Beyonce surprises the world and drops her Self Titled 5th Album BEYONCE

 2013 has been the year of Beyonce, (I will discuss that later this month)

Throughout the year of 2013 Beyonce has been a very busy woman, spending majority of her time performing on her world tour " The Mrs Carter Show World Tour". Her tour has taken her through Europe, the United States, South America, Australia, back through the United States and back to Europe in the year of 2014. Beyonce has been able to have a successful tour without officially releasing new music. She was able to provide her fans with a dosage of new music through her ad campaigns with Pepsi and H&M clothing, but she did not officially release a single that was for sale and could be purchased.

All throughout the year Beyonce's fan (the #Beyhive) have begged and pleaded for new music and yet none was never given.

The night of December 12th marked the 100th performance of the Mrs Carter Show. This show was held in Louisville, Kentucky, and I was personally convinced that something big was going to happen that night. I was mainly thinking that big thing would happen at the concert but Beyonce had bigger and better plans.

At 12:00-12:01am on friday December 13 eastern time while a great percentage of the country was asleep, Beyonce did the unthinkable and surprisingly released her 5th album which happens to be self title and a VISUAL album. The album features Blue Ivy, JayZ, Drake, Frank Ocean, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and contains 14 songs and 17 videos. YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT! BEYONCE RELEASED 17 VIDEOS all at the same time. Most artist first albums are their self titled albums but Beyonce isn't the average artist and instead chose her 5th album to be her self titled Album. This album was released on December 13 (1+3=4) so it seems like this date still can be tied back to Beyonce's favorite number 4-IV. Currently the album can only be purchased on iTunes but that will soon change on December 20 or 21st. 

I found out about the release via my best friend Erica

"What are best friends for" ---->>> " To inform you when Beyonce drops a new album"

I really adore my best friend she's the greatest and loves and adores Beyonce just as much as I do. I could not believe what I saw when I opened iTunes. Beyonce was everywhere. She had caught me completely off guard and shocked the hell out of me. I was so convinced that we were not going to see the 5th album until 2014 once she released "Life is But a Dream" on November 25, 2013. I felt tricked, bamboozled, out maneuvered, and overcome with Joy. I was happy that Beyonce was able to surprise me and personally give me a Christmas gift from her to me.

So after my heart skipped a few beats upon hearing the news I was able to grab my MacBook and quickly download what I knew to be one of the greatest albums of all time. I spent the entire night on a Beyonce high and the early morning hours watching all 17 of her videos with Erica via FaceTime. We would watch a video and then proceed to discuss what we liked and disliked about the video and reflect on the greatness that we were given on Dec 13, 2013.

Beyonce's surprise ROCKED social media and had everyone buzzing about the greatness we had been hit with. Check out a few tweets that focused on the release of Beyonce 's new album

Beyonce did not promote, advertise, or drop a single. She just straight up DROPPED AN ALBUM just like that. She's so big that she doesn't need to notify anyone in advance that she has big things in the works.

The 17 videos that she released are amazing and are such story tellers. The videos were shot around the world while Beyonce was on her tour in various locations such as Miami< Los Angeles, Brazi, Coney Island, Paris and in her hometown Houston, Texas. Check out clips of the videos below and what Beyonce had to say below about why she dropped her album unexpectedly and include a video to every song. 

"I feel like right now, people experience music differently. I remember watching Thriller on TV with my family, it was an event, we all sat around the TV and now looking back, I am so happy I was born around that time. I miss that immersive experience. Now, people only listen to a few seconds of a song on their IPODS, they don’t really invest in a whole album. It’s all about the single and the hype. There’s so much that gets between the music, and the artists and the fans. I felt like, I don’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it is ready, and from me to my fans.I told my team, ‘I want to shoot a video for every song and put them all out at the same time!’ Everyone thought I was crazy, but we’re actually doing it, it’s happening! I wanted to make this body of work, and I feel like it’s something that’s lost in pop music. I wanted people to hear things differently and have a first impression. Not just listen to a 10 second clip, but actually be able to see a whole vision of the album. It was important that we made this a movie, we made this an experience. I wanted everyone to see the whole picture, and to see how personal everything was to me. I will make my best art and just put it out. And that’s why it’s out today."

Pretty Hurts 

Haunted

Drunk in Love (Featuring JAY Z)

Blow/Cherry

No Angel

Yoncé

Partition

Jealous

Rocket 

Mine (Featuring Drake)

XO

Flawless (Featuring/ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)

Superpower (Featuring Frank Ocean)

Heaven

Blue (Featuring Blue Ivy)

Remember  To Always Be 

Fierce and Fabulous 

xoxo 

Lela Victoria 

Heisman Finalist of 2013 and (WHY AJ McCARRON SHOULD WIN THE HEISMAN)

I rarely ever blog about sports, but today I will make the exception, especially since I'm choosing to write about football and not my beloved Track and Field.

This year their are six Heisman finalist instead of 5. This is only the second time in history that this has happened with the first time this occured being 19 years ago in 1994.

The six finalist are
Jameis Winston, (Florida State University)
 AJ McCarron,  (University of Alabama)
Andre Williams, (Boston College)
 Tre Mason, (Auburn University)
Johnny Manziel  (Texas A&M University)
 Jordan Lynch  (Northern Illinois)


If you guys do not know who I am pulling for, then you definitely dont know who Shalela is and what I love. I really hope that somehow by the grace of God that Mobile, Alabama native Raymond Anthony ( AJ McCarron ) brings home the trophy. I have some very strong reasons on why I think AJ is deserving of this award.

1. AJ is from my hometown and from the great state of Alabama.

2. All AJ knows how to do is win. Okay he has lost a few games, but for the most part, he's won big. Not only has AJ won big, he's won big 3 TIMES. AJ has 3 national championship rings and has been apart of 3 winning teams. I dont think any of the other 5 finalist can say that they have earned such hardware.

3. He's a southern and gentleman and such a sweetheart. AJ has such a big heart and gives back to ALABAMA fans all the time. One of the greatest things he has done is to be apart of TEAM STARLA . Starla is a little girl who was diagnosed with cancer about 2 years ago, and she is a lover of ALABAMA football. During the 2011 national championship game AJ wore her Team Starla bracelet during the game in honor of her that said #JustTrust.





4. His girl friend is hot. She's a former Miss Alabama queen and has the looks to back it up.

GOOD LUCK AJ I hope you bring home the win and if you do not and Jameis Winston get's it I will not be that upset because he's a native of HUEYTOWN ALABAMA. So either way it goes the state of Alabama still wins.




Let's take a look at the  players stats and see just why they were nominated for such an elite award in the first place.

First up is Jameis Winston, who is favorite to win the award this year, and get this (he's only a freshman).

JAMEIS WINSTON

AJ McCARRON

TRE MASON

ANDRE WILLIAMS

JORDAN LYNCH

JOHNNY MANZIEL

( winner of lasts years Heisman)

GOOD LUCK AJ McCARRON

Remember To Always Be

Fierce and Fabulous

 

 

xoxo

Lela Victoria 

 

Beyonce 's Mrs Carter Show World Tour continues in 2014

Beyonce has definitely earned the right to be called the hardest working woman in show business. She kicked off her Mrs Carter Show World Tour this past April and has been on tour since then. 

Her tour was ending December 22 in Brooklyn, but it looks like Mrs Carter isn't ready to end her world adventures just yet. I was awaken this morning and was going through my daily ( see what's going on in the world routine and I see Beyonce has extended her tour ) 

Check out the cities and dates below 

• EUROPE
• • FEBRUARY 20, 2014
    SSE HYDRO ARENA
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    GLASGOW
• • FEBRUARY 23, 2014
    LG ARENA
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    BIRMINGHAM
• • FEBRUARY 25, 2014
    MANCHESTER ARENA
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    MANCHESTER
• • FEBRUARY 28, 2014
    THE O2
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    LONDON
• • MARCH 1, 2014
    THE O2
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    LONDON
• • MARCH 2, 2014
    THE O2
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    LONDON
• • MARCH 4, 2014
    THE O2
  • UNITED KINGDOM
    LONDON
• • MARCH 8, 2014
    THE O2
  • IRELAND
    DUBLIN
• • MARCH 9, 2014
    THE O2
  • IRELAND
    DUBLIN
• • MARCH 11, 2014
    THE O2
  • IRELAND
    DUBLIN
• • MARCH 15, 2014
    LANXESS ARENA
  • GERMANY
    COLOGNE
• • MARCH 18, 2014
    ZIGGO DOME
  • HOLLAND
    AMSTERDAM
• • MARCH 20, 2014
    SPORTPALEIS
  • ANTWERP
    BELGIUM
• • MARCH 24, 2014
    PALAU SANT JORDI
  • SPAIN
    BARCELONA
• • MARCH 26, 2014
    PALAU SANT JORDI
  • PORTUGAL
    LISBON

Beyonce performed her 99th show on her tour in her hometown (HOUSTON) last night. The Europe Leg Round II will consists of shows in the United Kingdom ( Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, London x4,) Ireland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal  She has added an additional 15 shows to her tour bringing the tour total to 122 shows . How amazing is it to know that she has performed that many times. 

Beyonce is truly a class act and is definitely a legend in my book, You ROCK Bey.

Remember to Always Be 

Fierce and Fabulous 

xoxo 

Lela Victoria

Beyonce ties Dolly Parton for most Grammy nominations for a female artist

Like always Beyonce is making history and this time she didn't even have to do much but lend her beautiful voice to her husband Sean " Jay Z " Carter 

Jay and Bey are nominated for best rap collaboration for their song On the run ( part II) which is a spin off from their song Bonnie and Clyde. This nomination gives Beyonce her 46th nominations and ties her with Dolly Parton for most nominated female. It's amazing that beyonce can still come out on top and the last time she released an album was 2011. Congrats Beyonce and bring home the win so that your Grammy count can go from 17 to 18. We are rooting for you. 

Jay leads the pack in the rap game by earning himself 9 Grammy Nominations. He also has another song in the best rap collaboration category ( Holy grail featuring Justin Timberlake) 

Jay Z is the man to beat this year on the rap side of the house. He has nominations for Best Rap Song, Best Rap collaboration, and Best Rap Album. Let's see if he can beat out Macklemore and Kendrick Lamar ( the two newest rap artist who have been at the top of their game this year ) 

Remember to Always Be 

Fierce and Fabulous 

xoxo 

Lela Victoria 

Nelson Mandela dies at the age of 95

A great man has left this earth. Today Dec 5, 2013 Nelson Mandela the first Black President of South Africa has passed away. He died in a South African hospital at the age of 95  and had been fighting illnesses majority of this year. 

I'm sadden to hear of the passing of such a magnificent individual. This was a man that changed the world and was not afraid to fight against racist apartheid rule and standup for what he thought was right. Mandela is to South Africa what MLK is to America. 

Mandela became president of South Africa in 1994 after being released from 27 years of imprisonment in 1990. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his hard work and efforts. The same award that Martin Luther King Jr received. 

As long as I live I will always remember Mandela and what he did for his country. Make sure you guys support the release of his movie. RIP Nelson Mandela you will truly be missed 

Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racist apartheid rule, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. 

                       Remember to Always Be                                  

                           Fierce and Fabulous 

                               xoxo Lela Victoria 

Beyonce takes over Jamaica

Sometime towards the end of November, Beyonce, Solange and some of Bey's friends (I'm thinking 1 or 2 )  took a trip to the island of Jamaica. As always Beyonce had her camera with her and she recently shared some of those fabulous photos taken on that trip with the world. The ladies look like they had such a fabulous time and Bey looked so calm and at piece with the world. She's such a free spirited person.

Many people say that Beyonce is very closed off and does not like to share her personal life with the world. I personally think now that Beyonce has created a tumblr, she has officially became one of the most open celebrities. Her life is an open book and it is nice of her to share it with the us. I'm sure this trip was much needed for Bey, simply because she has been on tour since April of this year. I also hear through the grape vines that Dec 22 might not be the last we hear of the #MrsCarterShowWorldTour . I think Bey might have something else up her sleeve for us.
Check out the pictures from Bey's excursion in Jamaican.

Beyonce is repping the island of Jamaica on her chest

Does it ever get cold in Jamaica?

Beyonce, Solange and a friend are out on the water enjoying the day

Beyonce has the body of a hardworker, it takes alot of hardwork to look this fierce

Beyonce being silly with her sister Solange and video director Melina Matsoukas

Now put your hands up

Daring Beyonce

I love this how she's so fearless

Beyonce loves her sister Solange #SisterlyLove

As always Solange's style is sickening

Solange relaxing on the water

Solange is werking that swimsuit #LegsForDays

Remember to Always Be

Fierce and Fabulous

xoxo Lela Victoria 

FIERCE FABULOUS AND FORTY "Happy 40th Birthday Tyra Banks"

Growing up as a young girl in sweet home Alabama one of my lifelong dreams was to grow up and become a FAMOUS SUPERMODEL like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. I can remember how I use to walk on the sidewalks of the projects I lived in " Roger Williams" and practice my model walk. I was a sight to see. I would focus on trying to walk in a straight line and cross my feet in front of one another like. I was trying to mimic the models that i saw on television.

Today is Dec 4, 2013 and it marks a very special day. Today my model idol Ms. Tyra Lynne Banks turns 40. This woman is gorgeous and I would not believe that she was a day over 25 if it wasnt for the fact that she was born in 1973, about a year and 9 months after my mama who was born in March of 72. 

Tyra has changed my life through her involvment in the modeling industry and through her empowerment of women. She truly is someone to admire and look up to. She endorses that beauty comes in many shapes and sizes and loves lifting women up. I aim to be as great as Tyra someday.

Thank you for all that you do Tyra and enjoy your very special day. You are beautiful inside and out and I hope to meet such a magnificent woman someday.  

Remember To Always Be

Fierce and Fabulous

xoxo Lela Victoria 

Michelle Obama covers December/January issue of "Ladies Home Journal"

I honestly can not get enough of our fabulous "First Lady" Michelle Obama. It has been a while since we have had a  FLOTUS which such style and grace.  Shout out to "Jackie Kennedy" for paving the way. Michelle Obama really is a great role model for women not only in the United States of America but all over the world. 

This month you can currently find our First Lady on the cover of Ladies Home Journal. Where she discusses what it is like to celebrate the holidays in the White House. This journal specifically caters to women and everything that entails what it means to be a woman, therefore it is only fitting to have the FIRST LADY grace the cover a few times. This is not her first time being on the cover, she previously shared the 2012 September issue with her husband President Barack Obama. Check out the LADIES HOME JOURNAL  and indulge in all there is to know, learn, and enjoy about being a Lady. 

Remember To Always Be

Fierce and Fabulous 

XOXO 

Lela Victoria 

Beyonce and JayZ spotted at Thunder Game

Beyonce and JayZ really love the sport of basketball. Last night November 21, 2013 the couple was spotted courtside at the Oklahoma Thunder NBA game where they took on the Clippers in the Chesapeake Arena. The last time Queen Bey was in that Arena was July 5, 2013, where she gave one heck of a performance on her Mrs Carter Show World Tour. I persoanlly attended this concert. This was the first time she touched my hand and smiled at me * I just had a BEYHIVE STAN MOMENT * That was literally the best night of my life. Bey is very familiar with that Arena.

I know we are accustomed to seeing this couple at Brooklyn NETS games, but they decided to switch things up a bit and support "Kevin Durant" who is a part of Jay Z's sports agency ROC NATION. It's nice to see the couple out doing things together especially since things are about to get hetic for them when Jay kicks off his Magna Carta tour and Bey finishes up the Mrs Carter Show that has been going since April of this year. This couple is one that is not afraid to work hard and show their fans some love.

 

 

 

Remember To Always Be

Fierce & Fabulous

 

 

 

xoxo

Lela Victoria

Best Man Holiday Movie Review

GOD, FAMILY, and FRIENDSHIP, those are the 3 most important things in my life. This past weekend the Best Man Holiday premiered nation wide on November 15, 2013. It was the first holiday movie to hit the big screen this year and I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional roller coaster that I experienced from watching the movie. The original Best Man was released 14 years ago in 1999 and it rocked the black community. This is a movie that is legendary in the black community simply because it shows African Americans in a positive light. We are not being portrayed as being thugs and drug dealers, but instead we are shown as writers, athletes, and workers in corporate america.


The Director of this film is Malcolm Lee. That last name should sound familiar and ring quite a few bells, because he's the cousin of the legendary Spike Lee. Looks like the movie making talent doesn't fall far from the tree in the Lee family.

My review will contain SPOILERS!!! I personally think that because the movie premiered 2 days ago, I have the right to discuss what happened in the movie.

If you have not seen the original Best Man it would be in your best interest to watch it before you indulge in the Holiday version. Some movies you can jump right into without seeing the original, but this movie is not one of them. The sequel builds on what happened 14 years ago and a lot of the drama that takes place is due to what happened that eventful weekend 14 years ago before the wedding.

The Holiday version features a white cast member in the prequel (HUH ARE YOU SHOCKED)  well you shouldn't be interracial dating is becoming more popular in today's society, especially in a world where a decent black man is hard to find, no wonder Jordan wonders to the other side. Eddie Cibrian plays the role of Jordan's boyfriend and he seems to adjust fairly well to his holiday scenario. Malcolm Lee was able to reunite his entire cast for the sequel, which at times can be a daunting task, especially after having so many years pass by.

The HARPER forehead kiss

The movie starts off with a recap of what happened in the original Best Man and morphs into showing what all the cast members are currently doing in life. The Best Man himself Harper (Taye Diggs) becomes a best selling author but is currently struggling financially due to his wife Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) not being able to get pregnant which leads to the couple seeking out the help of fertility clinics and doctors. Harper's latest book was nowhere near a best sellers, so now he's working on what his next book could possible be on. Which leads to him considering writing Lance's (Morris Chestnut's ) biography. Robyn is nine months pregnant and a successful chef. Mia (Monica Calhoun) is a stay at home mom and is the reason the old Best Man crew meets up in the first place. Lance is the lead running back for the New York Giants NFL team who enters the movie being close to breaking a record. Jordan (Nia Long) has reached the executive status at MSNBC. While Quintin (Terrence Howard joined the family business and works in the music industry. Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) spent the past years marrying rich and doing reality tv shows, such as Real HouseWives. Julian (Harold Perrineau) and Candance aka Candy (Regina Hall) are married and owned their own school. Yes Julian married the stripper from the Bachelor Party. I guess love comes in many different form.

This movie had my emotions on a roller coaster. There were moments where I laughed uncontrollably and times where I cried throughout the movie.  Friendships are something that is very near and dear to my heart, so movies like THE BEST MAN are something that I thoroughly enjoy. I was excited to see everyone reunited once again. Quintin and his silly ways always kept me laughing. While Jordan bringing home a white boy almost did not shock me. There were moments where I cried. Before the death of Mia. I wanted to believe that she was going to fight through and beat cancer, but unfortunately her body did all that it could handle. Malcolm Lee took me from mourning the death of one character to welcoming the life of a new character who also has the same name as the cast member we lost.

The Best Man Holiday taught me that I should value friendship and never take it for granted. This movie was long awaited but definitely worth the wait. Please go see this movie with your significant other or a group of your closest friends. I was blessed to be able to see it with one of my best male and female friends and with my sister .

The The Best Man Holiday has currently earned $30.6 million and was filmed on a 17 million dollar budget. The original Best Man earned a total of 34.1 million during its entire running and in present day has earned 54 million. The Best Man Holiday is looking to break records and set new ones with the amount of revenue it has brought in.