We hope you’re having a great Monday so far! Here’s what we’re talking about as we start our week:
The wait is over! Alicia Keys has given birth to a bouncing baby boy! Genesis Ali Dean was born at 1:52am on Saturday, December 27, weighing in at six pounds, five ounces. Keys shared a picture on Instagram of the newborn’s footprints with the caption “The joy of joy is joy!! It’s a boy! We are so grateful! #blessings!!” This is her second child with hubby Swizz Beatz, who has two other children from his previous marriage. Congratulations Swizz and Alicia! [Clutch]
Over the weekend, TMZ broke news that Solange Knowles was hit with a tax lien from the state of California just three days after her wedding. Apparently, the singer-designer owes over $50,000 in unpaid taxes from 2010-2012. But Knowles is taking it all in stride. In fact, if it weren’t for the media’s rumor mill, she never would have known about the lien. She tweeted yesterday, “Well thanks for letting me know, lol…Good looking out, yo.” [TMZ]
Mel B. is putting rumors of marital discord to bed. After being hospitalized for an overdose of alcohol and tranquilizers and being seen with scratches and bruises on her body, rumors began to swirl that the former Spice Girl was being abused by her husband Stephen Belafonte. But Mel B. posted a pic of her and her hubby on Instagram with the caption: “I’m very good…and for the record, my hubby would never lay a hand on me sorry [I] took so long but any response fuels rumors #lovemyfamily.” [Hello Beautiful]
President Obama doesn’t think race relations have gotten worse in America despite the protests taking place throughout the country. In a recent interview with NPR, President Obama insisted that distrust between police and minority communities is nothing new and that race relations have improved over the last few decades. “From the perspective of African-Americans or Latinos in poor communes who have been dealing with this all their lives, they wouldn’t suggest somehow that it’s worse now than it was 10, 15 or 20 years ago,” he said. [NPR]
The posthumous release of Maya Angelou’s new album, Caged Bird Songs, put music to her iconic poetry. Now, we have visuals to add to the upbeat readings of some her most famous poems. Take a look at the video for “Harlem Hopscotch” from Maya Angelou’s posthumous album, Caged Bird Songs.
