It’s almost starting to be a given that once you’re a huge enough star in your chosen career path, you just have to dabble in on the others. R&B prince Chris Brown is in final negotiations for the feature thriller ‘Bone Deep’. The film’s cast also includes Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and actor/rapper TI. It is directed by John Lussenhop. The film is about a group of criminals who plan a major robbery at a money depot with 2 detectives hot on their trail. Chris will supposedly play one f the members of the heist crew. The 19-year old singing sensation is also set to star in two other films, ‘Caramel’ and ‘Phenom’.
Rihanna and Chris Brown were spotted just as they shared a passionate kiss at a KFC in Miami on Wednesday. It then turned into PDA central when the 20-yaer old Barbadian babe was seen wrapping her arms around the 19-year old R&B sensation as they waited by the counter for their order. She even kissed his neck and held his hand in public! If they’re still trying to keep their relationship under wraps, they’re doing a really bad job on it. But maybe they’re about to change their tune as Rihanna recently told Elle of Chris that “We’ve always been friends, but we’re very close now.” It’s a hint.
Toni Braxton has been brought to a Las Vegas hospital for chest pains on Monday night. The Grammy Award-winning R&B singer just got done performing her live show ‘Toni Braxton: Revealed’ at Flamingo when she started to not feel well. Earlier this year, the singer revealed that she has a heart condition called pericarditis which is an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. It may have been the cause of her hospitalization. Un-break her heart indeed. Hospital officials reveal that the 40-year old is doing fine and is in good condition now. Let’s hope that it’s all smooth sailing after that.
A solo Chris Brown was spotted as he arrived at the ‘Luxury with a French Flair’ Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills on Tuesday. the 18-year old R&B signer recently got back from his romantic weekend in Florida with his current flame Rihanna. I guess vacation’s over and it’s back to work for those two. Rihanna’s continuing her tour of Europe and Chris is set to jet off to Germany next week to kick off the European leg of his concert tour. He will kick off in Munich on March 6. Maybe Rihanna and Chris can share a European holiday this time around.
If you’re one of the few people still thinking that R. Kelly is a nice guy, here’s something that may change your mind. Maxine Daniels, the 21-year old who had a 4-month relationship with the R&B signer until her parents found out, says that they’ve known each other since she was 7 and he was a ripe old 27-year old.
Maxine is swinging back at R’s statement last week that attempted to defame her father and step-mother. She told the Chicago Sun-Times that “I was swept up by his charming and generous ways, which I truly regret and have learned from.”
George Daniels, the husband of R. Kelly’s former publicist, gave an in-depth interview with LA radio station KJLH about the R&B singer’s inappropriate relationship with his 21-year old daughter Maxine. It was first rumored that the reason his wife parted ways with Kelly in the professional manner was due to the romance with their daughter but I guess that’s now a fact. What’s really creepy about this story is that Kelly has known the Daniels family since Maxine was a little girl.
At least he learned his lesson. He waited until the girl was actually legal before doing anything. Should we expect a new sex tape to come out soon?
Extra is reporting that Rihanna was involved in a car accident on Sunday following the Grammy Awards ceremony. After she performed her two-song set with 80s band The Time (she sang ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Don’t Stop the Music’) as well as taking home a Grammy for Rap/Sung Collaboration for her hit song ‘Umbrella’, the Barbados singer was inside her car outside the Island Def Jam party when another vehicle rammed into it. Fortunately, no one sustained injuries and everyone was free to party while Rihanna can keep on singing her music and shielding us under her umbrella… ella… ella… eh. The joke is getting old. I need a new one.
Just another celebrity baby to add to the masses that seem to be populating 2008 – but it’s still nice news.
Singer Lemar is celebrating after his long-term partner gave birth to a baby girl. Charmaine Powell gave birth to Nyiema Obika at London’s private Portland hospital on Saturday night, weighing 7lbs.
A spokeswoman for the 29-year-old singer said: “Lemar is overwhelmed on the birth of his beautiful daughter. Mother and little baby girl are both doing fine.”
Lemar, whose full name is Lemar Obika, first came to fame on BBC talent show Fame Academy in 2002. After finishing in third place, he launched a successful music career, winning two Brit awards and three Mobos for his blend of soul and R&B.
It just goes to prove that money and fame cannot make you immune to normal human feelings and suffering. The sad news is depression still affects us all; rich and poor alike. And singer Alicia Keys; as gorgeous and successful as she is, is one of those to suffer.
The fab ‘No-One’ artist has revealed that a tendency to bottle up her feelings leads to feelings of hurt and anger. She said: “I was feeling so sad all the time, and I couldn’t shake it. I started burying my feelings, and it got to a point where I couldn’t even tell my family or my friends, ‘I’m twisted,’ or ‘I’m exhausted,’ or ‘I’m so angry.’ I became a master of putting up the wall so that I was unreadable.”
Thankfully Keys has since pulled through that tough time and is enjoying life with current boyfriend Kerry Brothers. But it is a note to remember that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side; and no-one is above being human.
Music legend Ike Turner has died. He apparently died in his home in San Marcos, California which is just outside of San Diego. He was married four times, most famously to Tina Turner whom he got divorced with in 1978 amidst his constant abuse towards her. Regardless, the singing duo had 7 top ten R&B songs. Ike is survived by his four known children, Ike Jr., Michael, Ronald and Mia.
The Recording Academy issued a statement regarding Turner’s passing saying “There is no doubt that Ike Turner was one of rock and roll’s great architects with his genre-defying sound as an instrumentalist and bandleader … As a two-time GRAMMY® Award winner and recipient of The Recording Academy’s 2004 Heroes Award, Ike’s legacy as a groundbreaking pioneer in the music industry will never be forgotten.”
Another celebrity baby has been born. A fat and healthy baby boy just entered Usher’s life, as his fresh wife gave birth.
The couple is thriving with joy, and Usher is content with his new found fatherhood. His wife, Tameka Foster, has already 3 children, this is her fourth. A late child for Tameka as she is already 37 years old, in contrast with the young singer who is only 29.
Their whole marriage is wrapped in mystery and no one really know if they got married just because he was pregnant or if the couple really intend of spending their lives tighter. That is for us to see and maybe comment on in the future, for now let’s all welcome usher’s new baby boy.
Some say she isn’t, others say she is. But for the umpteenth time, Rihanna squashed rumors that she’s dating actor Josh Hartnett.
A fake quote came out a while ago at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo that Rihanna admitted to being with Josh and that she is very much in love with him. But Rihanna has gone on the record saying “That is completely incorrect. People quote me on things that I never said. That quote is not a real quote. It’s not right at all.” If you read between the lines, she’s saying that she’s single. There’s hope for all those still lusting for her.
Did someone forget to pay the electric bill or did R&B singer Brandy actually do her best impression of Ashlee Simpson on Sunday?
The singer was a performer at the annual Sensationell Hair Idol competition in Washington DC. Her performance quickly turned chaotic when both music and lyrics got abruptly cut off in the middle of her performance of ‘Who is He to You?’ Her rep came to her defense though saying that she “absolutely wasn’t lip-syncing” and “she was singing live.”
After inviting her daughter and her brother Ray J on stage, Brandy sand an a cappella version of ‘Almost Doesn’t Count’ and ‘Full Moon’.
British pop singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield made a huge splash as a new artist in late 2005 and early 2006. Her first two singles, “These Words” and “Unwritten” crackled with energy and wit that seemed to signal a unique pop talent was emerging. However, following up such an auspicious beginning has been a difficult task for Bedingfield. “I Wanna Have Your Babies,” the first single from her second album N.B., peaked at a relatively disappointing #7 in the UK in the spring of 2007 causing Epic Records to delay release of a single in the US. 6 months later “Love Like This” is being promoted as the first American single from the album.
Where Natasha Bedingfield’s first hits inspired with their words of self-awareness and personal encouragement, “Love Like This” is a somewhat dull, breezy, simplistic dissertation on romance between long-term friends. It would be very easy for this single to get lost amid more unique or challenging pop songs. Natasha Bedingfield sounds like just another pop singer here. Uniqueness and the ability to stand out are lacking.
In a clear effort to give the song a pop boost, Sean Kingston is brought in for a brief featured part. This vocal serves no purpose other than providing an extra element for the single’s marketing campaign. Natasha Bedingfield needs to step up her game if she will avoid losing a significant part of her initial pop audience.
Mary J. Blige has just released a new video for her new single called ‘Just Fine’. The video is awesome and the song is a great jam. Mary J’s new single is a bit of a departure for the R&B diva. It’s up-tempo and is a feel-good anthem. She most definitely left the gut-wrenching and tortured emotions outside of the recording booth.
Different as the sound may be for all you die-hard fans of Mary J, she’s still the same diva. Except, instead of wanting to wallow in your tears while listening to her sing all her anguish out, she’ll make you want to sing that today is going to be a better day, today is going to be just fine.
A New York criminal judge sentenced Foxy Brown to one year in jail on Friday (September 7) for violating her probation multiple times, according to a New York spokesperson for the Department of Probation. The troubled, pregnant rapper received the maximum penalty.
Brown (real name: Inga Marchand) had been in custody at the all-women Rose M. Singer Center at Rikers Island prison since August 22. She was ordered there after violating her probation in two separate incidents (see “Foxy Brown Sent To Jail For Violating Probation”). The violation stems from two separate incidents, Ryan confirmed: Brown’s recent arrest for allegedly assaulting her neighbor with a BlackBerry cell phone and for leaving the jurisdiction of New York without court permission.
In a separate hearing earlier in the day, Brown was indicted on assault charges stemming from the physical encounter with her neighbor.
Spokesman Jack Ryan told that Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Melissa Jackson held a “lengthy” hearing in which she scolded the rapper for not abiding by her probation guidelines, which included attending anger-management classes and regular meetings with a probation officer.
Ryan also said Brown failed to report her arrest in the Brooklyn case and a separate infraction in which the rapper changed her primary address from Brooklyn to a New Jersey address without reporting the switch to the probation office.
“She had a [previous] violation and pleaded guilty and got restored to probation [before],” Ryan explained. “So she had a chance. She just didn’t obey a number of conditions. We told the judge that she was not compliant and the judge decided to terminate her probation and place her in jail.”
Ryan confirmed the early hearing in Brooklyn had no bearing on Brown’s sentencing.
Recent groom and father-to-be Usher is ready to pass on his name – to a boy.
In his first interview since marrying Tameka Foster on Aug. 3, the R&B star, making a surprise appearance on Tuesday’s post-Labor Day The Ellen DeGeneres Show, tells the host, “I don’t know,” when she asks, “Is it a boy or a girl?”
But, he adds, “I want it to be a boy” – which prompts DeGeneres to tell him, “Now, you’re going to have a girl, and she’s going to see this tape and say, ‘Daddy, why don’t you love me?’ You better save some for some therapy. But you’re going to love her if it’s a little girl.”
Asked if he wants a boy so they can play sports together, Usher says, “I think every man wants a son.”
As for names, “If it’s a boy, I’m going to name him Usher,” says the musician, whose full name is Usher Raymond. “I’m hoping to name him that. I’ve been playing with a few names. I’m the fourth. Usher Raymond IV. I just want to pass the name on. Maybe I’ll change the middle name.”
And, if it’s a girl? “What about Usherette?” asks DeGeneres.
“I thought you would’ve suggested Ellen first,” says Usher.
“Last time you were here, you were single,” DeGeneres also tells him. “You said you wanted a lady that you could take from the Waffle House to the White House. You found her.”
“I did. I found someone that I’m very, very happy to call my wife,” he tells her. “Tameka Raymond. She’s beautiful.”
Only DeGeneres also wants to know why she wasn’t invited to the wedding, which was originally scheduled for July 28 in the Hamptons but ended up taking place in a civil ceremony in Atlanta.
“I actually sent you an invite,” claims Usher. “You didn’t get it? You never called me that you changed your address. I sent to 3941 Lover’s Lane.”
“That’s so odd I didn’t get it,” kids DeGeneres, who then gets serious and says about the big, lavish wedding the bride, 37, and groom, 28 have scheduled for Atlanta over Labor Day weekend: “I’m really happy for you.”
Will somebody please tell this X@@##! to shut the X@@##! up…..It never fails, as soon as he has material to put out, he has to start a non-existing beef with someone to get peoples attention. Why can’t you just let the music do the talking and keep your mouth shut? Fact: Lil Wayne and Kanye West are better than you are……Stop making songs about killing people and selling coke because you don’t do either anymore. Just do us all a favor and retire so we don’t have to listen to you or any of your G-Unit X@@##! anymore……P.S. you suck! Like is this the only way you guys can get the attention you want for a release and none without it. Why do you have to attack other singers in your songs and also those who buy his CDs are of the same intent – that they like to hear of violence and killings which is truly a shame to our lovely society. I don’t want question their upbringing coz this is none of my business but my mind can’t seem to stop asking this question – did these rappers have an abusive upbringing coz they seem not to be able stop using all this horrifying language.
Foxy Brown has been charged with assault and possession of a weapon - her cell phone - for allegedly hitting a neighbor with her BlackBerry. Brown is on probation after pleading guilty to assault in a 2004 dispute over payment for a manicure at a nail salon. The latest arrest could lead to her probation being revoked. So she has made it a resolution for the year that she will enact what Naomi Campbell had succeed in doing, using the cell phone as a weapon to cause injury. Everyone remembers that Naomi too used her cell phone to hit her maid due to which she was order community service. Foxy just needs to take a few classes of ANGER MANAGEMENT and that should solve her problem. That’s a real nasty way to vent your anger at a neighbor. The neighbor could be suing her for the damage it has caused and the pain she has felt and the whole could well cost her as much as nearly 25 Black Berry phones. And if the neighbor is as nasty as Foxy has proved to be then we could be in for a long court room battle.
Usher and his fiancé may have canceled their weekend wedding at the very last minute, but they are still getting married, so says Usher to Us Weekly. He tells the magazine that it’s only a matter or time until they get married but that they don’t have a date set as of yet.
The magazine reports that the cancellation was due to a pregnancy scare and not because of Usher’s mother or any other reason. Usher says that Tameka and the baby are fine though.
Here’s to hoping that the pre-nup is air tight. Tameka is 10 years Usher’s senior and is hated by his mother. Gold digger anyone?
Usher’s latest confession: The wedding’s off. While word leaked earlier this week that the Grammy winner and his pregnant fiancée, stylist Tameka Foster, were due to tie the knot in a Hamptons ceremony Saturday, on the morning of the big day, Usher’s publicist confirmed that wedding bells would not be ringing. Usher better make sure the baby is his for starters. She has already failed once at marriage, will probably expect him to pay for her other kids, has a criminal past, and wants to isolate him. Sounds like a real winner!! He had better get a good lawyer and get her and her baggage out of his life. CLUE TO ALL MALE SINGERS, ETC. USE CONDOMS!!!!! Ms. Tameka Foster is known to have sticky fingers in Buckhead Atlanta Luxury Retailers. Sales professionals at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza have a shoplifter grapevine and she is one to keep out of the fitting room and keep an eye on…such as Saks, Neimans and several designer boutiques. She presents herself as a celebrity stylist, how ironic. Insiders worry that she’ll try to take Usher for all she can.
Love should be unconditional right? Well, Usher loves his fans unconditionally… as long as they love him unconditionally.
It is being reported that the R&B singer is trying to shut down one of his biggest fan sites usherforever.com because he doesn’t like what the site has been saying about his fiancé and new manager Tameka Foster. Insiders say that Usher already had his lawyer send the legal documents to the site’s web mistress.
Usher fired his own mom Jonetta Patton as his manager and has lost longtime representatives Simone Smalls and Chris Chambers. Things are looking grim for Usher who’s about to miss the August deadline for his next album. Ouch.
