Donnell Jones "Where I Want to Be" (Jazmine Baker, driving)

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The 'Baby Boy' Complex

In John Singleton's movie "Baby Boy," starring Tyrese Gibson, the life of a single black male is cast against an unforgiving world with dangers and obstacles outside his door. Inside his mama's house was the warm care and nurturing of a single mother who was at her wit's end with his grown-but-childish antics.Singleton used the film to underline several themes...

Baby Mop: Let Your Kid Earn His Keep?

They say technology and innovation in its highest form saves us from doing work: Well this is the Microsoft of innovation because I know aloooot of people that wish they didn't have to clean. Now, thanks to some crazy people (maybe from Japan?), you can have you friggin'baby do it!Yep, the Baby Mop, kid cleaner lets the crumb snatcher do all the work while you....

Kim Kardashian: I've Already Bought the Ring

Somehow celebrity Kim Kardashian says she's already bought the engagement ring for when football star Reggie Bush pops the question. "He definitely knows all of us went ring shopping," she said recently on Sirius Radio.Kim has no qualms about taking the initiative and going out and buying an item that secures her love forever. "I definitely scared him and told...

Introducing ... the Knuckle Comb

Ever felt like you needed some protection and all you had was an empty can of Mace on a keychain?Now, you can literally knock a mofo out and comb your hair at the same time. The Knuckle Comb, designed by the Kosmos Project, combines elegance with an iron grip for the anticipating woman.Somebody talking reckless in the movie theater? BOP!Problem solved.Hair stylist...

Kenyan Women Enact Sex Ban

Women in Kenya, sick of all the political infighting in the country, are going ahead with a 7-day sex ban, according to the BBC.Several activist groups are participating and they are even urging prostitutes to join in. "Even commercial sex workers should join in the campaign which is so vital to the country," said Patricia Nyaundi, executive director of the...

Swine Flu: Is This Time to Panic?

With words like "epidemic" and "pandemic" being thrown around, is it time to get under the bed and pray? No, well, yeah, prayer "changes things", but it's no time to panic.This swine flu stuff sounds serious. If you've ever had the flu - chills, congested head, chest and nasal passages, fatigue, dizziness - you know what the drill is. What is puzzling health...

Inside the Diddy empire: After Danity Kane, What's Next?

The man known alternately around the world as Diddy, Puffy, Puff Daddy, Sean Combs and P. Diddy has brushed off another failed venture, putting the reality show-inspired Danity Kane to sleep after only a few years behind the wheel (Is Cassie next?).Diddy, who's offed the careers of the Lox, Loon, Black Rob, Carl Thomas, Cherri Dennis, etc., is off to another...

BET Plans Channel for Grown Folks. Finally

Black entertainment channel BET, known for booty-shaking videos and chitlin circuit comedy, says it is finally going to cater to the long-neglected black middle class that it has claimed to worship but never reflected.According to a report in the NY Times, Centric will make an October debut.The report says Viacom is aiming at the 25- to 54-year-olds with Centric....

Stalker to Tyler Perry: 'Murder' is the Case

This scary message has filmmaker Tyler Perry knowing exactly what the diary of a mad - insane - black woman feels like:“You need to check your heart condition because it is filled with murder… your love has been but costly and deadly… Murder I say is the verdict… Why do you insist on assisting the devil?”According to reports, a woman by the name of Dawne Wilson...

Ciara May Launch Clothing Line

If you've ever wanted to dress like a superhero, CiCi may have something for the UnderRoos-lover in you (remember those?). Reports say that Ciara is interested in coming out with a clothing line. "It would be a fun sexy line, like cute character underwear that kids wear," she is quoted as saying. "It'd be for laughs - I'd call it Fly Girl."Don't know if Fly...

Earth, Wind & Fire: Rihanna, Keyshia Cole, Ciara to Tour

In a triple threat few industry insiders saw coming, Rihanna, Keyshia Cole and Ciara are plotting a North American tour together. You can call it Earth (Rihanna), Wind (Keyshia Coles) and Fire (Ciara) or better yet, RiRi, KeyKey and CiCi. RiRi reportedly wants "strong women" to join her on tour. Few women singers are as strong as Keyshia Cole who's had to endure...

The End of 'Fresh'

It's impossible to kill personal style.As Prince once famously said in an obscure lyric, "I'm unique in the respect that I'm not you."But with the recession bearing down on us common folks, can we afford to get "Fresh," like we used to do?Is the shopping spree an endangered event?People have said that Americans will need to humble down in order to make it out...

Kirby singing "Halo" (Beyonce)

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Bikini Around the House

My good friend says she's got a neighbor that, now since it's gotten hot outside, comes outside to do mundane things in a two-piece bikini. She's evidently not working, or works part-time because she's seemingly always home during the hot day. She'll routinely come outside to water the lawn, get the mail and do other small things outside in her two-piece.The...

White House staffer Gets Coverage Again. Hater in the House?

More normalized relations with Cuba is Deputy White House Chief of Staff Mona Sutphen's baby.She had hinted to the media that she was consumed with the issue of striking down the embargo with the Communist nation for months now, so it was no surprise when the deal was struck last week. And lately, Sutphen has been inking up alot of press from things about her...

CiCi's "Fantasy Ride" Finally Arrives

A-town music star Ciara is pulling out all the stops on the eve of her long-awaited third album release. "Fantasy Ride," which debuts Tuesday, has been pushed back at least 6 months. In the meanwhile, the music landscape has been dominated by Rihanna's off-music exploits and the T-Pain voice thingy has staled a little (despite Jamie Foxx's anthemic "Blame It"...

'Energy" by Keri Hilson (by Phatfffat)

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Beyonce's Touring ... Can Solange Come? YES!

When megastar Beyonce announced her 2009 tour Monday morning, people wondered if Solange was on the bill as well. Turns out she is.And that's good, I mean, it woulda beem kinda strange ... and unKnowles-like for Big Sis not to give Lil Sis a hand. (See Nightmare on Hadley St.)Bey's tour starts at New York's Madison Square Garden in June and ends in Vegas on...

Robo-Hot: The 'Immaculate Arm'

Design student Hans Alexander Huseklepp has come up with something right out of the "Terminator" movies, a prosthetic arm that's chic, lightweight and awesome-looking. Hans says of the fashion-meets-disability concept: ""Immaculate is a neurological prosthetic, connected to the users central nervous system... Each joint is a globe joint, allowing a larger freedom...

Is Rihanna Getting Played?

Although Rihanna is a grown woman, with bills to pay like the rest of us, news that she's inked a deal to perform overseas has some wondering if she's rushing back too fast from her CeeBee ordeal.She's set to perform in Dubai in May and has already presented the organisers with a 38-page demand list, but are her handlers pushing her back or is this something...

Destiny's A Beach: It's Ya Girl Kell

Kelly Rowland took some time out recently to snap a few pics of herself on Miami's South Beac...

Is Humiliation Sexy?

Something strange is happening with popular culture.More and more images and references to mildly degrading behavior is gaining traction in our society.Instead of the innocent displays of love that we once used to look forward to in human relationships, more and more people are becoming preoccupied with "dogging" it.Are we all becoming deviant...

Study: Alcohol Makes Women Less Attractive. To Men

That last part is key. "To men." Because we all know that when you get a little juice women may find you attractive. But according to the study, which was conducted by scientists that asked men and women in bars and cafes to look at photos, getting sloshed makes no difference to men. (The study doesn't address women drinkers though).Half those drinkers in the...

The Inspirational Susannah Melvoin

Few people know that they have Susannah Melvoin to thank for some of the greatest music in the United States in the past 20 years.Such classics as, "Adore," "The Beautiful Ones," "Nothing Compares 2 U", "If I Was Your Girlfriend", and "Forever in My Life," all composed by Prince.Did Melvoin have a hand in producing these hits?Nope. She was Prince's girlfriend.And...

Magazines Are Folding: Who's Next?

Much attention has been paid to the demise of newspapers in this recession, but what hasn't gotten much attention is the slow death of magazines.First it was Maxim.Last month the hip Blender Magazine bit the dust as print advertising slowed to a crawl.Then two weeks later King Magazine, which let Melyssa Ford wax nostaglic about itself, swallowed pills as well.It...

How to Control the Kitty Cat

Don't you wish you had one of these for:(a) significant other(b) your dog(c) your mother-in-law(d) your bo...

The DressN3: Would You Rock it?

The European clothiers have kicked American butt again, this time in the form of the DressN3, a dress you can wear a 3rd of and still, be, you know, wearin' it.Would you rock it?Sourc...

Positivity: The Strongest Aphrodisiac

Want to fall in love, be in love and be loved?Try some positivity. It's no secret that women with a positive and optimistic view of life live longer.But I'd go one further: People who are positive in words, deed and even facial expression have more fulfilled lives and people are drawn to them. They in fact are attractive.That, in a nutshell, explains the popularity...

Handicapping the Split Pose

Many a celebrity rapper or model has done the famous "frog" squat. But who's the best?Notice the athleticism of Lil Kim's squat. Her ankles are nearly flush against her backside, indicating a flexibility lacking in the other girls. BAmber Rose: She looks the most uncomfortable in this pose, indicated by her reliance on the bars. D-Nicki Minaj: Nicki's comfortable...

Halle Berry: 'I'm Done" With Marriage

Supermom Halle Berry, who was married to baseball star David Justice and singer Eric Benet, says she's had it with matrimony. The two-time mom has given birth twice now with model Gabriel Aubrey and says he feels the same way."I'm done," she says. "I happened to find a person who feels done too, and he's never even been married before. So it works,” she quoted...

OctoMom Trademarking 'OctoMom'

Nadya Suleman soooo wants to be on your TV screens. So much so that she is said to be working to trademark "OctoMom," which is not a name she even came up with.The move is all a part of bringing her life with 8 babies to the small screen in a reality show.People like TV shows. People look at TV shows.But people don't like it if they think you had babies just...

The New, Improved Jennifer Hudson 2.0

"God pulled her through." That was the simple statement her assistant said that explained the whirlwind ordeal that Jennifer Hudson had gone through in 2008. The American worker had a rough autumn last year; J-Hud had a heartwrenching, tragic, devastating autumn.But now she has announced plans for a 27-city tour with Robin Thicke, the first time since the tragedy...

"Cheaters Never Win"

If you've got to get all McGyver (climbing in and out of folks windows or creeping while they sleeping) just to have a lil fun, then, hey, it's better to just chill on the sideline. They say "Cheaters Never Win." Bad things happen. I don't know who made that up, but apparently it's a very popular saying. But is it true? Do you know anybody that has cheated and...

The Big Shave-Off: Would You?

when mediocre Bad Boy recording artist Cassie half-shaved her hair off last week it signaled the emergence of a new radical style among women. Just kidding, chick is str8t looney.Wait.Or is sh...

Great job, Pushing 40, No Kids ... What's Wrong?

There is a great myth among American society that if a woman is full-grown, has a promising career and doesn't have at least one crumb-snatcher walking around then something is wrong.The Bible even speaks shamefully of "the barren woman" who mourns her childless lot in life.But do you agree? Is there anything wrong with being of age, no kids (and possibly no...

"Ms. Keri, Ba-Bay (Ms. Keri Ba-Bay)" a household name now

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The Marijuana Debate: Legalize or Fantasize?

With the advent of the first African American U.S. president, alot of ideas and causes that were shelved away have taken up steam once again. None has been bigger than the marijuana debate: Legalize it or not?The opponents say it will just further degrade a counterculture society that is already teetering on self-destruction.The proponents say that it's high...

Ambercrombie and Fitch = White BET

In a move that is puzzling to the American retail industry, clothier Ambercrombie and Fitch has not joined in the chorus of businesses trying to cut the U.S. consumer some slack.Actually, decent slacks in A&F will run you upwards of $60. Trust me, I know.Not only do they continue to stay in high-priced luxe mode despite an out-of-touchness with U.S. consumers,...

Cassie's New Hair Style: Will it Catch On?

sourceSources say her barber had a panic attack in mid-cut (jes kiddin'...

"Knock You Down" by Keri Hilson (Alexis Jordan)

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"I Got Indian In My Family" - Not Likely

African American studies scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. did an expansive study a few years ago (broadcast repeatedly on PBS) about black Americans' roots in Africa. It included footage from a number of black luminaries including Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Tina Turner, Don Cheadle, Chris Rock, etc., and followed their genes to remote African villages, places...

Everybody Hates Chris

Can 8.4 million black women be wrong?Chris Brown has been turned into a virtual pinata, thanks to the disturbing TMZ-aquired picture of a swollen and bruised Rihanna facial shot after the two squabbled on Grammy eve.The recent outrage is over why Chris Brown pled "not guilty" when he should have admitted the act, confessed and started his comeback. However,...

Rise of the Cherd (Chick Nerd)

The latest, but certainly not newest, archtype in popular culture is the Cherd.After being bombarded by the Jezebel-type (thanks, BET), TV and movies are putting the Cherd (thanks, Tina Fey) to the forefront these days, and actually making her sexy.There's even web sites devoted to the Cherd.We all know them, from popular TV shows, ("Ugly Betty") to cartoons...

The Mysterious Case of Gloria Martinez

Few real-life stories are as riveting and mysterious as the strange case of Gloria Martinez.I recently saw a rerun based on her story on "Grey's Anatomy" and had to share.See, Martinez, of Riverside, California, became known as the "the toxic lady."Exposure to her body and blood sickened several hospital workers.From Wikipedia: About 8:15 in the evening on February...

BET Shows This Movie A Bit Too Much For Me

Okay, BET, we see it. We've watched it. You've played this movie, like, 13 times in the past year, we got it now. We love Ving Rhames, but we're not in love with Ving Rhames. Not looking like a greasy hot-ashed mess. Is there a director of programming we can speak to? Donnie Simpson? Somebod...

The End of the Pap Smear

Scientists, according to an article in the NYT, say the pap smear is getting pwned by a new DNA test so thoroughly that its days may be numbered.Pap smears, which have been routine since, have long been despised as invasive and creepy by women everywhere.The Papanicolaou test screens for cancerous growths and is generally recommended that females who have had...

South Korean actress kills self, claimed to be 'sex slave'

South Korean actress Jang Ja-yeon, in a damning suicide letter, indicted the South Korean entertainment industry for making her perform sex acts to get ahead.The issue has brought "sex contracts" to the forefront in South Korea, where top talent is expected to abide by agreements backed by favors.Jang was the star of South Korea's No.1 soap opera and her death...