R. Kelly & Wife Divorce

Donya — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:38:08 +0000

After eleven years, three children, and one very high-profile child pornography trial, R. Kelly and his wife Andrea Lee Kelly have finally called it quits. According to a statement released by their lawyers to People.com, the couple’s divorce is now finalized and they will retain joint custody of their children.

Before they wed in 1996, Andrea was a background dancer for Kellz and often choregraphed his tours and videos. Yet, until she spoke to Essence about her husband’s legal battles in 2007, many fans had no clue the singer was married at all. Despite initially filing for divorce in 2006, Andrea told the magazine she was still “very much” in love with her husband and was trying to work things out.

“When there is a storm, I won’t leave you out in the rain. I’m no fair-weather wife,” she said. “I have to take responsibility for myself. I don’t want to sit here and act as if I have some halo over my head. A person has to ask, ‘How much did I allow?’ But I’ll tell you, whatever happens to us, I will love that man to the day I die. Do I know if we are going to be married in the next six months? Who knows? But what I can say is that we filed this nearly three years ago, and we are still married.”

Faith Evans Responds to Lil’ Kim’s ‘Notorious’ Beef

Donya — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:45:48 +0000

Sorry about the B.I.G. overload this week, but the stories just keep coming. After the late rapper’s biopic Notorious premiered in New York on Wednesday, Faith Evans responded to Lil Kim’s recent accusations that she and Biggie’s mother conspired to portray Kim negatively in the film.

According to Faith, the movie is based on a book by journalist Cheo Hedari Coker, and neither she nor Voletta Wallace oversaw the script.

“I got four kids, and I definitely don’t have time for this type of sh–,” she told MTV News. “It’s just sad. I don’t know Kim’s story like that. The part of my life that she was a part of, that’s what was in my book. This movie is not relative to my book other than that there are certain things in there. This is not my movie. I didn’t write the script. Any characters in the film had to agree for their life rights to be in the movie. I don’t think I would have signed anything had I felt I was not portrayed properly. I think she had the opportunity to do that. I could be mistaken. I wasn’t there.”

If you haven’t read Faith’s book, please go cop it. Unlike some of the other hip-hop tell-alls we’ve been inundated with, Keep the Faith is well-written and gives a revealing look inside Bad Boy’s heyday of the late 90’s.

Ms. Wallace Reaches Out to Lil’ Kim

Donya — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:43:15 +0000

Over the years since Biggie’s passing, it seems the women in his life haven’t had the best relationships with each other. While promoting her 2005 memoir Biggie, Voletta Wallace spoke openly about disliking Lil’ Kim’s insistence on discussing the slain rapper in the press. Faith Evans wrote about whooping Kim’s ass not once, but twice, in her own book Keep The Faith. Reports have also recently surfaced that Kim struck back by telling Hip Hop Weekly that she blames both ladies for her own unfair portrayal in the Notorious film.

Well, apparently time has healed at least some of those old wounds. Ms. Wallace recently spoke with Essence.com and admitted that she may not have had all the facts about her son’s protege and mistress the first go-round.

There were things about him that I never knew that I wanted to see for myself on film. I saw a side of my son that I heard of but I haven’t accepted. I’m angered by certain things, disappointed and shocked. So this film taught me tolerance and to be less critical. I would love to speak to Lil’ Kim, because I need to ask more about this love relationship because I really didn’t like the way he treated her and I’m praying that that’s not it. Only she can answer those questions. She’s a sweet girl and I didn’t think she deserved to be treated the way he treated her, if that’s the case.

Watch Ms. Wallace’s Notorious Video Diary:

NEW MUSIC: Jadakiss feat. Faith Evans “Letter to B.I.G.”

Donya — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:36:32 +0000

This one is from the upcoming soundtrack to Notorious. So refreshing to hear from a rapper who can still be lyrical and tell a story. Thank you, Kiss!

NEW MUSIC: Ciara “Never Ever” feat. Young Jeezy

Donya — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:08:11 +0000

Am I the only one who thinks this song is straight garbage? I’m starting to feel like Ciara should scrap Fantasy Ride altogether.

Beyonce & Sasha Fierce. Ciara & CiCi. See where the alter ego craze landed in our list of “8 Pop Culture Trends We Hated in 2008″

T-Pain Snags Justin Timberlake for “Can’t Believe It Remix”

Donya — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:18:38 +0000

It’s official. Justin Timberlake makes everything sound better.

8 Pop Culture Trends We Hated in 2008

Donya — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:22:24 +0000

Forget losing weight. The best New Year’s resolution is to learn from one’s mistakes. So, as artists and fans of the culture, let’s all vow right here and now that we will not commit these crimes of entertainment in 2009.

#8 “Rihanna Crosses the Street” as News

Granted, it’s been a fairly slow entertainment news year. The Carters wouldn’t let the paps get any good shots of their wedding, J. Lo turned into a housewife, and that damn economy had the nerve to monopolize all the good headlines. While we understand that most bloggers wouldn’t know the first thing about actually leaving their computers to conduct first-hand reporting, your true talent for supplying quick and easy unsubstantiated gossip does not go unappreciated. But, if we see one more picture of Rihanna simply putting her left foot in front of her right…

#7 Soulja Boy

Enough is enough, DeAndre. (We’ve got Wikipedia, too.) You have preoccupied our radios, TVs, and precious online surfing way too much this year. Many grown folks stopped what they were doing to defend you in that Ice-T debacle, but you spat in their faces by defaming Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and all that is holy in a BET interview. Don’t apologize this time. Just go away.

(Shouts to Toure, though. Between R. Kelly and this fool, he snagged two of the year’s biggest WTF moments.)

#6 Celebrity Couple Names

TomKat? Cute. Brangelina? Tolerable. Chrianna and AshaNelly? Completely ridiculous. Some of these creations sound more like ailments of the joints than actual monikers. (Hand me some of that Ben-Gay, will you? My Jayonce is flaring up.)

#5 Unnecessary Tell-All Books

What’s the best way to tell there’s a recession? When D-list celebrities and their associates start peddling stories of sleeping around as lessons of how they “overcame.”

#4 Commenting “First” on Blogs

If you even think of typing that word, we’re blocking your IP address.

#3 Alter Egos

Ever since Superman hid in plain sight with glasses and a suit, everyone from Garth Brooks to Mary J. has insisted on unleashing their inner Sybils. (Sorry, but T.I. in a hoodie is still just T.I.)

It’s bad enough that Beyonce wants us to believe that she herself is uncomfortable strutting around in a leotard, but Sasha Fierce isn’t. Now, word on the street is that Ciara may whip out CiCi for her upcoming Fantasy Ride, while her pint-sized ex is so desperate for acceptance on the block, he’s taken to beefing with himself.

We get it. Why accept the blame for your bricked record when an imaginary friend is just as capable? If only artists put as much energy into creating good music as they did adopting new personas.

EXHIBIT A: Bow Wow vs. Lil Bow Wow “Anything You Can Do”

But, wait. It gets worse!

EXHIBIT B: Tyrese a.k.a. Black Ty “Alter Ego (Outro)

#2 The Word Swagger

It was good while it lasted, Swag. You’ve been around since the 16^th century, but who would’ve thought ‘08 would be the year that hip-hop discovered you? It seemed like every day brought a new accusation of your being kidnapped (Is Mary jackin’ Keyshia’s swag or is Keyshia swagger jackin’ Mary?”) or another fiery debate over which rapper owed you their success (”T.I.’s got more than Lil Wayne! Chuckle, chuckle. That was a good one.)

We still love you and may even want to hang out in a couple years, but right now it’s time for a break. You don’t want to be the last colloquialism left at the party, do you? Off you go, now. Say what’s up to “bling” for us, and tell “vajayjay” she’s next.

EXHIBIT A: “Swagger Like Puff”

#1 Internet Video Beef

Once upon a time in a land of hip-hop far, far away, MC’s actually took pen to paper and mouth to mic to handle their disputes. Beanie and Jada traded barbs, Jay blasted Prodigy on the Summer Jam screen, and Nas dropped “Ether.” Sure, Hov’s below-the-belt jab “Super Ugly” may have spawned #5 on our list, but still, hip-hop was good.

Now, what do battle thirsty fans get? Craig an’nem playing with their Flip cameras. We’re not sure exactly when talking greasy into a lens replaced real rap, but we want it to stop — now. Look, Murder Mouth and Uncle Gully, there are plenty of acting schools that will let you mean mug into the camera and show off toy guns. Hell, we’ll even spend $8 at the AMC — or at least add you to the Netflix queue — if you actually land a role in a real film. Better yet, try ramping up your buffoonery even higher like Tubesteak (love that name) and make us laugh with you instead of at you.

LMFAO: Tubesteak vs. Aaron McGruder

SMH: J-Hood vs. D-Block

Now, it’s your turn. What trend from 2008 are you praying doesn’t return on January 1?

D’Angelo’s New Album to Feature Cee-Lo, Prince, & More

Donya — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:53:22 +0000

For fans of real R&B and Soul, 2009 is shaping up to be a great year already. First, we’ve got the first installment of Black Summers’ Night from Maxwell on the way, another disc from Erykah’s trilogy planned, and now, D’Angelo’s camp is revealing more details about his comeback CD as well.

According to a statement we just received from his manager and publicist, the album is scheduled for a summer release and will feature collaborations with Prince, Cee-Lo Green, Mark Ronson, Roy Hargrove, and as we first reported in October, longtime friend Raphael Saadiq. The singer also plans to tour in the U.S. and Europe starting in the spring.

Specific cities and dates haven’t been announced yet, but considering how fast Maxwell’s tour sold out, I would put a Ticketmaster alert on those D’Angelo dates ASAP.

NEW MUSIC: Kardinal Offishall feat. Dr. Dre & Clipse “Set It Off (Remix)”

Donya — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:21:57 +0000

Although the track sounds exactly like Busta & Missy’s “How We Do It Over Here” from The Big Bang, there’s nothing like those gutter Clipse vocals…uhgh! (Say it like Malice.)

Brandy & Monica Reunite

Donya — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:43:52 +0000

The ladies re-created their 1998 hit for a special performance at Atlanta’s V103 radio station. SO glad to see this, especially after Brandy said Monica wouldn’t return her phone calls about recording another song together.

What is that all about? Mo, I loved The Makings of Me, but the rest of the world didn’t. Let’s not turn down any opportunities to stay relevant, ok?