Californication

In a recent interview with Vibe Vixen, the 30-year-old actress speaks out about making music, her character in Showtime’s hit series, her hopes to play Whitney Houston in a biopic, and keeping her balance between her faith and sensual roles.

On her girl group H.E.L.L.O…
“I always said that I didn’t want to sing because I wanted to be considered a very serious actress, not an entertainer, but singing is a passion of mine, rapping is a passion of mine, and in the way that we decided to do it, it’s very fun. We’re not taking ourselves too seriously, and our vibe is kind of like Beastie Boys mixed with Gwen Stefani. We kind of just do what we want to do; that’s what I love about it. The music is fun, and I think that the audience that we’re trying to reach will definitely be receptive to it. It’s not negative; it’s not saying ‘Boy, you want me’ and all this other crazy stuff. It’s about girls having fun and respecting themselves and being fly, doing their thing.”

On playing Kali on Showtime’s Californication…
“Well, she’s a very different girl in a different place than I am at. This young woman, Kali, she basically wants to pursue her dreams and her goals, but she’s had a rough time and now she’s determined to make it. I didn’t focus so much on the singing as much as I focused on trying to bring the truth of who this character is and not trying to judge her.”

On wanting to portray Whitney Houston…
“I want to do Whitney Houston’s life story. I think that would be an incredible story to do. I talked to Whitney a little bit about it, and she’s open to it, so I want to see what happens with that. Hopefully, in the very, very near future. She has Sparkle coming out, and I’ve heard good things about it already. I heard she looks beautiful, she sounds beautiful, she looks healthy and she’s the Whitney that we know and love. And so I think that would be a great place for her story to end and really just be beginning, if they were to do her life story right now.”

On her faith and risqué roles…
“I think that they’re natural things. I think that, for me, it’s about portraying a character creatively and artistically as an actress. I believe that God has gifted me as an actress and intends for me to use that gift, but He also intends for me to use it to glorify him. So, if I’m playing the most perfect, religious girl then nobody gets anything out of it. It’s like being a Christian and only hanging out in church. When I play a character, I try not to judge her because ultimately it’s about where she ends up and what she learns from the journey, no matter what happens along the journey. Does she become a better person?”

Check out the full interview over at Vibe Vixen!

Related: Adele To Make Full Recovery At The Grammys

A source told the Associated Press on Monday that Brown will take the stage at Sunday’s show just three years after his infamous incident with then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown assaulted Rihanna at a pre-GRAMMY party back in 2009 which resulted in five years probation, community service, domestic violence counseling, a restraining order (lifted last February) and, most importantly, the risk of his career.

Since the altercation, Brown has released two studio albums (Graffiti, F.A.M.E.) and is preparing for his fifth album, Fortune.

This year, Brown is up for three GRAMMY nominations including Best R&B Album (F.A.M.E.) and Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “Look At Me Now.”

Rihanna is also scheduled to take the stage Sunday night with a performance beside Coldplay, singing “Princess of China.”

She is nominated for four Grammys including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album (Loud), as well as Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “What’s My Name?” and Kanye West’s “All of the Lights.”

While the pair have been spotted partying at the same locations recently, they have never attended an awards show together since 2009.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air live from Los Angeles Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, hosted by LL Cool J.

Beyonce

The new mommy showed up at the 40/40 club Monday night to show support after husband Jay-Z‘s benefit concert at Carnegie Hall for United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

In a form-fitting, long-sleeve Alice Temperly dress, Beyonce showed the world what Blue Ivy‘s mom is [still] working with.

Insiders say the 30-year-old singer arrived with her mother, Tina Knowles, and went immediately to the VIP section to snack on wings with Jay-Z and Nas.

And her review of hubby’s show?

“It was amazing,” she told reporters.

Check out more photos and a glimpse at Beyonce’s complete look!

Related: Jay-Z Auctions Concert Tickets For Charity, $50K Expected

The 42-year-old rapper brought the house down Monday night at the legendary concert hall in New York City as the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the venue. Proceeds from the show will benefit United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.

Starting the show in a classic black-and-white tuxedo, Jay-Z opened with undeniably one of his strongest hits “PSA,” followed by more of his classics (“Heart of the City,” “U Don’t Know”) that would make any die-hard fan go nuts.

He was joined on stage by Alicia Keys to perform their super ode to New York, “Empire State of Mind,” as well as Nas, Bridget Kelly, a band including Questlove of The Roots and singer Bilal and a 36-piece, woman-led orchestra.

The night hit an emotional peak with the proud papa’s performance of “Glory,” dedicated to his 1-month-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it through that one,” he said. “That was tough.”

The juxtaposition of nearly 2,800 conservatively dressed men and women rocking out to the gritty sounds of hip-hop inside Carnegie Hall made for a magical moment.

And that was only the beginning; Jay-Z will hit the stage again Tuesday night for part two of his benefit concert.

Jay-Z continued the party at his 40/40 club, where wife Beyonce made her first post-pregnancy appearance.

Check out the night’s best pictures and a clip of Jay-Z performing “Glory!”

(Getty Images)

Brandy and Monica are making music together again and this time they’re taking it all back. The singers are claiming it all and taking what is rightfully theirs in “It All Belongs To Me” (prod. by Rico Love). Set to appear on Monica’s New Life album, dropping April 10, the track will also be featured on Brandy’s upcoming project.

Check it out over at Vibe Vixen!

Courtesy of Clutch

In a recent interview, Brian White said that “the most prevalent image in ‘urban society’ right now is women like Nene” Leakes and suggested that this portrayal was not a stereotype but the majority of black women. Aside from feeling irritated by his belief that the loud and petulant black woman trope is true more often than not, I’m sure many of us imagined Nene’s ears perking up as soon as her name was mentioned in a derogatory way. The reality star took to Twitter with a response for Mr. White.

Housewives of the A & Hip Hop wives r 2 very different shows! I dont recall seeing fist fights on our show! I however do watch their show

— NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) February 3, 2012

 

Funny how actors get mad when u get an gig as if the castin director was lookin 4 them! If they were lookin 4 u, they would hav called u

— NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) February 3, 2012

 

RT @Peachz31: @NeNeLeakes just hating bc he in a play n ur actually playing a role on hit show “GLEE”<Right

— NeNe Leakes (@NeNeLeakes) February 3, 2012

Continue reading at Clutch

Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

When I was approached with the opportunity to interview actor, Brian White (Stomp The Yard, Fighting), I said, “sure.” He is starring along-side Michelle Williams in a new DVD entitled, “What My Husband Doesn’t Know.”

“Interesting title”, I thought.

It is about a woman who isn’t getting the attention she desires and needs from her husband who is a wealthy man invested more in his finances than his wife. Long story short, White’s sexy exterior is summoned to fix a leak in Williams’ home, but the leak turns out to be a metaphor for her broken marriage which he fixes with his pipe laying skills [wink,wink].

Given the fact that Brian’s co-star is a black woman and he is a black man with a black mother, I find the conversation we had was slightly accurate yet odd. White has had trouble with his words before (See here), but after our discussion on maintaining a healthy relationship and the essentials to a successful marriage, things went left and I concluded that he has something – maybe not “hate” – but something… a gripe perhaps, not only with black women, but the black race.

What is your insight on the Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry beef? Why do you think people hate Tyler Perry so much?

Because Tyler holds a mirror up to people. Stereotypes are not stereotypes today. The most popular character [in, Why Did I Get Married?], and it’s not the one that Tyler picked as the most popular, is Tasha! You have Janet Jackson and Jill Scott; my point is Jill Scott and Janet are huge music stars with huge fan bases, Tasha became the most popular because her character is portrayed the most like “Love & Hip Hop” the most like, “Desperate Housewives of Atlanta,” [we think he means "Housewives Of Atlanta] you might as well switch it around and pop in Nene [Leaks]. [Tasha Smith] is brilliant, she’s nothing like the character, she’s just portraying what she sees in society, magnified.[sic]

Continue reading at Hello Beautiful

Related: Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer Win SAG Awards + Red Carpet Arrivals [PHOTOS]

But fast forward a few decades and a famed role in 2011′s “The Help,” and we find Davis flawlessly sporting the high-end fashions of Jason Wu, Thierry Mugler, Giuseppe Zanotti and more for L.A Times Magazine.

In a recent interview, she discusses the struggle of getting into the business as a Black woman and becoming a producer to provide more opportunities for Black actors.

On the “not so” big break…
That really is our plight, especially as women of color. You can have all the training in the world, come from a respectable background and yet never get that big opportunity that breaks you out—never. You can be in the business for 23 years, which I have been, and suddenly something happens that wakes people up. For me, that was being in a movie with Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It makes people realize you’re there. Otherwise you’re that black girl who had a guest or costar role in a TV show here or there.”

On producing…
“I am doing this out of necessity. If I am not the instrument of change, I can meander through this business and be the black woman who always has two or three scenes but with fabulous actors around me.”

Check out Viola’s full interview here and her stunning pictures after the jump!

Nearly 100 dancers took to Times Square Saturday to show off their smoothest dance moves in honor of the late Soul Train creator.

People from all walks of life– donning afro wigs and bell bottoms– joined the flash mob showing that his legacy is very much alive. Check it out!

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