Monday, December 31, 2007

Beyonce and sister Solange celebrate the launch of Jay-Z’s new club

Beyonce Knowles and her sister Solange celebrated the launch of Jay-Z’s new 40/40 club last weekend.
The former Destiny’s Child singer and her little sister were there to celebrate the launch of Bey’s boyfriend’s new venture.
An onlooker said: “Beyonce and Solange lit up the room.
“It’s clear the good looks run in the family.”
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Corey Carter, arrived in style, wearing a fitted three-piece suit with cool shades to complete the look.
According to British newspaper The Sun, the Las Vegas club may not be open in time for New Year’s Eve due to licensing issues, but Jay-Z pulled out all the stops and made sure this year gets off with a bang.
Other guests at the swanky party included R’n'B sensation Ne-Yo and Mary J. Blige.
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Sunday, December 30, 2007

Angelina Jolie Writes Letter to Father

Angelina Jolie reportedly wrote a letter to her estranged father recently as she wants to mend their relationship. Jolie and Jon Voight stopped speaking in 2002 after he publicly said his daughter has “serious mental problems.”
Jolie was said to have refused his attempts at reconciliation, but sources say the actress has admitted to trying to talk to her father.
“We have [communicated] through letters already and we’ll see how far we can go,” Jolie recently said.
During a recent interview, Voight said he couldn’t talk about his relationship with Jolie but said he sent his love to her, and her children with partner Brad Pitt.
“No, I can’t talk about it really. But I send my love to my daughter and son, the family always, I wish them the best,” he said. “I’m very impressed with Angelina’s work, with some of the humanitarian things. And she’s a great actress. I’m always thinking of Brad and the kids. I’m sending my love that way.”
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Paris Hilton hooks up with Kevin Federline

Paris Hilton partied with Britney Spears’ ex-husband last night in Las Vegas. The socialite hit LAX nightclub with her sister Nikki Hilton. She then spotted Kevin Federline at a VIP table with his family and friends.
Hilton and Federline danced together before Paris grabbed her sister and headed to nearby Pure nightclub. After spending an hour posing for pictures and dancing in the DJ booth, the Hilton sisters returned to their hotel room.
Meanwhile, Paris and Nikki have been disinherited from their grandfather’s fortune. Barron Hilton recently announced that he was giving 97 percent of his fortune to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which was established by his father.
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Nicole Richie sells her West Hollywood apartment for $2.25 million

Pregnant Nicole Richie has sold her luxury West Hollywood apartment for a cool $2.25 million.
The reformed hellraiser has almost doubled her money on the 2,246-square-foot, two bedroom, 10th-floor unit in the Empire West building. She paid $1.18 million for it back in 2005.
Nicole and rocker boyfriend Joel Madden are expected to move into a $1.2 million town house bought for her as a surprise present by her adoptive dad, singer Lionel Richie.
The town house is in the Century City area of Los Angeles and was previously owned by NYPD Blue actor Dennis Franz.
But Nicole and Joel are also said to be looking at other properties in LA and downtown Manhattan.

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Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale: Inseparable

They just can’t spend enough time together! BFF’s Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale were spotted out on yet another shopping adventure - this time heading to the Lisa Kline boutique in Beverly Hills on Saturday.
The High School Musical co-stars were helped by security as they made their way to the store’s entrance, being covered with blankets at one point to shield themselves from photographers on site.

Once inside, Hudgens and Tisdale browsed the store’s selection before heading off to grab a bite to eat.
With paparazzi still following them, the Disney duo laughed hysterically as they pulled into a McDonald’s drive-thru. Ashley quickly grabbed the grub and jetted for the exit… hoping to gain a little privacy and lose the procession which followed them throughout the day.
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Another night, another nightclub for Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton and sister Nicky joined a gaggle of celebs at the opening of new LA club, Goa.
Paris sported a brown bodycon dress with beading along the body and around the hem (no doubt to show off the beach body she perfected for Christmas day) She teamed the dress with a quilted chain handbag, an oversized bracelet and ring, and not alot else. Jealous anyone?
Still, she may have the money and the figure, but I get to polish off the last of the festive mince pies. And you can't have everything.......

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USA Today: Britney Spears Is The Celebrity Of The Year

USA Today has named Britney Spears the celebrity of the year. They counted all the times celebrities were mentioned in 11 different magazines, websites and other places. Spears got more mentions than any other celebrity: 22,112. That's nearly 11,000 more mentions than Angelina Jolie. Jolie's husband, Brad Pitt came in third, 4,000 mentions behind his wife. Lindsay Lohan ranks fourth, followed by Jennifer Aniston. Rounding out the top ten are Katie Holmes, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Anna Nicole Smith and Jessica Simpson.
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Will Smith's acting break

Will Smith is planning to take a break from acting to return to his music career. The 'I Am Legend' star - who has been nominated for Oscars for his roles in 'Ali' and 'The Pursuit of Happyness' - is planning to perform some of his most famous hits, including 'Miami' and 'Getting' Jiggy Wit It' when he goes on tour next year.
He said: "I'm not going to be bringing out any new music but I will be going on tour with my old music next year - I'm looking forward to it."
Will added that he loved starring in horror film 'I Am Legend' because it allowed him to explore a different side of himself.
He said: "I realised that I have been neglecting my feminine side, and starring in this film and being by myself all the time allowed me to explore that side."
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Yung Joc says he wants to clear his name

Rapper Yung Joc, accused of taking a loaded gun to an airport, issued a statement Thursday saying he respects the law and is looking forward to resolving the charge against him.
Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was arrested Sunday at a Cleveland Hopkins International Airport security checkpoint. Police said they found a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition in his carry-on bag.
Robinson, 27, told police he didn't know the gun was there. He said in the statement that the incident is unfortunate.
"I have the utmost respect for the laws of this country and would never deliberately commit an act that would jeopardize my freedom, my family, or my career," he said.
Robinson, who faces a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon, didn't enter a plea at a Wednesday arraigment. He was freed on $50,000 bond and was due back in court Jan. 25. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 18 months.
Yung Joc was one of the biggest hip-hop stars in 2006, selling a million copies of his debut album "New Joc City," behind the Grammy-nominated song "It's Goin' Down." His follow-up album "Hustlenomic$" was released in August.

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'Heroes' Stars Come Clean About Romance

Heroes co-stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere have stopped pretending they're just good friends after cooing about their romance at a recent show party. Actor Ventimiglia toasted the actress at the pre-Christmas Water Grill party in Los Angeles, telling co-stars he was in fact dating Panettiere. An eyewitness tells In Touch Weekly magazine, "He called her his girlfriend and said that he loved her." The couple spent the rest of the party sitting together and holding hands. Ventimiglia recently shrugged off romance reports, insisting he and his co-star were just "close friends." He said, "It's only natural that people are going to couple us together." COPYRIGHT 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All Global Rights Reserved.
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Spears in Talks to Make Movie Comeback

Britney Spears is planning to get her career back on track with another foray into acting--the singer is in talks to star in new movie Memoirs of a Medicated Child. The troubled pop star's last big-screen outing was in 2002's Crossroads, but she is set to make a return after producers decided to approach Spears in favor of their original choice, Lindsay Lohan. Director Tommy Parker tells the New York Post's gossip column, Page Six, "As far as Britney's concerned, we're talking." Spears is currently in negotiations to take on the role of the girlfriend of a misdiagnosed mentally ill patient.
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Miley Cyrus: Pics with Friend 'Nothing Bad'

"They're nothing bad!" Cyrus told Z100 New York on Friday, right before her sold-out Best of Both Worlds concert at Nassau Coliseum. "At first, I was really upset. It really sucks," said the Hannah Montana star, who at one point exclaimed, "Look at me getting all upset!" Not that she simply plans to shrug off the controversy, or the fact that the photos were even leaked. "It's not something I'm going to let slide," she said. "I'm really upset about it, 'cause it was, like, not even a big deal." As for the blonde with her in the shots, Cyrus calls her "a friend of mine that's a normal girl. ... That's one of my best friends. I have all these girls who I hang out with all the time."
'Two Girls at a Sleepover'While Cyrus says she's used to all the attention, both good and bad – "I have to deal with that anyways," she said – her friend is not. "This girl doesn't even have to deal with that, and it's so hard," said Cyrus. [Now] she has to go to school and deal with this crap." Concerning the photos themselves, Cyrus said, "It's two girls at a sleepover, and if all of a sudden that's bad, then what is the world coming to?" Cyrus also says that she's into the tour for the fun of it – and once the fun goes away, so will she. "What I decided before I came out to L.A. and started working," she told the radio station's Niko, "was the minute I didn't have fun was the minute I go home. I don't want to go home, and I don't want to not do what I do, because I love it, but this ... it's Satan attacking."
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Ricky Martin to Be Feted by San Juan Festival

Ricky Martin, who celebrated his 36th birthday Christmas Eve, will receive an honor in his native country of Puerto Rico next year, it was announced Friday. The San Sebastian Street Festival, which begins Jan. 17 and is a wild multi-day event in Old San Juan, is dedicating its celebration to the singer, in recognition not just of his show business career, but of his charitable work as well. In 2004, Martin founded the Ricky Martin Foundation, whose mission statement reads: "The Ricky Martin Foundation advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health." The international star issued a statement saying that he is thrilled to receive the honor from the organizers of the 38th annual festival.
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Oscar de la Hoya & Wife Have Baby Girl

Oscar de la Hoya and Millie Corretjer have welcomed their second child together, Nina Lauren Nenitte de la Hoya, born Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the couple have announced. The girl arrived at 4:36 p.m. local time, weighing 7 lbs., 13 oz., and measuring 20.5". "We are so excited and blessed with the new addition to our family!" boxing champ de la Hoya said in a statement.The pregnancy was first announced in May – an hour after de La Hoya lost a major match in Las Vegas to "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather. Nina is De La Hoya's fourth child and Corretjer's second. The couple welcomed a son, Oscar Gabriel, on Dec. 29, 2005. De La Hoya, 34, and Corretjer, a 33-year-old pop singer, were married Oct. 5, 2001. The couple met in 2000, when both were signed to the same record label. (De La Hoya's debut CD that year earned a Grammy nod.) The boxer has two other children from previous relationships: Jacob and Atiana. Atiana's mother is former Dancing with the Stars contestant Shanna Moakler.
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Murphy and Edmonds to Wed in Tahiti This Weekend

Eddie Murphy will wed fiancée Tracey Edmonds this weekend in the South Pacific, according to Internet reports. Sources claim the couple and family members arrived in Tahiti on Friday for the low-key nuptials. And insiders tell PlanetGossip.Eonline.com that top-secret fittings for the bride and her bridesmaids took place earlier in the week. Edmonds, the former wife of music mogul Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, revealed she and Murphy were planning to wed before the end of 2007 back in October. She told Sister 2 Sister magazine she envisioned "a very intimate ceremony," adding, "My bridal party would be much smaller than my first wedding." Murph proposed to Edmonds in July, while the two were watching TV. She has revealed he walked over to her casually, and then surprised her by getting on his knees. She asked him what he was doing and he replied, "I'm about to ask you to marry me," before he presented her with a canary yellow square diamond, surrounded by two white diamonds in a platinum setting. She recalls, "I was speechless for a moment when I first saw it."
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Holiday Cheer!

Country music sensations CARRIE UNDERWOOD, KELLIE PICKLER and TAYLOR SWIFT make some noise Thursday night in Nashville at the NHL game between the Nashville Predators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets.
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Brandy Not Charged in Fatal Crash

BRANDY will not face vehicular manslaughter charges in the 2006 crash that claimed the life of a Los Angeles woman.
"The City Attorney's Office has decided not to file misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges against Brandy Norwood in the case stemming from a Dec. 30, 2006, traffic collision," DA spokesman FRANK MATELJAN said Friday.
"After conducting a thorough investigation, which included consulting with some of the top accident reconstruction experts in the country, City prosecutors concluded that there was insufficient evidence from which a jury could find Ms. Norwood guilty of such a charge beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.
Brandy's attorney, BLAIR BERK, issued a statement to
People.com, saying, "We are extremely pleased that after a more thorough and extensive investigation by authorities ... Brandy Norwood should not be charged with any crime whatsoever relating to the accident back in 2006."
The statement added: "These past 12 months have posed an extraordinary hardship for Brandy and her family, who have been unfairly forced to live under a cloud of suspicion initially caused by the ill-advised and premature press release sent out by the California Highway Patrol accusing Brandy of wrongdoing before the police investigation was even finished."
The singer still faces a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the woman's family. A civil trail date has been set on January 28.
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Jimmy Fallon Ties the Knot!

star JIMMY FALLON has tied the knot with film producer NANCY JUVONEN, who co-owns Flower Films with DREW BARRYMORE.
Jimmy and Nancy were married on Saturday, December 22 on Necker Island in the Virgin Islands with family and close friends in attendence, according to his publicist.
Virgin entrepreneur Sir RICHARD BRANSON owns the private tropical paradise, which has hosted such notables as OPRAH, HARRISON FORD, JANET JACKSON and the late PRINCESS DIANA. Nancy has produced such films as the 'Charlie's Angels' franchise and 'Fever Pitch,' which co-starred Jimmy and Drew.
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Children challenge James Brown's will

Five of James Brown's children say their late father's will should be invalidated because his former advisers used undue influence to get him to create charitable trusts that the advisers would profit from, according to court documents filed this week.
The children were largely left out of the financial portion of the will, which leaves the bulk of the soul singer's money to trusts set up to educate Brown's grandchildren and needy kids.
Atlanta attorney Louis Levenson said the children discovered earlier wills drafted by their father that cast doubt on whether he truly wanted to leave his estate to charity.
"There was sporadic indication that Mr. Brown intended to benefit some charities, but the circumstances surrounding the making of these documents have always been clouded in mystery," Levenson said.
Five Brown children are challenging the will in Aiken County Probate Court. They claim Brown's longtime advisers Buddy Dallas, Alford Bradley and David Cannon convinced the soul singer to create the trusts so the advisers would profit from managing the two charities after Brown died.
Dallas denied the allegations and called attempts to void the will "an act of desperation."
"No one told James Brown what to do," Dallas said, adding that if he were going to use his influence to benefit himself, "I would have just influenced him into giving me something."
The Brown children challenging the will are Deanna Brown Thomas, Venisha Brown, Daryl Brown, Yamma Brown Lumar and Larry Brown. A sixth child named in Brown's will, Terry Brown, has hired a different attorney.
One grandchild whose tuition would be paid for by the trusts has accused his relatives of trying to break the charities to get the money.
Most of Brown's estate, including his Beech Island home and rights to his image, name and music, would go to the James Brown "I Feel Good" Trust for the education of needy children in South Carolina and Georgia, as well as to a family trust to educate his grandchildren younger than 35.
Brown died on Christmas Day 2006 of heart failure. He was 73.
Just how much money is involved in Brown's estate is unclear. In October, Forbes reported Brown made an estimated $5 million in 2005 alone. But attorneys have said Brown's accounts do not have the money they expected.
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Saturday, December 29, 2007

BEYONCE'S SISTER RECALLS DEAD FRIEND ON NEW ALBUM

BEYONCE KNOWLES' little sister SOLANGE has penned a new song to a dead friend, who was caught up in a drive-by shooting. The singer/actress re-connected with childhood pal Marsai just before the friend was killed. In fact, she enjoyed a magical night with the teenager before she lost her life. Solange recalls, "I met Marsai in the sixth grade at middle school and it was an evolving friendship and it's so strange because we were always friends, we always did sleepovers and girly stuff that middle schoolers do. "We lost contact, and then we got back in contact once I took a break from music and I stayed home and I didn't have any friends who were my age because I was always on tour. She came back into my life at such an important time and we were inseparable. "Every day, she was taking me to high school games and sort of reminding me that I was 16. For an entire year, we spent so much time together and I definitely think that God knows what he's doing, because it was no coincidence that we reconnected the last year of her life. "Actually, the night before she passed away she came to my house and we spent the night and we watched this movie about friendship. "She left and later on that day she was tragically hit by a stray bullet - someone was fighting in the parking lot. It was really hard for me because she had literally just left my house." Ironically, a week after the tragedy, Solange discovered she was pregnant with her first child, Daniel Julez. She's convinced the two events are linked. She explains, "I have a song on my new album, An Ode To Julez, and the very first line is, `They say when one life goes into another one...' And I have a tattoo of angel wings separately on each of my wrists and one is for the death of my friend and the other is for the life of my son. Solange's tribute to her dead pal, Marsai Song, will appear on her new album Hadley Street Dreams.
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Friday, December 28, 2007

Paris Hilton could lose inheritance

Paris Hilton could lose out after her billionaire grandfather announced he is leaving the bulk of his money to charity.'The Simple Life' star could potentially inherit a large share of hotel founder Barron Hilton's $1.2 billion fortune, but he will now donate 97 percent of it to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, set up by his father.Barron's son Steven Hilton, Paris's uncle and president and chief executive of the foundation, said, "Speaking for the family, as well as the foundation, we are all exceedingly proud and grateful for this extraordinary commitment.
"Working to alleviate human suffering around the globe, regardless of race, religion or geography, is the mandate of the foundation set by my grandfather and now reinforced by my father."Barron has reportedly grown frustrated by Paris' behavior, which included her spending 23 days in jail for driving offences and the leaked sex tape, 'One Night In Paris', which featured her having sex with her then boyfriend Rick Salomon.Earlier this year, Jerry Oppenheimer, author of 'House Of Hilton: From Conrad To Paris: A Drama Of Wealth, Power and Privilege' said, "Barron Hilton was, and is, extremely embarrassed by how the Hilton name has been sullied by Paris."Barron's money will now go to help the homeless and provide clean water in Africa as well as helping fund the work of Catholic nuns.Despite losing her inheritance, Paris recently boasted of making of $200 million a year as it was so easy for her to make money.She said, "I went to Austria and got paid $1 million to wave at a crowd and tell them why I loved Austria."Asked why she loved Austria, she replied, "They pay me $1 million to wave at crowds!"According to Forbes Magazine, Paris earned approximately $2 million in 2003-2004, $6.5 million in 2004-2005, and $7.1 million in 2005-2006.

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Lil Wayne Quietly Unveils Digital EP

With his next album, "Tha Carter III," not due until February via Cash Money/Universal, rapper Lil Wayne snuck out a five-song digital EP on Christmas day, dubbed "The Leak."There is no physical product for sale, but the tracks are available as digital downloads from Amazon.com, iTunes and Rhapsody. Cash Money and Universal had no comment about the EP at deadline.Several weeks ago, Lil Wayne told Billboard.com he was pushing "Tha Carter III" from Dec. 18 to February due to widespread leaks, including "Gossip," which appears on the digital EP.
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Jennifer Lopez cries over soppy TV ads

Jennifer Lopez cries every time she sees a soppy TV advertisement.The singer-and-actress admits that watching a "touching" commercial often sends her into floods of tears. J.Lo said, "Anything that is touching makes me cry - any commercial that is sappy and silly. Things about dads make me cry, maybe because of my relationship with my own father. But anytime I see anything about a dad with his little girl, and I'm over tired, I'm gone!"
The 38-year-old star is expecting her first child with husband Marc Anthony. Lopez recently fuelled speculation she is pregnant with twins after ordering matching outfits for a baby boy and a girl. J.Lo requested the monogrammed baby outfits - a blue version with the word 'Prince' and a pink one labelled 'Princess' - from top Los Angeles boutique Petit Tresor.She has also reportedly asked for two Moses baskets, teddy bears with blue and pink ribbons and a jogging stroller to carry two babies.J.Lo confirmed her pregnancy on stage with her husband in Miami in November.
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Jessica Simpson goes country

Jessica Simpson has decamped to Nashville to begin work on her debut country album, due sometime in 2008 via Columbia Nashville.
Simpson declined to name songwriting collaborators, but tells Billboard.com she will most definitely be involved in the creative process. "Writing is a release for me," she says. "It's a way for me to tell my story. That's not to say I wouldn't record a song that I didn't write. It's just that it has been a while since I have opened the book."
But why country, and why now? "I am a country girl," she says. "I grew up in Texas, and country music was what I listened to. I always wanted to make a country album, but I wanted to wait until the time was right."

"I think there is a strength in female country artists," Simpson adds, citing Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Reba McEntire as some of her inspirations.
Asked what has surprised her most since starting the follow-up to 2006's "A Public Affair," Simpson says, "Nashville is a very warm city. The people are friendly and kind. There is a sense of community, which thrives on music. There is no animosity ... only respect for one another's talent."
It's unclear if Simpson will hit the road in support of the country project, but she says, "Since the record is in the beginning stages, there hasn't been much talk about a tour just yet."
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WILL SMITH SMITH SHUNS BAD GUY ROLES

WILL SMITH is reluctant to play a villain on the big screen - because it would conflict with his natural instinct to make people laugh. The Oscar-nominated actor - who shot to prominence in hit TV sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air - has stepped away from comedy to star in such movies as Ali, The Pursuit Of Happyness and I Am Legend, but he insists funny films remain his top choice of work. And he'd only ever contemplate playing the bad guy if the role carried an important message. He tells British magazine Empire, "I enjoy inspiring good feelings, that is fun for me. Comedy I would say is my most fun. How people react to Hitch and The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, there is nothing that matches that. "I'm sure there is a bad guy at some point that has the right message. Scarface had the right message about power and drugs and it showed you exactly where that mess was going to end up."
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USHER IS 'SUPER DAD'

R&B star USHER has credited the joy of fatherhood for turning him into a "super dad". The singer and his hairstylist wife Tameka Foster welcomed little Usher Raymond V into the world in November (07), and the Yeah! hitmaker admits the baby's birth has transformed him into an all-round family man. He says, "I'm really like super dad. Really. I really cook for the family. "Now I basically do chicken and broccoli and steamed vegetables, because I'm on this diet. But believe me, I can fry some chicken too... "I really clean up. I walk the dog, myself. I burp the baby. I change the diapers. I trim the tree. I'm about to get the things for the tree after this because it's bare. … I'm super dad. And it's only begun." And Usher is also enjoying documenting every moment of the tot's young life. He adds, "I've become an instant photographer, developing them and everything."
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Enrique Iglesias: Sex is different than love

Enrique Iglesias insists you don't need to love someone to have sex with them.The 'Insomniac' singer believes lust is all you need to have fun in the bedroom.He said, "Sex and love are so different that, of course, you don't have to be in love with a woman to sleep with her but it's amazing when you get them both together. I'd say I've been in love about 10 times in my life, although those feelings usually turned out to be lust.
"I've had my heart broken a few times, but really, I've only been in love once. Love is lust that lasts and develops into trust and friendship."Enrique, 32, has been in a relationship with former tennis ace Anna Kournikova for the past five years.Despite his casual attitude to sex, the Latin heartthrob admits he grew up determined not to emulate the legendary lothario antics of his singer father Julio Iglesias.He said, "I wouldn't say I've learnt anything about women from my father, although I did decide that sleeping with 3,000 women was not the way I wanted to live my life."Anyway, I think a lot of his Lothario image was an act and I don't know whether he was any happier than I am now."
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EG 2008: SHAYNE WARD

GROOMED as some sort of British Justin Timberlake, The X Factor bosses still hadn't quite perfected the formula when this Mancunian lad won in 2005. That's My Goal was Christmas No 1 that year, selling a massive 1.3 million copies in total, and while he's not come anywhere near matching that sort of success since, he's stuck at it. Ward's second album Breathless was released in November, and sold a whopping 96,000 copies in its first week. Despite its gold disc status, it was kept off the top of the album charts by a certain Leona Lewis, Shayne's successor as The X Factor champion.
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Christina Aguilera Buys Ozzy Osbourne's House

Christina Aguilera has moved into Ozzy Osbourne's Beverly Hills mansion.
The house is the one made famous in the Osbournes reality TV show.
The singer admits to being a being a fan of the show and "fell in love with the kitchen on T.V.".
Christina and husband Jordan Bratman brought the house earlier in 2007 for an undisclosed amount.
She plans to turn Jack Osbourne's room into her hairdressing salon.
Ozzy recorded his most recent album 'Black Rain' in the house. Christina didn't get the studio. The equipment is moving to the Osbourne's new premise, along with the crucifixes and dogs.
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Rihanna fears getting paler

Rihanna fears her globe-trotting is slowly turning her into the new Michael Jackson - she’s getting paler and paler.
The Umbrella singer admits she has noticed her dark skin tones losing their lustre and she feels she needs a long break at home in Barbados to replenish her rich colour.
She says, "In the beginning, I was dark. Now I’ve been through cold weather, and I’m slowly getting paler and paler".
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DISASTER!! KELLY ROWLAND LOSES MILLIONS IN MIAMI CONDO INVESTMENT!!!

If you thought that the year couldn't get any worse for R&B star Kelly Rowland - you'd be wrong. MediaTakeOut.com spoke with one of Kelly's neighbors in a luxury Miami condominium complex. And according to her, the former Destiny's Child star lost millions of dollars in a real estate investment.The woman, who purchased a condo in the same building as Kelly Rowland last year, claims that property values in the area are precipitously dropping. The insider told MediaTakeOut.com, "When we bought in this building, it was supposed to be ultra-exclusive ... [The builders] promised us that they would only sell the homes for market value. Now it seems like it was all just a scam."And the woman claims the downturn in the real estate market has already cost her more $1M. The disgruntled investor explains to MediaTakeOut.com, "I paid more than $2 million for the condo, and [based on] the floor and the size of [Kelly's] unit, I know she paid more than I did." She continues, "A condo exactly like Kelly's is now selling for around $600K at auction."
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Yung Joc: Proud to Be an American!

Rapper Yung Joc is anxious to clear his name after being arrested at Cleveland Hopkins Airport on Sunday for carrying a concealed weapon -- but not so anxious that he wants to show up in court. Joc, real name Jasiel Robinson, missed a court appearance on Wednesday, but released a statement through his lawyer that says, "I have the utmost respect for the laws of this country and would never deliberately commit an act that would jeopardize my freedom, my family, or my career. I've worked very hard to achieve my goals, and it's unfortunate that this current situation has garnered more attention than the many donations I've made and the charitable work I've done with various organizations."He went on to say, "I'm proud to be a citizen of America, where we are taught to believe that every person is afforded the presumption of innocence. That being said, I have full respect for the judicial system and its due process. I look forward to resolving this situation and moving forward to a positive and prosperous 2008. Best wishes to you and your families in the New Year. Thank you."He is due back in court on January 25. The felony charge he faces carries a possible sentence of up to 18 months.
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David Beckham Follows the Spice Girls to Spain

While Victoria Beckham is doing her thing with the Spice Girls, her hubby David is enjoying the perks of being married to a major pop star.
The soccer stud was spotted in Madrid, Spain yesterday, living it up in his former team’s city. Becks grabbed some dinner at Asador Donostiarra (reportedly a fave of his) and hammed it up with some fans.
As always, David looked just plain hot, wearing a black cardigan over a white shirt with tie, rounded out with a pair of distressed jeans.
Victoria’s Spice Girls reunion tour made a stop in the Spanish city this past weekend, playing to a sold-out crowd (what’s new?). For both Posh and Becks it was a refreshing reminder of times past.
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Lindsay Lohan’s Drunk Driving Denial Holds Water

Sure, she’s got a bad reputation. But in her case against Raymundo Ortega regarding an automobile collision, it looks like Lindsay Lohan is innocent of drunk driving.
Earlier this month, LiLo submitted an official deposition in which she stated, “I did not consume an alcoholic beverage or any type of medication or drug in the hours prior to my arrival at the Ivy. Additionally, at no time between my arrival at the Ivy and the subject automobile accident did I consume an alcoholic beverage, medication or other drug.”
And she’s not the only one singing that song. Fortunately for the “Mean Girls” actress, her waiter has come forward to corroborate her story. Adam Novicki told the court, “I know for a fact Miss Lohan did not order an Ivy gimlet.”
Even LAPD Alonzo Howell, who was working security at the Ivy that day, backs Lindsay up. “She appeared coherent, spoke without slurring words, was steady on her feet, walked without staggering, maintained her complete balance, and her eyes were not bloodshot.”
With all of this said, it looks like Ortega’s attorney has his work cut out for him if he hopes to win the $200,000+ case. In addition, if the troubled singer/actress is proven innocent, Raymundo has a $75,000 countersuit to worry about.
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Jessica Alba and Cash Warren Get Engaged!

Her whole world has been turned upside down with the announcement that she’s pregnant, and now Jessica Alba is sporting a serious rock on her left ring finger.
The “Dark Angel” actress was spotted looking a little red-faced as she left her West Hollywood gym yesterday afternoon, and she sparked engagement rumors by wearing a new diamond ring.
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Fergie gets engaged to Josh Duhamel

Rumours circulating Hollywood at this post-Christmas, pre-New Year time is that Black Eyed Peas star Fergie (aka Stacey Ferguson) has got engaged to her LAS VEGAS and TRANSFORMERS boyfriend Josh Duhamel.Not much more is known except for the fact that Fergie's publicist said that a proposal had taken place, but no more would be commented upon.So they're engaged then.
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50 Cent, Jay-Z Top List of Biggest Celebrity Paydays

50 Cent may have come in second place in the Kanye West vs. 50 Cent war, which resulted in the Queens-bred rapper threatening retirement when upstaged and outsold by West, but how could 50 forget the huge victory and paycheck he took home in June? The big payday put 50 in the No.
2 spot on Forbes list of the Biggest Celebrity Paydays of 2007. And while the rap star may have come in second place, yet again, we're sure he doesn't mind his placement this time around. In 2004, the admitted drug dealer-turned-rap star teamed up with the Glaceau beverage company and lent his name to a Vitamin Water flavor appropriately dubbed Formula 50. On June 7, Coca-Cola brought Glaceau and cut the emcee a check for $100 million.
Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z landed at No.4 on Forbes' list when he sold his Rocawear clothing line to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million of which $84 million went straight into the rapper's pocket.
Other musical talents recognized for raking in the dough in 2007 are former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, who took home $80 million in May when Italian alcohol company Gruppo Campari bought 80 percent of the rocker's Cabo Wabo tequila brand. Pop icon Madonna made the list after she walked away from Warner Music and signed a $120 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation.
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Beyonce strips to a pair of tight jeans for new ads

Beyonce Knowles has stripped down to just a pair of jeans, and nothing else for a new photo ad for her clothing range.

The advert features the Crazy In Love singer donning a pair of tight jeans from her new fashion label, House of Dereon.
"Bey wanted to show just how seductive the label can be,” News of the World quoted a source, as saying.
Meanwhile Beyonce has secretly married boyfriend Jay-Z, it has been claimed.
The superstar couple, has been dating since 2002, and are said to be “blissfully happy” after tying the knot at a small private ceremony in Paris.
Reports say that the couple have had personal inscriptions tattooed on their ring fingers.
It had been rumored that Jay-Z proposed to Beyonce during a luxury holiday in Cannes at the end of May.

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Beyonce Poses Topless


Beyonce Knowles poses in a pair of jeans for House of Dereon brand clothing. According to Anythinghollywood.com, Beyonce Knowles knows how to seduce her fans into purchasing her brand, House of Dereon jeans.
It appears topless photos are “in” right now, because just a few weeks after Keira Knightley made her decision to pose topless for Interview Magazine (and a Chanel ad), Beyonce is doing the same. In her new racy ad, Beyonce is wearing a pair of tight jeans, and that’s all.
A source told News of the World, “Bey wanted to show just how seductive the label can be.
” She did a good job. The jeans are quite tight, and have a “squiggly,” which is supposed to be a Fleur-de-Lis (a symbol of the French monarchy), on the back pockets.
Beyonce may not have a single $100 million deal, but her list of endorsements in 2007 alone is enormous: American Express, her Samsung B'Phone, her Armani Diamonds perfume, her appearance in Disneyland's ad campaign as Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland,' her Direct TV ad and her continuing L'Oreal cosmetics contract.
As the face of her own clothing lines run with her family, Dereon, and now Dereon Junior launched in 2007, Beyonce is everywhere and pulling in product-related cash from almost every commodity category.
Her level of exposure, combined with the number, quality and diversity of her endorsement deals makes Beyonce BV's Top Black Celebrity Endorser of 2007.
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Beyonce Nude Mishap - Top Story of 07


The good news for Beyonce Knowles is that sex sells. The bad news is that her breasts are now available for viewing on the internet. Beyonce was simply trying to promote her new clothing line but she inadvertently gave the audience an eye full. This according to a Contact Music report.


It's being billed as an accident, (or is it a wardrobe malfunction?) but it could also be called an ironic way to promote a clothing line by accidentally removing said clothing. It all happened last week when Beyonce took to the stage at a launch party for her clothing line at the Dereon in Toronto, Canada, according to Contact Music.
Hundreds of fans were on hand to witness Beyonce perform and during an a dance routine her blouse reportedly lifted up and exposed her bare breasts to the audience. Video of the mishaps is now making the rounds on the web.
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Friday, December 21, 2007

Omarion On Bow Wow's BET Blowup: 'We Want Our Respect As Men'

Omarion says you shouldn't try to clown him and his partner, Bow Wow.
Everyone is talking about leaked footage from an interview Omarion and Bow did recently for BET's "The Black Carpet." (The uproar was also captured by the cameras following Bow and O for the BET reality series "Road to Platinum.") Bow Wow got upset, ended the interview and walked off with his friend when he felt interviewer Touré was being too much of jokester with the questions.
"Do you take moves from people like Chris Brown?" he asked O. He also pointed out that Lil Wayne's chain is bigger than Bow Wow's. That pretty much sparked it up.
"Don't ask no other disrespectful, stupid-ass questions," Bow said before he got up.
A source close to the "Black Carpet" shoot said the Bow Wow and Omarion interview was a planned prank all along that happened over the summer and that BET informed the duo's label reps of the proposed mischief beforehand. The source also said that the label didn't tell Bow and O because it was supposed to be for a good-natured, "Punk'd"-style show called "Hell Interview." A rep from Sony Music was unable to be reached.
On Tuesday afternoon (December 18) in L.A., fresh from Atlanta doing a show with Bow and Chris Brown at the Philips Arena on Monday, O said there are no grudges, but he and his homie want to be taken seriously.
"Everything is good, man," he said. "You know how it is, sometimes when you're coming up in the game and you as young as we have been, sometimes people think they can — not necessarily push us around, but they feel they can play with us like that. If it had been 50 Cent or Game or any other man who would have stepped up in that interview, it would have went a lot differently. We want our respect, man. We want our respect as men. You don't just throw a man in a spoof interview and disrespect him. You have to respectfully talk to him. We didn't know it was a spoof, but I'm a little bit different when we handle situations. I'm very mild-tempered. I like to think about what I do before I do it. Bow gets upset."
O recently went on another BET program, "106 and Park," and dubbed himself "The King of Dance." He says he has plenty of ammo in his fancy-feet arsenal and knows he will definitely be scrutinized for wearing such a coveted crown, er, jacket — O announced his new title via an embroidered coat.
"It was time for me to claim that spot," he said. "It's gonna be very interesting for me to hold that name down, because I feel like I'm gonna go through something similar like when 'You Got Served' came out. When people saw the film, because it was such a confrontational film and hard-core dance film, I would get ran up in the street like, 'You wanna battle? I wanna battle you.' I felt I wanted to claim [the title]. I'm ready for the challenge. All challengers step up. ... I've been going at it in a professional sense since I was 5. I was a backup dancer at one point for a group that was on RCA. Dancing has been my life and it has been a major part of what I am today. I'mma claim it."
O says he gets a chance to really let loose with his dancing in his and Bow's next video, for "Hey Baby." Their
joint LP, Face Off, is in stores now.
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Mary J. Blige Celebrates Growing Pains Release With John Legend, Fabolous, Chingy

Royalty reigned Tuesday night at the Soho Grand Hotel as Mary J. Blige celebrated the release of her eighth studio album, Growing Pains, with Fabolous, John Legend, legendary R&B singer Patti LaBelle and others.
"Wow," Mario marveled at the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul's longevity. "She's staying true to herself, her life, and knowing every day is a new revelation. That's why I'm a fan."
LaBelle and Blige shared a few laughs on the red carpet beforehand while photographers flashed away at the legendary pair's exchange.
Chingy — whose album, Hate It or Love It, was also released Tuesday — was also in attendance. The St. Louis rapper didn't stay long as he had his own album-release event to attend at another New York club, Sol. Before he made his exit, the DTPer extended an invite to everyone.
"Make sure y'all stop by," he shouted.
Tank, J. Holiday and "American Gangster" actor Idris Elba were also in attendance. Tank recalled his first tour experience, with Aaliyah and Ginuwine, as a part of a Blige-headlined tour.
"I'm forever grateful for the experience," he said.
Alicia Keys' producer Kerry "Krucial" Brothers and Melyssa Ford stopped by, and D-Nice manned the turntables at the swank hotel penthouse, which had flat-screen TVs lining the walls.
Blige was all smiles throughout the night.
She arrived shortly after 10 p.m., wearing cream pants and a matching turtleneck and fur coat. Her husband, Kendu Isaacs, escorted her on the red carpet and stayed by her side all night.
Having started her career singing about her pain and heartache, Blige turned more upbeat beginning with 2001's No More Drama and continuing with 2005's The Breakthrough. Though Growing Pains preaches positivity, she said she can still draw plenty of material from her own life.
"As long as I'm not perfect, you're gonna be hearing from me," she said.

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Court allows singer R. Kelly to stay free


A judge on Friday allowed R. Kelly to remain free on bond pending his trial on child pornography charges, even though the R&B singer missed a court appearance this week. Prosecutors had asked that Kelly's bond be revoked because of the missed appearance, which came in the midst of a nine-week concert tour promoting his new album "Double Up."
But Judge Vincent Gaughan of the Cook County District Court ruled that Kelly, a double nominee for the 2008 Grammys whose album sales are in the millions, could remain free while pretrial hearings continue.
Kelly's lawyers had argued he had made all previous court dates and said this week's absence was an accident because his tour bus was delayed by snow in California and was later stopped for speeding in Utah.
Kelly was charged with child pornography in 2002 for allegedly making a video of himself having sex with an under-aged girl. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The trial has been repeatedly delayed by maneuvering over what kinds of testimony could be presented. Gaughan on Friday set a trial date of May 9.
He also ordered Kelly to cancel the last show on his tour -- January 13 in Hampton, Virginia -- so that he will have no trouble making it to court for his next pretrial hearing on January 14.
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Rapper Remy Ma, Universal sued in NY shooting


Rapper Remy Ma "willfully, wantonly and maliciously" shot and critically wounded an acquaintance, a $10 million civil lawsuit filed against her claimed on Friday.

The suit is the latest legal problem for the Grammy-nominated rapper, who also faces criminal charges and up to 25 years in prison for shooting acquaintance Makeda Barnes-Joseph twice in the abdomen after leaving a New York nightclub in July.
Remy Ma, 26, whose real name is Remy Smith, has pleaded innocent to the criminal charges in New York state court.
Barnes-Joseph filed the suit in Manhattan federal court, naming as defendants several of the rapper's recording companies, including Universal Music Group, owned by French media group Vivendi, and Sure Shot Recordings.
The suit claims the music companies encouraged the rapper to engage in violent behavior as part of her image.
Smith's lawyer Ivan Fisher said the lawsuit was "irresponsible" and "looking for the deepest pocket it could find."
Barnes-Joseph suffered severe physical harm and mental anguish following the shooting, which occurred after the rapper accused of her of stealing money that was never found, the suit said.
Remy Ma, a Bronx native, won the Black Entertainment Television award for best female hip-hop artist in 2005.
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DMX back in business with new label deal

After being released from his Sony Music deal earlier this year, rapper DMX has signed a deal with the music division of Canadian online gaming company Bodog Entertainment.

The rapper plans to release his next two albums, "Walk With Me Now" and "You'll Fly With Me Later" in 2008. His lone album for Sony after leaving Def Jam, "Year of the Dog ... Again" was released in 2006 and has sold 329,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Bodog Music recently snagged international distribution rights for the Wu-Tang Clan's comeback album, "8 Diagrams."
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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Judge admonishes R. Kelly for lateness

CHICAGO - R. Kelly avoided arrest Thursday by showing up in court, but the judge presiding over his child pornography case said he'll consider revoking the singer's bond despite his excuse: that police made him late.
Judge Vincent Gaughan said he was "very disappointed" that Kelly, in the midst of a concert tour, failed to show up for a scheduled Wednesday appearance.
Kelly attorney Ed Genson explained his client was tardy because police who pulled over his bus in Utah discovered the log book didn't document enough rest for the driver and ordered it stopped for eight hours.
Gaughan admonished the R&B superstar in court anyway, saying he'll decide Friday whether he should revoke Kelly's bond. The Cook County judge also was to set a trial date Friday.
Kelly is in the midst of a prolonged legal fight after prosecutors say he allegedly videotaped sex acts with a teenage girl. He has pleaded not guilty.
Earlier this week, Kelly canceled a scheduled Thursday night show in Minneapolis. He's next scheduled to perform Friday in Chicago, according to the singer's Web site.
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H&M Links with Rihanna

Paris - H&M and Designers Against AIDS are linking up with a gang of creative types, including Rihanna, Timbaland and Jade Jagger, to create a cotton collection for guys and girls.
The collection, designed by designers, musicians and artists, begins retailing in H&M stores globally in February 2008. The artists – which also included Chicks on Speed, Good Charlotte, Henrik Vibskov, Katharine Hamnett, My Chemical Romance, Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters, The Cardigans, Tiga, and Ziggy Marley - donated their services for free.
Plans are for 25 percent of the proceeds from the collection to go to HIV/AIDS prevention projects around the world. Another key goal in creating the collection – to be named Fashion Against AIDS – is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among young people. Twelve million people in the 15 to 24 age group are now infected with the virus.
"Supporting YouthAIDS through the Fashion Against AIDS campaign was a great way to encourage my fans to join me in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I love that H&M is providing a fashionable and easy way for young people all over the world to get involved in this worthy cause," Rihanna said in a release.
Designers Against AIDS (DAA), a non-profit organization that seeks to mold public opinion through joint ventures between fashion designers, musicians and other artists, initiated the venture.
"Fifty percent of the people newly infected with HIV are between the ages of 15 and 24. There is an urgent need to reach this target group. By combining fashion with music we hope to get these young people to 'Stop and Think,' as stated by designer Katharine Hamnett on one of the garments in the collection," said Ninette Murk, founder of DAA.
"Every fifteen seconds someone in the 15-24 age group contracts HIV/AIDS. Shopping has never been more important. Every garment sold makes a difference", added Kate Roberts, the founder of YouthAIDS.
The collection features T-shirts, tank tops and hooded sweaters. All the garments feature an original print, and the neckline label carries the name of the designer.
Some of the prints are subtle and "whisper" the message such as Good Charlotte's design, which includes a young couple under a red umbrella. Other prints raise their voices, including Katharine Hamnett's "Use a Condom!" and "Stop and Think" messaging in big, black, block lettering.
The message behind the campaign is summed up by Henrik Vibskov's print design, which states, "Be aware – it is still happening."
Prices vary from to $12.90 to $34.90. All garments are made from 100 percent certified organic cotton and carry a special hang tag that reads: "This might be the most important piece of clothing you've ever had your hands on."
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T-Pain, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake And More Are Our Favorite R&B Acts Of 2007

Top 10 R&B Acts of 2007















1. T-Pain
So 'hood, so good, Teddy P. was to R&B what Lil Wayne was to rap: a track showstopper whose versatile talent made his guest vocals a must-have for a plethora of artists. His presence was persistent, and while he'll never be heralded among the great voices of all time, you can't forget that the hits came incessantly. Pain's reign saw his computer-enhanced vocals pop up on records by top-of-the-food-chain acts like Kanye West and R. Kelly (twice) as well as street warriors DJ Khaled and Plies.
More importantly, Pain established his songwriting and producing acumen on Chris Brown's "Kiss Kiss," as well as on T-Pain's entire LP, Epiphany, which spawned the smashes "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" and "Bartender."

















2. Beyoncé
B bodied everybody. Her competition had to throw in the towel this year when she established that no one is in her lane when it comes to this thing we call entertainment. B'Day (released in September 2006) continued to sell like Blue Magic on a Harlem, New York, street corner in the 1970s; her Beyoncé Experience tour was sold out across the country (hey, she still deserves a standing ovation for falling down all those stairs in Florida and hopping back up); and those videos ... have mercy! Fans couldn't get enough of "Get Me Bodied," "Irreplaceable" and "Upgrade U."


3. Justin Timberlake
How can the Prince of Pop be on an R&B list? Did you listen to the album? Justin's FutureSex/LoveSounds (released in September 2006) stormed into '07 on the strength of Timbaland's mud-sopped funk, brutal bass and clean synths and Timberlake's suburban-rebel charm. "My Love," "LoveStoned" and "Summer Love" rocked every iPod, stereo player and stadium on his tour. Meanwhile, JT and the SoundScan Killer himself, 50 Cent, hooked up for "Ayo Technology."

4. Akon
He threw a kid offstage, got nasty with an underage girl in a club and probably cost Gwen Stefani a few million in sponsorship money, but alas, Akon remained a worldwide draw. "I Wanna Love You" and "Smack That" carried over from last year, while "Don't Matter," "Mama Africa" and guest spots on records such as DJ Khaled's "We Takin' Over," Plies' "Hypnotized" and Wyclef's "Sweetest Girl" sustained his popularity this year. Plus — and it's a very big plus — his scouting continued to pay off with the overwhelming success of the man he signed to a recording contract, T-Pain. We'll see if new additions to his roster, such as Brooklyn MC Red Café and TLC's Chili, pay off in '08.

5. R. Kelly
"Did she say there was other guys there? Were there other guys therrrrre?" The outlandish writing stayed at a premium for the King of Rhythm and Blues throughout his Double Up LP ("Real Talk," "Sex Planet," "Sweet Tooth," "Same Girl" and its remix) and the new chapters of "Trapped in the Closet." When he stepped outside of his own projects, Kells levied an onslaught of memorable guest spots including Snoop Dogg's "That's That," Young Jeezy's "Go Getta," Ciara's "Promise" remix and Fat Joe's "Make It Rain" remix. Even Michael Jordan didn't win the MVP every year — but that doesn't mean his game wasn't lethal.

6. Rihanna
Rih Rih chopped her curls into a slick bob, ditched the cute singles in exchange for sexy anthems and in the process became a tabloid target and ubiquitous presence on magazine covers. It started with her sexy hit "Umbrella" and the even sexier accompanying visuals that netted her a VMA win for Video of the Year. The Barbadian beauty's rumored romances with Shia LaBeouf and Josh Hartnett made headlines and helped her break away from the pack of teen starlets, putting her in the company of superstars like Beyoncé, Fergie and Gwen Stefani. Her third single, the Ne-Yo duet "Hate That I Love You," helped to showcase Rihanna's maturing vocal chops and proved she's not a one-hit wonder-er-er-er.

7. Alicia Keys
Since her debut, we've watched Miss Keys evolve from Harlem's ghetto songbird, cooing about the pains of love, into a global voice of indignation, raising the spirits of women and rallying against social injustices. She's as likely to fight for the rights of AIDS patients as she is to fight against radio formats. "No One," the lead single from her third album, As I Am, sounds nothing like a top 40 or R&B hit, yet the song has rested comfortably near the top of both charts. Add in the acting credits under her belt, including this year's "The Nanny Diaries," and there's no question about Keys' ability to push the R&B game to even further heights.

8. Chris Brown
One of these days C. Breezy is gonna become the first artist to literally dance his way into people's living rooms. There's no way cameras and TV sets are gonna be able to keep containing the Virginia native's explosive star power at the rate it's rising. Brown released his sophomore album, Exclusive, which features the MJ-esque "Wall to Wall" and the T-Pain-assisted smash "Kiss Kiss." He stole the show at this year's Video Music Awards with his rousing performance. And then he took his act to the big screen with a breakout role in the ensemble cast of "This Christmas." It's time to start watching ya back, Ursh.

9. Ne-Yo
He was great on his tour with R. Kelly ... all two dates of it. Oh well. Despite his differences with the Pied Piper (Ne-Yo alleges he got kicked off the tour because he was upstaging Kelly), everybody else loves the Las Vegas native. He has another platinum certification on his résumé thanks to Because of You, and his reputation as a writer was boosted with Beyoncé's irrevocably dope "Irreplaceable" and his duet with Rihanna, "Hate That I Love You." Still, the perennial overachiever hit us upside the head for good measure with Fabolous' "Make Me Better," a track he co-wrote and on which he sang.

10. Amy Winehouse
Amy, baby! Rich with throwback soul and lyrics so real that many of them have replayed themselves in tabloid headlines, Winehouse's Back to Black may just be the R&B album of the year. The British songstress had everything in place: The artistically bountiful music (from a chick whose personality came across as real as any MC from the 'hood) was rewarded with multiple Grammy nominations, critical coos and a platinum plaque.
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