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Lifestyle

Jon Goode

Jon Goode has always been a crowd favorite. He’s relatable to audiences because he pulls from his life experiences to construct his poetry, giving anyone listening a glimpse into his life—and probably theirs, too. His appearance during Season One of Verses & Flow made such an impact that he was invited back to perform during the show’s recent Live! tour stop in Atlanta.

M'Reld Green

It was during the first season of “Verses & Flow” that national television audiences became familiar with dynamic spoken-word artist/activist M’Reld Green. Live and direct from Chicago, Green has been gracing stages for years, unleashing her voracious wordplay on crowds all across the country.

Eric Roberson

ERIC ROBERSON

Nominee for 44th NAACP Image Award

We are proud and humbled by the nomination of “VERSES & FLOW” for an NAACP Image Award in the Outstanding Variety Series or Special category.

A Tribute

It was never only about boxing for Emanuel Steward, the world-renowned boxer, trainer, and commentator who passed away on October 25 from a digestive disease called diverticulosis.

Its Origins

Well, the day after Thanksgiving has finally arrived. That’s right, it’s Friday, or better yet, Black Friday: the day retailers open their stores at ungodly hours so that consumers can get a jump on their holiday shopping.

Make Your Holiday Shine

The big question that accompanies every Thanksgiving feast is: What is the best way to balance the meal? With every favorite food present and planned for, it usually comes down to which wine to serve with which course.

On Directing "Grey's Anatomy"

Chandra Wilson plays a doctor on television. However, when her oldest daughter Sarina was diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)—a mitochondrial disease that affects the way the body breaks down energy—there were no scripts that could tell her how to react.

Meet the Phenomenal Music Group

There’s a musical group based in Los Angeles, California, that you need to know about. It’s a collective of four musicians/songwriters who came together officially in 2009 with the goal of making good music.

An Interview with the CEO of Flat Out of Heels, LLC

A conversation with the entrepreneur and CEO

Food, Folks and Fun

The first thing you notice about Beale Street in downtown Memphis—even during the day—is how bright it is.

A Review of the Movie

Let’s get this out of the way right now: “Alex Cross” isn’t a great film. In fact, if it were to be made all over again, it probably would’ve done better if it were a made-for-TV movie instead of a feature film.

Releases You Should Have

The final quarter of the year is when most musicians attempt to capitalize on the shopping surge that occurs during the holiday months.

There's Always A Catch

It can’t be easy being Brandon Marshall. Imagine doing a Google search for your name, and your warrants and arrests appear before your All-Pro NFL stats.

A Sneak Peek into " Hypernature"

With so much emphasis placed on the months of September and April, it’s easy to forget that fashion summits actually take place year round.

Which Is Better For You?

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between organic food and non-organic food? Most claim that the former is purer, containing more vitamins and nutrients, while the latter is less healthy, being saddled with preservatives that could hurt the body.

A Conversation with the Independent Filmmaker

Matthew Cherry’s athletic career ended just as so many other players’ careers unfortunately do: abruptly. After only three years in the NFL, the Chicago native had to formulate a Plan B once his dream of playing football ended.

" Black Radio Recovered: The Remix EP"

It was just nine months ago that jazz musician Robert Glasper released the album “Black Radio,” a genre-bending, meticulous ode to R&B and soul, featuring artists such as Erykah Badu, Yasiin Bey, Bilal, Lalah Hathaway, Chrisette Michele, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Musiq Soulchild.

A Review of His Latest Book

Basketball has always been something that Dwyane Wade does well. The eight-time All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, and two-time NBA champion has made a career of putting himself on the line for his teammates, playing hurt more often than not, all in the pursuit of the ultimate prize: winning it all.

A Conversation with Latoya Bennett-Johnson

Sometimes we set out to be entrepreneurs, and sometimes, it finds us. That was surely the case with Latoya Bennett-Johnson, president and CEO of The Strivers Row, a poetry and music collective based in New York.

An Island of Adventure and Relaxation

One of the most common destinations for travelers looking for both adventure and relaxation is the Indonesian island of Bali.

An Interview With the Actress

Tempestt Bledsoe has been in front of television cameras for most of her life. The actress, who played Vanessa Huxtable on the long-running sitcom “The Cosby Show” for eight seasons, went on to host the syndicated talk show “Tempestt” in the mid ‘90s, as well as make guest appearances on several shows.

An Evening With Jazz's Best Kept Secret

The line in front of The Mint in Los Angeles in late September stretched around the block as fans sported their Sunday best to see GRAMMY-nominated artist Gregory Porter perform a rare live set in his hometown.

2012-2013 Season Preview

It’s the end of October, which means that the NBA is back and in full swing. Last spring’s playoffs were incredible, providing equal amounts of drama and great play.

An Interview With George Littlejohn

Being an entrepreneur is never easy. It takes passion and a belief in yourself that exceeds whatever fear that exists. It’s truly stepping out on faith alone and making things happen for yourself.

Three Winter Destinations

With the changing of the seasons comes the desire for many folks to escape to somewhere warm, where they can delay the inevitable drop in temperature, if only temporarily. The challenge then becomes where to go.

Four Returning Faces to Watch

Each fall season, as days grow shorter and leaves begin fluttering to the ground, the television networks roll out the new programs they’re hoping will catch—and keep—our attention.

The Return

If you’ve been anywhere near the Internet, then you already know that soul singer D’Angelo is back on the music scene this year after more than a decade in seclusion, appearing at several venues domestically and abroad since January.

Keeping Up With the Olympian

One of the best stories to barely make a ripple during this past summer’s London Olympics is that of United States swimmer Cullen Andrew Jones, who swam away with two silver medals and a gold medal in men’s freestyle competitions.

Five Fall Fashion Trends For Men

There is never a wrong time to look your best, whether you’re in a high-profile position or simply performing day-to-day activities. For men especially, the need to always be on point when it comes to dress takes more effort.

A New Experience

Spend five minutes inside the newly redesigned Karma Lounge, located on Beverly Boulevard in the Wilshire Center area of Los Angeles, and you’re sure to feel right at home.

A Remake For Lifetime

The one thing we can learn from Hollywood is that what was old will someday be new again. There may be subtle twists and retouches, but Tinseltown has proven to b

New Music For Fall

Last week, we introduced you to women that will be making their mark on the music industry in the coming years. This week, it’s the men’s turn.

In Kemp We Trust

It’s simple, really, when all is said and done: The 2012 Los Angeles Dodgers were only going to go as far as center fielder Matt Kemp would take them. It may not be fair, but ultimately, it’s true.

A Star In the Making

There’s a scene in the film “Beasts of the Southern Wild” where 6-year-old, first-time actress Quvenzhané Wallis, as the character Hushpuppy, gives her fictional father a glare that tells you everything you need to know about the young actress, and will make you want to know much more.

A Conversation with Kimberly Seals-Allers

Kimberly Seals-Allers is an award-winning business journalist who has served as senior editor at Essence magazine, reporter/staff writer for Fortune magazine, reporter/columnist at the New York Post, and business writer for The Times of London.

Reboot Your Life

To reboot literally means to restart, and when it comes to our health and the foods we tend to consume during the summer months, there’s usually no better time than the fall season to reboot—or restart—our healthy-eating ways.

Fresh Faces For Fall

It’s certainly been a banner year for women in music. From the return of stalwarts such as Stephanie Mills, Anita Baker, and Gladys Knight to the emergence of sensations Elle Varner and Esperanza Spalding, everywhere you look, there’s great music to be found.

What You Should Know About U.S. Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas

Here’s one thing you should know about American Olympic gymnast Gabrielle Christina Victoria “Gabby” Douglas: She’s a winner.

Could The Latest Decision Affect Lebron's Image Again?

It could be argued that, after the past six months, LeBron James has become the most famous athlete on Earth.

Verses & Flow's Musiq

Musiq is the ultimate survivor. He signed his first record deal when he was fresh off of the Philadelphia streets, and twelve years into a career that's created so many hits and awards, he admits that he's still learning the business.

An Underrated Classic

One of the best wines that continues to reside considerably far under the radar is Lambrusco, a flavorful Italian wine that goes perfectly with most summer meals.

Three Films You Should See This Fall

As films go, this past summer was definitely dedicated to the sequel. And with the wildly successful Spiderman and Batman franchises in particular dominating the box office, it’s hard to argue with its track record.

Verses & Flow's Zora Howard - In the 'First Person'...

Zora Howard has always been right on time. She was the youngest poet to win the Urban Word NYC Grand Slam finals at the age of 13. Three years ago, at 16, she became the first ever New York City Youth Poet Laureate.

Verses & Flow's Rudy Francisco - Organizational Ties

Rudy Francisco's goal in life is to assist others to harness their creativity. He does this while balancing a heavy academic load with the responsibilities that come with helping run San Diego's most prominent spoken word venue.

Verses & Flow's Carlos Robson - Queen City's Finest

Carlos Robson will always represent for his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. Along with his crew Concrete Generation, Robson is responsible for a lot of the art that takes place in the Queen City.

New Music- "Lately"

If you think there’s something familiar about the song “Lately,” which is the new single by Anita Baker released last month on Blue Note Records, then you’re correct. Yes, it is a cover—or remake—of the 1999 Tyrese track of the same name. However, that’s where the similarities end.

The Buc Doesn't Stop There

It'd be easy to feel sorry for Eric LeGrand, but there's no way he would want that. All he wanted while growing up was to play in the National Football League. That was his life’s mission.

Verses & Flow's Carl Thomas

Carl Thomas is back and better than ever, readying a new project that's sure to make R&B purists happy. The former Bad Boy singer will soon release an EP filled with gritty love songs in the tradition of one of his heroes, Barry White.

Verses & Flow's Ant Black - Serving A Collective Purpose

Anthony Blacksher, also known by his stage name Ant Black, is always thinking outside of the proverbial box. He's a Ph. D candidate in Cultural Studies at Claremont Graduate University.

Verses & Flow's Maestro Gamin - A Trained Conductor

Originally from the Bay Area, Matt Gamin, aka 'Maestro',has made Southern California his home. The erstwhile MC actually stumbled upon spoken word by chance, attending a writing workshop on a whim.

Verses & Flow's Malcolm London - New School

Malcolm London has accomplished a lot at a young age. At only 19, he's a teaching artist in the Chicago Public School system. He's shared stages with Matt Damon, Robin Thicke and Lupe Fiasco. He's won various awards at poetry competitions across the country.

Verses & Flow's Chrisette Michele

Chrisette Michele comes across as shy when you first meet her, which belies the powerful voice that greets you from her first singing note. The New York native loves her fans, and uses their feedback to write a lot of her songs.

Verses & Flow's Poetri - That's My Name

Poetri is a Tony Award winning poet/actor who has appeared in over 150 commercials during his career. He's been personally invited to The White House by President and First Lady Barack & Michelle Obama.

Verses & Flow's Prentice Powell - Doing It Again

Prentice Powell is a believer. He believes that people are good, and that he can achieve anything he sets his mind to.

Verses & Flow's Queen Sheba - Going Out And Getting It

Queen Sheba will be the first to tell you that seizing the moment is the only way to live. It's how she's lived her life from an early age, from writing folk songs as a pre-teen to serving as a poet in residence at multiple colleges.

Verses & Flow's Clint Smith - An Ambassador for Change

Clint Smith has traveled the world for his art. His trip to Senegal during his junior year of college opened up a new world to the New Orleans native. Since then, he's gone back to the continent to spread awareness about the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.

Verses & Flow's Kataalyst - For Your Consideration

Kataalyst Alcindor is a New Orleans native that carries his city with him wherever he goes. His poetry is a continuous ode to those he respects, his ancestors and his heroes.

Verses & Flow's Tank

Tank has always been introspective. If you listen to his music, starting from the beginning, he's the R&B singer that talks about himself, his misgivings, his ambitions, his strengths and weaknesses. He takes his music personally.

Verses & Flow's Treesje - Poetry is Her Therapy

Treesje has turned her teenage journaling hobby into a life skill. As one who always wanted to hear other's problems, the native Californian used her ability to listen help propel her on the path to help students as a School Psychologist.

Verses & Flow, Season 2: Elle Varner

Elle Varner comes by music honestly. Both of her parents are industry veterans, having songwriting and publishing credits throughout their careers. All of their expertise came in handy when it was time for the younger Varner to pursue a music career of her own.

Verses & Flow's Andrew Tyree - Good Times

Andrew Tyree is internationally known. Especially in Germany, where he was born and thus has dual citizenship. He's always loved the theater, and from an early age felt at home on stage. The Los Angeles resident has guest starred on several television shows.

Verses & Flow's Marcus Omari - Image Is Everything

Marcus Omari has always loved words. He's an avid writer and student of forensic speech and debate. The Los Angeles native (he is from Racine, WI) is also the co-editor of the poetic manuscript Speak Child.

Verses & Flow's Carvens Lissaint - Taking Ownership of His Talents

Ever since he was young,Carvens Lissaint has always maintained a distinct rhythm. He's always had something to say. Whether it was singing, performing spoken word or acting, he's always made his presence felt.

Verses & Flow Live Poets

After a wildly successful debut season of VERSES & FLOW, LEXUS decided to extend the season by visiting three different cities, kicking off in Chicago, with Philadelphia and Dallas to follow.

Verses & Flow Season 2 Submissions

One of the most exciting aspects of putting together the second season of LEXUS Presents Verses & Flow has been the submission process. Thousands of potential participants sent in their very best performance pieces to versesandflow.com before the May 15th deadline.

Verses & Flow, Season 2: Eric Benét

Four time GRAMMY nominee Eric Benét can't help but smile these days. He recently celebrated his one year anniversary with his bride, Manuela Testolini. His latest album, The One, is steadily climbing the charts, and is the first release on his new record label, Jordan House/EMI.

Verses & Flow, Season 2: Tamia

Tamia has always had a beautiful, distinctive voice. So it's no surprise that now, almost fifteen years after her first single was released, that the Toronto, Canada native is still going strong.

Verses & Flow's Edwin Bodney - An Honest Voice

Edwin Bodney fell in love with words at the age of 13, when he wrote and performed his first set of poems. It's his honesty that allows him to stand out amongst his peers, with his deep pieces about family and relationships being a voice for those who need their story told.

Verses & Flow's D'Dra White - A Long Way from Butterflies

D'Dra White became a poet, and she didn't even know it. Seriously, the Bay Area native started her spoken word journey in second grade, on purple construction paper, writing about butterflies.

Verses & Flow's In-Q - Seizing Opportunities

In-Q learned the hard way about the importance of seizing opportunities. That's why the Santa Monica native is so busy these days. He doesn't let any good thing pass him by.

Verses & Flow's Macy Gray

Macy Gray has everything covered. Literally. The multi-platinum selling artist spent the summer on tour with Seal in support of her latest project Covered, an album featuring covers of some of her favorite songs.

Verses & Flow's SuperB - Secure in His Identity

Brian Oliva, aka SuperB, believes that everything happens for a reason, which is why his progression from singing with a gospel group to finding, and falling in love with, spoken word didn't happen by accident.

Verses & Flow's Sonya Renee

Sonya Renee has a bundle of positive energy. She talks in exclamation points and moves in hugs and smiles. Any time you spend around the Maryland native will leave you feeling uplifted and encouraged.

Verses & Flow's Miles Hodges - Not the Coolest Kid in the Room

Miles Hodges does not believe in wearing masks. In fact, the New York City resident has been commanding spoken word stages since his sophomore year of high school, wearing his heart on his sleeve with every poem.

Verses & Flow's Luke James

Luke James is a star on the rise, receiving a major co-sign from none other than Beyonce, starring in one of her videos and serving as an opening act during her recent tour.

Verses & Flow's Omar Holmon - Champion Loser

Spend more than a minute with Omar Holmon and you're guaranteed to be laughing hysterically. The New Jersey native has dedicated his entire life to finding the humor in almost any situation, and has strategically built his spoken for career around comedy.

Verses & Flow's Tasha Jones - Staying Balanced

Tasha Jones is committed to education, service and responsibility to the youth. A mother of two, the Indiana native has served as a teacher in the Indianapolis school system, and was the youngest nominee ever for the position of Indiana Poet Laureate.

Verses & Flow's Javon Johnson - Back 'Cuz He's Black

Javon Johnson is literally everywhere. If you don't see him on campus at USC, where he serves as a postdoctoral fellow, then you might catch him mentoring younger poets at different venues across Los Angeles.

Versese & Flow's Javon Johnson

If you remember our initial sit down with JAVON, you'll recall that he rarely has time to sit down. He's constantly on the go, whether it's working with teenage poets or writing provocative pieces online. We caught up with him in between activities, and reminisced about his V&F experience.

Versese & Flow's Prentice Powell

PRENTICE has been extremely busy since appearing on the show, still working with students in city schools while lining up new shows here and abroad. Below, we speak with the single dad about his hunger, the feedback he received from other fathers, and how a Will Smith quote changed his way of thinking.

Versese & Flow's Thea Monyee

We caught up with Thea in the middle of several projects, the most important of which is being a mom. We talked about her life after Verses & Flow, the projects she's working on, and why she'll soon be licensed to listen to other people's words very soon.

Verses & Flow, Season 2 Host - Omari Hardwick

Omari Hardwick is literally everywhere, and not even in an if-you-look-really-close type of way, either. The 38 year old is conquering every type of entertainment medium there is, amassing an extensive acting resume.

Actor/Philanthropist Gabrielle Union

LEXUS presented Gabrielle Union with their prestigious Pursuit of Perfection Award, celebrating her unyielding work both on the big screen and within her community. We spoke with Union about the award, as well as her feelings on returning to Dallas, how a trip abroad impacted her, and how her year is shaping up.

Singer/Songwriter Luke James

After a wildly successful debut season of VERSES & FLOW, LEXUS decided to extend the season by visiting three different cities, kicking off in Chicago, with Philadelphia and Dallas to follow.

Singer/Songwriter Goapele

After a wildly successful debut season of VERSES & FLOW, LEXUS decided to extend the season by visiting three different cities, kicking off in Chicago, with Philadelphia and Dallas to follow.

Singer/Songwriter Robin Thicke

After a wildly successful debut season of VERSES & FLOW, Lexus decided to extend the season by visiting three different cities, kicking off in Chicago, with Philadelphia and Dallas to follow.

Southern Routes

GEORGIA ME brought her spoken word brilliance to the Verses & Flow stage for the show's season finale. We sat down with the southern belle to find out more about what she's been up to since her run on Broadway, what it means to be a ghetto belle, and why Atlanta is her most favorite place on Earth.

A Class Act

JON GOODE is all about experiences. He pulls from his life for his work, and because of that, has gained fans across the globe. We sat down with the EMMY winner (!!!) to talk about everything from his experience on Verses & Flow to the importance of keeping things simple.

One Step at a Time

BRIANNI BLUE talks a lot about her destination, what she's trying to accomplish. Even with all of the obstacles that have shown themselves along the way, Blue is still taking steps in the right direction.

A Hunger to Succeed

PRENTICE POWELL is all about family. Whether discussing a man's right to raise his child, or the importance of educating those around him, the Bay area resident is passionate in his pursuit of making those around him better.

A Man of His Words

PROF. RAY GRANT literally does it all. As a college professor, songwriter, and stand-up comedian, he's a true triple threat. Add to that arsenal his Master's degree in poetry, and you'll see the Chicago native is all about words.

Southern Roots

Spoken Word comes honestly to Mississippi's own DAVID BANNER, from his days at Southern University at Baton Rouge when he spit verses on a regular basis to anyone that would listen.

Putting in "Heart" Work

LuxuryAwaits.com caught up with CHAUNCEY BEATY, a featured performer on Season One of Verses & Flow, to discuss everything from her love of slam poetry to her 'slamming' introduction by host Hill Harper.

A Word Movement

LuxuryAwaits.com recently caught up with CHARLES PETERS, the featured performer on Verses & Flow Episode Three, to discuss his many talents, why words are so powerful, and the meaning behind his book title, The Last Poem on The Last Day.

Artist, Activist, Academic

JAVON JOHNSON is not your average spoken word artist. No, he's also a scholar with a Ph.D and a postdoctoral fellowship. So how does the west coast native find the time to write and perform poetry? We recently spoke to the featured Verses & Flow performer to find out just that.

Chicago's Hope

M'Reld Green, straight out of Chicago with a message of hope and a mastery of words, appears on the debut episode of Verses & Flow. LuxuryAwaits.com sat down with the teacher/poet to get her thoughts on what it means to be an advocate for change for today's youth.

You Don't Know the Half

The debut episode of Verses & Flow features two stirring pieces from rising poet Aaron Samuels, who sat down recently with LuxuryAwaits.com to discuss his life experiences, his influences, and the ultimate self book title.

An Intuitive Flow

LuxuryAwaits.com caught up with Thea as she prepared for Verses & Flow’s premiere. The singer/poet gets candid, reflecting on everything from the gift of body image to intuitive book titles.

Winter breaks mean different things to different people. For some it's sand, for others it's snow.

Here's a list of worthy hot and cold escapes—check for an experience near you.

It's here: a headset that allows computers to read your thoughts—so you can control machines with your mind.

How's this for a big word of the day? Electroencephalography. Before our proofreader has a heart attack, let’s shorten that to its acronym, EEG. EEG refers to the recording of the brain’s electrical activity.

Lexus is proud to partner with ESPN-U to showcase HBCUs and their pursuit of perfection on the football field.

Once again it's on! Time for some of the nation's best athletes to strap on their helmets, lace up their cleats to match athleticism and intelligence...

Tour northern California's black-owned vineyards and take home a quality collection of wine

You can spend a month in California's wine country and feel like you haven't made a dent in the list of wineries worth visiting. With nearly 1,000 sprinkled between Santa Barbara to the south...

Lexus recommends the best in premium travel.

It's that time again: Every year, Lexus magazine recommends premium resorts that'll knock your business–appropriate socks right off. For 2010, we again scoured the planet and found some of the most authentic, luxurious retreats out there...

Islands of the World Fashion Week

The promise of flawless coastlines, balmy breezes, and tropical drinks in hand are usually reason enough to hop a flight to the Caribbean. Add stunning fashions, industry insiders, and a pulsing, Junkanoo-tinged bass line and you would have found yourself at...

Lexus has blown the lid off the IS.

Unleash your desire for adventure with the unveiling of the new IS 250C and IS 350C, Lexus has made its IS luxury sport sedan even sportier. The eye-catching retractable hardtop convertible made its debut and is now available in the US...

The Internet and some useful tips make buying contemporary art more accessible than you thought.

Luckily, nowadays buying international contemporary art doesn't mean you have to charter a jet to Dubai, and it doesn't mean you have to go spending a mint of money. The most popular pieces are usually reproduced...

Forget what you know about driving a Lexus. When the 2010 RX arrived, everything changed.

In the beginning was the driver. At least, that was the starting point for Lexus Chief Engineer Takayuki Katsuda, who as far back in 2006, assembled his design team for Lexus' next major RX challenge...

Palace Hotels Lead the Way in Haute Cuisine.

The French hotel ranking system is an eccentric one, and among both locals and seasoned travelers to Paris, designations like stars and diamonds do not qualify as currency. When discussing the top accommodations in Paris only one category matters...

Meet the HS250h—the most fuel-efficient Lexus vehicle ever built.

A new kind of Lexus. The HS 250h[1] is a new type of Lexus vehicle, a compact hybrid-only model designed specifically for maximum fuel economy and minimum ecological impact...

A highly subjective connoisseur's guide to ice cream, gelato & sorbet. And frozen custard, too. We couldn't help ourselves.

Premium ice cream is a coveted designation. It commands loyalty for its natural ingredients, few if any additives, and its density...

The two simple tricks to building an impressive, eclectic music collection: buy Old music and buy Imported music.

Buying old is easy, we've lived in an age of recorded music for over seventy years and there is plenty of quality stuff to choose from. Most people limit their choices to music from the last thirty years...

Lexus salutes the road movie.

When gearing up for a long drive, many of us become the stars of the road movies in our minds: the Thelma, the Louise, the Harry, the Tonto. So, for this issue, it made sense for us to convene an expert panel to chose their favorite road films...

The Cocktail Culture The culture of social drinking is rooted in the cocktail. Know the history, the rituals, the tips, and signatures you will need to mix comfortably in any scene.

The culture of social drinking is rooted in the cocktail. Know the history, the rituals, the tips, and signatures you will need to mix comfortably in any scene.

The cocktail is truly and American invention. The original variations of cocktails can be traced back to the 19th century in New Orleans and a host of other ingredients...