New Edition were presented with the ASCAP Golden Note Award at the 2008 ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Awards. Celebrity guests at the event included Melody Thornton, Ne-Yo, Musiq, Akon, and Raheem DeVaughn.




As previously reported, Ralph Tresvant has a new single coming out this July called, "It Must Be You". To celebrate New Edition's 25th anniversary in the music industry, Ralph also has plans to go on a solo tour.

Musiq just released a new track called, "Radio" and the song has a different sound than "Teach Me" and his other previous hits. Speaking of which, "TeachMe" and "Buddy" picked up the recognition in the award winning R&B/Hip-Hop song category.

Ne-Yo picked up awards for his songs, "Because Of You" and "Do You." Tank's song "Please Don't Go" won an ASCAP award.

Raheem DeVaughn can seen in his on-going "Art For Love" tour with Chrisette Michele and Solange Knowles.

Melody Thornton has on the same yellow one-shoulder 3.1 Philip Lim dress that Paris Hilton wore to "Letterman." (Is that a new tattoo under her eye??!?)

MC Lyte was seen in the same silk Grecian dress as Sanaa Lathan. Michelle Williams look great in a yellow silk chiffon dress.

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER listed the winners at the 2008 ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Awards.

Labels: Akon, Bobby Brown, Melody Thornton, Michelle Williams, Musiq, Ne-Yo, New Edition, Raheem DeVaughn, Tank

Jennifer Lopez performed - with utmost energy, I might add- a medley of her hits ("Jenny From The Block", "Ain't It Funny" remix, "Love Don't Cost A Thing" and "Get Right") at the 2008 MUZ Music Awards. Needless to say, Jennifer reminded the audience of not only her infamous sassy moniker (re: J.Lo) but her pre-baby and marriage lifestyle.


Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and husband Michael with their twin boys Jaid and Jax attended the Time for Heroes celebrity carnival. (Thanks Black Celeb Kids for the photos.) Garcelle recently flaunted her post-baby shape for "People" magazine, which you can check out in this earlier post.



Mary J Blige looked every bit as a runway model in a green silk Versace dress at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Party in London. MJB was accompanied by her husband Kendu Isaacs (of course) and good friend, Bono.



In the latest leaked snippet taken from his tell-all autobiography novel, Bobby Brown commented briefly on Usher emulating his stage presence. While promoting his "Confessions" record, Usher said he and Bobby had a misunderstanding. Bobby has since called Usher a "Mini-Me."

“I watched one of Usher’s shows and he basically did my whole show. It was as if it was me on stage. The thing about it is, I love seeing that. It’s a compliment to me as a performer . . . I think you take parts of whoever is the hottest act of that era and you incorporate that into your own style. It’s just like taking buttermilk, eggs and corn meal, you whip it up bake it and you have cornbread.”

Mario has a new single out called, "If I Hurt You". The song follows in the same vain as his previous jam, "How Do I Breathe"...




Lil' Wayne spilled the surprise opening act for the 2008 BET Awards. Weezy confirmed in a recent interview with XM Radio that he'll join the stage with Beyonce and Usher for the performace of "Love In This Club Pt.2". Since there hasn't been any confirmation about a music video for the single, a live performance should do. Any performance Beyonce does for the urban music award ceremony always makes for a ratings gold chain...

Because of Weezy's announcement, Beyonce made history becoming the first artist to perform a record breaking six times for the awards ceremony.

In related news, Snoop Dogg wants Beyonce to start making babies with her husband, Jay-Z. "I told them to go home and make babies," he told reporters at the Dodge Celebrity Event in Rosamond, Calif. "They should, that's the next step as far as marriage, having kids ... add on to the family, so hopefully that's what they'll do."

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Bobby Brown, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, J.Lo, Mario, MJB, New Music, Out and About, 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

In the February issue of "Essence" magazine, Michael Bivins of New Edition discussed the tweny-five years of success behind New Edition.

On the 25th anniversary album: We’re working on the 25th Anniversary album, which could possibly be released fourth quarter of this year. We plan to release a TV special right before the album comes out. Then there’s the life story movie through BET films with Vantage/Paramount Pictures to be released in 2009. Lastly, we’ll have the 25th Anniversary tour around the time of the movie release.

On how New Edition managed to last long in the industry: We love what we do. I also think that pursuing our solo acts helped us to last so long. We were getting older and people were growing into their own personalities. There were moments when we needed space from each other. But the one thing we realized was that our fans loved to see us perform. When we didn’t want to make an album, we always made sure we stayed in front of our audience and connected with them no matter what. We didn’t just rely on our music; it was about staying in touch with our audience.

Urban-Hoopla has to ask---which NE song was your favorite?

quotes via essence.com via Real Gossip 101

[urban-hoopla]

Labels: Bobby Brown, Throwback Video

Last month, Whitney Houston did her first comeback performance alongside Gospel legendary singer CeCe Winans. The pair performed their 1996 hit, "Count On Me" off the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack.

Whitney also celebrated her birthday with her ex husband, Bobby Brown. So does this get together mean Whitney and Bobby are back on?! Apparently not, Whitney's rep Ray J has shot down this claim.
[urban-hoopla]

Labels: Bobby Brown, Whitney Houston

'80s R&B king Bobby Brown in a white suit with matching red shoes and tie took his lady love, Alicia Etheridge, out on the town.






Bobby and Alicia TRIED to squeeze in some one on one time after the ESPY Awards at a Beverly Hills hot spot SANS the paparazzi lens. Time will only tell if these two are legit or for the moment...but going by her body language she does NOT want to be bother. Perhaps the picture was taken off guard?! She needs to know that Bobby loves his women HARD...as we've witness with his tumultuous marriage to Whitney Houston. Now what does Alicia do professionally speaking? What was she known for prior to being Bobby's girl? Well, folks you have to hit up my go-to blog, "Straight Outta NYC"* for the scoop!


*Much love to Lexie for the heads up!


[urban-hoopla]

Labels: Bobby Brown, New Couple, Out and About

A cute combination of Bobby (think "Don't Be Cruel" days) and Whitney, isn't she?

Usher is the type of man that threatens to beat up others in defense of his lady. [Tameka Foster] Case in point:

According to syndicated host Tom Joyner, the mild-mannered Grammy winner recently threatened to "whup my a-" after Joyner joked about rumored tension between Foster and Usher's mom, Jonetta Patton.

Joyner said Usher called him off-air to complain about claims that Foster urged him to "fire" Jonetta as his manager. (Word is Usher was particularly unamused when Daily News contributor Jawn Murray quipped to Joyner during the broadcast: "I wonder if he's going to
put a pink slip in her Mother's Day card?")

[source]
Well either Tameka got something over him or his love for Tameka is the real deal. I don't recall Usher acting all defensive when he was with Chilli. [Do correct me if I'm wrong.]

And finally, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks singing to Mariah's "Dreamlover" and "Hero" when she was little:

Is it me or does Jordin look older than 17?! I love her voice but I'm on team Melinda.

Overheard Hoopla:

1. T-Pain likes Ray J's meat. [READ]

2. Fab and Lloyd team up on the single, "Real Playa Like." [LISTEN]

3. Solange wrote the leaked Kelly Rowland song called, "Work (Put It In)" featuring Fat Joe...supposedly.

Labels: Bobby Brown, Mariah Carey, Out and About, Rihanna, Usher, Whitney Houston