JIDENNA VIDEO CLASSIC MAN

Hip-hop newcomer Jidenna and his debut solo single “Classic Man” have already begun summer-radio domination, and with good reason. The longtime collaborator of Janelle Monae and one-fifth of her record label, Wondaland, has a musical palette that is as crisp as the three-piece suits you will usually find him wearing. A self-dubbed dandy and neighborhood man, Jidenna is seamlessly translating old-school swank into the language of 2015, creating a music video that addresses a desperate need for community-building in the wake of rampant police brutality.

ACTOR TAYE DIGGS HAS THE TITLE ROLE IN BROADWAY IN HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH

Last month, it was announced that Taye Diggs won the role of the titular transgender rocker in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and now we have the first glimpse—iridescent blue eye shadow and all—of the star’s transformation. “Hedwig is the role of a lifetime,” Diggs told People magazine, who first released the portrait. “I’m looking forward to being challenged performance-wise on many levels, as well as being humbled by the musical’s social implications.” Not only does the Broadway star look the part, he feels comfortable with the character’s signature glitz, adding, “I also like wearing nail polish.” The actor has plenty of experience on Broadway, beginning in 1996, when he starred as the unpleasant landlord in Rent. Diggs is the sixth actor in a long line of stars to have played the high-heeled rocker: Neil Patrick Harris, who won the Tony Award for his performance in 2014, Andrew Rannells, Michael C. Hall, John Cameron Mitchell and, most recently, Darren Criss.“Taye is fantastic—he has theater cred, he has pop culture cred, he can sing, he can act, he can dance, he’s smart and he’s sexy,” David Binder, the show’s lead producer, told the New York Times. “That’s why we cast him.” Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Taye Diggs begins its Last month, it was announced that Taye Diggs won the role of the titular transgender rocker in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and now we have the first glimpse—iridescent blue eye shadow and all—of the star’s transformation. “Hedwig is the role of a lifetime,” Diggs told People magazine, who first released the portrait. “I’m looking forward to being challenged performance-wise on many levels, as well as being humbled by the musical’s social implications.” Not only does the Broadway star look the part, he feels comfortable with the character’s signature glitz, adding, “I also like wearing nail polish.” The actor has plenty of experience on Broadway, beginning in 1996, when he starred as the unpleasant landlord in Rent. Diggs is the sixth actor in a long line of stars to have played the high-heeled rocker: Neil Patrick Harris, who won the Tony Award for his performance in 2014, Andrew Rannells, Michael C. Hall, John Cameron Mitchell and, most recently, Darren Criss.“Taye is fantastic—he has theater cred, he has pop culture cred, he can sing, he can act, he can dance, he’s smart and he’s sexy,” David Binder, the show’s lead producer, told the New York Times. “That’s why we cast him.” Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Taye Diggs begins its

TARAJI P. HENSON COVERS W. MAGAZINE

The actress looks super sexy in a simple white henley shirt and jeans, captured for the cover of the glossy's annual Pop issue by the photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Her smoky eye makeup and slick, wet hair add to a sultry look that was styled by W style director Edward Enninful. The image immediately reminded us of Diana Ross' 1980 "Diana" album cover, which means Diana Ross is also everywhere these days: Henson's Allure shoot was a nod to the legendary singer, too. Henson's role as Cookie on "Empire" has secured her spot as one of TV's most beloved characters, and now she's officially a style star, according to Stefano Tonchi, W's editor-in-chief: “As Cookie, Henson has become an indelible pop-fashion icon,” he states in the issue. "Empire" fans and Henson agree. “They see [Cookie's] heart. They see her intentions. And they love her style -- her style is 17 years behind the fashion curve, which makes the clothes a character on the show," Henson told W. "As Cookie grows, you’ll see her fashion grow. And people love that -- she’s a work in progress. The only thing that never changes is her spirit: To me, Cookie is living, breathing, walking truth.” TARAJI P. HENSON IS DEFINATELY THE IT GIRL OF THE MOMENT. GRACING THE COVER OF SEVERAL MAGAZINES HER LATEST COVER IS W. MAGAZINE.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

EARLY SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE HOPING YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

SHAKE IT OFF

KIMORA LEE SIMMONS NEW KING WOLFE LEE LEISSNER

KIMORA LEE SIMMONS AND FAMILY HUSBAND TIM LEISSNER, MING, AOKI,AND SON KENZO WITH BABY WOLFE.

FEELING BEACHY

WONDERFUL THOUGHTS OF THE BEACH. DAYDREAMING.

IMAN COVERS ITALIA VANITY AT 60 YEARS OLD

Iman still sure knows how to leave us breathless when it comes to covers and editorials. The Somali-American supermodel looks ravishing in glamorous gowns in classic movie inspired images shot by photography & directing duo Marcus & Koala for Vanity Fair Italia. The beautiful 59 year old, who turns 60 next month, pulls off an edgy bob hair, wicked smokey eyes and a halter neck dress on the cover that leave us lusting over her impeccable figure. She reveals that she tries not to worry too much about aging and dieting. On how she looks this good at her age, the iconic model tells Vanity Fair, “I go to the gym, I am attentive to the diet. And I’m not complaining of the extra pounds, at least a couple, because they act as a natural botox. When women get older the first place you see it is the face that becomes too thin, worn out, tired. And then they go to get Botox, but for me the best remedy is a bit ‘overweight’.” I would tell you to read the rest of the story in Vanity Fair Italia but you can if you can read italian. She looks stunning.

JANET JACKSON ON TOUR

I DIDN'T SEE WASHINGTON DC ON THE LIST FOR TOUR STOPS. BUT KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT DC MAKES THE SECOND PART OF HER TOUR. I'M STILL EXCITED ANYWAY FOR HER NEW MUSIC. JANET UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR LOS ANGELES (June 15, 2015) – Music icon, multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner and multi-platinum selling artist Janet Jackson today announced details of her highly anticipated international tour. The UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR will return one of this world’s most influential entertainers back to the live stage in support of her upcoming album due out this Fall on Rhythm Nation Records/BMG. This first leg, a 36-date tour, 30 of which are promoted by Live Nation, will take the legendary artist to cities throughout the U.S. and Canada starting Aug. 31 in Vancouver, BC with shows lined up in Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco and more. All dates are being co-produced by Miss Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. A full list of tour dates is below. Additional worldwide concerts will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the first North American live performances will go on sale starting June 22 at JanetJackson.com. American Express Card members can purchase tickets for select shows before the general public beginning Monday, June 15 at 10:00 a.m. through Friday, June 19 at 10:00 pm. “American Express is thrilled to partner with an iconic artist like Janet Jackson on the UNBREAKABLE WORLD TOUR and bring our Card Members an opportunity to purchase tickets before the general on-sale date,” said Walter Frye, V.P., American Express Entertainment. “Adding Janet to our industry-leading ticketing partnerships is rooted in our mission to serve our Card Members’ deep passion for music.” In addition to Live Nation and Rhythm Nation, other concert promoters will include Nederlander Concerts, Jam Productions, Another Planet Entertainment, and such promoters as Bamp and Tommy Meharey who will produce the Honolulu dates. Janet Jackson is one of the most influential entertainers of the modern era. Her music has won her 6 GRAMMY® Awards, 2 Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a nomination for an Academy Award along with dozens of American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, BET honoree, and Billboard Music Awards. She has received accolades as an actor as well including the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award. Janet is a published author, choreographer, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of biggest-selling artists in popular music history. With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Janet Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her music and artistry has opened doors through which other top artists have followed, while acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions.

ACTORS ON ACTORS QUEEN LATIFAH AND TARAJI P. HENSON

BEACHY

ME AT THE BEACH WHY DO ADULTS HAVE TO WORK IN THE SUMMERTIME. THIS WOULD BE MY ULTIMATE SUMMER VACATION.

JADA PINKETT SMITH COVERS HAUTE LIVING MAGAZINE

The indescribably fabulous Jada Pinkett Smith hit the cover of Haute Living New York, giving us the inside scoop on why she took the role of a strip club owner in the upcoming Magic Mike XXL movie. It was no surprise to us that Channing Tatum charmed her into the gig, obviously.surprise to us that Channing Tatum charmed her into the gig, obviously. The 43-year-old actress opened up about her role in the movie and her philosophy as an actress in the Dan Flood–shot spread. In regards to Magic Mike XXL, Smith says she was inspired by Tatum’s eagerness to tackle a relatively taboo topic. She says the fact that Tatum had the guts to take on a touchy subject, so to speak, made her much more tempted to take on the role. She told Haute Living: “One of the biggest selling points for accepting this role was Channing saying – and I’m not quoting – that there is a way to make the adult entertainment industry responsible.” Smith says people often comment on how she always plays strong women, and according to the spunky actress, it’s for good reason. She admits honestly that playing the badass b*tch might just be her “thing,” as she tends to gravitate towards strength energy lines. She said: “I have no idea how not to be strong, and I don’t know if I have the desire to.” With that said, Smith says she did use her mobster role in XXL as an opportunity to portray another kind of strength other than the typical hardness that is usually associated with being “tough.” She revealed: “What I tried to do with Rome is communicate strength differently—from a place that is a lot more feminine—a bit more soft and open.” Jada believes that being open to new experiences and different types of roles is key to having a successful, interesting career. At this point in her life, exploration is her focus. She says that had she stuck to limited, fixed goals, she would never have ended up participating in some of her favorite projects, like Gotham and Magic Mike XXL. “There is a certain freedom that I have in my life now that I haven’t had in the past. I think it has to do with having the time to grow and shed old ideas that I no longer need—and just trusting!” When it comes to staying “high fash,” Smith says dressing the part is just the start. Changing hairstyles is one of her favorite ways to show the various facets of her personality, and her constantly changing sense of style. She uses hairstyles and fashion differently than everyone else, telling Haute Living: “For me it is an expression of the different personalities of Jada – how I am feeling at the moment. I tend to be that girl – I may want to look like a punk-rocker and use my hair and clothing to express that.”

HAVE PATIENCE

AVOCADO HUMMUS DIP

Pita Chips 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 whole wheat or regular (or both) pita breads, cut in half Flaky sea salt (I used Maldon Salt) Hummus 1 large ripe avocado, coarsely chopped 1/2 packed cup arugula 1 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1/3 packed cup cilantro 1/3 packed cup fresh flat-leaf parsley Juice of one lemon Juice of half a lime 1 garlic clove, smashed 1/4 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil A few dashes of hot sauce or cayenne pepper, optional To make the pita chips, position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a pastry brush, brush both sides of the pita halves with the olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Cut each half into 8 wedges and place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 15 - 18 minutes or until they are crisp and browned. To make the hummus, place the avocado, arugula, beans, cilantro, lemon juice, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, salt and pepper into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the processor until the mixture is coarsely chopped. With the food processor on, slowly stream the olive oil into the processor and process until the mixture is creamy. Taste for seasonings, add the hot sauce or cayenne pepper and more salt and pepper if needed. Pulse the machine a few times to incorporate any additional seasonings. Add the mixture to a serving bowl. Serve the pita chips on the side.

WALE FEATURING USHER - MATRIMONY

BEAUTIFUL I LOVE THIS SONG.

BEYONCE'S MOM TINA KNOWLES LAWSON COVERS EBONY MAGAZINE

"When I was asked to do the Sexy Forever 'Ebony' magazine cover, my first question was, 'Me really?'" she shared in a quote her daughter Solange posted on Instagram. "I had some reservations but as I thought of all the women who tell me daily that I have inspired them to live a wholehearted life, which includes your sexuality. I am proud to be 61 years old and to not be putting limitations on my lifestyle. We can still be sexy and vibrant, fashionable, classy and fly until the day we die!" CHECK OUT THE FULL STORY IN JULY ISSUE OF EBONY

SIZZLING HOT

LENNY KRAVITZ JAMIE FOX JOE MANGANIELLO MICHAAEL EALY TOM FORD