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A$AP Rocky, Justin Beiber, Kylie Jenner, Ming Lee, Marliesia Ortiz, Idris Elba, and more | What's The 411 | Ep. 146

VIDEO: Will Tanisha Foster prevail over Nipsey Hussle's family? What will be next for Ming Lee and Swae Lee? Cats, the movie, receiving mixed reviews so far

Celebrities including Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian, have been applauded for urging Donald Trump to work with Swedish officials to release rapper, A$AP Rocky, who is in a Swedish jail for suspicion of assault. However, when Justin Beiber offered:

I want my friend out…I appreciate you trying to help him. But while you're at it @realDonaldTrump can you also let those kids out of cages?

The Twitterati quickly turned on the “Beib,” here’s a taste of some the responses:

‘He only doing this for black votes and to redeem himself from his racist remarks. While I appreciate it, I also see this as an act of selfishness.’

‘His publicist told him it’d be a good look to address it. You not fooling nobody. You really don’t care.’

‘I wish these fake justice advocates felt this way about all the American children we have in cages called juvenile detention centers.’


Q. What do you think about the reactions to Justin Beiber? Also, reports state that the Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven, was polite to Trump. Do you think that in the back of the Swedish Prime Minister’s mind, he was saying, this man has babies in cages, and he has the audacity to ask me to release a millionaire!?

Nipsey Hussle’s ex, Tanisha Asghedom, Up Against late rapper’s family 

Onika: The late, Nipsey Hussle’s, ex, Tanisha Asghedom, you've heard about her before? So, she claims that the late rapper's family is trying to kick her out of her home. According to TMZ, Nipsey Hussle paid for her house and now the late rapper's family is trying to get her out and trying to deem her as an unfit mother so that the estate won't have to pay her bills. Isn't that crazy?

Kizzy: That is, that is terrible. That's greed. They want to keep all of his money for themselves. And, then you're doing that, and you're harming a child, his daughter. So it's like, you know, the granddaughter, what have you.

Onika: Why would you do that to her mom?

Kizzy: Exactly. It doesn't make any sense. It's, it's, it's greed. Yeah.

Onika: I know Nipsey Hussle wouldn't approve of that. Like, oh, he was paying for, well, when he was alive. So just stop. Just keep, keep that energy. Cause this is similar to XXXTentacion. Same thing. Like, come on guys, stop it. We know you guys have an opinion. You drag them, drag them, drag them in the comments. You know y'all like to do that.

Keisha: Terrible because the only person that suffers is the daughter. You know, from what I read, she was taken from the home the day that they buried her father. So, imagine, she lost her father; she's going through that and now she's not able to see her mom the way she used to. And of course, I don't know if I should say, of course. However, Nipsey's family is claiming Tanisha to be an unfit mother and they're trying to go to court. And this is according to TMZ. They feel as though, given her legal battles, past and current,…

Kizzy: What were her legal battles about? Why would that make her an unfit mother?

Keisha: Well, I, I think she might've been doing drugs. I don't (know), I don't want to speculate, but she does have some legal issues that she's battling. And then they also claim, Nipsey’s family that is, they claimed that based on what's happening with her other two children, she has two older children,…they're not, they, she's not fit.

She has a daughter, I read according to TMZ is incarcerated right now and has been in and out of jail, since she's…

Onika: Her older daughter?

Keisha: Yes.

Onika: So, what's that got to do with anything?

Keisha: Well, they're saying because that daughter has been in out of jail, that, you know, the mom is not fit. And then she has an older son, who's younger than the daughter who's been bounced around from home to home, that there's not been provided a stable environment.

Kizzy: So, they want to take away the stable environment from this last little child and do the very same thing.

Keisha: It doesn't make sense because clearly, she and Nipsey had an agreement. And from what I was able to ascertain, he never felt the need to go to court to get custody or stop the child support arrangement. So, if he felt comfortable enough with this woman and her skills as a parent to keep the child there and you know, had their own arrangement and paid for her, the mom, which also meant supporting his child. Now, you want to take all of that away and that just seems to be anti-Nipsey Hussle.

Kizzy: Right, exactly, exactly, and not what he would have wanted. He would've wanted his child to be taken care of. And so yeah, it’s just what I said, greed, and that’s bad. It's very bad.

Keisha: And, it seems like they were almost waiting for this moment to pounce because I would imagine that they probably had some kind of feelings about the mother, Tanisha, to begin with, but Nipsey may have kept them at bay.

Kizzy: Right, and now that now he has passed, they're like, ah, I never liked you anyway, that kind of thing.

Keisha: Right. Not that, of course, they wished him dead, but they're seizing this opportunity and unfortunately to carry out their deeds.

Kizzy: Sad. Very Sad. Yeah, but hit us up in the comments. Let us know what you think.

Kylie Jenner’s Friendship Dynamics | Relationships

Keisha: So, we're going to move from one child to another and we're going to talk about Kylie Jenner. She recently posted an emotional Instagram message where she talked about experiencing the loss of self and the loss of friends.

Onika: And, the loss of her appearance because that’s not even on her face.

Keisha: Yeah, that's a part of the loss of self because she's got a whole new face and body. But you know, she talked about losing friends and although she did not mention Jordyn Woods by name, we can assume that Jordan would be in that category. But Kylie has since struck up a really close relationship with Sofia Richie, who is the girlfriend of Scott Disick who is the father of her sister Kourtney's (Kardashian) three children. Kylie recently organized a girls' trip to Turks and Caicos and extended the invite to Sofia, and she, accepted.

Kizzy: That’s weird.

Onika: No, it's not, she has to be on the Kardashians. She needs to be on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. They need to have Scott written in a little bit more. And then Scott's girlfriend and, and, um, what's that other one's name…

Kizzy: Black Chyna?

Onika: No, not, Black Chyna. What’s that other one’s name?

Kizzy: Kourtney.

Onika: It's Kourtney, Kourtney and, Kourtney. They have to, have like some kind of conflict. So that works. What are you talking about?

Kizzy: So cynical.

Onika: It's not cynical. That's just the handwriting on all the walls.

Kizzy: You think it is all very orchestrated.

Onika: That's what it is. Okay. I'm going to say two words, Kris Jenner.

Kizzy: Okay. I think it's weird. I think it's really, weird. I think it's very almost, it's almost one, cause not really, cause think about things that. Go back to when Kylie was dating Tyga even though Black Chyna at the time she was engaged to Tyga. So, then it was weird because Black Chyna went on to date Kylie's brother, Rob, right?

Onika: But didn't he have a show? It was a show.

Kizzy: Okay. So, okay, so my thing is, so had Kylie and Tyga got married; so, then she'd have been stepmother to Chyna's kid and Auntie to Rob's, weird. All of that is just very weird.

Keisha: But you know. But you know, their weird is normal. This isn't, this is normal.

Onika: You know what’s really weird? We watch it.

Keisha: For some, it may…but this is, as weird as it is for us, it's normal to them. This is like for better or for worse, Kardashians are really big into family…it’s bizarre …because they have a fascination, the girls have fascinations with rappers and athletes, minus Kourtney, she doesn't seem to follow in that, that mold.

Onika: She just likes Scott.

Keisha: Scott. And you know, she was dating some billionaire who did something. I don't know if he inherited his money or whatever, but she seems in, in terms of her dating patterns, she seems to go a little to the right…

Onika: Is she still wearing deodorant? Cause remember she had stopped.

Keisha: Maybe so, I don’t know, I haven’t smelled her armpits

Onika: Remember, everything was all-natural.

Keisha: It’s possible.

Onika: That was many, many seasons when I used to keep up with the Kardashians until I figured out, they were just keeping up with black ladies. And then, I was like, oh well shit, that's me. Bye.

Keisha: And, I guess it's also interesting to know, that Sofia Richie is the daughter of famous singer Lionel Richie. And so, I'm thinking that maybe Kylie has found some kind of connection in her as someone who's grown up in the spotlight. Lionel Richie had his own little scandal in the past. So maybe, you know, in addition to Kylie feeling that Sophie, Sofia is kind of like family cause Scott is still very, you know, affluent.

Onika: She used to be with um, the Hilton girl.

Keisha: Yeah. Paris Hilton.

Kizzy: Yeah, the something life. What is it, Simple…

Keisha: The Simple Life. Yeah. Yeah.

Kizzy: The early 2000s, taking us back.

Onika: So, so that's the first Kardashians, right, The Hiltons.

Keisha: They have started, all of this stuff, and The Osbourne's I think they might've been the first family on.

Kizzy: Yeah, I think so. I think they were. The first big, the first really big reality show where people were like, we can make money off of that family

Keisha: You know, the very first…I remember was The Real World. But they, The Osbournes were the first family and very, very,

Onika: You guys are old.


Family Disowns Bride and Groom Over an Adult-Only Wedding

Who should decide who can attend a wedding? Should, children be at an event where there is an open bar?

Kizzy: Last week, we were talking about bridezillas and crazy stuff. So now we're, we're talking about weddings again. Now, this couple, for financial reasons, decided to host an adults-only wedding. And, so that meant no kids allowed, which eliminated 14 kids from their wedding. Thirteen from the groom’s side and one from the bride’s side. So, the result of this was there was a massive argument among the families. The bride’s stepmother ex-communicated her because she couldn't bring her one-year-old grandson, even though the bride offered to pay for a babysitter. So, my question is were the bride and groom, correct and sticking to their guns and insisting upon an adults-only wedding? What do you guys think?

Keisha: Well, there's a saying Kizzy and Onika, whoever carries the purse makes the rules?

So, the couple was paying for the wedding themselves and they decided what happens at their wedding. So, if they decided for financial reasons or even if they just didn't like kids, and didn't want them at the wedding, that is their choice. Right. And you abide by it or don't come. And if I'm not mistaken that the bride even offered to hire a babysitter so that the one-year-old grandbaby could go. Well, grandma didn't want that baby there that badly then.

Kizzy: It just made no sense. It made no sense. It's like why are you trying to control what people do for their wedding. You are not, like you said, not paying for it. They're paying for it all on their own. You don't know their pockets. That's all these kids, you got all this extra food, nine oh kids don't really eat everything. You, know what I mean? So, it's kind of like a waste. You know what I mean, I get it, you know, in an ideal world, you want everybody to be there. You want the kids to be there and everything too. But if those people were getting married and it's, remember, it's about them and they cannot afford it, I think you should understand that. And I don't think you should make an issue.

Onika: I don't think that children should be at weddings. It’s an open bar. People are drinking, getting drunk, acting up, nobody's watching the doggone kids who are sliding… I don't think that that's the place. I feel like it's an adult event and I think the only children that should be at the wedding are the children that are in the wedding. That's what I think.

You see all those kids and stuff if I’m drinking. I don't want to be, you can't get in the bar. The children can't be in a bar. And you have an open bar, at a wedding or you know, alcohol, children shouldn’t be around adults drinking. Maybe if you’re at a home or house party or something like that, but for the most part…

Kizzy: But everybody's not going to be drinking though. And I think again if you're a parent, obviously, you're not going to be over-drinking…

Keisha: You hope, you hope.

Kizzy: Of course, of course, you hope because…

Keisha: Sometimes parents don't get out much. So, a wedding is a perfect occasion to let down their hair down and get loose, you got free food, free booze…

Kizzy: Keep the kid home if that's the case. But if you want your kid there, and again, this woman wanted her grandson there. I'm assuming you're not going to be drinking all that much anyway. But again, I think it’s their day, it's their money, they decide who can come. I think. Yeah.

Are Ming Lee and Swae Lee a Couple in the Making?

Keisha: So, we're going to move from bridezillas and "familyzillas" and we're going to talk about hip hop royalty. Microphone check one, two. I don’t know why I said that.

Kizzy: You are on today. Bring it home, Keisha, bring it home.

Keisha: I’m just going to reel it back in. We're going to talk about Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons, child, children, Ming Lee, who appears to be dating rapper Swae Lee, which has set off his on-again, off-again, girlfriendMarliesia Ortiz  to the point that Ming’s little sister, Aoki Lee, came through with the clap backs on social media letting people know Marliesia, in particular, that she does not want to tangle with her or her mother. Oh yes.

Onika: The mother’s getting involved too? Come on.

Keisha: I mean she can, she can jump in.

Kizzy: Yeah, she can.

Onika: I don’t think I’d jump in, I’d just let the sisters handle it, those girls got it.

Kizzy: Yeah, I think it's kind of, yeah, whatever. Um, I don't know. I don't know. I mean I think when you grow up rich and famous as they have, you will find yourself in these types of situations. I mean, even though I haven't …

Onika: They all gotta like to mess with each other. The pool is small. Yeah, because there’s a bunch of broke dudes.

Kizzy: And, you don't, you don't need that. You don't because they just might want to be with you because they want to get put on, they want your money. They want to be around that.

Onika: People in this circle have money.

Kizzy: That's what I'm saying. So you don't, again, you only have a few people that you can actually date and so it would make sense if she's in a circle and Swae Lee is there. We know their eyes meet, their hearts touch, there they go.

Onika: Their last names are Lee, right? That’s a bunch of Lees, right? Bruce Lee, I don't know.

Keisha: Do you think that because Ming comes from hip-hop royalty, legendary, her dad is Russell Simmons. Her uncle is Reverend Run of Run DMC. Do you think that dating someone like Swae Lee is above her status (meant below her status)? Why would she want to date someone like Swae Lee that has this history of volatile…?

Onika: Because he’s cute?

Kizzy: Did you or did you see that Bobby Brown documentary where he talked about his life, or it might've been, no, it was New Edition. Back in the day, Bobby Brown, you know, was the bad boy. Janet Jackson was the good girl and they had a thing going on. And when…I remember when, I remember when I watched it, I was like, wow, what, Bobby Brown got Janet Jackson! It was crazy. But that's the thing like you come from, you’re supposed to be a good girl. You got Reverend Run as your uncle or whatever. You’re supposed to be like this good girl, but you got this little edgy guy and there's, there's a pull there. So, I'm not surprised. I don't think it's really, beneath her. I just think caught up…

Onika: And, Russell Simmons was a hood dude, so she probably likes hood dudes. You, know what I mean? Now, he's all yogi. But he wasn't always like that.

Kizzy: Yeah, Vegan. I don't think it's surprising. I don't think it's surprising at all. And hopefully she, they're not gonna start throwing hands ‘cause that would be like a mess. Please don't do that.

Onika: Nobody throwing hands.

Keisha: Well, Ming (Aoki) is about to go to Harvard. So soon she'll have her head in the books, hopefully in and not a dropout after the first…

Onika: Look how we’re smiling, we’re like, Onika don’t say it. Onika, don’t say it. I'm not.

Keisha: Well, they say, good girls like bad boys.

Onika: Why do good girls like bad guys? Okay.

Cats The Movie: Can Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba Get a Do-over

Onika: Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, uh, and Jason Derulo, all looked a hot damn mess! I'm like, what the "F" is happening here?! Hmmm! I think they need a do-over! If I was Idris (Elba), I'd be like, hmmm, you played me.

Keisha: What accent is that!?

Onika: I'm doing Margaret Mag, you played me.

Kizzy: Girl, no. Is that the Jamaican an accent that you used to do?

Keisha: You know he’s (Idris Elba) British, right?

Onika: This is my British accent! First of all, don't judge me. Played me, you played me. Can I have a spot of tea?

Laughter

Kizzy: Awful, awful.

Onika: I want to know if they can get a do-over?

Kizzy: But, that was really weird, really weird. It was just, it was just weird. It was like the CGI, I think with the CGI I'm thinking maybe even if they just went with fur instead. white on the far and actors and act looking crazy I think. I think, well you know, Cats is hard because you know just the idea of humans being cats, it's like a weird concept, anyway.

Keisha: That's what the Broadway show was, it was a bunch of human actors playing cats, plus dancing and singing.

Onika: You know we understand that.

Keisha: So, what do you expect.

Onika: But they should look good. They shouldn’t look crazy.

Kizzy: The CGI, but then they have fur over them.

Keisha: The fur coats kinda got me.

Kizzy: Yeah, why they have fur coats when they’re already cats.

Onika: Because you know how you have dumb people like take dogs and put coats on the dog and they already have a fur on them. What’s different, the same shit. PETA was like enough. Poor PETA.

Keisha: It was a little weird with the human faces and the bodies. Yeah. I just, I know I didn't get an uproar over, it's a movie about cats that sing and dance. It’s not real in any sense of fashion.

Onika: We have social media, so anything that happens, there will be dialogue. There will be dialogue. T

Kizzy: And, there will be dragging.

Onika: The revolution will be televised.

Keisha: You know what I didn't like, and this may be blasphemous. I did not like Jennifer Hudson's rendition of Memories. I did not like it. I was like, who is this cat-scratching, and dying singing this song.
And, I think Jennifer Hudson has a wonderful voice. But what I heard, from what I heard on that trailer, it did not put her in the best light. I didn't like it. They can do that over.

Kizzy: Really!?

Keisha: Yes. Yes.

Kizzy: I liked it. I liked it. I like the way she sang.

Onika: She sounds like a dog? Are you barking?

Keisha: Yes, (barking sounds)

Kizzy: Well, on that note, that will do it.

Keisha: ruff.

 

 

Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Kim Kardashian, Omarosa, Nicki Minaj and more! | Episode 131

Janet Jackson and Daddy Yankee perform for 30,000 people in Harlem; LisaRaye criticize for ending engagement | VIDEO

 

QUICK TAKES

 

It’s official. Tamar Braxton has confirmed she’s NO LONGER with her ex, Vincent Hubert. Also, they quietly sold their L.A. property for $9.25 million, much less than the original asking price and even less than the $10.5 million they paid to buy it in 2012. They also paid their former nanny $213,431.37 from a judgment she won relating to unpaid wages.

 

The beef between Nicki Minaj and her ex-boo, Safaree, has gotten so loud that MTV beefed up its Video Music Awards security.

 

ESPN has decided to not televise the National Anthem during NFL Games.

 

Jesse Williams went before a judge to get his child support payments lowered, but the Judge in the case said no way. So, thus far, the Grey’s Anatomy actor will continue to pay his ex-wife Aryn Drake-Lee the court-ordered $50K for his two children. OUCH!

 

Bossip is reporting that Lauryn Hill’s NJ mansion is in foreclosure because a nearly $1 million tax bill has gone unpaid.

 

Pop star Janet Jackson performed before 30,000 adoring fans in front of the State Office Building in Harlem for Harlem Week.

 

And, we end this Quick Takes segment with condolences to the family and friends of two icons, Kofi Annan and Aretha Franklin. Annan was the first Black person to serve as UN Secretary-General, and the first officeholder to be elected from the UN staff itself. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

 

Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul, was not only a pop singer but a cultural icon that helped to bridge the racial divide with her music. Franklin’s first hit, “Respect,” immediately became an anthem of the African-American civil rights movement and later other movements. In addition to Franklin’s 20 Grammy Awards, she was the first woman to receive a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame award. She performed at the White House for several presidents and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George Bush in 2005. Thank you, Aretha, for your life-long contributions to the world.

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – CULTURE

The culture of taping everything. In the last few weeks, we have learned that Omarosa Manigault Newman has perhaps, hours of tape from her time in the White House. And, we already know that Trump’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, has hours of recorded telephone conversations with Donald Trump.

 

WHAT’S POPPIN –RELATIONSHIPS

Recently, LisaRaye McCoy got engaged to Anthony B. on the television show, The Proposal. A month after a 2nd proposal at her home with family and friends, LisaRaye has called off the wedding. During a Facebook Live, LisaRaye said she's glad she did the show, and that she did the show because she was "lonely" and wanted to find a companion. LisaRaye then went on to say that she wants a man that's "equally yoked."

Soon after that comment, some on the Facebook Live started calling her a gold-digger because in effect, she considered Anthony B’s net worth to be too low.

Q. Is it fair to call LisaRaye a gold digger?

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – HEALTH

Southwest Airlines has joined the list of airlines to crack down on “Emotional Support Animals” flying with passengers.

The airline is limiting the ESAs to dogs and cats, so no, you can’t bring your pet peacock or kangaroo, and claim they are emotional support animals.

Q. As one who travels by plane often, do you welcome this announcement? Do wish the NYC Transit would do the same?

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

Refinery29 posted an article, What Happened When I Moved in With A Casual Fling. A woman’s roommate unexpectedly moved from their rent-stabilized NYC SoHo apartment, so she now had to find a new roommate or a new apartment, and a guy she had been dating for six weeks became her new roommate. They broke up for financial reasons and both moved on with their lives. Lo and behold, a few years later they are both financially stable, living in L.A. and married with children.

Q. This story went well, rather fairytale like. Do you think this happens more than we know?

  

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Our Quote of the Week is:

“Kindness comes back like a boomerang by those who are kind. Perhaps its return takes years. Perhaps the kindness returns from a different direction. But, it will return. It is never lost.”

This is a quote attributed to John Marks Templeton and was posted by Denise Hurley.

If you would like for us to shine a light on a quote, hit us up on our Facebook page or on LinkedIn.

 

 PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Our Photo of the Week is a photo of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at the wedding of 2Chainz and Kesha Ward this past weekend in Miami.

Kaepernick, Wendy Williams, John Legend, Tyrese, and more | Ep. 117

Ava Duvernay, Issa Rae, Jay-Z are up for an NAACP’s Entertainer of the Year Image Award

In this episode of What's The 411 hosts Kizzy Cox, and Onika McLean are talking about Wendy Williams; Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas' business venture; John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, the NFL, Colin Kaepernick, Morgan Freeman, Diana Ross, Ava DuVernay, Issa Rae, Jay-Z, Tank, The Rock, Tyrese, and much more.

  • Published in Episodes

Will Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri Reunite?

VIDEO DISCUSSION: A source says Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri are friends, but not in a romantic relationship

Word has it that Janet Jackson’s, ex, Jermaine Dupri, has become a shoulder for Jackson to lean on since the break up from her husband, Wissam Al-Mana. Jackson dated Dupri from 2001 – 2009.

It makes sense because the two were together for nearly 10 years and they are still friends, right?

Friends and lovers are two different things, at least according to a source.

Someone close to the situation tells E! News, Dupri, and Jackson, who is soon to be divorced from her husband, are close, but definitely not in a relationship.

"Jermaine has a crazy love for Janet and they have been speaking more since the breakup. Janet and Jermaine trust each other and they have history."

Furthermore, Janet's focus is on her infant son, Eissa, and her current State of the World Tour, according to the source.

"Janet is really not in a position to get involved with someone at this time," the source explained. "She is open, though, for something more down the line. They are in the talks of working on some new projects."

We’ll keep an eye on the Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri relationship; we’d be surprised if it doesn’t blossom into something more than just work.

  • Published in Music

Oprah Winfrey Sparks Speculation on US Presidential Bid | Ep. 115

VIDEO: U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson dismisses lawsuit against DeRay McKesson and Black Lives Matter, and more

In this episode, What's The 411 hosts Kizzy Cox, and Onika McLean are talking about Wendy Williams, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Dupri, Oprah Winfrey, Birdman, Toni Braxton, Tamar Braxton, Jim Carrey, Megyn Kelly, and more.

 

 

QUICK TAKES: Remy Ma, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Carson Huey-You [VIDEO]

First Mother's Day for Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Janet Jackson, Lawsuits Mounting Against Fyre Festival organizers

Rapper Remy Ma Says She's Moving on from Nicki Minaj

Rapper Remy Ma was on The Real and she says the feud with Nicki Minaj is over, but in announcing that the feud is over, Remy took another swipe:

“The dust has settled. Some people don’t get that the dust has settled. But I can understand. It’s kinda hard to see the dust settling when you’re in the grave under the dirt.”

 

Rihanna Comes For Nicki Minaj Over False Met Gala Best-Dressed List

It seems like everyone is coming after Nicki Minaj, pop star, Rihanna, smacked down Nicki Minaj for posting on her Instagram account fake Met Gala best-dressed lists that included her on the lists. Nicki pulled the posts once she realized they were fake.

 

Nicki Minaj to the Rescue

It seems like the world is coming for Nicki Minaj’s edges. However, with an act of kindness and generosity, Nicki finally gets a break and is rising above it all. A Nicki Minaj fan reached out to Nicki on Instagram for help with her education expenses. Nicki said she would help her if she saw all A’s; the fan received the financial help and others came out the woodwork. Now Nicki plans to create an educational fund to help students in need.

 

Carson Huey-You Graduates from College at Age 14

Fourteen-year-old Carson Huey-You became the youngest person ever to graduate from Texas Christian University (TCU). Get this, he majored in physics and double minored in Math and Chinese.

 

Celebrity First Mother's Day

Actress Jurnee Smollett-Bell and pop star Janet Jackson were among the celebrity moms celebrating their first Mother’s Day.

 

More Lawsuits Against Fyre Festival Organizers

The lawsuits against the organizers of the Fyre Festival keep piling up. A recent case filed in the Manhattan Supreme Court alleges that the festival’s co-founders Ja Rule (née Jeffrey Atkins) and Billy McFarland have defaulted on their $3 million loan to New York–based EHL Funding LLC, which put up the funds.

What's The 411 Episode 96: Beyonce's Lemonade Now a College Level Course

Alicia Keys' "No Makeup" gets push back, Mary J. Blige goes off on Twitter, Janet Jackson Pregnancy Update and more

In this episode of What's The 411 recorded on October 4, 2016, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Onika McLean, and Sydney Wayman talked about:

Students at The University of Texas at San Antonio can sign up for a class called Black Women, Beyoncé & Popular Culture.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is celebrating a year-long exhibit and events to commemorate the Black Power movement. The Black Power 50 exhibit and programs run through June 2017.

Maven, a car sharing service offered by General Motors, has begun rolling out one-way car sharing for its members in Ann Arbor and Detroit, letting users pick up vehicles and use them to get between Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, and between Detroit and the Detroit Metro airport.

So, for all you naysayers out there, pop star Janet Jackson really looks pregnant. Janet Jackson is 50-years-old and is expecting her first child with husband Wissam Al Mana.

WHAT'S POPPIN

Kim Kardashian was robbed in Paris. She "was held up at gunpoint...by two armed masked men dressed as police officers," as she stayed in the apartment Kanye owns in Paris, her rep told E! News.

Singer Alicia Keys who is a coach on NBC's The Voice, is getting some pushback from viewers about her stand on no make-up?

Snapchat changed its name to Snap, Inc. and it is calling itself a camera company. Snap just introduced Spectacles, $130 eyeglasses designed to let you record 10 seconds of video at a time and sync it to your phone to post on Snapchat.

Singer Mary J. Blige recorded a commercial to promote her interview with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for a new Apple Music segment "The 411". The promo showed the Grammy-winner awkwardly serenading Hillary Clinton with a song about police violence. The Twitterverse went berserk with all kinds of jokes and memes.

The 411 Social Media Team of Nicole Okeke and Jasmine Blake talked about the comments acknowledging the birthdays of LisaRaye, Will Smith, and Kevin Durant. They also congratulated comedian Kevin Hart on his status as the highest paid comedian.

Interviews:

What's The 411 Art and Culture editor, Luvon Roberson, interviewed actors Sean C. Turner and Douglas Wade, who will be performing in the Black Spectrum Theatre's production of August Wilson's play, Two Trains Running on November 4 - 20, 2016.

Kizzy Cox interviewed apparel and jewelry designer, Lisette Ffolkes, regarding her first Jam and Rico jewelry collection.

 

 

Exclusive Interview: Meet Blushhh Music, Mathew Knowles' New Hip Hop Trio

Sunnie, Tali, and Bunni Ray of Blushhh Music are bringing Old School Back

The newest group from Mathew Knowles' Music World Entertainment is more than a girl group they are a hip-hop trio consisting of rappers Sunnie and Bunni Ray, and vocalist, Tali, better known as Blushhh Music.

What's The 411 had an opportunity to talk exclusively with Blushhh Music about how the group came together; their raponizing art form; the people who influenced them; meeting Mathew Knowles; and Kelly Rowland's impact on Tali; and their first single, Old School Back, which can be purchased on iTunes.

How Blushhh Music Came Together

We all like to know how groups come together. So starting from the beginning, it all started with the help of digital technology. More specifically, Blushhh Music came together with the help of social media.

Group member Sunnie was part of a duo searching for a singer to complete the group. During an Internet search of singers in Houston, she found Tali on Facebook. Fortunately for Tali, she branded herself well with a profile name on Facebook, TaliBestSingerlastname. Additionally, Tali's photos represented her well and the way she responded to the inquiry were the icing on the cake that gave her an invite to audition to be part of the group.

Five years later, the original group of Sunnie, Tali, and another rapper met Mathew Knowles at a showcase and were signed to an artist development contract. Two months into the contract, the other rapper dropped out and consequently there was a need to find another group member. Sunnie and Tali found Bunni Ray on Instagram. Mr. Knowles gave Sunnie and Tali complete creative control over the selection of Bunni Ray, because, at the end of the day, it was their "sisterhood" that was important.

So, can these ladies sing and rap? Well, in a word, yes! They gave us a taste of their "raponizing" aka a Capella rapping harmony.

Musical Influences

In music, everyone is influenced by someone. As a trio, Blushhh Music's sound is their own. However, as individuals, you can hear their influences.

Growing up, Sunnie's musical influences were MC Lyte, Lauren Hill, Tupac, and Queen Latifah. Fast forward, her current influences are Drake, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole.

As a vocalist, Tali's influences come from the R&B/Pop side of the ledger. Michael Jackson's, "You are Not Alone," is the first song she sang at 3-years-old. Like many kids who were influenced by their parents' musical preferences, Tali followed her mother's path and became a fan of Janet Jackson and The Jacksons. Tali later became a fan of Destiny's Child, Sade, Shakira, and Selena. Since she has been raponizing, Tali's hip-hop influences include NWA, Bone Thugs n' Harmony, and Chance The Rapper.

Just listening to Bunni Ray, you can tell her influences are Left Eye (TLC), DaBrat, and Lil' Kim. What is surprising is that she is influenced by modern day Kanye West and the Flatbush Zombies. With What's The 411 being based in Brooklyn, shout out to the Flatbush Zombies! If we had known in advance of the interview, perhaps we could have arranged a meetup!

Blushhh Music's Defining Fashion Style

What's The 411 host and beauty expert, Courtney Rashon, is always focused on beauty and style. Courtney says when she first saw Blushhh Music, she saw their style as glam hip-hop, "Destiny's Child meets TLC, meets like a Run DMC."

"We do match, as you can see," responded Sunnie. "We're big on matching."

Their look is cohesive, a tip they learned from Mathew Knowles. When people see them, they should know that they are in a group even if they are not standing right next to each other.

Although there is cohesiveness, "we do have individual things about ourselves that you're always going to notice, Sunnie continued. "You're always going to notice Sunnie with the braids and a hat. Tali with the big blond hair."

"Artistic," Bunni Ray chimed in. "...she's super artsy with what she wears."

"I'm likely to draw on something or rip it up," added Tali.

"It is never going to be how she bought it in the store," says Bunni Ray.

Tali, who has a sexy style of her own, says that Bunni Ray brings the sex appeal, with Bunni Ray, "you're going to see thighs and boobs, you're going to see, sex appeal," said Tali with a finger snap.

Working With Mathew Knowles

What's The 411 host Onika McLean asked the question that many people want to know.

"How's it working with him (Mr. Knowles)...tell us something we don't know."

"He's not as intimidating as he looks; he's not as mean. We thought he hated us. Oh, he don't like us; I didn't even want to sing," responded Tali.

"If he's hard on you, it is because you have potential," added Sunnie.

"If he tells you that you're good, you might want to work," Tali said.

"Because you're never done growing," Sunnie continued. "Even with his daughter, he says all the time, Beyonce, every show, she's looking at something to improve. Every show, he's looking at something to improve. If you ever feel satisfied, and there's nothing in your mind that you feel you should work on, then he says you should just stop it here because you're not going to prosper. "

"He's funny," said Tali. "He's very funny, he has jokes, so smart. He knows what punch lines to say, what to make the topic of the day. Watch this be the headline because I said it."

"He's a marketing a genius." Sunni interrupted.

Kelly Rowland Makes a Great Impression on Blushhh Music

Aside from Mr. Knowles, who is the most interesting person that they have met since they became a group, Onika asked Blushhh Music

"Kelly Rowland!," Tali responded without hesitation. "Kelly Rowland to me; she played a big part when I was growing up period, in my high school days. When Sunni found me, I was telling Sunni about it, so Sunni was like, okay, okay. So when we got signed with Mr. Knowles, it was weird. So we just had the Atlanta Car Show, the car and bike show that we did, and she (Kelly Rowland) has June's Diary and they were there and they performed. So we got to meet Kelly, and when she saw us across the room, she ran over to us, and she was like 'hey I'm so happy to see you, great job.' So I finally got a chance to introduce her, and they were like, 'hey I heard so much about you.' She's just so sweet. She took a picture with us. She gave us great advice and that is something that we just took with us. It was like meeting the entire Destiny's Child group. It's really like we are Music Entertainment World family.

The Wrap-up

In answering Onika's question regarding what each member of the group would like for the audience to know about the group, Tali didn't hesitate to swoop in before Sunnie and say "original," which is Sunnie's line. After a laugh, Tali told Sunnie to "steal" her line, and she obliged.

"Always be you because no one can be you better than you in the words of Tali," offered Sunnie.

These ladies are so talented, humble, and focused!

Download Old School Back by Blushhh Music on iTunes and follow Blushhh Music on all social media at @BlushhhMusic.

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