D'Shonda Brown

D'Shonda Brown is a culture curator, storyteller and public speaker from Brooklyn, New York. Her love and passion for journalism is demonstrated in her bylines across Sad Girls Club, Blavity, America Hates US, Snobette and The RapFest. As a mental health advocate and suicide attempt survivor, in 2019, D’Shonda became Mental Health First Aid Certified for adults and children, and graduated from the Advocacy Ambassador Program by National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Exclusive Interviews

Chloe x Halle On Embracing Individuality While Evolving As Women & Musicians Together

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Exclusive Interviews

[Exclusive] Justine Skye On How She's Taken Her Journey To Self-Love By The Reins

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The One Mindset Trick This PR Girl Uses To Save $1.5K Each Month

On the lowest she’s ever felt financially and how she overcame it:

On her biggest splurge to-date:

On if she considers herself a spender or saver:

On how much she saves per month:

On savings goals and what her retirement will look like:

On business structures and multiple streams of revenue:

On unhealthy money habits and changing her mindset:

On desperate times and desperate measures:

On the worst money/business-related decision she’s ever made:

On the importance of investment:

On budgeting must-haves:

On her definition of wealth and success:

Karrueche Tran Let Us In On The Luxe Beauty Routine That Keeps Her Skin Flawless

My morning routine looks like...

My evening routine looks like...

How my skincare routine switches up with the seasons...

My go-to makeup looks like...

My approach to beauty from the inside-out...

My travel must-haves...

What self-care looks like to me...

Shop Karrueche's Beauty Favorites:

Dior Capture Totale CELL Energy Age-Defying Serum

Dior Capture Totale CELL Energy Firming Creme

Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum

Surge Hyaluronic Acid Booster

Avene Revitalizing Nourishing Cream RICH

Avene Soothing Radiance Mask

Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser

The Deep Cleanse Exfoliating Cleanser

Chloe x Halle On Embracing Individuality While Evolving As Women & Musicians Together

xoNecole: When did you two know that music was your God-given talent?

You two have always been transparent about your self-taught musical abilities with production, arranging and writing. Now that your artistry and your popularity has grown and blossomed before our eyes, do you still find great importance in having a creative hand in your own work?

Who were some of your major musical influences growing up? Did you two have the same or did you have a different sense of musical styling?

And, what would you say is your favorite part about producing your music?

You two say in nearly every interview I’ve ever seen that personally you two are complete opposites. I need to know how and what do you two love about each other?

And Chloe, what do you love about Halle?

How do you two manage your sisterhood and your business relationship? Is there a fine line between the two relationships or can you not have one without the other?

So much of who you are is rooted in your identity as Chloe x Halle, however it’s extremely obvious you two are individuals within your own unit. How do you embrace your individuality while being a duo?

And, Chloe? How do you embrace your individuality?

Speaking of music, your latest project was very grown and sexy in comparison to your other music. From your first project, 'The Two of Us', to your recent 'Ungodly Hour', how have you two grown as artists and how is 'Ungodly Hour' a reflection of that?

When I think of the term “ungodly hour”, I think of a young man hitting me up way past my bedtime or my mom waking me up wicked early. How did you two come up with the title of the album?

As the album touches on more grown themes like sex and love, and really the duality of sexuality and femininity as women, do you two ever find time to date or explore romance? Do you two help each other with your love lives?

How are you each putting your mental health first when it comes to creation and production of new music amidst everything that’s happening within the Black community culturally and politically?

How To Maintain Your Mental Health & Sustain Healthy Friendships At The Same Time

Ask Each Other How You’re Doing And Mean It:

Give Each Other Grace:

Open And Honest Communication Is Key:

This Is Your Friend, Not Your Enemy:

Put Yourself Before The Friendship:

This Erotic Artist Rose To The Top 2.5% On OnlyFans While Saving Nearly Five Figures

On OnlyFans:

On multiple streams of income:

On financial stability:

On being a spender or a saver:

On the worst money-related decision she’s ever made:

On overcoming financial lows:

On budget must-haves:

On her biggest splurge:

On unhealthy money mindsets and habits she had to let go of in order to prosper:

On promoting body positivity and increasing confidence:

On living her "hoe truths freely", as mentioned on Instagram:

[Exclusive] Justine Skye On How She's Taken Her Journey To Self-Love By The Reins

xoNecole: How’s your mental health? I like to ask everybody how their spirit is doing before I proceed with any interview, especially during these times.

That’s real, especially as a creative and as someone who’s always expected to post and let people know how they’re doing, it can be a bit pressuring, so I appreciate your transparency.

Jumping right into it, I’m from Brooklyn as well - Brooklyn born and bred just like you, right in Sumner Projects off the J train. You and I know that there’s so much culture in that one borough alone. How has Brooklyn made you the artist and the fashionista that you are today?

What about your Caribbean roots? You’re Jamaican, right?

How has that influenced your upbringing and your music?

Going back to young Justine, when did you know that music was for you and what spoke to you specifically about music that made you realize this was your life’s calling?

Out of all of the things that you’ve done from 14 years old to now, what would you say has been one of - or some of - your biggest accomplishments in your career to date?

No problem, and it really makes me sad because one day I was listening to one of your interviews on HYPEBEAST Radio about a time where you nearly wanted to quit music. What was going through your mind and what kept you going?

What advice do you have for any creative who’s currently struggling to manage their mental health and practice self-love?

It’s funny because I was just about to ask you about the collaboration you two have been doing, Space and Time Sessions. Timbaland is such a powerhouse in music and production, to say the least. How did that come about and what has your relationship with him been like?

Switching gears a bit, I want to talk to you about 'Bare With Me'. Super excited about that - how is that a reflection of your growth as an artist since your Tumblr days, the release of 'Skye High', and dropping YouTube covers?

Amen to that. What was the primary inspiration behind 'Bare With Me' and the title?

Without giving away too much, what’re some of your favorite songs and what can we expect?

What advice do you have for anyone that’s looking to break into the music industry, or is already in the music industry and looking to grow, but they’re also in their own way?