Source: Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar’s chemistry together can’t be denied and the people want more. But it seems they might not have to wait too long if you let Jay tell it. As spotted on Complex the “King’s Dead” MC recently took part in a brief Twitter response session with his followers. During the course of several questions touching on his previous work one diehard fan asked about the chances of an official Jay and K. Dot release happening. To everyone’s surprise, the two have apparently already cooked something up. “We Might Already Have A Full Project # TDE ” he posted. We Might Already Have A Full Project #TDE https://t.co/QLbD1nF0lk — Jay Rock (@jayrock) February 6, 2019 Naturally, he was prodded with more tweets about what that “Full Project” exactly entailed but he remained quiet. Thankfully for TDE fans he also confirmed that Isaiah Rashad is working on his new album. In the studio creating that #TDE Magic https://t.co/5aFKTiE9Dp — Jay Rock (@jayrock) February 6, 2019 He also said without saying actually it that he personally has music slotted for this year. Stay Tuned In ! https://t.co/wtlgMxVBnO — Jay Rock (@jayrock) February 6, 2019 As of now there is no telling what this Jay Rock and Kendrick Lamar project will be so stay tuned. In the mean time relish in their gritty “Wow Freestyle” from Jay’s Redemption album below. Photo: Spotify
Source: MANDEL NGAN / Staff / Getty At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. on Thursday, President Trump said the U.S must “build a culture ” that will cherish the “dignity and sanctity of human life.” Related: Huggy Lowdown: Trump’s Hour Long Infomercial For His Wall Trumps remarks come after many states have passed or are looking to pass legislation that will loosen restrictions for third party abortions . This is something that President Trump is strongly against. Related: Trump Reopens Government For Three Weeks [VIDEO] Trump also went on to quote the bible when he said, “as the Lord says in Jeremiah, ‘before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.’” He urges the American people to “choose greatness”
Source: MANDEL NGAN / Staff / Getty At the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. on Thursday, President Trump said the U.S must “build a culture ” that will cherish the “dignity and sanctity of human life.” Related: Huggy Lowdown: Trump’s Hour Long Infomercial For His Wall Trumps remarks come after many states have passed or are looking to pass legislation that will loosen restrictions for third party abortions . This is something that President Trump is strongly against. Related: Trump Reopens Government For Three Weeks [VIDEO] Trump also went on to quote the bible when he said, “as the Lord says in Jeremiah, ‘before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.’” He urges the American people to “choose greatness”
Okay this Black History Month needs an absolute do-over. Luxury designer Gucci apologized Thursday for their new wool balaclava jumper because it happens to resemble blackface a little too much. “Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper,” the brand wrote in response to the backlash. “We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.” The $890 sweater was pulled from Gucci’s website and all physical stores. As you can see, it is black and covers up to the wearer’s nose with material. However, the red ring around the hole for the jumper’s mouth resembles a pair of lips, reminiscent of blackface or minstrel cartoons. Gucci deeply apologizes for the offense caused by the wool balaclava jumper. We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make. Full statement below. pic.twitter.com/P2iXL9uOhs — gucci (@gucci) February 7, 2019 The reveal of the sweater comes only days after the state of Virginia found itself in some amazing hot water over multiple state officials who admitted to wearing black face to either portray Michael Jackson or something similar. Again, can we restart black history month?! IMAGE CREDIT: Gucci RELATED: Governor Of Virginia Refuses To Resign After Racist Images Surface RELATED: Not Surprised: Covington Catholic School Kids Wore Blackface At Sporting Events
Source: Ulisses Garza / Radio One Houston How does a woman weigh 302 pounds, dedicate herself to a life of change and positivity and wind up losing half of her body weight? Meet Dalelynn Settle , a Houston woman who was featured in People Magazine’s “Weight Loss” issue. Join Our Text Club To Get The Latest Music, Entertainment, Contests And Breaking News On Your Phone. Text BOX to 24042 to join! “At my highest I was 302 pounds,” Settle says. “I got there … just a lot of different things. I was never an overweight child. I got married when I was 20 and our first daughter was due on the day of wedding anniversary. So a lot of life changes. I dealt with anxiety and depression, began taking medication for my depression and anxiety and that’s when the weight gain began. Y’know, being a stay at home mom … everything I hoped and dreamed for, it felt like it was slipping away.” Settle didn’t find out she was 302 pounds until her sister passed away in 2014 after an artery exploded in her heart. “Nikki’s death saved my life,” she said. “But my family is predisposed to high blood pressure and diseases. People used to say, “well, high blood pressure runs in my family.” No, the problem is, ‘Nobody runs in our family.’ Her blood pressure literally caused her aorta to burst. After that, Settle rededicated her life and her families’ lives to better eating and for her, working out with her trainer and sharing her message of perseverance! Watch the full interview with the Madd Hatta Morning Show below!
Source: Bennett Raglin/BET / Getty Despite the fact that Jussie Smollett squashed the rumors that he made up his attack, folks like Joe Budden seem to remain skeptical. The rapper and reality star shared his thoughts about the “Empire” actors alleged hate crime on a recent episode of his podcast “ State Of The Culture.” He opened with going over the news about his attack. “[He] was allegedly brutally attacked recently in Chicago by ‘MAGA terrorists.’ They broke his ribs, they put a noose about his neck, they poured bleach on him and called him derogatory names. The FBI is on the case now but it has confirmed that a letter was previously sent to a FOX studio that contained threatening language and a powdery substance said to be Tylenol.” According to Hip New Hop News , while his co-hosts attempted to make the point that since President Trump has been elected that has been an uptick in hate and bias crimes committed over the years. “Why can’t we trust that there is black pain, that that has happened?” – @ScottieBeam responds to @JoeBudden ’s speculations of what happened to Jussie Smollett. #SOTC pic.twitter.com/93bOXSjwy1 — StateofTheCulture (@StateofCulture) February 6, 2019 Yet, Budden, who has been accused of domestic violence himself, refuses to believe Jussie’s version because he cannot fathom the idea that any Black man could wear a noose on his neck for 45 minutes after being attacked. The 38-year-old also made fun of the threatening letter allegedly sent to FOX saying it looked “like some bulls**t I saw in Austin Powers.” While Budden says that he believes that Jussie was attacked, he isn’t sold on the idea that it was a hate crime. “Famous rich people, when bad things happen and they want to cover the story because famous people to fuck shit sometimes like humans,” Joe stressed. “You cover the story to protect your image, your likeness and your career.” He concluded that Jussie may be preying on the emotions of the community to garner support and sympathy. “I’m waiting for footage. Just show me footage and I’ll shut the fuck up,” he said. Not surprisingly, some of Budden’s fans agreed with him, believing that Jussie’s story isn’t adding up: Man Joe Budden bust this Jussie Smollett story wise open. @theeonlyme and I been saying that something was off about it — ShaQuann (@MissShaLeJoan) February 2, 2019 Im glad that I’m not the only one who thinks Jussie is lying @JoeBudden pic.twitter.com/3vDTCdXbzp — sammiesopinion (@sammiesopinion) February 2, 2019 i cant wait til the truths comes out and the whole world has to say @JoeBudden was right about this nigga #Jussie Story and he just got beat up over Dick. ctfu — chucktheworld_ (@ChuckTheWorld_) February 6, 2019 However, there were also people who disagreed with Budden, asking their own questions about why folks are so quick to invalidate the pain Black LGBTQ folks face: Soooo #JoeBudden doesn’t believe Jussie was attacked.. Why LGBT Black men pain and experiences can never be acknowledged and validated. Is it not that valuable to us? God for bid this was Andy Cohen or Anderson Cooper no one would even question the story. — Petty J. Blige (@FxckgirlBri) February 5, 2019 There’s no reason for Jussie to lie. pic.twitter.com/zzi1coKT6H — Auntie Fan4ever (@1Truvet) February 5, 2019 Joe Budden needs to be cancelled for being out here questioning the authenticity of Jussie Smollett’s attack….. #alwaysurown pic.twitter.com/LpY0yj85tX — itstheCoConutWater (@DivaHoneyPri) February 6, 2019 Wow! Just wow! What is sad is that now in this day and age you need some mf receipts to prove you was attacked. Back then ya word was good enough and the family would be ready to go whoop whoever ass. Now we have show footage that he was beat to believe him? TF! #TheAudacity — TheChattyBlogger (@DaChattyBlogger) February 6, 2019 Budden isn’t the only Black celeb to publicly question the validity of Jussie’s attack. Recently, Azealia Banks posted on social media that this is nothing but “propaganda.” “Sorry…this is all promotion for the next season of empire/propaganda to make sure black for the DNC next go round,” she wrote in her IG Stories. “Loads of black people didn’t vote at all in the 2016 election which worked in Trump’s favor.” Girl, huh. Meanwhile, the Chicago Police Department are still looking for the two men involved in the attack. RELATED NEWS: Jussie Smollett Speaks Out About Attack: ‘I Fought The F**k Back.’ Y’all President Called Jussie Smollett’s Attack ‘Horrible,’ But Then Made It About His Wall Kevin Hart Sent Jussie Smollett ‘Prayers’ After Attack, Twitter Snapped Off [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3022208″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty Instead of beefing with the next generation of Hip Hop, Jay-Z has been there to act as a big brother to some of the newer rappers coming up in the game. He put all of his resources behind making sure Meek Mill was released from prison last year and now he hopes to help 21 Savage . In case you missed it, Jay-Z called the arrest and detention of 21 Savage by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “an absolute travesty.” “His U Visa petition has been pending for four years” Jay continued, adding that “in addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately.” See the official Roc Nation statement below. She'yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph ( @21savage ) is currently 26 years old, an engaged father of 3 children who were born in the U.S. U.K. born Abraham-Joseph has been living in the U.S. since the age of 7. pic.twitter.com/T2sfILYEF3 — Team Roc (@teamroc) February 6, 2019 Alex Spiro, the lawyer Jay-Z hired to assist 21 Savage moving forward, also reportedly told TMZ “We are not going to stop until he is released, bonded out or in front of a judge … What we have here is someone who overstayed their Visa with an application pending for 4 years – not a convicted criminal that needs to be detained and removed but, by all accounts a wonderful person, father, and entertainer who has a marijuana offense which was vacated and sealed.” Fan or critic, you have to admit Hov, who just recently launched a criminal justice reform organization, is about that action—and we aren’t the only ones that feel that way. Social media hasn’t stopped saluting Blue Ivy’s dad since news broke. Hit the flip to see reactions.
Source: Dee Dee Parker / Dee Dee Parker Wa Gwan? Dat Fire Jerk Chicken, are you Jamaican? Because “Jamaican” us hungry with all of this wonderful food that you’re showing us in this edition of Skinny Phat Girls! Here’s the skinny on Atlanta’s favorite little jerk spot! Watch Video Below!
Source: Aryah Lester / Aryah Lester This post originally appeared on A Girl Like Me , a blog for women and girls on The Well Project , and is part of collaboration with HelloBeautiful for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day . “I still have a dream,” said Martin Luther King, “it is deeply rooted in the American Dream.” Earlier in history, Henry David Thoreau was quoted as saying: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined!” Dreams that are tied to a confident, better you, tied to career goals and an impact in society, are of the few remnants of our innocent and wondrous childhood fantasies. However, in reality, many of us see career goals bringing personal happiness as fictional as wishing on stars. Discrimination, HIV stigma and social statuses seem to plant us in mud, with a generous percentage of people just achieving enough to manage the next breath. There are times that hope shines through the dense polluted clouds of realism, and we find ourselves thinking that by chance a rare opportunity is afforded to our lives. An unforeseen position, promotion or opportunity teases us with the goals of fantasy coming into the waking light and telling our stories in all facets of public health. If only for a moment, the thought of living our ‘lottery of life’ enters the mind and holds root within the desert of desperation. The dream continues to be just that: an occurrence within our minds that never quite translates into our reality. Hope can be manufactured into dreams coming true, outside the realm of “princesses castles’ and ‘heroes destined to change the world.” My own foray into the world of HIV advocacy and activism for an underserved and vulnerable population has so far seen many of my dreams come true, while at the same time having no visibly viable resources to speak of to many in my community. I now find myself to be the Deputy Executive Director of the Transgender Strategy Center , devoted to the needs of my community, in an area where, historically, there has never existed anything like what we created. It had only previously existed in my dreams. Here are the main ten steps that could assist you with achieving the same for yourself. Simplify your life. Don’t hesitate for opportunities within your ability. Join HIV committees/boards. Volunteer. Network socially. Network online. Network. Make relationships with organizations with a similar mission. Form a coalition. Find volunteers/pro-bono contractors. Search for sponsors to conferences and trainings. Realize realistic time factors. Whatever you do, just don’t give up. The Well Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the course of the HIV /AIDS pandemic through a unique and comprehensive focus on women and girls. Visit their website, www.thewellproject.org , to access fact sheets (English and Spanish), blogs , and advocacy tools, and to join a global community of women living with HIV . RELATED NEWS: What This Young Mother Living With HIV Wants You To Know #BlackAIDSDay: When It Comes To HIV, I Will Be Shameless [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2914701″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Ciarra / Courtesy Ciarra This post originally appeared on A Girl Like Me , a blog for women and girls on The Well Project , and is part of collaboration with HelloBeautiful for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day . I have made a few mistakes in my life. Who am I kidding? I have made MANY mistakes in my life. And I ain’t even been alive that long. Some of those mistakes, I can effortlessly push underneath that figurative rug somewhere and pray I lose the memory. That way, no one else knows about the mistake. I can just act as though it never happened. And keep it moving. But then you have those others. You know, those other mistakes, which are a little more difficult to conceal. They loud. They make themselves known. There ain’t no running or no hiding from these type. Contracting HIV is one of those mistakes for me. This one I can’t escape. Sure, I could have kept the secret to myself. But in order to live healthy and well, I would have had to address it at some point. It wasn’t noooo hiding, shoving, or pushing this one, nowhere. I call it a mistake because I knew I should have used a condom. But I didn’t. I call it a mistake because people had attempted to guide me to safer choices. But I opted to do my own thing. And as a result, I contracted this virus. I contracted this dumb, stupid, ugly virus. If only I had done this or that, I would not be HIV positive today. For other people it may look like: … if only I had studied for that test, I would have passed that class. … if only I had ordered a rideshare that night, I would not have to serve the sentence attached to a DUI. … if only I had used a condom, I might not have contracted chlamydia. Look. I am not ashamed of my HIV positive status because, we have all made mistakes. They may not all look the same, but a mistake is a mistake is a mistake. Right? We all have done something that we wish that we could take back. The HIV mistake makes itself known daily. The reminder comes in the form of a once-a-day pill that I struggle to swallow. Other people may still be able to push their biggest mistakes to the back of their mind. I can’t. I gotta face mine. I’m tryna live and sh*t. Anyways, I’m sure that if we could go back and avoid making these mistakes, we would. And to me, that sounds like growth. So I must ask, what is there to be ashamed of in growth? The Well Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to change the course of the HIV /AIDS pandemic through a unique and comprehensive focus on women and girls. Visit their website, www.thewellproject.org , to access fact sheets (English and Spanish), blogs , and advocacy tools, and to join a global community of women living with HIV . RELATED NEWS: What This Young Mother Living With HIV Wants You To Know #BlackAIDSDay: How You Can Live With HIV With No Shame [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2914701″ overlay=”true”]
