As a huge fan of Jodeci’s music, the state of the men in the group over the last few years has been pretty disappointing to say the least. I didn’t expect them to stay in combat boots and never age or anything like that, but I didn’t expect folks to be falling out on and falling off stage. But they’ve recently tried to clean themselves up and reunite (sadly, without DeVante) to do a tour with other big ’90s groups, including SWV, Dru Hill, Changing Faces, Blackstreet and Damage. And while these other groups went to the Wembley Stadium in London and did their thing to much applause, Jodeci was tagged as the headliners, and applause was the opposite of what they received.

As the first video below will show you (and as you will hear), the men were booed pretty harshly throughout the night because they started their set late, AND they were singing very out of tune (their rendition of “Feenin’” just sounded like folks yelling). Folks were sitting on stools half the time too. According to reports, the men were even arguing on stage at one point. In the end, the crowd was upset so Mr. Dalvin tried to get them to calm down and let them finish their performance, promising the last 10 minutes would be their best. Riiiiiiiight…Check out video of Dalvin pleading below and their best shot at “Feenin”:

And if that wasn’t enough, from the very beginning, their performance was a no-no. When they finally came out on stage after being late, Mr. Dalvin jumped off of it in an attempt to get closer to fans. Unfortunately, in what looked like an attempt to jump down on a huge box, Dalvin missed it completely and wound up crashing and burning–hard. It wasn’t pretty, ya’ll. Check that out below, and his struggle after the fact to find a way back on stage.

It seems that we’ll just have to enjoy old Jodeci albums and performances on YouTube, because their time has come and it seems to be going. We’ll always have the memories…

I can’t imagine being in anybody’s group. Too many egos, too much money to be spread out, too much time spent with too many people. But the people on this list all have been in some of our favorite groups over the years, and they played their part. Smiling and waving and then eventually finding themselves going from being in the group to being out (sometimes after messy quarrels). In the end, we thought all these people should have or would have been the ones shining the most from their respective groups after parting from their band mates because of their talents, but eh…not so much. Most have still had enough success to be happy about, while others are still trying to be taken seriously as they go it alone.

Whether it’s Trey Songz crooning he’s about to “Dive In” or Chris Brown moaning about how he’s going to make me “Wet The Bed,” I must be getting old and sensitive because love and hip-hop is a little too raw for me.  Not even 5 years ago, I was attracted to men who were vulgar and explicit and thought those sweet, sensitive guys singing lullabies about walks in the park and candlelit dinners were clowns.  But after years of blatant honesty, I find myself missing the days of middle school when a guy would send me a candy gram in class asking, “Will you go with me?”

A few months ago my colleagues and I decided that we needed some music to break up the monotony of our office days that are otherwise filled with calls from probation officers about parenting classes and random UPS diaper deliveries.  With the help of Pandora, soon we had Marvin Gaye and Sade to serenade us through those long eight hours.  We chose channels that we thought were “safe” for an office of women ranging from their early twenties to their late fifties.  And by “safe” I mean we didn’t want to run the risk of Rihanna exclaiming, “I love it when you eat it,”  in the event that a donor walked through the door. By choosing the Toni Braxton channel, I figured we were in the clear.

Nonetheless after a few times haul assing to my phone to change the channel when I heard the first few notes of “Neighbors Know My Name” drop, it hit me: There aren’t too many men singing about love anymore.  Even back in the day our parents clearly knew exactly that Ronald Isley wasn’t just talking about a hug when he sang “I feel your love surrounding me” on “In Between the Sheets,” but it was a lot more subtle than, “Girl I like the way it opens up when you throw it back baby,” as Chris Brown sings  on 2012.  I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I have my random ratchet moments where a little wine and some Rick Ross “Diced Pineapples” or “She Will” by Lil’ Wayne doesn’t make me feel like the sexiest broad to ever sip Yellowtail on a Saturday.  When it comes to raunch and romance, I like Chris Brown and Trey Songz because they “go there.”  But sometimes I just want to fall back and hear a man tell me how beautiful I am, not how fat my a** is.

It’s not like thug love didn’t exist when I was a teen. Boys II Men might have been on bended knee begging to make love, but Jodeci didn’t hesitate to hump the stage and let us know that every freakin day they wanted to freak our bodies in every freakin way.  A few years later even LL Cool J and Fabolous had their share of public displays of affection through singles like Hey Lover and Baby. There was a balance back then, but recently when I try to think of anyone mainstream that’s actually singing about love the only artist who comes to mind is Ne-yo and recently he seems to making more songs for the club than for couples.  It’s no wonder why teens today can’t see anything beyond breaking headboards when it comes to relationships.  Women are becoming the worst offenders. When did a man become soft or a sucker for being a gentleman?  Any time a man reveals the slightest bit of sensitivity or emotion we are quick to label him as “soft” or “gay,”but don’t let him refer to us as “bitches” and we’re ready to swing on him…unless of course he’s a rapper and he’s telling us to drop down and get our eagle on. There’s nothing like a little fame and money to make the rules of the regular not apply. Even I must admit it’s been me on some occasions looking all silly and doe-eyed when a man tells me how “bad” I am or that I look like a video vixen. But on some level it’s sad that “I can tell that you’ve been practicin’” is seen as the ultimate form of flattery these days.

I think it’s great that people are talking so openly about sex especially when it comes to people not fearing they’ll be judged for what gender they choose to love or young people being able to ask questions without people assuming they are trying to make a pregnancy pact.   But sometimes people being so TMI about their sexual intentions kills the mystery which as a result kills the mood.  I think that’s why I enjoy Drake so much; he can just as easily hold his own surrounded by bouncing booties on a single like “Pop That” and then turn around and express how vulnerable he actually is on a song like “Hate Sleeping Alone.”

There’s time and place for passion, but as women we can’t wonder where the romance and respect  went when any man who isn’t telling us to bend over and look back at him is considered a clown.  Ladies if we want romance and candlelight, we have to think more about love than dropping it low and spreading it wide.  Fellas, sometimes revealing what you want to stick and lick isn’t nearly as arousing as telling a woman that you just want to hold her.  Romance and ratchet don’t mix and we don’t always want baby-making music as much as we want to boo love.  The subtle art of flirting and courtship needs to be brought back not only to hip hop, but to relationships every where.  That doesn’t have to mean cliched rose petals leading to the bedroom or Barry White and candlelight, but try being a little creative.  I like it rough, but take a note from Otis Redding and try a little tenderness.

Can you think of any R&B artists who still sing about love?

Toya Sharee is a community health  educator  and   parenting education coordinator who has a passion  for helping  young women  build  their self-esteem and make  well-informed choices  about their sexual  health. She  also  advocates for women’s  reproductive rights and blogs about  everything  from  beauty to love  and relationships. Follow her on Twitter   @TheTrueTSharee or visit  her blog Bullets  and  Blessings .

About This Episode

She’s a marketing wiz and a monitor of her children’s social networking activity. Monique Jackson stresses how important the role of mothering really is when comes to regulating your child’s activity on Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and any social network. Her advice to parents: You must always be aware and present of what’s going on!

About Monique Jackson

Publicist Monique Jackson is one half of TEAM Image, a public relations company she founded with partner Kita Williams. Monique got her start in marketing and promotions at Universal Pictures. She then moved on to a similar role at Island Def Jam records before branching out and forming TEAM Image in 2002. Known as “Momma Mo” for her ability to nurture and encourage clients to be their best, Mo attributes her career vector to her childhood dreams of becoming “a minister, a nurse and an entertainer.”

About Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons is best known as the character “Hilary Banks” on the long-running television show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Today she is a wife and mother of two. Parsons is also the Founder and President of the Sweet Blackberry foundation, which is inspired by the true tale of a determined slave and the remarkable lengths he traveled to find his freedom.  While growing up, Parsons’ mother, a librarian in the Black Resource Center of a library in South Central Los Angeles, would share stories of African-American accomplishment with her daughter.  A mother and activist, Karyn created Sweet Blackberry to use the power of stories to inspire youth. Follow her on Twitter @Karyn_Parsons.

Want More Mommy In Chief? Watch these episodes:

Season 2

• Episode 1: Are You A Good Enough Mother?
• Episode 2: New Motherhood and Balancing A Busy Work Life
• Episode 3: How to Decorate an Eco-Friendly Baby Nursery
• Episode 4: Foodie, Nicole Friday on Kids and Career
• Episode 5: From Hollywood to Stay At Home Mom
• Episode 6: Single Mom in The City
• Episode 7: Mommy Mogul and Marketing Wiz Monique Jackson at Home With Her Boys 
• Episode 8: Beauty Maven Jodie Patterson Talks Four-Day Work Week for Moms 
• Episode 9: Tonya Lewis Lee on Motherhood and the Importance of Women’s Health

Season 1

• Episode 1: Back 2 School
• Episode 2: Happy Halloween
• Episode 3: Socially Responsible Kids
• Episode 4: Money Talks
• Episode 5: Keeping Families Healthy
• Episode 6: Thanksgiving Madness
• Episode 7: Highlights and Best Moments
• Episode 8: Stylish Moms
• Episode 9: Best Apps for Moms
• Episode 10: Socialite Kids
• Episode 11: Hair Talk with AfroBella
• Episode 12: Happy New Year!

About This Episode

Music industry consultant, marketing wiz, wife and mom of 5 boys, Monique Jackson invites us into her world and LA home to talk career and being a mommy!

About Monique Jackson

Publicist Monique Jackson is one half of TEAM Image, a public relations company she founded with partner Kita Williams. Monique got her start in marketing and promotions at Universal Pictures. She then moved on to a similar role at Island Def Jam records before branching out and forming TEAM Image in 2002. Known as “Momma Mo” for her ability to nurture and encourage clients to be their best, Mo attributes her career vector to her childhood dreams of becoming “a minister, a nurse and an entertainer.”

About Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons is best known as the character “Hilary Banks” on the long-running television show, “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Today she is a wife and mother of two. Parsons is also the Founder and President of the Sweet Blackberry foundation after being inspired by the true tale of a determined slave and the remarkable lengths he travelled to find his freedom.  While growing up, Parsons’ mother, a librarian in the Black Resource Center of a library in South Central Los Angeles, would share stories of African-American accomplishment with her daughter.  A mother and activist, Karyn created Sweet Blackberry to use the power of stories to inspire youth. Follow her on Twitter @Karyn_Parsons.

Want More Mommy In Chief? Watch these episodes:

Season 2

• Episode 1: Are You A Good Enough Mother?
• Episode 2: New Motherhood and Balancing A Busy Work Life
• Episode 3: How to Decorate an Eco-Friendly Baby Nursery
• Episode 4: Foodie, Nicole Friday on Kids and Career
• Episode 5: From Hollywood to Stay At Home Mom
• Episode 6: Single Mom in The City
• Episode 7: Mommy Mogul and Marketing Wiz Monique Jackson at Home With Her Boys 
• Episode 9: Tonya Lewis Lee on Motherhood and the Importance of Women’s Health

Season 1

• Episode 1: Back 2 School
• Episode 2: Happy Halloween
• Episode 3: Socially Responsible Kids
• Episode 4: Money Talks
• Episode 5: Keeping Families Healthy
• Episode 6: Thanksgiving Madness
• Episode 7: Highlights and Best Moments
• Episode 8: Stylish Moms
• Episode 9: Best Apps for Moms
• Episode 10: Socialite Kids
• Episode 11: Hair Talk with AfroBella
• Episode 12: Happy New Year!

Source: WENN

Season 2 of VH1′s “Couple’s Therapy” is getting ready to kick off and the network already has my attention just looking at the line-up of troubled couples slated to appear on the show.

The five lucky pairs — or unlucky depending on how you look at it— are Alex McCord and Simon van Kempen from the “Real Housewives of New York”, Shayne and Nik Lamas-Richie a celebrity blogger and former “Bachelor” contestant, rapper  Too Short and his wife Monica Payne, Jodeci’s JoJo and Tashaunda “Tiny” Hailey, and 52-year-old Doug Hutchison who is married to 17-year-old Courtney Stodden.

From the supertrailer VH1 just released, it appears JoJo may be the most troubled cast member this season, as his issues go beyond his marriage to his health which is heavily affected by his alcoholism. His wife pleads with the singer to stop drinking, while he admits that he was drunk when he proposed to her. I’m sure you can see how that wouldn’t exactly start the pair off on the right foot to marital bliss.

The premiere episode of the second season airs next Wednesday, October 3 at 10pm. Check out the trailer and tell us what you think. Will you watch?

More on Madame Noire!

• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making of “Soul Food”
• Did You Know? 14 Black Celebrities Who Adopted or Were Adopted
• Just Another Thing That Gets Better With Age: Why It’s NOT Impossible To Make New Friends As You Get Older
• Is There A Right Way To Demand A Paternity Test?
• I Know You Didn’t Just Say Dutch: Why Women Should NOT Split The Tab On A First Date
• Where Are They Now? 8 Sassy And Silly Sidekicks From Some Of Our Favorite Black Sitcoms
• Did You Know They Dated (Part IV)? 14 Celeb Couples We Were VERY Surprised By

Source: blog.beaumontenterprise.com and theladiezleague.net

We had no clue Too Short had a consistent woman in his life either, although I use the word consistent loosely since the pair seems to have more of a Mimi-Stevie J “Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta” type of relationship going on. Either way, The Jasmine Brand reports that the 15-year on-and-off again couple will appear on the next season of VH1′s show “Couple’s Therapy” along with Jodeci singer Joel “JoJo” Hailey and his wife.

It doesn’t take much to imagine the issues that might be plaguing rapper Too Short’s relationship with Monica Payne, but since JoJo has been out of the spotlight for a while it will be interesting to catch up with one half of the K-Ci-JoJo R&B duo and see what he’s been up to over the past several years. With these picks for the next season of the cast, it appears VH1 is trying to recreate the reality TV magic they had with rapper DMX and his wife Tasheera Simmons. Though couple’s therapy appears to not have been able to stop the couple from proceeding with their pending divorce, DMX did begin to scratch the surface of his issues with women, stemming from the ones with his own mother. I wouldn’t be surprised if Too Short might be dealing with some of the same given the disgusting advice he gave to middle school boys earlier this year.

Other couple’s rumored to be joining the next season of “Couple’s Therapy” include socialite wannabes Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen who already appeared on a couple seasons of the “Real Housewives of New York” and “Lost” actor Doug Hutchison who’s married to a 17-year-old girl by the name of Courtney Stodden. It shouldn’t be hard to figure out the issues with those two either.

Tapping has reportedly already begun for next season so it won’t be long before we have an insider look at the drama between these celebrity couples. Would you watch to see what’s going on with JoJo and Too Short’s relationships?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• 7 Black Celebrities Who Suprisingly Practice or Dabbled In Scientology
• HOLD TIGHT! 10 Clutch Worthy Handbags under $100
• Fascinating Friends: Surprising Celebrity Friendships..We Almost Forgot About!
• “Give Her Half or Go Half on a Baby? – Questions Of Being a Father vs. Being a Husband
• Black Girls Do Swim, And 13-Year-Old Olympian Adzo Kpossi Proves It
• Did You Know They Dated? Part II: 11 MORE Surprising Secret Lovers and Boos We Didn’t Know About
• Things That Freak Me Out: Men Who Pretend to Be Perfect

fanpop.com

Though times have certainly changed and we rarely see groups anymore, the groups of yesteryear live on and we sing their songs like they just came out yesterday. When a group broke up, they gave a simple excuse similar to, “Oh, we just wanted to do something different.”  Maybe…or maybe not. Check out the real reason some of our favorite groups broke up…

Read the rest of this entry »

Oh, the innocence of childhood. When you’re a kid (well, at least way back when), you’re not worrying about who or what is messing up the economy, you’re not jaded into dressing or trying to look a certain way (especially since moms wouldn’t allow it anyway), nor did you have a real understanding about sex and foreplay. Or at least, you really shouldn’t have. You may have been filled in about what sex was, but when you heard songs about it, you were pretty much listening for the basics. As a kid, if you turned on a good beat with a catchy chorus, I was going to sing along. Now that I’m older, I can only laugh at my young self for singing these songs out loud not knowing how ahead of my years and knowledge they were.

*NOTE: I’m not THAT old so just keep that in mind with some of these picks (smile).

TV One’s Unsung has given us an opportunity to catch up with many of our favorite musicians of yesteryear and find out just what they’ve been doing since the spotlight faded, including…….Since it seems the show is a hit, at least ‘around the way’, we’re hoping to be reunited with a few of our other long-lost musical loves. Check out a few of the folks we need an update on (and perhaps some new music from)!