Gardenia...

"Billie, did you wear that Gardenia in your hair so you wouldn't smell yourself rotting? How did that work for you? Because I’m 20 and I’ve been trying to find the easiest way to not look like I’ve been hurting."- Jasmine Mans

9 Good Decisions You’ve Waited Too Long To Make....

As you’re moving at the speed of life, it’s easy to overlook the basics – the simple, good decisions that make life sweeter. Regardless of how we advance and grow as a society – with new technologies, skills, and ideals – the fundamentals in life haven’t changed. It’s still best to be cordial and kind, to keep an open mind, to make the most of what you have, to work hard for what you believe, to stand strong and learn from your mistakes when things go wrong, etc. If you aren’t doing so already, you’ve waited too long.

It’s time to…

1. Be present. – Being completely present is extremely important – being actively in the ‘here and now’ for yourself and for the ones you love. Fortunately, doing so is an easy thing to accomplish. It’s enough to simply take a few deep breaths, pay attention, and let go of thinking and planning for every other time and place. Just come back to where you are, breathe in, breathe out, and smile. You are right here, right now in this moment we call life, which is in itself a miracle worth paying attention to.

2. Leave the past behind you. – You act like it’s you against the world, but it’s really just you against yourself. You become a prisoner in your own mind when you cling to the pains of the past. Instead, be free and cling no more. If you’re brave enough to say “goodbye,” life will always reward you with a new “hello.” So keep your faith as you put one foot in front of the other; it won’t make things any easier, but it will make things possible.

3. Make conscious choices. – All the choices you’ve made in your lifetime have brought you to this point. Where do you want to go next? You’ve learned many things from the path you’ve walked in the past. What do you wish to learn today? From an infinite pool of possibilities, you have selected specific goals and specific ways to spend your time. What are the possibilities that most interest you now. Life doesn’t happen to you, it happens because of you – it’s what you choose to think, do, and create in each moment. So what do you choose? Right now is an opportunity of a lifetime.

4. Work hard for happiness. – You are allowed to cry. Extremely happy people cry too. The reason they are happy is because they understand that unhappy moments are fleeting. Instead of dragging them down, the weight of rejection, the disappointment of failure, and the pain of heartache fuels them. It motivates them to make positive changes going forward. Because they realize that happiness is NOT a fleeting state of mind; it’s is a lifestyle choice that requires the willingness to work through the tears, and do what’s necessary to make tomorrow a better day.

5. Start DOING. – Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from what you can do. No more excuses, no more wasting precious time. This moment is as good a time as any to begin doing what matters most. Start exactly where you are right now. Do what you can with what you have right now. Stop over-thinking and start DOING!

6. Take baby steps. – It only takes a couple minutes to make a little progress, and a little progress quickly adds up. It only takes a couple seconds to express a little kindness, and a little kindness can mean all the difference in the world to those around you. It only takes a simple attitude adjustment to build a little positivity, and little positivity is what makes great things possible. Get in the habit of making small positive changes like these, and soon you’ll be experiencing big accomplishments that once seemed entirely out of reach.

7. Halt the negative judgments. – Don’t speak if it’s not kind; speak only words of kindness. Don’t see everyone’s flaws; look for the good in people. Don’t listen to everything you’re told about others; not everything is truth. Be careful placing judgment upon someone, for you are unaware of the battles they are fighting. Instead, pay closer attention – figure out why they live the way they do. Every person in this life has something to teach you, and as soon as you accept this you open yourself to truly listening and learning.

8. Give yourself more credit. – What if you started giving yourself more credit? What if, for today, you choose to believe that you have enough, you are enough, and that you’ve come far enough to be worthy? What if, for today, you choose to believe that you’re strong enough, wise enough, kind enough, and loved enough to move forward? What if, as the sun sets on today, you choose to believe that you did a pretty good job? And what if tomorrow morning, you choose to believe it all over again?

9. Appreciate the good life you have. – The secret to a good life is to pay more attention to the beginnings than the endings. So many people say they want a new life, but then they take the new one they get every morning for granted. Don’t do this. Don’t wait until your life is almost over to realize how great it has been. The good life begins right now, when you stop wanting a better one.

(via)

New Music: Marsha Ambrosius - "Cold War"

The beautiful songstress Marsha Ambrosius has premiered the lead single "Cold War" lifted from her forthcoming sophomore solo album"Friends And Lovers",it features production from Diplo and Maxime Picard and it was co-written by Elijah Blake. "Cold War" is a thumping mid-tempo, Marsha lets those pipes blow as she sings about a relationship that wants to make things work but they keep on fighting : "This is a cold war we're fighting, and neither one of us wanna surrender...this is a cold war we're fighting and if you even cared, you wouldn't start this cold war," she croons. Ambrosius never fails to deliver music that touches the heart and that is relatable, love the breakdown  at 3:00. The track will be available on iTunes on 11th December.

Rating: 4.5/5

"Friends And Lovers" is due out in 2013, the album will include production from: Pop & Oak, Elijah Blake, and Dre &Vidal and many others. I can’t wait to see what Marsha serves up this time around.

Jada Defends Willow's Hair Cut

Willow Smith dyes and styles her hair as she pleases but some small minded people get all hot and bothered over it and have criticized her parents for the way they have raised her daughter. which is so stupid. Her mother Jada Pinkett-Smith has written a letter to address it.:

A letter to a friend...

This subject is old but I have never answered it in its entirety. And even with this post it will remain incomplete.

The question why I would LET Willow cut her hair. First the LET must be challenged. This is a world where women,girls are constantly reminded that they don't belong to themselves; that their bodies are not their own, nor their power or self determination. I made a promise to endow my little girl with the power to always know that her body, spirit and her mind are HER domain. Willow cut her hair because her beauty, her value, her worth is not measured by the length of her hair. It's also a statement that claims that even little girls have the RIGHT to own themselves and should not be a slave to even their mother's deepest insecurities, hopes and desires. Even little girls should not be a slave to the preconceived ideas of what a culture believes a little girl should be. More to come. Another day.

J

New Music: Alicia Keys Feat. Maxwell - "Fire We Make"

Alicia Keys finally delivered something worth listening to this era, with "Fire We Make" a sexy slow-tempo featuring legendary singer Maxwell. The Pop & Oak produced track sees Keys singing in her signature alt and Maxwell singing his amazing falsetto, his skillfully delivery makes the listeners to experience the music. Keys needs to release this track as a single to create interest for her forthcoming album "Girl On Fire". 
Rating: 5/5

New Music: Chrisette Michele - "Fair Lady" And "Rich Hipster" Feat. Wale

After releasing her track "Charades" a couple of weeks ago, Chrisette Michele returned with two tracks lifted from her highly anticipated forthcoming mixtape "Audrey Hepburn: An Audiovisual Presentation" which is due out on 8th December. The first track is titled "Fair Lady" featuring Guitar Slayer of Big Bang Band, it`s a thumping mid-tempo track with a rock production, which was a big risk for the singer who has a husky voice but it was crafted brilliantly and she sounded amazing. 

Rating: 4/5 

The second track sees Chrisette reuniting with Wale again, this time in the form of "Rich Hipster", which  is a solid mid-tempo track that has a brilliant melody to it, her vocal delivery is so fun and heavenly and Wale delivers a great verse.

Rating: 3.5/5

Chrisette also premiered her music video for "Charades", the Derek Blanks directed black and white visual sees her love interest in the video is coming on strong but she is letting it be known that she is up on game and not falling for it because of  her past experiences with love.  She is looking fabulous and confident.

Single Art: Marsha Ambrosius - "Cold War"

R&B songstress Marsha Ambrosius took to Twitter to announce to the release of her new single "Cold War," which is the official first single lifted from her upcoming sophomore solo album "Friends And Lovers" which is due out next year."Cold War" will be released on 11th December, checkout the official single cover above and lookout for it when it's released.

New Music: Skream Feat. Kelis - "Copycat"

British producer Skream recently premiered his new single titled "Copycat" featuring the beautiful songstress Kelis, taken from his upcoming EP "Skreamizm 7" due out on December. 

Over the years Kelis has been a music and fashion trendsetter and some of her fellow female pop stars have her to thank for where they are in their careers, because she has been their source of inspiration. So she addresses the pop stars on "Copycat":  "I’m such a fan of that dress that’s why I bought it five years ago. "I’m such a fan of your hair, that’s why I cut it, you want it? Happy Birthday." The song is pretty good, her smooth vocals fit perfectly on top of a minimalist production.

Rating: 3/5

All The Way To Heaven....

By AfroerotiK

At the precise moment of our birth, each and every person who has been blessed enough to take just one, single breath of life is given a special gift from the Most High God.  It’s a gift so special, so sacred, that it can only be given once.  It belongs entirely and completely to that individual and the exact moment that gift is given and all the details surrounding that event will be FOREVER remembered by them.  Sharing one’s virginity, an act symbolic of entry into adulthood, the awakening of one’s sexuality, is something that should ONLY be gifted to someone deserving of such an honor, someone who will treat it as the sacred and holy sacrament that it is.  Aaron Waters was the man who had been chosen to receive Taisha Dixon’s most precious gift and it was an honor and a responsibility he was not going to take lightly.

From the moment he met Taisha, Aaron knew that she was special.  There was something about her, something about the way she thought and believed and, just something about how she carried herself that made her vastly different than the other young ladies her age.  First and foremost, she had chosen to remain a virgin until the ripe old age of 20.  These days, both guys and girls are becoming sexually active in their early teens and by the time most girls are 20, they have seen and experienced all things sexual from A to Z, a few times in fact.  Her faith in God was strong, it was the primary reason she had chosen to remain chaste for so long in fact, but it was not a blind, unquestioning faith.  Taisha was informed; she possessed a unique ability to separate the myths and oppressive dogma of the church from the joy that can only come from having a personal relationship with the Creator of All.  She was also smart enough and savvy enough to understand that sensuality, sexuality, and carnal pleasure were birthrights to all human beings and that our emotional and spiritual health depended upon our connection, our touch, our moments of ecstatic bliss when two bodies are joined together which was a meditation and a communion with God that can only be shared with another human being during the joining of two bodies.

To Aaron, Taisha was a perfect mix of beauty, femininity, intellect, spirituality, and sensuality.   She was down-to-earth and grounded but she was cool and sweet as well.  The choice to share her most precious gift with him was not a decision that they came to haphazardly or randomly.  It was a choice they came to together, based largely on their physical attraction to one another but primarily because of their similar core values, beliefs, and interests.  Taisha cared for him deeply and she loved his spirit.  She was convinced that he was a good man with the potential to be a great man and that he possessed all the traits and characteristics of a man with whom she could build something really, really astounding.  He possessed integrity and honor and she was quite convinced that sharing her virginity with him was the next, most important step to forming an even more important bond that could potentially lead to a deeper, more significant long-term relationship.  Very much to her credit, Taisha understood that in order to form a healthy, emotionally-mature, long-term relationship, she knew in her heart and soul that it had to be based on sexual chemistry and compatibility as well as all the other things they already had in common.  She was incredibly unique in that she understood that in order for her to fully mature and be ready to handle the responsibility of an adult relationship, to become a REAL woman, not just in age but in spirit and heart as well, that she was going to have to gift her virginity and explore her sensual side.

Taisha was ready.  Aaron . . . not so much.  They had discussed it time and time again, sharing open, deep communication about what it meant, the ramifications and implications thereof, even down to what form of birth control to use.  Aaron wasn’t a virgin and he knew that Taisha was going to remember her first time until the end of time.  He wanted it to be special for her, to share this experience with her, but the good guy in him was  . . . well scared really that he was going to hurt her, emotionally and/or physically; he just wasn’t sure he was up for the responsibility of being someone’s first.  He thought that was for fairy tales and Prince Charming type dudes and he was afraid he wasn’t up to the task.

Oddly enough it was Taisha who comforted his fears.  She did so by just being an exceptional woman.  She listened when he was frustrated with work and wanting something more.  She didn’t judge him or berate him, she communicated well and she just had a light that emanated from her that seemed to make her glow.  She was radiant from the inside out and he didn’t want to dirty that.  He hadn’t quite come to the same level of comfort about sex and sexuality as Taisha had even though he had much more experience.  He was an attractive black man with a sexy body in a society that told him he had to be a sexual predator, stalking his victims, using them, throwing them away for the next “piece.”  He was also raised by a strict, religious family in the church where he was taught that sex was for marriage only and that he was a wretched sinner if he even thought about pleasures of the flesh.  With all these messages and influences, sex for Aaron was something that usually just happened and he felt a lot of pleasure in the moment and modicum of guilt afterwards.   He wasn’t sure he was up to the task of making someone’s first time memorable and special but he made the decision in his heart and in his mind that he wanted to share this with Taisha and he was going to do what he needed to do.

Aaron had made plans to “take the trip all the way to heaven” (as he had begun calling it) without Taisha knowing the exact particulars.  He didn’t like the term losing her virginity because you lose your keys, you lose your mind.  Virginity, to Aaron, was not something to be lost or found or stolen; and it certainly was not something to be taken.  Luckily for him his best friend Jose was out of town for the weekend and he had left them the keys to his place so they could have no interruptions from roommates or parents.  Aaron had taken all the necessary precautions to prepare for the evening.  He’d done all the typical stuff, like making reservations for dinner and ensuring the sheets were clean and the apartment tidy but he had also gone to get tested for STDs because he wanted Taisha to feel safe and secure in his arms in every way possible.

Taisha had had a terrible week, an absolutely dreadful, awful, horrible week at work and she was looking forward to getting away and enjoying some time alone with Aaron.  He told her he would pick her up Friday night at 7 pm sharp for their date.  When he arrived, she looked like an African Goddess.  She was wearing a cinnamon colored skirt that hung low on her hips and a v-neck t-shirt that fit close enough to show off all her assets but wasn’t at all vulgar.  Aaron couldn’t take his eyes off her lips.  They seemed so sensuous and full and shimmery with her lip gloss shining.

“Hey, where are we going?” Taisha inquired, as they drove through a neighborhood that seems a little more gentrified than they were accustomed to frequenting.

“It’s a place called Bastianelli’s.  I read the reviews for it in the paper and it’s supposed to be really nice. I got a little side hustle going doing some house painting and I put a little money away for a special occasion and I thought I would treat you to a really nice dinner.”

Taisha was humbled.  She welled up with emotion; she thought it was such a sweet gesture, that Aaron was such a sweet guy.  Dinner was wonderful, romantic even as the fed each other, laughed and just had a relaxed, stress-free evening.  After dinner, they sat outside and people-watched for a little while.  She could tell he was nervous about something but she didn’t have a clue what it could be.  When he suggested that they go home, she just assumed he meant he was going to take her back to her apartment.  She was even more confused when they pulled up in front of Jose’s place.

Unsure of what to say, Aaron didn’t say a word, he just let Taisha out his car and he led her to the front door, fumbling with the keys in the door.  Taisha, of course, was questioning what was going on but she was starting to put the pieces together.  She didn’t want to make any assumptions but she didn’t want to come out and ask directly either lest some spell be broken and they would be plunged back to reality.  If this was a dream she did not want to wake up.  She was teetering between being nervous and being excited at the same time so she just decided to see where things were going to go in silence.

Sitting nervously on the sofa, Taisha watched as Aaron lit some candles and turned on his slow jam Pandora station.  That was about it for his seduction techniques.  Beyond that, he didn’t have a clue what a guy was supposed to do to romance a woman so that would have to suffice.  What he did know was that he wanted her, craved her, that he desired her, sexually of course but more than just that.  He was starting to get aroused just thinking about it.  He wanted everything to go perfectly; he wanted it to be a night she would enjoy.  His game plan?  Go slow and let nature take its course.  That’s what he kept repeating to himself.  Go slow and let nature take its course.

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They were like two teenagers sitting there, the soft glow of the candles illuminating them in a tension-filled room.  Both were unsure of what to do so they fidgeted, still not uttering a word.  Finally, Aaron took a deep breath.  If this was going to happen, he was going to have to make the first move.  He was going to have to make every move.  He reached across the sofa; the distance seemed liked miles, like light years.  He took her hand in his and he pulled her closer.  Taisha succumbed to his non-verbal direction and scooted down next to him.  He lifted her face to his and they kissed.  Lightly, he put his lips to hers.  He tasted her cherry flavored gloss, sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, and slid his hands down the slope of her soft, brown neck to her shoulders.  Taisha let out a gentle moan and twisted her body around so that she was at the edge of the sofa leaning into him.

Their kisses grew more passionate, more fevered as Taisha straddled his body, her thighs pressed tightly against his sides, his hands full with the curves of her backside.  She could feel the evidence of his erection and she was light-headed, giddy with the thought that she had done that to him, caused that reaction in him.  Every sensation for her was heightened and new and exciting and sexy.

Pure, natural, animalistic, primitive instinct took over Aaron and he knew that he had to make love to this woman and soon.  Maneuvering her around, he laid her back on the sofa and pressed his body into hers.  He started whispering in her ear, “I want you. I need you.”  He took her hand and directed it towards the steely erection that was desperate to break free from its confines.  Taisha marveled at the thickness and stiffness and tried to get a gauge as to its length to know what was in store.  Being so inexperienced, she couldn’t tell.  All she knew was that she was ready, that she wanted him, she wanted this.  Aaron had practically his entire weight pressed deeply into her and Taisha wanted and needed more.  He was taking her breath away but in that moment, she wanted him closer, she wanted them to be more connected.  In that moment, her primal, instinctual drives took over.  She was no longer a virgin in the typical sense of the word rather she was a woman preparing to share herself with her lover.

Aaron knew it was time for the next step and he stood up.  Looking down, he could see Taisha in all her beauty.  Her breathing was labored and her chest was heaving up and down, betraying her arousal.  He scooped her up in his arms like it was nothing, like she belonged to him and carried her to the bedroom.  Taisha held on tight, her arms wrapped firmly around his neck, feeling like she was floating on air.  He laid her on the bed and stood back for a brief moment.  He pulled his t-shirt off over his head and kicked off his shoes and socks.  He wanted to ask, “Are you sure?  Are you ready for this,” but he didn’t have to ask.  The look of desire in Taisha’s eyes told him all he needed to know.

He undressed her slowly, carefully removing each article of her clothing, leaving her only in her delicate waist beads that accentuated her tummy, hips, and adorable belly button.   She smelled delicious: like a combination of feminine arousal and patchouli.  Beautiful, brown, and bare, he took every delicious inch of her body in, savoring her with his eyes.  He stood at the foot of the bed for the last time for the evening and lowered his remaining garments: standing strong, proud, hard, and very ready in every way possible.

Climbing on the bed, he crawled between Taisha’s legs and spread them.  Taisha’s head was spinning.  She felt exposed and vulnerable and yet somehow she knew it was right.  Slowly, softly, and ever so gently, Aaron lowered his mouth to her center.  He kissed her delicately there and sent shivers up her spine.  He took his tongue and began to explore her further, tasting her sweetness, lapping up her juices.  Taisha was beside herself.  Nothing in life had ever felt so good.  She received his licks and kisses and met them with her gyrating hips.  It was only when he spread the lips of her femininity and he found her magic spot with his tongue that Taisha experienced pleasure untold.  Using his tongue like a sensual paint brush, circling, swirling, designing her with pleasure he gently coaxed her love button to hardness and began to swirl it with his tongue, suck it tenderly, and stimulate her like an artist creating a masterpiece with his mouth.

Taisha felt the breath leave her lungs.  She was literally breathless.  Sounds, noises began escaping her lips.  She wanted to hold them back but they had a mind of their own.  She grunted and groaned.  Before she knew what was happening, she felt tremors happening in her lowering body.  Her legs were shaking and there was this strange, indescribable feeling of electricity coursing through her body.  Her breathing was coming in short, raspy breaths now and she grabbed his head and held it to her mound, uncertain of anything, uncertain of everything, except the fact that she didn’t want this feeling to stop.

Aaron didn’t stop; he licked with all his might, faster now but still gently.  Pleasure was now consuming Taisha’s body and she was fighting a feeling she couldn’t name or understand.  It was like an itch somewhere in her body that couldn’t be scratched, an explosion that was self-contained within each and every cell of her body.  Her legs shook, trembled and she was holding on to Aaron’s head for dear life, demanding that he not move, not stop.  Not once did Aaron lick or suck too hard, never did he think of biting her.  He was affectionately, lovingly coaxing her orgasm out with his tongue and Taisha released her passion, exploding in orgasm.  She saw fireworks and stars and felt a release like she had never known before.

Rather than being satisfied, Taisha was desperate for more.  She was ready to take the next step, the final step.  She was wet beyond her wildest dreams and she could no longer form words.  She was communicating with her eyes, her hands, her body.  Again, he pressed his body to hers, this time unencumbered by any clothing.  Taisha wrapped her legs around him, pulled him to her closer, tightly.  The moisture between her thighs provided the lubrication that drove her to distraction as he slid his penis between the folds of her beautiful, engorged, slippery lips.

“Make love to me!” she said.

Aaron didn’t need to be told twice.  He needed this more than she did at this point.  He pushed her legs back and took careful aim.  The heat was intense.  He was intoxicated with her scent.  She was giving herself to him and they were about to become one.  Taisha was fearless.  She had no second thoughts or doubts.  What she had was desire and passion for the man about to join with her like no man had ever done.

He pushed the head in and they both let out a guttural sound known only to lovers who experience that mind-blowing, heart stopping, sensation the very first time you join together as one.  It’s pleasure indescribable.  It’s connection and intimacy and truth.  He didn’t force himself in her, rather, he let her control the action.  There was a brief moment of resistance but she got acclimated to his size without any pain whatsoever.  It helped that she was so turned on, so relaxed from her orgasm.  Slowly, inch by inch, he went deeper until Taisha felt like she couldn’t breathe any more.  She felt like Aaron was her breath, that he was her life force.

Fully inside her, Aaron looked for the sign that he could make love to her with abandon.  Taisha wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer.  With that, he knew it was time.  He thrust.  He withdrew himself almost completely and then he thrust again.  He was rhythmic and graceful, in and out, in and out, IN  . . . AND . . . . OUT.   Passion consumed them and they were meeting each other’s bodies, connected, joined.  He felt like a virgin unable to control himself, his arousal.  They were making love now, passionate, hot, sweaty love.  The muscles in his back, thighs, arms, and butt flexed and he cried out into the night, “Ohhhhhhhh God,” as he experienced his own personal heaven.

He collapsed onto her, breathless.  “Are you okay?” he asked, genuinely concerned for her well-being.

Taisha comforted him with her whispers and sweet, soft kisses on his face and lips.  They were lovers now.  Her womanly instincts to protect and nurture him took over and she caressed his beautiful brown skin and looked him deeply in the eye as she vowed with her heart that they would explore more intimacy and passion in the days, weeks, and months to come.

New Music: JoJo – "We Get By"

JoJo has recently dropped a new single titled "We Get By", which is lifted her forthcoming mixtape titled "Agape" due out on 21st  December. "We Get By" is a edgy mid-tempo that showcases the maturity of her vocals and lyricism: "These Colonial bricks and beams are just not enough to hold me . All I got are these hopes and dreams and this Cranberry Stoli", she sings in the first verse; then on the chorus she sings about staying optimistic in spite of the obstacles she faces, singing “I get by” over and over again.

Rating: 4.5/5

Listen to it below and be sure to be on the lookout for Jojo’s mixtape "Agape".

New Music: India Arie- "Sixth Avenue"

 A couple of weeks ago the talented and beautiful songstress India Arie performed on BET’s honorary 2nd annual Black Girls Rock celebration and blew away the audience with her stunning performance of her new single titled "Sixth Avenue". She has now released the single on iTunes and all the proceeds from the sale of the track will be going to Hurricane Sandy victims. 

"Sixth Avenue" is a smooth acoustic track with soothing harmonies that display her strong vocal abilities with so much heart and confidence.
Rating: 3.8/5

New Music: RaVaughn Brown Feat. Wale - "Better Be Good"

 RaVaughn Brown has been busy working in the studio on her debut album that is slated to be released next year via Compound Entertainment and Columbia Records. She recently released a new single titled "Better Be Good" featuring  MMG rapper Wale, the funky uptempo track was produced by Jerry Wonda  and sees Brown showcasing her vocals with so much sass and fire, as she sings: “Don’t get it messed up, I’m special, special. And not everyone knows how to care for me no, so if I give you a chance I’ma need you to show me that you know what valuable is when you see it...”. Wale is a nice touch on this track, his flow brings so much energy to track, they made a great collaboration.

Rating: 4/5

New Music: Stacy Barthe - "Flawless Beautiful Creatures" And "To Be Loved"

 

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Stacy Barthe has recently signed to Motown Records/HomeSchool  and to celebrate she will be releasing her forthcoming titled EP "P.S. I Love You" on February 12, 2013*Pushed it back from 13th November. *.  Stacy has released two songs off the EP, the first one is titled "Flawless Beautiful Creatures", that talks about realizing your own self-worth. It`s a solid mid-tempo track, that was co-produced with DJ Camper.

Rating: 4/5

The second song is titled "To Be Loved", it is a soulful track that features elements of pop-rock. She sang it with so much heart and the lyrics are so beautifully written "You make me remember who I am. It's easy to forget in the world where no one seems to be sure anymore". These songs are such a great introduction into what we can expect to hear on "P.S. I Love You", I can`t wait.  

Rating:  5/5

New Music: Solange - "Lovers In The Parking Lot"

Solange is gearing up to releasing her forthcoming 7-song EP  titled "True"  this coming Tuesday 27th November via Terrible Records and has recently premiered a new song from the project titled "Lovers In The Parking Lot". 

The song is a beautiful mid-tempo that features elements of 80`s new wave, pop and R&B with high caliber lyrics and samples Schoolly D's "P.S.K." from back in 1985, her vocal delivery is so heartfelt and soothing, showcasing her airy falsetto. 
Rating: 5/5

21 Things To Look For In A Best Friend...

By January Nelson

1. Calls you out on your bullshit. A best friend does not hesitate to tell you when you’re acting insane or behaving like an asshole. Although you’ll initially act offended by their candor, you should actually be touched. The people who love you the most are also the ones who won’t let you get away with anything. Don’t forget that.

2. Acts as a great wingman/woman. They will go to the bars with you when you’re single and not sabotage a potential love connection. In fact, they’ll help push it along until their services are no longer needed and then they’ll conveniently disappear. Just like a mother dropping their kids off at school! Or something.

3. Understands all of your weird pop culture references. You don’t even need to speak proper English in front of them. Your friendship is so close that it will give birth to an entirely new way of speaking.

4. Will never make you feel guilty for needing them. You’re never putting them out with your issues. They want to help you. They don’t see you as a burden.

5. Is actually happy for you when good things happen in your life. And not phony “OMG, SOOOO GREAT/kill me now!” They want to see you happy, even if it means that you’ll see each other less because of a new relationship or job or whatever.

6. Will put up with you even when you’re dating a total jerk. You can say your peace about the relationship once so they know how you feel but you can’t pull a Lauren Conrad and constantly interfere. They’ll realize that their significant other is a total tool on their own time.

7. A best friend should never make you feel any different than who you really are. You know how certain friends can subtly alter your personality? A true BFF doesn’t do that. They just enhance all of the great parts of you. Hanging out with them should feel like the most comfortable thing ever, like a Snuggie.

8. A best friend is the first person to start cleaning up the mess when you throw a house party.

9. Will always be down to  gossip with you and shit talk. They won’t make you feel like a bad person for wanting to do so either. Please. A best friend who doesn’t talk crap? Someone press the snooze button.

10. Will never make you feel dumb for the things you want to do. In fact, they should be there by your side doing the dumb thing right with you. No judgment!

11. Will always hold your hair back when you vomit. That is friendship 101, you guys.

12. Will challenge you. Sometimes it’s not easy to be around someone who knows you so well. Sometimes all you want is to be with someone you don’t know very well and get fed lies. When you’re going through a hard time/self-destructing especially, a best friend can be the last person you want to be around because they know when something is up with you. They won’t give you the luxury of living in denial, which might be annoying at the time, but it’s obviously a good thing ultimately. Best friends don’t enable, they inspire. (I think I read that on a bumper sticker once.)

13.  Is easily adaptable. You can take them to an intimidating, chic soiree or a disgusting house party and you won’t have to worry about entertaining them or making sure that they’re having a good time. They’re cool.

14. Will answer honestly when you ask if an outfit makes them look… less than their ideal self.

15. Will be loyal to you but not to a psycho degree. For example, I’ve never understood the mentality of “If this person is your enemy, then they’re my enemy.” Um, no? I don’t think that’s how it should work. Hating someone is an exhausting full-time job. Why should you be adding people to the list at random?

16. Will let you fart in front of them. Duh.

17. Can sit in silence with you for hours at a time without feeling any pressure to talk. Ah, what a gift! With so many friends, you feel such anxiety about keeping the conversation going so it’s such a pleasure when you can invite someone over and just be like, “Hi, I want to watch TV today but not alone. Can you just come over and hang out without actually talking to me that much? Love ya.”

18. Best friends pick you up from the motherfucking airport.

19. Should have no qualms with seeing you naked whenever/wherever.

20. Can make anything fun. It doesn’t matter if it’s at a party or on an overnight train to Nowheresville. You can make any situation a blast.

21. Will always make you feel loved and safe. Best friends just get “it”.

(via)

Mary J. Blige`s Scar

I love Mary J. Blige`s scar under her left eye, she had a very traumatic life and got the scar when she was young. At one point in her career she tried to hide her scar, but now she wears it proudly because she is a survivor and she is happy.

"That scar is just like so hardcore, its like a symbol placed on mary that represents the pain and struggling mary has suffered that has miracuosly leaked down into her throat and strung onto the world's ears, symbolically connecting every listner to Mary J. Blige in a deep and personal way...its...beautiful."- Rakash Singh

Watch: 2012 Black Girls Rock Live Performances

Alicia Keys – “New Day” + “Girl on Fire”

Brandy – “Wildest Dreams”


Keyshia Cole – “Trust and Believe”


Ciara and Missy Elliott – “One Woman Army,” “Sorry,” “1, 2 Step,” and “9th Inning”

India.Arie – “6th Avenue”

Eric Benét, Anthony Hamilton, and Luke James – “Wildflower”

SWV – Medley