March 19, 2014

Grooves

Hot Grrrls Cool Music w/ IMANI UZURI at Ginny’s

If Paulo Coelho’s best-selling, uber-iconic, The Alchemist, had a soundtrack, “The Gypsy Diaries” would be it! On “The Gypsy Diaries,” Imani Uzuri’s sophomore solo CD, it feels as though Imani just ripped pages from her personal journal and set them on fire through testimony and song. Her music, including her first album “Her Holy Water,” is largely about self-discovery and how losing yourself via travel– especially for a sister that appreciates sand between her Read more...

March 13, 2014

The Goods

Ladies Love Coogi?

coogi_dress

“Every cutie wit a booty bought a Coogi.”
Hypnotize, The Notorious B.I.G

Made iconic by our favorite Brooklyn Don Dada, The Notorious B.I.G., the Coogi sweater quickly became an urban status symbol of swag and style in the 90’s. Rivaling major fashion houses like Gucci, Fendi, and Versace, the Australian clothing line with its distinctive knitted swirls of starburst fruit colors crashed the Italian job that dominated the threads worn by most rappers of Read more...

March 8, 2014

Grooves

Hot Grrrls Cool Music – NYC 2014!

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It’s International Women’s Day and I’m so excited to announce the re-launch of HOT GRRRLS COOL MUSIC!!! We debuted a lil’ more than 10 years ago with Santigold, Jeni Fujita and Imani Uzuri and now, just in time for Women’s History Month, I’m so amped to share that I’ve partnered with some fresh, music lovin’ visionaries and we are back!

Setting off HGCM 2014 is one of the original Hot Grrrls—IMANI UZURI on Thursday, Read more...

February 28, 2014

Real Talk

Trust A Big Butt & Never Mind The Smile

STWTS

“Hey beautiful, come on, smile.”
“Aww baby, smile, it can’t be that bad.”

I don’t know you. I’m not your baby. And yes, homey, it is that bad! I can’t tell you how often I have to deal with some man telling me to smile. Seriously Chanel Iman is asked to smile less and she’s in the business of smiling. It’s not cool. It’s not friendly banter (you’d need to be my friend for that) Read more...

February 13, 2014

Lifestyle, The Goods

Hearts & Hats: Birth Control 2.0 (Sponsored Post)

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This post is sponsored by Bedsider. All opinions are my very own.

“Just keep in mind when Jimmy grows
It grows and grows and grows, so let it
But keep in mind about the epidemic
When Jimmy releases, boy it pleases
But what do you do about all these diseases?
Jimmy is Jimmy, no matter what
So take care of Jimmy cos you know what’s up
Cos now in winter AIDS attacks
So run out
Read more...

February 6, 2014

Real Talk

Remembering Trayvon, Honoring His Mother

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Yesterday Trayvon Martin would’ve been 19 years-old. Last month theHotness saluted his mother Sybrina Fulton in our #Fascinating15 List. Here’s that touching tribute written by Esther Armah:

TV on. Remote in hand, I would watch you. You spoke clearly, lucidly, wrapping words in compassion, directed at a people whose criminal justice system marked your child guilty. You looked tall. I wondered if grief stretched your body, or maybe grief was a laser that

Read more...
January 17, 2014

Real Talk

The 15 Most Fascinating Hot Grrrls of 2013

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Fresh on the heels of watching Lupita Nyong’o get robbed at the Golden Globes for her star-making, provocative and mesmerizing performance in 12 Years A Slave and frankly, still salty over Kerry Washington’s Emmy loss last fall, I was reminded of theHotnessMost Fascinating List from 2010 and knew it was high-time to bring that justificative joint back. And yea, the Oscars even snubbed Oprah yesterday and left her, for a second time (first Read more...

January 10, 2014

Real Talk

Blood, Sweat and Crap

keepcalm_toocold

“When we fill our schedules with appointments and hands with phones, we divest ourselves of downtime. When we’re endlessly doing, it’s hard to be mindful of what we’re doing.” —Janet Choi

Thanks to Hercules, Mother Nature and homeboy Jack Frost, 2014’s arrival has been a frosty affair of brisk body slams and chilled to the bone shivers. As much as I wanted to get this new year started off in a blaze of unfettered Can’t Read more...

December 17, 2013

Real Talk

I’m On The Katie Show (Part 2)

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The two questions seemingly on everyone’s mind these days: What do I think of Beyonce’s new CD? And what has happened since my appearance on Katie? I think Bey’s new album is a game-changer. How it was released, the quirky frenzied haunting music and its inextricable connection to video and image, the look and feel of sensuality, sexuality and pleasure through a young Black married woman’s eyes… yep, game changing!

And well, about me, life Read more...

November 22, 2013

TV/Film

My Interview With Ava DuVernay About Scandal

avaduvernay_scandal

Last night’s episode of Scandal was the bonafide real deal TRUTH!! It was the hot oil in a black bottom skillet; the Kool in Kool-Aid! To quote one of our geniuses, it was “superbad, superslick” and it all came together so brilliantly under the direction of filmmaker Ava DuVernay! Please read my Ebony mag interview with this cinematic force of nature. Ava is so smart, fiercely her own woman, and all about Team Liv. I Read more...