Alicia Keys Covers FAULT Magazine Au Naturel
Alicia Keys continues to let her natural beauty shine through as she graces the latest issue of FAULT magazine.
Inside her cover feature, Alicia talks about how she’s evolved over the span of her 16-year career, her new album, Prince’s passing, and accepting her imperfections.
Read a few excerpts below.
On evolving:
One thing I appreciate hearing from people who have known me for years, is when they tell me “Alicia, you’re still the same.” Of course I’m not, I’m a woman now and much wiser and I have more understanding of my life, music and art but I am still the same spirit. Fearlessness and becoming more comfortable in my own skin and caring less about what I would say or do, was always at the core of my original work – now with all the life I’ve live and all the things I’ve learnt, I am still the very same.
On her new album:
I always feel confident in my ability to explore my vulnerability and to do something that I’ve previously never done in hopes that it was going to take me somewhere. As opposed to being too controlled and forced to make it something that’s not. I definitely created this album with real purpose and intention to talk about things I’ve never talked about before.
On Prince’s passing:
It was definitely a great shock and I am still taken aback. I feel like the whole world feels the same. He was definitely an enigma and will always remain that way. He was so fiercely dedicated to the greatness and expanded the level of excellence and that’s what should always be maintained. He pushed himself and I’ll never be as good as Prince but in a positive way. No one can be Prince, he’s the only one but that’s the beauty of him. He set the bar so high that we all have something to strive for.
On accepting her imperfections:
I’m learning to try and let go of the word “perfection”. It’s not real and it’s a word that tears us down. There is no way to be perfect and no fun in being perfect. You can’t be happy unless you let yourself be vulnerable and make mistakes because we’re always evolving. No one knows it all and I damn sure don’t know it all! I force myself to look in the mirror and own who I am and to own MY beautiful. So what that I have breakouts or so what that my knees are pudgy, there simply is no perfect. Once I can teach myself that there is no perfect and that I am meant to have my FAULTS, that is when I become beautiful.
Kudos to Alicia Keys!
I absolutely love how she’s embracing her natural beauty as well as her imperfections.
#RHOA: Porsha Williams Details What She Wants in a Man!
Not too long ago, Porsha Williams wanted to marry a hamburger, but now she’s sharing the specific qualities she’s looking for in a piece of man meat.
On May 31, the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member posted a four-part cartoon to Instagram showing what she wants in a fella.
For starters, Porsha wants a guy who will help her put on her expensive heels — because who doesn’t want that.
The reality star is also looking for a man to have pillow fights with. We don’t know if people really have pillow fights anymore, but if you’re a guy who likes to swing a sack of cot
ton around, call the RHoA belle.
The 34-year-old would also like a man to cook dinner and have sex with.
Now, her caption — “Yep babe I’m ready” — has us a bit puzzled. Is this “babe” someone she already has in mind, as hinted at last month, or is he still an idea Porsha has in her head?
#'Empire Season 3 Spoilers: More Bad Blood Between Rhonda, Anika; Shyne's Identity To Be Revealed
Fox has confirmed "Empire" will return to the network for an all-new third season and thanks to the series's showrunner Ilene Chaiken we know what to expect in the hip hop dramas next installment.
In an interview with Fox LA, Variety's Elizabeth Wagmeister revealed some of her predictions for the coming third season and some details she learned from the series executive producer, Chaiken.
Wagmeister shared that in the epic, intense fight between Rhonda (Kaitlin Doubleday) and Anika (Grace Gealey) only one of the main characters is sure to survive. And Chaiken said that "Empire" fans will know for sure as soon as the first episode of Season 3 is back. At least we won't have to wait that long to learn who it is.
Meanwhile, with all the fighting and chaos in the Season 2 finale, "Past Is Prologue," it was easy to miss all the the new characters being introduced to the series.
One of these characters is Tariq, who claimed to be Lucious' (Terrence Howard) half brother. Another character is Shyne Johnson (played by rapper Xzibit) who was introduced as an egotistical low life. Apparently Shyne shares a dark and murky history with Lucious. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait until the third season to learn more about the character.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly Chaiken disclosed some of the mystery regarding Shyne. Chaiken said, "He’s a very important character. Both he and Tariq are very much in the mix in our third season."
She continued, "Shyne isn’t necessarily an adversary, although I think he could become an adversary. Lucious has a long history with him — history that’s going to come back and bite Lucious for a lot of earlier slights. If you have a guy who’s not afraid to die, not afraid to go to prison, that’s a very dangerous adversary."
EW went on to ask Chaiken whether or not Xzibit auditioned for the role of Shyne, to which she responded, "We made him a straight offer. We were all in for getting him this role. He’s so good as this character. It feels like we’re really in it, and representing the world we’re purporting to represent."
#FRIDAYFLASHBACK! Miki Howard – “Love Under New Management”
I’m in a little bit of an ’89 – ’90 feel today. Decent years for me I’d say – not perfect, not tragic, but definitely decent and certainly some good times and the album that today’s track is culled from was certainly a big part of the soundtrack of that era for me. Miki Howard definitely did the whole thing on this record and ‘Love Under New Management” is one of my favorites from the set for its realness not only in lyrical contect but emotive vocal delivery.
REMINISCE RIGHT HERE!
Looking forward to checking out Ms. Howard’s upcoming biopic on TV One Friday.
#HIPHOPNEWS: Are Kanye West and Big Sean Working on ‘Cruel Winter’?
Kanye West and Big Sean are delivering even more “Blessings” to their fans.
On Tuesday (May 31), the G.O.O.D. Music duo was in the studio together, crafting new material, and a snippet from their session appeared on Sean Don’s Snapchat story.
In the short clips, a new Yeezy verse can be heard. “Pray for me,” he raps. “I’m about to hit the ‘Ye button / I don’t want to say nothing wrong.”
PRAY FOR ME, I'M ABOUT TO HIT THE YE BUTTON pic.twitter.com/TGmFX8Uh2U
— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) June 1, 2016
Then, in another clip, Mr. West can be heard rhyming in third person about how “Yeezy might have to go and put his Louis on.” The Snap also features the duo jumping around while the track is playing back.
YEEZY MIGHT HAVE TO GO AND PUT HIS LOUIS ON pic.twitter.com/mcNoLktc6m
— TeamKanyeDaily (@TeamKanyeDaily) June 1, 2016
It’s unclear where the song will land, but Kanye’s longtime collaborator Fonzworth Bentley seemed to indicate that it could very well end up on Cruel Winter, the follow-up to G.O.O.D. Music’s 2012 compilation Cruel Summer. That release spawned several singles, including “Mercy,” “New God Flow,” and “Clique.”
Bentley fueled the Cruel Winter rumors with a Snap from the session featuring Yeezy and Sean. The hashtag “#CruelWinter” appears on the image, which was captioned: “Happening now! #YeButton.”
Whether Cruel Winter actually comes out remains to be seen. The project has been talked about since 2012, when Q-Tip hinted its release.
The track could also land on Kanye West’s Life of Pablo follow-up Turbo Grafx 16 or Big Sean’s follow-up to Dark Sky Paradise, which doesn’t have an official title just yet.
Justin Martin Sentenced to Jail Time
Disney's High School Musical star Justin Martin sentenced to jail time on gun charges...
Last year actor Justin Martin was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon after he was accused of pointing a gun at police officers in the Dorchester section of Boston.
This week Justin was sentenced to 18 months in jail and one year probation after pleading guilty to all charges.
Justin must also refrain from drinking during his probation.
UCLA Shooting Victim Identified as Engineering Professor William S Klug
Professor was one of two prounounced dead in what police called a “possible murder-suicide”
Engineering professor William S. Klug has been identified the victim of a fatal shooting on the UCLA campus on Wednesday.
Klug taught aerospace and mechanical engineering at the university and was a married father of two.
The professor was one of two pronounced dead following what police called a “possible murder-suicide” that took place around 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday in a small office in the Engineering IV building on the Westwood, California, campus. A firearm was later recovered at the scene.
The gunman whose name is Mainak Sarkar is thought to have shot Klug and then turned the gun on himself, and a motive was not immediately clear. Andy Neiman, the LAPD’s chief spokesman, confirmed a note was found at the scene, but investigators had not determined whether it was connected to the shooting, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Los Angeles Daily News later reported that the gunman may have been a disgruntled graduate student, while KNX radio said the shooter was “despondent” about his grades, according to their law enforcement source.
The shooting was originally reported at Boelter Hall by a 911 caller who reported at least three gunshots. Students were then alerted of a possible shooting via BruinAlert text message and email, which told them to shelter in place as officials arrived. Police officers in riot gear soon swarmed the campus with guns and battering rams drawn, while many students barricaded themselves in their classrooms.
The campus remained on lockdown for around two hours until LAPD declared the incident over just past noon PT.
“It’s just a very shocking day,” friend and president of the local El Segundo softball team Lance Giroux told media sources. “I’m scrambling to come to grips with what has just happened. My first thoughts went out to his son, Timmy, who played with my son
“Bill was a great guy. He was very tranquil and always put things in perspective. He was the guy everyone went to when they had grievances, which is why this is so shocking,” Giroux said. “He was very proud to be a professor, he loved UCLA and always wore its colors,” he added.
UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Scott Waugh said Wednesday afternoon that the campus is expected to “resume normal operations” on Thursday.
“I want to say that our hearts go out to the victims,” Waugh said. “I also want to thank all the law enforcement agencies of Southern California who reacted so quickly to help secure the scene and help us prevent further damage to the campus.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, Klug was an El Segundo, California, resident who was married with two young children, a son in fourth grade and a younger daughter. He loved surfing and frequently took his family to Los Angeles Dodgers games. He earned his undergraduate degree in engineering physics from Westmont College in 1997, his master’s degree in civil engineering at UCLA in 1999 and his Ph.D in mechanical engineering from Caltech in 2003.
A GoFund me page has been set up for Klug’s family, and donations can be made.
Guess Who Just Gave Tamar Braxton Her Own Talk Show?
She's already on to the next one. Tamar Braxton got that dirt off her shoulder after being fired from The Real last month, and is already on to her next venture.
During her first interview since the debacle, on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Braxton and host Steve Harvey announced that the singer will be launching her very own talk show under Harvey's production company.
The two didn't reveal any further details about the upcoming show, including a premiere date, but this definitely could bring some exciting possibilities.
#WOMP: Dr. Dre Denies Stealing From R&B Singer In $6 Mill Lawsuit
OOOPS! Dr. Dre has headed to court blasting the $6 million dollar lawsuit filed by a 70’s R&B star accusing him of ripping off his music without ever paying him a dime –saying he didn’t steal anything from the man and demands the judge throw out the entire case.
Here’s the backstory: Leroy Phillip Mitchell (aka Prince Phillip Mitchel) – a 70’s R&B singer – filed a federal lawsuit against Dr. Dre and Universal Pictures over a song featured in “Straight Outta Compton”. Mitchell explained that he is the owner of the copyright for the 1977 song “Star in the Ghetto“.
He said that Dr. Dre and MC Ren authored a song entitled “If It Ain’t Ruff” back in 1989 and the song is featured in the film.
However, he said that the song features a sample of his 70’s hit. He claims that no one ever asked him for permission to use his music and he even reached out to Universal to inform them of the infringement but they continue to use his music without authorization.
The man stated Dr. Dre’s song has sold over 3.5 million copies and resulted in 2 million albums sold. He said he never knew about the infringement over the years because he was never listed as a co-author or given credit on Dre’s song.
The musician claimed he has been screwed out of royalties, fees, sales and has had his reputation damaged as a result of Dre’s actions. He filed suit demanding $6 million + in damages.
Here’s the latest: On May 27th, Dre headed to court and blasted the $6 million dollar lawsuit against him calling it a bunch of nonsense. The music mogul explains that “If It Ain’t Ruff” was independently created by himself and none of Mitchell’s track is sampled in his song.
Further, he says that 70’s musician filed the suit despite his claims being past the statute of limitations and the man doesn’t even own the rights to the song in question.
Dr. Dre says that the two songs aren’t even substantially similar and is demanding the entire lawsuit be thrown out and the man awarded nothing from his $6 million dollar complaint.
Here’s NWA ‘If It Ain’t Ruff’.
Here’s Prince Phillip Mitchell’s ‘Star In the Ghetto’:
Your Thoughts?
Broncos' Cody Latimer Calls Cops On Girlfriend and Gets Arrested
Over the weekend, Denver Broncos Cody Latimer found himself in a very odd situation after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.
According to TMZ, Latimer took proper precautions and called the cops to report that his girlfriend had “put her hands on him.” However, when the police arrived, they ran both Latimer and his girlfriend’s name through the system, as standard procedure. Shortly after, the wide receiver ended up in cuffs.
Apparently, there was a warrant out for Latimer’s arrest for failure to appear in court over an old traffic violation. Because of this, the officers arrested Latimer for the outstanding warrant. His girlfriend was arrested for assault and disturbing the peace.
Latimer was released after paying a $311.50 fine. He also bailed out his girlfriend
Following the incident, Latimer took to Instagram to address the situation.
"I reached out to the team on Monday to let them know of a personal issue that I dealt with over the weekend. I believe I handled it the right way, but I had no idea of the unrelated unpaid traffic ticket. That's completely on me, and I took care of that today...Back to football."
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris have SPLIT UP!
Us Weekly confirmed that Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris broke up, causing mass hysteria on social media. Sean Dowling (@seandowlingtv) has the best reactions. Buzz60
A source familiar with the situation, but not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed to USA TODAY that Swift, 26, and the Scottish EDM DJ, 32, have broken up.
The pair had been dating for about 15 months. In March, they celebrated their one-year anniversary with pictures on Instagram of their vacation getaway.
In a recent interview with Vogue, when Swift appeared on the cover, she said she wasn't thinking of getting married, and was taking things one day at a time.
“I’m in a magical relationship right now. And of course I want it to be ours, and low-key," she said. "This is the one thing that’s been mine about my personal life.”
#EGGPLANT NATION: Meet that Pretty Boy!
Handsome, Muscles, sex appeal what more you like? And you can see it all when you GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS!! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘The Christmas Spirit’
We are almost halfway to Christmas.Where the hell did 2016 go? Why hasn’t anything improved? Why does this guy’s face look like my reaction to everything right now?\\
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
