ALBUM COVER ART: ASHANTI'S 'DECLARATION.'

The folks over there at Urban Bridgez.com posted up the cover of Ashanti's upcoming and fourth studio album, Declaration. The album drops on June 3rd. I'm absolutely loving it...although they could've toned down the hair just a little bit. How about yall?

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REAL OR RUMOR: EDDIE FINDS LOVE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 2 YEARS WITH A WAITRESS.

Let In Touch magazine tell it, Eddie Murphy has found love (for the third time in two years) on the rebound with a dead ringer for his ex-(spiritual) wife Tracey Edmonds. The actor/comedian, who refuses to take care of his youngest child because he oh, so stupid, has been linked Lara LaRue, the sister of CSI: Miami star Eva LaRue, and friends insist Murphy is beyond smitten. The couple met at Sushiya restaurant in Los Angeles, where Lara works as a waitress, and they've become inseparable of late. They share the same April 3rd birthday. Now that's a coincidence because his (biologically) fatherless daughter, Angel, also shares her birthday with her 'dad.' According to In Touch magazine, "He is already telling his friends that he is in love... He's been sending Lara huge floral arrangements practically every day." If true, isn't this the same shit he said at the beginning of his relationships to both Melanie 'Mel B.' Spice and Tracey?

But what I want to know is why in the hell would In Touch magazine refer to her as a 'dead ringer' for Tracey...because I don't see it. Eddie's ex-wife, Nicole, yes. But Tracey? I can't see it.
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CANDID PICS: USHER'S DINES WITH HIS COUGAR AT CRUSTACEAN'S IN BEVERLY HILLS.

Here are candid pics of lil man and his big man dining on the patio of Crustacean's in Beverly Hills yesterday afternoon. And although I've heard the rumors that his wife is supposedly expecting their second child together, with all the antics and shenanigans that Usher has pulled in the past, I'm compelled to say I will believe it when I see it. Let me also say that I wouldn't be surprised if she is pregnant just four mere months after giving birth to their son. Knowing her, she probably got pregnant just for the hell of it. However, I can't help but to wonder if Usher's initial facial expression/reaction to her alleged new baby news mirrors his facial expression/reaction in the first pic below. LOL!

Pics: USHERFOREVER.COM via Mavrix
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NEW SITCOM STAR FLAVOR FLAV SAYS HE HOPES TO BECOME THE NEXT EDDIE MURPHY.

I swear sometimes the stuff some people say boggles my mind tenfold. Flavor Flav, former hype-man-turned-sitcom-"actor" says he's hoping and praying his new sitcom will turn him into--now, get this--the next Eddie Murphy. For reasons still unknown, someone apparently felt Flav could carry the lead role in a new show, aptly titled, Under One Roof (which also stars former One on One co-star Kelly Perrine) which revolves around a convict (Flav) attempting to turn his life around. Well, I guess that can't be too hard to do considering his background....Anyhoo, Flav claims his former classmate Murphy is his acting inspiration. He says, "Eddie was in my ninth grade English class at Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School. Today he is one of the most successful actors and I'm very proud of my boy."

Flav also claims he has slipped into his Under One Roof role easily - because his bad boy character echoes his own early life. He adds, "It relates to my life a lot because, back in the days before I became Public Enemy, I was always in and out of jail, getting in trouble."

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RUMOR OR REAL: ALICIA KEYS TO WED HER LONGIME BOYFRIEND & MUSIC PRODUCER KERRY 'KRUCIAL' BROTHERS?

With the recent semi-hush-hush nuptials of longtime celeb couple Jay-Z and Beyonce two weeks ago, reports are now surfacing claiming multi-platinum selling artist Alicia Keys will marry her longtime boyfriend Kerry 'Krucial' Brothers this summer on Long Island, New York. According to Star magazine magazine, the couple has booked Oheka Castle on Long Island for a ceremony on July 4th (Independence Day). Managers at the 32-bedroom French-style chateau have confirmed a wedding will take place that weekend, but have refused to reveal the identity of the bride and groom.

Like Jay-Z and Beyonce, Keys too has kept her relationship with Brothers under wrap for years by never openly speaking about their relationship. They have been songwriting partners for years, co-owning the KrucialKeys production company and New York's Oven Recording Studios. A representative for Keys has yet to confirm or deny the wedding reports.

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TYLER PERRY SAYS SOMEONE IS STALKING HIM.

Someone is stalking my Uncle Tyler. I can't help it. There's just something about him that makes me want to call him my Uncle Tyler. And then again, there's something about him that makes me wish he was my Uncle Tyler! Anyhoo, after checking my email to read his latest letter to his fans (because dude's went ghost for a while), I truly thought he was joking. He opened the letter up stating: "Okay, I know that I haven’t written in a while but I’ve been dealing with a situation. I’m trying to be careful how I say this without inciting this person, but I have a stalker. This person sends several hundred emails a day to my office and has planned our wedding and bought rings and such. She has showed up at my house several times. What’s crazy is I’ve never met this woman nor have I even responded to her emails. I’ve had to increase the guards at my house as well as travel with body guards and I hate that. I hate to have big guys following me around. Anyway I’ll try to keep this positive. Let me breathe..."

Dude, all you have to do is put on your Madea get-up, invite her somewhere for a serious and intense back-bending game of 'grit-ball', curse her ass out and be through with it. It ain't that hard. But are you sure she wasn't just asking you to forward those letters, emails, wedding plans and phone calls to Lamman Rucker? I mean you handsome and all, but I'd have an easier time believing this story if the person she was stalking was Lamman. Some days, I'm a photo collage and a pair of binoculars away from becoming his stalker my damn self! LOL! Tyler went on to say that the ratings fro his TBS sitcom Tyler Perry Presents House of Payne have gone through the roof. And I believe it. The show has gotten 10 times better...especially with the addition of celebrity guest stars such as Michael Jai White, Robin Givens and Keshia Knight-Pulliam.

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And what Tyler letter would be complete without him asking his supportive fans for a favor? LOL! Bless his heart! It's the least we could do. According to Perry, Time magazine has listed his him as a finalist on it's 2008 Top 100 Influential People list. However, in order for him to make the list, fans have to click this LINK and vote as many times as you wish. Tyler said, "I don't know what this means or why they selected me for this list but since they did, I'd sure like for you to have a voice in this contest." Other black celebrities mentioned on the list include: Will Smith, Chris Rock, Oprah, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, Nelson Mandela, Condolezza Rice, Tyra Banks, Jay-Z and will.i.am.

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