News, pictures, music and videos from August 2009

Beyonce & Jay-Z // "Answer the Call" charity concert press conference in NYC

Rapper Jay-Z hosted a press conference early Monday (Aug 31) at Madison Square Garden in New York City for his upcoming “Answer the Call” charity concert, due to be held at MSG on September 11th, the day his album, Blueprint 3, drops. The show’s purpose is to raise money for the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.

Beyonce and Kevin Liles, Executive VP of Warner Music Group, were also on hand at the press conference for the benefit.

Jay-Z // "Answer the Call" charity concert press conference in NYC Kevin Liles and Jay-Z // "Answer the Call" charity concert press conference in NYC Beyonce and NY Gov. David Patterson // "Answer the Call" charity concert press conference in NYC Jay-Z and NY Gov. David Patterson // "Answer the Call" charity concert press conference in NYC

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Nivea and Jazze Pha // Avalon Music Group A&R Showcase and Launch Party in Atlanta

Nivea and her pregnant belly were front and center Sunday night (Aug 30) as she held an A&R showcase and launch party for her new management/artist development company Avalon Music Group at ICE Ultra lounge in Atlanta. Producer Jazze Pha was also there to support his homegirl.

According to FreddyO, that rock on Nivea’s finger is an engagement ring that came from her babydaddy Lil Wayne. She’s also going to start laying down tracks for a new album pretty soon.

View more pics at FreddyO.com!

Tyra Banks // 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards

Tyra Banks‘ talk show, “The Tyra Banks Show,” won a Daytime Emmy Award in the “informative” category for daytime talk shows Sunday night (Aug 30) at the 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards, held this year in Los Angeles at the The Orpheum Theatre. Other folks at the annual event, hosted by Vanessa Williams this year, were Wendy Williams, Tatyana Ali, Ellen DeGeneres and more.

Wendy Williams // 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards Tatyana Ali // 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards Montel Williams // 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards Tyra Banks // 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards

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Amber Rose hosts party at TAO Beach in Las Vegas

Wearing a freaky looking pair of blue contacts, Ford model Amber Rose hosted a party at TAO Beach’s Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino Saturday afternoon (Aug 29) in Las Vegas. She eventually stripped down to a sexy bikini where she showed off that amazing body of hers and posed for several pictures.

Continue reading for more pics of Amber. Make sure you’re not using an expensive computer because you’re going to be doing a lot of drooling!

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LisaRaye did her best MJ impersonation on the red carpet of Norwood Young’s birthday party/Michael Jackson tribute at Yong’s Hancock Park home Saturday (Aug 29) in Los Angeles. Mario and Sean Garrett performed at the 2009 J&R Music Fest Friday (Aug 28) at City Hall Park in New York City. And Ice-T and his wife Coco hosted a party at Club Dream in Miami Saturday (Aug 29).

We also have recent pictures of Kourtney, Kim and Robert Kardashian, Letoya Luckett, Ashanti and more! Continue reading to check them all out and click each picture for more information.

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Whitney Houston - "I Look To You" album

The diva is back! Whitney Houston released her sixth studio album I Look To You today showing the world that she’s still got it. I Look To You is Whitney’s first album in almost seven years and it features production from Akon, Swizz Beats, Danja, etc.

Ranked as the fourth best-selling female artist in the US, Whitney’s career took a turn when she turned to drugs during the late 90s and early 2000s. With her suddenly becoming missing in action for interviews and performances, being fired from the Academy Awards, and losing many pounds due to drugs and stress, the legend that was once known for her amazing and powerful vocals became an object for negative criticism. When asked about her drug use in an interview with Diane Sawyer in 2002, Whitney dismissed the rumors, claiming that “crack is whack,” a line that would later become infamous.

But after years and years of controversy, Clive Davis announced in March 2007 that Houston would be heading back into the studio to work on a new studio project. The product of these sessions became I Look To You. I have listened to the album a couple times and below is my track my track review!

Million Dollar Bill: Whitney knows how to start an album. The beginning of the Alicia Keys penned track starts off with Whitney singing “Oooh…” before going into the groovy feel good dance track. Swizz really did his thing on this song. It will have you moving within the first few lines and Whitney sounds amazing on it. Even without having any high notes to reach, you will notice that the voice is still there. (4/5)

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Whitney Houston // October 2009 Ebony Magazine

Whitney Houston says she’s thanking God for never letting her go on the cover of the October 2009 issue of Ebony Magazine, due to hit stands nationwide nest Tuesday, September 8th. In the issue, the legendary R&B singer talks about her daughter, future plans and her journey back to the music industry with the release of her sixth studio album, I Look To You, which is in stores today!

“I shed a lot of stuff, a lot of unnecessary weight in the last three or four years. I left a lot of old luggage behind, and when I did, the blessings just started pouring on me, and the light in my spirit started to lift again,” she says in the cover story.

Preview of Chris Brown on Larry King Live (click to watch!)

Check out the first video from Chris Brown’s exclusive new interview with Larry King Live airing this Wednesday, September 2nd at 9pm ET on CNN. Brown, along with his mother Joyce Hawkins and his lawyer Mark Geragos, will be discussing the assault on his ex girlfriend Rihanna in his first interview since his February 2009 arrest. Continue reading to watch the clip!

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Kim Kardashian and Ciara at Millions of Milkshakes in Los Angeles (August 29th 2009)

Kim Kardashian and Ciara share a laugh as they enjoy their freshly made milkshakes at Millions of Milkshakes in Los Angeles. Kim, Ciara and Miley Cyrus paid a visit to the popular Hollywood milkshake bar Saturday afternoon where they posed for pics and made milkshakes (Aug 29).

DJ AMAn autopsy was performed on DJ AM Saturday and even though the immediate results were inconclusive and no cause of death has yet been determined, law enforcement sources close to the case tell TMZ that his death was not the result of a suicide. He most likely overdosed. They say he went through a very recent “relapse” and he wasn’t abusing any drugs for a while before he died. So when they say “recent,” they most likely mean within the past week or so.

Our sources say DJ AM, a recovering addict, developed a dependency to Xanax and other benzodiazepines (a group of drugs used to treat anxiety) as a direct result of the plane crash a year ago. We’re told AM (aka Adam Goldstein) developed a tremendous anxiety over flying — something he had to do frequently for his job. We’re told doctors began prescribing Xanax and other anti-anxiety medications to relieve his fear, but the benzos triggered a relapse into addiction. We’re told benzos are particularly dicey for recovering addicts.

Could the anniversary of the plane crash coming up on September 20th have triggered his relapse?

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