Rihanna, her hair, and her wax

As much as I love Rihanna, I need her and this red headed stuff to end. I used to be a proud red head but I realized a full head of kool-aid colored hair is a bad idea. I'm proud of you and your accomplishments but that red hair is a hot mess. Take it from someone who cares.

The Evolution of Black Stereotypes

In the mainstream media, Black people aren't really people but characters. The main representation of us are characters that swoop in save the day or offer comic relief. The early stereotypes included Sambo, mammy, sapphire, and mandigo. All of these representations have limited intelligence, are one dimensional, and play to the ideas of the mainstream media.

Sambo- "Sambo" refers to Black men that were considered very happy, usually laughing, lazy, irresponsible or carefree. This depiction of black people was displayed in films in the 1900s.

Mammy- Characteristics of "Mammy" include dark skin, a heavyset frame and large bust, and overall matronly appearance, complete with an apron around her waist and a kerchief on her head. She is overweight and dressed in gaudy clothing, as well as genial, churchgoing, and spiritual to the point of delusion — "Lord have mercy" is a common phrase associated with this archetype.

Mandingo- This stereotypical concept was invented by white slave owners who promoted the notion that male African slaves were animalistic and bestial in nature asserting, for example, that "in the Negro all the passions, emotions, and ambitions, are almost wholly subservient to the sexual instinct and "this construction of the oversexed black male parlayed perfectly into notions of black bestiality and primitivism."Describing slaves in this way allowed them to justify the wealth, privilege and social benefits they gained through slavery as a moral action since they did not see the slaves as fully human.

Sapphire- Sapphire, named after a character in “Amos ‘n’ Andy”, always seems to have her hands on her hips while she is running her mouth – putting down her man, making everything into a fight, never taking anything lying down. She is an overbearing, hard and undesirable woman who drives men away. Think of Tichina Arnold’s character Pam in “Martin”. Michelle Obama comes dangerously close to being read this way.

The last one hasn't really gone away because she still haunts black women. The main excuse given as to why Black men don't want to deal with Black women is their attitudes although women of all races have attitudes. These stereotypes have evolved into several black main characters.

The sambo has evolved into the black gay male- this character is flamboyant and extravagant. His is often the center of attention and the comic relief. When things get too heavy, count on the black gay male to say something sassy to lighten the mood.
The mammy has evolved into The black best friend- the mammy used to be the voice of reason and offer much needed advice and care, this job now belongs to the black best friend.She's black, smart, female and usually "sassy." And her primary function in a movie is to act as the main (white) character's conscience, offering advice no one asked for at the exact moment it's needed.

The new one is the magical black negro- The magical negro is typically but not always "in some way outwardly or inwardly disabled, either by discrimination, disability or social constraint," often a janitor or prisoner. He has no past; he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist. He usually has some sort of magical power, "rather vaguely defined but not the sort of thing one typically encounters. He is patient and wise, often dispensing various words of wisdom, and is "closer to the earth.

Stereotypes won't go away, they'll just evolve. Blacks have been stereotyped for hundreds of years and that won't change. We just have to be 10x better than they think we are.

Brian White is a married man

Brian White and Girlfriend Paula De White tied the knot this weekend. Congrats to them.

Video Fab: Trey Songz, R. Kelly, and Jazmine Sullivan

Look of the Day: Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade

I have to admit that Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade look great together. I love yellow on Gabrielle's skin tone and I love the cream that Dwayne is rocking. They're a fabulous couple.

The myth of the independent woman

I think we've been tricked as women. Yes, I said tricked. I think we've been tricked by society and our men. They have tricked us into believing that you cannot be successful, or ambitious, and have a man. This independent woman philosophy needs to die. Let's retire independent woman. It's not that I don't aspire to have my own but I hate the connotation. When we think of independent women, we think of women who work 70 hour work weeks, who go home to their big beuatiful houses and cry alone, then aspire to bite the head off of every man who makes less than a 100,000 a year. This is not the independent woman. We are women aiming to work hard. We want things in our lives and careers. Why can't we work to have what we want? Do we have to wait until we have a man to do these things? Why does society want us to choose?

Beyonce is an independent woman but she's still married. While she was building her empire, she was building a relationship with Jay-z. I won't deny the fact that they're on equal playing grounds financially and career wise may help their relationship, but the fact is Beyonce is successful and has a man. Society has bred us to believe that men are only good for handing us money and paying bills. That is not the case. Although having a man who will pay for dinner is nice, having the companionship is nicer. Having someone to take the burden off when times are hard or having a partner is what a relationship is about. It's not about the bank account balance. Scum comes in all tax brackets.

I believe that being single sometimes is an internal issue. We don't know the options that these women have but we do know that they may have baggage and in turn chose to focus on their careers. Whatever the case is, we have been shown time and time again that you can be successful and have a relationship. If the most powerful woman in the world can do it, so can every other woman.

Celebrate You: You vs. You

Last week we talked about you saying negative things about yourself, this week we're going to talk about you standing in your way. Think about this. You're running a race and you hear a voice telling you "you're not gonna make it" "what are you doing here?" "Just quit before you embarass yourself." Then you look and see it's only you and the track. The person saying these things to you, was you. The only person trying discourage you is you.

If you have a dream, go for it. Don't let you stand in your way. Yes, people may tell you no or may say negative things about you but you know you can do it. Let them tell you no, don't tell you no. You never know what you can do until you try. Don't be a slave to fear. The bible says in Romans 8: 15: For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[a] And by him we cry, "Abba,[b] Father." When God adopted us, he took away that spirit of fear. That spirit comes from the devil. God wants you to know that you can do all things through him. God gave us his spirit. He is full of confidence, wisdom, and promise. God knows the things he has for us. God can do all things and we have that spirit. We should be full of confidence. We are the children of he who created the world. Don't be afraid and don't tell you no. Get out of your way and let God work.

Look of the week: Idris Elba on 106 & Park

We've established that Chris Brown's outfit is a no-no but I like what Idris Elba is wearing, the look is casual and sophisticated at the same time. I don't know about the glasses but they get a pass,

Look of the Week: Toya at the Hoodie Awards

I like this look. It's cute, simple, and classy. I love simple. I hate when people try too add a bunch of stuff to look like something when all they need is simple swagger. This is honestly the best I've ever seen Toya look. I love this look.

Happy Birthday Michael

Let's take a few moments to remember the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Today would have been Michael's 52nd birthday. Although he left us too soon, here are VII things you can do to remember him.

1. Play his music- this is one is a given. The only job Michael ever had was being a musician. He loved his music and wanted it to be the best. Listen to your Thriller album or one of your favorite songs.

2. watch his videos- one of the things Michael loved more than his music, was making videos to go with those songs. Michael is known for his groundbreaking videos. Watch one of the many channels doing a Michael tribute or visit youtube.

3. make a donation- Michael held the Guiness record for most charitable donations. A few of his favorite causes were children, animals, and the environment. Make a donation to an organization dedicated to one of those causes.

4. be a kid- we know Michael was a kid at heart so in honor of him, be a kid for a day. Go to a fair, have a water balloon fight, do something childish.

5. dance- Michael loved to dance and you can dance. Put on your favorite red leather jacket and re-create the moves to thriller. It's okay, we know you do it in private anyway.

6. volunteer- as stated before, Michael loved to give back. If you're financially unable to make a donation, then give some of your time. This weekend is also the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, find something in your area to do, go to a food kitchen, do something.

7. reflect on Michael- Michael was a very introspective soul. Take a few seconds to remember what he meant to you and his influence on you. If you don't want to do these things, just take time to send him your love.

Michael, come and get Marcus

Just when we could brag that rich black kids didn't spend like their white counterparts, Marcus Jordan put us all to shame. The son of Basketball legend Michael Jordan recently bragged about his Vegas conquests.


Apparently Michael and Juanita weren't too happy because they both called their 19 year old son to discuss the tweet.

VII Interview: Navasha Daya

Navasha Daya is a modern woman. She is balancing her many professional responsibilities with her family life, thus proving that successful women can have it all. Daya has been the lead singer of the highly revered underground group, Fertile Ground, for over 13 years and is now stepping out in her own right. I sat down with Navasha a few months ago to discuss her spirituality, how it feels to go solo, performance, and future plans.

What is it like working with artists from different cultures?

It's wonderful because everyone has different ears and you get to see the influences. Black music influences the whole world, even Africa. There's a famous hip hop artist hoop de hoop from Nigeria and you can hear the James Brown and African mix in his music. When I travel, I can tell different styles of music and what they present to you is specific to their own culture with the influence of Black music. It's very interesting.
How is that merging into your own music?

My music is very interesting. I'm like a chameleon and so I hear different styles of music all the time. I'll write a song that sounds like pop, then I'll write a song that sounds like old school soul classic, and another song came out of me that sounds like rock. It'll be interesting to see how that flows together.

Is it different doing a project and not having your band mates with you?

The only way it's different is because I'm not working with James. He usually writes most of the songs and I'll write a couple of songs but this one is all on me.Although I have other people write stuff, this is my responsibility. It feels more liberating to a certain degree because I get to have total free control. Because I feel more responsible, these songs are coming out. I'm doing what I've done before just more of it. I feel challenged and I love it.

Do you feel like being in a band may stifle creativity?

No, it doesn't. A lot of bands work together to make songs. There may be a leader or musical director but they present the song and everyone starts jamming. Ike Turner, I'm not sure of his history, but he was a song writer and he had a band and he would present the songs to the band. A lot of band leaders write for the band. They write the songs with everyone in mind. As a solo artist, I'm writing with me in mind. I don't have the guideline with the band.
Have you ever thought about doing anything else beside music?

I do a lot. I am an ordained_ minister. I teach reiki, I do acupuncture, I teach music and dance with children and adults, I do private voice lessons, I do spiritual counseling, I teach workshops on self development and healing. I have a spiritual teaching side, a music teaching side, and a performing side. That's my life.

How did you move into starting a spiritual and holistic life?

Oh girl! I was raised like that way. I was raised meditating and in a non religious aspect. You know there's energy and God all around you and how to be a good and loving person. I was always aware of Hinduism and indigenous cultures. I never felt anything was bad or good about certain religions, I was raised very open. To be honest, when I was 18 I began contemplating who is God? I would always have to contemplate what I felt because I wasn't proclaiming Christianity and everyone else around me was. That made me figure out which ways I wanted to serve God.
What does being an ordained minister in interfaith mean?

It means you're not tied to one faith. You can marry people who are Muslim, Hindu, Christian, are open. I've never married an Atheist couple before because I have my own feeling about that but you can marry people who are traditional and non traditional. Alot of people's whose churches don't agree, can come to me or a colleague and we will create a ceremony to honor all their traditions. We also do funerals that way.

How is Navasha different offstage?

I feel like there is another energy that comes through me when I'm on stage. I feel empowered on stage. I pray on stage and ask the spirits to assist me in being a vessel for humans so I have a lot of prayers I say on stage. My purpose for being on stage is to heal myself, heal others, and to heal the band. It's a sacred experience and I take it very seriously. I'm pretty much the same person the same person.

What do you want to accomplish in the next few years?

I want to have some babies. Record some albums, work with some really remarkable artists, work with the youth of the community to help uplift their lives, I want to travel the world and work with some uplifting female artists, I want to use my popularity to do some good on the earth, I want to help the world to love themselves and serve God, write a book, and just have some balance.

R.I.P Aaliyah

Today marks the 9th anniversary of Aaliyah's death. She is still regarded as one of the best entertainers ever. Check out this open letter from Drake:

Dear Dana,

I’ve never lost a parent, a friend, or a lover but I will never forget this day for the rest of my life. I remember getting the news that you had passed and it connected with my heart like a clean shot from Muhammad Ali. I was crushed. Not only was I one of your biggest fans but I was truly in love with you. I loved the way you carried yourself, the way you dressed, the confidence with which you addressed passion and relationships in your music. I said to myself that even if we never met, I wanted a woman in my life just like you. I am pained that we will never get to connect now that music ended up being my career path. But you should know, we all listen to you everyday and we remain inspired and moved by all that you’ve given the world. I hope I make the right life choices so I can end up in heaven where I know you rest your head. I’ll continue to make music in your honor until the day we finally meet. Dinner’s on me!

Love you always and forever,

Drake

Edit Your Outfit: Chris Brown

We're going to ignore Roxy because this post is not about her but we're coming for her next. Chris Brown, what are you wearing? Try these instead:

Recipes of the Week

Cooking is my new hobby. I'm working on better eating habits and that means eating more whole food. This gives me an excuse to cook.

These are the recipes I tried this week:

Crispy Rosemary Chicken
Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Rosemary Chicken

4 (or however many you need)thighs
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp of rosemary
garlic powder or fresh garlic

coat the pan with olive oil or coconut oil. I use coconut oil because its solid then turns liquid. Put chicken in pan and cover with olive oil, rosemary, salt pepper, and garlic powder. Heat the oven to 350* and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and bast with the juice and bake for another 15 mins.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

4 cups of muenster , Italian blend, and Cheddar cheese
1 box of elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons of butter
1 chicken bullion cube
2 tbsp wheat flour
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup of milk
1 tbsp of sour cream or Greek yogurt
1/4 cup of panko break crumbs
1/4 cup of additional cheese
black pepper
paprika

Cook macaroni al dente in the water/bullion cube mixture, drain and set aside. In a pan, mix the flour and butter together. Wisk until smooth. Remove from heat and add cheese, milk, cream, and sour cream. Add to noodles. Put in baking pan and cover with panko bread crumbs, cheese, pepper, and paprika mixture.

Next week, I'll post pictures of what I cook.

Stupid Boy Swag

Yes, I'm going to go in on Soulja Boy. I need someone to come and get Soulja Boy. I don't like his lyrics or him for that matter but someone needs to offer him guidance. I thought that we discussed that men should stay away from thirsty hoes. Obviously Soulja didn't get the message. Yesterday, a video surfaced that Kat Stacks took in Soulja's Boy hotel room where she tells the world that Soulja Boy does not have what it takes in the bedroom and shows several lines of cocaine.

I think Fabolous said it best with these tweets:

I'm not going to judge because I don't know him but I will say this: we have seen video and pictures depicting the underage star drinking, smoking weed, and now using drugs. I know he is young but where are his parents? Where are the people who should be looking out for him? He needs someone to slap him a few times before he ends up strung out and broke. I think Soulja should listen to Fab. Has he ever been arrested? Does he have a history with groupies? None that we know of. As far as we can see, Fab has kept his nose clean.

Let's get into Kat Stacks. If there was ever a poster child for thirsty hoes, it's this chick right here. She is Superhead 2.0. I just noticed her name is similar to Karrine Steffans'. But anyway, this chick became famous from putting people on blast. She uses drugs and beats her mother up. This is a woman with nothing to lose and everything to gain. She has no morals. Why does he think she wouldn't put him on blast? I don't know if the coke is his but something has to give. Is the sex that good that people are still messing with this chick? Do y'all not see the videos? Someone get Soulja Boy and Kat Stacks-separately.

Make Up Bag

I'm going to update this with several pictures of my make up bag and go to items tomorrow but I'm going to tell you my go to items.

1. black eyeliner- my eyeliner of choice is the red Maybeline two pack. I think it's called expert eyes but please don't ask me to lie. I used the black velvet and I have to number them so I don't get them confused.

2. mascara- right now I'm using Maybeline The Falsies. I saw it at Wal-Mart and immediately bought it. I like and I have a coupon for Maybeline so I'll buy it again.

3. neutral eyeshadow- I have so much eyeshadow but my favorite is Smog by Urban Decay. This is a bronze eyeshadow that adds definition to my eyes without being too out there. I wear this nearly every day.

4. neutral lip gloss- I have alot of lip gloss and I'm stepping the realm of lipstick but I stick with my natural lip gloss. My face can't hold too much heavy make up so I keep it neutral. I use Maybeline Cherry Cola lip gloss or a faint pink gloss. This matches my lip color and gives me a much needed shine. I also use a brown lip gloss this works well too.

5. Eyebrow razor- I get my eyebrows threaded monthly but when I need a touch up, I go to my razor. It costs a dollar and gets rid of that stubborn hair.

These are the essentials that every woman should have. Not every woman is big on makeup but neutral colors will give you a nice glow.

Money Matters: The Truth About Marketing and Prices

Ignorance is bliss for manufacturers and marketing directors. Your ignorance is their bliss. Let me explain. The less you know, the more money they make. Recently, the Corn Growers of America has been airing a PSA about High Fructose Corn Syrup. The woman in the commerical knows that HFCS is bad for her but the other woman is able to convince her that it isn't as long as she does it in moderation. In actuality, Corn Syrup is everywhere and contains Mercury, which is a deadly chemical. The CGA doesn't want you to know that, they just want you to know that it won't kill you as long as you do it in "moderation."

The common word in marketing is "moderation" and exercise. Yes, we should exercise but what is this moderation crap? Manufacturers use those words so you will keep buying their products. It is the marketing directors job to keep you buying their products and if you realize the damage their products do to you, you won't buy it. Did you know that bottled water is just filtered tap water? Let's say you spend $5 on water every week. That's $260 a year or $2600 in ten years. You could just buy a $25 water filter and save $210. They don't want you to know that.

What does this have to do with Money Matters? I'm here to show you how to keep your money in your pocket. First, tune out marketing. Their job is to part you with your money. The American public is in debt because of stuff they "need." Second, decide what you really need.

To be honest, you only need water, food, shelter, and clothing. But you can add a car depending on where you live. Do you need bottled water? Do you need to eat out every night? Do you need that shelter that's costing %50 of your gross income? Do you really need those $100 jeans? Do you really need that Benz? If you have it, good but if you don't look at ways to cut back. Don't let yourself fall victim to marketing.

I almost forgot, prices! Do you know what's included in your prices? No? I'm here to tell you. Prices are designed to make up any potential loss, expenses, and profit. Oftentimes, prices are increased %50 so the seller can make a small profit. What's the point of selling a product if you're not going to make any money? Please note these companies don't care about you, so you need to take your financial future in your hands.

Does Success Give You a Free Cheating Pass?

Celebs are getting messier and messier by the year. We have reality stars who are paid to be messy, there are singers whose personal lives are getting in the way of their professional lives, and socialites who make their bread and butter off of being messy. In a nutshell, if you're not messy, the American public doesn't want to know about you. 2010 has been a messy year for celebs. Fantasia tried to commit suicide and the biggest rappers ended up in jail. Like I said before, we love messy. Lindsay Lohan is a mess yet the American public can't stop watching.

2010 is also the year of the home wreckers. Fantasia, Alicia Keys, and Gabrielle Union all began relationships with men who were married. Alicia Keys married Swizz Beatz and is expecting a baby only 5 months after his divorce was finalized. You do the math. Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade are official after being photographed together for nearly 3 years. And Fantasia is being scrutinized by the media after being sued by her lovers wife and nearly committing suicide. Didn't all three women commit the same offense? They all began relationships with men who were married with children. Why does Alicia and Gabby get a free pass in the mainstream media while Fantasia is left to bear the cross alone?

I have my theory. I believe that it's because Alicia and Gabrielle are more successful and are dating successful men. Stay with me. Alicia is one of the biggest R&B singer ever. She has 13 Grammy awards and numerous platinum records. She has opened #1 movies and is widely respected. Alicia also has more money than any of us will ever see. Her beau is a man, although married with three children only one of who belongs to his former wife, is one of the biggest producers around. Swizz Beatz has produced everyone from Beyonce, Tupac, Lil Wayne, Drake, and Mary J. Blige. He has literally worked with every urban artist who has had a single in the last decade or so. Swizz is successful, respected and rich. This is therefore seen as a union of equals. Gabrielle, although not well known to the mainstream media, is a successful actress. She has starred in at least two movies a year from 1999 to 2008. She is also worth millions of dollars. Dwayne Wade is a multi billion dollar brand. His basketball notoriety is only second to Lebron James. He also has a yearly salary of over $15 million a year. Gabrielle and Alicia are both dating successful men. They are also seen as an upgrade for these men who dated "regular women." Mashonda is a failed R&B singer and Siovaughn Wade is seen as a nutcase and not too attractive.

Let's talk about Fantasia. Her man of choice? A T-mobile salesman from North Carolina. Although he is a real estate agent by trade, lately is only job has been selling phones. He has two children and a wife. Fantasia is an American Idol winner, who can barely read and write, and has had a lot of financial trouble in the last few years. Although she is talented, her star is no where near Alicia's and Gabby's. In the media, all they speak about is Antwan Cook being a T-mobile salesman. Would they give her that much attention if he was a multimillionaire? Would she be seen as an upgrade? Would it even matter if he was successful?

Celebrate You: Positivity Movement

Imagine you had a person following you around everyday. This person eats, sleeps, works, exercises, showers, does everything with you. Imagine that this person only told you negative things. Everything you do, this person is there with negativity. What would you do? You'd probably put them in their place or tell them to kick rocks. What would you do if this person was you?

Huh? You may act confuse but you know it's true. We are our biggest cheerleaders and our biggest critics. We criticize and down ourselves more than anyone else. We have big dreams but we stop ourselves due to fear. This week has been a bit difficult for me with my sisters leaving for school and me being the only one there but I will be adding positive affirmations to my daily meditations.

My affirmations:

Life change is not a bad thing
I can achieve all of my dreams
I am worthy of good things
I am loved
God loves me and I trust the plans he has for me

Black Women and Their hair

I've tried to write this post many times over the last few months but I've failed every time. For some reason I've been unable to get past the first two sentences but we're gonna try again today. I am a black woman. (gasp) So I understand what it's like to be enslaved by hair. When I mean enslaved, I mean enslaved. Swimming? No. Sex, only before hair appointments. Sleep? count on having a stiff neck when you wake up. Exercise? only if my edges don't sweat. You get the point, if it interferes with the hair, it's not happening.

Black women are slaves to their hair. I used to be a slave to my hair. I remember as a child being borderline obsessed with my hair. I don't know if it's because people would tell me how pretty it was but nothing would touch my hair. I remember going to a family reunion in Atlanta and swimming in the hotel's pool and being told that my hair would break off from the chlorine. I actually cried! How was I going to wash my hair? My mother was a 1000 miles away in Baltimore and I didn't know these people, surely none of them were going to touch my hair. My hair didn't break off but it was an obsession. I loved my hair. I would spend hours in the salon getting it straightened, colored, and permed (not all in the same day). I've literally had every shade of red under the color spectrum and I loved it. Without my hair, I was ugly and useless. I used to flat iron it like crazy until it ended up on the bathroom floor. That's when I knew I needed a change. I'm transitioning, which means I'm growing out my relaxer and will be for another year. I did this because I was tired of all day hair appointments and chemical burns from relaxers. I was tired of holding my head above water anytime I swam and I love the water. I was tired of being a slave. This is not about me and my hair its about black women and their hair.

It matters how we wear our hair. Straight means you're sophisticated and safe. Natural means you're militant and unkempt. If a black woman does not spend hours in the salon, then she is seen as unkempt. How dare you walk around with free flowing natural hair? If a woman is natural then she is expected to be wear it straight, locked, or braided. An afro means you have something against "the man" and are to be trusted. We, as black people, have many restrictions placed on our hair. The Baltimore Police Department once banned natural hair. This meant afros, dreads, or braids. Anything but low cuts and straight hair was seen as unprofessional. Natural hair is viewed as unprofessional in the black community. If you wear natural hair to a job interview, you're not getting the job. During my journey, I've heard everything from "you want your life to be hard" and "you need to get your hair done." Mind you, I do my hair every night but that's how natural hair is viewed.

I often tell my sisters and the naysayers that it's "just hair" but it obviously isn't. It's about much more. The standard of beauty is straight hair, light eyes, and pale skin and the closer you are to this standard, the better. White woman often dye their hand blonde from a very young age and that is conforming to a standard of beauty. We perm, straighten, and dye our hair to fit, in. Who really wants to walk around with a head of natural hair? Many people would because it's so freeing.

Next in the saga: can we fit in with natural hair

Lauryn Hill Performs at Rock the Bells Festival

Lauryn Hill has come out of hiding with her first single in a decade debuting at #94 and now she's performing at "Rock the Bells" festival. We'll excuse the outfit because we know Ms. Hill is hot.

Is Mariah Carey Pregnant?

This rumor has been floating around the blogosphere for a few months with plenty of denials from Mariah and Nick but pics don't lie. Here is Mariah performing in Brazil with a rounder belly. Let the pics decide for yourself.

Fashion Wreck of the Week: Angela Simmons

I love Angela Simmons and her hustle but I don't like this dress. What exactly is going on here? A) the dress just does not fit. It's too tight and she looks uncomfortable. B.) the dress doesn't cover her bra. I can't with that one. I'm sorry but I know she is rich enough to buy a dress in her size. Don't focus on the size, focus on the fit. This is just wrong.

Try this instead:

This lace dress gives the sex appeal without the "trying too hard feel."

$450 A.L.C http://www.forwardforward.com/fwd/DisplayProduct.jsp?d=F&s=C&c=Dresses%3A+Long+Sleeve&product=ALC-WD15&source=shopstyle

Look of the Week: Vince Green

I've been searching for a suitable male look of the week for about a half hour. No lie. I looked on blogs, everyone was blah. It's either a regular suite or t-shirt and jeans. Can anyone tell me what's up with Lance Gross' 90's gangsta look? But anyway, as I was about to give up, I spotted Lottery Ticket actor Vince Green, I don't know who he is either, looking good in this blue number. I know I blasted Shaq for wearing an all blue number a couple weeks ago but I like what Vince is doing in this suite.

Look of the Week: Teairra Mari

Teairra Mari is trying hard to get her career off the ground and I can't hate on her for that. Here she is at the premiere of her new movie Lottery Ticket wearing this curve hugging tube top dress. I'm not crazy about it, but I like it. To be honest, I'm not crazy about celeb fashion this week.

Kanye West feat. Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz - Power

August 20th 2010 release

Kanye West feat. Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz - Power (Remix) OFFICIAL by WWW.VIIMAG.COM

Kanye has officially released the power remix featuring Jay-Z and Swizz beats who help co-produce the remake.. Kanye raps with even more "power" on this version in a freestyle type fashion.. definately worth a download

Text messages

A couple days ago I text an old friend just to say hi and see how she was doing. Today, she just text back and asked me who is this? This is one of the most awkward ways to start a text message conversation. How do you text comfortably when someone doesn't know who you are? I told her it was me and instead of her usual "hey girl" I got a "hi." I asked her how she was doing and she said "fine." This was not going good, so I just ended it and she said "you too." This was not only awkward but it was hurtful.

What do you do when someone who you were cool with doesn't want to talk to you? The main thoughts going through my head were: what did I do? Is she mad at me? is she having a bad day? Is it because we haven't talked in a while? Basically: what happened? Is she mad because of a comment I made? It wasn't rude it was something along the lines of: if you take the bus why go home if no one is there? (implying she was lying) It wasn't intended to be malicious and rude. Did that offend her? Or is it a friendship over?

In his play "Madea Goes to Jail"

Real Housewives of Atlanta Gets an Airdate

The Housewives are back, except Lisa Wu who will be gradually phased out during the season. The 3rd season of Bravo's highest rated series will air on October 4 at 9p.m. and features two new wives Phaedra Parks and Cynthia Bailey.

No Black Women Allowed?

Where are all the black women? I know they exist because I see them everyday but I don't see them on TV. I know black women who sing, dance, are nurses, writers, lawyers, aspiring doctors, magazine editors, I know black women. I am a black woman. I am a black woman aspiring to do great things but where am I?

In the mainstream media, black women are often portrayed in one of two facets. She is the angry, ghetto woman or the uptight professional. Most of these women are no darker than coffee colored or bigger than a size two. Michelle Obama is an exception to the rule. She is one of the most visible black women but she is only one of billions. We are underrepresented in many ways. There are only 5 black women who have won Oscars and only one visible working actress. I love Zoe Saladana but you would swear she was the only black actress in Hollywood. Make that the only black or Latina actress. Whenever there is a role for a black or Latina actress (0r anyone with melanin in their skin) it goes to Zoe Saldana. I can't knock her hustle but can she let someone else work?

Why is the only representation of us an afro-latina actress who is a size 0 with bone straight hair? That's not how all black women look. We come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. What is it about us that makes Hollywood want to limit us so much? Where are the black comedians on SNL? Whenever there is a black woman to be parodied, guess what? A black man does it. Why are we the only race of women subjected to a "pool test" by our men? Why do I see olive skinned or Latina women dancing besides our men in videos? Mind you, I don't hate Latina women but they are clearly who society has chosen to replace us.

Are black women good enough? Can we do what the Latinas and Asians can? Are we that bad that our men prefer other races to us? Are no black women allowed?

Lauryn Hill - Repercussions

Lauryn Hill - "Repercussions" by WWW.VIIMAG.COM

L Boogie returns to the charts with this previously unreleased cut. This is the first time in 10 years, Ms. Hill has made her way back on Billboard...and she hasn't lost a step.

Hopefully we can get more music from Lauryn when she starts headlining the Rock The Bells Tour, beginning on August 21 in Los Angeles. It was previously stated that she would perform, then she wouldn't, now it's confirmed that she would indeed be headlining the annual hip-hop festival.

Perajok & Kanye West Present: G.O.O.D. Ass Mixtape

“Будте любезны самый генеальный мекстейпенг в жизне!”
-Perajok

Exactly.

How does the MTv Russia VJ, Yeezy stan, and G.O.O.D. music blogger, Perajok manage to get G.O.O.D. info, photos, and leaks before everyone else? I couldn't tell you, but enjoy this mixtape she put together in celebration of the label's upcoming releases. Featuring cuts from Kanye, Kid CuDi, Big Sean, Consequence, Common, John Legend, Pusha T, and much more.




Click here to download or check out the stream below.

Sexy On A Budget: Rocsi at the Emmy Gala

$49.00 Arden B http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&subCategoryId=164&productId=37599&source=pf&ref=ab_aff_pf_k108283


$59.99 Mod Cloth http://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Womens/Bottoms/Out+on+the+Town+Skirt?utm_medium=CJaffiliate&utm_campaign=CJ&utm_source=CJ

$13.48 Asos http://www.asos.com/countryid/2/Asos/Asos-Thick-Wraparound-Zip-Cuff/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1152867&MID=35719&affid=2135&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-Axj20HpMLK3IdcvbJqdwcA

$25.00 Top Shophttp://us.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=33060&storeId=13052&categoryId=210066&parent_category_rn=208714&productId=1864136&langId=-1&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-2g.foKtnZYov4I3yeKFXDg&cmpid=usls_deeplink&_$ja=tsid:19905


$89.99 Jessica Simpson http://www.lordandtaylor.com/eng/womensapparel-contemporaryshop-shoes-Ellep_Leather_Peep_Toe_Platform_Pumps-lordandtaylor/146453/?utm_source=GAN&utm_medium=Affiliates&utm_term=na&tag=GAN&ctcampaign=221&utm_campaign=ShopStyle.com&utm_content=&cm_mmc=Affiliate-_-GAN-_-ShopStyle.com-_-Primary