Mary J Blige has a cover feature on the May edition of "Upscale" magazine. As the accompanying headline stated, Mary opened up about motherhood.

[The children's mother and I] spoke briefly, once...but no, we haven't crossed paths. All I know is what I see through the children, and based on what I see, I know she has to be an amazing person because those kids are so smart and so beautiful...I thank her for allowing me to be around them." [QUOTE: MARYLUVS.COM VIA UPSCALE]

Just in case you missed Mary J's latest video, "Stay Down", revisit my earlier post Here.




Raven-Symoné can been on the April 28th edition of "Jet" magazine. Raven addressed why she wouldn't change up her persona for fame:

‘”I have to stay true to who I am’, says Disney star Raven-Symoné, 22, regarding her new self-titled CD, which is slated for release April 29. ‘I am not going to sing about sex, drugs and violence, that’s just not who I am’, she continues. As she prepares for the CD’s release and a 55-city Pajama Party concert tour, the confident and talented entertainer hopes this project will fill a void in today’s music. We need some music that will open people’s minds up and give them other things to think about other than the same things we have been giving them for a while. Maybe my album can do that.’ [QUOTE: EBONYJET.COM VIA CONCRETE LOOP]

The Disney mini-mogul recently cancelled her tour but in the meanwhile check out her myspace page for new music from her upcoming self-titled album.

Labels: MJB, Newsstand Snapshots, Raven Symone

Gabrielle Union and Jill Scott are two of five actresses who shed their clothes for the May issue of "Allure" magazine.

Jill Scott told Cara Litke of "Allure" that "nobody ever celebrates women whose bodies are bigger than a size 8. But here I am, naked in a magazine at size 16. I hope that I can be an inspiration to all women. We're all beautiful, each and every one of us."

Just in case you can't read the articles written on Gabrielle and Jill's photos, continue reading...

GABRIELLE UNION:

"I worked my ass off for this shoot," says Union. "I've always been athletic, but I stepped it up for this. I ran up and down stadium stars and went hiking. I'm cool with being naked, but I wanted to push myself." When the big day came, Union felt good about her toned body -especially her arms. At the shoot, however, the star of the comedy "Starship Dave" wasn't thinking about any of her body parts: "My iPOD was hooked up to the studio speakers, and I was paranoid that someone was going to think my playlist was weird - it has everything from show tunes to rap. But that's typical Gaby. I'm naked up there, and I'm worrying about my music."

JILL SCOTT:

Scott's reaction to the idea of disrobing: "No, Naked? You mean 'naked' naked? No Way," she says. "It was a frightening concept, and I had to be convinced." At the shoot, the Grammy Award-winning singer and star of the upcoming movie and TV series, "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (she plays the full-figured Mma Ramostwe) was apprehensive. "I didn't sleep the night before. I love to be naked when it's just me at home, but I had no idea what it would be like to take my clothes off for the camera," she says. Turns out, "it took a lot of stand there naked in front of strangers and try to be comfortable and carefree. But I did it - and I'd do it again." As for the picture, "I'm blowing it up and putting it in my house," she says. "Just not where the cable guy can see it."

I don't understand how Jill got the short end stick of photoshop yet again! Regardless, both ladies are brave for going nude.

Jill and Gabrielle joined Kelly Rowland (May 2005), Vanessa Williams and Cassie (May 2007) who also went nude for the beauty publication.

Labels: Gabrielle Union, Hilary Duff, Jill Scott, Newsstand Snapshots

On-again/off-again couple Diddy and Kim Porter made their way through a swarm of photographers after having lunch at a restaurant in Beverly Hills yesterday.

The twosome have ten years of makeups and breakups plus three biological kids between them...so I guess that's why that they keep running back to one another.




Whitney Houston and her 15-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina were seen on their cell phones as they made their way through LAX Friday afternoon.

Seeing this mother-daughter duo together made me think back to when Bobbi joined her mother on a live rendition of "My Love Is Your Love" back in 1999. May how time flies, huh?




Melanie Brown and her husband Stephen Belafonte were seen (well-dressed I might add) leaving Foxtail Restuarant Friday night in Los Angeles.

Maybe Mel B and Stephen were celebrating the launch of her clothing line, Catty Couture?

Labels: Diddy, Melanie Brown, Out and About, Whitney Houston

A new Derek Blanks-photo shoot featuring R&B songbird Amerie surfaced onto the blogosphere earlier today. I like the Old Hollywood-inspired black and white photo. Derek Blanks work with Amerie on the "Alter Ego" celebrity portraits which I posted in this earlier post.


Mariah Carey's week-long takeover extended towards these black and white outtakes taken from her "E=MC²" album photo shoot.



Jay-Z reportedly recorded a remix to Mariah's second single, "Bye, Bye". According to JD,

"The remix for the Mariah record is crazy," Dupri said Friday (April 18). "Young Hov and Mariah crank it up, and myself, JD — a.k.a. Barry Bonds — cleans up." [MTV]

Because Jay-Z and Mariah are working together musically again, enjoy this throwback video of "Heartbreaker"...

Labels: Amerie, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Newsstand Snapshots, Throwback Video

Deck out in Uggs and a Juicy Couture sweat pants, Lauren London was seen on the set of her latest film, "I Love You, Beth Cooper".

According to IMDB, the film (co-starring Hayden Panettiere) has a plot taken from the Larry Doyle novel. (I'm loving that Dooney & Bourke bag she has.)

Lauren recently told "Jewel" magazine that she wanted roles that would make her a better actress.

Right now, London is looking at scripts that would make her a better actress, as opposed to making her a bigger celebrity. She'd love to play Lena Horne or Faith Evans or any 'real woman who has a scar on her face and scars on the inside as well. I just want to continue to stretch as an actress,"says London, who has a multi-episode on HBO's Entourage last season and still takes weekly acting classes to hone her craft. [JEWEL]

If you're interested to read more from Lauren's "Jewel" interview, be sure to visit my good blogger friend's blog - REAL GOSSIP 101.

Lauren recently sat down with Travis Braker about her most prized possessions. Check out the video here.

Labels: Box Office Thursday, Lauren London, Out and About

Thanks to Keri Hilson's vest pick at the Rap-Up magazine bash, we have another fun installment of "Look on Lock".

Cheri Dennis was first seen in this brown and black leather vest at BET's 2008 Rip The Runway event. Cheri paired her top with a form-fitting black mini and Betsey Johnson heels (not pictured).

This tan leather vest was seen on Keri Hilson (right) who wore it with a pair of dark denim. Keri accessorized with gold funky Melody Eshani earrings and rings.

As always, which LOOK is on LOCK - Keri Hilson or Cheri Dennis?

Labels: Cheri Dennis, Keri Hilson, Look on Lock

Keyshia Cole, Terrence J, Rosci, and Tocarra also attended the 2008 BET Upfronts event. (I do love Rosci's Louis Vuitton sandals.)



Keri Hilson, Nina Sky, and Teyana Taylor supported the third anniversary bash of "RAP-UP" magazine at the Addidas store in NYC. Mecca from WHATSPOPPIN.NET has more pictures from the event.



Golden Brooks stepped up her style game when she attended the Courvoisier/LRG Pop-Up Tour launch event. The former "Girlfriends" actress just wrapped a film called, "A Good Man Is Hard To Find".



Tatyana Ali was seen at the "Harold And Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" premiere last night. No word yet on Tatyana's forthcoming album, "The Light"...


Foxy Brown (Inga Marchand) was released from Riker's Island yesterday after serving eight months of a one-year sentence. According to a press release posted up on her record label, Foxy's new album, "Brooklyn's Don Diva" hits stores May 13th.

Photos: WIREIMAGE

Labels: Foxy Brown, Golden Brooks, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, Out and About, Rosci, Sanaa Lathan, Tatyanna Ali, Terrence J, Teyana Taylor, Tocarra

Check out these new promotional pictures of Usher in support of his fifth studio effort, "Here I Stand". [Are you feeling this look from Usher this time around?]

Thanks to popular demand of his single, "Love in This Club", Usher's record label push up the original album release date from June to May 27th.

Clearly Usher's going for that same look he had going on the cover of his "Confessions" Special Edition.



Instead of his female back-up dancer whispering in his ear (pause - wasn't that suppose to be Alicia Keys during the whole "My Boo" hoopla? -), we have Keri Hilson his video co-star.

Just in case you missed the official "Here I Stand" album cover art, re-visit my earlier post here.

Labels: Newsstand Snapshots, Usher

In better-late-than-never news, Whitney Houston was seen in Atlanta supporting her close friend Ray J's Hot 107.9 gig.

Ray J performed at Compound alongside Mario and Ashanti for the popular ATL-based radio station's "Hot on The Runway Fashion" show.

Whitney and Ray J are certainly enjoying being with one another in spite of the age differences (44 and 27 respectively). And that's if you asked Ray J himself.

In a song on his album, Ray J reportedly took a jab at Whitney's ex-husband Bobby Brown.

And the 27-year-old singer has used a song on his new album All I Feel to taunt Brown, by insinuating his marriage to Houston failed as a result of his poor love-making techniques.

On the track Boyfriend, he sings, "Is that your wife, is that your shorty? Well I'm her boyfriend... I think the problem is you don't beat it right... Making love is cool, just pull her hair sometimes." [THE POST CHRONICLE]

In case you're wondering why Ray J decided to air out his relationship with Whitney, keep reading and wait for it.

Bobby Brown reportedly called Ray J 'little man' in his new tell-all book, which you can check out over at BLACK VOICES.

Labels: Bobby Brown, Just Friends, New Couple, Out and About, Ray J, Whitney Houston

Usher and Jay-Z were seen out and about at a few L.A hot night spots (Katsuya Hollywood and Roosevelt Hotel) Thursday night. Both guys were seen without their famous female counterparts - Beyonce Knowles and Tameka Foster. No telling if we were see Usher, Tameka, Jay-Z, and Beyonce out on a double date...




Courtesy of POP-JUNKIE, Jay-Z and his "Heart of the City" tour mate Mary J Blige paid a visit to "Tavis Smiley Show". Jay-Z spoke about the rise of his empire, Roc-A-Fella.

Labels: Hot Night Spot, Jay-Z, MJB, Out and About, TV Hoopla, Usher

Alexis Phifer ignited rumors of a split from Kanye West when she showed up to the Cassie's NYC bash last night without her engagement ring.

Jawn Murray of Black Voices has the rundown:

...rapper Kanye West and his fiancé Alexis Phifer have called it quits. Sources close to the hip-hop star tell me that it was West who ended the engagement after revealing to Phifer: "I just don't think it is going to work out anymore." The 30-year-old entertainer even asked for his ring back! [READ MORE]

Just last month, Kanye and Alexis shot down wedding rumors that supposedly happened during their European vacation.

Labels: Alexis Phifer, Breakup, Kanye West

Ashanti performed her ballad, "The Way That I Love You" last night at Hot 107.9's Hot on The Runway Fashion Show in Atlanta. From the clip, you can tell the crowd was really digging her song.

With her new album hitting stores on June 3rd, Ashanti would be everywhere including a reported performance gig on "Good Morning America" summer series.

Be sure to re-visit my earlier post on Ashanti's new album cover art for "The Declaration" here.

Labels: Ashanti, Music Hoopla

Danity Kane performed their hit song, "Damaged" yet again. This time around the quintet appeared on the late-night talk show, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last night. Fortunately the group got to sing one last song before the credits roll on by.



Aubrey O'Day wore a blue Alice + Olivia dress with rosette detail at Us Weekly magazine's Hot Hollywood 2008 bash last night.

Actress Roselyn Sanchez was caught in a similar Alice + Olivia gray dress at Miami Beach’s Cameo Nightclub last September.

Grab the same Alice + Olivia dress as Roselyn and Aubrey over at NEIMANMARCUS.COM for $297.

As always, which LOOK is on LOCK - Aubrey O'Day or Roselyn Sanchez?



Photos: FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES/LOSSIP

Labels: Danity Kane, Look on Lock, Roselyn Sanchez

US Weekly had their annual Hot Hollywood bash at Eva Longoria Parker's Beso Resturant last night. Christina Milian wore her favorite pair of Louis Vuitton sandals with a matching LV cocktail dress to the event. Christina is scheduled to start filming a movie next week with Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey called "Ghosts of Girlfriend's past".


Eve rock a green satin dress and Christian Louboutin pumps. (Eve's clothing line, "Fetish" earned her spot on the Hot Hollywood style list.)


Mariah Carey celebrated the release of her 11th album, "E=MC²" with an Memorabilia Donation and Autograph Session at Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles. Check out a sneak preview of Mariah's upcoming film, "Tennesse" here.



Joumana Kidd and Cheryl "Salt" James of Salt-N-Pepa were seen at Conde Nast Traveler's 8th Annual Hot List Party at Mansion.



Over at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, "America's Next Top Model" alum Tocarra flaunted a few poses for the cameras at the BET Upfronts event.

Photos: WIREIMAGE

Labels: Christina Milian, Eve, Mariah Carey, Out and About, Salt -N- Pepa, Tocarra