By Jaia Thomas

It may have been months since Frank Ocean navigated his way through a recording studio but, in the meantime, he is slowly learning the ins and outs of the Los Angeles County Courthouse. Over the past several weeks, Ocean’s career has been fraught with countless legal claims and controversies. Here is an overview of some of those legal claims and controversies:

Chipotle Mexican Grill: Last week while you were reading Chipotle’s menu (although we should all probably know it by heart by now), Frank Ocean was reading a detailed lawsuit filed the Mexican Grill. Chipotle filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Ocean on the grounds of breach of contract. According to the suit, Chipotle had agreed to pay Ocean $425,000 for composing a song for their advertisement campaign. Chipotle reportedly paid Ocean $212,500 in advance. But, once Ocean viewed a final cut of the animated commercial he raised concerns about the company’s logo being featured at the end and backed out. Ocean apparently believed he had final approval of the end product. Chipotle is suing to recoup their initial $212,500 advance as well as damages.

Frank Ocean v. Christopher Breaux: We may know him as Frank Ocean but his birth name is Christopher Edwin Breaux. Ocean recently filed the documents necessary to legally change his name from Christopher Breaux to Frank Ocean. The name changing process varies from state to state but it ordinarily consists of filing a Petition to Change Name followed by a Name Change Hearing, where an applicant will have to specify the reasons for wanting to change his or her name to a judge. In California, The Name Change Petition filing fee is only $60, a minuscule fraction of Oceans’ multimillion dollar worth. Ocean has already completed the necessary requirements so expect the legal name change to take effect soon.

Tuf America v. Universal Music: Tuf America, a New York based label, has filed suit over Frank Ocean’s “Super Rich Kids.” Tuf America owns the rights to thousands of copyrights, compositions and musical recordings, including The Honeydrippers’ “Impeach the President.” According to the suit, “Impeach the President” wound upon Audio Twos’ “Top Billin” which was sampled by Mary J. Blige’s “Real Love” that was eventually included in Frank Ocean’s “Super Rich Kids.” After a series of agreements and arrangements Tuf America now owns 3.15% of the Mary J. Blige song and is suing on the grounds of copyright infringement. Tuff America, notorious for their copyright infringement lawsuits, claims Frank Ocean and Universal never properly cleared the licenses to use the sampled work.

Such Grammy-nominated songs as “Thinkin Bout You” may soon move from Channel Orange to Channel CNN. Several developments are underway.

Photo credit: Instagram/FrankOcean

Jaia Thomas is a Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment attorney. For more information: www.jathomaslaw.com or @jaiathomaslaw.

Finally, a major medical breakthrough!

Health journal Nature Medicine published promising study results of asimple blood test that has the potential to predict whether a healthy person will develop symptoms of dementia within two or three years. If continuously successful, the test has the potential to fill a major gap in strategies to combat brain degeneration, which is thought to show symptoms only at a stage when it’s too late to treat effectively.

From CNN:

Though much work still needs to be done, it is hoped the test will someday be available in doctors offices, since the only methods for predicting Alzheimer’s right now, such as PET scans and spinal taps, are expensive, impractical, often unreliable, and sometimes risky.

“This is a potential game-changer,” said Dr. Howard Federoff, senior author of the report and a neurologist at Georgetown University Medical Center. “My level of enthusiasm is very high.”

[Image: Shutterstock]

A cop responding to a domestic violence call allegedly sexually assaulted a woman while on the clock, making this the third arrest of a Detroit police officer in the last month.

Detroit police officer Deon Nunlee, 40, has been charged with three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count each of assault with intent to penetrate and misconduct in office, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors said Nunlee and his partner were called to the scene of an early-morning domestic violence dispute when Nunlee took the woman into an upstairs bedroom and sexually assaulted her.

Nunlee’s partner stayed downstairs with the boyfriend and had no involvement in the sexual assault, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. He said it is typical for parties to be kept at a safe distance in domestic disputes. In this instance, the two officers were in separate parts of the home and the other officer should not have lost sight of their partner.

“While they were alone upstairs, Nunlee indicated he would be coming back to the house later at 7 a.m. When the officer left the house the woman reported the crime to two friends and the next day reported it to the police,” Prosecutors said.

Police say he did not return to the house. The woman reported the assault to police the next day.

Nunlee was placed on administrative duties by the department’s professional standards bureau after the woman reported the alleged assault on October 31. On February 10, after results from the rape kit came back, Nunlee was suspended without pay, Commander Johnny Thomas said.

Nunlee had no comment to the allegations, invoking his right to remain silent during the arrest. He was arraigned and held on $50,000 bond.

When asked about the number of arrests of the Detroit task force in the last month in connection with Nunlee’s charges, Craig said this incident is not a reflection of the department.

“This is an anomaly. This is not what our police officers do,” he said at a press conference. “This officer who decided to engage in criminal misconduct does not represent the 2,500 or so sworn men and women who wear this uniform.”

African Americans aren’t the only ones deserving of reparations for the past slave trade.

According to The Guardian, heads of state of 15 Caribbean nations will meet in St. Vincent on March 17 to unveil a plan demanding reparations from Europe for the lasting suffering inflicted by the Atlantic slave trade.

Sir Hilary Beckles, who chairs the reparations task force, said the Caribbean nations are not seeking to extract vast sums of money from Europe, but rather to open-up a dialogue and pursue social justice.The European states targeted are Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Among the demands made on the former European slave trading nations are that they:

• provide diplomatic help to persuade countries such as Ghana and Ethiopia to offer citizenship to the children of people from the Caribbean who “return” to Africa. Some 30,000 have made such a journey to Africa and have been offered generous settlement packages, but lack of citizenship rights for their children is causing difficulties
• devise a development strategy to help improve the lives of poor communities in the Caribbean still devastated by the after-effects of slavery
• support cultural exchanges between the Caribbean and west Africa to help Caribbean people of African descent rebuild their sense of history and identity
• back literacy drives designed to improve education levels that are still dire in many Caribbean communities
• provide medical assistance to the region that is struggling from high levels of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes, that the Caricom (the economic and political body for the Caribbean community) reparations commission links to the fallout from slavery.

“Undoubtedly, Britain faces more claims than anyone else because it was the primary slave power and colonial power in the Caribbean,” Martyn Day, the British lawyer advising the Caribbean nations, said in an interview. “Britain will be very much at the forefront.”

Minnesota Republican State Representative Pat Garofalo is under fire after tweeting racist remarks that if the NBA folded, street crime would go up.

Let’s be honest, 70% of teams in NBA could fold tomorrow + nobody would notice a difference w/ possible exception of increase in streetcrime

— Rep. Pat Garofalo (@PatGarofalo) March 9, 2014

No one knows what prompted Garofalo’s Twitter musing, as it appears to have come out of nowhere. We know that the retweets and reactions began as soon as the tweet slid down Garofalo’s timeline on March 9 at 7:33 p.m.

Pat Garofalo’s tweet makes him seem like he lowkey hates the NBA because: Lots of great white players in MLB & NFL, not enough in the NBA.

— OLIVER SKYWOLF (@OliverSkywolf) March 10, 2014

One user pointed out that politicians are full of crime:

@PatGarofalo there are more criminals in your “profession” sir… “White Collar” or “streetcrime”. Clean up politics before speaking out

— Gallagher (@TheSeanyC) March 10, 2014

Springesteen on horse called him a small town racist:

Always fun when small town racists like @PatGarofalo get busted for being racist and try to wiggle free.

— Springsteen on horse (@AA_Hansen) March 10, 2014

But the State Representative said those who think he was taking jabs at Blacks, who largely make up the NBA, got the wrong message.

“I was talking about the NBA’s high arrest rate and that their punishment for positive drugs tests are weaker than other leagues. No intent beyond that. The culture among many pro athletes that they are above the law is the problem, not people like me pointing that problem out,” Garofalo said via e-mail to Kevin Draper of the Diss.

Garofalo also issued a half-ass apology:

To those NBA players and others who are unfairly categorized by my comments, please accept my apologies. http://t.co/xiGaEc47Qo

— Rep. Pat Garofalo (@PatGarofalo) March 10, 2014

Must we remind Pat Garofalo that even words typed for the Internet are written in pen? And if his comments require more than 140 characters in order to avoid offending others or to be clear, then Twitter isn’t the place to voice that opinion?

DJ Kiss is one of the most in-demand celebrity DJ’s in the country. She has spun for some of the top fashion, music and sports events, but still enjoys rocking the crowd every week at NYC hotspots.

A star Minnesota football player was killed over the weekend while fleeing a party where underage drinking occurred.

The 18-year-old high school athlete, named Michael C. Anyasike, of Dawson, MN., was found nearly 12 hours after police broke up the party. The teen was transported to the Madison Hospital by ambulance where he was later pronounced dead.

Anyasike was described as very likable and pleasant to be around.

When the police arrived to the party early Sunday, March 9, Anyasike and a few other party goers ran. He was reported missing to the sheriff’s office 12 hours later.

Anyasike also ran track at his high school. No arrests have been made.

A prayer service for Anyasike is being organized at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson. 

Cleveland native Halle Berry is launching a television production company, 606 Films, with her agent turned producer-partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.

The name, 606 Films, was inspired by the anti-paparazzi bill fought for by Berry and other Hollywood starlets like Jennifer Garner. Bill 606 prevents overzealous photographers from harassing celebrity kids. It was signed into law last fall by Jerry Brown.

“606 Films is named for the anti-paparazzi bill, Senate Bill 606, which Halle fought so hard for and won, when no one believed it could be achieved,” Goldsmith-Thomas said. “It truly informs the spirit of our company — making dreams possible, one bill at a time.”

The 2 year production deal was part of a deal with CBS Television Studios, as Berry will star and co-produce the CBS drama Extant, slated for a summer release. The show is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Brooklyn Weaver and the pilot writer, Mickey Fisher.  Reports suggest Berry was inspired to start her own production company after executive producing the show.

Fantasy sci-fi thriller Extant hits the small screen this July.

Yaqueline Galvez Don and her boyfriend Pedro Solis might be natural born killers. Or the Florida teens just really hated Don’s parents for disapproving of their relationship. The teens plotted to kill Don’s parents and were successful in doing harm to one of their targets.

Solis, 15, slit the throat of Don’s mother, Luz Galvez, with a knife on March 9, and threatened the life of Don’s father. Don, 13, was in on the murder plot, but did not participate in the physical attack. Galvez survived, later telling police that her daughter had lured her outside of the family home where Solis violently attacked her, according to Marion County deputies.

Luz Garcia, pictured above, survived, despite having her throat slit in the attack on Sunday

Solis, then, turned the knife on Don’s father, but he managed to escape and persuaded Solis to take his wife to the hospital, reports ClickOrlando.

The teens were arrested hours later on charges of attempted murder in the second-degree and were held at the Marion County Juvenile Detention.

Solis has a history of behavioral problems and was attending an alternative school at the time of the attempted murder.

The teens faced a judge Monday morning. Solis mother was obviously emotional while supporting her son. Don appeared in court without a parent or guardian present.

Vogue Italia has published another controversial spread, this time in its March 2014 edition.

Shot by photographer Steven Meisel, the spread sees Dutch model Saskia de Brauw in face paint alongside African taxidermy. The Huffington Post’s Julee Wilson gave her thoughts in an editorial:

Although the feature doesn’t depict historical minstrel-inspired Black-face, it’s still in bad taste. We’re thoroughly confused as to why the magazine didn’t think this type of editorial would be offensive and why they didn’t just use a black model in the first place. Clearly the “Black-face is NEVER Ok” memo addressed to the fashion industry keeps getting lost in the mail.

This is not the first time the magazine has published a racially controversial pictorial.

Just last year, Vogue Netherlands published a spread adorning a model with a wild black mohawk and thick, black face paint.

What are your thoughts? Is the Blackface is art argument valid or offensive?

“I’m gonna pop some tags, only got twenty dollars in my pocket …”

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Billboard‘s Hot Rap Songs chart, the magazine compiled a list of the top 100 chart performing rap songs ever, and the No. 1 spot stunned and infuriated many.

“Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis is the No. 1 rap song of all time, according to Billboard.

Here’s the magazine’s explanation of its grading system:

“The 25th Anniversary Hot Rap Songs ranking is based on actual performance on the weekly Hot Rap Songs chart, since the chart’s inception in the March 11, 1989, issue. Rankings are based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 having the greatest value and weeks at lower positions proportionately less. Due to various changes in chart rules, chart length and methodology throughout the years, songs had varying reigns at No. 1 and on the chart. To ensure equitable representation of the biggest hits from all 25 years, certain time frames were weighted to account for the difference in turnover rates from those periods.”

“Thrift Shop” was a massive hit, going platinum 7x and becoming one of only six singles to do so based on sales. It was the second-highest selling single of 2013, second to Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. uber-catchy tune, ”Blurred Lines.”

Take a look at the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart on the next page.

1. “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz, 2013

2. “Tootsee Roll” – 69 Boyz, 1994

3. “Hot Boyz” – Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott ft. Eve, Nas & Q-Tip, 1999

4. “Can’t Hold Us” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton, 2013

5. “Expression” – Salt-N-Pepa, 1990

6. “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Coolio ft. L.V., 1995

7. “Flava In Ya Ear” – Craig Mack, 1994

8. “Big Poppa/Warning” – The Notorious B.I.G., 1995

9. “No Hands” – Waka Flocka Flame ft. Roscoe Dash & Wale, 2010

10. “The Humpty Dance” – Digital Underground, 1990

You know times are hard when a person doesn’t let a filthy sewer come between him and his $20 bill.

After chasing his dropped $20 bill, an Oklahoma man became trapped inside a sewer drain for two days.

Jonathan Gatliss and Domanic Erwin were strolling down the street when they heard wails for help. The teenagers dialed 9-1-1, and the unidentified man was rescued from a 15-foot drain. He told police he accidentally dropped the money in a storm drain and tried to recover it. Once down below, he became lost and couldn’t find a way out.

[Image: Shutterstock]

After being rescued from cuddling a sewer pipe, the man was dehydrated, disoriented, and unsure of what day it was.

“He had a bump on his head. He may have hit his head against a wall down there because it’s obviously pretty dark, unless he is next to a storm drain where light could get into,” said responding officer Sgt. John Chelenza.

Chelenza told reporters the man is lucky students responded to his cries for help because a map is necessary to navigate the pipes and anyone could go blocks without ever finding an exit.

Unfortunately, the man never even found the money.

A 9-month-old HIV+ baby may have been cured after being treated for the disease four hours after birth.

The California infant, whose identity is unknown, is apparently virus free, said Dr. Deborah Persaud, a pediatrics specialist with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, at a medical conference in Boston. The child is being treated at Millers Children’s Hospital Long Beach and is still receiving a three-drug cocktail of anti-AIDS treatments.

This is the possibly the second case of a baby being cured of HIV. A Mississippi newborn, famously known as the “Mississippi baby,” was given antiretroviral drugs during its first 30 hours of life, sending the HIV into remission. The Mississippi baby, now 3, stopped taking the drugs two years ago and has tested negative for HIV.

[Image: Shutterstock]

“Really the only way we can prove that we have accomplished remission in these kids is by taking them off treatment and that’s not without risk,” said Dr. Persaud. “This is a call to action for us to mobilize and be able to learn from these cases.”

A clinical trial, in which up to 60 babies who are born infected with HIV will be put on drugs within 48 hours of birth, is set to begin soon.

No group of people seems to attract lawsuits quite like celebrities do. Every other day it seems like one of them is either suing or being sued. We’re not even halfway through the third month of the year and there are already a number of celebrity lawsuits underway. Here’s a list of some of the stars who are going through legal drama so far this year.

[Center image: Shutterstock]

Kanye West v. ‘Coinye’

There are a group of developers who came out with a form of digital currency to rival Bitcoins, and they decided to name it Coinye. However, they used Kanye’s name and likeness without his permission, so you know Yeezy hit them with a lawsuit real quick. His lawyers filed cease and desist orders and it seems likely that Kanye will win his case.

Wig Maker v. Nicki Minaj 

Terrence Davidson, a former wig designer for Nicki Minaj, is suing the rapper and Pink Personality LLC for “breaking implied contracts, reneging on discussions to launch a reality TV show and misappropriating his wig designs.” He claims that he turned down a contract for a reality show at the urging of a Minaj representative because they were discussing launching their own joint show and wig line, but then the team left him hanging. Davidson also claims that Minaj stole his wig designs to launch her own line.

Chipotle v. Frank Ocean 

Chipotle is suing Frank Ocean for accepting an advance to record a song for a commercial and then backing out of the contract. Chipotle paid Ocean $212,500 to record a song entitled “Pure Imagination,” with the rest of the money to come after the completion of the project, but Ocean backed out without recording the song. His teams says:

“When Frank was asked to participate in this project, Chipotle’s representatives told him that the thrust of the campaign was to promote responsible farming. There was no Chipotle reference or logo in the initial presentation, and Chipotle told Frank that was an intentional element of the campaign. Frank was also promised that he’d have the right to approve the master and all advertising.”

It would be a little odd for Ocean to expect that an ad campaign created by Chipotle would not include a Chipotle logo … but that’s rich folks’ business.

Photographer v. Rihanna

The woes from her “S&M” video won’t cease. Rihanna, who faced a plagiarism lawsuit from David LaChapelle for this video (and settled out of court in 2011), is now being sued by photographer Philipp Paulus for plagiarism. He claims that scenes from the video mirror his fashion series “Paperworld.” He’s filed for an injunction and is seeking damages after failing to settle with Rihanna and Universal Music out of court. If he wins, the video can be banned from YouTube and television.

Rihanna v. Accounting Firm

Rihanna is also on the other side of the legal bench and is suing her former accountant. She claims that Peter Gouins and the firm Berdon LLP had falsely advised her to buy a $7 million home at a time when her finances were not in a good place. According to Page Six:

“The defendants advised Ms. Fenty by email that purchasing a home in Los Angeles `would be a good investment’ despite knowing Ms. Fenty was experiencing financial difficulties,” wrote Rihanna’s lawyer Edward Estrada.

“Ms. Fenty’s cash investment positions had decreased from over $11 million in January 2009 to approximately $2 million at the end of 2009.”

Furthermore, according to the songbird’s lawyers, Gouins was aware the house she was buying was rotting from water and mold damage.

Bad grandpa? This time, not quite.

An 82-year-old Detroit man fought off a home invader by bashing him in the head with a hammer.

“I asked him to leave,” George Bradford told WJBK. But when the man didn’t leave, “that’s when I let him have it.”

The heroic grandfather told local television stations that he awoke to his daughter and granddaughter screaming for help on Sunday morning. In pursuit of his family, he eventually found a man who’d snuck into their home through the basement window.

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, the incident at the Bradford home follows a series of others where homeowners users excessive force — sometimes deadly — during home break-ins.

Last week, a 17-year-old intruder was fatally shot after breaking into a home in the city’s west side. Additionally, another person was shot and killed after breaking into a home in Detroit’s West Side in February.

Look out, Mona Scott-Young! Two female producers, Trisha Lum and Nickie Lum-Davis, have filed suit against VH1 and MTV claiming they pitched the networks their “Hip-Hop Wives” idea and were lead to believe that they had a show.

Their series was supposed to star current and former flames of  DMX, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti, and Jim Jones.

VH1 execs maintained, however, that they did not want a show to compete with the “Basketball Wives” franchise.

Fast forward to “Love & Hip-Hop,” the explosive and massively successful VH1 series which first aired in 2011 and now has plans to expand beyond New York and Atlanta to such cities as Chicago, Miami, and Houston. (*makes the sign of the Holy cross*)

Trisha and Nickie are requesting a settlement to the tune of 8 figures, according to their attorney. Reportedly, the amount is around $50 million dollars. No word yet from VH1.

Hollywood’s awards season has come to a close. The red carpets are rolled up, the gowns and tuxes have been dry-cleaned and returned to their respective designers, and the think-pieces have been written and analyzed. Awards shows always brings up discussion around themes of art, celebrity worship, representation and recognition, and this season was no different.

This year found me watching the Oscars much more intently than I ever have before (thank you, Lupita). A friend of mine and I chatted throughout the show, critiquing fashion hits and misses, Ellen DeGeneres’ hosting hijinks, and wondering where the “Wrap It Up, B!” recording was for some of the lengthier speeches. When Brad and Angelina hit the screen, a pointed comment from a friend – one that I’ve heard time and time again – struck me.

“See, I love those two. They do so much charity work and don’t say a word. That’s how celebrities should do it.”

Before I could even catch myself, I had a retort. (And the beginning for this piece.)

“Isn’t that the same problem you have with Black celebrities? Aren’t you the same one who said Black celebrities owe it to us to show what they do to give back?”

She didn’t have a reply.

The conversation linking celebrity and charity is an entangled one. What are the motives behind some charitable moves? How do we receive the optics around snapshots of rich, white celebrities in poor countries inhabited by people of colour? Does a position of celebrity mandate one to give back? What is our responsibility as average citizens to step up and do what we can? The questions are many, and the possible answers are exponential. However, let’s revisit the idea of Black celebrities and philanthropic disclosure – why do some of us expect more from “our” celebrities than others?

While Brad, Angelina, and other white celebrities may be lauded for their subtle moves on the charitable front, it seems that general discussion doesn’t leave room for that same subtlety with Black celebrities. We often demand to know what Black celebrities are doing to support the communities that molded them, and celebrities often feel called to share their wealth with those in need. For some who make their charity known, the act is rooted in good karma, believing that sharing blessings begets more blessings for themselves and their goodwill recipients. For others, the act is truly one of responsibility – taking care of people or a city that no one else represents or defends.

There’s often palpable discontent and vitriol directed towards Black celebrities who don’t disclose their philanthropy and charity outright – especially when their multi-million dollar earnings and presumed spending habits are made public record. The assumption is generally made that these celebs are not doing enough to help the local and global communities at large – but how can we know for sure?

Jay-Z’s infamous statement that his “presence is charity” riled folks up late last year, but a lyric from his song “Nickels and Dimes” is more intriguing: “The purest form of giving is anonymous to anonymous.” While many are inclined to agree – making a spectacle of giving back often reeks of insincerity – certain fanbase segments generally do not seem satisfied with that paradigm when it comes to Black celebrities.

This dissatisfaction may be based in the fact that people are often much more invested in celebrities who resonate with them on a personal level. When someone who comes from your country, city, or block makes it big; when someone speaks to your life experiences in their art; when someone who looks like you reaches levels of success that were previously unimagined – it’s easy to feel intimately connected. That intimate connection can give way to expectations that celebrities ought to support those who support them, and disappointments when it seems that they don’t.

So, what side of the coin do we rest on? Do we hold our celebrities to a standard of ensuring that they remain transparent in their community and global charitable acts? Or do we hold faith in the gift of anonymity and give Black celebrities the same leeway for subtlety that we praise in others? Arguments can be made for and against both sides, but the most telling piece of this puzzle is using insight to examine why we feel the way we do – regardless of which side of the coin we choose.

Even though the new season of “Glee” has just begun, my girl crush on Amber Riley is in full swing. I truly enjoy watching her sing and dance, as she is the first African American woman to win “Dancing With The Stars.” Amber is a star in every sense of the word due to her talents. But, she also has a knack for style, proving that curves are an absolute fashion must-have. Those looking to snag Ms. Riley’s look can make direct purchases from her closet on her site, RileyLand Fashions, where items quickly sell out. In the meantime, have a look at some of our favorite ensembles from this week’s “Star Style,” Amber Riley.

Amber looks simply chic in this a-line lace dress, which perfectly balances out her shape.

When it comes to suits, every color gives its own distinct message. This cobalt blue suit means business, but it also suggests a laid-back sense of optimism, making it perfect for casual days in the office.

Leggings often get a bad rap, but if and when they are paired with a tunic and cute jacket — as seen on Amber — you’re good to go.

A dress with color-blocked panels is a curvy girl’s sartorial best friend.

Amber looks classy in this radiant red gown, with ruching in the right places.

This empire dress silhouette looks amazing on Amber’s shape. The deep pockets accentuate her curves, and the bright yellow bodice draws the eyes up.

When getting dressed, it’s always best to accent one part of the body, and this is something that Amber does well. The diagonal black and white stripes draws the eye to the lower half.

Between the corset-inspired lace bodice and the asymmetrical hemline — this black dress is one subtly sexy number!

Wearing a bold shoe with this black and white color-blocked dress would have been the wrong move. Amber nailed the look by adding a simple black heel with a touch of color on the ankle-strap. After all, it is those small details that count.

It’s one thing to wear a dress that complements your figure, but another to wear one that compliments your complexion. This gem tone really makes her sparkle.

Skirt shapes come and go, but when you have a pencil skirt in your closet — you have the classics covered.

Belts aren’t the only wardrobe item to cinch in a waist and create an hourglass figure. A peplum does the trick, just as well.

On the road to forgiveness, Mary Mary’s Tina Campbell reveals that she takes some of the blame for her husband Teddy Campbell’s cheating.

Campbell’s original confession of dealing with rebuilding a marriage after infidelity appeared in Ebony Magazine with some pretty real revelations.  In the June 2013 interview, she detailed her feelings about “trying to stab her husband” and cutting him with words to make him feel small. At that time, Campbell couldn’t see beyond the bad into what was to come for her. But in an interview with CNikki the WE tv reality star opens up on taking full responsibility for why her husband chose to step outside their marriage and about how she overcame that.

“I, Tina, assume full responsibility for the issues that I contributed to the relationship. I was controlling, talked too much. And you can never be heard over me because when I wanna talk I got the floor and ain’t nobody gonna get it from me until I give it up,” Campbell said.

Through the trial and tribulations, which she revealed for the third season of their successful Mary Mary reality show, she says that “she was glad the cameras caught it” so that other women going through similar situations can see that their is hope at the end of the tunnel.

“People are always referring to Christians as “not normal”—and I was like, we need to let people see what a normal Christian life looks like. I didn’t ever expect my pretty good life to all of a sudden become hell in front of the cameras.”

Campbell continues:

“You want your husband to be the man and to take his place, but because ‘I’m a strong woman, I’m a this woman and I’m a that woman’ we busy stepping on our man. Making him feel small. And you know what? I did that. And I take responsibility for that.”

Watch the full video interview here and watch Mary, Mary Thursday nights on WE tv.

The producer/director team behind one of the year’s most successful movies Ride Along, will pair Kevin Hart and Jamie Foxx as the main characters for newly announced flick, The Black Phantom.

Originally pitched five years ago to movie execs, the film revolves around a hitman who finds out that he has been betrayed and reaches out to a black hitman, the Black Phantom, who ironically was hired to kill him. Hart’s blazing star power had studio execs gearing up to bring the movie to screens.

It is not known whether Black Phantom will be an action or comedy flick or which actor will take the title role. Both Hart and Foxx came from the world of stand up comedy before striking it big as Hollywood actors. With the ink on the deal nearly dry, more details should be forthcoming.

If the deal goes through, the movie will pair Hart with director Tim Story and producer Will Packer, the team behind Ride Along. Hart and Packer have worked in the past on Think Like A Man and Think Like A Man Too (which Story directed) in theaters right in time for summer on June 20. 

The project will be penciled in to Hart’s busy upcoming schedule. He and Ice Cube will join forces for sequel Ride Along 2 and he’s set to star in Lebron James‘ basketball movie Ballers. Foxx will be seen this year with The Amazing Spiderman 2 and the reboot of Annie starring Quvenzhané Wallis.