Dawn Richard confirmed the Danity Kane split recently to MTV News. Aubrey O'Day went on to do a Playboy editorial while D. Woods has a girl group. Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres are the only two remaining members. However, Shannon would NOT be seen in the upcoming season of "Making The Band." Best luck to Dawn!

As of right now, [Danity Kane doesn't exist]," Dawn Richard told MTV News on Wednesday (January 28). "It's devastating for me."

"You'll see me and Drea [Aundrea Fimbres] try and pick up the pieces on our own [on this season's show] — pieces that we didn't even make," she continued. "We didn't even break it and we're trying to sweep it up ourselves. Puff invited all the girls to come back on this season and they chose not to. Only two of us showed up. That's fine if that's the choice.[MTV NEWS]

Director Bill Condon best known for Dreamgirls opened up about the upcoming Aaliyah biopic. Condon has said to expect the film to mirror the succes of Selena - (Jennifer Lopez's claim to fame). Canadian-singer Keshia Chante has since release a statement confirming that she'll play Aaliyah.

"Aaliyah inspired me and an entire generation," Keshia Chante said in a statement. "She was stunning, effortless and was capable of so many things. This is a hard undertaking, I have big shoes to fill but I am committed, determined and will train to the very end to master this role. I want Aaliyah's fans and admirers to be proud of this film and feel like it was the best interpretation possible of our babygirl. I refuse to disappoint." [BET News]

Well said, Keshia! A Roc-a-Fella music producer Choke No Joke (seriously??) has come out with a blind item about the rift behind Jay-Z and Dame Dash.

"Both Jay and Dame was involved with a certain R&B singer, who I'm not gonna say her name out of respect 'cause she ain't around to defend herself, but I believe that was a part of the initial friction. I was seeing Jay with her back around 2000, then Dame was with her after. All you have to do is look at the movie they did, Death of a Dynasty. In the movie they were fighting over a model. In real life she was a model, but singing is what she was known for first."[Hip Hop Weekly/Rhymes With Snitch]

There's 3 sides to every story with the truth somewhere in between. (Only Aaliyah, Dame and Jay-Z know the real deal.) Speaking of which, check out these photos of Aaliyah, Dame, and Jay-Z at a party in the Hamptons over at Rhymes With Snitch. Oh let the drama begin...

Labels: Aaliyah, Box Office Hoopla, Danity Kane, Jay-Z, Music Hoopla

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin belted out a soulful rendition of "My Country ‘Tis of Thee" in front of a estimated 2 million people earlier today in Washington, D.C. for the 56th Inauguration. Aretha took it back with that hat, didn't she? Other celebrity guests and U.S. President Barack Obama supporters included Diddy, Jay-Z, Oprah, Beyonce, Solange, and Muhammad Ali. Mrs. Carters sported retro Ray Bans while Solange kept it funky in fingerless gloves. Diddy was obviously in YouTube vblog mode.

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Diddy, Jay-Z, Oprah, Political Hoopla, Solange

Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and Nick Cannon celebrated the new year (2009) at Nikki Beach Resort in St. Barts. Also there was music mogul L.A. Reid with his wife Erica and fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Everyone as the photos show had a great time...



Beyonce and her younger sister Solange also share a fondness for this black and white kimono-like dress. Great minds think alike, huh?!

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Fashion Hoopla, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon, Out and About, Solange

Usher and his wife Tameka was spotted out and about for the first time after they welcomed their second son Naviyd Ely (December 10th) at The Bank night club in Las Vegas. The Raymonds were present to celebrate New Year's 2009 as well as Tameka's birthday.

Jennifer Lopez and her husband Marc Anthony was joined by their close friend Leah Remini for dinner at San Juan eatery Marmalade in Puerto Rico. (Take that Valentine's Day divorce rumors!)


Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian rang in the New Year side by side at Las Vegas LAX nightclub. You already know Kim's sisters Kourtney and Khloe weren't too far away.


These two spent some one on one time shopping. You gotta love Kim's Burberry sandals.

Chris Brown and Rihanna celebrated NYE over at London's Movida. Rihanna was voted a well deserved Diva of the Year by Entertainment Weekly. (Miss "Good Girl Gone Bad" had music and fashion on lock in 2008!)

Beyonce and Jay-Z went some time off sea during their St. Barts vacation. Love that Chanel bag, colorful Catherine Malandrino dress, and those YSL sandals Beyonce has.

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey were also on vacation in St. Barts. Mariah officially put a stop to pregnancy rumors when she was spotted drinking some wine at Nikki Beach Resort.

John Mayer did his own acoustic spin on Mariah's holiday jingle, "All I Want For Christmas Is You" for the WPLJ Benefit at Blythedale Childrens Hospital in New York.

To Urban-Hoopla readers and lurkers, here's to a great 2009!

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Chris Brown, Hot Night Spot, J.Lo, Jay-Z, Kim Kardashian, Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon, Out and About, Reggie Bush, Rihanna, Tameka Foster, Usher

The Carters (Beyonce and Jay-Z) spent their day on their yacht in St. Barts. The couple was there to celebrate New Year's together. Beyonce wore this red and white Milly swimsuit and this matching caftan.



Beyonce performed the Barbra Streisand classic "The Way We Were" at 31st annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, D.C. (I think Beyonce completely nailed it and even got Barbra's nod of approval.)

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Fashion Hoopla, Jay-Z, Out and About, TV Hoopla

Beyonce and Jay-Z were spotted out and about in Nikki Beach Resort in laid back style. Mrs. Carter (sans makeup) rock a gray and white Chanel ensemble and flower thong sandals.

In related news, Beyonce just recorded a patriotic tune with her own twist called "God Bless the U.S.A (Proud To Be An American)" - a original rendition done by Lee Greenwood. Check it out....

So you like Beyonce's unreleased song or not?

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Fashion Hoopla, Jay-Z, Music Hoopla, Out and About, Political Hoopla

Beyonce and Jay-Z admired various designs at the gallery exhibit "Art Basel Miami Beach." (On her feet are these Christian Louboutin watersnake peep-toes.) Although their style choices seems different from each another, marriage life definitely fits these two. (They even got on the same blue color scheme going on! I love that Chanel purse!)



Mrs. Carter/Sasha Fierce can be seen on the January 2009 cover of Elle magazine. Beyonce talked to the fashion publication about her marriage to Jay-Z, her baby plans, her new album, her Etta James portrayal in "Cadillac Records" and her on-stage persona Sasha Fierce.

Beyonce's mom Tina Knowles on Sasha Fierce: “Her cousin Angie gave her that name. We’d tease Beyoncé about having a split personality. Me and Angie and Ty, her stylist, would work with her doing a quick change when she’d come off the stage between sets. Beyoncé would start screaming, ‘What’s wrong with you? Where’s my shoe?’ ‘Uh oh,’ we’d say, ‘Sasha is here.’ I’m like, This is some crazy person who’s doing this quick change. She’s another person up there. We don’t take it personally. Sasha is her bragging side…I don’t know whether to say it, but her hip-hop side.”

Beyonce on her marriage to Jay-Z: It’s a power struggle. But if I didn’t respect someone and they didn’t have that strength, then I would be bored. I wouldn’t be attracted to them.” [Read the full interview over at ELLE.COM.]

I think this photo shoot is just as fierce as her Giant magazine cover.

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z, Newsstand Snapshots, Out and About

Jay-Z collaborated with Santogold on a new track/street anthem called "Brooklyn (We Go Hard)" which is said to be on the upcoming Biggie biopic "Notorious" soundtrack. Produced by Kanye West, the track is actually a verse lifted from Santigold's single, "Shove It." Check out the video premiere below...




Dawn Richard and boyfriend Que blogged straight bed. Have you heard their new single called "Broken Promises" yet ??! These two may be on their way to securing their own reality series.

Labels: Celebrity Blog, Danity Kane, Introducing, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Music Hoopla, Video Hoopla

Jennifer Lopez was spotted in L.A shopping with her best friend Leah Remini and her step-daughter Arianna (Marc Anthony's daughter) in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Gotta love those gray Louboutins!



Melanie Brown alongsider her husband Stephen Belafonte and daugthers Angel Iris Murphy and Phoenix Chi went out for dinner and a movie at the Grove in Los Angeles over the weekend. Both of Melanie's daugthers dressed alike...aww!



Ashanti (in Notte by Marchesa) supported her boyfriend Nelly's 3rd Annual Black & White Ball in St. Louis. Also in attedance were Murphy Lee and his wife Seven, Jermaine Dupri, as well as the Douglas family (her sister Kenashia, momanger Tina, and father Ken-Kaide Douglas).



UPDATE: Check out the behind the scenes footage JD posted up on his YouTube page taken from the event. The clip has performance clips from Boyz II Men and Nelly.




Speaking of JD, he uploaded behind the scenes footage taken at Janet Jackson's Rock Witchu tour stop in Madison Square Garden. Check it out...



Pharrell was seen outside South Beach studios over at the Marlin Hotel over the weekend. He was in town for Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour.



Eva Longoria Parker attended fellow actress Roselyn Sanchez's wedding ceremony in Puerto Rico. Love that zebra print Naeem Khan dress...



Leona Lewis changed into two looks at the 2008 Bambi Awards ceremony. Last month, Leona release the lead track ("Run") off her debut album re-release, "Spirit: The Deluxe Edition."




The Carters dressed to the nines for the New York premiere of "Cadillac Records" earlier tonight. (Loves that beaded Zuhair Murad gown!)

Labels: Ashanti, Award Hoopla, Beyonce Knowles, Eva Longoria, J.Lo, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Leona Lewis, Nelly, Out and About

The Carters were in good spirits when they attended the New York Knicks game last night at New York's Madison Square Garden. Love those Ray-Bans...



Beyonce visited "The Tyra Show" and the "Today Show" to promote her new album "I Am...Sasha Fierce" which sold over 480K copies in its first week. Two male back-up dancers joined Beyonce for her "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" performance at "Tyra". Tyra (who was named the honorary Knowles by Mathew) got into it at the end of the clip.



Beyonce performed in a black bodysuit her hits "Crazy in Love", "If I Were A Boy", "At Last" and "Single Ladies" at the "Today Show" for its concert series.

Labels: Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z, Music Hoopla, Out and About, TV Hoopla, Tyra Banks