Tracee Ellis-Ross and Regina King hosted this year's installment of Black Girls Rock on BET. This program is always a touching one because I remember back to when I was younger and although we had a few positive black female role models in the media, I never was able to witness such an exemplary display of Black Star Power in one room on one night. Its just a wonderful reminder of how far we've come and just how far we have to go, but in that I must give major kudos to Beverly Bond, founder of Black Girls Rock, Inc. and the wonderful Debra Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET, for putting on such an amazing event.
The performances were stellar, including appearances by Alicia Keys, Brandy, Keyshia Cole, SWV, Ciara, Missy Elliot and India.Arie. The ladies held it down as they performed recently released songs and showed why they are Black Girls who Rock! The night wouldn't have been complete without some love from the fellas. Idris Elba came out looking like a bag of money as he introduced the gents that were going to honor the ladies of the night: Luke James (I recently featured him on BornTooBlog), alongside Eric Benet and Anthony Hamilton, literally tore the house down. The trio sounded amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance.
Black Girls Rock honored the likes of Janelle Monae, the new face of CoverGirl, Kerry Washington, who is now playing one of the most powerful women in the country on her hit series, "Scandal", living legend, Dionne Warwick, Susan Taylor, former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine, Alicia Keys, who is a philanthropist in her own right with her successful charity and Humanitarian Dr. Hawa Abdi's and her daughters' work in poverty stricken Somalia.
This program is a testament to the beauty, strength and power in numbers when focused on uplifting the youth in an effort to prepare them for the future in a positive way that impacts us all. Showing young black girls positive role models in this day and age is priceless and is so needed.
Below are some pictures from the red carpet and event:
Tracee Ellis Ross looked sleek and classy.
Ciara....WTF!!!!
Eva Longoria's dress was cute but it wasn't very flattering
Gabby Union looked chic and sleek, but I'm not loving the wig.
I'm still on the fence on Laura Govan's frock.
Kerry Washington doesn't often disappoint, but tonight she did.
Keyshia Cole looked amazing in this figure hugging gown
Idris Elba...nuff said!
Smile Lala, you look great!!!!
Luke James getting his James Dean on!
Marsha Ambrosius seems to be keeping the weight off..good for her!
I wonder what the congregation had to say about the Preacher's Wife's fit for the night.
Mona Scott-Young and Kerry Washington
Taraji P. Henson giving a backshot ;-)
Did you see the program? What did you think of the performances? What were your thoughts on the fashion choices? Were you touched by the work of any of the nominees?
I know I'm a little on the late freight with featuring this R&B newcomer, but I'm pretty sure many of you have not heard of him or maybe, you heard his music and didn't know his name, nor his face. Well, the wait is over! I was blown away by this guy when he performed on "Verses & Flow," a new show on TVOne that features talented spoken word artists a la Def Poetry Jam. James, originally from New Orleans, tore down the stage with his strong, yet silky smooth vocals and dynamic energy. Little did I know that he was responsible for one of my favorite R&B songs on the radio right now, "I Want You," where he declares his love for his dream girl.
Below is a video of "I Want You":
Here is a video of James' performance on "Verses & Flow":
In "Guilty Pleasure," James sings about a love that is so wrong, yet so right and I love the energy he brought to the stage. Luke James' pre-release album, "#Luke," will be released on Def Jam. Besides his musical dealings, he has been featured as the leading man in several videos, such as, Melanie Fiona's, "4 A.M.," Beyonce's, "Run The World," and has penned songs for the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown and more. I'm excited to see what this vibrant newcomer will bring to the R&B scene.
My BornTooBlog readers know I've spoken on this occurrence of the confusion between a man wanting a "bad bitch", but also wanting her to possess the qualities of a "good girl". In my previous post, Men Say They Want A Good Woman, But Chase Bad Girls, I explained my confusion with men who think they can have both and laid out some general definitions of what these perceptions really mean. Now lyricist/activist Lupe Fiasco has put it in a song called, "Bitch Bad".
Lupe speaks on this reoccurring contradiction in Hip Hop music as he raps:
Now imagine there's a shawty, maybe five maybe four Ridin' 'round with his mama listening to the radio And a song comes on and not far off from being born Doesn't know the difference between right and wrong Now I ain't trying to make it too complex But let's just say shawty has an undeveloped context About the perception of women these days His mama sings along and this what she says "nigga I'm a bad bitch, and I'm bad bitch Far above average"
First he's relatin' the word "bitch" with his mama, comma And because she's relatin' to herself
his most important source of help
and mental health, he may skew respect for dishonor
Sure enough, in this little world The little boy meets one of those little girls And he thinks she a bad bitch and she thinks she a bad bitch He thinks disrespectfully, she thinks of that sexually She got the wrong idea, he don't wanna fuck her He thinks she's bad at being a bitch like his mother
Just like that, you see the fruit of the confusion He caught in a reality, she caught in an illusion Bad mean good to her, she really nice and smart But bad mean bad to him, bitch don't play your part But bitch still bad to her if you say it the wrong way But she think she a bitch, what a double entendre
Check out the video:
I'm glad Lupe has spoken up on this underlying contradiction that has become so popular in rap music these days. He's received a lot of flack for the song, as well as, his anti-Obama views, but I am still a big fan of this young and talented artist and I'm glad he's sharing his perspective on the subject and various other subjects.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
What did you think about the video?
Do you agree with what Lupe Fiasco is saying?
Do you feel its a contradiction for a man to want a "bad bitch" but also want a "good woman"?
What are your thoughts on the song and lyrics?
Well, Vh1 has done it again!!! They've come up with another reality guilty pleasure that will surely keep everyone buzzing throughout the summer. With the recent season finale of Basketball Wives, we have a new set of ratchet wives (I mean girlfriends and side chicks) to laugh at and shake our heads to in Love & Hip Hop's new installment in ATL. Mona Scott-Young has outdone herself with this cast of ATLiens that are working, loving and fighting their way through the cut throat Atlanta entertainment scene.
The cast has newcomers like Karlie Redd and K. Michelle, that some of you might've heard of and original players like Steve J, "a three-time Grammy Award-Winning producer who has worked with artists such as Diddy, Jay-Z and Mariah Carey, and his longtime girlfriend and mother of his child, Mimi Faust, whom we are just meeting. Mimi claims her and Stevie have been together for over 15 years, yet, I'm wondering when he had time to be with her because the last time I checked, he and rapper Eve had a longtime love affair. Things start off with a world wind between these two and I can't help but think how much more juicy its going to get throughout the season (Did you see the highlights?!?!??! Wow!).
There are other familiar faces via ATL born rapper Lil' Scrappy that has worked with the likes of Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz, among many others throughout Atlanta and the mother of his child, Erica Dixon, whom accepted him back after rapper Princess recently broke his heart. These two seem to be patching things up and are on the road to recovery, while Scrappy's crazy and overprotective mother, whom used to pimp and sell drugs (sigh), has to keep her nose in the business and make sure her son is being well taken care of. This mother-son-girlfriend dynamic is very reminiscent of Jim Jones' and Chrissy's love triangle with Mama Jones.
Up and coming female rapper Rasheeda and her manager husband, Kirk Frost, seem to have their work cut out for them as they embark on introducing Rasheeda to the world via her new album. The season opener would not be complete without the fiery Latina rapper, Joseline, whom like Somaya Reese of the 1st edition of Love & Hip Hop, is hungry for her spot in the rap game and will do almost anything to achieve her dreams, which includes, possibly stealing Stevie J away from Mimi.
I already know what you all are thinking: Mimi is a fool, Stevie J is a misogynistic a-hole, Scrappy and Erica are the ride-or-dies who just might make it work, Karlie Redd is messy and K. Michelle is too emotional. We didn't see much of Rasheeda and her husband Kirk, but I'm sure we'll have plenty to talk about in the upcoming episodes. All in all, this soap opera, drama style of reality TV is just like a train wreck, you can't stand the gruesome and grimy scene, yet you can't take your eyes off it and I'm sure Mona Scott-Young likes it that way.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about Episode 1 of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta?
Who are your favorite cast members?
Do you think Joseline can make it big?
Will you be watching the entire season?
Who did you like the least?
Ya'll aint ready! When I found out that there was an all female Hip Hop collective performing throughout Los Angeles a couple years ago I immediately got excited. I mean its not as if I don't constantly hear people complaining about the lack of REAL female MCs in the game. Whether you've heard of them or not, the fact is they are REAL female MCs and they go hard. The (SIS)TEM is a collective of female emcees, producers, vocalist, and Djs, co-founded by Aceyalone, Badru, and DVS-1, from the legendary Project Blowed in Los Angeles.
Comprised of some of L.A.'s most official female lyricists that have been performing, touring and spitting for years, even long before they joined forces (a la the Justice League), The (SIS)TEM is full of hard-hitting, grab your nuts and AK flavor music that is reminiscent of the West Coast rap groups of the past. DVS-1 had a vision for the group that did not include Nicki Minaj Barbie flows, nor did it require any help from the fellas. All that was mandatory of the collective were hardcore, take no prisoner flows, surely to make their toughest male counterparts take notice.
What the L.A. Hip Hop scene needs now more than anything is unity and The (Sis)Tem proves that point by enlisting the Hip Hop powers of DVS-1, Oracle, Miss Bliss, Brandi Kane, JiJi Sweet, Kandi Cole and Dawn Gun on The Treatment Mixtape. Each member has her own style and brand of flows sure to identify with every listener's musical wants and needs. These women have paved their own path, silenced the critics and have gained the respect of legendary MCs like KRS-1 and Chubb Rock just to name a few, as well as garnering several awards and accolades from their esteemed peers in the industry. Two of my personal favorites are Brandi Kane aka The Dopeman's Daughter and Queen Kandi Cole. Not only because they are personal friends of mine, but also because I've been seeing them do this rap stuff for years and their rhymes personally speak to me.
In April of this year they released The Treatment Mixtape that boasts beats and lyrics that are for the most part, clearly West Coast bred, yet evolve to tell a story that will resonate across the country. With tracks like "Gimme That","Don't Judge Me" and "Mic Check", the sistas of The (SIS)TEM are sure to please even the most harsh critics that believe there is no female Hip Hop presence on the west side of the globe.
Here are a few pics of the ladies in action via their performances and tours across the country:
Happy Listening!!!!
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you heard of The (SIS)TEM before?
What do you think about The Treatment Mixtape?
Would you like to see these ladies perform live?
Who is your favorite MC of the group?
Its no secret that some of the best artists, actors, singers, etc. ever known have rose to extreme acclaim and infamy as the public watched in awe and admiration. It is also no secret that some of these same brilliant artists have succumb to drugs and alcohol, which ultimately lead to their eventual demise, as the adoring fans again, watched in horror and amazement. This sick love affair between artists and their fans has been even more fueled by the Internet, where blogs like TMZ and Perez Hilton crucify pop icons on a daily basis. This coupled with the Twitter and Facebook phenomenon that allows its users to spread news like wildfire has created a culture where even the President of the United States can be ridiculed and scrutinized on a surprisingly disrespectful level.
We all know the cornerstone of the American existence is Freedom of Speech, but at what cost? I can't help but wonder if some of these same artists that I have in mind, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, etc. were not partially broken down by the public's scrutiny. Whitney having a very public run-in with Wendy Williams some years ago, along with her one-on-one interviews with people like Oprah and Diane Sawyer, as well as Bobby Brown's "Being Bobby" reality show, also made her a hot topic on the gossip mag/blog scene for years.
Michael Jackson, like Houston, one of the biggest pop stars ever, met a fatal ending at the hands of prescription drugs. Perhaps they were trying to numb the pain. Maybe they couldn't take the constant disrespect and mocking at the hands of those that used to buy their albums and look up to them. We all know that the Hollywood lifestyle is more than just the glitz and glamour and the flashing lights. In today's age, paparazzi can be your worse enemies and news outlets no longer honor nor respect the greats who paved the way.
In no way do I want to limit personal responsibility in this discussion because no one ever forced either to use or abuse drugs. The pressure of fame can be damaging, especially when you are pushed into the limelight and forced to be something you are not or even worse, to go against your core beliefs and values. No one will ever truly know the struggle of fallen icons like Jackson and Houston, but I think we all might need to take a look in the mirror to determine the causes.
Not only do I want to highlight the industry and the negativity that comes with it, but our pharmaceutical companies and health care providers also deserve some responsibility in these occurrences. One used to think that hard drugs like cocaine and meth would be the leading cause of celebrities that live their lives on the edge, but the main factors in the deaths of Michael and Whitney were both prescription drugs. If you thought that crack or "partying" would eventually lead to Whitney's demise then you were wrong. So just as the person who would've sold the crack or cocaine to Whitney would be responsible, why aren't the pharmaceutical companies that create the drugs being held responsible on any level? Or better yet, the MD's that prescribed the drugs, under their medical licenses?
Conrad Murray has been convicted of the accidental death of Michael Jackson, but what about the real drug dealers of this country? Who is monitoring them or holding them accountable for the effects of the products they produce? How many more Heath Ledgers have to die due to the effects of prescription drugs before America takes a look in the mirror and changes its ways?
As I stated earlier, I am all for personal responsibility. Which is why I find all of these contributors responsible in the rise and fall of some of our most beloved stars. To see them fall from grace makes my heart heavy, but ultimately restores my faith in normalcy and the importance of being grounded. The grass is not always greener on the other side and that person in the limelight that you might look up to or admire could be facing demons that you couldn't even imagine dealing with. So the next time we see our "stars" acting out or exhibiting negative or destructive behavior, lets rush to their aid and get them the help that they need instead of crucifying them and using them for our entertainment and gossip chat. Besides, they gave their lives to their craft. The least we could do as fans is honor and respect THAT.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think were the contributing factors to Michael Jackson's and Whitney Houston's death?
Do you blame the pharmaceutical companies that produced the drugs that initiated the fall of these great artists?
Do you hold the doctors who were in charge of their care with responsible for negligence?
Does the public and media outlets hold any responsibility for the deaths of our fallen stars?
What do you think is the solution to this reoccurring phenomenon of stars dying from the misuse of prescription drugs?
I know you've probably heard the rumors about Beyoncéstaying out all night for Jay-Z's performances at Carnegie Hall in NYC. That bit of gossip has seemed to almost outshine the fact that the Director allowed Jay-Z to perform at the historic venue that was opened in 1891 and has never, until now, seen a rapper grace its stage. What really touched me was the guest performers that he brought along with him for the ride. Jay-Z brought out Alicia Keys, also a New York native, to perform with him as well as his once archenemy turned frenemy, rapper Nas.
We all know that Jay-Z and Nas' friendship has taken some turns for the worse in the past, with Jay-Z allegedly sleeping with the mother of Nas' first child. Not to mention a scathing beef that was initiated with Hov's album The Blueprint, with a track called "The Takeover". I recall so vividly unwrapping the CD case after it was first released, so anxious to hear the new material that Jay-Z had created. Only to be greeted with an outright diss to Nas, one of my favorite MCs, over a Kanye West beat. I'm sure we all remember that Fall of 2001 where two of rap's biggest giants collided in a rap beef that was made for the history books.
Nas, however, was not caught unaware as most of his fans were hearing the diss. I remember reading articles in Hip Hop magazines, prior to the release of The Blueprint, where Nas explained that he knew Jay-Z was after his baby mama, his spot and the rap throne of NYC. It would only make sense that Nas, having most likely read the Art of War and Machiavelli's The Prince, would be fully prepared to engage in arguably one of the biggest rap beefs ever.
Nas fired back with Ether and I think its safe to say that Nas won the rap battle. What he failed to secure, was the rap throne of NYC, as he neglected to engage further with Jay-Z after he continued to release verbal assaults via a track called Super Ugly. In my opinion, Super Ugly was a desperate attempt at a response to the verbal lashing that Nas had inflicted on Jay-Z, the initial aggressor in this situation. From my comprehension, Jay-Z later inadvertently admitted to losing the battle by saying, "Nigga what I'm doing can't be defined. The Joneses can't keep up. Maybe my nigga Nas. But I got stronger after Ether."
It doesn't matter who you think won the battle, the fact of the matter is, two of New York's own went to war and both came out of the scuffle, not quite unscathed, but better men for it. Years after the battle, the next time you would see Jay-Z and Nas together was on the video for Roc Boys, where Jay-Z enlisted the cameo appearances of Diddy and Nas, as they smoked cigars, rocked their Rat Pack tuxes and saluted each other in the video. Now that was a beautiful sight.
Now, again, Jay-Z has proven that there are no hard feelings between the two MCs by bringing Nas along for the Carnegie Hall performance, an important historic event in Hip Hop. I think this was a very gentlemanly move and I give kudos to Jay-Z because we all know he needs no sidekicks to rock a crowd. Bringing Nas up to share that historical moment brought a smile to my face and a relief to my spirit, that all is well with two of my favorite MCs, dead or alive.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Do you think it was cool for Jay-Z to bring Nas on stage at Carnegie Hall to share this momentous occasion?
Are you glad Nas and Jay-Z are no longer beefing?
Do you think Nas' career took a dive after his beef with Jay-Z?
Did Jay-Z, in fact, get stronger after Ether?
I went to see Red Tails this weekend and I hope all of you did too being that Mr. George Lucas himself expressed his difficulty with getting an action movie, with an all black cast produced in Hollywood. We all heard the shocking news that Hollywood all but black balled this film after telling Mr. Lucas that they did not know how to market a film of this nature and it would never make the money to deem it a success, in Hollywood film studio standards. Telling George Lucas a WWII film about a special unit of Tuskegee Airmen that was a part of a military experiment to see if black soldiers could fly fighter jets in the war against Hitler and Germany would never sell overseas, nor produce enough DVD sales to make is profitable.
Well, thank God George Lucas believed in this cast of veteran actors such as Oscar winner, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Oscar nominee Terrance Howard, as well as, up and coming actors like Ne-Yo, Tristan Wilds and TV and movie vet Method Man. Red Tails came in at #2 at the box office behind UnderWorld 4, which produced $25.4 mil this weekend.
Red Tailswas a high energy, WWII movie that focused on a Tuskegee experiment that wanted to prove black men could fly fighter jets and actually be good at it. Although this squadron was often given the most menial flying missions in the military, they took on every mission with pride and performed to a level of excellence that the U.S. military had ever seen. They were approached with racism on every front, as their own fellow soldiers discriminated against them and constantly underestimated their abilities.
Amongst extreme criticism, being threatened of getting shut down by government higher ups, and substandard planes and machinery, the Red Tails ultimately prevailed and were and continue to be one of the most remarkable and exemplary military squadrons in United States history, with honors of the coveted 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, Legions of Merit and the Red Star of Yugoslavia. What the Red Tails were able to accomplish at that time, with all odds against them, has never been accomplished to this day, as they never lost an escorted bomber to enemy fighters, which is unheard of.
I applaud George Lucas for stepping out on faith and producing a large part of this film, out of his own pockets, to bring the world an inspirational story about fighting against all odds and winning the war against racism and discrimination. In doing so, Lucas has afforded many young black males, positive heroic examples that they can look up to and be proud of, when all Hollywood ever wants to show is drug dealers, gang members and negative stereotypes of black people in films. I also applaud the original Tuskegee Airmen that were a part of this initial experiment to see if black men could fly and become pilots. Their bravery and courage under fire is what the American Dream is all about.
WEIGH IN
Did you see the film this weekend?
If so, did you enjoy the movie?
Who do you think was the standout character in the film?
Did George Lucas and Director Anthony Hemmingway do the film justice?
The highly anticipated album Watch The Throne recorded by Hip Hop mega artists Jay-Z and Kanye West was dropped today, Tuesday, August 8th, the day the Watch The Throne concert tour tickets went on sale. The release has left the Internet, blogs, Facebook and Twitter all buzzing with talks of the new material, the tour, whether the two will get along and what the outcome will be of this mega-collaboration. We've already seen how quick the shit can hit the fan when Jay-Z collaborates with a music great (ie. R. Kelly and the Best of Both Worlds/Unfinished Business album/tour). So lets just hope the two can keep it together until December 12th when they perform in LA (and yes I got tickets!!!!)
Jay-Z and Kanye were able to hold off the release without any leaks, which in this day and age is damn near a mission impossible, but if anyone could do it, Jay and 'Ye could. Tickets for the Los Angeles concert are already sold out, but if you're in or around the LA area, you still might have a chance with Las Vegas so go to http://www.ticketmaster.com/watchthethrone asap before its too late. The first single to drop from the album, Otis, boasts a popular sample by Otis Redding, Try A Little Tenderness, which comes at the hands of soul-sample and talented musical producer, Kanye West.This song has such a strong popular cultural existence, it only makes sense that the two used it for the first single to spark the fire to the release of the album and the tour. The song recorded by Otis Redding was featured in Pretty in Pink with Molly Ringwald in 1986 in one of my favorite scenes from the whole movie (see the video below):
Watch The Throne Album cover & Track Listing
1. No Church in The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Niggas in Paris
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)
5. Gotta Have It
6. New Day
7. Prime Time
8. Who Gon Stop Me
9. Murder to Excellence
10. Welcome to The Jungle
11. Sweet Baby Jesus (Feat. Frank Ocean)
12. Love You So (Feat. Mr Hudson)
Bonus13. Illest Motherfucker Alive
14. H*A*M
15. That’s My Bitch 16. The Joy (Feat. Curtis Mayfield)
As you can see, the album has guest appearances by R&B/Hip Hop newcomer Frank Ocean, on two tracks and Beyonce on one. As well as, repeat collaborator Mr. Hudson who was featured on Jay's "Forever Young" track. Below are a few pics from the studio where Jay and Kanye have been creating the masterpiece.
To my Jay-Z and Kanye fans:
Have you been anticipating this high profile album?
Would you like to see Jay-Z and Kanye on tour?
Do you think the album will perform to all of the hype?
I recently caught "Year of 4", a documentary on MTV chronicling Beyoncé's road to the release of her 4th solo album entitled "4". The beginning of the documentary showed Beyoncé at the beach explaining how much she loves the water and how the ocean humbles her and keeps her at peace. Unlike other documentaries Beyoncé has released, this one seemed more close to home and more REAL. She seems to really have come into her own and no longer resembles that insecure young lady that was afraid to mess up or make mistakes. She also talks about how her mother pretty much had to force her to take a year off as she explained that she did not want Beyoncéto live with the regret of not living her life while following her dream. A tougher, more confident and secure Beyoncé (not her alter ego Sasha Fierce) was seen learning dance moves, calling the shots, and rallying her troops in preparation for the release of her 4th solo album.
What also really stood out to me in this documentary was how she explained the inspiration for the 1st dance scene in the video where she is in the sand, accompanied by two African dancers as they do some major footwork alongside her. The dancing is impressive to say the least. She then went on to explain that she saw the dance group on Youtube and made a mental note that she would use their talents in the future. Fast forward to the making of her video for Run The World (Girls) as the camera shows 3 eager dancers from Mozambique on a plane set to arrive in the United States to school Beyoncé and her dancing crew.
The young men are energetic and enthusiastic as they experience the U.S. for the first time in their lives. I really love that Beyoncé didn't just steal the moves that the men featured on Youtube, but actually gave them a chance to be involved and get some international pop star shine. Besides, no one else could seem to do it to her liking, but these guys. After their scene is done and the three dancers are free to leave the set, Beyoncé is shown with tears falling from her eyes. She explained that she understood how they probably felt leaving their first video shoot, not knowing when they would ever be on another set again, doing what they love. She explained that this is how she felt leaving her first video shoot as she recalls she didn't want to leave. Seeing this strong, yet vulnerable side to Beyoncé was really an eye opener and made me love her that much more.
Music and dance originate in Africa. The same booty shaking and gyrating that we see on videos today derive from countries in Africa that were inspired by the drum. This may not be commonly known, but it is fact. To see these brothers get their shine is empowering because I am very big on influence and appreciation of history and heritage. All in all, the documentary was very entertaining and you definitely get to see another side of Beyoncé.
Check out a video of the dance group called Tofo Tofo from Mozambique. This video inspired Beyoncé to search for these dancers for four months leading up to the video shoot:
Now here is Beyoncé's Run The World (Girls) video, which I am sure you all have seen. Notice any similarities?
You can also check out the entire episode here on MTV:
As much as I love/hate Basketball Wives on Vh1, I love the new series Single Ladies starring Stacey Dash, and LisaRaye, produced by Queen Latifah even more. Latifah And her production team are taking us on a retro ride back down memory lane with her new Single Ladies series. It wasn't too long ago when she starred in Living Single and acted out scenes reminiscent of those in the new hit TV show, but this time Latifah runs it AND sings the theme song too. She is truly a tour de force.
Stacey Dash is the new Carrie Bradshaw with her chic ensembles and fearless fashion sense while premiering her boutique in one of Atlanta's prime locales that attracts starlets, athletes, musicians and the crazy alike. Right alongside Stacey is her roll dawg, LisaRaye, an ex-video vixen gone good. Both singles ladies are navigating their way through the Atlanta elite, while getting their feet wet in the industry.
However, behind the fancy clothes and the image of champagne flutes clicking, they are just like the average single lady on the war path to find her prince charming. When I say war path, I mean in the sense of sometimes hearts get tattered and torn in the process of love, never to love the same again. But these ladies don't give up. They keep on ticking, dating and kissing every frog just waiting for him to transform. But this ain't no fairytale! Single Ladies is equipped with enough drama to make a soap opera look boring, with it's twists and turns full of scandal, publicity stunts, pending divorces, backstabbing and more.
But don't get it twisted. This series is not just about three single ladies in Atlanta living it up and having sex in the city. There are plenty of lessons in love, self esteem, courage, friendship and karma. The writing is funny and witty and there is enough heat to steam up the place like a sauna. There is something in this show for everyone and I think many people will be able to identify with the eclectic characters and scenarios.
And what's love without friendship? The characters experience and exhibit a sisterhood where your girls know you best and want the best for you. Following the girl code and never giving advice clouded by foolishness or jealousy. Loving unconditionally and growing through each trial experience. Sheesh, when the men are that fine and the experiences are that enchanting, living the single life looks real grand, but us ladies want the real thing. So fellas take notes and ladies too! Class is in session.
Are you a fan of the new Vh1 series Single Ladies?
Who is your favorite character?
I've always been a big fan of The Clipse and now that Pusha T is working on a solo effort with Kanye's G.O.O.D. Music imprint, I'm excited to see what he's going to produce. My favorite track off the Fear of God mixtape is Alone In Vegas. My fav line goes like this:
"Feels like I'm doomed to dealing with women who
relationships with their fathers won't allow us to bloom
and blossom, I swear them Vegas nights was fucking awesome"
Pusha's wordplay has always been fresh, new and exciting. From his drug dealing exploits to the clever way he explains his fascination with money, cars and clothes. Although that may seem quite shallow to most, I have a feeling that he will dig a bit deeper this time with the help of Kanye.
The video was produced by Orson Whales, which displays Pusha in the Mojave Desert with a hooded character that has his hands tied and is waiting for his fate, execution style, as well as, dynamic shots of the Las Vegas Blvd. Strip from his hotel suite all the way down to the street level action. Let me know what you all think of the video and the song:
I was so amazed by these two identical twin brothers from France that I had to feature them on the blog for entertainment purposes. I was first introduced to them by a good friend of mine who energetically proclaimed that they are the best dancers he's ever laid his eyes on. I'm not sure if I'm ready to give them that designation just yet, but the two brothers might be very close. Their dancing style mashes up all kinds of styles of dance including pop locking, break dance, aerial tricks, ballet, modern dance, lyrical, etc.
Officially known as Les Twins, Larry and Laurent Bourgeois, are very well known overseas and they have appeared on various TV dance competitions like Juste Debout, Battle of the Stylez, World of Dance and Urban Dance Showcase as well as The Ellen Degeneres show. The 22 year old twins are originally from Guadeloupe and have 18 siblings, 9 of which also dance. Les Twins have performed with Beyoncé Knowles, including the Run The World (Girls) music video and her live show, including Beyoncé's headline performance at the UK's Glastonbury Festival 2011.
Their gravity defying moves and ability to dance in sync with one another will leave you in awe and wanting more! Although their style incorporates many already solidified dance moves, these twins move like no other and dance with their entire bodies creating an aesthetic that is all their own. Check out some pics from a few of their photo shoots and the series of dance videos below:
Photos by ShawnWellingphotos.com
Credit: Photos taken by: ShawnWellingphotos.com Check out some videos of performances, battles, and more:
Believe me, Beyoncé is no fool. She saw these dancing twins and had to have them on her tour. Lets see how far their star can rise. Enjoy!
So I know all of my fashionistas couldnt wait for the fashions to walk down the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA last night. The stars came out to shine on the most glamourous night in all of entertainment, The Academy Awards. Bold hues and up-do's graced the red carpet as the paparazzi cameras flashed and the borrowed jewelry sparkled in the limelight.
We all know the highlight of the Oscar's is the fashions, so lets get to it:
Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino
Celine Dion in Armani Prive
Gweneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein
Halle Berry in Marchesa
Hilary Swank in Gucci
Jennifer Hudson in Versace
Jennifer Lawrence in Calvin Klein
Natalie Portman in Rodarte
Nicole Kidman in Christian Dior
Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang
Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana
Sharon Stone in Christian Dior
Florence Welch in Valentino
Helena Bonham Carter - *side eye*
It appears that RED was the color of the night. Halle Berry never seems to disappoint on the red carpet and Jennifer Hudson finally got to truly show off her newly svelte figure. Scarlett Johansson kept it simple in her understated Dolce & Gabbana gown, while Florence Welch and Helena Bonham Carter failed to woo the crowd. NOTE: Someone please hire a stylist for Ms. Carter ASAP.
