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When you’re going out for a first date with someone, it’s easy to feel a bit nervous. Wondering if he’ll like you, if your chemistrys will mesh, if your breath stinks and if you’re wearing the right outfit etc. It can be a bit rough on the ego. So, when you’re getting ready to step out with a new man for the first time, you might need some auditory courage. The following songs should do the trick.

I think I’m ready
Been locked up in the house way too long,
It’s time to get it…

Freakum Dress- Beyonce

Honestly, this whole list could have been compromised of Beyonce anthems; but variety is the spice of life, so we’ll shake it up a bit. But even Bey’s biggest haters would find it hard to deny that she will get you right on the confidence tip. When you’re trying to determine what to wear for your night out, you might not want to go as far as the freakum dress but you certainly want to make sure it’s an outfit, preferably a dress or skirt, that doesn’t show the whole movie but gives him a bit of a preview.

Ivan Nikolov/WENN.com

Nicki Minaj isn’t a young lady who’ll ever be accused of keeping her feelings bottled up. Barbie has an attitude, with mouth and Twitter rep to match, and she isn’t about to tone it down anytime soon. So in honor of Nicki’s balls-to-the-wall, I-don’t-give-a-bleep approach, we salute her 15 most outrageous, most ridiculous, most heated outbursts.

Source: YouTube.com

Earlier this morning my friend sent me a text message that read, “Remy Ma’s ‘Conceited’ is really ghetto gurl gospel.” Though I’d never consider myself or my friend” ghetto,” I fully accept that both of us, and most of the women I associate with, have an appreciation for “ratchetness.” Meaning that while you’re not likely to catch us acting a fool in public, we have a fondness or appreciation for things others might deem street, uncouth or hood.

Which is where Remy Ma’s “Conceited (There’s Something About Remy)” comes into play. Though some would consider the title and subsequent lyrics to be unbefitting of a lady, I immediately related to the song when it came out in February of 2006. As a senior in high school, trying to decide what I was going to do with my life, “Conceited” came along at the perfect time.  At a moment of utter uncertainty it was nice to hear a woman talking about self-love, encouragement and confidence. When there were and still are scores of artists, male and female alike, willing to call women everything but children of God, it was nice to hear Remy Ma encouraging women to conquer the world with aplomb, no matter how ratchet the delivery.

If you’re unfamiliar with the song, allow me to present to you six of my favorite lines from this inspirational masterpiece.

“Look at yourself in the mirror like ‘what…the…f**k?!? Damn, I look good…”

Do you know how many women struggle with body image issues? Plenty. It may seem like a cocky statement but there are times we could all benefit from loving the image we see in the mirror a little bit more. After all, as soon as we step away from the mirror we’ll be bombarded with images and sometimes even comments that suggest that our physicality is less than. It’s best to start the day with a positive affirmation.

“I’m happy. Another me there never can be. See I’m so outstanding.”

Even if you’re not happy with your physical appearance, knowing that you’re the only one of your kind for all eternity is reason enough to consider yourself special.

“You could never play me, cuz I’m such a f**king lady.”

The latter part of this phrase took off. You may have heard women refer to themselves as effin ladies. Though I’d probably never say that about myself, I appreciate the crunkness. She’s speaking to a potential suitor here. The last thing a woman wants is for a man to play her to the left. So we have to remind them, such behavior will not be tolerated. And to make sure this dude receives the message, Remy felt a little expletive was the best way to express this sentiment.

“I look too good to be f**king you.”

Whoop! As many street hollers as we catch on a daily basis, sometimes we just want to let these men know, there’s no way in hell a union between us would ever occur. For the sake of his ego, we often have a bit more tact than this but sometimes in the back of our minds we’re thinking about saying something like the line above.

“My thong showin’ but it’s cool my shoes go wit it.” 

No matter how much of a lady you really are, we’ll all experience an occasional mishap or two. Maybe it’s a fashion faux pas, maybe it’s the misfiring of a pesky bodily function. Whatever it may be, there will be times where you appear to be less than a lady. But it’s not that the mishap happened, it’s how you respond to it that is the true mark of a lady.

“You gotta have the mind state like I’m so great and can’t nobody do it like you do.”

This is what I really dig about this song. Most rappers talk about how they’re the greatest and nobody can touch them but Remy Ma is trying to teach you something right here. She’s telling us that not only does she think she’s great, it’s a mindset we all should adopt. The key to feeling good about yourself starts in the mind. Message!

So, with that being said today,on her birthday, I’d like to thank Remy Ma for this song and the inspiration it provided for me in high school and the inspiration it provides today as I face new threats to my confidence. I do believe that if she were a free woman, that she would be giving Nicki Minaj some serious competition. But alas, that’s not how the cookie crumbled. Until Remy is free, I’ll keep bumping “Conceited” until she’s able to give us some new motivational material.

More on Madame Noire!

• Bet You Didn’t Know: The Secrets Behind The Making of Love Jones
• “Who Gonna Check Me Boo” and Other Pop Culture Sayings Birthed By Our Fave Reality Shows
• Who Believes It? Tami Roman Sheds Crocodile Tears On Wendy and Vows To Do Better
• Out of Site, Out of Mind and In Luck: Why The Best Way To Find Love Is To Forget About It
• Don’t Be a Ratchet Rat: 7 Manners Everyone Should Mind…Or Risk Getting Snapped On
• Haute Hats: When It’s Hot, Keep Your Cool With These 7 Stylish Looksl
• Things I Learned While Rocking Relaxed Hair, Natural Hair, and No Hair At All

Surprise, surprise…celebs hook up while they work together! I mean, why not? Don’t some people at our jobs hook up on the low (or not so low, lol)?  Anyway, here’s a list of a few former and current couples who have hooked up (some have never spoke on it but the rumor mill has always buzzed about it)! Who else can you think of?

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If you put all the women included in this list in a room together, you would have one of three things: possible drama, a party, or an awesome all black rendition of the Cellblock Tango performance of “He Had It Coming” from Chicago. Some can sing, some can dance, some can act, but they all know how to get in trouble with the law, minor and major. While a lot of shade is thrown to male hip hop stars who stay in and out of jail and get arrested for drug and gun charges, many black female’s in the public eye have had their Lindsay Lohan-moments as well. Even squeaky clean former talk show host Rolonda Watts got arrested last week for a DUI. Some arrests are forgotten, others a big surprise, but all with consequences.