As Chris Brown puts the finishing touches on his follow-up to platinum album “Fame,” Brown readies “Fortune,” which will be in stores in within months. He can be seen rocking a BIG fur in the promo shot for the upcoming album. I’m sure PETA will have a hissy fit once they see the photo. However, fans are more than ready for new material from the man, who Fat Joe recently dubbed the “female Beyonce.”
Rapper Snoop Dogg was arrested for possession of marijuana in Texas over the weekend. TMZ.com reports that Snoop’s tour bus was stopped at a border checkpoint in Sierra Blanca, in West Texas. During the Border Patrol agents’ routine search of the bus, a K-9 reacted to something in a waste basket.
Police said they found a red prescription bottle with several joints inside, with just under a half-ounce of marijuana. According to TMZ.com, Snoop claimed responsibility for the marijuana since he has a prescription in California, but Texas has a zero-tolerance policy. The rapper was issued a citation for misdemeanor drug possession and released. He faces up to 180 days in jail.
Music industry legend Sylvia Rhone and Grammy Award winning singer Kelly Rowland will be honored during Essence magazine’s 3rd Annual Black Women In Music event, during Grammy Week next month.
Hollywood’s elite will celebrate the many accomplishments of Sylvia Rhone, who has been a powerful force as a top executive in the music industry for the past thirty years.
Sylvia Rhone has launched or signed artists like Missy Elliott, Kelly Rowland, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Keith Sweat, Nelly, Melanie Fiona, Akon, Erykah Badu, Busta Rhymes, MC Lyte and the legendary Stevie Wonder, among many others.
“Sylvia Rhone has transformed the music industry with her vision and she has become a trailblazer for African-American women everywhere by breaking down barriers throughout her career,” said Essence president Michelle Ebanks. “Her exceptional talent, enduring humanity and effortless elegance make Sylvia a true Essence woman and we are honored to present her with the Essence Black Women in Music award.”
Rap star Eve will be the featured performance during the celebration, which will also honor the accomplishments and career of Kelly Rowland.
“We’ve watched Kelly Rowland for over a decade grow from a teenage sensation into an international superstar. Her talent, drive and remarkable creative force show what it truly means to be a young powerhouse in an ever-changing industry,” added Essence editor-in-chief Constance C.R. White. “Kelly embodies the ‘soul’ of young Black women through her music and we are proud to salute her dynamic contributions.”
Legendary rapper MC Lyte will serve as the DJ for the evening, which will be an invite only event that will take place on February 8, 2012 in Los Angeles.
Lenox Hill Hospital Executive Director Frank Danza issued the following statement in response to inaccurate news media reports regarding the presence of the Carter family at the hospital:
“Lenox Hill Hospital and its staff were delighted to welcome the Carter family for the birth of their firstborn on Saturday evening, but we are troubled by the misinformation being circulated in some news media reports. The suggestion that the couple paid $1.3 million to rent an entire maternity floor is simply not true. The family is housed in an executive suite at the hospital and is being billed the standard rate for those accommodations. Our executive suites are available for any patient, including the food service and amenities provided to the Carter family.
“The family does have its own security detail on site. However, the hospital has been and continues to be in control of managing all security at the facility. We have made every effort to ensure minimal disruption to other families experiencing the births of their own children over the past three days. No security plan that we or the Carters’ security team put in place would have prevented or delayed families from gaining access to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and to date, no families have complained to the hospital about being denied access to the NICU.
“Lenox Hill Hospital takes patient privacy and safety very seriously. And while we congratulate the Carter family on the birth of their child, we value the loyalty of ALL of our patients and always strive to ensure a positive experience, knowing that the birth of a child is a wonderful moment producing memories that last a lifetime.”
SOURCE Lenox Hill Hospital/PR Newswire
Jay-Z gets extra personal in this ode to his new born baby Blue Ivy Carter. Revealing that she” was made in Paris, and mama woke up the next day and shot her album package, last time the miscarriage was so tragic, we was afraid you disappeared, but nah, baby, you magic.” Back by a old school beat with added vocals by Pharell, the song breaks everything down for those inquiring minds with their theories, rumors, etc. He clarifies it all, take a listen:
Nick Cannon is back at home after suffering from “mild kidney failure.” The showbiz mogul is in recovery mode, but is ready to get back to business.
Cannon was hospitalized while on holiday vacation with his family in Aspen, Colorado, earlier this month. His wife Mariah Carey was by his side as he received treatment from doctors at a local hospital. Late last week, he was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
In a statement released to The Associated Press, Cannon’s rep said he’s “resting and recovering at home.”
But he’s not letting his condition slow him down. On Monday, Cannon appeared via satellite at a press conference for his new NCredible line of Monster headphones at CES.
He plans to return to his morning radio show, “Rollin’ with Nick Cannon,” on January 17.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are on cloud nine following the birth of their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, over the weekend. The new parents have released a joint statement sharing their happiness and thanking their supporters for the well wishes. They also dismissed previous reports that Beyoncé had a C-section, revealing that the baby was born naturally at seven pounds. Read their message below.
Hello Hello Baby Blue!
We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012.
Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven.
She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives.
We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.
Beyoncé & JAY Z
50 Cent is backing down following last week’s Twitter rant. A humbler 50 apologized to his record label after blaming them for the leak of his single.
The G-Unit rapper was disappointed when the song, “Girls Go Wild,” featuring Jeremih, premiered last week on MySpace. “I have lost all the faith in the team I’m on,” a discouraged 50 told his followers. “I having nothing left to say I will not be promoting my music.”
But he’s now singing a new tune. “Discovered a computer glitch leaked my song. Sorry to team at interscope for over reacting!” an apologetic 50 tweeted on Sunday evening.
Despite his apology, he’s still not motivated to release his fifth album for Interscope Records. “I put a lot in to this project but I don’t care if it ever comes out,” he said. “[Interscope Chairman] Jimmy Iovine has been like a mentor for me. I just want to stay friends.”
50 Cent will be in Las Vegas this week for CES, the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, where he will sign autographs to promote his headphones SYNC by 50.
Hit producer/mogul Dr. Dre is in hot water with PETA over a new limited edition run of Beats by Dre headphones.
Dre, born Andre Young, has teamed with Oscar De La Renta to release a limited-edition line of Beats by Dre earmuff headphones, that are wrapped in fox fur.
Earlier in the week Michelle Cho, a representative for PETA, fired off a letter to Dr. Dre urging him to respect animal rights.
“We wanted to get in touch to urge you to keep fur and exotic-animal skins out of your Beats by Dre designs,” Michelle Cho wrote. “Foxes, minks, rabbits, and other animals—including cats and dogs—are bludgeoned, genitally electrocuted, strangled with wire nooses, drowned, and even skinned alive for their pelts.”
Cho explained to Dr. Dre that most animals are killed for their fur in China, because there are no penalties for animal abuse want for farms.
Cho also provided Dr. Dre with a video featuring Eva Mendes, to educate himself on animal abuse.
Cho urged Dr. Dre to use his influence around the world to make a positive difference in the lives animals.
“You have a tremendous amount of influence on young people,” Cho continued. “Won’t you please consider using your platform to advocate kindness toward animals by pledging never to design with real fur and exotic skins?”
Dr. Dre’s Beats by Dre fox fur earmuff headphones retail for $695.
In an interview with BBC News that was released earlier last week, Frank Ocean revealed that since his relations with Def Jam Records have been repaired, both parties are ready to release his highly-anticipated second album this spring.
Despite past frustrations with the label, Ocean simply stated, “we’re cool,” and that “there is a new album coming. I’m super proud of it.”
When asked if he wished he handled the release of his first album, Nostalgia.Ultra, differently with proper marking and promotion behind him, he said “no.” He then followed up his answer about the album and charts not mattering with: “I make pop culture.”
The interview was conducted due to Ocean’s claiming of the #2 spot on the BBC’s Sound of 2012 list. Other topics discussed included the initial signing of his Def Jam deal, and the loss of his New Orleans studio back in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina. .
Dre Black So Fresh 