THROWBACK PICS: WHITNEY & BOBBY IN ESSENCE MAGAZINE...BEFORE THEY BECAME CEEPHUS & REECIE.

A couple of weeks ago I found a throwback issue of Essence magazine featuring Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown on the cover of its February 1996 issue with a caption that read: Loving Against the Odds. The love was real back in those days, yall! I had to remind myself to breathe when I first laid eyes on these beautiful images! They looked so normal, healthy, clean-cut and dare I say--sober and in their right mind--back then, didn't they? Who would've ever thought this couple would go from what you see in these pictures to becoming the R&B modern-day version of In Living Color's Ceephus and Reecie.

Click on the pics to see its full image.


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NEW PICS: ASHANTI PERFORMS LIVE IN TIME SQUARE IN NEW YORK CITY.

Below are pics of Ashanti giving a live performance before signing copies of new album The Declaration (in stores now) at Virgin Megastores in Times Square. New York City yesterday. When asked why she titled her album The Declaration, the songstress said, 'I feel it’s important to present all sides of what being a woman is about. Historically, we’ve always been relegated to the bottom of the totem pole, whether it’s business or the battle of the sexes or just empowering each other. I want this album to make people feel stronger about themselves. I’ve always used the ups and downs in my own life as well as others close to me as a motivational tool and I hope my music comes off that way. I felt a lot of passion making this record. I loved every minute I was in the studio.”

Sooner or later, the singer says she is considering ditching music for movies to be a full-time actress. The multi-talented 27-year-old has already starred in Resident Evil, John Tucker Must Die and Coach Carter - and she reveals she is so hooked on Hollywood she wants to work behind the camera as well as in front of it. Ashanti says, "I'm always reading scripts. I'm even looking to get into some behind-the-scenes work. Maybe do some co-producing. It's all about taking chances. You can't be afraid to try something different."

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NICOLE ARI PARKER LANDS STARRING ROLE IN NEW ABC COMEDY 'NEVER BETTER' WITH DAMON WAYANS.

Actress Nicole Ari Parker says goodbye (for now) to her temporary home in Atlanta, Georgia and hello again to the land of Hollywood. Parker has scored a starring role alongside actor/comedian Damon Wayans in the new ABC comedy Never Better which is slated to hit the air in the fall, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Never Better stars Wayans as Keith, a recovering alcoholic who's trying to be a better husband and father to his family. Parker, last seen opposite Martin Lawrence in Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, will play the wife of Wayans' character.
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DIDDY TO SUE CUFF-LINK COMPANY, CUFF DADDY, FOR PIGGYBACKING ON HIS FORMER MONIKER.

If this ain't one of he most extra dudes in the entertainment industry, I don't know who is. According to reports, Sean 'Diddy' Combs is considering suing a cufflink company - because its name is too similar to his. The rapper's lawyers have told bosses at Cuff-Daddy.com - a family-owned cufflink company - that the business' name was to similar to the star's former moniker, Puff Daddy. But bosses at the company insist they are not trading on his name and hope to resolve the issue with the star's legal team, reports TMZ.com. Come on now! Why you wanna sue them for something so petty? That Puff/Puffy/Puff Diddy/Puff Diddy Daddy crap is as old as your mama and chances are Diddy wasn't even thinking of his former moniker until he got wind of this news. Pull your panties out 'cha ass, Puffy.

In related Diddy news, the mogul-turned-designer has become so impressed by David Beckham's style, he wants to collaborate with the soccer ace on a fashion line who he has become close friends in recent years. But Combs - who has his own Sean John clothing line - admits he would like to turn their friendship into a business collaboration and launch a fashion project together. He says, "What a stylish guy. I'd love to do a fashion range with David Beckham. He's a good friend and is very kind. Us two together doing business would be amazing. I heard he is doing a shoe range with (rapper) Snoop (Dogg). That's cool, but I would love to do fashion with David. I already have a fragrance and clothing line, but I'd love my next project to include him. Perhaps we could collaborate to do something for charity."

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KEKE PALMER ('AKEELAH & THE BEE') LANDS LEAD ROLE IN NEW NICKELODEON SERIES.

Akeelah and the Bee star Keke Palmer has scored the lead role in Nickelodeon's new live-action pilot True Fashion, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The project, described as Big meets The Devil Wears Prada, centers on a 15-year-old (Palmer) tapped to head the teen division of a major fashion label. She has a passion for fashion but soon learns that corporate life has the same highs and lows as high school, complete with cliques and mean girls -- but also with such cool perks as designing for up-and-coming rock stars and casting cute models.

Palmer, who pocketed an NAACP Image Award for her Akeelah role, will next be seen on the big screen in The Longshots. Based on a true story, the movie stars Palmer as the first female quarterback in Pop Warner football history.
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IN TODAY'S 'THIS N!GGAH HERE!' USHER ACCUSES CHILLI OF USING THEIR RELEATIONSHIP AS A PUBLICITY STUNT.

I mean, I think it’s a little unrealistic, I’m married (laughs), I’m not a boy. It’s been three years past, you know? But we all have unrealistic goals too. Like shoot, I will always forever love Katie Holmes and Halle Berry. I don’t feel anyway about it. It does appear maybe to be a plug for something. She got a record coming or something?

--Usher responds to comments Chilli made in a recent interview (via NecoleBitchie.com) where stated: "I love him very much and I will always love him. I don’t know how you love someone that deeply and just stop loving them. I’m not in love with him anymore but I can’t say that I don’t love him anymore." Now, yall know I'm fitna light fire up under his ass, right? How could he make a bitchmade comment accusing her of using his name to plug her new album when just four years ago he did the same thing? He knew no song on that entire Confessions album had anything to do with his relationship with her, but yet he went and traveled the deceptive highway and royally capitalized on it to the fullest by continuing to lead folks to believe otherwise. He better stop playing.

I swear the higher a monkey (or in his case a life-size version of Monchichi) climbs, the more his ass shows. In the meantime, check out new photos of Chilli promoting her new projects in Chicago at WGCI radio station last week.

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