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For some reason, R. Kelly decided it would be a good idea to do a TV interview amid his severe sexual abuse charges. On Tuesday, the singer — who has been accused of partaking in sexual acts with three children older than 13 but younger than 17 — spoke out in his first post-jail interview since turning himself in to Chicago police last month.

He opened up to CBS This Morning with Gayle King saying:

“They’re going back to the past and they trying to add all of this stuff now to that, to make all of the stuff that’s going on now [feel] real to people. be stupid of him to hold girls against their will. Use your common sense. Forget the blogs, forget how you feel about me. Hate me if you want to; love me if you want. But just use your common sense.

Kelly added:

“How stupid would it be for me with my crazy past and what I’ve been through? I didn’t do this stuff. This is not me. I’m fighting for my f****** life.”

The 52-year old was charged in on Feb. 22 with 10 counts of felony aggravated sexual abuse. If convicted, he faces three to seven years in prison for each count. Check out R. Kelly’s tearful plea above.

See the full interview when it airs Wednesday morning on CBS.

Source: Mint Images – Tim Robbins / Getty

Interestingly, Women’s History Month comes right after Black History Month — which means double the celebration of Black Women. If there’s one thing BW love, it’s music. Music isn’t just the universal language; it also has therapeutic and medicinal effects. Hence the reason why music therapy is actually a thing. According to Psychology Today:

“Music therapy has demonstrated efficacy as an independent treatment for reducing depression, anxiety and chronic pain. Furthermore, music has positive physical effects. It can produce direct biological changes, such as reducing heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.

“Alternative and complementary treatments such as creative art, meditation, and yoga have been proposed to bridge this gap. But music, because of its ubiquity in our society as well as its ease of transmission, has perhaps the greatest potential among alternative therapies to reach people who do not otherwise have access to care.”

Black women (especially in America) have had their fair share of trauma — past and present. Some would even say that most BW suffer from a form of PTSD. Author, and licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Monnica T. Williams says that African American women experience the same traumas as other women, but at higher rates. As we know, many Black folks are hesitant about seeking professional help for their trauma.

There’s a deep rooted stigma related to therapy due to the fear of judgement or shame of not relying on God for help. A 2008 study by Psychologist Jennifer Alvidrez  found that “among Blacks who were already mental health consumers, over a third felt that mild depression or anxiety would be considered crazy” in their social circles. Talking about problems with an outsider  may be viewed as airing one’s “dirty laundry,” and even more telling is the fact that over a quarter of those consumers felt that discussions about mental illness would not be appropriate even among family.”

Fortunately, that stigma is being debunked. Thanks to people like Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed psychologist based in Atlanta, Georgia and founder of Therapy for Black Girls, it’s much easier and more socially acceptable to seek help for mental matters. Music may not take the place of professional help, but it definitely aid and speeds up the healing process. In honor of Women’s History Month and Black Women being dope, check out out playlist of songs to help you celebrate your beautiful Black Woman-ness.

Hit the flip.

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Source: Splash News / Splash News

Just three months after making her way back into the spotlight with a fire Paper Magazine cover, Amanda Bynes has checked herself into a Mental Health facility following a stress-induced relapse. The actress, who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, reportedly checked into an L.A. based facility back in January after suffering a drug relapse mostly due to the pressure of being back in the public eye and auditioning in Hollywood again.

According to TMZ,

[Bynes] is getting treatment for drug addiction along with mental health issues, according to our sources, who also say she’s still getting a ton of support from her parents. Amanda remains under a conservatorship started by her parents, but it’s been run by a mental health professional since 2014.

Bynes will be receiving help for mental health issues as when as drug addiction. Prayers up for the star.

Source: Shelby TN Sheriff’s Office

BlocBoy JB is currently in custody after turning himself in to Tennessee police on Thursday on charges of drug and paraphernalia possession and theft of property. Shelby County Authorities said over the weekend that the “Shoot” rapper, whose real name is James Baker, was also wanted for being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun.

Despite posting several videos on Instagram after a warrant was issued for his arrest, BlocBoy decided to turn himself in peacefully today.

His bond has been set to $50,000.

Source: Michael Kovac/Getty Images Entertainment / Getty

It doesn’t get more ethereal and mystical than Erykah Badu. The Texas-bred beauty has been giving the world gospel for nearly 30 years yet has still managed to keep her mystique. In a December 2017 interview with Vogue Magazine, Badu declared:

“We are all connected, not only with one another, but with the matter around us. We’re just vibrating at different rates. Whenever there is a song in a key of C.I am resonating with all those things that connect with that note’s frequency: the root chakra, the color red, the idea of tribe and community and grounding.”

We can all learn a thing or two, or four, from the mom of three who is never afraid to tell it like it is — even if the masses don’t agree.

” It’s not what I’m saying, it’s how I’m vibrating.”

Only two months into 2019 and Badu has already had social media in an uproar twice over her less than popular opinion about R.Kelly and Jussie Smollett. She may have been on point when it comes to Jussie’s little situation, but folks still aren’t feeling her humanizing comments about Kelly. However, with her authenticity and sense of humor, many fans still respect her, whether they agree with her perspectives or not.

Let’s not forget the time she cheerfully clapped back at a follower for trying to get folks to cancel her. The (former) fan tweeted:

“Are we done with @fatbellybella yet? First co-signing a predator. Now, tryna sub tweet about not taking reports on Jussie seriously. I’m worried about her math skills. The way she been ackin, she miscounted dem dollars and dimes.”

Fat Belly Bella wasted no time getting him all the way together:

“Now Xavier, How you gone encourage the group to cancel me and you got my tweets on alert so you can jump out the bushes everytime I say something punk ? FOH . YOU’RE CANCELED!!! I’m bout to help you not have to be worried with my tweets . Watch. Lol”

Not only do we know that Badu is unf***withable when it comes to her music and flagrantly funny clapbacks, but she also looks damn good while doing it.

“I hope I’m as fine as @fatbellybella when I’m 48 y.o”- @D6Brown19

Everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Janelle Monae revealed that they once did (or still do) have a crush on Badu. When Monae came out as Pansexual in 2018, Badu joked that she must not have been Janelle’s type. But quite the contrary. Janelle responded:

“Well since we being honest, you were one of my first crushes. I thought you knew.”  Oop!

In honor of Badulla Oblongata, aka Sara Bellum, aka Analogue Girl in a Digital World’s 48th trip around the sun, let’s take a look at some of her most mystically, magickal pics.