Dear BET: What Happened To THE GAME?
Dear BET:
I am stunned, hurt and so tremendously disappointed by the portrayals featured on your highly touted, record-breaking show “The Game.” I knew when I saw the first episode and Tasha Mack was smoking a Black-n-Mild that this was probably not going to be the CW show I once loved, but I was still invested in seeing how storylines would play out now that some of my favorite characters had found a home on Read more...
RIP Etta James (Jan. 25, 1938 – Jan. 20, 2012)
Born Jamesetta Hawkins and known affectionately as Miss Peaches, the ever-adored badass beauty Etta James transitioned this morning at the age of 73, less than a week shy of her 74th birthday.
I realize there’s a contingency of folk who just recently got put on to the magic that was Miss Peaches via Beyonce’s tortured cinematic portrayal, but so many more of us have long been spinning our parent’s vinyl. We swooned to “I Read more...
Behind EVERY Great Man, Is a Great Woman!
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama went out to lunch one day and suddenly the owner of the restaurant walked over to greet them. The owner kindly introduced himself to the President, then turned and told the First Lady, “WOW MICHELLE, YOU STILL LOOK GREAT!” As the owner walked away from the table, the POTUS asked Mrs. Obama, “Someone you know from the past?” Mrs. Obama responded, “Yeah, he had a strong crush Read more...
THE GOODS: The Darker The Burberry!
Clearly someone over at Burberry must have taken note of the saying, “the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice” before they designed their Burberry Prorsum Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection. A saying made popular by Black women with chocolate complexions back in the day, Burberry has appropriated our celebration of rich color by infusing their signature, light beige trench with rich hues and natural textures making an already beautiful coat, sweet like red, juicy summer Read more...
FLYASPORA: Vintage Ebony
Talk about being “out with the old and in with the new.” Well the ladies over at Ebony Magazine have revamped the magazine and are about to launch their new website any day. For now they tease us with their stunning Tumblr that is “in with the new AND old.” Featuring magazine covers and ads from the ‘50’s – ‘80’s, the photos are not only nostalgia-inducing, they are powerful and without a doubt Black like Read more...
“VIBRATION COOKING”
You knew it was coming and here it is! The first book review in theHotness “Reading is Sexy” Series. Written by the self-described ‘potty-mouthed chef,’ mom & blogger, Stefanie Kelly, this review will break down the best of “Vibration Cooking” and make you a believer in hot skillet spirituality.
Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor is a charmed culinary master. She is the engaging and evocative author of “Vibration Cooking: Or The Travel Notes Of A Geechee Read more...
Happy New Year!
Thanks so much for making 2011 the biggest year for theHotness.com. We re-launched the site, saw crazy new highs with traffic and subscribers, made a syndication deal (HuffPost) and had one of our own exclusive FLYASPORA pics make the finals in an international photo contest. 2012 is looking like it’s going to be even bigger! I wish all of you a Happy, Exciting, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
BE YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL!
Cesária Évora – RIP!
My first ever music review was for True magazine (the predecessor to sister mag Trace). It was early summer in 1995 and my assignment was to breakdown the hotness of Cesária Évora’s eponymous US debut. My editor told me that Ms. Évora was going to be in NYC later in the month and to make sure I see her perform in the flesh in order to get the full picture of why everyone Read more...
Kiss My Placenta!
Erykah Badu had to break bad when her fans voiced their disapproval over her reproductive life: “HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT THE QUEENDOM… AND MY CHILDREN AND MY INTELLIGENCE.” It seems that folk are not pleased that the singer, songwriter, producer, actress and doula has had three children with three different men, so they went straight to her fansite to voice their discontent. Up in arms and all up in her womb, fans feel Ms. Badu Read more...
5 Reasons Why Black Folks Should #Occupy
Black folk have been in the 99% since the Middle Passage. Slavery made sure the majority of us would never be in that 1% by terrorizing our African souls and dismantling our families, our language, our culture, our religion, our bodies, and our spirit. As poet Nikky Finney reminded us when she accepted her National Book Award last month, “Black people were the only people in the United States ever explicitly forbidden to become literate.” Read more...