Confessions From A Black Rose

Last night my life was made when Beyonce released Lemonade to the world. I have been waiting for this record to drop for months now. Queen Bey did not disappoint with this record.  She continues to be an unstoppable force.  L emonade features Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and James Blake. As of right now L emonade is a Tidal exclusive. Sources say it will be available to other outlets in the next coming days. If I am honest, I felt the material on L emonade was not as strong as the Beyonce record. It is no way her worst album as some basics are suggesting. I found it gets better the more you listen to it. It is her most personal record to date.  I appreciate the fact the Beyonce keeps on making records. She does not make an album full of singles, but a record that tells a story. I think only a couple of tracks are radio friendly. I think this record will scare Top 40 radio, but it wasn't made for them. The fact Formation was not played on Top 40 radio say...

1. Maxwell-Lake by the Ocean I 've been waiting seven years for a new song from this amazing artist.  He did not disappoint. This song has blessed my ears. 2. DareDevil I just started watching and I am obsessed. The pilot sucked me in. It is 1000x better than the movie adaptation. It shall hold me over till Game of Thrones returns. 3. Zayn- Mind of Mine Zayn released his first solo record a few weeks ago and I am obsessed. My favorite tracks are Truth, Rear view, Drunk, Befour, She, Pillow Talk, and Fool for You. Now that the hype has died down, it is the perfect opportunity to buy this record. This boy needs to be smashing records. He is the real deal. 4. FKA Twigs- Good to Love I should be used to FKA twigs releasing masterpieces by now but I'm not. 5. American Idol This juggernaut came to a close last week and I am emotional. It was incredible to see some of my favorites grace the screen one more time.  Here are so...

Throughout the spring, I am going to be sharing with you things that I love. Here is the first installment of my Spring Favorites.  There is this amazing girl group by the name of  Little Mix, perhaps you have heard of them. They are criminally overlooked, so I have made it my mission to get the word out. These girls are serving 90's/ early 00's girl band rea lness . I am going to prove to you in five  simple  steps why you  should  be  fangirling  over  Little  Mix as hard as me.  1.    Love Me    Like You 2. Sales aren't everything but... Their most recent album Get Weird has sold over 650,000 copies worldwide. The majority of that amount has been in the UK alone. Where they have sold half a million copies. Get Weird outsold Made in the AM in the UK last year. They outsold freaking One Direction. That fact blows my mind. Yet people don't make a big fuss about them. 3. Secret ...

I was really excited for the Grammys this year because I knew there was going to be some kick-ass performances. The majority of the awards were given pre-broadcast. It was looking like it was going to be a great night when I caught wind of few of the early winners: Kendrick, Chris  Stapleton , Alabama Shakes, Ed Sheeran,  Little Big Town, Ricky Martin and Angelique Kidjo. I wish that one of the R&B categories were televised. It would have given much needed attention to incredible R&B artists that have not gone mainstream.  Best R&B Performance I will admit, I thought The Weeknd would go empty handed. I was wrong, he won two Grammys last night. Sometimes I forget how great "Earned It" is. I do wish Andra Day or Tamar Braxton had won this award,  but I am not pissed off The Weeknd won. I am just surprised. It was a cherry on top a great year for him.  Best Urban Contemporary Album This is th...

Taking a moment to celebrate bad ass mamas that made 2015 spectacular. let me know the women who amazed you this year. Serena Williams  via GIPHY Caitlyn Jenner Laverne Cox Uzo Aduba Viola Davis Gina Rodriguez Misty Copeland via GIPHY Cate Blanchett Jessica Chastain Zendaya Charlize Theron Kristen Stewart Adele via GIPHY JK Rowling Malala Yousafzai Ava DuVernay Bree Newsome Lady Gaga Beyonce via GIPHY Lianne  La Havas USWNT Jennifer Lawrence Lupita Nyong'o Lana Del Rey Ruth Bader Ginsburg via GIPHY Michelle Obama Ladies of The Real Chancellor Angela Merkel Gwendoline Christie Tove Lo FKA Twigs via GIPHY Rachel Maddow Samantha Power Mindy Kaling Tina Fey Amy Poehler Amandla Stenberg via GIPHY Rowan Blanchard Meryl Streep Kate Winslet Elizabeth Warren Amy Schumer Ronda Rousey

It's a beautiful autumn day here in New Jersey. What a wonderful time to share my Friday obsessions. 1. Adele- Hello My queen has returned to snatch every wig in town and reclaim her throne . This music video is a masterpiece. The cinematography and art direction are breathtaking. 2. Wentworth Wentworth is one of the best television shows I have ever watched. I am not ashamed to admit I watched every episode in a week. I can't wait until the fourth season. I need more Bea Smith in my life and hopefully the chemistry between her and Mr. Jackson does not go to waste. 3. Tove  L o- Queen of Clouds The most underrated album of the year goes to this Queen. One of the best pop records ever recorded.  Words cannot express how much I adore Tove  L o.

If the weather is any indicator, autumn has officially arrived. Autumn the time of the year when pumpkin spice lattes can be found at your favorite coffee house and you can finally wear your favorite sweater hidden at the back of your closet. Now that the historic Emmy Awards are behind us, the beginning of 2015-2016 Television season has commenced. via GIPHY It's a little bittersweet without Sons of Anarchy but it's still an exciting time. Empire Strikes Back The second season of ratings smashing  Empire went off with a bang. via GIPHY The characters continue to be flawed yet compelling. Cookie had incredible one liners. We got to see Boo Boo Kitty back that thang up. We learnt to never underestimate Lucious Lyon. This season is going to be crazy and I can't wait. Scream Queens via GIPHY Fox has been promoting this show like crazy and I was shocked that it did not pull in big numbers. I thought it was hilarious and politically incorrect. I already have my sus...

I can officially scratch attend a New York Fashion Week show off my bucket list. I am going to take a beat because I still can't really believe it. I am not the most fashionably inclined human being, so it was a humbling experience. After raiding my closet and feeling like I had nothing to wear I chose this look to attend my first fashion show. My twin was my date for the night and she was looking gorgeous.  I was fortunate to attend Korto Momolu's show which was held at  Affinia Hotel. Korto was a finalist on Project Runway   and has been making a splash in the fashion word ever since. Unfortunately, we got our tickets late so we were in the standing section. I had a good vantage point until some incredibly tall girls stood in front of me. I did not let that dampen my mood. The show went without a hitch. It was one fabulous look after the other. When I was not looking at the runway, I was in awe of the attendees. Just look at these fab...

I realized two years ago that I was becoming too old for the VMA's. It might have been the sight of Miley Cyrus gyrating against Robin Thicke's crotch that did the trick. Watching this year made me realize that it was time to throw in the towel.  Most of the winners had me thinking, am I watching the Teen Choice Awards? It is not just the VMA's, mainstream music is quite basic. Gosh, I sound like Azealia Banks. Some people were offended when P!nk said that mainstream music was trash, but she does have a point. Watching a gem like Straight Outta of Compton made me think where is this generation's N.W.A? Music is meant to inspire, heal and make you feel. I know I sound pessimistic, but there is still a lot of great music being made. Unfortunately, it is not being played on Mainstream radio. For instance Tyrese and Jill Scott released amazing records this year that were met with critical acclaim. The chances they would get played on Top 40 radio is slim. I hope t...

Today is the Grammy Awards. In celebration I am sharing a music video by the incredible Missy Elliott.  How awesome was she at the Superbowl? It was amazing to see one of the greatest live performers back in her element. Why this woman has not won a vanguard MTV Video Music Award is beyond me. Her music videos were incredible.  Sit back and enjoy.

Unfortunately, Women's History Month is drawing to a close. I could not let this month end without celebrating the women who inspired me as a child. Let me know who were your childhood heroes. Alicia Silverstone Britney Spears  Christina Aguilera Christina Ricci Daria Lucy Lawless Kirsten Dunst Mandy Moore Mariah Carey Samantha Jones( played brilliantly by Kim Cattrall) Sarah Michelle Gellar Spice Girls

I am always striving for excellence and my time in the blogsphere has been no different. In my five years of blogging, I have learnt one of the secrets of a successful blog is being true to yourself. I have also learnt that growth is essential to the craft of writing. I learn the most from studying my peers and today I want to highlight these amazing creative women. I admire their work and I have developed instant crushes( Instagram) on them. Make sure you follow them on Instagram and check out their websites. You will not be disappointed. Carin Olsson Website:  http://parisinfourmonths.com/ Instagram: @parisinfourmonths Linda Lomelino Website:  http://www.callmecupcake.se/ Instagram: @linda_lomelino Nicole Warne Website:  http://garypeppergirl.com/ Instagram: @garypeppergirl Sonya Khegay Website :  http://sonyakhegay.com/ Instagram: @cupofherbaltea Rosie- The Londoner Website:   http://www.thelondoner.me/ Instagram: @rosielondoner Jes...

Disclaimer: I had every intention of posting yesterday but life happened. Here is my post in celebration of International Women's Day. I hope y'all had an incredible day celebrating women. Today is the day we celebrate all the women in our lives. The women who raised us. The women who taught us. The women we love and the women we admire. Today is the celebration our strength, our struggles and our achievements. This entire month I will be paying homage to the incredible women whom grace this planet.  Trust me when I say, over 100 women will be celebrated this month. I have created a list and I am checking it twice. Since today is International Women's Day, here are 31 women( for every day of the month) whom I love. Adele Amy Poehler Angelina Jolie Beyonce Cate Blanchett Ellen DeGeneres Drew Barrymore Ellen Page Emma Stone Emmy Rossum Iggy Azalea Issa Rae Jennifer Lawrence Kate Winslet Kelly Clarkson Kree Harrison Lady Gaga Lauren Conrad ...

Book Title: A Discovery of Witches Author: Deborah Harkness Rating: 4.5/5 All Stars Diana Bishop may hail from a long lineage of witches but she chooses to live an ordinary and magic free life in Oxford, England. She spends the majority of her days conducting her research in Oxford's Bodleian Library.Her ordinary life turns upside down when she requests a manuscript called Ashmole 782 . Unbeknownst to Diana, Ashmole 782 is a manuscript believed to contain important clues about the past and the future of several supernatural creatures. Soon Diana's discovery leads hordes of witches, vampires and daemons to descend upon the Bodeleian's reading rooms. Among these creatures is the sexy Matthew Clairmont, a dark and mysterious geneticist who happens to be a vampire. Diana and Matthew embark on a journey to understand the secrets of the manuscript but their newfound friendship begins to unravel the long existing peace between humans and creatures. This is how a w...

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a safe and adventurous weekend. If your weekend was catastrophic, I am deeply sorry. I know how tough Mondays can be so I am providing y'all with five songs to help escape the misery of a Monday. I have been bitching about the current state of popular music for months and it is always amazing when I actually hear a great song on the radio. Can we all have a moment of silence for the state of popular music? Now that the moment is gone please share with my some of your favorites as well. 1. Shot At the Night - The Killers 2. The Art of Letting Go - Mariah Carey 3. Burn - Ellie Goulding 4. Human - Christina Perri 5. Do What U Want - Lady Gaga Featuring R. Kelly

I hope all of y'all had a fun but safe Halloween. I cannot believe we are already in November. I just remember it being summer and now we are in the middle of fall. I absolutely love the fall and here is a list of things that I am currently obsessed with this season. 1.Autumn Squash Soup Panera Bread has outdone itself with this delicious fall treat. The Autumn Squash Soup is a blend of pumpkin and butternut squash. It is garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds. 2. Luther This British drama is one hell of a ride. I love how complicated the character of Luther is and Idris plays him to perfection. This drama deserves all of its accolades. 3. Gary Pepper Gary Pepper is a lifestyle, fashion and travel site created by the lovely Nicole Warne. I am obsessed with her photographs. They are full of vibrant colors and life. Make sure you check out  garypeppergirl.com  and follow her on Instagram as well.  4. Tegan and Sara  I have heard about Tegan and Sa...

Entrance Now that summer is officially over, I can begin to prepare for the next chapter in my life. I am not sure what fall will bring my way but I am optimistic that good things will come. I definitely ended my summer with a bang by attending Budweiser Made in America Festival . People having a good time It has always been a dream of mine to attend a music festival. I was pretty stoked about this one because the lineup was ridiculous. It was definitely an unique experience considering I am not to keen on crowds. I was fortunate to attend both days and I had a great time. Taking a moment My respect for   Beyoncé's   craft went up another level. She is really in a league of her own. Just a sexy, classy, and talented lady. She had me grooving from start to finish. I apologize that I won't be uploading any videos and pictures from her performance. I did not like how they turned out. Highlights:   Beyoncé  , Emeli  Sandé  , Solange, Imagi...

A little over a month ago I became a fan of this incredible talent by the name of Iggy Azalea . Iggy is an Australian rapper that is taking the world by storm. Here she is performing her single "Work" stripped down. Now tell me which one of your faves could do the same? I absolutely adore this woman. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Followers of my blog know that I'm loyal viewer of American Idol and a huge fan of season 12 runner-up Kree Harrison. When I am a fan of someone I like to keep up to date on their various activities. I'm not  a stan for anyone, it takes too much energy. Do you really need to know every aspect of their personal life? Do you really have to know what hotel they are staying at? I just want to know when your next film or record is coming out. I was even accused of being a terrible Backstreet Boys fan because I did not know everything about them. Out of the "so called" fans I am the only one that has all of their records and supported them non stop for 16 years. I am not here to talk about my love for Backstreet Boys, that would take a lifetime. I am here to keep you updated on the lovely Ms. Harrison.  I don't really listen to country music but I would buy her album in a heartbeat. Yesterday it was announced that Universal Music Group( Idol's affiliated label) o...

This is a continuation of my previous post . We are down to the final two, Candice and Kree. This has been my dream finale since the Vegas rounds. Candice's voice is like a musical instrument. She plays with it like it's a saxophone. She has great musicality,  her performance of Lovesong and You've Changed are standouts. I never once doubted she would be in the top 2. If she wins on Thursday it will be a well deserved win. I hope she releases a jazz infused album. You do not understand how much I need that album in my life. I hope this is the direction she takes her talent. She is too talented to not be successful. If anyone questions whether she deserves to be in the top 2, they need to have their ears cleaned. Kree is such an interesting story for me. I don't remember her before the Vegas rounds. In my defense her audition never aired, she was not a main focus during the group rounds and I missed her solo performance during Hollywood week. When she was introd...