Toni Braxton and Babyface covers UPTOWN Magazine!
Toni Braxton & Babyface Cover Uptown, Toni Talks Quitting Music (PHOTOS)
Two of the biggest names of the ’90s music scene are back as a joint team and ready to dominate the music world. Hot off the success of their ”Hurt You” single from their duets album Love Marriage & Divorce, Babyface and Toni Braxton have pooled their talent once again for the cover of Uptown Magazine.
The cover features the pair in their ageless glory, while the corresponding article delves into the ins-and-outs of the pair’s musical relationship, how Babyface was responsible for Toni’s success and more. In the snippets below, the pair open up about how Toni got her start (Face once told L.A. Reid that she was Babyface meets Anita Baker), why she “retired” from music and whether suicide was ever a thought, how they came to collaborate on a duets album, and what’s next.
Check out the excerpts below.
Toni Braxton on quitting the music business:
“I was in a small place in my life and I was going to retire. It’s not even a question. I said, ‘I’m tired of fighting.’ I was feeling sorry for myself. I was depressed over where my career was going. I was also down with my health.”
Toni Braxton on her depression and whether suicide was ever a thought:
“[I was] not suicidal, but it was a close relative. I’ve got my kids to live for, but I was in a hopeless stage in my life.”
Babyface on Toni Braxton quitting the music business:
“Toni was kind of just talking about giving up, just not really wanting to record anymore—she was not just having fun at it anymore. I didn’t think that was a very good idea. I talked her into changing her mind … You know, you can get frustrated with the music industry, but I never get frustrated with the music. The music is what drives us to begin with. So I don’t think I ever lost sight of that.”
Babyface on how Love Marriage & Divorce got off to a rough start:
“Working with Toni was a little bit different than working with her years ago, because now, we’re dealing with a grown-up Toni who certainly has her own opinion in how she thinks things should be. So we went through a lot of compromises putting this record together.”
Be sure to head over to UPTOWN Magazine to read the full article.
Eddie Murphy's Kids Do Family Photoshoot,
Eddie and Nicole Murphy's five kids -- Bria, Myles Mitchell, Shayne Audra, Zola Ivy and Bella Zahra -- took to a massive home to shoot some family recently.
It looks like Eddie's 23 and 24-year-old, Christian and Eric, from two outside relationships, were also there.
And Eddie's girls are definitely gorgeous. They have their mom's model looks:
How cute of them to all get together around the Holidays.
By the way, it was just announced that a Beverly Hills Cop 4 movie is on the way. And Eddie is slated to be in it. The tv version was axed before it even could get picked up by a network, but it looks like the movie is still much in demand
Chef Roble Presents Clique, the Fragrance
At the DL in New York City Chef Roble introduced his new fragrance, Clique. Clique is a woman’s fragrance with a signature “fragrance recipe”.
He told Bravo the following about the fragrance:
As a chef, it seemed a natural fit for me to partner with a fragrance agency. So much about food and taste is actually smell. I’d say 80-percent. I find the idea of exploring the synergy between capturing the aroma of some of my favorite dishes by creating the first ‘Fragrance Recipe’ intriguing. It has to be something so irresistible women will crave it and make it their favorite fragrance.
Spotted at the event: Sidra Smith, Bevy Smith, Amanda Seales, Chenoa Maxwell, Tionna Smalls, and Demetria Lucas.
Nice! PR Credit: BJ Coleman of ColemanEntertainmentGroup.com
"Fast & Furious 7" Undergoes A Rewrite
Production of "Fast & Furious 7" may be on hold while cast members pay their respects to recently-passed star Paul Walker, but Universal Pictures announced that the script for the upcoming film is undergoing a re-write.
After immediately postponing the production, the studio began to work out how the franchise will say its goodbye to Walker's beloved character, Brian O'Conner.
Chris also states that once he is done with the rewrite, the crew may be back to work as early as late January.
In the meantime, the studio announced that "Fast & Furious 7" will not be premiere on July 11, 2014 and pushed it back to 2015.
DJ Envy Recalls Nas Pulling A Gun On Him
DJ Envy says an attempt to give Nas a mixtape at the start of his career was taken as a threat by the Queens rapper.
According to Power 105.1 personality DJ Envy, it was at the start of his music career when he was involved in an unexpected encounter with an artist who would later become one of Hip Hop’s most celebrated emcees. DJ Envy shared his story, which involved Queensbridge rapper Nas, during VladTV's True Hip Hop Stories segment.
While sharing the story of his encounter with Nas, DJ Envy revealed that it was at a time when he wasn’t having much luck with the circulation of his mixtapes and happened to come across Nas after leaving an event at Nassau Coliseum.
“This was when mixtapes was big. And I was—And this was when nobody would take my mixtapes,” Envy said. “I mean, I was trying to sell mixtapes to everybody. And at the time Clue was popping and all they wanted was Clue. So, I remember coming out the Coliseum and I seen Nas and I think it was a Lexus. So, I seen him I was like, ‘Oh shit, that’s Nas.’ So, now I got my mixtapes and I’m running up the block. I’m like ‘This is Nas. I’m in Queens. You don’t see this. This is Nas.’ It’s me and my mans with me and I’m like ‘Yo Nas, hold up. I got something for you.’ So Nas, he stops and he looks at me and he tells the girls to get in the car. He says ‘What you got for me?’”
DJ Envy continued his story as he shared the details of Nas pulling a gun on him after his “I got something for you” comment was taken as more of a threat from the Queens lyricist.
“I go in my bag and when I come up [from] my bag, Nas has a gun on me,” DJ Envy said. “‘What the fuck you got for me? What you mean you got something for me?’ I’m sitting there like—I dropped my bag and everything. I’m like, ‘A mixtape. It’s just a mixtape. I swear, it’s just a mixtape. Look, look, look. Mixtape, mixtape.’ And Nas gave me the look…He did one of these ‘Yo, you know shit is real out here, man. You don’t come up to nobody and say ‘you got something for me,’ man. Gimme that mixtape.’ He took the mixtape, put the gun back in his pants, went in his car, and drove off.’ And after that I’ve never approached another artist with, ‘I got something for you.’ Never again.”
Currently a member of New York City radio station Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, DJ Envy was signed to Desert Storm Records in the early 2000s and has worked with a variety of artists as president of BLOK Entertainment.
Tia Mowry-Hardrict Poses For Rolling Out; Talks “Instant Mom,” Public Misconceptions, & Balancing Her Career And Family Life
Tia Mowry-Hardrict poses for the latest issue of Rolling Out. Shot by photographer Jason Clark, the 35-year old actress rocks a sleeveless black leather dress, and is also seen in a long green skirt with two thigh high slits, paired with a black lace top.
Inside the issue, she talks her new show - Nickelodeon’s family focused sitcom, Instant Mom – and also touches on the public’s misconceptions of her since making the decision to do the reality show Tia & Tamera with her twin sister; additionally, she talks maintaining the balance of her career with her family life and what motherhood has taught her.
On Instant Mom:
I like the family dynamic of the show. I’m a mom and to be able to play a mom for the first time on television, I was really excited about that. And she’s not just any mom, she’s a smart, sassy, hip stepmom. I liked the whole angle of that. I thought the writing was very smart and I really enjoy working with kids.
What attracted me to the role in the script was I felt that there was a void. [There was] a lack of programming that families could sit down and watch. Right now, you see television shows that are predominantly focused on kids that adults can’t watch or shows for adults that kids can’t watch. It kinda causes this division within the family when you’re talking about sitting down and watching television as a family…
On the public’s misconception of her:
I think people think [I have] a strong personality. But that’s just part of me, it’s not all of me. I do have a sensitive side. I have an edgy side — but I also have a side that likes to be a princess sometimes. When you do reality shows, people tend to put you in a box. People would depict me as the more aggressive twin or I’m the stronger personality between the two. But it’s very scary to allow other people’s opinions and views of you to validate who you are [so] it’s definitely not something that I focus on.
On balancing her career and family life:
It’s very hard to balance family and career. When you are a mother, it’s hard in general. Being a mother is a 24-hour job — you’re constantly taking care of another person. But when you’re a working mom and a wife, it adds other pieces to the pie. I have all of these pieces that I have to try and cut evenly and divide. But some parts of my life are going to have a bigger piece or a smaller piece. The key is prioritizing those pieces. Part of it can be my health and working out, part of it is career, part of it is wife. Another part is being a sister, then an actress and a businesswoman. I think how I balance is I realize what my pieces are and then I prioritize those pieces and decide what’s most important to me, which is my family, my health, and then my career. And you have to forgive yourself. Sometimes I’m going to spend more time with my career than with my son; other times I’ll be more with my son more than my career. I think being realistic with my expectations and my goals and forgiving myself — that’s what gets me through.
On what motherhood has taught her:
Motherhood has taught me that I really am a patient person [she says with a chuckle]. I think being a mom, you have to learn how to embrace patience. And that’s the positive side. I’ve learned that I do really enjoy being a mom. I love seeing my son grow and evolve and turn into this human being. But also, being a mother has taught me to slow down — [which is] kind of weird because I really haven’t stopped since I became a mom [laughs]. But what I mean by ‘slow down’ is, really look at the value of life. Really look at what life is all about. When you aren’t a parent or a mom, you go through life living selfishly. It’s all about you. But once you have a child, you realize that you’re no longer doing things for yourself, you’re doing things for your child. So that’s what being mom has taught me: stop and smell the roses, value and appreciate life.
WTH!?! Erykah Badu Shows Off Her New Nose Ring
Erykah Badu (real name Erykah Abi Wright) certainly marches to the beat of her own fashion drum. This week the 42-year-old singer caused quite a stir when she showed off her over-sized nose right. She shared the photo on twitter with folk praising and igging her nose accessory.
She’s part of Givenchy’s new ad campaign. Riccardo Tisci (Creative Director for Givenchy) explained to Style why he casted her:
Erykah, she’s an icon—come on! What I want to do with my advertising campaign is spread the love. Already now it’s been three seasons that I’ve been using people that express something—they are great artists, or beautiful women, or stylish women, or models that I really believe in. It’s kind of a family portfolio. She’s one of the most stylish women I’ve met in my life. She’s got such a good sense of proportion, of colors.
Former Dirty Money Chick Kalenna & Husband Tony Are Newest "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" Cast Members?
I've learned that former Dirty Money chick Kalenna is the newest addition to the next season of "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta". She and her husband Tony, pictured above hitting up Keri Hilson's birthday party this past weekend, will have their ow storyline when the show kicks off its new season.
Details about their storyline are not yet known, but I do know Kalenna's been trying hard for a solo career. We shall see.
But she's gone from catching the Last Train To Paris to...sharing screentime with "former" strippers. Hey, it works for some...
Meagan Good POSES For COMPLEX Magazine
Meagan Good posed for COMPLEX Magazine where she dished on reinventing herself in Hollywood and how she landed her role in Anchoman 2. Here are the highlights:
Anchorman 2 is one of the most anticipated movies to come out in a long, long time. Does that make it nerve-wracking at all for you?
It’s nerve-wracking, in general, because I hadn’t done a whole lot of comedy, so there were parts of it that were very new for me. That part of it was nerve-wracking because you want to do a good job, and you’re a little bit nervous. It was great because [director] Adam McKay is just amazing—he creates this atmosphere where you can do no wrong, and you can just try stuff and trust your instincts. If it doesn’t, you don’t get shot down—it’s just like, “OK, let’s try something different.” It’s fantastic that he created that atmosphere, and all the guys helped with that because they’re all so nurturing. They want you to do well. If there’s any way you want to go into something new, I had the best-case scenario. Everyone was so supportive and sweet.
Was this a tough role to land? Playing Ron Burgundy’s new love interest seems like a role that every actress in Hollywood would want to chase after.
It was the strangest thing, because I was in New York and I was filming Deception. I heard that they were officially going into making Anchorman 2. I got the script and the sides and just said to myself, “OK, I’ll just send in my audition tape and see what happens.” I got a call about a week later; they were like, “Do you think you can come to New York to do a chemistry read with Will?” And I was like, “Do you mean will I walk on foot right now from Atlanta? Because if so, then yes.” [Laughs.]
I got in, did the chemistry read, it went amazing. Will was very sweet and supportive; I kind of beat him up in the audition, and threw him around the room a little, and he let me. About a week later, they called me and say, “Hey, you got the part!” And I just was blown away, and so appreciative. I started thanking God immediately. I know there were a lot of people up for it, and I know it was all God. I just feel like…I was just excited. I was over the moon.
Earlier in your career, your sexuality was a big selling point, from 50 Cent’s “21 Questions” video to playing the sexy love interest in various movies. How do you feel about that time in your life?
When I got into my 20s, I was fighting for people to see that the little girl from Friday and Eve’s Bayou wasn’t a little girl anymore. That’s why my career took the “sexy” turn. By my mid-20s, it had backfired. I was always playing the sexy roles. It was hard for me to be taken seriously as a good actress. I had to fight my way out of that box that people put me in.
Playing the female lead in an Anchorman sequel must feel like a huge accomplishment.
It does. I’m just now getting into my 30s, and this is the best I’ve ever felt inside and the best I’ve ever looked. I’m so ready. It’s like reliving your 20s but so much better, with a stronger sense of who you are and who you’re not. Because of that, I’ve never felt sexier. It’s a whole new kind of “sexy” turn for me.
Read the full interview here and catch Anchorman 2 in theaters on December 18.
In The Lab: Usher, Jermaine Dupri & Bryan Cox In The Studio
The last time these three were in the studio we got a hit album entitled: “Confessions” Jermaine Dupri, Usher and Bryan Michael Cox were spotted in the studio hopefully working on something new and fresh. I’m sure you guys can’t wait to hear that. I know I can’t!
Michael B. Jordan Rocks The Five Coolest Emerging Labels
GQ’s Breakout of the Year wears the five coolest emerging labels that we’re deeming the New American Avant-Garde…
The Label: Mattison
Founded: 2012, L.A.
The trademark is simple: Dark suits with slim lapels that’ll make any dude look like it’s Grammy night (if paired with one of the label’s small-collar dress shirts) or like it’s a suit-worthy Saturday (when worn with a tank top and skully). Right now, nothing will win you more cool points than answering the question “Man, who made your suit?” with “Mattison.”
The Label: Skingraft
Founded: 2006, L.A.
A lot of the labels in the New American Avant-Garde are the aesthetic offspring of high-end-goth originator Rick Owens. And most echo his stratospheric prices. So if you’re looking for a lower-risk entry point for trying out this new trend, start with Skingraft. Same black-and-white palette. Same high-fashion-from-the-streets pedigree. Same loose-but-tailored fit. Different price point.
The Label: Public School
Founded: 2008, N.Y.C.
Award-winning young-gun designers Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne grew up in New York, and their clothes seem rooted in a quintessentially N.Y.C. reference: the street-gang cult film The Warriors. That means a classically Gotham color palette (you guessed it, a lot of black and white) and tailoring so precise it’s intended either for dancing or for whipping bad-guy ass in a street fight—and then running for it.
The Label: Stampd
Founded: 2009, L.A.
Stamped takes a more literal approach to the idea of athletic wear that’s been run through the fashion world’s filter: numbered sweatshirts, screen-printed tees, minimalist baseball jerseys, even leather basketball shorts—plus jewelry that a man can wear and still feel linebacker tough. If Kanye West started a company softball team, these would be his jerseys.
The Label: En Noir
Founded: 2012, N.Y.C.
Seen a rapper in leather jogging pants lately? Chances are he’s wearing En Noir, the label that’s not afraid to reimagine anything in leather. En Noir is one of the youngest of the New American Avant-Garde brands, but it’s the first on every celebrity stylist’s speed dial all the same. The best part about En Noir (and the rest of these designers)? The stuff is edgy, sure—but it’s also so obsessively minimal that anyone can pull it off.
HOT!!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘LET IT FLOW’
My mind is blown at the amount of mullet awesomeness going on here. Which one do you guys love more? The flowing eagle locks that just majestically transform into fringe or what I assume the real meth addict Jesse Pinkman would actually look like?
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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