The post Lenny Kravitz Exposed Harsh Truths About Parents After His Mom Roxy Roker Busted His Dad appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

In recent years, Zoe Kravitz, the now-34-year-old daughter of actress, Lisa Bonet; and rock star, Lenny Kravitz, did a prior interview that raised a few eyebrows, yet again. Why am I saying ‘yet again,’ you ask? Because a few years prior, we covered her 2015 interview where she’d made a few interesting remarks regarding her Blackness as well.

The only difference now is that Zoe does seem to have evolved a tad bit with her connection to her Black heritage…and for a daughter of two half African American parents, that’s a beautiful thing.

Zoe’s mother, Lisa Bonet, was born to an African American father and a Jewish mother. Zoe’s dad, Lenny, is the son of The Jeffersons actress, the late Roxie Roker (“Helen Willis”), whom was African American and his Pops was Jewish.

Zoe Kravitz On Why She Didn’t See Herself As Black, But Now She Does

The problem apparently for Zoe was that she was not entrenched with her Black roots growing up, so as an adult she’s been having difficulties with understanding and connecting with the African American side of her being. However, she says her dad had been pushing for her to become more in tune with her Black heritage, so in her Allure Magazine interview, she revealed where she now stands with her ‘acceptance’ of her African American DNA:

Zoe: “Racism is very real, and white supremacy is going strong. I am definitely mixed. Both my parents are mixed. I have White family on both sides. The older I get, the more I experience life, I am identifying more and more with being Black, and what that means — being more and more proud of that and feeling connected to my roots and my history. It’s been a really interesting journey because I was always one of the only Black kids in any of my schools. I went to private schools full of White kids. I think a lot of that made me want to blend in or not be looked at as Black. The white kids are always talking about your hair and making you feel weird. I had this struggle of accepting myself as Black and loving that part of myself. And now I’m so in love with my culture and so proud to be Black. It’s still ongoing, but a big shift has occurred. My dad especially has always been very connected to his history, and it’s important to him that I understand where I come from.”

Although you may be looking at the Big Little Lies series actress -who looks like a throwback image of her mother by the way- and saying to yourself, ‘Anyone with eyesight can clearly see Zoe’s Black, why couldn’t she?’…her newfound understanding is a great improvement from where she was 2 years ago. In 2015 she was trying to get in touch with her roots, but she admitted that not too long before that, she’d felt detached from being Black because she “didn’t like Tyler Perry movies” and such. Uh…I dig Tyler Perry’s work, but I’m just glad Zoe has discovered that being Black has far more dimensions than just being able to relate to ‘Madea.’ At any rate, I do respect Zoe’s honesty and it’s good she’s made a valid effort to gain insight into her whole self and not just one part.

On What Her Mom, Lisa Bonet, Thinks About Allegations Against Cosby

She also mentioned what her super private mother, Lisa Bonet, thought about the sexual allegations against her now incarcerated former TV dad, Bill Cosby, at that time:

Zoe: “I think it bummed her out. Though she didn’t seem incredibly surprised. I don’t think she wants to hear about anyone being abused, especially by someone she spent so much time with. It feels sh*tty. You want to shower.”

And there ya’ have it fam’…Lisa’s and Lenny’s mini-me is evolving and coming into her own…much continued success to her.

The post Lisa Bonet’s And Lenny Kravitz’s Daughter Explained Why She Finally Accepts She’s Black appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The Cosby Show and Different World actress, Lisa Bonet, and her rockstar ex-husband, Lenny Kravitz, were probably a tad surprised — along with the rest of their fans — after hearing the little known fun fact their daughter, Zoë Kravitz, publicly revealed about herself and music icon, Prince. At first glance, the now 33-year-old’s story seemed kinda innocent, until it didn’t…well, at least on the iconic Purple One’s side of things.

Okay, before anyone jumps to conclusions about Prince and Zoë, here’s a brief disclaimer: Nah, Prince did NOT try to holla at Lisa and Lenny’s daughter when she as underage…he didn’t get down like that. Now that we’ve cleared that up, scroll down to see what Prince did try to pull with Zoë…or so it seems.

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Prince Took Her Home…After She Turned 18…

During a prior interview on The Jimmy Kimmel Show…host, Jimmy, gave a comical side-eye to Zoë (or rather Prince) — as did the audience — when she recalled the time Prince waited until she turned 18 years old to take her home one night. Let us explain…

Ya’ see, Lisa and/or Lenny were cool with Prince, when Zoë was a little girl. As a result, Zoë says that she met Prince a few times as a child. However, according to Zoë, it wasn’t until she’d turned 18, that Prince randomly walked up to her at a nightclub, stood close behind her — as she was windin’ it up on the dance floor with her homegirls — and asked if he could take her home…in his limo…to which, she agreed.

Here’s What Zoë Says Happened Next Though

Prince Called Her Again…Then Zoë Called Him Annoying”…

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Zoë Kravitz then explained that that although Prince didn’t ‘try anything’ with her the night that he’d given her a ride home from the club, he did surprise her by phoning her up soon afterwards. Why? To invite himself to her concert (Zoe’s also a singer). Get this…he actually did show up to see Zoë at her show!

Prince called her later that night…to link up with her…again, says Zoë. She obliged. However, Zoë insists it was innocent, even though Prince seemingly tried to impress her with his accomplishments, by bringing up his the film, Purple Rain. Here’s the shocker though — Zoë eventually thought Prince was “annoying,” but meant it in the most ‘respectful’ way.

While explaining her story to Jimmy Kimmell, he cracked slick jokes in between and it was hilarious. See what else Zoë revealed about her phone calls and personal time with Prince in the video clip below…

From Zoë’s standpoint, it seemed like a young starstruck 18-year-old young lady who was just ecstatic that her idol, Prince, wanted to see her sing, and give her an innocent limo ride home. On the other hand, from Jimmy Kimmel’s — and most other folks’ viewpoint — it sounds like Prince was trying to make his move on Zoë…the LEGAL way. And besides, Lisa Bonet’s and Lenny Kravitz’s daughter does seem like Prince’s ‘type.’

What’chall think, ILOSM fam?’ Was Prince was trying to get with then-18-year-old Zoë Kravitz? Or was he simply being a ‘father figure’ to her?

The post Daughter Of Lisa Bonet & Lenny Kravitz Raised Brows With Revelation About Her Time With Prince appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Rock legend, Lenny Kravitz, once revealed that Teena Marie was the number one reason why he is who he is today. They are an unlikely pair of friends, but they were extremely close and he says Lady T. was his mentor when he was flat broke and unknown to the masses.

Here’s What Lenny Said She Did For Him

Soon after the legendary singer, Teena Marie passed away in December 2010, Lenny posted an emotional Youtube video, to reveal for the first time ever the deep bond they shared and what she’d done for him as a teenager…

Embed from Getty Images

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Teena. She took me in when I was around 16. I was just a musician on the street, I was living from pillar to post, she took me in, she gave me a bedroom. She fed me, she cooked for me, she took care of me. She gave me instruments to play, she took me to all her recording sessions, she took me to concerts, she nurtured me and helped me to become who I am. I’ve never really talked much about it in depth, but I would not be here. She changed my life, not only as an artist but as a person, truly loved me for who I was.

He concluded with a message directly to his late friend:

“I just wanna say, Teena, that I will always love you and respect you. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you, Father, for the life of Teena Marie.”

Watch Lenny Kravitz’s full video message below:

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Teena Marie helping those in need. She had a beautiful heart. But there’s more…

Why Was The Son Of Roxie Roker Living “Pillar To Post?”

If you’re wondering why the son of Roxie Roker a.k.a. “Helen Willis” on The Jeffersons was living from “pillar to post,” also was I. The only hypothetical conclusion I was able to draw was that his Mom didn’t necessarily want him to pursue music in the beginning:

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1. Many who were close to Roxie Roker, like her cast mates on “The Jeffersons,” have often mentioned that Roxie always expressed concern about her son wanting to be involved with music. So maybe at the time, when he was just starting out at 16, he didn’t have her full support on his musician ambitions, but instead ventured out and chased his dreams on his own.

2. Or Lenny could have simply just wanted to make a name for himself, without leaning on his Mom’s money nor fame.

That’s all hypothetical though and I could be wrong about that, but their very possible, given that Roxie was only one of the biggest sitcom stars at that time.

Lenny also said that his grandmother, Bessie Roker, was his greatest supporter, who supported him even when other family members doubted his direction. That’s why he says his Miss Bessie Music publishing company is named after her. “She supported me unconditionally,” he says. Again, that further supports the notion that his mother, Roxie Roker didn’t necessarily support his musical ambitions in the beginning.

Lenny’s father, Hollywood producer, Sy Kravitz, Lenny, and Lenny’s mother, actress Roxy Roker.

As far as Lenny and his mother’s relationship overall, they were extremely close and he said she taught him the most about being Black. He said Roxie constantly made it clear to him from day one that:

“Your father’s White, I’m Black, you’re just as much of one, as the other. But you are Black. In society, in life, you are Black.”

The post Lenny Kravitz Emotionally Shared What Teena Marie Did For Him When He Was Broke & Homeless appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Rock legend, Lenny Kravitz, revealed a lot about his parents’ marriage in a prior interview with The Telegraph. For those who didn’t know, his mother is the late actress, Roxie Roker, best known for her role as “Helen Willis” on “The Jeffersons” and his father, Sy Kravitz, was a TV executive for NBC back in the day.

Lenny detailed what it was like watching his Mom deal with his Pops’ cheating ways when she was at the height of her career on “The Jeffersons”…and let’s just say that Roxie was no “Helen” and Sy was no “Tom” in real life…

LENNY: ‘MY MOM STEPPED TO MY DAD LIKE A SCENE OUT OF GOODFELLAS’

Lenny described the incidents that oftentimes went down when his Pops got caught with his hands in another cookie jar, so to speak. And sometimes Lenny was smack dab in the middle of it. Turns out, our beloved Roxie Roker had some gangsta chick in her, bless her soul.

In other words, she didn’t just sit around and quietly accept her man’s cheating ways, she confronted him and his mistresses (yes, mistresses, as in many) head on. This drama occurred during the era when we were watching Roxie on “The Jeffersons.”

LENNY TOLD MOM ABOUT DAD’S CHEATING…AND SHE TOOK ACTION

Via Telegraph: When he was 20, Kravitz became aware of some of his father’s secret lives and alerted his mother. “I brought it into the light,” he says. “It was quite intense and heartbreaking. But she knew about things all my life that I didn’t know about. She would tell me stories about having me in her arms – it reminds me of the scene in Goodfellas – and she’d go to another woman’s apartment and ring the bell: “Tell him he has to come down. Stuff like that.” Soon afterwards, his parents split up.

DAD’S JEALOUSY OF ROXIE’S AND LENNY’S SUCCESS TOOK A TOLL

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Lenny Kravitz also revealed how he believed his Dad was a tad bit jealous of his and Roxie’s success. Although he had success of his own:

“His wife and son ended up being that thing that he wanted to be. I could understand what it was with other women, because he felt he needed to be The Man. Although he already was the man, and my mother treated him as the man. But in a superficial world, she was the star, and he was not.” – Lenny Kravitz

ROXIE’S & SY’S MARRIAGE STARTED OFF ROCKY WITH MUCH FAMILY TENSION

Lenny said that from the beginning, his parents’ marriage was rocky because his Jewish side of the fam’ didn’t even show up to their wedding:

Via Telegraph: ‘My dad was a sergeant, a Green Beret – the most hardcore, above the Marines. He was a very hard man.’ He fought in Korea, as did his younger brother, Leonard. Sy came home alive. Leonard did not. ‘He got blamed for that. His parents. Just the fact that his little brother followed him to war.’ That blame hadn’t eased by the time Sy married Lenny’s mother – ‘there wasn’t a white person at the wedding,’ Kravitz says. ‘And I had a great relationship with my Jewish relatives, and I knew nothing of this until I got older.’

Like we always say at ILoveOldSchoolMusic, celebrities have accomplished great things, but neither they, nor their lives, are perfect. They’re simply perfectly flawed human beings, just like the rest of us and that is A-okay. We all live and we learn.

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The post Lenny Kravitz Reveals Parents’ Rocky Marriage Was Far From “The Jeffersons” After Mom Busted Dad appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The only difference now is that Zoe does seem to have evolved a tad bit with her connection to her Black heritage…and for a daughter of two half African American parents, that’s a beautiful thing.

Zoe’s mother, Lisa Bonet, was born to an African American father and a Jewish mother. Zoe’s dad, Lenny, is the son of The Jeffersons actress, the late Roxie Roker (“Helen Willis”), whom was African American and his Pops was Jewish.

Zoe Kravitz On Why She Didn’t See Herself As Black, But Now She Does

The problem apparently for Zoe was that she was not entrenched with her Black roots growing up, so as an adult she’s been having difficulties with understanding and connecting with the African American side of her being. However, she says her dad had been pushing for her to become more in tune with her Black heritage, so in her recent Allure Magazine interview, she revealed where she stands with her acceptance of her African American DNA now:

Zoe: “Racism is very real, and white supremacy is going strong. I am definitely mixed. Both my parents are mixed. I have White family on both sides. The older I get, the more I experience life, I am identifying more and more with being Black, and what that means — being more and more proud of that and feeling connected to my roots and my history. It’s been a really interesting journey because I was always one of the only Black kids in any of my schools. I went to private schools full of White kids. I think a lot of that made me want to blend in or not be looked at as Black. The white kids are always talking about your hair and making you feel weird. I had this struggle of accepting myself as Black and loving that part of myself. And now I’m so in love with my culture and so proud to be Black. It’s still ongoing, but a big shift has occurred. My dad especially has always been very connected to his history, and it’s important to him that I understand where I come from.”

Although you may be looking at the Big Little Lies series actress -who looks like a throwback image of her mother by the way- and saying to yourself, ‘Anyone with eyesight can clearly see Zoe’s Black, why couldn’t she?’ her newfound understanding is a great improvement from where she was 2 years ago. In 2015 she was trying to get in touch with her roots, but she admitted that not too long before that, she’d felt detached from being Black because she “didn’t like Tyler Perry movies” and such. Uh…I dig Tyler Perry’s work, but I’m just glad Zoe has discovered that being Black has far more dimensions than just being able to relate to ‘Madea.’ At any rate, I do respect Zoe’s honesty and it’s good she’s made a valid effort to gain insight into her whole self and not just one part.

On What Her Mom, Lisa Bonet, Thinks About Allegations Against Cosby

She also mentioned what her super private mother, Lisa Bonet, thought about the sexual allegations against her now incarcerated former TV dad, Bill Cosby, at that time:

Zoe: “I think it bummed her out. Though she didn’t seem incredibly surprised. I don’t think she wants to hear about anyone being abused, especially by someone she spent so much time with. It feels sh*tty. You want to shower.”

And there ya’ have it fam’…Lisa’s and Lenny’s mini-me is evolving and coming into her own…much continued success to her.

The post Lisa Bonet And Lenny Kravitz’s Daughter Explained Why She Finally Accepts She’s Black appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Malcolm Jamal Warner admits he had a big crush on one of his Cosby Show “sisters” in the worst way. So who was it- “Vanessa,” “Sondra,” “Denise,” or “Rudy?” Well here’s the obvious hint: It wasn’t “Rudy,” she was way too young.

But First, A Brief Look At Malcolm’s Past Celebrity Relationships

Before we get into who his Cosby ‘sister’ crush was, we’ll first cover the several well known celebs Malcolm’s had long term relationships with, since he didn’t get to have a long relationship with his crush.

Malcolm’s had a serious relationship with his former on-screen Cosby Show girlfriend, Michelle Thomas, whom he dated up until she sadly passed away in 1998; He then dated actress, Karen Malina White, (from Lean On Me and Malcolm and Eddie) for 7 years. Remember Kalina? She used to say “Lance!” The last public relationship we knew Malcolm to have been in was his years-long romance with former 227 actress, Regina King. They broke up a couple years ago though. Okay now that we’ve got his dating history outta the way see which “Cosby Show” sis’ Malcolm made his confession about…

Malcolm Had A Crush On…

The eclectic Lisa Bonet is the ‘Cosby kid’ that Malcolm said he desperately wanted to be with, but that he knew he didn’t stand a chance with her. That didn’t stop that teenage crush from clouding his mind every time he had to do a scene with her, or sit next to her at rehearsals.

What he said about his crush on Lisa Bonet:

“Early on, it was Lisa,” Malcolm said when Access Hollywood Live hosts asked him about his teenage crush. “I never had a shot. At 13, 14, you know when you have a shot or not – even at that age.”

Lisa and Malcolm’s relationship is more similar to the one they had onscreen as siblings. “Lisa and I have been very cool,” he said. “I’m very cool with everybody because we all bonded in this unique experience. That bond, no matter how much time goes by, we’ll always have that bond.”

Why Lisa & Malcolm Probably Wouldn’t Have Lasted Together

There’s nothing worse than a guy finding out the girl he’s crushing on has officially placed him in the “friend zone.” That’s one of the reasons a relationship between the two Cosby Show ‘siblings’ likely would’ve never lasted, even if Malcolm tried. The other reason it probably wouldn’t have worked, is because Lisa appears to have a ‘type’- as in the alternative, rock star type (i.e. her ex husband, Lenny Kravitz; and current husband, Jason Momoa). However, Malcolm doesn’t seem to fit that description, but he has nothing to worry about, because millions of women would love nothing more than to shoot their shot at him if given the chance.

And besides, Malcolm probably realized his chances with Lisa was a done-dada after she popped up pregnant by her then-husband, Lenny, while they were still filming The Cosby Show.

Lisa has since moved on from Lenny, but they’re still one big happy family- Lisa, her ex Lenny, their daughter/actress, Zoe Kravitz; Lisa’s husband, Jason, and their two kids, Nakoa and Lola.

And there you have it folks, all’s well that ends well. It will forever be a mystery as to what it could have been if Malcolm had his way and these two ‘Cosby’ siblings ended up together.

The post Malcolm Jamal Warner Admits He Had Big Crush On Cosby Show Sister, But They Wouldn’t Have Last appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

The Cosby Show and Different World actress legend, Lisa Bonet, and her rockstar ex-husband, Lenny Kravitz, are probably a tad surprised -along with the rest of their fans- after hearing the little known fun fact their daughter,Zoë Kravitz, has just given about the late great, Prince. At first glance, the now 30 year old’s story seemed kinda innocent, until it didn’t…well, at least on the iconic Purple One’s side of things.

Okay, before anyone jumps to conclusions about Prince and Zoë, here’s a brief disclaimer: Nah, Prince did NOT try to holla at Lisa and Lenny’s daughter when she as underage…he didn’t get down like that. Now that we’ve cleared that up, scroll down to see what Prince did try to pull with Zoë…or so it seems.

Prince Took Her Home After She Turned 18…

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During her new interview on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, the host, Jimmy, gave a comical side eye toZoë (or rather Prince) -as did the audience- when she revealed the time that Prince waited until she turned 18 years old to take her home one night. Let us explain…

Ya’ see, Lisa and/or Lenny were cool with Prince, when Zoë was a little girl. As a result,Zoë says that she’d met Prince a few times as a child. However, it wasn’t until she’d turned 18, that Prince randomly walked up to her at a nightclub, stood close behind her- as she was windin’ it up on the dance floor with her homegirls- and asked if he could take her home…in his limo…to which, she agreed.

Here’s What Zoë Says Happened Next Though>>>

The post Lisa Bonet & Lenny Kravitz’s Daughter Raises Brows With Revelation About Her Time With Prince appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Rock legend, Lenny Kravitz, once revealed that Teena Marie was the number one reason why he is who he is today. They are an unlikely pair of friends, but they were extremely close and he says Lady T. was his mentor when he was flat broke and unknown to the masses.

Here’s What Lenny Said She Did For Him

Soon after the legendary singer, Teena Marie passed away in December 2010, Lenny posted an emotional Youtube video, to reveal for the first time ever the deep bond they shared and what she’d done for him as a teenager…

Embed from Getty Images

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Teena. She took me in when I was around 16. I was just a musician on the street, I was living from pillar to post, she took me in, she gave me a bedroom. She fed me, she cooked for me, she took care of me. She gave me instruments to play, she took me to all her recording sessions, she took me to concerts, she nurtured me and helped me to become who I am. I’ve never really talked much about it in depth, but I would not be here. She changed my life, not only as an artist but as a person, truly loved me for who I was.

He concluded with a message directly to his late friend:

“I just wanna say, Teena, that I will always love you and respect you. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you, Father, for the life of Teena Marie.”

Watch Lenny Kravitz’s full video message below:

This is the first time we’ve heard about Teena Marie helping those in need. She had a beautiful heart. But there’s more…

Why Was The Son Of Roxie Roker Living “Pillar To Post?”

If you’re wondering why the son of Roxie Roker a.k.a. “Helen Willis” on The Jeffersons was living from “pillar to post,” also was I. The only hypothetical conclusion I was able to draw was that his Mom didn’t necessarily want him to pursue music in the beginning:

Embed from Getty Images

1. Many who were close to Roxie Roker, like her cast mates on “The Jeffersons,” have often mentioned that Roxie always expressed concern about her son wanting to be involved with music. So maybe at the time, when he was just starting out at 16, he didn’t have her full support on his musician ambitions, but instead ventured out and chased his dreams on his own.

2. Or Lenny could have simply just wanted to make a name for himself, without leaning on his Mom’s money nor fame.

That’s all hypothetical though and I could be wrong about that, but their very possible, given that Roxie was only one of the biggest sitcom stars at that time.

Lenny also said that his grandmother, Bessie Roker, was his greatest supporter, who supported him even when other family members doubted his direction. That’s why he says his Miss Bessie Music publishing company is named after her. “She supported me unconditionally,” he says. Again, that further supports the notion that his mother, Roxie Roker didn’t necessarily support his musical ambitions in the beginning.

Lenny’s father, Hollywood producer, Sy Kravitz, Lenny, and Lenny’s mother, actress Roxy Roker.

As far as Lenny and his mother’s relationship overall, they were extremely close and he said she taught him the most about being Black. He said Roxie constantly made it clear to him from day one that:

“Your father’s White, I’m Black, you’re just as much of one, as the other. But you are Black. In society, in life, you are Black.”

The post Lenny Kravitz Emotionally Tells What Teena Marie Did For Him When He Was Broke & Homeless appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Rock legend, Lenny Kravitz, revealed a lot about his parents’ marriage in an interview with The Telegraph. For those who didn’t know, his mother is the late actress, Roxie Roker, best known for her role as “Helen Willis” on “The Jeffersons” and his father, Sy Kravitz, was a TV executive for NBC back in the day.

Lenny detailed what it was like watching his Mom deal with his Pops’ cheating ways when she was at the height of her career on “The Jeffersons”…and let’s just say that Roxie was no “Helen” and Sy was no “Tom” in real life…

LENNY: ‘MY MOM STEPPED TO MY DAD LIKE A SCENE OUT OF GOODFELLAS’

Lenny described the incidents that oftentimes went down when his Pops got caught with his hands in another cookie jar, so to speak. And sometimes Lenny was smack dab in the middle of it. Turns out, our beloved Roxie Roker had some gangsta chick in her, bless her soul.

In other words, she didn’t just sit around and quietly accept her man’s cheating ways, she confronted him and his mistresses (yes, mistresses, as in many) head on. This was all while we were watching her on “The Jeffersons”:

Next Page: Lenny describes how his mother would go to another woman’s apartment… >>>

The post Lenny Kravitz Tells How Parents’ Rocky Marriage Was Nothing Like “The Jeffersons” appeared first on I Love Old School Music.