Splitsville: Why Celebrity Relationships Don’t Last

The world of a celebrity is a gratifying yet invasive lifestyle. It’s great to have people screaming and cheering your name, but there’s also no privacy at all. It’s clear with the latest leaking of celeb nude pics that there is no privacy, but that one just takes the cake. Social media has evolved into this world that sucks you in and you can’t get enough. Everyone has an opinion. People leave filthy comments to celebs whether it be on Twitter or Instagram. Everyone has something to say. That was one of the reasons of why I started my blog, to voice my opinion. There’s also a way to do it and not be malicious.

In the latest of celeb breakups, one of my fav couples was rumored to be getting a divorce, Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose. I absolutely love the two of them together, but as much as I do I do not know their life. Fans and social media creepers know what is presented. They know what is glorified whether it be Wiz in a picture with a bong or another chick or Amber twerking. There’s always something wrong, always. Well as much as I hate for them to be over, Amber did release a statement via Twitter confirming that the TMZ rumors were true.

This leads to the topic and question, why can’t celebrity relationships last? There are two types of extremes of the relationships. There are the ones that get together really fast and they either take the step of getting married or they can’t get past the engagement before breaking up. Then there are those that stay together for 10+ years before breaking up. For instance, take Kris and Bruce Jenner. Most might say that the power and fame of KUWTK is what drove the two apart, but again we don’t know their lives. They could’ve been headed for divorce ages ago, but now that their youngest Kylie is 17 and she’s old enough to understand, they could just be going their separate ways.

As for the couples that get together without getting to really know each other is what baffles me. No, it’s true, we (as in social media stalkers) might not know how long people have known each other. Take Ciara and Future, he stated in an interview with Wendy Williams that they had met years ago, he just never pursued. Now here it is they have a gorgeous son, they were engaged, now they’re not engaged, they’re working things out. Who the hell knows.

Then you can take Tyga and his baby mother/ex-fiance, Blac Chyna. I though there relationship was cute, but when you look at how long they had known each other, along with how young each of them are, it’s no surprise that they’re no longer together. To make that situation any stickier they’re linking Tyga to Kylie Jenner and it’s even shadier if that story were true as Chyna & Kim K are “friends”.

Moving on and getting back to the question, it really all boils down to TIME spent together. I think in order for a relationship to grow and flourish there needs to be a strong foundation before jumping into marriage or kids. yes, there are relationships that have lasted with getting to know each other along the way, but Hollywood divorce has a track record. Does anything really last? Granted, blogs add fuel to the fire, but time is of the essence and these celebs do not waste time shacking up.

Putting time aside, fame and power really switch up a person and can turn a relationship that was great into something else. Take Robin Thicke & Paula Patton. They had been together since they were teenagers and while Robin was doing pretty well in the music scene, ‘Blurred Lines’ took it to another level. I knew that the ship was about to sink after that scandalous performance with Miley Cyrus at the 2013 VMAs. With success comes more time on the road, more exposure, and it can change a person. Look at Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo. This is another case of fame possibly being taken to the head as Jason Derulo has been riding high with the success of ‘Talk Dirty’ and ‘Wiggle’.It was just announced that the two had broken up after 3 years of what the public deemed, pure bliss. They were just coupled up at the VMAs, but again WE DON’T KNOW (Kanye voice) their lives.

Hopefully fans will stop gawking over these celebrities and thinking that everything is perfect. The only thing a celebrity has over the next person is a bigger connect and (depending on who the celeb is) an even larger income. Other than that they’re regular people. Regular people love and leave on a daily basis. No surprise celebs do too.

Video Review: Sam Smith, ‘I’m Not The Only One’

Sam Smith has released the video to his latest single, ‘I’m Not The Only One’, off his debut In The Lonely Hour. The video is the typical case of a cheating husband who thinks his wife doesn’t know. It looks to be set back sometime between the 50s and 60s.

You say I’m crazy, cause you don’t think I know what you’ve done.

But when you call me baby, I know I’m not the only one.

 

The man seems to be distant from her wife which she clearly knows. They seem to have this perfect relationship, or so it seems. Housewife, whit picket fence, yet he was in a rush to go sleep with his lover. He didn’t even get a hotel, they met at a bar and went into the back to handle their business while she vented at home. She cried her eyes out, went to the store to get wine and lighter fluid, and then burned his clothes while she sat by the pool drinking a glass of wine and smoking a cigarette. Yet he comes home, without his car, and she opens the door as if everything is fine. He hugs her, kisses her neck and she smiles as the door closes. Again, no need to draw attention to the “happy” couple. It’s like a cycle. He continues to cheat while she sits home and cries about it.

Check out the video below:

http://youtu.be/nCkpzqqog4k

Video Review: Keyshia Cole, ‘She’

The artwork has been revealed for Keyshia Cole‘s, Point of No Return, and she’s back with the video for her track ‘She’. While it has been said that Keyshia is talking about a female lover she talked about the concept of the song on 106 & Park.

“It’s about self love to me, and going through my divorce, you have to give yourself a little self love because you’re used to somebody being there every night and they’re not.”

The video features a different side of Keyshia Cole which really isn’t displayed. She’s in lingerie dancing for someone whose in a suit, hat and lounging in a chair. As the video goes on its clear to see that she’s dancing for herself. It’s interesting to see that side of Keyshia. The gold ensemble that she had on at 1:50 was gorgeous. The video overall was way better than the others she’s released. I understood the concept of it and I hope that from here on out they only get better.

Check out the video below:

Video Review: Ne-Yo, ‘Money Can’t Buy’

Ne-Yo has released the visual for his latest collab with Jeezy, ‘Money Can’t Buy.’ Ne-Yo explains the track as:

“‘Money Can’t Buy’ is about a woman that represents all those qualities that money can’t buy—integrity, class, style, a woman who knows her worth. I needed the video to kinda represent moments that money can’t buy with a woman that money can’t buy.

Let’s get into the review of the video. While I understand the concept of the song the video is just bland. It does stick to the point of the song, which is a plus, but there’s nothing spectacular about it. It begins with a few sexual scenes which could lead to a concept for another video. It then flips to Ne-Yo on top of a roof standing in front of a beautiful all white Maybach while his lady pulls up in a drop top Chevy Camaro. Jeezy is in all black rapping elsewhere and then back to the concept. His girl rides out instead of Ne-Yo driving. They go to a corner store and then a kiddie birthday party. Overall the video is just boring. The concept could’ve been built on. Again, nothing spectacular.

The track is the lead single off Ne-Yo’s upcoming album, Non Fiction, expected to be released sometime this fall. In a recent interview with NYCs, “The Breakfast Club”, he discussed the vibe of the album.

“I came on home with this one. This album is 99.999998% R&B, meaning I can’t completely abandon that fanbase ’cause they kept the lights on for a very long time. I still got some stuff that can live in that [pop] world, but there’s so much R&B on this album.”

I haven’t really enjoyed a Ne-Yo album since Because of You and that was released in 2007. Hopefully this is all R&B. Ne-Yo is pretty boring to me now, but I won’t knock the fact that he’s talented and can make radio hits. Only time will tell how this turns out.

Check out the video below:

Video Review: Tameka Tiny Harris, ‘#WTFYGD’

Tameka Harris, better known as Tiny to the world, has been in the headlines of blogs/tabloids for her marital problems with husband T.I. I mean who’s to deny that there were issues between the two from Instagram pictures/comments to the whole Floyd Mayweather/T.I. altercation.

Well, Tiny seems to finally be addressing the situation in a low budget, yet straight to the point song titled, ‘What The Fuk You Gon Do’. When I saw this on Instagram I didn’t really take it seriously and didn’t expect it to be a ballad after the track she released with Shekinah, ‘Cut It Off’. I guess that was fun and games and this is REAL and I love it.

The video starts off with Tiny in the bed with ‘T.I.’, that’s the same set from their show T.I. & Tiny: A Family Hustle. Throughout the video it shows her talking to her girls which includes Shekinah, her BFF Shamra, and T.I.’s niece, plus another person. She’s then in the car driving to someplace that was later revealed in a Mary J. ‘Not Gon Cry’ ensemble. She ends up at a jail talking to her man behind the glass. All I wanna do is stay down for you. The lyrics get no realer because there’s no denying that Tiny has held it down for T.I.with him being in and out of  prison over the years.

I really like this and regardless of all the hate that she’s getting for whatever surgery she did get, she has owned up to it and she’s comfortable in her skin. Why care what others think? I really do like her with the blonde hair.  Also, I’ve been reading a lot of her being compared to other singers. Tiny is NOT NEW to the R&B game. She’s always had a voice. She’s a singer and songwriter. Google her!

I like the song, the video was eh, but it did the job. Hopefully her next video has better production. I mean, I hope there’s a more to come soon as the video ended with, “To Be Continued…” Check out the video below:

Video Review: John Legend, ‘You and I’

John Legend is back with his latest video for his new single, ‘You and I (Nobody In The World)’. I’m so pleased to watch yet another video with CONCEPT!

The video begins with Legend’s wife Chrissy Teigen  getting ready for what seems like a night out with her beau. Throughout the video it switches from women of all ethnicities and ages as they seem to struggle with appearance. Legend’s voice and lyrics stand true to show just how beautiful every woman is regardless of whether she has an illness, injury, deformity, etc. She doesn’t always have to go above and beyond to appear how society thinks she should. Natural beauty is to be admired.

You don’t have to try
Don’t try
Don’t try
You don’t have to try

It was disturbing to read a lot of the comments on YouTube about this video as people were very harsh and judgmental. One person commented there weren’t enough black women represented and many commented on the women who showed her breast which were clearly cut off. This is why people, not just women hide. This is why people mask their pain which in turn can lead to suicide. It’s a shame that people are so cruel. I know that they justify their comments by having a right to their own opinion and freedom of speech, but the insensitivity is out of this world with what people write and say.

Beautiful video by John Legend. You can find this track on Legend’s latest album, Love In The Future. 

Check out the video below:

This Week In Music (V.9): BBMA x Ciara x The Wests & More

I’m a day late in posting my weekly music recap, BUT let’s get right to it.

Nicki Minaj has released a new track off her upcoming album, The Pink Print, titled ‘Pills and Potions’. The track is a reflection of her career thus far in terms of the people that come and go and her growth as an artist. I really like this one although sometimes I don’t catch on to her music conceptually. I’m still interested in seeing where she’s going with this project since she’s stated in numerous interviews that she’s getting back to the basics.

https://soundcloud.com/hits-only/nicki-minaj-pills-and-potions

 

In other new music, John Mayer has officially released a studio version to his cover of Beyonce’s ‘XO’. It’s a great rendition and I discussed in an edition of Original v. Cover. Take a listen below:

https://soundcloud.com/johnmayer/xo

 

The Billboard Music Awards aired last Sunday and no I did not do a full review, shame on me. I did want to take not of the big winners of the night. As I’ve mentioned before, Jennifer Lopez was honored with the Icon Award, Justin Timberlake was a big winner as he took 7 awards including Top Artist. For the full list of winners click here.

 

The lineups for the Made In America music festival have been announced. This will be the first year that the festival will be expanding. The shows will be happening simultaneously August 30-31st. Click here for more details and check out the lineups below:

 

 

Time for CELEBRATION!

Ciara gave birth to her baby boy this week, Future Zahir Willburn. She instagramed:

Photo Cred: @Ciara

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West officially tied the knot yesterday (5.24.14) in Florence, Italy. Celebs in attendance included: Common, Big Sean, LaLa Anthony, John Legend, Tyga and of course the Kardashian/Jenner gang was there (minus a couple). The dress code was all black minus family and the bride being in white.

 

OOTD #6: Mint + Floral [5.11.14]

I have yet another OOTD, Mother’s Day Edition. I’m not doing anything major for the day, but I decided to dress up just a little. My pieces are from Forever 21, a local thrift store, and my usual jewelry from H&M/NY&CO/Wet Seal. Check out the details below. Be sure to check out my outfit from yesterday, OOTD #5: Color Block.

Jean Jacket –Mandee
Crop Top – Wet Seal
Maxi Skirt – Forever 21
Shoes – Thrift Store (Target)
Watch – NY&CO
Bracelets – H&M
Earrings – Wet Seal

 

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!

 

 

 

Sunday Rant (V.10): My Mother’s Love

No quote can help explain the love that my mother had for her 5 children. One song puts it all into words. When she was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer in August 2005 it was a shock to my entire family. How is that a woman who never smoked could get such a debilitating disease. The doctors gave her six months to live, but she fought the time clock for 3 years before passing October 14, 2008. I was a day shy of 17 years old and in my Senior year of high school. From that point on I made it a mission to educate myself and others about lung cancer. I majored in English Communications-Broadcast Journalism in college and every chance I got to choose a personal topic I chose Lung Cancer. My capstone project took my passion for educating people about the disease as I created a video, “Blindsided: The Misconception of Lung Cancer”.

I look back at the video and look at all the clips I could/should have used and I just know that this will forever be a work in progress. What has started out as a final project for me to graduate has turned into a long term project I want to make a full length documentary. One day I will finish. In the meantime I continue to educate with what I know and research.

During my mother’s battle she always played Sade’s, ‘By Your Side’, and on the days that I’m feeling low and missing her presence I play that song. It doesn’t completely fill the void, but it’s the song that she dedicate to my siblings and I and it’s one song that always resonates in helping to pick me up.

Although my mother is not physically here I have been blessed to have my grandmother pick up where she left off. She’s been my #1 supporter through every thing and brags about all my accomplishments to whoever she can. Although I might feel small and I might not have went to the prestigious college/university my grandmother always notes that I have done something a lot haven’t. She lets me know to have continuous faith and to look at all that I have accomplished past the setbacks and devastations in my life.

Happy Mother’s Day to my angel and my living inspiration. No words can ever explain how I much I love these two and how thankful and grateful I am for all the sacrifices they have made. I love you mom & grandma.

Video Review: Sara Bareilles, ‘I Choose You’

Before I get into the review let me just note how amazing this song is. Sara Bareilles took her time with this one and the video is love captured perfectly. It all started with a tweet on March 21st:

Let me help you plan the best engagement ever!

The first one is between Matt and Chelsea as Matt proposes after taking Chelsea on a memory lane of post-its. How detailed and CREATIVE. The second is that of Aly and Andrea where Andrea plans to propose in front of Aly’s family and friends. Both set ups went off without a hitch and at the end Sara is there to sing for both couples during the proposals.

Videos like this I absolutely love because it shows that true love still exists. It doesn’t happen over night, but when you find that person you want to spend the rest of your life with it’s a feeling you can’t shake. It’s a feeling you can’t escape. You want to spend every moment you can with that person because the love is so deep. I wish for everyone to experience true love. It’s a feeling that’s really indescribable and something you have to personally feel.

Check out the heartfelt video below: