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00:00Today on Essence Live, the Lyon family legacy hangs in the balance.
00:07We're dishing on the shocking season finale of Empire Plus.
00:10Jason Derulo and Nick Cannon share their latest projects.
00:13And does Raven Simone deserve some shade?
00:15We'll answer all that and much, much more right now on our premiere episode of Essence Live.
00:20Well, hello there. I am Dana Blair and I want to welcome you to Essence Live.
00:33Your new go-to destination for insight on our stars, our styles, and of course our lives.
00:38I hope you're as excited as I am for our first ever episode.
00:41And don't forget to join the conversation using the hashtag Essence Live.
00:45We'll hear from you a little later on in the show.
00:47But if you saw the crazy season finale of Empire last night, you probably can't wait to talk about it.
00:53Joining me now to break down all of the action is Essence's entertainment director, Corey Murray.
00:57How you doing, girl?
00:58I'm doing good.
00:59Thank you and welcome.
01:00So let's jump right into it.
01:02Lucius, aka Dwight, is now in jail.
01:05Dwight Walker.
01:06Dwight Walker is now in jail.
01:08What do you think is going to happen in Empire?
01:11It's so juicy right now.
01:13First of all, I'm loving how Jussie is manning up.
01:16You know, at first he was like, oh, I'm about my music.
01:18Right.
01:19He had the Shug Knight moment.
01:20Yes.
01:21He's like, but my daddy thinks so.
01:22I love that part.
01:23That was my favorite part.
01:24But I think we're going to continue to see Jussie, or excuse me, Jamal continue to assert his power and be like, no, daddy put me in charge for a reason.
01:32Right.
01:33Hakim's still going to have his issues and, you know, Andre still has his stuff.
01:37But I think that fighting this whole hostile takeover, I'm all for it.
01:42I can't wait to see how it turns out.
01:44Yes, yes.
01:45Now, do you think that Vernon is really dead?
01:47He's dead.
01:48Well, I mean, we didn't really see anything happen.
01:50Because he wasn't really moving.
01:51And then, you know, and then they already had the sonograms.
01:53I mean, time has gone on and he ain't showing up.
01:55But I mean, you know, technically we didn't really see the body go away.
02:00No, I think it's a Columbus short moment.
02:03He gone.
02:04Oh, he gone.
02:05They're going to do a flashback with the tag on the toe.
02:08He gone.
02:09I think he's gone.
02:10But I was sad about those tweets.
02:12They were like, y'all know Maliki over needed that job.
02:14Oh, see, y'all are not right.
02:16I did not co-sign that essence.
02:17I did not say it, but I favorited it.
02:19That is not what we do.
02:20So, besides Lucius, Andre Lyon is one of the most complex characters on the show.
02:25I recently caught up with him, Mr. Trey Byers, very, very handsome and talented.
02:29And he talked about how he's able to play the role so well.
02:32Let's check it out.
02:34I knew that I could express, you know, what he needed to be expressed.
02:39I knew some of his demons, you know, because those demons live in me a little bit, that dark aspect.
02:45But also being a black businessman on television, showing that intellect, you know, as well as being agile.
02:52He's with this family, you know, that's kind of, you know, come up from the streets.
02:56He's, he codeswitches, you know what I mean?
02:59He could be a little bit of everything and not necessarily a black man, but a man in general was really interesting to dive into.
03:06And bipolar, you know, it's just an added bonus.
03:09Thoughts, Corey, on where you think his character is going to go in season two?
03:15I mean, it's really grown and developed.
03:17Well, what I love about it is the tackling of bipolar and mental illness in our community.
03:22And I'm even, I even like that moment when Cookie kind of says, you know, very, she was very vulnerable and like, what is bipolar?
03:28Like she had, you know, when she went into prison, they were, there was no talk about this.
03:31But of course, now we know it's Wiley talking about, but the fact that we show him grappling.
03:35So I think, I hope we'll see a bit more of that and, you know, just how he balances that in his life, but also his cunningness.
03:40Yes.
03:41Like, cause he really is striving for this power and he's feel like he really has something to prove, especially now, since Lucius didn't make the choice with Jamal as the head.
03:48But I think it's only going to get better.
03:50I can't wait for season two.
03:51I know.
03:52Like this is torture.
03:53It's too long.
03:54It's too long.
03:55Yeah.
03:56Now we would be remiss if we didn't talk about the music, which of course drip, drop, everybody singing every single week.
04:02The soundtrack for Empire debuted on top of the Billboard charts this week.
04:05And we linked up with Jussie and Yaz, but you may know them as Jamal and Hakeem Lyon at the official Empire soundtrack album signing.
04:12Check it out.
04:23Man, have you seen the line outside?
04:27Yeah, it's mad.
04:28It's cold outside.
04:29It's cold and everybody is still here and it's incredible.
04:33This is a huge place right now and it's hot.
04:35You guys see Jamal and Hakeem over there, right there in the corner?
04:39You guys see that?
04:40I come here for my boo, Hakeem.
04:42Of course I'm here to see Jamal.
04:44I love Jussie Smollett so much and Yaz.
04:47Hey boo.
04:48Jamal is a sensitive soul.
04:50You know, very, very vulnerable but also very strong.
04:53And that's what I love about him.
04:54I love his vulnerability and his strength.
04:56And then he looks out for Hakeem and knows that he's growing.
04:59He's gonna get better.
05:00He's a little crazy sometimes.
05:02Well, Hakeem, he's spoiled.
05:04You know, he grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth.
05:06He's a little annoying ass brother.
05:09Facial expressions from the way he talks.
05:11Trip, drive, trip, trip, and he drive.
05:14Trip, drive.
05:16We've been waiting forever for it to finally be released
05:19and to be able to like go around, love on the people,
05:22and just touch on them.
05:23Yeah, yeah, freak.
05:25We're working with the greatest of the greats right now,
05:27so we're truly honored.
05:29Let me see, Cookie?
05:31Or Anika?
05:32Is this a question?
05:34You must be on Anika's roster.
05:36Anything else you feel like you should tell me?
05:39Like maybe why you screwed Cookie last night?
05:42Let's get ready to rumble.
05:47I know I'm Team Cookie White.
05:49Not only does she have the best attitude,
05:51she makes me feel like super empowered every time she busts in
05:55and speaks her mind.
05:56And listen, she's been through a lot.
05:58Who's not Team Cookie?
05:59She's just that boss lady like Team Cookie all the way.
06:03Team Cookie, Team Cookie on the way.
06:05She's fierce.
06:06She takes no prisoners.
06:07She's strong.
06:08She loves her family.
06:09And that's what Empire's all about.
06:12There would be no Empire without Cookie,
06:14so Team Cookie.
06:16Cookie, Anika.
06:18I'm definitely Team Cookie all day.
06:20She's gorgeous.
06:21She's classy.
06:22She's sassy.
06:23I love her.
06:24Cookie is the beast.
06:25Cookie is the OG gangster of life.
06:28She's the reason why Empire is here.
06:31She loves her family.
06:32She's just a real, you know, person.
06:34She says all the things and does all the things that we're thinking.
06:37She's shi-b-b-b-b-b-oh now you can't speak English.
06:40I'm Team Cookie all day.
06:41I love her.
06:42Team Cookie!
06:43Cookie is just a fantastic character.
06:45Something about the realness of Anika.
06:48She's beautiful.
06:49She has cute outfits.
06:50Oh, she has great lips.
06:51Great attitude when it comes to carrying herself as a businesswoman.
06:56She's a woman scorned, so I gotta give her a little leeway.
06:59Imagine what you would do if somebody came into your life and tried to take what you worked for,
07:03and tried to take your man for five years.
07:05Everyone forgets that this was kind of thrust upon her.
07:09Right.
07:10And she's had to survive.
07:11And when you talk about someone being a strong woman who's worked for everything that she, you know, has today,
07:17no one is just gonna let someone, oh, okay, you're the mother of his kids.
07:21Come on through, girl.
07:22You know, her character to me is kind of like watching Anne Hathaway go to Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.
07:28You see the desperation throughout the journey because she's losing what she loves.
07:32She's messing with her ready.
07:34You can't do that, man.
07:35I'm sorry.
07:36I'm sorry, guys.
07:37We're Team Cookie all the way.
07:38Hey, y'all.
07:41Jazz, AKA Hakeem Lyon.
07:43And I'm Jussie Smollett, AKA Jamal Lyon.
07:45And you are watching Essence Live.
07:47All right, Cory, so I have to ask you, whose team are you on, girl?
07:53Oh, now I feel like.
07:54Boo Boo Kitty.
07:55Which I had to say that.
07:56I just had to throw that in there.
07:57Or Cookie.
07:58I'm sad because, all right, watching this clip, I think I want to go Team Anika.
08:02Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
08:03I think I'm Boo Boo Kitty.
08:04And I love Taraji.
08:05Taraji's from Maryland.
08:06I'm from Maryland.
08:07I love her.
08:08But Grace came by the office the other day, and there was something about her story.
08:11And I was like, oh, you.
08:12It was the jumpsuit.
08:13It was the red jumpsuit.
08:14It was.
08:15In the pink lip.
08:16I get it.
08:17Yeah.
08:18I get it.
08:19Yeah, and the haircut.
08:20Yeah.
08:21Moving right along from one alpha female to the other, let's talk about a scandal.
08:24Scandal.
08:25In one of the most pivotal moments of the season, Huck chose the love for his wife over literally
08:30everyone else, even Liv, by selling out B613.
08:33Beyond that, he also put his family in danger because B613 always gets their way.
08:39Let's take a look.
08:41Well, we're going to skip over that clip, but tell me, do you feel like Huck made the
08:48right decision?
08:49You know, yes, I do.
08:52Because the post-traumatic stress that he's been under, I mean, I know he loves to kill
08:56a man.
08:57And pull a tooth.
08:58Yes.
08:59And pull a tooth.
09:00He lives for that.
09:01I get that.
09:02But those flashbacks seem to his family and what really matters to him and the fact that
09:07so many of his years of his life were just taken away from him, all for the service of
09:11this government that didn't support him when he needed it, I think he made the right decision.
09:16But yes, of course, now, you know, on that scene where he's like looking out, I mean,
09:19no, he's now has another amount of stress because now he has to protect his newfound,
09:23I mean, his family that has welcomed him back.
09:26But all day long, I think he made the right decision.
09:29And I mean, he made the D.A. cry.
09:31Who can't make David cry?
09:34David Rosen?
09:35Yeah, he's a little emotional for the D.A.
09:38Yes.
09:39Yeah.
09:40So you feel like he made the right decision.
09:41Any predictions for some of the other characters?
09:43I mean, do you think Papa Polk's going to leave the lake?
09:46No, he's not.
09:47I mean, no, I'm sorry.
09:48He is going to leave the lake.
09:49He has to come back.
09:50I mean, Joe Morton, Emmy Award-winning actress, we've got to see him come back.
09:54But I am dying to know what is going to be the thing that brings him back and him and
09:59Olivia have to face off, you know, since, you know, she's going to kill him.
10:02Can I have a shout out to Mama Polk for being underground in a prison and saying,
10:05oh, yeah, I know where he is at all times?
10:08She know.
10:09And all she wanted was a TV.
10:10That's all she wanted.
10:11She just wanted a little thing.
10:12They could have gave her that.
10:13She's a woman with simple needs.
10:14Yeah.
10:15Who can take over the world.
10:16Yes.
10:17Just wanted to point that out.
10:18Well, thank you so much, our entertainment director, Corey Murray, for joining us.
10:20You'll hear more from her later on in the show.
10:22But coming up, Nick Cannon talks all about his alien encounter.
10:25But first, entertainment editor Yolanda Sanguini has something to say.
10:30Dear black women, we're having a moment.
10:36On television, that is.
10:37Just look up and down your dial and you'll see various personas and shades of us.
10:42There's the sassy and ever thorough Cookie Lion.
10:45The fixer, Olivia Pope.
10:47The complex and brilliant Annalise Keating.
10:50And the conflicted but lovable Mary Jane Paul.
10:53I could go on and on.
10:55Nicole Bahari on Sleepy Hollow.
10:57Halle Berry on Extent.
10:59Angela Bassett on American Horror Story.
11:01On the tiny screen, we see you Netflix.
11:04There's the rowdy and utterly lovable bunch on Orange is the New Black.
11:08And I'd be remiss not to mention Shonda Rhimes.
11:12The most powerful black female showrunner in Hollywood.
11:15Or as Shonda would say it.
11:16Scratch out the black and the female and call her what she is.
11:20The most powerful showrunner in Hollywood.
11:23In all, we're having a moment.
11:25So before we ask, well how long is it gonna last?
11:28Let's take a moment to give ourselves a pat on the back for the shift.
11:32Even if small.
11:3476 years after Ethel Waters became the first African American to star in her own television program.
11:40And 47 years after Diane Carroll became the first African American actress to star in her own television series
11:47where she didn't have to play a domestic.
11:50We've come a long way.
11:52And sure, it's not always a perfect picture.
11:54But this season's representations of us were complex, rich, and downright exciting.
12:00So let's keep running the show.
12:02Nick Cannon, the man with a thousand jobs, stopped by earlier this week to chat about close encounters of the third kind.
12:20Let's check it out.
12:21I've been a fan of yours for quite some time.
12:26But of course, you know, now that I'm sitting here interviewing you, I had to like really read up and catch up.
12:31Uh oh.
12:32And you have like 900 million jobs.
12:34I do several things.
12:35And labels and you're an entrepreneur for everything from tech to fashion.
12:39Right.
12:40Producer, television, everything.
12:42How do you keep it all together?
12:44How do you stay organized?
12:45To me, it's all one gig.
12:47You know, it's all waking up each day to be creative.
12:50And that's a blessing.
12:51I mean, that's my job where I get to wake up and create stuff.
12:54So I see it as all one thing.
12:56And then, you know, surrounding yourself with a good team.
12:59Oh, okay.
13:00You know, there's people that, you know, you can trust and you know how to delegate.
13:04No, definitely.
13:05It works out.
13:06And you started off as an actor?
13:08I did.
13:09Well, actually, you know what?
13:10I would say I started off more as a stand-up comedian.
13:12That's what kind of opened the doors for me at a very young age.
13:15I mean, I was probably the youngest stand-up on the circuit, you know, in the mid-90s.
13:21And, you know, from that process, from, you know, comedy stores and improvs at like 15,
13:2716 years old, the people at Nickelodeon saw me.
13:32And, you know, I actually started off doing like the audience warm-up for all of their shows.
13:37Like I was still in high school.
13:39And then from there, I would see the performers and actors working on set.
13:44And I was like, I think I could do that stuff.
13:46But instead of trying to be in front of the camera, I would write for them.
13:49And I became the youngest staff writer in television history at 17 years old.
13:53Wow. No pressure.
13:54No pressure.
13:55So when you started in this industry, did you know that you wanted to branch out and do so many different things?
13:59Like, did you say, yeah, I'm being fulfilled doing X, but I've always wanted to try Y?
14:03Why?
14:04I always had that energy or that curiosity of how things worked, you know, within the industry.
14:11So everything from the corporate side always intrigued me.
14:17And then obviously even how behind the scenes and production and all that stuff worked.
14:21It was interesting because I actually started in the world of television because my father had a public access ministry.
14:29Oh, okay.
14:30So I was doing stuff like running the mixing board and running cameras and editing his show.
14:36So I always had an innate sensibility to figure out how production worked.
14:43So kind of putting all that together and being a ham and always wanting attention.
14:47You a ham?
14:48A little bit.
14:49Who'd have thought?
14:51And that's kind of like my entire makeup right there.
14:54You know, I love business.
14:55I love creating and producing, but I also love the art of it all.
15:00And you also love children's books.
15:02Yes, I do.
15:03And that's what we are talking about today.
15:05Neon Aliens Ate My Homework.
15:07How did you come up with this one?
15:08It is a true story.
15:09Uh-oh.
15:11No, obviously the title, there's so many other poems in there as well.
15:15But, you know, I was inspired by, you know, great authors and poets like Shel Silverstein, who has, you know, classic books.
15:22That's one of the first books I memorized, by the way.
15:24Yeah.
15:25I mean, he's amazing when it comes to, you know, a light in the attic or the sidewalk ends, the giving tree.
15:31The giving tree was my favorite first book.
15:32Yeah.
15:33And, you know, I was like, man, if I could do what he did, you know, but at the same time bring my hip-hop sensibilities to it.
15:42Because the same time I was introduced to Shel, I was also introduced to the hip-hop culture and feel like, you know, being an 80s baby and someone who sees the world through hip-hop lenses, I could put my spin on, you know, a poetry book and, you know, hopefully people will receive it.
15:57So this is just a collection of poetry and short stories or?
16:00Mainly poetry.
16:01I mean, but they're all short stories in a sense to where they're all fun, you know what I mean?
16:05I kind of deal with a lot of complex ideas in a very simplistic way.
16:10I mean, that everybody can embrace them.
16:12So even though it is for, you know, a younger demographic, I think there's things in here, there's gems that everybody can appreciate.
16:19But then there's also just the silliness because, you know, everybody knows I'm silly.
16:22You?
16:23Just a little bit.
16:24And speaking of silly, that's like a perfect segue.
16:26Uh-oh.
16:27Like you set that up perfectly for me.
16:28Laid it up.
16:29I would really, really enjoy it if you can, I don't know, perhaps read a little something.
16:33Uh-oh.
16:34I want some music.
16:35I want a little vibe going on.
16:36Love Jones.
16:37I got your back.
16:38I got your back.
16:39Lorenz Tate and Love Jones.
16:40You going to get my knee along?
16:41I'm in there.
16:42All right.
16:43We're going to get it.
16:44Here we go.
16:45Boogers.
16:46Oh.
16:47Sticky, crunchy, grimy, runny, hiding, slimy.
16:56Gotta dig deep to find that prize.
16:59Eureka, go.
17:02Look at the size.
17:03I'm so angry.
17:05Boogers.
17:06Dropping gems.
17:07Dropping gems.
17:08There it is.
17:09I'm saying.
17:10Dropping gems.
17:11That boy good.
17:12Dropping gems.
17:13That boy good.
17:14That boy good.
17:15And also too, we're on the street as you did some of the illustrations.
17:17I did.
17:18I did.
17:19I did a few of these.
17:20Okay.
17:21You know what it is?
17:22I got a bunch of really, really, really talented street artists from all over.
17:25You know what I mean?
17:26Because one of the four elements of hip hop is graffiti.
17:28Yes.
17:29And I wanted to have that as a part of the book.
17:33But I jumped in there and did a few myself.
17:35Just because I consider myself an artist.
17:37And it's all about expression.
17:38So you know, I've always dabbled in sketching and putting things together.
17:43So I, you know, the poems that meant a lot to me like the one about Shel Silverstein or
17:46the one about my great grandfather.
17:48I had the opportunity to illustrate.
17:50You did a special spin on it.
17:51Yeah, yeah.
17:52You know, I'm getting it in.
17:53Awesome.
17:54Thank you so much.
17:55So where can we find the book?
17:56Everywhere books are sold.
17:57What?
17:58You know how we do.
17:59All right.
18:00Absolutely.
18:01Next time I want you to get in here and read one as well.
18:04I want that.
18:05I want you to get your inner poet on.
18:08You know what?
18:09Maybe I'll record that.
18:10And what had happened was...
18:12Boogers Part 2.
18:13The sequel.
18:14There it is.
18:18There it is.
18:19Be sure to grab your copy of Neon Aliens Ate My Homework in stores now.
18:23In a bit, Jason Derulo will tell us why he wants you to warn him.
18:26But right now, actress and author Issa Rae needs your full attention.
18:30Take a look.
18:35This is Issa Rae.
18:36Stay tuned for a seriously awkward announcement.
18:41Have you ever been at a party and one of your favorite songs come on?
18:45My booty shop.
18:46Booty shop.
18:48And you start twerking uncontrollably.
18:51Only to realize that others around you are just doing a two-step.
18:57Do people always ask what you do to your hair to get it like that?
19:00Did it shrink?
19:01Do you wash it?
19:02Can you wash it?
19:03It was Black History Month.
19:05Is that how your ancestors wore it?
19:07Better yet, they ask to pet.
19:09I mean, to touch your hair.
19:10It reminds me of pubic hair.
19:12Can I touch it?
19:13Shut up!
19:14Shhh!
19:15Shut up!
19:16Do you ever go out to eat by yourself and the waiter snatches away the other place setting
19:23and looks like she would disgust?
19:25Chances are, you're awkward.
19:28And if you're a Black girl, then you're an awkward Black girl.
19:30I know.
19:31Hard to comprehend.
19:32But you're not alone.
19:33You'll definitely relate to my book, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.
19:37My book covers it all.
19:38From cyber-sexing, deflecting unsolicited comments on weight gain, to navigating the perils of eating out alone.
19:45But most importantly, you'll learn how to accept yourself.
19:49Natural hair and all.
19:50Trust me, you're not the only one who accidentally says, I love you, to your crush in the middle of a conversation,
19:55then awkwardly laughs and changes the conversation to food.
19:59So now he thinks you're a fat ass.
20:01Right?
20:02I'm Issa Rae, creator, producer, director, and author of The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.
20:07So, make sure you get yourself a copy.
20:11Was that awkward?
20:32That was a little taste of the new single, Want to Want Me by singer, dancer,
20:35and this comedian sitting to my left, Mr. Jason Derulo, who just happens to be, I don't know,
20:40having a great time celebrating.
20:41Thank you so much for joining us on our premiere.
20:43It's my pleasure.
20:44Thanks for having me.
20:47So, you're Mr. Radio.
20:48I want to make sure I get this right.
20:49Your last album, Talk Dirty, was the most played on radio last year.
20:54Actually, you were the most played artist, period, on radio last year.
20:57Any pressure with the follow-up?
20:59Actually, I wasn't the most played artist, because Katy Perry, you know, she did that.
21:04But I was right behind Katy.
21:06I was the most played male, though.
21:07Okay.
21:08Which, yeah, absolutely.
21:09That's nothing to shy away from.
21:10Let's celebrate that.
21:11Congratulations.
21:12Well, thank you so much.
21:14So, what's the pressure like on the follow-up?
21:17Are you feeling any pressure, or talk to me about that?
21:19You know what?
21:20I wasn't feeling any pressure, really.
21:23It's a little nerves, you know, because you always get a little nerves.
21:27You want people to like the material that she put out, but it's been amazing so far.
21:31You know, it's been a week, and it's already made history.
21:34Your new single, Want to Want Me.
21:36Tell us a little bit about that history you're making.
21:38So, it became the most added record on Top 40 Radio in the history of Top 40 Radio.
21:45And what an ad means, because my mom was like, what?
21:48That's great, baby, but what does that mean?
21:50I was asking earlier, she was like, what does that mean?
21:51Make sure I sound educated.
21:52Make sure I know what I'm talking about.
21:54Exactly.
21:55Basically, when a radio station adds a song, they're adding it to their rotation.
22:00So, like, when you hear a song over and over again, you're like, dang, why they play this song so much?
22:04They play this again.
22:05It's in their rotation.
22:06Okay.
22:07So, every single radio station across the country added the song, and it became, yeah, a huge phenomenon in its first week, which has never been done before.
22:17So, I think Justin Timberlake had the record before it, yeah.
22:22So, tell me a little bit about the video.
22:24I heard that you shot, have you completed the entire video for the single?
22:27I did, yeah.
22:28Tell me a little bit about the concept.
22:29So, the concept matches the album title, which I can't tell you what the album title is yet, but it's basically...
22:41Why can't you tell me the album title?
22:43Because it's a little too early, you know, I'm not revealing that.
22:47When I come back.
22:48So, I'm not your favorite.
22:49Okay, cool.
22:50I don't take it personal.
22:51Okay, when you come back?
22:52Yeah, you know.
22:53I'm gonna hold you to that.
22:54When I come back after I announce the title?
22:55Mm-hmm.
22:56I'm just playing.
22:57No, no.
22:58Mm-mm.
22:59Mm-mm.
23:00Nah, so it was really cool.
23:02I shot it with Collin Teeley, and you get the four seasons within the video, and it shows
23:09how the only thing constant in life is change.
23:13You know, so the four seasons represent the change in our relationship.
23:18So, you know, you'll see me waking up in cold sweats, you know, just looking for this
23:23girl, and she's not in my bed.
23:24Mm-hmm.
23:25And I'm, you know, wondering why she's not there.
23:27So, like, I rush to her house, trying to find her.
23:30Mm-hmm.
23:31And then I get her.
23:32Then I bring her to this old rundown stage, and I perform for her one-on-one.
23:36What made you think the girl wanted to go to the rundown stage?
23:39Um, you know what?
23:43Life is so, life is so glamorous sometimes, and sometimes you want to do something that
23:48is the opposite of what your norm is.
23:50Right.
23:51So, you know, in my life, where I could get a girl, you know, just about anything, I
23:58think it's better when I do something that's a little more creative.
24:02Unexpected.
24:03Unexpected.
24:04I understand that.
24:05You know what I'm saying?
24:06Speaking of unexpected, even though you're known for singing, of course, in songwriting,
24:09you're also known for being a fabulous dancer.
24:11You're a new judge on the next season of So You Think You Can Dance?
24:13I am.
24:14Tell us about that.
24:15That was a beautiful segue, by the way.
24:16I do what I can.
24:17I do what I can.
24:18I do what I can.
24:19I do what I can.
24:20That was brilliant.
24:21Yeah, I'm a new judge, and you know, it's a new endeavor.
24:24It's a new life.
24:25Mm-hmm.
24:26And I was a little nervous about doing this show because, you know, you've got to
24:29be a judge and you've got to kill people's dreams over and over and over again.
24:32Mm-hmm.
24:33And I wasn't really, you know, down for that because, you know, I was one of those people
24:37not too long ago.
24:38Right, right.
24:39So, I decided to do it because this show is so different than that.
24:42Mm-hmm.
24:43You know, it's really positive.
24:44And when we tell somebody no, it's with a constructive criticism.
24:48Like, it's a no because this, this, this, this, and this.
24:51And they can go away and then come back stronger than they were before.
24:54And I've been having an amazing time so far.
24:57We've done the audition process.
24:59Right.
25:00So, that's pre-recorded.
25:01Mm-hmm.
25:02And, yeah, it's been amazing.
25:04Paula Abdul, you know, sits next to me.
25:06Right.
25:07And then you have Nigel, you know, who's a character.
25:08Mm-hmm.
25:09So, it's, it's, it's amazing, you know, having those veterans alongside me, you know,
25:13it, it actually helps me.
25:14Okay.
25:15So, we've talked the business.
25:16I want to talk pleasure.
25:17I heard you just bought a house.
25:18I did.
25:19And, of course, you're a new bachelor.
25:20Mm-hmm.
25:21What everyone really wants to know is, can you cook?
25:22Do you take out the garbage, Jason Derulo?
25:25You know what?
25:26Nah.
25:27Mm-hmm.
25:28Mm-hmm.
25:29I don't remember the last time I took out the garbage, honestly.
25:30Well, that's the end of this interview.
25:32Um, not because I don't, I don't want to.
25:35I'm too good to take out.
25:36I, I spend a lot of time in hotels.
25:37Mm-hmm.
25:38Um, I have, uh, uh, amazing people that are, are, that work with me at my, at my house.
25:44And, um, yeah, I just never had to do that.
25:48I don't create, I don't create enough trash to take out the trash.
25:51Like.
25:52You're a fella.
25:53Nah, but I'll be on the road when I go to the house for two days.
25:55Mm-hmm.
25:56You can't, you can't, you know.
25:57Gotcha.
25:58Expect me to take out the trash.
25:59Well, I'm going to touch on this more next time.
26:00Right up.
26:01Thank you so much.
26:02And congratulations on all of your success.
26:03Thank you so much, love.
26:04Thank you so much for stopping by.
26:05Absolutely.
26:06And, uh, I have some more questions for you next time.
26:08So, next time I'm challenging you to a dance bottle.
26:12All right.
26:13By the way.
26:14I know you're going to take me though.
26:15I'm ready.
26:16I'm ready.
26:17So, coming up, Amber Rose, Raven Simone, and more will be judged by an expert panel deciding whether they
26:21slayed or deserve some shade.
26:23But first, we put a few good looking men on trial and asked how to get away with murder's
26:27Asian Naomi King to decide their fate in kiss, marry, or murder.
26:31Let's watch how this plays out.
26:33Kiss, marry, or murder.
26:38Charlie Webber.
26:41I'm going to have to say Mary.
26:44Frank is just so charming.
26:46Ooh.
26:47Michaela would definitely want to kiss Boris because he is a very talented and handsome man.
26:56Wesley Gibbons.
26:57I'm going to have to go with murder.
26:59He's already being manipulated by another woman and if you're going to be with someone,
27:03you should be the only one manipulating them.
27:05Kiss, marry, or murder Kevin Hart.
27:08Wait, time out.
27:09Sorry.
27:10I'm like, marry Kevin Hart, murder Kevin Hart.
27:15Like, could be either one.
27:17No.
27:18No.
27:19Omari Hardwick.
27:21Michaela's going to have to go with murder because she doesn't like how you played her girl
27:26on being Mary Jane.
27:29Michael B. Jordan.
27:30I think Michaela would want to kiss and marry him.
27:34And I think it's self-explanatory why.
27:37This was Kiss, Marry, Murder with Asian Naomi King.
27:41You can catch me on ABC's How to Get Away with Murder.
27:44Thanks so much for watching.
27:45Essence Live.
27:46Wait, question.
27:47I don't have to use all the, because all these people, I just want to kiss her Mary.
28:10I unfortunately lost my mom the end of the year, but one of the things I found amongst
28:15her things around her Bible was her subscription to Essence.
28:21And so I know she's going to be smiling so big once she sees this cover.
28:27And with myself and Titan, she's just going to be super proud.
28:31So it was, it's lovely that I'm now an Essence girl.
28:34I've been an Essence girl, but I came from an Essence woman.
28:39So thank you Essence.
28:40Love you.
28:48Welcome back to Essence Live.
28:49That was Kelly Rowland sharing her thoughts about covering the April issue of Essence Magazine.
28:53Be sure to pick up your copy out on newsstands and available everywhere March 20th.
28:58So now, we switch gears.
29:00It's time for my favorite part of the show, where we spill all of the tea.
29:03Get ready for Slade or Shade.
29:07Slade or Shade is a round-robin game of hits or misses from the week.
29:11And joining me in studio is the singer and currently one of the hosts and stars of R&B Divas, L.A., Miss Little Moe.
29:20How are you?
29:21How are you?
29:22CNN and HLN correspondent and founder of SwaggerNYC.com, Sean Pierre.
29:27Hey, founder.
29:28What?
29:29What?
29:30And of course, our very own Essence Entertainment director, Corey Murray.
29:33Welcome all of you.
29:34I'm going to do a little catch.
29:35All right.
29:36Get it?
29:37Get it from here?
29:38All right, guys.
29:39Are you ready to jump right in?
29:40Yes.
29:41Yes.
29:42All right.
29:43Let's get it.
29:44So, first up, we have Raven Simone.
29:45The actress filled in as a guest host on The View and set Twitter on fire yet again.
29:50Raven defended the former Univision host who acknowledged that Michelle Obama should be on the cast of Planet of the Apes.
29:56Here's what Raven had to say.
29:57She tried it.
29:58Not Michelle Obama.
29:59Michelle, don't fire me from this right now, but some people look like animals.
30:03Is that rude?
30:04Girl, half my family does.
30:05Am I right, America?
30:06I look like a bird.
30:07I look like a bird.
30:08All right.
30:09Count of three.
30:10Slade or Shade?
30:11Shade.
30:12Shade.
30:13Shade.
30:14All the Shades.
30:15All right.
30:16Let's just jump right into this.
30:17That was uncalled for Shade.
30:18You don't come for Michelle.
30:19You don't come for the floaters.
30:20Hello?
30:21You don't come for the floaters.
30:22That's a tweetable.
30:23What kind of tease?
30:24What kind of tease?
30:25That was giving zebra tease.
30:26No Shade.
30:27I like her when she was Olivia now.
30:29She trying to do too much talking.
30:30No, no, no, no.
30:31We don't do that.
30:32You're not feeling Olivia now.
30:33You know what?
30:34Raven got her only chance in Empire and she wants to keep her butt on the show.
30:39She needs to seriously sit down.
30:41No.
30:42It's true.
30:43It's true because that's nothing but a phone call.
30:44Like, no.
30:45Lee Daniels.
30:46Hello?
30:47Shut it down.
30:48And I think she tried to save it at the end.
30:50We didn't get a chance to show it.
30:51She said, well, some people say I look like a toucan.
30:53Do you feel like that was her trying to save it or?
30:55It was, but she's still trying to stick it.
30:56She's trying to clean it up and it was still messy.
30:57It was still messy.
30:58That was very messy.
30:59You don't talk about the president.
31:00Especially, I'm not trying to be, like, he one of us.
31:03It's hard enough being black in an office.
31:05Amen.
31:06I don't even care if I look like I just came out of a fiery furnace.
31:10I'm still snatched.
31:11That is true.
31:12I will say one thing.
31:13Rosie Perez made the best statement on that.
31:15She really did.
31:16And that was totally overarched by what Raven said.
31:19She said that people in the Latin community are actually black and they want it.
31:22They deny that.
31:23And that's what we really need to be talking about.
31:25And unfortunately, the media picked up on Raven's dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.
31:29And Rosie's point was so passionate.
31:32I like the point she also made that you never, or was it Whoopi that said,
31:35anytime you say black and ape, it's a problem.
31:38Right.
31:39It's a problem.
31:40It's a bad look.
31:41Unless it's grape soda.
31:42And then you gotta keep it moving.
31:43Yeah.
31:44So next up, topic number two.
31:45Oh Lord.
31:46Amber Rose is organizing a slut walk in response to the constant name calling she deals with
31:55on social media and on the streets.
31:57So just to give you some background, slut walks began in Toronto as a protest against
32:01any and all derogatory comments towards women.
32:04What do we think?
32:05Slade or shade?
32:06Slade.
32:07I think that's shade.
32:08We got one shade.
32:09I'm indifferent.
32:10Oh, wait.
32:11So we don't have a little, we don't have a middle record.
32:13I don't know how to flip it like this, flip it like this.
32:15So let me start with you.
32:16Why are you indifferent?
32:17Well, okay.
32:18I appreciate what she's saying about the slut walk and especially the horrible comment Kanye
32:24said about taking the 30 showers and all that stuff.
32:27Mm-hmm.
32:28So I think she's slated on that point.
32:30Where I give her a little shade is I still don't agree with her Instagram photos and the
32:34negligee and the butt thong and the beach pictures.
32:38Like I think she's pushing the line a bit.
32:40Maybe I'm being a little prudish.
32:41Right.
32:42But I do appreciate what she's trying to do and have a real conversation.
32:44The message.
32:45Okay.
32:46Sean?
32:47For me it's slayed with a caveat, right?
32:48Okay.
32:49So listen, she, it's amazing to be able to tell young women everywhere that like you can
32:54be sexual and you shouldn't be objectified and you shouldn't be an object, right?
32:59Like really own your sexuality, which she does.
33:01And I think it's a great message.
33:02At the same time, I think she may be jumping on a campaign to kind of further hype her book.
33:08I don't think that she's really a part of it.
33:10Oh, I know.
33:11There's a book coming out.
33:12Yes, of course.
33:13There's always a book coming out.
33:14There's a book.
33:15There's always a book.
33:16So it feels a little bit disingenuous to me.
33:18Okay.
33:19Yeah.
33:20I think it's shade.
33:21I'm not doing no slut walk.
33:22I'm not doing no thought trial.
33:23It's just certain things.
33:24It's just certain things that I'm not going to do.
33:26Right.
33:27And I'm not saying I'm invited, but I'm not, I'm not trying to shade, even though everybody
33:29calls me the shade queen.
33:30Mm-hmm.
33:31What does she actually do for a living that we going to walk and be slut?
33:34I understand what you're saying.
33:35I'm like, what does she do?
33:36I don't, I'm not trying to like, for real, if somebody could tell me what she does that gives
33:42her this platform, the slut walk and she wants, she even said, I saw what she said,
33:46Chloe can even join her on the walk.
33:48Right.
33:49Listen.
33:50You really think they going to join in?
33:51That was shade.
33:52Yeah.
33:53Perhaps.
33:54Now that was shade.
33:55She know she don't want Chloe there.
33:56And she know Chloe's not going to show that way.
33:58She know Chris not going to even relax.
34:00Nobody's walking.
34:01Nobody's walking.
34:02Mother Chris.
34:03Nobody's walking.
34:04All right.
34:05So moving on to our third and final topic for Slater's shade, rapper Kendrick Lamar's
34:08latest album has broken the first day record on Spotify after its early release.
34:12I believe it was like over 9.6 million runs.
34:15Yes.
34:16He slayed it.
34:17Sorry, go ahead.
34:18Tell us how you feel to feel, Corey.
34:20Slay or shade?
34:21Kendrick Lamar.
34:22Yes.
34:23I'm going to start with you, Sean.
34:25Listen, Kendrick Lamar is, I like to say, I don't want to call him the new Kanye, but
34:29I mean in terms of coming into the mainstream consciousness, he is.
34:32And then his message is so real.
34:35We're not talking about gold chains and Porsches anymore, right?
34:39We're talking about coming up as black men in society.
34:42I mean, it's an amazing message to have.
34:44I'm so happy that he's the one carrying the flag.
34:46And the complicated mess, the layers of being a black man today.
34:49Yes.
34:50Like, he really went in.
34:51Like, his song You, I mean, I saw it, I bought it.
34:54I gave him my $14 quickly.
34:55Oh, of course.
34:56Before you even heard the entire band's work.
34:57This is the music we should be paying for, right?
34:59This is music that I want to give money to.
35:01Yes.
35:02As an artist.
35:03Being as though that he's from Compton.
35:04Mm-hmm.
35:05Anytime you defy the odds, you get my slack.
35:08Mm-hmm.
35:09And I just like him as a person.
35:10I met him in real life.
35:11That's what I always say.
35:12Because you could meet people and they'd be like, oh, what's up?
35:13And you'd be like, I don't know you.
35:15But I met him in real life.
35:16Like, he was so humble.
35:17So, yeah, I think he deserves all the good things that are coming his way.
35:21And remember, he ruffled some feathers when he said he was the king of New York?
35:24I mean, he's breaking numbers.
35:26Remember he did that?
35:27JV, where are you?
35:28Where are you, JV?
35:29I mean, a crown is a crown no matter where you wear it.
35:31That's true.
35:32I wear my crown all the time.
35:33I'm just saying.
35:34That's right.
35:35That's right.
35:36And I also want to mention that Kendrick Lamar is joining us this year at the 2015 Essence Festival.
35:40I am so there.
35:41More sledge.
35:42So, it's going to be a whole new turn up in the Superdome.
35:44I have a bowl of drink.
35:45Yes, you have to come back.
35:46And, of course, all of you have to go to Essence.com and EssenceFestival.com and get information
35:49on your tickets and your travel.
35:51So, there you have it.
35:52What do you have it?
35:53Why you still got some refund from your taxes?
35:54Listen to that.
35:55Listen to that.
35:56You know how we do.
35:57You know how we do.
35:58Keeping it real with Lil Mo.
36:00We took that on out.
36:01Well, there you have it.
36:02I want to thank my guests, Trey Byers, Nick Cannon, Jason Derulo, Asian Naomi King, Lil Mo,
36:08Sean Pierre, and, of course, entertainment director Ms. Corey Murray from the home team representing.
36:14Before I go, I had a chance to ballroom dance with Ms. Grace Geely.
36:17He plays Anika from Empire.
36:19Thanks so much for watching our premiere episode of Essence.
36:22I'm Dana Blair.
36:23I will see you here 4 p.m. next Thursday.
36:26Bye-bye.
36:28Bring it.
36:29Mama's ready.
36:30Okay.
36:31It's different than the single swing, right?
36:32Okay.
36:33Okay.
36:34So, okay.
36:35So, here we go.
36:36One, two, three, and four, five, and six.
36:41Right?
36:42Now we're going to do a dip.
36:43Ready for the dip?
36:44I'm ready for the dip.
36:45Here we go.
36:46One, two, three, and four, five, and six.
36:50Girl, you got it.
36:51Wait.
36:52We need a partner.
36:53Okay.
36:54We need a partner.
36:59I was thinking this would make for a very good...
37:03He's a little stiff.
37:04I cannot with this.
37:07The dimensions were a little off in the printing department.
37:10Here's how you doing.
37:11How you doing, T?
37:13Yes!
37:14Triple swing.
37:15Triple swing.
37:16I'm going to break it down.
37:17I love it.
37:18Awesome.
37:19He didn't do too bad himself.
37:21Not bad.
37:22Not bad at all.
37:23He's restored his name.
37:24This is hilarious.
37:43And beautiful.
37:44Here we go.
37:45We have the two potential points on thePat...
37:46Ch genetics switch.
37:47Let's talk about slow motion.
37:49For all right?
37:50Your Let go.
37:52Don't expand!
37:53We'll do like this.
37:54Before.
37:55Don't add nouces in näk.
38:00Really lively.
38:01We're with Kanye to be your Jump esa 미래.
38:02Yeah.
38:04Oh, Often.
38:05I see so many people who have my heart attack to you.
38:06Now...
38:08Sometimes.
38:09Have no anders.
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