(Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage)

Nia Long has a message for moms who become moms for the wrong reason.

In a discussion about family planning with The Root, the actress addressed how her upbringing influenced how she raises her two children and how she plans to approach the topic of sex with them. “As soon as I think anything’s going on,” she said, “there will be a big sit-down and a box of condoms!”

But when it came to the issue of moms who chose the role for every reason besides wanting to love, Long, who says she has a great co-parent and is not parenting alone, says: “I think women need to be responsible before making the choice [to become a parent] and do it for the right reasons. If you’re going to have a baby to save a relationship, that doesn’t work. If you’re going to have a baby to collect a check from someone else, that’s not the right thing. You have to be responsible and be able to stand on your own.”

Easily said when you have the money to live a life of relative ease… But true none the less.

(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

He may be married to the hottest chick in the game, but is Jay-Z lusting after another celebrity bombshell?

A little birdie told a certain magazine that Jay once had eyes for another public figure. Here are a few hints:

1) She’s the star of six classic Black films from the 1990s.

2) She made an appearance in one of Kanye’s music videos.

3) If Jay wanted to see her on the regular, he could just sign her man to his Brooklyn Nets.

And, the correct answer is…Nia Long! Now, before everyone starts tweeting about Jay leaving Queen Bey and all that nonsense, this is a perfectly innocent crush and Jay was apparently speaking for all the boys from the ‘hood when he talked about his love for Nia.

In fact, Long herself revealed the juicy tidbit to Essence magazine, when she recounted meeting Jay at a social function recently:

“I saw him at a party and I complimented him on his long run in music,” Long told Essence. “But he turned it around and asked me: ‘How does it feel to be every boy from the hood’s fantasy girlfriend for 20 years?’ It made me laugh, I hadn’t really thought about it.”

And while Nia may be the object of much affection, these days she’s enjoying life with one man, her boo Ime Udoka and their infant son. Still, must be nice to know that after two decades and two kids, you still got it!

Check out the image above of celebrated actress Nia Long showing off her baby bump in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The three-time NAACP Image Award winner looks fresh and beautiful on the beach with her bundle of joy on the way.

Long, who is known for big-screen classics like Love Jones and The Best Man, has a career that has spanned over 20 years. The Brooklyn native is the mother of an 11-year-old son and can currently be seen in the critically acclaimed Mooz-Lum, which hit DVD yesterday.

Congrats to Nia Long from everyone at the BET family!

Aretha Franklin sure has been “Day Dreaming” again lately.

The Queen of Soul has long said she wants Halle Berry to play her in the film based on her New York Times Best-Selling Autobiography Aretha: From These Roots.  According to BV Newswire she’s letting it be known once again now that she’s in the middle of finalizing negotiations with the actors that will be in the film.

Other potential actors for the film:

Denzel Washington as  Franklin’s father Rev. C.L. Franklin, Terrence Howard as her good friend Smokey Robinson, Nia Long as her sister Erma Frankin, and Blair Underwood to play her brother and long-time manager Cecil Franklin.  Halle might be a good choice but I can also see the following actresses to play the Queen of Soul:

• Mo’Nique
• Gabourey Sidibe
  
• S. Epatha Merkerson (of Law and Order and Lackawanna Blues)
• Jennifer Hudson
• Fantasia (although we all agree this is reaching)
• Lisa Nicole Carson (you might remember her as Nia Long’s homegirl in Love Jones)

I know one thing though, if Berry can go from playing Dorothy Dandridge to Aretha she might have another Oscar on her hands.

Who do you think should play Aretha Franklin?

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Nia Long is the latest celeb to join the People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) signature campaign “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur.” Cute, although three cheers for Photoshop (besides her body appearing disproportionate and belly button-less, nobody would have that much of their skin touching a subway train!). Long sat down in a video interview with the  animal rights activists group and had this to say about joining the effort:

“It’s a clean beautiful ad but the message is clear from that one photo, from that one image that all living things should have the right to live….I’ve realized how important it is that we really take responsibility for the environment, for treating animals with love and care just like we would any human being. I really do believe that all things that have been given life deserve to live life. It’s no different, in my opinion, from slavery or the Holocaust it’s just that we’re not dealing with human beings, we’re dealing with animals, but it’s still a living thing.”

OK, kudos for being down for a cause that you believe in Nia, but did you just liken animal rights and fur to slavery and the Holocaust!?

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Can’t get enough of Nia?

Who can’t. Soon, you’ll be seeing getting her Foxy Brown on in a video by … Heavy (though kinda Slim these days) D.

For her role in the video, the 38-year-old actress sports an afro wig, mini skirt and platform shoes.

And don’t forget to check her out on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET, where she hosts the BET J Awards with comedian Chris Spencer.