ALL PHOTOS BY ITALIAN PHOTOGRAPHER MARINO PARISOTTO

The beautiful Eva Mendes graces the pages of the 2008 Campari calendar, in a range of shots that explore fairytales and fantasies as captured by Italian photographer Marino Parisotto. The 2008 Campari calendar has a limited print run of 9,999 copies, which will be distributed internationally. This is what Eva had to say:

The Campari Calendar has been a truly unique experience. I had never posed for a calendar before and I was thrilled that Campari has given me the opportunity to interpret these wonderful stories, who wouldn’t want to live a fairytale even if for a short while?

The 12 fairytales include: Little Red Riding Hood, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, The Little Match Girl and Sleeping Beauty. Peep the rest of the photos after the cut.

 

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BOOKING PHOTO (VIA SPLASH NEWS)

Well, it’s about damn time, I’d say! Nick Hogan and a friend were seriously injured back here in August 2007 after they were speeding along an interstate. Nick has been arrested on several criminal charges, including third-degree felony reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. Police also cited Nick for use of a motor vehicle in commission of a felony, being under the age of 21, and operating a vehicle with a breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or higher and illegal window tint. Hogan turned himself in to authorities at this morning, hours after police in Clearwater issued a warrant for his arrest upon the completion of an “extensive investigation” into the wreck by a team of four officers. He is currently being booked on the charges at the Pinellas County Jail.

Daniel Jacobs, the 22-year-old driver of a second car, which investigators have concluded was racing Hogan’s at the time of the crash, is also being issued a summons to appear in court for reckless driving. “Nick and the entire ‘Hogan’ Bollea family are saddened that criminal charges have been filed in regards to the tragic single car accident on August 26, 2007,” the family said in a statement. “Nick will meet and answer these charges in the appropriate arena—a court of law.” Despite being a minor at the time of the accident, Hogan will be tried on the charge as an adult. Hogan’s passenger, 22-year-old John Graziano, a Marine who had just completed a tour of duty in Iraq, remains hospitalized, reportedly in a coma. Graziano, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, may have also suffered brain damage caused by swelling of his brain. CONTINUE READING

First up, a big thank you goes out to ijeoma for updating me on the Trey Songz situation. Apparently he was just caught up in a mess and was totally innocent. The charges brought against him will probably end up getting dropped. But unfortunately for the Springfield, Massachusetts police, they’re not going to get off as easy, because Trey is considering legal action against them, and I don’t blame him one bit.

Trey Songz says he is contemplating legal action against the Springfield, Massachusetts, police department after he and two members of his entourage were arrested early Sunday morning following a performance at Springfield’s Hippodrome. In an incident involving several police officers that followed a person firing a gun into the crowd outside the Hippodrome, Songz (real name: Tremaine Neverson) was arrested for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to Springfield police. Kenny Bugg, who was with Songz, was arrested on the same charges while another man in their party, Jasper Murray, has disorderly conduct charges pending. Both offenses are misdemeanors. Anthony Williams, the man who allegedly fired the gun, is charged with a number of crimes including assault with intent to murder, assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon.

“The show went real well. No incidents [inside],” Songz recalled on Tuesday morning (November 6), describing the night. “As soon as we finished [performing], they turned the lights on and everyone started to leave.” Ironically, the end of the show marked the beginning of Songz and company’s problems. They exited through the performers’ entrance, but that entrance leads into the same parking lot used by the general public.

“My homie goes to get one of the police officers to escort us out of there and [someone in the parking lot] started bussin’ [firing a gun],” Songz recalled. “So we started ducking in the car. So my homie runs back to the car and gets in like, ‘They bussin’!’ By the time we look up, we see the police [had] apprehended somebody, so we said, ‘We ain’t finnin’ to wait.’ We got out the car and proceeded to walk, ’cause the hotel is only a block away. The police stopped us and were like, ‘Hold up, hold up.’ ” CONTINUE READING

As I Am is the title of R&B songstress Alicia Keys’ forthcoming album set to be released November 13th off of J Records. Make sure you go pick it up once it hits stores! Or, you may pre-order it via clicking the album cover above! Well I recently had the chance to listen to the album today exclusively and I must say, this album is the shit! All I can say is growth, growth, GROWTH. Growth in vocals, harmonies, production team – everything! It’s some nice Downbeat and soulful ballads, hard breakdowns, stellar arrangements … I feel everything just comes into play with As I Am. This record is possibly, in my opinion, the R&B/Soul album of the year (material wise). I pulled a lot of my favorites from here, I heard some Prince, some Boogie (Mrs Hill), some Sam Cooke — this album brought me back to a state of nostalgia.

The soulfulness and richness is so uncanny in this day in age! Of course Keys adds her own uniqueness to sound, I surely wouldn’t doubt her much, I just appreciate her even more for this! She has definitely come a long way and you can tell by the dynamics in her powerhouse-voice! I still can’t figure out how she puts sooo much feeling into her projects, it’s almost chilling, she makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand! I’d play this album if I were painting or drawing or doing something artsy becos that’s the kind of influence this leaves.

My personal favorite tracks, and possible standouts, are “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” “The Thing About Love,” “I Need You” and “Sure Looks Good To Me”.

[ » CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW AS I AM BEFORE IT HITS STORES 11/13! ]

I’m sure most, if not, all of you heard about Diddy searching for a new assistant and all. Well he was recently on Oprah to announce his final decision … Watch the clip above to find out who will be Diddy’s new assistant! Oh, and, I forgot to say CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER! Oops!

[ VIDEO SPOTTED @ HIP HOP CRUNCH ]

I swear, everybody and their mama (mine and yours too) is in this damn video, LOL. This is the second single, “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)” from Jay-Z’s latest studio album, “American Gangster,” which is in stores now! The video was directed by Chris Robinson and features cameo appearances from Diddy, Nas, Mariah Carey, Beanie Sigel, his “roommate” Larry Johnson and more. I think I saw Cassie too but I’m not really sure. Pretty dope video! Check it out above…

Here we got the world video premiere of ‘Superstar’ featuring Matthew Santos, the first single from Lupe Fiasco’s forthcoming album The Cool (1st & 15th Ent./Atlantic) in stores December 18th!

OPRAH AT A PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY
CLICK THE IMAGE FOR VIDEO

I’m sure most, if not, all of you have caught wind to the scandal surrounding Oprah Winfrey’s school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa. This past Friday, authorities released a statement saying that a former worker at the school had been arrested on charges of abuse and sexual assault. At least seven girls have made allegations against the 27-year-old woman, police said. The woman, 27-year-old Tiny Virginia Makopo, was arrested Thursday. She was being held by police and was expected to appear in court yesterday. “Several charges including alleged assault, indecent assault, criminal injury and soliciting underage girls to perform indecent acts are being investigated against her,” said police Superintendent Lunge Dlamini. Oprah recently apologized to parents and students in a meeting at the school. Click below to see a few snippets of said apology. CONTINUE READING

SHITTY CENT IS A REAL “CHARACTER,” LOL…

Now correct me if I’m wrong, but hasn’t it been like 2 months since Graduation and that other album released? Why the hell is 50 still on this shit? Lol. I rarely ever hear Kanye talking about it, and it seems as though 50 has a lame excuse everytime he’s asked about his alleged retirement. “No, I’m not retiring,” he told Ben Widdicombe of the New York Dailly News. I’m sure y’all remember when he said he’s going to retire if Kanye West beats him in album sales. “[My album] was No. 1 internationally the week it came out,” he said at Philippe, a club in New York. “It was the No. 1 European album! It’s all about the numbers at the end of the day.”

Technically he never did say which region of the world, but c’mon now! I don’t believe you … YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE! I know he has an excuse 100x better than that. Keep trying fiddy, you might get it right one day!

STAR JONES ON “LARRY KING LIVE” (CNN)

Star Jones is under fire for reneging  on a promise she made to speak to 1,500 overweight teenage girls and their mothers, members of the Detroit nonprofit full and fabulous, in February of last year. Why? Because they didn’t pay her enough and she had better things to do … like going to the superbowl. Not a good look Star, not a good look at all…

The former “View” host wanted $25,000 to speak to 1,500 overweight girls and their mothers, members of the Detroit nonprofit Full and Fabulous, in February of last year. According to director Sharon Dumas-Pugh, Jones took their $17,000 deposit, two air tickets she upgraded to first class on their dime, and a suite in a five-star hotel – but never showed up for the event at Detroit’s Martin Luther King Jr. High School when Full and Fabulous couldn’t come up with the rest of the cash. Instead, she went to the Super Bowl (which was being held in Detroit) and a fashion show, and arranged her own book-signing at a Borders.

Eighteen-year-old Ethel McIntosh posted on the Full and Fabulous Web site, “We worked hard and sold dinners and fruit smoothies to help raise the money to bring you to Detroit. When I become successful, Ms. Jones, I will not forget where I came from, like you seem to have done. [ READ MORE AT THE NY DAILY NEWS! » ]