From the moment young girls are able to understand the true meaning of a fairytale ending, they become obsessed with the notion that Prince Charming is out there somewhere waiting for them. In kindergarten, it may have been the boy who sat next to you in class that always teased you, but deep down you thought he may be the one. Now, 20 years later, you realize you have to kiss many frogs in search of your prince.

At a time when quality movies are few and far between, it seems directors and writers alike score big when they adapt movies from best-sellers, especially those with “wacky” story lines or futuristic settings. In a few short weeks, avid readers and fans of Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games get to see the written word transform into color on the big screen.

From tracking the hottest fashion fads to mimicking the looks of celebrities, fashion has always been a hot topic of discussion. Whether you’re fortunate enough to dawn handbags and shoes that are worth more than two months’ rent or you have just enough funds to look fab on budget, people of all ages have a genuine interest in looking good when they step out of their front door.

Television plays such a huge part in the majority of people’s lives. If we’re not in front of the TV during “primetime,” I would bet my life that we will catch our shows at a later date, whether online or on TV, courtesy of DVR. So, what has us so addicted to the “tube”? Some may argue that it’s reality TV that has taken over, but I still contend that sitcoms, dramas, and shows of the sort still reign supreme, primarily because they keep us guessing and asking the age old question: does art imitate life or does life imitate art?

Gone are the days when you sit by your home phone just waiting for a guy to call, either to set up a date or to follow-up after what you deemed the “perfect” evening shared between two people. Forget that your “house phone” didn’t have caller ID and maybe not even call waiting. So, not only would you not be able to identify when he was calling, there was also the possibility that you could actually miss the call because someone else in your home was on the line. Perhaps your sister was on the phone while “Mr. Right Now” was getting the sound of a busy signal on the other end.

Very few things touch my heart more than hearing real Hip Hop from someone who grew up on the same exact streets as I did. Somehow, when you have that connection, the lyrics, the metaphors, and the beats seem to touch a deeper part of the soul than it would if it was just some one-hit wonder from any city other than Chicago. I know, it may be a tad bit biased, but all of the above happens whenever I listen to Common’s ninth album, The Dreamer, The Believer.

It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when hits like “You Bring Me Joy,” “Be Happy,” and “I’m Goin’ Down” were “new joints” courtesy of the first “My Life.” It probably feels that way because even today that classic album is still relevant.

Just when you thought Hip Hop was dead, the end of 2011 knocks you over the head with some dope music from a variety of different artists. It’s refreshing to hear the “greats” drop something new, but what’s even more interesting is what we’ve been blessed with from “new” artists, especially in the world of Hip Hop. Very seldom do you find an artist that can inspire you with one track let alone an entire album, which is exactly what D.C.-native Wale has done with Ambition.

At a time when the economy is not in the best shape, you find many people unemployed. However, those who have jobs are seldom in their “ideal” role and struggle to make ends meet. You may know someone who works in sales, but always wanted to be the owner of her own boutique. You may have a chef with a business degree who always wanted to open her own restaurant. In either case, for any particular reason, whether it’s finances, lack of open positions in a desired field, or just a change in career paths, your “dream” job is only a dream.

Last week, Boyz II Men, one of the most remembered and respected R&B groups of all time, released their latest album.