- 1 week ago
On this week's episode of ESSENCE Live, we discuss the week's hottest topics, including Beyonce's "Formation", Tamar Braxton dishes on whether she'll have another baby, Ne-Yo talks his engagement, Erica Campbell dishes on her music.
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00:00Today on Essence Live, we're celebrating black women in music with special guests, Tamar,
00:07Ne-Yo, Erica Campbell, and special performances from Kiki Wyatt and Antonique Smith.
00:16Get ready, this show is going to be a good one.
00:20But right now, it's the hot list, the biggest stories you're buzzing about today.
00:23Now, for everyone who thinks Cam Newton displayed poor sportsmanship during that post-Super Bowl press conference,
00:33the Carolina quarterback has an answer for you.
00:36He's human.
00:37After losing to the Denver Broncos 24-10 in last week's game, Cam was criticized for his abrupt answers to the media
00:43and for seemingly sulking about the loss.
00:45He recently told reporters, and I quote,
00:47I've been on record to say I'm a sore loser.
00:50Who likes to lose?
00:50You show me a good loser, and I'm going to show you a loser.
00:55It's not a popularity contest.
00:56I'm here to win football games.
00:59Mm, womp womp.
01:03And speaking of the Super Bowl, y'all haters still mad about Beyonce's performance or nah?
01:08The Daily Show's Jessica Williams has the perfect clapback.
01:11Watch.
01:13Race was brought in because Beyonce was brought in.
01:16And race yourself, you might want to sit down for this,
01:19but Beyonce is black.
01:26And as a black person, you walk around every day constantly reminded that you are black.
01:32We're more likely to get paid less.
01:34We're more likely to get sent to prison.
01:35And we're more likely to win a dance competition.
01:38Life is not all bad.
01:40The Justice Department is suing the city of Ferguson, Missouri, for years of unconstitutional policing.
01:47The lawsuit accuses the city of using law enforcement to generate revenue through unconstitutional stops,
01:53searches, and arrests, and the use of unreasonable force.
01:56U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch stressed the urgency of the case in a news conference this week,
02:00saying that Ferguson residents have, quote, waited decades for justice and should not have to wait any longer.
02:09All right, all right, all right.
02:10Essence's seventh annual Black Women in Music celebration happens tonight in Los Angeles,
02:15and the event is sure to be star-studded, as always.
02:18Jasmine Sullivan, Andra Day will hit the stage to perform their Grammy-nominated tunes,
02:22while Estelle, Anthony Hamilton, Salt-N-Pepa, Corinne Bailey-Rae, and many, many more are expected to walk the red carpet.
02:28We'll have exclusive coverage of the event on Essence.com, of course.
02:32And speaking of the Grammys, congratulations are in order for our girl Tamar,
02:36who is up for best R&B performance this year.
02:38We're going to talk to her about her new music, hit TV shows.
02:42Yes, I said shows.
02:43And more on exclusive sit-down next.
02:45It's Thursday, February 11th, and Essence Live starts now.
02:52Welcome, welcome, welcome to Essence Live.
02:59I'm your host, Dana Blair.
03:00Today we have a fabulous show for you.
03:02Come on, you know how we do.
03:04But this is your show as much as it is ours, so let's hear from you.
03:07Use the hashtag EssenceLive to join the conversation, or email us at EssenceLive at Essence.com,
03:12and we'll tell you how you can call in live to talk to our celebrity guests.
03:16All right, so as I mentioned, today is Essence's seventh annual Black Women in Music event,
03:20and our correspondent, Alicia Renee, is in L.A. with the 411.
03:24Hey, Alicia.
03:27Thanks, Dana.
03:28Hey, guys.
03:28Alicia Renee here in sunny California.
03:30Be jealous.
03:31I'm standing in front of the Avalon, where the 2016 Essence Women in Music event will be happening.
03:36Oh, I'm so excited about this year's event, as it features Grammy-nominated artist Jasmine Sullivan,
03:42as well as my personal favorite, Miss Andra Day.
03:44So you guys definitely want to hang around, because I have some lovely red carpet footage
03:48from these ladies, as well as so many others.
03:51And we also have an interview with one half of Mary Mary's own, Miss Erica Campbell.
03:55She's talking all things Mary Mary, as well as what we can expect from her.
03:59So with that, back to you, Dana.
04:02Thank you so much, Alicia.
04:03We'll check back in with you a little bit later on in the show.
04:05Joining me right now in studio is friend to the show, singer, TV host, mom, wife, entrepreneur,
04:09and Salaya, of all things fabulous, Miss Tamar Braxton.
04:13Hi, darling.
04:14Hi, hi, hi.
04:15How are you?
04:16Amazing.
04:16How are you?
04:17I'm fabulous.
04:17Good.
04:18Your energy is always great.
04:19I'm always happy to have you here.
04:20And, of course, right before the Grammys.
04:22Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:22Always happy to come.
04:23I love it here.
04:24It's a good time.
04:25And you look fabulous.
04:26But how are you feeling?
04:27Because you gave all of your fans, and I'm sure your family, and, of course, yourself,
04:30a huge scare.
04:31How is your health doing?
04:32I'm feeling so much better.
04:33I'm just starting to feel like the old Tay-Tay.
04:36And it was a really tough time.
04:38It was very unexpected.
04:39It came out of the blue.
04:41But I'm doing great.
04:42Now, have you learned how to balance work, all of your projects, and Tamar time to take
04:49better care of yourself?
04:50Well, you know, that's not what happened.
04:51You know, I got blood clots, and you don't get them from working.
04:56And so, no.
04:58I'm still doing, I still do everything that I love to do.
05:02But right now, I'm just starting to start, you know, getting back into the swing of things.
05:07And performances and things of that nature.
05:09Yeah.
05:09Now, it's no secret that your hubby, Vince, wants more children, as we discover watching
05:14the show.
05:15What's your position on that now?
05:17Well, I bought him a pig.
05:18And so, God is good.
05:20Won't he do it?
05:22I don't know.
05:23You know what?
05:24Really, honestly, I'm just really fresh out of, you know, the hospital and being home and
05:30going right back to work.
05:31Who knows?
05:32I don't know.
05:32I can't say that I'm not, and I just want to be healthy first.
05:36And then we can talk about that.
05:38Possibly giving Logan a baby sister or brother or me.
05:42How's Logan doing?
05:43He's amazing.
05:45That's Vince Jr.
05:45You were just a carrier.
05:47They used to be.
05:47You know that.
05:48Yeah, I do know that.
05:49I do know that.
05:50Yeah.
05:51You know, Logan's amazing.
05:52He's an amazing special boy.
05:54And he's grown.
05:56And you're on reality TV.
05:58Yeah.
05:59And, you know, I hear that sometimes you forget the cameras are there.
06:02Are there ever any moments that you wish were not captured?
06:05A lot of them.
06:05That you weren't as open with your life.
06:07Well, you know, for me, I have nothing to hide.
06:10And my life is an open book.
06:12Because I just feel like, you know, my experience is people get to learn from them.
06:16You know what I mean?
06:16And make different decisions.
06:17Or if they're going through something, maybe they see my experience and, you know, want to
06:21do what I did about the situation.
06:23So, you know, in that aspect, no, but sometimes things that I say, yeah, especially to my
06:28siblings.
06:29Which I'm working on.
06:30I'm working on that.
06:31I'm trying to really stop.
06:33I'm really trying to stop to give my unsolicited advice.
06:36No, and I understand that.
06:37And speaking of your siblings, when you were in the hospital, we saw Tawanda come to see
06:40you.
06:41It was a very heartfelt moment.
06:42You mentioned that you hadn't seen or spoken to her in three months.
06:44Yeah.
06:45What caused the rift?
06:46A life.
06:47You know, I just haven't seen her.
06:49I haven't really talked to her that much.
06:50Like, we're on a group chat, but that was really just about it.
06:53And, you know, for her to walk through those doors without any notice, it was just amazing.
06:59It reminds you in those moments what's important.
07:01What's important.
07:01And it's family and it's your loved ones and it's your good friends and, you know, people
07:05that really show up when, you know, you're down and out.
07:09Was it true that Tawanda wanted to do Dancing with the Stars?
07:11I think she did.
07:13But, you know, I didn't go after Dancing with the Stars.
07:14You know, they came after me twice.
07:16And when they asked me the second time, I was like, I think this is a good time for
07:21me to learn how to dance instead of twerking all the time.
07:24Every time a beat drop, I have my hands on my knees.
07:26There's nothing wrong with a twerk.
07:27You know what I mean?
07:28Like, you can't do that in every, you know, splatious.
07:30And what did you take away from Dancing with the Stars?
07:33I mean, watching you learn new choreography.
07:35Because you're an artist.
07:36Yeah.
07:37But you get time in the studio to go over a track over and over again or make new, like,
07:42changes.
07:43But week to week, you have new material on there.
07:45What was that like for you?
07:46It was tough, but it was fun.
07:48You know, Val was my partner and he was amazing.
07:51We're still good friends today.
07:52And, you know, I just really wanted to challenge myself, you know?
07:57And I think I did that.
07:58It was tough, though.
07:58It was like five and six hours of practice.
08:00I would go do the reel and then go to Dancing with the Stars.
08:03And I don't know how you did that.
08:05It wasn't a hell of five protein shake.
08:07It was good.
08:08My body was in the best shape ever.
08:10So what is a day in the life like for you?
08:13How do you manage to do four shows and a music career and a mommy?
08:15Like, what is it just like a Tuesday?
08:18You know, seriously, it's like I go to work and I shoot a couple of scenes.
08:25I'll play with my baby, cook dinner.
08:26And these are all things that I love to do.
08:28And so just like, you know, you, you want to get your hair cut.
08:31You want to get your nails done.
08:32You know, you make time for things you really want to do.
08:34Right.
08:34And so that's what I look at as far as my career.
08:37And I just make sure I do things that I really, really am passionate about.
08:41No, definitely.
08:41Now, Tracy was on the show about two weeks ago.
08:44Yes, she Skyped in.
08:45We played a game with her called One Gotta Go.
08:47Oh, Lord.
08:47And we played, okay, before I tell you her answer.
08:51Okay.
08:51So our one gotta go, we chose four options.
08:53Which would you get rid of?
08:55It's a game that's on social media right now.
08:56Okay.
08:57And we used all four of the sisters.
08:59So Tony, Tracy, Tawanda, or Trina, which one gotta go?
09:03Man.
09:05I'm going to play that game.
09:07And she had the same exact answer, too.
09:08I was like, y'all, she, also, in our production media, I was like, she's going to say they're
09:12all going to stay.
09:13Yes, because, you know, it's a special bond with each individual.
09:17You know what I mean?
09:17Like, we're sisters, and when we get together, it's a force to be reckoned with.
09:20Trust me, I didn't believe that.
09:22But, you know, I go to each sister for different things.
09:25Right.
09:25Yeah.
09:25It's a good team.
09:26It's like a good caucus.
09:27Yeah.
09:28A life committee.
09:28I need my gals.
09:29Yes.
09:29And you're going to be sticking around a little bit later on the show.
09:31I'm going to be sticking around.
09:32Tamar is hanging.
09:34Don't Move Essence Live fam.
09:35Tamar will be joining us a little bit later on.
09:37Next, we're talking to Neo about his new music and what it was really like being on The Wiz Live.
09:42But first, Kiki Wyatt stops by our Essence Live studios recently to perform her latest single,
09:47Sexy Song, which is on sale right now.
09:49Check it out.
09:50It's just me and you and the radio.
10:14And you, it's all in tune.
10:23And around the boat, so nice and slow.
10:29Keep it on heavy rotation as we go.
10:35Oh, I feel it in my soul when the speakers below releasing all of my attention losing control.
10:47Oh, I feel it in my soul when we get it on.
10:54Oh, we, we, we take it on.
10:57Oh, we, we, we just get on.
11:00Let's play it on.
11:01Oh, I feel it in my soul when we get it on.
11:06Oh, we, we, we take it on.
11:09Oh, we, we just get on.
11:12In the music.
11:18In the moment.
11:24With my brown sugar, sugar, sugar, oh, on your lips.
11:34We'll spin all the classics.
11:39Oh, that's my wish.
11:42I'll get on top like the charts.
11:46A number one hit.
11:48Sharing the passion.
11:51Bathing attraction.
11:54And when that song comes on, who knows what will happen.
12:00Oh, we, we, we can't-
12:02I'll get on top like the charts.
12:03Oh, we, we, we just get it on.
12:06Oh, we, we, we take it on.
12:09Oh, we, we just get and on.
12:12Play it on the sexy tune.
12:15Oh, we, we, we get it on.
12:18Oh, we, we take it on.
12:22Oh, we, we just get this on.
12:25Break it down.
12:27I love you and don't sing it loud
12:36Let's amplify our love
12:48Let's take off sex is soft
12:51While we get it, on
12:54When we take it off
12:57When we get it, on
13:02Let's put some sex is soft
13:03While we get it, on
13:06When we take it, on
13:09We just get lost
13:13Sexy song
13:21Sexy song
13:26Yeah
13:35Hi, I'm Taraji P. Henson.
13:44What's up, y'all?
13:45Yes.
13:45Hi, this is Trey Byers.
13:47I play Andre Lyon.
13:48And I'm Jussie Smollett, a.k.a. Jamal Lyon.
13:50You are watching Essence Live.
13:52Essence Live.
13:53Essence Live.
14:03You're watching Essence Live, and I'm your host, Dana Blair.
14:05In studio right now is a man whose songs, I don't know, you may have been singing along
14:09to.
14:09You may have heard once or twice.
14:11Please welcome Nioh to the show.
14:13Thank you so much for joining us.
14:15Happy to be here.
14:16I kind of am starstruck.
14:17You've taken me through, like, every single breakup.
14:19Get back together, breakup, get back together, back together, breakup.
14:22Happy to be here, sir.
14:23Thank you so much for joining us.
14:25And congratulations on The Wiz Live.
14:27Yeah, man.
14:28What was that like?
14:29Oh, man, I had a ball with that.
14:30I really did.
14:31Shout out to Elijah Kelly and David Alan Greer and Shanice, my little sister.
14:36Your little sister.
14:38Yeah, man.
14:38Queen Latif.
14:39Just every marriage oblige.
14:40It was an amazing time.
14:42I will say it was definitely a labor of love because it was a lot of work and, you know,
14:46a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
14:48But it was all worth it at the end because, you know, people dug it.
14:50Have you been bit by the Broadway bug now?
14:53A little bit.
14:54I will say I had a lot of fun with it.
14:58I even started inquiring about, you know, some Broadway stuff.
15:01Then learned what that dedication is.
15:05You know, that's a serious commitment you got to put in for that.
15:08Wait, writing an original or?
15:09Oh, no, just doing Broadway, period.
15:11It's like they try to, they lock you in for like a year, you know.
15:15Oh, yes.
15:15And then it's like eight, nine shows a week.
15:18It's a lot.
15:18I got a whole other life that I got to consider.
15:20Like what had happened was.
15:21You know, but I love it.
15:22I love acting.
15:24I definitely want to do more acting.
15:27It's funny that you mentioned the writing and all of that
15:29because that's kind of what I'm more interested in.
15:31Okay.
15:32Getting into, you know, screenplay, script writing, you know, that type of thing.
15:35Definitely.
15:36Now, did you see any of the memes from The Wiz live?
15:38Yeah.
15:38Because social media had a field day.
15:40Yeah, I did.
15:41I was happy that we didn't get the hatred that we was expecting, to be honest.
15:45Really?
15:46You know what black Twitter do.
15:47They sit back and wait for you to mess up so they can talk crazy.
15:50But that's how they do it.
15:51It's The Wiz.
15:51It's a classic.
15:52True.
15:53And that was another part of some of the hatred we was getting.
15:55People on some, you know, The Wiz is a classic.
15:57Leave it alone.
15:58Y'all can mess it up.
15:59That whole thing.
16:00But it came out and people didn't have a whole lot of negative to say.
16:05So that just means, that just meant for us that we did our job.
16:07Because we knew.
16:08We knew what to expect.
16:09You did a very good job.
16:10So we did everything in our power to make sure that we didn't get a whole lot of that as well.
16:14And speaking of writing, you're now part of Empire Season 2.
16:17Indeed.
16:18What is that experience like?
16:19Because as an artist, you usually have time to go over.
16:23I mean, of course, I can imagine writing and that sort of thing and producing and singing.
16:26But now you have to pump that stuff out week after week after week.
16:29Yeah, man.
16:30Yeah, yeah.
16:30And have it in line with a storyline and a whole other level of variables.
16:35What's that like?
16:37To be honest with you, the way you just put it makes it sound really, really difficult.
16:41But honestly, it's really not.
16:42Like, they make it as painless as possible.
16:46You know, the people that write the script, excuse me, and then the people that then bring
16:51the information to me as far as what song is needed, they're all, they're like super
16:55duper detailed.
16:56You know what I mean?
16:56So it's basically, okay, we need this kind of song and this kind of scene and it needs
17:01to say this, go.
17:02And I'm like, oh, y'all done did have the hard work for me.
17:04All right, here you go.
17:06And the rest of it is free for me.
17:08And it doesn't hurt that you're talented.
17:09Well, that helps a little bit.
17:10That helps just a little bit.
17:11A little bit, a little bit.
17:12Now, I have to ask you about the hat.
17:14Now, because you recently took your hat off, I thought we were going to be twinsies.
17:18Well, see, the thing is, I decided to do this whole self-love thing at the worst possible
17:22time.
17:22It's cold as hell outside.
17:24Yeah.
17:24I understand.
17:25And with no hair on the head.
17:27You feel my pain.
17:28With no hair on the head, you know, it makes it a little colder for you.
17:31So, yeah, so come summertime, you will definitely see more of the dome.
17:34But right now, with all that happening out there, I'm going to just, I'm going to keep
17:38that thought.
17:38Are you going to share with the Essence Live family, the Baldy?
17:40It's warm in here.
17:41Oh, see, man.
17:42You caught me.
17:43Okay, so here's the thing.
17:44What happened was.
17:45I have decided that I am no longer ashamed of my head.
17:48However, just like anybody, just like any hairstyle, you're not going to walk out the house
17:52with your hair undone, right?
17:53True.
17:53So I'm not going to show my head when I haven't had a haircut.
17:56You know, I understand on a whole other level, Nia.
18:00Feel me?
18:00On a whole other level.
18:01Yeah.
18:01You know, when it's clean and it's shaving and it's nice.
18:04I can't tell you anything.
18:05What?
18:06Boom.
18:06But then the hair started growing back.
18:08You feel just dirty and homeless.
18:10Yeah.
18:10I understand how you feel.
18:12Sleeping on the floor.
18:13On the floor.
18:14In your own home.
18:15Curled up.
18:16Curled up.
18:17With no heat.
18:18I get it.
18:19I get it.
18:19What's wrong with my life?
18:20But on a brighter note, though.
18:22Sorry.
18:22Go ahead.
18:22It's okay.
18:23It's okay.
18:23You were living there.
18:24I can't let you sit there, though.
18:25I can't let you stay on the floor.
18:26Pull me up.
18:26I'm going to bring you back up.
18:27Congratulations on your engagement.
18:30Thank you very much.
18:30Shout out to the lovely Miss Crystal Williams, which I don't know which camera I'm supposed
18:33to be looking at.
18:34There you go.
18:36Hey, SJ.
18:37That's the one.
18:37What kind of wedding?
18:38Is it going to be big, small, intimate?
18:41It's going to be private.
18:43Mm-hmm.
18:46Hot outside?
18:46Cold outside?
18:48Private outside?
18:49Mm-hmm.
18:50Mm-hmm.
18:51Mm-hmm.
18:52Groomsmen?
18:53Bridesmaids?
18:54Private groom.
18:55Uh-huh.
18:56What y'all, what you eating?
18:57What you eating?
18:58Let me, let me talk to me.
18:59Um, great chef that we're working with.
19:01His name is Private, uh, Private Jonton.
19:05I think he's French.
19:06Oh, oh, with a spin.
19:07Privé Jonton.
19:08Yeah, something like that.
19:08Nice.
19:09Like, he's very, sounds very exotic.
19:11Very much so, yeah.
19:12Yeah, no, we, you know what?
19:14Really, we're trying to keep it low, man.
19:15I understand.
19:15Like, I'm not doing the celebrity wedding.
19:17I'm not, I'm not doing that.
19:18Like, it's not, it's not so much for the world.
19:21It's for us.
19:21You know what I mean?
19:22So, no disrespect or nothing.
19:23And I just, you know, I, I prefer to keep, you know.
19:26It's not a disrespect.
19:27It's your life.
19:27It's your personal life.
19:27Well, I mean, I don't want to come off like, like, you know, I'm not asking a question.
19:30You know, you know, don't want to answer my damn question.
19:33Not, not that you.
19:33Oh, no.
19:34Not at all.
19:34That wasn't my impression of you.
19:36No, not at all.
19:37I'm just saying that, you know, that's how it could have been taken.
19:38But, nah, you know, we're trying to keep it light.
19:40Trying to keep it light.
19:41Got you.
19:41And so, Valentine's Day is coming up.
19:42I know you have something elaborate planned.
19:44Yes, I do.
19:45And I'm not going to talk about it too tough.
19:46I didn't ask, I was going to ask for it.
19:48That's the thing about surprises.
19:50They're not surprises anymore when we talk about them.
19:52But, yeah, definitely planning on some stuff for Valentine's Day.
19:54Got to it.
19:55But what about the brothers out there at Essence Live or the women who are trying to drop hints
19:58for their men?
19:59What can they do for Valentine's Day?
20:00You got any tips for them?
20:01Okay.
20:01Well, I definitely do.
20:02All right.
20:04Well, one thing, one misconception that a lot of men make is that you got to spend a lot
20:07of money on Valentine's Day.
20:08You do not have to spend a lot of money on Valentine's Day.
20:11It's not about how much money you spent.
20:13It's about how much thought you put into the gift.
20:15Agreed.
20:16Now, see, what most men do when I say you don't got to spend a lot of money is just
20:20go get something cheap and be like, well, Neil said I ain't got to spend no money.
20:22Don't blame Neil on y'all's relationship.
20:24No.
20:25Don't do it.
20:25Not what I mean.
20:27The thoughtful gift is not always the expensive gift.
20:32Figure out what it is, like, what do you know about your woman?
20:34What if your woman don't like roses?
20:35You walk in the house with a big bouquet of roses thinking you're going to do something
20:37and that ain't even her favorite flower.
20:39Right.
20:40Get her her favorite flower.
20:41Take her to her favorite restaurant.
20:43Get her favorite fragrance for her.
20:44You know, before, without asking her what it is.
20:47Because that just ruined the whole thing.
20:48Yeah.
20:49Do some research.
20:49You go, you go and bring her a fragrance that she absolutely loves and she goes, how
20:54did you?
20:55I pay attention, baby.
20:57That shows her that you are paying attention, that you are invested in this relationship,
21:00that you're not just sitting back while letting her do this, waiting on your turn to talk
21:03to the game.
21:04Come on.
21:04Well, you're going to stick around and you're going to talk with us a little bit later on
21:08in the show.
21:08I am.
21:08I will be good.
21:08Thank you very much.
21:10All right.
21:10So we're going to talk to you and Tamar in a little Grammy segment coming up next.
21:13But first, Essence's seventh annual Black Women in Music event is in Los Angeles tonight.
21:17And our LA correspondent, Alicia Renee, will have all of your red carpet coverage, of course,
21:20on Essence.com.
21:22Right now, she has an exclusive interview with gospel singer Erica Campbell about her thoughts
21:26on the Grammy voting process.
21:27You know, I've been blessed.
21:30I have five Grammys, four with Mary Mary, one by myself.
21:34Still, Mary Mary has never performed on the Grammys.
21:38I don't even ever been even been invited to, you know.
21:42And so I never I just assumed.
21:44Yeah.
21:44No, never.
21:45You know, I have feelings about that.
21:47But I do know that the Grammys at large, they do a lot.
21:52If you are a part of Grammys in the school, if you are part of the Grammy Cares Foundation,
21:57if you're a part of those things, then when they have those meetings, you're a part.
22:00And it cannot just be, oh, my song was hot this year.
22:04It is being a part of that community.
22:06And so when they're thinking of people, you know, your accomplishments come up.
22:12But if you kind of live in your own bubble, and creative people, we can do that at times.
22:16We can live in our own bubble.
22:17We do our own thing.
22:18And then we come out, you know.
22:20But you have to be a part of the world.
22:22And then they pay a little bit more attention.
22:24I am thoroughly surprised to hear that you guys have not been invited.
22:29Oh, no, we've asked many, many times.
22:31And I'm just like, you put in your work, even when it's not serving you.
22:34And still, the fruits have not come in that particular lane.
22:38So it's like.
22:38You know, I believe they'll come in time.
22:40Okay.
22:40That's fair.
22:41Yeah.
22:42And I mean, because if you stress out about it, then what?
22:45You still don't perform?
22:46Yeah.
22:46Okay.
22:47So.
22:48All right, girl.
22:48What is that going to do, really?
22:51Yeah, you're right.
22:51You know what I mean?
22:51And then you hold this in your heart, and it becomes animosity.
22:54Then when you do finally perform, it's coming from a.
22:57It's not totally.
22:58A nasty place.
22:58A nasty place.
22:58Like, huh, finally, I'm here.
23:00Finally here.
23:00You don't want that.
23:01Yeah, I don't want that.
23:02Let's talk about the sound.
23:03Mm-hmm.
23:04You guys have traditionally taken, both as Mary Mary and then yourself individually, you know,
23:09as your solo project, a less traditional route when it comes to delivering your message.
23:14My brand of gospel has never been buttoned up just for me, just us Christian folks.
23:18We're in a Christian club, and we drink Christian water, and we're Christian clubs.
23:21Come on, Christian water.
23:22Boo.
23:23Boo to that.
23:24If I have the light, isn't my light most effective in darkness?
23:28Come on.
23:28I have never wanted my brand of gospel to only be in the church.
23:31I love it when church people applaud it and believe it and support it.
23:34Yeah.
23:35Because you get what I'm coming from.
23:37But if I can talk to somebody who thinks that this is the end for me, if I can talk to
23:41somebody who didn't grow up with their parents, who didn't grow up in the ideal kind of situation,
23:47what is ideal anyway, who didn't grow up with love and acceptance, if I can offer that
23:51through my music, that's what I'm supposed to do.
23:53And so everybody won't like me.
23:54Everybody won't love me.
23:55Everybody won't think, yeah, that's good.
23:57Everybody won't co-sign.
23:58That's totally fine.
23:59Right.
23:59My mom dealt with that because my mom was a beautiful woman who had curves, and even church
24:04sometimes her clothes was tight.
24:05And I remember as a little girl, I said, dang, show, show, wear tight clothes.
24:09I thought my mama was fine.
24:11Yeah.
24:11So as we grew up, and I realized that she had the heart of gold, I was like, that's
24:16what's most important.
24:17Yeah.
24:20Welcome back to Essence Live.
24:22Unfortunately, Neal had to bounce, but, you know, that's what happens when you have live
24:25TV.
24:26But my girl Tamar is back.
24:29So we got this.
24:29We're going to hold this sofa down.
24:31So the Grammys, of course, are this weekend, and congratulations, Tamar.
24:34You're nominated for Best R&B Performance Category.
24:37How does it feel?
24:38It feels amazing.
24:39You know, when my album came out, I couldn't support it because I got sick all of a sudden.
24:44And I just, I'm just very excited and just honored that the Academy decided to nominate
24:50me, especially for Best Performance.
24:51And that means I really sang my face off.
24:53Yes, you did.
24:54Now, do you already have your look together?
24:57Your red carpet look?
24:58I do not.
24:58I do not.
24:59Now, when is that process going to take place?
25:00Oh, my God.
25:01It's been a process for like two weeks now.
25:04So how do you pick?
25:05What do you do?
25:06I don't know.
25:07I'm very indecisive.
25:09I probably will pick the day of because, you know, I'm really, I know.
25:13I mean, I have some good choices.
25:14You know, I just don't know what I'm feeling yet.
25:16And so whenever you pick the outfit, do you like stand in the mirror and you like practice
25:19your poses?
25:20It's a feeling.
25:21It's a feeling.
25:22It's a moment.
25:23Yeah.
25:23Now, when you're sitting in the audience and they call out the names and you're waiting
25:28to hear if you want or not, what goes through your head?
25:31Nothing.
25:32Nothing at all.
25:33It's just like quiet.
25:33The last time, nothing.
25:35It was just like, first of all, I didn't really know that it was real.
25:40And I probably would have the same feeling.
25:42It would.
25:43Like, where am I?
25:44What happened?
25:45Like, that's something that I pray to God never gets old to me.
25:48I hope that that new feeling will always be for me.
25:52Yeah.
25:52Now, I want to hear some Grammy predictions from you.
25:56Okay, okay.
25:56Okay, so the biggest award of the night, album of the year.
25:59This year's nominees are Sound and Color by Alabama Shakes, Dependable Butterfly by Kendrick
26:04Lamar, Traveler, Chris Stapleton, 1989 Taylor Swift, and Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd.
26:10Oh, my God.
26:11It's so hard.
26:13I mean, they really got that nomination right.
26:16Who do you think's taking it?
26:17Oh, my goodness.
26:18My gut tells me Taylor Swift.
26:23Tay-Tay?
26:23Mm-hmm.
26:23Is it Swift?
26:24And, yeah.
26:25I really enjoyed that album.
26:26I really...
26:26First of all, I'm a Swifter.
26:28You're a Swifter?
26:29What?
26:30My friend Damali made me a Swifter.
26:31Really?
26:32She made me a Swifter.
26:33Amazing, amazing.
26:33Okay.
26:34Okay.
26:34All right, so we're going to take some of your questions.
26:36Hey, Swift.
26:37Hey.
26:37All right, so let's see.
26:39From Facebook, we have Karen Davis.
26:40She says, Tamar, though I want you to rest up and I hope you're healing well, but when
26:44are you going to go back on tour and will you be at the Essence Festival this year?
26:48Oh, my God.
26:49I hope I'm at the Essence Festival this year.
26:51That would be amazing.
26:53Yeah.
26:53You know, right now, no, I'm not going back on tour.
26:57My body's not all the way healed, especially for the tour life.
27:00I love to go on tour, but not as of yet.
27:05Do you ever, well, how does it feel whenever you're on stage?
27:07Because my friend Tanya's a huge fan of yours and everyone is in the audience singing your
27:11songs along with you.
27:13It's really amazing.
27:14It's magical.
27:15That energy coming back.
27:16Yeah, because let me tell you what happens.
27:18The audience have no idea that they give me everything.
27:21You know what I mean?
27:22And it's just like a big old love fest.
27:24So when they give me love, I give it right back and it's amazing.
27:27I think she goes just to sing along with you, to be honest with you.
27:29A St. Martian concert is the best ever.
27:31A St. Martian concert.
27:32And this one comes from Tiffany White.
27:34Will you and Adrienne do a duet together?
27:37I don't know.
27:38I mean, that would be great.
27:39You know, I don't know how we would see.
27:40We probably have to sit on stools because she's 4'11 and I'm 5'7".
27:44And the right lighting.
27:46I'm going to ask her tonight.
27:47We're going to get together for dinner and I'm going to ask her.
27:49All right.
27:50Okay.
27:50Now I have one more from Camilio Salamander who wants to know.
27:54Come on, name.
27:55Yes, I'm through with a name, right?
27:57Yes, Camilio.
27:57Do you think R&B music is dying?
28:00I do not.
28:01I do not.
28:02I think that R&B music has definitely made a comeback.
28:06And I do think that if everyone says that they love R&B, don't want it to die, don't let it die.
28:12Don't let it die.
28:12Thank you so much for joining us.
28:14I love coming here.
28:15Thanks for having me.
28:16I'm going to be standing there in my pajamas with some popcorn, yelling at the TV screen.
28:20I got your back.
28:20If you hear me.
28:21Somebody crazy in the background, that's me.
28:23Thank you, girl.
28:24I'm wishing you all the best.
28:25Coming up, it's our Black Girl Magic Moment of the Week.
28:27Plus, Antoneque Smith performs her new single exclusively for Essence Live.
28:31But first, let's go back to Los Angeles and check in with our correspondent, Alicia Renee,
28:35who was talking to Erica Campbell about that infamous white dress she wore that broke the
28:39Christian internet, honey.
28:40Woo.
28:41You know, with the white dress thing, when I showed them the dress.
28:44I was just about to say, because you drove the internet crazy in the white dress, in the white bodycon on Instagram.
28:53You did it for the gram.
28:53I did.
28:54You did it for the gram.
28:55You know, I thought that was going to be my album cover.
28:58Some emails went through with my team, and they were looking at the picture, and somebody said album cover.
29:04Somebody said promotional, and it got kind of confused, and we put the picture out there before we were supposed to.
29:09Okay.
29:09But it gained so much attention.
29:12It served as a wonderful bit of promotion for the album.
29:15Oh, press, press, press, press.
29:17You know, and it also allowed me to talk about Christianity and sexuality.
29:21Yeah.
29:22And not be afraid or ashamed of my curves, and not vilify myself or even other young church girls who are curvy and beautiful.
29:30What's coming up next for Ms. Erica Campbell?
29:32The hairline is out.
29:33Yes, girl.
29:34Erica by Erica Campbell.
29:36Yeah.
29:36You know, I am working on a book right now.
29:40I did my More Than Pretty conference last year.
29:43I'm turning that into a book.
29:45On social media, I do Erica-isms.
29:47So just my thoughts on life and empowering and uplifting.
29:50Is it a compilation of that?
29:51Yes.
29:51It will be the Erica-isms along with confessions.
29:55I am.
29:56I am loved.
29:57I am forgiven.
29:57I am necessary.
29:58I am powerful.
29:59Just different things to kind of affirm us.
30:02And scriptures to go with it because I always have to back it up with the word of God.
30:06It's never clear.
30:06It's not just me.
30:07It's I'm following his guideline.
30:10You know what I mean?
30:10And his plan and path for my life.
30:11So I want to share as much as I can.
30:13I mean, you know, I think you've been given a platform and when people are paying attention,
30:16what are they paying attention to?
30:18Yeah.
30:18You know, kind of like everybody got upset with sister Beyonce, who I love.
30:22I don't care.
30:23You can tear me up if you want to.
30:25Yes, I love her.
30:26No, the beehive will love you, baby.
30:27Yeah, but you know, she does her music, but she takes the stance.
30:31She's so poised and she's so classy and she's so together.
30:34And she does not let anybody ruffle her feathers ever.
30:38Some people were sidetracked from a Christian perspective.
30:41Why would you support her?
30:42And she always got her body out.
30:44Well, the girl's body is beautiful.
30:45I mean.
30:46God created it.
30:47I mean, she worked hard for it.
30:48She worked hard.
30:49Take good care of it.
30:50Right.
30:50I think that's why the Lord won't give me good legs like that.
30:53Because I might be in church dressed like me.
30:55I'm saying, no, I'm just kidding.
30:55Y'all don't.
30:56I'm just playing.
30:58I was about to be like, why did you say that?
31:04All year long, Essence is celebrating black girl magic.
31:09And starting February 25th, you can watch our original black girl magic series on Essence.com.
31:13And today, we're highlighting UCLA gymnast Safina DeJesus, who recently whipped, nay-nayed,
31:19and slayed her floor routine.
31:20Check it out.
31:22And then put on a show in between.
31:28Stop that, Landon.
31:29Yes, she did.
31:34Pass.
31:40Combination.
31:42Wow.
31:47Now, if I tried to look like that, I would need a hip replacement by Monday.
31:50But she definitely did her thing and showed us why she's so magical.
31:54Salute to you, Safina.
31:55And remember, go to our Essence.com for our original black girl magic docuseries starting
31:59February 25th.
31:59And red carpet coverage of our seventh annual Black Women in Music event.
32:03Thanks to Ne-Yo, Tamar, Kiki Wyatt, and Erica Campbell for coming through.
32:07I'll see you right here next week for an all-new Essence Live.
32:11We're going to close things out with another exclusive performance.
32:13Here's Antonique Smith performing her latest single, All We Really Have Is Now.
32:18I'm your host, Dana Blair, and I'll see you next time.
32:20Do you really want to know what's on my mind?
32:45Well, here I go again, spoiling paradise.
32:52And I'm so caught up making sure you stay forever.
32:59That I forgot to love the time we spend together.
33:05I just want to breathe in, stop second-guessing.
33:10Look at your smile and take it in.
33:14Try to relax and live in a moment.
33:17It's all that we've got to believe in.
33:21The future is just a promise that may change with the weather.
33:25The past is just a photo book that I'm chasing forever.
33:28But why do I keep searching for something I've already found?
33:34All we really have is now.
33:39Yeah.
33:41All we really have is now.
33:50It's overcast with a chance of sunshine.
33:55I'm trying to make it last while I know you're still mine.
34:05And I'm scared to show this fragile feeling that we live on.
34:11With all my frustrations and high expectations,
34:15take it as it comes.
34:17What I've got with you is as good as it gets.
34:25And I don't want to look back at mischances and regrets.
34:32I just want to breathe in, stop second-guessing.
34:36Look at your smile and take it in.
34:40Try to relax and live in a moment.
34:43It's all that we've got to believe in.
34:47The future is just a promise that may change with the weather.
34:51The past is just a photo book that I'm chasing forever.
34:55Why do I keep searching for something I've already found?
35:00But all we really have is now.
35:04And I don't want to take this for granted.
35:12The treasure of the seeds that we planted.
35:16You're all that I ever wanted, baby.
35:20I'm going to stop bringing rain clouds.
35:27Appreciate all that I have now.
35:31In the redemption, all the counts is that I will just
35:34don't ever take it away.
35:37I just want to breathe in, stop second-guessing.
35:41Look at your smile and take it in.
35:44Try to relax and live in a moment.
35:47It's all that we can believe in.
35:51The future is a promise that we'll learn the weather.
35:55Through the storm and rain, we will be together.
35:59Stand upon and searching for something I've already found.
36:05All we really have is now.
36:07All we really have is now.
36:14All we really have is now.
36:18All we really have is now.
36:22All we really have is now.
36:23All we really have is now.
36:24All we really have is now.
36:25All we really have is now.
36:26All we really have is now.
36:27All we really have is now.
36:28All we really have is now.
36:29All we really have is now.
36:30All we really have is now.
36:31All we really have is now.
36:32All we really have is now.
36:33All we really have is now.
36:34All we have is now.
36:35All we have is now.
36:36All we have is now.
36:37All we have is now.
36:38All we have is now.
36:39All we have is now.
36:40All we have is now.
36:41All we have is now.
36:42All we have is now.
36:43All we have is now.
36:44All we have is now.
36:45All we have is now.
36:46All we have is now.
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