If you are a followers of Sundance Festivals, Indie Films, and or black films in general you've come across Dope. Dope, produced by Forest Whitaker and directed by Rick Famuyiwa, is an inspirational tale of high school geek Malcolm's (played by A$AP Rocky) journey through The Bottoms, one of the toughest neighborhoods in Inglewood, Calif.

Malcolm and his crew of outcasts share a great appreciation for all things '90s -from attire, hip-hop and more. There is the daily fight for survival in the hood and self-acceptance after a drug dealer takes a liking to Malcolm.

The film was included in the 2014 Sundance Film Festival line-up just last year and finally (I feel as though I've been waiting forever) it will be out in theaters June 19!

WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola

If you liked Magic Mike and anticipate Magic Mike XXL it is time to rejoice, because Chocolate City is coming May 22nd! Obviously the listing gives away the fact that there will be sexy men dancing half naked on the big screen. Chocolate City chronicals life for a struggling college student, Micheal played by Arnez I mean Robert Ri'chard, who is also dealing with family woes. His life changes when he meets the owner of the strip club Chocolate City who gives him his start at amateur night.

Check out all of the sexy chocolate in the trailer below. 

WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola

The project is currently untitled and the air date as well as other cast members have not been announced.

Alice Barker was a chorus line dancer during the Harlem Renaissance of the the 1930s and 40s. There were multiple popular clubs such as The Apollo, Cotton Club, and Zanzibar Club during the Harlem Renaissance. These clubs played  with legends including Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Although she danced in numerous movies, commercials and TV shows, she had never seen any of them, and all of her photographs and memorabilia had been lost over the years.

Now 102 years old, Baker has been able to view herself on film for the first time. 

Just the smile alone and the memories of her reliving the past is simply amazing. 

Last week Bama State Style made it's TV debut on the Lifetime network. I happen to have been flipping channels when I came across this show. Immediately, I'm yelling at the TV, I'm questioning why didn't I know about this show? Where were the commercial advertisements? Where was the promotion? I quickly grabbed the remote to set up a series recording because I was NOT going to miss this show.

For those who haven't heard or saw, Bama State Style is basically a show giving the world a look into the world famous HBCU marching band. It chronicles auditions for drum majors, practices for the Stingettes and the Honey Beez and the legacy. Most importantly, it shows a glimpse into the college life at an HBCU.

Obviously I wasn't the only one who didn't get the memo about the show. I searched the hashtag BamaStateStyle on Twitter and the chatter was very light, mainly from people who either currently attends or have graduated from ASU or those like me who thinks shows like this is necessary.

I've waited to blog about this to see if I'd see more advertisement for the show prior to the second episode. Nope. Didn't happen and had I not set the DVR to record, I probably would've missed it. Check out the about for the show on the Lifetime website below. It is very, very brief AND the photo used above is the ONLY photo on the site (aside from the background) for season one. Hmm. From two episodes there's only one photo? Wow.

I want to hear you all on Bama State Style. Have you either of the two episodes? Did you know about this show? What are you're thoughts about the lack of promotion for this HBCU and its world-famous band?

The film is set in one of Philadelphia's roughest neighborhoods and famed Overbrook High School. The story-line follows the Taylor siblings - June, (Cory Hardrict), Sergio (Eric D. Hill Jr.) and Jackie (Keke Palmer) - and the life or death push to get out of the hood.


As the nation's number one high school ball player, Sergio's talent seem like a promising escape for him to avoid the path of street life unlike June. The temptations of hood life and hood fame tests a loving family trying their best against all odds.


The created by first time writer and director Jamal Hill will be out in theaters tomorrow.

WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola

Jenner made public her feelings toward the made-up challenge via Twitter. She stated, “I’m not here to try & encourage people/young girls to look like me or to think this is the way they should look. I want to encourage people/young girls like me to be YOURSELF & not be afraid to experiment w your look.” Good words, but teens everywhere have already been hurt and scared trying to get lips like Jenner.

When will the madness of the lips and one-uppers of Tyga's ex and current be over?

Two of our beloved 90's singers will be on TV screens every week with brand new shows on BET. Recently announced, Brandy Norway will be the star character in Zoë Moon, a show about a newly divorced mother who is a struggling cosmetics mogul. As for Kelly Rowland, there will be a new singing competition show called Chasing Destiny where Rowland will be seeking the next big female vocalist!

Both ladies have been busy at work. Brandy will be making her Broadway debut in the eight-week revival of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre staring April 24. She will be playing the role of the murderous housewife Roxie Hart. Meanwhile, Kelly has been settling into being a first-time mom and heading back into the studio of course!

While I don't have any tattoos, I have many friends that do. While I don't have an Instagram, I have many friends that do. What these two have in common is often friends using other cultures to represent a part of themselves. I've seen Chinese writing, Arabic, French, among a host of other languages. I've also seen people take tribal tattoos and place them all around their bodies. Similar to people wearing Native Chief feathers at their hipster-ish parties.  Similar, to tattoos, I have seen the same on instagram. People post on instagram arabic meanings and don't know the slightest definition of it. 

A celebrity case of this recently was with Lindsey Lohan. Lindsay posted this to her instagram. The Arabic translation literally means the opposite. "You are an Ass". There is absolutely nothing wrong with cultural diversity but please do some research into the meaning.