Mary J. Blige Debuted 'What's the 411?' 20 Years Ago!

Mary J. Blige has reached a major milestone in her career! This past weekend on July 28, marked the 20 year anniversary of  the Queen of Hip Hop Soul being in the game, having dropped her first and phenomenal album What’s the 411? back in 1992. That iconic work introduced us to the singer’s signature blend of R&B melodies over Hip Hop beats, tinged with gritty vocals delivered with an edgy, B-girl style. With hits like “Real Love”, “Love no Limit” and “Reminisce”, Blige could make you dance, relax and cry all on one record. Blige even hipped some young’uns to the super soulstress Chaka Khan, with her now classic remake of “Sweet Thing”. If you weren’t down with Blige back in the day, you just weren’t down.

Not many artists in the R&B world have had the staying power of Blige, while managing to keep her projects fresh and authentic, retaining and even gaining a new fan base. The Yonkers native has managed to successfully crossover while remaining firmly planted in her urban roots, a feat many haven’t been able to master. And with a catalog of hits that includes “No Drama”, “Be Without You”, "Not Gon' Cry", “Just Fine” and her recent record setting top ten single with Drake, "Mr. Wrong", among many, many others, Blige shows us how an artist remains relevant without sacrificing the essence of what made her a standout.

One of the many things we love about Blige is her honesty in her life, as we have witnessed her struggle and victory over personal challenges, blooming into a woman with personal power, as well as influence in the industry. We’ve experienced how that transformation translates to her work. The personal and professional progression of Blige is one of the many reasons, in addition to her evolving style, that she remains one of our most relatable faves!

Congrats to Mary J. Blige on reaching this significant benchmark in her career! Blige “stays winning” for providing us with a bumping musical backdrop to our lives.  Mary J. Blige is an artist and a woman who not only survives, but excels!

What are some of your favorite Mary J. Blige songs?  

Get Your Good on With DailyFeats and O Magazine!

DailyFeats is a “a social good innovator”, with a site and mobile app that encourages positive habits and rewards points for each accomplished act or “feat”. DailyFeats has partnered with Oprah’s O Magazine, along with Zappos (two of my favorite things) for an initiative aptly named, “Random Acts of O”. It is featured on a tab of the O Magazine Facebookpage, and currently has over 200K “likes”. “Random Acts of O” issues monthly challenges based on varied themes of kindness that can be shared with others.

DailyFeats tracks participants’ progress in completing their “feats” and rewards points that can be redeemed for charitable donations or perks. On this Facebok initiative points can be redeemed for charitable donations or perks from O Magazine and Zappos. And on the DailyFeats site, points can be redeemed for charitable donations and perks from a roster of select partners.  (It’s literally like getting cool points!)

So the next time you go in on housecleaning, yeah and I mean getting that scary space behind the refrigerator, you can check in and reward yourself (or someone else) with something awesome! Participation is free, and all of this is done on the honor system, which only makes sense considering the big picture vision of the endeavor.

The mission of Daily Feats is to “make positive action part of daily life, motivating people to realize the potential of every day,” while fostering a friendlier community. I love this idea! I signed up to participate on the site via my Twitter account. (You can also use your Facebook or Google account.) I’m recommitting to weight management and think it will be fun to check in every time I go to the gym, make a healthy meal, or chose water over iced coffee! LOL! The site even has suggestions on things like healthy recipes, how to enjoy the gym, low impact workouts and more.

I feel like this site knows me as another goal is to develop better sleep habits and go to bed earlier. And when I perform a check-in to demonstrate I’ve done this, I get a little message of motivation that says, “Refuse the temptation to stay up. That stupid late-night talk show isn't worth it. Hit the sack!” LOL! They must know I love TV!

“Random Acts of O” on Facebook continues through December, and you can visit the site any time. So check out DailyFeats and get your good deeds on! Continue or get motivated to execute positive habits for a healthy happy life and community!

What do you think about this idea?

RIP Sherman Hemsley-From 'The Jeffersons' to 'Amen'-He Made Us Laugh

Widely known for his iconic role on the classic Norman Lear sitcom The Jeffersons, where he played a hilariously hot-tempered businessman George Jefferson, beloved actor Sherman Hemsley has passed away. Hemsley also created another memorable character on a subsequent popular sitcom, Amen, where he portrayed Deacon Frye.

I loved Sherman Hemsley. From his on-point comedic timing to the development of George Jefferson's signature swag heavy walk, he was absolutely hysterical! And his moments with Caroll O'Connor, who played the bigoted Archie Bunker on All in the Family, where the George Jefferson persona was created, are quintessential examples of what ground breaking television is made of. 

Hemsley's career was forged in a dynamic time in television that will never be duplicated; where risky dialogue that wouldn't be allowed on network TV today drove national conversations. Though Hemsley was best known for his comedic talents, he was part of an era in television that explored and fueled controversy. 

The Jeffersons was one of the first shows to showcase a middle class black family, setting a precedent for The Cosby Show, and serving as a polar opposite to Good Times, another Lear creation. The Jeffersons was one of the first depictions of African American entrepreneurship and glamor, as George and "Weezy's" wardrobe was always tight!  

The Jefferson's brought the imagery of African Americans into a new, post civil rights era, where at least the belief of "moving on up"could be portrayed as a reality in media. It was also a distinct portrayal of black love, as George loved him some "Weezy"!

View one of the glamorous and most hilarious moments of The Jeffersons below, and enjoy the classic memory of "The George Jefferson Dance"!

 What are some of your most memorable Sherman Hemsley moments?

Mayor Bloomberg Kicks Off Harlem Week And Remembers Sylvia Woods

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked off Harlem Week (which is actually a month) at Gracie Mansion. It was an upscale barbecue with music and mingling featuring notable speakers, and a performance from cast members of the Tony winning musical Porgy and Bess. Along with the Mayor himself, other speakers included Tim Zagat, founder of the famed Zagat restaurant guide, New York State Assemblyman Keith Wright, and other Harlem community leaders. Even music director Ray Chew, who we all remember from Showtime at the Apollo, who is now with American Idol came through. It was a nice evening to celebrate the legacy of Harlem, but unfortunately the event was hit with some sad news.

We learned at the celebration that restaurateur Sylvia Woods, who founded the legendary soul food restaurant, Sylvia’s in Harlem had passed away at 86 years old. Woods opened Sylvia’s in 1962, and not only created an eatery, but fashioned what became a local landmark that became a mainstay among the Harlem community and beyond. The restaurant was also patronized by many in the entertainment industry and political arena. The location also played a major role in a black tradition, with many convening there after church. Rev. Al Sharpton stated in an article in The Huffington Post that Sylvia’s was, "more than a restaurant, it has been a meeting place for Black America."

Hearing the news of Woods’ passing was particularly shocking as she was supposed to be at the event to receive her commemoration for her 50^th year in business. Attendees all participated in a moment of silence to remember the trail blazing entrepreneur. Though the news was sad, there was comfort in hearing about it while among others who valued her contributions and paid tribute. 

So this year's Harlem Week will be especially memorable as we honor Ms. Sylvia and others like the late legend of radio, Hal Jackson.

Check out some pics below of the kick-off event!

Mayor Bloomberg kicks off Harlem Week!

Cast members from Porgy and Bess perform!

Tim Zagat honors Syvia Woods

Sports reporter/columnist, Stephen A. Smith attended the event

Harlem Week will feature a month of activities from July 28^th through August 28^th. To find out more, click here.

Cool Creatures Made Out of Foil!

I was on my way to one of my favorite places on earth, NuNu Chocolate, and I passed a very unusual and intriguing exhibit of animal structures made out of......wait for it, foil! I thought this was pretty cool, so I asked the nice man at the front desk if I could take pictures. Turns out this exhibit was in the Brooklyn Infusion Center, a satellite location that is part of Memorial Sloan-Kettering, one of the world's premiere cancer centers providing research, state-of-the-art care and education. 

The exhibit, created by artist Dean Millien, is part of a revolving display in the Infusion Gallery. I absolutely love creative projects like this! Take a look below!

A flamingo!

A deer!

A lizard!

 

Look at these cool birds!

A tyranus rex?

A cool ape?

A gorilla, a penguin and a....snake...(Cool idea, but I hate snakes!)

What a cool horse!

Hmmm...not sure what this is....it's awesome though!

Cheetah? Lioness? Cool!

OMG! Look at this super cool Godzilla!!!!!!!! I felt like I was in Tokyo! LOL!

A magical pony!

This.Rhino.Is.So.Cool!

Look at this dope Rooster! I wish I had an alarm clock like this!

This exhibit will be up until the end of August. So if you're in the area, go check it out! Thank you to Memorial Sloan-Kettering for displaying the exhibit, and more importantly, for providing cancer patients with excellent care and comfort!

Fox Picks up Bethenny Frankel's Talk Show!

 

As I predicted, Bethenny Frankel’s talk show is a hit! And word on the street (the street being Perez Hilton) is that it’s been picked up by Fox, and will be added to the network’s lineup in the fall 2013 season! Though Fox has not issued an official statement yet, I believe the report is true. With high ratings in its test market cities Frankel’s show is apparently resonating with its target audience and giving women what they want-a place to have fun, be honest, feel accepted and be empowered!

I’ve been watching and have to say I’m very impressed with how quickly the show has found its groove. Bethenny and The Ellen Degeneres Show team, which is producing the daytime success on their hiatus hit the ground running and found a smart formula full of fun and frank conversation. Just recently a woman admitted in the “Frankel-y speaking” confessional that she is a former phone sex operator!

Now this kind of thing can go both ways. It can be like, “Eeeewww…”, or it can be hysterical. Fortunately it was the latter!

After speaking with the woman, Bethenny cracked up so much that she actually had to sit down! LOL! It was hilarious! And that’s what I want! I want real talk, no shame, and a good time! Bethenny is balling, but many of us are living in challenging times and need something fun and fresh where we can be not only be entertained, but inspired.

It’s really incredible to me that nearly every time Bethenny approaches a woman in the audience, the FIRST thing they say is that they love, admire and are so happy to meet her. What I like about that is Bethenny seems to never tire of it, and expresses sincere gratitude each time. In a world where we are more likely to see a woman trying to snatch somebody’s weave out, or stomp across a table to lay the smack-down, that sense of equal admiration among women is great to see. It’s those kinds of moments in conjunction with Bethenny’s open dialogue about her life and journey that I believe make her feel so accessible, and essentially make the show work.

Whether you’re sitting in a small apartment wishing that ump-teenth packet of Ramen was actually lobster, or living it up with “caviar dreams”, or anywhere in-between, you can find an aspect of Bethenny’s life to relate to. And I dig that she comes across as if she still genuinely remembers what it’s like to be in the struggle, and therefore can impart empathetic advice on a wide range of topics. I also enjoy seeing Bethenny relate to so many different kinds of women.

Bethenny’s talk show has done a great job of welcoming women of varied ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds in all shapes and sizes. I’m so happy this show values the variety of women in mind, body and spirit. For instance, featuring Dr. Roshini Raj to discuss women’s health issues was an awesome choice! I love seeing more brown faces on mainstream TV, and think the Bethenny show is super smart to recognize the importance of providing a multiracial/multicultural experience! I looked on the Bethenny talk show site and saw that others agree!

A perfect example of that is when Bethenny featured one of my favorite beauty/fashion experts, Lilliana Vazquez of Cheap Chicas! When I saw that they used multi-ethnic models in this segment, I was actually moved.

Congrats to Bethenny Frankel and the folks on The Ellen DeGeneres Show staff for getting picked up! With talk shows popping up all over the place it’s very difficult to create a standout, but doggone if they didn't "Get 'er done"! WERK!

I’m looking forward to a regular season of the show when it comes back in 2013. I'm sure it will be worth the long wait when it comes back with even more fun, real talk and hilarious and inspirational moments!

Have you checked out Bethenny? What do you think?

photos and video courtesy of Telepictures Productions

Five Things BET Should Change

 

The BET network has been rebranding for a while now. With their scripted programming and new look, the channel is finally trying to reach the potential many were expecting years ago, and become its own entity-one that doesn’t trail behind the innovation of MTV. (I mean seriously, if you’re not watching Teen Wolf or Awkward., you’re missing out BIG time!)

Increased original programming and shiny new logos are good and all, but I think BET could stand to make more changes. It’s new (unnecessarily Ebonics heavy) slogan, “We Got You”, assures us the channel has our best interest in mind, and is making every attempt to step into the 21^st century. And while I appreciate the efforts, I feel the execution could use some polish. Here are five things I think BET should change.

Bring back the news

BET Nightly News was cancelled back in 2005. And before that they got rid of BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley and later Ed Gordon. Now, I can’t say I watched these shows regularly (and maybe ratings is why news was taken off the channel), however I appreciated the balance of entertainment and information to at least give the appearance that BET was interested in providing news that was relevant to the black community, from a black perspective. Doing away with news silenced an outlet for black voices of substance in the media, and communicated that the channel didn’t believe black viewers wanted to be informed or have dialogue on substantive issues.

TJ Holmes has joined the channel but I don’t think I’m interested in seeing this former CNN anchor engage in a Daily Show-esque “late night comedy/news hybrid”. (Is Holmes even funny?) Why can’t we just get the news straight, no chaser? And if BET wants to do a comedic “hot topics” show, then get an actual comedian to do it. Having Bill Bellamy, for instance sit down with some of his amusing friends to talk about hot button topics would actually be uh, funny. BET, you can have your comedy cake and serve the news too. Providing entertainment and information are not mutually exclusive endeavors.

Keep a consistent and quality web presence

There have been several incarnations of BET’s website design in a relatively short period of time. Yes, things change and get tweaked, but constant overhauls wreak havoc on consistency, one of the core factors of genius branding. Keeping a brand consistent in design, content and tone is important to achieve effective marketing. Maybe BET’s young core demographic of web surfers don’t notice as much, but it’s still important to maintain a regulated presence. And this goes for their Tumblr account that looks all but abandoned letting it go weeks without new posts.

And please BET, I beg of you, keep the site updated! When I did my recap on the BET Awards immediately after the show, I had to go to MTV.com to get the photos! This.Is.Unacceptable!

Stop firing the lead actors from hit shows….

Okay, as I’ve said before we don’t know the deets on how Tia Mowry and Pooch Hall left The Game, as apparently NOBODY’S talking, but reports state the duo was fired. And I just don’t get how BET let things escalate to that point. BET doesn’t have a huge roster of top tier talent so to let the two stars of their record setting sitcom go just isn’t a good look-no matter how it went down. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they’re replacing Mowry and creating a new character with Lauren London, and I do like her as an actress. However, rarely does a show rebound from a major change in the line-up, and The Game has already been on thin ice with fans.

Speaking of firing….Get Rid of Rocsi!

Harsh? Yeah, I know but sorry, I’m not a fan. I’m not necessarily a huge fan of Terrence J either, however I do feel he has the energy that suits the audience of 106 & Park. I also feel it only fair to recognize his hustle in parlaying his post into an actual career given his acting gigs and recent extension of his hosting skills on the E! network. I would love for Terrence J’s female counterpart on the show to be more polished and sophisticated, and frankly be without all the personal drama.

We haven’t forgotten about Rocsi’s side-chick involvement in the break-up of LisaRaye’s marriage have we? And this recent stint of jaunting about town with Eddie Murphy is just weird. It’s weird on both parts, and this kind of behavior detracts too much from Rocsi’s public persona, and indirectly reflects poorly on BET. Rocsi could have taken her opportunity with 106 & Park and used it to serve as a positive image for the young black girls who watch the show.

There are plenty of smart and refined young black women who won’t bring their personal drama to the forefront who can fill this spot and take it seriously. 106 & Park is the perfect platform to showcase a young black woman who can be the role model young black girls deserve. If BET is serious about changing the course of the network, they can start by hiring inspiring talent to helm the shows that target our youth. (And speaking of that, they should bring back Teen Summit! -Yeah, I snuck that in there!)

Take ownership of their award shows

Though the recent BET Awards had some great moments like the tribute to the late Whitney Houston, the channel needs to start having acts do “clean” versions of their “joints” on these live shows. What is the point of having a rapper perform a litany of bleeps?

BET needs to take ownership of their award show performances and avoid moments like the infamous Lil Wayne/Drake scandal where they brought little girls on the stage in the midst of performing “Best I Ever Had” and “Every Girl”. BET has had some low moments but trying to rebound from that one should’ve given the network execs the bends!

There needs to be an iron-clad policy in place that prevents performers from showering viewers with vulgarity. You don’t see that on the Billboard Awards, or the American Music Awards, or, the Grammys. Why? Because they don’t allow it. Yes, sometimes things slip through the cracks on all networks, but BET needs to do a better job of controlling what gets aired, and start acting like performers need them, and not the other way around.

So that’s my list of things BET should re-vamp. How do you feel about the network’s direction?

photo courtesy of BET's Tumblr

Declare Your Self-Independence!

Happy Fourth of July! We know that Independence Day celebrates America’s Declaration of Independence from Great Britain back in 1776, but why not make it your very own day of independence? Why not take this day and make it the beginning, or continuation of standing in your own power, your own truth and your own awesomeness?

I’ve always marched to my own tune. Some people get it, some people don’t. Some people love it, some people are afraid of it, but it’s all okay. I decided long ago never to stand in …okay, let me reel it in! LOL! Guess what I’m getting at is that there comes a time in everyone’s life where you are faced with the decision to define yourself for yourself, independent of anyone else’s thoughts or approval. And to live on your own terms, and in your own self-loving space is a power move!

I declare Self-Independence Day as a day to live your own life, and be who you are without other people’s unfair or unrealistic expectations, opinions, projected emotional baggage or your own internal doubt about how fantastic you really are! 

None of us are perfect, but we are all divinely made. And we can choose to liberate ourselves from anything and anyone who just doesn’t get that!

Happy Self-Independence Day! How are you going to express your independence?

2012 BET Awards-The Highlights!

 

BET held its annual awards ceremony, and there were some distinct highlights. Here are my favorite moments of the show!

It was great to see D'Angelo back doing his thing, and giving us real music!

Awww...listening to the LEGEND Ms. Valerie Simpson sing good-bye to her beloved Mr. Nick Ashford was a beautiful moment.

Wow! It was great to see Frankie Beverly and Maze get their due! Beverly got everyone up on their feet and brought the house down when he performed "Before I Let You Go". And he reminded us to, "Wait on HIM"

Wow! Seeing Mariah introduce the Whitney tribute was a wonderful surprise!

Monica took us to church and sounded amazing on the Whitney Houston tribute as a young singer Whitney adored!

Brandy killed it on "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"! Great job on honoring her mentor!

It was fantastic to see the newly svelte Chaka Khan sing "Every Woman" in honor of Whitney!

Tears were definitely flowing as Ms. Cissy Houston sang "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" to honor her baby girl.

One of the more hilarious moments of the evening was Jay-Z giving Kim Kardshian shade as he and Kanye went up to accept their award. Poor Kim! LOL!

Another hilarious/sad moment was that BET couldn't even get the name of the CEO of the network, DEBRA Lee correct on the screen! *sigh* BET giveth, BET taketh away!

The BET Awards had its ups and downs, but there were some great moments! In between the typical profane rappers, and the network beating viewers over the head with their new "We Got You" slogan, there were some solid highlights the channel should be proud of. They came through like gangbusters on the Whitney Houston tribute!

What did you think of the 2012 BET Awards?

photos courtesy of MTV.com