Michelle Williams and Beyonce Knowles were spotted at (new X-Factor Judge) Kelly Rowland's surprise birthday party which was hosted by Tank and LaLa Vasquez at Opera in Hollywood last night. This marks the first public appearance of Kelly with her former Destiny's Child bandmates after she split up with her manager Mathew Knowles. (Kelly's actual birthday is today - February 11, 1981.)




Michelle Williams (in Giusseppe Zanotti silver-toe pumps) performed at the Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks last week. Beyonce and Solange's cousin Angela Beyince were there to show Michelle support. I'm loving Michelle's hairstyle. Next for Michelle is her upcoming remix album.

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Brandy, Fashion Hoopla, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Out and About, Solange, Trina, Vanessa Simmons

Siblings Brandy and Ray J attended the Official Sugar Shane Mosley Fight After-Party. I'm looking forward to their upcoming joint music project R&B. Anyone going to support Ray J's new VH1 Bachelor-type reality series?



Letoya Luckett paid tribute to Patti LaBelle via a soulful rendition of "Talk About Love" at "An Evening of Stars" TV special which honored Patti's music career. (The special was taped back in September but it recently air on TV.) Letoya nailed it completely. (Thanks Necole & LetoyaOnline!)



Keyshia Cole looked fab in a black and white dress at the 2009 Trumpet Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. In case you missed it, check out Keyshia's new video, "You Complete Me" here.



Here's a face off between sporty champions Lisa Leslie and Venus Williams.


Venus first worn this strapless Carolina Herrera dress to The Metropolitan Museum Of Art Costume Institute Annual Gala back in May while new mom Lisa rock the same look at the 17th Annual Trumpet Awards. Both are camera/event ready but I think Lisa pulled it off. Which look is on lock?

Labels: Brandy, Keyshia Cole, LeToya Luckett, Look on Lock, Patti LaBelle, Ray J, TV Hoopla, Venus Williams

Brandy was all smiles in matching Louis Vuitton monogram boots and a Speedy bag outside Gucci boutique in Los Angeles. The "Long Distance" singer (who recently reunited with Monica for their "Boy is Mine" duet) was there to return a pair of shoes.



Check out these two new unreleased Brandy tracks lifted up her "Human" album recording sessions called "Keyed Up" and "One Thing" (produced by Brian Kennedy). I love "Keyed Up."
"Keyed Up"


"One Thing"


Naomi Campbell alongside her Russian billionaire boyfriend Vladislav Doronin went for a stroll on the beach in the Maldives.

Labels: Brandy, Music Hoopla, Naomi Campbell, Out and About

Brandy and Monica performed their Grammy Award-winning duet "The Boy is Mine" for the second time ever at the V-103 Sessions event in Atlanta and Necole Bitchie was on the scene with feedback.


Wasn't that performance great? They even had the crowd going. (I even went on YouTube and Dailymotion for more Brandy/Monica videos as you can see for yourself above.) Monica's new album with the lead single, "Still Standing" and the Keyshia Cole duet "Trust" is expected in early 2009. Brandy's latest album "Human" pulled in 73, 000 units in its first week which now sits on the #15 spot on Billboard.

Labels: Brandy, Monica, Music Hoopla, Throwback Video

Popular New York based radio station Z100 held their annual Jingle Ball concert at Madison Square Garden with performances by Rihanna, Brandy, Kanye West, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Leona Lewis, Natasha Bedingfield and Lady Gaga.

Labels: Brandy, Chris Brown, Kanye West, Leona Lewis, Music Hoopla, Natasha Bedingfield, Ne-Yo, Rihanna

Brandy promoted her fifth studio album release for HUMAN via a recent appearance on "The Early Show" on CBS. Brandy as usually did a great job performing "Long Distance" and "Right Here (Departed)." During the interview, Brandy talked about her music and the fatal car accident. Brandy explained the direction of her new album: "It celebrates my life as a human being. And all of us at the end of the day, that's who we are. This album reflects my insecurities struggles, my ups and downs. But at the same time, it reflects also my triumphs and who I am as a woman and what I've grown to be. Music is my life. It is really the only thing I know how to do."

Labels: Brandy, Music Hoopla, TV Hoopla

Brandy and her long-time music producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins talked about the making of her fifth studio album, HUMAN, (out in stores today). The video blog is loaded with photo shoots and Brandy's studio sessions.



Brandy performed her current single, "Long Distance" on the CW11's Morning Show. (Watch the interview here.) She nailed it and I love how she switches up the tempo/melody each time she performs this song.



Keyshia Cole collaborated with Lil' Wayne on the 1994 Mary J Blige remake, "I Love You." Next up for Wayne and Keyshia is their joint "I Am Music" tour gig alongside Gym Class Heroes, T-Pain, and Keri Hilson. Let the evitable MJB/Keyshia comparison begin....



Keyshia also has a new single out just for the Holiday season called, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Congrats to Keyshia for getting two Grammy nominations for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B song for "Heaven Sent"! Keyshia's third studio album, "A Different Me" drops on December 16th.

Labels: Brandy, Celebrity Blog, Keyshia Cole, Music Hoopla, New Music, TV Hoopla

Jennifer Hudson's self-titled debut picked up 4 Grammy nominations and for that recognition she's grateful and "humbled."

“It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album, so to receive 4 Grammy nominations is truly a blessing. I’m extremely honored and humbled by the nominations."[AP]

Here are the categories that Jennifer's album was recognized in: Best R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for “Spotlight,” and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “I’m His Only Woman” with label mate Fantasia. (2 American Idols on a Grammy-nominated song?! Congrats to Miss Hudson and Miss Barrino!) Rumor has it that the video for her second single, "If This Isn't Love" will premiere in January. UPDATE: Jennifer WILL go on to film her second solo music video for "If This Isn't Love" with director Syndrome according to Video Static.



On this Monday's episode of "The Tyra Banks Show", Brandy talked candidly about her brother Ray J's sex tape, her fake marriage to Robert Smith, and she capped off her appearance with a performance. Tyra claimed she watched 20 seconds of Ray J's infamous tape for "research purposes." (Tyra - Things that make me go hmm...)



Brandy also dropped by the "Today" show to perform her lead single, "Right Here (Departed)" and "Long Distance" off her album, "Human" (due out December 9th). I think she did a great job...




Preview Brandy's new album over at MTV's The Leak. Standout tracks are "The Definition", "Piano Man", "Human", and "1st & Love."

Labels: Brandy, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Music Hoopla, things that make me go hmm, TV Hoopla

Without further delay the video premiere for Brandy's second single, "Long Distance" is finally here. Shot in black and white, the Chris Robinson-directed goes along with the lyrics of a relationship strain by long distance. The video switches to color towards the end. Check it out...


Brandy's much-anticipated album, "Human" drops on December 9th but in the meantime check out the album's sampler over at AMAZON.

Labels: Brandy, Music Hoopla, New Music, Video Hoopla

Britney Spears kicked up her promotional blitz in support of her new album, "Circus" via two live performances on Germany's 2008 Bambi Awards and at French TV show "Star Acadamy". (Britney performed her hit "Womanizer" and both performances marked her comeback. Karl Lagerfield handed over Britney's Bambi Pop International award.)



Beyonce has a new single floating around the blogosphere called "Roc" which was produced by Stargate. Rumor has it that the song is a tribute to her husband, Jay-Z. The track is a left-over single from her album, "I Am...Sasha Fierce." Give it a quick listen...



On the box office tip, check out Beyonce's new Etta James clip from "Cadillac Records" below. In the clip Beyonce and her co-star Adrien Brody argue over the song, "Church Bells."



Brandy was not the only R&B singer in the festive mood of Thanksgiving. The R&B songbird performed at the 19th Annual Hob Nobble Gobble fundraiser in Detroit. Her album, "Human" drops on December 9th.



Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys demonstrated their vocal talent at the CNN Heroes 2008 ceremony. Christina performed her uplifting ballad "Beautiful" while Alicia sang her inspirational tune "Superwoman."



Pharrell joined Madonna at the Miami tour stop for her ongoing "Sticky & Sweet" concert. Judging from the photos, the pair most likely performed their hit, "Give It To Me."

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Box Office Hoopla, Brandy, Britney Spears, Madonna, Music Hoopla, New Music, Out and About, Pharrell Williams, TV Hoopla

With the December 9th album release date of her new album "Human" quickly approaching, Brandy did a photo session for the December 2008 edition of Vibe magazine. Check out her interview here. Next up for Brandy is the video release of her second single, "Long Distance."



Alicia Keys performed "I Need You" (my favorite up-tempo) off her album, "As I Am" for the season finale of "Dancing With The Stars." (Side note: If you recall the song was played mid-way through her "Teenage Love Affair" music video.) She even did a few dance moves...and she nailed it!



Mariah Carey recently paid a visit to the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" and pregnancy rumors hit a fever pitch thanks to what she wore and what she avoided drinking. Ellen: “You don’t have to answer that. Let’s just toast with champagne.” Mariah: "It's fattening! This is peer pressure! … It’s too early for me. I only drink after 3 p.m.” (Hmm...)

Labels: Alicia Keys, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Music Hoopla, Newsstand Snapshots, TV Hoopla

Brandy explained why she lied about her marriage/relationship to music producer Robert Smith for her new interview with Us Weekly magazine. Brandy admitted that she was afraid of how people would judge her and her wholesome image. Brandy and Robert's relationship ended back in 2003 and they share custody of their daughter Sy'Rai.

"I lied because of the fear of what people would think and the pressure to be a good role model," Norwood, 29, reveals to Us Weekly in her first interview on the topic.

"Our relationship was very real, we just weren't legally married," she adds. [US WEEKLY]

Brandy also said that she had a tough time telling her daughter about the situation.

"It was a very tough time, and I still have never talked about it with Sy'rai," says the singer. "I had to be a mother and stay strong for her. I'd cry when she'd go to sleep so she wouldn't see me like that—I had a responsibility to her."[US WEEKLY]

At least Brandy didn't have anything nasty to say about the whole situation. Next up for Brandy is the video release of her new single, "Long Distance" off her album, "Human" due out on December 9th.

Beyonce and Jay-Z (better known these days as Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Carter) were ranked the highest earning celebrity couple by Forbes this year thanks to their combined $162 million salary. (Jay-Z pulled in $82 million while Beyonce made $80 million.) Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith came in at the number two spot with a estimated $85 million combined.



Speaking of Beyonce her pop ballad "Smash Into You" is said to be remake of Jon McLaughlin's "Smack Into You." The song was credit as a Tricky Stewart/The Dream production on her "I Am...Sasha Fierce" album. UPDATE: The song was written for Jon's sophomore album, "Ok Now" according to Neon Limelight. As Jon's bio stressed, "Smack Into You" was played on acoustic guitar to match the melody of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and U2’s “With Or Without You." Check out the original called "Smack Into You" on the left and Beyonce's version on the right:

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Brandy, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jay-Z, Will Smith

Brandy has been on a steady promo tour in support of her new album, "Human" (due out December 9th). The R&B singer/songwriter had a private session just for her fans in Philadelphia. She knocked out acapella sets of "Long Distance", "Right Here (Departed)" and her older hits like "I Wanna Be Down" and "Almost Doesn't Count." The clip just goes to prove that good quality R&B music and talent definitely had a play in Moesha, damn I miss that show Brandy's 15 strong years in the entertainment world.



Brandy also spoke with MTV News about the material she has on the new album: "I like to put together a collection of songs that will last 20 years down the line," she said. "With this album, I've just evolved. I'm older, I'm wiser. I wanted to reflect that."
---

[Thanks Sam & Toya!]

Labels: Brandy, Music Hoopla

Brandy can be seen on the Nov. 24th/Dec.1st cover of "JET" magazine with a bold headline that proclaims her return to the music scene after a 4-year break. Contrary to reports based off these new photos, Brandy has not hook up with her close friend Tyrese. Her new album "Human" drops on December 9th with the singles, "Right Here (Departed)" and "Long Distance." (I cannot wait to hear her new album!)



Beyonce visited The Ed Lover Show on Power 105.1 FM to promote her new album, "I Am...Sasha Fierce" (in stores today). Beyonce talked to Ed Lover and his co-host/former "106 & Park" VJ Free about Kanye's Rihanna comment, her upcoming movie roles, her sister Solange, her nephew, and JT's SNL Skit. Click on the image below to check out Beyonce's Ed Lover interview.



UPDATE: Check out the Spanish version of Beyonce's current single "If I Were A Boy"...




Justin Timberlake collaborated with his signed artist/YouTube phenom Esmee Denters on the new track called "Follow My Lead." (Esmee is signed onto JT's record label Tennman Records. Incidentially the new JT/Esmee track will lead off Esmee's debut record due out March 2009.) Proceeds from "Follow My Lead" benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Give the new JT/Esmee track a quick listen...

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Brandy, Justin Timberlake, Music Hoopla, New Music, Newsstand Snapshots

Good friends Tyrese and Brandy caught up with one another outside Westfield Mall in Century City, California yesterday. Great to see two still hanging out with one another!



Two new songs from Brandy's upcoming album, "Human" called "Torn Down" and "Gonna Find My Love" hit the web this week. "Torn Down" was produced by Midi Mafia and up-and-coming producer/songwriter Dapo Torimiro. "Gonna Find My Love" unfortunately was added on as a bonus track. According to CL's Brian, John Legend picked the Brandy duet, "Quickly" as his third single. (Dapo also worked on "Quickly.") John is filming the video treatment this weekend with Brandy. (Thanks Elijah!) Give the new Brandy tracks a quick listen...




Beyonce had her AOL Sessions where she performed "At Last", "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" "If I Were A Boy", "Me, Myself & I", and "Irreplaceable." In case the videos get deleted, click on the photo collage below to access the clips.




Check out two new outtakes from Beyonce's "Marie Claire" UK magazine photo session. As you can see, both snapshots didn't make the final cover pick.

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Brandy, Music Hoopla, New Music, Newsstand Snapshots, Out and About, Tyrese/Black-Ty

Rihanna and her favorite Gucci Babouska "Hearts" tote were seen at Perth International Airport in Australia. Check out Rihanna's new tattoo on her wrist.



Mariah Carey talked to Redbok magazine about why this Christmas will be special for her and her husband of six months Nick Cannon.

"I always get Santa lingerie, even if nobody sees it. But this year it will be appreciated!

Mariah goes on to say: "I'm really looking forward to being in love on Christmas. The holidays are always great, but being in love ... is going to be the icing on the cake." [quotes via PEOPLE] (First Mariah admitted that she made Nick wait and now this. Nick would be thrilled about this new tidbit.)

Check out the cover artwork for Brandy's second single, "Long Distance." (Thanks Toya!) Rap-Up caught up with Brandy on the set of her Chris Robinson-directed "Long Distance" music video in Los Angeles which you can check out here. Brandy's fifth album "Human" drops on December 9th.



Keyshia Cole finally release the cover look of her upcoming third album, "A Different Me" (out December 16th) via Rap-Up. Keyshia collaborated with Polow Da Don, Nas, Monica, Kanye West and Tupac on the album. I'm looking forward to the sound Keyshia has to offer this time because her last two albums "Just Like You" and "The Way It Is" did not disappoint.



Check out this new promotional shot of Keyshia which was taken during her "Playa Cardz Right" video shoot. Her style has matured and evolved since the release of her debut record, "The Way It Is".


Beyonce dropped by The Oprah Winfrey Show to promote her third album "I Am...Sasha Fierce" and her Etta James portrayal in "Cadillac Records." Beyonce also said that her film character appears towards the end of the movie. Right after her interview where she talked about why she waited until she was 25 to get married, she hit the stage to sing, "If I Were A Boy." I love that Herve Leger dress she has on.

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Brandy, Keyshia Cole, Mariah Carey, Music Hoopla, Newsstand Snapshots, Oprah, Rihanna, TV Hoopla