MICHELLE WILLIAMS TO DEBUT HER 1st SOLO NON-GOSPEL ALBUM THIS AUGUST.

Can someone please tell me why folks, specifically Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Solange Knowles insist on keeping Mathew Knowles as their manager when it's clearly evident the only person's career he has ever continued to give his undivided attention to is Beyonce? But I'll digress for now. Kelly's--whose last two solo albums couldn't even reach gold status combined (of course I'm being facetious...at least until I'm able to verify it)--former band mate Michelle has made an 'unexpected' decision to record a new album tentatively titled Unexpected....and it's not gospel-related. It's a straight R&B/dance joint. The title is perhaps a nod to her first solo project outside of the gospel genre. Due in August from Music World Entertainment/Columbia Records, the album is full of "synth-y, driving bass samples, electronic keys and bopping drums," according to Billboard.com.

Unexpected marks the follow-up to 2004's Do You Know and 2002's Heart to Yours, with which Williams returned to her church roots. However, Music World CEO Mathew Knowles insists Unexpected isn't that much of a stretch, considering Williams spent the bulk of 2007 playing the raunchy character Shug Avery in Oprah Winfrey's Chicago-based cast of The Color Purple. "Destiny's Child fans bought Michelle's last album (which sold about 78,000 copies)," said Knowles. "So now those fans are in their late 20s and early 30s. With Unexpected, she'll be able to appeal to those fans and reach back to the 16-year-old audience and hit mainstream pop radio."

We Break the Dawn is the first single, set for release in April, while Stop This Car, which leaked on the Internet earlier this year, is the second.
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KIMORA WILL SOON BECOME A DIVORCEE; MODEL OFFICIALLY FILES DIVORCE PAPERS; WANTS RUSSELL TO HAVE 'REASONALBLE VISITATION.'

According to People magazine, Kimora Lee Simmons has finally filed divorce papers to end her marriage to Russell Simmons yesterday (3.25.2008) in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The couple announced that they had split up in March 2006, but said they had already been separated "for some time." In court papers, Kimora, 32, cites irreconcilable differences and asks for legal and physical custody of the couple's two daughters, Ming, 8, and Aoki, 5. She requests that Simmons, 50, get "reasonable child visitation … to be accompanied at all times by the children's nanny and security personnel.

At the time of their initial separation in 2006, Simmons said in a statement: "Kimora and I will remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other." Kimora has been dogged recently by rumors that she is expecting a child with boyfriend Djimon Hounsou. At an appearance in Chicago earlier this month, she told reporters. "I'm in the paper every single week – that I had a fight with my ex-husband, or that I was mad at one of his girlfriends, or that I'm pregnant, or that I demand Fiji water … Lies upon lies upon lies

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CANDID PICS: USHER WALKS THE DOG; JOHN WITHERSPOON W/HIS SON; MARY J. WORKS OUT; LIL KIM IN MANHATTAN.

Rapper and Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious panel judge, Lil Kim took a windy stroll through midtown Manhattan on Easter Sunday.

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Actor John 'You have to coor-di-nate' Witherspoon and his son were spotted outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre for an appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman in New York City last night (3.25.2008).

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Usher was seen walking his dog...and no, I'm not referring to his two-legged dog Tameka. I'm talking about his other dog who goes by the name Mr. Scottie Benson. Flanked by a bodyguard, the master seemed to have a bit of trouble keeping his mutt in line. I'll keep my mouth shut on that last comment. I have more than my share of emails in my inbox from Usher fans claiming they gon kick my ass for talking about Usher and Tameka when and/or if they ever see my ass in the street. Some people can be so damn mean *snicker* sometimes.

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Mary J. Blige was spotted getting her workout on at a sandy beach in Miami last week alongside her trainer as her husband, Kendu, looked on.

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KIM KARDASHIAN ON HER ATTENTION-GETTING ASS: 'I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THIS ATTENTION CAME FROM.'

Kim Kardashian says she just may look into the possibility of insuring her store-bought ass. The socialite, best known for her role in a soft-porn sex tape with her former boyfriend Ray J, is amazed by the attention her ample silicone-enhanced butt cheeks receive when she's out in public. And Kardashian is now considering taking out insurance on her voluptuous derriere. She says, "I have no idea where this (attention) all came from. I dress the same, it's nothing new. People just started picking up on it. There's all these rumors - is it fake, is it real? The comparison to Jennifer Lopez. She's my idol (so) I'm flattered, I'm honored. I have not insure it, but I think I should look into that."

Girl, please. Speaking of attention, I guess Kim's sister Kourtney hit the nail dead on the head when she said that Kim isn't Kim unless all attention is on her and her only. Below are pictures of the reality 'star' being followed by paparazzi as she shopped at Rite Aid before treating herself to a mani/pedi at a local Beverly Hills salon. How dare she take Britney's gig!!
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'THE THINGS CELEBRITIES SAY': LAMMAN RUCKER ON BEING MORE RECOGNIZABLE IN HOLLYWOOD....AND BEYOND.

'It's definitely much tougher to go anywhere nowadays than it was before. I've been blessed to have an opportunity to play some roles that have gotten a lot of people's attention. It [Sheriff Troy character in Why Did I Get Married?] was such a sweet little love story and everybody was pulling for her so much because people just love Jill anyway. I'm sure any guy in that they had in that role would have been just as appreciated. I'm lucky it was me.'

--The oh-so-humble Lamman Rucker, actor, activist, AIDS awareness spokesperson, esteemed scholar, and fine as wine in all of Rome, on being more recognizable in the streets since his big screen debut as Jill Scott's love interest, 'Sheriff Troy' in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE NEWS ON LAMMAN RUCKER ON BLACKCELEBRITYMEN.BLOGSPOT.COM!)

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GERALD LEVERT'S BABY BROTHER, SEAN, SENTENCED TO 22 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR FAILURE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT.

Someone may want to use the following story as a 'this can happen to you too' scare tactic for Bobby Brown and any other dude who feels they are an exception to the rule when it comes to supporting their children. If you can't afford to take care of your kids, keep your 'safe deposit box' locked up to make it impossible to. Unfortunately for Sean Levert, the baby brother and fellow Levert band mate of the late Gerald Levert, he will have to spend nearly two years in the concrete jungle because either he refused to or just couldn't foot the bills to financially support his seeds. On Monday (3.24.2008) a Cleveland, Ohio judge sentenced the singer to 22 months in prison for failing to pay child support to his three children-- ages 11, 15 and 17. According to court records, Levert owes $85,427.68 in back child support. Sean made no comment after his sentencing.

Pray for Papa Levert. In under two years, the O'Jay's frontman has lost one son unexpectedly to an accidental overdose and another to the judicial system. Before Gerald's untimely death in 2006, initial plans were made to reunite the popular late 80s R&B group which also featured Gerald and Sean's cousin Marc Gordon. However, after Gerald's death, the remaining members made the decision to replace Gerald with Dwight Thompson, a Cleveland native and member of R&B group The Rude Boys which were discovered by Gerald. Looks like those plans will have to go back to inactive status...at least for the next two years.

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IN TODAY'S EDITION OF: AS THE USHER PUBLICITY WHEEL TURNS: TAMEKA THROWS A 'BITCH ASSNESS' BITCH-FIT ON HUBBY'S VIDEO SET.

Usher, Tameka and Usher's PR team are wasting no time at all in the hopes of bringing as much he say/she say drama and utter madness before his new album drops this summer. According to the New York's Post Page Six, our favorite 21st century talking, walking version of a negro spiritual reportedly and allegedly put on a clown act on the set of Usher's new video, Love in the Club last weekend, making it apparently clear that she isn't going to let any woman step to her man...whether it's a part of that woman's job description or not. Page Six sources claim Foster was upset when she found out stunning singer/songwriter Keri Hilson was personally picked by Usher to play his love interest in the video. "It was supposed to be a sexy video shoot," our spy said. "And Tameka was there the entire time guarding like a watchdog. It was ridiculous - she knows Keri and knows she's no video ho or Karrine Steffans." Steffans, nicknamed "Superhead," wrote the book, Confessions of a Video Vixen," about her alleged flings with Usher and several other artists.

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"Tameka is very insecure. Even in rehearsals she was weird and clearly not happy that Keri is so gorgeous. Tameka threw a lot of attitude. The day of the shoot, Tameka dressed Keri very badly - she looked like an extra. Tameka wouldn't let Keri have her hairdresser there - she had to use the hairdresser who was doing the extras." Foster also took a dislike to Usher's longtime choreographer, Jamaica, and banned her from the set. When Usher and Foster were spotted at the Beverly Hills Hotel last week, they barely said one word to each other. The two have had a choppy past. After they got engaged, Usher fired his mom, Jonetta Patton, as his manager and also axed his publicists. "Tameka was the one and only one to call the shots," spies said.

They were supposed to wed last summer at L.A. Reid's Hamptons estate - but the wedding was called off at the last minute. They wed a week later in Atlanta, and Foster gave birth to their son, Usher Raymond V, in November. Usher's album, which may be called "Regret," was supposed to have come out last year but was delayed due to his wedding and baby. It is now expected by June. Usher's manager, Benny Medina, said via e-mail: "Keri could not have been happier with Tameka's choices in the styling, hair and makeup . . . Jamaica was flown out and arrived a day late to do Keri's choreography, and was on-set at all times. The shoot itself went brilliantly."

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