THIS IS THE CHRONICLES OF EFREM: The Daily Buzz For Aug 2 ☕📰☕

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Katy Perry Fans Can Win Concert Tickets by Donating Time, Supplies to Boys & Girls Club

Katy Perry visits a Boys & Girls Club of America location

"I'm a firm believer that actions speak louder than tweets," the singer says about her new Global Citizen partnership.

Charitable Katy Perry fans are in luck: The singer is giving away free tickets to kids who donate time or supplies to their local Boys & Girls Club of America.

Social-action platform Global Citizen announced their partnership with the "Swish Swish" singer in support of Boys & Girls Club of America on Monday (July 31). As part of the partnership, fans who sign up on Global Citizen's website and donate supplies to the club are entered to win a pair of general admission tickets to Perry's WITNESS: The Tour. Fans who volunteer at a Boys & Girls club location, meanwhile, are entered to win a pair of VIP tickets to the tour and a meet-and-greet with Perry.

"I'm a firm believer that actions speak louder than tweets," Perry said in a statement announcing the partnership. "I think we're all looking for a way to make real change beyond just donating our loose change."

For more information on the partnership or to sign up to win, click here.

#RHoA: ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Ladies Enjoy Cast Trip to San Francisco

Season 10 of Real Housewives of Atlanta has been filming for about a month, with NeNe Leakes, Cynthia Bailey and Sheree Whitfield already throwing big bashes that were filmed for the series.

In what appears to be the first major trip of the season, the ladies recently headed west to San Francisco for a little break from tea-filled streets of Atlanta, while bringing a little drama along for the ride.

Reportedly, there’s already a divide among the group, with Nene, Kandi, Cynthia and Kenya sticking together while Sheree, Porsha and Marlo Hampton have formed their own posse.

Nene and Porsha have also been throwing subtle shade at one another throughout the trip, according to unnamed sources.
Check out the San Francisco trip

Cute!

#EMPIRE: Meet the Other Beauty Boss of Empire TaRhonda Jones!

When you think of Empire, you probably think about a pack of clawing Lyons fighting over their record dynasty, the sexy cat-and-mouse chase between exes Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Luscious (Terrence Howard), or maybe even Cookie's lavi$h hood rich-meets-haute couture wardrobe. But today, friends, I ask you to take a closer look at the character often prancing alongside the Cookie monster: her assistant Porsha, played by Ta'Rhonda Jones.

While I admit it's hard to play favorites with an ensemble cast like this, I've beee rooting for Jones since day one. I still giggle at an early season scene where Porsha struggled to walk in high heels as Cookie angrily stomped out of the Empire Entertainment offices. (Porsha is all of us.) But my fandom isn't just about her character — Ta'Rhonda is a beauty star in her own rite.

Before the show's second season, series creator Lee Daniels let Ta'Rhonda call the shots in the glam room. "I told Lee, 'I don't want those braids back. That was hell for me!" she told Glamour of one of her character's early hairstyles. "Lee saw my hair green and was like, 'I like this. Let's do this.' Lee told [wardrobe and styling], 'Just leave her. Don't change her hair, let her wear her own clothes, let her do her own makeup.'"

Makes sense: She switches her hairstyles more than most of us change purses — curly pixie one day, long faux dreadlocks the next. She even names some of her wigs (you gotta see Shelby), and does her own makeup for the red carpet, too. Ahead, see why Daniels had the right (and bright) idea.

#NEWMUSIC: Marc Nelson – Wishing You The Worst

Veteran singer Marc Nelson returns with the brand new single called “Wishing You the Worst”. On the song, he hopes that his former love interest is miserable as she moves onto other men.

It’s been a while since we’ve heard new music from Nelson, as the majority of his time recently has been with Az Yet and Boyz II Men.

While all things music are Marc’s passion, so are the stage/theater arts. Marc has appeared on stage as an actor in several plays and will be starring in the Fall of 2017 in the touring stage play, “I Can’t Make You Love Me”.

Nelson was also recently nominated for an Emmy Award for writing the theme song to the 2016 animated Christmas TV movie “Snowy Day”. The song he worked on was performed by Boyz II Men and also was the title song.

LISTEN HERE

Currently, Marc is appearing with Boyz II Men at the Mirage in Las Vegas, where the group is performing their residency. He is also working on a highly anticipated new album to release soon.

#HIPHOPNEWS: Rae Sremmurd Readies New Single ‘Perplexing Pegasus’

Rae Sremmurd is about to soar with the release of “Perplexing Pegasus,” the lead single off their forthcoming third album SremmLife 3.

Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi have announced that the Mike WiLL Made-It-produced track will premiere on Friday (Aug. 4).

Fans have already heard previews of the forthcoming single, which features Swae Lee on the hook. “Jumped in a Pegasus,” he raps on the track. “All kinda reckless, the necklace / All kinda reckless, I flexed it.”

You can too HERE!

In 2015, Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi introduced fans to their sound on SremmLife. One year later, they released the sequel, which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. So far, there is no release date for SremmLife 3.

Swae Lee teased SremmLife 3 and “Pegasus” earlier this month during an interview with Tim Westwood. “We got ‘Unforgettable’ going crazy and I got a whole album full of songs like that,” he said at the time. “Then, we got a whole SremmLife 3, the next project coming soon. We ’bout done with that mug already. ‘Bout to wrap it up …We might just throw out some turn-up songs. We got this song called ‘Pegasus.’ We might just throw that joint out. [It’s a] banger, produced by Mike WiLL Made-It.”

Rachel Lindsay’s Breakup With ‘Bachelorette’ Runner-Up Was ‘the Most Heart-Wrenching of All Time’

Rachel Lindsay’s breakup with her runner-up during the Bachelorette season 13 finale was “brutal,” according to Us Weekly.

WATCH HERE

Bachelor Nation last saw the Dallas native, 32, introducing her three finalists, Peter Kraus, Eric Bigger and Bryan Abasolo, to her family. Once she narrowed it down to only two men, Lindsay got very emotional sending one of her suitors home.

"When it gets down to the finale and the final two guys, the last breakup is the most heart-wrenching of all time,” an insider tells Us. "They couldn’t say goodbye, and even when they did there were so many tears from her. After she left, he collapsed and sobbed.”

The insider adds that the attorney didn’t have her mind made up well in advance. “She was torn until the very end,” the source says. "It’s brutal to watch this breakup — worst breakup in years on this show."

Earlier this month, Lindsay said that guy “number 2” was the “hardest goodbye.” She added, “That was the hardest moment in general.”

The closer it got to the final rose, the more she struggled. "Hometowns was so hard because I was connected to every single guy in a different way,” she said. "Honestly, I just wanted to quit and run away rather than proceed, but I was like, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. I know what I want and I can’t quit now.”

She’s excited for the finale to air so she can finally go public with her fiancé. "Honestly, I just want to go on a walk, just walk down the street, hand-in-hand. There’s nothing big I want to do, I just want to be in public,” she continued. "Do simple, little things, like go grab a cup of coffee, go walk down the street, go walk my dog, Copper, at the park.” (h/t usweekly)

#CHILEPLEASE: Bobby V Claims He’s A Victim Of Extortion, Had No Idea Woman Was Transgender

After his spot was blown up by a transgender prostitute, Bobby V is claiming he’s a victim of extortion.

A rep for the R&B singer says he vehemently denies the person he hooked up with over the weekend is a prostitute.

Bobby also claims the person filming him lured him in with malicious deception and misrepresentation.

Bobby’s rep tells TMZ … the R&B singer vehemently denies the person he hooked up with over the weekend was a prostitute, and says he’s now being extorted after the person filming him realized who he was.

The rep went on to say, “Misrepresentation and deception were maliciously used to target Valentino; during the encounter, Valentino was victimized and threatened by acts of extortion which continued after his departure was captured on video.”

Bobby’s rep also said he’s reported the extortion attempt to law enforcement.

Last, but certainly not least, Bobby V claims he had know idea ole girl was transgender….boy stop.

Idris Elba was draped in Gucci for 'The Dark Tower' Premiere with daughter Isan.

"Luther" star Idris Elba came laced up in his best head-to-toe Gucci look for his big premiere night of The Dark Tower.

'Dris hit the carpet at New York's Museum Of Modern Art with his daughter Isan (in the polka dots) and her friend. She's growing up fast!

The 44-year-old star caught up with his hot villain co-star Matt McConaughey as well.

The night before, the on screen powerhouse duo snapped it up for a photo call in NYC:

Idris and his gunslinging roll into theaters this Thursday night.

This new Look of Aretha Franklin Have some Asking Questions.

*Being that this is the internet, somebody seeing this mouth dropping photo of Aretha Franklin may already know the who, what, why, here & when behind the pic. In the meantime, we’re either too early or too late (as far as some may be concerned).

That’s what happens when people post stuff with absolutely no info. This was posted to an #ArethaFranklin hashtag/group on Instagram.

We know a picture is worth a thousand words, but for it to make sense, you need the answers. Which we don’t have … as of this posting.

The bottom line is this is a very, very interesting photo of Aretha Franklin for obvious reasons. Please feel free to post YOUR thoughts.

Here’s an equally interesting video clip of Aretha during her recent performance in Northern Virginia.

Aretha Franklin ...no caption needed 💃🏾🎤🙌🏾🎹

A post shared by Josh Dixon (@joshdixon) on Jul 30, 2017 at 10:41am PDT

Los Angeles To Host 2028 Summer Olympics

Los Angeles has reached an agreement to host the Olympics in the summer of 2028 instead of 2024.

Los Angeles was bidding to host the 2024 games. Then in June, the International Olympic Committee decided that with two strong candidates, Los Angeles and Paris, it would give one city the 2024 games and the other the 2028 games.

Los Angeles had expressed willingness to consider pushing back the date, and Paris did not, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The International Olympic Committee said in a press release that it will contribute $1.8 billion to the organizing committee. It will advance funds to the committee in light of a longer planning period to increase participation and access to youth sports programs in the years leading up to the Games.

In a statement, IOC President Thomas Bach lauded Los Angeles' plan to use existing facilities and encourage youth engagement.

"Therefore, we are very happy that, as part of this Host City Contract, we are able to increase the access of the city's youth to sport, and encourage the healthy lifestyle of Angelenos for the next 11 years," Bach said. "We are very confident that we can reach a tripartite agreement under the leadership of the IOC with LA and Paris in August, creating a win-win-win situation for all three partners."

The IOC will put forward the plan for approval at its September meeting in Lima, Peru.

This will be Los Angeles' third time hosting the Olympics. It hosted the Games in 1984 and 1932.

Fashion Forward: Gucci Gets Inspired By Star Trek For Fall/Winter 2017 Campaign

Gucci ‘s brand is forever evolving. Last season, the brand went with an old school theme for their collection. Now, the Fall/Winter 2017 collection will be inspired by Star Trek.

The Fall/Winter 2017 collection will feature gadgets from ‘Star Trek’ and 50’s B-movie references. Welcome to ‘Gucci and Beyond’!

The latest campaign was captured by photographer Glen Luchford with art direction by Christopher Simmonds.

The Fall 2017 collection is going to be a hit. We have already spotted the Bad Gal herself in the sparkling bodysuit, which featured a ripped Gucci logo top and denim jeans, for the 2017 Coachella. Not only are the clothes going to be a hit, but the accessories are going to amazing. The details are going to bring each piece to life.

Let’s check out the latest Gucci campaigns for the Fall 2017 collection: