Friday, May 9, 2014

PRINCE COVERS ESSENCE JUNE ISSUE OF ESSENCE

In our cover story, Prince After Dark, writer Cheo Hodari Coker chronicles an evening with the star in L.A. in March, before and after another one of his marathon shows. They may not always start on time (Prince “has his own set of rules and his own sense of time”) but they often go on for hours as the dynamo works his exhaustive catalog of hits and lesser-known tracks as he gives the audience the epitome of showmanship. The seemingly ageless star (who actually turns 56 next month) says one secret to his success is that he likes to keep his musical life spontaneous and challenging. “‘A real musician is always in creative mode,’ Prince says. He picks up a butter knife and starts cutting the air with it. ‘That’s what I used The Revolution for,’ he says, making a cutting motion. The implication being, they were sharp. Fearless. The baddest, best-rehearsed band in the land. ‘But ask them to do what we did tonight? To improvise? There would be a problem. That’s what I love about this new arrangement. The energy. They’re in the moment.’ He pauses. ‘I’m not putting down The Revolution, even though people would love to see us together again. I owe a great debt to them. But I’m doing something else.’” Prince added another title to his repertoire in this issue, as he interviewed his friend and legendary hitmaker Nile Rodgers, who’s been helping light up the charts on songs from Chic’s “Le Freak” to Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.” Prince has also joined ESSENCE and Van Jones in furthering #YESWECODE, a national initiative to help 100,000 low-opportunity youths learn to code computers. With all this going on, there’s clearly no winding down going on here.

BE WHERE YOU ARE

MY WISH LIST FOR MOTHERS DAY

CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES CATCH UP ON SOME LONG OVERDUE READING A LONG SPA LIKE BATH TIME ROSES sHRIMP DINNER PEACE AND RESTFUL SLEEP.

MARIAH CAREY IS ON FIRE IN WONDERLAND MAGAZINE

Mariah Carey is bejeweled and sexy on the cover of Wonderland magazine’s Summer 2014 issue. The image is not far off from the racy photos she posts on her Instagram page, but beautiful nonetheless. The R&B songbird looks seductive in all-black lingerie by Agent Provocateur and matching silk jacket by Roberto Cavalli. She’s also holding a wine glass and white pearls. Pour it up! Pour it Up! Along with the photo, the tagline asks, “Why you so obsessed with me?” Uh, hello? Because you’re Mariah Carey, one of the greatest R&B singers in music history. That aside, controversial photographer Terry Richardson shot the cover for the magazine, which hits newsstands next week. “Excited to be on the cover of @wonderlandmag, out this Friday in the UK and worldwide next week!” Carey tweeted to her Lambs (aka her fans). The Wonderland cover comes as Mimi’s earns her 17th No. 1 song on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart with her latest single, ‘You’re Mine (Eternal).’ Carey is also set to release her new album in five years, which is still untitled. To Mariah Carey and her glamorous Wonderland cover, we say, “Cheers!” Read More: Mariah Carey Covers Wonderland Magazine | http://theboombox.com/mariah-carey-wonderland-magazine-cover/?trackback=tsmclip

#BRING BACK OUR GIRLS

OUT AND ABOUT

TONI BRAXTON MODELS TYRA BANKS AND CHRISSY TEIGEN JERMAINE DUPRI DIDDY'S THREE GIRLS CHANCE, D'LILA AND JESSIE POST FOR A PRINT AD BRANDY

HAPPY CUPCAKE DAY

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

IHANA AND I JADA, WILLOW AND HER MOM ADRIENNE KIM AND NORTH WEST LAILA ALI AND MOM VERONICA DIANA ROSS AND DAUGHTER TRACEE

THIS WHERE MY THOUGHTS ARE TODAY

FINALLY AS THE LAST COLD DAYS OF OUR LONG LINGERING WINTER DISAPPEARS. THE WARM BREEZE IN THE AIR MAKES ME WANT TO RUN AWAY TO THE BEACH. TODAY THAT'S WHERE MY MIND IS.

MUSIC ICONS COVER EBONY MAGAZINE

“In celebration of Black Music Month, EBONY magazine pays tribute to the industry’s leaders, pioneers and game changers. Inside the June issue, EBONY honors both the present-day success stories an the giants who paved the way. The issue is a four-cover series, with Beyoncé, Jay Z,Kanye West and Rihanna gracing the covers as a salute to their unprecedented impact on Black music.”

MAKE IT HAPPEN

THROW BACK VIDEO

WHEN THIS SONG CAME OUT ONE I PLAYED IT ALL SUMMER LONG COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.

FEELING BLUE