Friday, October 14, 2011

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

EVENT FAB: Derek J Opens "The J Spot" In ATL with Kandi Burruss, Marlo Hampton & More

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 08:12 AM PDT

Derek J, the truly interesting star of "Hair Battle Spectacular" and "RHOA" has opened his own hair salon in the Buckhead area of Atlanta and Kandi Burruss and Marlo Hampton were among the Atlanta "elite" who came out to celebrate with him.  See the pics inside...

 

If you like the things he's done with the wigs of Kim Zolciak, people in the Atlanta area can know get their own Derek J. experience at his new "The J Spot" hair salon in the Buckhead area of Atlanta.

Derek J's sister came out to celebrate Derek and his snakeskin pants.

Derek J.tweeted "I had a great time a lot of emotions is going right now but I am glad that the opening went well"

I'm ALL about black owned busines so *fist pumping it out* for Mr. Derek.

"RHOA" star Kandi Burruss came out to celebrate.....but where was the newly engaged Kim Z.?


 

"RHOA" newbie Marlo Hampton also came out to toast Derek J. in her Stella McCartney dress and blue suede YSL mohawk pumps.


 

And she brought along her cousin. *eyebrows raised*

She and Derek took some time away from the party to tour the salon.

Shanita Foster, former star of "Football Wives," was also at the event.

 

The Randomness:

1.  Queen Latifah And Cam'Ron team up to form new film company.  Story.

Photos via Freddyo.com/Seven Photography

Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz, Tisha Campbell-Martin, & More Support Angela Bassett & Sam L. Jackson's "The Mountaintop" Opening Night

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 07:30 AM PDT

It was Angela Bassett & Samuel L. Jackson's big Broadway night last night.  The duo cast of "The Mountaintop" celebrated their official Opening Night at the Benard Jacobs Theater in NYC with their celeb friends, after being in previews for several weeks. 

 

We've got pics of who came out for curtain call inside...

The Deans made it a date night.  Alicia Keys (who is set to start working musically with director Kenny Leon on next month's Broadway production of "Stick Fly") and Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean hit up the theater to support the talented duo.

I saw the production last Sunday at a sold-out matinee and it was FABULOUS.  A history lesson mixed with a rare inside look into Martin Luther King Jr.'s (who Sam Jackson played) paranoia, his women, and how he second guessed himself when the road to civil rights got tough.  Angela Bassett plays maid "Camae" (which was the role Halle Berry had to back out of due to her custody battle) with a very interesting twist.  Barely a dry eye in the audience.  Def a must-see.

Alicia Keys kept it cute in this green tailored blazer with a spiked Christian Louboutin shoulder strap purse and her black pants.  And her hubby also rocked green with his leather sleeved coat.

And she rocked her graphic print Louboutins for the occasion.

Angela & Sam took their bow with director Kenny Leon and playwright Katori Hall.

And Angela looked gorgeous for her finale.

Gayle King rocked all black and red accessories for the curtain call.

Ms. Ruby Dee is looking great these days!

Magic & Cookie Johnson also made it a date night.

Star Jones made her way to the theater.

Gabby Sidibe rocked a purple knee-length dress.

Tisha Campbell-Martin made an appearance in her all black with blue suede pumps.

"Reed Between The Lines" star Anna Maria Horsford got surprised on arrival.

Cicely Tyson brought her family along.

The outspoken Harry Belafonte hit the carpet.

Al Roker and wife Deborah made an appearance.

"Top Model" chick YaYa Dacosta was there.  Not loving the shoes with this dress though.

Sisters Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad posed it up.  I see they were rocking matching jackets.

Emmy winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson hit the carpert with her mom.

And at the afterparty:

Angela looked great with her hubby Cortney B. Vance.

And Sam Jackson posed with his wife LaTanya Richardson.

 

Great cast and great production.

BONUS: AOL Huff Post chatted with director Kenny Leon (who is also directing the upcoming all-black version of Steel Magnolias) about some of the hate the film is getting for it being an all-black cast and showing negative sides of MLK.  He commented:

I can’t pay attention to the haters. Most of the feedback I’ve gotten is people excited and wanting to do it. Everything is about variety; I think there’s room for everything. There’s room for Spike Lee’s movies, there’s room for Tyler Perry’s movies, there’s room for classics with an all black cast. There’s room for all of it as long as we don’t try to make any one piece define us as a race. So I think the reasons to do it is because it’s a classical piece of material and it should be approached by anyone who wants to do it. It’s funny and it will be uplifting and it also going to give people jobs, so I don’t really listen to a lot of haters. If I listened to haters I would not be doing “The Mountaintop” on Broadway now. People said, “Why do that? It’s a bad idea to portray King in that way” or whatever. And then you find out that one-hundred percent of the audiences embracing this whole idea of being reintroduced to Dr. King and what he was about. So if I listened to the haters I wouldn’t be doing any work.

Check out the full interview HERE.

WAIT, HOLD UP! Usher Turns 33 Today!

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 06:57 AM PDT

Today is the 33rd birthday of pop icon Usher, who's been entertaining fans all around the world over half of his life. Celebrate his special day inside.....

 

At 33-years-old, Usher Raymond is a force to reckon with in pop culture.  In addition to leaving his own imprint, he can lay claim to discovering Justin Bieber, which probably puts him at the top of most teen girls' "Thank You" lists.  

And in addition to gifting Bieber to the world, through his New Look Foundation, the singer is helping create the next generation of world leaders.

And with perhaps his most precious role of all, he is a doting father whose two sons, Naviyd & Usher V, adore him

Celebrate 33 years of poppin' & lockin' & grinding on stages with Usher in the gallery.....

"Here I Stand"...Happy 33rd Birthday Usher!

The President And First Lady Welcome Janelle Monae & Others To The White House For The South Korean State Dinner

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Last night, President Barack Obama along with First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the President and First Lady of South Korea to a state dinner at the White House with Janelle Monae providing the evening's musical entertainment. Get the deets inside....

 


 

Although it rained, the stunning President and First Lady hosted a gorgeous state dinner last night in honor of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and wife Kim Yoon-ok.  Mrs. Obama looked absolutely amazing in her draped purple one-shoulder dress designed by Korean-American designer Doo-Ri Chung.

And the President seemed to be in good spirits despite the GOP shooting down his jobs bill in the Senate this week.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's guest list included a set of Washington dignitaries, business people and celebrities.  

 


 

Lovely decor.

And Janelle Monae donned her signature black (and white) tux for the evening.  Such a fab chick!

 

So Norwood Young Isn't Broke Or Using A Sugardaddy Afterall?

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 05:05 AM PDT

Looks like Norwood Young isn't going broke afterall.  Despite reports of selling his L.A. mansion at a dirt cheap price and having to reach out to an alleged sugardaddy, we've found out that's not the case.

 

Deets inside....

We were one of the sites to receive the bad info about just what was going on with Mr. Norwood Young and how his lifestyle came to be.  And we decided to get to the bottom of it for the real deal once and for all.

Folks have been wondering for years exactly who Norwood is and how he copped his interesting 7 Bed/7 BR & 4,832 sqft home for $1.2 mill back in '97.  Most haven't heard his songs he stays he makes his money from.  But it looks like he's going to make more mula from his upcoming estate sale for his interesting decor, his books, Broadway, and putting his house on the market for $1.79 mill (he just came down from his $2.4 mill ask).

Just what has Mr. Norwood done in the entertainment world you ask?  We asked too.  And found these little nuggets of info.  According to L.A. Blockshopper:

Young is a singer, author and activist. He is also the author of Getting Back To My Me, an inspirational memoir that sheds light on the devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse. He first auditioned for the leading role of James Thunder Early in the off Broadway production of Dreamgirls, wherein he got the lead role.
He was also seen on the Broadway shows, Momma I want to Sing, Part.2 and Don't Get God Started and A Good Man is Hard to Find. He is also the owner of the nightclub, Club Collage.

Norwood also told us recently that his "look" is due to sex abuse issues, not vanity or sexual orientation reasons as previously reported.  He actually revealed details about it back in February when he included it in his book:

"Keeping this a secret, it manifested into drug abuse. It manifested into psychosis. It manifested into self-mutilation in the form of more than 15 plastic surgery procedures.  I had the voice of my cousin in my head saying, 'Shut up! It's supposed to hurt. You're a pretty boy,' so I didn't want to look like that, didn't want to look like myself. I don't like my eyes, I don't like my cheeks. I would just change this stuff. And I was able to mask the reality with these idiosyncrasies in a show business community where they're not only accepted, but admired."

We stand corrected.  Now we know....

NEW MUSIC: Drake Ft. Nicki Minaj "Make Me Proud"

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 10:10 PM PDT

Drake teamed up with his unrequited love Nicki Minaj on his newest track off his upcoming Take Care album.  Check out their "Make Me Proud" collabo inside...

For the official second single, produced by T-Minus, off his new LP, Drake went the quick-spitting route to relay his feelings about the Barb and all the females he respects who are doing their thing.  So it was only fitting to add the chick he's publicly proclaimed...many times now...that he wants to marry. 

About the emotional single, Drizzy told MTV News:

"Whenever I make songs surrounding women, I always try to find refreshing stances to take as opposed to just like, "Oh, you're sexy" or "Oh, I want you." The song, it really came up in passing conversation, just being like, "I'm proud of you." "

"Not even necessarily that a woman has to go achieve grandiose things to be proud; it's just that I'm proud of you for trying. It's hard to be a woman out here these days, especially to be pretty and especially to be smart and want something for yourself. So I'm just proud of you whether it's Nicki or any girl that I've ever known in my life that's doing well for herself."

"It's a dope thing to say, like, 'Go out there and make me proud.' And you don't feel uncomfortable as a man saying it."
 

Listen below:

 

He'll be performing this live on October 15th when he hits "Saturday Night Live" as their musical guest.  Take Care rolls out November 15th.

PICS: Ashanti Parties It Up For Her B-Day With Her Fam & Maxwell

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 03:40 PM PDT

 

Ashanti got sparkly and colorful for her 31st birthday party at Avenue in NYC last night. And she partied it up with fellow singer Maxwell, as well as her mom, Tina, and sis, Shia, and entourage.

 

Pics of the birthday girl inside...

I see 'Shanti and her sister Shia had some fun as usual....

Her homie Maxwell stopped by to party with her.

Well somebody was ready to show off her other birthday cakes.  She rocked a silver, green, and pink long sleeved fitted dress for her special occasion.  After her little sis Shia tweeted her big sis birthday wishes, Ashanti responded:

awwwww my babyyyy!!!! I love u more then anything!!!!!!! U made me tear up :( ur me best friend 4 life & everything after!!!

Much love 2 @PDEESOFNY @HUFFPRGirl @KikiKittyDoll @benybaby @HOLLISqueenz celebrating my bday!!! Luv u guys!!! :) #family&friends

Pretty makeup as usual.

And she had some fun with her celebratory sweets--including a huge strawberry shortcake in a martini glass.  Happy birthday Ashanti!

NEW GIGS: Trey Songz's Steamy Rocawear Evolution Commercial + Holly Robinson Peete To Appear On "Mike And Molly"

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT

 

 

Trey Songz has released a new commercial as part of his Rocawear Evolution campaign, and of course....he's shirtless and doing the nasty with his Latina leading lady.

Watch the clip inside and find out what new gig is bringing YBF chick Holly Robinson Peete back to CBS....

In his new Anthony Mandler-directed commercial for Rocawear’s Evolution cologne, a shirtless Trey Songz (no surprise there) reflects on a one-night stand.  

He says,

“It was Monday … Night turned to day and us turned to lust.”  

And apparently, it's his "scent" that drives his lady crazy.  

During a recent interview with "Allure" Magazine about the fragrance, he said,

“I want a fragrance that brings out my sexy and confident vibe  I used to steal my father’s cologne and it was so strong. My mother would always know when I did because it was so intrusive. That’s why I like Evolution—it’s a strong yet subtle scent.”

 

Watch the commercial here:

 

And in television news.....

It's a good thing Holly Robinson Peete never bad-mouthed the folks at "The Talk" (namey host Julie Chen's hubby and CBS head honcho Les Moonves) for not bringing her back for season two, because it allowed her to remain in the fold and return to CBS.

Fan of Holly will be pleased to learn she has landed a multiple-episode arc on the hit CBS’ comedy "Mike & Molly."  The actress is set to play a love interest for Mike’s partner Carl (Reno Wilson). 

And, she also has a cameo in the upcoming 21 Jump Street movie, reprising her role from the Fox series.

Congrats Holly!

Beyonce's MATERNITY LINE On The Way....

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 12:53 PM PDT

And the projects just keep on comin'.  Just a day after her Harper's Bazaar cover hit the net, the Beyonce' news mill is ramping up about her brand new maternity line.

 

She's been raving about loving maternity clothes throughout her pregnancy, so now she's making them herself.  For House of Dereon of course.  Deets inside...

Bey was spotted out and about in a loose snakeskin print blouse, black pants, and sky high booties today in NYC (pictured above).  Possibly off to a meeting about her upcoming maternity line.

According to ET, The 30-year-old R&B/Pop queen is releasing the line under her and Mama Tina's House of Dereon fashion company.

Bey also told Bazaar in the upcoming November 2011 issue:

"All I see now are clothes that are flattering on a pregnant woman. It's been so exciting for me! I love figuring out designs that still make me feel edgy and sexy while pregnant. Flowy fabrics are always flattering....but I still rock my stilettos.

The preggers superstar is due in February.  So there's work to be done.  This ought to be interesting...

And by the way, her camp has shut down the foolish fake pregnancy rumors.  The singer's publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, has spoken out calling the rumors 'stupid, ridiculous and false'.  Folks need to cut the crap.  The chick is pregnant.

 

 

PICTURE PROOF: Rihanna's Back With Ex Matt Kemp?!

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 10:27 AM PDT

Some love never dies.  Rihanna's ex-boyfriend MLBer Matt Kemp is back in the picture.  After kickin' it with her "We Found Love" video co-star off the set last week, she's moved on already with her former flame.  Clearly she wanted that old thing back.

 

Pics inside of Rihanna hitting a Gentlemen's Club in London with her ex-boo...

While partying in London last night (well, 2AM this morning), Rih tried to sneak out the back door of Peter Stringfellows Gentleman's Club in Soho, London.  Why so sneaky when she's always paparazzi ready?  Maybe that's because her ex-boyfriend Matt Kemp, who some say cheated on her even though they said long-distance was the culprit, was spotted in the passenger seat of her awaiting car!

Rih hid her face and flipped off the cameras once inside the car with Mr. Kemp and her PR bestie Jen. 

They broke up last December blaming their long distance relationship and busy careers, while some said it was because Matt was cheating.  But if Matt's already traveling across the world from L.A. to go see homegirl for a few nights, sounds like both are feenin' for that old thing back.  Matt always seemed enamored with her. 

Time will tell...

Pics via SPLASH
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