Sugar Tuesday

Has there ever been a time when you see someone and you just can’t help yourself and say “Damn, he’s fine!” or “Wow, she’s hot!” – of course you have; all of us, (and I mean all of us), can vouch for it! Working in the South Asian media & entertainment industry, I’ve come across more than one person who this oh-so cliché ‘catch phrase’ applies to. From signing to one of the biggest music labels in the United States (that’s right ladies – I’m talking about the one and only Jay Sean), to going from Hollywood to Washington D.C. (Kal Penn marks the spot), to working on some of the biggest Bollywood blockbuster films on a musical level (RDB’s very own Manj Ral & Nindy Kaur) – all these people, and many more, have one thing on common: not only are they amazingly talented at what they do, they’ve got some of the most killer looks in the industry!

We begin our travels in New York City – the home of media & entertainment, and also a newfound home to British R&B sensation, Jay Sean. In his career as a singer, he’s overcome obstacles and done what only many have thought imaginable – landed a deal with one of the biggest labels in the US, Cash Money Records. His first US single, “Down,” featuring Lil Wayne, climbed the charts to the #2 spot on iTunes and attained heavy rotation on many radio stations across the country. After listening to his sultry and sensuous British accent, there’s no stopping you from falling in love with his voice – and not only that, but he’s got the killer GQ looks to go along with his alluring voice. “Down” recently went PLATINUM! That’s right ladies, over 1 million records of “Down” was sold in the US; so there’s no wonder as to why Jay is heard on every major radio station across the US and his videos are playing everywhere too!

We travel further south and stop in Washington D.C., the Capital of the US, and also a newly found home for actor and White House employee, Kal Penn! Not only has Penn made a household name for himself by appearing on the hit TV show House, (no pun intended, haha), but he’s currently serving as the Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement in the Barack Obama administration! I don’t think that things could get hotter for this rising actor and political activist. Originally hailing from Montclair, New Jersey, he moved to Los Angeles, where he established a strong acting background in films such as the Harold & Kumar series, Superman Returns, and The Namesake. And just because Penn is working for Obama doesn’t mean that he’s stopped acting. Be sure to keep your eyes out for yet another Harold & Kumar movie releasing before the year is over, in addition to Bhopal: Prayer for Rain, an upcoming historical-drama film set amidst the real-life Bhopal disaster in India. Mischa Barton and Martin Sheen will also be starring in this film that is directed by Ravi Kumar.

Next we make our way down south to Orlando, Florida and meet up with Ajaxxx, a Hip-Hop artist whose been featured on the cover of international magazines (Hong Kong & India), placed on numerous mixtapes, and even had a commercial of his air on MTV, BET & VH1. Simply put, Ajaxxx is an MC on the rise! He’s an artist who knows how to make a club jump with his fast-tracks when he raps, "What can I say, the game that A plays...can get any chic, to gimmie' some brain waves." But what sets Ajaxxx off from other rappers (besides his smokin’ looks) is his way of using a beat to tell a story. His versatility makes him stand out as a rapper, where he can cleverly tell a story of meeting a girl and where it leads. In the words of Ajaxxx, "It's what I does, and shorty was with it." And more than that, he can easily “set the mood” in a song when he raps, "I'm chillin' with some women and sippin' on my drink, Bacardi and lime, that's when we had our eyes link," escalating the ‘seductive’ mood which the song sets. Ajaxxx is the "kinda guy that you can vibe with," whether it’s a Hip-Hop song or Bollywood-based track! Seriously though - what else did you expect from such a talented artist?! Oh right: expect Ajaxxx’s next CD to be releasing soon and we’ll be the first to tell you about it!

From Orlando we grab a flight to LAX and link up with actress and singer Karen David! I’ve known Karen for a while now and all I can say is that she’s a singer with a beautiful voice and that beauty is expressed outwardly too! Now this is one girl who’s got her A-game on! She’s appeared in the original cast of Mamma Mia!, and worked with Indian composer A. R. Rahman in developing material for Bombay Dreams. Following that, she worked with Rahman again to create the theme song for the film Provoked. Her acting career includes films such as Flight of Fury, The Colour of Magic, and The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior. Be sure to also catch her in one of the funniest flicks of 2009, Couples Retreat! Right now she’s working on her highly anticipated debut album, Me vs. Me, which features a team of acclaimed producers such as A.R. Rahman, Johnny Douglas, and the Bombay Dub Orchestra! Her single “Magic Carpet Ride,” has made waves internationally and I suggest you take a listen to it on iTunes! I know it’s on repeat on my iPod! And just a side note…I wouldn’t be surprised if KD makes her Bollywood debut anytime soon, because she’ll knock the socks off some of the actors out there! And fellas, did I mention she’s mad fly too?

From LAX we hop onto a non-stop flight to Toronto, or what I’d rather call, T-Dot! Toronto is a beautiful city and I’m not surprised that the people of T-Dot are equally stunning! Well, it’s no surprise that RDB & Nindy Kaur top off the ‘eye candy’ list for 2009! What haven’t they done that’s made them hot on a musical level?! We’ll put off the fact that RDB consists of one of the hottest couples in the world – Manj Ral & Nindy Kaur, and that they are both gorgeous in their own aspects! But the four members of RDB – Kuly, Surj, Manj, and Nindy – have soared to such an international level that there’s no catching up with them. From collaborating with Snoop Dogg to performing in countries like Hong Kong & Dubai, they have conquered a level of success that many in the music industry dream of reaching. I can continue talking about RDB & Nindy Kaur for the rest of the magazine, but you’re already familiar with their international hits such as “Singh is Kingg,” “Aloo Chat,” and “Kambaqth Ishq.” Just be ready for the release of RDB’s highly-anticipated album Worldwide and Nindy Kaur’s self-titled album! It’s nothing like you’ve heard before and will blow your mind – trust me, I know!

Well there you have it everyone – we’ve easily compiled the hottest talent for 2009 – and I can promise you that when it’s time to list some sizzling talent in 2010, there will be repeats! Rumor has it that Drake or Ashley Tisdale might be collaborating with Jay Sean?! And I also heard that two others from this list might be making some music together too! It’s all about time, talent, passion, and dedication! And trust me, if you have it and make yourself known, you will rise to success! 2009 has been a very successful year for all our HOT talent and things will get scorching in 2010…I’m certain about that!

I hope this has warmed you up a little bit since we’re entering Fall now! Till then, this is Lady T (as Karen likes to call me…and I love it) signing off!