Saturday, March 19, 2011

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Could Nicki Minaj Be Joining L.A. Reid On Simon Cowell's "X-Factor?"

Posted: 19 Mar 2011 07:07 AM PDT

So now that we announced LA Reid gave DEF JAM the Deuces, we have to wonder who else might join him on Simon Cowell's "X-Factor."  Get the deets on who may be heading to primetime inside...

 

Now that he has landed music honcho LA Reid as one of his judges for "X-Factor," we hear that Simon Cowell has a long list of celebs and music execs to possibly fill 3 more judge positions in hopes they will make his show jump off just like "American Idol."

One of the wild card selections is Nicki Minaj.  Nicki hasn't been in the game long enough to be considered an expert by any means, but her demographic is the show's target audience and we could count on her to be quirky and fun.  And though LA Reid holds it down in the area of expertise, some sources say Simon had been considering Tommy Mottola too. 

Other pop stars--well, semi-pop star--like Pussycat Dolls leader Nicole Scherzinger have been mentioned, along with British pop star Cheryl Cole.  And at various times, we've even heard Jessica Simpson brought up.  But my personal choice isn't much of a shocker...Paula Abdul.  AND her red cup.  Paula's CBS show was cancelled and I would love to see her with a new gig.  And everyone loves her and Simon together.   I hope her agent starts working that ish ASAP.

The show is searching for undiscovered talent 12 years old or over both solo artists and vocal groups who are willing to brave the panel for a chance to win a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

Auditions for the highly anticipated singing competition THE X FACTOR are set to begin on Sunday, March 27 in Los Angeles at the L.A. Sports Arena. The search for the next global superstar will continue in Miami, FL, on Thursday, April 7; Newark, NJ, on Thursday, April 14; Seattle, WA, on Wednesday, April 20; Chicago, IL, on Wednesday, April 27; and Dallas, TX, on Thursday, May 26.

So...who are your picks for judges?

FRESH MEAT: "Vampire Diaries" Star Kat Graham

Posted: 19 Mar 2011 07:00 AM PDT

We've been hearing her name whispered in the industry.  And since we love showcasing fresh talent, we decided to chat with her one on one and find out what this up and coming YBF chick, and star of the CW's "Vampire Diaries," is all about.  Kat Graham (full name Katerina Graham) doesn't just rest on having a cutesy and pretty face--she's a triple threat who sings, acts, and dances and is destined to become one of YBF’s breakout stars.

 

Get the deets on this fab chick inside…

 

With so much to chose from, it’s hard for the half Liberian and half Russian actress, who currently stars on the CW’s vampy teen series “The Vampire Diaries,” to focus on just one of her talents.
 

She describes herself simply saying , “I’m a hustler.” With credits in movies, television, and music already under her belt at age 21, Kat says she is purpose driven, focused and passionate about her career.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland and raised in Hollywood since the age of 5 (she also landed her first role in a major movie in 1998 in Lindsay Lohan's Parent Trap), the talent began acting at age 6.

Along the way, she learned to speak four languages and play the keyboard. And the star of Honey 2, set for release in August 2011, comes from the old-school training ala Jasmine Guy, Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. "All those ladies have old school training and are able to do it all. And that’s what I want to do.”

“Being Black in Hollywood is a journey and you have to be prepared to do it all and take advantage of each opportunity," Kat tells YBF about why she works at developing her skills in so many areas.  "I'm all about building on every opportunity I get. You have to make lemonade.”

And being so young in the Hollywood game isn’t easy, but Kat says you have to persevere and believe in your own talent.
And the talented young lady is staying busy as the season finale of “The Vampire Diaries” nears (she's played the character Bonnie Bennett since the show's inception), as well as the video for her next single “I Want It All,” which she shot on a tiger reserve.

But what’s currently getting her a lot of buzz is a Janet Jackson inspired mash-up "Love Will Never Do Without An Escapade," where she and a few of her dancer friends pay tribute to the icon. “It was about getting together and having fun. We kept it simple and we wanted it to be about the dancing,” she tells us.

Watch Kat’s Janet Jackson inspired mash-up below and stay tuned to what’s going on with her on twitter and at KatGraham.com.  And all new episodes of "The Vampire Diaries" return to CW April 7th.

Dwyane & Lebron Get A Private ATL Dinner+Erykah Badu Performs Again At SXSW

Posted: 19 Mar 2011 05:50 AM PDT

Plush Blue Entertainment and Kenny Burns put on a "power" private dinner in Atlanta hosted by Miami Heat stars Dwayne Wade and Lebron James.  The twosome was in he city as the Heat played the Atlanta Hawks last night.

 

Pics of them, plus pics of Erykah Badu closing out SXSW, when you read on....

D-Wade, Slimm, Kenny Burns, Mr. Plush, and Bron Bron all kicked it at 10 Degrees restaurant. By the way, the Heat beat the Hawks in last night's game.

Down in Austin, Texas natives Erykah Badu and Bun B. closed out the big SXSW music festival:

They hit up Kiss and Fly to rock out with other bands like Yuck, Oberhofer, and Jeff and the Brotherhood.

Gotta love Ms. Badu's flyness.

SPOTTED: Swizz Beatz Goes KAMIKAZE For Brand New Reebok Campaign Shoot

Posted: 19 Mar 2011 05:19 AM PDT

After officially being named the "curator" of the Reebok Reestyle Collective, Swizz Beatz has lent designs, brand development campaigns, and his artistic voice to the brand.

 

We've got pics of him showing off his self-designed all black Reebok KAMIKAZEs as he heads into a new campagn shoot in L.A. yesterday when you read on...

That ring is serious!

At The Project Show in Las Vegas in February, Swizz announced his global partnership with Reebok and unveiled a light grey/ neon green colorway of the Kamikaze.

And you shoe freaks can see his all-black version he rocked while hitting up the closed set of his new Reebok campaign shoot at a massive warehouse in Los Angeles. 

The campaign that he is shooting now will launch later this year.  This dude is on his GRIND with a crapload of major new partnerships.

Reebok & Swizzy's statement about the partnership:

An entirely new platform for artists, musicians, dancers and style makers is coming. Prepare to create and collaborate like never before? A multi-talented creative known for pushing artistic boundaries as a producer, artist and designer, Swizz Beatz is bringing his passion for innovation, fashion, design, music and art to Reebok Classics.

In this unique partnership, Swizz Beatz will actively engage with the brand on many levels, from developing various initiatives to working with product.

His first role will be as the curator of the Reestyle Collective. A group of artistic minds from across the globe, the ReestyleCollective will conceive and produce a wide range of creative content in the realms of dance, music, art and style – the communities in which both Swizz Beatz and Reebok Classics thrive.

You feelin' it?

CELEBS GIVE BACK: The Fugees Reunite For Haiti Elections' Concert + Eminem Creates T-Shirts For Detroit

Posted: 18 Mar 2011 01:32 PM PDT

'Tis the season to be giving as many celebs are using their time for charitable endeavors.  Rap superstar Eminem is using the success of his Superbowl ad to create a T-shirt line to benefit the the City of Detroit while the Fugees reunited to show support for Haitian Presidential candidate, Michel Martelly. 
 

Get deets inside...

 

Wyclef Jean, Pras and Lauryn Hill reunited last night to show support for Haitian Presidential candidate, Michel Martelly.

Re-elections in Haiti will be held on Sunday (March 20th), after the original November election results were declared void.  

The concert featured Busta Rhymes with the newly reunited Fugees.

In an interview with AllHipHop.com, Wyclef said,

"It's a new era in Haiti and we are campaigning for change for good in my beloved country.  I had to come home as a diaspora to make a difference."

Haiti, which was ravaged by a massive earthquake in January of 2010, has been dealing with a cholera epidemic since last October that has killed thousands of people.

 

 

Detroit native, Eminem, has teamed with legendary car maker, Chrysler, to produce a t-shirt line to benefit the city of Detroit.  

 

The t-shirt line, featuring "Imported from Detroit" on the chest has been a big seller on Chrysler.com following Eminem's successful Superbowl ad.  And

Chrysler has announced that a portion of the proceeds will be given to Boys & Girls Club of Southern Michigan, Habitat for Humanity Detroit, Think Detroit PAL, and Eminem's own Marshall Mathers Foundation.



Paul Rosenberg, Eminem's manager, spoke to AllHipHop.com saying,

"We are very happy to partner with the Chrysler brand in supporting the local communities.  The Chrysler brand and The Marshall Mathers Foundation share a parallel commitment to give back to the City of Detroit."

Throughout the year, Chrysler will release several other limited edition designs of the T-shirt along with bumper stickers featuring the slogan as well.  

Drake & Chaka Khan Get Busy For Bill Clinton + Jennifer Hudson's Family Attends Her Concert

Posted: 18 Mar 2011 10:21 AM PDT

Drake and Chaka Khan were among the big celebs who came out to support Former President Bill Clinton at a recent event in LA.  They were busy raising money for his aid and relief efforts. See the pics inside plus watch Jennifer Hudson performing live in Atlanta with her husband and son in the audience.

 

President Clinton hosted The Millennium Network Event in Los Angeles last night and a few of our YBF celebs were there.

 

Chaka Khan was there with her yin/yang fan of peace.

While Chelsea Clinton was spotted with her husband Marc Mezvinsky.


 

Sporting his beard, Drake posed with NBA star Blake Griffin.  He also performed at the VIP rception.

Elise Neal's dress may have looked better on someone more age appropriate.

Michael Strahan and Nicole Murphy posed together while supporting the event.  These two are...interesting.

 


 

Jennifer Hudson performed live last night in Atlanta as part of her concert tour to promote her latest album I Remember Me.

 

Her big man, David Otunga, and her little man, David Jr., were in the audience giving her love and support.  
 

 

Here's video of Jennifer Hudson performing live:

Photos via WireImage/ExclusiveAccess.net

PICS & VIDEO: Erykah Badu Rocks Out At SXSW

Posted: 18 Mar 2011 09:15 AM PDT

Erykah Badu hit the stage in Austin last night to partake in the SXSW festivities.  She performed a bit and flexed her DJ skills for the crowd at the Wu-Tang All Night Show.

 

Pics and vid of the big-hair-don't-care Ms. Badu when you read on....

Texas native Erykah Badu hit the stage in the wee hours of this morning in Austin:

Yes indeedy.

 

Gotta love her eccentric looks.

 

 

Here's video of Ms. Badu throwing on her Lo Down Loretta Brown DJ alter ego hat to flex her skills on the 1's and 2's.  The South By SouthWest (SXSW) music festival closes out today.
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