Her roles have become staples in pop culture and in 2009, Taraji P. Henson nabbed herself a coveted Academy Awards nomination for her role in the hit film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The movie starred Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Mahershala Ali, and many other notable names that helped it become an unforgettable cinematic journey. It made Henson an Oscars contender and although she was praised for her addition to the story, the actress recently revealed that she was paid much less than her fellow performers.
Alexandra Wyman / Staff / Getty Images
During her appearance on Ladies First with Laura Brown, Taraji shared that while Pitt and Blanchett received millions to star in the film, she was only paid around $40K—much less than what she initially asked. “I felt like what I was asking, at that time of my career, was fair to the ticket sales that I would contribute to this big film. [The studio] wouldn’t do it… and then I was gutted.” Now, Taraji knows her worth and what her talents can contribute to a project.
Elsewhere, the actress also spoke about the “strong Black woman” stigma and how that label can be detrimental. “I understand why we took that on, Black women being the bottom of the totem pole, never being seen,” she said. “I understand, but it’s when others go, ‘Yes, strong Black woman!’ and then it dismisses us… Then if my child or somebody I know is gunned down in the streets, I’m supposed to be strong through that? I’m not allowed to be angry? I’m not allowed to be pissed off?”
“I can’t say because you’ve taken everything from me. I’m not allowed to feel that? I’m just supposed to be strong?” She feels similarly about the term “Black girl magic.” She said, “I’m not a fairy. I get it. It’s sweet, but baby, I’m not a fairy. I don’t have magic dust.” Listen to her episode below.
Kanye West may get all the credit for keeping Adidas on a competitive level with Nike, but over the past year, the three stripes brand has been working hard to prop up another huge name in cross-brand collaboration, a name that actually manages to best Ye from a pure fame standpoint. Watch out Ye, because Bey is coming up fast.
Beyonce’s gender-neutral athleisure label, IVY PARK, is a little over a year old now, but in that short time Bey and Adidas have built up quite the catalog of unique sneaker colorways, utilizing some of the Three Stripe’s most interesting silhouettes. Design-wise, Ivy Park has been taking a different approach than what Kanye is doing with Yeezy — rather than create entirely new sneaker silhouettes, the brand focuses on offering remixes of Adidas’ classic styles, offering sleek cuts, exciting material choices, and vibrant color palettes fit for an internet-breaking Beyonce video. A simple celebrity cash grab this is not!
Kanye may be the most successful music- turned designer for now, but with heat like this from Beyonce plus Rihanna killing it with Savage x Fenty, he needs to watch that throne. Let’s dive into every Ivy Park Adidas sneaker, including the latest winter-ready Icy Park collection, ranked from worst to best.
18. Ivy Park Adidas Superstar Platform
Adidas
The Superstar is hands-down one of Adidas’ greatest silhouettes, but it’s at the bottom of this list. Not because it’s a platform (no, that’s not a screen glitch, the shoe actually looks like that), though that doesn’t help. Because it’s… ugly. And not in that trendy so-ugly-it’s-fashion way.
It’s just straight-up hard to look at.
That’s probably why it wasn’t included in either of the first, second or even third Ivy Park drops. Instead, it landed last year as part of a collection that also featured other Superstar reimaginings by Jonah Hill and Sean Wotherspoon. It’s ultimately forgettable and remains a stain on a near-perfect record.
Find the Ivy Park Adidas Superstar Platform at GOAT.
17. Ivy Park Adidas Ultra Boost DNA Black
StockX
I know I was just trashing on the abomination that is the Superstar Platform, but this triple black iteration of the Adidas Ultra Boost comes dangerously close to being just as bad. Released as part of an extension to Ivy Park drop 2, this sneaker has few redeemable qualities. A prime knit upper in core black atop a matching BOOST midsole, and a puzzling radioactive volt outsole, you can get all of this with a stock Adidas drop, so you’re getting little more than a name here, and paying the price for it.
Get the Ivy park Adidas Ultra Boost DNA at StockX.
16. Ivy Park Adidas Super Sleek 72 White Black
Adidas
Released last year as part of the second Ivy Park collection, the Super Sleek 72 White/Black suffers solely because it isn’t quite as good as drop 1’s Super Sleek, and nowhere near drop 3’s. The colorways are solid, but ultimately it’s going to be impossible to rock a pair of these without being reminded that they aren’t one of the three better colorways.
We’ll get more into the details behind this special silhouette when we talk about the original release. One annoying thing about this shoe is, it was originally called the Sleek Super, and everyone kept calling it the Super Sleek, and Adidas just quietly changed it!
Or did they? It’s a real Bernstein Bears situation with this sneaker.
The Forum Lo debuted in drop 2 of Ivy Park and since then the brand has shifted focus to the Forum Mid, which we admit is much better. . The Forum Lo features a leather and suede upper with a translucent bottom sole and a fastening strap. It’s easily the least flashy sneaker in the entire IVY PARK collection.
Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. But if you can’t get behind a fastening strap, you’re not going to find a lot to love here.
14. Ivy Park Adudas Nite Jogger Maroon/Solar Orange
Adidas
When Ivy Park initially dropped in January 2020, this sneaker was criticized endlessly, and for good reason. It looks like a goddamn traffic cone thanks to its Solar Orange half and half colorway — with a toe box dipped in deep maroon.
This shoe is out there, but we respect Beyonce’s bold design here. They’re impossible to look away from. For better or worse.
Find the Ivy Park Adidas Nite Jogger Maroon at GOAT.
13. Ivy Park Adidas Super Sleek 72 Black
StockX
Released as a short update to Ivy Park drop 2 in November of last year, this triple-black version of the Ivy Park Super Sleek is pretty clean but had Ivy Park opted for an all-black sole over the gum, we’d have bumped it up considerably on this list. The gum sole is nice, but it keeps this design from being the dominatrix (or Darth Vader, if you’re nerdy) sneaker it so desperately wants to be.
The wrinkled core black leather upper is accented nicely by some core black suede accents. Not the worst Super Sleek, but a bit far from the best.
Find the Ivy Park Adidas Super Sleek 72 Black at GOAT.
12. Ivy Park Adidas Nite Jogger Dark Green Frozen Yellow
StockX
This Dark Green Frozen Yellow Nite Jogger suffers from the same problem as the Maroon iteration, only this one isn’t quite as ugly. Instead of a traffic cone, it resembles a Mountain Dew bottle — which is better, if only a little.
All jokes aside, this iteration sold out almost instantly when it launched as part of drop 2. Aftermarket prices have settled around $150 for this pair in 2021. Not a bad pickup if you want to Do the Dew.
Find the Ivy Park Adidas Nite Jogger Dark Frozen at GOAT.
11. Ivy Park Adidas Ultra BOOST Maroon
StockX
When the first Ivy Park collection dropped, this felt like the signature piece. While it’s not our favorite, it’s still pretty beloved. Featuring a double Maroon colorway atop a Solar Orange outsole, this design nails the futuristic fitness vibe that the Maroon Nite Jogger couldn’t quite master.
Find the Ivy Park Adidas Ultra BOOST Maron at GOAT.
10. Ivy Park Adidas Nite Jogger Off-White
Adidas
So far the IVY PARK Nite Jogger’s have suffered from a half-and-half presentation that just doesn’t work, but this mix of Off-White (not that Off-White, but wouldn’t that be something?), Ecru Tint and Dark Green just works.
It also brings something new to Adidas’ usual Nite Jogger offerings with a brighter presentation and an alternate lacing system that really shows off the silhouette’s cool geometry.
While the second IVY PARK drop brought a lot new to the looks coming out of the label, it also acted as an opportunity to refresh the first drop’s best designs. This didn’t work for the Sleek Super 72, but this Hi-Res Yellow version of the Adidas Ultra BOOST knocks the original Maroon dip out of the park.
It’s every bit as extreme as the original, but the Hi-Res has some balance as well — with a gum outsole that matches up nicely with the blinding colorway.
8. Ivy Park Adidas Ultra Boost Icy Park White
Adidas
Released as part of Ivy Park’s winter-focused Icy Park drop, this triple white iteration of the Ultra BOOST is an improvement over last year’s all-black version. The Ultra BOOST isn’t quite as hot as it was six years ago, but this Ivy Park iteration is great, offering a prime knit upper with TPU overlays, a BOOST midsole, a rubber gum outsole, and Ivy Park’s comfort-focused draw-string lacing system.
Swapping out that hideous volt outsole for the traditional gum was the right call!
Get the Ivy Park Adidas Ultra BOOST Icy Park at Adidas.
7. Ivy Park Adidas Forum Mid Metallic Silver
Adidas
We’re happy to see Beyonce showing more love to the Forum Mid, which first debuted as part of Ivy Park drop 2. This shimmery metallic version was released as part of the Icy Park drop and features ankle straps, a multi-layered leather upper, and a luxurious silver metallic colorway.
As cool as it is, it’s our least favorite Forum Mid colorway out of the Ivy Park lineage.
Get the Ivy Park Adidas Forum Mid Metallic Siler at Adidas.
6. Ivy Park Adidas Forum Mid Cream
Adidas
Everything we love about the Forum Mid Metallic Silver in a more functional and stylistically conservative cream colorway. But as a person who has owned their fair share of metallic sneakers, I’m here to tell you that these, while tamer, will age so much better.
Metallic colorways go in and out of style, but cream is much more timeless.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. This was our original number one pick, but as the years have gone on our perspective has shifted. That’s not a bad thing, it means Ivy Park continues to evolve, as this was the centerpiece of the original drop. The shape is IVY PARK’s most original, as it was adapted from Adidas’ Samba Silhouette to Bey’s personal specifications, and that mix of White premium leather and Dash Grey suede with subtle Maroon and Solar Orange accents works incredibly harmoniously.
The entire first IVY PARK collection might revolve around this same color scheme, but it never works quite so perfectly as it does here. We’re hoping the Sleek Super’s success inspires IVY PARK to dabble in more original shapes.
4. Ivy Park Adidas Super Sleek Boot
Adidas
We’re glad to see Ivy Park show a lot of love to the Super Sleek silhouette, it’s the brand’s most original design and to see it here in boot form as the centerpiece of drop 3 shows a commitment to giving us something new out of Ivy Park, rather than relying solely on Adidas’ stock designs.
With a cloud white, off-white, and core white colorway, this leather and suede boot sits atop a chunky gum sole, with braided bungee detailing around the heel.
The IVY PARK Forum Mid Green Tint was Ivy Park’s first go at Adidas’ Forum Mid silhouette and it’s still the best! In fact, it’s one of the best colorways to come out of the Ivy Park brand.
The shoe still has that leather and suede construction of the low top, but the fastening strap looks less out of place here and that Green Tint colorway is just too damn fresh.
2. Adidas IVY PARK Nite Jogger Ecru Tint
StockX
The Ecru Tint Nite Jogger isn’t only the best IVY PARK Nite Jogger, it’s the best Nite Jogger colorway Adidas has ever dropped. That’s high praise and, honestly, if this sneaker said “Off-White” instead of “IVY PARK” it’d be going for thousands on the aftermarket.
Be thankful it isn’t!
It looks like something that would come from the mind of Virgil Abloh, only without the gimmicky tags or production numbers. Clean, classic, bold, and damn near perfect.
1. Ivy Park Adidas Super Sleek 72
Adidas
A future classic in the making. This Cloud white, off-white, core white makeup of the Super Sleek 72 is now Bey’s greatest contribution to the footwear game. It took a few attempts, but Bey finally found a way to build on what she did with drop 1’s Super Sleek (Our original number 1) with this all-white iteration out of the Icy Park drop. The way it swaps the originals laces with thicker braided laces, the mix of luxe leather and premium suede — it’s just so damn clean!
The ending of a relationship can cause people to do and say crazy things, but people are calling this college student’s rant unacceptable. Days ago, a screenshot of a series of texts reportedly sent by cross country and track runner Chris Weiland were shared to an Instagram account dubbed “@ucla_is_racist.” The texts are purportedly from Weiland to his then-girlfriend who, he learned, cheated on him with a Black man. In the messages, Weiland reportedly unleashes.
“You really cuffed a F*CKING BUM ASS N*GGER WITH NOTHING GOING FOR HIM,” the text reads. “EVER. A BROKE ASS STUPID ASS N*GGER. you have no standards so who cares.” Separately, there was a video that surfaced as well, but the person in the clip can’t be seen. However, it’s reported to be Weiland as he’s on speakerphone explaining his relationship turmoil to a woman on the other end.
“When she said she didn’t want to get back together, why do you think? It’s cause she wants to be with this f*cking n*gger who has no future. She’s going to be with a stupid n*gger who’s going to be in community college his whole life,” the man in the clip is heard saying. The woman tells him he can’t speak about people using that language. “He probably lives in the f*cking ghetto,” the man continued.
The controversy caused head coach Avery Anderson to release a statement, but that didn’t quell the public’s concerns. According to Anderson, he suspended Weiland indefinitely months ago after learning of the controversy but he was reinstated last month. “I now realize that the decision to reinstate him was not the right decision, and that the action today is best for the well-being of our team,” Anderson said in the statement announcing Weiland’s permanent dismissal. “After team members and the athletic community expressed concern, it became clear that his continued involvement with the team is incompatible with the culture of mutual support and respect we’re fostering.”
It’s reported that Weiland enrolled at UCLA in 2019 and the Los Angeles Times states that these alleged incidents of racism occurred prior to his college career at the blue and gold-themed university.
She’s not shy about, well, anything, and now Cardi B is detailing the insecurities she felt during her adolescence and young adulthood. The New York-born-and-bred rapper isn’t like other celebrities who brush off questions or accusations of plastic surgery. Cardi B has let it be known that she’s gone under the knife, repeatedly, and during her recent chat with Mariah Carey for Interview, the Invasion of Privacy rapper discussed being teased about her looks when she was younger and developing more confidence once she underwent cosmetic surgery.
“New York is a melting pot, especially where I grew up in the Bronx. I’m Trini and I’m Dominican, and there’s a lot of Dominicans that look a certain type of way,” the rapper explained to the singer. “They have soft, pretty, curly hair. Growing up, guys would ask me weird questions like, ‘If you’re Dominican, why is your hair so nappy?’ I used to dye my hair,and people used to be like, ‘Oh, your hair’s so crunchy.’ And it would make me feel so weird.”
Cardi also shared that in her neighborhood, thick women with a curvy shape were praised but because she was “also really skinny,” she found herself on the receiving end of taunts. “Young boys would be like, ‘Look at your flat ass. You ain’t got no titties.’ And it would make me feel so ugly and undeveloped.” At 18, the rapper said she began dancing and earned enough money to change what she wasn’t happy with about her body.
“I had enough money to afford to buy boobs, so every insecurity that I felt about my breasts was gone. When I was 20, I went to the urban strip club, and in the urban strip clubs, you had to have a big butt,” she revealed. “So, I felt insecure about that. It took me back to high school. So I got my ass done. And then I felt super confident.” Check out a few more snaps from her Interview cover shoot below.
Hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion seems happy with her new Harper’s Bazaar magazine cover photo shoot — she’s been posting it all over her social media pages. In other corners of the Internet, however, there’s a debate raging about the magazine’s ability to properly capture a Black woman’s beauty. Meg Thee Stallion’s Photos Come Under […]
It’s no secret that New York rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine is all kinds of reckless when it comes to industry beef and how he moves in the streets. But it’s now come to light that Tekashi’s actions may be putting his own daughter in danger. Tekashi 6ix9ine’s Daughter Receives Threats Sara Molina, the mother of Tekashi […]
From one hip-hop mogul to another, Dr. Dre is showing love to JAY-Z. After the news broke that Jay had sold a 50-percent stake in his Armand de Brignac champagne brand to luxury lifestyle giant LVMH, Dre took to social media to congratulate him. Dr. Dre Tips His Cap To JAY-Z: ‘That’s Black Excellence’ No […]
It’s Judas and The Black Messiah season and we’ve been hearing much more from, and about, the film’s stars. The Black Panther biographical drama has received global praise as viewers believe that we have an Academy Awards contender on our hands, and it’s another hit film in the bucket for Daniel Kaluuya. He stars as assassinated Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, but during a recent interview, he revisited the breakout role that made him a household name in Jordan Peele’s Get Out.
He may have brilliantly starred in the 2017 film, but according to Kaluuya, there was a reason he was absent from the movie’s world premiere at the coveted Sundance Film Festival. “On the Sundance world premiere, I was in Atlanta because I was shooting ‘[Black] Panther,’” explained the actor. “I was chilling, I cleared my schedule. I was like, ‘I really wanna do it.’ And then just didn’t get the invite. I wasn’t invited.”
“So I was just in my bed—someone texted me, ‘It’s done really well,'” he added, laughing away the awkwardness of the situation. He explained “that’s the industry,” before stating, “You don’t wanna be in a place that you don’t feel wanted.” There’s no love lost about the incident because it’s been recently reported that Kaluuya and Keke Palmer are slated to star in Peele’s forthcoming, yet undisclosed project.
Following his eight-year tenure as the President of the United States, Barack Obama has been a busy man. He’s shared photographs showing his highlights of family vacations, continues to give speeches worldwide, has written a memoir, and now has a podcast, Renegades, that he co-hosts with music icon, and good friend, Bruce Springsteen. During a recent episode, the two men talked about racism and Obama shared a story of breaking a classmate’s nose after being called a “c**n.”
“Listen, when I was in school, I had a friend. We played basketball together,” said the 44th president. “And one time we got into a fight and he called me a c**n… Now, first of all, ain’t no c**ns in Hawaii, right?” Obama added, “It’s one of those things that—where he might not even known what a c**n was—what he knew was, ‘I can hurt you by saying this.'”
With a laugh he continued, “And I remember I popped him in the face and broke his nose. And we were in the locker room.” The former president recognized the power play being implemented by his friend. “‘I may be poor. I may be ignorant. I may be mean. I may be ugly. I may not like myself. I may be unhappy. But you know what I’m not? I’m not you.'”
“That basic psychology that then gets institutionalized is used to justify dehumanizing somebody, taking advantage of ’em, cheatin’ ’em, stealin’ from ’em, killin’ ’em, raping ’em,” said Obama. “Whatever it is, at the end of the day it really comes down to that. And in some cases it’s as simple as, you know, ‘I’m scared I’m insignificant and not important. And this thing is the thing that’s going to give me some importance.'”
Perhaps you weren’t expecting deep talk from MC Hammer. And yet the “U Can’t Touch This” rapper recently shared an academic-style paper on Twitter that he said focused on the “visibility of philosophy of science in the sciences, 1980-2018.” After a follower tried to refute some of the claims he made in the article, MC Hammer expanded on his deep thoughts over social media.
You bore us. If science is a “commitment to truth” shall we site all the historical non-truths perpetuated by scientists ? Of course not. It’s not science vs Philosophy … It’s Science + Philosophy. Elevate your Thinking and Consciousness. When you measure include the measurer. https://t.co/hsZzHNwJ0M
Said Twitter user claimed philosophy is a “flirtation with ideas” while science is a “commitment to truth.” MC Hammer completely disagreed, which prompted him to write a detailed response. “You bore us,” he said. “If science is a ‘commitment to truth’ shall we [cite] all the historical non-truths perpetuated by scientists? Of course not. It’s not science vs philosophy … It’s science + philosophy. Elevate your Thinking and Consciousness.” He added, “When you measure include the measurer.”
After another user claimed his thoughts turned “Black males” away from science, MC Hammer doubled down on his stance. “Perhaps you read it too fast or comprehension is a challenge,” he said. “I CLEARLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY STATE That SCIENCE + PHILOSOPHY are compatible and I reject Science vs Philosophy. You are spreading non truths and disinformation. My support of STEM and Black in STEM is unmatched.”
Perhaps you read it too fast or comprehension is a challenge. I CLEARLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY STATE That SCIENCE + PHILOSOPHY are compatible and I reject Science vs https://t.co/cOULQhu7Fc are spreading non truths and disinformation. My support of STEM and Black in STEM is unmatched. https://t.co/51EN3cgr6r
Hammer’s deep thinking — as well as a long list of reading recommendations, including philosopher and historian Michel Foucault — caught people by surprise. Many showed love to the final part of his message: “When you measure include the measurer.” Many shared their reactions online:
MC Hammer could write The Symposium but Plato could never write Can’t Touch This pic.twitter.com/3ziYOx5SNp
— wah wah wah, bitch i’m a baby (@MicycleOilyskin) February 23, 2021
Saw someone tweeting about history and philosophy of sci/tech with the handle mchammer and was like huh, I wonder how he managed to snag that handle.
It’s because it’s MC Hammer.
MC Hammer continues to be a legend apparently, for different reasons https://t.co/zNKp6M4awr
So apparently I’m living in a version of the future I could never have imagined in the early 90s, where a device in my pocket allows me to watch MC Hammer defending the value of philosophy as an epistemic methodology. Well… I guess we better sound the bell, school’s in, sucker! https://t.co/9giTnmY072
— ʜᴀssᴀɴ The People vs. Paper Tigers (@stellar_tombs) February 23, 2021
just wanted everyone to see MC Hammer having a thoughtful discussion on the role of philosophy to scientific research because that was certainly not on my 2021 bingo card https://t.co/RMIyqIkqbp
MC Hammer, explaining why Philosophy has to work with science as an epistemic tool to make both flourish, is a GREAT thing to wake up to https://t.co/kUr1rtQ9ak
I never thought I’d live through a time where MC Hammer would succinctly explain why science and philosophy together is important parts of the whole rather than being opposites.
The People vs. Paper Tigers (@stellar_tombs) 
(@luulubuu) 
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