later, at the age of 22, the Beastie Boys, now performing as a hip hop trio, released their first album Licensed to Ill on Simmons’ Def Jam Records. By 2010, the Beastie Boys had sold 40 million records worldwide. The group has won multiple Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year. Yauch, a practicing Buddhist, didn’t attend because of illness, but his bandmates read a letter from him.

“I’d like to dedicate this to my brothers Adam and Mike,” he wrote. “They walked the globe with me. It’s also for anyone who has ever been touched by our band. This induction is as much ours as it is yours.”

Source: USA Today

Jeopardy featured the above “question” last night and it was pretty dope to see it because to you, us and the rest of the hip-hop listening world, we know the answer is Jay-Z. Nah mean? Um, but to the contestants last night, not so much. Just press play below to hear his response.

On the positive side of things with the Knicks, Baron Davis was spotted wearing a custom pair of Li-Ning BD Dooms in the last two games of the first round playoff series against the Miami Heat. The “Knickstape” inspired customs were created by graffiti artist Big Doves. We heard that the entire team was buggin’ out when Baron first debuted them earlier in the week in Miami, so much so, that they might be doing an even bigger project with Doves. Let’s see.

Source: SafeStadick / Big Doves

The winner of “The Search for the Hottest Girl in America” Season 3 has finally been announced. After thousands of fan votes, 24 year old Abbey Lauren Wilson of Oklahoma City, OK was crowned the winner in last night’s dramatic season finale. The stunning blonde edged out thousands of other contestants to win this year’s coveted title.

The Capitol Hill controversy began when Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis purchased an internship through a charity auction, to take place in U.S. Senator Mark Pryor’s office in Washington D.C. this summer. Francis then added the internship to the prize package for this season’s winner, until the Senator went public claiming it was all a hoax. Francis’s name was cleared when Chad Brownstein, son of prominent lobbyist Norm Brownstein, admitted that he had in fact arranged for the internship with Senator Pryor’s office, and promptly apologized.

While Abbey Lauren Wilson won’t be walking up those steps on Capitol Hill this summer, she will still be juggling plenty of work as this season’s winner. After her big win, Wilson said, “I am unbelievably excited and honored to have been voted as this season’s winner. This means the world to me!” Wilson went on to say, “I want to thank all of the Girls Gone Wild fans and everyone that voted for me. Thank you!”

Joe Francis said, “Abbey really deserved to win. She will be a great global ambassador for the Girls Gone Wild brand.” As for the internship controversy, Francis commented, “Abbey would have been a great intern. Senator Pryor truly missed out.”

“Girls Gone Wild® Presents: Search for the Hottest Girl in America” airs Thursday and Saturday nights on HDNet at 10:00 p.m. PT.