Modern Day Titanic!!!! Ship Aground off Italy; 3 Bodies Found, 69 Missing

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Via Associated Press

Survivors from a luxury cruise ship that ran aground and tipped over, leaving at least three dead and 69 people still unaccounted for, described Saturday a chaotic evacuation, as plates and glasses crashed and they crawled along upended hallways trying to reach safety.

Three bodies were recovered from the sea after the Costa Concordia ran aground off the tiny island of Giglio near the coast of Tuscany late Friday, tearing a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in its hull and sending in a rush of water.

The ANSA news agency quoting the prefect’s office in the province of Grosseto as saying that authorities have accounted for 4,165 of the 4,234 people who had boarded the liner.

By morning Saturday, the ship was lying virtually flat off Gigio’s coast, its starboard side submerged in the water and the huge gash showing clearly on its upturned hull.

Passengers described a scene reminiscent of “Titanic”, complaining the crew failed to give instructions on how to evacuate and once the emergency became clear, delayed lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many of them to be released.

Helicopters plucked to safety some people who were trapped on the ship, some survivors were rescued by boats in the area, and witnesses said some people jumped from the ship into the dark, cold sea. Coast guard rescuers were continuing to search the ship for passengers.

M.I.A. Records ‘Birthday Song’ with Madonna [Video]

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Madonna invited “20/20’s” cameras inside the studio for the first time in 30 years as she recorded a new song with M.I.A. The “Paper Planes” hitmaker received direction from the pop queen while laying down her vocals on a track entitled “Birthday Song.”

“Na na na, na na na na na na na, gonna sing my song tonight,” sings M.I.A. on the catchy pop tune.

She also appears on “Gimme All Your Luvin’,” the first single from Madonna’s upcoming album M.D.N.A., which features Nicki Minaj.  The trio may perform together at the Super Bowl next month.

 

Rick Ross and Busta Rhymes Light Up L.A. with Chris Brown and Snoop Dogg (Video)

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Hip-hop heads got their money’s worth at the star-studded “Tru-2 Music” concert at Club Nokia L.A. LIVE on Friday night (Jan. 13).  Busta Rhymes and Rick Ross co-headlined the evening, which also featured performances from YG and Eric Bellinger.

Bussa Buss stormed the stage in a black feathery coat, showering the front row with champagne and filling his set with plenty of surprise guests including Swizz Beatz, Snoop Dogg, and Chris Brown, who performed “Look at Me Now.”

The Teflon Don, who rescheduled the show after his medical emergency last year, performed his Rich Forever mixtape cuts live for the first time including “Holy Ghost,” “Yella Diamonds,” and the controversial “Stay Schemin’” with French Montana.  “I felt dat real #CaliLuv,” tweeted Rozay.

Snoop Dogg’s recent weed arrest didn’t stop him from lighting one up backstage as he mingled with his peers.  Other celebrity sightings included Ameriie, Iggy Azalea, and Nipsey Hussle.

Solange Rocks the Runway at Milan Fashion Week

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Solange strut down the catwalk at the Alberta Ferretti fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2012.  The singer, whose favorite designers include DVF, Opening Ceremony, J. Crew, and Boxing Kitten, recently signed a modeling contract with Next Model Management.

In an interview with Vogue Italia, the new aunt spoke about becoming Rimmel’s first black spokesperson.

“I don’t by any means consider myself the most qualified for model material,” she told the magazine.  “I think that people tend to respond to what is real. Black women carry that flame with so much ease and confidence. It is being captured and celebrated on all fronts in fashion now.”

Solange is finishing up her third album.  “There are a lot of songs about sex,” she confessed to V magazine.  “It’s the kind of record you put on when your man is coming over, when you’re with your girls. There are songs that make you wanna dance because we were kind of partying our way through the record, but it’s very chill.”

Open and Shut Case

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The state Health Department in New York opened and quickly closed an investigation into whether or not parents were kept away from their children in the Lenox Hill Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during Beyonce’s stay after it was determined that the complaints did not come from actual parents…

From The NY Post

The state Health Department yesterday announced that it had opened a probe into the controversy behind the blessed event at the Upper East Side hospital, amid claims that the safety of other babies was put at risk and parents were blocked from seeing their newborns to accommodate the power couple.

But then, hours later, the Health Department abruptly declared it has closed the “review,” saying there was nothing to the controversial claims.

Yesterday afternoon, state Health Department spokesman Michael Moran said, “We have gotten two complaints and we will investigate.”

He said the complaints were “not from parents” — one was anonymous, and the other came from “a person who read about it.”

Hours later, another department official, Jeffrey Gordon, announced, “We have reviewed the complaints and they have been dismissed.’’

Toni Braxton Hospitalized in L.A.

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Toni Braxton was hospitalized after a painful Lups flair up…

From TMZ

Toni Braxton was transported to an L.A. hospital this week after experiencing some painful “flare ups” stemming from her Lupus condition … but the singer tells us she’ll be “totally fine.”

Braxton tells TMZ, “I wanted to say thanks to all my fans for their support, as I have been experiencing some flare ups with my Lupus which has me in the hospital for a few days.”

She adds, “I wanted to clear the record before rumors started, and will totally be fine as I’m blessed to having an amazing family for support.”

Nicki Minaj Lands First Grammy Performance

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Grammy nominated rapper Nicki Minaj has been announced as the first performers during the 54th annual Grammy awards.

Nicki Minaj would join artists like Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift as performers during the event, which will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Nicki Minaj’s performance is the first time she’s ever performed live on the Grammy stage.

This year, Nicki is up for four Grammy awards.

The Young Money rapper is nominated for Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for Pink Friday, Album of the Year as a featured artist on Rihanna’s album Loud, and Best Rap Performance for her hit single “Moment 4 Life.”

The Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The show will be broadcast on CBS from 8 – 11:30 p.m.

Rappers, Actors, Singers Set To Honor Muhammad Ali For His 70th Birthday

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A variety of rappers, athletes, actors and singers will attend a fundraiser that doubles as the 70th birthday celebration for boxing legend, Muhammad Ali.

Cee Lo Green, Kelly Rowland, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lenny Kravitz, John Legend, Anthony Hopkins and a number of others are slated to attend the 16th annual Power of Love Gala, which will honor “The Champ’s” 70th birthday.

The event will raise money for the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, along with the Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Cleveland Ohio.

“This year’s Power of Love Gala will bring attention and funds to the important work being done at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health on a whole new scale,” said Larry Ruvo, Chairman, Keep Memory Alive. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to shed light on the fight to knock out neurocognitive disorders while celebrating the life and ongoing contributions of the legend, Muhammad Ali.”

The 16th annual Power of Love Gala will raise awareness for Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, ALS, and Parkinson’s, which Muhammad Ali has been battling since 1984.

Others slated to attend the 16th annual Power of Love Gala include Ken Norton, Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, Roberto Duran, Angelo Dundee, Leon Spinks and others.

The 16th annual Power of Love Gala will take place February 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The event will also be televised on ABC nationally on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. EST/ 4 p.m.

Flight Attendant Becomes Viral Internet Sensation For Rapping Flight Instruction To Passengers [VIDEO]

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Passengers on a U.S. flight were greeted rather differently by one member of cabin crew after he rapped the pre-flight instructions! And of course the whole episode has been posted up on Youtube. Those seated on their way to Oklahoma were certainly not going to switch off from the announcements before take-off on Southwest Airlines flight 372.  Grabbing the telephone that transmits throughout the cabin, one confident member of staff started by telling passengers that ‘they do something a little bit different on Southwest.’

Proceeding to get everyone clapping to a rhythm, the man went on to rap words that are often ignored by passengers eager to relax ahead of their flight journey. There was certainly nobody nodding off this time! Who makes up the cabin team, what drinks are on offer, and a warning to turn off electronic devices were all delivered by the happy-go-lucky attendant. He then tells the customers to ‘sit back, relax, have a good time. It’s almost time to go so I’m done with this rhyme.’ His crowd are obviously pleased at what they have witnessed, with loud clapping and cheering greeting the end of the performance. But he’s not quite finished as he delivers his special finale. ‘You will not get that on United Airlines, I guarantee you’, he adds as the passengers slink back into their seats.

Jay-Z Vows To Not Use The Word “B***h” Again!

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Sometimes it takes having children to realize how you have matured as a person, and understand that all childish things must come to an end, because another human being depends totally upon you.  Jay-Z had such the metamorphosis when he recently welcomed his baby girl to the world.  Check out Jigga’s letter to Blue Ivy Carter.

Before I got in the game, made a change, and got rich,

I didn’t think hard about using the word B—-.

I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it

now with my daughter in this world

I curse those that give it.

I never realized while on the fast track

that I’d give riddance to the word bitch, to leave her innocence in tact.

No man will degrade her, or call her out her name

the women won’t despise her and call her the same.

I know it’s gonna miss me

cuz we been together like Nike Airs and crisp tees

when we all used to hang out front

singing 99 problems but a lady ain’t one.

Excuse me miss, can I be your mister

cuz I can tell the difference from a little girl and a sister,

She never grew up, her father left her alone

I promise not to talk like we used to

until Kingdom Come.

I’m so focused on your future,

The degradation has passed

I wish you wealth, health, and insight

forever young you may pass.

Blue Ivy Carter, my angel.