Solange Knowles looks HOT in the latest issue of Complex Magazine. She she shows off her fabulous body in bodysuits, crop tops and hot pants.
In her interview with Complex, Solange discusses her music, being a mom and more. Check out the full interview here.
Her remix to “Looks Good With Trouble” featuring Kendrick Lamar:
Fun Fact: Solange penned two hits for her sister Beyoncé, “Upgrade U” and “Get Me Bodied.”
Source: Complex Magazine
If you haven’t heard of Luke James, please get familiar! Luke James is a songwriter and R&B singer. He has written for Chris Brown, Justin Beiber and Brittany Spears. Last year he opened for Beyoncé during her concert at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City. He has released two mixtapes, Luke and Whisper in the Dark, and currently released a new single I.O.U. Luke James has an amazing voice and he’s definitely one to watch on the R&B scene!
He recently teamed up with Stuff Fly People Like for a Harlem Renaissance themed photo shoot for the digital April/May issue. Check out pictures from the magazine and highlights from his interview.
For those who aren’t familiar with you, in one sentence, who is Luke James?
I don’t know who Luke James is. He is an entertainer and an artist. He is an actor, musician, a songwriter and a lover. That could all change tomorrow. I could become a billionaire!
If you could change one things about the current state of R&B/Soul music, what would it be?
I would change radio and the people who are running things. I think they need to be more open to music and play different types of music and artists. Some artists will never be known or get their music heard beyond their hometown and I think if we can get to a place where we are open and allow others to express themselves and be heard, someone would love it. I just wish radio played more variety in their songs and not the same 7 songs all the time. I wish the old heads would be more open to us and what we are offering. We want and are striving for more.
What would you like someone to say about you and your music 10 years from now?
I would like to people to say it inspired someone to be who they are. Be who they want to be and not what everyone else wants you to be. If you want to be in love, then be in love. Whatever is, do it if that’s what you feel. It would guide them in that direction. Be in love with something that’s forever.
Love the theme of this shoot! To read the entire interview, click HERE.
Photography by Jerome Shaw and styled by Louis Johnson.
I was excited when I saw these photos for the VIBE 2013 “Big List” issue! Miguel and Kendrick Lamar are two of my favorite artists and they are changing the R&B and Hip Hop game right now! During their interview, Miguel and Kendrick Lamar discuss their impression of each other’s music, which artists keep them on their toes, what they hope to accomplish and more. Check out pictures and some excerpts from the interview.
Miguel on Kendrick: I just like that it’s an honest perspective. Sometimes you listen to MCs and you’re like, This sh-t sounds cool, the verse and the cadence or whatever, but when you look at the artist, it just doesn’t translate. I don’t get that from Kendrick. Younger artists, we’re all striving to be ourselves. He’s one of the best examples of that.
Kendrick on Miguel: Likewise. As far as Miguel, one thing I said these past couple of years, from an R&B perspective, I always felt like it’s been missing the depth of actually telling a story. Everything on the radio has been cliché. But when you get a body of work like Miguel’s, you hear actual intricate details and lines where it’s not just saying, Come here girl, blah blah blah. [MiguelLaughs] You’re hearing the steps to get there. And that’s the part of R&B that’s been missing for a long time. To actually hear somebody new doing it and taking pride in such intricate details that make the song that much better, it makes you wanna ride to it all day. I come from that world of oldies and gangster rap. My pops probably played more R&B and vocalists in the house than gangster rap, so I always listened for lyrics and the sh-t that make the women feel good. Once they like it, you know the dudes gon’ follow it right after, so you gotta be up on your sh-t.
The Artists That Keeps Them On Their Toes
KENDRICK: My partner J. Cole is always keeping it to the point where you have to show and prove. My partner Drake kills it.
MIGUEL: What’s f-cked up about R&B is that that camaraderie doesn’t exist. I don’t really know why.
I wish I could be like “my partner” or “my homie,” but it’s not really like that. You could have a 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar, Drake and A$AP Rocky record; they’re all different, but they’re new and dope. You can have that and everyone’s confident in their own uniqueness and appeal. I hope we can do that. In R&B, I have to pay attention to every male artist. Usher is a friend. Vocally there’s no one f-cking with Usher right now in mainstream R&B. I’m always paying attention to his riffs, ’cause he’s always pushing himself. I’ve never heard Usher do one take of vocals the same. He’s insane. Obviously I’m paying attention to Frank or the Weeknd. Jesse Boykins, who is a friend as well, is another artist who’s doing something different, fresh and new.
What They Hope To Accomplish
MIGUEL: Kendrick is poised to be the next staple in hip-hop and I certainly intend on becoming that for R&B, working my ass off and taking risks.
KENDRICK: Definitely. The biggest goal is to say, “Damn, we did it.” Think about Jay-Z and R. Kelly and everything they accomplished. I don’t know if they’re on talking terms now, but I’m sure they’d say, “Damn, we did it,” 20 years down the line. That’s the ultimate high—to accomplish what you sought after, just like those two did.
Miguel and Kendrick Lamar teamed up for Miguel”s “How Many Drinks” Remix. Check it out below. You can also see them perform at the Budweiser Made In America Festival this Labor Day Weekend (I need to be at that festival)!!
These two are definitely the New Classics!
Source: VIBE.com & Necole Bitchie
I never thought I’d feature Nicki Minaj in a Looks We Love post. She usually wears ridiculously over the top outfits but this year she has turned over a new leaf. Her sartorial choices have been fabulous; Alexander McQueen, Herve Leger, Oscar de la Renta and more!
Shot by photographer Thomas Whiteside and styled by Joe Zee, Nicki Minaj teamed up with ELLE for the April 2013 issue.
Strap-trim napa leather jacket by Tom Ford. Leggings by American Apparel.
Woven raffia bustier, $1,325, skirt, both Dolce & Gabbana.
Print bathing suit, Jeremy Scott for Adidas. Leather trousers, Salvatore Ferragamo. Link bracelet, Chrome Hearts.
ELLE US April 2013
Nicki’s advice for women on how to command respect: “My advice to women in general: Even if you’re doing a nine-to-five job, treat yourself like a boss. Not arrogant, but be sure of what you want— and don’t allow people to run anything for you without your knowledge. You want everyone to know, Okay, I can’t play games with her. I have to do right by this woman. That’s what it’s all about.”
This is definitely a nice change from what we’ve seen in the past and I welcome it! She looks great without the crazy wigs and outfits. Wonder if this new Nicki will stay around.
What do you think of her new look?
Source: The Fashion Bomb & ELLE
Now this is how you wear a suit!! Denzel Washington’s dapper self covers the October issue of GQ. In his interview with GQ’s Michael Hainey, Washington discusses starting in the business, his biggest roles and the code he lives by.
I read from the Bible every day, and I read my Daily Word. I read something great yesterday. It said, “Don’t aspire to make a living. Aspire to make a difference.”
Looking good Denzel! To read his full interview with GQ, click HERE.
Photography by Nathaniel Goldberg
YES YES YES to this week’s Rolling Out Magazine cover!! Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker are hot and in love. I look forward to experiencing a love like this.
Can you describe for us what it was like when you first realized that you loved each other?
Nicole: Boris might have a different version, but from my side there was immediate chemistry, and that’s not necessarily sexual. It was just immediate understanding, flow of conversation, intellect, and an instant trust….The great thing is that we really were friends first. When you’re shooting 14 hours a day on a set, you see a lot. He saw me when my eyebrows weren’t tweezed and when my gray hair came in, and when I was in my pajamas at five in the morning going into the dressing room. So we had no choice but to be really real from the very beginning.
Your thoughts Boris?
Boris: What she said was so true and poetic. We had instant chemistry, and right away there was an attraction, but it was more on a spiritual level. I knew right away that she was going to be in my life forever. I didn’t know in what capacity, but I just felt that. That just happens when you meet a person that is on the same wavelength. We saw eye-to-eye on so many things. She was open minded, well traveled, and had a great sense of humor — which are all very important to me. The fact that she became my wife was definitely a bonus. It worked because we were friends and liked each other as people first, which is very important in a relationship. You can fall in and out of love, but if you like each other as people, then I think that’s a great foundation to grow a relationship, and we had that, so I’m very lucky.
Here’s the last question for each of you to answer: “I’m a better person today than I was before marriage because…”
Boris: I’m a better person today than I was before marriage because my wife makes me a better man.
Nicole: I’m a better person today than I was before marriage because I get to care about one of the greatest human beings on the planet.
Click here to see more pictures and read the full interview. Kodjoe and Parker discuss married life and parenting while juggling successful acting careers.
Words and Images: by DeWayne Rogers Hair: Derek J Makeup: Dionne Wynn Wardrobe: Leah Taylor and Renee Brown
Source: Rolling Out Magazine
The “Sparkle” actress recently teamed up with Rolling Out and she looks gorgeous!
On What She’s Learned About Herself Throughout Her Career
Well, I know that I’m enough, and that I have something to offer the world. I guess now that I’ve grown up and gotten a little older, I know what I want, and I know what I want in a mate and I’m able to say it. I’m not one to beat around the bush anymore. There was a time when I was so concerned about hurting people’s feelings, but it’s not that way anymore. While I still care about people’s feelings, I understand the importance of being able to express exactly what I want, and exactly how I’m feeling.
After seeing these pictures, and reading your spread, what do you hope that our readers walk away with?
I just hope that they are able to get the essence of who I am as a woman. I’ve worked really hard to be where I’m at today, and I still have a long way to go. But from this experience, I hope they see a person who works hard, but still appreciates the little things in life. I really enjoyed this experience, and I hope that comes across in this piece. I’m excited. 
Check out her full interview and more pictures from the photo shoot with Rolling Out HERE. “Sparkle” featuring Tika Sumpter, Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston hits theatres this weekend. Can’t wait to see it!
Words and Images: DeWayne Rogers; Makeup: Oslyn Holder; Hair: Annagjid Kee Taylor; Wardrobe Stylist: Micah McDonald
Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine’s Summer Olympics Special. I had seen the cover of the magazine float around the internet but didn’t know there were additional pictures until I saw them this morning on Fashion Bomb Daily. Love the pics!!
We are all so proud of her! Let her story be a reminder to all to support a child’s dream!! For more info about the fabulous Gabby Douglas, check out yesterday’s Diva Spotlight!
Muhammad Ali and his grandson Curtis Muhammad are featured in a new Louis Vuitton ad that is scheduled to hit magazines this month. Ali and his grandson join others celebrities who have worked with Louis Vuitton including Angelina Jolie, soccer player Pelé and musician Keith Richards.
According to the The Wall Street Journal:
The ad, which will run in magazines and newspapers in 60 countries, seems to capture Mr. Ali in private reverie. Photographed last month by Annie Leibovitz in his Phoenix backyard, Mr. Ali watches with pleasure as a young boy stands with fists gloved, feet splayed, chest puffed. Though not identified in the ad, the child is his grandson, Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr. A $1,525 Louis Vuitton “Keepall 50″ bag lies by Mr. Ali’s left foot….
This ad is too cute for words! Love it!
