Nicki Minaj was named one of Time's 100 most influential people this year. Listed under the icons category, Nicki shares some insights into her domination of rap music and transition into a mainstream star.
In her interview she offers some integral business advice saying, “I would tell women starting out in business, if you know you’re great at what you do, don’t ever be ashamed to ask for the top dollar in your field."
The lesson as an important one for any woman with big ambitions.
The world is mourning the death of pop/funk superstar, Prince, who died yesterday in his Paisley Park residence at age 57. But in a rare 1998 interview with Mel B - aka Scary Spice, of Spice Girls fame - Prince suggested that for him, this would be a time of celebration.
When asked about his distaste for birthdays he responds: “We came here not knowing we were going to die, somebody told us that. If we never knew we were going to die we wouldn't celebrate a birthday.” He said instead, “I'll celebrate the day I die.”
Prince, who was known for avoiding interviews and maintaining his privacy, described this session as “the best interview I ever had.” He and Mel B seemed more like old friends as she asked the musical genius about his then upcoming tour, his musical inspirations, the future of the internet and music industry.
We see a wise yet playful side of Prince as he imparts wisdom about sex, spirituality, and confidence in his deep, majestic voice while the two share laughs and compliments. They even venture out to a playground outside of the mansion together.
We should take a note from the iconic singer and honor his legacy with a celebration of his music. Check out the interview below.
Sudanese activist-DJ-model Mari Malek shares her story in StyleLikeU's interview series What's Underneath. Mari was born in war-torn Sudan, has lived in the projects of New Jersey, and has faced extreme harassment due to the dark color of her skin.
Though she has endured struggles that few of us will experience, Maria has never strayed from her true self: "Fuck everybody who thinks I should suppress my identity. Fuck fear. It’s time for the world to look at one another not as black race or a white race but as a human race."
By most standards, Mara Brock Akil is one of the most successful women in Hollywood. She's created three hit television shows (Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane) and broken countless barriers in the process. But the veteran showrunner says she doesn't get the respect she deserves from her industry peers.
"I am very successful," she said at the Chicago Ideas Festival. "But I am not seen as successful."
In the conversation, Akil recalls not being invited to some of the entertainment industry's biggest events because the people who make decisions don't respect her work or the audiences she serves. But Akil knows that she is on the cutting edge, "what they don't even realize is "the edge" is becoming the middle, and we're all American."
Akil has long provided platforms for the telling of Black women's stories, but she diverges from much of her audience in a fundamental way.
"My core audience loves the term "positive images." I actually do not. I don't believe in positive images just as I do not believe in negative images. I think they can actually be just as damaging as negative images."
Akil is pursuing new things as she departs her hit series, Being Mary Jane. She says, "I want to get into sci-fi. I want to do action heroes."
Sounds incredible. Watch the full interview below.
Tracee Ellis Ross sat down for a revealing interview with Larry King about her current rose on "Blackish" and her evolution in the entertainment industry.
PBS' Blank on Blank animated a 1968 interview with Nina Simone. Taken from a 1960s radio show hosted by Lilian Terry, the audio originally aired in Italy in the 1960s. And, until now, it has never been heard in the United States.
"I want the work to reflect my level of gifts and talent. I don't want it to reflect my color or my sex or my age. That's what I want," says Viola Davis in a Roundtable Interview from the Hollywood Reporter. In the full Roundtable, she and other actresses including Taraji P. Henson discuss their iconic roles and their craft.
In an interview with Al Jazeera America, Lesley McSpadden was read a portion of the New Yorker interview with Darren Wilson in which he was asked if he ever thought about her son, Micheal Brown.
Michelle Obama was interviewed by Wale on Friday to promote her Reach Higher initiative, aimed at encouraging students to pursue higher education. In it, she makes a surprising revelation about her dream alternate career path.
Geneva Read-Veal, the mother of Sandra Bland, said in an interview with MSNBC that she does not have confidence in the investigation into her daughter's arrest and death while in police custody.
"I will be in hell until the day I die," said the mother of Kalief Browder, "because I found my son hanging." Browder's mother spoke with ABC News about the pain she suffers as a result of her son's suicide.
Janelle Monae isn't content to just be a groundbreaking artist. She's head of her own label, and now she's backing her new artist Jidenna. She and Jidenna stopped by The Breakfast Club to discuss her impending musical takeover.
This is why we love the First Lady. She stopped by 'Ellen' to promote her Give Me 5 Campaign to promote exercise, and during her visit, she and Ellen busted more than a few moves to Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk."
Issa Rae is making the rounds promoting her book, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. She stopped by the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and sat down with Dear White People director Justin Simien to discuss the obstacles content creators, if they exist, and how they've architected their own careers.
Ava DuVernay sat down with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now to discuss the success of 'Selma.' DuVernay's film earned two Academy Award nominations, but she was not nominated for Best Director.
OWN's new digital series "Who Am I" is a collection of short interviews highlighting the stories of influential black celebrities. Sharing personal experiences and words of wisdom, these stars express the challenges and rewards that pave the road to success and how the complexities of that ever-progressing journey can reinforce an unyielding confidence in one's self-identity.
Years ago, Lisa Price created Carol's Daughter in her kitchen. Now her brand has become a renowned staple worth millions. The announcement that Carol's Daughter will be acquired by L'oreal was met with mixed reactions. Price sat down to discuss the next phase in the company's journey.
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood will hold a special place in the hearts of Black cinemaphiles for her first feature length film Love and Basketball. It's been nearly a decade and a half since that film's release, and Prince-Bythewood, whose new film "Beyond the Lights" opens this weekend, tells NPR's Morning Edition that Hollywood has not grown more hospitable to Blacks in film.
Viola Davis, star of ABC's How to Get Away with Murder, sat down with Ellen to talk about her role as Annalise Keating. The role is a departure from the most visible characters we've seen Viola play.
. She stopped by the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and sat down with 
director Justin Simien to discuss the obstacles content creators, if they exist, and how they've architected their own careers.
. It's been nearly a decade and a half since that film's release, and Prince-Bythewood, whose new film "Beyond the Lights" opens this weekend, tells NPR's Morning Edition that Hollywood has not grown more hospitable to Blacks in film.