Showing posts with label music news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music news. Show all posts

3/19/19

The Daily Buzz For March 20 ☕📰☕


Jessica Alba for Health Magazine - April 2019
Her Empire Her business was valued just shy of $1 billion back in October 2017. 
So it comes as no wonder Jessica Alba feels comfortable calling herself 'smart.'

The 37-year-old business woman admitted in her April 2019 Health magazine cover story that had questioned her intelligence until her success in the business world.

She was interviewed by fellow entrepreneur Ayesha Curry who asked her what she has been too hard on herself for in the past.
Alba answered: 'When I was younger, I thought I wasn’t smart. I didn’t have a conventional or higher education. Now, after starting a business, I feel OK with identifying myself as smart.'
She goes on to admit that even she has even struggled in the acting world as she has not had the same education in theater.
The Dark Angel star explained: 'I even felt inferior saying I was an actress without being classically trained. It took me a while to find my confidence.' 
'I may not be the best actress ever, but do I have my moments? Definitely. And don’t underestimate street smarts—all of that hustle and life experiences. You have to roll with the punches—that’s how you’re going to be successful in life.'
The Honest Company was founded by Alba in 2011 and will soon be extending to Honest Beauty slated for a release later this year in Western Europe.

Jessica is also known as a Hollywood celebrity who has known how to take care of her body so no doubt many will be surprised that she isn't a fan of the latest health trend of celery juicing.
She said: 'I tried celery juicing, and it empties your bowels in a very violent way all day long—and I like things that taste good, and that just doesn’t taste good.'
The A-lister's definition of wellness is about 'checking in' as she says she changes up her routine on a daily basis while holding herself accountable.
She said: 'Some days I just need to go in my room and read a book for an hour and put a face mask on. Other days I need to wake up at 5:15 a.m. and get a spin class in to feel good—even though I hate waking up early. 
'I’ve tried to get into TM, a type of meditation, but it felt so hard-core. Wellness should feel like something I want to do. If I’m going to do a meditation, I like to do a guided one, and there are apps for that.' 
She has been married to 40-year-old film producer Cash Warren since 2008 as they have three kids together: Honor, 10, and Haven, seven, and son Hayes, one.   
Alba says her relationship with Warren is what she is most proud of when it comes to her personal life as she told Ayesha for Health: 'My husband and I like each other still. [Laughs] I’m not good with conflict. 

'I didn’t know how to express myself, and I feel like I’ve evolved into this person who can communicate so you can address stuff before it gets out of control. We’re best friends, and we respect each other.'


#RHOA: Which Atlanta Housewife has the Highest Net Worth?
It’s no secret that The Real Housewives of Atlanta love to flaunt their money. Not only do they live to show off their coins, but they also love to talk about how much more each of them has than the other women.
While they all have money, it’s clear that some of these Georgia peaches are richer than others. Let’s dive into which housewives are the wealthiest.

Porsha Williams: Williams has the least amount of money out of the housewives currently on the show. She was a main cast member in seasons 5 and 6 but was demoted to the “friend of the cast” position in season 7. Now, she is back to being a full-time cast member.
In 2013, her net worth was listed as being $16 million, but is now currently only $500,000. This could be partially due to the fact that she did not receive any alimony in her divorce from former football player, Kordell Stewart.

As of 2016, most of her income came from her role on RHOA and her job as a co-host for Dish Nation.

Cynthia Bailey: Bailey made most of her money as a model while signed with the Wilhelmina Models agency. She landed the cover of Essence Magazine as her first booking. She has been featured in high-end magazines like Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and more. Now, she earns the majority of her income from The Real Housewives. She is currently worth $500,000 and makes $300,000 per season of RHOA, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Eva Marcille: Marcille is one of the newest housewives to get a peach. She first came onto the celebrity scene when she won the third season of America’s Next Top Model. Since then, she has become a successful actress, landing small roles on Everybody Hates Chris, Smallville, The Assistants, and more. She also had prominent roles on House of Payne and The Young and the Restless.

She is currently worth $3 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Shamari DeVoe: DeVoe is another new housewife. She is most known for being the lead singer of the group Blaque. The group reached their peak in the 90’s. She has also worked as an actress, appearing in movies like Bring it On and Honey. In 2006, she married singer Ronnie DeVoe.

The singer and actress now has a net worth of $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Nene Leakes: Leakes is the last remaining original member of the RHOA cast. She was a series regular from seasons 1-7 but then took a break to focus on acting. She came back as a regular cast member in season 9. She has also appeared on a number of television shows, including, Glee, The New Normal, The Celebrity Apprentice, The Amandas, The Game, and Let’s Stay Together.

Leakes reportedly makes $1 million per season of The Real Housewives. She is currently worth $14 million.

Kandi Burruss: Which brings us to the most wealthy RHOA, Kandi Burruss. Burruss came onto the show in season 2 and is still a main cast member. Prior to joining the show, she was a member of the popular group Xscape. She also has a line of intimate toys called Bedroom Kandi. Burruss has accumulated a great deal of her wealth by writing songs for artists such as Whitney Houston, Pink, Boys II Men, Ed Sheeran, and more. She most notably wrote “No Scrubs” for TLC.

She is now worth $35 million.

So what do you think is it so….OR NAH?


#Empire: Jussie Smollett only Appears in Zero of 38 ‘Empire’ Promotional Photos for Fox.
“Empire” returns from its fifth season’s winter hiatus tomorrow night with an episode that includes the recently-indicted Jussie Smollett.
But you might not know that if you were to look at the promo photos from the midseason premiere episode, which Fox recently posted to its press site, ’cause Jamal (Smollett) isn’t in a single one of them. And the hip-hop soap opera’s third lead is not in the shots for the following two episodes either.

Smollett — who plays the openly gay middle son of Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Lucious (Terrence Howard) — is absent from all 38 production stills that are currently available to media from Episode 510, 511, and 512.

However, the other regular cast members, including Howard, Henson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Trai Byers, Nicole Ari Parker, Gabourey Sidibe and even Season 5 newcomer A.Z. Kelsey, are all present and accounted for to some degree in the photos.
For the sake of comparison, Lucious/Howard is in 11 of the 38 promotional pics, Cookie/Henson is in 10, Hakeem/Gray is in four and Andre/Byers is in six. Hell, Andre Royo’s character Thirsty Rawlings is in five of them.

“Empire” executive producers announced last month that they had decided to cut Smollett from the final two episodes of the Fox hip hop drama’s current season, following his arrest on the charge of filing a false police report.

But since he hasn’t been cut from the ones that were already in the can prior to that decision, his absence from the promo photos for the first three episodes of “Empire’s” midseason return is quite noticeable.


#MusicNews: Cassandra Lucas of Changing Faces her Debut Solo Album “The Intro”
Veteran singer Cassandra Lucas from the R&B group Changing Faces has just announced the release of her upcoming debut solo album. The album is appropriately titled “The Intro” and is set to release on April 16th, 2019.

She shared the following message to accompany the announcement:
It’s been a long time coming….And now I can finally say my debut album is coming out on April 16th. I can’t wait for you guys to hear it!! Y’all ready???

This album has indeed been a long time coming. Lucas most recently released the single “Name on It” early in 2018. Prior to that, she’s released a few different singles over the years and it appears the time is finally now for her debut.


#HipHopNews: J. Cole Announces The Dreamville Festival Lineup
After being delayed due to Hurricane Florence last year, the Dreamville Festival will go on.
J. Cole has revealed the new lineup for his inaugural fest, which is set to take place on Saturday, April 6 at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

In addition to Cole as the headliner, the star-studded lineup includes 21 Savage, Big Sean, SZA, 6LACK, and Nelly. The festival will also feature performances from Teyana Taylor, Davido, and Mez, along with North Carolina’s own Rapsody and King Mez. The entire Dreamville roster will also hit the stage including Bas, J.I.D, Cozz, EarthGang, Ari Lennox, Omen, and Lute.
The festival was originally set to take place Sept. 15, but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Florence which caused evacuations across North Carolina, South Carolina, and parts of Virginia.

GA and VIP ticket packages are on sale now at www.dreamvillefest.com.


Wendy Williams has revealed she's been living in a sober house, seeking treatment for addiction
Wendy Williams is seeking treatment for addiction, she revealed on her show Tuesday.
“You know me for being a very open and honest person. You know Kevin and I have the Hunter Foundation for the good of the people and we recently launched out 888-HUNTER number for people who are in the struggle of addiction. Well, for some time now, and even today and beyond, I have been living in a sober house,” a weeping Williams, 54, told her studio audience.

"When you see me come to work glammed up, right after the show, I do Pilates ... You know I’ve had a struggle with cocaine in the past," she said. "I never went to a place to get treatment. I don't know how. God was just sitting on my shoulder and I just stopped … there are people in your family, it might be you … I want you to know more of the story.”
The talk show host revealed that she goes to the facility after work and personal obligations daily and still lives a "glamorous" life despite her struggles.

Howard Stern fires back at talk show host Wendy Williams after she said he had ‘gone Hollywood’Video
“After I go to the Pilates I go to several meetings all around town in the tri-state area, and I see my brothers and sisters caught up in their addiction and looking for help,” she said. “They don’t know I’m Wendy. They don’t care I’m Wendy. there's no autographs, there's no nothing. It’s the brothers and sisters caught up in the struggle. It’s been really interesting, this ride.”
She continued, “Only Kevin [Hunter, Sr., her husband] and Kevin [Jr., her son] know about this. And that is my truth."

Williams revealed that she kept her struggle a secret from the rest of her family and friends.
"Not my parents, nobody. Nobody knew because I look so glamorous out here. After I finish my appointments … I am driven by my 24-hour sober coach back to a home that I live in the tri-state with a bunch of smelly boys who have become my family," she confessed. "We talk and read and talk and read and then I get bored with them. Doors locked by 10 p.m., lights out by 10 p.m., so I go to my room and stare at the ceiling and fall asleep to come here and see you. So that is my truth.”

Williams had been absent from her show for the bulk of early 2019. She initially cited complications from Graves' disease for her hiatus.


Tyler Perry steps in to help pay for funeral of slain Wisconsin mother
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — Less than a day after the family of a slain single mother of four launched a fundraising appeal, actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry has lent his support.
News outlets report Perry offered to take care of the family’s rent to stave off eviction, arrange for 45-year-old Tynesha Evans’ body to be flown to Wisconsin for burial and cover her 18-year-old daughter’s tuition at Spelman College so she doesn’t have to drop out.

Evans was killed Saturday morning outside a bank near Atlanta. Her boyfriend, 58-year-old Othniel Inniss, was arrested at the scene.
Evans was an author and a full-time health care worker. According to the family’s GoFundMe, two of her four children are still minors.

One of them, 14-year-old Shakemia Turner, called Perry “an angel on Earth.”


The Trailer For ‘Toy Story 4’ Dropped And Everyone is in their Feels!
The first look at “Toy Story 4” in action has been released and, oh boy, is it a doozy. The tear-jerking trailer features everyone’s favorite characters, including Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, Hamm and Bo Peep.
In this new chapter, we see a new toy come into the mix ― Forky, voiced by Tony Hale, aptly named because he’s in fact a fork. The trailer features Woody and Forky on a road trip of sorts. And as these toys are wont to do, they get into mischief. 

Set to the tune of the Beach Boys’ hit, “God Only Knows,” the trailer is full of little moments sure to make viewers cry for days. In an interview with ET Online, Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear, all but confirmed this: “The last 12 minutes of that thing is beautiful and wonderful and emotional and [I] literally got choked up. I can’t tell you how simple it is but how wonderfully emotional it” gets.

Fans are already sharing their excitement: WATCH HERE
 “Toy Story 4” hits theaters on June 21.


Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty are NOT a married couple!
After igniting rumors earlier this month, TMZ reports that the couple did not secretly wed. There was speculation that Minaj and Petty had walked down the aisle after Nicki referred to her man as her “husband” on the latest episode of Queen Radio.

“Every night when I get out of the shower, my husband takes this really good lotion that we just bought and he massages my feet,” she said during the March 12 episode.
However, wedding bells could be in the future. Sources close to Nicki say that she’s “very much in love” with Petty, but the marriage reports are false.

Just a few months after they started dating in December, the two have already discussed marriage and starting a family together.
As for his criminal past, Nicki is not bothered by it and she’s tired of people bashing him. Petty is a registered sex offender and was convicted of manslaughter and first-degree attempted rape. Minaj has come to his defense and notes that he and the rape victim were teenagers and dating at the time.

Nicki and Petty go way back. The two met when Nicki was a 16-year-old living in Queens and reconnected late last year. The couple hasn’t been shy to show PDA on social media. They vacationed together for Nicki’s 36th birthday and Petty has been traveling with Nicki on her “Nicki WRLD Tour” across Europe.


Lupita Nyong'o came to GMA rocking a colorful floral dress promoting her upcoming movie ‘Us’
And Lupita Nyong'o looked positively stunning in a flirty floral dress ahead of her appearance on Good Morning America in New York on Tuesday morning.
The 36-year-old stunner covered up in a mustard yellow jacket after praising the director for his 'refreshing' portrayal of a black family in his upcoming horror film.   

The Black Panther star rocked a retro-inspired gown complete with a key-hole neckline and ruffled hem.
She tied her curls up into a chic top bun fashioned into a bow and wore ombre shades with sparkling diamond accents.
Her bright red heels matched the shade she swiped across her lips and she carried a yellow alligator leather purse.
Lupita 'loved how unremarkable' it was that the lead characters in the psychological horror were an African-American middle class family and the fact that their ethnicity was irrelevant to the film's plot. 
'I loved how unremarkable it was that they were black, because I often feel quite unremarkable, I don't live my life always considering the color of my skin and it was nice to have that,' she told Sky News.
'A family that we could project our own understanding of a family on to no matter what color our skin is, and that the paradigms to which they were navigating this particular monster had nothing to do with the color of their skin. Yeah, that's refreshing.'
Us, which also stars Winston Duke and Elizabeth Moss, follows a family enjoying a vacation at the beach, but their serenity quickly turns to chaos when a group of horrifying doppelgängers begin to terrorize them.


Cardi B To Star Alongside Jennifer Lopez In ‘Hustlers’ Movie
Cardi B is headed to the big screen. The chart-topping rapper will make her feature film debut alongside Jennifer Lopez in the upcoming stripper saga Hustlers, reports Deadline.
The cast also includes Constance Wu (Crazy Rich Asians), Lili Reinhart (Riverdale), Keke Palmer (Scream Queens), Julia Stiles (Silver Linings Playbook), and Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King).
Inspired by a 2016 New York Magazine article, Hustlers follows a crew of former strip club employees who team up to get revenge on their wealthy Wall Street clients by maxing out their credit cards.

In preparation for her role as a stripper, J.Lo went on a 10-day no-sugar, low-carb diet and has been practicing pole dancing. Alex Rodriguez shared footage from his fiancée’s training sessions on social media.
Cardi B will have her own experience to draw on. The “Bodak Yellow” rapper has been outspoken about her past as an exotic dancer. “I [stripped] for three-and-a-half years,” she told Ellen last year. “I don’t recommend it to everybody because it’s not for everybody, but it made me money. It paid my bills. It got me my own apartment and my boob job…I started getting a lot of money and the money I made, I used it to invest in my dream.”

Additionally, Cardi is set to appear as a judge alongside Chance the Rapper and T.I. on “Rhythm + Flow,” Netflix’s upcoming hip-hop talent competition.


#SPORTSNEWS: Los Angeles Angels offers Mike Trout a new $430M deal
Star center fielder Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels are finalizing the largest contract in professional sports history, a 12-year deal worth more than $430 million that will smash previous records and could keep the greatest player of his generation with the Angels for the remainder of his career, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN on Tuesday.

Trout, who has won two American League MVP awards and finished second four times, will receive an average of nearly $36 million a year, topping Zack Greinke's previous record average of $34.4 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Five reasons $430M man Mike Trout can win a World Series with Angels
The best player of his generation just got the biggest contract in sports history, but is he sacrificing his shot at October glory by staying in Anaheim?
There's not much debate about who is No. 1. So what would it take for, say, Mookie Betts or Jose Altuve to supplant the star of stars?

The $430 million-plus total is more than 30 percent larger than the $330 million deal Bryce Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on March 2 and bests boxer Canelo Alvarez's deal with DAZN by more than $65 million.
Trout, 27, was due to be a free agent following the 2020 season, at which point he was expected to set off a frenzied bidding war among the largest-market teams in the game. The clamoring already had begun, with Harper lobbying for Trout to join him in Philadelphia, 45 miles from Trout's hometown of Millville, New Jersey.

The Angels will nullify that possibility by ripping up the final two seasons of his six-year, $144.5 million deal and replace it with the new 12-year deal through the 2030 season, sources told ESPN.

A generational talent with an unparalleled set of skills among his peers, Trout has put together arguably the greatest start to a career in baseball history. In 1,065 games, he has slashed .307/.416/.573 with 240 home runs, 648 RBIs, 793 runs and 189 stolen bases. No player in history has put up more wins above replacement through his age-26 season than Trout's 64.3.

While the Angels' past forays into long-term contracts have not paid off -- their 10-year, $240 million deal with Albert Pujols and five-year, $125 million deal with Josh Hamilton both are considered albatrosses -- the possibility of losing Trout was simply too daunting to not complete a deal.
Mike Trout is among the Angels' franchise leaders in a number of statistical categories despite not even ranking in the top 10 in games played in team history.

Trout casts his lot with an organization that has made the playoffs just once during his eight major league seasons -- and was swept in the first round when it did. Los Angeles' bustling farm system and the ability for owner Arte Moreno to parlay a $3 billion local TV deal into higher payrolls gave Trout enough security to lock down a deal through his age-38 season.

After joining the Angels as the 25th pick in the 2009 draft, Trout blitzed through their farm system and debuted at 19 years old during the 2011 season. He established himself as a star the next season, winning the AL Rookie of the Year award and finishing second in the MVP voting for the first of two straight seasons. He won the award in 2014 and 2016 and finished second again last year, arguably his best season yet, in which he slashed .312/.460/.628 with 39 home runs and 79 RBIs in 140 games.


Notorious B.I.G.’s Mother & Faith Evans Sue Snowboard Company For Using Rapper’s Face Without 
Yes. Snowboards have landed in hot water with B.I.G.’s ladies.
The Swiss athletic company has been collecting a coin by using Biggie’s face on some of their merch. While it may have been an innocent acknowledgment of a rap legend, it wasn’t appreciated by Faith Evans or his mother, Voletta Wallace.
The Blast got a hold of court documents that explained the case. Apparently, the company and photographer, Chi Modu, worked together to bring the boards to life. Modu was the man behind the lens of B.I.G.’s infamous World Trade Center photoshoot, which is the image on the snowboards. Faith and Voletta set up Notorious B.I.G., LLC in order to take charge over who gets access to the late rapper’s


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
‘SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS’
Nothing to see here. No reason to be alarmed. By chance has anyone seen a little monkey about yay high, red eyes and foaming at the mouth? No? Okay, have a nice day folks.


#EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Mr Beary! 
Meet Mr Beary! To see more of him you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS!  And remember they’re NSWF!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

ENJOY!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

12/18/18

The Daily Buzz For Dec 19 ☕📰☕


Jourdan Dunn for Wonderland - Winter 2018/2019
OVAH! Ph: Morelli Brothers, Stylist: Toni-Blaze, Hair: Renda Attia, Makeup: Alex Babsky


#RHoA: Cynthia Bailey Is headed to Ghana with boyfriend for the Holidays!
Cynthia Bailey and Mike Hill are putting their relationship to the test and traveling together for the holidays.
The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, 51, recently said that she and her new boyfriend are taking their first trip together to Ghana for a Christmas vacation. It’ll be their first time on an airplane together.
“He lives in LA, I live in Atlanta. So he flies to me or I fly to him but we’ve never actually flown on a plane together,” she said with a laugh. “So I know as excited as I am to get to Ghana, I’m really more excited about actually flying together with Mike because I’m like, ‘Do we have airplane chemistry or do we not?'”

“I’m a window person,” she explained. “I like to sleep on a plane. I’m like, ‘Is he gonna talk my ear off the whole flight? What’s going to happen?’ I don’t eat airplane food. I take my own food on the flight. I’m like, ‘Do I gotta pack stuff for him? Does he eat airplane food?’ I mean it’s a lot to figure out!”

The model doesn’t seem too worried though, telling us: “We’re super compatible and we do have a lot of chemistry, but we both travel a lot and I definitely see us traveling a lot together in the future. So I’m excited. I’m excited to just bond with him in the sky.”
But if sportscaster Hill, 48, needs any advice, Bailey told us who he can and can’t turn to.

“Nene [Leakes] and I have great airplane chemistry … she’s literally on her Instagram the whole flight and I’m like checking emails and whatever. She doesn’t talk too much and we talk enough. She’s not a movie person. I’ll watch a movie, but she knows not to bother me if I’m watching a movie. She just busies herself if I’m doing something … We just we’re good together. We usually sit together because — well nobody wants to sit with Marlo [Hampton] because Marlo’s too much. Marlo would drive me crazy the whole flight for sure!”


When Does #Empire Season 5 Come Back? Even More Secrets Remain For The Lyon Family To Uncover After The Holidays
It may be the most wonderful time of the year according to holiday traditions, but in television-land, it's actually the most suspenseful time of year. Why? Because so many fan favorite TV shows are taking a winter hiatus, meaning fans must be left to wonder when their beloved programming will return, and what will happen next. Among This Is Us, The Good Doctor, and others, Fox's Empire is going on leave after its mid-season finale premieres on Wednesday, December 5. So when does Empire come back after its winter break? It may be too soon to tell, but an official announcement is surely on the horizon.

Empire producers are currently focused on the release and public perception of their impending fall finale. Once the dust has settled there, they're likely to release a statement regarding the official date for the show's return, but as of right now, one hasn't been enough. But it's coming — when Season 5 was announced in May, the renewal called for 18 new episodes, so fans are guaranteed another eight after the holidays.

It may be frustrating for fans right now to wade into the unknown with the fall finale, especially considering the likelihood that it will end in a major cliffhanger. But at least they know for sure that the Lyon family will return to the small screen in due time. Hopefully, depending on how the mid-season finale shakes out, they'll return in one piece. Then again, Empire is all about a grueling power struggle that attempts to tear the family apart. So you may want to hold your breath there.


#MusicNews: Marsha Ambrosius Announces the “NYLA Tour” With Special Guest Elle Varner
Veteran R&B star Marsha Ambrosius has just announced that is gearing up for her headlining “NYLA Tour” in support of her recently released album. The trek will kick of January 27th in Las Vegas before making 29 stops and concluding in Baton Rouge, LA. Along the way, she will perform in major cities like Los Angeles, Houston, St. Louis, New York and more.

During the tour, Marsha will be joined by her eOne Music labelmate Elle Varner.
The tour is in support of Marsha Ambrosius’ recently released third solo album “NYLA”. The album made the list of our Top 10 Best R&B Albums of 2018.

Marsha Ambrosius “NYLA Tour” Dates

DATE CITY VENUE
Jan. 27 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas*
Jan. 29 San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom
Jan. 30 Sacramento, CA Ace of Spades
Jan. 31 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
Feb. 1 San Diego, CA HOB San Diego
Feb. 7 Cleveland, OH HOB Cleveland
Feb. 9 Chicago, IL Patio Theater
Feb. 10 Indianapolis, IN The Vogue
Feb. 16 Leesburg, VA Tally Ho Theatre*
Feb. 17 Washington DC The Howard Theatre*
Feb. 19 Boston, MA City Winery*
Feb. 21 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage*
Feb. 22 New York, NY Sony Hall*
Feb. 23 Buffalo, NY The Tralf*
Feb. 24 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts (TLA)*
Feb. 28 South Bend, IN Venue TBD
Mar. 1 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
Mar. 2 Fort Wayne, IN Rhinehart Music Center
Mar. 3 Detroit, MI Sound Board at the Motor City Casino Hotel
Mar. 5 Nashville, TN City Winery*
Mar. 7 Oklahoma City, OK Tower Theatre
Mar. 8 Austin, TX One World Theatre*
Mar. 9 Dallas, TX The Bomb Factory
Mar. 10 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
Mar. 12 Atlanta, GA City Winery*
Mar. 13 Atlanta, GA City Winery*
Mar. 15 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
Mar. 16 New Orleans, LA HOB New Orleans
Mar. 17 Baton Rouge, LA The Varsity Theatre

*Elle Varner will not be appearing at this show


#HipHopNews: XXXTENTACION’S ‘Skins’ Debuts At No. 1
XXXTentacion returns to the top of the Billboard 200 with his third album Skins.

The 20-year-old rapper’s posthumous album debuts at No. 1 with 132,000 equivalent album units, of which 52,000 were in pure album sales. It marks his biggest sales week to date and second consecutive No. 1 debut in nine months.

Prior to his death on June 18, XXX topped the chart with ?, which opened with 131,000 equivalent album units in March 2018. In September 2017, he earned his first top 10 with 17, which debuted and peaked at No. 2.
Skins also becomes the first posthumous No. 1 album since Prince’s The Very Best of Prince re-entered the chart at No. 1 in May 2016, following his death in April of that year.

Gucci Mane makes his debut with Evil Genius, which enters at No. 5 and becomes his fifth top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with 51,000 units (5,000 in album sales). It marks Gucci’s 21st charting effort, dating back to 2005’s Trap House.
Elsewhere in the top 10, Travis Scott’s Astroworld climbs 8-6 (44,000), 6ix9ine’s Dummy Boy drops 3-8 (43,000), Lil Baby’s Street Gossip falls 2-9 (42,000) and Drake’s Scorpion rises 11-10 (42,000).

BILLBOARD 200 TOP 10
1. XXXTentacion – Skins – 132,000
2. Meek Mill – Championships – 129,000
3. Michael Bublé – Christmas – 57,000
4. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born – 55,000
5. Gucci Mane – Evil Genius – 51,000
6. Travis Scott – Astroworld – 44,000
7. John Mellencamp – Other People’s Stuff – 44,000
8. 6ix9ine – Dummy Boy – 43,000
9. Lil Baby – Street Gossip – 42,000
10. Drake – Scorpion – 42,000


Legendary Actress and Director Penny Marshall, star of 'Laverne & Shirley DIES at 75
Penny Marshall, who costarred in the top-rated 1970s and ’80s sitcom “Laverne and Shirley” before becoming a director of hit movies such as “Big” and “A League of their Own,” died peacefully on Monday night in her Hollywood Hills home due to complications from diabetes.

A publicist for Marshall told Fox News that the actress died "peacefully at her Hollywood Hills home" from complications due to diabetes on Monday.
"Our family is heartbroken over the passing of Penny Marshall," the Marshall family said in a statement.

"Penny was a girl from the Bronx, who came out West, put a cursive 'L' on her sweater and transformed herself into a Hollywood success story," the statement added. "We hope her life continues to inspire others to spend time with family, work hard and make all of their dreams come true."

The New York-born actress rose to fame from her hit 1970s sitcom, "Laverne & Shirley" and went on to become a director.
When Marshall directed Tom Hanks in the 1988 film “Big,” she became a pioneer as the first woman in history to helm a film that grossed more than $100 million.

She did it again with “A League of Their Own" in 1992, and later directed many stars including Geena Davis, Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, Madonna, Denzel Washington, Rosie O’Donnell and the late Whitney Houston.

Per the statement, a celebration of Marshall's life will be held at a later date.
Marshall is survived by her older sister Ronny, daughter Tracy Reiner, and three grandchildren Spencer, Bella and Viva.


Trump Foundation To Shut Down after lawsuit exposes ‘pattern of illegality’
New York attorney general says charity functioned ‘as little more than a checkbook to serve Trump’s business and political interests’
Donald Trump has agreed to shut down his personal charity, the Trump Foundation, in the wake of a succession of scandals and a looming lawsuit which exposed a “shocking pattern of illegality”.

Trump had used the charity to pay off legal settlements within his business and even to buy a painting of himself to hang in one of his golf clubs.
The news that the charity will shut down was announced by New York’s attorney general, Barbara Underwood, who said the Trump Foundation had signed a stipulation agreeing to dissolve the foundation under judicial supervision.

Any remaining funds must be distributed to charitable causes which can be chosen by Trump and his children Ivanka, Don Jr and Eric, but they must be submitted to the court within 30 days and approved by the attorney general.
The action follows a court decision last month allowing Underwood’s lawsuit against the Trump Foundation to move forward.
In a statement, Underwood said: “Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more. This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr Trump’s business and political interests.”

She added: “This is an important victory for the rule of law, making clear that there is one set of rules for everyone.”
The attorney general had claimed the charity was used as a “piggy bank” to boost Trump Sr’s 2016 presidential campaign, violating rules that bar not-for-profit groups from engaging in certain types of political activity.

The suit claimed that up to $3m in such funds boosted Trump’s campaign. Among examples of improperly used funds is the allegation that the charity spent $10,000 on a giant painting of Trump himself.
The lawsuit alleged that during the 2016 campaign, Trump received more than $2m at a fundraiser in Iowa and the money went to his foundation. The lawsuit said Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, determined when and where money would be given away.

At least five $100,000 grants were made to groups in Iowa in the days immediately before the 1 February 2016 Iowa caucuses.
In November, the Manhattan supreme court justice Saliann Scarpulla found that the president was not “immune” from state lawsuits, as Trump has claimed in other litigation.
Following the announcement of the shutdown, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) executive director, Noah Bookbinder, said: “The Donald J Trump Foundation has abused the rules governing non-profit charitable foundations and admitted to breaking the law. It apparently operated for the sole purpose of benefiting Donald Trump.

“Crew filed complaints calling for investigations into the Foundation for improper political activity, lying on its tax returns, and self-dealing to benefit Donald Trump, among other problems. It is good to see this fraud is finally over.”


'Fresh Prince' star Alfonso Ribeiro sues video game companies over use of 'Carlton Dance'
Alfonso Ribeiro, shown in August, is suing creators of "Fortnite" and "NBA 2K" over the use of his famous dance he performed as Carlton from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." (Willy Sanjuan / Invision/Associated Press)
Carlton Banks’ signature moves popularized in the 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” are dancing into federal court.

Actor Alfonso Ribeiro filed lawsuits Monday against “Fortnite Battle Royale” video game developer Epic Games Inc. and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. over the use of his sidestepping, arm-swinging, energetic boogie often danced to Tom Jones’ tune “It’s Not Unusual.”
Ribeiro is asking a federal judge to issue an order barring the companies from using the dance in their games and award him unspecified monetary damages.
Epic Games did not respond to an email seeking comment. A representative for Take-Two Interactive Software, which created the “NBA 2K” game series, declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday.

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The Los Angeles-based actor alleges the companies have “unfairly profited” from exploiting his creative expression by using the dance in the video games. “NBA 2K16: players can customize their avatars by unlocking and purchasing the dance moves listed under the name “So Fresh.” Players also can buy the dance in “Fortnite” under the name “Fresh,” according to the lawsuit.

“Ribeiro created his highly recognizable dance that has also been referred to by the public as ‘The Carlton Dance,’ which exploded in popularity and became highly recognizable as Ribeiro’s signature dance internationally,” the lawsuit states. “The dance is now inextricably linked to Ribeiro and has continued to be a part of his celebrity persona.”
Ribeiro contends he created the jig in 1991 and first performed it on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” during the “Will’s Christmas Show” episode. Ribeiro also performed the signature moves during his 2014 run on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Ribeiro is the latest in a string of celebrities to sue “Fortnite” creators over dance moves used in the game. Rapper 2 Milly, who created the “Milly Rock,” and Russell Horning, a.k.a. the Backpack Kid, who created the “Floss” dance move, also filed lawsuits this month.


Oh Really? K. Michelle Says Idris Elba Gives Great Oral Sex
K. Michelle sat down with TMZ’s Raquel Harper for her BET series Raq Rants, and opened up about her time with Elba.



Love & Hip-Hop star K. Michelle still has her mind on Idris Elba. The two dated for 8 months almost five years ago, but their time together is still engrained in Michelle’s mind. Maybe it was his gentleman-like demeanor, or his English accent. Actually, according to K. Michelle, it was his head game. Michelle sat down with TMZ’s Raquel Harper for her BET series Raq Rants, and opened up about her time with Elba. “That was the whole album girl,” jokes K. Michelle, insinuating that Elba influenced the entire creation of her latest project. “That was the one person who I learned the most from about business,” she explains. “‘Cause he was like a fucking drug dealer and DJ, hood ass Memphis nigga for real with an accent, behind closed doors.” That’s when Raq interrupts to dive into something more sexual. She inquires about Michelle singing on a song about Elba’s head game. “He’s great. He was very passionate. That was so good,” states K. Michelle as she melts back into her seat, flustered by her memories. Although it’s been years since she and Elba dated, the veteran actor still has his exes praising his existence. Peep a clip in the FULL story at www.itsKenBarbie.com #idris #idriselba #kmichelle #kimberly #kmichellemusic #rebels #lhhh #loveandhiphophollywood #loveandhiphop #vh1 #entertainment #raqrants #entertainmentnews #entertainmentblog
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“That was the whole album girl,” jokes K. Michelle, insinuating that Elba influenced the entire creation of her latest project. “That was the one person who I learned the most from about business,” she explains. “‘Cause he was like a fucking drug dealer and DJ, hood ass Memphis nigga for real with an accent, behind closed doors.” That’s when Raq interrupts to dive into something more sexual. She inquires about Michelle singing on a song about Elba’s head game. “He’s great. He was very passionate. That was so good,” states K. Michelle as she melts back into her seat, flustered by her memories.


Man Defaces Meek Mill’s Grandmother’s House With Racist Word 
Meek Mill took to social media on Tuesday and shared a video of a white man defacing his grandmother’s house with a racist word.

The incident was caught on surveillance video and shows the man casually walking up to the side of the house and spray-painting the word on the side of the home.

Meek captioned the video: A white man sprayed a racial remark on my Grandmom’s house last night in south Philly referencing white Privileged…. the crazy part is this was a all black neighborhood 20 years ago It was gentrified and now this!!

WATCH HERE
This type of foolishness is downright sickening.


Former RHOC Gretchen Rossi Is Pregnant, Expecting First Child!
Gretchen Rossi is expecting! The 41-year-old Real Housewives of Orange County alum is expecting her first child with 45-year-old longtime love Slade Smiley, she confirmed on Monday (December 17).

“It’s pretty exciting that we have our little Christmas miracle. It’s been a little bit harder than I definitely anticipated. I think they lie to you when they tell you you’re gonna get morning sickness. They lie to you — it’s all day sickness! But the good news is that my doctor told me that’s actually a good sign,” Gretchen told People.

Gretchen is due in July of 2019. The couple has been together for nearly a decade. Congratulations!


CBS Says No $120M Severance For Les Moonves; Board declares Terminated For Cause!
Les Moonves, the once-powerful former CEO of CBS, will not be getting a single dime of the $120 million in severance he expected after stepping down under allegations of misconduct this fall, the company’s board has decided today.
 “The Board of Directors of CBS has completed its investigation of former Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves, CBS News, and cultural issues at CBS,” the company said in a statement Monday. “With regard to Mr. Moonves, we have determined that there are grounds to terminate for cause, including his willful and material misfeasance, violation of Company policies and breach of his employment contract, as well as his willful failure to cooperate fully with the Company’s investigation. Mr. Moonves will not receive any severance payment from the Company.”
Moonves is expected to take take legal action in regards to not getting the big-bucks payout he anticipated. CBS stock, which during the regular trading day sank 2.5% to a new one-year low, rallied nearly 1% after hours. Wall Street generally has been supportive of the moves the company has made to turn the page on the Moonves era. But a prolonged legal battle with the former chairman would be another pricey distraction unlikely to ease investor’s minds.

The board’s decision seemed all but inevitable, given the disclosures from a draft of an internal report obtained by The New York Times, which revealed that Moonves had destroyed evidence and misled investigators in an effort to protect his reputation and payout. In that preliminary report, investigators said they had substantiated numerous accusations of sexual misconduct and uncovered previously undisclosed allegations of wrongdoing.
Moonves resigned in September, after The New Yorker published a follow-on report by Ronan Farrow detailing new allegations by six women spanning from the 1980s to the 2000s. These fresh accounts of sexual misconduct include claims that Moonves forced women to perform oral sex on him and that he exposed himself to them without their consent.

The women’s accusations were similar to those made by six other women, who claimed they were subjected Moonves’ to unwelcome sexual advances and suffered professional retaliation when they rebuffed the now-disgraced television executive.

CBS’ directors said the investigators concluded that harassment and retaliation are not pervasive at the media company. However, investigators did find instances of “improper and unprofessional conduct” that were inconsistent with CBS’ stated policies on creating a harassment-free environment.
The two law firms conducting the investigation, Debevoise & Plimpton and Covington & Burling, also found that the company’s human resources department was lacking, noting it “did not hold high performers accountable” for their conduct or protect employees from retaliation.

The newly constituted CBS board and its acting CEO, Joe Ianniello, already have started making changes, including appointing a new chief people officer, Laurie Rosenfield.

The Board of Directors of CBS has completed its investigation of former Chairman and CEO Leslie Moonves, CBS News, and cultural issues at CBS.

With regard to Mr. Moonves, we have determined that there are grounds to terminate for cause, including his willful and material misfeasance, violation of Company policies and breach of his employment contract, as well as his willful failure to cooperate fully with the Company’s investigation. Mr. Moonves will not receive any severance payment from the Company.

As a result of their work, the investigators also concluded that harassment and retaliation are not pervasive at CBS. However, the investigators learned of past incidents of improper and unprofessional conduct, and concluded that the Company’s historical policies, practices and structures have not reflected a high institutional priority on preventing harassment and retaliation. The investigation determined that the resources devoted to the Company’s Human Resources function, to training and development, and to diversity and inclusion initiatives have been inadequate, given the size and complexity of CBS’ businesses. Employees also cited past incidents in which HR and the Company did not hold high performers accountable for their conduct and protect employees from retaliation.

The Board, which includes six new members, and the Company’s new management have already begun to take robust steps to improve the working environment for all employees. Among other things, the Company appointed a new Chief People Officer, is actively engaged in ways to enhance and reimagine the Human Resources function, and has retained outside expert advisors to develop other initiatives for promoting a workplace culture of dignity, transparency, respect and inclusion. These efforts will continue to be a high priority for the Board and the Company’s management, and we will continue to work together to communicate with our workforce in that regard.

We would like to thank everyone who cooperated with the investigation and applaud CBS’ employees for remaining focused on their jobs during this very difficult time. We look forward to the people of CBS returning their full attention to the outstanding work that they do every single day.


Jacquees Apologizes To Keith Sweat After “King Of R&B” Altercation: “So, I’m Sorry”
For the past couple of weeks now there has been a debate about who is truly the “King of R&B,” and Jacquees has now pulled Keith Sweat into it, and apologized after miscommunication.

TMZ caught up with the R&B legend backstage on Saturday to get his thoughts on the recent battle between R&B artists. Just as the reporter asked Keith for his opinion, Jacquees’ crew was walking by and overheard the interview. Before Keith could give his reply, Jacquees interrupted him, saying, “You are the king.”

“I’m the king,” Jacquees said as he dapped up Keith. “This is the king from back then. I’m the king for right now. This is Keith Sweat. Big Sweat. But, it’s Big Que.” Keith quickly interjected, saying, “I’m still getting that bag. I don’t know what he’s talking about.” Jacquees retorted, “He getting a bag, but 16 to 25 is my generation. I’m the king.” The conversation came to a close as Keith walked into his backstage room. When the reporter asked if he’s willing to pass the torch to Jacquees one of his crew members replied:  “Ain’t no torch to pass.”

This wasn’t the end of the conversation; Keith, Jacquees and fellow R&B artist #Tank met up to discuss the matter with V-103. After Keith explained that he wanted no parts of the R&B beef and that he was never discussing Jacquees, Jacquees humbly apologized, ”So, I’m sorry….we all the kings of R&B.” Keith later added, “When we had this conversation, and I’ma just say it like this and keep it 100, I never heard Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, or nobody talking about who was the king.”

Tank added: “I think what people have missed is that now, the R&B conversation, because of this young fellow saying what he said, has gone international, intergalactical, and everybody is listening to see what R&B is getting ready to sound like. So now is a good time, whoever you are, if you feel like you’ve got that R&B in your system, and you want to get that off, now is a good time to be heard.”


David and Tamela Mann talk marriage and love in new memoir, album
David and Tamela Mann have been entertaining the masses for decades. With their soulful voices and superb acting, the married couple’s list of accomplishment--both individually and as a unit--is massive.                   

Their careers span three decades and so does their marriage. Life as husband and wife, however, hasn’t come without trials, and they’ve documented many of them in their new memoir and album, both titled “Us Against the World,” which are available now. 

During their promo run to support the projects, the award-winning couple stopped by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a hilarious and insightful conversation about their secrets to love and marriage. 

They chatted with reporter Najja Parker about their most challenging obstacles, their blended family and their tips for maintaining long-lasting relationships. Plus host Shane Harrison shares things to do in in the city during the next 10 days, including a heap of holiday-themed happenings.


Ed Sheeran Had Highest Grossing Tour In 2018 Earning $432 Million, The Most Tour Earnings In 30 
Ed Sheeran has earned the highest-grossing live music tour of 2018, making $432 million from 4.86 million ticket sales, according to industry analyst, #Pollstar. It’s the highest-grossing tour in a calendar year since Pollstar began its rankings 30 years ago. The previous record was set by #U2 for their Joshua Tree tour in 2017, with $316m.

According to The Guardian, Taylor Swift came in second with $345 million from 2.88 million tickets sold on her Reputation Tour, while Jay Z and Beyoncé’s OTRII tour generated $254 million from 2.16 million tickets. Pink, Bruno Mars, The Eagles, Justin Timberlake, Roger Waters, U2 and the Rolling Stones completed the remaining Top 10.

Pollstar also reported the 2018 Top 10 of the Worldwide Tours chart surpassed $2 billion in grosses for the first time, up from 2017’s $1.8 million. The entire concert industry saw a record-setting amount of $10.4 billion this year. Live Nation dominated the live events industry selling 49.6 million tickets, ahead of AEG Presents with 11.6 million tickets and Messina Touring Group with 5.3 million tickets sold.


Mahershala Ali Apologizes After Family of “Green Book” Character Calls Movie a “Symphony of Lies”
“Green Book” star Mahershala Ali has apologized after the family of pianist Dr. Donald W. Shirley condemned several elements of the film.

“Green Book” tells the story of real-life Dr. Donald W. Shirley, an extremely intelligent Black pianist who travels on a concert tour in the South with his white driver and bodyguard, Tony “Lip” Vallelonga. The story was adapted from stories Vallelonga told his son who is a screenwriter for the film. However, Dr. Shirley’s family is calling the portrayal of the pianist a “symphony of lies.”

Some elements from the film the family says are exaggerated and or completely false; for example: Vallelonga just so happened to always be there to save Dr. Shirley, Vallelonga is depicted to be the person who got Dr. Shirley acquainted with Little Richard as an artist, and convinced Dr. Shirley to try fried chicken. 

The movie also included a conversation about Dr. Shirley having lost touch with his family and friends. In response, Shirley’s nephew Edwin Shirley III and his 82-year-old brother, Maurice Shirley fired back at the portrayal saying Dr. Shirley did not consider Vallelonga to be a close friend, and that he was never estranged from his family, friends or his Blackness.

Furthermore, Dr. Shirley’s family says the pianist told Vallelonga’s son that he did not want a film made about their alleged friendship. “I remember very, very clearly, going back 30 years, my uncle had been approached by Nick Vallelonga, the son of Tony Vallelonga, about a movie on his life, and Uncle Donald told me about it,” Edwin told Shadow and Act. “He flatly refused.” Following their statements to NPR, Ali reached out to the family to extend his apologies.

“I got a call from Mahershala Ali, a very, very respectful phone call, from him personally. He called me and my Uncle Maurice in which he apologized profusely if there had been any offense,” Edwin told Shadow and Act. “What he said was, ‘If I have offended you, I am so, so terribly sorry. I did the best I could with the material I had. I was not aware that there were close relatives with whom I could have consulted to add some nuance to the character.’”


VICE CEO Shades Desus & Mero After They Leave For Showtime: “They’re Going To A Platform That Their Audience Doesn’t Pay For”
Last month, Showtime announced a February premiere date for its first weekly late-night show, starring the dynamic duo from the Boogie Down, Desus and Mero. But, as the debut date approaches, execs from their old network home are not convinced that the Bodega Boys will flourish on a subscription-based network. 

In a recent interview with Elle, Vice’s new CEO opened up about Desus & Mero’s move from cable to premium and expressed her concerns about the future of the Bronx-bred hosts. 

“They’re going to a platform that their audience doesn’t pay for,” Nancy Dubuc said, as she explained the fact that she’ll be introducing a new two-hour nightly live broadcast in place of the network’s highest-rated program, “Desus & Mero.” “I told them, ‘You can always come back.’” 

But, fortunately for fans of the pair, the new show will be accessible to all Bodega Boys fans, with or without Showtime. In fact, in a recent interview with Bossip, the two assured that the fanbase would be taken care of in regards to convenience and accessibility, saying, “You don’t have to have a Showtime login to watch what we’re gonna put out,” Desus said. 

“Bodega Hive is something very personal to us…we cannot just shit on this f*cking fanbase,” he added.

In the meantime, “Desus & Mero” is set to debut on February 21 at 11 PM on Showtime. Will you be tuning in?


Offset's Step Father is now Slamming Cardi B
Over the weekend rapper Offset was rejected by his wife Cardi B after he tried to publicly apologize on stage at Rolling Loud for getting caught cheating

Now Offset's step father is speaking out...
In a post on FaceBook Offset's father says Cardi B speaking about the situation publicly is damaging to the rest of his family and claims she released the picture of baby Kulture to screw up Offset's album release.


#EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Woofy! 
Meet Woofy! To see more of him you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS!  And remember they’re NSWF!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

ENJOY!


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
‘DINO JOKES’
Q: Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl using the bathroom?
A: Because the ‘p’ is silent.


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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