#MondayMotivation

Good morning all...hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving! It's back to the grind for many of us, so here's some #MondayMotivation to get you through! 

This is definitely one of my favorite quotes of all time. We truly are what we repeatedly do, so the only way to be successful is to make moves in excellence consistently. It's not just one win or one big achievement. It's consistently working towards your goals every day. Keep grinding! 

Tupac’s Biopic 'All Eyez On Me' Gets Official Release Date

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Looks like the highly-anticipated Tupac Shakur biopic has an official release date! 

According to Dominic Santana (who'll play Suge Knight in the film), All Eyez on Me, is set to hit theaters on June 16, 2017, which would've been Pac's 46th birthday!

Read more from Dominic below...

NEW MUSIC: "Ya Vibe"-Soul/Reggae Artist Ayotemi feat. Keith Jone$

Excited to bring some new music from soul/reggae artist Ayotemi — a track entitled, "Ya Vibe," feat. Keith Jone$!

According to a press release, the track "reflects on self-love and warns about the tendency to look to others for inner balance and peace." The mellow track is real cool to listen to, but also inspiration to know and love yourself, and, because of that self-love, have a certain set of standards that you live by.  At least that's what I immediately took from it. It's definitely an important track, especially for the ladies out there.

Listen to "Ya Vibe" below!

Check Out the Full List of Winners from the 2016 American Music Awards!

ABC

The 2016 American Music Awards were last night, and we've got the winners! 

Rihanna, Drake, and Justin Bieber were definitely the big winners of the night with multiple awards, but it looks like Ariana Grande took home the most coveted AMA! The night, hosted by Jay Pharoah and Gigi Hadid, definitely had some surprising wins and losses, as well as a bunch of great performances and...interesting moments, like Gigi's impression of Melania Trump that's setting the Internet on fire right now apparently.

Check out the full list of winners from this years AMAs below!

#MondayMotivation

Good morning everyone! It's a short week with the Thanksgiving holiday and all, but here's some #MondayMotivation for those of us still putting in work!

Short and sweet today. Life is too short to procrastinate. Life is too short to get complacent. Life is too short to be lazy. So get moving on those goals NOW. Don't wait for 2017 or anything else! 

MUSIC REVIEW: "Long Live the Angels"-Emeli Sandé

It's been over four years since Emeli Sandé dropped her debut album, Our Version of Events, back in 2012, and I've been anxiously awaiting more music from her ever since. 

Sure, she dropped a few songs and was featured on collabs here and there, but not a full project, and I've been literally craving more! So when the singer-songwriter revealed that she would be dropping her sophomore album, Long Live The Angels, I was too happy. Emeli is an amazing creative, and her vocals are off the charts, so I was ready for whatever she had for us.

I decided to take some time with this album before I reviewed (as I will with all of my reviews in the future), to read the lyrics, do some research and digging on the subject, and truly listen to the music. Long Live The Angels is proof that, sadly, heartbreak and pain brings about some of your best work. With her debut, which was still great, Emeli focused on more inspiring themes about love, being a good person, hope for the world. A few break up songs, but it was mostly positive. However, this one is even more personal, heartbreaking, and vulnerable, after Emeli's divorce from her longtime love, Adam Gouraguine, in November 2014. Throughout the album, Emeli takes on her journey to recovery, as we hear her express her hurt and loneliness behind the break up, but, ultimately, her hope for a better future for herself.

Read more of my review below!

Chelsea and Raven Return To Disney For That's So Raven Spin-Off

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Raven and Chelsea are back together again!

For all fans of "That's So Raven" like myself, Raven's best friend Chelsea played by Anneliese van der Pol will be joining Raven-Symoné for the recently announced spin-off show, which is set to start production on Disney in early 2017!

The premise of the show is that both friends are recently divorced with kids -- Raven with two kids, Nia and Booker, and Chelsea with son Levin. Levin is described as arrogant and manipulative while one of Raven's kids will be inheriting her gift for seeing into the future. Hopefully, Orlando Brown can clean himself up and get his life on track for a cameo!

Stay tuned to The Spotlight for more info about the show as it's revealed.

Throwback Jam of the Week: "In Love Wit Chu" Da Brat ft. Cherish

It's Throwback Thursday, and we've got another great jam from back in the day!

Today's throwback jam is a track that I love from Da Brat..."In Love Wit Chu" featuring R&B group Cherish on the hook! From Brat's last studio album back in 2003, Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz, this single was upbeat and catchy, and great to dance too, even in my early teens. Like I really was in love with anybody back then!

Da Brat was absolutely beautiful in this video, and Cherish popped in too. We also saw cameos from Roy Jones and Mariah Carey, as well as a lot of eye candy for us ladies! Definitely one of my favorites from the early 2000s, especially in the summertime!

Watch below...

In The Spotlight: Actress and Entrepreneur Georgina Opoku

Another great spotlight for y'all! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, dancer, etc., and are interested in being featured on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information.

Today, we have actress and entrepreneur Georgina Opoku!

This young woman right here is more of a Renaissance woman in my opinion...she does so much! She's the co-star of the YouTube series Quarter Water Juices, getting her PhD, starting her own business, and, most importantly, she's doing all this while being a mom! We got a chance to touch on all this and more in her interview....check it out below!

MUSIC VIDEO: "10,000 Hours" - R&B Singer Ella Mai

OnTha1.com

DJ Mustard and his new talented London-born R&B singer Ella Mai have released the official video for her single "10,000 Hours!" 

The track is featured on the DJ's Cold Summer album, which was released at the end of September. 

Watch the Mesmerizing Official Trailer for 'Beauty and the Beast' Starring Emma Watson!

Disney

Be our guest to the premiere of the trailer of the upcoming live-action Disney remake of Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson!

Disney released the first official trailer for the film on Nov. 14, creating more excitement for the project. We see Emma as Belle, who takes on the role as inventor in her family, as she first comes into contact with the Beast (played by Dan Stevens) and all of the adventure, drama, and romance that follows!

Directed by Bill Condon, the film also features Kevin Kline as Belle’s father, Maurice, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth; Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Luke Evans as Gaston, and Josh Gad as Le Fou.

Watch the trailer below!

NEW MIXTAPE: 'Burning in the Dark'-Pop Singer EMM

New music on the blog! Listen to pop singer/songwriter and producer EMM's mixtape, Burning in the Dark! 

Released on October 31, the tape features EMM's stunning vocals, songwriting, and production skills! The music speaks on relationships and other topics but also empowerment, (like on track "Killer Queen),  something that EMM says her brand is all about, especially as a female producer. "Being a female producer is a big part of my brand because its an area where a lot of women are still pushing for a breakthrough," the artist admitted.

Get a taste of Burning in the Dark below!

#MondayMotivation

Good morning everyone! Yeah, it's Monday again, but shake off those blues with some #MondayMotivation! 

This quote is something that I personally have struggled with. In the past, I've worried so much about failing that I have skipped out on opportunities that could've helped me grow in where I want to go. That only ended up hurting me. Failure is going to come. It's truly inevitable. However, you can't be so concerned with falling that you don't even take a leap. You never know what will come if you only TRY. 

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna Welcome Their Baby Girl!

MTPhotographers

Another Kardashian has joined the brood!

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna have announced the birth of their first child together, a baby girl, on Nov. 10. Chyna reportedly went to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA earlier this morning for a C-section, with Rob right by her side, and their baby is finally here!

Learn baby girl's name and see her in all her cuteness below!

Throwback Jam of the Week: "Cry For You"-Jodeci

It's Throwback Thursday, and we've got another great jam from back in the day!

Today's throwback jam comes from the legendary R&B group, Jodeci! Their song, "Cry For You," from their second album, Diary of a Mad Band, blew up to #1 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. These guys definitely weren't too proud to beg and profess love of the ladies in their music. Plus, their vocals and harmonies were off the charts!!!

This is my personal favorite from the group, and honestly makes me wish I was old enough in the 90s to really vibe and enjoy the music back then. This video, though...HA! Black guys in leather in the desert is not a great combo theoretically, but, can't even lie, Jodeci made it look good!

Watch the video below!

Hillary Clinton Creates Her Own Version of the #MannequinChallenge

Today is Election Day, and I really want to stress the importance of everyone going out and casting their vote, if they haven't already! 

Hillary Clinton came through with her own version of the #MannequinChallenge, creating the popular trend on her campaign plane with her team! This doesn't influence my voting, but still really cool to watch her do it (and Bill too)! Quiet, but still got the point across:

DON'T STAND STILL....VOTE TODAY! 

Watch below! 

MUSIC VIDEO: "Savage"-Kalin White

New music video this morning! Check out this visual from singer Kalin White for his track, "Savage!" 

On Nov. 4, Kalin, known for his previous stint in hip hop duo Kalin and Myles, released the video for the track, which is the second single from his debut solo project, Chapter 21. The song, and the video itself definitely presents a unique view on relationships. In an interview with Rap-Up, Kalin said of the video, "These days it seems normal for men to be the ones to blame in relationships. I wrote this song about a lil' shorty I was talking to and she ended up being a savage, who knew? In this video, you'll see the roles switched up on me." 

Indeed! The piece, directed by David Camerena, follows Kalin as he's walking through L.A.'s Chinatown, only to get sneak attacked and kidnapped! And the kidnapper...turns out to be his lady!

Watch the visual below!

#MondayMotivation

Good morning everyone....shake off those Monday blues with some #MondayMotivation! 

This quote is a simple but good one from my fave, Beyoncé from a past performance at Made in America, and it stuck with me. Life isn't easy. At 26, I'm still young, but I still have lived a good bit. Long enough to know that you go through plenty of ups and downs, and curveballs are thrown at you from all sides, but you have to push through regardless! Whether it be your work, your side hustle, your fitness journey, whatever. Challenge yourself to work harder, even in the midst of struggles. 

Taraji P. Henson and Jussie Smollett Team Up with MAC for Viva Glam Campaign

 David Buchan/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Beauty for a cause! Empire stars Taraji P. Henson and Jussie Smollett have teamed up with MAC Cosmetics, becoming the new faces of the brand's Viva Glam campaign!

Taraji and Jussie's collection features a hot pink lipstick and lip gloss, which will hit stores and go live online in February 2017. All profits will benefit the MAC AIDS Fund, which was created back in 1994 to support those living with HIV/AIDS across the globe. Previous participants include Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Ariana Grande.

Check out a look at Taraji and Jussie's ad below!

MUSIC VIDEO: "Never Needed Me"- Alt-Rock Band The Middle Ground

Nashville's own alternative rock band, The Middle Ground, has dropped their video for their latest track, "Never Needed Me!"

The song is the first single off of the group's upcoming album Start Again (to be released on December 2). The song itself is really high energy, and the super colorful video that accompanies it matches that energy as the group performs. However, lead singer Joe Neary mentioned that the song has a great meaning. In an interview with Substream Magazine, the singer said,

"At the surface, it’s an energetic, catchy tune, but for those who choose to dive deeper, there is a message we are proud of in the lyrics themselves. With the video we wanted to try and capture the energy we feel when playing the song live. It’s a song we’ve closed our shows with, so adding all the colors and making it more of a performance was what we felt would show how much this song means to us. This is the first piece of much more to come and we hope you enjoy it!”

Watch the video below!

Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Bruno Mars Set to Perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd are hitting the stage at this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, performing some of their latest jams!

The musical stars will join models Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldrigde, Adriana Lima, Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, and Bella Hadid on the runway, as the ladies strut to their music.