In the next installment of Vibe’s “Full Clip” series MC/producer Q-tip discusses his entire catalog of hip-hop hits for A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Nas , Biggie and more. The Queens, NY native has been making headlines for his dispute with actor/director Michael Rappaport over his group’s documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life . With a focus on the group’s internal strife Tip told the mag that he hopes the next hip-hop documentary “focuses on the culture.” Nevertheless, Tip seemed to have genuine fun reminiscing about the methods and occasional madness behind his music. In one portion he describes making “One Love” for a teenaged Nasir Jones: “I specifically produced ‘One Love’ for Nas . I knew he was special even before Illmatic. He was the MC who could capture the picture of everything he was rhyming about. His approach was incredible…he had the perfect cadence. You related to Nas because you felt he was from around the way. And people forget that Nas was a prodigy…he was younger than all of us at that time. So I told him, ‘Yo, I’m going to give you some spooky sounding shit for your album.’ And Nas was like, ‘Yeah, I need that to capture the feel of what I’m saying. I need that crazy, mysterious shit.’ So that was the vibe of ‘One Love.’ I knew that it was going to be a classic track. I just knew it. It’s one of those special songs that when you work on it you know what it’s going to be.” READ THE FULL CLIP AT VIBE MAGAZINE RELATED POSTS: FACT OF THE DAY: Rah Digga Was Originally Q-Tip’s Artist Consequence On Kanye West Beef: “I Wasn’t Trying To Air Anybody Out” [EXLCUSIVE VIDEO] Q-Tip & Phife Talk Sophomore Jinx In Clip From New Documentary [VIDEO]
In the next installment of Vibe’s “Full Clip” series MC/producer Q-tip discusses his entire catalog of hip-hop hits for A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Nas , Biggie and more. The Queens, NY native has been making headlines for his dispute with actor/director Michael Rappaport over his group’s documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life . With a focus on the group’s internal strife Tip told the mag that he hopes the next hip-hop documentary “focuses on the culture.” Nevertheless, Tip seemed to have genuine fun reminiscing about the methods and occasional madness behind his music. In one portion he describes making “One Love” for a teenaged Nasir Jones: “I specifically produced ‘One Love’ for Nas . I knew he was special even before Illmatic. He was the MC who could capture the picture of everything he was rhyming about. His approach was incredible…he had the perfect cadence. You related to Nas because you felt he was from around the way. And people forget that Nas was a prodigy…he was younger than all of us at that time. So I told him, ‘Yo, I’m going to give you some spooky sounding shit for your album.’ And Nas was like, ‘Yeah, I need that to capture the feel of what I’m saying. I need that crazy, mysterious shit.’ So that was the vibe of ‘One Love.’ I knew that it was going to be a classic track. I just knew it. It’s one of those special songs that when you work on it you know what it’s going to be.” READ THE FULL CLIP AT VIBE MAGAZINE RELATED POSTS: FACT OF THE DAY: Rah Digga Was Originally Q-Tip’s Artist Consequence On Kanye West Beef: “I Wasn’t Trying To Air Anybody Out” [EXLCUSIVE VIDEO] Q-Tip & Phife Talk Sophomore Jinx In Clip From New Documentary [VIDEO]
On Monday’s episode of “Single Ladies” Val decides to take a break from men… and finds it to be a much harder task than anticipated. Keisha’s new hot trainer pushes her to the limit in more than one way. A vengeful shopping spree by Darryl forces April to become more pro-active. Val worries about Christina’s relationship with her professor and beloved Atlanta newscaster Sharon Love (Queen Latifah) accidentally reveals a secret about Val. “Single Ladies” airs on VH1 Monday night 9 P.M. EST/8c Check out trailer below: Tags: Single Ladies , Christina Carter , Keisha Greene , Valerie Stokes RELATED POSTS: Tonight on “Single Ladies”: This Means War! Terrell Owens Guest Stars on “Single Ladies” LisaRaye: “I Like Being Thick, Especially In The Summer Time” [EXCLUSIVE] FACT OF THE DAY: Queen Latifah Can Beatbox
Nicki Minaj, SB and co. are releasing a short film entitled “Trailers” which portrays Nicki Minaj as “Big Dawg” a female boss who seems like a cross between a bully and someone who doesn’t take any sh*t! Looks interesting… Click here , to view the sneak peek! David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj & Flo Rida “Where Them Girls At” [NEW VIDEO] Mary J. Blige ft. Nicki Minaj “Feel Inside” [NEW MUSIC] Nicki Minaj Performs “Till The World Ends” Remix With Britney Spears In LA [VIDEO]
Admit it: you still have some of your ex’s things lying around your room. Every major spring cleaning uncovers a letter, a baseball hat, a picture, or a sock (yuck) that he left behind. So what do you do? Toss it in the trash with the clothes that no longer fit? Or keep it in your dresser drawer as a memory? I asked around the HelloBeautiful office and it seems that people have mixed feelings when it comes to erasing every memory of your ex: From the girl who wants to get rid of the past and move on: After a dramatic breakup, the last thing you want to do is meet up with your ex again to return each others’ belongings. You could always do the old “throw it in a garbage bag and leave it outside your door.” I say you try to gather as much of his stuff that you can find and leave it somewhere for him that’s far away from you . When you happen to come across his favorite t-shirt 2 months down the line, throw it away. Or maybe sell it depending on how much it’s worth. From the memory keeper who thinks that everything happens for a reason: There’s a reason that you stumble across his Valentine’s Day card six months later. Maybe it’s not fate and a sign that you should date again, but it could be a reminder of your past . Getting rid of every memory with an ex also gets rid of positive memories, memories that you might like to look back on. Maybe looking at that old movie ticket stub will remind you of how much you’ve grown since your relationship. Just because you’ve thrown away all of the physical parts of your relationship doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen: keeping memories doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re dwelling on the past, there’s a lot of room for reflection as well. Let it out ladies: Are you a “throw it in the fire” kind of girl? Or are you a “use memories to reflect” kind of girl? Top 4 Most Annoying Text Message Cop-Outs Is It Possible To Re-Do Romance? How To Balance “Bro-mance” Versus “Romance” Are These BP Artists Good Enough to Get Signed? 2011 BET Award Winners & Recap FACT OF THE DAY: Foxy Brown Was Not Always Foxy FACT OF THE DAY: LL Cool J Dropped Out Of High School To Record His Debut Album
Have you ever had one of those days where you find yourself trying to piece together conversations you had with someone? This could be from a friendship, a potential love interest, or even a family member, as life can be confusing to figure out on occasion. Maybe you are trying to decipher how someone feels about a particular idea or just really have no idea what is going on anymore in terms of what a particular person or group are thinking. I, for one, tend to over-analyze everything unconsciously and always tend to find myself in these predicaments where I just have to step back and force myself to stop thinking for a while. In the long run, it can be better to just look at the big picture of events and let go of whatever is bothering you for a period of time in order to get your bearings back. Stewing over what someone said, especially if you might not know all the facts, is one of the worst things you could do, as it wastes valuable time and energy. What are the advantages of being more broad while viewing your life instead of just nitpicking every detail? One definite advantage is that you are able to focus on other things and not be distracted by dissecting the details of something trivial. It is undeniably healthy to take a break from something that bothers you and just put all of your attention into the task at hand, like your job or taking care of the kids, even if you have lingering doubts on something else. Sometimes, trying to budget your time between multiple things, especially if one of them is dragging you down, is not the best plan, especially if you are missing the big picture of the situation. Maybe you completely overlooked the overall message of what someone said or were too busy worrying to see that the person was viewing you favorably after-all. Using “this too shall pass” as a mantra in terms of your doubts is a fantastic plan, as getting worried prematurely or overreacting can end up being for naught. If you continue to not be able to see the big picture and need reassurance, call your friend or family member and try to decipher the situation through communication rather than the passive-aggressive approach you may be taking. In another light, seeing the intricacies in a situation is not most people are accustomed to when talking to someone. Personally, I’ve found that when I ask friends or family members why they said something, for example, many of them don’t even remember the small details that I might have taken away from the exchange. Only a handful of people are usually in-tune with the inverted lens of a situation and this could be a burden for them if you take things more sensitively than others. In order to move beyond the paranoia and see what is really occurring, sometimes you just need to step back and view the dialogue from their point of view, rather than adding your own interpretation to the mix! 5 Ways To Market Yourself & Combat Overthinking A final reason why you should view life situations more broadly is that life is too short to worry so much about the minute details. While many times, it’s good to keep an eye on the small moments that might be interludes into bigger problems, oftentimes there is not a reason to be worried about the state of your relationships. Maybe you need more sleep or it has just been a long, stressful day and you just need a detox from the office. Whatever the reason for your sensitivity, you might be worrying one day while there are many other moments in life for you to mold your attitude. If you keep the faith that everything will be okay in the end, you will start to really believe that and start looking toward the future for your happiness. Never give up your “glass is half full” attitude, since most often, that is all you need to kick-start your optimism and help you further towards fulfillment! To end this post, I quote Eleanor Roosevelt, who has proven to be very inspirational to me as of late and has some very strong convictions about viewing life with a broad lens. This quote is very true in that it summarizes the idea of looking beyond the fine details and exposing the truth through life experiences. Eleanor states: “My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.” To interpret this quote in terms of one’s standpoint in a conversation, in order to see the big picture of a situation, one has to keep on moving in life and not dwell on the intricacies of a moment. By keeping busy and constantly having one’s eye on the future, optimism can shine through and make one less likely to overreact. In this way, the broad lens of a moment is more important in that it keeps us motivated even when the small details might be trying to keep us down. The most important thing to remember is to keep your head up high, your eyes wide open, and a clear head on your shoulders, as by seeing the big picture of a situation, you can keep your life moving forward and successfully thwart distraction in your life! Optimism & The Art Of Facing Your Fears Are These BP Artists Good Enough to Get Signed? 2011 BET Award Winners & Recap FACT OF THE DAY: Foxy Brown Was Not Always Foxy FACT OF THE DAY: LL Cool J Dropped Out Of High School To Record His Debut Album
Missy Elliott is one of the most creative, barrier-breaking pioneers in not only hip-hop but female hip-hop, as well. Missy made it okay to be funny and creative and, somehow, sexy to walk around in trash bags and jogging suits. She broke the stereotype that you had to be physically fit or a size 2 to be able to dance with the best of them. Long story short, she made it okay to be yourself in the music industry. Missy’s ability to dance, sing, rap and write songs makes her certifiably a quadruple threat, topping any other female rapper in history as far I’m concerned. I urge you to do your stretches before pressing play on these videos because they are sure to have you leaving scratches on your hard wood floor from dancing. Check out the top 10 Missy Elliott videos that made us all wanna “Work It”: 10. She’s A B*tch: 9. All In My Grill: 8. Lose Control: 7. Get Your Freak On: 6. Work It: 5. Hot Boyz: 4. Sock It 2 Me: 3. Beep Me 911: 2. I’m Really Hot: 1. The Rain: What are some of your favorite Missy Elliott videos? Missy’s “Behind The Music”: On Meeting Aaliyah & Breaking Barriers [VIDEO] Missy Elliott Suffering From Thyroid Disease Missy Elliott Got Married? Are These BP Artists Good Enough to Get Signed? 2011 BET Award Winners & Recap FACT OF THE DAY: Foxy Brown Was Not Always Foxy FACT OF THE DAY: LL Cool J Dropped Out Of High School To Record His Debut Album
Sometimes it can be hard to do what you set out to do. For whatever reason, the values that you hold dear, like work ethic, are not doing anything for you at a particular moment. Maybe you set goals for yourself, but in the end, you feel like you are contradicting yourself because they never get accomplished. Perhaps you plan to be productive, or to gain the courage to do something important, but you end up falling into the same rut you said you never would. It can be hard not to fall prey to contradictions in your life, but there are always ways that you could change things and definitely step up your game!: 1. Combat cognitive dissonance with positive imaging. What exactly is cognitive dissonance, you ask? Well, it is the idea that your mind has a particular goal, but your actions speak as contradictions in that respect. For example, you might really despise lateness, but you are always running behind yourself. In order to overcome specific weaknesses in your life, you must be willing to go the distance to make your inner monologue and outer self match in values. By creating positive images in your head of your eventual success, a sense of inner motivation could be a strong catalyst for a change in your situation. 2. Write your goals down and post them somewhere as reference. This might seem like a simple, somewhat obvious way to remember what you mean to accomplish, but writing things down could be the tangible way you need to properly stack your priorities. Sometimes when the ideas are flowing through your head, any sort of distraction can cause you to lose focus from what you are planning to do. In order to make the most out of your time, it can be very useful to have everything laid out in front of you to instill subconscious motivation! I know that some people (like myself) are not very good at planning, but the very existence of a tangible goal list can be a helpful reminder of what you COULD be – and a core level of determination is all you need to get there! 3. Remind yourself of things you can look forward to. Sometimes the best events in life are ones that you have to patiently wait for. Maybe you are waiting for a trip to see someone you miss or have a few days off from work in order to just relax. If you make it so you have rewards or exciting prospects in the forefront to look forward to, it can be easier for you to be able to accomplish new things and be productive until those events arrive! Perhaps you want to teach yourself some of your favorite songs on your guitar or become more proficient at a certain aspect of your job. When you have something fun you’re waiting for, in the meantime, you can accomplish anything! 5 Ways To Make Life Transitions Easier 4. Know yourself and set goals based on the way you think. If you know that you naturally wake up late and are on the run all of the time, then don’t try and change your internal clock! Working around your weaknesses and finding productivity around your already formed habits can be a much better way to improve your productivity. Why try to change something that is already fundamental to your being? The same goes with procrastination and the way you get your work done – sometimes what hinders others in the work atmosphere is something that is successful for someone else! Everyone has their own individual habits and techniques that they use to get through the day, therefore, setting goals should be a unique process built around the person, not the task. 5. Start small and build on what you can slowly accomplish. Taking baby steps towards your goals is the best way to go, as trying to accomplish too much at once can tear down the very wall of productivity you created! As a close family member uses as his humorous motto: “How do you eat an elephant? By breaking it into small chunks.” In order to get the most out of what you have done, you have to take it slowly and make sure you are not taking on too much at once. Having productive, realistic goals makes for the strongest results, so being slow and deliberate about life can have its advantages! No matter what your core values are, the fundamental idea of bringing your inner motivation to the front of your mind is the best scenario for success! If you don’t naturally have that internal determination to accomplish tasks, channeling someone who has the productive bug might be the best bet for you. Try to spend more time in a lively, collaborative atmosphere where your ideas can be bounced off others and goals can be tweaked. Whether it’s a small personal goal or a lofty career move, it’s important to remember that the best outcomes come from internal motivation mixed with external action. Never forget the values you associate with yourself, as keeping yourself true to your methodology is what makes accomplishments what they are! Not Motivated To Workout…Here Is A Great Tip Are These BP Artists Good Enough to Get Signed? 2011 BET Award Winners & Recap FACT OF THE DAY: Foxy Brown Was Not Always Foxy FACT OF THE DAY: LL Cool J Dropped Out Of High School To Record His Debut Album
Rather than getting married and focusing on honeymoon plans, many women in India worry about whether or not they will be able to live post-wedding based on the value of their dowry . Sounds crazy, right? Sure enough, thousands of women a year are reported as being victims to bride burning. A woman’s fate after her marriage is largely dependent on her dowry, or the valuables that she is able to supply for her husband and his family after her marriage. This includes land, jewelry, cars, and appliances. Wives are often considered to be liabilities to their husbands, and the dowry is her way of proving her worthiness. Often times, if the husband or his family is not satisfied with the value of the dowry, the woman is in danger of being burned to death . This murder is often disguised as an accident. Dowry disputes claim the lives of many newlywed women when they do not match up to the expectations of their husbands and new in-laws. While the woman may have the option to file for divorce, there is a deep rooted, negative social stigma attached to divorced women. Her family’s honor might be tainted and in many cases, her own family refuses to welcome her back into her home. In these cases, escaping the violence and abuse does not necessarily mean safety for the survivor. Technically, bride burning is an illegal practice. However, in the traditionally patriarchal society, crimes involving women are often not taken seriously. There are resources for women to report domestic violence, but it is clear that the authorities need to do more. Knowing this, imagine the life of a new bride in India. Many marriages are arranged , so the wife might not know much about her husband and his family in general. Along with adjusting to a new place with new people, the wife realizes that her worth to her husband is based on the amount of valuables that her own family can give them. The idea of being happily married takes the back seat to the hopes of being safely married . Read more about violence against women in the Asia-Pacific region here . Women In The World: Why Are So Many Pregnant Women At Risk? Women In The World: Why Does Female Circumcision Still Exist? The Female Crisis In The Congo, What You Can Do To Help Are These BP Artists Good Enough to Get Signed? 2011 BET Award Winners & Recap FACT OF THE DAY: Foxy Brown Was Not Always Foxy FACT OF THE DAY: LL Cool J Dropped Out Of High School To Record His Debut Album
Nicki Minaj breathed life to David Guetta’s “Where Them Girls At” with her animated and infectious flow. Bubbles flow through speakers and follow Nicki through a crowded club which causes females to burst out into dance! Flo Rida let’s his swag hang loose by the pool! Mary J. Blige ft. Nicki Minaj “Feel Inside” [NEW MUSIC] Nicki Minaj Performs “Till The World Ends” Remix With Britney Spears In LA [VIDEO] Are These BP Artists Good Enough to Get Signed? 2011 BET Award Winners & Recap FACT OF THE DAY: Foxy Brown Was Not Always Foxy FACT OF THE DAY: LL Cool J Dropped Out Of High School To Record His Debut Album
