Oprah Winfrey, Octavia Spencer, and 12 Years a Slave’s Lupita Nyong’o join Emma Thompson, Julia Roberts and Amy Adams for the cover of The Hollywood Reporter’s annual Actresses Roundtable issue.
Inside the issue the ladies opened up about some of their scariest on-set experiences, dumb moments and everything in between that has made them the actresses they are.
Oprah gave the group a glimpse at what it was like for the talk show host to star in her first Spielberg production, The Color Purple, “So I walked in — first scene, first day, Steven Spielberg — and I looked directly in the camera because that’s what you do on television. I walked in and went, ‘How you doing, Miss Celie?’ And he went, ‘Cut! Cut! Cut! What is wrong with you?’ And I’m standing there, trembling. ‘Where are you looking?’ I go, ‘I’m looking at the camera.’ He goes, ‘Miss Celie’s over there!’ [I was] terrified.”
Octavia Spencer told the magazine her views on the new crop of female writers and what that means for actresses, “Well, you have a fresh crop of female writers, and men are writing better parts for women and realizing that women can open films. I think we’re making strides. We’re not there yet, but I’m really excited about the past couple of years.”
And Lupita Nyong’o had this to say about her role in 12 Years a Slave, “It was tough. I knew I couldn’t go about it in any sort of method way because I would have not survived the experience. I was always so close to tears, and plenty of times, I’d be in my hotel room, just crying.”
UMMMM Chad who is this Chick?
When he's not spending his time pining away for his ex wife Evelyn Lozada (who is still very visible in tattoo form on his leg, Chad Johnson is on the beach in Miami in his American Apparel gear...hamming it up with multiple chicks at a time.
The CBS Sports Network's fantasy football analyst was spotted chillaxin' in a mini bungalow with a mystery chick.
But it didn't stop him from meeting others on the beach, and the paparazzi caught him. Of course.
He posted one of his own pics saying:
Sand to the beach because____ blah blah blah...
Keep it classy Chad...
Claudia Jordan & Toccara Jones Head To Africa, Attend CAAN Awards In Nigeria
Celebs Claudia Jordan and Toccara Jones helped kick off the inaugural CAAN awards in Bayelsa, Nigeria.
The CAAN Awards honored recording artists from all over the world and is determined by fan votes, spotlighting artists from the Caribbean, North America and Africa. Rapper Sean Kingston and other top international and local artists, showbiz heavyweights, foreign dignitaries also attended the event.
Solange Falls Out With Her ‘True’ Producer Over Twitter
Just months after Danity Kane’s Dawn Richard and her “Goldenheart’ producer Drew Scott parted ways as musical partners and friends, another musical duo has chuck deuces to each other. Solange Knowles and her ‘True” EP producing partner Dev Hynes [aka Blood Orange] are on the outs, and they recently spilled their beef on to Twitter. This week, Dev hinted that there was trouble in paradise when he posted the subliminal tweets:
If you wanna take shots at me text me call me talk to me in person but don’t ever drop a subliminal, talk behind my back, or send a flunky. I’m doing myself. Ain’t nothing to do with anyone else, I’m about myself, like any self respecting human should be. We live & die alone. I have beef with no one. I won’t even mention your name ever again. Any of you. I’ve said my bit. I’ve reached out. I’ve praised you. But now it’s done. It’s over. We’re done. Bye.
To which Solange responded:
When you do Tumblr posts, speak about things in interviews, tweet, issues then belong to the public. I have been minding my biz. I have only ever praised you and spoken about you positively, even when our perspectives were totally different. I still support your artistry & am extremely happy for your success. I just wished you were honest about the making of my album. That’s all I’m going to say on this. You know more than anyone n—as love drama. Also u know very well I have reached out. Bless. Ps: Your phone been going straight to VM for long time.
The actual fallout seems to have happened earlier this year and stemmed from a few articles posted on Solange’s music, which praised and credited Dev Hynes for her sound. According to a Fader article posted just last week:
In April, though, some public tension emerged concerning who wrote what on Hynes’ most successful collaborations. Solange, seemingly dissatisfied with the way Hynes’ role was being described in reviews, sent off a string of tweets about True to her one million followers: “Y’all got it all the way wrong. Ive been writing and producing my own voice since 02, nigga … I find it very disappointing when I am presented as the ‘face’ of my music, or a ‘vocal muse’ when I write or co-write every f-cking song … Sexism in the industry ain’t nothing new.” I ask Hynes if he believes her tweets were in response to something he had said. “I didn’t say anything,” Hynes says. “She reads reviews. I’ve never read a single Blood Orange review in my life.”
Though Solange declined to comment for this story, her use of “vocal muse” seemed to refer to a Pitchfork review of True that employed the phrase. The exact circumstances surrounding their falling out are unclear—and the two still share a manager. Hynes says they never resolved the issue. “We’ve spoken but I don’t know where it’s at,” he says. Hynes says he wrote a good portion of the album entirely himself, especially the songs “Losing You” and “Bad Girls,” which he wrote and recorded versions of before he even knew Solange, with Solange adding mostly structural and vocal changes throughout. But it’s difficult to quantify exactly who contributed what. Within a couple of months, though, Hynes had quit the tour before it was over and returned to New York, and he wasn’t asked to work with Solange on her next album.
At a show in a Chinatown boutique in September, an overpacked crowd turns up to see a rare Blood Orange performance with a full band. Hynes, in a long coat and leather kufi, takes off his jacket to perform “Bad Girls,” one of the songs he wrote that Solange re-recorded for True. Then, before launching into “Everything Is Embarrassing,” Hynes gives a brief monologue, oddly compelled to footnote a song he created: “I’ve got a lot of shots ready to be fired, and I guess this is the shot. This is a song I wrote for another singer. She said a couple weeks ago that she doesn’t like when I say I wrote it—this happens a lot to me, but I’m not an arrogant guy. That said, I’ve written some songs for people and they haven’t given me due credit and it pisses me off.
Beefing over credits definitely can get ugly in these streets. It’s unfortunate because ‘True’ is one of Solo’s best projects.
Wu-Tang Clan Affiliate Killa Sin Charged With Attempted Murder In Staten Island
It's a sad day for Wu-Tang Clan fans and even bleaker one for Jeryl Grant, b.k.a. as Killa Sin of the group Killarmy. This past Saturday of November 23, he was arrested on charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly shooting a man six times in the chest.
Reports: SILive
The shooting took place down the block from the Sangita Shala night club at 556 Richmond Road about 4 a.m. Saturday, authorities said, and left a man -- identified by sources as Darnell Brown, 33 -- wounded, though not fatally. That club saw a gun-related incident back in February, according to police.
Police arrested the alleged shooter, Jeryl Grant, 37, of the 100 block of St. Mark's Place in St. George, Wednesday. He's charged with second-degree attempted murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to information from District Attorney Daniel Donovan's office.
Grant gave detectives an account of what happened, according to a law enforcement source: He said he parked his truck behind the night club, which he referred to as "Fires," then headed to a birthday party at Edgewater Hall on Bay Street in Stapleton.
Grant got a ride back to his truck sometime between 3 and 3:30 a.m., and found people hanging around it. "And next thing you know there's a shooting. At least that's what he told investigators," the source said.
Even if the plea of self-defense is heard out in court, there's a few disclaimers that could speak inevitable doom for Grant. He's currently on parole until Oct. 3, 2015 for criminal weapons possession. Killa Sin served two stints in prison for the same charge-- a three-year sentence for in 2003, and a four-year sentence for a 2007.
The fact that Killa Sin appeared on a Wu-collaborated track named "Murder Spree" will probably drive defense lawyers to the brink of insanity. There has been no reports on Sin's plea in the matter but his willingness to cooperate with authorities on the matter suggest it would be a "not guilty" one.
Lacefront Wig Wearer’s Rejoice: Sony Creating A SmartWig
Sony has filed a patent for a SmartWig. Yep you read that right. The application describes a standard wig that could “be made from horse hair, human hair, wool, feathers, yak hair or any kind of synthetic material,” with a circuit board hidden among those luscious locks. I guess you will be able to have your U part give you GPS directions?
Their smartwatch is already in its second generation and has been on the market since 2012. So perhaps they are getting bored for the expected and are really thinking out-of-the-box. But this is really out there (even for me).
According to the patent filing the wig is meant to cover at least part of the user’s head with at least one sensor for input, a communication interface and the necessary processors to handle these. All of these components are meant to be hidden in the wig.
The filing goes on to detail that the SmartWig would have GPS, an integrated camera and the ability to transmit and receive ultrasound waves. It would also be able to talk to a secondary computer (like a smartphone or tablet or even another wearable with a screen) and provide tactile feedback to the wearer. Oh and did I mention the laser pointer?!
Get this, you will have a sensor to help you make sure that your fake hair is on right….? I am literally GAGGING for life…. They are just making up anything now?
Rapper's Former Manager Accuses Rihanna Of STEALING "Jeweled Doobie" Look!
Rihanna's jeweled doobie has irked a few folks. But there's one person in particular who claims RiRi jacked another artist's swagger. Meet the lady who allegedly inspired the look
On social media, Rihanna's AMA hairdo caused quite the stir. And today, we received an interesting email from the former manager of a rapper who claims HER artist started this look. And Rihanna jacked it!
We were tipped off about Patwa, a Bronx born 2nd generation Jamaican American, who fused hip hop, reggae and culture into her music (much like Rihanna). As a part of her "look", Patwa embraced the doobie with jeweled pins to signify she was a Queen and this was her ghetto crown. But here's the thing...Patwa and her manager were told by Def Jam execs that her look was too hood and White America wouldn't embrace it. Though Patwa was offered a development (if she agreed to soften up her image), she walked away from the industry.
But now, former manager Trumaine Ferguson is speaking out about Rihanna and expressing outrage about what happens when someone with money, power and fame rips you off and you can't do anything about it.
During 2010 we began generating a buzz in the underground hip hop community. This lead to a couple of meeting with some big wigs at def jam, Geffen, Atlantic and yes Roc nation who manages Rihanna. While meeting with A&Rs with these labels we were continuously told that the imagery we were trying to brand was not "lady like" was "to street", "to hood" and "to ghetto" we were told that "white America would never get behind such ignorance". Ratchetness had yet to become an accepted house hold term. The image we were trying to run with was what Patwa knew from the streets which was the doobie wrap. She wore it proudly with jeweled pins to signify she was a Queen and this was her ghetto crown. Something that many females coming from where she came from could relate to. You know when you get that hair wrapped you feel like the Bomb You just got your hair did no one could tell you nothing.
And she told us about a chance encounter with Rihanna that may have inspired her AMA look:
"Fast forward to 11/24/13 and who do I see grace my flat screen while sitting in my modest one bedroom apartment wearing a doobie wrap with jeweled pins at the AMA's. Roc nations own RiRi. I honestly felt violated. You see during 2011 Patwa and I crossed paths with Rihanna at a Roc Nation event. Rihanna, who on that evening was wearing a hairstyle that she "borrowed" from Cassie, complimented the jeweled pin wrap said it looked nice and even inquired as to who did it? We of course were flattered out of our socks and felt almost validated. Two years later it appears middle America is ready and Rihanna really liked what she saw. By no means did we invent the doobie wrap or name. However prior to the AMA's no one had attempted to wear the doobie as a hairstyle in public. No one!!!!!! I just find it very insulting that something we brought to those people was too "ghetto". But now Rihanna can accept awards while proudly displaying it. I am really hurt by this and wanted to scream."
SMH.....we share her frustration. But for other reasons.
On some level, every artist's stylist/choreographer/image consultant was inspired by someone else. Unfortunately, those "inspirations" will never get the credit they deserve. It sucks.
But what could Rihanna have done differently? Given a shout out to the hood in the middle of her acceptance speech...and to the chick she saw years ago wearing it?
Kevin Durant and Teammates at the opening of Kd’s Southern Cuisine.
Kevin Durant’s opens his first restaurant in Oklahoma City. The upscale Southern cuisine restaurant features Durant’s favorites including chicken satay, popcorn lobster, honey-dipped fried chicken, center cut pork chops, blackened catfish stuffed with crab meat and shrimp, slow-smoked barbecue ribs, chicken and shrimp jambalaya as well as a variety of steaks, seafood and desserts. KD’s will also feature a complete wine list and specialty drink menu.
“I am very excited to be opening my first restaurant in Lower Bricktown,” Durant said. “I look forward to spending a lot of time there with my fans and friends, and enjoying great food and live music. I want customers not only to enjoy incredible food at my restaurant, but to always gather for a great experie
Twitter Slanders Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Over "Best Hip-Hop Album" AMAs Win
Admit it, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have had one hell of a year. Successful singles ranging from used clothes ("Thrift Shop") to gay rights ("Same Love") helped earn the duo a Best Rap/Hip-Hop honor at the American Music Awards Sunday (Nov. 23). Which naturally meant slander from the Twitter peanut gallery.
The Seattle natives snatched up their award via satellite from Miami, and during his acceptance speech, Macklemore quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and mentioned Trayvon Martin:
"Due to the fact that we are in Florida tonight accepting this award I want to acknowledge Trayvon Martin and the hundreds and hundreds of kids each year that are dying due to racial profiling and the violence that follows it," the rapper announced. This is really happening. These are our friends, our neighbors, our peers and our fans, and it's time that we look out for the youth and fight against racism and the laws that protect it."
Interesting timing indeed but for what it's worth, we already know that Macklemore tackles taboo issues, and isn't scared to talk about race.
From a group perspective, he and Lewis are considered "Rap/Hip-Hop" at award shows (they won a similar category at the MTV Video Music Awards), and Macklemore earned a spot XXL's Freshman Class cover in 2012. Furthermore, The Heist went platinum, and "Thrift Shop" sold over seven million copies worldwide. We can't deny the facts.
And this look is as "Hip-Hop" as it gets, no?
Also, beating out Jay Z (Magn Carta Holy Grail) and Kendrick Lamar (good kid m.a.a.d. city) doesn't come without a little slander.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘BUSTING YOUR BUTT’
Hey Lance Armstrong, the only thing getting a workout are your yoga shorts.
HAVE A GREAT THANKSGVING EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
