Black Man Black Woman

Tag: love

  • Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth: Reuniting with Donald Trump For All-New Dating Show

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    With the winter season steadily approaching, many hopeless romantics are prepping their fire wood in anticipation of quality time with loved ones. All of which leads to one particular reality star who is currently on the hunt for new love.

    Former ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ finalist Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth is set to reunite and partner with real estate/reality TV tycoon Donald J. Trump for an all-new TV One reality dating series aptly titled ‘Omarosa’s Ultimate Merger.’

    The Youngstown, Ohio native will attempt to find a new flame by putting 12 successful eligible bachelors through an array of challenges to test each man’s business acumen, seductive strengths, and their true intentions to dating her.

    “Omarosa was a great personality on the ‘Apprentice’ that was watched by over 40 million people as it became the #1 show on TV,” Trump said. “Omarosa is smart, witty, and difficult, but all of these qualities will make for some very interesting entertainment.”

    “I am very excited to partner with the great Comcast Corporation and TV One,” he continued. “They really stepped up to the plate to do this deal. TV One is making a huge impression on the cable landscape with this tremendous new show.”

    Not one to shy away from the cameras, viewers can expect the famous billionaire turned entertainment mogul to make special appearances on the show to offer advice on who should get the boot.

    Show producers were very fixed on creating a distinctive dating show for prime time television, in addition to scaling to the network’s “cable budget.”

    “The challenge was coming up with not just your typical dating show,” said Executive Producer Robert Horowitz. “This is the biggest show TV One has done in the relationship space. The challenge womarosaas creating a prime time-style relationship series on a cable budget.”

    “Omarosa is known for her drive to succeed and her take-no-prisoners attitude, and watching her use these qualities in her love life will make for great TV,” he added.

    ‘Omarosa’s Ultimate Merger’ is currently being shot at Las Vegas’ Trump International Hotel and Tower. The show is tentatively scheduled to next spring.

     

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  • Haiti Competes for Grant to Tackle Deforestation

    With less than two weeks until voting ends for the fifth annual BBC World Challenge ’09, volunteer ambassadors for the Love ‘N Haiti project banded together last week in New York to gather votes for the global competition.

  • Mistakes Couples Make When Mixing Love and Money Together

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    As I prepare for an appearance on ABC News to talk about money and relationships, I thought I would share the answers to some of my questions that were asked of me by the producers. Perhaps this can be valuable information that can be used to help others. There is more in my book, Financial Lovemaking, which goes deeply into the struggles that couples have when negotiating the challenging task of merging love and money together.

    1) What do Love and Money have in common?

    People think it’s taboo to mix love and money in a conversation, but it’s not. It’s actually essential that you do so. Loving together means living together. In most relationships, you spend more time talking about functional aspects of life, such as paying the bills and purchasing decisions than you spend on “lovey-dovey” stuff. Also, like making love, merging your assets involves sharing something of value with another person. Similar to the act of sharing your body, merging your assets with someone else can either be a fulfilling experience or a devastating one, depending on who you choose as your partner.

    2) What are the biggest mistakes couples make when it comes to managing love and relationships?

    I can list some common mistakes very simply: Not communicating about money, stepping into something without knowing what you’re getting into. Not being honest with yourself or your partner. Allowing love to dominate your logic when it comes to determining if someone is right for you. Not critically analyzing the spending, saving, borrowing and investing habits of your partner and how this is going to play out in the long-term. Not analyzing the long-term earning potential of your partner and determining if you are comfortable with it.

    3) What does it mean for a couple to “get financially naked with your partner?”

    In regular love, you eventually have to get naked. That means the person sees your physical assets and liabilities. The same should be done financially: you and your partner should share debt levels, income levels, spending habits, credit scores, perceptions of money and all the things that your partner needs to know. The key to making good love is communication and the same is true for financial lovemaking as well.

    4) Is financial lovemaking only a topic for couples or those seeking relationships?

    No. Part of the lovemaking process means learning to love yourself. That means understanding your own relationship with money and how you are going to reach your own financial goals. Good financial health is not just for the benefit of current and future partners, it is also important for you. Additionally, financial lovemaking affects how money and relationships merge in all kinds of scenarios: with your children, relatives, friends, etc. By being financially healthy, you are ready to merge assets in an effective way when the right situation comes along.

    5) How does bad financial lovemaking spread beyond your significant other? What about other offspring, relatives, etc?

    Many financial lovemaking problems come from our children and parents. If you don’t raise your children to be financially independent, they can become liabilities during retirement rather than assets. If you don’t know how to manage your financial relationships with loved ones, you might find yourself being drained in a way that frustrates both you and your partner. Love is something that permeates every dimension of our lives, so effectively managing our money can be a tool toward making good love.

    6) What is a “life portfolio” and what do you mean when you say that “our most significant financial assets in life having nothing to do with money?”

    The most valuable things in your life are usually non-financial: your health, your happiness, your love and your time. All of these things were granted to us from birth and have nothing to do with money. Many times, I see people destroying the most valuable assets in their lives, all in the pursuit of money, and I find that to be sad. Money should be a tool for the enhancement of that which is most valuable to you, not a weapon to destroy the things that matter.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the book, “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Financial Lovemaking: Man Shoots Boy for Sleeping with His Daughter

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    I have daughters and I love them all. They are all at “that age,” between 16 and 20, where they tend to love the boys that you want to beat down the most. Every time I hear them express their undying love for Lil Wayne, I can only think about him having 3 women pregnant at the same time. When I see a Chris Brown poster in their room, I remind them that Chris was accused of having boxing practice on Rihanna’s face.

    But as a father, you can’t protect your daughters from themselves. Some things they have to learn on their own. And if sleeping with a pants-saggin, “purple stuff dranking,” gold grill wearing, 10,000 tattoo having buffoon is the way they need to learn their lessons, you just kinda have to deal with it.I empathize with Wade Edwards, the man accused of shooting a boy for sleeping with his step daughter. Wade shot the boy four times, aiming for the “relevant zone” with each bullet. But while I can understand Wade’s anger, I do not, for one second, condone his actions.

    You see Wade, it takes two people to “get busy.” If your daughter was choosing to sleep with this boy, that was her bad decision, not yours. Sure, it was disrespectful for them to get naked under your roof, but fathers have been getting furious about this kind of thing since the beginning of time. Sex is a powerful drug, the essence of the existence of all mankind, so the urge of human attraction can be strong enough to lead to seemingly deviant behavior.

    The problem for Wade, however, is one that merges with the lessons we teach in Financial Lovemaking: Allowing your love for another person to cause you to do things that are going to be financially and emotionally devastating for your family. Wade might feel that he was somehow protecting his daughter (he claims that it was self defense, but I don’t buy that logic), but the truth is that he has now dragged his family into a draining legal drama that is going to cost them thousands in attorney’s fees and even more financial loses when one of the primary providers for the household has to spend his time in prison.

    Any father can relate to how Edwards might have been feeling. Also, every father has to wonder how far he would go to protect his children. I personally would give my life to save my daughters and not think twice about it. At the same time, I would not allow myself to go to prison to keep my daughters from having sex. Sexuality is a natural part of life, even when we feel that the person is too young to be doing it. Don’t pretend like you don’t know what I’m talking about; you probably did it too.

    The episode of Financial lovemaking is below. Enjoy!

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Dr. Boyce Money: Rapper Nas in Serious Tax Trouble

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    Hip Hop Wired is reporting that the rapper Nas is having some serious financial problems. In addition to owing his wife Kelis $44,000 per month in child support, it turns out that the artist also owes the federal government another $2.5 million in taxes. Here are quick thoughts about Nas, love and money:

    1) Nas has a complicated life. His decision to marry the “love of his life” is going to cost him for the rest of his life. The rapper’s tax situation could be due to irresponsibility (as appears to be the case with Method Man and Nicolas Cage), or it could simply be a matter of using write-offs that were not allowed by the IRS. We can’t assume that Nas’ tax trouble automatically makes him into a horrible citizen.

    2) He is not as rich as you think. I remember Will Smith once explaining how “a million dollars really isn’t that much money.” After Uncle Sam takes half, and the agents and attorneys get their cut, you are lucky to have $350,000 left over. Sure, that’s plenty of money, but it may not be very much money relative to the cost of living the celebrity lifestyle, and taking care of all the friends and relatives begging you for financial support. Success is a beautiful thing, but the problem is that success draws attention and financial vacuum cleaners who want to suck you dry. So, I am not sure why every artist loves to show the world how rich he is. I’d be quiet about my wealth.

    3) Please explain $44,000 per month in child support? Many men who make the kind of money that Nas allegedly makes (reported to be $250,000 per month) are considered to have infinite wealth. The truth, however, is that much of his income as an artist is volatile, uncertain, and likely to go down over time. The idea that he is being asked to pay so much in child support seems to neglect the fact that his resources do not go as far as Kelis and others might be inclined to think. The next time someone wonders why wealthy celebs don’t want to get married, they only need to look at the case of Nas and Kelis to find the answer. Love is supposed to be priceless, but child support courts seem to know exactly what that price should be.

    When it comes to Nas, Kelis and the IRS, the bottom line is this: Nas needs a financial intervention to help him to realistically manage his financial life. By analyzing his situation and others, we also can learn how our personal decisions in love and life can affect our financial situation. The truth is that who you choose to marry and how you manage your relationships plays a huge role in your financial stability. Finally, I am a fan of carefully constructed prenuptial agreements, so that wealth can be shared in such a way that marriage doesn’t become financially devastating. They say love and money shouldn’t mix, but relationship mistakes should not cost millions.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the book, “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Wolves’ Love to get hand surgery Tuesday (AP)

    Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love has been scheduled for surgery on his broken left hand. Love will have the operation in New York on Tuesday to fix a fracture in the fourth metacarpal bone in his shooting hand. The second-year player suffered the injury on a rebound last Friday in a preseason game at Chicago.

  • First Photo Released Of Jaycee Dugard

    Posted by: Illmatic

    Jaycee Dugard released her first public statement and current photograph of herself since resurfacing two months ago in Northern California, saying she is happy to be with her family and have their unconditional love and support.

    The 29-year-old released the statement to People magazine along with photos of herself as an adult, the first to be published since her 18-year kidnap ordeal ended.

    TO READ MORE, CLICK HERE

  • @GlobalGrind’s Twitpics Of The Day

    Posted by: KanYeezy

    Here we are again for another installment of “@GlobalGrind’s Twitpics Of The Day”. I’ve picked 3 twitpics from Twitter’s timeline that I thought fit the theme.

     

    “Daughters in cabana on beach…Want this kind of experience for all dads . .Unconditional love” (via @UncleRush)

     

     

    “last happy picture. blackberry goes back to cabana. kids time.” (via @UncleRush) 
    “whoaaa pharells wearing these tonight” (via @Wale)
    (Sidenote: I chose this pic because I havent seen anyone wear a pair of New Balances in SO LONG, so the fact that Wale twitpic’d them being worn on Pharell’s feet, was fly to me!)
    Leave me some love!

     

  • A.J. Jewell’s "Wake" Peaceful

    Posted by: GossipinBitches.com

    A.J. Jewell’s wake was tonight in Atlanta, GA  and it was a mass of people out showing love! Click Original Story

  • Frankie’s New Young Buck

    Posted by: BlogXilla

    Frankie, Neffe, Elite, and Solo, came out last night to give their love and support to JD for the Georgia flood victims… Frankie keep her word and stayed away from all the drinks, but still knew how to have a good time.. While their I caught a glimpse of her new boo who’s name was not given but I was told he’s only 21… I told yall she like that young meat….

    Click Here For More Pictures

  • Investing in the Future

    Educating young minds for some 30 years is no small feat. But it was a love for children that inspired Larry and Brenda Breland to become schoolteachers. While educators don’t always get paid their true worth, these native Mississippians managed to retire from the public school system in 2002 with $180,000 combined from their state retirement plans. The couple also owns several rental properties valued at nearly $1 million, which provides about $3,000 in monthly rental income.

  • Mariah Carey: Something in Common With Whitney Houston?

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    Arguably two of the most talented singers in the record books, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston have made names for themselves as commercially successful pop vocalists.

    The careers of the two iconic beauties mirrored each other throughout the 1990s, with many people drawing comparisons between them. Both women were aligned with two of the most influential men in the music business, Tommy Mottola and Clive Davis, respectively, and both have survived controversy only to rise to the top of the charts again and resurrect their careers.

    In our latest round of Tale of the Tape, we stack up “Mimi” and “The Voice” to see whether they had more in common than just their cultural impacts.

    (M) Full Name: Mariah Carey
    (W) Full Name: Whitney Elizabeth Houston

    (M) Birth date: Mar. 27, 1970
    (W) Birth date: Aug. 9, 1963

    (M) Place of Birth: Long Island, N.Y.
    (W) Place of Birth: Newark, NJ

    (M) Also Referred to As: “Mimi”
    (W) Also Referred to As: “The Voice”

    (M) Humble Beginnings: Carey’s parents divorced when she was 3, leaving her mother to juggle several jobs to support the family. When the songstress moved to New York to pursue a singing career, she also worked several part-time jobs to pay the rent, in addition to attending beauty school and singing as a backup singer for several artists.
    (W) Humble Beginnings: Whitney lived in housing projects in Newark, NJ. Her parents divorced when she was a teenager, and she chose to live with her mother. After performing her first gospel solo at New Hope Baptist Church at the age of 11, she was fortunate enough to sing background vocals on Chaka Khan’s hit single ‘I’m Every Woman.’

    (M) Connections to the Business: Dance/pop singer Brenda K. Starr (Mariah was a background singer for the ‘I Still Believe’ singer)
    (W) Connections to the Business: Blues and gospel singer Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom); Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick (Whitney’s cousins) mariah and Whitney

    (M) Album Debut: ‘Mariah Carey’ (1990)
    (W) Album Debut: ‘Whitney Houston’ (1985)

    (M) Record Company Affiliations: Columbia, Virgin, Island
    (W) Record Company Affiliations: Arista

    (M) Total Number-One Singles: 18
    (W) Total Number-One Singles: 11

    (M) Total Number-One Albums:6
    (W) Total of Number-One Albums: 5

    (M) Total Number of Albums Sold: Over 160 million (albums and singles)
    (W)Total Number of Albums Sold: Over 140 million (albums)

    (M)Total Marriages: 2
    (W)Total Marriages: 1

    (M) Children: 0
    (W) Children: 1 (Bobbi Kristina with former New Edition singer Bobby Brown)

    (M) Luther Vandross Affiliation: In 1994, Vandross and Carey recorded a duet of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s hit ballad ‘Endless Love’
    (W) Luther Vandross Affiliation: Vandross produced, arranged and performed background vocals on Houston’s ‘Who Do You Love’ from her 1990 ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ album

    (M) Aretha Franklin Affiliation:Carey performed a duet of The Queen of Soul’s ‘Chain of Fools’ with the legendary soul singer at the 1998 VH1 ‘Divas Live’ television special.
    (W) Aretha Franklin Affiliation: Franklin is Houston’s godmother and appeared in a cameo in the ‘How Will I Know’ music video. The two also recorded a duet, ‘It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be,’ which appeared on Franklin’s 1989 album Through the Storm. .’

    (M) Antonio “L.A.” Reid Affiliation: The LaFace founder executive produced Carey’s 2005 comeback album ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ as well as her subsequent Island Records releases, including her new ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.’
    (W)Antonio “L.A.” Reid Affiliation: Reid, who previously produced songs on Houston’s ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight,’ was Arista head when her lackluster ‘Just Whitney’ album was released. What was promoted as her comeback album was Houston’s lowest selling album to date.

    (M) Michael Jackson Affiliation: In 1992, Carey covered the Jackson 5’s hit ‘I’ll Be There’ alongside her background singer Trey Lorenz. She also sang the song at the late King of Pop’s memorial service.
    (W)Michael Jackson Affiliation: In 2001, the ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer made headlines when she opened the Michael Jackson ’30 Anniversary Concert Concert’ looking extremely thin.

    (M) Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Affiliation: Elliott was featured alongside fellow female MC Da Brat on a remix to the ‘Fantasy’ singer’s ‘Heartbreaker.’
    (W) Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Affiliation: The ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ rapper produced and appeared on two Houston tracks: ‘In My Business’ from ‘My Love Is Your Love’ and ‘Things You Say’ from ‘Just Whitney.’

    (M) Fugees Affiliation: Carey and the Fugees were both signed to Columbia Records in the 1990s. More recently, the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean just recorded a song called ‘Mr. Autotune’ with Carey’s husband, Nick Cannon, in 2009.
    (W) Fugees Affiliation: Fugees front woman Lauryn Hill produced and sang background vocals on ‘I Was Made To Love Him,’ a spunky update of Stevie Wonder’s 1960s classic ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ on Houston’s 1998 CD ‘My Love is Your Love.’ Wyclef Jean produced what became Houston’s third best-selling single and the album’s title track ‘My Love Is Your Love.’

    (M) Disney Connections: Disney Connections: Mariah Carey has never produced a Disney movie, unlike Whitney, but she still has love for the happiest place on earth. Two weeks after her Bahamas shotgun wedding to Nick Cannon, the couple headed back to the states for a very public vacation at Walt Disney World Resort to relive their childhood dreams. The ‘Fantasy’ singer, who previously performed at the 2004 Disney Christmas Day Parade, and her new hubby took pictures with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and rode tons of rides, including Space Mountain and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
    (W) Disney Connections: ‘The Bodyguard’ actress appeared alongside Brandy in the made-for-television movie ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,’ a revival of The Wonderful World of Disney series and produced by Disney. Houston has also served as a producer for the Disney franchises ‘The Cheetah Girls’ and ‘The Princess Diaries.’

    (M) Total Number of Movies: 6 (including ‘Precious’)
    (W) Total Number of Movies: 4

    (M) Movie Box Office Grosses: Over $27 million gross
    (W) Movie Box Office Grosses: Over $12 million gross

    (M) Controversies: Marrying a much younger Nick Cannon after dating the ‘Bobby’ star for just a few months.
    (W) Controversies: Caught with marijuana in her and then-husband Bobby Brown’s luggage on Jan. 11, 2000, at a Hawaii airport; getting fired from performing at the Academy Awards when she showed up jittery.

    (M) Rehabilitations: Hospitalized in 2001 for exhaustion, which led to a physical and emotional breakdown
    (W) Rehabilitations: Rumored to have entered drug rehabilitation programs several times in the past decade at the urgency of mentor Clive Davis and her mother Cissy Houston.

    (M) Comeback Efforts: Many people counted the Grammy Award winner out of the music business until the release of her 2005 comeback album, ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Not only did the critically acclaimed record garner 10 Grammy Award nominations, but it was also the biggest selling album of 2005 – amassing 10 million albums sold worldwide.
    (W) Comeback Efforts: Houston’s 2009 comeback album, ‘I Look to You,’ debuted at number one and became the best-selling first week sales of Houston’s career. To date, ‘I Look to You’ is also the best selling album by a female in 2009.

    (M) Best Friend Forever: Background singer Trey Lorenz
    (W) Best Friend Forever: Former long-time executive assistant and childhood friend Robin Crawford

    (M) Failed Vanity Projects: Founded short-lived Crave Records imprint, which most notably released R&B girl group Allure‘s debut project; Automatic Princess Jewelry line
    (W) Failed Vanity Projects: Mentored Newark gospel group Sunday; the panned ‘Family First’ song with Houston, her mother, Cissy and her cousin Dionne Warwick, which was featured on the soundtrack to Tyler Perry‘s ‘Daddy’s Little Girls’

    (M)Famous Boyfriends: Mexican singer Luis Miguel, New York Yankee baseball player Derek Jeter
    (W) Famous Boyfriends: R&B singer/sex tape star Ray J, movie star Eddie Murphy, NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham


    (M) Family Feuds: Carey’s estranged HIV-positive sister Alison, who has been arrested twice for prostitution, shopped a tell-all book about her multi-millionaire sister in 2000. The tome was never released.
    (W) Family Feuds: In 2002, associates for Houston’s 81-year-old father, John Houston, sued the pop star for $100 million, claiming unpaid compensation for helping negotiate her Arista Records contact. Houston claimed the dispute arose by people attempting to take advantage of her ailing father, and the suit was later dismissed.

    (M) TV Interviews Gone Wild: In 2001, pushing an ice cream cart, Carey appeared on the popular MTV video countdown show ‘Total Request Live’ for an interview with VJ Carson Daly to promote her ‘Glitter’ movie. Wearing a small T-shirt and booty shorts, Carey performed a striptease and slurred “I just want one day off when I can go swimming and eat ice cream and look at rainbows.” Carey checked into the hospital for exhaustion shortly thereafter.
    (W) TV Interviews Gone Wild: The Whitney Houston quotable “Crack is Wack” came from her infamous Diane Sawyer sit-down in 2002. When questioned about her rumored drug use, the troubled singer asked Sawyer to “show her the receipts” for the drugs, among other things. The interview was one of the last that Houston did before taking a hiatus from the media. Her first televised interview since Sawyer did not come until 2009 with a widely-publicized two-day special appearance on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’

    (M) Famous Celebrity Battles: Detroit rapper Eminem and Carey were at one point rumored to be a couple, then things got ugly. She recorded diss records like ‘Clown’ and her current single ‘Obsessed’ aimed at the ‘Slim Shady’ lyricist. And though, the ‘Precious’ star is sticking to her story that she never slept with Eminem, he maintains otherwise. He dished on being intimate with her and replied to her latest hit with a song called ‘The Warning,’ directed at both the singer and her latest husband, Nick Cannon.

    (W) Famous Celebrity Battles: Houston and radio-shock-jock-turned-talk-show-host Wendy Williams had an on-air beef that played out in 2003 in which Williams questioned Houston about her rumored drug use. Houston responded with curse words, most notably charging, “If this were back in the day in Newark, I’d meet you outside, but not now, because I’m a lady with class.” The New York Times best-selling author has since said she has buried the hatchet and is eager to have the ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ singer on her syndicated talk show.

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    Mariah Carey: Through The Years
    Mariah Carey: Through The Years
    Since releasing her 1990 debut, Mariah Carey has survived a highly publicized divorce, getting dropped from one of the most lucrative recording contracts in music history and even a stint of exhaustion. But she returned to the top of the charts with one of the most successful albums in the past five years. On the cusp of her new ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ album release, Blackvoices.com pays homage to the best-selling female artist of all time.
    Ron Galella, WireImage / Bob King, Redferns / Lionsgate

    Mariah Through The Years

      Mariah Through The Years:
      For Mariah Carey, having more number one songs than any solo artist in America has been a credit to the company that this five-time Grammy winner has kept since making her music debut in 1990. From people behind the scenes like L.A. Reid and Jermaine Dupri to some of her past loves like Tommy Mottola, Derek Jeter and now husband Nick Cannon, each man has played a significant role in inspiring the music that has made this 39 year-old singer/songwriter famous. Blackvoices.com takes a look at the men who have inspired Mariah Carey over the years.

      Tommy Mottola – Husband
      No one is more responsible for Mariah Carey’s success than former Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola. After receiving Carey’s demo from artist Brenda K. Starr, for whom Carey sang backup, he signed her on the spot. While recording her 1990 debut, the two became romantically involved and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in 1993. Just three short years later, they split, and a divorce was finalized in 1998.

      Luther Vandross – Musical Collaborator
      The five-octave singer was fortunate enough to be one of the few entertainers to record a duet with the late Luther Vandross. Their cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross‘s ‘Endless Love’ became Vandross’ biggest pop hit. It was the second single released from his ‘Songs’ album and was also included on two Carey albums: ‘Greatest Hits’ in 2001 and ‘The Ballads’ in 2008.

      Trey Lorenz – Backup Singer
      In 1992, Carey performed an MTV ‘Unplugged’ special to show nonbelievers that she was not a studio singer. Her cover of the Jackson 5‘s ‘I’ll Be There’ with her longtime backup singer Trey Lorenz was later released as a single and became a number-one hit in the United States. Lorenz was able to score a record deal from the duet, and Carey co-produced his debut. On July 7 of this year, the two performed the song at the Michael Jackson memorial, which was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center.

      Jermaine Dupri – Producer
      It’s not a well-known fact that Jermaine Dupri has been working with Carey for nearly 15 years. In 1995, Carey worked with the So So Def Records founder on ‘Always Be My Baby,’ from her ‘Daydream’ album. It became the most successful record on U.S. radio that year. And though these two worked on several remixes together over the years, their magic came a decade later when J.D. produced four songs on ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ Carey’s 10th studio album and most successful to date.

      ODB – Musical Collaborator
      Since rapping ‘Me and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers,’ Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late Wu Tang Clan MC, helped solidify Carey in the world of hip-hop and R&B. The 1995 remix to ‘Fantasy’ became a number-one hit. The friendship between Carey and ODB lasted throughout the years. The songstress even met the rapper upon his release from jail in 2003.

      Mase – Musical Collaborator
      ‘Honey’ was Carey’s 12th number-one song. Before turning his life over to God and becoming a minster, Bad Boy rapper Mase appeared on the popular remix of the record, alongside the Lox and Diddy. The song, which also had its own video, was featured on Carey’s 2003 remix compilations, aptly titled ‘The Remixes.’

      Derek Jeter – Alleged Beau
      Shortly after divorcing husband Tommy Mottola in 1998, the five-time Grammy award winner met New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter at a Fresh Air Fund gala in New York. The couple connected over their interracial parents – black fathers and Irish mothers. The public romance ended short of the one-year mark. In an interview with Parade magazine, Carey said “It was the wrong time. …Our two worlds were just too much for that moment.”

      Eminem – Alleged Beau
      From ‘Clown’ to ‘Obsessed,’ Carey has documented her disdain for Detroit MC Eminem in her music. The ‘Glitter’ actress denies they ever slept together, but Slim Shady has consistently rapped that the two were intimate. The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, sent threats to Carey via the 2009 diss track ‘The Warning,’ which was directed at both Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon.

      Nick Cannon – Husband
      Nick Cannon, 28, dated singer-actress Christina Milian and was even engaged to Victoria’s Secret model Selita Eubanks for five months before becoming Carey’s second husband. In 2005, he convinced the Teen Choice Awards to let him present Carey’s award for ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Two years passed, and the couple was reunited in 2007. Their whirlwind romance resulted in a quickie wedding in 2008 at Carey’s Bahamian estate, Windermere.

     

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  • Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian Get Married: 5 Questions I’d Like to Ask

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    Today, we are going to use an interesting story in black celebrity news to teach a short lesson called “How NOT to make major life decisions.” Let’s start the conversation, shall we?

    NBA Star Lamar Odom has decided to marry Khloe Kardashian, whose sister Kim usually takes up all the family spotlight. The story goes that Khloe was hosting a “Welcome to LA Party” for new Laker, Ron Artest. Khloe allegedly ran the bill up to $3,000 and Lamar agreed to pay it. Could four weeks of love be built on a more stable foundation than money? The wedding ceremony was, in many ways, a fairytale: Celebrities everywhere, a triple arch of white roses, a serenade by the singer Babyface taking place at a private home in Beverly Hills. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire would be proud.

    But after the last piece of cake has been eaten and the wild honeymoon lovemaking is over, Lamar and Khloe then have to confront the reality of their choice. Based on what I’ve read, I’d be willing to bet a pair of Air Jordans that their marriage doesn’t last 3 years. I’d hate to rain on anyone’s romantic parade, but we’ve got to be honest when it comes to choices like this.

    Here are some questions I’d love to ask Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian:1) You’ve been dating for just a month? Are you serious? Love is a tricky thing. Most of us have been fooled by the first few weeks of a new relationship, thinking that Mr/Mrs. Right Now was Mr./Mrs. Now and Forever. There is scientific evidence that the chemical reactions in your brain during the lovemaking process are similar to mild injections of cocaine, which explains irrational behavior during the beginning and end of relationships. I don’t doubt that Lamar and Khloe are in love, but most of us know that the first month of a relationship makes it difficult to distinguish between being “in love” and being “in lust.” Why sign a legal contract until you’re completely sure?

    2) What’s up with the prenup? You DO have a prenup don’t you? I can define the word “prenup” with the following sentence: Four years, $32 million dollars. Yes, that’s the size of Lamar’s latest contract with the Lakers, and the reason I hope this 29-year old has protected his assets. Sure, Khloe’s family isn’t struggling either, but I presume that Lamar has taken the time to protect his wealth. If he hasn’t, then he deserves whatever happens as a consequence.

    3) Baby rumors anyone? After hearing that Khloe might be pregnant, some of this started to make sense. I presume that the baby belongs to Lamar, since Khloe doesn’t exactly look like she’s been carrying anybody’s baby for longer than a month. Lamar also has some baby mama drama of his own, with the children he created in a prior marriage. If you ever want a recipe for massive financial strain, try getting married too quickly and having a bunch of children in the process. It takes a few minutes to make a baby, but the child support can last a lifetime. We might be tempted to think that Lamar’s massive wealth makes child support a breeze, but the problem is that the more you earn, the more they make you pay. There’s nothing more difficult than being an ex-NBA player still paying NBA-level child support.

    4) What about your other kids Mr. Odom? When asked about the wedding, Liza Morales, Lamar’s ex-wife, sounded as if she were trying to survive a terrorist attack or a death in the family. According to TMZ, Odom’s ex-wife had this to say:

    “Yes, the circumstances over the last few weeks have been upsetting but none of my actions publicly or from the privacy of my home could be classified as a meltdown. I have maintained a brave face for my children who are my main concern and I remain strong for them.” She went on to say she has “the support of my family and friends and Lamar’s family have been nothing but supportive of me and the kids during this difficult time. I wish Lamar nothing but happiness we all deserve to be happy.”

    What’s also interesting is that Lamar’s other kids didn’t come to the wedding. I wonder if Khloe can smell the ensuing drama?

    OK, now that we’ve used Lamar and Khloe’s situation as our case study on how NOT to make major life choices, let’s find our true teachable moments (you know I don’t just do celebrity stuff unless there is a lesson in there somewhere):

    The bottom line is this: Marriage is a serious decision, not something that should leave you focused on the elegance of the ceremony or the romance of being able to pick out bridal gowns. Some of us get so excited about the idea of having marital legitimacy that we forget the fundamental truth that LOVING together means LIVING together. If you haven’t known someone long enough to be sure you can live with them, then you probably don’t know if you can ever truly love them.

    Secondly, we must be aware of the drug of lust, in which the chemical highs of sex can lead us to make damaging life choices. Many a celebrity has been left financially devastated by poor relationship choices in their 20s and 30s. Finally, if people have lives as complicated as Khloe and Lamar, at least a year of study is necessary to figure out if they can cope with all the complex externalities of each other’s personal lives: baby mama drama, professional issues, addictions, financial habits, etc. If you marry someone after a month and find out later that they have serious problems you can’t deal with, you only have yourself to blame.

    This is not just a lesson for Khloe and Lamar, but a lesson for all of us. If you claim that you never made mistakes when you were young and in love, then you are probably just a big ol liar.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Wake up, ladies…

    Posted by: Ashley Dupre

    Wow. Talk about outrage. Although many people agreed with my point of view regarding the socially acceptable ways women prostitute themselves, it looks like the haters are still out in full force and twisting my words around (I saw in the NY Post that even a few of the cast members of the Real Housewives of New Jersey chimed in – why so sensitive? Does the truth sting a bit too much?).

    I even had a nut job chase me down on the street this weekend while walking my dogs – she followed me home, screaming and cursing at me the entire time, threatening me, and she had much of it recorded on her iPhone (can’t wait to see that terrifying experience posted somewhere).  So, let me clarify a few things so you call understand. I wasn’t saying “all women” use men for money – I said many, to varying degrees, do.  Whether it’s dating in exchange for jewelry and clothes, or being in a loveless relationship with someone you’re not attracted to simply for the sake of having financial security, it all comes down to compromising yourself in exchange for being taken care of by a man. This is ingrained in us as little girls – find a prince, find a rich man to marry, date someone with the means to care for you.

    I don’t endorse any of these types of relationships and believe that the only healthy relationship is one in which there is love, mutual respect, attraction and friendship (I really hope to find that for myself one day).  But just be honest about what’s worse here – the woman who is deceiving men into thinking they’re in love so they can cash in, the woman who sacrifices her life in a meaningless relationship because she is complacent and too afraid to leave the money to search for something more meaningful, or the “prostitute” who doesn’t pull any punches and is honest about her expectation of receiving financial consideration for sex (at least that’s honest and everyone’s expectations are clear).  I’m not certain one is any better or more ethical than the other – but I do know that each one is unhealthy – and if you’re labeling one of them a “prostitute,” then be honest and call all of them prostitutes. 

    A trophy wife who doesn’t truly love her husband is like being a prostitute on payroll, and a gold digger is like a prostitute who accepts payment in the form of merchandise instead of cash.

    Wake up, ladies.

  • ATL Housewife Lisa Calls Out Mediatakeout

    Posted by: Lisa Hartwell

    **GG Exclusive**

     

    Hi Global Grind world!

     

    It’s always exciting for me to connect with new people.  We are four episodes into the new season of Real Housewives of Atlanta and I have been doing so many interviews.  I can say it’s refreshing to blog and actually share my own point of view without the media spin on it.

    I am happy to say that I have garnered some favorable media coverage this season. And, I genuinely appreciate the love and support from fans and the media alike.

     

    But, I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed by irresponsible sites like MediaTakeOut.com.   

     

    They just post any and everything without checking facts or ever speaking directly to the parties they are posting about. This week they said that I am fighting to have my sons appear on my show.

     

    Nothing could be further from the truth. I have and always will have my three sons (EJ, Justin & Jordan) best interest at heart. I am in on-going legal litigation with the father of my two oldest sons’ and we are working through it for the sake of our children.

     

    But, through it all…I have Ed, the most supportive husband on the planet. So, trust me. there is a lot of prayer going on in our home. And, we know everything will work itself out. So, in spite of irresponsible journalism.. TRUTH will always prevail.

     

    I look forward to blogging more and keep watching Real Housewives of Atlanta!

     

    Also, stay tuned for my Closet Freak Clothing Line debut and speaking engagements possibly in your city!

     

    Love, Lisa

     

  • My Soul Mate

    blacksoulmates
    At the beginning of time, the Creator split one soul into masculine and feminine energies. Those energies evolved over the course of many lifetimes, perfecting themselves so that they could be reunited in the physical plane as one. You, my love, are my twin flame, my divine right partner, the yin to my yang and I am now made whole again with you.

    Making love to you is transcendent. Every breath you take I feel as my own. I can’t tell if I’m inside you or you are inside of me. My vibration rises and my senses become overwhelmed when I’m with you. I have nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. Your gentle moans of pleasure fill my ears when no one is around and your touch caresses me throughout the day.

    My fears, dreams, hopes, and aspirations are wrapped up in you. Your fingertips hold my pleasure; your shoulders carry my insecurities and doubts for me. Your mouth speaks the words that soothe my savage soul. Your tears wash away my hurt and I am baptized in the sweetness of your nectar.

    I want you to know that only you can fulfill me and there is no reason to for me to look elsewhere. I feel electricity and sparks every time I see your face, every time I look in your eyes. I want to kiss you for hours, losing track of time. I want to be late for work because we can’t bear the thought of starting the day off without connecting. I want to bathe in your essence my soul mate.

  • Men Want to Know: What Do Women Want?


    Men are confused about what exactly it is that women want. I am here to tell you guys “You have the power to make her childhood fairy tale fantasies of a hero come true!” With a little effort, any man can incorporate these seven points into his dating bag of tricks. Follow these guidelines and and do all you can to become the man a woman is looking for. You can easily inspire women’s respect, passion, and love – and your single days will be over.

  • RASHEED IS BACK, YOU BUM ASS NI**UH!!

    Posted by: Rasheed Young

    So, I’m in my office, minding my business and in comes my boss Russell. He’s wearing American Classics pique shirt which retails for $14 at Wal-Mart. I must admit, the shirt was fly! I had on my Billionaire Boys Club Stripped Helmet Polo which retails for $130. Now before I continue, the RUSH offices are family oriented. There’s so much love in this office its ridiculous! Now back to my story. Would you believe in the midst of the conversation Russ called me a “Bum A** Nizzle”. My funniest humble response him was “Now this is what I’m trying to explain!”. I know that response sounds silly but we laughed so hard you would’ve thought Dave Chapelle told his best joke. Now although my shirt was more expensive, the $14 American Classic shirt was the better looking one! I could’ve brought 10 of the American Classics shirts, and I would’ve, had I known. 
    Check out http://www.americanclassicsbrand.com/


    The point I’m trying to make is that humility breeds success. Its obvious I knew he was joking when he made the comment, which actually made several colleagues laugh and feel rejuvenated at end of day. Life teaches us things in funny ways. I realized that its so important to keep your head down and do the work at all times. Its better to see the beautiful things in life than focusing on the negative things. But this can only happen if your willing to be ego free and willing to learn. I’m happy that Russell has taught me to breathe, smile and show love always. In the words of Russell “Be still. See God everywhere.”

    Rasheed Young

    Follow me @Hasenpfefferinc

     

  • Rev Run’s Words Of Wisdom: Win!

    Posted by: Reverend Run

    Good morning. If winning isn’t everything then why do they keep score!!??

    God is Love

    Rev Run