Lupita Nyong'o goes back to her Kenyan Roots for Vogue’s October Cover!
From rocking a colorful Cavalli gown to dance amongst her fellow Luo women back in her home of Kenya to riding mopeds through the forests in Givenchy and posing on beaches around her parents' home and farm, Lupita is serving the ultimate juxtaposition of high fashion mixed with the beautifully rural countryside of the Motherland.
The Queen of Katwe star brought Vogue to her home country to see the the sights and feel the vibes she grew up she saw and felt daily. And we're OBSESSED.
While sitting in her gorgeous Chanel frock, Lupita dished about her motivations to still conquer the industry, post-Oscar.
“There are certain cards that have been dealt me that I take on,” Lupita says. “I want to create opportunities for other people of color because I’m fortunate enough to have a platform to do that. That is why Eclipsed and even Queen of Katwe are so important, to change the narrative, offer a new lens on African identity.”
And about that African identity, she always has embraced her complexion as just one more reason why she's so freakin' fly. She said:
“I cannot run away from who I am and my complexion or the larger society and how they may view that. I realize that with what I shared at the Essence awards.”
Lupita is seen throughout the spread with her family -- her parents and 96-year-old paternal grandmother (above), her on screen kids, and more. Gte more at Vogue.com
#RHoA: Kandi Burruss Has a New Music Group
Yes, Kandi Burruss does have a new music group, but she is not actually one of the performers. Instead, Kandi is the woman behind the scenes with this one. The group is called LOUD and is described on the official Instagram page as an “urban pop group.”
I’m not positive how long Kandi has been working with this group, but knowing Kandi, she doesn’t take on any project unless she is super invested so I have a feeling we should expect big things from LOUD in the future.
If you follow Kandi on Instagram, you probably noticed that she’s been posting about LOUD lately. Recently, she shared the photo above of the group hanging out with Zendaya, which I’m sure they were pretty excited about.
Kandi also put up a new promotional photo of the band and acted like a proud mama with the caption even referring to them as her “babies.”
LOUD has a music video out for their song “Wanna Do.” The song is great.
Since the Real Housewives of Atlanta is in filming right now, I can’t help but wonder if LOUD will appear as a part of Kandi’s story line. My guess is yes since Kandi knows that getting her group on the show would help expose them to a different audience. Sure, they are all young performers so I’m not sure if the Real Housewives of Atlanta audience is their exact target audience, but all publicity is good publicity, right?
#EMPIRE: Terrence Howard on 'Empire' Season 3, The Power of Numerology, And How He Named His Son
Terrence Howard’s imperious performance as hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon in Fox's Empire has helped the show rule Wednesday nights since its 2015 debut—and revived his career in the process. The 47-year-old actor, who rose to fame over a decade ago with movies such as Crash and Hustle & Flow, heard his phone go quiet around 2009 after losing his role as Tony Stark’s best friend, James Rhodes, in Iron Man 2.
But Hollywood’s memory is short, and Howard is once again reigning supreme, albeit on a slightly smaller screen. Empire , which follows the Shakespearean dramas of a family-owned record company—of which he is the pugnacious patriarch—has been Fox’s biggest hit in recent memory. (Cross-platform viewership averaged an impressive 21.3 million people last year.) Season three returns on Sept. 21, and this time, Howard says, more of the tempestuous history between Lucious and ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) will be explored. “Lucious has to deal with whether Cookie is ever going to take him back,” Howard teases. “If she doesn’t, all hell will break loose.”
Television’s Lyon King also had some new plot twists with his real-life family: Howard became a father for the fifth time in August and now has two children younger than his oldest grandkid. “You give your child two gifts,” he says. “The first is the gift of life, the second is a name. The second gift lasts longer than the first, so you need to give a child a name he needs to live up to.” He and his wife chose “Hero”—but no pressure.
As for his personal empire: Science rules his life. Heavily influenced by the work of Walter Russell and Nikola Tesla, Howard says he has been working on his own theories, dubbed Dark Matter Functions, which he intends to release later this year. A devout numerologist, he puts his faith in the almighty power of 9. “The Pythagoreans believed there was no number greater than 9,” he explains.
Will Empire see that many seasons? “I’m sure if they’re making enough money off this show,” he says, counting his blessings, “we’ll make it to Empire 12.”
New Music: JoJo – Mad Love
In exactly one month, Jo’s much anticipated third album, Mad Love, will finally be released. Unexpectedly today, the title track from the album was released online and it’s everything you’ve come to expect from her and more. The Motown inspired feel-good record finds Joanna singing of a love that definitely isn’t perfect and might not be good for her, but it’s one that is real.
“You give me mad love / How far can we go? / Nobody knows,” she sings during the chorus. “You give me bad love / But I’ll take what I get / I’m starving for it.”
In a brief interview with Vogue, JoJo talked about what she hopes will come after the release of her third studio album. “I want respect. I want my fans to be happy. I want them to feel like it was worth the wait. I want them to feel like these songs are what they can relate to, and what I try to do is replace my expectation with appreciation,” explained the singer. “Honestly, what I want to do is start the rest of my life, because I felt stagnant for so long. So with this album, what I wanted to do was have it be the starting point for the rest of my career, and I want it to build.”
Mad Love will be released October 14 via Atlanta Records, and will boast features from Alessia Cara, Remy Ma, and Wiz Khalifa.
Check out the title track HERE
New Hip Hop: The Game – ‘True Colors/It’s On’
The Game gets autobiographical. Still embroiled in a heated Meek Mill beef, the Compton spitter unleashes “True Colors/It’s On,” another single from his upcoming LP 1992.
Describing life since birth, Chuck Taylor delivers his life story over Bongo’s late ’80s-inspired production, which borrows from Ice-T’s 1988 classic “Colors.”
“One night, my pops came home on heroin,” he rhymes. “Shit changed, I’m glad my momma didn’t marry him / Molested my sister that night, she was scared / I was too young to help her and my brothers wasn’t there.”
“True Colors/It’s On” arrives right as Game’s Meek Mill beef is heating up thanks to back-and-forth Instagram posts and the “92 Bars” diss track.
Over the weekend, police also said a car linked to Game was targeted in a Miami shooting. No one was harmed in the incident and Game’s manager denied the vehicle belonged to the Compton MC.
Listen HERE
The Game is currently on his “1992 Block Wars Tour,” while 1992 drops Oct. 14. The album, which is now available for pre-order, contains no features except for the Jeremih-assisted bonus track “All Eyez.”
1992 TRACKLISTING
1. “Savage Lifestyle”
2. “True Colors/It’s On”
3. “Bompton”
4. “F**k Orange Juice”
5. “The Juice”
6. “Young Ni**as”
7. “The Soundtrack”
8. “I Grew Up On Wu-Tang”
9. “However Do You Want It”
10. “Baby You”
11. “What Your Life Like”
12. “92 Bars”
13. “All Eyez” feat. Jeremih [Bonus]
Karrine Steffans Denies Kendu Issacs Affair
Rumors swirled that Mary J. Blige's husband Kendu Isaacs had been having an affair with former super-groupie Karrine Steffans
Karrine denies the rumors... In a response on Instagram Karrine writes,
No, I have never had an inappropriate relationship with Kendu Isaacs. No, he has never cheated on his wife with me. Yes, we are friends and have been for 10 years. Naturally, when his friends heard about his marital troubles, we all rallied around him to show support.
Karrine's full response below.
Well what do YOU THINK?
Sandra Bland’s Family Reportedly Reaches $1.9 Million Settlement In Wrongful Death Suit
The family of Sandra Bland, the 28-year-old Texas woman found dead in a jail cell after a routine traffic stop last year, has reached a settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit against the Waller County Sheriff’s Office. Sandra’s family will receive $1.9 million, according to the family’s attorney.
In addition to the settlement, the Waller County Sheriff’s office will install automated sensors to assure accurate and timely cell checks at the jail and a 24-hour on-duty nurse/EMT will be present around the clock, according to NBC News.
Not only that, the Waller County Jail will file for funding to improve booking, screening and training at the facility where Sandra suspiciously lost her life.
Sandra was pulled over by state trooper Brian Ecinia during a routine traffic stop after she had just moved to Waller County in July 2015 seeking a job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M University. She was pulled over for allegedly failing to signal a lane change. She was taken to jail and charged with a third-degree felony charge. She was later found mysteriously hanging in her cell with a plastic garbage bag around her neck three days after she was jailed. Her family believes she would have never killed herself.
Unfortunately, a grand jury decided not to bring any charges against the Trooper Ecinia back in December, although he was later fired after he was indicted on a perjury charge that was tied to the Sandra Bland case.
Now, folks are up in arms on social media saying $1.9 million isn't nearly enough money for what happened to Sandra. Do you agree? Is any amount "enough"?
Black Women Sue L’Oreal After Relaxer Caused Scalp Burning And Bald Patches
L’Oreal is facing a class action lawsuit by two black women who say they felt burning on their scalps and developed bald spots after using the brand’s SoftSheen-Carson Optimum Amla Legend relaxer.
The company states that it uses “a legendary Indian beauty secret: AMLA oil,” which will help “reveal visibly fuller, silkier hair,” it says in the suit – however, Dorothy Riles, a plaintiff in the suit, says she experienced the opposite of what the company promised, according to Buzzfeed.
After using the relaxer, she said she felt her scalp burning and was left with bald patches and scabs on her scalp, and claims she wore a wig to cover the damage.
“The ingredients in the product are very harmful,” Lori Feldman, an attorney with Levi & Korsinsky, who is representing the plaintiffs in the suit, told BuzzFeed News. “This product is advertised as having amla oil that will help, but it’s trumped many times over by very harmful toxic chemicals.”
“What you’re really getting is a garbage dump of chemicals that cannot possibly do what L’Oreal promises to do,” adds Feldman.
Many women who have used the product have taken to review sites such as Amazon.com to warn others about the product.
One reviewer said they had “never experienced burns like the burns from this product.”
Matthew DiGirolamo, a L’Oréal spokesperson, declined to discuss the specifics of the allegations with BuzzFeed News, but did tell the site: “We do not believe the allegations in this lawsuit have merit.
For more than 100 years, L’Oréal has been committed to the safety of its consumers.”
Report: Beyoncé And Jay Z To Host TIDAL Charity Concert In NYC
According to Page Six, the event will be held in NYC at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on Oct. 15th, and will feature performances from Jay, Bey, Nicki Minaj, Lauryn Hill and Lil Wayne.
Tickets for the event will start at $50, with some VIP packages going for up to $100,000. Proceeds will go to The Robin Hood Foundation, which fights poverty and funds educational programs in New York’s poorest areas, as well as charities nominated by the artists.
The event will also be streamed live on TIDAL.
CONGRATS! Lauren London And Nipsey Hussle Welcome A Baby Boy
Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle have welcomed a baby boy. They revealed the news on Instagram, both posting a photo of their newborn holding on to Lauren’s hand.
“And then came You. Last week I gave birth to a beautiful healthy happy baby boy . Blessed. #motheroftwo #GodisGood #QueenLowkey,” Lauren captioned the adorable snap – while Nipsey wrote: “KROSS 8.31.16.”
Lauren kept her pregnancy well under wraps, but word of her expecting began circulating when her ATL costar, Tip, spilled the beans while talking plans for an ATL sequel during an interview with Cleveland radio station, Z1079.
“Aye man, we working on it presently,” said Tip. “We got a couple obstacles in our way man. Like, uhhh, my lil sis man. She about to have a baby. So we gone have to let her get that time out of her system and you know when she back in ‘New New’ shape we’ll be ready to roll.”
This is Lauren and Nipsey’s first child together, and Lauren has a son – Cameron – with Lil Wayne, who celebrated his 7th birthday just days ago.
Congrats!
OH SNAP! Rob Kardashian Is Reportedly Not Blac Chyna’s Babys Father?
The website The Daily Mail is reporting that Blac Chyna’s baby’s father is NOT Rob Kardashian. According to them, Chyna’s baby daddy is a celebrity though. Here is what they say:
Blac Chyna could be about to lose her place in the Kardashian empire: According to an insider, Rob Kardashian might not be the real father of her baby — because she’s been seeing another man behind his back!
A source told Radar exclusively that Chyna, 28, has secretly been hooking up with singer and former Glee star Pilot Jones for several months. Radar viewed a series of intimate photos of Blac Chyna and the former Glee star kissing and caressing each other.
In addition, Jones and Chyna were spotted clubbing together back in March, amid rumors that she and Kardashian, 29, had suddenly split.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Mr HEAT!
Ladies & others Meet Mr HEAT Hot & Sizzling for you! Well you know what to do to see more. Just GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN NOR ALTER any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
You’re Welcome!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘In Johnny’s Clothes’
Maybe when this kid grows up he can use these pictures as his special memories in his graduation yearbook of you mom! So proud. Tears of joy.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD ALL!
EFREM
