If 2020 was a song, it would be "Complicated" by Nivea.
We're not quite sure if it'll be safe to come outside without protective gear anytime soon so here we are—spending weekend inna house, but xoNecole has a line-up of Netflix releases that will have you glued to your couch.
From throwback classics like Above The Rim to Michelle Obama's new documentary, Becoming, here's what's new and Black AF on Netflix.
Above The Rim (May 1)
Above The Rim
Netflix has been consistently serving us all of the quality throwback content and this month's lineup is no exception. Featuring Tupac Shakur, Duane Martin, Leon, and the late Bernie Mac, Above the Rim will be available to stream on Netflix on May 1.
All Day and A Night Starring (May 1)
From the co-writer of Black Panther, comes a Netflix Original film starring Ashton Sanders (Moonlight), Isaiah John (Snowfall) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen) that questions if we are all truly destined to become products of our environment.
Get On The Bus (May 1)
One of the latest Spike Lee joints to be added to the streaming platform is Get on the Bus, starring a young (and might I add, delicious) Hill Harper, Paula Jai Parker, and Bernie Mac.
She Hate Me (May 1)
I'm not sure where Netflix dug up this 2004 Spike Lee-directed, Kerry Washington- and Anthony Mackie-led gem, but we like it and we need more.
Romeo Must Die (May 1)
In the last movie released before her untimely and tragic death, Aaliyah plays alongside DMX and Jet Li in an action flick with an epic soundtrack.
Hollywood (May 1)
From the creator of American Horror Story comes a new Post World War II limited series featuring Laura Harrier and Queen Latifah about a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers who will stop at nothing to make their dreams come true.
For Colored Girls (May 1)
For Colored Girls
According to science, crying can be therapeutic and For Colored Girls will have you doing exactly that for two hours and 14 minutes straight. With an all-star cast of Janet Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Omari Hardwick and Michael Ealy, this just might be the Blackest thing you've watched all week.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (May 1)
Madagascar 2
Grab the kids and have a movie night at home with this 2008 animated sequel starring Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Sherri Sheppard, and Bernie Mac about a group of zoo animals who have finally found their way home.
Becoming (May 6)
Our Forever First Lady pulled a Beyoncé with the spontaneous announcement of her new documentary and we are here for all of it. Michelle and Netflix linked up to give us an intimate documentary-style look behind the scenes at her global Becoming tour and is part of Barack and Michelle's multi-year deal with the streaming platform.
Grey's Anatomy: Season 16 (May 10)
ABC
Scandal is being removed from Netflix this month and it's truly a tragedy. But my real Shondaland fam will be elated to know that Season 16 of Grey's Anatomy will be available to stream on Netflix on May 10.
Non-Spoiler Spoiler Alert: Maggie's sister in real-life appears in this season and it is a total tear-jerker!
Sleepless (May 8)
Sleepless
Featuring T.I., Jamie Foxx, and Gabrielle Union, this 2007 action film about dirty undercover cop and murderous gangsters and will be available to stream May 8.
Sweet Magnolias (May 19)
Getty Images
This Netflix original romance series based on the book by Sheryll Woods stars Heather Headley and tells the story of three longtime friends from South Carolina who are helping each other navigate parenting, romance, and finding a work-life balance.
The Lovebirds (May 22)
3 Arts Entertainment, MRC
The pandemic may have postponed the premiere of Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiana's new film in theaters, but Netflix is giving viewers the opportunity to tune-in on this rom-com from the comfort of their couches. On a wild date night gone wrong, a couple gets embroiled in a murder mystery that they'll have to solve to survive.
Featured image by Above The Rim.
RELATED
Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
My main motive? Mostly, I hope that it will serve as a solid reminder to embrace all of the things that you adore about this time of year, so long as you do it in moderation and you weigh the costs.
Especially as far as drinking alcohol is concerned.
PRO: Manages Blood Sugar Levels
GiphyHere’s something that you may have never seen coming. Were you aware of the fact that alcohol can actually help to stabilize your blood sugar? Yep, according to the American Diabetes Association, so long as you leave it to no more than 1-2 cocktails a day, alcohol may be able to lower your A1C levels. Pretty cool, right?
CON: It’s a Carcinogen
GiphyAlcohol is a carcinogen. The reason why this should somewhat alarm you is because carcinogens are things (like tobacco, UV rays, processed meats, etc.) that can increase your chances of being diagnosed with cancer (especially mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach and breast cancer). There are various ways this happens including the fact that alcohol, specifically, can hinder your body from breaking down certain nutrients, it can cause your estrogen levels to spike and alcohol can also cause certain toxins to damage your DNA and certain bodily proteins over time.
PRO: Cultivates Euphoric Feelings
GiphyIf you find yourself feeling more euphoric while you’re enjoying a drink, it’s not all up in your head. Although, for the more part, alcohol is considered to be a depressant, when consumed in small amounts, it can provide a stimulant effect. This happens due to the fact that when you first start to consume alcohol, it causes the production of the feel-good hormone known as dopamine to increase — and since dopamine makes us all feel more relaxed and confident while heightening our senses of pleasure too…well, there you have it.
CON: May Increase Anxiety/Depression
GiphyAs they say, “what goes up, most come down” at some point — and that is what you have to be careful of when it comes to alcohol consumption. For instance, when you drink alcohol, although it tends to initially cause your dopamine levels to uptick, because it is a temporary bodily response, sometimes the dips are lower than the rises…and that is when anxiety starts to kick in. A similar point is made with depression because oftentimes, people with depression-related symptoms, will use alcohol as a way to deflect from what’s really going on with them — and that can make them feel even worse than ever once the buzz of alcohol starts to wear off.
PRO: Has Some Heart-Related Benefits
GiphyWhen it comes to your heart, there are interesting findings surrounding its relationship to alcohol. For instance, some research states that, so long as the consumption is moderate, alcohol can actually help to increase the good cholesterol in your system while also breaking down proteins that can potentially lead to blood clots; both of these factors alone can reduce your chances of dying from heart disease.
CON: Packs on Pounds
GiphyIt’s no secret that alcohol tends to contain quite a few calories. That’s why, it’s not uncommon for people who’ve lost weight to mention “I’ve stopped drinking” as one of the causes for the shed pounds. That’s not to say that there aren’t some alcoholic beverages that have less calories than others including vodka (133 calories per serving), white wine (148 calories per serving) and tequila (99 calories per shot). Just keep in mind that the more you drink, the more calories get into your system and the more weight you stand to gain.
PRO: Lowers Inhibitions
GiphyAlthough you really should only be uninhibited around people who you absolutely trust, if that person is your partner and you’re looking to have a pretty — eh hem — active evening, alcohol can certainly help to make that happen. The science of it all is the prefrontal cortex of your brain is what regulates your inhibitions and levels of self-control. Meanwhile, alcohol suppresses your inhibitions which can cause you to be more spontaneous and open to trying things that you might not immediately do if you were sober. And with the right individual, that can be sexually beneficial (emphasis on “right person”).
CON: Makes It Harder to Orgasm
GiphyOn the other hand, as odd as it may seem (in light of what I just said), if you have too much alcohol in your system, it could make climaxing difficult. That’s because orgasms happen, in part, due to your nervous system being stimulated — and since alcohol is technically a depressant…well, it could reduce nerve sensitivity (especially as far as your clitoris goes) for you while making it challenging for your partner to remain erect or have consistent stamina. And yeah, that sucks.
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‘Tis the season. And with that, if some wassails or hot buttered rums are in your immediate future — hey, don’t let me stop you — not even a lil’ bit.
All I’m saying is now that you know what alcoholic drinks have to offer (both ways), you can know exactly how to incorporate them into your holiday plans. Enjoy!
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Featured image by Unsplash