The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Eminem, Jay-Z, & More Kill The Grammy Nominations
Halle Berry's Heading To Broadway...& Nabs Another Movie Role!
RAPPERS' DELIGHT: Nicki Minaj's Album Sales Make History + Maino Arrested!
PICS: Kelly Rowland & Her Mystery Man Roll To Miami Art Basel?
Raheem DeVaughn Talks Oral Sex, His Next Moves, & His New X-Rated Vid
PHOTOSHOOT FAB: Lance Gross Gets Sexy For "EDGE" Magazine
Are NeNe Leakes And Hubby Gregg Really Over?
Khia Takes Shots At Nicki Minaj, We're Underwhelmed
CANDIDS: Meagan Good Out & About+Naomi & Vladislav Cop Some Art In Miami

Eminem, Jay-Z, & More Kill The Grammy Nominations

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 08:38 AM PST

The Grammy nominations were announced last night. Find out how many awards your favorite YBF celebs are up for when you read on...

Eminem secured ten Grammy nominations, making him the most nominated artist this year. Some of the Grammy's he's up for include song/record of the year, album of the year, and best rap song. And at the other end of the spectrum, Kanye only nabbed up 1 and it's for Best Solo Rap Performance for "Power". Very interesting. But it may be because the Grammy deadline was in September . Who knows.

Newcomer Bruno Mars picked up seven Grammy nods. Hope he's not locked up that night. Jay-Z follows closely behind with six and B.O.B. and John Legend each have five. Drake is nominated for two awards for best new artist and best rap album. And Beyonce grabbed up 2 nods--1 for Best Pop Vocal Performance for her Live version of "Halo" and 1 for "Telephone" with Lady Gaga.

Newbie Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" was recognized in Best Urban/Alternative Performance and Sade received two nods. Yay!

Here's the nominees for record of the year:

» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) - "Nothin' on You"
» Eminem (featuring Rihanna) - "Love the Way You Lie"
» Cee Lo Green - "F--- You"
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"
» Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"

One of the closest races is for the best rap song. The nominees are:

» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"
» Eminem and Rihanna - "Love the Way You Lie"
» Eminem - "Not Afraid"
» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) - "Nothin' on You"
» Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz - "On to the Next One"

Another close race is for best rap/sung collaboration and the nominees are:

» B.o.B (featuring Bruno Mars) - "Nothin' on You"
» Chris Brown, Tyga and Kevin McCall - "Deuces"
» Eminem and Rihanna - "Love the Way You Lie"
» Jay-Z and Alicia Keys - "Empire State of Mind"
» John Legend, the Roots, Melanie Fiona and Common - "Wake Up! Everybody"

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards take place February 13, 2011. Here's the complete list of nominees at the Grammy official site.

In other music news:

Kanye West also holds the #1 album on two charts. My Beautiful Dark Twister Fantasy is currently atop the Billboard 200 and R&B Album Charts. This is his 4th consecutive #1 album on the Billboard 200 and 5th consecutive on the R&B charts. His latest project sold 496,000 in it's first week.

Congrats Yeezy!

The Randomness:

1. Exes Eva & Tony Parker wine and dine together post-dovorce filings. Hmmm. Story

Halle Berry's Heading To Broadway...& Nabs Another Movie Role!

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 07:44 AM PST

Halle Berry's still on the roll with grabbing up roles. While she's kickin' all around the world promoting her brand new upcoming flick Frankie & Alice that hits theaters in limited markets February 2011, she's set up for more ish.

We've got the deets on her upcoming Broadway and movie roles, plus pics from her press conference yesterday, when you read on...

YBF chick Halle spoke to media at her press conference in West Hollywood yesterday while promoting Frankie & Alice. She revealed she has a new role in the upcoming Cloud Atlas flick. She says the movie has a Matrix feel, as the writers of Cloud Atlas, Andy and Lana Wachowski, wrote the Matrix series as well. She'll be starring alongside Natalie Portman and Tom Hanks.

And during her L.A. premiere this week, she told press she’s signed on to star in “The Mountaintop” on Broadway. It kicks off Fall 2011. Here's a description of the production:

"Taking place on April 3, 1968, The Mountaintop is a gripping reimagining of events the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., as he retires to Room 306 in the now famous Lorraine Motel in Memphis, after delivering his legendary 'I've Been to the Mountaintop' speech to a massive church congregation. When room-service is delivered by a young woman, whose identity we puzzle over, King is forced to confront his past, as well as his legacy to his people."

Video of her talking about her upcoming roles on the Frankie & Alice premiere red carpet:

Congrats to Halle!

Photog: Anderson

RAPPERS' DELIGHT: Nicki Minaj's Album Sales Make History + Maino Arrested!

Posted: 02 Dec 2010 06:32 AM PST

The Nicki Minaj hype-machine is still celebrating the rapper's history making first week sales. Find out where Nicki stands in the history books, plus get the deets on Maino's arrest last night inside...

Releasing your debut album the same week as a Kanye West album has to be nerve-wrecking, but Nicki Minaj's highly anticipated debut album did score the No. 2 spot. Pink Friday moved 375,000 copies, taking the second spot to Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy which sold 496,000 copies.

Tthe strong debut of Pink Friday places Nicki as the second-highest first week sales of any femcee. She falls behind Lauryn Hill who sold 423,000 copies of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill the first week. For those keeping score in the Lil' Kim versus Nicki Minaj battle, Lil Kim’s highest first week sales was in the year 2000 with The Notorious Kim pushing 230,000 units.

Nicki already made history three times this year. With "Your Love, " Nicki became the first female hip-hop No. 1 to hit Billboard's rap singles chart since Missy's "Work It" in 2002. And she's also the female rapper with the most chart entries in one year on Billboard's 100 — she's had eight so far despite most entries being features.

In other rap news:

You know we can't go a week without some rapper getting arrested. Add Maino to this week's file. The Brooklyn-born rapper was arrested in New York City last night for driving his black Bentley with a suspended license. According to the New York Post, Maino, whose real name is Jermaine Coleman, was pulled over at 4:30 p.m. after he allegedly refused cops' directions to keep driving on Sixth Avenue, and made a turn onto 53rd Street. He was given a desk appearance ticket and released.

Sigh. Between T.I. and Maino, I keep asking myself why don't these hood rich rappers hire drivers?

PICS: Kelly Rowland & Her Mystery Man Roll To Miami Art Basel?

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:15 PM PST

With reports of Kelly Rowland having a lien on her Miami home because she owes over $90,000 in taxes on it, it's only fitting she's spotted out on a romantic art shopping date with a new guy.

Not sure who he is, but we've got the pics nonetheless...

Kelly hit the art scene at Art Basel in Miami Wednesday arm in arm with this older man of the other persuasion:

Paparazzi on the scene say they were acting like a couple--whatever that means. Do you then Ms. Kelly.

Photos via SPLASH

Raheem DeVaughn Talks Oral Sex, His Next Moves, & His New X-Rated Vid

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:14 PM PST

Tongues are still wagging...pun intended...about Raheem DeVaughn's new X-rated video for "She's Single" that hit the net yesterday. And VIBE chatted it up with Radio Rah about what led him to go all the way in after being such a laid back but uber talented and sensual neo-soul act all this time. Oh, and he somewhat answers whether or not he and homegirl in the vid were actually getting it in.

Read on for the deets...

Those sex scenes were super intense, are you sure that was just acting?
No one will ever know.

Are you saying those scenes might've been real?
That’s the part I love. I really don’t have to say that. No one will ever know.

Okay. If you could though, would you shoot a video like that, but with real sex happening?
If it was somebody I was comfortable with and we had a level of trust, why not? But no one will ever know except the individuals that were over there filming.

Gotcha, was the lead girl casted or did you know her personally?
I recently started my own record label and we’re going to be doing a website so I met her prior and she was going to be one of the hostess… and still may be doing that. But she’s an absolute stranger and was very professional. And I like to think of myself as a professional too. And it was just fun to do. The imagery is very cinematic.

Ha! I think it's safe to say you have a love of giving oral sex. Is that something every man should be doing in 2010?
Let me say this, if you don't do that, she'll find someone that will [laughs]. And in these days it might be her best friend. If you're girl is clean and deserving, why not? The best sex is between two givers... that's off the chain. If you know how to do it properly, you will thoroughly enjoy the fruits of your labor [laughs].

Well. Fellas....take notes. I've been a fan of Rah's since day 1 and he has talent to back it all up. So I'm not even mad about al this. And yes, I'm still thoroughly convinced he tapped ol' girl in the making of this vid. Check out the full interview over at VIBE where he dishes even more on his developing sexed up image.

Raheem's Jackin 4 Beatz mixtape (wtih "She's Single" on it) dropped yesterday and you can download it for free from various places around the net. And he also announced his next studio album entitled A Place Called Loveland will drop in 2011.

PHOTOSHOOT FAB: Lance Gross Gets Sexy For "EDGE" Magazine

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:40 PM PST

Lance Gross recently sat for a sexy photoshoot for EDGE Magazine. But don't expect any pecs and ab shots. Mr. Lance is sexy just giving face. See Lance fully clothed and still every bit the hottie inside...

Edge is a new online publication created by three YBF recent college graduates who are striving to inspire youth to go after their biggest dreams by broadcasting the accomplishments of others. Nice.

Imagine that this is the balcony of your home on the ocean...and this is your man.

I could come home to this everyday.

Photos via Edgemagazinesite.com

Are NeNe Leakes And Hubby Gregg Really Over?

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:18 PM PST

After watching this week's episode of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," you are probably wondering about the marital status of Gregg and NeNe Leakes too. Well NeNe just did an interview with Essence.com that may clear up a few things for you. See the highlights inside...

This week's episode of "The Real Housewives Of Atlanta" revealed that NeNe and Gregg's marriage may be over. Seems that the straw that broke the camel's back was when Gregg's conversation with a radio jock about his marital problems were blasted on the internet for the world to hear. We reported on that fiasco months ago, and now we are watching it unfold on television too.

But of course NeNe is going to get out her side of the story. She sat down with Essence.com in a new interview out today where she breaks down what happened and where she and Gregg are with their marriage right now.

ESSENCE.com: On this week's episode you and Gregg had an emotional argument. What was it like for you to have to relive those moments?
LEAKES: Well, it happened a few months ago so it wasn't as impactful for me as it might have been for the viewers. The moment was a lot longer than what you guys saw and it was a really heavy scene for me. Looking at it on TV, I didn't get anything from it because I had already lived it. I've been through it, I've lived it and I've moved on past it.
ESSENCE.com: There's been so much scrutiny on your marriage lately. What has that been like?
LEAKES: One of the things I hope people are able to get is that long before that scene came out there was a lot of blogging saying I was cheating on Gregg and that Gregg was this great guy and he's done so much for me. People were saying things like, 'He took her out of the strip club" and stuff like that. My producers were with me when all this stuff was going down and they were trying to keep me sane.

I was having a really rough time because I wanted to speak out on that and I wanted people to understand that Gregg didn't take me out of a strip club, let's be very clear about that. We got together when he didn't have a thing so I don't know who the heck these people are out here saying this stuff because when we got together I was the breadwinner. I started a business and I brought Gregg on board and we became a couple later. And when we were able to live a comfortable life, it wasn't because of what Gregg had done, it was because of what we had done together.

ESSENCE.com: Do you feel like you were portrayed as the cheater?
LEAKES: People would say things like, 'Gregg is so nice,' and it really bothered me because I'm not saying that he isn't nice, but it was people were discrediting me as if I didn't deserve somebody that was nice. I felt like, 'you guys have no clue about what you're talking about' because in the 14 years that I've been with Gregg, I've been through a lot, and people who are close to me know that. I felt like when all the rumors hit the blogs that was the time for me to speak up but I couldn't because I have a child and he's 11 and he would be watching.

ESSENCE.com: When did you see the divorce lawyer?
LEAKES: You guys saw me sitting in the parking lot outside the attorney's office which Bravo played backwards. In real life it didn't happen that way. I filed months ago, before that audio even came out. When the audio did come out it just reassured me that I was doing the right thing. It bothered me because I had filed, but I was trying to work it out and he and I had just come back from a trip we had taken. Like two days after we came back, the audio came out.

ESSENCE.com: Are you scared of being on your own?
LEAKES: I am scared, but I'm taking baby steps. I've been with Gregg since I was 28, and I'm now 42. I thought I was a woman when I got with him, but I'm really a grown woman now. I've been with him for some of the best years of my life so it is scary for me to be like, 'I'm gonna be on my own.'

ESSENCE.com: So are you and Gregg still together?
LEAKES: We are still together. We are in the same house and we are still legally married. But that's not to say we won't be unmarried.

ESSENCE.com: And Gregg is someone that no longer makes you happy. That's something that you're certain of?
LEAKES: I'm not sure about that, and I have to think about it. My girlfriends tell me, 'NeNe you can do this on your own.' Gregg is my friend and he's been that for years. He's always been a great rock for me and I'm afraid that if we really break it off for good I won't have that rock that I've always had to give me great advice.

ESSENCE.com: What do you think Gregg is going through right now?
LEAKES: He's going through a lot because he doesn't want a divorce. He says he's very much in love and he wants to stay married.

From the show, it seems like both of them are very unhappy together...but still very much in love with each other. Because NeNe says there is no "trust" in the relationship, it's hard to say where this may go.

But if you saw the episode, TheYBF.com got some tv time as NeNe learned of Gregg's audio blast from us. Peep the clip below of NeNe surfing TheYBF.com on her first day at work:

Khia Takes Shots At Nicki Minaj, We're Underwhelmed

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 10:44 AM PST

Nicki Minaj has another female rapper coming at her. Find out why Khia insulted Nicki in the way only she could, plus Snoop Dogg's engagement song to Prince William for his Royal Engagement when you read on...

Khia's beef with rapper Trina clearly wasn't enough.

The self proclaimed "real baddest chick" decided to review Nicki Minaj's latest album Pink Friday. And she wasn't too pleased. The Florida rapper blasted Nicki's CD on her blog saying, "This b**ch needs to be SHOT on site…It smells WORSER than the gas that’s coming out of my ASS, from all of the Turkey that I ate over the Thanksgiving weekend. Someone needs to give this B**CH a FLEET Enima [sic] and “FLUSH” her IMMEDIATELY, She is nothing but a “Ghostwritten”, Weezy-wannabe WHORE!"

Did she say WORSER?? Oh, but there's more. Khia actually bought 'Pink Friday' and was mad that she wasted her money. Khia wrote, "I can’t believe I wasted my $13.99 on this BULL S**T, I told yall that it aint no damn Barbies in the hood. I can’t wait for Matel [sic] to sue this b**tch for all of the $3.60 that she earned! When is this b**ch gonna learn that they stealing all of the money?"

She also blasted Foxy Brown in the process saying, "Nicki, please give Inga [Foxy Brown] the number to your plastic surgeon and your shrink while you are at! Maybe, you guys can tag team!"

Really Khia?! When was the last time you had a hit single? We ALL know how I feel about real talent and how that relates to Nicki Minaj, but the way Khia dissed Nicki, you would think she pioneered the female rap game.

The thought of Khia, who's only known for 'My Neck, My Back,' trying to bash another rapper for their lyrical content just confuses me to say the least. If this is homegirl's attempt to become relevant in the music industry again, please put out a hit single post 2002 first.

I would pick the 'Thug Misses' to whoop the Harajuku Barbie in a fist fight though. Just sayin'....

In other news:

Snoop Dogg is rumored to be performing at Prince William's engagement party and the rapper has already recorded a song for the occasion. Snoop said, "When I heard the royal family wanted to have me perform in celebration of Prince William’s marriage, I knew I had to give them a little something. Wet is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin' "

Take a listen. Funny funny.

The Randomness:

1. Trey Songz released another mixtape today called #LemmeHoldDatBeat. You can download it from various music download sites around the 'net.

CANDIDS: Meagan Good Out & About+Naomi & Vladislav Cop Some Art In Miami

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:35 AM PST

Meagan Good was spotted out and about in L.A. looking laid back and casual. Just as laid back and casual as the first time she wore this outfit.

Pics of her and Naomi and her man when you read on...

Meagan stopped to talk to the "local entertainment." This dude stays walking around with his roll away radio and microphone.

Chick loves her ciggies and nightclubs...

Naomi Campbell tried to avoid being photographed as she shopped it up for art at Design Miami with her boyfriend Vladislav Doronin yesterday. The two partook in a little of the Art Basel celebration currently going on: