THIS IS THE CHRONICLES OF EFREM: The Daily Buzz for July 30

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Chris Brown For Blank Magazine

Singer Chris Brown dons a classic tuxedo and tie for the cover of BLANK Magazine.

"Fine China" singer Chris Brown covers the the latest issue of BLANK Magazine. For the cover, Mr. Breezy went on his high fashion tip and posed in a classic black and white tuxedo, while the rest of the pictorial shows him posing by a pool and inside a Hollywood Hills mansion. The black and white spread was shot by photographers Gomillion and Leupold.

Are you ready for Mary J. Blige as she Brings In Holiday Early With ‘A Mary Christmas’

Despite celebrating a career milestones (see: Grammys, #1 albums, etc.), Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige is finally nringing her fans (I included) a Christmas album.

Due in October, the album – titled ‘A Mary Christmas’ – will come as the first offering from the R&B potentate since 2011′s ‘My Life II: The Journey Continues Act 1′. And, while we await news on its Act 2 follow-up, the holiday themed collection helmed by legendary producer David Foster will see the ‘No Happy Holidays’ hitmaker put her own soulful twist on a host of yuletide favorites.

Look below for a few samples to come!

The Christmas Song

Someday At Christmas

What Child Is This Featuring Andrea Bocelli

Can’t wait!

Oprah is giving Deion Sanders his own Reality Show ‘It’s Prime’s Time’

It looks as if ex-NFL’er Deion Sanders and his well-known movie executive girlfriend, Tracy E. Edmonds, are enroute to positioning themselves to be the next ‘hot’ couple on non-scripted TV. This week, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network announced some of it’s new shows for 2014. And to our surprise, guess who has landed his own show? Deion Sanders of course! The show is tentatively titled ‘It’s Prime’s Time‘ and viewers will get an inside look at his family, which includes his five children, and girlfriend Tracey. Peep the networks description:

It’s Prime’s Time” (working title) is the hilarious and compelling real life story of Deion Sanders, the football legend, baseball great, broadcaster, Hall of Famer, international superstar, businessman, educator and father, as he strives to keep all the facets of his complicated, crazy and chaotic life in balance and under control. Deion faces the challenges of raising his five children in a household that also includes his mother, her foster children and his aunt and uncle, while guiding the future of Prime Prep Academy, the charter school he created to try to make a lasting impact on the lives of children in underserved areas. He plays the role of father, leader, bread-winner, coach and teacher for everyone around him. And in those rare instances when he gets a little overwhelmed, his girlfriend, producer and businesswoman Tracey Edmonds who has two sons of her own, is there to help pick up the slack. The series is produced by Edmonds Entertainment, Prime Time Media Ventures and Rogue Atlas Productions in association with Lionsgate. Executive producers are Eli Frankel, Tracey E. Edmonds and Deion Sanders.

Reality TV is nothing new for Deion. Back in 2008, he starred in his own show, Deion and Pilar: Prime Time Love, which featured his then-wife, Pilar Sanders. And while we haven’t seen much of Tracey in front of the camera (via reality TV), she has an extensive amount of experience creating both scripted and non-scripted TV and movies. What are your thoughts on the show and do you plan to tune in?

Debbie Rowe Testifies for AEG

Debbie Rowe is expected to testify for concert promoter AEG in the billion dollar wrongful death lawsuit filed against AEG by Michael Jackson's family about Michael's drug use .

Debbie Rowe apparently is going to appear in Michael Jackson wrongful death trial next week. According to TMZ, Debbie will testify on Tuesday or Wednesday that Michael hid his drug addiction from her for years. The reported statement will favor AEG's side.

Debbie is said to mention Michael's doctor Arnie Klein. She reportedly will say that Michael ordered the doctor to inject Demerol and Vistaril whenever he dropped by the office.

She allegedly will testify that she saw Michael coming out of Arnie's office a few days before his death with high condition. Following the singer's death, Debbie reportedly called Arnie. She said at that time, "What the f**k did you give him? He's dead and it's your fault," and hung up.

Debbie reportedly will say that she did not know that Michael went to doctor to get high so that he could sleep. Debbie is also said to state that she was the only person that could control Michael. If jury believes that Michael secretly was a drug addict, the Jacksons' case will be ruined.

In a trial earlier this week, Michael's mother Katherine was aware of rumors suggesting that the King of Pop abused painkillers. Katherine said that Michael denied the accusation when he was confronted. The King of Pop's mother added that she never saw her son under influence of drugs.

Following the court meeting, AEG's attorney Marvin Putnam stated, "As Katherine Jackson has now testified, she was in the dark about her son Michael Jackson's decades of drug use and 'closes her ears' whenever someone discloses anything negative about him. She doesn't want anyone or anything to disturb her idealized memory of the child she lost. Who can blame her?"

Katherine and Michael's three children sued AEG for negligence. The Jacksons claimed that AEG should have paid more attention to Michael's health during the preparation of "This Is It" concert. The concert promoter, however, argued that Michael was at fault in his own death.

LeToya Luckett Poses As Cover Girl For “Sister 2 Sister” Magazine’s August 2013 Issue

LeToya Luckett flashes a big smile on the cover of Sister 2 Sister magazine’s August 2013 issue. The 32-year-old singer and actress recently snagged a gig as host for CentricTV’s Culture List, and is set to appear on the upcoming season of Single Ladies.

With the split of Destiny’s Child, people often assume that there’s a bit of animosity between the old and new members, but LeToya says that’s simply not the case:

People create their own stories in their head a lot of time when they know no parties involved on a personal level. We all love each other, we support each other and we genuinely mean it… People are so messy sometimes, and they try to create mess around a situation they know absolutely nothing about. We love each other. We support each other and we genuinely mean it.

She recalls meeting Michelle Williams for the first time. They were at a fundraiser in Dallas, when Michelle approached her as she was sitting with her friends:

I was sitting with my friends at the time and she said, ‘I’ve been watching you from afar and you inspire me, and you don’t even know it. I’m so, so proud of you.’ It was mind-blowing!

Additionally, LeToya dishes on her new Single Ladies role, her musical career and personal relationships in the August 2013 issue – which marks 25 years of S2S.

Solange Knowles Cancels European Tour Dates for "Mental/Physical Health" Reasons

Calling the decision "devastating," Solange Knowles is canceling all of her August European tour dates.

On her web site, the singer wrote, "I wish I could put in words how much of a difficult decision this was.”

Beyoncé's sister is moving part-time to a new city (Brooklyn, New York), starting her 8-year-old son in a new school, and writing and recording her new album.

The 27-year-old musician says it’s all become a bit overwhelming, admitting, “I really had to make the best decision for my mental/physical health and provide some stability for my family."

If the tour had gone as planned, she'd spend about two weeks performing in nine cities, including Oslo, Copenhagen and London. "I am so so sooooo sorry if I've disappointed ... and really hope to make it out to those special cities soon enough," she told fans.

Audiences hoping to catch Solange on stage can see her on her U.S. tour dates which include Los Angeles on Aug. 24 and Philadelphia on Aug. 31.

TAKING A "STAND": Eva Marcille, Kevin McCall, Meagan Good & Chris Brown ROCK The #ForTrayvon CAMPAIGN

Photographer Kawai Matthews (above, left) has captured the newly launched #ForTrayvon Campaign. For the photoshoot, Chris Brown, Meagan Good, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Dawn Richard and hot YBF couple Eva Marcille and Kevin McCall each raised their hands in memory of Trayvon.

According to their press release, the launch of www.FORTRAYVON.org and its #ForTrayvon social media campaign was spearheaded by I AM READY Foundation founder Jason Lee to directly benefit The Trayvon Martin Foundation to assist in creating awareness of how violent crimes impact families of the victims and provide much-needed support for those families.

Jason spoke about the foundation saying,

"I launched my foundation to create programs that would address the issues that seemed to constantly plague my community. After my brother's murder, ending senseless violence was at the top of the list. As a witness of his murder and a victim of gun violence myself, I understand implicitly the pain that is felt daily by families and communities like Trayvon Martin's."

Kenya Moore Joins the LGBTQ Community for Sandblast 2013: Gay community has a blast in Asbury Park

A Sandblast weekend more than 4,000 people in the gay community will hit the city's beaches for the annual Sand Blast Weekend at the Sunset Beach area in Asbury Park. A drag race & hand bag toss where just a small part of the events that took place over the weekend.

Gabriel Jumbo traveled nearly 5,000 miles to spend his weekend on the city’s waterfront. The Argentinian was among the droves of people who flooded the beach, boardwalk and Berkeley Hotel for the annual Sand Blast summer festival, which celebrates the gay and lesbian community.

Jumbo, who learned about the event through his many business trips to New York, said he was impressed with the revitalized city and that the event was the perfect opportunity to showcase it.

“It reminds of what Miami used to be in the 1990s,” Jumbo said.

On Sunday, a crowd packed the Berkeley Hotel pool area for dancing, a synchronized swimming show and a guest appearance from Kenya Moore, who starred in the reality TV show Real Housewives of Atlanta. Click through the gallery above to see more from the event, or view the gallery here from your phone.

Sandblast hosted events for both men and women including drag queen racing, a beach party and an art crawl. Sand Blast attracted more than 4,000 people. The festival, now in its 12th year, began as a way to promote Asbury Park as a place to live, work or visit.

Organizers say it also puts the city on the map as a gay-friendly destination.

“It really helps to bring the gay community here and value (Asbury Park) and boost it up,” said Ryan McGurl, 27, who owns a vacation home in Asbury Park but lives in Woodbridge. “Overall, I think the event is good.”

Peter Brandes, who traveled from New York City with a group of friends for Sand Blast, said the event was an affordable getaway.

“It brought all of us together in an environment where we can chill, relax, socialize and dance to great music,” said Brandes, 30.

Amanda Bynes' Dog Doused with Gasoline

Amanda Bynes' Pomeranian pup was doused in gasoline after she set a fire in a neighbors driveway.

Amanda Bynes stripped her pants off in a burning driveway and threatened to call 911 on the first passerby to rush to her aid, the Good Samaritan told the Daily News Wednesday.

Andrew Liverpool, 24, said he was driving home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Monday night when he noticed a sizable fire in a residential driveway and saw a woman lying next to the blaze, trying to snuff flames on her left pant leg.

"I pulled over and ran over and she was pantsless by this time, running after her dog," he recalled to the News. "I asked her, 'Where's your garden hose?' I thought it was her house at first."

He said he didn't immediately recognize Bynes but was struck by her "large blond wig" and "discombobulated" demeanor.

He said she was alone in the driveway with a burning gas canister and a large super soaker water gun. He asked if she was hurt, and she said, "No," he recalled.

Liverpool said he moved the burning items to the center of the driveway with his boot-clad foot and yelled for someone to call 911 when four others stopped to help.

Moments later he looked around for Bynes and realized she had vanished — along with her burned black pants.

After giving his statement to firefighters, Liverpool said he hopped back in his car and went to look for Bynes.

Meanwhile, the "Hairspray" actress purportedly walked a block down the street and into a liquor store with her pet Pomeranian in her arms.

She reeked of gasoline as she tried to rinse her poor pooch in a back-office sink, a clerk at the store told the News.

"She was trying to wash the dog. She didn't ask permission to go in the back on her own," Southwest Market & Deli employee Tony Darghali told the Daily News.

Darghali was not on duty at the time but heard about the two-minute incident from his co-workers. "When (the clerk on duty) went back there to see what she was doing, he could smell gasoline. She seemed freaked out and just kind of walked out. I don't think there was a whole lot of communication," he said. "It looks like the poor girl needs some help.

Surveillance footage obtained by the gossip website TMZ.com shows Bynes, 27, pacing around the store before making a bee line through an employees-only door next to the cash register.

According to the video's time stamp, Bynes made the pup-related pit stop one minute after police received the 911 call about the nearby fire.

The owner of the torched driveway told the News she didn't know Bynes. Bynes' parents live around the block. They have been estranged from their daughter in recent months.

Liverpool said he later spotted Bynes walking with her dog near the deli's strip mall. He pulled over and called 911 as he watched her stop for a minute at a corner gas station and begin to talk on her cell phone.

Moments later a taxi appeared, and Bynes rushed into an intersection to grab it, he said.

"I got there before she did and blocked her path and told the taxi driver not to take her," Liverpool recalled to the News.

That's when Liverpool got a good look and recognized the former Nickelodeon star who briefly attended his high school.

"Don't touch me or I'll call 911!" Bynes barked at him when he tried to stop her from entering the cab, he recalled

"She said she had to go, that her dog was burnt," he recalled. "I saw the dog was wet, but I didn't smell burnt hair or anything."

He said Bynes jumped in the back seat, and the cab sped off.

Luckily, his 911 call alerted cops to the cab, he said, and they found Bynes a short time later.

Capt. Don Aguilar with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department confirmed Bynes was "detained and taken for a mental health evaluation" at a local hospital.

He said there was no plan to launch a criminal investigation "at this time."

"It's sad," Bonnie Braaten, the woman who owns the burned driveway, told The News. "I'm glad no one was hurt and it didn't spread to my house and my neighbor's house. It could have been really bad."

Bynes' parents declined to comment to The News Tuesday but were photographed leaving a hospital.

Unidentified sources told TMZ.com that Bynes is exhibiting signs of schizophrenia and that her parents plan to seek a court-ordered conservatorship.

At the Tender Age of 44, Actress Kim Fields Expecting her Second Son

Move over Halle Berry, you aren’t the only flawless actress that’s pushing out baby number two over the tender age of 40. Actress Kim Fields is expecting!

The ‘Facts of Life’ is 44 years young and this is her second child (she and her husband have a 6-year-old son).

The ‘Living Single’ actress has already taped a segment with ‘The Real’ talk show, making the announcement:

Sebastian and Christopher are very excited. We’re very, very blessed. It was planned. We’ve actually been trying for a couple years. We had gotten pregnant twice and [miscarried]. Chris and I were very blessed to really have one another, to have our family and friends and our God to really get us through that. If I’m encouraging to anybody … it’s not like I’m the poster child for over 40 and pregnant. Funny enough, for a minute I thought I was getting pre-menopausal ‘cuz certain things were starting to be irregular and then other symptoms started — my memory and I was clumsier than normal which I couldn’t even believe was possible.

Then our son got sick with a stomach virus and I caught it. Chris said, ‘No, babe, you’re a little sicker than Sebastian. You need to go and get that checked out’ and I said,’Okay.’ They tested me and said, ‘Oh honey, you’re not dehydrated. You’re two months pregnant.’

Congrats!

Lamar Odom's Mistress Speaks

Lamar Odom's former mistress Jennifer Richardson speaks out in a taped message for Khloe Kardashian.

Lamar Odom’s secret lover has one important piece of advice for his wife Khloe Kardashian – “Get a divorce. He’s not going to change.”

Jennifer Richardson spoke exclusively with Star about her recent relationship with the NBA star, and how she became his “on the road” girlfriend behind Khloe’s back. In our interview, Jennifer gave detailed accounts of her meet-ups with Lamar, alleging that what they had was much more than just a one-night-stand.

Check out the full interview below and make sure to pick up the latest issue of Star, on newsstands now, for the full story!

Draya Dating Cowboys Orlando Scandrick

Its official Draya has herself a ball player! The reality star turn fashion entrepreneur looks happy in love with her boyfriend, NFL player Orlando Lee Scandrick.

The Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Lee Scandrick and Draya showed off their relationship status via Instagram! He was drafted by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boise State. They are a cute couple and love her or hate her she is bad!

FASHION FAB: Ex Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Lisa Wu Hosts Chopard Luxury Line Launch

Former Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Lisa Wu, hosted the unveiling and launch of the Chopard Luxury Jeweled Eyewear Collection. The event went down at Davante, at Lenox Square.

We spotted a few ATL celebrities like artist Bobby Valentino, Mariah Huq (‘Married 2 Medicine’), Carlton “Mr. Couture” Morton (publicist, ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’), Tami (blogger, TalkingWithTami.com) and some other fancy folk.