Nicki Minaj brings her sexy on the cover of Elle’s May Music issue. Nicki leaves behind the colorful wigs and random ridiculous ensembles for a more tamed look. Elle’s Music Issue has a dual cover with star Gwen Stefani on it; the issue features artists Adele, Willow Smith, Jennifer Hudson, Feist, Hillary Scott, Robyn, Stevie Nicks, Florence Welch, and Aretha Franklin.
On being a rapper: “I always wanted to play with the boys. I didn’t want to be a pawn in their game or have a sidekick role. I wanted to be more of a lead character – a superhero.”
On her sense of style: “I tend to like booties…[pause]”—she takes a beat to clarify: no sexual meaning implied—“and really flashy shoes: totally studded out, in five colors with an insane platform.”
On her song “My Chick Bad” with Ludacris: “[I] chose to do punch lines and be comical, to show how bad I am lyrically, as opposed to how sexy I think I am.”
Check out more photos below from Nicki Minaj’s May 2011 Elle magazine spread.
Alicia Keys is not only a singer, she is also a new mommy, and an HIV/AIDS Activist. She is well known for her charity work, such as her Keep A Child Alive organization, which is dedicated to providing assistance and support to children and those who are infected by HIV/AIDS in Africa, as well as India.
The Buy Life Campaign is about buying life to give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. The charity provides medicine, food and shelter needed to fight the disease.
Alicia Keys signed on her husband Swizz Beatz as well as a few of her fellow friends like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Seacrest, Usher, Katie Holmes, Jay Sean, Jaden & Willow Smith, Serena Williams and many many more, to support the “Buy Life” campaign.
As stated on their website:
“It’s the one purchase nobody can live without. It’s Life. When you buy life, you give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by providing the medicine, food and shelter needed to fight this awful disease.
There is a profound difference between living and life. Living may extend time for another day. But life is far more than sleeping and waking. Life is more than merely existing. And, although it would be easier, life cannot be bought in a pill.That is why Keep A Child Alive buys more than just the pills needed to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. It buys the essential nutrition, shelter, support and education to help ensure those pills are taken properly and effectively. It buys the things we all take for granted, but that make all the difference. A bed. A roof. A ride. A book. A smile. KCA offers children, their families and entire communities a shoulder to lean on and a heart that beats for them. Because KCA believes we can do something far bigger and better than buy the ability to live. We can buy the dignity that is life. We can buy compassion. Buy love. Buy the cure. Buy life. Because the more you buy, the more you save. KEEP A CHILD ALIVE.”
Check out the photos of those who are involved with the Buy Life Campaign:
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The shirts that these celebrities are rocking aren’t just a message or fashion. They might look simple, but as you can see, they all have scannable barcodes. These shirts serve an even bigger purpose, because they’re scannable, by purchasing a “Buy Life” tee, you can become a walking charity box with your own, scannable BUY LIFE American Apparel Unisex T-Shirt. This shirt can be scanned using the Stickybits or Wimo app and will allow yourself and others to donate to the Keep A Child Alive foundation (Note: If you own a smart phone, you can order one via your phone), by simply scanning the t-shirt with your smart phone (Blackberry, iPhone, etc.).
The following is written on the back: “This Shirt Fights AIDS – Scan the barcode or Text ‘BUYLIFE’ to 90999 to Join the Fight.”
“It’s the one purchase nobody can live without. It’s Life. When you buy life, you give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by providing the medicine, food and shelter needed to fight this awful disease.
Whenever you see a “BUY LIFE” bar code, simply scan it using Stickybits or WiMO and instantly make the purchase of a lifetime.
You can also purchase a fully scannable “BUY LIFE” t-shirt and invite others to buy life wherever you go. This shirt not only looks good, but every scan does the world good.”
You can also purchase a tote bag…
Rock this Buy Life tote bag that can also be scanned with the Stickybits or Wimo app which will also allow people to give to Keep a Child Alive.
Check out the details and how to participate in the initiative by visiting the BUY LIFE website at BuyLife.org.
The Grammy-winning pop singer has parted ways with manager Marc Jordan and is now being managed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Management
So with the worldwide promotion of her upcoming album ‘Loud’ becoming a success, Rihanna has been making some serious future decisions in regards to her career.
According to The Associated Press, It looks like Riri is back in the arms (Beyoncé‘s place) or should we say under the wings of the one and only Jay-Z. And why? Because she has decided to join Willow Smith and others under Roc Nation management!
Rihanna is now under Jay-Z’s umbrella
Rihanna told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday (Oct.20) that she’s “so excited to take this next step in my career.”
The 22-year-old is also launching a new company called, Rihanna Entertainment. She says it will “merge all of her businesses, including music, film, fragrance fashion and book ventures.”
Jay-Z signed Rihanna to Def Jam in 2005. The two won a Grammy in 2008 for the hit song “Umbrella.” Earlier this year, the pair picked up two Grammys for the rap song “Run This Town,” which also featured Kanye West.
Talking about the first time he met Rihanna, Jay-Z say he signed her only hours after seeing her audition:
“We signed her that night — 3 in the morning was when that contract got signed. We wouldn’t let her leave the office. From meeting her at 4 [p.m.] in the office till 3 in the morning, I was absolutely certain. That doesn’t happen too often.”
Rihanna however remembers the meeting a little bit differently saying she was super nervous:
“When we first got there, I was shaking. I had never met a celebrity, and to have to audition for one and meet him at the same time … I was hysterical. But the minute I went in the office, it was totally different. He was so welcoming; the environment was so warm and friendly. The jitters just went away immediately.”
So Jay-Z has always had a hand in Rihanna’s career and he rhymed on her biggest hit “Umbrella.” So it looks like the Roc fam is sticking together beyond Def Jam.
She’s released four albums and plans to release her fifth CD, “Loud,” on Nov. 16.
So if you haven’t been keeping up, Rihanna released “Only Girl (In the World)” on Tuesday and out of nowhere the offspring of Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, Willow Smith, came out swinging with the unexpected “Whip My Hair.” All sorts of Willow and Rihanna comparisons were made due to an unreleased Rihanna song entitled “Whippin’ My hair,”Willow’s similar vocal delivery to Rihanna and the similar style Willow shares with Rihanna… Then today, it was announced that Willow signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
Below is what Will and Jada had to say about the choice of label:
“After meeting with several record companies, it was clear that Jay-Z, Ty Ty, Jay Brown and the Roc Nation staff was the unquestionable choice. Their passion for Willow combined with their boundless vision and artistic integrity made Roc Nation the perfect home for our little girl.”
Below are Jay-Z’s comments made towards the superstar, in the making:
“I heard the record first before I knew that it was recorded by a nine year old and I was like, man that record’s a smash,” Jay-Z said. “I believe in superstars. I believe in big records and in superstars and I think [Willow] has both.”
“She has a child’s innocence but she has a clear vision of who she is and who she wants to be,” he continued. “I can only imagine that’s how Mike [Michael Jackson] was as a young kid, he knew exactly what he wanted.”
“Willow is about to embark on an incredible journey and we look forward to joining her as she grows in all aspects of her career,” Roc Nation said in a statement.
Well there you have it, Willow Smith may just be that child-in-training to be a true pop culture phenomenon. What we can’t get over about “Whip My Hair,” is it is a silly song for someone 20+ to sing but for a 9 year old to sing a song like this, it screams potential. All she has is room to grow and all she also has is POWER behind her now so expect to see Willow dazzle. Watch Willow on the Ryan Seacrest show after and listen to “Whip My Hair” here…
Source: YouTube/thecsperspective.com
“Love the song…she will be a good addition to the Roc Nation. Go ahead girl, do your thang!!”
Willow Smith is on her grown girl steez with her new track “Whip My Hair,” her introduction to the music biz. The sleek, club-ready joint sees the nine-year-old encouraging her fellow gals to snap their heads back and forth and whip that hair like a helicopter. Taking cues from her fashion idol Rihanna, the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith shows that this little diva-in-training has what it takes to tussle with the big girls—and her ’tude hasn’t gone unnoticed.
She’s already received a co-sign from Solange Knowles, known for her own experimental hairstyles. “Willow Smith make me wanna whip some haiiirrr in this house. Ummm kill em girl. Kill em!” she tweeted.
JNEL & J. Magazine 
