

Beyonce, Meg Thee Stallion, Ari Lennox & More: Here's Your Mid-Week Playlist
The economy is in shambles, public safety is at risk, and the future is uncertain than a MF.
Despite our ongoing fear of the unknown, we can always count on our faith and a bomb ass playlist to uplift our spirits and xoNecole has a list of bops that will help you overcome your mid-week slump with ease.
Whether you're on an Afrobeats vibe with Davido, Summer Walker, and Jidenna, or you're ready to get smooth and sultry with new heat from Ari Lennox and DVSN, we've got you covered, sis.
Scroll below for 8 songs to add to your mid-week playlist ASAP:
Megan Thee Stallion - Savage Remix (feat. Beyoncé)
Beyoncé knew our hearts when she hopped on Megan Thee Stallion's viral TikTok hit "Savage" for an H-Town Hottie remix that proved Queen Bey has bars for DAYS.
Wale - Sue Me (feat. Kelly Price)
"Sue Me" proves that Wale is a national treasure that must be protected at all costs. The DC rapper's latest collaboration with Pyer Moss creator and director, Kerby Jean-Raymond takes a look at life through an alternate lens that will give you all the feels.
Missy Elliott - Cool Off
It's been 20 years and Missy Elliott has yet to take her foot off our necks and her latest music video proves that this icon doesn't plan on letting up anytime soon. Featuring celebrity choreographer, Sean Bankhead, the visual has already inspired dancers across the internet to turn up for the #CoolOffChallenge.
SiR - John Redcorn
The King of the Hill reference brought me here. SiR made me stay. I must admit, I've been high-key sleeping on Inglewood-bred songwriter, singer, and producer, but his latest cartoon-inspired music video woke me up expeditiously.
Ari Lennox - BUSSIT (Official Music Video)
Ari Lennox can do no wrong and her vibrant new video for "BUSSIT" is everything that's right with the world. In a flick that makes us miss the beauty salon more than ever, Ari links up with her tribe for an epic girl's day-in.
Davido - D & G ft. Summer Walker
Nigerian singer Davido and Summer Walker just linked up for lux visual for his 2019 single, "D&G" and the aesthetics were everything. Davido, whose fiancée recently overcame a Coronavirus diagnosis, pledged to support the Dolce & Gabbana and Humanitas Together for Coronavirus Research fund with proceeds from the video.
dvsn - Between Us (feat. Snoh Aalegra)
Last week, R&B duo DVSN dropped their third studio album, A Muse in Her Feelings, featuring their collaboration with fellow Canadian songwriter, Snoh Aalegra and it will give you the wind-down energy you need to prepare for the weekend.
Victoria Monét - Dive
Victoria Monet needs to know what a man's head game is like and I really felt that. In a song about deep diving into deep conversations, Victoria Monet says what we're all thinking in "Dive".
Jidenna - Feng Shui
Insecure's soundtrack always proceeds to give us what we need and Season 4's playlist is no different. Jidenna, who even made a cameo in the show in 2016, debuted his latest single "Ferg Shui" in episode three.
Featured image by Giphy.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
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'Power Book II: Ghost' Star LaToya Tonodeo Talks Breakout Role And Shooting Her Shot At 50 Cent For An Audition
Actress LaToya Tonodeo demonstrated the power of speaking up as she recently recalled how she secured her breakout role in Starz's Power Book II: Ghost.
The hit show, a spinoff of the original series Power, follows the journey of college student Tariq St. Patrick (Michael Rainey Jr.) as he tries to escape his father's tainted image while running a drug operation.
In Power Book II: Ghost, Tonodeo portrays the role of Diana Tejada, the daughter of former kingpin Lorenzo Tejada and Monet Tejada, played by Mary J. Blige.
The series debuted in 2020 and became an instant hit as viewers were glued to the screen weekly due to its captivating storylines. Power Book II: Ghost is currently in its third season and has been renewed for a fourth.
Although Tonodeo has been a part of the entertainment industry for over a decade by appearing in various television shows and films, the 26-year-old's star shined a lot brighter after landing a role in Power Book II: Ghost.
In an IG Live with xoNecole, Tonodeo opened up about how her dream opportunity came to fruition and the rumor that she boldly asked Power's executive producer, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, to participate in one of his projects.
LaToya On Previously Working With 50 Cent
In last month's discussion, Tonodeo revealed that before landing Power Book II: Ghost, she was already working alongside Jackson for his Sony/Crackle series The Oath.
In the show, the actress played the character Tara Byrd. Tonodeo shared that as the red carpet premiere for the first season of The Oath occurred in 2018, she missed her opportunity to connect with Jackson because she was working on another project. But as fate would have it, The Oath was renewed for a second season.
In 2019, as Tonodeo reprised her role in the show and attended the red carpet premiere for the second season, she briefly chatted with Jackson, who at the time acquired the rights to the BMF story.
"Well, what's crazy [is] I was already on a 50 Cent show. So at that premiere, it's called The Oath. It was the season two premiere of The Oath on Sony/ Crackle, and he was there," she said. "Season one, there was a premiere, and 50 Cent attended. I wasn't there because I was doing The Fosters, and I'm like, 'man.' When I got to go to the season two premiere, I saw him, and it was around the time when he got the rights for the BMF story."
The Bold Move That Helped 'Powerbook' Star LaToya Tonodeo Land the Role
LaToya On Asking 50 Cent To Audition For a Role And Landing 'Power Book II: Ghost'
Tonodeo explained that during her conversation with Jackson, she congratulated the mogul on obtaining the rights to the BMF story and expressed her interest in wanting to be a part of the project.
Tonodeo added that although she is unclear if Jackson remembered their encounter or "if it meant anything," when a Power Book II: Ghost role came along, she auditioned and landed the job.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, like I want to be a part of it.' But I don't know why I did it. I just walked over there, and I was like, 'Hey, congratulations on getting the rights. I would love to audition.' I don't know why I did that. I don't even know if it meant anything or if he remembers or not. I do know that I did my thing in the audition, so yeah, we are here now," she stated.
Either way, with that story, Tonodeo has displayed the perfect example of "closed mouths don't get fed."
Power Book II: Ghost is now streaming on Starz.
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Feature image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for STARZ