VH1 Follows the Bling with New Series
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 1/12/2007 10:57:00 AM
Pasadena, Calif. -- The devastating effects of the diamond trade in Sierra Leone, West Africa, is the subject of a new documentary from VH1’s Rock Docs franchise set to debut Feb. 22.
Bling’d Blood: Diamonds and Hip Hop examines the conflict and poverty in West African diamond-mining communities and the worship of diamond jewelry within the hip-hop community, according to the network. Hip-hop artists Paul Wall and Raekwon, as well as reggaeton king Tego Calderón, traveled to Sierra Leone to film the special.
We’re not trying to boycott diamonds, but we want people to be more socially aware of what’s going on globally," said Irena Mihova, executive producer for the United Nations Development Program, during the network's Television Critics Association Tour presentation here.
On a lighter note, VH1 will place four former boy-band heartthrobs under one roof in an effort to create a new pop group as part of new series Band of Men.
The four singers -- Chris Kilpatrick (N*SYNC), Jeff Timmons (98 Degrees), Rich Cronin (LFO) and Brian Abrams (Color Me Badd) -- will live together for one month, create new music and perform as a new pop group as part of the show, which is scheduled to debut during the spring.
