New Music: Kendrick Lamar x Ab-Soul “For The Girlfriends”

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Kendrick and Ab-Soul try to impress their lady pals with this new duet. It’s OK, guys can like it too. No homo, of course. LOL. but this kat Yall keep an EYE on him.

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Boy, 8, Sent Home from School for Drawing Jesus on a Crucifix

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A Massachusetts child was sent home from school two weeks ago for drawing a stick figure of Jesus on the cross, and because he drew the picture, the 8-year-old African American child was ordered to undergo psychological testing before being allowed to return to school. This week, the Taunton School District is denying the father's claims that the boy was in fact suspended over the drawing.

Chester Johnson, 40, the boy's father, said that his son was inspired to draw the crucifix after visiting a shrine in Attleboro, Mass. Johnson also said that his son was in absolute awe over the religious symbols that were on display at the shrine. "When he saw the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross, that's what he drew," Johnson said. "He liked that. That drew his eye."

According to Johnson, the child's teacher asked students to draw a picture that reminded them of the holiday season. When his son drew Xs instead of actual eyes on the Jesus figure, Johnson speculates, this might have alarmed school administrators.

School district administrators claim that the drawing Johnson showed reporters is not the same one that was discovered by the teacher earlier this month. School officials now say that the second-graders were never assigned to sketch something that reminded them of the holiday season.

This is the statement published on the school district's Website:

The inaccuracies in the original media story have resulted in a great deal of criticism and scrutiny of the system that is unwarranted. In this case, as in any other case involving the well-being of a student, the administration acted in accordance with the school department's well-established protocol. This protocol is centered upon the student's care, well-being and educational success.

Johnson is demanding that the school district compensate him and his family for their pain and suffering. He told a flurry of reporters yesterday, "It hurts me that they did this to my kid. They can't mess with our religion; they owe us a small lump sum for this.''








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Steve Harvey: Now an Essence Magazine Columnist

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That Steve Harvey sure knows how to expand his brand.

The top-rated nationally syndicated radio personality appears on the cover of the December issue of Essence magazine – along with his beautiful new wife, Marjorie Bridges-Harvey.

For the January edition of the best-selling black women's magazine, the 'Original Kings of Comedy' star is a featured columnist.
In his new relationship column, titled "Think Like A Man," the Welch, West Virginia-born funnyman is offering tips on how to separate the men from the boys in a Q&A format.

This latest gig should bode well as an extension of the multimedia personality's immensely popular literary outing, 'Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man,' which spent most of 2009 atop the New York Times best-seller's list.

Since the book skyrocketed to number one last February, Harvey has signed on to become a correspondent for 'Good Morning America' and has ironed out plans create a movie adaptation of the tome with 'Stomp the Yard' producer Will Packer.

"The column is just another example of God's favor in my life...allowing me to reach out to more women and men to share some of my experiences and gain knowledge," Harvey told BV Newswire.

Harvey, who has been married three times, added: "From many of my failures, successes and wisdom I've learned from so many people along the way, ISteve Harvey Act Like hope -- through this column -- in my own small way, to share and uplift and sometimes laugh...and keep hoping that God's favor shines on us all and never stops."

>>>Nice career mark.


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Top College Freshman Quits Basketball Team via YouTube

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The University of Minnesota spent a lot of time and energy trying to recruit Royce White for its basketball program. One of the top 20 basketball recruits, White, a 6-foot-7-inch small forward, was supposed to help the Gophers over the last hurdle to be a force in the Big Ten.

Too bad that isn't going to happen. Back in October, White was caught shoplifting at the Mall of America. When confronted by a security guard, White pushed the man several times. He is now facing misdemeanor charges of theft and fifth-degree assault for the incident.

According to the Associated Press, White allegedly tried to steal a pair of pants and a shirt, shoved a Macy's security officer several times and then walked out of the store. He was later apprehended without incident by police, cited and forced to return the items, which were worth about $100. He's also being investigated for a stolen laptop that was taken in November.

White was suspended indefinitely. Apparently, he didn't want to wait around to see the outcome, so he quit the team. But the way he quit has people talking. Last week, White uploaded a 10-minute video of him roaming the streets of Minneapolis, probably reflecting on his life, to a Beanie Sigel soundtrack. Then he talks about the reported incidents, offering his side of the story and the stress it puts on his family. Check out the video:

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Heisman Winner Honors Imprisoned Father

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Alabama running back Mark Ingram stood at the podium Saturday evening at a packed banquet room before a sea of television lights and cameras and gazed at his joyous tearful mother in the audience.

And he cried.

It was a stirring moment as Ingram, tears streaming down his face, accepted the Heisman Trophy, the most fabled prize in college athletics. And the backstory of Ingram's relationship with his father, a former professional football star who now watches his son's games from behind prison bars, could be the plot of a novel -- if it weren't true.

Ingram's power running blasted the heavily favored and top-ranked Florida from its perch and put Alabama in the position to win the title as college football's top team when it plays Texas in the BCS Championship on Jan. 7.

But that wasn't the first time a member of the Ingram family found glory on a football field.

The Heisman winner's father, Mark Ingram Sr., was a 10-year professional in the NFL and reached the apex of the sport as an important cog on the 1991 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants team.

But Ingram Sr. is far from his football glory days. He was convicted on bank fraud and money laundering charges and faces 10 years in prison.

In accepting his award, Ingram thanked his father. And from his jail cell in New York City, Ingram Sr. told reporters that he was proud of his son's accomplishments and hopes he learns from his own mistakes.

"He has to be his own person, be his own man, take and learn from what I've done by the mistakes that I've made," Ingram Sr. said.

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James Bain Exonerated After 35 Years in Prison & Wins Lawsuit

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For 35 years, James Bain was a prisoner of the Florida prison system and a prisoner of the times.

When Bain was accused in 1974 of kidnapping and raping a 9-year-old boy, DNA testing wasn't available to prove his guilt or innocence. All that existed in Bain's case was the powerful, but mistaken, testimony of the small rape victim.

But as Bain, 54, walked from the Polk County Courthouse a free man on Thursday, after DNA testing proved it virtually impossible that he attacked the boy, he was finally in step with his times.

Wearing a black T-shirt with the words "Not Guilty" across the front, Bain revealed to a crowd of family, friends and other well-wishers that his faith in his God sustained him:

"No, I'm not angry," he said. "Because I've got God."

Bain broke a record that no one would wish to compete for: the most time spent in prison among the 246 prisoners who have been freed by DNA evidence, according to the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that fights for the unjustly accused.

Bain said that spending time with his family, especially his infirmed mother, was the most important item in his life, besides his devotion to God.

Bain was convicted largely on the strength of the victim's eyewitness identification.

The boy said his attacker had bushy sideburns and a mustache, and the boy's uncle, a former assistant principal at a high school, said it sounded like Bain, a former student.

The boy picked Bain out of a photo lineup, although there are questions about whether detectives steered him to select Bain.

In most cases, when a wrongly imprisoned man is released from jail, discussions turn to compensating the freed prisoner. Last year, Florida passed a law that automatically grants former inmates found innocent $50,000 for each year they spent in prison.

That means Bain is entitled to $1.75 million for his 35 years behind bars.

Doesn't sound like enough, does it?

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NEW SONG: Beyonce " BLK CULTURE"samples MJ's Beat again for song

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Well this was all actually done, before Micheals's death. Around the time of OBAMA voting.. when she did that "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL" track,

It's playful, a Playful track in the studio bored. but thing is..It sounds good.

She decided to sample MJ’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” for a song called “Black Culture.”








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New Music: Lloyd “Like Me: The Young Goldie EP”

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This has been available for the past 48 hours. Sorry for the delay. So, without further ado: download here. Backcover and insert after the jump.

Many talented artists enter a situation where the time to part ways with their label comes and goes leaving a bad after taste.

Only a handful of performers have taken the opportunity to evolve and "leave from home" on their own terms pushing for greater success. Georgia song bird and R&B heavy hitter, Lloyd, is one of those bold few.

Over the past few months, Lloyd has been in the public eye after splitting with Murder Inc. in early summer to go independent. The media has expressed mixed opinions of his decision to leave the label that helped him produce multiple hit singles and top selling albums. Although he has been bombarded with questions of his plans, Lloyd has been able to escape the madness and concentrate on what is most important to him...music.

Today, Lloyd has multiple singles receiving plenty of air time as well as a new EP set to release during the holidays. On a busy Thursday afternoon, Lloyd took time out to call in to talk about his early start in music, life after Murder Inc., and his newest project.

First off, I want to thank you for taking time to catch up with us.

Thanks for having me.

So even though Lloyd is a household name, I wanted to let fans get a bit of background information on you. With that said, can you tell me a bit on how you came to sing?

It was a passion. I think over time it became something a little more realistic. It really just started in my room as a kid. I was a dreamer or I'd be on the baseball field missing all the fly balls from not paying attention [laughs]. I was too busy imitating Michael Jackson moves. It really is just like a dream man. Just a dream...

So you attended DeKalb School of Arts. What was it like going to an arts school? I can assume there was a lot of talent around...

Just imagine being young and having all that energy and instead of getting in trouble for it, you were rewarded for acting crazy. That's how the school was. They pushed you to be creative and, you know, be out there. But my favorite part was the trips. It wasn't like a regular school - we'd be going to the symphony or the Atlanta ballet or different museums. So, it was never boring or typical. By no stretch of the imagination - it was just awesome.

Do you think attending that type of school gave you an advantage?

Well, I think the advantage it gave me personally is that I overcame my fears. You know, of performing in front of people, being on stage, being able to step out of my comfort zone. Just getting the concept of really giving the best show was important for me. As far as it giving me an "edge" over other artists I don't really know about that.

Whatever happened to the teen group you were in, N-Toon? You were the only one to continue a career in music. Was there a point early on where you felt it was best for you to go solo?

Naw, never that. If it was up to me I'd still be in a group. And you know, maybe down the line I'd still have my solo thing going on as well. But I think the group thing was always my passion and something near to me. Unfortunately, when you're younger you don't get to make a lot of your own decisions; your parents do. And the group being together might not have been what our parents thought was best.

You know, I actually know someone who remembers you visiting his restaurant as a child. He said you were the only one out of the group who would sing on the spot. That's how he knew you were going to do something.

Aw Man [laughs].

How does it feel hearing that people saw you destined for success, even at an early age and just starting out?

It feels like, man, just really being able to manifest something through your thoughts and actions. I mean yea, I was always ready to sing for someone who came up to me and asked. But at the same time it wasn't on BET or MTV in front of thousands of people. I think it's just those moments early in the process where you really find out who you are. I can imagine for William, to see that kid in his restaurant as a child - to see that same kid performing years later is a good feeling. Just to see the possibilities in a stretch of imagination.

So your journey has had a lot of turns. At what point did you feel like, "Yea this is where I belong"?

When I first heard You and when I first saw Michael Jackson perform. It just made me feel like, "Damn this is it." I mean, he really was amazing. He made it all real.

While being signed to Murder Inc., you had a lot of success with multiple chart-topping albums and hit singles. Did you have any significant guidance in creating your projects? Was there anyone in your ear telling you how to mold your own brand?

Well, I had my friends, my family and manager. Really it was up to me. That was the cool thing about being over there. It wasn't so packaged and having a lot of guidelines isn't always a bad thing. It's just that some people are more effective working independently. I just think that I'm one of those people. So being in a place where I was able to write my own songs and do my thing was necessary in my becoming more self-reliant.

Now, anybody that has heard your music knows that you have a big interest in the pursuit of women! So much that you were in ways labeled the Sex Symbol of The Inc. With songs like Get It Shawty or Girls Around The World that dealt with the fantasy of women, do you feel it was a goal of the label to make you fit into some type of mold in the stable of talent you were associated with?

Not entirely. There really was no brand to mold. I always want to base things off of reality. And as far as the content of my music, it's just like a fantasy. That's just the type of feeling I get when I'm around a certain type of woman. It's just like...she's too good to be true. That's what I wanted to feed into the songs I perform. Not necessarily that I am a "ladies man," but I am someone who definitely appreciates and loves women [laughs]. I mean, my favorite song had nothing to do with a girl. It was the track My Life, from my first album. It talked about how I got to where I was at and what it meant to me. You know, like when there is no struggle, there is no progress. I try to give my songs depth. I am excited by human emotion, the complexity of it more than anything else. There are all different types of people you meet with all different types of personalities. So, I really like talking about that kind of stuff.

While we are on the subject, can you share more about your departure from The Inc.?

I just felt like it was time for me to grow. I felt I did all that I could do being there. So, in order for me to become a better artist, I had to walk away.

Ok. Tell me what it was like getting into the studio as a free agent. Creatively, was your mind going in a bunch of different directions as far as the content of your music moving forward?

Most definitely. It was just a new sense of freedom there. The relationships I had with people were the most important thing though. That's the thing about the whole situation. I wanted to maintain the relationships I had with people I worked with in the past while taking the opportunity to work with some new ones. I wanted to let my creativity just open up and interact with different things.

You have released some new tracks that have had a lot of support. Along with featuring on numerous tracks (including Young Money's Bedrock), you released singles such as Like Me featuring Bun B and Pusha. What did you want fans to get from these new tracks respectively?

I wanted them to really be able to relate to me. I was trying to make a statement. The main statement in the song was, "You could never do it like me" and instead of people listening to it and drawing different conclusions, the song really breaks it down. It's basically like, "You could never do it like me. But at the same time, I can't do it like you." It's not saying that I'm the sh*t and you could never be that, but more of no one can do it like I can or you can respectively. I just think there is something really cool about that. Everyone should know that no one can do you better than you. It's a lot more personal than some other songs. It's not like the track Take It Off with Nicki Minaj. It's a lot like the track My Life I mentioned before. It's all about how you feeling when writing music. Sometimes you feel happiness then you're angry. You may feel victory or defeat. It's not always a reflective mood, just how I was feeling at the time.

And Pusha? There had to be some "inspiration" behind that one!

[Laughs] There's always an inspiration...but who I won't tell!

All in good time. So, what about your newest project The Young Goldie EP. Can you tell me a bit about it?

I wanted to establish my independence. I wanted to tell people that now is not the time to count me out, you know? I am able to adapt and I wanted to show people that, I can do it on my own.

Will fans hear a new side of Lloyd they may not have witnessed before?

That will be remained to be heard. I think that fans can go to my website and listen in and kind of make that conclusion for themselves. I think that every artist wants their new project to be better than the last one. I always get people who ask, "Why didn't you release this track" or "This song is better, do that one." But then I see the songs that I feel are stronger and unique. In the end I feel that this project will give fans a chance to draw their own opinions.

Was there anyone you set out to get on board for your latest effort?

Well, I always wanted to work with Bun B. I was good friends with him and Pimp C before he passed. They gave me a lot of good advice over the years. I also wanted to explore what Wayne was doing over there at Young Money. You know, with Nicki Minaj being the hottest female in the game right now and the all the guys doing their thing. I wanted to work with them because I wanted to do different things. It's fun to be able to work with other young artists. Nicki, Drake, Mack Maine, you know. Wayne and I work together all the time so it's always fun.

I hear you are doing well as a businessman. Is this credited to Young Goldie Music?

Yessir! Young Goldie is in full affect!!

Do you have a plan as to how to help it expand?

Well, first off I am getting my stripes. Putting in the ground work in the trenches. I'm trying to re establish myself through the Goldie brand. As for everything else, the chips will fall where they are supposed to land. Eventually I want to branch out and work with other artists and produce and bring new artists to the light. I want it to be a music house.

Is this a joint venture?

Eventually yes, but for the EP it's just me for now.

Understandable. What else can we expect from Lloyd?

Yes, expect the unexpected. Come on man [laughs].

Quick hits: In Lloyd's next video, who plays the role of leading lady?

Lauren Hill. Where is Lauren Hill?

Who do you consider musical influences?

MJ, Quincy Jones, you know. A lot of the music from the 80's. My mom played them a lot. Gap band, Earth Wind and Fire.

You are doing a lot of international touring. What can't you go without while on the road?

My ID first off [laughs]. My blackberry most definitely. A lot goes down in this little phone!

Any shout outs or ending remarks?

Shout out to all my fans. It's because of ya'll. And, man, shout out to Yo! Raps

>>>>I HAD NO IDEA THE BOY EVEN HAD AN ALBUM TO DROP...




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Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

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Katt Williams Being Sued By His Ex-Assistant

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Katt Williams' ex-assistant Jacqueline Gutierrez has filed a complaint with the California Labor Commission against Williams' company, Kattpack Investments, Inc. In the complaint she alleges that she was never paid during the 10-month period that she worked for the star.

Guiterrez, who was employed by the comedian to assist him during a recent stand-up comedy tour, claims that she had to pay all of her own expenses while on the tour including food, hotel stay, and thus amassed huge bills. A breakdown of the court documents obtained by TMZ, show Gutierrez requesting a total of $232,000 in damages. $100,800 in back wages, $32,000 in expenses, and $58,645 in hotel bills among other charges.

This is just the latest of a string of events that has kept Williams' name in the headlines. Earlier this month on December 4, Katt was involved in a shotgun incident at a Georgia Wal-Mart.

While talking to the media regarding the incident the comedian said, "This is a witch hunt, it's getting to the point where I feel like I'm being persecuted because this don't make no sense." On November 8, he was arrested and charged with burglary and criminal trespassing after an employee who works at the estate where Williams was staying reported a break-in at a guesthouse on the property.

>>EM EM EM, This man's career has now went all the way down the drain.


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Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 12/20/2009

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Sleeping with a broken heart or not, Alicia Keys is sleeping with an amazing debut week for Element Of Freedom. The J Records release surpassed first week performances from Rihanna, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly and Chris Brown, nearly striking seven-day gold. Expect the "Empire State Of Mind" co-writer to have a plaque by next week, beating out year's end.

Another Hip Hop-friendly R&B act, Robin Thicke brought his Sex Therapy to the charts at #9. The Interscope Records hit-making worked with Jay-Z and Game on this project, and donning a Star Trak logo on this third album, is being praised by criticals.

Michael Jackson's This Is It soundtrack already proved to be a stocking stuffer with a bold increase in already impressive sales. The Black Eyed Peas climbed two spots, back into the teens. Fergie, will.i.am and company tail Eminem's Relapse by 50,000 units for top-selling Rap album of 2009 with the continued push of The E.N.D.

With a new Young Jeezy-assisted single, Rihanna remains strong on the charts. Rated R may not be the R&B/Pop star's most hit-filled release to date, but her creativity and media interest aren't going anywhere.

Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B)

Rank	Artist	Album	This Week	Est. Total
2	Alicia Keys	Element Of Freedom	417,000	420,000
9	Robin Thicke	Sex Therapy: The Experience	123,000	123,000
11	Michael Jackson's	This Is It	105,000	1,153,000
18	The Black Eyed Peas	E.N.D.	82,000	1,636,000
21	Rihanna	Rated R	78,000	368,000

After debuting near the top of the charts last week, Gucci Mane's The State Vs. Radric Davis nearly slid out of the Top 40. The Warner Asylum release did clear the six-figure mark, but surprises many who expected the outspoken Atlanta rapper to garner a gold album in his comeback year.

At present, Jay-Z has the top-selling Rap album in 2009 in Blueprint 3. The emcee's first project in 13 years not released on Def Jam Records just unveiled a new '80s sample-based "Forever Young" single. Longtime corporate rival Interscope may be trying to combat that as Eminem's Relapse: Refill will hit stores next week, pushing up sales of the "Relapse" brand. The Santa Monica, California-based label recently did the same with Lady Gaga. At present, there is roughly 200,000 units between the two.

Rank	Artist	Album	This Week	Est. Total
37	Gucci Mane	The State Vs. Radric Davis	41,000	131,000
41	Jay-Z	Blueprint 3	38,000	1,778,000
48	Snoop Dogg	Malice N' Wonderland	34,000	93,000
60	50 Cent	Before I Self Destruct	26,000	305,000
94	Eminem	Relapse	16,000	1,567,000

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MJB’s CD signing:

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And her super fans NO! STANS

>>>>WELL NEXT WEEK WILL TELL THE NUMBERS... I mean she has a solid album...






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Rolling Stone calls Beyonce queen of pop

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How could we possibly have gotten through this brutal bummer of a decade without Beyoncé. Calling her a mere R&B diva is, at this point, almost an insult: With grace and grit, Beyoncé has become the reigning queen of pop…








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80's/90's TV setcom 227 Alaina Reed Hall dies of cancer

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Alaina Reed Hall, the beloved actress who starred on 'Sesame Street' and '227' after appearing on Broadway, lost her battle to breast cancer on Dec. 17 at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. She was 63.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Reed Hall was diagnosed with a terminal form of the disease in 2007.

Following her humble beginnings in the 1974 off-Broadway production 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road,' the Springfield, Ohio, native joined 'Sesame Street' in 1976, where she played a professional photographer named Olivia.

In a 2004 interview, Reed Hall described the pivotal role as "the best job I ever had."
Her 12-year stint on the iconic children's show caught the attention of producers of the 1980s NBC sitcom '227,' who cast Reed Hall for the role of Rose Lee Holloway.

Having such a dynamic presence and the ability to sing added more flexibility when writing certain episodes around Reed Hall's character, said close friend and '227' star Marla Gibbs.

"She was very good in the role, and some episodes were written around her," she told the Times, adding that Reed Hall "was a wonderful singer. As a matter of fact, she and I did a nightclub act together at my club, Marla's Memory Lane," while taping the series.

"She worked on Broadway, she did stuff in New York. She was a very well-known singer in New York for a while before she did the show," Gibbs continued. "After we finished the show, she did quite a few commercials, so I was calling her the commercial queen.

"She was just a wonderful friend. She will be sorely missed; she fought the good fight."

Other notable appearances included roles in 'Hair,' 'Chicago' and 'Eubie,' in addition to cameos on 'ER,' 'NYPD Blue,' 'Friends' and 'Ally McBeal,' among others.

The actress, whose first marriage ended in divorce, found love again when she married 7-foot-2 actor Kevin Hall, who played in the film and television series 'Harry and the Hendersons.' Hall died in 1991 of complications due to AIDS. The couple (pictured above, along with Gibbs and Luther Vandross) played lovers on '227.' Reed Hall married Tamim Amini in 2008.

No funeral service will be held, however a celebration of her life is being planned for early next year.








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Behind the scene of PLIES ft KERI HILSON "Medicine"

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Piles "Medicine" Behind the Scenes from VISUAL VINYL on Vimeo.

>>>>PLIES, who pushed his album back until 2010. and KERI HILSON.. who everyone is waiting on for a second LP did a behind the scenes for ther VIDEO visual to song "MEDICINE",


Keri had a slow start for 2009, with all the failed singles. But TURNIN ME OFF put her on the mark.& a SOLID RnB album..... If she keep it in this past and stay doing ft songs. Plus more writing for other artist. She will be a name that will last the entire 10 years of the NEXT DECADE.




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Trey Songs Covers Honey Mag & SPEAKS ON R Kelly~

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Trey Songz is featured on the cover of the latest issue of Honey Magazine. In the publication, he speaks on his love for women, his sex appeal, opening up to his fans, and R. Kelly/D’Angelo comparisons.




Honey: There’s been a trend in R&B, like with The-Dream and Jeremih — their music and production emulates R. Kelly’s legacy. But I’m noticing with yours; it’s actually the quality of your voice that is reminiscent of R Kelly. How do you take those comparisons?

Trey: That comes from me listening to so much R. Kelly. Before I was even thinking to pursue music I would only listen to R. Kelly. That comes from me studying his music. Sometimes our tones are similar and sometimes the inflections I make with my voice is something that he would do, just because it’s my subconscious. And that’s not something that I try to do, it’s just something that is just there. To be compared to who I feel is the King of R&B has never been an insult. I’ve been compared to R. Kelly since my first album.

To read the full interview, click here








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Usher “Yeah” Second Most Played Song Of Decade

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You know the expression: Numbers don’t lie. And according to the Nielsen BDS report, Usher’s “Yeah” is the second most played record of the last 10 years with 416,267 spins. Unfortunately, the song was no match for Tim McGraw’s “Something Like That” with 487,343 rotations. Meanwhile, Flo Rida’s “Low” and Snoop’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot” own the Rhythmic and Urban formats, respectively.

CHR/Top 40: “Yeah” / Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon / 416,267 spins

Rhythmic: “Low” / Flo Rida featuring T-Pain / 206,864 spins

Urban: “Drop It Like It’s Hot” / Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell / 169,511 spins

>>>>Black Music took over this Decade.




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Chris Henry’s Funeral

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Coach and fiance

Fiancee makes tearful tribute at Henry's funeral

(AFP) – 17 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — An emotional speech from Chris Henry's weeping fiancee capped a tearful funeral service on Tuesday as the American football receiver's teammates and friends paid Henry a final tribute.

The 26-year-old Cincinnati Bengals standout died last Thursday, a day after suffering serious injuries after falling from the rear of a moving pickup truck during what police described as a domestic dispute with fiancee Loleini Tonga.

While police continue to investigate the incident that took place in Charlotte, North Carolina, no charges have been filed in the death.

"Can't nobody feel what I'm feeling right now," Tonga said. "We loved each other very much. People say I helped change his life. No. He changed mine.

"We were supposed to get married in three months but I'm going to wait until I see him again."

Henry had been dropped from the Bengals after being arrested and suspended five times on charges such as drug and weapons possession, but Henry was given another chance and had made major changes in his life, raising three children with Tonga.

"His future as a husband and a father were important to him," National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell said.

"He was a young man that struggled, made some decisions that he regretted, but he put himself on the right path. And I'm proud of that. I'm proud of him."

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis could only wonder what might have been had Lewis continued down the path as he had in recent years.

"It's a bright story and one that didn't get to get all the way to the end of it which is the most unfortunate part," Lewis said. "We'll miss Chris' sparkling smile."

Henry had 12 catches for 236 yards this season before suffering a broken left arm last month in a victory over Baltimore that ended his season.

>>AGAIN ALL THIS COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED...







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LIL WAYNE Youtube HAIRCUT is a FAKE

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It's a picture circulating around on a Youtube clip, thats showing a digital touched photo of LIL WAYNE with his hair cut..BUT ITS NOT HIM... Until I get the pic in my inbox then Ill trust it.

I know its not him, because he was at an event, just yesterday.




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T.I. Released From Jail

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The king, has returned. After serving seven months at Arkansas Forrest City Prison for weapons possession, T.I. was sent to a halfway house in Atlanta.

T.I.’s lawyer Steve Sadow told XXL, “You live within this house that is broken into areas for living, and you are permitted to leave during the day for certain reasons of which would be employment, medical reasons, things of that nature, and you return to the halfway house in the evening.” He said. “So it’s a restriction on your liberty but it’s a way for you to reenter into society and not be confined within a jail type institution 24-hours a day.”

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Kid Cudi Wrongly Detained In L.A.

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Cudi’s having the worst month ever. Yesterday evening, the rapper was stopped by LAPD at gunpoint after leaving a photo shoot. Apparently, police mistaken him for a burglar. “Who knows, really, the story changed a bunch,” [Cudi] said. “I’m just happy to be back. I’m a free man! For that moment I was not free. I was in handcuffs. It did not feel very comfortable.”

Ironically, Cudi didn’t hold a grudge towards the authorities. “We’re in LA, it’s a rowdy place in the United States, you know?” He said. “And a lot of shit goes down. And these cops have to use force. So it’s, like, I understand that they were doing their job. I just wish we weren’t in that place at that time.“

NME

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Tiger Woods Named Player of the Year on the PGA Tour

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To add to his recent win as Athlete of the Decade, the PGA Tour announced Saturday that Tiger Woods is again the Player of the Year on the PGA circuit. This is the 10th time in 13 years that Woods has won the award. To make things simple, Woods was simply as dominant this year as he is in every year. He won six times on the tour this season, while no one else won more than three tournaments. He won the Fed Ex Cup, the money title and had the lowest scoring average for the 9th time.

The recent scandal has bruised Tiger's legacy quite a bit, but his dominance on the course is simply unparalleled. I remember keeping up with Tiger's score on the World golf rankings years ago. At one point, Tiger had a score on the index of over 30, while the other 99 players in the top 100 were crunched between 1 - 11 points.

The fact that Woods was given the Player of the Year and Player of the Decade awards in spite of his recent transgressions makes a favorable statement about the objectivity of sports writers and other players on the PGA Tour. Although there is a great deal of jealousy toward Woods' dominance and some racism inherent in the media coverage, the fact that others still acknowledge Tiger's greatness in the midst of so much turmoil says that they are capable of rising above the drama and giving a black athlete his due respect (yes, Tiger is a black man to much of America, not "caublinasian." If he didn't know that before this scandal, he certainly knows it now. Otherwise, Glenn Beck would never have compared him to OJ Simpson).

The recent awards also say something good about Woods and his situation. It is a reminder to us all that there is a reason that we love and respect Tiger Woods so much. It tells us that whether we like it or not, Woods is the greatest athlete of his generation and will be remembered for the next 100 years. Hate it or love it, Tiger is the greatest....well, other than the person who really was the greatest, Muhammad Ali. Ali transcended his sport, and that is something I am waiting for Tiger Woods to do. Tiger's young, so there's still time for him to do it.





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Jennifer Hudson Is HAVING BABY #2!!!!!!!!!!!

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David, Jr. isn’t even 6 months old yet. But Jennifer Hudson and her fiance David Otunga are reportedly expecting their second child together. Star magazine’s source tells them:

“Jennifer was in total shock when she found out she was having another baby,” says her close friend, who adds that the couple learned they were expecting on Dec. 10. “She had wanted some space between the kids’ ages.”

“She and David love kids,” says the pal. “It’s another thing for them to celebrate during the holidays.”

>>>>AFTER ALL SHE DID SAY SHE WANTED TO GONE GET TWO KIDS OUT THE WAY, WHILE SHE'S YOUNG



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T.I. Is Out Of Jail!

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Reports are flurrying that T.I. has gotten out of the slammer today…and into a halfway house. T.I.’s lawyer has officially verified it. He is expected to serve the remainder of a reduced sentence in a correctional center near Fulton County Airport

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Blog YBF Creator Chosen for Black Enterprise's 'Next Is Now' Cover Story

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Natasha Eubanks: YBF Creator Chosen for Black Enterprise

Natasha Eubanks, founder and CEO of the popular black celebrity blog Young Black and Fabulous -- more commonly known as TheYBF.com -- joins three other young entrepreneurs on the cover of the January 2010 issue of Black Enterprise magazine.

The monthly black business periodical chose to profile its "BE Nexters" -- young professionals all under 35 -- making moves in their respective fields.

Eubanks, who launched her blog in 2005 after noticing a lack of African Americans featured on gossip sites, had aspirations of being a lawyer.

"I didn't even really know what a blog was when I started YBF. I was just playing around the 'net, filling my boredom of my hostess job at the Olive Garden and waiting on [law] school to start," she shared with BV Newswire today

In her feature story for BE, the former aspiring lobbyist revealed how her parents discouraged her from abandoning her Loyola Law School endeavors.

"My mom was like, 'Oh, no, no, no, there's no money in that. ...My parents thought it was a really bad move."

But against her parent's urgings, she decided to try it anyway.

"I taught myself everything tech-wise and business-wise since there wasn't much out there at the time to even learn from," she added.

The Texas A&M University grad joked, "Well, it's grown from just my three college roommates and mom and grandmother reading YBF to millions of people reading a month."

That is an understatement.

According to Black Enterprise, the blog averages 15 million page views per month, and 2009 revenues for YBF were $1 million – 90 percent of which was generated from advertisers.

"It's when I overhear random people on the street taking about YBF that I get freaked out actually, or when I hear celebs in passing talking about what they've read on it," she said.

YBF's status has definitely grown within the traditional media world, as well. Eubanks covered the Academy Awards, the Grammys, the MTV Video Music Awards and countless A-list celebrity events. "I love that people recognize the importance of YBF and black celebrity entertainment sites, in general," she said. "Most times, I don't even have to ask for credentials. People voluntarily give them. That's amazing, especially when I have never paid for marketing or advertising YBF to the public. Everything has been word of mouth."

Eubanks, who calls New Orleans home, said she isn't "the least bit" worried about blogs fizzling. "There will always be a place for a blog," says the 27-year-old. But the medium, she says, will "need to evolve into being more than just a hub for pictures and regurgitated info."

Everything hasn't been so peachy keen for Eubanks. Celebrities have threatened to sue her, and user comments have been negatively directed at her. She goes without sleep many nights, because ultimately she approves, checks and writes all of her content.

Still, the experience has been eye-opening. Eubanks noted that she's learned how to place ads and how to do custom campaigns with luxury companies actively trying to reach her niche audience. Now, she's just psyched that Black Enterprise wanted to honor her.

"I didn't even tell anyone I shot the cover and feature for an entire month," she confided.

She initially thought the piece was a mini-story, but when she finally shot the cover with photographer Lonnie Major, Eubanks thought it was too good to be true. "I thought BE would change their minds or something because they'd think I was boring once they got to know me."

A lot shier than you'd think for a celebrity gossip blogger, Eubanks -- who can also be heard on the nationally syndicated radio show 'Big Boy in the Morning' -- offers simple advice to future executives.

"I can't preach ownership enough," she said. "Everybody should have a side hustle, even if you're making six figures at your job."

"I made my hobby a career and a business," she continued. "You can never lose when you're doing something you love."

That's entrepreneurial advice worth taking.

====
NATASHA WORDS" AND THANKS

More than 4 years ago I started Young Black and Fabulous simply because I was just another young black woman addicted to celebrities, gossip, and how they lived the fabulous life. I never imagined for one millisecond that it would become a business venture. And more importantly…a lifestyle for so many different types of people.

For January 2010, Black Enterprise magazine chose entrepreneurs to feature and cover their “BE Next” issue. And the theme is focusing on the business leaders of the younger generation who have successfully created their own lanes. It was BEYOND an honor for me to be chosen as one of the four entrepreneurs for the cover feature. (I’m the one standing by the way) I have my YBF fans–many of whom have been with me and my ups and downs from Day 1 when my posts were infiltrated with complaints about law school–to thank for that. Many people simply see a few posts just published on the site everyday without realizing the work, business, relationships, and hardships that come with an internet business such as a celebrity gossip entertainment site. And to be a young black woman in a business world as new as this one. So to be recognized by a business leader in their own right, Black Enterprise, as well as the MANY, MANY YBF fans who know and appreciate all the work I and the YBF team put into the brand and how drastically it’s grown purely by word of mouth, is the most amazing feeling I’ve felt in a long time. More personal words when you read the rest….

The YBF lifestyle isn’t just for celebrities. We all have our own bit of YBF in us. Yes, even my readers who are far from young and black and do not hesitate emailing me telling me that they read and love it anyway. And I love my readers for that. I did not begin this site to embark on a journey to become a celebrity myself. That is still not one of my priorities in the least bit, which is why I choose to stay in the background and focus solely on my business. But my purpose has evolved from just simply writing about red carpets, fab celebrities, and foolywang. I hope to create a path for others to see and follow that encompasses ownership of our own brands and businesses, responsibility, being fabulous in our own right, and putting our own community on a pedestal. It is so necessary in my book of life. And I hope it becomes necessary in yours.

Of course no one and nothing is perfect, and I appreciate my readers who understand that and stick by YBF through its ups and downs. TheYBF.com is on the brink of a brand new re-design and re-launch that I cannot WAIT to get you all involved in. And several other business ventures (including more components on YBF) that will bring fabulosity to other lanes of our lives. So my theme for 2010 is Fearlessness. I actually had second thoughts about opening up and being on front street for this issue of Black Enterprise. I never intended for YBF to be about myself–Natasha–per se. I was just another person who was a fan of celebrities–just like you. But after 3 weeks of wondering why I wanted to say NO so badly to this cover shoot, I realized much of it was fear of what would come next. But tomorrow is never promised. And where much has been given, much will be asked. So I URGE you–urge=more fabulous word for “beg” :) –to pick up a copy (or 5) of this January issue of BE to find out more about me–Natasha–the “friend in your head” you talk with a few times a day. I did it for my readers because you just never know who could be helped or get inspired by it.

YBF and Black Enterprise also came up with a special deal for all you fabulous readers. YBF readers will exclusively get a 1-year Black Enterprise subscription for 50% less than the regular price. You can visit http://bit.ly/BEforYBF to sign up for your subscription. The January 2010 issue is on stands now in some places, and by December 29th, 2009 everywhere.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Black Enterprise. Check out the site for the behind the scenes video from the shoot. Shout out to my fabulous personal stylist for the shoot Jason Rembert. And thanks to AOL Black Voices for my interview about the BE cover story.

>>>>You guys know I love me some YBF..cause I always borrow an article or 4 lol from the site. and I so Respect Natasia for all she's doing.


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