Very few recording artists of the ‘90s have survived the digital evolution. Erykah Badu is one artist whose career has survived the test of time. In an interview with GQ, Erykah discussed her roots as a singer, history with Steve Harvey and more.

When I was 23 or 24, I was rapping and emceeing a lot with Free, but I was also working at Steve Harvey’s comedy house. He was my boss—the best boss ever. Funny, generous, considerate, and he knew I was an artist. When I started working there I was a waitress, and somehow I became a hostess. When he knew he could trust me, he moved me to the ticket booth. I handled money and helped organize transportation and hotel reservations for the comedians that came in. I noticed Steve didn’t have a stage manager, so I got that job, making sure everybody was taken care of. I love being of service to people—the whole act of it is really great to me. One day Steve was late going onstage, so I went out to the mic and threw out some jokes and stuff. People were laughing and heckling and having fun and Steve came onstage and scolded me in front of everybody. It was so funny.

Read full article at GQ.com.

Photo: Mark Seliger

One of Hollywood’s hottest commodities – Paula Patton – heats things up in the December 2011/January 2012 issue of Complex magazine. Already, she has acclaimed movies including Déjà Vu, Idlewild and Jumping The Broom under her belt. Now, Mrs. Robin Thicke is stepping into the action realm alongside Tom Cruise in upcoming movie Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Was that first meeting with Tom Cruise intimidating? No, actually. He made me feel comfortable; he was so kind. At first I felt like I shouldn’t waste my time, because I just didn’t see how they’d actually cast me. I didn’t think of myself being hired to be in this. Then they kept calling, so I figured, “OK, I have nothing to lose. It would be cool to be a spy. [Laughs.] And it’d be amazing to work with Tom. If they’re calling, there has to be a reason—you have to have more faith in yourself.” So they called and said that they wanted me to do a chemistry read with Tom, and it was like no screen test I’d ever done before. I had my trailer, and the test was on a big soundstage in Paramount. It felt very “old Hollywood.” It was very exciting. I had to learn how to disarm a gun a little bit—or at least be able to fake it—that same day!

How big of a factor is your husband in this new confidence?
He is my greatest supporter. He’s never stopped me from doing a single thing; he only encourages me to go for it. He tells me to do things before I even think I’m ready myself.

The two of you have been together for half of your life. For a couple in the public eye, that’s unheard of. How does it continue to work amidst all the stress of fame?
There’s no recipe. There’s no other way to say it—it’s true desire. We’re crazy enough that we just keep wanting to be together. We just don’t not want to be with each other. [Laughs.] It doesn’t mean that we don’t have our ups and downs. We just don’t want to be with anyone else. That’s how we keep it together: desire.

Read the full article at Complex.com.

Photos: Thierry Le Gouès

Sexy actress Nicole Ari Parker strikes a stunning pose for the holiday issue of Denim magazine. Denim asked her about her first reaction to meeting her now-husband Boris Kodjoe. Nicole responded:

When Boris walked into our first rehearsal i thought of him as the really hot guy that got to play my boyfriend in the first couple of episodes. But for some reason we connected and found it easy to talk to each other and laugh and be comfortable…and then i married him. Vanessa called it from the beginning, just like a real sister would, “you know he’s feeling you right?’ instigating..”nuh-uh” I said. “Yuh-huh, watch.. that’s your man right there.” and the rest is history.

Photos: Will Sterling/The YBF