As interesting as it was to watch Joe Budden successfully speak in a Hannibal Lector-like whisper throughout the entire third season of Love & Hip-Hop, there ain’t nothing like its southern-flavored spinoff, baby. The super trailer for the second season of Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta has been released, and from the looks of it, if you loved the first season of the best Negro Telenovela on television, you will cherish the follow up even more. Fights, shade, and scandal abound. Place your wing orders now; Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta premiers on Monday, April 22nd at 8PM ET. [VH1]
 

Chris Brown has been out talking to everybody all week promoting his new single, “Fine China,” but in his interview with “The Breakfast Club,” he answers questions about how his penis found its way online, his fluctuating weight, whether or not Jay-Z has beef with him, why he dislikes Drake and what his thoughts on the Chrianna-inspired episode of Law & Order: SVU are. Though he didn’t see the episode, I did, and let me tell you something, NBC: Hire some Black writers. We don’t like the cast of Foxy Brown anymore, you jive turkeys. Oh, and folks, if there was ever any doubt, he won’t be marrying Rihanna this summer. [Power 105.1]

 

Janelle Monáe is not now nor has she ever been pressed about your concerns that she dresses too much like a waitress at a high saddity steakhouse. Gracing the cover of Essence magazine, the oh-so-gorgeous singer-songwriter dismisses calls for her to dress sexier by noting, “People don’t ask Jay-Z to take his shirt off when he rhymes.” And while she often rocks a suit and tie, it’s newcomers like Frank Ocean and Miguel, not Justin Timberlake, that she is currently enamored with. Monáe says, “I love people who are into big ideas and whatnot. So I am really excited about some of the new artists.” [Necole Bitchie]

 

This may come as a shock to some of you, but not everyone is gagging with glee over Fashion Queens and the overall one-note portrayal of gay men of color in television. [Mused]

 

Janet Hubert is ready to end one of the longest running one-sided feuds in modern network television history. Speaking with theGrio, the original “Aunt Viv” explains for the umpteenth time why she abruptly left The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: “It was a negotiation that should have come back like most do. We were a very successful show and I felt like I was an integral part of that, and felt valuable, but you cannot feel valuable in Hollywood.” As for Will Smith and a reunion of the original cast, “I would say to him [Smith], we need to heal this.” That’d be nice… if Will Smith can actually remember anger from 20 years ago. [theGrio]

 

Carl Anthony Payne II, aka Cole from Martin, will be playing L.A. Reid in the TLC biopic film being helmed by VH1. He joins the previously announced, Keke Palmer as Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Drew Sidora as Tionne "TBoz" Watkins and Lil' Mama, who will portray the late Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. Evan Ross has also been tapped to play producer Dallas Austin. This sounds like a hoot. [Shadow + Act]

 

After channeling both Jane Fonda and your neighborhood gun dealer over the most recent season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, it looks like Phaedra Parks has finally embraced her destiny as the next Judge Joe Brown – landing the best side hustle in the process. Bravo has announced that Phaedra will star in a new show with the working title, Rich People’s Problems. According to a statement from the network, “When the rich and famous of Atlanta have a dispute, they know that only one lawyer will deliver some cold, hard justice: Phaedra Parks ofThe Real Housewife of Atlanta.”[sic] Uh, sure, why not? [Clutch]

John Legend is happy to hear all of these solid new R&B releases, but he’s hoping his latest, Love In The Future, bests them all. [That Grape Juice]

 

Another week has brought forth another call for Lil’ Wayne to apologize for doing Lil’ Wayne-like things. [Hip Hop DX]

 

Cassie’s been trying to drop a second album since way before Rihanna could legally pour it up. Cassie’s still not there yet, but she has a new video. You know, if you’re into that sort of thing. [World Star Hip Hop]

 

Will there ever be an end to people writing about their sexual liaisons with the stars, or as I like to call it, Superhead-lit? Though I still feel like Twitter and YouTube put a huge dent in the genre, there are still plenty of folks out here still trying to come up by way of kissing and telling in print. The latest is Love and Hip Hop star Winter Ramos, whospoke with Hot 97 about her alleged affair with Swizz Beatz as detailed in her new memoir. [Urban Belle Mag]

 

In her British Vogue cover story, Beyoncé embraces the feminist label. On being called a feminist, Bey says, “That word can be very extreme, but I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?” Listen: that’s the sound of dozens of writers typing furiously, trying to get their essays about this up online before anyone else. [Miss Jia]

 

Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer and blogger. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick.