Alicia Keys for Essence - June 2019
Alicia Keys covers the June 2019 issue of Essence magazine photographed by J.D. Barnes and styled by fashion director Marielle Bobo.
“I think we have to come to an understanding that it’s okay to state what you need and state your piece and be clear, because if you don’t know what you need and you’re not able to say it, you’ll never get it. That’s been a deep, beautiful process for me…I just have always been able to be what I believe is just cool, man, because everything doesn’t have to be so damn dramatic all the time either. Things can just be cool. So I’m blessed for that…”
“I want to keep growing. I want to keep exploring the crevices and the places I haven’t yet. You’ve got to try things and see what they’re going to bring you, and one of the things I talk to my son a lot about is really like if the energy is not right, go away. Just because it’s someone you love or just because it’s someone you’re supposed to be cool with, like, if it’s not an inviting energy for you, don’t be there.”
#RHOA: Some Troll tried to Throw Shade at Cynthia Bailey’s Past Relationships and Fans Race to her Defense
Cynthia Bailey has left her newest hint that wedding bells are in her future and the revelation has resulted in a troll leaving a snide remark.
Bailey informed fans on Instagram Friday that she was jetting off to Jamaica for Memorial Day weekend and included a tell-tale emoji that indicated she’ll be touching back down in Atlanta as soon-to-be Mrs. Mike Hill.
“Happy memorial day weekend🇯🇲💍@itsmikehill,” Bailey captioned the May 24 photo of her and Hill preparing to take off from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
The post automatically had fans flooding Bailey with questions wondering if she’ll come back from the Caribbean island with a ring on her finger.
“@cynthiabailey10 I see the emoji engagement ring 💍are you engaged now? 😍😍😍”
“Perhaps you’ll get ur 💍”
“@cynthiabailey10 why did you put the ring emoji?! Engaged?! I hope so!!🎉💕”
“Let me find out ur name will be Mrs. Mike Hill when yall come back or ur engagement ring will be on ya fanger on ya fanger baby hell yeah 😍🔥🔥👀👅”
Then, someone decided to seemingly shade “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star by commenting, “Cynthia is never to late for you to get married again for your fourth time💋”
Bailey hit back by correcting the Instagram user.
“@deniseshackelford ummmmm 2nd🤔” she replied.
However, the model’s followers were less slick with their responses. They swooped in to defend her.
“@cynthiabailey10 she’s been shady as hell, it’s not to late to stop being bitter and say something genuine @deniseshackelford 😘”
“@deniseshackelford ohhhhh you tried to shade Cynthia….smh……keep it cute 😊”
“@deniseshackelford u stupid she’s only had ONE husband && that was PETER. Do ur research before u try to READ someone!!”
“@deniseshackelford why can’t you say something nice you should be happy to see a sister happy just let @cynthiabailey10 live and love ❤️ and stop being a hater go find you a man.”
It’s true, Bailey has only ever had one husband, as she did not marry actor Leon Robinson, who is the father of her college-age daughter Noelle Robinson.
The “RHOA” star married Peter Thomas in a lavish 2010 ceremony that was captured by Bravo cameras for the long-running reality series. But by 2016, their union came to an end and their divorce was finalized the following year.
“Peter never felt like he was my No. 1 priority,” she told The Daily Dish of how her six-year marriage came to an end. “He was right. [My daughter] was.”
So there……..
#Empire: Boy Bye! Trump tweets about Smollett ahead of busy day in Japan
President Donald Trump was in Japan on Sunday morning, tweeting about the Jussie Smollett case.
At wround 5:45 a.m. Tokyo time, the President tweeted," In addition to great incompetence and corruption, The Smollett case in Chicago is also about a Hate Crime. Remember, “MAGA COUNTRY DID IT!” That turned out to be a total lie, had nothing to do with “MAGA COUNTRY.” Serious stuff, and not even an apology to millions of people!"
Smollett, an actor on Fox's "Empire," had accused two men of attacking him. Smollett had claimed it was a hate crime and that the attackers yelled pro-Trump slogans. His claim was proven to be false and it turned out that two acquaintances had worked with him to stage the crime. In a controversial move, charges were dropped, though the case is still being litigated.
It's not clear why the Smollett case was suddenly on Trump's mind early Sunday morning, though he has lashed out at Smollett before. The president's Sunday schedule in Japan includes giving the winner of a sumo match a "President's Cup" trophy. Trump will also be the first head of state to meet Japan's new emperor.
#NewMusicVideo from India.Arie ‘Steady Love’
India.Arie has released a visual for “Steady Love,” lifted from her latest album Worthy.
In the romantic video, directed by Nandy McClean, Arie and her leading man (played by rapper-turned activist David Banner) spend time at home enjoying each other’s company. Later, Arie surprises him with an exciting announcement, before he follows-up with his surprise.
Watch the video for “Steady Love” HERE
“For this video, I wanted to depict black love, grown-up love, commitment,” the Grammy Award-winning singer told Okayplayer. A beautiful man and woman doing life together and loving each other through the inevitable ups and downs of life. I want this video it to be part of a cultural conversation about creating healthy images of love and relationships in the Black Community and in the world as a whole. Images that can strengthen people.”
“Steady Love” is one of the standout tracks we referenced in our Worthy album review.
#HipHopNews: J. Period Recruits Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch & More For "The RISE UP Project"
DJ veteran J. Period has enlisted the help of some heavy hitters for his new release, The RISE UP Project. The 10-track album serves as “the soundtrack for social change” and features contributions from an all-star cast.
J. Period, Young Guru, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Khalil executive produce the compilation, which boasts beats from a few of the aforementioned names as well as Tall Black Guy and Stro Elliot.
The lineup of performers includes Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, De La Soul’s Posdnuos, Xzibit, Maimouna Youssef a.k.a. Mumu Fresh, Sa-Roc, Dead Prez, Joss Stone and Aloe Blacc, among others.
Check out The RISE UP Project stream and tracklist below.
LISTEN HERE
1. RISE UP! f. Black Thought, Posdnuos, Pharoahe Monch & Joss Stone
2. Miranda (Remix) f. Rhymefest, Xzibit & Jesse Williams
3. Mr. Officer (Edit) f. Eric Roberson
4. See the Light f. Andra Day & Dead Prez
5. Love Your Brother (Interlude) f. Maimouna Youssef
6. SOLDIERS f. Dead Prez, Sa-Roc & Maimouna Youssef
7. Hands Up, Don’t Shoot f. Aloe Blacc
8. The Follower (J.PERIOD Remix) f. Dayne Jordan, Aaron Camper & Mayda Del Valle
9. America Divided (Outtro)
10. Things Deeper Than My Skin f. Ozay Moore
Beyonce & Kelly Rowland was chillin’ at Janet Jackson’s Metamorphosis Residency
Beyonce and Kelly Rowland were spotted over the weekend at Janet Jackson’s concert. The 53-year-old singer has a new Las Vegas residence called Metamorphosis at Park Theater located in the Park MGM hotel.
Beyonce and Kelly were spotted in the audience singing along to some of Janet’s greatest hits. Footage showed the pair cutely standing up, dancing along with Jackson.
WATCH HERE
Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland dancing at @JanetJackson's concert in Las Vegas — May 25th. 💖#MetamorphosisVegas pic.twitter.com/7rvTMhHcJk— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) May 26, 2019
Beyoncé jamming to #RhythmNation at @JanetJackson's concert — May 25th. 💖#MetamorphosisVegas pic.twitter.com/zJ7Ame6zNU— BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) May 26, 2019
This isn’t the first time that Beyonce was spotted at a Jackson concert.
Beyonce-Blue Ivy-Concert-the jasmine brand
In 2017, Beyonce and Blue Ivy were spotted backstage at Jackson’s concert in LA.
Ariana Grande Reacts to Madame Tussauds Wax Figure Amid Criticism
When Madame Tussauds London unveiled their latest wax figure of Ariana Grande, fans sounded off on social media – and not in a positive way.
As it turns out, Ari is not such a fan either.
“I just wanna talk,” Ariana hilariously commented on the @popcravenews Instagram account’s post about the wax figure.
Ariana is currently on her Sweetener World Tour, and will be stopping at the Amalie Arena next on May 28 in Tampa, Fla.
The 'BOSS' Bruce Springsteen to Record & Tour With E Street Band in 2020
Bruce Springsteen is heading out on the road! The 69-year-old singer-songwriter will be touring in 2020 alongside the full E Street Band, he confirmed to Italian newspaper Repubblica while in Rome for his daughter Jessica‘s equestrian event.
“We will go on tour next year. I’ll record with the E Street Band in the autumn and when we are done, we’ll go on tour,” he said.
He also revealed that a new documentary surrounding the recording of Western Stars, his studio album due out on June 14, is also coming soon.
He revealed that he wrote “an album’s worth of material” for the band in a conversation with Martin Scorsese back in April.
Chris Brown 'summoned to Paris' to meet rape accuser who wants to 'look him in the eye'
Chris Brown has been summoned to Paris for a face-to-face meeting with the student who accuses him of raping her, legal sources say.
The dramatic meeting is set to take at the headquarters of the French capital’s Judicial Police on Tuesday.
Legal sources in Paris on Sunday confirmed a report in the Parisian newspaper that the 24-year-old alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has provided compelling evidence of an attack.
It remains to be seen whether US singer Brown, 30, will make the 5500-mile journey from his home in Los Angeles.
The victim claims she was raped by Brown, his bodyguard, and a third man in the early hours of January 16.
She made a detailed complaint to prosecutors about her ordeal inside the star’s £19,000 suite at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Paris, leading to the three men being investigated for ‘aggravated rape’ and ‘breaking drug laws.’
They were arrested and held in custody a week later – on January 21 – yet, on their release 24 hours later, Brown made immediate plans to return to the USA.
"He has been summoned to Paris for the face-to-face on Tuesday, but is not obliged by law to travel,’ said an investigating source.
"The victim has demanded a face-to-face meeting with the accused so that can she quiz him about what went on, as is her right. She wants to look him in the eye."
Brown and his co-accused have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and are on unconditional release, without having been charged with anything.
They were all given their passports back in January, but their legal status in France can be changed at any time.
The victim – a student and occasional actor and model originally from Algeria – in January gave an interview to the Parisien, denying she was an escort girl.
"This is totally wrong!" she said. "This world, these drugs, these people, they’re not from my world. I came to France for my studies.
"I obtained two language qualifications and I started theatre classes in September at a prestigious school."
The woman was in floods of tears as she said that ‘in agreement with my lawyer’ she would not discuss specific details of a case that could see Brown and the other two men imprisoned.
She said she had received online threats, including ones from Brown who called her a liar.
"Basically, it should have been a beautiful evening, with a star, a famous artist, the ex of the singer Rihanna ," the woman said. "Everyone would have taken that."
Brown has admitted large quantities of cocaine were found in his five star suite but said they were there ‘for a party and nothing to do with me’, and denied having sexual relations with the women.
Raphael Chiche, Brown’s French lawyer, said his client and two other men being investigated for rape and drug offences ‘absolutely deny any wrong doing.’
Mr Chiche said he was pursuing a defamation law suit against the complainant, and that there was zero DNA or other forensic evidence proving rape.
Mr Chiche said in January that his client would continue to cooperate with investigators and ‘will come back if he has to’.
The complainant is represented by Paris barrister Jean-Marc Descoubes, and also by American lawyer Gloria Allred, who had dealt with a number of high profile rape cases involving celebrities in America.
Scott Pelley Claims He Lost Evening News Gig for Complaining About ‘Hostile Work Environment’
CBS has been working to purge itself of workplace harassment scandals, and according to former CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley, it’s a welcome change. Pelley, who still works for CBS as a correspondent on 60 Minutes said in an appearance on CNN Sunday morning that he believes he was let go from his anchor position due to his repeated complaints about the work environment at CBS News. “I lost my job at the Evening News because I wouldn’t stop complaining to management about the hostile work environment,” he said. He then went on to explain that “four or five years ago I went to the president of the news division and explained to him that this hostile work environment couldn’t go on, for women and men, and he told me if I kept agitating about that internally, then I’d lose my job.”
After continuing to escalate his concerns without success, he said he finally went all the way up the ladder to then chairman Les Moonves. “I went to the chairman of the CBS corporation who listened to me very concerned for an hour, asked me some penetrating questions about what was going on. I didn’t hear back from him, but in the next opportunity in my contract I was let go from the Evening News.” Now, however, Pelley says CBS is headed in the right direction, telling CNN that “it’s all blue sky from here.”
O.J. Simpson Allegedly Bragged About His Steamy “Hot Tub Hookup” With Kris Jenner
There have been many rumors over the years alluding to the idea that O.J. Simpson and Kris Jenner may have had a romantic relationship at some point during the 1990s. At the time, Jenner was married to Kardashian, who represented Simpson in his 1995 murder trial. While no solid information has ever confirmed the hearsay, now Simpson’s former manager says there’s truth in the gossip.
According to Norman Pardo in his new documentary, “Who Killed Nicole?”, Simpson said he and his then-wife Nicole, Kardashian, and Jenner were in a Jacuzzi one night while vacationing together. After a while, Nicole and Robert went to bed, leaving behind Simpson and Jenner in the hot tub.
“‘O.J. said he stood up, pulled his shorts down and, I’ll give you exactly what he said: ‘Her eyes bugged out of her head and I f–ked that B until I broke her,’” Pardo recounted on camera in a segment previewed exclusively by The Post.
“That was as messed up as you can possibly get!”
But that one night of infidelity eventually ended in years of pain between the group of former friends. “From what I’m understanding, from what O.J. told me, everything was great up until [the] little fling that they had,” said Pardo. The 55-year-old says he managed Simpson from 1999 to 2012 and has 70 hours of videotape of Simpson. ”The fallout from the hot-tub incident” damaged all their relationships, said Pardo.
Pardo also says Simpson caused Jenner physical pain after the alleged affair. Simpson said, “they had to take her to the hospital at 2 or 3 in the morning,” Pardo continues in the movie. “She came to [O.J.’s] room and said, ‘Can you take me to the hospital?’ He said, ‘No. Have Rob do it.’” Shortly after, Jenner and Kardashian divorced in 1991, and the Simpson and Nicole split by early 1992. Pardo, who is still shopping his documentary to distributors, says Kardashian decided to represent Simpson for practicality reasons rather their friendship.
“When O.J. was found not guilty, Robert Kardashian did not jump for joy,” Pardo said. Jenner still denies all allegations. “This is an absolute lie and not true. I have never had an affair with O.J. Simpson,” she told In Touch magazine in 2013.
Dionne Warwick Calls Whitney Houston’s Hologram Tour ‘Stupid’: ‘It’s Surprising To Me’
There might be some people who are excited that a tour featuring a hologram of Whitney Houston is on its way, but the late singer’s cousin Dionne Warwick isn’t one of them.
Warwick spoke about Houston’s estate announcing the decision, which will include a tour, unreleased music and a possible Broadway show that’ll feature the hologram.
“I haven’t a clue as to what that is,” Warwick told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday. “It’s surprising to me. I don’t know what it is. I think it’s stupid, but whatever it is, that’s what it is.”
Houston’s sister in law Pat Houston, who’s the executor of the estate, made the announcement earlier this week and said the tour is something the “Saving All My Love” singer would’ve been enthused about.
“Whitney prided herself on her family and that included her fans,” she said in a statement. “She adored her audiences and that’s why we know she would have loved this holographic theatrical concept.”
“This upcoming tour will allow audiences to experience Whitney’s amazing voice and passion for music for a long time to come and help them share that magic with future generations,” added Pat Houston.
Houston, who died in 2012 at the age of 48, is just the latest celebrity who’ll get the hologram treatment.
Tupac Shakur was made into a hologram for The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2012. And the same was done to Michael Jackson at the Billboard Music Awards in 2014 , which a lot folks said they didn’t care for.
Another iconic musician who passed that some didn’t like seeing in hologram is Prince when Justin Timberlake displayed a huge illuminated image of The Purple One at the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show.
But according to reports, he used a video projection of the late singer, not an actual hologram, however, it’s it’s still probably something Prince wouldn’t have liked. Because in 1998, long before holograms were even in heavy discussion, the “Adore” singer said he hated the idea of them.
“That’s the most demonic thing imaginable. Everything is as it is, and it should be. If I was meant to jam with Duke Ellington we would have lived in the same age. That whole virtual reality thing, it really is demonic. And I am not a demon,” he told Guitar World.
“Also, what they did with that Beatles song [“Free As a Bird”], manipulating John Lennon’s voice to have him singing from across the grave, that’ll never happen to me,” Prince added. “To prevent that kind of thing from happening is another reason why I want artistic control.”
Warwick kept her words brief about Houston’s hologram tour and didn’t go into why she felt it was a stupid idea.
NFL Houson Texans Star JJ Watt Announces Engagement To Soccer Athlete Kealia Ohai
J.J. Watt popped the question to his longtime girlfriend Kealia Ohai — and she said yes!
The Houston Texans football player announced his engagement to the soccer athlete on Instagram this Sunday (May 26), with images of the soon-to-be-married couple celebrating the occasion. In one image, the 30-year-old can be seen getting down on bended knee as he presents his engagement ring to the Houston Dash star.
“I’m the luckiest man in the world. #SheSaidYes,” Watt captioned with a gallery of ocean-side images on Instagram, which shows the happy pair kissing on the pier and others of them at a romantic setting covered in flower and candle arrangements.
Watt and Ohai have been an item for three years. According to PEOPLE, the duo first met each other through quite a coincidental acquaintance — Watt's former teammate, Brian Cushing — who happens to be married to the National Women’s Soccer League player's older sister, Megan.
The twosome's relationship first sparked in 2016, when Watt attended one of Ohai's games and sported a jersey with her number (#7) on it at a press conference.
The athletes only dropped subtle details about their relationship on social media, but officially went public when Watt posted pics from their getaway to Mexico in January 2017. In explaining his decision to wait to confirm their romance, Watt said that February: “There’s a little bit of that cat and mouse game where everyone wants a photo of us and wants us to confirm it. And I was like, all right, I’ll do it so now we can enjoy ourselves and live happily. And it’s been great.”
Congratulations, J.J. and Kealia!
Chris Rock Questions DJ Khaled’s Key to Fame
Chris Rock is the only celebrity brave enough to ask the question on everyone’s mind: What exactly does DJ Khaled do?!
The comedian took to Instagram on Sunday and posted a meme of DJ Khaled creeping around a corner while asking the question, “That’s a nice song you got there … mind if I yell my name on it?”
Rock also wrote a caption alongside the shady meme, stating, “Best producer in the game. He the best.”
Hundreds of users on Rock’s IG feed echoed his sentiments, and also wondered what exactly the world famous DJ does on his tracks.
It is interesting, as Khaled recently dropped his much-hyped Father of Asahd album … featuring 15 tracks and 29 different performers, Khaled can definitely be heard yelling out his trademark phrases on the album, but it seems odd that he never has his own song.
Still, DJ Khaled is a master at social media, and has found a niche in orchestrating big names to appear on his tracks while he shouts “DJ Khaled” over and over.
Rock has been engrossed in the hip-hop scene lately, as he has shown support for Kanye West and Lil Nas X.
If he really wants to have some fun, he should cast DJ Khaled on the upcoming “Saw” reboot.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘#TITSOUT’
Damn Old Town Road song got every type of cowboy coming out of the woodwork now!
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