trying to play a lil catch up...

tyra looking super cute leaving ny court for her stalker's trial



pepa at the opening of the hoboken w hotel


tyson beckford in nyc


50 cent and chace crawford on the set of twelve


eva marcille from antm and her fiance


eva lookin fierce


beyonce in new york


nene and monica


naturi naughton at the obsessed premiere


b and jay-z shopping.



usher and son in miami


dita von teese shopping in style

good tips! from essence.com:

TURN YOUR 'G ' INTO A GENT WITH FONZWORTH BENTLEY

Turn Your 'G' Into a Gent

Fonzworth Bentley aka Derek Watkins, the Morehouse College grad and one-time personal assistant to Sean “Diddy” Combs, has stepped out of his mentor’s shadow to become a respected authority on style and fashion. As the author of “Advance Your Swagger: How to Use Manners, Confidence and Style to Get Ahead” and host of MTV’s Jamie Foxx-produced reality show “From G’s to Gents,” Bentley is on a mission to prove that you can be suited up and hip at the same time. Do you think your man has what it takes to join his gentleman’s club?

As told to Qianna Smith


True Gents
“A gentleman is someone who knows how to be himself in all social situations. A ‘G’ is someone who, by any means necessary, legitimate or not, does what he needs to do to survive. Don’t get it twisted, though, there is a ‘G’ in every gentleman,” says Bentley, pictured here with Jay-Z at his New York 40/40 Club.


A Look of a Gentleman
Bentley was recognized by GQ magazine as the First Gentleman of Hip Hop, so we asked this fashion aficionado to tell us what stylish staples every man should have in his closet, and he dishes,
-A navy blazer
-Gray flannels; they work for the Duke of Windsor and Fred Astaire, so they can work for me and you
-Your own tuxedo
-Pocket square; it adds a finishing touch to an ensemble and it’s functional
-7-fold tie; buy one and you will quickly see the difference
-Don’t shy away from vintage shops; there are some great finds in these places at a reasonable price point


Stately Style
“President Obama’s confidence and style starts with his integrity and that has been absent in our politics. His inauguration is confirmation that America and the world has been starving for this,” says Bentley.


Believe and You Will Achieve
During tough economic times, Bentley suggests that men looking to empower their lives should: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean on him not with your own understanding, and have strength. In all your ways, acknowledge him. He will direct your path straight.”


Real Men Embrace Fashion
Wondering how your man can reach his full swagger potential? Bentley, who has been working with pal Kanye West on an album, says: “Swagger is multifaceted. I believe you need Manners + Confidence + Style = Swagger. Think about it: if you have style and confidence, but you are rude, no one wants to be around you. If you are confident and mannerable but don’t dress appropriately for the occasion, you won’t gain entry.”


A 'G'- to-Gent Success Story
Curtis James Jackson III, better known as 50 Cent, step onto the scene via gangsta rap, but the former drug dealer turned multimillionaire has earned respect and world recognition for demonstrating both his street and business savvy. Ranked No. 26 on Forbes magazine’s 100 highest paid celebrities list, the rapper banked $100 million dollars in 2008.


Advance Your Swagger
“The teaching and lessons in my book are not optional. In this day and market, folks need to be over qualified for entry-level positions. A different level of excellence is now necessary. These tools will give you that competitive edge in this global economy. I want to be known for being a part of the solution, not the problem,” says Bentley.


Bentley's 'Thug Rehab' Program
Ladies, are you struggling with a brother who borderlines “thug,” but has gentleman potential? If so, Bentley has some suggestions.
“First, your man needs to make the decision that he wants to be a gentleman and a better man; it starts with him. Having a strong spiritual foundation is important, because it’s no secret we are living in the golden age of disrespect. You need proper etiquette in various settings, from a job interview to a dinner party; Not only for you to feel comfortable, but for people to feel comfortable around you. A lot of great networking happens at different types of affairs and you may or may not be invited because of your etiquette.”


Far From A Style Outcast
Wondering how André 3000 was able to go from dirty south rapper to one of Vanity Fair magazine’s best-dressed men? “It was natural for him,” says Bentley, “As he had to move in different circles, he was smart enough to know how he needed to be received in the room. André has also retained his own unique spin on being appropriate for the occasion.”

i really like them as a couple.

i hope they stay together for a while....

from ny post:

SNUGGLY IN VEGAS

March 28, 2009 --

HIP-hop couple 50 Cent and Ciara (above) have proven they could stand the test of time. The two, who've been dating on the down-low for about a year, went to a performance of "O" by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio in Las Vegas last weekend and were very snuggly together. They did attract attention as Fitty wore an afro wig, baseball cap and sunglasses, while Ciara sported a huge pair of shades and a big parka. She munched on "lots of candy" and guzzled soda throughout the show.

totally happy about this, from essence.com:

POSTED: MARCH 27, 2009
Russell Simmons: Victorious in Changing New York State Law



Hip-hop legend Russell Simmons has helped to change New York State Law. Thirty-six years ago, the Rockefeller Drug Laws were passed requiring mandatory long prison terms (up to 15 years to life) for the possession or sale of small amounts of drugs. In a press conference this morning, New York Governor David Patterson declared an agreement has been made between his office and state leaders to abolish these laws.

"Ending the Rockefeller Drug Laws is a great victory for the hip-hop community," declared Simmons in a prepared statement. "We worked hard, turned up the volume on this issue and rejuvenated and broadened the coalition, but it was hip-hop artists like Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent that gave this movement for change the power to wake people up and to get the politicians to do the right thing."

This has been a 13-year fight for Simmons and other artists from the hip-hop community who came together to bring attention to the thousands of nonviolent first time drug offenders languishing unfairly in prison. In the state of New York, the large majority of those incarcerated under the Rockefeller Drug Laws are Black and Latino. Under the new plan, drug treatment programs will be expanded, which will cost the state about $50 million but in the long run, the changes are expected to save the state the $45,000 a year it spends in keeping each of these offenders in prison.—WLW

terricka is by far my favorite candy girl. and by far the most accomplished, imo. here are some of her vids, and some of my favorite songs:

"got money" lil wayne.
Lil Wayne ft. T-Pain - Got Money


"badd" ying yang twins and mike jones.
Ying Yang Twins and Mike Jones "Badd"


"dope boy fresh" three 6 mafia (brooke's in this one too).
Dope Boy Fresh


"lollipop" lil wayne (brooke's in this one too).


"dirt off you shoulder" jay-z


"run it" chris brown
run it


"i should have cheated" keyshia cole



here's some more of brooke's work
"amusement park" 50 cent


"i wanna love you" akon

from the ny post:

VA-VA-VIXEN
MUSIC VIDEO GIRLS HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE

WHENEVER I think I cannot watch one more reality show, another one creeps along who has at least one character is so lovable that my reluctance to watch morphs into a kind of sneaky enjoyment.

Danielle - owner of the Bella candy girls modeling agency in LA and the star of "Candy Girls," which debuts Sunday night - is that kind of character.

OK, you may ask, what the hell is a "Candy Girl" anyway? Is she the kind of girl you'd find on Eliot Spitzer's speed dial? No.

Candy Girls are actually the beauties you see in all those music videos gyrating behind stars like Kanye, 50 Cent, Outkast, Will Smith, Jay-Z and Three 6 Mafia. In other words, models who are not runway material as much as runaway hotties. Girls who can dance, gyrate and look gorgeous while sporting legs that are as long as the rest of us are tall.

Danielle is a serious businesswoman who has created a successful niche business out of hanging around with beautiful girls.

Starting with two friends, Brooke and Terricka, she has grown the business so much that she even pays for a model loft where her girls live.

A lot of modeling agencies have these group homes which are like detention facilities for the overly gorgeous.

In addition to beautiful Brooke and Terricka the terror, who have appeared in countless videos, there is Olivia, a real beauty and the daughter of classic rocker Booker T, and the newest girl, a Latina named Bianca.

In addition to her stable of models, there is Danielle's assistant Kysha, who is good looking enough to be a Candy Girl herself, and April, her best friend and most reliable stylist. April, who is the mother of supermodel Tyson Beckford's son, is possibly the only Swedish home girl in captivity.

(OK, I don't know that she's Swedish, but she looks like the offspring of Abba or something.)

Terricka is the one that's argumentative and all attitude, a must for all reality shows. Since she can move like the wind (she does spontaneous cartwheels during a video shoot) and is a video staple, she is under the mistaken belief that singers can't live without her, and walks out on shoots at will.

Trust me. The only thing with a shorter shelf life than a video vixen is organic cheese.

because i'm bored in class and trying to make it look like i'm taking notes....haha....

1. ice cube. hands down. i love ice cube, he's hilarious and also good in more serious stuff, i.e. higher learning.


2. ludacris. amaaaazing in law and order svu.


3. will smith. technically started as a rapper fist.


4. queen latifah. ooooh, i love her so much! she's so amazing.


5. t.i. i don't care what you say about atl. i love it. and american gangster. and anything with t.i. is good cuz he's sexxxy.


6. ice-t. gotta love fin.


7. ll cool j. anything with him is fabulous. because he's insanely hot.


8. big boi. funny as hell in who's your caddy?


9. andre 3000. he's actually a really good actor.


10. tupac shakur. he's just good at everything.


11. snoop dogg. hilaaaarious in starsky and hutch.


12. usher. three words: she's. all. that.


13. common. definitely proving himself as a very good actor.


14. tone loc. because he was juice in blank check.


15. eminem. gotta love 8 mile.


16. 50 cent. i'd love to see him do more movies.


17. mos def. loooooved him as chuck berry in cadillac records.


18. diddy. although i don't reallyyyyy consider him an actor, but he was really good in raisin in the sun.


19. bow wow. because i'm still loving like mike.


20. lil wayne. tentatively. because i haven't seen him yet in hurricane season or the new fast and the furious. but i have high hopes.

from bossip.com:

“When my career blew up, I developed the Diddy syndrome. That’s where this velvet jacket came from. As soon as you develop the Diddy syndrome, you put a little more grease in your hair, and soon enough, you’re selling cologne.”

-50 cent