BET Awards 2016: Sheila E., Bilal, Janelle Monae Pays Tribute To Prince

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The 2016 BET Awards was dedicated to the late musician/actor Prince. The musical ceremony was hosted by Tracie Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson with special appearances by comedian Dave Chappelle, actress Taraji P. Henson, Fantasia and Spike Lee who presented actor Samuel L. Jackson with the lifetime Achievement Award. Actor and activist Jesse Williams gave an emotional phenomenal speech on various things that has affected and is damaging to our community.

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Sheila E. along with Bilal, Janelle Monae, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Tori Kelly, D'Angelo and Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to the late Prince. Of all the performaces in honor of Prince Bilal, Janelle Monae and Sheila E were more impressionable. Bilal who sang "Do Me" was all over the stage showcasing seductive moves imitating what Prince would do. Janelle sang several classics including "Pop Life" and "I Would Die 4 You". Sheila E. took the show out performing some of Prince classics including "Housequake", "Love Bizarre" and "Baby I'm A Star". Sheila E. played the drums and guitar. She sang. She danced. She did it all with the help of Jerome who also joined Sheila on stage.

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Other peformances of this year's BET Awards were Beyonce who opened the show with rapper Kendrick Lamar in the single "Freedom",. Maxwell sang his latest single "All The Ways Love Can Feel" and "Lake By The Ocean". Bryson Tiller who won for Best Male R&B Artist and Best New Artist sang his his single "Don't"Future graced the stage with "Wicked" and rapper Designer had the crowd jumping with him to the hit "Panda". French Montana, Fat Joe and Remy Ma performed "All The Way Up" and Usher also gave a surprising performance. 

The BET Awards 2016 is now over. Musicians came out and showed out. Coming up is the Soul Train Awards and the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Stay tuned for upcoming show dates and times!

Tamara M. Anderson

@mstekeyla

A&E '60 Days In Aftermath: '

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The participates of '60 Days In' joined captain Scottie Maples and Sheriff Jamey Noel to discuss their experiences in Clark County Jail with television host Dan Abrams.

Tami, Barbra and Maryum were the first to sit down with Abrams. Tami revealed she quit her job as a police officer after 21 years. She said after spending time in jail she didn't want to be one of the people who put someone in there. Things got heated between Maryum, Barbra and Tami when Maryum was explaining why she used the term "small yellow bus" while they were in the program. Maryum apologized to the ladies and said in no way was she trying to offend anyone especially since her brother rode the school bus. Just as Maples stated that's the reality of jail. 

Since leaving the program Isaiah has enrolled into college. He talked about how the program made him not want to go to jail. Jeff who said he traded commissary for things hoping to make friends and keep him from being a target also said he would do the program again. Isaiah and Zac explained to Jeff the difference between how they traded commissary and how he did it. Zac said he wouldn't trust his life in Jeff hands and rightfully so. Jeff made himself a target and if he went back in he would become someone boyfriend simply because of that.

Robert's attitude was the same way it was before the program and after the program. Zac and Tami made a bet that Robert wouldn't last long. Zac gave him three weeks and Tami who won the bet gave him five weeks. Robert took the program for a joke and denied he faked being sick. He was in complete denial when he said he didn't have any problems while he was in jail and that he wanted to go back to segregation. Anyone who watched the show could tell Robert feared for his life. He placed the towel over the camera on purpose so he could go into segregation which he called meditation. He knew when Captain Maples told him he was going back to general population that it wasn't going to be good for him. Robert did not take the program seriously.

Maples and Noel gave positive feedback on all the participates except Robert. Zac was the most informative and Barbra was the strongest survivor. 

'60 Days In' will be returning for a new season.This time Zac's wife will be a participant. And there will be eight participants instead of seven.
Tamara M. Anderson
@mstekeyla

'Real World Go Big Or Go Home Finale: "Final Breaking Points"

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The finale of 'Real World Go Big Or Go Home' was one of the most explosive finales in 'Real World' history. Before the final days CeeJai and Jenna was sent home following a physical confrontation.

Jenna pushed CeeJai to her final breaking point when she and her friend disrespected her by calling her ratchet and telling her to go pick cotton. After a few words back and forth Jenna said the word ratchet again and CeeJai snapped. She literally grabbed Jenna by her hair and began punching her in the face. Jenna was defenseless. As a result both Jenna and CeeJai were sent home. Jenna who thought CeeJai was the only one going home was shocked to learn she was leaving as well. The previous night Jenna tried to fight CeeJai and the producers did the right thing by sending them both home. 

Violence shouldn't be accepted or condoned by any means however if the producers had of stepped in sooner some of the things that occurred could have been avoided. From the first day of the season Jenna had been testing CeeJai. She identified CJ and Dean as colored people and from there she continued to make disrespectful comments towards CJ and other roommates.

CeeJai was remorseful for what she did but Jenna had no care in the world for her actions. She blamed CJ for what happened instead of acknowledging what she had done. For every action there is a reaction and although CJ was wrong maybe Jenna will think before she speaks. Is Jenna a racist? She says she isn't but her actions show different. If her friend is racist and then she must be too and it's a disgrace to human kind. 

Jenna should have been sent home long time ago but her roommates felt like she should have another chance. Chris and Dean even tried to be her friend but her judgmental comments pushed them away and along came the rest. 

If Jenna has plans on being a competitor on MTV's 'The Challenge' she might want to take some history lessons on the do's and dont's.
Tamara M. Anderson
@mstekeyla

A&E 60 Days In Finale Recap: "The Surviving Five"

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On the show '60 Days In' what started out as seven volunteers ended with five. Barbra who happened to be a stay-at-home-mom manged to outlast Robert the school teacher and Jeff the security guard. Barbra immediately became friends with Tami upon enterting the program but after Tami found herself at odds with most of the girls in the pod, Barbra stayed her distance. However, when her cellmate was released into a rehab program that left Barbra alone. She then went back to Tami and they continued their friendship. Barbra was mentally stronger than Tami, She didn't allow the other inmates to get to her, In fact, she stood up to everyone in the pod and adovated for peach amongst them instead of fighting and arguing all the time. Barbra made plenty friends while she was in jail but she was so excited to get home to husband and children. 

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Isaian who was age 19, the youngest member of '60 Days In'  had a rough start in the program when he didn't have an ID number preventing him from getting comminsary. After a week or so he began to blend in with his own kind who seemed to look out for him. During a search Isaiah felt because he was African American that he was searched differently than the other inmates.When he was moved to another pod he linked up with one of the troublemakers. He didn't do anything too bad except smoke on what they called a "crack stick" but overall he managed to make it throough the program.

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Yaz aka Maryum Ali, daughter of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali was like a mother and role model to the inmates in the pod she was in. Yaz shared the same pod wiith Barbra and Tami but they didn't know Maryum was apart of the program. Of all the ladies in the pod Tami and Barbra just didn't get along with Yaz. She made a comment about the yellow school bus and she drew a picture with a boot stomping the American flag, which caused Tami and Barbra to build a dislikeness for her. Yaz had no intentions on causing any problems with anyone and Tami and Barbra took thing out of context. One would hate to assume it was because Yaz is African American but it does appear that way.

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.When Tami entered the program she went in with the same police mentality she carries on the streets. Perhaps, she forgot she was in jail. She initiated conflict with some of the girls and wasn't perpared for the outcome. She thought because she is a police officer that they would automatically respect her. Tami was definitely having a hard time. She allowed them to break her but she made it through.

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Lastly, Zac the marine was a great asset to the program. He was able to observe and use his military skills to give the supervisor and sergeant the information they needed. Zac didn't face any problems with drugs or fighting. He played his part very well without giving any suspicions until he left the pod for good. Zac, Isaiah and Jeff shared the same pod but neither of them knew they were apart of the program like Tami and Barbra.

Unlike Robert and Jeff, Zac, Tami, Isaiah, Barbra and Yaz made it through the program. A week after enterting the program Jeff was released after he was physically attacked by an inmate named Ricky. After landing himself in segregation Robert was released early due to a sudden illness he incurred when he was set to return to population. Robert went into the program like it was a game. He didn't take it serious until he felt like his life was threatened. That's when he faked an illness so he could get released.

Next time on '60 Days In' the seven volunteers meet each other, some for the first time. Zac was honest with his feelings about Jeff and things got heated with Maryum and Tami.
Tamara M. Anderson
@mstekeyls
@mahoganymagazin

Empire Season Two Finale Recap: "Unexpected Vows & Judgement Day"

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On the finale of 'Empire' there were some shocking twists and turns that will leave you in suspense until next season. 

Previously on 'Empire' Jamal was accidentally shot by Freda at the American Sound Awards. The bullet was intended for Lucious but Jamal got in the way. Jamal survived putting speculation of his departure from the show to rest. Lucious who was behind the death of Freda's father Frank, still managed to convince Freda he had nothing to do with her father's death and conned her into putting down a track to motivate Jamal.

Meanwhile Hakeem was just about to marry Laura things took an unexpected turn for the worse due to a meeting called by Cookie that became violent. Even though Hakeem and Laura didn't get a chance to say "I Do", a marriage did take place.

To keep Anika from testifying against Lucious she and Lucious got married against Cookie's wishes. Before Lucious and Anika's spontaneous marriage took place, Anika who is also pregnant with Hakeem's child tried to committ suicide by jumping off the ledge. It just so happens following the sudden vows Anika was faced with judgment day when Rhonda made her aware that she knew it was her who pushed her down the stairs, causing her ot lose her baby. Anika and Rhonda both started fighting. They tussled back and forth trying to force one to fall over the ledge. By the time Andre arrived all you heard were screams. So who fell over the ledge? Was it Rhonda or Anika? Could it have been both?

This season finale of 'Empire' has left viewers wondering who survived the fall between Rhonda and Anika? If Anika survives there's a chance she could have lost her baby, the same way she cause Rhonda to lose hers. Also if Anika survives Cookie is going to make her life as miserable as possible. She was only playing nice because she was carrying Hakeem's child. Now that Anika and Lucious is married that changes everything!
Tamara M. Anderson
@mstekeyla
@mahoganymagazin

'60 Days In': "Tami Is Way In Over Her Head"

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 There's a new reality show called '60 Day's In' on A&E. It's a reality show where seven volunteers including a marine, security officer, stay-at-home-mom, police officier, brother of a former jailmate, a social worker also former boxing greatest Muhammed Ali and a business man decided to go into the jail facility in the Clark County jail in Indiana. 

From day one Robert showed that he wasn't listiening to nothing he learned in training. He got his cover story all messed up and then he broke the rules. He went in the jail taking it as a joke. He doesn't realize the danger he is putting himself and others in the facility in, like Diandre.  At this rate it doesn't look like he's going ot make it to the end.

Tami who is a police officer went into the program thinking she can play the role of an officer. She needs to understand that age doesn't mean anything once you go into jail. Regardless of her professional status she might be joining Robert in an early departure. When Tami confronted Boston the way she did she didn't realize how lucky she was. Boston may have been 21-years-old but she was about to give a 45-year-old woman what she was looking for.

Zac ssems to be doing better than everyone else. However, he is getting way too comfortable. He broke the rules when he called a fellow inmate a B***h. He then said he and his friends joke like that all of the time. While Zac was hunting out drug dealers in the joint he must be careful before he reising suspicions.

Isaiah isn't doing so well. He has no idea and his cover story is wack. He felt his life was in jeopardy so he called out the code word 'hot coffee'. Things like this isn't made for everyone and Isaiah is one of them.

Another volunteer this program isn't made for is Jeff. Just like Robert his story was unbelievable. He didn't know if his charges were a felony or embezzlement. Once Jeff began to raise suspicions amongs the other inmates the scheming began.

Maryum aka Yaz and Barbra are low key. They mostly sit back and observe things. Tami and Barbra are aware each other are from Sgt. Noel's program but they don't know about Maryum and she doesn't know about them. Maryum is like the motherly kind to the inmates while Tami is too busy trying to be a law enforcer.

Who will make it to the end on '60 Days In'? Robert, Tami and Isaiah might be the first to go. So far Zac is doing good but for how long? There's a chance Jeff will make it, but we will see how long he lasts after he gets attacked. It's going to be a matter of time before Barbra and Maryum gets tested. Who's going to reach their breaking point first?

Stay tuned for '60 Days In' Thursday's on A&E!
Tamara M. Anderson
@mstekeyla

Is Peter Thomas Leaving 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'?

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This season of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' was more intense than any other. Shortly, before the second part of the reunion of this season it was already rumored that Peer Thomas and Cynthia Bailey were separated. Recently, it was announced that Peter is giving up his peach and leaving the RHOA! According  to him, the reality show is part of the reason behind the problems in he and Bailey's marriage.

Previous news outlets had reported that although Cynthia said that she and Peter were in a good place at the reunion, recently, she stated that the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' stars are not in a good place. Does that mean there was some truth to the infidelity rumors? Neither Cynthia or Peter admitted to what's really going on but Peter being in Charlotte most of the time while she's in Atlanta doesn't look like the happy couple to viewers. 

Ever since that video made it's debut on the show Peter made sure he's stayed in his lane because he knew it would come up every time. 

Will Peter be missed on the show? Being that the show wasn't really about him, probably not! Peter was low key on this season of RHOA. Since he's ending his time time on the show maybe he can focus on being a better and respectful husband to his wife.
Tamara M. Anderson
@mstekeyla