Frank Ocean for Gayletter Magazine
Frank Ocean is known for being pretty private, but in the last few months he’s been making an effort to open up. Last year, he made his Instagram account public and in January he was interviewed by GQ. Today, a new interview with Ocean was published by Gayletter for the newsletter-turned-magazine’s 10th issue. He addresses that privacy (mis)conception and a whole lot more in the lengthy talk.
“I think the whole idea of me as a recluse is absurd ’cause I’m in the streets like all the time,” he said. “I’m outside all the time, I’m traveling the world all the time. It’s funny to me that that’s the perception, but I understand what people mean by it in this new paradigm.”
He says “the social media thing is kind of amped up,” continuing: “One could argue that people don’t actually get information more than half the time. They browse information. I don’t know if they really ingest it.”
He doesn’t say anything too surprising — Ocean’s been spending a lot of time in the studio, as always — but the candid piece is still a great read with an artist that often isn’t as forthcoming. He talks about some of the TV he’s been watching — Chef’s Table, Handmaid’s Tale, Grown-ish — and says that he’s seen a few episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but doesn’t “really keep up with it like I should.” He does, however, say that: “Of all the talent shows on TV, that would be the most likely” for him to appear as a guest judge on.
He also talks about his history with and interest in queer art and how that influenced his Boys Don’t Cry magazine, and how working on that magazine in turn helped distract him from his frustrations with the music business. “Well, fucking with major music companies, you’re going to be…deflowered,” he said. “Anytime you get into the business side of the arts, there has to be some degree of objectification or commodification that you’re comfortable with, of yourself and of your work.”
Ocean goes on to talk about his collaboration process and writing for other artists and a whole lot more. He clears up some small curiosities, like that the gay bar referenced in Blonde’s “Good Guy” is Hell’s Kitchen haunt Boxers, that he still wants to go to college, and that despite what Wikipedia says, he’s not 5’10” — he’s actually 6’1″. “Listen, we have to correct the kids on my height,” he says. “It’s really affecting my future, blocking my shine.”
Check out the full interview here.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore Shows Off Her Natural Hair Texture In New Selfie
Kenya Moore shared a fresh-faced selfie that showed off her natural hair. The Real Housewives of Atlanta star rocked her curls and revealed a few of her hairstyling secrets!
The 48-year-old reality star posted a no-makeup snap on Instagram and displayed her natural hair texture.
Her black curly hair shined and looked glossy from her roots to the tips!
The mother of one captioned it, "People always ask what my natural hair texture is... this is without any stylist product."
So #TeamTwirl what do you think, You like?
#Empire: Recap: Lucious Tries To Make Things Right With Kingsley
Lucious and Kingsley try to move forward.
Last Nights episode of Empire is the episode that gives us a smidgen of hope right before the rug gets metaphorically snatched from under our feet. The episode begins with Cookie and Lucious at Terri’s church. They’re praying for Andre who has been undergoing cancer treatment for 6 weeks at this point, and the preacher says something interesting. He tells his flock to make peace with friends and foes and to get their lives in order so god will work in their favor. That seems to have struck a chord with Lucious. He thinks he has to make peace with Kingsley in order to save Andre. Meanwhile, Cookie entertains the possibility that Andre might die and Lucious doesn’t want to hear it. He doesn’t want her speaking negatively over their son. This makes Cookie feel like she can’t talk to him, so she goes right to Damon Cross’ house.
Damon gives her what she needs—an ear. He knows exactly what to say to her because his daughter had cancer too. We can assume by his tone that his daughter is dead but at the same time, we still don’t quite know what happened to her. In other news, Cookie feels guilty about their friendship, as she should, because this is technically emotional cheating.
The FBI agents convince Kingsley to wear a wire to set up Lucious. Hold that thought, but speaking of Kingsley, Lucious actually visits his mom, Tracy, to try to reconcile his past. He mentions that he wants a relationship with Kingsley. Tracy is hostile toward him at first but Lucious reminds her that she never told him about Kingsley in the first place. Then she goes on rambling about how she used to fantasize about them getting married and you realize just how gone she is. Lucious brings her back to the point tough and she says it’s going to have to be Kingsley’s decision no matter what, but she’ll talk to him.
Next, we find Lucious and Thirsty kicking it. Kingsley interrupts, wanting to talk to Lucious in private. Thirsty exits and the conversation begins. Kingsley congratulates him on pulling empire back from the impossible then tries to finesse Lucious, but in an obvious way. He asks him where he got the money from and brings up overseas accounts. It’s super obvious. Lucious ain’t dumb and doesn’t answer his question. He does, however, ask Kingsley if his mom told him to come see him. Kingsley says that he’s there on his own and that his mom had nothing to do with it. That’s when Lucious really peeps game and cuts their time short.
Later on, Kingsley visits his mom and she tells him about Lucious coming to visit. Then she starts talking about how Lucious did crack with her, but we all know Lucious never actually did drugs, just sold them. Lucious had actually just told Kingsley that he never did drugs during their visit. Then Tracy tells Kingsley that Lucious said he’d beat the baby out of her when she told him she was pregnant. Another lie. Even Kingsley doesn’t trust this. He doesn’t push back too much against his mother’s lies, but he does seem to be conflicted.
The doctor tells Andre and family that his body has been responding well to treatment and there’s a chance that he could be cancer-free by the next treatment. Cookie goes to tell Damon the good news about Andre’s treatment and they toast to Andre’s health amid all this sexual tension. Then Cookie has a moment where she says she shouldn’t be there, packs her stuff up and apologizes for sending mixed signals. Then Damon says they both know he can give her what Lucious can’t and she swiftly dips out of there after telling him their thing is over.
Kingsley heads back to Lucious and says he needs to know the real story about how he and Tracy met and if it’s true that Lucious got his mom hooked on crack. Lucious said when he first met Tracy she asked if she could try his stuff against every warning he gave her not to, but she did anyway and things obviously didn’t end well. He admits to selling her drugs but said he felt, in some weird way, that he was protecting her by giving her his drugs because maybe his stuff was clean compared to other people who might lace their products. Gee, thanks.
Anyway, then Kingsley asks if he really threatened to beat kill him when his mom was pregnant with him. Lucious denies this. We know that Lucious can be evil, but family is everything to him. He explains to Kingsley that he would never have let Tracy raise him had he known he even existed. Kingsley said his mom told him he didn’t want him but Lucious says that that’s the furthest thing from the truth. Then Kingsley starts tearing up and shows him the wire, which actually looks like a Fitbit. Lucious takes it off, puts it in Kingsley’s hand, tears up, and tells him that his mom robbed him of the opportunity to be his father but he still wants to be there for him. He still wants that father/son relationship. They hug and it’s all mushy and tear-jerky and what not. But let’s not get too excited because someone’s big death day is coming and the feds are still lurking so things are going to go downhill soon.
Kingsley tells the agent he’s done. She tries to intimidate him into continuing but Kingsley tells her that he’s not sure if he’s a Lyon, but he’s definitely not a rat. The agent threatens to come after all of them.
Later on, Lucious brings Kingsley to dinner with the family. They’re all looking at him like
But Lucious says he wants to properly introduce Kingsley to the family because Kingsley is his son and they need space to work on that bond. Kingsley apologizes and says he understands it may take a while to make things right but he will try. Lucious reminds them that he has had to make amends with everyone at the table as well, so this isn’t much different. Cookie is annoyed, but she’s willing to allow this because she’s just happy about Andre’s news.
Finally, the episode wraps with the feds raiding Empire’s tour equipment after a show. Becky confronts them and they tell her that Lucious has been using the tour to move narcotics across the country and that the tour is over. However, we’re all like, come again? It can’t be Lucious smuggling drugs, can he? No! He’s too busy building Empire back up. He left that life decades ago!
So who is it?
#NewMusic from NEW MUSIC: Chris Brown – ‘Wobble Up’ Feat. Nicki Minaj & G-Eazy
Chris Brown has released a new tune for you to jam to. The raunchy twerkalicious bop is titled, “Wobble Up” and it features Nicki Minaj and G-Eazy. Listen to it HERE
Thoughts?
#HipHopNews: New Missy Elliott Music Coming Soon?
Missy Elliott excited fans on social media by announcing she’d completed a new project on Monday (April 15). Although it’s unclear if it’s actually a musical release, the legendary artist said she’s been working on it nonstop.
“Thank God I just finished a big project today & it has been a very intense no sleep 5 weeks working on this since last year,” she wrote on Twitter. “I been sick on and off from weather change and this pollen has been kicking my ass but it will be all worth it! Im EXCITED.”
On Wednesday (April 17), Missy reiterated her announcement via Instagram.
“I just finished a long project I been working on since last year & this my mood,” she wrote. “‘Keep On Movin’ I’m bout to show yall I’m on some next ish.”
Missy hasn’t released an album since 2005, but she’s managed to return the public eye in recent years. The veteran rapper/producer performed at the Super Bowl in 2015 and was part of VH1’s Hip Hop Honors event in 2017.
More recently, Missy was chosen to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She also teamed up with rising star Lizzo on a new single titled “Tempo.”
Jason Momoa Shaved His Beard and He Is Legit Unrecognizable
Ummm... Jason Momoa just shaved off his entire beard??? BTW, He hadn't shaved it in SEVEN YEARS.
Please prepare yourself for these before and after pics, because the final result is shocking.
Hey guys. I don't mean to alarm you, but Jason Momoa just made a very drastic change to his face, and it's a little hard to take in.
In a video he just posted to YouTube, he showed himself doing the unspeakable: shaving off his entire beard. The ENTIRE thing. Goodbye Khal Drogo, goodbye Aquaman, goodbye other characters he's played that I can't even remember because I'm so distracted by his clean shaven face.
In the video above, Jason and his friend walk into what looks to be a desert, and they each have clippers. They start shaving their beards while talking about recycling. Basically, Jason's goal with this vid (it seems) is to help people understand that aluminum is much better for the environment than plastic.
There's a lot happening, though. The music is super dramatic. We don't even know who the other guy is because Jason never introduces him. At one point, it looks like Jason's trying to plug his own line of mineral waters?? IDK. There's so much to discuss.
But obviously, the most important thing is the final result (and the whole save the planet message). Let's just say it's a lot to take in. Please take a minute to prepare yourself.
Ready?
Ready?
Here's the description for the video, which helps clarify things: "Goodbye DROGO, AQUAMAN, DECLAN, BABA! I'm shaving this beast off, it's time to make a change. A change for the better...for my kids, for your kids, the world. Let's make a positive change for the health of our planet. Let's clean up our oceans and our land. Join me on this journey. Let's make a switch to INFINITELY RECYCLABLE aluminum. Water in cans, NOT plastic."
#NewMusic from Beyonce ‘Before I Let Go’
A new Beyonce song was released along with her new Netflix documentary film Homecoming!
The 37-year-old entertainer included a cover of Frankie Beverly and Maze‘s 1981 song “Before I Let Go” in the end credits. You can listen to the song HERE
‘The Gifted’ and ‘Rel’ canceled by FOX
FOX has officially begun to clear up some space on its 2019-20 programming schedule.
Tonight, the network canceled its sophomore superhero drama, “The Gifted,” and its freshman comedy, “Rel.” Both shows were low ratings performers this season, and had been considered likely cancellations for several months leading up to the announcement tonight.
Created by Kevin Barnett, Lil Rel Howery, and Josh Rabinowitz, “Rel” starred Howery in the titular role as a successful comic who tries to put his life back on track after his marriage falls apart.
Throughout its first season, the series averaged just a 0.8 live + same day rating in adults 18-49 with 2.03 million viewers, making it FOX’s second-lowest-rated freshman title of the season, ahead of only the Friday night legal drama, “Proven Innocent.” When FOX opted not to give “Rel” a back order earlier in the season, many took it as a sign of the show’s expected cancellation.
“The Gifted,” however, had less of a straightforward path to cancellation than “Rel.” Created by Matt Nix and produced by Marvel Television, the series took place in a world where mutated humans are treated with distrust and fear, and followed an institute for mutants battling to achieve peaceful co-existence with humanity.
An OK performer in its first season, the series took a noticeable hit in its second year, averaging just a 0.6 L+SD rating among adults 18-49 with 1.95 million viewers, down from its first season’s 1.0 and 3.31 million viewer averages.
“The Gifted” and “Rel” mark FOX’s first scripted cancellations of the season so far. Meanwhile, the network has already renewed several other titles for the 2019-20 season, including “The Resident,” “9-1-1,” “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “The Simpsons.”
Flint Receives $77 Million to Fund New Water Projects
The city of Flint, Michigan, has a new resource as it recovers from the water crisis that hit five years ago: $77 million in funding from the state.
On Monday (April 15), the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality provided Flint with the money, which the city’s Department of Public Works Director Rob Bincsik said is not “new funding.” MLive reports that it is actually from “a $120 million federal and state loan granted to Flint in March 2017 by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016.”
Although it is called a loan, the $77 million carries zero interest and was 100 percent forgiven, meaning it does not have to be repaid. Flint intends to use the funding for various projects, including water meter replacements for homes, installation of water quality monitoring panels, construction of a new chemical feed building and completion of a pipeline that will connect to a secondary water source.
“These projects will help the short- and long-term sustainability of the water system in the city of Flint,” Bincsik told MLive. “But as stated in the Water Distribution Optimization Plan, the water system needs in excess of another $300 million in capital improvements over the next 20 years.”
Flint is still completing its FAST Start pipe program, which seeks to replace lead and galvanized steel water service lines throughout the city. It is estimated that it could take until 2020 to replace the approximate 20,000 lines.
The Flint water crisis was created by an April 2014 decision to switch the majority-Black city’s water source from the Great Lakes Water Authority to the Flint River. It resulted in a doubling of the percentage of Flint children with elevated levels of lead in their blood. In addition, there was a decrease in fertility and an increase in miscarriages and infant deaths. Among the fatalities were 12 people who died from Legionnaires’ disease linked to the toxic water.
In April 2018, the state ended its free bottled water distribution program to the city’s residents, despite concerns that the drinking water was still not fully safe.
Preview: ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ Trailer | In Theaters Aug 2
Universal Pictures has released a new trailer for Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
WATCH
Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down.
But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.
Hobbs & Shaw blasts open a new door in the Fast universe as it hurtles action across the globe, from Los Angeles to London and from the toxic wasteland of Chernobyl to the lush beauty of Samoa.
Kevin Hunter To Allegedly Receive $10 Million Payout from his soon to be former Wife Wendy Williams!
Last week daytime talk show host Wendy Williams filed for divorce from her husband of 20+ years, Kevin Hunter. She also relieved Hunter from his executive producer position on her show—but he’s allegedly walking away with a massive payday.
Kevin Hunter has been an executive producer on his soon-to-be ex-wife Wendy Williams’ talk show since it started 10 years ago—and that time has officially come to an end. Since the couple are going through a divorce largely contributed to long-standing cheating allegations, abuse claims and mishandling money, it’s unsurprising that Hunter is no longer part of The Wendy Williams Show.
However, he won’t be doing as bad as many expected upon his exit, at least as far as his finances are concerned. According to Bossip, Hunter is set to receive a hefty $10 million payout to leave the show permanently. There were also initial reports that he was fired from the show, but new sources reveal that it was likely more of a mutual parting of ways—simply stating,
“Kevin Hunter is no longer an executive producer on The Wendy Williams Show.”
This comes just after it was reported that Williams had hired extra security on set of the show because she didn’t feel comfortable with Hunter around. Hunter also recently issued a public apology to Williams, but it proved too little too late.
His apology via statement: “28 years ago I met an amazing woman: Wendy Williams. At the time, I didn’t realize that she would not only become my wife, but would also change the face of entertainment and the world. I have dedicated most of our lives to the business empire that is Wendy Williams Hunter, a person that I truly love and respect unconditionally. I am not proud of my recent actions and take full accountability and apologize to my wife, my family and her amazing fans. I am going through a time of self-reflection and am trying to right some wrongs. No matter what the outcome is or what the future holds, we are still The Hunter Family and I will continue to work with and fully support my wife in this business and through any and all obstacles she may face living her new life of sobriety, while I also work on mine. I ask that you please give me and my family privacy as we heal. Thank you.”
Reportedly, Hunter is also Williams’ manager, but that title is all but over for him as well.
What are your thoughts about his rumored payout?
Cardi B, Offset reportedly just bought 5 homes in metro Atlanta
Cardi B and Offset recently made a major real estate investment, with the duo reportedly buying several homes in metro Atlanta.
The couple just shelled out $201,840 for five houses and an additional $48,080 for an adjoining plot of land on a street in Jonesboro in Clayton County, according to WABE.Four of the properties have three bedrooms and one bath and the other is a two bedroom home with a single bath, WABE reported.
Currently, four of the five homes have tenants.“We are investors so we’re buying and selling property all the time,” the seller, JMH Home Buyers President Jeff Dimock, told the news station. “It was interesting that it was a celebrity couple, I assumed it was somebody looking for a good cash-flow investment. During the pre-sale conversations we were not aware of the buyers’ identities.”According to WABE, Offset, born Kiari Kendrell Cephus, is listed as the main buyer and Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, is listed as the secondary buyer. “I can’t speculate on their long-term plans for the properties,” Dimock said, “but in the near term they seem like excellent investments, so I would expect they would hold onto that income-producing value initially.”
Learn more about the duo’s purchase here.
Kodak Black Arrested on Drugs and Weapons Charges
Rapper Kodak Black misses show in Boston after being arrested on drugs and weapons charges at the U.S. Canadian border…
According to TMZ reports, The rapper was arrested on weapons and drugs charges at The U.S. Border. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Kodak and 3 other people were stopped by U.S. Customs Agents Wednesday. We’re told Kodak was arrested for criminal possession of a weapon — a second degree felony — and a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge.
Multiple sources familiar with the arrest tell us Kodak was traveling with at least two guns … and stopped when entering the U.S. from Canada.
The rapper is still in custody, being held on a $20,000 cash bond or $40,000 bond.
This is How Much Of The Mueller Report Is Redacted
The Mueller report is out. Members of Congress and the public now have a chance to read for themselves what special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of investigators found in their 22-month probe into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.
There is a catch, however: Readers will not be able to feast their eyes on every word, sentence and paragraph the special counsel's office put to paper in the massive document.
The version made public on Thursday is partly redacted. Attorney General William Barr and his staff have been working with Mueller's team for the better part of a month to identify — and remove — segments of the document that contain four categories of sensitive information.
Here's what they are:
Grand jury materials
—Under federal rules, materials from grand jury proceedings are secret, although there are a few narrow exceptions that allow limited disclosure.
Democrats are currently wrestling with the Justice Department over access to grand jury materials in the Mueller report. The Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, has threatened to subpoena the full, unredacted report if the Justice Department doesn't hand it over voluntarily, setting the stage for a potentially protracted legal battle.
Intelligence materials
—The report contains information that comes from U.S. intelligence agencies. Officials are concerned that the public release of some of that information could reveal how the U.S. got it — compromising sources and methods that America's spies want to protect.
Information related to ongoing investigations
— A number of high-profile investigations have been spun out of Mueller's Russia probe. The most notable one, perhaps, was the case in New York City brought against President Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen.
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Details in the Mueller report that could reveal information about other ongoing investigations are scrubbed out of the redacted version.
Derogatory information about "peripheral" individuals
— Barr told Congress he wants to honor the Justice Department's practice of not revealing information it has uncovered about people who were part of an investigation but whom it is not accusing of a crime. Trump won't be covered by such redactions, he said, but the Justice Department is excising detail from the report about people who aren't public officeholders.
This category has been a source of significant concern for many congressional Democrats. One lawmaker called it a category big enough to drive a truck through. It's unclear, however, whether the president's family members or high-ranking members of his campaign would be covered by this exception.
The Folks at NPR has ust how much this report has ben redacted HERE!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘POWERFUL POOPER’
Heed this man’s warning. With that power mullet I think we can all assume this man can pack some heat back there.
#EGGPLANT NATION Meet Kub Craig!
Meet Craig! Well to see more you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSWF!
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ENJOY!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
