Looking mature and dapper Usher poses for the cover of this months Billboard Magazine. The R&B superstar opens up to the magazine about his forthcoming album “Raymond Vs. Raymond,” his recent divorce and overall thoughts on the industry. So far he has found success with the singles “Hey Daddy” and “O.M.G.” which was recently released and produced by Will.I.Am.

Usher admits to Billboard that his last album “Here I Stand,” focused more on his marriage and less about maintaining what he had achieved in his ten year-plus career. Raymond states he wants to be back on top.

“I went all the way into being super husband and super dad, thinking, ‘I’ve got to be serious all the time. I’ve got to be the man. I put my swagger down for a minute, but I didn’t throw it away, now it’s time to get it back.”

Is Ciara Usher’s Latest “Little Freak”?

During the course of additional songwriter and producer collaborations with Sean Garrett, the Runners, Jim Jonsin, Rico Love, Ester Dean and Jive labelmate Miguel, Usher keyed in on the “Raymond Vs. Raymond” concept.

“People immediately thought, ‘Oh, damn, he’s about to talk about what happened in his marriage. But it would be too shortsighted to just talk about my relationship. A lot of the things I spoke about on ‘Confessions’ weren’t my own experiences. It was an outlet for stories I’d heard.”

Mark Pitts, who A&R’d the project and is president of black music for Jive Label Group also speaks,

” ‘Papers’ let everyone know that Usher knew what everyone was saying about him, his marriage and his relationship with his mom; that he understood what was being said. It was just to make a statement. We didn’t realize it would be as big as it was.”

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Usher adds,

“The song wasn’t intended to glorify my personal situation or people breaking up. I didn’t know if it was going to be the single or part of the album. I just thought it was a special track that would represent me well.”

READ THE COVER STORY HERE!

There is a good article in Urban Latino Magazine about hip-hop artists promoting gangs here are some excerpts.

This is a public service announcement to all millionaire gang members – “Stop brainwashing our youth you ignorant bastards!

This goes out to Baby from Cash Money Records with your big red star tattoo on your head, talking about, “keeping it blood all day,” while your son (Lil Wayne) is locked up on Rikers Island for gun charges.

Baby… How does it feel to join a gang in your 30’s? I thought that was something we did in our preteens to find acceptance, protection, camaraderie, family, etc.?

And by the way, how much did you guys have to pay for your initiation or affiliation into the Bloods? Because something tells me you weren’t jumped in or sexed in… at least I’m hoping not the latter.

This letter also goes out to the Dipset, specifically Jim Jones and Juelz Santana for introducing the Bloods to Harlem in much the same way Nicky Barnes introduced heroin to the community in the 60’s and 70’s.

Your lies and deception are killing our youth on a daily basis you ignorant bastards!

Honestly, please explain to me how you live with yourselves each day knowing your glorification of a violent lifestyle kills teens every single day?

Teens that look up to your level of success only to find you wearing “white face” and modern day woolly wigs, gloves and tailcoats… dancing for your masters at the record labels.

Please Read The Whole Article

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Which one of these girls is fierce enough to win the 14th cycle of America’s Next Top Model? It premieres tonight at 8pm on the CW!

Alasia:
18, from Marietta, Ga. You won’t be able to miss Alasia. She’s a bit of an ugly duckling, but Tyra has supermodel sight. She flips her wig when Tyra makes her first appearance and she has a bit of a split personality.

Krista:
25, from Pine Bluff, Ark. She has her eyes set on the prize. She has tried out four or five times and she knows her age probably makes this her last chance. A couple of the girls instantly get on her nerves. In judging panel, she explains why she hasn’t dated Caucasian men and it looks like Miss J. is going to need CPR.

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Simone:
19-year-old from Lenexa, Kansas. She says she is very happy with how things turned out for her in the ANTM competition and describes herself as being seen as very ’safe’ and ‘boring’ when she first entered the model house—but her makeover turned her into a more ‘edgy’ girl. Sounds like she could be one to watch.

Gabrielle:
18, from St. Louis. Her racial mix has made for quite a stunning look. Once she opens her mouth, though, she’s a bit of a turnoff. She has issues for days over race and men. All that masks a girl who is probably one of the most self-informed contestants on the modeling industry that we’ve seen on the series.

HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects Black people around the world, with Black women in particular becoming infected at an alarmingly increasing rate. For our community to withstand this epidemic, it’s absolutely crucial that we all know the risks and take all necessary precautions to avoid infection. See below for more information from the Centers for Disease Control. – NewsOne Staff

From the CDC:

In 2007, more than a quarter of diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States were among women and girls aged 13 years and older. The numbers are unsettling: More than 278,000 women and adolescent girls in this country are living with HIV; and almost 94,000 American women and girls with AIDS have died since the epidemic began. Women and girls of color—especially black women and girls—bear a disproportionately heavy burden of HIV/AIDS. In 2007, for female adults and adolescents, the rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses for black females was nearly 20 times as high as the rate for white females and nearly 4 times as high as the rate for Hispanic/Latino females. Relatively few cases were diagnosed among Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander females, although the rates for these groups were higher than the rate for white females.

Photo: A man and woman sitting in grass.CDC estimates that 1 in five people living with HIV infection in the United States do not know they are infected. Getting tested for HIV is the first step to protecting yourself and others. Knowing your own HIV status and that of your male sexual partners is critical because 80% of new HIV infections in American women and girls result from sex with an infected male partner. Early diagnosis of HIV allows for counseling and prompt treatment. HIV treatment prolongs life and reduces the risk of further HIV transmission. If you are a pregnant woman, it is especially important that you get tested early to help ensure, that if you are HIV-positive, you do not transmit the virus to your unborn child.

Make National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day a day to get the facts about HIV—to learn how HIV is spread, if you are at risk, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. And, if you are a parent, talk with your kids about HIV. Every 35 minutes a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States. It’s time to get tested.

To find an HIV testing location near you, go to www.hivtest.org or text your ZIP Code to KNOW IT (566948). For more information on this day, theme, and events please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, which is leading activities for this observance.

Click here to read more.

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Dear Erykah Badu,

What exactly is this that you posted on your website today?

Am I really watching a 5 minute video of you putting on make-up while your brand new single (which I love, by the way) “Window Seat” plays?

Why am I kinda in a trance?

Remember that Jamie Foxx bit where he talks about not looking Prince directly in the eye because he’d put a spell on you?

Yeah, I think that just might’ve been the case with this video.

Huh?   You want me to put on this funky lookin shirt?

I dunno about that…

I saw what happened with Common and Andre 3000.

This shirt really ain’t my style.

Well… does it come in large?

Sincerely,

Bill Johnson

Shout out to Rap Radar for ripping the video.

RELATED: VIDEO: Erykah Badu Performing “Window Seat” On Jimmy Fallon

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UPDATE:

NeNe’s PR folks are hard at work. They just sent out this press release regarding her son Bryson’s arrest.

LOS ANGELES – NeNe Leakes from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” releases the following statement about the recent arrest of her son, Bryson Bryant:

“Like any parent, I am disappointed with the actions and arrest of my son, Bryson. Certainly, my husband and I will deal with this family issue in a private manner. My son is not the first young adult to experiment with marijuana, and he certainly won’t be the last. Still, as parents, this is a chance for us to have an open dialogue with him about the dangers of any substance abuse. I realize as a parent that my job is never done. And as I’ve tweeted, tough love was in order. Still, I ask that you respect our privacy during this trying time.” – NeNe Leakes

___

“Real Housewives” NeNe’s Son Arrested On Drug Charge”

One of NeNe Leakes sons has been arrested on a drug charge.  According to radaronline.com, Bryson Bryant, one of NeNe’s two sons, is in the Gwinnett County Detention Center with two charges listed against him, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and failure to appear.

NeNe is know for her charity work against domestic violence.

RHOA voted highest rated show on Bravo

Is this the newest ATL’s housewife?

In this clip, writer and critic Stanley Crouch notes the wide separation, even appearance-wise, that exists between actress Gabourey Sidibe and the character of Precious.

He’s not the first to mention this: A lot of the praise for Sidibe’s acting ability has been framed around how much more confident, vivacious, funny, and positive she is than her character, and what a serious transformation she achieved in playing the role. Do you see any of Precious in Gabby, or vice versa? Tell us what you think in the comments!

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Anacondas, good “D”, cookie monsters, and licky licky licking, wow- no wonder Rihanna couldn’t stay away. “Invented Head” is off his Mixtape “In The Zone.” For some reason I believe Chris more than I believed Usher’s remix, take a listen:

Ladies are you buying this?

Video:Chris Browns First Music Video At Age 13

Video:Chris Brown Tells Paparazzo He’s Too Fat To Case Him

GALLERY: Eddie Murphy Takes His Lady To The Lakers Game

Check them out hitting the streets of L.A.:

GALLERY: Eddie Murphy’s Daughter Is Now A Model??

Take a look at more photos of Bria:

GALLERY: Nicole Murphy In St. Lucia

Christopher Wallace, best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was murdered on March 9, 1997.

EULOGY: Thoughts On The Death of Biggie Smalls

Check out our Biggie photo gallery below:

Best Of Biggie: May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997