Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert By Ta-ning Connai Remember back in the days when Grandma used to say, “Don’t go putting your business out in the streets”? Well, Grandma would be surprised to find that too much information has become WAY TOO MUCH information as the line between people’s personal and private lives have virtually been removed. This isn’t just…
Leela James By Michelby Coco Whitehead Leela James always remains consistent for the culture. Whether she’s giving us soulful hits or wearing her natural crown and glory, both are equally amazing. We recently chatted with the former R&B Divas star to get the scoop on her hair care tips, mommy duties, and the next phase of her career. Check out…
Ms. Lauryn Hill Courtesy Photo via TheMiamiTimes By Veronica Wells I was in fifth grade when Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation was released. I don’t think I could overstate what that album meant to me. It changed the game for me (I would learn later, so many other young, Black women.) A year later, during a family reunion—where we ended up in…
Rapper Nelly with video model in his Tip Drill music video By Brenda Alexander After watching BET’s 30-minute digital docu-series “VIXEN,” I was left wondering: was video modeling a legitimate starting point for Hollywood hopefuls that could spearhead a dream career? And did the supposed tell-all ‘Confessions of a Video Vixen’ by Karrine Steffans change the narrative and perception of video…
Queen Naija By Mwabi Kaira I heard a song called Medicine by Queen Naija on the radio the other day and immediately thought, “Oh, we’re still doing this.” Each generation hopes that the one behind it gets all that we got wrong right. I really enjoy watching young girls being so sure of themselves these days and I foolishly thought…
Beyonce via Neal Farinah IG By Veronica Wells I’ll never forget my homeroom teacher Mr. Litz and the thoughts he shared one day about Black hair. In addition to home room, Mr. Litz, a White man, was also my middle school art teacher. And during his explanation of how he recreates Black hair, he told us, his predominately Black class,…
Quote Deepak Chopra By Nikki Walton I listened to a talk a while ago by Mooji that really stuck with me. He said to imagine you’re at the symphony, listening to a beautiful piece of music. If you were asked to hone in on just the violins, you could, in spite of the other instruments. At first it would take…
Monica & Brandy By Brenda Alexander So Brandy is still mad at Monica and no one knows why. There’s nothing worse than an adult throwing subliminal shots day in and day out but remains elusive when asked what’s true tea. At this year’s Essence Fest, Brandy took it upon herself to alter the lyrics to she and Monica’s classic duet,…
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH ROGERS/THE DAILY BEAST By Britni Danielle His raspy voice first boomed through my headphones on the Wake Up Show anthem back in 1994, changing my life forever. I remember sitting up in bed when he began spitting his intricate rhymes, wondering who the hell he was and how I could hear more. At the time, I…
Azealia Banks on the Breakfast Club By Brenda Alexander Azealia Banks has been hard for me to figure out. One minute, she’s professing the most thought-provoking, incense lighting ceremony worthy opinions and the next, what’s uttered from her tongue makes you eager to refer her to the closest clinical psychiatrist for an immediate diagnosis and treatment- or hire a crisis…