Recently there was a problem with
Youtube. Many could
not access it. It all started with a video that Pakistan had deemed
offensive to Islam. They tried to block it and all hell went loose.
Their interferance caused a Global Outage on
You Tube. Google, who now owns
You Tube, released a statement that said 'they are investigating the
matter to make sure that it never happens again'. That was the web news
that happened. For those who do not know them it has some of the
funniest video's
online
Joe Francis might still be chilling in a
Nevada
prison cell on tax evasion charges, but he's still working on "Girls Gone
Wild," which the New York Post says will launch a "Girls Gone Wild"
magazine April 15 coincidentally, or more so ironically, on tax day.
Mint Condition are set to release their ninth effort, e-Life, on May
6. Among the songs on the collection are stories about the joys of
fatherhood (first single "Baby Boy, Baby Girl") and the hardships of
failed relationships ("Nothing Left To Say"). Guests on the LP include
Little Brother rapper Phonte and soul crooner Anthony Hamilton. To listen
to "Baby Boy, Baby Girl," click here.
Young Jeezy will fulfill a mother's dream by presenting her with a
wheelchair-accessible van for her disabled 13-year-old son. Tamara
Jenkins-Wilson's letter about her son, Davon, was the winning submission
in Jeezy's "Make Your Dreams
Come True" contest. In the letter, Tamara detailed her difficulty in
helping Davon, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Jeezy will present the
vehicle to the family during an invite-only dinner at Diddy's Justin's
restaurant in Atlanta.
Younger sister Jamie Lynn passed the
GED,
and now she's already thinking about college, she passed the equivalency
test about a month ago, "scoring particularly well on her reading
comprehension," and may be moving onto the ACT. "She's already got her
diploma," says a friend of the family.
Justin Timberlake will induct Madonna into the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame at the
organization's
2008 ceremony, which will take place in New York on March 10. Veteran R&B
singer Jerry Butler is also set to play the role of inductor to legendary
producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at the prestigious event. More
details on the ceremony and the
inductees are available here:
Guess who it out of Rehab, and already having the paps follow her:
Eva Mendes is and being gracious as she was seen around Cali posing for
photographs with her public. We are glad the awesome Latina is back
in action and back to work soon.
Alicia Keys admits to adopting a more relaxed attitude on her latest
album, As I Am.
"I used to be so calculated: Here is the song, here's the chord, here's
what I'm thinking, here's the tempo, let's do it," she explains. "This
time I was like, 'Do you have any ideas? Let's flow, let the magic
happen.'" Meanwhile, Alicia was forced to
postpone two recent gigs on her European tour because of laryngitis.
R&B newcomer J. Holiday was busted Thursday in Salisbury, Md., on
drug possession charges after being stopped by police. According to
authorities, the crooner
and another passenger, George Jackson, were pulled over for speeding in
tandem with another vehicle. Upon further inspection, the officer
allegedly found marijuana on Holiday and a small amount in the console.
The driver of the other car, Rolland Wesley, faces only traffic-related
charges.
Donna Summer is set to release her first studio album of all-new
material in 17 years on May 20. The set, titled Crayons, will feature
collaborations with a number of different songwriters and producers. "My
dream is that when people hear the
music it will remind them of their youth, their childhood and the joy and
wonderment they felt exploring their first pack of crayons," says Donna of
the album.
A free concert featuring Akon erupted into a riot Wednesday outside
of a shopping
mall in Denmark when a false fire alarm went off during the singer's third
song. After the evacuation, frustrated concertgoers threw bottles and
rocks at police. Eight people were arrested, while an untold number were
hurt but not seriously injured. "It's a pity that not everyone got to see
the concert," said mall rep Jens Geppel.
R&B crooner Ne-Yo (aka Shaffter Smith) was singing a sour note on
Tuesday after Georgia police busted him for
reckless
driving and driving without a valid license. According to authorities, the
two-time Grammy winner was speeding more than 100 mph in his 2006 Range
Rover through Cobb County. Ne-Yo was booked and later released on $1,300
bond.
Rihanna has been appointed as the Youth and Cultural Ambassador for
her native
Caribbean island of Barbados. The songbird was presented Thursday with an
official proclamation by Prime Minister David Thompson during a benefit
gala for terminally ill children. "I am so grateful," Ri-Ri told
attendees. "I want to thank all of you for coming out and supporting me .
. . and my career from day one."
Jennifer
Lopez and Mark Anthony are the proud parents of twins. They have a
boy and a girl. The kids are JLO's first children, and Marc's 4th
and 5th. The babies were born early Friday in Long Island, N.Y. The girl
was born at 12:12 a.m. and weighed 5 lbs. 7 oz., and the boy followed at
12:23 a.m., weighing 6 lbs.Talk about Children, Brad and Angelina finalized the Adoption of Pax. They went to L.A. County Children's Court in Monterey Park,
Calif. yesterday and
appeared before a judge who finalized Pax's adoption. The adoption was a
two-step process. First, the adoption had to be approved in Vietnam, where
Pax was born. The second step was getting an L.A. judge to approve the
adoption & that was done yesterday (Thurs 21st). They celebrated
afterwards.
Lindsay Lohan has settled a lawsuit filed by a busboy who claimed
she was drunk when she hit him with her car in October of 2005. Raymundo
Ortega filed the suit last June,
even though the cops said he was to blame for the wreck on Robertson Blvd.
Ortega, alleging that a then 19-year-old Lilo was pounding drinks at the
Ivy before hopping in her Mercedes-Benz and driving off, had sued for at
least $200,000 in damages. Even though he also sued the club Ivy, for
serving her drinks, but that case was dropped.
Flo Rida's hit single "Low" keeps its No. 1 streak alive with a
ninth week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Chris Brown's "With You"
and Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" keep pace at Nos. 2 and 3,
respectively. Meanwhile, check out the video for Flo's new single,
"Elevator," featuring Timbaland,
here.
She has been known almost as much for her fashion sense as for her
singing, but Alicia Keys reveals that she wasn't always eager to embrace
her glamorous side. "I wasn't comfortable in my own skin," she says. "I
felt like everyone was out to change me
. . . But now, I'm more open to exploring different sides of me."
Meanwhile, Alicia is honored on the first-ever BET Honors, airing Friday
at 8 p.m. EST. Catch if you can..
A hearing was held today behind closed doors to determine whether or
not to charge the former Mr. Whitney Houston with cocaine possession.
Bobby appeared in Brockton, Mass., District court on the 19th. Bobby Brown
was arrested last year when authorities were called to a hotel for a
report of a disturbance. Sources say troopers
found
drugs at the time and Brown asked the trooper if he would "use discretion"
and not charge him.
The Amazing Linkin Park rocked a crowd of contest winners and
industry personnel just
after midnight Thursday (Feb. 21st) at the Apple Store in New York's Soho
neighborhood, in what served as an intimate warm-up for a show tonight at
the city's Madison Square Garden. The set was recorded and filmed for what
is expected to be a March release on Apple's iTunes Music Store, sources
said. Linkin Park took the stage to the concise "Wake" before tearing into
"Given Up," from its latest album, "Minutes to Midnight." The group also
played "Shadow of the Day," "My
December" (with just frontman Chester Bennington's vocals and Mike
Shinoda's keyboard), "In Pieces" and "Bleed It Out."
Michael Jackson's Thriller 25 reissue lands at No. 1 on the
Billboard Top Pop Catalog albums chart with 166,000 copies sold in its
first week. Meanwhile, a tribute to Thriller never materialized at
the Grammy Awards because Michael reportedly made a number of demands,
including a request to be honored with an exclusive award. Apparently,
Grammy organizers told MJ to beat it.
Beyonce Knowles is adding "executive producer" to her resume. The
10-time Grammy winner has signed on to executive
produce
and star in Darnell Martin's "Cadillac Records" for Sony BMG Films.
Knowles will play Etta James in the 1950s period film about the Chicago
record company Chess Records; its founder, Leonard Chess; and the
turbulent lives of some of the label's legends, who included Muddy Waters,
Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf and Chuck Berry.
Hey, ladies! Starting next week, R&B stud
muffins
J. Holiday and Trey Songz will hit the road for their winter-spring tour.
The 21-city trek begins Monday in Chicago and wraps up March 23 in San
Francisco. J. recently rereleased his debut LP, Bac of My Lac, as a
deluxe-edition package with new songs and videos. Trey's self-titled
sophomore effort is in stores now. To peep the duo's tour itinerary,
click this:
Jessica Simpson may be heading to the altar soon. She and BF
Tony Romo (Dallas Quaterback) are now engaged. She thinks this
relationship is the one. She was married before to Nick Lahey.
Rapper Nelly reportedly is expanding his fashion portfolio with the
re-launch of '80s apparel
line Troop Clothing. The original company was one of the first brands to
be embraced by the hip-hop community. Meanwhile, Nelly and Cleveland
Cavaliers b-baller Larry Hughes are moving forward with plans to build a
60-acre, $30 million sports complex in St. Louis. The facility will
accommodate various athletic games, as well as house an Internet area,
restaurants and medical offices.
Fergie is joining Eva Mendes on the ad thing, she was picked to do
Calvin Klein. Fergie is said to be a great fit for Calvin,
she
wears clothes well and is gorgeous. She turned heads at the Grammys
wearing one of his dresses. She does have style, that girl certainly
does and it fit Calvins campaigns.
While Aretha Franklin was beefing with
Beyoncé,
animal-rights organization PETA sent the Queen of Soul an acerbic missive
regarding the furry frocks she wore at the Grammy Awards. "I'm sorry,
Aretha, but your furs make you look like a clown," reads the note. "Won't
you donate your furs to the poor? You'll get a tax credit for the
donation, and we at PETA will all sing your praises." No word on what
Aretha thinks of PETA's fashion advice. I pity the fool that tries to put
paint on her coat...
Singer Tank is accusing the New Orleans Police
Department
of brutality after being arrested for disorderly conduct
early Monday morning during the NBA All-Star weekend. According to his
friend Ira Dewitt, the crooner was leaving an after-party at the House of
Blues when he was allegedly harassed by police and then thrown to
the ground and tasered. Tank was treated at a local hospital before he was
booked. He
later was released on $900 bond.
Update: Tank is denying the
New Orleans Police Department's account of his Feb. 18 arrest, in which
the singer was tased and then detained for public intoxication and
interfering with a police investigation. Authorities claim that Tank
resisted arrest after he allegedly tried to walk into a crime scene. Tank
says it's not true. "I did not do anything to pose a threat but was
treated like a criminal," he contends.
Will.I.Am is scheduled to become
a new X-Man. He is joining the cast of the new movie in production soon.
The Franchise will also sign on others like Ryan Renalds, and Leah
Schriver in the new film, X-Man Origins and it is the next in the
line of flicks.
Mandy Moore is back in the spotlight, she is going on tour in
Australia soon. She is doing
great releasing a album last year 'Wild hope' and she got to have creative
control. She is currently working on next one. She is going to
go on tour with Kelly Clarkson in two weeks for March. She also is
working with Crystal light on a new woman social website. It is
called www.upumpitup.com and it is
fun and cool.
The New York International Childrens
Film Festival is coming to NYC. It Runs from February 29th thru March
16th. For more information please go to
www.gkids.com. It is sponsered by Time Warner
Cable, the NYSCA, GUESSkids, and The Sylvia Center. A fun time for
all, so check it out..
Amy Winehouse's troubled husband, who is
incarcerated
on assault charges, won't be a bad influence. News reports have been
circulating that Blake was found passed out in his cellblock and rushed to
the prison hospital, after what appears to be a heroin drug overdose.
Prison insiders say Blake is lucky to be alive, but aren't saying how he
or five other inmates managed to get their hands on heroin. I guess it is
just like all jails, have money, need, can get..
Jennifer Lopez is still, apparently, not quite
a
mother, even though a room at her Long Island hospital is all ready, says
the New York Post, with a brown leather couch brought in specifically for
the diva.
The top of the heap Hip-hop titans Nelly, the Game,
Chamillionaire,
David Banner and 55 other verbalists came together Feb. 7th-9th, at a Los
Angeles studio to record a new anti-violence track for KRS-One's relaunch
of his Stop the Violence Movement. KRS also confirmed that 50 Cent, MC
Lyte, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Lil Wayne and others also will contribute
lyrics to the song. An official teaser is expected to debut online
Tuesday. So look out for it on Myspace..
For all you lead
foot drivers out there there is a new website for you. It
outlines all the speed traps out there and is a lifesaver for the ones who
might want to avoid the ticket and to help slow you down. The Website is called
Njection.com, click to check it out. It is great website to help plan your trip and to learn
where to make sure you
are slower . Put in your address or
zip code near you.
Lil Wayne has been
indicted on felony drug and weapons charges stemming from a Jan. 22
incident in which police allegedly found
marijuana,
Ecstasy and a gun on his tour bus. Meanwhile, rapper Juvenile was
busted Tuesday in Jackson, Miss., for
marijuana possession. Meanwhile, Wayne, Juve and B.G. are slated to
reunite as the Hot Boys for the first time in seven years at a Sunday
concert in New
Orleans during the NBA
All-Star Weekend.
Although songstress Erykah Badu has been
unceremoniously
crowned the Queen of Neo-Soul, she doesn't have a clue what the term
means, nor does she let it define her music. "I feel like the term is
brilliant, but it's not me," she contends. "I don't feel like I created
it. I feel like I may have poked a hole in the dam and let out all of the
floodwaters." R&B songbird Erykah Badu reportedly has agreed to be the
face for fashion designer Tom Ford's as-yet-untitled new perfume. No
official word on when the fragrance will arrive in stores. In the
meantime, Erykah will release her long-awaited disc, New Amerykah, Part
One (4th World War), on Feb. 26. You can listen to her hot new song
snippets from the amazing collection right
here.
Criminal charges of misdemeanor assault,
harassment
and endangering the welfare of a child against Tony Yayo were dropped
Thursday, according to a statement by his attorney Scott Leemon. The
G-Unit soldier accepted a plea deal to a lesser charge and was sentenced
to 10 days of community service. Tony was accused of assaulting the
14-year-old son of rival hip-hop executive Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond.
Grammy-winning songbird Chaka Khan has been tapped to headline the
third annual Jazz in the Gardens music festival, which
takes
place in Miami Gardens, Fla., next month. The soul diva will perform on
the March 15 bill alongside previously announced performers Wyclef Jean,
George Duke and others. Also joining the festival is R&B newcomer
Chrisette Michele, who is performing on the March 16 program with the O'
Jays, Kem and Nancy Wilson.
Kanye West has debuted a controversial video for "Flashing Lights,"
the third single from
his Grammy-winning disc Graduation. Co-directed by 'Ye and Spike Jonze,
the graphic slow-motion clip shows a bound and gagged Kanye getting struck
repeatedly with a shovel by
model Rita G. Meanwhile, tickets for select cities on 'Ye's Glow in
the Dark tour are now
on sale. Kanye West's Glow in the Dark North American tour is now 33
dates strong and will be "ignited" by a sponsorship deal with Absolut 100.
"What I'm most excited about is the opportunity to help push Absolut in
even more scintillating ways through a collaboration that puts me both in
front of and behind the camera," Kanye says. The shows will feature
Rihanna, N.E.R.D and Lupe Fiasco as openers.
See the full itinerary here
John Legend will make his film debut in the
comedy
Soul Men, starring opposite Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson. The film
centers on two adversarial ex-bandmembers (Samuel and Bernie) who are
forced to reunite and perform together at a reunion concert after a third
member (John) dies. Soul legend Isaac Hayes also stars in the flick as
himself. Filming is under way in Los Angeles, Memphis and Shreveport, La.
The first 11 dates on Kanye West's Glow in the Dark North American
tour have been posted. So far, the trek launches April 16 in
Seattle
and continues until May 30 in Calgary, Canada. Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco and
N.E.R.D are set as opening acts. As previously announced, Kanye will also
perform June 12 at Tennessee's Bonnaroo Festival. Meanwhile, 'Ye has
enlisted a British designer to help with his upcoming Pastelle clothing
line.
Rihanna was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles after Sunday's
Grammy Awards,
but
she didn't need an "SOS." The singer was reportedly sitting in her car
outside an Island Def Jam party when another vehicle hit it from behind.
"Fortunately, no one was injured," a Def Jam representative said in a
statement. Rihanna's "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z) won this year's trophy
for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Classic tracks by Patti LaBelle, the O'Jays, Three Degrees and
Harold Melvin and the
Blue
Notes are among those featured on a compilation highlighting the work of
Philadelphia soul production team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Songs by Lou
Rawls, Billy Paul and McFadden & Whitehead also are included on the
16-track The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff's Greatest Hits album,
which drops March 3.
Timbaland's former rap protégé
Bubba
Sparxxx has inked a recording deal with Koch Records for his new label,
New South Entertainment. The hick-hopper is scheduled to drop his fourth
CD in the summer. Bubba was a former artist on Timbo's Beat Club imprint,
releasing three albums, Dark Days, Bright Nights (2001), Deliverance
(2003) and The Charm (2006). Click here to check out new tracks from
Bubba.
Ok now I got to say I been seeing some bar
fights, and one that got me laughing but not in a good way was Jessie
Metcalf. He and musclebound friend (wannabe British rapper Mams
Taylor) of Taryn Manning got into it. The friend (Mams Taylor). obviously
did not like something that Jessie said and then he was hitting poor
Jessie and sending him back crumbling
to the floor. Afterwards he went into the another club Since he
swung at J at Blvd 3, it happened a couple more time, not getting knocked
the floor, but the fighting did, but was broken up by bouncers each time
after that. It all started down outside the Hot party launch at
Boulevard 3 nightclub. Then finished at the Nicole Khristine Jewelry
launch at Club Social nightclub, they need to get faster on the uptake
outside though at Blvd 3.
Well, T.I.'s Grand Hustle Entertainment has launched a new
management company called Grand Hustle Comedy headed by comedian Roland "Lil'
Duval" Powell and the Grand Hustle Vice President Clay Evans. The first
Grand Hustle Comedy Tour, featuring some amateur comedians, kicks off Feb.
15. "We want to take our comedians beyond stand-up and . . . create
platforms for exposure that meld the worlds of music, comedy and film,"
says Roland of the venture.
Kanye West has officially been added to
the performance lineup for Sunday's 50th annual Grammy Awards.
The
rapper-producer reportedly
will pay tribute to his late mother, Dr. Donda West, during the telecast
with a medley of hits including "Hey Mama" and his Grammy-nominated song
"Stronger." Newly added presenters include Usher, Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Roselyn Sanchez and Will.i.am. The Grammies will air live from Los Angeles
on CBS at 8 p.m. ET
Timbaland has announced plans to release an exclusive "mobile album"
via Verizon Wireless. Every month throughout
2008,
Timbaland will issue a new track featuring a collaboration with a different
artist days after it is produced. The first song was created with
songwriting partner Keri Hilson ("The Way I Are"). "How I prepare for [the
new album] is, I just do it, like any other album," Tim says. "The only
difference is it's immediate."
In Minneapolis on June 6-8, thousands of
activists,
journalists and policymakers will converge at the 2008
National Conference for Media
Reform. If you care about the state of the media, this is the one
event you can't miss. Reduced-rate hotels and registration are limited.
Sign up now.
Paris Hilton found herself somewhere she
never
thought she'd be: Harvard. "Harvard is hot!" the 26-year-old celebrity
heiress said Wednesday as she picked up the Harvard Lampoon humor
magazine's "Woman of the Year" award in front of the Lampoon castle.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine standing here, standing on the
steps of the Harvard Lampoon. It's really exciting and I've had such a
great time," said Hilton, who stars as an attractive best friend to an
ugly duckling in the film "The Hottie & the Nottie," which opens Friday.
At least she feels better now after breaking into tears after being told
to get off the stage at her own Superbowl party by 50 Cent in Arizona Sun.
Bad 50, bad boy (hit..)
Randy Quaid has been banned for life by
Actors'
Equity Assn., the labor union representing American stage actors, and
fined more than $81,000 for his alleged actions during the Seattle
production of the musical "Lone Star Love," which was scheduled to come to
Broadway until producers canceled it. All 26 members of the cast brought
charges against Quaid, the NY Post stated, maintaining that he physically
and verbally abused his fellow performers and that his oddball behavior
forced the show to close. His wife was issued a restraining order,
as did she did against them also. So it was war..
Reports have surfaced that 50 Cent's
apparel
line G-Unit Clothing is closing shop. The rapper's clothing empire was a
joint venture with Marc Ecko Enterprises' Ecko Unlimited. Representatives
for Fiddy deny that G-Unit Clothing is going under, insisting the apparel
company merely is ending its partnership with Ecko. "They aren't shutting
down," a rep told
AllHipHop.com. "They may be leaving their partner, but the G-Unit
brand is a base business of $75 million dollars annually."
Oh my, this is sweet, now across the ponds version of Britney Spears
on
crack instead of being Britney is now being Snoop zapped by the U.S.
Government. Amy Winehouse will not perform at
2008's Grammy Awards
Show because her visa has been denied. Just like they do to Snoop Dog,
they have done to her. After the decision came down, her publicist issued
the following statement: "Amy has been progressing well since entering a
rehabilitation clinic two weeks ago and although disappointed with the
decision has accepted the ruling and will be
concentrating
on her recovery." She might be performing via satellite. It
may been the crack pipe tape that did it for the officials. At least
Snoop had given up drugs, she is still going strong, besides she is
rehabbing.
"Designing Women" star Delta Burke checked herself into a
psychiatric hospital last week for depression, obsessive-compulsive
disorder and "hoarding." Delta Burke, 51, has done an interview with TMZ
TV, in which she describes how hoarding (being a pack rat) has ruined her
life, but she believes she may now be able to conquer it.
Angelina Jolie is in Iraq to highlight the
needs
of Iraqi refugees, as usual everyone wants to know if she is adopting a
kid over there to make a point. She should watch herself, for being
pregnant and all, the strife there can be unnerving.
Google better watch out, now that Kanye
West
has launched a new search engine at the website called
searchwithkanyewest.com.
Users of the online tool can earn "swag bucks" that can go toward
purchasing Kanye swag and other goods. Meanwhile, check out
passages from 'Ye's upcoming book,
Thank You and You're Welcome! Also, Kanye is among the headliners
tapped for the Bonnaroo Music & Arts
Festival set for June 12th-15th, in the town of Manchester, Tennessee.
Kanye it..
According to Forbes magazine, Jay-Z and
50
Cent made more Money in 2007 than Kraft Foods. The rap Kings or moguls are
among the personalities who top the publication's list of Top-Earning
African-American Stars. Last year, Jigga earned $83 million, while 50
raked in $33 million. The No. 1 bread winner was Oprah Winfrey, who netted
$260 million. Also gracing the list are Tiger Woods, Beyoncé, Kobe Bryant
and Will Smith (just him, not including his family).
Amazing actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, who is 91 today, Wednesday the 6th.
She is married to Von Ahole (Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt), was Miss Hungary
1936. He says that she is only 85,
find out who else has a birthday this day in music history.. She
looks great for either age, but she was born in 1917 making her 91
officially in Budapest Hungary. She has appeared in many things and she
even appeared in Batman series. She is in a wheelchair now.
Michelle Williams arrived with daughter
Matilda
in Perth, Australia yesterday for the funeral of her ex-boyfriend, Heath
Ledger. Matilda held a stuffed rabbit as cops and security escorted them
past paps. Michelle’s love for their 2-year-old daughter that is providing
the strength as she mourns Heath’s untimely death. It has been deemed a
accidental overdose
officially. Even Hip hop mogul Diddy gave props to Heath, thanking
him for helping him with his role in Monsters ball, saying: "When I first
arrived on set, the first person I saw was Heath Ledger," "He kind of took
me aside and was there for me. We didn’t have to work the first day I was
there, so me and him kind of hung
out
that day and kind of became acquaintances." And in another note, his
apartment is up for sale or rent. But get this, check the new rent:
$25,000 a month rent, he was paying about $22,000 a month for rent.
The loft at 421 Broome Street in Manhattan.
Brandy's mother, Sonja Norwood, has slapped socialite Kim Kardashian
and her siblings
with a lawsuit that claims the Kardashians ran up $120,000 in charges on
her credit card. A statement from the Kardashian family insists that Kim
and her sister Khloe were employed by the Norwoods at the time, and that
they made only authorized purchases. Kim and Brandy's brother, Ray J, once
dated and appear together in a now-infamous sex tape.
Aretha Franklin is looking to release two new albums independently,
as she's no longer with Arista Records. The Queen of Soul currently is
finishing up a contemporary R&B disc, which she'll distribute through her
own label, Aretha Records. "We'll go online and we'll go on TV with 1-800
ads," she says of her plans to promote the effort. Then, in April, she
will start recording her first Christmas album, which she plans to drop
around Thanksgiving.
Everyone was watching the Superbowl
yesterday,
and as all New York fans found out the New York Giants won. Some of the
Superbowl ads are the reason some of us were watching the Super Bowl
appearance companies spend millions of dollars to have their commercial
shown during the Super Bowl. And these commercials are talked about for a
day long time to come, some are silly, some are funny and some are
downright fun to watch. The Giants will be having a ticker tape parade in
Manhattan tomorrow.
Why don't
you check out some of the commercials. If you missed them, click this:
Oh and the Canon of Heroes was lit again on Tuesday, 50 tons of confetti
rained on the crowd and heroes alike. It was last used in 2000 for
the Yanks
Harold "Eban" Brown made a name for himself singing with the
Delfonics, but these days he's raving about his relatively recent arrival
to the Stylistics fold. "I never anticipated joining them in a million
years," says Brown. "That move just elevated me spiritually and mentally.
Ever since then, everything has been wonderful." Meanwhile, the Stylistics
have a new album titled That Same Way; no release date has been set,
however.
John
Legend, Scarlett Johansson, Common, Nicole Scherzinger, Hill Harper and
other celebrities are featured in an inspiring video that was produced by
Black Eyed Peas mastermind Will.i.am. In the clip, presidential hopeful
Barack Obama's "Yes, We Can
Change" speech in South Carolina is transformed into an optimistic anthem.
"I hope this song will make you feel love and think and be inspired,"
writes Will on his blog about the song and video.
Will.i.am his Official WebSite
Two Stax Records compilations, Stax Does
the Beatles and Soulsville Sings Hitsville: Stax Sings the Songs of Motown
Records, will
arrive in stores Feb. 26. The Beatles collection features Booker T & the
MGs, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and others reworking tunes by the Fab Four.
The Motown compilation includes Hayes, Mavis Staples, the Bar-Kays, Bill
Eckstine and others covering songs popularized by such artists as the
Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder.
Swizz Beatz has confirmed that he's
gathering
all of the Ruff Ryder crew, DMX, Eve, the Lox and Drag-On, for one more
album. "I'm in my zone," boasts Swizzy. "It's gonna be a lot of Ruff
Ryders [music] in '08. Do this album, 10 bangers. [I've got] all the
original producers, everything to make the Ruff Ryder album authentic
head-banger hip-hop." Swizz Beatz and other musicians are helping
clothing company Gap with their Sound
of Color campaign to attract customers online. The hit maker was assigned
the color green and asked to create a song inspired by the hue. Swizzy's
song will then be transformed into a music video by an up-and-coming
filmmaker. The tune, as well as an accompanying video, will be available
for downloading and streaming at
soundofcolor.com on Feb. 15.
Rihanna will perform at the Grammy Salute to Fashion, sponsored by
In Style magazine and
the Recording Academy, on Feb. 7. The event will premiere spring fashion
collections from artists including Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Sean
"Diddy" Combs, Jay-Z and more. Meanwhile, Rihanna has entered the fashion
field herself by designing a tank top for H&M's Fashion Against AIDS line.
"I wanted it to be funky, edgy and casual," she says. "Something I would
wear."
Snoop Dogg apparently is still banned in
the
United Kingdom because of his April 2006 brawl in London's Heathrow
Airport. According to reports, when European mobile company Orange tried
to obtain a British visa for the rapper, officials denied the request.
Meanwhile, Snoop will appear on CNN's Larry King Live on Friday to talk
about his Snoop Bowl VI football event in Chandler, Ariz., on Saturday
Ruben Studdard has filed a $45,000 lawsuit against marketing company
Peachez, Inc., for
breach of contract. Both parties had no comment on the matter. Meanwhile,
Ruben has lost roughly 100 pounds to prepare for his role in the 2008-09
national tour of Ain't Misbehavin'. "I'm really just trying to build up my
endurance because we're doing about eight shows a week," says Ruben.
Britney has done it again, she was rushed
to the
hospital in the night. This is the second time in almost a month
that she has been rushed to a hospital in some sort of mental breakdown.
This time going to Cornell Hospital, this may have been a suicide attempt.
She has been under some tremendous
stress lately. Click for last time Britney will not be able leave till
the 72 hour hold is lifted, her doctor was trying to have her held for 2
weeks.
Update:She
was released on Wed, night to the dismay of her family, but her father
moved in with her and her father has been named executor of her
estate. She was trying to fight that in court with her lawyers but
it did not work. She has been estranged a little with her father,
but since reconciled, on moving in, it would be great for her, since he
cares and wants her better. Dads always bump heads with their
daughters, them no exception. It seems now that Sam Luffti her manager,
got control of her finances much to the dismay of her parents, who are
fighting the decision from Monday. They are alleging that he has
mismanaged and taken advantage of Brit, besides he has been accused of
stealing property. The main reason for her dad moving in is to cut
the control Sam had over her and deter the behaviors that she had been
exhibiting. Jamie and his lawyer are co-conservators.
More on this story
Contrary to online reports, Def Jam hasn't released everyone from
its Roc-A-Fella roster, which includes Beanie Sigel, Freeway and others.
"Beans and Freeway didn't get dropped," insists Beanie's manager, Mark
Byers. However, Peedi Peedi has confirmed that he's no longer with the
Roc, and is a free agent. "He's a real disrespectful dude," says Peedi of
former Def Jam president Jay-Z.
Do not forget to check out Luna Negra
Dance at the New Victory Theater and it is running from Jan 25th to Feb.
3rd, it is a great play/dance, you must check it out..
Beyoncé and legendary singer Tina Turner
are
set for a diva-licious duet at the 50th annual Grammy Awards, which CBS
will air live from Los Angeles on Feb. 10. No other details have yet
surfaced on the "surprise" number. In other Grammy news, the striking
members of the Writers Guild of America have agreed not to picket the
show. Finally, look for Beyoncé and Jay-Z as one of Ebony's Hottest
Couples in the
February issue.
The Drifters featuring Charlie Thomas will be performing at The Doo
Wop & Rock N' Roll Reunion, at The Town Hall at 8pm on Friday, the 1st of
Feb. Should be a great day, earlier they will be on WB11's Morning
Show.
Al Jarreau is hard at work recording a Christmas album. The holiday
collection will offer traditional yuletide standards and an original tune
called "Tree Wishes." "I'm just excited to tears about this [album]," says
Al. The crooner also is compiling songs for a greatest-hits disc, which he
says "will be different than the last one (1996's The Best of Al
Jarreau)." No release date for either collection has been confirmed.
Pimp C (aka Chad Butler) died accidentally from a large intake of a
codeine-based cough syrup combined with a pre-existing sleep apnea
condition, according to Los Angeles medical examiner Ed Winter. The late
UGK rapper passed away on Dec. 4 in a Los Angeles hotel room; he was 33.
This Friday, UGK's Bun B will stage a Houston tribute concert in honor of
his partner-in-rhyme.
Good luck to all the girls that are
going to be in the Double Dutch championship that will hit New York.
The Tri-State area will be coming to New York to participate and to all
the girls involved, good luck. It is a sight to see if you can get down to
see it. For the few that do not know what I was talking about, it is the
Tri-State jump rope championship. It is great to see with family
unit, so check out
WB11 for a
competition near you.
Gospel group the Clark Sisters
garnered four nominations, including one for Contemporary Gospel Album of
the Year (Live, One Last Time), for the 39th annual GMA Dove Awards. Other
nominees include vocalist J. Moss, who received two nods, and Patti
LaBelle, who nabbed one mention. The event will take place in Nashville on
April 23, and will air live on the Gospel Music Channel at 8 p.m. ET.
In Computer News, Phil Harrison
stepped down from Sony
Entertainment. He was President of Sony Computer Entertainment division.
He was Key figure in the development of the Sony Playstation brand. No
reason was given for his departure, but it is speculated that he may be
going over to Attari to over rule the company. So watch out soon.
Donny Osmond just released a new album. From Donny... with love. A
compilation album, he is doing a show with his
sister
in Vegas (which is sold out 8 months in advance, they are thinking of
adding shows. The family is going on Osmond Family Tour of Asia and
other places soon.
Will Miracles never cease? Guess who has been picked for Jury
Duty. Madonna, and she appeared bright and early. She spent the morning
and was finally let go later, she was not picked.
Alicia Keys admits to adopting a more relaxed attitude on her latest
album, As I Am.
"I used to be so calculated: Here is the song, here's the chord, here's
what I'm thinking, here's the tempo, let's do it," she explains. "This
time I was like, 'Do you have any ideas? Let's flow, let the magic
happen.'" Meanwhile, Alicia was forced to postpone two recent gigs on her
European tour because of laryngitis.
Producer Static Major (aka Stephen Garrett) died Monday in
Louisville, Ky., from a brain aneurism, according to sources. The
32-year-old hitmaker produced hit singles for such artists as Aaliyah
("Are You That Somebody?"), Ginuwine ("Pony"), Pretty Ricky ("On the
Hotline") and Destiny's Child ("Say My Name"). "He was a very talented
guy," remembers fellow beatmaker David Banner. "He had a very good
spirit," To
send your condolences, click here:
Rapper-actor Common is joined by Miami Heat b-baller Dwyane Wade and
other luminaries from music, sports and entertainment in Converse's global
"Connectivity" campaign. The ad features late iconic figures alongside
some of today's entertainers in celebration of the company's 100 years
of existence. Meanwhile, click
here to listen to a remix of Common's 2000 single, "The Light," by
track-master Just Blaze.
Paris is looking for a New BFF. Since
her
other friends are otherwise engaged into their own self business. She is
on the hunt for a new BFF that she can trust. She is reportedly in the
works to work on a show to help her find a super cool new BFF. She's
looking for someone new and cool who she can trust." Her people said it,
not us.
Guess who was pulled over now, ok now it is not a rapper. It
was Leo DiCaprio, ok not exactly Leo but his friend. For running a red
light. Well, the story goes: Leo's friend went through a red light
and pulled over by the NYPD. The officers, who were plain-clothes,
ordered the driver out the car. Leo and the backseat friend were left in
the car while the car was searched on 5th avenue. The whole thing was over
in 20 minutes with no arrests.
Dr. Dre has teamed up with Drinks America to develop, market and
distribute
a line of premium alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Under the joint
agreement, the studio maverick will offer high-end cognac and vodka
selections followed by a premium tequila line, which is currently in
development. "I'm always down for a new challenge," gulps Dre. "I'm going
to put the best product out there, because that's what I do."
California assemblywoman Wilmer Amina Carter announced Friday that
she is introducing a bill that would require medical clearance from a
licensed doctor before any plastic surgery is performed. She is proposing
the "Donda West Law" in response to the 2007 death of Kanye West's mother
following complications from surgical procedures. Donda's niece Yolanda
Anderson says the rapper is fully supportive of the measure. "He is
ecstatic and very grateful," she reveals.
It's been a busy week for Rihanna,
but
when
the Grammy-winning singer learned about a leukemia-stricken New York City
mom of two who desperately needs a marrow transplant, she immediately
stepped forward to help.
Former Sam & Dave singer Sam Moore has sent a cease-and-desist
letter asking Barack Obama's camp to stop playing the duo's 1967 tune
"Hold On, I'm Comin'" at the presidential candidate's campaign rallies.
The soul man feels that the usage of the theme song can be misinterpreted
as an endorsement. "I reserve my right to determine who I will support,"
Sam writes. "My vote is a very private matter between myself and the
ballot box."
Aventura is the hotness that has been
selling
out arenas and venues everywhere. They sold out a Miami concert this
weekend in just 11minutes. 92.5 in Miami have been singing their praises,
but what it comes down to is that Bachata is hot and gaining momentum in
the Latin circuit. Even though it has a big following, it is hidden from
becoming mainline. Formed in 1994 in
the Bronx by a group of four boys (Anthony Santos, Lenny Santos, Max
Santos, and Henry Santos Jeter) They have won awards at Premio Lo Nuestro
Latin Music Awards in Miami Thursday, Feb.21, 2008.
Justin Timberlake will be the face of a new Parfums Givenchy men's
fragrance. The campaign begins in June, and the scent trickles into shops
this fall. Meanwhile, Justin's character in The
Open
Road will play for the Texas-based Corpus Christi Hooks minor-league
baseball team. The film began shooting on Tuesday. Finally, JT is
reportedly in discussions to perform during an international concert
series to benefit global advocacy nonprofit World Peace One.
DJ
PERPLEX
Sat March 1- Corinbank Festival, Canberra
Sat March 15 - Adelaide O’Ball, Adelaide
Thu March 20 – Revolver, Melbourne(with Axe Aklins & Overproof)
KOOLISM
Sat March 1- Corinbank Festival, Canberra
Sat March 15 - Adelaide O’Ball, Adelaide
Will Smith must be glad, Will Smith won a public apology and damages
in London's High Court today from World Entertainment News Network (WENN).
Will's lawyer, according to the AP, told the court that the story that
WENN spread was "deeply distressing" and caused Smith "acute
embarrassment." WENN'S lawyer apologized in court and agreed to pay an
unspecified amount to Smith, who will donate the money to charity. Smith
was not in court. This was over the comment that WENN reported that Will
thought that Hitler was a 'good
person'. IT was taken out of context of a line in the movie,
'I am Legend' which would have been crazy, anyone knowing Will, knows that
would not be insensitive in any way. Plus he did not write the movie
nor did he write the line, so it was stupid from the outset. But
hey, what can you do?
Lil Wayne returned to his alma mater Eleanor
McMain
Magnet Secondary School in New Orleans on Tuesday to thank art students
for designing a logo for his youth organization, the One Family
Foundation. The Big Easy verbalist surprised the class of about 40 pupils
and spent 45 minutes chatting with them. Wayne discussed his inspirations
and politely declined a prom invitation.
Kelis hopes her new disc will bring all the boys to the yard. The
R&B vixen is set to release a best-of collection titled Kelis, The Hits on
March 11. The disc boasts several of Kelis' hot songs, including "Bossy,"
"Caught Out There," "Millionaire" (featuring André 300), "Got Your Money"
(featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard) and "Milkshake." To check out videos for
Kelis' hits,
click this.
Although Janet Jackson hasn't confirmed a purported engagement to
Jermaine Dupri, the singer-actress reportedly has been looking
over
wedding-gown samples from different designers. "She's preparing for her
private nuptials," said an insider. Meanwhile, you can catch Janet
performing on ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday, the same day her
Discipline disc arrives in stores. Also, Janet is the cover girl for the
April issue of Vibe magazine, which hits newsstands next month.
50 CENT might think twice now before acting like a tough guy. A
judge this week ruled the
rapper has to pay The Post's deputy photo assignment editor, Jim Alcorn,
an undisclosed amount following a 2003 lawsuit Alcorn filed against him
for assault. Alcorn, who was a Post photographer at the time, was knocked
down by 50's security goons outside a jewelry shop after he tried to snap
photos of 50, who'd just bought an $18,000 watch. Alcorn was rushed to the
hospital and found to have neck and jaw injuries. "A settlement was
reached and all parties are satisfied," said Alcorn's lawyer, Sanford
Rubenstein. A rep for 50 said, "It's a legal issue that's been settled."
Mary J. Blige will perform a duet with pop
legend
Elton John on Sunday at his AIDS Foundation Academy Awards party. "It is
truly a pleasure to be performing with him on such an important night as
we look to raise awareness and vital funds for the
fight against HIV/AIDS," she says. Meanwhile, check out the
updated itinerary for Mary's upcoming tour with Jay-Z. Finally, Mary's
VH1 Storytellers
performance debuts Monday.
Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am and Taboo are
both
set to star in upcoming films. Will is making his feature acting debut as
translucent villain Wraith in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Taboo will
take part in a new movie adaptation of the Street Fighter video game.
Meanwhile, Will has launched
Hope Act Change.com,
a site focusing on the 2008 presidential election and hosting his "Yes
We Can" video and other clips.
Christina Aguilera is taking her infant son on tour with her.
She made this decision recently and
has stirred the pot. There has been many who have done the same, I
do not know why there is such a stir but there is. She said 'She will not
let motherhood keep her from work, she will just have a travelin' family'.
So there, and women have been doing it for years, so girl do your thing.
As part of a campaign for Smirnoff vodka,
hip-hoppers
KRS-One, Common and Q-Tip are teaming up with studio mavericks DJ Premier,
Cool & Dre and Just Blaze to remix Boogie Down Productions' "Criminal
Minded," Common's "The Light" and A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight." All
three tracks will be available as free downloads at
smirnoffsignaturemixseries.com.
"I'm
honored to have the opportunity to revisit one of my signature songs and
give it a breath of fresh air," says KRS-One.
Eminem is set to release a memoir, The Way I
Am,
in October. The book will feature Em's sketches, journal entries, lyric
sheets, unreleased photographs and a narrative created by the rapper.
"Because of where he is from, people think they know where he is at, what
kind of person he really is," says Orion Publishing Group's Ian Preece.
"This book cuts through all that and gets to the source."
R. Kelly has blasted ex-associate George
Daniels,
who recently claimed that the singer had "crossed the line" by having a
secret relationship with his daughter, Maxine. The singer claims that
George and his wife, Regina, not only knew of the relationship but
encouraged it. For her part, Maxine says that the relationship with Kelly
ended last year because "it wasn't a healthy situation, especially with
the pain it was causing me and my family."
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile are changing the
game.
Each is offering a new $99 Nationwide unlimited plan. It started
with Verizon Tuesday, followed 5 hours later by AT&T, and T-Mobile
following suit soon after with a twist, T-Mobile threw in unlimited
messaging for an extra $15. It is the war and it is on. So get
aboard one and all. This the time to get that great deal while it
lasts for the heavy cell phone user. So if you are and can change,
or upgrade to, save your money and switch now.
Pink
and her Motor racer Hubby Corey Hart are getting a divorce. They have
respect for each other and are friends but it wont work. They had been
married just about 2 years, but were better friends, said Pink. At least
there was no children. They blame their careers for the breakup.
P!nk has headed back to the studio to work on her music, while Carey is
busy opening new nightclubs. Hart is opening the first of his new
brainchildren, a spot called "Wasted Space" -- at the Hard Rock Hotel in
Las Vegas in May. The club will be a live music venue that will feature
new rock bands, & music legends.
Posh Spice and David Beckham have renewed
their Wedding Vows, well according to the Daily Mirror. David
planned the entire nuptials without Victoria's knowledge and surprised
Posh with a second proposal. Posh was apparently totally surprised and
overjoyed, and even managed to get dressed for another trip down the
aisle before the end of the day. The couple married in front of a small
group of friends and later had the phrase "De Integro", which is Latin for
"again from the start" etched above their matching wedding date tattoos on
their wrists. It was a lil special, and very fun idea.
Flavor Flav has just fathered his 8th child. He
fell in love with the baby mama, and was said to gotten engaged,
but VH1 denies this as they go into round 3. Season 3 is about to start,
he wants to father 10 kids, and is close to his goal of 10, two to go.
I met the mother of one of them a long time ago, she was cute. I
can't wait for this season..
I have some good news: Since being placed under conservatorship,
Britney
hasn't made many appearances after dark, but she reappeared last night at
Citrus at Social in Hollywood, with her conservative dad and security in
tow. Although the paps went crazy for Britney Spears, it resulted in one
of them being arrested, will miracles never cease. The good thing is, Brit
is looking better of late.
Rihanna had one "ella" of a 20th birthday party Wednesday night in
Los Angeles. During the
Grammy-winner's celebration, a cupcake fight erupted between attendees
Kanye West and Wilmer Valderrama. Afterward, Chris Brown sung an impromptu
"Happy Birthday" to his purported girlfriend. Although Ri-Ri and Chris
deny that they are a couple, the two were spotted hand-in-hand at the
event. "Rihanna looked so happy and excited to be there," said a guest.
Alicia Keys was the big winner at Thursday's 39th NAACP Image
Awards, earning four prizes,
including Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Album (As I Am). Chris
Brown was named Outstanding Male Artist, while Jordin Sparks received the
Outstanding New Artist honor. Elsewhere, The Great Debaters nabbed four
trophies, including Outstanding Motion Picture. Meanwhile, Jordin has been
tapped as the opening act for Alicia's headlining tour, which kicks off
April 19 in Hampton, Va.
Flo Rida's "Low" stays at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for an
eighth week. Meanwhile,
Flo explains that the title of his upcoming full-length debut, Mail on
Sunday, means "grinding every day -- receiving your blessings every day,
not just the one particular day. So Mail on Sunday represents being
different and having the courage and the faith to do what you do -- prep,
persistence and patience."
Music superstars Snoop Dogg, Ciara and Jim
Jones
will be saluted at the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network's 5th annual Action
Awards, which recognizes artists for their philanthropic work in their own
communities. Rap legend Doug E. Fresh and music executive Chris Lighty are
also being honored for their endeavors. The event takes place in New York
on Feb. 25. Meanwhile, Snoop chews up the
front cover of XXL
magazine's April issue.
Keith Sweat has released a ringtone and a digital single for his
sweet new tune, "Suga, Suga, Suga" (featuring Paisley Bettis), off his
upcoming disc, Just Me (due May 6). "I'm giving the people what they
expect from me," says Keith of his digital gifts. The suave crooner
currently is on tour to promote the album.
To check out his itinerary, click
here:
Happy Valentines Day to one and all.
It is the time
to find that little sweetie something nice. Whether Flowers, Candy, or
something that your partner may like. Check out our Valentines Story
page...
Mary J. Blige is honored to have won
Grammy's
for duets with legends Aretha Franklin and Chaka Khan. "These women have
been two of the most inspiring women in this industry for me," she says.
Meanwhile, Mary will appear on celebrity blogger Perez Hilton's What Perez
Sez About: Divas special Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on VH1. Finally, the singer
returns as a guest Friday and Monday on the ABC soap opera One Life To
Live.
Poor Juvenile, he was in trouble on Tuesday. The
Lauderdale
County Sheriff's Department said Juvenile was originally pulled over for
expired tags, though it was unclear whether or not he was the one driving.
Cops popped Juvenile, real name is Terius Gray, in Mississippi on Tuesday
for possession of under an ounce of marijuana. He was released after
paying a $623 bond.
R & B diva Patti LaBelle, Four Tops crooner Abdul "Duke" Fakir and
R&B superstar Mario are
among a truck-load of entertainers participating in the
Lunch With a Leader
online auction, which runs through Monday. Proceeds from the event will go
to Communities in Schools, a
dropout-prevention organization that addresses the educational needs of
young students. Click
here to place a bid.
Looks like the Isley Brothers' Ronald Isley will remain behind bars
in Indiana, as his 37-month federal
sentence for not paying taxes has been upheld by an appellate court. The
singer's contention that his poor health and advanced age made his
sentence unreasonable was turned down by the three-judge panel, which
described Isley's tax evasion as "pathological." The singer is expected to
be released in April 2010.
Mariah Carey's 11th studio album is officially titled E=MC˛, as
opposed to the previously reported That Chick. The set, due April 15,
boasts production assists from Jermaine Dupri,
Will.i.am,
Stargate, Bryan-Michael Cox and others. The first single from the
collection is "Touch My Body," which was written and produced by Mariah,
The-Dream and C. "Tricky" Stewart. A video for the track has been shot by
filmmaker Brett Ratner, and will hit media outlets shortly, so look for
it.
A Los Angles judge sentenced the Game on Monday to 60 days in jail
after the rhyme-spitter pleaded no
contest to a charge of felony possession of a firearm in a school zone.
The Game was accused of pointing a gun at an opposing player during a
pickup game of basketball at a schoolyard last February. The judge also
added 150 hours of community service and a three-year probationary term to
the rapper's prison sentence.
Kanye West won four trophies at Sunday's
50th annual
Grammy Awards, including one for Best Rap Album (Graduation). Right behind
'Ye was Alicia Keys with three awards, including one for Best R&B Song
("No One"). Other honorees included Ne-Yo, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige,
Rihanna, Aretha Franklin, Jill Scott and Democratic presidential hopeful
Barack Obama. Kanye rocked the stage with a glow-in-the dark rendition of
"Stronger" backed by Daft Punk and followed that with a homage to his late
mother, "Hey Mama." Meanwhile, Beyoncé and Tina Turner gave a rousing
performance of "Proud Mary." But British Britney won the night, Amy
Winehouse rocked.
Wilmer (28) and Ashton from That 79's Show
both
had private parties for their birthdays in New York last night. One was
more A-Lister but both had some great people stop thru. Like Liv
Tyler, wife Demi Moore, Kate Hudson and Madonna came to Astons party,
which was held at the same time. Wilmers brought 70's show co-star
Danny Masterson and a star from Ugly Betty with a host of other friends
that were not A-listers but mad cool to come anyway.
Once again it Chinese New Year time to
arrive. It is the year of the Rat. Radio City Music Hall is
host to a grand new show called Chinese New Year Splendor. The Tea
Cup Dance and so many other dances and martial arts. The show runs for 5
more days. Chinese New Year Splendor, is back for it's 5th anniversary at
Radio City Music Hall. From acrobats to ribbon dancers, the near 200
performers will mesmerize you with 5000 years of Chinese culture. Chinese
New Year Splendor runs from Jan 30-Feb 9, tickets start at $58.
To buy your tickets call (212)
695-SHOW or go to: For Chinese New Year
Celebrations around New York and the Calendar
Check out Concert Page and
Whats Happening around New
York Pages
Jay-Z is opening Translation Advertising
in New York, an ad agency focused on multicultural marketing, with partner
Steve Stoute. The agency is a division of
Translation Consultation
and Brand Imaging, which has worked with McDonald's and Reebok. The
rapper will provide creative and entrepreneurial
guidance for the agency. "Put us up against anything, and we'll win our
fair share of battles," Jay says.
The Black Eyed Peas' charity gala for their Peapod Foundation on
Thursday turned into a flashback concert as Snoop Dogg, a reunited Guy and
MC Hammer entertained attendees. During
Snoop's set, he encouraged Hammer to show off his signature dance steps.
"Come on Hammer, we know we love you!" cheered on Snoop. Elsewhere, Guy's
Teddy Riley, Damion and Aaron Hall made audiences swoon with a medley of
their hits, including "Teddy's Jam" and "Let's Chill."
Aretha Franklin is an avid listener of contemporary R&B, but
contends that today's artists don't measure up to the soul singers of
yesteryear. "It's no match for the music of the '60s and '70s," she
attests. "You had stronger artists,
unquestionably, Sam & Dave, Ray Charles, Etta James, Sam Cooke, Jackie
Wilson. C'mon, you know. Please." Meanwhile, Aretha will perform June 14
at the 2008 Kroger Indy Jazz Fest set for June 13-15 in Indianapolis.
Fashion Week was hot this week in NY. Wide waste and wide leg
pants are in this season. Black and White is also the contrast of the new
season. Fashion is feminine this season also, very hot and eloquent.
Sequins are also hot.
Billy Joel is slated to perform at the last Rock
Concert
at the old home of the Yankees, Shea Stadium. He is working with Citibank
to make it happen as the new stadium is opening its doors. It is bitter
sweet feeling for him, his idols Tue Beatles performed there, Billy played
all the other Stadiums in NY, so it is great closure for the stadium.
Tickets are on sale in Feb. 16th of this month, for the July concert.
He will be the first to have played all the NY Stadiums..
Spider-Man starlet Kirsten Dunst is reportedly in rehab at the
facility where Lindsay Lohan was
treated this past summer, and she is not the only star there. Dunst
checked into Cirque Lodge in Utah at some point this week. Fellow actress
Eva Mendes also checked into the
popular rehab clinic this month.
For a seventh week, Flo Rida's "Low" featuring
T-Pain
is the Billboard Hot 100's hottest Hip hop property. Meanwhile, the track
is also carrying No. 1 distinctions on CHR/Top 40 and Rhythmic radio
formats. On the CHR/Top 40 chart, "Low" is the first rap artist debut to
hit the top spot. Finally, check out Flo Rida on Wednesday's episode of
TRL on MTV.
Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z are hitting
the
road together for a 25-date co-headlining North American trek called the
Heart of the City tour. So far, the jaunt is mapped out from a March 22
gig in Miami through an April 20
show in Oakland, with more dates to be revealed soon. Meanwhile, Jay-Z
reportedly is in talks with Warner Music Group about starting his own
label, although the music company denies the rumor.
Eva Mendes, She is in Utah, allegedly battling an substance abuse
problem. She ended up at the famous
Cirque Lodge, near Sundance. The Lodge, which treated Lindsay Lohan and
other stars, is one of the most respected treatment facilities in the
country, she has been there for a couple of weeks. Eva has been working
hard for the past year and made a positive decision to take some
much-needed time off to proactively attend to some personal issues that,
while not critical, she felt deserved some outside professional support.
She left today to do some shopping and came back to finish.
More in Newsprint..
Jay-Z may have retired from hip-hop about three times, and just quit
the record-exec racket a few months ago, but it is in his blood. Case in
point, Jay could be on his way back
again,
to start his own label, with a guy who used to be his rival. He and Lyor
Cohen of Warner Music are talking about putting together the Carter Music
Group (Jay-Z's real name is Shawn Carter). It would be a small project
that he can use to discover new groups and sounds.
will
arrive in stores Feb. 26. The Beatles collection features Booker T & the
MGs, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and others reworking tunes by the Fab Four.
The Motown compilation includes Hayes, Mavis Staples, the Bar-Kays, Bill
Eckstine and others covering songs popularized by such artists as the
Supremes, the Temptations and Stevie Wonder. 
hospital in the night. This is the second time in almost a month
that she has been rushed to a hospital in some sort of mental breakdown.
This time going to Cornell Hospital, this may have been a suicide attempt.
She has been under some tremendous
stress lately. Click for last time Britney will not be able leave till
the 72 hour hold is lifted, her doctor was trying to have her held for 2
weeks.
entrepreneurial
guidance for the agency. "Put us up against anything, and we'll win our
fair share of battles," Jay says.
but
she didn't need an "SOS." The singer was reportedly sitting in her car
outside an Island Def Jam party when another vehicle hit it from behind.
"Fortunately, no one was injured," a Def Jam representative said in a
statement. Rihanna's "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z) won this year's trophy
for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Blue
Notes are among those featured on a compilation highlighting the work of
Philadelphia soul production team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Songs by Lou
Rawls, Billy Paul and McFadden & Whitehead also are included on the
16-track The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff's Greatest Hits album,
which drops March 3.
Bubba
Sparxxx has inked a recording deal with Koch Records for his new label,
New South Entertainment. The hick-hopper is scheduled to drop his fourth
CD in the summer. Bubba was a former artist on Timbo's Beat Club imprint,
releasing three albums, Dark Days, Bright Nights (2001), Deliverance
(2003) and The Charm (2006). Click here to check out new tracks from
Bubba.
out
that day and kind of became acquaintances." And in another note, his
apartment is up for sale or rent. But get this, check the new rent:
$25,000 a month rent, he was paying about $22,000 a month for rent.
The loft at 421 Broome Street in Manhattan. 
contest to a charge of felony possession of a firearm in a school zone.
The Game was accused of pointing a gun at an opposing player during a
pickup game of basketball at a schoolyard last February. The judge also
added 150 hours of community service and a three-year probationary term to
the rapper's prison sentence.
