Rapper Jay-Z attended the opening night of the Broadway musical “Fela!” Monday night (Nov 23) at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City. “Fela!” is a broadway show celebrating Fela Kuti’s trend setting musical talent, which was responsible for “Afrobeat” and the roots of “funk.”

Jay-Z stepped up and gave the show some money when they ran into financial trouble at the beginning of their production because he, along with Will Smith (also an investor for the production), believed the broadway musical had an important story that needed to be told.

Jigga walked the red carpet for the opening of “Fela!” last night and expressed his enthusiasm for the late Nigerian superstar. “It’s an inspiration, about the power of music. Here’s a guy that’s on the other side of the world who was influenced by James Brown, who takes this thing and makes his own sort of genre of music,” Jay said. “I just think it’s fascinating.”

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R&B singing group Day 26 announced today (Tues Nov 24) that they have left Diddy’s Bad Boy recording label and will remain on the imprint’s former parent label Atlantic Records. Diddy left Atlantic for Interscope back in late in September. And even though the guys of Day 26 are no longer with Bad Boy, group member Willie Taylor tells The BoomBox that there’s no bad blood between them.

“Bad Boy is always our family, but we’re with Atlantic right now.

“We really want to get people focused on the artistry, on the music,” Taylor explained. “I think a lot of people lost it with the entertainment of the show. So now, we really want to show people what we’re all about, that we do our thing whether its on stage, in the studio, writing and producing — we do it all.”

The band plan to hit the studio at the beginning of next year to record album three. “We’re very excited about it. We know exactly what the fans are expecting from us on this third album. We’re going to take the gloves off, really go for it. A lot of people thought Day 26 weren’t going to be here but we’re still standing.”

Earlier this year the group flexed their design muscle releasing a woman’s shoe line called Eight2Six. Their first product the Swaggaa Heel can be purchased online and is available in three different colors. “You can wear them at all times. You never have to take them off,” group member Brian Andrews promised.

Good for them! Being off from under Diddy’s umbrella is going to do wonders for their career…

Following the 2009 American Music Awards Sunday night (Nov 22) in Los Angeles, instead of going straight to the after parties, a few celebrities opted to walk across the street to see what was going on at the Staples Center as the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Lakers came out on top with a final score of 101 to 85 and folks like Jay-Z, Polow Da Don, Fergie, Alex Rodriguez and more were all there to witness it from their courtside seats. Continue reading for more pics!

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Dressed in her signature cooky attire, pop singer Lady Gaga hosted an album signing for her new album “The Fame Monster” Monday (Nov 23) at a Los Angeles Best Buy. Her good friend rapper Dr. Dre was also on hand and the two posed for pics for the press.

The “Bad Romance” singer reportedly spent over $1,000 on Papa John’s pizza for her “little monsters” (fans) who were waiting to meet her outside.

“Sending all my little monsters little pizzas for waiting all night for me at best buy,” she Twittered. “I hope you’re hungry … eat up I love u!” She also thanked her fans for helping make The Fame Monster a hit on iTunes. “To all my beautiful fans, I love you more than anything,” she Twittered. “Thank u 4 making the fame monster number 1 on itunes. You are the only reward I need x gaga (sic).”

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Juvenile’s ninth studio album Cocky & Confident drops a week form today (Tues Dec 1) and here’s the music video for the album’s lead single, “Gotta Get It.” Something tells us this album isn’t going to do so well…

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Bad Boy recording artist Donnie Klang released the music video for his new single “Prisoner of Love” earlier this month. Donnie’s debut album Just a Rolling Stone is in stores now and his second studio album, currently titled Welcome to Heartbreak, is set to drop sometime in early 2010. Continue reading to check out the new video!

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Check out the Backstreet Boys‘ latest music video for “Bigger,” the second single from their seventh studio album, This Is Us!

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The original founder of crunk, rapper Lil Jon, will be coming out with a new album titled Crunk Rock in early 2010. Check out his new music video, “Give It All U Got” below!

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Damn Beyonce, just sit down already!

The 28-year-old singer made a big announcement (click here for the video) at the final show from her “I Am…” tour the other night at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England. Before she left the stage, Beyonce announced that she plans to release a new album next year.

“This is my last show for this tour in the U.K., so hopefully, I’ll see you all in a year with a new album,” a raspy-voiced Beyonce told the crowd at the end of the set, before thanking them “from the bottom of my heart” for coming to the show.

Producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins confirmed the news on Twitter, recently posting the news that he’s working on some tracks for Beyonce’s upcoming album.

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This will be solo album number four for the “Single Ladies” singer who made the phrase “put a ring on it” very popular this year. According to Nielson Soundscan, her last effort, 2008’s “I Am… Sasha Fierce” has sold over 2.5 million copies in the U.S.

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Former American Idol judge Paula Abdul thinks she can be the next Oprah now that the talk show queen will end her reign after next year.

“I have really great ideas,” Abdul told Extra Monday. Abdul, 47, said she hopes to do a talk show in the next two to three years. “It would be fun and quirky and it would be insightful,” she said. “It would be fun to jam with the band and have amazing guests and introduce amazing different formats on the show.”

The Grammy winner is confident in the potential project.”I feel I would be really good at it. I have the ability to connect with people on a level,” Abdul explained. “I’ve proven to pierce the heartstrings, but also to be celebratory and bring out the best in people.”

Abdul respects Winfrey and calls her a “phenomenon” who “broke barriers and let the path for other women to be empowered.” She added, “Like ‘American Idol,’ there’s a place and time that makes history. That’s Oprah.”

Here are portraits of lots of celebrities, including Paula, Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Keri Hilson, Jennifer Lopez, Adam Lambert and more all taken in the portrait room at the Nokia Theater during the 2009 American Music Awards Sunday night (Nov 22) in Los Angeles. Continue reading to check them all!

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