BEYONCE' IS FINALLY PREGNANT!!!!!

Well...it's ABOUT TIME!!!!!

I've been saying for YEARS (ever since they got married) that Beyonce' should take some time away from her career while she has it and have a baby (like a normal human being). There have been countless rumors swirling that she was pregnant...and just when I thought she would NEVER have a baby...it really HAPPENED!!!!!

Just six days shy of her 30th birthday, Beyonce' made the long-awaited announcement on the 2011 MTV VMA's red carpet that she was indeed pregnant. I missed the initial announcement and while it was probably unexpected, Bey was positively GLOWING during her fun and inspired performance of "Love On Top".

First of all, this was NOT the usual Beyonce' performance: it was the first time I saw her perform in pants...EVER!!!!! As a matter of fact, that was the most clothes that I have seen on her since her Destiny's Child days and she was barely dancing in her black heels. You could just see how HAPPY she was:

I want you to feel the love growing inside of me!

I haven't been the BIGGEST Beyonce' fan lately because I felt that she was overdoing it with her career at the moment. I honestly just wanted her to SIT DOWN, be married and have some babies. While I don't think that she will completely disappear until the baby comes, I'm just happy that she is showing her happiness to the world and not holding it in. I LOVE YOU BEYONCE' AND I WANT TO SEE YOU HAPPY!!!!!

I'm TRULY happy for her and Jay-Z because I genuinely like seeing a happy couple EXPRESS their happiness. They are notoriously private about their marriage and personal lives, which irked my nerves because I just wanted them to kiss or talk about each other...or SOMETHING!!!!!

I wish Beyonce' a healthy pregnancy and I know that she will be a great mother. At this point in her career, she has the accolades and now she can get the personal ones too.

CONGRATULATIONS MAMA BEY!!!!!

See what I had to say about Beyonce' getting pregnant just two months ago here! Also, check out the last moments of her performance when she unbuttoned her jacket and rubbed her belly. Jay-Z's face was PRICELESS...

Get More: 2011 VMA, Music, Beyoncé

~Elle Shanice~ APPROVED ✔: Columbiana

~Elle Shanice~ grade: B+

Don't mess with Zoe Saldana!!!!!

While I wasn't completely sold on her as an action star at first or that she could carry this kind of movie by herself, I wanted to see this movie because this was the first time that I can remember a black woman (though she's not really black...I still claim her LOL) who starred in an action movie.

Columbiana was more than I expected and while it has the same basic elements of the overdone revenge action movie, it tells a new story in a new way with a new setting.

Saldana plays Cataleya, an assassin from Columbia who is ruthlessly trying to find and kill the man who had her parents murdered when she was nine years old. She goes around the world killing people who have done her wrong while trying to track down the man responsible for her parents' death.

I have liked Saldana since she was in Drumline and Center Stage and thought she was a good fit because of her Spanish heritage. She was able to pull off the stunts and still be sexy and agile.

Vartan & Saldana's characters share an intimate moment. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish twist with this movie when it mixes the two cultures, as well as seeing eye-candy Michael Vartan as her love interest, Danny. She has an intimate but elusive relationship with him, as in he doesn't know her real name or what she does. She tries to have a real life and even opens up to him a little but the details of her mission keep her from that.

Overall, I thought that the movie was interesting and while it may not satisfy the normal action movie buff, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to my ~Elle Shanice~ readers.

Check out the trailer below:

Aaliyah's Death Still Lingers 10 Years Later

WOW!!!!! I just have to take a moment and realize that it has been 10 years since the passing of one of the most promising artists of my lifetime, Aaliyah Dana Haughton.

She was SOOOOO underrated as a true singer/dancer/actress combination! We had no IDEA the potential she truly had and how much that we would miss her when she was gone until she was.

Reflecting over the past 10 years has made me realize just how much of a difference she made in such a short time. Still to this day, I cringe a little at the thought of what she could have been if she had not boarded that plane in the Bahamas that day.

She only had 3 albums in her short 22 years of life but each one gave us music that will last longer than our hurt as fans. I think about her every time I watch Romeo Must Die, hear one of her songs on the radio or on my iPod. I watch videos on YouTube to just get another glimpse of the angel that was put here on Earth to bring us joy and make us smile.

I was a fan of hers while she was alive because I'm a 90's music baby and TLC, the Spice Girls & Aaliyah were my LIFE!!!!! I remember growing up that there were two hairstyles that I wanted to get: Scary Spice's twists/curls & Aaliyah's bang over my eye.

What set Aaliyah out from the rest for me was her natural beauty, humble spirit, sweet personality and sincere delivery in her singing. She didn't have to SCREAM or do a lot of riffs and tricks with her voice to make you feel the song...she just SANG it:

How Could The One I Gave My Heart To, Break My Heart So Bad?
How Could The One Who Made Me Happy, Make Me Feel So Sad?
Wont Somebody Tell Me? So I Can Understand.
If You Love Me, How Could You Break This Heart Of Mine?
Tell Me...

I still remember that day when I found out that she had passed. I immediately thought of my childhood friend, Sasha, who was a BIG fan and would ALWAYS be Aaliyah when we played after school. I had just started the 8th grade and went to a private Christian school. I remember coming to class talking about it the next day and actually praying in class for her family.


That 2001-2002 school year proved to be rough for me to say the least, with September 11th happening just weeks later and Lisa "Left Eye"Lopez dying in a car accident days after my 14th birthday. All memories that are set in my mind.

I have always said that if Aaliyah & Selena were alive today that they would be a SUPERSTAR and that they would be better than all of the singers now...including Beyonce'! At the time of her death, Aaliyah was balancing a budding acting career as well as continuing her already successful music one. While I stand by that statement, I will say that there is no way to gage Aaliyah's success today because she is gone. I realize today that it was only after death that I truly developed an deep appreciation for her music.

Rest in Peace "Baby Girl"

Aaliyah Dana Haughton (January 16, 1979 – August 25, 2001)

Here is the video for my FAVORITE Aaliyah song...her delivery was powerful & yet sincere...you felt her broken heart as she sang it:

Kanye Shines Over Jay-Z on "Watch The Throne"

I wasn't completely sold on a Jay-Z/Kanye West collab album when I first heard about it, especially with all of the hype behind it and them keeping it SO much under wraps.

I'm a fan of both rappers but have always like Kanye a little bit more (even though he ALWAYS pushes the envelope). Jay-Z is smart and one of the greatest rappers alive but I feel like he is the one who doesn't know when to leave the party (or does he?).

I gave Watch The Throne a listen today and have to say that while it is not a CLASSIC, it does blend the two well and is a good album overall. While there were way TOO many samples for my taste, I think that it sounds exactly how I would expect an album to sound from these two together.

You get the wordplay and content that both have become famous for (and sometimes infamous) as well as some of Kanye's new sound from both 808's and Heartbreak and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (both of which are on my iPod). I do think that Kanye does better in his parts but Jay-Z holds his own as well.

~Elle Shanice~ grade for Watch The Throne: B+

I was a little put off by some of the song titles but I gave the album an honest listen all the way through in order to give it a fair review. The 1st track, "No Church in the Wild" was one of those songs that I was hesitant to listen to because of its title but I did like the song. The 2nd song is one of my favorites, "Lift Off" and of course features Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce'. Another song that I was wary of because of the title was "N*iggas in Paris" but it is also one of my favorites.

The first single from the album, "Otis" features an Otis Redding sample and was one of the most HYPED songs I've ever heard. You couldn't find it ANYWHERE to even listen to it! Other songs that I liked include "Gotta Have It", "New Day", and "Why I Love You", but my favorite song on the whole album (despite it's title) was "That's My B*tch". Kanye KILLED this song, which is the one that I was convinced that he had surpassed Jay-Z, at least on this album.

In many aspects, I think that this album is Jay-Z's way of rising from his "throne" and passing the reigns to Kanye. I feel like he made the album to show that he still can but to me, Kanye is slowly surpassing him as an artist (if he can just keep his mouth shut).

Watch the video for "Otis" below:

~Elle Shanice~ APPROVED ✔: The Help

Last week, I was fortunate to view an advanced screening of The Help while I was in Philadelphia for the 2011 NABJ Convention. This was the most anticipated session for me & I made it there early to get a good seat.

In the movie, Abilieen (Viola Davis) & Minny (Octavia Spencer) are two friends who are maids in Mississippi during the 1960's. They are just what you expect: making their lives work while holding together someone else's. Both of the women agree to speak to Skeeter (Emma Stone) for a book that she wants to write from the point of view of "the help". The book stirs up controversy in the town as more maids come forward to tell their stories.

First things first, I haven't read the book version but I know that it is FICTIONAL...it was NOT based on any personal accounts from real people. That being said, this movie was PHENOMENAL and a varied mix of emotions. I laughed & cried but most of all, it made me think:

I appreciate women like Abilieen & Minny who came before me as black women so that I don't have to go through and deal with blatant ignorance from that time. In fact, I realized that I couldn't have lived in this time where white women could talk to us ANY kind of way, especially when we did SO much for them (like raise their children). I wouldn't have been able to hold my tongue against all of the ignorance in that time.

Some people were upset that such a great actress like Viola Davis was subject to playing maids but it is not a bad thing to me. It's a period piece & these things were going on then. The fact that Viola Davis is an Oscar-nominated actress makes it better & you REALLY see her acting chops in this one. She makes you FEEL Abilieen down to her soul & I wouldn't be surprised if she is nominated for another Oscar (& actually WIN this time). Also, Octavia Spencer gives a GREAT performance as sassy Minny, who is as caring and compassionate as she is no-nonsense & blunt.

Even though racism still exists, this is a survival story that all people can appreciate. EVERYONE go see this movie!!!!!

~Elle Shanice~ grade: A

"Single Ladies" Ends With a BANG & a "Hang"

Last night's season finale of "Single Ladies" was a GREAT setup and left several cliffhangers for next season...since it was picked up by VH1 for season 2.

CLIFFHANGER #1-The "ish hit the fan" with Keisha, who found out that boyfriend Malcolm not only has been lying about the nature of his relationship with "ex-wife" Ashley but has run off with her as he is being investigated by the FBI. The agent asks her if she will help bring him down...we get NO answer.

CLIFFHANGER #2- April & her estranged husband have finally mended fences with their divorce, and he makes it seems like he still loves her and is not viciously after his money. However, the relationship with her artist she developed is heating up, after they kissed a few episodes ago & he helped her get the A&R job she wanted at his new label.

But the BIGGEST cliffhanger is of course with the show's main character Val. She was dumped by 5-year boyfriend Quinn because he felt pressured to marry him and then started dating his boss, handsome & wealthy older gentleman Jerry. However, right when Val thought he was the one, he says that he's been married 3 times before and doesn't want to do it again, which forces Val to break up with him.

THEN...

Val confides in Quinn who had FINALLY realized what he had. They have dinner...and eventually sex. When Val wakes up the next morning, she is shocked to find Quinn in her bed, who PROPOSES to her. Just then, she gets a knock on the door and THIS happens...

Get More: Single Ladies, Christina Carter, Keisha Greene, Valerie Stokes

GOOD JOB VH1...because I will DEFINITELY be watching the premiere of season 2.

~Elle Shanice~ APPROVED ✔: Kelly Rowland "Here I Am"

Kelly Rowland has always had a sound that you wouldn't expect from her as an R&B singer, dating back to her debut solo album Simply Deep (which I still love). 

This album, Here I Am, is no different as she is finally able to make music that SHE wants to make. Although there are only 10 songs and I’ve heard people comment that it’s too few, I think that it is JUST enough.

The success of 1^st single (& my current ringtone) “Motivation” brought HIGH expectations from me in both content and sales (see my post about her & Beyonce’ HERE).  Ms. Rowland didn’t disappoint as the album debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart.

This is an album that has a variety of songs that could appear on R&B, pop AND dance charts and can’t be put in just one genre. There truly is something for everyone. The first song on the album, “I’m Dat Chick” serves as the female anthem of the album, declaring:

I’m that chick...How you know? I TOLD you so!

Also, “Feeling Me Right Now” is a song where she sings to herself in the mirror in the club and “Turn It Up” tells the story of her confronting a lover about spilling the beans to his woman. The “ballad” of the album is “Keep It Between Us” and “Work It Man” tells women to find a good man if theirs isn’t.

Here I Am also has songs for the grown & sexy too with both sexual and sensual grooves like “Motivation” & “All of the Night” that surprised me in a good way. 

Much of her success in the US has been collaborations like “Dilemma” with Nelly, but overseas she has had BIG success on dance charts. There are songs like “Down For Whatever” and “Commander” that are definite dance club material but also songs that feature hip hop artists like Lil Wayne (“Motivation”) & Big Sean (“Lay It On Me”).

Overall, the album is a good example of her singing ability and I could see several of the songs being potential singles. Not a lot of female anthems or sassy songs telling men off like from her Destiny’s Child counterpart, but Kelly Rowland holds her own.

Congrats Kelly on a GREAT 3^rd album!!!!! Here is a video of Kelly Rowland performing "Motivation" on the Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno last week: