Sober In The Cauldron

Poster Boy:Alex Turner

2012-02-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

Alex Turner is the lead singer of british rock group the Arctic Monkeys. He's a mega talented artist, songwriter and all around cool dude. I'm loving his new look, he's like a 50's movie pin up. I love the song Black Treacle, fantastic lyrics. Hat tip to Fuck Yeah Alex Turner.
http://alexturner.tumblr.com

Speak

2012-02-07T13:08:00.001-08:00

Pic of The Week

2012-02-07T13:06:00.001-08:00

Twin love. Beyond adorable. OMG

Drink

2012-02-07T13:00:00.000-08:00

Just gawwwjus. Beautiful.

Slice:Viola Davis

2012-02-07T12:19:00.001-08:00

Actress and Oscar hopeful Viola Davis looks stunning in these shots for the Los Angeles Times. Wow wow wow, always knew she was this gorgeous but still great to see this side of her. Majestically glorious, Viola you look like a black godess.She should play a hot love interest asap. :-) Hat tip to Shadow and Act.

Crushed:Claire Danes

2012-02-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

Remember Claire Danes from My So Called Life? Maan, she was one of my major 90's girl crushes. I loved My So Called Life and thought Claire was superb as the red headed angsty teenager. I find Claire very striking, I like her beautiful, strong features and the fact that she isn't skinny. She's very attractive in a real way. She's back in critically acclaimed new series Homeland as tough talking, ambitious CIA agent Carrie Mathison who suspects marine sergeant Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) of plotting against America after being missing in Iraq for eight years. Claire won the golden globe for it for best actress in a drama series. It looks great and is definitely on my must watch list.

Michael's Oscar Race

2012-01-23T02:42:00.001-08:00

So Oscar season is upon us for another year and nominations will be announced tomorrow for Hollywood's self congratulatory night. In the best actor race safe predictions are George Clooney The Descendants, Jean Dujardin The Artist, Brad Pitt Moneyball, Gary Oldman Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Leonardo DiCaprio J Edgar. I really hope Michael Fassbender gets nominated and if he does I hope he wins. Everybody loves George Clooney, by all accounts he seems to be a great human being and a gorgeous man, I think he'll probably win but I'd like to see Michael get it. His performance in Shame is amazing and brave. He possesses astonishing depth and the ability to depict the humanity, pain and fragility of a character,sometimes without saying a word. My favourite irish man's manly delights are just that, delightful. Brooding intensity, rugged, scruffy masculinity and uh, the stupendous talent. Plus I just wanted another excuse to post gratuitous pictures of him and there'll be more of that.

The best actress race should be interesting. The money's been on Viola Davis for The Help for a while but suddenly Meryl nabbed the award for her Iron Lady portrayal of Margeret Thatcher at The Golden Globes. I like them both, they were in Doubt together and both were remarkable in that film. Viola Davis is a revelation and a scene stealer. She stole her scene with Meryl in Doubt and to do that playing opposite one of the best actresses in history is no small feat. Meryl is incredible but it would be brilliant to see Viola get it. She's been underrated for ages. The phenomenal Tilda Swinton could throw a spanner in the works and win for We Need To Talk About Kevin. Love Tilda and her kookiness. I'd also love to see Adepero Oduye get a nod for Dee Rees gutsy flick Pariah. It's always nice at The Oscars when an outsider wins from leftfield. And Steve McQueen should get a nod in the Best Director category for Shame, whether the often predictable oscars has the balls to acknowledge it remains to be seen. All will be revealed...

Update:So the Oscars played it safe(as they always do) and didn't give Steve McQueen or Michael Fassbender a nom in the Best Director and Best actor categories, such a shame. Now that Michael's out of the race, it would be great to see Gary Oldman get it. He's an amazing actor but my money's on gorgeous George.

Art On The Brain

2012-01-22T15:52:00.001-08:00

Hat tip to The Girl at The Bookshop blog and The Bowtie Life.
http://thebowtielife.tumblr.com/

The Cool

2012-01-22T15:18:00.001-08:00

Being the rainbow inclusive chick that I am, here's a little sexy white dude swagger late into the weekend. Hat tip to Fuck Yeah Menswear, The Girl at The Bookshop blog and the Claremont Estate. Loving the fierce, poetic, slang infused writing on Fuck Yeah Menswear.
http://fuckyeahmenswear.tumblr.com/
http://claremontestate.tumblr.com/
http://morgandenno.blogspot.com/

Slice:Hilary Swank

2012-01-22T14:18:00.001-08:00

I love this image of actress Hilary Swank on the beach. Great actress, rocking body.

Crushed:Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge

2012-01-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge in the sublime Carmen Jones 1954. "Blow on em sugar." Unforgettable. Hat tip to Vintage Black Glamour.

Watch List:Lana Del Rey

2012-01-22T12:52:00.001-08:00

US singer Lana Del Rey's album drops on January 30th and I can't wait to get a hold of my copy. I discovered her music last year having heard Born To Die and Video Games and I've been eagerly anticipating the album for a while. There's a lot of buzz about her and for me the hype is justified, I think she's an astounding talent. Her voice is cinematic and dark, she's cited Nancy Sinatra as an influence and you can hear it. I love artists like her and Florence Welch because their music works on so many different levels, it transports you and takes you to several spaces, sometimes all within one track. Not many singers are capable of that. Oh yes, I predict many a movie soundtrack featuring Lana's songs in the future. And I know she comes from money, some people seem to have a bee in their bonnet about that but who cares? She has the talent and that's what matters. She looks great too, for some reason she reminds me of Veronica Lake and certain actresses of that period.
http://lanadelrey.com

Vault:Vintage Drum

2012-01-21T12:00:00.001-08:00

1950's and 60's archives from South Africa's legendary Drum Magazine. Celebrating 60 years of success.
www.drum.co.za

Poster Boy:Willy Cartier

2012-01-21T02:47:00.001-08:00

Model and dancer Willy Cartier has caused a bit of a stir in the fashion world and you can see why. The french model is mind blowingly beautiful, with his androgynous ethnic looks he could be an Apache indian from a different time. Willy is actually a dancer but a friend of his took him to a model agency because she thought he was way too gorgeous to not model. He was signed immediately and the rest is history. He's modelled for Givenchy, Benetton, Vogue, Arena Homme and many others. He's been sought after by photographers like Francois Rousseau, Justin Wu and Rosa Rendl. Willy juggles modelling around dance. I think he's unique, his hair and style are great. He has an other worldly sensibility. Willy has said that he's Senegalese, Vietnamese and French, so a mix of french, black and asian. I think he's stunning.Hat tip to The Smithian.
http://thesmithian.com

R.I.P: Etta James

2012-01-20T16:02:00.001-08:00

Blues legend Etta James has died aged 73 following her battle with Leukemia. She's best known for the mesmeric At Last and I'd rather go blind. Etta battled a heroin addiction but she went on to win six grammys and be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyonce played her in the movie Cadillac Records. Wow, everyone's time comes. I remember her sublime voice and hilarious rants. She was a spunky woman and a true talent, they don't make em like this anymore. R.I.P queen.

Black Boheme 1

2012-01-20T11:44:00.001-08:00

Fela Kuti. The king of afrobeat was a musical genius and a God. He was a political activist and voice of the people, we Nigerians are very proud. Fela was all about music, debauchery and sticking two fingers up at corrupt governments. Fela had many wives who lived with him in a commune like environment, the shrine.

Andre 300. The wacky, colourful Outkast frontman and father of Erykah Badu's first son Seven is one of my favourite people on the planet. He's so unique and I think he'd be perfect to play Jimi Hendrix in a movie. He even looks like Jimi!

Jimi Hendrix. The legendary rocker died young but his amazing music lives on. The fearless talent left America for British shores where he found his true musical calling and global stardom. I think Jimi's version of All Along the Watchtower is one of the best records ever.

Cree Summer. Actress, musician and all around cool alternative chick. Cree and her equally cool pal Lisa Bonet are two of the hotest milfs around.

Jean Michel Basquiat was an American artist, musician, poet and producer. His father was Haitian and mother Puerto Rican.He started as a grafitti artist and was at the forefront of the Neo expressionist movement. Immensely talented, Basquiat's tale is a tragic one, another artist who died at the age of 27. He was championed by Andy Warhol and dated Madonna but pressure, struggles with depression and a fatal addiction to heroin resulted in a heroin overdose in his art studio in New York.

James Baldwin. The writer, essayist, playwright, social critic and political activist was breaking boundaries in the 50's and 60's as a gay, black writer. Disillusioned with the US and the way black people were being treated during that period, Baldwin moved to Paris but was actively involved with the Black Panthers. I read Another Country some years back and it blew my mind. Superb writer, I have most of his books, he was a remarkable talent.

Zoe Kravitz. Well with parents like Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz what would you expect? The beautiful, quirky madmoiselle is steadily building quite the acting resume and like her mother quite the eye for interesting, glorious men. Even when Zoe looks like she's fallen out of bed, not showered and flung on random clothing, she manages to still look effortlessly cool. I like everything about her. Who says black chicks can't do grungy and sexy?

Neneh Cherry. Girl crush alert. The stunner and alternative priestess of the London hip hop scene in the 80's rocks in every way. She even lived in a commune in Sweden as a kid. How's that for Bohemian? Hey Neneh, show me your buffalo stance.

Esperanza Spalding. What a name and what a woman. The multi instrumentalist, jazz bassist and singer is a virtuoso.

Erykah Badu. The singer and muse is a godess. No black bohemian list is complete without Badu. She of stupendous talent and indescribable allure, she who casts witch like spells on men that don't know what hit them until they're out of it. Just ask Andre 3000, Common and Q Tip. She even manages to be ridiculously beautiful bald. Unbelievable.

Rick James. Oh my God the boots! The boots are something else, so incongrous it's genius. "Cocaine is a hell of a drug." You'd know Rick! Oh and Super Freak is awesome.

Saul Williams is one of my favourite spoken word artists, infact he's a legend on the scene. I had no idea that he was married to actress Persia White for ages. What a cool couple.

Which leads me to Persia White! The tatooed actress and musician starred in the popular show Girlfriends.

Corrine Bailey Rae. The lovely chanteuse has gotten better and better in my opinion. A little Brit Bohemian for you. Her second album was darker and I think she has a mesmeric quality when you watch her sing live.

Of course Lenny Kravitz had to be on this list. You know all about the sexy rocker and father of Zoe Kravitz, Dilf! (That's dad I'd like to f***).

Which leads me to his former partner and mother of his child, actress Lisa Bonet. Exquisite creature, epitomises the kind of free spirited sensibility I love, plus she's married to Jason Momoa. She's still making it rain.

Musician Janelle Monae. I adore Janelle and her kookiness, she's an artist, dancing outside boxes and I love that about her.

Singer Ben Harper, like his fusion of old school style soul and folk. Love his version of Sexual Healing, not quite as much as the original but close.

Playwright and screenwriter Suzan Lori Parks is a phenomenal woman. She won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Topdog/Underdog starring the awesome Mos Def and equally awesome Jeffrey Wright. She also received the MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant in 2001.

Comedian, writer, actor and dude of geeky, quirky cool Wyatt Cenac. Dream husband alert times ten.
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Raphael Saadiq is the king of reinvention. He was a member of Tony! Toni! Tone! and has just continued to evolve and collaborate with some amazing artists.

I love bohemians, they encapsulate a certain unconventionality and free spiritedness I adore. It's about a way of life and of course many artists are bohemians and I use the term artist as a wide umbrella to include writers, actors, musicians etcetera. And what of the black bohemian? They're not as illusive as some might think, infact there many many out there but perhaps they're not regarded in that light and when they are, they are often labelled a little weird. I say embrace the strangeness, destination bohemia. The Natural Idealist does a great post on the four archetypes of a bohemian.
http://reflectivebynature.blogspot.com

XY Chromosome Sundae:Piolo Pascual

2012-01-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

Filipino actor, musician and producer Piolo Pascual. Delicious creature. Surely it's a sin to look this fine. In 2003 Pascual collected eight awards in the best supporting actor category for his role in Dekada 70. It was the Phillipines entry for the Best Foreign Film Language category at the 76th Academy Awards. Pascual turned his hand to producing with independent flick Manila which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. He lives in California but goes back to the Phillipines often.

Yada Yada Yada:Richard Pryor

2012-01-20T09:31:00.001-08:00

"I went to Africa and there were tons of black people, but no ni*****, they were beautiful." Comedian, actor, writer and social critic Richard Pryor, the one and only on his epiphany. Incidentally, Richard dated actress Pam Grier (excellent taste). Look at them all coupled up in that bottom picture, sweet. But their intense relationship came to an end because of Richard's addiction to drugs, Pam was told by her doctor that traces in his sperm were harming her body. Richard also kept putting cocaine in her vagina. Damn that's crazy, that sounds just like the sort of thing he'd do. R.I.P Richard, one of the greatest comedians ever.

Director's Cut: Ava DuVernay

2012-01-20T09:02:00.001-08:00

The multi talented Ava DuVernay is a film maker, film marketer and film distributor. Her award winning publicity and marketing firm DVA Media & Marketing has provided strategies for the likes of Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Michael Mann and Gurinder Chadha. She made her directorial debut with the movie I Will Follow starring Salli Richardson Whitfield. Roger Ebert showered it with praise, calling it one of the best films about coming to terms with the death of a loved one. Her next film Middle of Nowhere has been nominated for a Sundance award. Ava is gorgeous and it's fantastic to see a new crop of black female directors around with the likes of Dee Rees who made Pariah, Tanya Hamilton, director of Night Catches Us and Victoria Mahoney, director of Yelling To The Sky. Infact, I'm loving the resurgence of black independent cinema.

Couple Stalking:Anna Chlumsky and Shaun So

2012-01-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

Remember Anna Chlumsky from My Girl? Maan I loved that movie and Anna was so great in it, very talented and destined for big things. I really loved that character because she was a writer, full of personality, precocious and bold. Child stars seem to find it very difficult to transition into adulthood career wise. In Anna's case, I think she actually just chose to do other things. She graduated with a degree in International Studies, worked as a researcher for Zagat and as an Editorial Assistant for Harper Collins. As far as I know, she has returned to acting having featured in 30 Rock, Broadway productions and films. How cute are she and her husband. Very cute. Shaun is a soldier and they had a mix of chinese and western themes in their wedding. Wedding photographs by Steven & Tak.

Watch List: Middle of Nowhere / Premium Rush

2012-01-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

Director Ava Duvernay is making waves and this is really exciting to see. Her second film Middle of Nowhere has been nominated for a Sundance Film Festival award. The star of the movie Emayatzy Corinealdi previously dropped me a line about this exciting development. The film also features Brit actor David Oyelowo and is about a woman struggling with her identity after the incaceration of her husband. It looks great, make sure you catch it when it hits selected theatres. Hat tip to Shadow and Act.

I love me some Joseph Gordon Levitt and that love isn't dwindling any time soon. The hotness is hitting our screens soon in new movie Premium Rush directed by David Koepp. JGL plays a New York city bike messenger who thinks he's on a routine run but alarm bells go off when cops all over the city attempt to stop him from delivering the parcel. The film also stars Dania Ramirez, Jamie Chung and Michael Shannon. JGL acting his ass off, under pressure and looking hot on a bike. Win Win situation. The movie hits theatres in the US August 24, go see it.

Hang Out Happened

2012-01-20T07:55:00.001-08:00

David Bowie, Gary Oldman and the marvellous Edward Norton. Wow, the talent in this photo is epic, fans of all three. Awesomeness.

Idris's Globe

2012-01-16T10:18:00.001-08:00

The ever yummy and sexy delightful renaissance man that's a certain Idris Elba has nabbed a golden globe award for best actor in a tv mini series for BBC series Luther. Big congrats to him, he deserves it. The gravitas and complexity he brings to the crumpled, wounded detective is fantatsic. Idris, your daughter will be very proud. Also well done to Octavia Spencer for her win in the best supporting actress category.

Art On The Brain:Delphine Diallo

2012-01-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

I really like the work of artist Delphine Diallo. Delphine is the daughter of a Senegalese father and French mother. The way she compresses pattern and image into a single composition is striking and engaging, often using patterns extracted from African textiles, plants and totemic animals. Delphine is a mixed media power house, using photography, illustration, collage and found materials in her studio practice. She's also worked as a commercial graphic designer and animator. She collaborated with photographer Peter Beard and designed for Manu Chao. Her work has been featured extensively in galleries around the world. She incorporates multiculturalism and transcendant narratives in her art. In 2011 she successfully raised enough funding for her mixed media project The Gift Artbook.
www.delphinediawdiallo.com
www.kickstarter.com/projects/delphinediallo/the-gift-art-book

Phosphorous Reinvention:Solange Knowles

2012-01-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

Solange Knowles is FABULOUS. This is the Knowles sister I really like. She's a style trailblazer and I love her kookiness. I think she's gutsy, strong and unafraid to be herself. Mother, actress, singer and now you can add DJ and photographer to the growing list of her talents. Badassness in spades.

Crushed:Michael Fassbender

2012-01-15T09:12:00.001-08:00

Irish German actor Michael Fassbender is one of the most exciting, dynamic men around in my opinion. He's ridiculously talented and completely intrigues me, 100% all man. I think he's versatile, dark and devilish. I love the fact that he's willing to embrace darkness as an actor and challenge himself. I know some people didn't approve of him dating Zoe Kravitz but at least he has good taste. The hype is justified with films such as 300, Hunger, Fish Tank, Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre, X Men:First Class, Shame, A Dangerous Method and Prometheus. His performance in Shame is incredible, if both he and Steve McQueen don't get Oscar nods it's a travesty. Honestly, go and see Shame if you haven't already. It's an engrossing, heartbreaking character study.Sexy Mofo. I like how he rolls.

Pal Pal Pursuit:Steve McQueen & Michael Fassbender

2012-01-15T08:36:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite bromances is director Steve McQueen and actor Michael Fassbender. Steve McQueen is a former Turner prize winning artist and one of the most talented directors around. Michael is a superb actor. I love their relationship, they're genuinely very good friends and you can see the mutual respect and admiration when you watch their interviews together. Their interviews are a lot of fun. The director and his favourite Irish muse have worked together twice, first Hunger then Shame. And they're planning to make a third movie together, Twelve Years a Slave based on the memoirs by Solomon Northrup which will also star delicious Chiwitel Ejiofor. McQueen and Fassbender produce magic together, behold the bro love! It's a beautiful thing.

XY Chromosome Sundae:Michael Ealy

2012-01-15T07:53:00.001-08:00

Actor Michael Ealy is another dude on the dream husbands list. The blue eyed black king is stunning. I like everything about him. Michael has so many film and tv credits. They include Kissing Jessica Stein, Seven Pounds, Barbershop, Their Eyes Were Watching God, For Colored Girls, Takers, Flash Forward, The Good Wife, Hawthorne,ER, Soul Food, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Miracle at St.Anna, Californication, Put It In a Book. He was nominated for a Golden globe award for his performance in Sleeper Cell. Next up Underworld: Awakening and Think Like a Man.

Couple Stalking:Michael Ealy & Halle Berry

2012-01-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

So I know Halle Berry is currently seeing french squeeze Olivier Martinez and I hope it works out but I loved her with Michael Ealy. They starred together in Their Eyes Were Watching God and their chemistry was so potent, no wonder they started dating. They made a beautiful couple and Michael is drop dead gorgeous. It's a shame they broke up. Michael also dated rapper Eve.

Awkward Black Girl Season 1 Finale

2012-01-13T13:18:00.001-08:00

Whoop whoop, the season finale of Awkward Black Girl has arrived and it's a cracker. Jay finally makes a decision. Will she choose gorgeous fine as hell chameleon Fred or the adorably cute, hilarious and equally awkward white Jay? Click on the link below to watch and look out for the genius guest appearance from a certain someone. God I love this show. What am I going to do now that this season is over?! It's like crack for me. If you want the show to continue to grow, donate and support it. How many authentic, touching depictions are out there of a beautiful, awkward, funny, dark skinned black woman? Exactly. I can't wait for season 2.
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QLPeTgfnryo
www.awkwardblackgirl.com

Crushed:RES

2012-01-08T05:17:00.001-08:00

Rock chick RES. She is sooo beautiful. If there was any justice she would have been a big star. Golden Boys is one of my favourite songs. She was ahead of her time and I think in the 90's, record companies didn't know how to market black female artists who didn't neatly fit into predictable boxes. Interestingly enough, Santogold was the Executive Producer of her album. For Res's magic, listen to her album How I Do.

Drink:Tim Olyphant

2012-01-08T04:54:00.000-08:00

Tim Olyphant is just edible. I watch him and drool, he has a certain rakishness that totally appeals to me. He's devilish and way too bad ass, I love him in Justified. I love what he's wearing in this shoot. He looks hot as hell. Justified season 3 starts later this month and I'll definitely be watching.

Miscellaneous

2012-01-08T04:47:00.001-08:00

Hat tip to Girl At The Bookshop Blog.

http://morgandenno.blogspot.com

Architectural Feats

2012-01-08T04:41:00.000-08:00

Forest House, darkly magical, like something out of a Grimms fairy tale.

January Watch:Baby Xander

2012-01-08T04:33:00.001-08:00

Whoa, I missed this at the time but beautiful Mad Men actress January Jones gave birth to son Xander last September. He's a cutie pie. His expression in that first pic kills me, he has the demeanor of a grown man mulling over a problem, just tell me mama. Who's my daddy? January apparently also left the name of the father out of the birth certificate. The mystery continues...

Shed of Geekdom:Cardboard Robot Building

2012-01-08T04:16:00.000-08:00

Cardboard robot building by Calafant. Awesomeness. Images by Kai Petermann.

www.calafant.de
http://www.forloveandglory.de/2012/01/cardboard-robot-build-yourself-a-new-friend/

Inked

2012-01-07T15:40:00.001-08:00

Joie Lee

2012-01-02T13:21:00.001-08:00

I've always had a girl crush on Spike Lee's sister Joie Lee. I remember watching her as a kid in Mo Better Blues. I was in love with Denzel but I was also a little in love with her too. She looked ridiculously cool to me with her tiny frame and striking looks, not classically pretty but unforgettable which in a way makes her more interesting to look at. Her hair is amazing and I love the way she rocks it so confidently. How gorgeous are she and Denzel in that picture from Life...Too cute, great onscreen couple and they would have made a great real life couple too. She's starred in a lot of Spike's movies but is also a screenwriter and producer in her own right. She wrote and produced Crooklyn.

XY Chromosome Sundae:Ben Youcef

2012-01-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

Ben Youcef is an Algerian actor, model, writer and producer. He has a strong portfolio of tv and film work. He's starred in Munich, The Bourne Ultimatum, Body Of Lies, Eagle Eye and The Algerian which he also produced. Beautiful looking guy, catch him opposite Taraji P Henson in From The Rough.

Molasses

2012-01-02T09:36:00.001-08:00

Hat tip to Afro Art Chick Tumblr.

Crushed:Tyson Beckford

2012-01-02T09:32:00.001-08:00

Wow, stunning man. Goddamn.

Instrument

2012-01-02T09:14:00.001-08:00

Slice:Hitched

2012-01-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Unbelievably adorable.

Mortal Spawn:Selah Marley

2012-01-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Wow, Lauryn Hill's daughter Selah Marley is beautiful. Her father Rohan Marley is one of Bob Marley's sons. God, she really looks like Lauryn in the best possible way. Coming from music royalty I wonder if her future is pre destined. Gorgeous.

My Fellow American

2012-01-02T05:27:00.000-08:00

The recent Lowes controversy exposed more islamophobia in America. Exactly the kind of intolerance the My Fellow American project tries to combat. To support the project and share your views, please visit their website. They've added lots of new content and you can access plenty of information as well as thoughts from public figures.
www.myfellowamerican.us

The Cool

2011-12-29T15:36:00.000-08:00

XY Chromosome Sundae:Diether Ocampo

2011-12-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

Filipino hottie Diether Ocampo is a renaissance man. He's an actor, singer and model. He's part of the band Blow and was an Executive Producer for The Pin Ups. He has a charity to help disadvantaged kids in Manila. He loves photography and probably has many other strings to his bow. Hell yeah. Fine mofo.

Couple Stalking:Real Life Pick N Mix

2011-12-29T13:51:00.001-08:00

Oh honey, we're like a still from a movie. Glorious looking couple.

That's a very fine man right there, gorgeous girlfriend. Pucker up.

Honey you taste like chocolate, so do you baby. Yummy peeps.

Aztec and Jamaican love. Beautiful.

Aminata Niaria and her boyfriend Laurence Dennis. Sexy, stylish mofos.

Black pin up model Angelique Noire and her man Romain.

Another divine pair.

Fun and shenanigans. Cuteness.

Boo I hope that was a good shot, it's about to go viral. Adorable.

Hat tip to Love Stills.

Shingai Shoniwa

2011-12-29T04:44:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard of British indie rock singer Shingai Shoniwa you've been missing out. The Zimbabwean godess is the lead vocalist and bassist of the band The Noisettes. She's also an innovative and inventive fashion icon. I love the way she incorporates afrocentric elements with her style. Sorry Beyonce lovers, for me Shingai wins hands down when it comes to looks, style and well...EVERYTHING. She has more cool dripping from her fingernail than B does in her whole body. And I hate to compare the two because there's room for both of them and of course there are many ways of being as a black woman. I 100% support that. But I'm beyond bored of the way mainstream media acts as if Beyonce is the second coming, surprise surprise. It's hilarious how terrified the mainstream media are of dark skinned black female beauty lol. Shingai kicks ass.

Crushed:Neneh Cherry

2011-12-29T04:09:00.001-08:00

When people talk about alternative black female mcs in hip hop, they seem to forget Neneh Cherry. The ecclectic London chick paved the way for people like Santagold and M.I.A. Cherry was born in Sweden to a Sierria Leonean father and Swedish mother but moved to London at a young age.There, she joined punk rock band The Cherries. She is so gorgeous, particularly during the 80's when she received critical acclaim for her album Raw Like Sushi (such a fucking great album title!). Cherry experimented with different musical genres and was highly influenced by her African roots through artists like the phenomenal Fela Kuti. In the 90's she also collaborated with Senegalese French artist Youssou N'Dour on the brilliant, huge hit 7 Seconds. Neneh also financially backed the group Massive Attack. I loved Buffalo Stance and Man Child. Big lady crush, Neneh with the stunning looks and tomboy swagger, total music and style icon.

Slice

2011-12-29T03:40:00.001-08:00

Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs performs at the KROQ Weenie Roast Y Fiesta. The part Korean, part Polish rock star is a godess. BOSS.

Album Covers Corner

2011-12-29T03:19:00.001-08:00

Roots Manuva's Slime & Reason. The British hip hop artist is one of the kookiest mc's around,love him.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Its Blitz.

The original artwork for Bjork's Post.

NURU

2011-12-27T09:52:00.000-08:00

Ode To Wyatt Cenac

2011-12-27T09:10:00.001-08:00

Comedian, writer and actor Wyatt Cenac. Major dream husband alert. Wyatt is a writer and regular contributor to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I've explained why I love this man so much in two previous posts. Lucky Joy Bryant clutching onto him like that, her face says it all. He's very handsome and oozes noncholant cool. There can never be enough posts about Wyatt. Suffice to say I've watched Medicine for Melancholy at least seven times so far and I'm sure that number will increase. Yo, savvy directors, please cast Wyatt in a another cool indie flick because he has it all. And because funny, quirky black nerds rock.

Rummager

2011-12-27T09:01:00.000-08:00

Handmade limited edition backpack made from coffee bags, courtesy of the ever creative Chanel Kennebrew.
www.junkprints.com

Beautifully Crazy:Man On Wire

2011-12-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

High rope French artist Philippe Petit walks across the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in 1974. Petit lived life on the edge and refused to be tied down by rules. To find out more on the world according to Petit, watch the 2008 film Man on Wire.

Watch List:The Walking Dead

2011-12-26T08:15:00.001-08:00

I used to have a crush on British actor Andrew Lincoln, actually still do, still think he's fine. I remember him in cult British series This Life and of course the very funny Teachers. He was great in both and just had this lovable, cheeky charm. Imagine my delight to discover he'd popped up helming a new American show called The Walking Dead. He's good in this, a man of integrity and suitably wracked with self doubt. His American accent is pretty convincing too. Lincoln plays Rick Grimes, a police officer whose woken from a coma to discover the world overrun by zombies. His mission, to find his wife and son. He leads a group of survivors on trecherous journeys that seem unending. But interestingly enough, he's not my favourite character. My favourites are anti heroes Shane, Daryl and the witty Glenn.

Shane played by Jon Bernthal is Rick's best friend and a total bad ass. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Rick's wife and Shane became lovers while they thought he was dead. Shane has good in him, but he's also a very dark character who will kill to protect himself and the ones he loves. Jon Bernthal is the man. The trajectory of Daryl has also been handled really well. He's a character I hated in the beginning, thought he was a dumb, violent, uncontrollable hillbilly. But people are never what they first appear to be and I've been totally won over by him. He has balls for days and is hilarious.

I also like the women in the show, they're not perfect but they're strong, gutsy and sensitive in ways that allow them to be multi dimensional. The characterisation, action and suspence is brilliant. What's also interesting is not so much the zombie attacks but the way groups of people survive in those situation, fragmentations, how mob rule can seep in, the ways people's personalities change and the different dynamics at play. The Walking Dead is a great series, if you're not watching it, you should be. I can't wait for the rest of seaon 2, I'm seriously addicted.

Couple Stalking:Steven Yeun and Lauren Cohan Walking Dead

2011-12-26T07:46:00.000-08:00

Zombie series The Walking Dead is my new obsession and my favourite couple is Glenn and Maggie, played by Steven Yeun and Lauren Cohan. I love these two together and the story arc between them. Their sexual tension was apparent from the beginning and Maggie's a feisty, gutsy chick,a great partner for Glenn. Steven Yeun is so cute and his character Glenn is one of the best. Seriously, I love his character and he's one of the reasons I keep watching.It's been great seeing him fleshed out more in season 2 and the introduction of his relationship with Maggie provides a new dynamic; more for him to lose. Brrrilliant, although I'll be pissed if either one of them gets killed off. Good to see they didn't de sexualise him, that would have been really irritating. Steven is a handsome dude. Plus I like seeing cute asian guys paired with sexy women. That's cool shit.

Book Munch:Perfume

2011-12-24T14:00:00.001-08:00

Patrick Suskind's Perfume tells the story of killer Jean Baptiste-Grenouille in eighteenth century France. Jean grows up to discover his unusual gift, a remarkable sense of smell which aids him in creating sublime fragrances for the city. But the desire to capture the scent of young virgins drives him to kill repeatedly. In turns strange, hypnotic and evocative, Perfume is unforgettable, dark and twisted. It features a compelling protagonist extraordinarily drawn on the page.

Adorned

2011-12-24T11:25:00.001-08:00

Crushed:Harry Shum Jr

2011-12-24T10:32:00.000-08:00

Glee's Harry Shum Jr looking like the dapper dude that he is on a shoot for GQ. It still amazes me that some people have the perception there aren't attractive asian men largely due to a lack of representation in mainstream media. See Harry for exhibit A, and there are many many more out there. He's not an exception. Harry is Chinese but was born in Costa Rica. He speaks both Chinese and Spanish. And since he insists on looking so damn cute all the time, well, myself and plenty of other women can't help thinking he's a honey, certified baby daddy material.

Bike Swagger

2011-12-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

Drink

2011-12-23T19:14:00.001-08:00

Wow. Absolutely scrumptious. Wipes drool from laptop. Stunning man.

Kick Push

2011-12-23T19:10:00.001-08:00

XY Chromosome Sundae:Sung Kang

2011-12-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

Sung Kang is fiiine, hot man. He was my favourite man candy in the latest installment of Fast Five. He was born in America to immigrant parents from Korea and is probably best known for the Fast Five series of films. He's also starred in Better Luck Tomorrow, Ninja Assassin, Monk, Knots and Clap Clap. Will definitely be watching Bullet to the Head when it's released. Very cool guy and good actor. He has this laid back vibe I really like and he's yummy, never a bad thing.

Shed of Geekdom:Marbelous Wood

2011-12-23T18:29:00.001-08:00

Pernille Snedker Hanson has challenged the way we use wood in our built in environments by employing an old marbling technique that gives it colourful, vibrant, supernatural patterns. Coolio.

Hang Out Happened

2011-12-23T18:22:00.001-08:00

Stevie Wonder and Bob Marley. Totally epic and looking like some cool dudes. Bob Marley was so handsome. :-)

Watch List:Red Tails

2011-12-23T18:09:00.001-08:00

Produced by George Lucas and starring Cuba Gooding Jnr and the gorgeous Terrence Howard, Red Tails is based on the Tuskegee Airmen. They were a group of African American US service men during world war II. Looking forward to seeing this in 2012.

Dutch Magazine calls Rihanna "The Ultimate Ngg Bitch" Then Claims It Was a Joke.

2011-12-19T15:15:00.000-08:00

Dutch fashion magazine Jackie recently published an article offering advice on how to dress like Rihanna without looking "like the ultimate nigger bitch." Yup you heard right. See offensive details below for further context.

“She has street cred, she has a ghetto ass and she has a golden throat. Rihanna, the good girl gone bad, is the ultimate niggabitch and displays that gladly, and for her that means: what’s on can come off. If that means she’ll be on stage half naked, then so be it. But Dutch winters aren’t like Jamaican ones, so pick a clothing style in which your daughter can resist minus ten. No to the big sunglasses and the pornheels, and yes to the tiger print, pink shizzle and everything that glitters. Now let’s hope she won’t beat anybody up at daycare.”

After being flooded with complaints the magazine's editor apologised claiming it was a joke with no racist motive behind it and not meant to offend. Yeah right. I laughed my ass off at that ignorant, racist mess. Cue the "they do it themselves" excuse and sure enough it came.

"you hear it all the time on tv and radio, then your idea of what is normal apparently shifts..." Bull. It's insulting for them to hide behind that response, nobody buys that crap. They've been called out and this is what they scramble for. Hilarious. Let's just clarify, white people, it's NEVER ok for you to use that word in any context. It doesn't matter if:

a)You think you were Shaka Zulu in an alternative life.
b)You have more black friends than fingers and toes.
c)You're currently engaging in doing the horizontal nasty with some hot brown sugar and it's more addictive than coke.

Don't do it.

And if you're the type that likes to argue for the right to use that word because you've heard some black people use it... Really? Must your white privilege extend to that? Think about it, you're arguing for the right to use a racist word and should be smacked with some perspective to jostle those brain cells into reality. It's idiotic.

Oh and apparently the writer of the article and editor think the Caribbean is all one big Jamaican island. They probably think everybody is dutty whining and eating chicken from dusk till dawn too.Rihanna is from Barbados you morons. Lol. Hat tip to Afro-Europe blog.
http://afroeurope.blogspot.com

Snapped:Cree Summer

2011-12-19T14:10:00.001-08:00

Cree Summer is an actress, voice over artist and musician. The afro canadian rock chick starred in A Different World and was the voice of Penny in Inspector Gadget. She's done a huge amount of voice over work. She's gorgeous, cool and interesting. I think she also has native american ancestry hence the name.

Pal Pal Pursuit:Cree Summer and Lisa Bonet

2011-12-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

These two have so much in common it's a friendship made in heaven. Love cool, alternative black chicks.

Technicolour

2011-12-19T13:14:00.001-08:00

Poster Boy:Francisco Lachowski

2011-12-19T12:45:00.000-08:00

Brazillian Polish model Francisco Lachowski. Stunning looking guy.

World Bites:London Lobster Munch

2011-12-19T12:19:00.001-08:00

New London restaurant Burger & Lobster has opened it's doors which means if you love seafood like me, you can finally eat lobster at an affordable price. The restaurant is russian owned and located in an old irish pub. There isn't a menu but each main comes with salad or french fries. You can also try the lobster roll. Lobsters arrive from Canada and live in a downstairs tank until steamed, grilled and served whole with lemon and garlic butter. Oh those poor lobsters. Yum.
http://www.burgerandlobster.com

Couple Stalking:Malcolm Jamal Warner and Tracee Ellis Ross

2011-12-19T11:37:00.000-08:00

So I know the lovely Malcolm Jamal Warner is dating fabulous Regina King in real life but the onscreen chemistry between him and Tracee in Reed Between The Lines is fantastic. I caught a couple of episodes the other day and I like the show but I love the dynamic between these two. It's so natural it really doesn't seem like acting. I definitely think they'll become one of my favourite onscreen pairings ever, Tracee ( one of my ultimate style crushes) is so well cast as the wife and mother juggling a career and Malcolm Jamal Warner is great. I love watching these two together and they carry the show. Oh and Regina King, marry this man. He plays the ideal husband all too well, I sort of adore him. He's so good he makes it hard to seperate fiction from fact. Reed Between The Lines is a family sitcom and you can watch it on B.E.T. Big hat tip to Aritul for this info.
http://likearollingstoneoh.blogspot.com

Crushed:Winona Ryder

2011-12-19T06:37:00.001-08:00

As a teenager I loved actress Winona Ryder. She was kooky, cool and ridiculously pretty, still is. This was before kleptomania gate. But hey, we all have low times and unsurprisingly Winona has stated she's suffered with depression and anxiety issues. Before the likes of Chloe Sevigny Winona paved the way for indie film actresses who could straddle both edgy and mainstream films. I still think she rocks.

Anti Christmas Movies

2011-12-19T05:54:00.001-08:00

Hilarious. I laugh my ass off every time. Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant as the alcohol guzzling, sex addicted, piss poor Santa on a downward spiral who doesn't even like kids. And every year, he and his dwarf partner in crime, Santa's elf rob the department stores they work in.

Bizzare and magical. A very sweet young man who has scissors for hands falls in love.Tim Burton's imagination is incredible, Johnny Depp is amazing and it's a visual treat. Weirdly wonderful for all the right reasons.

Eddie Murphy in his prime was so cool and hilarious to watch. An investor and a canny con artist find their positions reversed as pawns in a bet by two heartless millionaires. Who says cruelty in life ceases because it's Christmas? Love Jamie Lee Curtis in this too.

In Bruges is now one of my favourite movies. It's absolutely brilliant, unusual premise and very cleverly written. Two hit men lie low in Bruges, Belgium but with an irate boss on their heels and their differing views on life and death, things take unexpected turns. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes are too good. Superb.

A penniless relative of the Duke of D'Ascoyne schemes to inherit the title by killing the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him. Classic black comedy.

Expression

2011-12-16T12:24:00.000-08:00

XY Chromosome Sundae:Ashley Walters

2011-12-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

British actor and musician Ashley Walters. Hell yeah. Ashley is gorgeous, have a major thing for him. I love his eyes, his beautiful skin tone and his cute dimples. He has such a cheeky face and looks so good in geeky glasses. He's killing me in that suit. His film and tv credits include Get Rich or Die Tryin, Bullet Boy, Sugar House, Hustle and most recently Top Boy. Loved him in Top Boy, he played the conflicted bad boy with a heart and totally shined. If there's any justice, Ashley will be the next Idris Elba, he deserves it.

Slice

2011-12-15T08:04:00.001-08:00

Jimmi Hendrix owned the stage.

Architectural Feats

2011-12-15T07:59:00.000-08:00

Award winning architect Steven Holl's luminous building.

Pic Of The Week

2011-12-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

Art On The Brain

2011-12-15T07:34:00.001-08:00

Album Covers Corner

2011-12-15T07:14:00.001-08:00

Crushed:Skin Skunk Anansie

2011-12-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

Force of nature and spider rock chick Skin from the band Skunk Anansie. Love her and the spikes on those leggings.

Couple Stalking:Ezra Miller and Zoe Kravitz

2011-12-13T06:20:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous couple Ezra Miller and Zoe Kravitz were. They dated in 2010 and starred together in the movie Beware Of The Gonzo. Zoe is a chip off the old block, like her mother she has cool taste in men. I loved her and Ben Foster together too, then Michael Fassbender and currently Penn Badgley. She and Ezra, exquisite.

Poster Boy:Ezra Miller

2011-12-13T04:55:00.001-08:00

The first thing I thought when I saw actor Ezra Miller was great, good to see an asian guy getting some buzz and profile. Yes I know his name is Ezra Miller but he's definitely of asian ancestry,mixed with white. Secondly, he's stunning. I love his unusual dress sense and he seems odd and interesting. No wonder he was cast as Tilda Swinton's son, Tilda Swinton is amazing. He's too cute with his ex girlfriend Zoe Kravitz, Lisa Bonet's daughter. Ezra starred in Californication, Royal pains, Beware The Gonzo and Another Happy Day. Catch him opposite Tilda Swinton in We Need To Talk About Kevin.

Crowning Glory

2011-12-13T04:05:00.000-08:00

Slice

2011-12-12T17:41:00.001-08:00

The one and only Grace Jones.

Language

2011-12-12T17:25:00.001-08:00

Hat tip to fuck yeah black beauties tumblr :-)

Vault

2011-12-12T17:21:00.001-08:00

Josephine Baker, Johann Strauss Theatre, Vienna 1928.

A Prophet

2011-12-11T17:05:00.001-08:00

Jacques Audiard's A Prophet. One of my favourite films. A young Arab man goes to jail where he rises up the ranks to become a mafia kingpin. Great prison gangster flick, Tahar Rahim is a BAD ASS.

Tahar Rahim

2011-12-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

Algerian french based actor Tahar Rahim. Have my babies now. Gorgeous. He's amazing in A Prophet as Malik El Djebena, one of the best onscreen protagonists ever. Next up he plays an Arab prince and Frieda Pinto's love interest in Black Gold. Also Des Hommes Libres, a biopic on Si Kaddour Benghabrit, the founder of the Great Mosque of Paris and controversial Chinese director Lou Ye's film Love Bruises.

Body Art

2011-12-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

Surfer Chicks

2011-12-11T04:58:00.000-08:00

licorice allsorts

2011-12-11T04:51:00.000-08:00

Love everything. Glorious. :-)

Crushed:Lisa Bonet

2011-12-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

Lisa Bonet. Fuck yeah. Bohemian earth godess.

Snapped:Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejiofor

2011-12-11T04:34:00.000-08:00

Awesome. Love these two actors.Chewetel is a fine ass Nigerian Brit honey and Don is one of the best scene stealers around.

Red Head

2011-12-11T04:32:00.001-08:00

Inked

2011-12-11T04:25:00.001-08:00

Sober In The Cauldron

Poster Boy:Alex Turner

Speak

Pic of The Week

Drink

Slice:Viola Davis

Crushed:Claire Danes

Michael's Oscar Race

Art On The Brain

The Cool

Slice:Hilary Swank

Crushed:Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge

Watch List:Lana Del Rey

Vault:Vintage Drum

Poster Boy:Willy Cartier

R.I.P: Etta James

Black Boheme 1

XY Chromosome Sundae:Piolo Pascual

Yada Yada Yada:Richard Pryor

Director's Cut: Ava DuVernay

Couple Stalking:Anna Chlumsky and Shaun So

Watch List: Middle of Nowhere / Premium Rush

Hang Out Happened

Idris's Globe

Art On The Brain:Delphine Diallo

Phosphorous Reinvention:Solange Knowles

Crushed:Michael Fassbender

Pal Pal Pursuit:Steve McQueen & Michael Fassbender

XY Chromosome Sundae:Michael Ealy

Couple Stalking:Michael Ealy & Halle Berry

Awkward Black Girl Season 1 Finale

Crushed:RES

Drink:Tim Olyphant

Miscellaneous

Architectural Feats

January Watch:Baby Xander

Shed of Geekdom:Cardboard Robot Building

Inked

Joie Lee

XY Chromosome Sundae:Ben Youcef

Molasses

Crushed:Tyson Beckford

Instrument

Slice:Hitched

Mortal Spawn:Selah Marley

My Fellow American

The Cool

XY Chromosome Sundae:Diether Ocampo

Couple Stalking:Real Life Pick N Mix

Shingai Shoniwa

Crushed:Neneh Cherry

Slice

Album Covers Corner

NURU

Ode To Wyatt Cenac

Rummager

Beautifully Crazy:Man On Wire

Watch List:The Walking Dead

Couple Stalking:Steven Yeun and Lauren Cohan Walking Dead

Book Munch:Perfume

Adorned

Crushed:Harry Shum Jr

Bike Swagger

Drink

Kick Push

XY Chromosome Sundae:Sung Kang

Shed of Geekdom:Marbelous Wood

Hang Out Happened

Watch List:Red Tails

Dutch Magazine calls Rihanna "The Ultimate N*gg* Bitch" Then Claims It Was a Joke.

Snapped:Cree Summer

Pal Pal Pursuit:Cree Summer and Lisa Bonet

Technicolour

Poster Boy:Francisco Lachowski

World Bites:London Lobster Munch

Couple Stalking:Malcolm Jamal Warner and Tracee Ellis Ross

Crushed:Winona Ryder

Anti Christmas Movies

Expression

XY Chromosome Sundae:Ashley Walters

Dutch Magazine calls Rihanna "The Ultimate Ngg Bitch" Then Claims It Was a Joke.