KING: WHO WANTS ANGEL CAKE?
KING delivers a second serving of the music video game’s top treat, Angel Lola Luv. Go ahead, take the big piece.
By Sean A. Malcolm | December/January 2008

Angel Melaku is going through hell. Her nearly four-hour ride from her Chocolate City hometown to the Big Apple for this photo shoot isn’t what’s fanning the flames, however. Neither is a lack of a proper power nap, which the 21-year-old desperately needs due to her scheduled late-night club appearances. Angel, rather, is going through the fires that come with rocking the numero uno video-model title during a time when misogyny in hip-hop is under scrutiny from politicians and pundits.

But Angel – who has played principal girls in both 50 Cent’s “I Get Money” and Kanye West’s “Good Life” videos – won’t let any stiffs sour her breakout 2007. She got more reader requests than “In Da Club” at a bar mitzvah, so we saved her heavenly body for our year-end celebration. You, persistent pervs, get to see the Ethiopian-born beauty in nothing but a bedsheet and conduct half of her interview. Curious about her being linked to music’s elite or whether her 34C-22-40 dimensions are authentic? Ask away! Steinbrenner’s Fan Appreciation Day doesn’t have shit on ours.

And we thought adopted kids from Africa had the best year ever. What comes to mind when you look back at 2007?

This year was definitely a big boost for my career. I’ve met different people and accomplished different goals. Like being on the cover of KING is a major accomplishment. Ya’ll acknowledged my significance and what I have become. I appreciate every bit of it. But it’s not enough, so this is keeping me hungry.

What you’ve accomplished isn’t enough?

Are you crazy? I want to be on top of the world. I want the best.

Word is you gave your all while filming Wendy Williams’ biopic Queen of Media. You play the hussy who Wendy’s – played by Robin Givens – man cheats with, right?

Yeah, I play that girl. I did my first love scene, which was awkward at first, but I got over it and got into character. I never got to officially meet Wendy. She wants me on her radio show [The Wendy Williams Experience] to promote the movie, though. Working with Robin was cool. She gave me acting advice and advice on getting into that side of the business.

What did she say?

She stressed how important it was to read and how it’s not just about getting into character. It’s about understanding the character then turning into the character.

Your personal character was questioned in ’07. Your name has been on the lips of bloggers and radio personalities concerning your relationships with 50 Cent, Young Jeezy and Trey Songz.

My career is my dude right now. Do I have certain associates in the industry that I keep it on a certain level with? Yes. 50 Cent and G-Unit started me off and helped me out a lot. Was I fucking with anybody in G-Unit? Nah, it was nothing like that. Trey Songz, that’s my folks. I did a video with him. Jeezy, I can say that he’s one of the realest people I’ve met so far in the industry. That’s my folks.

Is it different strokes for different folks, or what?

I don’t wanna be asked questions like that. Just because I did a video with someone doesn’t mean I had sex with him. I have respect for myself. If I were to have sex with someone in the industry, it wouldn’t be to get me somewhere; it’d be because I choose to deal with him. If I had fucked everybody I did a video with, I guarantee you I wouldn’t have gotten this far.

I guarantee there are people who would say otherwise. Especially when there are pictures of you at Young Jeezy’s party in Atlanta or with Trey Songz in New York. Don’t you rest your head in D.C.?

Me and Jeezy are really close friends, and we hang out and chill. Besides, I’m a model, and I’m in the industry, so that has me traveling a lot. There are certain events I go to.

What about the rumor that you rejected Weezy because you’re with Trey Songz?

[Laughs] I have never met Lil’ Wayne a day in my life, and I’m not the girl he’s talking about in that [Vibe.com] article he did. Trey Songz has a girlfriend that he’s been dealing with for years who is Ethiopian. From my understanding, Wayne is talking ’bout her. I don’t even know where that came from [laughs].

Then why is everybody picking on you?

I don’t know. That’s the media, man. I’m nobody’s jumpoff; I’m a boss bitch – plain and simple. But when people see a certain situation, they run with it.

People have also been running with the rumor that your body isn’t 100 percent real. Does that anger you?

The topic of me getting work done or about certain parts of me being fake doesn’t irritate me. It keeps people talking. The haters don’t realize that they’re making me big by keeping my name out there. That’s why I refuse to answer the question; I want them to keep talking. So I ain’t gonna say shit [laughs].

That won’t do… So, is it true that you had silicone injected into your tuckus?

I’m not gonna answer. Matter of fact, let this be the topic of discussion while you’re around your colleagues. It’s called controversy, and controversy sells.

Controversy? That’s a load of bull…

It’s not bullshit. This is entertainment.

Hip-hop took a lot of flack this year after Don Imus’ commentary. How has that affected you and your profession?

I think the entertainment game is shitty anyway. But it doesn’t make sense for people to take what Don Imus said and put it on hip-hop and videos.

Since you’re the top video model out now, doesn’t it give people a false impression of you?

Video vixens have been labeled as hos for a minute. But I have class when I do what I do. You don’t see me in a video bent over, shaking my ass. Now, am I gonna sit around and worry because this person thinks I’m a ho because I’m in videos? No. You wanna know what type of person I am, then pay attention.

They’ve been paying more attention to Karrine Steffans, who thinks that video girls don’t always have an exit strategy.

I don’t respect her. If you wanna fuck this and that person and get your money, then get your money. If that’s your hustle, go ahead. I can respect that. But how she went and wrote two books, putting people on blast for a name? That alone shows her character. There are certain codes that you just don’t cross.

Codes? Explain.

She broke up marriages, she had relationships with people that were beyond sex, and she told it all. She gets no respect in the industry; she’s known as “Superhead,” not her government. If you can do that for money, that means if you were standing in front of a judge, and he was about to give you life, you’d snitch to get yourself out of jail… And on top of that, I don’t even know why Karrine named her book Confessions of a Video Vixen because she wasn’t known as such. She did videos, but she was nowhere near a Melyssa Ford or an Esther Baxter or even a Summer Walker. She didn’t get that far. So, chick, you weren’t even a video vixen. She gave people outside of this game a negative view of us.

How will you turn that negative into a positive?

Keep on grinding, and strive to get people to see who I am outside of being a video model. I overcame the hard part when I started, which was adjusting to a whole new lifestyle. I’d get frustrated because I want to do normal things, like walk around or go to certain places. Now I always have to have someone with me when I go out. But even when I have a bad day and don’t want to interact, I stop for my fans ’cause I appreciate the support. It keeps me going.

Sounds like you’re still adjusting.

Honestly, I am. But it’s worth it. I’m prepared, and I’m not quitting. I’ll be all right. I won’t burn out like Britney Spears! [laughs]

Cloud Nine
You asked, we delivered. Angel answers your questions sent via King-Mag.com. You’re welcome.

With all of the video exposure that you’re getting right now, do you still find normal men on your level when it comes to being in a relationship, or do you want to date a star?

It’s always been hard for me to find men on my level, period – before the whole celebrity thing. My mind is beyond my age, so it’s hard to find dudes on the same page that I’m on. To be honest with you, I’m into street niggas, plain and simple. I can deal with a regular dude; he doesn’t have to have celebrity status. But at the same time, it depends on the person. I want somebody who can enlighten me or be on the same page as me.

What is your favorite video that you starred in?

I can’t say I have a favorite. Most of them are cool, but it’s still work.

With the attention that you get on a daily basis, have you ever had a one-night stand?

No, I have never in my life had a one-night stand. Sex is sacred to me. I have to feel something for that person, or I have to be dealing with that person on a certain level. And you have to be a hell of a dude to be in my life on that page. I’m not even talking about you having to be filthy rich; it’s beyond the money – although, of course, it plays a part [laughs].

If a man saw you out at a club, at the bar, just doing you, what drink should he offer you?

I don’t usually drink, first of all. Second, I don’t take drinks from dudes. If a dude were to ask, “What do you want to drink?” I always say, “No, I’m good, thank you.” I feel like you’re better off just coming over and introducing yourself. I’m a down-to-earth chick, and I talk to everybody that comes at me with no problem. As long as you don’t talk reckless out the mouth. But if you do insist on getting my attention, send me a bottle of Ace of Spades [laughs].

If I could ask Angel one question, just one, I would ask her to join me under the stars on a private beach with a candlelight dinner, just the two of us. I would play her favorite CD and indulge myself in all that is Angel. So my real question is, what is Angel’s perfect date?

Aw, that’s sweet. I would enjoy that with somebody that I love. But I never did the whole dating thing, so I don’t know what my perfect date would be. Do something for me that I wouldn’t even think of. I shouldn’t even have to think of my perfect date. It should come from the dude.

With the urban magazines flooded with the same type of models – and no variety – what is your take on the current state of urban modeling today?

You got girls with pretty faces, you got girls with fat asses, you got girls that have the mind to know what they got, and they use it to their advantage to get on another level. Then you got the ones that are just so stupid that they get caught up in the game or caught up with the wrong people and fall off. But I’m not going to say there’s something wrong with this game, ’cause it helped me get where I’m at today.