Courtesy of Sister 2 Sister

Fans will get a glimpse into the lives of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas in Crazy Sexy Cool, VH1’s forthcoming biopic on the group TLC. But what brought the would-be superstars together in the first place?

Tionne recounted meeting music executive Ian Burke through her coworker Rico Wade in her 1999 book, Thoughts. It was Ian who first conceived of the group. However, viewers might not understand that when watching the made-for-TV movie. How’s Ian feel about being almost completely left out of TLC’s biopic? Find out.

Keep reading …

Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

I think it was Amanda Bynes’ Barbie doll-inspired wig, falling forwards, covering her bewildered face that made me wonder, “Is she really that crazy or is this all for show?” If it’s just for spectacle, are we as the viewing public supposed to be entertained? While I do giggle a bit at these crazy antics celebrities tend to go through on a daily basis, I’m not convinced that it’s all the way real.

With reality shows following scripts and Hollywood getting weirder by the moment, it’s hard to know what’s authentic and what’s just for entertainment purposes. We know entertainment equals capital. Weird artists or artists with gimmicks, sell records. There’s a reason artists like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift dominate the charts and artists like Marsha Ambrosius, Ledisi, and Chrisette Michele don’t get the play they deserve. It’s called a gimmick and the music industry is one place where you can see the consumer devour falsehoods for the sake of entertainment.

Keep reading …

The post We Don’t Believe You, You Need More People: Celebs Whose Gimmicks We’re Not Buying appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

By Colby Carrington

“Where are you from?”

“Well, where are your parents from?”

“But, what are you? Like, your background.”

This line of questioning probably sounds familiar to those with features that look like a little bit of this. A little of that. Skyhigh cheekbones. Curl patterns. Almond eyes. Shadeism.

The interrogation always comes from guys with a P-Touch persona who are clueless enough to go down that rabbit hole before a proper introduction.  They dig and dig for answers, before finally paraphrasing with a disappointed, “So….just Black?” (Equally maddening common responses: regular Black, only Black, plain Black.)

I suspect our Asian sistren must hear it even more than we do. Directors David Neptune and Ken Tanaka offer one way to respond, in their hilarious video titled: ‘What Kind of Asian Are You?’

Watch here:

By Colby Carrington

Nathan Fielder’s Twitter experiments reveal a lot about communication and trust in 2013. The funnyman has previously encouraged followers to “mistakenly” text their parents about buying weed but yesterday, Fielder ventured into relationship territory.

He told followers to text their significant other this message: “I haven’t been fully honest with you.” Then, they were not allowed further interaction. For a full hour.

In case you didn’t already guess, this particular test had disastrous results. Flip outs, dumpings, and some unfortunate admissions followed. You could argue that Fielder’s prank ended some relationships that were doomed anyway.  See for yourself:

By Al Thompson

Check out the exclusive look at the behind the scenes fashion for the web series: Lenox Avenue

By Colby Carrington

Does this cereal commercial make you irrationally angry?  Then you’re probably well-adjusted, with an above average IQ.

On May 28, General Mills released a Cheerios commercial called “Just Checking” and subsequently had to disable the hateful comments posted to its YouTube page. Of course that didn’t stop commenters from resuming the vitriol on mind-numbingly racist message boards. (Google “cheerios coal burner commercial” if you are so inclined.)

In a statement on Gawker, Camille Gibson, vice president of marketing for Cheerios responded “Consumers have responded positively to our new Cheerios ad. At Cheerios, we know there are many kinds of families and we celebrate them all.”

Many fans have thanked the brand for casting a commercial with characters that look like their families, even going so far as to start the hashtag #istandwithcheerios .

Check out the video here:

Academy Award nominees Terrence Howard and Viola Davis have teamed up for the chilling new crime thriller Prisoners– alongside Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Melissa Leo and Paul Dano– and we’ve got a sneak peek.

The Denis Villeneuve-directed film follows two couples who are living every parents’ worst nightmare: the abduction of a child. A small-town carpenter named Keller (Jackman) will stop at nothing to get the children back home safely and track down the perp after authorities fail to press charges.

Check out the trailer below…

The post First Look: Terrence Howard, Viola Davis Star In Crime Thriller ‘Prisoners’ [VIDEO] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Former NBA player Mookie Blaylock is in critical condition after being involved in a head-on car collision, in Atlanta, that killed one person, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After initially being put on life support at the Atlanta Medical Center, the former Atlanta Hawks guard’s condition has slowly improved.

On May 30th, Blaylock was driving in Clayton County, south of Atlanta, when his Cadillac Escalade crossed over the median and drove into oncoming traffic. It hit a van being driven by resident Frankie Murphy. Murphy’s wife, Monica Murphy, was in the passenger’s seat.

All three people were transported to the Atlanta Medical Center. Frankie Murphy sustained a broken ankle. However, his wife Monica passed away around 10 p.m. at the hospital.

Jonesboro Police Chief Franklin Allen told WSB-TV in Atlanta that Blaylock has “a history of seizures.” However, police are still working to find the official cause of the accident.

The Atlanta Hawks released an official statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“We are saddened to hear of the accident today involving Mookie Blaylock and the Murphy family and the ensuing passing of Monica Murphy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all involved.”

Blaylock played in the NBA from 1989 to 2002. He twice earned a place on the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

He played with the Atlanta Hawks from 1992 to 1999. He also spent time with the New Jersey Nets and Golden State Warriors.

The post Former Atlanta Hawks Guard Mookie Blaylock In Critical Condition After Head-On Collision appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of the Huffington Post Black Voices

A string of racist emails and controversial remarks have shaken up a school board in southeastern Virginia’s Isle of Wight County, and now one of the people responsible is facing intense pressure to resign.

On Thursday, board members voted 4 to 1 to officially call for their colleague Herb DeGroft to step down over emails he sent this month from his board email account attacking first lady Michelle Obama. DeGroft was the only one who voted against the measure.

According to NBC12, one of the emails DeGroft sent to colleagues depicted bare-breasted, African female warriors along with the caption, “Michelle Obama’s high school reunion.” Another message claimed the first lady was paid $50 to model in National Geographic.

The emails didn’t stop with DeGroft’s initial sending. Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Byron “Buzz” Bailey forwarded them to other board members and county employees. Bailey drew criticism earlier this month for saying “the South will rise again” during a board meeting on budgetary issues. Those comments, as well as his involvement with the racist emails, led to the resignation of Isle of Wight Division Superintendent Katrise Perera.

Continue reading here.

The post Herb DeGroft, Virginia School Board Member, Faces Ouster After Sending Racist Michelle Obama Emails appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of EBONY.com

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an international public service organization, and the Delta Research & Educational Foundation, in collaboration with Water in Education International, will open the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Elementary School, The Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre Campus in Cherette, Haiti June 15, 2013. The partnership between the organization and WEI, a charitable organization and a 501(c) (3) non-profit public benefit organization, began in late July 2012. The grand opening of the school comes during a pivotal time in Delta Sigma Theta’s history as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding.

“The celebrations planned throughout our centennial year have not deterred us from doing what we were called to do – to serve,” said Delta Sigma Theta’s National President, Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre. “Although we no longer see the images of Haiti in the news, the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority have not forgotten the devastated faces of our Haitian brothers and sisters after the earthquake three years ago.”

Continue at EBONY.com…

The post Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Opens Elementary School in Haiti appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

By Naima Turner

Although Jennifer Lopez claims to still be the girl from the block, her remarkable list of past and present achievements proves that she’s come a long way. Just this past weekend, Jennifer rocked the stage during the Chime For Change concert, Gucci’s philanthropic initiative to educate girls and women worldwide. Fans will get a personal glimpse of her stage-life in her highly anticipated upcoming 3D concert movie Jennifer Lopez: Dance Again. But, in addition to the big screen, J.Lo has put on her small screen producer hat with her new television show, “The Fosters” and a few other fan favorites.

The multi-hyphenate, who has impeccable taste and style has also created a collection of clothing for the Kohl’s Cares program, which has so far generated $7 million for breast-cancer research, education, and patient assistance. When it comes to style and fashion, Jennifer’s knack for looking amazing never falls short. If you’re looking for inspiration on pulling together a sophisticated summer look with a fiery edge, look no further than some of the best outfits from today’s Star Style, Jennifer Lopez.

Unfortunately, women who have curves know all too well about the saga of crack-revealing pants when sitting. The answer? Trousers with a higher waistband. After all, we all can’t wear low-rise. If you spot a pair of ’70s-inspired high-waist, wide-leg pants, your curves (and look) will thank you kindly.

When the temperatures fluctuate during the late spring and early summer months, keeping it cool yet spicy is the best way to sizzle while out doing your thing. What says “sizzle” more than a pair of open-toe, studded red booties? Nothing. But when you add a pair of perfectly skinny jeans and an airy white top into the mix — the outfit says sexy, in an understated way.

Simply stated — curves and chevron stripes always work in unison.

Electrifying style is always a must during the summer, and neon is the best way to shine brightly. You can absolutely color-block neon, too, with a complementing bright such as fuchsia … or even tone it down with a muted army green.

Even though eyelet lace is the sweet and frilly fabric of the season, you can give it a grown and sexy twist by choosing to wear eyelet short-shorts.

If you want to give the illusion of baring your midriff without actually doing so, the crop top-high-waist skirt is the perfect solution. To avoid a full-on peek-a-boo of your stomach, try wearing a tank top in a different color underneath the crop top.

The corset- and bodice-inspired tops and dresses are a major trend for summer and a great option for looking sexy, not sleazy. But there is a right and a wrong way to attempt pulling off inner-wear as outer-wear, and here J.Lo does it right. Warning: Wear the right bra, please.

The sundress is a summer staple that must be worn wisely. When shopping for one, think of it as you would when searching for the right pair of jeans. If you’re curvy like Jennifer, look for a dress that has more volume on the bottom, but highlights the waist.

Courtesy of Black Enterprise

This morning, I was watching the Today show, where a hot topic was about a tough conversation doctors are now having more frequently with career women in their 30s: whether to put off having children until the professional boss moves are lighter or practically done.

I celebrated my 30th birthday at the beginning of the year, and I got so many inquiries from family and friends surrounding why 1. I’m not married and 2. I don’t already have children. I’ve even been told that I’m already a bit old and that I should go ahead and start a family “before it’s too late.”

I’m quite sick of this to be honest, and here’s why: I fought all my life to avoid the teen pregnancy/high school drop-out/Welfare-mom stereotype. I graduated high school with honors, attended college, graduated, and got a job after that. I’ve been able to break into one of the most competitive and challenging media markets in the world, all before the age of 30. I’ve lived on my own, paid my own bills, and enjoy an awesome life of a boss in the making. I’ve beat many odds, yet I’m still hampered with questions that insinuate I have not yet “arrived” because I haven’t had children.

I’ve even had men suggest babies before marriage, with quips like “You’re so beautiful. I want you to have my children,” or “You should be my baby mama.”

Sorry, sir, but I’ll pass.

Continue at Black Enterprise…

The post Baby Mama, Bride or Boss Moves: A Millennial Woman’s Choice Can Be a Hard One appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Kelly Rowland is putting any and all rumors to bed about her feud with Destiny’s Child groupmate, Beyoncé. Not only are the gorgeous gals supportive of each other’s success, but the Talk A Good Game singer says their friendship is stronger than ever.

Rowland recently sat down with Omg! Insider‘s Kevin Frazier to discuss her less-than-happy times detailed on her latest single “Dirty Laundry” and Beyoncé’s reaction to hearing the candid tune.

Related: Art Imitates Life: 6 Songs Inspired by Real Life Drama [VIDEOS]

“She looked at me and said it’s incredible,” she revealed. “And said how proud she was of me and then said ‘I never left.’ And I just oh, man. It was so true she never left. I checked out for a minute.”

Check out the interview below!

The post Kelly Rowland Denies Beyoncé Feud, Tears Up While Discussing Friendship [VIDEO] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

I used to watch the Herbal Essences commercials in jealousy. There were all of these women of European decent flinging their hair in the shower and acting as if it was the most orgasmic experience on God’s green Earth. I’d look in the mirror to see tresses that didn’t pass my ear and think: “When are they going to make products for me?” Not realizing, that “their” aisle was “my” aisle. Haircare, like skincare, depends on the type of hair, not ethnicity of the person. Yes, there are African-American women whose hair craves moisture and deep conditioning, but there are also African-American women whose hair is oily and requires more cleansing than conditioning – a trait usually attributed to white women or women with a looser curl pattern.

I realized the Herbal Essences brand includes products for all hair textures, specifically, a conditioning product that “naturalistas” rave about called “Herbal Essences, Hello Hydration” that doesn’t contain – gasp – sulfates or silicone, which can damage the hair.

The hair products one needs is dependent upon the hair texture, usually categorized between 2a – 4c, and the porosity of the hair. I decided to create a list of ingredients and products to look for in the haircare aisle of your local grocery store that will work for you.

[Image: Shutterstock]

1. Oils & Butter: Traveling down “their aisle” made me realize that there are numerous products containing the oils our hair craves, like argan, olive, coconut, macadamia, and castor oils. Look for products that list the oil as one of the first few ingredients. Oils are humectants and will condition your tresses.
2. H2O: moisture, moisture, moisture. Moisture is extremely important to hair textures 3b – 4c, but it also depends on the porosity of your hair. When water is listed as one of the first ingredients you can be sure your hair will sustain its elasticity and vibrancy – in most cases.
3. Protein: a healthy mix of protein and conditioning in your haircare is essential to reduce breakage and split ends, regardless of ethnicity and texture. Look for products that will promote protein health.
4. Sealants: It’s incredibly important to have products that will protect or seal your hair from heat and weather damage. Look for serums, oils, and glosses that offer protection.
5. Cleansers: This is incredibly important for removing product build-up and dead skin from your scalp. While drier textures may want to use this less often than others, it’s still incredibly important to maintaining a healthy scalp. You have to nurture your scalp because it is from whence hair grows.

*It’s incredibly important to look for less chemically-generated ingredients and embrace holistic and natural ingredients.* 

With more education of one’s health and hair, the more we realize that the “separate but equal” aisles for haircare is completely unnecessary. The ingredients needed for healthy hair are cross-cultural – moisturizers, cleansers, conditioners, protein, sealants, and humectants. Texture and porosity dictate the RATIO of the ingredients we need to promote healthy hair. It’s about ratio NOT RACE. And the sooner we realize that, the less race focused and the more holistic haircare will become.

[Image: Shutterstock]

The post Why the Separation Of “Ethnic” & “Normal” Haircare Aisles Is Unnecessary appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

Paris Jackson was rushed to the hospital early Wednesday morning, and according to TMZ, it may have been the result of a suicide attempt.

Paris was taken out of her Calabasas family house on a stretcher at around 2 AM and taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The 911 call came in at 1:27 AM. The caller said Paris had cut her wrists.

Keep reading …

The post Paris Jackson Rushed To Hospital After Alleged Suicide Attempt appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of The Frisky

Let me be clear right here from the start, nice people are amazing all the time and wanting to be one should be a main goal in everyone’s life. This isn’t about them.

“Nice Guys,” with the quotes — and if you’re reading this out loud, a little stank in your voice — are not really that nice. They’re actually pretty shitty people who are entitled little shitheads and incapable of understanding the feelings of others. It’s pretty common and understandable if you think like this in middle school or high school, because everyone at that age is usually pretty terrible (definitely myself included), but “Nice Guys” in their twenties and beyond are a real bunch of life-failing sadness machines that just bring my day down like no other.

But it doesn’t have to be like this! I put together some helpful tips so you can tell if you or someone you know is being a Nice Guy, and then get your life back on track to not being a suckfest of a human.

Keep reading …

[Image: Shutterstock]

The post How To Tell If You’re A “Nice Guy” (And How To Stop Being One, Because They’re Awful) appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of The Root

In a close (5-4) decision, the Supreme Court narrowly ruled on Monday that police may legally collect DNA from those arrested for but not convicted of a serious crime. According to the New York Times, the federal government already authorizes the practice, as do 28 states, but nevertheless, the ruling has sent shivers up the spines of civil liberties proponents. Although those convicted of felonies already have their DNA collected for cataloging in criminal databases, this latest finding of the court essentially puts DNA in a similar category as fingerprints, which are taken the moment someone is booked.

Opponents have noted that this ruling gives law enforcement the right to invade one’s physical body without actually convicting said individual of any crime. For anyone who has a problem with officers frisking someone who has not been convicted of a crime, having an officer swab DNA will likely not be a welcome addition to the criminal-justice arsenal.

Keep reading …

By Vasavi Kumar

Do you find yourself talking to friends and see their gaze drifting away, or even have them cut you off when you are relaying something that has happened in your life?

It’s frustrating to hang around people who can only ever muster up conversations about themselves. The problem is often people are just plain boring, but they don’t realize they are acting that way. And yet sometimes there are clues.

For extroverts, it may be that we are sharing too much information and overwhelming our listeners with details. On the other hand, introverts may not know what to say to engage others in interesting conversations.

Still, not being boring really has nothing to do with being extroverted or introverted. People who are quiet can be powerful connectors. And on the flip side, people who talk a lot may not be interesting.

Not being boring is not just about being entertaining in conversation. It’s about connecting with other people. In essence, it is a state of being. It’s about how you see and experience the world.

There are some simple ways we can all change our way of being to avoid being boring. First, if you don’t want to be boring, don’t be bored. People who are interesting are, simply stated, interested in life. The first step in becoming interesting is getting in touch with what excites you and lights you up.

Here’s an exercise to help you determine if you are really living life passionately or just going through the motions:

Recall – What did you do in the last 24 hours? This exercise will determine how much you actually take in and remember about your day. If your day is boring, you won’t remember much of anything. However if you are passionate and love life, you will remember the details. So what do you remember? What are you noticing? What ideas caught your imagination? What emotions did you have? What turned you on? What left you going, hmm? What emotions are you experiencing right now?

Get passionate – If you’re not passionate, you’re not really alive. If you’re not alive, you’re not very engaging or energetic; you’ll be boring and people will not find value in spending time with you. People aren’t boring just because they’re not passionate – but because they never make themselves do anything. So start by moving out of your comfort zone.

Give – Care about other people. Learn from them. Inquire. Be open to new perspectives and ideas. How do you do that? It’s simple: Go first. Just care about the things you’re not used to caring about. For example, other people. Care more about learning from people and their life experiences. Share and talk with others whose stories you can learn from.

Doing these things makes you passionate because you’re putting yourself through what is hard. You’re not doing what most people do – which is to sit there and complain or demand that something happen to you – you’re moving through your own comfort zone and demanding more from yourself. This automatically makes you feel more. It moves you from being boring to being passionately alive.

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Vasavi Kumar describes herself as “your kick-in-the-pants guide en route to your desired destination.” With an out-of-the-box, rebellious approach, she inspires people to find freedom from their past to take charge of their future. A certified life coach, Vasavi holds dual master’s degrees in social work and special education. She’s co-author of the bestselling book Succeeding in Spite of Everything, and appears on TV as the “Keepin’ It Real Guru” on Kansas City Live. Learn more at VasaviKumar.com.

In today’s link round-up: Tia Mowry-Hardrict sports lettuce for PETA, BET tacks on several unscripted programs and much more!

The YBF
Kanye West Gives Rare Interview To NYT, Talks Being The Steve Jobs Of Pop Culture, His Girlfriend Kim K, Reality Show Backlash & More
“I am undoubtedly, you know, Steve of Internet, downtown, fashion, culture. Period.”

BlackVoices
‘The New Black’ Documentary Explores Gay Marriage In The Black Community (VIDEO)
The Yoruba Richen-produced film centers on the often taboo topic of sexuality in the Black community.

Vibe Vixen
Tia Mowry-Hardict Wears Lettuce For PETA [Video]
Lettuce has never looked so good.

EURweb
‘Hip Hop Sisters’ Among Four New Reality Shows at BET
The network is piling on the unscripted programming for its upcoming schedule.

Madame Noire
‘The Book Of Negroes’ Miniseries Coming To BET
Lawrence Hill’s controversial novel is set to come alive.

The Frisky
20 Things Your Guests Will/Won’t Remember About Your Wedding
Will remember…who dressed inappropriately.

The post LOTD: Kanye West Grants Rare Interview To NYT + Is Gay ‘The New Black?’ [VIDEO] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of Black Enterprise

So you’ve been doing well, getting great reviews and now you think you deserve a raise. Well, the age old saying, “You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate,” always rings true, even today. If you want to take the next step to get an upgrade in salary, try this strategy:

1. Learn about your employer’s strategy.

Every employer should have some kind of plan that outlines  their high-level priorities and goals for the year. Knowing the details  of that strategy will allow you to position yourself as someone who is  helping the business reach its goals.

Continue at Black Enterprise…

The post Get That Raise: 7 Steps To Approaching Your Boss appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.