The summer blockbuster season is upon us and with a massive opening from “The Avengers” we have partnered up with Allied marketing to bring the GU readers a special offer.

To celebrate the highly anticipated “BattleShip,” Gyantunplugged and Allied are offering 5 VIP tickets to the Atlanta screening Thursday, May 17th 2012. A reader (plus one guest) will have the chance to garner access to the exclusive screening of the film. You will receive reserved seating and FREE concessions.

Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom, Friday Night Lights) directs and produces Battleship, an epic-scale action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. http://www.battleshipmovie.com/#/sites

Interested parties need to email teamgyant@gmail.com with answers to the following questions:

How much money did “Battle Ship” collect overseas opening weekend?

Which international pop-star makes their Hollywood debut?

What popular game inspired this action flick?

Good luck. Contest ends Monday May 14th. And don’t forget Universal’s “BattleShip” opens Friday, May 18th.

The homie Jarvis is back. Now with a brand new look, and a promising new music career, Jarvis is teaming up with some big names to get his projects poppin.

R&B artist Jarvis is back with a brand new single, “Make A Little Room” from his upcoming mixtape project titled Heartache scheduled to drop Summer of 2012. Jarvis was originally signed to Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Recordings where he released the single and video for “Radio.”

His days at So So Def were short lived though, due to the fact that Dupri left Zomba Label Group and took on the position of Executive VP of Urban Music at Virgin Records. Without the guidance of the music mogul, Jarvis re-evaluated his situation which led him to a brief partnership with Ludacris’ Disturbing Tha Peace Imprint which yielded the popular single “Pretty Girl” ft. Ludacris.

With those missteps behind him, Jarvis is poised for his return, this time as an independent artist. Currently putting the finishing touches on his DJ Scream & Sense hosted Heartache mixtape project where he is in the studio with the likes of Waka Flocka, Bow Wow, Pitbull, The Runners, Tha Bizness, Rock City, Ester Dean, Adonis Shopshire, Daron Jones of 112, Dre & Vidal and Static/Major to name a few. Jarvis is finally ready to show the world his talents and deliver a solid offering to his fans. “Make A Little Room” video coming soon!

Listen To “Make A Little Room” - http://soundcloud.com/jarvis-the-artist/make-a-little-room

Diamond, Clifton Powell, Michael Blackstone, Trick Daddy, J Anthony Brown, Mickey Munday and more join an ensemble cast of a new gritty drama series based out of Miami called “The Lick.”

Checkout the exclusive video above.

Shouts to Dukes of Daville. While the buzz over their funkadelic duo’s new mixtape is continuing to grow, a special listening event is hitting ATL next week at Room Service Lounge. With drinks provided by the Brand Ambassador of Ciroc Marc Bolden, and a special guest DJ, it’s definitely going down next week.

Dukes is offering some special invites for the GU readers. Email gyantunplugged@gmail.com for your chance to come and kick it.

Who: Dukes of Daville Listening Event

When : Tuesday May, 8th 2012

Where Room Service Lounge @7pm.

First off I’m telling you now this video is not for those who desires a musical experience filled with hot beats and no substance. Popular Kentucky artist have banded together under the helm of Rob Jackson and Jup Norris in Hopes of Rebuilding Kentucky Through Music.If you didn’t know March 2nd a massive tornado ripped through the state causing catastrophic damagae.

The Bluegrass Division of the Red Cross has stated their involvement in helping rebuild the broken–but healing state, and are excited about the possibilities. This ambitious campaign is to help bring more awareness to the State of Kentucky and the devastation that still exists there.

With all proceeds of songs sales on ITunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/alright-feat.-rob-jackson/id514740380) going to “Kentucky Cares” which supports the relief efforts of the American Red Cross, this song is an inspiration and uplifting example of what happens when people come together. For more on Jup and Rob feel free to follow them on twitter @JupMusic & @robjallday.

Look out for their The Collective Bargaining Album coming soon

The FTP Movement linked up with ATLien’s Travis Porter. The Retail Chick was on the scene and sent me a link of the event.

Per The Retail Chick Blog:

Travis Porter teamed up with the FTP Movement to feed the homeless in Atlanta this past Sunday. They volunteered throughout the entire process from prepping the food to traveling to 3 different locations in the city to feed homeless. Kudos to Travis Porter, the Porter House Music Group Team, and the FTP Movement. I hope this is the beginning of a trend for other artists in Atlanta to follow.

The FTP Movement feeds the homeless every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. For more info on how you can be apart of the FTP Movement or volunteer with them, contact taj@mobbb.org

Water and brown bags? Damn now J.R. Crickets at least? (lol I’m joking)

Find more pics from this humanitarian effort at The Retail Chick Block

Rumors are circulating that “American Idol” judge Ruben Studdard is on the ropes with his health.

Per National Enquirer:

“American Idol” champ RUBEN STUDDARD is pigging out to cope with divorce and money woes – and pals fear he’ll eat himself to death!

The 33-year-old R&B singer has bulked up to nearly 400 pounds since filing for divorce from his wife of three years last November. And now experts warn that if he doesn’t lose weight, he’ll be lucky to see his 40th birthday.

“It’s diet or DIE for Ruben,” an insider told The ENQUIRER. The 6-foot-4 “Velvet Teddy Bear” was already huge when he won “American Idol” in 2003, but he packed on even more pounds after that. He dropped nearly 65 of them while in a weight-lossprogram in 2006.

But now he’s pushing the 400-pound barrier again. “Ruben’s weight is extremely unhealthy and dangerous,” declared noted retired physician Dr. Gabe Mirkin, author of “The Healthy Heart Miracle.” And leading New York weight-loss specialist Dr. Craig Title, who did not treat the morbidly obese singer, warned there is “a grave concern that Ruben will not make it to his 40th birthday at the rate he’s going.”

THE ENQUIRER previously reported that Ruben’s marriage to 34-year-old Surata “Zuri” McCantscollapsed because of severe financial stress and his ballooning weight. A judge recently upheld the couple’s prenup, giving Surata virtually nothing, but the tension of the bitter split still sparked Ruben’s gorging on comfort foods. “Now his loved ones fear he will die tragically young,” said the insider about Ruben, who’s released a comeback album. “He agrees he needs to get help, and everyone is praying he’ll succeed.”

Let’s pray Studdard gets it together. If not for himself, his career.

Rumors are swirling over Chris Brown’s rapid weight loss these days. Seeing the boy weighs 40lbs soaking wet anyway,you can imagine people’s concern. They say he’s upset over Rihanna (I doubt that highly, though). Maybe’s he’s auditioning for a new movie, or has some health issue. Or maybe its just a bad damn camera angle. #kanyeshrug

Watch Money, Power and Wall Street: Part One on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Four years ago our world was pulled from the brink of annihilation, but not much as changed in the wau of you Wall Street and the financial sector operate. PBS analyzes how the world got itself into this mess. This fascination documentary series “Money, Power and Wall Street” answers a lot of your questions about TARP and all the power players who were involved.

Educate yourself.

[Watch Part 2 Here]

[Watch Brandy's Behind The Music Here]

Dear Brandy,

I have been contemplating whether or not to write an open letter to you.  Your VH1 “Behind The Music,” [updated] special hasn’t sat well with me for a few days. Typically your “woe is me -it’s not my fault” rhetoric doesn’t strike a nerve in such a sharp way. But, for some reason I’m not able to shake your usual bullsh*t.

First off let me state that I am a fan! Believe it or not I have every one of your albums. Even your last non-commercial success, “Human”. I can’t stress to you how “The Definition,” is one of my most favorite songs of your entire career. I play it to myself everyday. The lyrics you wrote (um..or co-wrote) have been very therapeutic, and an asset in my life. And your new song with Chris Brown is interesting and growing on me. But after watching the follow-up to your “Behind The Music” documentary on VH1, I found the numerous side-stepping to be very disgusting — and not on par with the woman who stands before us today.

It’s no secret that your career remains on the ropes. You haven’t had a hit single in years (almost a decade — if not longer). But your free-fall from the music heavens is nothing short of self-sabotage. Your lack of honesty on “B.T.M” has once again shown me — and your fans– that you are still the same old Brandy (and not in a good way)! Allow me to breakdown why I, and I feel most of your music fans, have gone elsewhere.

1: Boyz II Men’s Wanya Morris (12:56 mark):. You finally admitted a relationship most of your fans already knew years ago. What stuck out to me the most about your candid admission was A. how VH1 flashed back in time when you were adamantly denying said relationship (proving you have no creditability 13:45 mark) B. how you didn’t tell the full story (And you know you didn’t) and C. how you managed to blame management — and not yourself for the deception. The notion that your “management” had a problem with you and Morris relationship JUST because of your squeaky clean image is absurd! I don’t know any parent or adult that would be cool with their daughter/teenager dating a much older man.

2. Your discussions of “marriage” to producer Robert Blah and who cares was disingenuous to say the least. The way you blamed “Everybody else” for your decision to lie to your fans is laughable. “Everybody around me is trying to force me to get married. And so, I said, Why don’t I just say I’m married? Because I don’t want to get married. So why don’t I just say it” Pardon me BRocka, but this is yet again another example of how your placing blame on others and not yourself.  The fact of the matter is you’re actions were no different than any other girl your age. You met a guy and you got caught up. He splashes off with no condom and you have a baby. The exact thing happens daily in “the real world.” If anything it would have made you normal and given you a chance to break away from cookie cutter Moesha. But you chose to lie about it. Again your creditability takes another huge hit.

3. The Accident: This incident is what officially killed your career. And once again because of your lack of honesty in the matter. As a 32-year-old man I can’t for the life of me digest how one could be going as fast as 65MPH (ESPECIALLY IN LOS ANGELES) and cause such a cataclysmic scene. While I wasn’t there, my spirit tells me that you weren’t focused on the road. You either had be on phone, texting or doing this to have caused such damage. But once again in the “Behind The Scene’s” documentary, which is intended to be a vehicle (no pun intended) for you to shed light on your life, you side-stepped once again. “It happened” you claimed. “It”being the fact that YOU were directly responsible for the taking of someone’s life. Downplaying “it” makes you come off cold, unapologetic and a very much delusional. And that’s even with the tears you ejected. But rather than accept responsibility for the accident that YOU caused you say “Someone lost their life, and everyone is saying that I’m to blame. Regardless if it were my fault or not my fault, I was involved in something that cost someone their life.” That’s the side-step of all side-steps. And its where you lose me as a fan.

I know you’re “only human,”but it’s time you start embodying that both in front of, and behind the camera.

This observation is not an attack on Brandy the person. I don’t know Brandy the person. But what I do know is the main reason why you keep losing is because you are not transparent! Everything about you calculating and mischievous. As a singer you didn’t rely solely on your voice. You’ve  allowed yourself and your convictions to be nothing more than a product of the machine. And now that “machine” isn’t working as hard for you anymore you’re attempting to shed light on your past career in one of the most ingenious ways to show people how “down to earth you are”?

The thing I don’t get with celebrities like you is that you have the right to remain silent. You don’t owe fans, foes, or music critics anything. But as a fan of your music — and even bigger fan of truth– I find it a major turnoff that you’d decide to speak on matters in a half-hearted way. If you’re going to go there than GO THERE.

Though I’m sure your bevy of fans were excited to hear you speak, since you didn’t come to “BTM” on any real level I feel very confident that this new album will come and go just like the 2 before it. Not to compare you to your musical sister and friend Monica Brown, but the love she garners from her city — and her fans– is not JUST because she’s a good singer. Singers are a dime a dozen — especially with black folk. But it’ the transparency –as well as the voice–that always keep Mo 2 steps ahead of you in today’s music market.

Here’s a tip; stand in front of the mirror and look at the real you. Accept the real you with all your faults. And then lets do a take 2 of this bullshit “Behind The Music” because that’s all it was. Bullshit. And I say this to you because I love you.

Regards,

Gyant.