The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Brandy DISHES To "YRB" Magazine About Whitney Houston, The "Two-Eleven" Disc And Working With Frank Ocean
MOVIE FAB: SONY Pictures RELEASES The "SPARKLE" Trailer
Rihanna SPORTS New Shaved Hairdo & PROMOTES "Battleship" In Japan
Nicki Minaj Gets PAINTED In "Roman Reloaded" Photoshoot + Chris Brown RELEASES "Oh Yeah" & "See Through" Singles
Charlie Bell ACCUSES Kenya Of SPENDING $100K on Plastic Surgery+ Kenya PARTIES In Detroit With Drake's Ex Maliah!
CELEBRITY PLAYDATE! Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Mashonda & Their Kids Have Some Fun In NYC

Brandy DISHES To "YRB" Magazine About Whitney Houston, The "Two-Eleven" Disc And Working With Frank Ocean

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 09:30 AM PDT

In the latest issue of "YRB" Magazine, Brandy dishes about her return to the music scene with Two-Eleven and how Whitney Houston's legacy inspired the disc's title and her career. See the highlights inside....

Brandy chatted with "YRB" Magazine recently to promote her upcoming disc Two-Eleven and reflect on her career in the industry. During the chat, she talked about evolving her "sound", how Whitney Houston inspired her, and what role Frank Ocean plays on the disc. Here are the highlights:

On her new "sound":

“It’s definitely R&B, but it has the crossover appeal. It’s grittier, it’s edgier, it’s just different type of R&B. It’s not your regular smooth, soft with the beat type music,” she describes. “It’s just taking risks and hearing how I sound over different types of music, and I wanted an album that different people can listen to. Not just R&B, but pop and hip-hop. I wanted everyone to have something that they can listen to on this album.”

On "Two-Eleven" representing her birthday and the Whitney Houston passed away:

“Some of the titles I was working with were Rebirth, Reincarnation, Reinvention, Resurrection… I just felt like Two Eleven describes all of that. It’s the day I was born, and each year, I evolve and change with time. It also has a whole new meaning to it because I gained my angel. My icon is my angel now. It’s all tied in there and I just think it best represents who I am and the responsibilities I have moving on.”

On why she worked with Frank Ocean:

“His music speaks volumes, and I was able to experience that before everyone else knew,” she says. “I always knew he was really special and I just wanted to see how we could vibe, what we could come up with together in the studio this time around. He’s just a genius. I think his songs have so much substance and so much depth, and you need that on an album as well.”

See the fab photoshoot here:

Photography by Miguel Starcevich // Styling by Darius Baptist // Hair by Kim Kimble for Margaret Maldonado // Makeup by Eric Ferrell/dion peronneau L.A.

BONUS:

Beyonce covers the March 2012 issue Glamour Netherlands with a photo by Man Sumarni.

Looking good Bey!

MOVIE FAB: SONY Pictures RELEASES The "SPARKLE" Trailer

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 08:51 AM PDT

Earlier today, the trailer for the eagerly anticipated movie SPARKLE starring Whitney Houston and Jordin Sparks was revealed on "TODAY". Watch it inside....

The "TODAY" show had an exclusive first look at the trailer for Whitney Houston's last film, Sparkle (August 17), this morning.

Directed by Salim Akil and written by Mara Brock Akil and Howard Rosenman, the all-star cast of the film includes Jordin Sparks, Tika Sumpter, Mike Epps, Derek Luke and Cee-Lo Green.

Watch the mini-trailer here (the full verson will be added later):

Rihanna SPORTS New Shaved Hairdo & PROMOTES "Battleship" In Japan

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 08:18 AM PDT

Pop star Rihanna is sporting a new hairdo and color (shaved at the side) while over in Japan promoting Battleship. See the pics of Rihanna atop an aircraft inside....

Rihanna climbed aboard an actual aircraft carrier at the U.S. 7th Fleet's headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan today to promote her flick Battleship.

RiRi has darkened her hair again and her head is shaved on the side.

She appeared alongside co-stars Brooklyn Decker, Peter Berg and Taylor Kitsch who are getting ready for the world premiere of the flim tomorrow.

Check out the meet and greet here:

Nicki Minaj Gets PAINTED In "Roman Reloaded" Photoshoot + Chris Brown RELEASES "Oh Yeah" & "See Through" Singles

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 07:34 AM PDT

Nicki Minaj has released the highly colorful photos from her Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded shoot. See the pics inside and hear two new songs from Chris Brown, "See Though" and "Oh Yeah."

With her sophomore disc Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded dropping this week, Nicki Minaj has also released photos from the album's photoshoot were she gets painted in a multitude of colors.

This week, Nicki will be heavily promoting her new album with appearances on “106 & Park” on Monday and the “Today” show on Friday. She's even doing in-store signings in New York (4/3), Philadelphia (4/4), and Los Angeles (4/7).

And in new music.......

Chris Brown continues to bless his fans with new tracks and has dropped two singles.

Listen to Chris Brown's "Oh Yeah" here:

Listen to "See Through" here:

Charlie Bell ACCUSES Kenya Of SPENDING $100K on Plastic Surgery+ Kenya PARTIES In Detroit With Drake's Ex Maliah!

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 07:15 AM PDT

In explosive court docs, former NBA baller Charlie Bell accuses estranged wife and "BBW" star Kenya Bell of spending $100K on plastic surgery! Get the deets on her other expenses and see her hosting a party in Detroit inside.....

Over the weekend, "BBW" star Kenya Bell hosted a party in Detroit at the Pandemonim Lounge with Drake's ex Maliah. But, as Kenya was partying it up, her estranged husband, Charlie Bell, was putting her on blast for her outrageous spending habits.

In new court docs, Charlie Bell claims Kenya has squandered away tons of money. Like.....

-- $82,000 on a Corvette, which she drove for 3 weeks -- then resold it for $61,000
-- $12,000 on a motorcycle
-- $20,000 on criminal attorneys
-- $150,000 on "miscellaneous expenses to get even with Mr. Bell"
-- $3,000 on her brother's electric bill
-- $9,000 on luggage and shoes
-- and $110,000 on plastic surgeries and expenses in L.A. for the plastic surgery trips

So now, Charlie wants a judge to deny her request for more financial support!

We'll keep you posted on the case....but does she have a $100,000 face?

The Randomness:

1. Bob Johnson announces new RLJ Entertainment,Inc. company. Story.

Photos via PictureMeClubbing.com

CELEBRITY PLAYDATE! Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Mashonda & Their Kids Have Some Fun In NYC

Posted: 02 Apr 2012 06:24 AM PDT

Well this was an interesting playdate. Exes Mashonda & Swizz Beatz were spotted causing ruckus together (totally civil of course). Their son they have together, Kasseem Jr., was on hand for a big kiddie playdate with his brothers Nasir and Baby Egypt. So of course, Alicia Keys was there too. And even little Kiyan Anthony.

Pics inside...

Recently in Manhattan, there were smiles and fun galore for celeb kiddies 12-year-old Nasir (pictured above), Kasseem Jr. (pictured above) & Egypt Dean. Their parents were there to help out with the fun and the kids looked like they had a blast: