Thursday, June 23, 2011

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Jessica White, Gloria Govan, Matt Barnes, Meeka Claxton, Rocsi, & Lots More Party It Up In LA & NYC

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT

Celebs hit up the 3D official summer kickoff white party at Rolling Stone Restaurant and Lounge in L.A. this week.  The Lakers, actors, and other folks donned their white looks and partied it up.

 

Pic sof them, plus Jessica White's birthday party, when you read on...

Laker baller Matt Barnes and his fiance' Gloria Govan rolled to the party.  They're gearing up for their "Basketball Wives: LA" spinoff filming soon.  I wonder if an actual wedding will take place with them.

Gorgeous Jill Marie Jones hit the black carpet with Dave Brown, Darran Matthews and Deral Boykin.

So pretty!

 

Actor Keith Robinson made an appearance.

Laker baller Derek Fisher's wife, Candace, flew solo tot he party.

Actress and singer Davetta Sherwood hit the party.

The sexy Reggie Bush got his party on. 

Porscha Coleman and Clifton Powell made appearances.

Ceddy kicked it with Matt and Gloria.

And Alesha Renee was there.

 

And this week, model Jessica White celebrated her 27th birthday at The Darby in NYC:

She could pull off this lace sheer look.

Rocsi was there kicking it with Russell Simmons.

Oh hey Meeka Claxton.  She's a NY native so she'll likely be in the City often.

Alrighty.

Cute cake!

Jennifer Williams was there to party.

And so was Adrienne Bailon, who is filming a reality show.  Fun times.

Photog: Raglin

WORK IT OUT: Kelly Rowland & Trainer Jeanette Jenkins Shoot SEXY ABS Workout DVD

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 07:58 AM PDT

We've all been envying Kelly Rowland's abs and entire sexy bod for years now.  So she's giving the green-eyed-monsters an inside look into her workout routine.  Kel teamed up with celebrity trainer and her good friend Jeanette Jenkins for their new SEXY ABS workout DVD.  And we've got a few pics of the hot ladies on their video shoot inside....

Jeanette, Kelly, and the workout extras hit Van Nuys, California to film their "Sexy Abs" workout DVD.  Here's some shots of the sexy ladies working it out:

The DVD is Kelly’s first fitness video inspired by her fans who frequently ask about her own fitness routine. The DVD will give fans direct access to the workout that has shaped her own “Sexy Abs” by her own fitness trainer, and will also feature her own music throughout. It follows a six-week long “Bikini Bootcamp” Twitter challenge issued by both Kelly and Jeanette in April to inspire fans to get fit for the summer which drew thousands of participants. 

Here's a snippet from the press release just sent over:

GRAMMY Award winning recording artist and actress Kelly Rowland teamed up with Hollywood Trainer Jeanette Jenkins to produce her first fitness DVD called “Sexy Abs,” shot yesterday in Los Angeles. Inspired by Rowland’s fans who frequently ask about her own fitness routine, the DVD will give them unique access to the same exercises that have shaped Rowland’s own sexy abs, with her own trainer and own music throughout. Coupled with Jenkins’ signature fun, high-energy style, the workout is designed to motivate, sculpt a sexy midsection, and deliver the health benefits of improved core strength, a key component in preventing lower back pain.

The DVD will be available this fall through Amazon as well as on www.kellyrowland.com and www.thehollywoodtrainer.com to give fans a motivational boost before the holiday season.

Fab!

 

 

Photo Credits: David Heisler

Kanye West Spotted Smiling & Dining Out In New York City

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 07:42 AM PDT

Kanye West was spotted out and about in New York City yesterday.  See "Kanye Kandids" inside......

Kanye West was spotted strolling through the streets of NYC recently on his way to Lure, a posh sushi restaurant.

He shook hands with a fan before crossing the street.

Though there is still no official release date for Watch The Throne, it is rumored to drop this summer.

Meanwhile, how are we feeling about these orange pants?
 

 

Kanye is also gearing up to go to New Orleans where he will join Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige headlining the Essence Music Fest July 1-3.

 

Photos via Bauer Griffin

Amber Rose Shoots Scenes For Her Reality Show + Reggie Bush's New Girlfriend Is A Kim K. Look-A-Like

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 06:46 AM PDT

As if we need to see and learn even more about Amber Rose, she was spotted filming a reality show recently which means we may see her on TV in the fall. 

See the pics inside plus get the deets on Reggie Bush and his new girlfriend Melissa Molinaro....who looks a lot like his ex-Kim Kardashian. 

Amber Rose could be coming to the small screen really soon.  Wiz Khalifa's girlfriend was spotted on the beaches of Santa Monica playing volleyball and filming for a reality show. Sigh.....

Amber's new show "Behind Her Shades"  is expected to air on VH1 and will follow Amber as she embarks on a business venture to open her Sunglasses store.

"You’ll see the process that I have to go through in order to get it (the shop)…it’s not really easy to get a store and get people to come. My show is going be an open book of my life, my family and my businesses and it’s called Behind Her Shades because usually I have shades on and it’s everything that’s behind them that people don’t know about, but they’ll learn."

 

Will you be watching?

 

In other news....

Reggie Bush has bounced back nicely from his breakup with Kim Kardashian but he still stuck to his "type."  Clearly....he likes brunettes.  And his new ladyfriend bears a STRONG resemblance to his ex.

Sources say Reggie and his new girl, actress and singer Melissa Molinaro, has been going out very quietly since last summer and they met two years ago. 

You may remember Melissa from an Old Navy commercial from a while back....when she first drew comparisons to Kim as everyone mistook her for the reality star. 


 

Reggie seems to be smitten and sources say he even flew to London to watch her perform one night. How...sweet.
 

Photos via Flynetpictures.com

Beyonce Gets Pretty In Pink For 3-Night Concert In France, Premieres New Target Commercial

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 05:50 AM PDT

Beyonce just finished her second night of her 3-night french takeover in Lille, France last night.  Pics of her curls and sexy all-pink look, plus a look at her brand new Target commercial for the deluxe version of her upcoming 4 album, inside....

 

Bey and her all-female band rolled into Lille to work out her new songs for her overseas fans.  Her last concert stop is Paris just before her headlining slot at Glastonbury Festival this Sunday.  Pics from the performance:

And video of her rocking a Kings of Leon cover of "Sex on Fire":

 

 

Check out her brand new 30 second commercial for her Target exclusive deluxe edition of 4:

And the last few quotes about her album that she posted to Facebook:

“For the first time in my life I was able to travel the world, hear different influences, see different types of dance and choreography and taste different types of food. It was important that I was able to digest everything. It inspired purity, more heart and more love.”

“I really want people to think when they listen to my music. I want it to help them through their painful memories, their painful moments, and their most happy moments. I want it to be a conversation.”

Nice.

Photog: Mason Poole

MUSIC MANIA: Lil' Wayne Covers The July/August 2011 Issue Of "XXL" + Drake's "Trust Issues" + Dawn Richard's "Novacane (Remix)"

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 02:49 PM PDT

Lil' Wayne covers the July/August 2011 of XXL.  And Drake returns and shows even more of his sensitive side (yes...there is still some left) on his latest track called "Trust Issues." Plus Bad Boy's Dawn Richards returns with the female perspective/answer to Frank Ocean's "Novacane." Check them out inside.....

 

In the latest issue of XXL, Lil' Wayne talks to Shaheem Reid about his music and his life.  He tells him,

“What is good about me is that I’m an interesting muthafucka. I’m Dwayne Michael Carter period! Whether I’m a rapper or not, I’m interesting. And that’s what my album’s gonna be about: me and how interesting I am.”

The magazine hits the stands on July 12.

 

 

In other Young Money news....

On what may be a track off his forthcoming Take Care disc, Drake opens up about his "Trust Issues."  He released the song on his blog earlier saying, "Did my own little thing using some other thing I did. You know." 

And by that, Drake is referring to the hook he used on DJ Khaled's latest single, "I'm On One."  It pops up on this song too.

Listen to Drake's "Trust Issues" here:

 

 

And Dawn of Danity Kane/Dirty Money is still dropping new music for her fans.  With her co-writing partner Intyce, Dawn Richards puts the female spin on Frank Ocean's song "Novacane."  But does she do a good job with it?

Listen to Dawn Richard's Remix of "Novacane" here:

DO WE LOVE IT?: Beyonce's Bonus Track "Schoolin' Life"

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 02:01 PM PDT

On Beyonce's deluxe edition of her upcoming album 4, she adds on 3 additional tracks.  The first one to just hit the net is called "Schoolin' Life" and she's going the Prince route with it.  Check it under the cut....

Beyonce sang over an 80's inspired beat for another track written by The Dream.  The "1+1" song she performed on "American Idol" also channeled a bit of Prince, and she's doing it again on "Schoolin' Life."  And she's talking about still excelling in a world where parents try to shield everything.

"Mom and dad tried to hide the world/Said the world's just too big for a little girl/Eyes wide open can't you see/I had my first heels by the age of 13..."

The other two bonus tracks are called "Dance For U" and "Lay Up Under Me."  Her 4 Deluxe Edition will be released exclusively at Target the same day as her regular album, June 28th.

DO WE LOVE IT?!

Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony & Idris Elba Get Sexy In Milan + Is Tony Parker Getting Traded From the Spurs?

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 12:51 PM PDT

Ballers Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony along with actor Idris Elba celebrated their last night in Milan.  See the "swexy" fellas inside and find out about Tony Parker's status as a San Antonio's Spurs player.  

Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Idris Elba posed for an exclusive photo while in Milan for Men's Fashion Week, where the trio attended many fashion shows.

And Dwyane enjoyed himself so much that he's rushed off to Paris to attend additional fashion shows including Louis Vuitton, YSL and Hermes.  Hmm.....I'm sure their wardrobe during the off-season will be NICE. 

Meanwhile, Idris Elba has signed on to replace Tom Cruise in the Guillermo del Toro directed film Pacific Rim.  He will play the lead role of Sensi in the Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros sci-fi action film.  The film and production begin in November.

 

Also in sports news....

Eva Longoria's ex-husband Tony Parker and fellow San Antonio Spurs teammate Manu Ginobili may be traded to other teams.  According to Yahoo! Sports, the Spurs had a decent season this year, but a move to trade Tony (and his large salary) would free up the Spurs' resources to build and restructure their franchise.

Hmmm.....where could he end up....

 

Photos via Bob Metelus Images

DIPLOMATIC FAB: First Lady Michelle Gets Earthy In South Africa

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:55 AM PDT

First Lady Michelle Obama continued her South Africa trip today and made a few stops gardening and speaking with children in Johannesburg. 

 

Pics of Mrs. O bringing her White House efforts across the world to South Africa, when you read on...

Our First Lady had a busy schedule of stops today.  The first were drop in visits on a forum set up by the state department to encourage leadership among young women in Africa. The 75 forum attendees, who were chosen to participate by the US government and photographed with FLOTUS yesterday, also attended her speech at Regina Mundi church this morning.

And just like she did at the White House in D.C., Michelle Obama helped the children of an impoverished town cater to their own garden today.  She went to Nanga Vhuthilo Center, a community center in Soweto that serves 300 family. FLOTUS and less than a dozen of the women from the leadership forum volunteered.

they planted carrots and spinach and tons of veggies.  And had some fun while doing so. 

The kiddies of the center even sang her a "goodbye song" and danced the Setswana dance.  How cute!

Earlier in the day, she also helped a family pay homage to a 13-year-old boy killed by police in 1976:

Loves her.  She and the First Daughters and her other family members headed to the Cape Town airport a few hours ago....

"Basketball Wife" Meeka Claxton Addresses The Haters, Her Greasiness, Her Fight With Tami, & Her Messiness

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:07 AM PDT

So new "Basketball Wife" Meeka Claxton called up Power 92 in Richmond to dish about how she's portrayed on this new season of "Basketball Wives."  She dishes on the haters who call her Greasy Meeka, Tami allegedly punching her out, and if she's really as messy as she comes off on the show.  Meeka also explains why she has issues with Royce and why the show may portray her as a Evelyn/Shaunie/Jennifer groupie, even though it's not the case.

 

Her full interview and the important highlights inside....

 

Meeka chatted with TT Torrez and made a point to say she's very secure as she knows she's a true "wife" and she got what she signed up for--the show portraying her as something she is not.  She cleared up that she was not the one begging to come on the show like Shaunie said in recent interviews, their mutual friend Jackie Christie (who is starring in the upcoming "Basketball Wives LA" spinoff) Don King'd the deal.  And she did this show to showcase how grounded a real basketball wife can be with family.

Oh, and she says her hubby of 5 years, Speedy (who she met in college 6 years ago), isn't pleased at all with the show and how she's being portrayed.

 

Highlights:

On rumors of her begging Shaunie to be on “Basketball Wives” Meeka said she didn’t seek Shaunie out. A mutual friend of theirs named Jackie actually reached out to Shaunie because she felt that Meeka would be a good addition to the show. Meeka said she was hesitant at first but wanted to show the life of a real basketball wife.

On how the show has portrayed her so far: Meeka said she’s not mad about it. She hopes the show will show more of her family and her running her business.

On coming off as a “Shaunie-Evelyn-Jennifer groupie”: She said she’s not offended when someone asks her about being their groupie. She said that they were just as excited to meet her as well. She set the record straight saying, “definitely ain’t no groupie status here.”

On Evelyn and Shaunie saying she talks too much: She said she doesn’t pay attention to all of that because she knows that they were talking too and she knows a lot about them too. She said at first it bothered her but now it doesn’t saying, “I can’t even be mad at that. I signed up for it. “

On how she handles all the drama stemming from “Basketball Wives”: She said she’s so secure that it doesn’t faze her, “to know me is to love me.”

On people nicknaming her “Greasy Meeka”: She responded, “It’s HOT as hell out there in Miami and they have us drinking like sailors so that’s the sailor in me I guess coming out, sweating like crazy. I just definitely know who I am…[I’m a] little too secure for all of that so I laugh at them when I think that they think that I’m bothered by it. It’s like…let them hate, I really don’t care. I know who I am and I know what it is. I’m the one that’s here that’s the basketball wife.”

On the rumor of Tami punching her in the face in Rome: “Rumors are rumors and they are always going to be there,” she said. She can’t give anything away but said we will have to watch the show because this season is an explosive season. She said if something like that did happen, that’s NOT her style and that she’s a classy chick.

**Meeka then admits that Tami DID NOT punch her in the face!

On how important it is for her being in the “Shaunie-Evelyn-Jennifer” clique: Meeka said it might seem like she’s worried about being in their circle, but she’s really not. She said she’s only concerned with her paper and her family. She said she was hesitant about meeting Royce because she’s a dancer that crossed the line (referring to Royce’s relationship with Dwight Howard).

On people calling her “Two-Faced Meeka”: She said that’s definitely not her. She said the girls are not always what they seem but she just has to remember who she is and be secure in that. She said if you think she’s two faced then you really don’t know her. She confessed after watching the show she can see why people would think that though.

On how her husband, Speedy Claxton, feels about her being on the show: Initially he thought it was great to show a happy basketball wife and husband raising two kids together. Now seeing the show he’s a little pissed off because it didn’t look the way he had imagined it.

On if he wants her to leave “Basketball Wives”: She said she can’t say but he’s not happy and he wants her to fix that.

On if she and Speedy were to get a divorce: Meeka has her own business so if they were to split she said she would be fine.

On if she let her two daughters watch the show: At the beginning she admitted she did let them watch the show. She said they shot some good footage and she thought it was going to come out differently. She said she sent them out the room while watching the first episode and she will not let them watch it any longer. She said with them being so young (ages 2 & 7) that they are very impressionable and she doesn’t want her children to see her in that light.

Sigh.  That's about all I can do....

Denzel Washington, Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo, Ashanti & More At The Boys And Girls Club Photo Call + Angela Bassett Replacing Halle Berry On Broadway

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 10:36 AM PDT


 

Denzel Washington, Ashanti, Jennifer Lopez, Kerry Washington and Ne-Yo were among the celebs who participated in a Boys And Girls Club photo call for its numerous celebrity spokepeople.  See the picks inside and find out about Angela Bassett replacing Halle Berry on Broadway.

The Boy and Girls CLub in Los Angeles recently held a photo call for its celebrity spokepeople which included Denzel Washington, Ashanti, Ne-Yo, Mario Lopez, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Lopez. 

Jennifer Lopez (who grew up performing at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx) was dressed in head-to-toe Lanvin and laughed it up with Ashanti.


 

 

It's great to see so many super famous celebs reaching back and giving their time and support to kids today.


 

Much like Denzel Washington, many of the celebs participated in various programs while growing up.  Mario Lopez was a wrestler at the Chulo Vista Boys and Girls Club.  Also, Sugar Ray Leonard, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Martin Sheen, Courtney B. Vance and Cuba Gooding Jr. participated in the photo call. 

And later on.....Ashanti tweeted a few pics from the set.


 

Ashanti and Kerry look fab together.

Fabness of celebs giving back.

 

And on Broadway......

We told you previously that Halle Berry had landed a role on Broadway, but she pulled out of the play a few months ago as a result of her custody battle.  Now it has been announced that fab chick Angela Bassett is headed to Broadway to replace Halle.

Angela Bassett is replacing Halle in the Broadway production of "The Mountaintop," which also stars Samuel L. Jackson as civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.  Angela will now play the role of a mysterious maid named Camae who visits King at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis the night before his 1968 assassination.

Angela starts her performances of the Katori Hall written-play in September at the Bernard B Jacobs Theatre, with an official opening set for Oct. 13.

 

Photos via GSI Media

Rumors Stir Again That A Destiny's Child Reunion Album Is On The Way, Label Denies It

Posted: 22 Jun 2011 09:13 AM PDT

Word has it Beyonce's record label isn't feeling her new album to the point they want to throw an emergency Destiny's Child Reunion album in the works to balance how badly they believe she's going to flop.  But what's her label really saying?

 

Deets inside....

The NY Post is reporting that Beyonce's label is so scared her new 4 album is going to bomb, that they are already scraping together a Destiny's Child album to keep Beyonce and her brand at the top.  Supposedly, Columbia Records asked her to return to the studio to record new tracks to be added to the album before it's release, and she refused. So now they're supposedly looking to a comeback reunion album with Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland to off-set what they believe will be a bomb.

"They're very nervous about Beyoncé's new record," an industry insider told us. "It doesn't have the hit songs that her fans are used to. They asked her to make changes, but she said no."

Bracing for the worst, Columbia suits are strategizing in case of slower sales and have had "quiet discussions" about the reunion of Destiny's Child.

"Beyoncé's career has stalled a bit," a source told us. "Columbia seems to think they can get some mileage out of a comeback record with all of the girls." Another source tells us Destiny's Child could start recording together as early as October, with a suggested album title "Family Reunion."
 

A Post source said, "[Kelly] has her own solo career now, why would she want to be singing back up for Beyoncé?"

And Columbia Records denies all this saying:

"All I know is that the record came in . . . Nothing was ever discussed to change it." Beyoncé's rep said, "All of this is completely untrue. All of it." Rowland's rep didn't get back to us.

Time will tell.....
 

Beyonce is set to appear on "Piers Morgan Tonight" in a one hour interview the day before her album release, June 27th, on CNN.

*CHECK OUT ESSENCE.COM'S GALLERY OF BEYONCE'S BEST MAKE-UP LOOKS DURING HER RISE TO THE TOP*

 
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