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Alicia Keys Recreates Two Iconic Photos, Reveals Why She Dressed Like a Tomboy + Jordin Sparks "They Don't Give" Video + Timbaland Teases Unreleased Aaliyah Music

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Alicia Keys took a dip in the swimming pool (literally) to recreate two classic photos.  See the pics inside and find out why Alicia hid her "sexy" at the beginning of her career.  Also, watch Jordin Sparks' video for "They Don't Give" and hear a tease from Timbaland & Aaliyah.

Over on Instagram, Alicia Keys linked up with photographer Brendan Forbes to recreate two of her favorite photos.  The pic atop is a remake a classic 1972 pic of Trinidadian model Sintra Arunte-Bronte that was used in a promotional poster for Jamaican Tourists Board. See the original here.

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Her second photo is a remake of a classic Muhammad Ali photo.  Both are a part of a new campaign dubbed "Revelation" that coincides with the release of her latest single 28 Thousand Days.  She captioned, "I only got 28,000 of those days. So what the FUCK am I waiting for?? ;-) Let me elaborate: #inspiredbythegreatest #Ali #28000days"

Also, Alicia post a long essay on her blog about coming into her own as a woman and she revealed why she dressed more masculine during the earlier stages of her career.  The braids....the jeans....it was all intentional.  She said dressing "down" helped her deflect unwanted attention from men.

“I definitely started hiding when I got old enough to walk down my NY streets alone. I started to notice a drastic difference in how men would relate to me if I had on jeans, or if I had on a skirt, or if my hair was done pretty.”

Read her full REVEALTION essay here:

For as long as I can remember, I’ve hidden myself. It might have started in school when I realized that I caught on to things a little quicker, and teachers started to show slight favor to me, or use me as an example. I remember feeling like my friends would make fun of me or look at me as if I was different from them and so… I started hiding. Not intentionally, I didn’t mean to, but I did. Little pieces at a time.

I definitely started hiding when I got old enough to walk down my NY streets alone. I started to notice a drastic difference in how men would relate to me if I had on jeans, or if I had on a skirt, or if my hair was done pretty. I could tell the difference, I could feel the animal instinct in them and it scared me. I didn’t want to be talked to in that way, looked at in that way, whistled after, followed. And so I started hiding. I chose the baggy jeans and timbs, I chose the ponytail and hat, I chose no makeup, no bright color lipstick or pretty dresses. I chose to hide. Pieces at a time. Less trouble that way.

I remember feeling that same way when I first started to get recognized as an artist. I had the baggy/braided/tough NY tomboy thing mastered, that was who I was (or who I chose to be) and I felt good there. Then, because of the way I spoke or carried myself, people started calling me gay and hard and I wasn’t gay, but I was hard and although I felt comfortable there, it made me uncomfortable that people were judging me and so slowly I hid that side of myself. I put on dresses and didn’t braid my whole head up, so people could see more of the “real” me, even though at that point I’m sure I was more confused then ever of what the real me was.

I remember one interview I gave had strong social thoughts from a book I just read. The writer misunderstood me and wrote something that I didn’t say. I felt judged by those reading it. Out came the shell again and me under it. Hiding, piece by piece. Little by little. More and more.

I became comfortable hiding, my intelligence, my physical appearance, my truths, my thoughts, myself.

To this day, every time I get out of the shower to get dressed, I swear the first thought that comes into my head is, what can I wear that won’t cause too much attention when I go pick up Egy, or head to the store, or go shopping, or visit a friend etc.

And just the other day it hit me! OMG! Alicia!!! Why are you choosing to be that person?? That is so old and outdated!! STOP!!

You are allowed to be smart
You are allowed to be beautiful
You are allowed to be radical and have strong thoughts that others might not agree with
You are allowed to be tough
You are allowed to be sexy
You are allowed to be bold
You are allowed to be shapely
You are allowed to be kind
You are allowed to be yourself!!

And guess what!?? I can be all these things all at the same time. I don’t have to give up one to be the other. I don’t have to hide anymore, I don’t have to pretend and hold back, I don’t have to think that my intelligence, beauty and sensuality are intimidating to others. Who cares??!!! I don’t have to think my silliness, clumsiness, or hallmark card optimism, is something I can’t be proud of! Who cares????!!!!

I don’t have to try to go unnoticed
I don’t have to fit in
I don’t have to close up my thoughts and only speak my truth through songs!

I can speak it everyday
Live it everyday
Be it everyday
Dress it everyday
Show it everyday
Grow it everyday!!!

I only got 28,000 of those days. So what the FUCK am I waiting for??
And dammit that’s what I’m doing!!!!

-AK

 

 

 

In new music videos...

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In new music clips, Grammy-Nominated actress Jordin Sparks, released the video to her single “They Don’t Give.”

The R&B-tinged single is produced by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Salaam Remi and appears on Jordin’s upcoming Right Here Right Now album (due August 21).

In a statement released alongside the single, Jordin said,

"It was such an honor for me to work with Babyface on this album.“I was really inspired by 90’s R&B and he was the king! It takes me back to the ‘feel good' songs I grew up listening to and I am so proud of it!”

By the way, Jordin's Right Here Right Now will also feature appearances from B.o.B (listen to their single here), J-Doe, 2 Chainz, Shaggy and Elijah Blake.

 

 

More music....

 

A photo posted by Timbo the King (@timbaland) on

 

"Empire" producer Timbaland took to Instagram to tease fans about unreleased music from Aaliyah.  He captioned..."People ask me all the time do I have any babegirl music we haven’t heard !!!!!well the answer is YES!!!!!!!! TIMBO x BABEGIRL !!!!!”

He TEASED that he will release a preview in the near future: “Sneak peak coming!!!!!!!”  We can't wait....

 

 

Photos via Alicia Keys/Timbaland IG


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