As R&B stunners go, Kelly Rowland has long been established as the cream of the crop.
It’s fitting, then, that the 35-year-old was snapped looking all sorts of luscious at the 4th annual Beautycon Festival in Los Angeles last night.
The diva’s appearance comes after confirmation that she’s currently working on make-up line; she says it’ll be for all hues – yet one that truly accentuates the complexion of the darker woman.
Go Kelly!
She also has her hands full recording her new album and spearheading the charge for her new girl-group June’s Diary. Busy times.
Following her historic win on Saturday, the tennis icon was the belle of the Wimbledon Winners Ball at The Guildhall in London.
As widely reported, the 34-year-old demolished Angelique Kerber to clench her 22nd major title and 7th Wimbledon singles win. She also won the doubles honor with older sister (and fellow court slayer) Venus Williams.
Fun Fact: It’s been 17 years since Serena defeated Germany’s great Steffi Graf at age 17. In winning her latest honor, Williams ties Graf’s tally of 22 major tournament wins. She’s only 3 away from tying the all-time male or female total of 25.
Serena Williams celebrated her win at Wimbledon 2016 by attending the Wimbledon Winners Ball in London yesterday evening.
The event was held in the city’s Guildhall and also welcomed a number of her racket-rocking peers who engaged in the festivities before she returns to the United States.
From scale to line-up, few spectacles can rival the bolt of electricity the Wireless Festival brings to London annually.
The 2016 instalment was no different.
Over a three day duration, the extravaganza played to thousands in Finsbury Park and brought with it powerful performances from the likes of Miguel, J.Cole, Future, and Fergie.
Its final day set off fireworks with spirited showings from Big Sean, Kehlani, Young Thug, and Boy Better Know – who brought out guest Pharrell.
Cop a gander above and below to see what over 70,000 revellers enjoyed during the most “turnt up” Wireless yet!
“I have a wife and two children who love me, I am the victim of police brutality”
This week’s From The Vault comes courtesy of Michael Jackson and his plaintive ‘They Don’t Care About Us’, a more than apt selection considering the social climate that has been reigning for the past week in the US.
The third single from the ’HIStory’ LP, the track was produced entirely by Jackson and remains to this day one of his most controversial cuts.
Earlier efforts such as ‘Heal The World’ and ‘We Are The World’ saw the entertainer adopt a universalist point of view. ‘About Us,’ however, was markedly more aggressive in its subject matter. It’s central narrative saw Jackson’s complain that he was fed up with the way the collective “us” was being treated.
Quickly, accusations of racism – particularly antisemitism – were raised which the superstar fervently denied.
*************
A huge hit in Europe, the song was only a moderate hit in the US because of radio’s reluctance to play the track. No doubt due to the truth serum at the heart of the cut.
Still, it peaked inside the Top 10 of every European country it was released in, including Top 5 placings in France, Sweden and the UK.
To keep up with the public awareness theme of the track, MJ chose to work with Spike Lee to bring the song to life and oh did he succeed.
Two videos were shot, both making social commentaries in their own way.
The first presented Mike in a Brazilian favela; but instead of putting the emphasis on the dangerous and ruthless aspects of that environment, the artist chose to paint a colorful, upbeat and optimistic picture of the neighborhood.
The second was shot in a prison and made much more obvious allusions to the way people of color are (mis)treated in America – with footage of the KKK and police brutality among other poignant images.
Sam Cooke famously crooned that change was “gon’ come.” Sadly, despite positive strides in the right direction, there’s a lot more ground to tread.
At a time where the #BlackLivesMatter movement is at the center of every discussion the world over, it’s interesting to observe how relevant the lyrics of this song are 20 years on.
Our wish is that more artists will follow Jackson’s lead and be able to “conscious” content within a banging beat.
They share a mutual friend in the model Rob Evans and now, thanks to VH1’s reviving of ‘America’s Next Top Model‘, Tyra Banks and Rita Ora now share the responsibility of ensuring the series soars when shooting begins this year.
