The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Kandi Burruss, Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada & Chrissy Lampkin Are "ROLE MODELS" For VIBE's 2012 Sexy Issue
CONCERT FAB: Jill Scott On VH1's Storytellers (VIDEO) + Kelis ROCKS OUT In Cannes
GQ FELLA: D'Angelo Opens Up About Substance Abuse, Rejecting Madonna & Sabotaging His Own Career
DO WE LOVE IT?! Ester Dean's "Baby Making Love"
Eva Marcille, Mashonda & Adrienne Bailon GET FLIRTY At OK!'s Sexy Singles Party In NYC
LisaRaye Says "F*CK THE CRITICS" Of "Single Ladies"
NAUGHTY GIRLS: Usher ACCUSES Tameka Raymond Of ATTACKING And SPITTING At His "Girlfriend" + Wendy Williams EMBRACES Plastic Surgery, Says Black Women Are JEALOUS
Nas Talks To COMPLEX About His Money & Split With Kelis, "Life Is Good" & What He Teaches Knight About Women
D'Angelo Gets SEXY In GQ Mag, Announced For Jay-Z's "Made In America Festival" Lineup With Drake & More
SERIOUSLY? France BANS The Release OF "Think Like A Man" Over LACK OF DIVERSITY!
T.I., Tiny, Oprah & More CELEBRATE The 80th Birthday Of Ambassador Andrew Young

Kandi Burruss, Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada & Chrissy Lampkin Are "ROLE MODELS" For VIBE's 2012 Sexy Issue

Posted: 22 May 2012 10:03 AM PDT

Whether they are good role models or bad ones, that's the title VIBE magazine gave these reality chicks. For the June/July 2012 SEXY ISSUE, the most vocal, most feisty (which we guess makes them sexy to some) female reality stars are the cover subjects.

Check out Kandi Burruss, Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada & Chrissy Lampkin showing their sexy sides and talking ish (especially about Star Jones' petition to get negative fighting chicks off tv)....

After seeing these four have some TITilating play time behind the scenes of this shoot, you can guess they won't be scared to speak their minds about anything they're asked about. Who needs tact anyway?

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kandi, "Braxton Family Values" star Tamar, "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn and "Love & Hip Hop" former (allegedly she won't be returning) star Chrissy all got chummy for the sexy cover shoot. No fighting, but lots of ish talking. Especially with Chrissy calling out producers for being the cause of the fighting. And Evelyn saying that nobody gives a f*ck about Star Jones. WOMP. Here are the highlights:

VIBE: Star Jones started a petition,lashing out against women and violence on reality TV. What’s your reaction?
Evelyn: [Bursts into laughter] I think she’s going to have to get a whole lot of names. Actually, I like the petition and I like the controversy because I’ve learned controversy is good. But I think she’s irrelevant. And she’s using our coattails to get relevant again. Nobody gives a fuck about her.

Do any of you see yourselves as role models?

Chrissy: I guess if somebody is afraid to speak their mind and wanna stand up for themselves, then yes. I want people to realize that they can have whatever they want. You can be respected in your relationship exactly the way you want to be. It’s up to you to go get it. Some of the stuff is a little heavy, but you’re not going to be exposed to crazy situations in life just by watching reality TV. You can go to the corner store and see crazy shit going on. You can go to school and see crazy shit.Don’t put it all on me.

Kandi: You would never imagine how many people come up to me on the street: “How could you be a part of that? It’s a disgrace to Black people.” I’m on a show called Real Housewives and I’m not married so I guess I represent single mothers out there who are handling their business and trying to take things to the next level. So when people say, “You shouldn’t be on the show, it’s like, “Well, who do you want to go on there? More people you don’t like?”

So you’re saying the producers orchestrated the violence?

Chrissy: Absolutely. They would go as far as telling the new girl, “Chrissy thinks she’s Queen Bee around here so we need you to step up because nobody here has a strong enough personality. We need you to shut it down.” They were feeding people this negative energy from the door. I have no reason to lie.

Check out the full cover story over at VIBE. The issue hits stands next week.

BONUS: Tamar Braxton & her sister and reality show co-star Trina Braxton will be making an appearance on the upcoming TV Land sitcom "Soul Man," starring Cedric The Entertainer & Niecy Nash. Check out our exclusive on-the-set shots of the fab twosome playing gospel darlings:

Mary J. Blige also appeared as a guest. "Soul Man" premieres June 20th at 10p EST on TV Land.

CONCERT FAB: Jill Scott On VH1's Storytellers (VIDEO) + Kelis ROCKS OUT In Cannes

Posted: 22 May 2012 09:35 AM PDT

Jill Scott performed on "VH1 Storytellers" and the full show aired last night. Watch the video inside and see pics of Kelis performing at Cannes.

We told you earlier that Jill Scott rocked the house for an episode of VH1 Storytellers (which aired last night). While telling stories about her hits--which required her pulling wardrobe changes to explain each track, the singer also talked to the audience and answered questions.

Watch "Gettin' In The Way" here:

Watch "He Loves Me (Lyzel In E Flat)" here:

Watch "Golden" here:

Watch Jill Scott answer questions here:

And you can catch all clips from last night's show on VH1's site.

And over in Cannes, France.......

Kelis attended the Abu Dhabi Digital Domain Event at the 65th Cannes Film Festival at Plage de La Quinzaine des Realisateurs in Cannes, France last night. The longer curls look cute on her--but she''ll always have that "I just smoked" look about her.

She rocked a multicolored stiped sequined dress for the ocassion. And has been tweeting from the Cannes Film Fest festivities in the south of France saying:

Raining and cold in Cannes, I fear I brought all the wrong clothes. Seeing as I'm in sweat pants and a giant sweater now looking...
Last night was fun, performed for digital domain. We are still in Cannes and I'm hoping the sun will show it's face a little today

Kelis later hit the stage for a medley of hits.

During a recent interview, it seemed that her ex-husband Nas still has some feelings for her, whom he described as Courtney Love.

Photos via Splash/Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images North America

GQ FELLA: D'Angelo Opens Up About Substance Abuse, Rejecting Madonna & Sabotaging His Own Career

Posted: 22 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT

D'Angelo is giving his very first interview in 12 years (can't believe it's been that long!) in the June 2012 issue of GQ magazine. The incredibly sexy crooner, who was once hailed as the next Marvin Gaye, is telling all on what we've all be wondering about this past decade.

The "Cruisin" singer reveals why he hastily left the game of music, his run-ins with the law & substance abuse, and why he turned down the sexual advances of Hollywood chicks like Madonna....

Most of us never understood why a man with such talent literally threw it away for booze & drugs--voluntarily--just to escape the Hollywood life. But now, after his chit chat with GQ magazine, we just might.

Michael Archer (government name) was once tipping the scales at 300 pounds after he previously sculpted his body into a physique that had women dropping their panties just from watching the tv screen. And he did so to spite his own admirers. Here are the highlights where D'Angelo, along with his close friends Chris Rock & Questlove, explains without being PC why black stardom is a heavy price for sanity...and why he's very ready for his comeback:

D’Angelo on battling his substance abuse during his hiatus: “I didn’t really think I had a problem like that,” he says, taking a hit off a Newport. “I felt like, you know, all I got to do is clean up and I’ll be fine. Just get in the studio and I’ll be fucking fine.”

...on his arrest for soliciting sex from an undercover officer: “It was just me making a stupid decision, a wrong turn, on the wrong night. I’m not the role-model motherfucker. Look at all the shit that I’ve been in.”

...on Madonna:
When Madonna turned 39, she asked him to sing “Happy Birthday” at her party. One press report had her sitting on his lap and French-kissing him. In fact, two sources say that ultimately D rebuffed her advances at another gathering not long after. At that event, the sources say, Madonna walked over and told a woman sitting next to D, “I think you’re in my seat.” The woman got up. Madonna sat down and told him, “I’d like to know what you’re thinking.” To which D replied, “I’m thinking you’re rude.”

Chris Rock on black celebrities: “Black stardom is rough, dude,” Chris Rock tells me when I reach him to talk about D. “I always say Tom Hanks is an amazing actor and Denzel Washington is a god to his people. If you’re a black ballerina, you represent the race, and you have responsibilities that go beyond your art. How dare you just be excellent?”

Questlove, D’Angelo’s former bandleader, on calling him after Amy Winehouse’s death: “’D’s the first person I called,’ Questlove recalls. And I was just honest, like, ‘Look, man, I’m sorry. I know you’re thinking I’m avoiding you like the plague.’ I just said plain and simple, ‘Man, there was a period in which it seemed like you were hell-bent on following the footsteps of our idols, and the one thing you have yet to follow them in was death.’”

Questlove on D’Angelo’s plans to escape stardom: “On the last day of the eight-month [Voodoo] tour, Questlove says D’Angelo told him, ‘Yo man, I cannot wait until this fucking tour is over. I’m going to go in the woods, drink some hooch, grow a beard, and get fat.’ Questlove thought he was joking. ‘I was like, ‘You’re a funny guy.’ And then it started to happen. That’s how much he wanted to distance himself.”

Questlove on self-defeating black artists: “Questlove has a theory about what happens to black genius—what he calls a ‘crazy psychological kind of stoppage that prevents them from following through. A sort of self-saboteur disorder.’

Read the full interview over at GQ. The issue is on stands now. And you can catch D'Angelo getting back to his sexy form this Labor Day weekend at the Made In America festival in Philly.

Photo credit: Gregory Harris/GQ

DO WE LOVE IT?! Ester Dean's "Baby Making Love"

Posted: 22 May 2012 08:31 AM PDT

Ester Dean, the 26-year-old Oklahoma native who has written hit songs for every Pop, R&B and Rap star possible, just dropped a track of her own. Check out her ode to the 80's and early 90's baby making music called "Baby Making Love" inside...

She's written several of the chart toppers from Rihanna, Chris Brown, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige, Lloyd, Kelly Rowland, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Robin Thicke and the list goes on and on. And she's also written her own songs like "Drop It Low" and now, the sexy throw back house party vibe of "Baby Making Love."

The Roc Nation artist had a little fun in the studio and decided to release the track, which will very likely appear on her upcoming Interscope debut, slated to be released later this year.

So...

DO WE LOVE IT?!

Eva Marcille, Mashonda & Adrienne Bailon GET FLIRTY At OK!'s Sexy Singles Party In NYC

Posted: 22 May 2012 08:11 AM PDT

Eva Marcille, Mashonda and Adrienne Bailon were among the celebs who partied with OK! Magazine for their Sexy Singles party in NYC. See the pics....

Eva, the star of the upcoming Oxygen channel reality show "Girlfriend Confidential," rocked a cute black dress for the occasion.

Last night Mashonda joined celebrity friends like Eva Marcille for the OK! Magazine 6th Annual Sexy Singles party at Amnesia NYC. Chick always looks cute on the carpet.

"Empire Girls" stars Adrienne Bailon & Julissa Bermudez wore shiny dresses that look they were made from PVC pipe. Their show premieres on The Style Network on June 3 by the way.

Flo Rida also "sparkled" with his army gear. If he and Eva really broke up (this IS a sexy singles party afterall)...how awkward is it to constantly see your boyfriend at parties?

Denyce Lawton, Eva's costar, attended the party.

And Rocsi Diaz posed with DJ Kiss. Cute looks for the ladies.

PS--Rocsi nor her people will confirm or deny to us the rumors that both she and Terrence J will be leaving "106 & Park."

Photos PNP/ WENN.com

LisaRaye Says "F*CK THE CRITICS" Of "Single Ladies"

Posted: 22 May 2012 07:31 AM PDT

LisaRaye McCoy has never been one to mince words. And please believe she's heard y'all talking about the horrible acting skills and story lines and writing on her show "Single Ladies." But the actress says she deals with it by saying "F*ck the critics" and keeping it moving. Check out her latest interview with HuffPost as she dishes on haters, Stacey Dash, and more about Duane Martin...

"Single Ladies 2" cast Denise Vasi, Eve & LisaRaye McCoy

In a recent interview with HuffPost Black Voices, LisaRaye says not only is her hard-shelled character, Keisha, becoming more vulnerable for the upcoming second season, but the real LisaRaye is still her old self. She's got words for the critics, "friend" Stacey Dash who left the show and enemy Duane Martin who messed her over & turned his back on her (peep her recent JET interview for a refresher):

With success, of course, comes critics. What are your thoughts on media outlets who dubbed season one [of Single Ladies], “embarrassing.”

F**k’em! Let them write a show and come up with what they want to see. Until then, the people who love it, tune in.

While shooting this season, was there anything that you missed about Stacey Dash being involved with the show?

I miss my friend, because Stacey and I are friends as well, before we came to the show and after. So as a fellow actor, as an artist, of course I miss the chemistry that she and I have. But again, this is a job and this is my profession so I have been hired to do my job and I’m committed to doing that. And I believe that I do it well. I’m excited that the season is taking off the way that it is, I’m excited that Denise has joined the cast and I’m excited about the chemistry that all three of us have now. Everybody wants to be here. So that’s half the battle won right there, is when you want to be here then you get a better product. It’s not as heavy as it was last year, by no means. The synergy is there and we’re making a good product.

Have you reached out to Stacey since she parted ways with the show?

I did. We said Happy New Years to each other during New Years. And then I believe after that, I reached out to her one other time, but I want to say that I think she changed her number. But the last time that we actually communicated was New Years … One argument doesn’t break up a friendship unless it was something that was so personal, and it wasn’t personal, it was work related. We were tired, it was what it was and we moved past that. So I think that if either one of us held out against each other, we both would be fools, it’s not that serious.

Your JET magazine interview has everyone talking right now. Some were even surprised by your comments about Duane Martin.

If you know anything about me you know that I’ve been a very honest person and a very real person. And I feel when someone asks me a question it gives me the opportunity to straighten out the rumor or to straighten out the story that I do. That’s not to say that every time some gossip comes out I say, “Ah, let me go straighten it out,” no, not that. But something that directly affects my life that’s like, “oh, you’ve been friends with this person…” I’m like, “nah, nah, nah, I’m not friends with that person. I have very few friends. I’m an associate of everybody and friend of none.” And I wanted to make that clear.

Are you expecting a phone call from him in response to what you said?

Hell, nah! [Laughs] I don’t talk to him, he don’t pay any of my bills, he doesn’t do absolutely nothing for me. And what he did do for me was cause nothing but problems. So if I don’t ever see him again in life that would be cool with me. I don’t have no animosity or revenge in my heart, I actually pray about it every day. I know revenge is for God, and that’s the truth. Was it a hard pill to swallow to see and have one of your friends that you worked with for years that you’ve called a brother, be so back stabbing? Yes, it’s hurtful, but I done got over other things too, meaning my divorce. He ain’t the first friend that turned his back on me, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I appreciate the time that he has given me, but I don’t appreciate his attitude and I don’t see the “man” in him. So for that reason alone, I’m here doing what I do. I don’t even know what he’s doing right now, I don’t even care to know what he’s doing. To him and his family I wish nothing but luck and love, it won’t be coming from me though.

Check out the full interview over at HuffPost Black Voices. And the show's new supertrailer is below:

"Single Ladies 2"--executive produced by Queen Latifah & Flava Unit--kicks off Monday, May 28th 9/8c on VH1.

The Randomness:

1. Bad week for Young Buck. First the rapper is evicted from his home, now he's just been sentenced to 18 months in prison for gun possession charge after a 2010 raid on his home. STORY

2. Ray-J was hospitalized after the Billboard Awards on Sunday for supposed stress/exhaustion. Whitney tribute too overwhelming? STORY

NAUGHTY GIRLS: Usher ACCUSES Tameka Raymond Of ATTACKING And SPITTING At His "Girlfriend" + Wendy Williams EMBRACES Plastic Surgery, Says Black Women Are JEALOUS

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:34 PM PDT

Usher testified in court today that things once got physical between his girlfriend Grace Miguel and ex-wife Tameka Raymond with Tameka spitting at her. Get the deets inside and find out what Wendy Williams has to say about black women and plastic surgery.

Who knew Tameka Raymond was "Bout it Bout it?"

Earlier today, Usher testified in court that the day he showed up at Tameka's house with his girlfriend Grace Miguel (he called Grace his "girlfriend" under oath but seems to deny it to the media), Tameka went HAM hitting him, throwing food and spitting at his girlfriend.

As the ex-couple continues to battle for custody, Usher said Tameka approached him and Grace and "wanted to fight." He said that Tameka walked up to the car and said, "I'm gonna kick your ass. Bitch get out of the car. How dare you bring this woman into my subdivision in my house?" He added, "She continued to spit. At this point she pulled the door open, tried to swing at her."

Deep sigh. He alleges that after he got out of the car to calm her, Tameka hit him. THEN, "she threw a plate of food at the car!" He added that one day, Tameka told Grace, "I will f**k you up."

Watch the video here:

There's three sides to every story. We do know that. But we can't say we wouldn't be surprised if every bit of this was true. Maybe not the full story, but true.

Also.......

Wendy Williams may have been spotted munching on hot dogs and BBQ while taping her show earlier, but if the pounds ever start to load up...she knows how to get them off. During a recent interview with XO Jane, Wendy expressed her love of plastic surgery and addressed her critics. Wendy (who is open about her liposuction, breast implants and tummy tucks) said black women are just JEALOUS of her post-surgical body because they think you're supposed to be natural.

"They are jealous. Because if I said to that person, 'I got the doctor and I’m going to pay for it. Choose three things you want to do,' believe me, they would get it done. They are very jealous and scared. Scared of what their other friends would say, or to break out of the box and be different. And being Black? Ugh, please. My people will not go for any kind of surgery. We are supposed to be natural. Ugh, whatever."

Oh Wendy....

She also addressed her "wig" haters saying, "If you do wear a wig, everybody wants you to take off the wig and show your hair. That's what Tyra [Banks] did on her show years ago. Because she was running out of ideas trying to shock her audience."

Watch Wendy behind the scenes here:

BONUS:

Bobbi Kris stole our hearts last night during the 2012 Billboard Awards' tribute to her mother Whitney Houston. But she also spent part of the weekend breaking the law as video has surfaced of she and Nick Gordon at the slot machines of the MGM Resort and Casino on Saturday. Because Nick is 22, his presence was fine....but 19-year-old Bobbi Kris at the slots was a no-no! If she would have won any money--she wouldn't have been allowed to receive it as casinos require an ID stating you're over 21 in order to receive a payout. And they've got cameras EVERYWHERE. The casino is now launching an investigation.

Watch Bobbi Kris gambling here.

Earlier in the evening......

Bobbi Kris posed for a flick with Wiz Khalifa.

Photos via INF/Michael Crawford / Video via TMZ

Nas Talks To COMPLEX About His Money & Split With Kelis, "Life Is Good" & What He Teaches Knight About Women

Posted: 21 May 2012 03:54 PM PDT

In a colorful early 90's style shoot with COMPLEX magazine, The Don is officially solidifying his place in the current hip hop world. Nas is more than back (and even sexier we may add) on the rap scene as he preps his tenth studio album, Life Is Good. So he's revealing how his new outlook on life came from his rough split with Kelis, the drama with his teenaged daughter, Destiny, how he looks to please no one but himself & his changed outlook on women...

(Shirt: Ralph Lauren, Pants: Ralph by Ralph Lauren)

(T-shirt by Calvin Klein / Shorts by Ralph Lauren / Boots by Timberland / Hat by Capas Headwear / Eyewear by June Ambrose Eyewear)

(Shirt by Woolrich Woolen Mills / Tank by Polo Ralph Lauren / Shorts by Rocawear / Boots by Timberland / Hat by Kangol (on cover) / All jewelry Nas' own.)

We picked out our fave highlights from Nas' big cover story with COMPLEX magazine. The spread, styled by June Ambrose, is accompanied by Nas dishing all on those rumored money problems and cheating rumors Kelis has blasted him on (and why his feelings were hurt), and how he doesn't let anything affect his happiness this many years in the game. He speaks on the sexiness of our First Lady, offers up a few compliments to his ex wife, and what he won't tolerate from folks. And gives more details into the controversies surrounding his life:

“Daughters” was an emotional record. What made you be so honest?
This is the first time I’m dealing with a teenage daughter, and it blows me away. I don’t know that you’re ever prepared to be a parent. Once you become one, that’s your responsibility. It’s more like me talking to myself, about how I could have been there a lot more. I beat myself up for not being the best I could be. I would ask her: “Am I a cool dad?” or “Am I a good dad? Did I fuck up?” And she would say, “Nah, you’re good.” That’s important to me because I started as a teen. I was around 19 when her mother was pregnant. My daughter means a lot to me. It’s just a record that came from the heart.

What’s the most important thing that you want to teach your son (Knight) about women?
He has to have his own life. My experience could be the wrong thing for his life and what’s ahead of him. A lot of older people are giving the worst advice, based on the problems they had. I’m going to need him to tell me what to do. That’s what I’m looking forward to. If I’m here, we’ll talk. If not, he’s going to figure it out on his own. He’ll take his mother’s words, he’ll take my words, and then there’s the truth. Whatever he feels, he’s got to go with his heart, and be a man in every occasion.

You talked about regrets, and looking back. Do you feel like you were punished for surviving, on some level? Big and ’Pac are untouchable now.
I’m blessed to be here and be able to go into the studio and record another album. If someone has a problem with how I’m doing my thing, how I’m living my life, how they see my legacy, that’s none of my business. How can I be mad, when I still have more to say and the opportunity to make music? That alone—that’s why my life is good.

What’s your relationship with the blogs and Twitter?
I don’t understand how artists get pissed off at people on Twitter. I appreciate a good joke. I mean, who are you? Not to say that people should have the toughest skin, and nothing should bother you... Maybe it’s just my age. I know who I am. I know what I’ve survived, and I know what I’ve done. That shit wasn’t easy. So for someone who doesn’t know anything about that to comment on it, you can’t be mad at them. They don’t know any better.

There's a record about Kelis on Life Is Good that goes into what made you fall in love with her. How hard was that breakup? What was the feeling when she had your son after you were separated?
There was a point where we were trying to hold onto a relationship that was finished. She was pregnant and in the studio while we were recording Distant Relatives, and he would move when the music would come on. That was a great feeling for me, just to have that feeling of family. It ended around the time the record was being done.

There were times when it didn’t bother me, and there were times when it bothered me a lot. There were times when I was thinking, Damn. I had this shit all planned out, and now I’ve failed. That was hard on me, because I don’t like to fail at anything. Accepting that I failed at this relationship—and it was public—messed me up. You ask yourself, How could that person be so cold? And I’m sure she felt the same way about me. It was ugly.

I saw Kelis as Courtney Love—but I also saw her as a mahogany queen. I saw us as a beautiful thing.

How has your relationship with women changed, now that you’re older and you’ve been divorced?
I’m taken aback by the beauty of women. There was a time when I only saw big breasts and thick asses. Now, I see the beauty in the subtleties. Those are even better than the tits and ass. The aesthetics have changed for me.

She might not be the prettiest, but there’s something special about her—
That makes her pretty. No disrespect to women when I say bad bitch, but my definition of a bad bitch is not always the video vixens. A bad bitch can be a younger woman, in her early 20s, but wise beyond her years. It could be a woman in her late 30s, who’s cool as hell, smart, and has great motherly qualities—or has great motivational skills, or is a powerful mover and shaker in her own career.

Like Michelle Obama is sexy.
Michelle Obama is the most beautiful woman on the planet. She cares about people. All first ladies have their jobs to do, but you can feel her sincerity.

After you say “I do,” everything changes.
Yeah. (From a previous question) It’s fucked up when money’s involved in divorce. And I don’t give a fuck. I can’t take it with me, so someone can take the money. Anyone that I’m married to, if I give you my life, I give you my heart, I love you—my money is nothing. You can have it all. It’s just sad that when you’re dealing with love and life and marriage, that marriage is a contract. It’s a business deal. That messes people up.

Did you see a problem immediately?
Yeah, but it was a problem I was attracted to. It was rock and roll. I saw Kelis as Courtney Love—but I also saw her as a mahogany queen. I saw us as a beautiful thing. I saw us as inspiration. People weren’t seeing hip-hop artists get married. A lot of people came at me crazy. But I think overall, we were inspiring people to love.

My daughter would be calling me, like, 'Dad, they’re talking about you on the radio.' She wanted to tweet back, and I told her to take the high road. It was ugly.

There was a lot that was thrown at her that she couldn’t handle. Like I was saying earlier, there’s a lot that I could tell my kids, but they’ve got to fish it out for themselves. Every night, she was in bed with Harvard. She was sleeping with Harvard. She had all the answers, but I needed something more from her, that she either wasn’t ready or didn’t know how to provide. Plus, she is younger than me and she hadn’t seen all the things I had seen. She was on her journey, I was on mine. In the beginning, I said, “There’s parts of this that might not work,” but there was a beautiful part of it, too. For the most part, I had a great time being married. It was amazing. She’s an amazing woman.

She never threw daggers at you in the media.
No, she did. Over Twitter, and there were things.

In an article, she said that she wasn’t going to say anything bad about you.
That was later, because the response was not good. There were bad tweets. She was angry. She was lashing out at anyone—and anyone she would lash out at, people automatically thought she was talking about me. My daughter would be calling me, like, “Dad. I’m on my way to school, and they’re talking about you on the radio.” My daughter wanted to tweet back and shit, and I told her to take the high road. It was ugly.

How is it now?
It’s a lot better.

So there are no issues? You see your son as you please?
That side is not great yet, but it’s working toward being that way. She’s a new mom. I’m busy and she’s busy. From what I see, she’s being a good mom, and it’s working toward a great place. There was a time when I couldn’t see him at all. It was terrible when the divorce was fresh.

Did you ever get to a point where you hated her?
No. I got to a point where I was like, “Did she always hate me?” and “Did she ever love me at all?” I’ve got to admit, I did feel like that. But she did love me.

The backlash is because she loved so hard.
Exactly. They wind up taking it out on you. A lot of divorces are bad because a woman is just being vindictive. She’s not after the money, she just wants you to hurt the way she was hurt.

Could you ever see yourself getting married again?
Not right now. I’m enjoying life and looking at each day like, “This is beautiful.” I’m having a good time. I’m not going to bring anybody in to mess that up. You come around looking like you’re going to mess this good time up, you’re out of here—fast. [Laughs.] I’m not sacrificing my happiness for nobody and their drama. No way.

Check out the full interview over at COMPLEX and the behind the scenes footage below:

Loves him. Life Is Good is in stores July 17th.

D'Angelo Gets SEXY In GQ Mag, Announced For Jay-Z's "Made In America Festival" Lineup With Drake & More

Posted: 21 May 2012 01:45 PM PDT

Well hello there Mr. D'Angelo. It's been a while...but we can see things haven't changed too much. The sexy singer has been peeking out of hiding for the past few months during sporadic shows overseas. And apparently, he got he attention of GQ magazine and Jay-Z as well. Mr. "Untitled" in his GQ spread, plus Jay's "Made In America" lineup inside...

In the May 2012 issue of GQ Magazine--on stands now with actor Michael Fassbender on the cover--Michael Eugene Archer, b.k.a. D'Angelo, is flossing his grown and sexy look that can make most women drop those panties in 5 seconds or less. Looks like he's gotten back to his old self.

The "Brown Sugar" crooner is on the comeback tip readying a new studio album and apparently about to make his rounds on the festival circuit. Namely, Jay-Z's Made In America festival in Philly.

The festival plans were announced last week as Jay told the media the 2 day festival will take place during Labor Day Weekend (same time as Rock The Bells in Jersey). And now, a few of the acts have been revealed--thanks to a ticketmaster F up over the weekend when they accidentally posted a few of the acts.

D'Angelo will be taking the stage, as will Drake, Afrojack (I guess not everybody has to be made in America), Santigold, Odd Future and Pearl Jam.

It's not the whole lineup, but we're feeling it so far. Tickets will be available on LiveNation Wednesday, May 23.

SERIOUSLY? France BANS The Release OF "Think Like A Man" Over LACK OF DIVERSITY!

Posted: 21 May 2012 11:35 AM PDT

In a shocking move which some think is blatantly racist, France has decided to cancel the release of the major hit film Think Like A Man -- due to the casts' alleged "lack of diversity." Get the deets inside.....

Tim Story's blockbuster hit Think Like A Man has raked in over $73 million since its April 20th release. But that means nothing to the french movie guild.

While tons of French films and films from any country are produced year after year with "Black characters" that can be counted on one hand (if at all), France has decided that Think Like A Man DOES NOT promote diversity and has been banned. So the films with all white casts do promote diversity?

Majority of films starring majority black casts never make it overseas. Because it is said that the people of those countries "will not relate and will not want to see that." This also affects how black and other ethnicity are perceived globally if there's never anything allowed to counteract negative stereotypes. So how does it makes sense to ban a positive film starring a cast of minorities when the film could actually stimulate diversity in the future? Global Voices offered an answer saying,

“Surprising as it may be, the answer lies in the fact that the film has an all-black cast. French cinema is often pointed at for not fairly displaying all components of the country’s multiethnic population. Although the recent success of the movie Les Intouchables, which earned French African actor Omar Sy the Cesar award for Best Actor in 2012, caused great pride and hope among French nationals from Africa and the Caribbean, it was not to be the turning point for a deep and lasting change.”

If it still doesn't make sense, French blog People Bo Kay added (translated), "The French state has had a sociopolitical strategy which favors interracial relationships rather than valuing communities. In the comedy ‘Think like a Man', the focus is on black couples."

So we're just ignoring the relationship between Gabrielle Union's character and "Turtle"/Jerry Ferrara? This sounds like some ish they'd try in Hollywood. It's interesting to note that France also bans the release of Tyler Perry flicks.

“Black actor and producer Tyler Perry’s movies are never scheduled in any French movie theaters or are only released in DVDs, even though he has been used to leading the US box-office, as with ‘Why did I get Married’ and ‘For Colored Girls’. The French society acts hypocritically, when it refuses to show movies from black producers who earn millions from conveying a positive message to the African diaspora through their films.”

Do you think the French are being racist in a reverse way? Or do you agree with their explanation?

SPEAK ON IT!

T.I., Tiny, Oprah & More CELEBRATE The 80th Birthday Of Ambassador Andrew Young

Posted: 21 May 2012 10:18 AM PDT

YBF celebs Oprah Winfrey, T.I. & Tiny, Tyrese and India.Arie celebrated the 80th birthday of United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young last night in Atlanta. Oprah & The Harrises in the same room? Interesting. See pics inside...

Lots of celebrity guests partied in Atlanta last night at The Andrew Young Foundation's celebration of the 80th birthday of Ambassador Andrew Young. I would have paid money to hear a conversation between Tiny & Oprah. Oprah would have SO asked for a translator and meant no shade by it.