ash magazine: beauty, music and pop culture

Why should you check out Diva Speak TV?  Its hosted by the Diva of All Trades, Amanda Diva. You remember her from MTV2, Def Poetry Jam and Sirius Satellite Radio, and know that she has so much talent and is very talented in all types of media (and now music). Diva Speak TV are webisodes that feature Amanda telling her opinion on Hip-Hop culture, crazy celeb antics and current events. My fave segment is “the Supa-Woman of the Week”, where she profiles a woman who is “doing the damn thing”, a woman who is doing something to benefit her community and others, and who has a positive impact on society. Currently, the last episode for now (she’s going on a break soon) features news about Suze Orman (Supa-Woman of the Week) and a Big-Up (Auction Block to Hip-Hop) and a Let Down (BET’s Hip-Hop vs. America). Check it out:

Diva Speak TV

      If you’re looking for an alternative to R&B played on the radio and tv, you should check out Hasina. The New York City native has a sound with an ecletci mix of R&B, Soul and Rock and is promoting her new album “Facing The Night”. Currently, her first single is “Honey”, which is a sultry song, but my faves are the more upbeat flirty singles “Just” & “Are You Ready” and the slow and mellow ” Invisible”. To Hear more of her music, checkout her myspace page: Hasina

She has a show tonight in NYC. So if you’re in the NYC area, be sure to check her out:  HASINA HASINA LIVE @ NUBLU THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008 9PM SHARP! $5 NUBLU 62 AVENUE C BTW. 4th & 5th STREETS F TRAIN TO 2nd AVENUE

 On a visit in NYC during spring break, my friend Deborah and her friend Thelma took me to Duane Reade, ins search of a foundation close to my skin color. Deborah recommended L’Oreal, because she uses one of their foundations, and we decided on L’Oreal’s True Match Super-blendable Make-Up. Foundations are complicated for me, mostly because my skin breaks out with certain foundations and very few shades are similar to my skin tone. But True Match is becoming a new favorite of mine. It has SPF 17, which is beneficial now, with the summer heat protection for skin cancer and Cappuccino (my shade) actually blends in with my skin and doesn’t give me that “cakey/pasty” look. Although L’Oreal is on the expensive side in drugstores (it costs about $11), the price is worth it.

Will Smith, “Summertime”

I’m sure “Summertime” will be on the radios of many back yard BBQ’s.

I’m taking a break for the 4th of July three day weekend. Like most of the U.S., I will probably see Will Smith’s new movie Hancock. It looks like a different take on the super hero, and despite bad reviews, I bet it’ll be another box-office hit for Mr. Smith (he is the king of the box office movies: Independence, Men in Black, I am Legend, Bad Boys, etc.).

P.S. Happy 4th of July Weekend!!!!