Change can represent a lot in one’s career. From changing your sound as an artist, or stepping out of your comfort zone, it can work out for the best–and sometimes for the worst. (Anyone remember Joaquin Phoenix’s meta attempt at rapping??)  Despite that train wreck, most celebs have had successful career changes and have been better than ever. Here’s a look at some of the best (and not so great) career changes.

Source: karaoke-lyrics.net

Queen Latifah — Best

[Rapper to TV Star, to Academy Award Winning Actress and Jazz Singer]

Queen La went from rapping about “Ladies First” and rocking afrocentric garb, including some pretty sick hats, to acting on a weekly television program that we all loved. If that wasn’t enough, she did big things on the silver screen too, gaining critical acclaim for her work in movies like Set It Off and obtaining an Academy Award nomination for her role as Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago. Since becoming a household name, she’s been picked as a CoverGirl, and she’s also had the chance to sing jazz music (even though she’s been singing for years) and releasing soul music albums. Latifah proved that staying in your own lane is indeed for suckers.

While there are a million reality television shows out there, I still enjoy the comfort of the cinematic experience and a good sitcom here and there.
Nowadays, things are on the up and up, as there are many great black actors who are bringing serious talent to the big and small screens. Take for instance the very fine Michael Ealy in the buddy-cop comedy “Common Law” (one of my favorite shows of the summer), and Jamie Foxx in the new Tarantino western Django Unchained (dropping this Christmas). But while very talented black actors and actresses are getting the chance to flex their acting chops and do so very well, there are still some actors that seem to fall short on the big and small screen.

Here are a few seasoned actors who should work on their craft, and really try to break form the norm so they can end up in A-List bliss instead of the black hole that is reality television, or even worse: Doomed to being seen solely in Thursday night BET movies.

Source: uptownmagazine.com

Lisa Raye

I don’t know if doing Player’s Club held Lisa Raye back creatively, but every performance I see of the star seems to be Diamond all over again (talking like she’s reading off of a cue card). You might be able to blame it on the lack of diverse roles, but it seems that the all-white lover only plays the sassy sista, and even on her show, “Single Ladies,” it’s more of the same. If you’re going to be the sassy sista every time, at least put your foot in it and make us want to keep watching! Oh Lisa, you’ve been in the game since ’95 and there still hasn’t been much evolution. But we’ll keep our fingers crossed…

I’m a big movie fan, and a big black movie fan at that. Therefore, when new movies come out by black directors and with interesting, hot or amazing actors, I try to support them. But in my years, I’ve seen a lot of overrated movies. This list isn’t to be mean, I’m just being honest about the fact that these nine films got my hopes up pretty high, only to leave me feeling jilted, confused, and of course, disappointed.

Source: cnn.com

Red Tails

I know we here at Madame Noire, like many people, pushed really hard for this film. It was mostly done in the hopes that we could make Hollywood see that big budget black films could be marketable. And while it was a valiant effort, this movie was just not what I was expecting. The action sequences were pretty good and the men were FINE with a capital F, but the dialogue was horrific. Allegedly they were trying to make the characters sound like individuals from films back in the ’40s, but I’ve seen movies from the ’40s (thanks college film class) where people didn’t talk so cheesy (i.e., “Thank goodness those Red Tails were here!”). I’m not saying it was the worst film ever, and I do appreciate the information it provided me on the Tuskegee Airmen, however, within the first 10 minutes of watching, I was blown away by the writing (and not in a good way). And that love story they threw in there? Raaaaaandom.

By Guest Hair Blogger Trissha Taylor

If there’s one thing most women have in common, it’s that we’ve all had our good and bad moments when it comes to our hair while sitting in the chair of a stylist. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to find a perfect one–a stylist that won’t overcharge you, helps you keep your hair healthy, gets you started on time, and doesn’t have your hair sounding like you’re lighting fireworks with her overheated flat iron. But sometimes, you get a really ratchet stylist. Here are a few signs to watch out for so you don’t lose all your hair, your money and your mind in the hands of one.

A well-dressed, well-coifed black woman with her finger on the pulse of style and elegance is quite a sight to behold (see any movie from the turn of the millennium starring Taye Diggs for examples).

But man, far too many sisters don’t know how to work with what they have (or don’t have), often resulting in disasters the likes of which wind up on sites like Failblog.org or Hotghettomess.com. It’s easy for me to level the blame of black woman style disasters on the bad economy and all that…but then I look at the music industry and see chicks with money completely blowing it as well.

I’m no Tim Gunn, but I know what looks good and what’s flat-out atrocious. Here are just six out of many:

We’ve talked about cheap gifts you can give, alternatives to expensive gift swapping when you’re broker than a joker, and gifts for your man. And while all the information was nice, sweet and helpful, I think it’s time we talk about the gifts a sistah doesn’t want. Not to seem ungrateful, but the following things are gifts that men should try not to get their girlfriends and wives for the holidays. People tend not to get the memo even when they see that ugly sweater from last year in the back of your closet. So with that, here are a few things that you might want to tell your man straight up that you don’t want nor need.

I have to give it to Keyshia, she is one of the few people who can look great in almost any hair color, and she’s done most of them! As versatile as her hair has been over the years, we had to give her some props with an album that looks back on all her big hair hits! However, because we’re not bias, we’ve also got to showcase a few of her big hair what the hot messes!? You know, so you guys know what NOT to try. In the end, it’s always all love though! So check her out and take notes…

You know, when I flip through my parents’ records and listen to their old albums, I can say they didn’t own one with a singer with a questionable or crappy voice. Back in the day, singers could SANG, and I’m sure if they couldn’t, someone would have told them to sit down. But in this new era of music, where you’re no longer trying to sell your voice but your a** in too-little designer clothes, just about anybody can claim they’re a singer. Well, you might claim it, but baby, that doesn’t make it so. Here are some folks that I think are great people, but should leave singing responsibilities to the real singers out here (I see you MTA performers!).