

The Songs You Need To Add To Your Playlist Right Now
The weekend has finally come, ladies, and nothing says self-care like a new playlist, and as always, xoNecole has you covered.
Along with Doja Cat's vintage-inspired visual for her latest single, "Say So", Pretty Ricky also came out of retirement like they never left with "Body" and our weekend playlist is officially lit AF.
Scroll below for 8 songs you need to get your weekend mood ALL the way together:
Doja Cat - Say So
Serving hella face, Doja Cat released a video for "Say So" and gave us a boost of throwback flavor we didn't know we needed this weekend. Featuring disco balls, glitter eyeshadow, and bling (oh my!), Doja even paid homage to the Tik Toker who made the song viral by featuring her and her choreography in the video.
Jhené Aiko - Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E) ft. Future, Miguel
Jhené Aiko teamed up with Future and Miguel to give us the third single off of her upcoming album, Chilombo, and as always, slayed our lives in the newly released visual. Jhené also recently revealed her album release date (Mar. 6), and dropped the dates for The Magic Hour Tour, which include stops in Atlanta, Miami, Austin, and Denver.
SZA, Justin Timberlake - The Other Side
After her appearance on this month's cover of Rolling Stone, SZA released her joint single, "The Other Side", with Justin Timberlake, which will be featured on the Trolls motion picture soundtrack.
Pretty Ricky - Body
The original members of Pretty Ricky just dropped a new single that gave us all of the nostalgia and sent the internet into a tizzy. The project is the group's first new single since 2017 and will likely be on the setlist when they join Omarion and Bow Wow for the Millennium Tour 2020.
Phony Ppl - Fkn Around ft. Megan Thee Stallion
Our favorite Hot Girl linked up with Phony Ppl to preview this track during her performance on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert and the entertainers finally released an official visual for this track earlier this month.
Victoria Monet - Moment
If you plan on skipping the party this weekend and curling up with a good book or a blunt (or both), Victoria Monet is here to set the ultimate mood with her latest single, "Moment". Whether you want to chill solo or relax with bae, this track is sure to match your energy.
Kehlani - All Me (feat. Keyshia Cole)
Along with her latest singles with Zedd and Justin Bieber, Kehlani recently dropped her video for her collaboration with Keyshia Cole, "All Me". Although the "Love" singer wasn't featured in the video, Kehlani made sure to pull up with all the beauty looks for this two-part visual.
SAINt JHN - Wedding Day
As always, I had to throw something in here for my fellow hip-hop heads and SAINt JHN's new sh*t will give you all of the vibes. After being nominated for a Grammy and winning an NAACP Award for "Brown Skin Girl", the rapper just released the latest single from his album, Ghetto Lenny's Love Songs.
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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Your Go-To Matcha Latte Just Got A Fruit-Inspired Summer Refresh
Can we talk about the grip that matcha lattes have on us? While I’ll always be an iced caramel latte (with oat milk) type of girl to the core, matcha lattes have become a must-have, pick-me-up to get me through the day.
If you’re anything like me, your FYP and explore page is probably filled with pretty matcha recipes that are just begging for you to try. And with these green, semi-sweet lattes quickly becoming a go-to for emotional-support beverage drinkers, it’s hard not to resist the temptation of a delicious and calming sip or two.
Matcha is a type of green tea that originated in Japan and is known for its vibrant green color, fine powder texture, and distinctive flavor. The traditional way of preparing matcha involves whisking the powder with hot water until it forms a frothy mixture, which can then be combined with smoothies, lattes, and other treats.
Not only is it high in antioxidants, but it also has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, and a good source of L-theanine, an amino acid that can promote relaxation and improve mental focus.
Some newcomers to the tea may need a little convincing to come around to its distinctive, leafy taste, however, some new variations to the transitional technique could offer a sweet experience that will make them a true matcha believer.
Outside of milk, which is matcha’s creamy companion, strawberries and mango are two of the latest fruits to be paired with matcha and are unlocking new, refreshing recipes to try for the warmer months ahead. To get you started, we’ve provided a simple, yet tasty recipe for strawberry and mango matcha that you can try at home:
Easy Mango and Strawberry Matcha Recipe
@vanessafaga pink everything all february🍵🍓💕 #fyp #matchalatte #matcha #strawberrymatcha #pinkeverything #pinkmatcha
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of oat milk/almond milk
- 1/2 cup of strawberries, hulled and sliced (or),
- 1/2 cup of mango, peeled and diced
- 1 teaspoon of matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon of honey/agave
- Ice cubes
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, add 1 teaspoon of matcha powder.
- Add a small amount of hot water to the matcha powder (about 1/4 cup) and whisk vigorously with a bamboo whisk or a small whisk until the matcha powder is dissolved and there are no lumps. You should end up with a thick paste-like mixture.
- If desired, add 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar to sweeten.
- Add 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries or diced mango to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the fruit and matcha mixture over the ice.
- Sip slowly and enjoy!
Here are 4 more matcha recipes in action:
@kristeacafe fruity matcha lattes >> 🤭🥭 #matchalatterecipe #mangomatchalatte
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Featured image by valentinrussanov/Getty Images