SOLANGE KNOWLES

YOUNGER SISTER OF BEYONCE SOLANGE KNOWLES IS EXPRESSING HER OWN STYLE. SHE DJ'S PARTIES AND HAS ACTED ON TV AND MOVIES.

CHOCOLATE COSMOS FLOWER

DEEP BURGUNDY COLOR LEANING TOWARD A CHOCOLATE SHADE. IN ADDITION TO THIER COLOR CHOCOLATE COSMO FLOWERS HAVE A FLAVORABLE CHOCOLATE SCENT.

LAURYN HILL TALKS ABOUT A COMEBACK

The singer says that aside from her kids, there are “a number of different reasons” for why she hasn’t released any music in nearly a decade.

“… the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place. There were things about myself, personal-growth things, that I had to go through in order to feel like it was worth it. In fact, as musicians and artists, it’s important we have an environment — and I guess when I say environment, I really mean the [music] industry, that really nurtures these gifts.”

She adds, “Oftentimes, the machine can overlook the need to take care of the people who produce the sounds that have a lot to do with the health and well-being of society, or at least some aspect of society. And it’s important that people be given the time that they need to go through, to grow, so that the consciousness level of the general public is properly affected. Oftentimes, I think people are forced to make decisions prematurely. And then that sound radiates.”

Lauryn spoke with National Public Radio very recently. And here's our highlights:

Lauryn on being both a singer and a rapper

“There used to be a singing voice and there used to be a rapping voice but now the singing voice has to become more like my speaking voice in order for the two to be able to coexist."

On her creative experience
“When I create music, I think the feeling you get, I get first….when I first have a creative insight, not just the voice but the creativity, the production, the idea, the concept, the music involved, there is a high, there is an emotional experience for sure”. (:01-:26)

On her creative experience
“I think I made music, especially back in the day, as consistently as I did because it made me feel so good. Some might even argue that it may be a creative addiction, but the healthy kind”. (:43-:54)

On Bob Marley
“I appreciate words, I appreciate language, I appreciate words, I appreciate putting words together in an artful way that’s something gives me quite a good feeling to be able to do that."

“Bob Marley to me was one of the most clever lyrists, how he put things together , just like the way he put together songs”. (:24-:32

Why she stopped putting out music
“There were a number of different reasons," she says. "But partly, the support system that I needed was not necessarily in place. There were things about myself, personal-growth things, that I had to go through in order to feel like it was worth it. Oftentimes, I think people are forced to make decisions prematurely. And then that sound radiates.”

"I'm trying to open up my range and really sing more," she says. "With The Fugees initially, and even with Miseducation, it was very hip-hop — always a singing over beats. I don't think people have really heard me sing out. So if I do record again, perhaps it will have an expanded context. Where people can hear a bit more."

"I don't know if you know this, but I have five children," she says. "The youngest is 2 now, so she's old enough that I can leave her for a period of time and know she's going to be okay. That's one reason [Hill is starting to perform again]. And I think it's just time. I'm starting to get excited again. Believe it or not, I think what people are attracted to about me, if anything, is my passion. People got exposed to my passion through music and song first. I think people might realize, you know, 'We love the way she sounds, we love the music, but I think we just love how fearless she is. How boundless she is, when it comes to what she wants to do.' And I think that can be infectious."

Yes, we are attracted to everything about you. Come back L-Boogie!

BET AWARDS

JADA SMITH WITH SON JADEN AND DAUGHTER WILLOW

PRINCE

NICKI MINAJ

JANELLE MONAE

ALICIA KEYS

MONICA

BRANDY

KEISHA COLE

A NEW DAY

FLOWER GIRL

SERENA WILLIAMS COVERS UPTOWN MAGAZINE

I LOVE BOOKS

32 CANDLES BY NOVELIST ERNESSA T. CARTER IS ABOUT AN UNLIKELY LEADING LADY WHO GETS HER MAN BY DOING A MAKEUNDER INSTEAD OF A MAKEOVER. DAVIDIA JONES IS CONSTANSTLY PICKED UP BECAUSE OF HER DARK SKIN AND NATURAL HAIR IN RURAL MISSISSIPPI. WHEN SHE MOVES TO LOS ANGELES HER BOHEMIAN LOOKS AND HER NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE IS EMBRACED.">

REFRESHING

BLACKBERRY SMASH, CHERRY LEMONADE, OLD FASHIONED LEMONADE ARE THE KIND OF REFRESHING DRINKS THAT MAKE YOU WANT TO SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH ON AND INDULGE IN THE FRUTY SWEETNESS THAT A TALL GLASS HAS TO OFFER.

AUTUMN WHITEHURST

AUTUMN WHITEHURST IS AN ILLUSTRATOR. sHE CURRENTLY LIVES IN BROOKLYN, HER WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS. I ESPECIALLY LOVE HR WOMEN OF COLOR PEICES.

HEATWAVE

OUT AND ABOUT

WILLOW AND JADEN SMITH

MONICA

GRACE JONES

LAURYN HILL

JACKEE HARRY

FABOLOUS, TARAJI, IDRIS ELBA

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

TODAY MARKS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF MICHAEL JACKSON. THE KING OF POP. I HOPE THE WORLD WILL TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON HOW HE DIED. RIP MICHAEL.

ANIMAL PRINT SHOE

GROWNUPS PREMEIRE

CHRIS ROCK

CHRIS ROCK, DAVID SPADE, ADAM SANDLER & KEVIN JAMES

SALMA HAYEK

STAR JONES

NIECY NASH

WENT TO THE SCREENING OF GROWNUPS ON TUESDAY EVENING. THIS IS A HILARIOUS COMEDY WITH A LOT OF FUNNY PEOPLE. THE ONE LINERS ARE NONSTOP AND EACH COMEDIAN GETS HIS OR HER MOMENT TO SHINE. EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING THE WHOLE TIME MY DAUGHTER REALLY ENJOYED IT AS WELL ADD THIS TO THE LONG LIST OF SUMMER MOVIES TO SEE THAT ISNT IN 3D.