Chris Brown and Rihanna Are Sick of Talking About The Fight, but is America?

Wow! Chris Brown finally has a chance to come back in the limelight...for good, and he lets his anger get the best of him...AGAIN.  I know we all heard about the reports of Chris Brown's meltdown on Good Morning America (in an attempt to promote his new album F.A.M.E.) following a series of uncomfortable questions posed by interviewer Robin Roberts.  I'm pretty sure Brown's media camp specifically urged Ms. Roberts not to ask any "Rihanna" questions and her constant probing at the issue might have caught him off guard.  He seemed ill-prepared to answer any questions on Rihanna, but for some reason I feel like his PR team failed him to a certain degree.  That is, unless this whole fiasco was a ploy to increase record sales (*wink*).  Whatever the case may be, somehow Chris Breezy has put that unfortunate Grammy night from 2009 behind him and clearly would like the rest of the world to do the same.

I recently read on Bitchie Life that Rihanna also got "feisty" with an interviewer for a recent magazine cover interview.  She apparently doesn't want to talk about the debacle anymore either.  Which brings on my burning question for my readers.  Are Chris and Rihanna right in refusing to talk about the incident? Do you feel they owe us, the public, more of an explanation or that they should be open to addressing the issue in every public forum known to man?  Is it their right, as public figures, to refuse to answer questions about it anymore?

I don't know about you, but I think Rihanna probably has more right than Chris to refuse to answer questions.  My concern is why must they both cop attitudes when this topic is brought up? Do they not know that whether they have gotten over it or moved past the situation, the general public has not?  Are they not aware that this issue will be looming over their goregous pop star heads for years to come, if not forever?  Do you think the public would be willing to let it go if they both were more forthcoming about the past?

I'm currently at a loss for words from Chris' actions.  I feel like he was definitely on his Road To Redemption Redemption Song: Diddy-Dirty Money feat. Chris Brown in Yesterday  (see my earlier post on the subject) but has now fallen several steps back.  We all understand that the celebrity life is hard work, both physically and emotionally and this life often can take a toll on the strongest of individuals.  However, the life of a pop star is chosen.  So, if you can't take the heat....you know the rest....

Please...weigh in!!!!

Where's Daddy?

One pet peeve of mine has always been women who keep their exes away from their children for no respectable reason.  I can understand a father who is verbally or physically abusive, threatens your well-being or is involved with negative activity that is not suitable for a child.  But what about the mothers who keep their children away from their fathers because they can no longer have said man, or does it because of a personal vendetta that has nothing to do with the child?  These situations happen all the time and I know how harmful these actions can be to a child.

Fact is, children need BOTH parents in order to become well-adjusted, well-rounded individuals.  I am in no way saying that children with only one parent will not turn out as good as children who had both parents.  That would be absurd.  However, I am saying that a child's identity comes from both of their parents, their heritage and family history and background.  When one or more of these aspects are lacking, it can be a hinderance to a child's development.

How many mothers have you observed that won't allow their child's father to come see the children unless they "see" them first?  Or even won't allow the father to see their children when they are unable to provide monetary support.  Occurrences like this really bug me and make me wonder what the real issue is.  Isn't the happiness of our children the most important thing?  I have yet to see a child that doesn't want to be around their father as long as they have not hurt them emotionally or physically.  Even still, children love their parents no matter what and want to be around them regardless of what they've put them through in the past.

How could a mother who claims to love her children and want the best for them turn around and shut their father out of their life for selfish reasons?  What kind of mother could conciously, with no guilt, refuse a father's request to see his children because he doesn't have a job that can collect child support?

If you are a mother or father who is keeping your children away from their other rightful parent for selfish or prideful reasons, I urge you to stop and think about how this might hurt the child now and in the long run, or even worse, how it can create long-term resentment from your children once they are old enough to decipher what's really going on.

I'm curious to see how men/women feel about this.  Especially the parents.  Do you think it is okay to keep your child's father out of his life if he is unable to pay child support?  If the child's father no longer wants to be with you or left you for another woman, do you think it is okay to deny him visitation?  Men: Have you dealt with a mother like this that kept you away from your child for selfish reasons?  Please share your experiences...

Men Have Sex With Goddesses and Marry Mortals

When discussing my relationship status with an ex-boyfriend, he relayed to me a very poignant line that I had never heard.  He said, "Men f*&^ goddesses and marry mortals".  When he said this I was genuinely taken aback until I let go of the shock of the statement and went deeper into the meaning.  What he was trying to say is men love to run around freely expressing their sexuality and lustful desires with women who in today's modern age represent Goddesses (think Marilyn Monroe, Cleopatra, etc.), but often marry a more conservative, and shall we say, less adventurous woman (think J. Lo vs. Jennifer Garner).

When I sat and thought back to how this cliche could play out in this day and age, I thought about the growing trend of Hip Hop stars getting boo'd up by ex strippers like Amber Rose or femme fatales like Natalie Nunn and how these women never seem to stick their sexy feline claws into their backs deep enough to keep them for good.

There is no secret that men love women who are freaks in the sheets.  If this were not the case, the porn industry would not be grossing $14 billion annually.  It is also no surprise that men growing up like to sew their oats and have sex with as many women as they can.  This has always been a rights of passage for young men evolving into adulthood.  But lets take a look at the current state of affairs when it comes to lustful activities.  We have all seen an increasing trend in pole dancing classes and classes on how to dance like a stripper in order to "keep your man satisfied".  So, I'm wondering, once you learn how to climb the pole then drop it like its hot, does a husband come after?  Do women find it that if they can put it on a man and make him scream that he will wife her up just like that?

I'm curious to know what priority sex really plays when it comes to getting married and settling down.  Would a man give up the sexy nympho for the straight-laced career woman?  Or do you have to be ALL OF THE ABOVE to get married these days.

I'm honestly curious and I pose this question to the men, but ladies, feel free to chime in:

WHO WOULD YOU RATHER MARRY? 

AMBER ROSE VS. MONICA



Amber Rose

Monica

  
TIA MOWRY VS. NATALIE NUNN
   

Tia Mowry

Natalie Nunn



KESHIA KNIGHT-PULLIAM VS. RIHANNA



Keshia Knight-Pulliam

Rihanna


Fellas...You decide!

Ladies....Chime in!

It Aint A Hit Unless Nate Dogg Spit: RIP Nate Dogg

Last night the music world lost Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011).  Best known as Nate Dogg, he first graced us with his talent and trademark vocals on Dr. Dre's The Chronic in 1992 and later made a name for himself as a surefire hitmaker on tracks like Indosmoke, Regulate and Aint No Fun.  Songs like these displayed his knack for infectious hooks and bridges that always left the listener wanting more.  He got his start early on as 1/3 of the Long Beach Hip Hop trio 213, which also included Warrren G and Snoop Dogg and later released his first solo album G-Funk Classics Vol.1 in 1996  

Further guest appearances on songs like The Next Episode, Area Codes, and 21 Questions clearly exemplified an artist that could literally breathe on a track and make it come to life.  There was something so dynamic about his voice and vocal delivery.  No one did it better when it came to making tailor-made chorus' that perfected the various Hip Hop beats and lyrics that his vocals accompanied.  Nate Dogg is known for his numerous guest appearances on songs with 2 Pac, Warren G, Ice Cube, The Dogg Pound, The Game, Ludacris, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent, just to name a few.

After much success in the music biz with 3 solo albums, 4 Grammy nominations, and several movie appearances, Nate Dogg seemed to almost fall into obscurity leaving many wondering about his whereabouts and when they would hear his music again.  It was announced that he suffered a stroke in December of 2007 which later contributed to the paralysis of the left side of his body.  In September 2008, Nate Dogg suffered another stroke and left many fans wondering if they would ever hear him sing again.

When I hear new songs like Dr. Dre's Kush off of his upcoming Detox album, I think back to the era when the West Coast ruled the world.  Back when iconic artists like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg were the undeniable heavyweights of the game.  Well, there Nate Dogg stood.  Always there, in their corner, waiting to lend his talented hand to the blockbuster boxing ring called West Coast Hip Hop.  He will live on through his music and will forever be known as one of the greatest to come out of Long Beach, CA.

Some of Nate Dogg's most noteworthy videos:

Warren G feat. Nate Dogg - Regulate
Snoop Doggy Dogg ft Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg - Lay Low
50 Cent ft. Nate Dogg - 21 Questions 
Mos Def feat. Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg - Oh No
Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg - Never Leave Me Alone

What are your favorite Nate Dogg tracks and guest appearances?

Woman to Woman: What Would You Do?

I know we've all heard this song and some of us have even been in this predicament at one point or another.  My question is what would you do if a woman called you and asked you if you were seeing "her" boyfriend, husband, etc.?  What would you say? How would you handle it? Would you tell her the truth or would you tell her not to call your phone anymore?

From the male perspective I'm wondering if men do this too.  Has a man ever called you and asked if you were dating his girlfriend or wife?  What is the "man law" in situations as this?

Do tell...

An Open Letter to Black Men

A good friend and I, who also has a blog called Unprotected Talk Unprotectedtalk.com, recently had a heated debate on interracial dating and he urged me to share a RANT on the topic.  Check out what I said about this taboo topic on his website:

Unprotected Talk - An Open Letter To Black Men

I would love for males and females of any race to chime in on this topic.

HAPPY DEBATING!

"The Greatest Rapper of All Time Died on March 9th" - My Tribute to Notorious B.I.G.



If you know me and know how much I love Hip Hop, you know I LOVE Biggie aka Christopher Wallace (May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997).  When I look back and realize its been 14 years since his death, I think of how he impacted the game and how it has changed since his passing.  Before Jay-Z was whispering "the city is mine", B.I.G. was already holding down the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant with his raw rhymes, unmatched delivery and ghetto fab flow.

B.I.G.'s music was lyrically cinematic.  When I listen to songs like "You're Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)" and "Long Kiss Goodnight" (two of my favs by the way), I can see the plot play out in my head as if I was watching a movie.  Biggie had that gift of grabbing the listener and sucking them into his violent and edgy, yet eloquent stories. 

Ready To Die was considered a Hip Hop classic, but I believe Biggie's true prowess was most notably visible on his posthumous double disc, Life After Death.  This piece of work allowed you not only to see the "Ready to Die" Biggie with his who gives a what attitude, but it also allowed you to see Biggie; the father, the rapper, the lady's man, and the friend.  I don't know about you, but I liked to see him more in his totality than as a one dimensional character.

Gone, but never forgotten, his music and legacy still lives on.  Jay-Z may have made The Blueprint, but Biggie was definitely the architect behind the scenes.  In terms of delivery, lyrical word play, double entendres, swag and subject matter, nobody did it better (during his reign at the top).  Rappers are still biting his style and using his lines as springboards for their rhymes.  Whether he gets the credit or not, his work will undoubtedly be weaved into the historical fabric of Hip Hop.

Whether his music touched you when he was Ready to Die, or his sounds moved you in his Life After Death, he will always be loved and respected for what he did in his short time here on earth, and hopefully, his music will be Born Again.

Some of Biggie's most quoted Hip Hop Lines:
"Ladies, my Mercedes, hold for in the back, two if ya fat"
"Kick in the door waving the 44"
"B-I-G P-O-P-P-A. No info for the D-E-A"
"Number Four.  I know you heard this before.  Never get high on your own supply"
"Goin back to Cali strictly for the weather, women and the weed"
"You're mad cause my style you're admiring.  Don't be mad...UPS is hiring"

Check out some of his best videos here:
Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
Notorious B.I.G. - Big Poppa
Notorious B.I.G. - Mo Money Mo Problems
Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize

What are your favorite Biggie rap lines and songs?

Photog Spotlight: 2011 NBA All-Star Weekend

I absolutely L-O-V-E photopgraphy.  I think it is a beautiful and expressive art that can communicate on so many levels.  Although I consider myself an amatuer photographer (lol) I know I have so much to learn when it comes to angles, composition, focus, editing, resolution, etc.  There is something so distinctive about a well taken photograph that really tantalizes the visual senses and can also bring about nostalgia, laughter, sadness or happiness and so much more. 

There are so many photographic inspirations around us, especially with the Internet and the ease of photo editing and sharing that it affords.  A good friend of mine, Nick Collins, owner and founder of Creatively Inc. has an eye for capturing profound images and making them appealingly beautiful.  He specializes in photography of all kinds, such as weddings, social & sporting events, and entertainment shots.

He recently attended the 2011 NBA All-Star festivities and captured some amazing shots of the action on the red carpet and behind the scenes in the Western Conference locker room.  I hand picked some great photos to feature from his website: http://www.creativelyinc.com/ that I think you all would enjoy:



Can you see the hunger?



Carmelo Anthony



Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs

 

Chris Paul

  

Snoop Dogg representin' the West(side)

 

Beyonce

Jay and Bey courtside...check the red bottoms (Louboutin)



East Meets West - Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen

 

Lenny Kravitz w/ MTV News

Shannon Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers



Nick Collins, founder and operator of Creatively Inc.

Check out all the happenings on the website and book them for your next event at: http://www.creativelyinc.com/

Pain is Beauty: Shoeicide

We all love rapper Fabolous' reference to the pain that women go through to have a mean shoe game.  He calls it "Shoeicide" and describes a "killer shoe game as a pair of homis" (as in homicide).  I personally believe that shoes can make or break an outfit and are probably the most important accessory a woman can wear.  Shoes have stepped out in the forefront and taken the spotlight of most women's wardrobes.  It seems that fashionistas are always on the hunt for that KILLER SHOE.

The sad part is, the hotter the shoe, the more it kills your feet, but us women are used to enduring pain in the name of beauty.  My mother always told me to be sure to wear the proper size and to take good care of my feet (no bunions here *wink*), but I am constantly questioning the level of pain I am willing to endur to keep my shoe game tight.  Heels affect our posture and our ability to walk properly, so its important to seek comfort and style.  With that being said, lets check out some killer styles that women are rocking right now:



Alexander McQueen - Fall 2010 Collection

 



Camilla Skovgaard mule sandal



Jimmy Choo Emily Suede and Patent Leather Ankle Boot

 

Christian Louboutin Lady Daf Snakeskin Platform Pumps



Nicki Minaj in Alexander McQueen plaform



Nicki Minaj in Christian Louboutin

Alexander McQueen open-toe ankle boots



The back view

 

I think I just had a shoe-gasm.  You can check out these and more styles at the following websites:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/

http://www.net-a-porter.com/

http://shoerazzi.com/

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Fab Spotlight: Nobody Jones Boutique, For The Fashionista On A Budget

Years ago, a good friend urged me to visit a boutique on Crenshaw Blvd. and 48th Street.  She told me I would love the fashions and how affordable the merchandise was.  I admit that I was skeptical because its not like there was a plethora of stylish boutiues in the area.  After about a year of procrastinating, I finally walked through the threshhold and was pleasantly surprised.
I was greeted by a funky fresh urban boutique that was bursting with bright hues of orange, white and blue and blasting neo-soul music from the speakers. Racks adorned the walls of the loft-style clothing store, which featured trendy pieces mixed in with Odessa Bowden's (the owner) own designs that were, get this, ONE SIZE FIT ALL.  To say I was flabbergasted would be an understatement.  Being a thick chick, I know more than anyone how difficult it is to find sexy, trendy clothes that don't cost an arm and a leg.  Needless to say, I've been hooked ever since.

Odessa aka Nobody Jones also offers a plethora of stylish and daring accessories including hats, gloves, earrings, necklaces, scarfs, handbags, shoes, tights, belts, etc.  I am mostly proud of how she has developed the boutique and has attracted celebrity clientele like Wendy Raquel Robinson of The Game, R&B group En Vogue and supermodel Chanel Iman to name a few.  Fashionistas come from far and wide to grab Odessa's stylized inventory, and trust me, it goes quick.  Nobody Jones hosts several fashion shows throughout the year that feature her original designs that you can find in the boutique all year long so be sure to get on her mailing list to get the haps on future events.

Check out some flicks of celebrities and yours truly rocking Nobody Jones fashions:
 

En Vogue



Wendy Raquel Robinson

  

Yours Truly, Maya Nichelle (dress and accessories by Nobody Jones, handbag bag by Louis Vuitton)

 

 

Odessa aka Nobody Jones

You can check out the website at http://www.nobodyjones.com/
Nobody Jones Boutique » 4703 Crenshaw Blvd. » Los Angeles, CA 90043
Phone: 323.291.7177
Odessa Bowden's facebook page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=706088249

HAPPY SHOPPING!