The Young, Black, and Fabulous

PARTY FAB: Celebs Do "Bottles & Strikes" & Celebrate Def Jam Rapstar Game
Kerry Washington Curls Out For The November Cover Of ESSENCE
Toni Braxton Files For Bankruptcy Again, May Owe $50 Million
Tell 'Em Why You're Mad Nas!
WOW: Police Brutality Victim Rodney King *Frolicks* With Juror Turned Fiancée
EVENING CANDIDS: Kelly Rowland, Usher, Mel B. & Rihanna Kick It Overseas
VIDEO: Beyonce Makes A Surprise Appearance On "Kathie Lee & Hoda" For Her Mama
VIDEO FAB: Keri Hilson's "Breaking Point" Vid
TV FAB: 106 & Park Celebrates 10 Years
PHOTOS: YBF Celebs Live It Up In Paris For Fashion Week!
Jennifer Hudson Gets FAB For Her Michigan Avenue Magazine Cover Party

PARTY FAB: Celebs Do "Bottles & Strikes" & Celebrate Def Jam Rapstar Game

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 09:02 AM PDT

YBF folks headed to Chelsea Pier in NYC to bowl and drink it up. While, elsewhere in NYC last night, other folks hit the Def Jam celbration for the new Rap Star game.

Pics of Trey Songz, Olivia, Rocs, Angela Yee, Rocsi, Ja Rule and many others when you read on...

Over at the Hudson Hotel, Trigga brought his mom April and manager Kevin Liles along to celebrate the Rap Star game.

Fine ass Method Man was there too.

And Maino came out to party with his people.

Rocsi donned her sequin short shorts and leather jacket.

And Estelle was there partying as well.

Kevin brought his new wife Erika Liles along, who rocked a cute outfit for fall.

Some of the folks joined others at the Bottles & Strikes event over at Chelsea Pier as well:

Trey kicked it with Olivia and host Angela Yee.

These pants on this dude.....killing me softly.

Hey Rocsi.

Michael Kyser sowed loved to Olivia.

Juelz Santana rolled through.

Ja Rule got his bowl on.

And Terrence J, Trey, Stephen Hill, Kyser, and other fellas all partied it up. Fun times I'm sure.

Photog: Nunez

Kerry Washington Curls Out For The November Cover Of ESSENCE

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 08:28 AM PDT

YBF chick Kerry Washington got fab for the November cover of ESSENCE magazine. Check out her full-on curls in the upcoming "Race In America" issue when you read on...

Kerry was quoted about her take on how she wants her personal race to be outwardly perceived:

"...I don't want to ignore my Blackness. I just want to get to the point where my racial identity is simply a part of what makes me unique..."

Chick's looking gorgeous on the cover donning a head full of beautiful curls and a revealing red, white, and navy blue watercolor dress. As usual. And is starring in Tyler Perry's upcoming For Colored Girls movie.

Essence states that "the goal of this month's issue is to create a national dialogue on race that will inform, inspire and empower African-American women." This ought to be interesting....

Source

Toni Braxton Files For Bankruptcy Again, May Owe $50 Million

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 07:00 AM PDT

R&B diva Toni Braxton has filed for bankruptcy saying she may owe somewhere between $10 million and $50 million in unpaid debt. Find out the deets inside...

In bankruptcy court documents filed in California, Toni claims she's worth somewhere between $1 mil and $10 mill, but she could have up to $50 mil in debts.

Toni lists a ton of creditors whom she thinks she may owe money to in the documents including:

-- AT&T
-- The Four Seasons Hotels
-- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
-- Various medical bills
-- DirecTV
-- Neiman Marcus
-- The William Morris Agency
-- Tiffany & Co.
-- Orkin Pest Control
-- The Internal Revenue Service
-- BMW Financial Services

On top of that, Toni thinks she owes the City of L.A. Parking Violations Bureau, and the DMV in both California and Nevada.

Having filed for bankruptcy in 1998, Toni's been in this position before. I hope she gets it together because she's raising two kids and one has special needs. And earlier this year, the IRS filed a lien against her for $396k. SMH. I'm suggesting a new business manager and accountant.

On a side note, what is with all this "I THINK I owe..."? Either you owe it or you don't...call customer service to find out. I call B.S. Chick does have a new Bravo reality show in the works...

The Randomness:

1. Venus Williams to sit out rest of the season with knee injury. Here.

Tell 'Em Why You're Mad Nas!

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 06:30 AM PDT

Nas is fed up with Def Jam executives for not releasing his album yet. He wrote a letter to the company explaining his 99 problems. And he didn't hold his tongue. Read the letter when you go inside...

Seems like Nas has had enough waiting around for his album to be released. He took it upon himself to write the Def Jam execs with the subject line of "Put My Sh*t Out !"

Here's the letter in full:

From: Nas
To: LA Reid, Steve Bartels, Steve Gawley, Michael Seltzer, Joseph Borrino, Chris Hicks
Subject: PUT MY SHIT OUT!

Peace to all,

With all do respect to you all, Nas is NOBODY’s slave. This is not the 1800?s, respect me and I will respect you.
I won’t even tap dance around in an email, I will get right into it. People connect to the Artist @ the end of the day, they don’t connect with the executives. Honestly, nobody even cares what label puts out a great record, they care about who recorded it. Yet time and time again its the executives who always stand in the way of a creative artist’s dream and aspirations. You don’t help draw the truth from my deepest and most inner soul, you don’t even do a great job @ selling it. The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars. You aren’t…. not even close. As a matter of fact, you wish you were, but it didn’t work out so you took a desk job. To the consumer, I COME FIRST. Stop trying to deprive them! I have a fan base that dies for my music and a RAP label that doesn’t understand RAP. Pretty fucked up situation

This isn’t the 90?s though. Beefing with record labels is so 15 years ago. @ this point I just need you all to be very clear where I stand and how I feel about “my label.” I could go on twitter or hot 97 tomorrow and get 100,000 protesters @ your building but I choose to walk my own path my own way because since day one I have been my own man. I did business with Tommy Mottola and Donnie Einer, two of the most psycho dudes this business ever created. I worked well with them for one major reason……. they believed in me. The didn’t give a fuck about what any radio station or magazine said….those dudes had me.

Lost Tapes is a movement and a very important set up piece for my career as it stands. I started this over 5 years ago @ Columbia and nobody knew what it was or what it did but the label put it out as an LP and the fans went crazy for it and I single handlely built a new brand of rap albums. It’s smart and after 5 years it’s still a head of the game. This feels great and you not feeling what I’m feeling is disturbing. Don’t get in the way of my creativity. We are aligned with the stars here, this is a movement. There is a thing called KARMA that comes to haunt you when you tamper with the aligning stars. WE ARE GIVING THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Stop throwing dog shit on a MAGICAL moment.

You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD! Keep your bullshit $200,000.00 fund. Open the REAL budget. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don’t even have shit coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy. Let’s get money!
-N.Jones

Nas sounds like he means business and makes some valid points. But I already know the argument of the execs will be--"Well you're not that hot right now." Nas just released the Distant Relatives album with Damien Marley and got some pub for it, but not what the label was looking for.

Wonder if Lupe will follow his lead and do the same thing about his album? Your thoughts?

WOW: Police Brutality Victim Rodney King *Frolicks* With Juror Turned Fiancée

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 05:36 AM PDT

Remember when the country damn near erupted into another Civil War after Rodney King was beaten so severely by cops in the early 90's? Well Rodney took his $4 million awarded to him by the jurors...and a juror herself...and carried on with his life.

Pics of him and his new fiancée at their "engagement shoot" when you read on...

When the story hit the net a few weeks ago that Rodney was marrying a former juror, I didn't believe it. But here's the picture proof:

Police brutality victim Rodney King snaped some "frolicking* pics this week with his new fiancee' Cynthia Kelley, who also happens to be one of the jurors responsible for awarding him his multi-million dollar compensation settlement.

The couple, who first laid eyes on one another across the courtroom in 1994, have recently rekindled their friendship, fallen in love and are planning their wedding. You can find love in the craziest of places.

Why these pics are pure hilarity to me, I don't know. But they are.

Pics via SPLASH

EVENING CANDIDS: Kelly Rowland, Usher, Mel B. & Rihanna Kick It Overseas

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 05:38 PM PDT

Celebs have been out and about this week on the other side of the Atlantic ocean. Kelly Rowland got fab as she toted around London in this black shiny mini skirt, a black Elie Tahari bag, and tan furry vest and black low boots.

And we've got more pics of her and others when you read on...

OK upon second look....not feeling this so much. There's a lot going on here Kels.

Rihanna hit up Paris Fashion Week today and front row of the Miu Miu show. She donned a long Miu Miu printed dress, random blue and black ankle socks, and burgundy satiny pumps. Chick is really on this 50's tip these days.

But it's another look I'm just not feelin'.

Usher hit the streets of Berlin last night:

He was heading to the Grand Hyatt for a photocall for his upcoming OMG 2011 Tour.

And back in Londontown, former Spice Girl Mel B. hit "Daybreak" at ITV studios to do some pub:

She rocked a black and red tunic dress with sexy black booties. And her dress had sayings like "What Goes Around Comes Around" printed all over it. Interesting.

VIDEO: Beyonce Makes A Surprise Appearance On "Kathie Lee & Hoda" For Her Mama

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 04:28 PM PDT

Beyonce surprised the "Today Show" fourth hour hosts Kathie Lee and Hoda this morning. She volunteered her precious time to help her mama push her Miss Tina line on the show.

Video of Hoda Kotb's freak out when Bey popped up when you read on...

Tina Knowles is pushing her Miss Tina line of curvalicious moderately priced clothing. She's hit Wal-mart and other retail spots. And this morning, she showed off her line on "Kathie Lee & Hoda" on "The Today Show".

When Hoda prepped the last model "Sarah" to come out, Beyonce appeared and surprised everyone on the set. Chick looked fab. And Mama Tina said Beyonce volunteered her time...she didn't have to ask her for the favor. Sweet.

VIDEO FAB: Keri Hilson's "Breaking Point" Vid

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 02:53 PM PDT

Keri Hilson just dropped her brand new video for her first single "Breaking Point". Check it...and her new song "Pretty Girl Rock"...when you read on...

Loves that song. And she's looking gorge in the video.

Keri's really serious about switching up her look this time around. By the way, she released her new song "Pretty Girl Rock" (produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony) yesterday as well. Here it is in case you missed it:

We feelin' these?

TV FAB: 106 & Park Celebrates 10 Years

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 02:53 PM PDT

BET's music countdown show "106 & Park" is celebrating 10 years on the air with a special featuring all the hosts of the show from over the years. And we have pics and video from the special featuring Tigger, Free, AJ, Rosci, Terrence J and Julissa when you go inside...

Free hit the makeup room getting ready to hit the set.

We so miss AJ and Free. But we definitely don't miss those Predator dreds though.

Wonder if Terrence J was teaching them how to Dougie.

Rosci and Tigger look like they had an intense moment.

Not too sure what the prayer circle was about but....if it works for tv...go with it.

Rosci and Terrence J toast ited up.

They forgot to announce that Stephen Hill is bringing back Solid Gold with Julissa as host.

Great group shot of all the hosts: Rosci, Tigger, Free, Terrence J, Julissa and AJ.

Here's a video of the past and present hosts on stage with "106 & Park" creator Stephen Hill:

And a clip of Free and AJ discussing their emotional departure:

PHOTOS: YBF Celebs Live It Up In Paris For Fashion Week!

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 11:02 AM PDT

YBF celebs are saying "Bon Jour!" this week as they hit up all the Fashion Week shows in Paris. Kanye brought his "muse" Selita Ebanks along, while Amber Rose made her rounds solo this year, and Janet, Lenny, Naomi and others all got fab for the events.

A photo gallery full of who showed up to what wearing who when you read on....

YBF Celebs Travel to Paris For Fashion Week!

Jennifer Hudson Gets FAB For Her Michigan Avenue Magazine Cover Party

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 09:35 AM PDT

Jennifer Hudson has been living it up in her brand new hot body. Check out the pics of her celebrating her new Michigan Avenue mag's second anniversary/her cover party when you read on....