INSIDE WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON'S NEW HOME.

In 2000, Wendy met her husband Marco Perkins after hosting an NBA playoff party at her home. Wendy says she didn't notice him right away, but during the party she observed him closely. "He not only had an opinion, but a swagger. I felt like we could dine at the White House or hang in the 'hood." The couple tied the knot aboard a yacht in front of close family members and friends in 2003. However, the couple had no idea just how much their first year of marriage would be tested. After an evening out, they returned home to find an electrical fire had struck three homes on their block, including theirs, leaving them homeless and with the only clothes on their backs--literally. Sadly, the blaze also claimed Wendy's dog, Ginger. Looking back now, she says, 'I wondered sometimes how we'd get through it. But God has blessed us. During that time, I saw what my husband was made of." Family also helped weather the storm. "My mother told us to come home," she shares. "I had to wear one of my sister's clothes and shoes." Returning to her vacant childhood house was tough. So was losing treasured family heirlooms. "I understand how the victims of Hurricane Katrina felt. Dealing with insurance companies was crazy. But going through it strengthened out marriage. Everything was stripped away and all we had was each other....I feel like I've been reborn. God has gotten us through a lot. There's a gratitude journal scrolling through my head right now, and it's full of so many blessings."

Fast forward a couple of years and you'll find the couple living happily in their brand new, custom-built-from-the-ground-up two-story home. They have also added two new dogs to the family. Of her new found blessings, Wendy says, 'God gives you double for your trouble.' Aside from continuing her role as the 'hottest mama' on television as 'Tasha Mack' on The CW's The Game, Wendy spends her off time by running the Amazing Grace Conservatory (a theatre arts school she founded in 1995); being a loving wife; and playing auntie to her nieces and nephews.

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LIL KIM WANTED CHRISTINA MILIAN TO PORTRAY HER IN 'NOTORIOUS.'

NO MA'AM, KIMBERLY DENISE JONES

I watched Notorious this weekend in the comfort of my own home--for free--and I still feel like I paid too much! It was pure garbage. Jamal, the dude who played Biggie, smiled and grinned just a little bit too much for me. I remember Biggie always having a mean-ass looking unit on his face like this or this or this. I also couldn't get over how Jamal placed an 'f' sound on every word that ended in -th (Faithf, truthf, deathf, mouthf). Dude who played Tupac was unbelievable, it wasn't even funny. The same can be said for the little Losing Isaiah young'un who played Lil Cease and I'm not even going to get on how I sat and waited for Angela Bassett to use Voletta Wallace's accent...but to no avail Loved Derek Luke's portrayal of Puffy. Dude had Diddy's dance and swagger down pat! LOL! Faith's doppelganger was a good choice, as was Biggie's 12-year-old son C.J. who brought justice to the role of his father as an adolescent.

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Now to Naturi and the purpose of this post. Personally, I think she did an okay job as Lil Kim. I still laugh at the clip of her in the studio recording Big Momma Thang! (you got it goin' on, whut, whut). Anyhoo, imagine my surprise when I found out Lil Kim wanted the film's director to cast Christina Milian to play her in the film! What the hell was she thinking?!! And how in the hell did she think Ms. Wallace and the film's directors would let that happen? For those of you who don't know, Lil Kim was paid $5,000 to allow them to use her likeness in the movie (just like everyone else). When she showed up at the film director's office to have a meeting (about the use of her likeness), she spazzed out when she was told Naturi would be playing her. Yeah, I know some of us know this already. But what I didn't know is what she actually said to the director about Naturi during her bitch fit, which was 'She's TOO BLACK!' Cease and other sources on the set said Kim wanted Christina Milian to portray her in the movie. He also said, 'Kim don't look like herself! Look at her! I told Naturi she was doing a great job and to not let that shit affect her.'

With the extensive amount of plastic surgery she had done to look like a totally different person, I knew deep down inside there had to be an iota of self-hate within her, but this?!! Now I really and truly believe she is half-past delusional. Real talk. Could any of you see Christina Milian playing Lil Kim?

'I heard about the rumors and I'm aware of it. I feel like at the end of the day I was really happy that I had the support of the director, I had the support of the cast, and I knew that I was going to capture this role 'cause I had put my heart in it. I hope that she loves it when she sees it and I'm hoping the fans love it when they see it. I don't think it's a matter of complexion. I think people need to realize it's about playing a character and bringing out their essence...

Going into a movie like this is always pressure because they have a fan base that is looking at them now. There will always be people comparing and looking for the exact replica of who they know. So it's a challenge and it's definitely intimidating. For me this is my first big debut as an actress in a film. It's nervewracking and it's intimidating to an extent, but at the end of the day I actually try to use the challenge and those feelings as motivation. Initially it hurts a little bit but you take that and you use it as power.'

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TAMEKA FOSTER JOINS 'REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA' CAST?

Word around the web is that Usher's wife, Tameka Foster, is in 'the last bit of talks' of joining the cast of Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta for its second season. If this news is true, Tameka will replace last season's most true-to-life housewife on RHOA, Deshawn Snow, who has allegedly been given the boot from the show because of the viewers' disinterest in her life as an NBA wife. But I think we all know that with Deshawn's 'guaranteed' NBA money, she'll be just fine. And I can openly admit that if Tameka does join the cast, yes, I will make sure my DirectTV DVR is set and ready to record because I'd love to hear the pure madness that I am sure she will spew from her mouth! But really though, can you all see (or be able to stomach watching) Tameka every week basically doing what Deshawn did during her stay on the show? Watching her raise her four sons (Tameka's oldest son is a grown man) while Usher is out on the road doing whatever it is that he does? But wait a minute, 95% of the time, Tameka is up under her hubby whenever he's out on the road. So, I guess the question should be, 'could we be able to stomach whoever it is that raises Tameka's kids when--her head is so far up Usher's ass, if he turned the corner, he'd break her neck--whenever he's out on the road? How can she be a cast member of this show if she's never home in Atlanta?

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Therefore and thus and such, I'll believe this story when the upper-ups from Bravo confirm it. Until then, like my cousin Nakesha says, 'I'm finished 'bout it.' Besides, there were whispers and whatnot of her joining the cast for its first season and because Usher has rehired his mom, Jonetta, as his manager, I highly doubt she'd suggest that Tameka put their family business out there like that for everyone to see...especially since some of you *smile* *snicker* have been dogging ol girl for the past couple of years. Yall know Jonetta don't play! LOL! Also, Usher is working on releasing another album this year. Having his wife look and sound like a damn fool on national television is publicity he does not need. He found out how that type of negative press affected his mega-flop of an album last year. Am I right? Celebrity couples + Reality shows=Divorce! Examples: Nick and Jessica, Hulk Hogan and Lisa, Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, Carmen and David, Bobby and Whitney! LOL!

As for the other ladies of RHOA: Nene Leakes, her BFF-turned-frienemy Kim 'can't sing, or spell, or purchase a better looking weave/half-wig' Zolciak and Lisa Wu Hartell are all set to return for the second season. And Sheree? Well, she dropped her divorce appeal against her ex-husband and former NFL player, Bob Whitfield and ol girl is thisclose to being broke and homeless. According to recent reports, Bob is also broke. All I have to say is, 'Sheree, good luck to you and to your Shit by Sheree...(*sigh* LSA can be such a negative influence on me sometimes), what I meant to say was, She by Sheree clothing line. Cause, girl, you gon need all the luck you can get. And I know, because I'm broke my damn self! LOL!

The Real Housewives of Atlanta will begin taping episodes for its second season in February.

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TICHINA ARNOLD & TERRY CREWS MAGAZINE PHOTOSHOOT.

I found and scanned this new beautiful, classy, classic, sophisticated and oh-so-elegant photoshoot of Tichina Arnold and Terry Crews, who play Rochelle 'I do not need this! My man has two jobs!' and Julius Rock, respectively on what has become my favorite show, Everybody Hates Chris which airs Friday nights on the CW at 8:00 p.m. These pics are a far reach from what we're used to seeing them wear every week on EHC: 'Rochelle' donning a retro mushroom-cap wig with the latest 80s fashions, while 'Julius' struts around in his job-issued, uniformed nut-huggers. LOL! I intended on posting these scans about a month and a half ago but I got lazy after going through a temporary bout of depression...so instead, I kept them stored in photo folder on my laptop until now! LOL!

Most of Tichina and Terry's wardrobe are provided by Ali Rahimi, Akua Adoma, Kevan Hall Designs (Tichina's ruby red cocktail dress & turquoise silk crepe gown...which are my two favorites!) and Armani. Peep the pics below. Click on each image to see its full HQ size.

*you can also check these photos out on ESSENCE'S Real Black Network by clicking the ESSENCE banner below the header*

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SWV MEMBER TAJ JOHNSON-GEORGE CAST ON NEW SEASON OF 'SURVIVOR.'

Taj Johnson-George, 37, former member of the Grammy-nominated R&B group SWV from Nashville- "There's a stigma that comes with being married to an NFL player," says the wife of former Tennessee Titan Eddie George. "People think we're pampered. But I'm not. I'm a 5'9", 190-pound tomboy. I'm gon' tear 'em up when I get out there."

This should be interesting. First, TLC's Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins joins the cast of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice (which is slated to air Sunday, March 1 at 9 p.m. on NBC), and then there were rumors that T-Boz's group mate Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas had inked a reality show deal with VH1. What is up with these former girl group members branching off into reality shows?

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NEW PICS OF A VERY PREGNANT JILL SCOTT.

I've almost forgotten how to blog! It took me nearly 30 minutes to post this one blog entry! LOL! Happy Belated Holidays to everyone! Anyhoo.

I know I'm late in posting this, but I still wanted to dole out a big 'congratulations' to singer/actress Jill Scott, 36, who is expecting her first child in April with her fiance/drummer boy Jon Roberts. Of her pregnancy, Jill says, The first trimester I spent in Botswana (filming her movie The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency). That was one of the biggest challenges of my life. First trimester! You're sick every morning. It was seven hours time difference, the heat, the bugs, the 14 hour days. My doctors gave me a clean bill of health and said you can do this (continue working), so I did it."

Although this will be Jill's first child with Jon, word around the web is that he has at least 3 or 4 children with several different women. It it what it is. The couple, who announced their engagement last June, has not announced any plans of a wedding.
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