White Celebs, Black Babies, Pt. 2

I previously posted a blog about White Celebrities Adopting Black Babies in March of this year.  I featured A-list celebrities that had biological children, as well as adopted children from other races, specifically, of African or African American descent.  Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Steven Spielberg are a few that graced the list.  Fast forward to the end of the year and there are new white celebs with black babies.

Mariska Hargitay, best known for her role on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is one of the most recent white celebs to adopt black babies.  She has a biological child that she birthed in 2006 and also adopted a baby girl in April of this year, as well as a baby boy in October.  Check out the pics of her beautiful new family below:

Next on the growing list of white celebs to adopt black babies is FX's American Horror Story star, Connie Britton (which is my favorite show on TV by the way).  Connie is best known for her roles on Friday Night Lights and Spin City and is most recently known for adopting a baby boy from Ethiopia in November of this year.  Below are pics of her and her son Eyob "Yoby" Britton:

JUST PRECIOUS!!!!

As I said in the previous post White Celebs, Black Babies, I am not in a position to judge whether these adoptions are just a fad or ploy for publicity and attention.  My main concern is that another African or African American orphan now has a home and a loving family to provide and care for them.  Many people criticize actresses like Connie and Mariska for adopting children from other races, but I applaud them for being brave enough to adopt outside of their racial comfort zones by giving a needy child a loving home that they truly deserve and at the end of the day, that's all that matters!!!!

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Are you personally against individuals adopting babies of a different racial/ethnic background than their own?

Do you think these celebs are adopting African children to help their image?

Would you ever consider adopting a child?

Would you ever adopt a child of another race/color/nationality than your own?

Concert Review: Were You Watching The Throne?!?!?! Jay-z and Kanye Watch The Throne Tour

First off, let me begin by saying that I have seen Jay-z in concert on many occasions, however, this was my first time seeing Kanye perform live and in person.  Besides his stellar award and televised concert performances, I could only anticipate the performance that Kanye would deliver at the Watch The Throne concert.  Unlike Kanye, Jay-z has had so many world tours its too many to name (Hard Knock Life, Roc The Mic, Jay-Z and Friends, etc.).  Contrary to Jay-z's previous performances, he and Kanye had no guest appearances, no dancers, and surprisingly, not even a visible band at the Watch The Throne concert at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

It seems as though the bulk of the budget went into pyrotechnics, smoke, high tech lasers and two digital cubed HD screens that elevated about 60 feet in the air showing video footage that was selected to accompany each song, with Jay-z and Kanye standing on top of the screens, no less.  Jay and 'Ye won the crowd over with hits from the album like No Church In The Wild, Lift Off, Otis, Who Gone Stop Me and Welcome To The Jungle to name a few, and also took us back with classic hits like Big Pimpin', Is That Your Chick and Hard Knock Life as well as Flashing Lights, Diamonds Are Forever and Gold Digger that kept the fans' diamond/roc signs up all night.

 
The Roc Nation affiliates mellowed the mood and turned down the flashing lights to focus on one of my favorite songs off the album, New Day.  As they both reflected on the future life of their unborn children and how they would make things better for them once they were born, Jay thanked the crowd for sharing the moment with them, as it was an emotional performance that the concertgoers could actually connect with.

No performance of Watch The Throne would be complete without Sweet Baby Jesus, a nostalgic track that boasts the melodic voice of Frank Ocean, as he proclaims, "we made it in America".  The American flag was a common theme throughout the concert, as Kanye and Jay-z exemplified what it means to live the American Dream.  Besides, isn't that what the album was all about?  The concert was not without its other deep moments, like when they performed Murder To Excellence, with Kanye declaring, "I feel the pain in my city wherever I go. 314 soldiers died in Iraq.  509 died in Chicago."  As the 60 foot screens rose to the ceiling, Kanye and Jay-z depicted historic and graphic footage of police brutality, political marches and speeches and this is where the crowd got a bit quiet and reflective.

I was also surprised to see that the majority of Kanye's and Jay-z's fans were not African American, and even further, that the crowd was overwhelmingly full with fans of Kanye.  Nevertheless, I held Hov down like the true fan that I am and recited every word to every song, just because I'm cool like that.  All in all, the concert was very enjoyable and I'm glad I sprung for the c-note (and them $ome) to attend such a monumental and epic tour.  Kanye and Jay-z gave us a performance we could be proud of and made a clear statement to the world that everyone should heed...."Watch The Throne".

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Have you ever seen Jay-z or Kanye West perform live?
Did you attend the Watch The Throne concert in your city?
What did you like about the performances?
What did you think was missing, if anything, from the tour?
Would you pay to see Kanye and Jay-z on tour in the future?

T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, Episode 3: America's Sweetheart

I usually don't do write ups on reality shows or even TV shows for that matter, but T.I. and Tiny's: The Family Hustle is quickly becoming my favorite reality show on TV.  The 3rd episode entitled "America's Sweetheart" shows T.I. contemplating performing with Taylor Swift on her tour stop in Atlanta at Phillips Arena.  T.I.'s dilemma lies in whether to perform with Taylor Swift and how his career will be effected, as he put it, either he would gain exposure based on "street cred" or his "Hollywood" status.  Again, I am proud of T.I.'s decision to choose his future in Hollywood over his "street cred".  T.I. has learned many lessons since his two jail stints and is clearly not concerned with reinforcing his tough guy role, and he would be correct in that assertion.

While Tiny is busy managing and producing for her daughter's girl group, The OMG Girls, T.I. is shown hustling hard, taking meetings and conjuring up business deals that could produce more cash for his family.  And as the show has already shown, T.I.'s life and business does not come without the reoccurring theme of family vs. business obligations.  While handling business, T.I. wonders if he will be able to support his step-daughter (Tiny's first born from a previous relationship) at her local performance in Atlanta before she heads out on the road for a tour.

In true T.I. fashion, he handles all of his business meetings and obligations and miraculously makes it in time to the performance to big her up while on stage.  A very endearing and comical moment happened when T.I. is shown at lunch with his children.  King, his first child with Tiny, apparently thinks he is white because of the fair color of his skin.  T.I. sincerely explains to him that he is a "black man" and always will be.  King, surprised at this new revelation as to his racial background wastes no time in asking, "Even though I am black, can I have a white girl?".  T.I. can't help but laugh as he affirms that he can have any woman he wants once he grows up.  This playful exchange between a father and his son warms my heart and tickles me on the inside all at the same time.

I honestly think that this show will do wonders to help rebuild his career and image, although it is pretty obvious that he is hotter now than before he left.  I am excited to witness his and his family's journey, equipped with bumps, potholes, laughter, disappointments and eventually, growth.

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Have you been following T.I. & Tiny's The Family Hustle on Vh1?
What did you think about Episode 3?
Share your thoughts....

Fashion Spotlight: Karl Kani Turns His Urban Legend Into Live Life Love Denim Brand

While sitting in a cafe in downtown LA this week I ran into none other than Karl Kani, the man responsible for creating and elevating urban wear to what it is today.  Many young folks may not be hip to his legacy, but before there was a Sean Jean or AKOO, Karl Kani was branding urban wear with a level of class and sophistication never before seen in "street clothes".  Initially working for Cross Colours in 1991 with his line known as Karl Kani, he later bought the name from Cross Colours and took off on his own.

I can vividly remember the emergence of the Karl Kani brand in the 90s and how he took the baggy denim/t-shirt look to another level with gold (metal) accents, rich fabrics and colors and premium denim.  Thanks to Karl Kani urban fashion will never be the same and has seen billions in profits since the onslought of this unique fashion genre.

Once I confirmed that it was him, I asked if he had any new lines he was working on and he introduced me to his Live Life Love Denim brand, which he founded in 2004.  Live Life Love Denim is a contemporary premium denim line that retails for about $50-$250 with gear for men and women.  Kani's Live Life Love Denim can be seen on celebs like Eddie Murphy, Ryan Seacrest, Halle Berry and Melanie Fiona to mention a few, and features bold hues and unique washes that are sure to garner a slew of compliments and admiration from your peers.  "LLLD consists of sleeker, slimmer, more refined silhouettes; contemporary and couture; artistic and intricate-all while maintaining his signature stamp of quality and acute attention to detail."

Kani also mentioned the fact that he was currently shooting a fashion reality show at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) next door.  I'm definitely impressed with what he has been able to accomplish thus far and believe he has a great product in his new line.  Live Life Love Denim is sold exclusively at Nordstrom, Atrium NYC, Fred Segal, Madison's and Barney's, but you can also purchase pieces from his online store at http://livelifelovedenim.com/online-store.  So if you're searching for cool gift ideas for your trendy and fashionable guy or gal, check out the brand online and in stores...HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!
Here are a few shots of the denim line:

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Did you rock Karl Kani back in the day?

What do you think about his new line Live Life Love Denim?

Would you rock any of the pieces showcased above?

Share your thoughts!

T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle

Last night T.I. and Tiny debuted their new reality show on VH1, showcasing the tender side of T.I., prominently shown as the family man, husband and rap mogul, all after being released from his 2nd prison stint in a matter of years.  Although T.I.'s journey home out of federal custody was a difficult one (they made him stay an extra month for attempting to leave in a tricked out tour bus), it was beautiful to see him readjust to freedom and reclaim his household after finally being released.

T.I. and Tiny are quite possibly the cutest couple ever, not because of their physical features, but the way they care for each other.  T.I. is always shown showering his wife Tiny with diamonds, shoes and bags, while Tiny is portrayed as the loving mother and dedicated wife, struggling to keep her family together.

T.I. is met with another snafu along the road when he is forced to choose between a rehearsal for the BET Awards and his son's football game.  I love the maturity he shows when he puts everything on the back burner just to show his son the support he needs at his football game.  T.I. is trying to show the world what matters most to him, as he put it, "God, Family, then Hustle....in that order" as he struggles to stay on the straight and narrow and out of correctional facilities.

The love, admiration and teamwork is what makes The Family Hustle so fun and interesting to watch.  Although they have a whopping 6 kids (combined), the two never lose their zest and zeal for each other, always making room for quality time no matter how demanding their schedules are. 

What I love most about the show is that it shows his humane side as a father, husband, rapper and business man.  Juggling all of these acts can be challenging, but as T.I. draws from his friend Jay-z in quoting, "Difficult takes a day. Impossible takes a week", that's just how it goes down in the Harris household.  Equipped with lots of laughter and sincerity, T.I. and Tiny's The Family Hustle is definitely a show to watch.

Below are pics of T.I. and his beautiful family.

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Did you catch T.I. & Tiny's The Family Hustle?
Do you think it was a positive portrayal of a black family in the south?
How do you think T.I. is managing his responsibilities?
Are you a fan of T.I.'s?
Do you think he deserves another chance from his fans and the public?