IDRIS ELBA On MEN'S HEALTH MAG!!!

UK Actor IDRIS ELBA covers the December 2015 issue of MEN'S HEALTH Magazine!!!

-CCG



THEYBF

I LOVE 2 EAT #100: TOUR De GUMBO On NEW ORLEANS MAG!!!

Do YOU think you know GUMBO???

Well, in case you are new to CRAZY COOL GROOVY!!!, and did not know, Yours Truly CCG was born and raised in Downtown 9th Ward NEW ORLEANS.

CCG knows GUMBO, and does not lightly regard the subject of Restaurant Gumbo.

November 2015 shows how the really good folks at NEW ORLEANS Magazine scoured the city to bring the TOUR De GUMBO: TOP 15 RESTAURANTS For GUMBO In NEW ORLEANS to you, u, You, U, and especially ALL of YOU.

-CCG

2015 BEST Of ATLANTA On ATLANTA MAG!!!

Each year the really good folks at ATLANTA Magazine scour the restaurants, shops, goods, and services to bring you the best of the best, and here you have it - 2015 BEST Of ATLNTA ISSUE Of ATLANTA Magazine!!!

-CCG

CHERYL LYNN, MARTHA WASH, & THELMA HOUSTON Help WHOOPI GOLDBERG CELEBRATE Her 60th BIRTHDAY On THE VIEW!!!

It's time for @TheView! @WhoopiGoldberg's 60th birthday kicks off now—send her a bday wish with #HappyBdayWhoopi! pic.twitter.com/kXzZ9mmhV4

— The View (@TheView) November 13, 2015

Friday, November 13, in NYC, there was a celebration at the ABC studios as The VIEW Co-Host WHOOPI GOLDBERG  invitied Legendary Disco Divas (bottom photo; left-to-right) CHERYL LYNN, MARTH WASH and THELMA HOUSTON to perform a medley of their biggest hits; GOT TO BE REAL, IT'S RAINING MEN, and DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY, and help celebrate her 60th BIRTHDAY!!!

-CCG

JEWEL & THE GANG On JIMMY KIMMEL!!!

Monday, November 16, in HOLLYWOOD, Singer JEWEL and iconic R&B/FUNK/JAZZ Band KOOL & The GANG collaborated for an iconic MASH-UP MONDAY to perform a medley of hits on ABC late night talk fest, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!!!

-CCG

YOUNG JEEZY On JAMES CORDEN!!!

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Monday, November 17, ATLANTA Rapper YOUNG JEEZY was in HOLLYWOOD for an appearance on CBS late night talk fest THE LATE LATE SHOW With JAMES CORDEN to perform his new single, SWEET LIFE, from his new album, CHURCH IN THESE STREETS!!!

-CCG

YOUNG DRO On ROLLING OUT!!!

ROLLING OUT Magazine catches up with ATLANTA native Rapper YOUNG DRO form some insight on how the wealth of gentlemen's clubs have influenced the ATL music scene, YOUNG DRO: HOW STRIP CLUB CULTURE POWERED ATLANTA'S MUSIC SCENE!!!

-CCG

#BLACKGIRLMAGIC: RED CARPET @ 2015 GLAMOUR WOMEN Of The YEAR AWARDS!!!

BEVERLY JOHNSON


#BLACKGIRLMAGIC was in full effect on Monday, November 9, in NYC, as the stars came out to shine for the 2015 GLAMOUR WOMEN Of The YEAR AWARDS at CARNEGIE HALL!!!

Salivate and Lick Your Lips over some of our favorite CRAZY COOL GROOVY Glamorous Gems who carried their Candy Cakes down the 2015 GLAMOUR WOMEN Of The YEAR AWARDS RED CARPET.

-CCG



DANIELLE BROOKS



GAYLE KING




IMAN



JENNIFER HUDSON



LUPITA NYONG'O



MISTY COPELAND




SERENA WILLIAMS



UZO ADUBA




VIOLA DAVIS



DANIELLE, JENNIFER, & CYNTHIA ERIVO


THEYBF


 

WIN FREE PASSES To ADVANCE SCREENING Of CREED MOVIE Starring MICHAEL B. JORDAN!!!

CREED is the story of Boxer ADONIS JOHNSON (portrayed by MICHAEL B. JORDAN), the son of WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING Champion APPOLO CREED (CARL WEATHERS), and the son  he never knew and with whom he never had a relationship, because; APPOLO died before ADONIS was born!!!

There’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named ROCKY BALBOA (SYLVESTER STALLONE). 

Once in the City of Brotherly Love, Adonis tracks Rocky down and asks him to be his trainer.  Despite his insistence that he is out of the fight game for good, Rocky sees in Adonis the strength and determination he had known in Apollo—the fierce rival who became his closest friend.  Agreeing to take him on, Rocky trains the young fighter, even as the former champ is battling an opponent more deadly than any he faced in the ring. 

With Rocky in his corner, it isn’t long before Adonis gets his own shot at the title…but can he develop not only the drive but also the heart of a true fighter, in time to get into the ring?

The good people at ROLLING OUT Magazine want to give the good people in ATLANTA an opportunity to win FREE PASSES To ADVANCE SCREENING For CREED MOVIE Starring MICHAEL B. JORDAN And SYLVESTER STALLONE.

-CCG












 

JOHN BOYEGA On THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER!!!

SOUTH LONDON-native Actor JOHN BOYEGA is the new face of the STAR WARS franchise, portraying FINN in the forthcoming STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, and he is one of two covers for the NEXT GEN 2015 ISSUE of THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER!!!

Here are a few interview interludes:

For some actors, like Ford and Fisher, being in a Star Wars movie is a great career catalyst. For others, like Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor, it kind of has no discernable impact. And for others still, like Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen, it kind of destroys them. How much of that did you take into account before you took this on?

None of it. I am all about opportunity. I'm all about story. When J.J. signed on as director I was very much interested to come and read for him. It was just a matter of whether or not I could do the job, and apparently I could. For me, it's just all about making sure that this is a really cool film. That [Finn] the best character I can make him. In terms of it being a failure for some actors and all that stuff, it's been a long time since the last Star Wars movie came out. I haven't been scared with the risks and all that stuff. As an actor I wanted to do a great, great piece. As a fan as well.

How do you maintain a semblance of normal? Given the world is going nuts around you and about you — fans are crushing websites to buy advance tickets — how do you keep an even keel?

I think the major thing is I've had a life before. Two years ago I wouldn't have sworn this was a conversation I would be having. So it hasn't taken over my life just yet. As actors we have to try to maintain some sort of balance. I think in the coming months that will change and I'll know exactly what the dynamics are. But for now, there hasn't been anything that has completely changed the way my whole life works.

Coming off of Attack the Block did you have a blueprint for the way you wanted your career to develop? Was there a plan you were working off of?

Yeah, absolutely. Once we recognized Attack the Block would be a project the States would receive, once Big Talk Productions had [arranged] for distribution in the States at Screen Gems, we knew that was a great opportunity to go to America and get involved in some new projects. So the plan was to go over to the States, do a TV show, or a movie, and slowly build up a portfolio of work. But you know how life goes: Some things work out, some things don't.

I'm sure there's a contractually obligated answer to this question, but were you a Star Wars fan as a kid?

(Laughs.) What kind of contract would that be? Absolutely. Yeah, definitely I was.

Did your parents get your love for Star Wars?

No. My parents are not interested in Star Wars whatsoever. They're only interested in The Force Awakens. In terms of the rest, they're like, "OK, cool, but you're not in it." They're all about stakes. I've always been a fan, especially of the extended universe, like the comic books, the games. I had watched all the movies before being cast. I was fully aware of what Star Wars was. I didn't have to get an update.

-CCG

CELEBITCHY

RED CARPET @ 2015 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS!!!

BRIDGET KELLY


Friday, November 6, in LAS VEGAS, the 2015 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS went down at The ORLEANS ARENA!!!

Salivate and Lick Your Lips over some of our favorite CRAZY COOL GROOVY Soul-Full Sweeties who carried their Candy Cakes dow the 2015 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS RED CARPET.

-CCG



ERYKAH BADU




EVA MARCILLE



FANTASIA BARRINO



JANELLE MONAE




JAZMINE SULLIVAN



JILL SCOTT



JILL & ERYKAH



KAT GRAHAM



MC LYTE




NATURI NAUGHTON



REGINA HALL



SHANICE



TISHA CAMPBELL-MARTIN




WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON



JILL, ERYKAH, & TICHINA ARNOLD


THEYBF

MARK CUBAN: The BIGGEST MISTAKE That YOU ARE MAKING On SOCIAL MEDIA!!!

DALLAS MAVERICKS Owner MARK CUBAN speaks on the biggest mistake that people are making on SOCIAL MEDIA, and what he and his company are doing to change the culture.

-CCG




  ANS

AISHA TYLER & SHERYL UNDERWOOD As BEYONCE' & JAMES BROWN For HALLOWEEN On THE TALK!!!

Friday, October 30, the five co-hosteses of CBS daytime talk fest THE TALK: (left-to-right) SHERYL UNDERWOOD, SARA GILBERT, SHARON OSBOURNE, AISHA TYLER, and JULIE CHEN performed as JAMES BROWN, CELINE DION, SIA, BEYONCE', and MADONNA, for a special HALLOWEEN LIP-SYNC PARTY that was hosted by former N*SYNC'er JOEY FATONE!!!

Check out AISHA as BEYONCE' performing SINGLE LADIES, and SHERYL as The GODFATHER OFf SOUL performing LIVING IN AMERICA.

-CCG

ESPERANZA SPALDING On JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!!!

Recently in LOSANGELES, Singer/Songwriter/Musician ESPERANZA SPALDING was at the ABC studios for an appearance on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE to present her new band, ESPERANZA SPALDING PRESENTS EMILY'S D+EVOLUTION, and perform their new single, ONE!!!




-CCG

OLIVIA CAMPBELL On CURVA MAG!!!

UK-born/NYC-based BRIDGE MODELS PLUS Model OLIVIA CAMPBELL covers ISSUE #9 of CURVA Magazine!!!


-CCG

Cover girl 🙌🏽🎉💕🍾 for the latest issue of @CurvaMag out yesterday! pic.twitter.com/s3tv1uPI6t

— Olivia Plus Model UK (@_OliviaCampbell) October 31, 2015

ZOE SALDANA On LATINA MAG!!!

Actress/Model ZOE SALDANA is the daughter of a DOMINICAN Father, PUERTO RICAN Mother, was born in NEW JERSEY, and covers the December 2015/January 2016 WINTER HOLIDAY issue of LATINA Magazine!!!


Here are some interview interludes:


You’ve been working pretty much nonstop since rising to international fame with Avatar. How has working so much affected you?


There’s a separation between, like, being physically tired and being fatigued overall. I don’t mind being physically tired, but when my mind is tired, no estoy balanceada. No me gusta porque me pongo triste.


Would taking time off between films affect your career?


See, I don’t really see it as a career. I’m an artist; I’m not a corporate person. Therefore, I fill my fountain of inspiration [with] memories, which is where I have to feed from to be inspired. My husband is a firm believer that if you’re not living, then you can’t create your art.

Are you imbuing Bowie and Cy with your Latino background?


Oh my God, it’s just who I am every day. So they’re going to get a part of who I am naturally. English isn’t even Marco’s second language. It’s his fourth. We only speak English when we have people around us that we have to speak English. But if it’s just Marco and the boys, it’s a combination of Italian and Spanish at all times. I speak a very Dominican Italian.


There’s something exciting happening around the U.S., where more people are reckoning with Latino culture.

The only true American here is the Native American. Everyone else is a transplant. We’re going through the exact same thing the Italians went through, the Irish, the Jews, and the Asians. In different ways, but it’s been very similar. After a while, people acculturated, and they only found solace by literally accepting themselves and going, “Whatever. Esta soy yo.” They were like, “This is my new country, but I’m going to keep this from my old, and I’m gonna blend it all.”

One thing Latina admires about you is your passion for your family, how you bring them along on the ride of your Hollywood journey.


It was always our dream since we were little girls to be together. We love cinema. We love art. We love storytelling. But even in those common interests, we each have a different approach. Cisely is very much a producer and loves television. Mariel is all about education as an R.N. and EMT. I was always into acting. I love interpretation, el arte surreal, la literatura, el baile, mixing everything.


How did you prepare for your role in the Nina Simone biopic?

I read as much as I could and spoke to as many people who knew her, who interviewed her. I listened to her voice, to her tone. She was angry, and rightfully so. She was a black woman born ahead of her time. Her soul, her spirit was never able to accept or adapt to the heartbreaks that life was giving her. Those are means for insanity. She was bipolar, and at that time, very little was known about bipolar disorder. A lot of people were self-medicating through substances, and she was doing it with alcohol. I wanted to understand all those things, and see what that was going to bring out of me. I never wanted to judge her. There was a lot of criticism when you were chosen to portray Nina, but you were adamant about playing her.

I needed to walk her path. As a woman, it wasn’t difficult to empathize with another woman. But I needed to be very isolated. I moved out of my house for three months. I wasn’t really talking to anybody that I knew. I just needed to be all things Nina. It was so intense, and everything happened really fast. The people behind the project weren’t my cup of tea. The director was fine, but there was a lot of mismanagement, which is why we’re still here three years later. And I’m still trying to fight with everybody to get the movie finished. Nina deserves better.

Are you still haunted by her?


Still to this day, I can’t listen to her music. I’ll be able to listen to her and not feel so heartbroken once I either finish this movie and release it, knowing that we did the best we could, or this movie goes away. I pray that somebody tells her story and they do it amazingly well. And then I’ll just put this to rest. But so far I’m still hanging in there with her. We’re still fighting together to tell it like it is. And that’s the best way to be. 

-CCG