A. Keys

This is kind of random, but I am so happy for Alicia Keys and her happiness. She is just brimming with happiness it's infectious. I believe that she will make an awesome mom. Her spirit is just so beautiful and honest.

I have always said that it is so important to not only have success in your career but to also have success in your personal life. While making money and being an international icon is all well and good, everyone needs and should have companionship, a partner, a confidante. One must make time to enjoy the fruits of one's labor and I am in such awe of women like Alicia, Beyoncé, Angela Bassett, Holly Robinson-Peete, Jada Pinkett Smith and even Oprah. These women understand the true joys of life and made it a point to not sacrifice their personal happiness for fame because we all know enough to know that fame and money do not equate happiness. 

NEXT!

Responsibility

OWN IT!!

With respect to music artists... All I'm saying is, as an artist, if you know that your audience is mostly young boys and girls, it is your responsibility to ensure that your lyrics, videos, wardrobe and your overall image is appropriate for all ages. It's no coincidence that your music is so catchy as to get toddlers singing about rude boys and bad romances. Music is such a powerful force, we really have to be careful with it. I am speaking to the Rihannas, Lady Gagas, and even the Beyoncés of the music world. You can't show up all your coot-cat on stage and in your videos and then want to play the lady in interviews. You confuse your young fans. Hell, you confuse me! I know you're smart, I am looking for that redeeming quality, but not everyone does.

This is not to say that parents don't have a responsibility to raise upstanding children, but the influence of public figures can not be dismissed. Why else would a company pay anyone in excess of six figures to be "the face of" this and that. Celebrities are influential personalities and these companies are banking on that. 

NEXT!