PIC: REMY MA'S (JAILHOUSE) WEDDING INVITATION.

(CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE)

Since we may never see images of how beautiful of a bride Beyonce was on her wedding day, here's a spoofed picture of what rapper Remy Ma's--currently behind bars on Rikers Island while she awaits sentencing (April 23rd) on two counts of assault for shooting a former friend at an afterparty--wedding invitation....and what she may look like on her wedding day when she marries her fiancé and fellow Brooklyn rapper, Papoose, behind bars later this month. Remy and her hubby-to-be, initially made plans to become husband and wife on April 27th aboard a yacht. According Newsweek, about 200 weddings are performed each year at Rikers Island, which offers chaplains and chapels, said city Department of Correction spokesman Stephen Morello. Still, the rappers' nuptials will reflect the setting in some ways. Only two guests will be permitted, and the couple won't be allowed to wear rings with protruding gems.

In all seriousness though, Remy's charges stem from an incident last July when the rapper and Makeda Barnes-Joseph argued after leaving a mutual acquaintance's birthday party. Remy Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) alleged Barnes-Joseph stole several thousand dollars from her purse that night; Barnes-Joseph was shot after the two struggled in her car. Remy Ma fled the scene in an SUV but crashed nearby. Neither the money nor the weapon have been found. The 26-year-old performer is being held without bail until her sentencing. She faces the possibility of up to 25 years in prison.
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'BeyJaycé' A.K.A. BEYONCE AND JAY-Z OFFICIALLY MAN & WIFE.

Sources tell Usmagazine.com that Jay-Z and Beyoncé tied the knot at the rapper's apartment in NYC's Tribeca neighborhood Friday night, although their reps will not confirm. Former Destiny's Child singers Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin were among the guests who attended the ceremony. A Reverend was also spotted. The singer donned a veil and a white dress with a low V-neck and thick straps. Her hair was in a half ponytail with ringlet curls, decorated with a white flower. The party was still going strong at 3 a.m. this morning. Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles, spoke about his daughter's nuptials in business meetings Friday. "Beyoncé's dad said he's sorry he couldn't have invited [more people] to the wedding, but they're keeping it small," a source close to the family tells Usmagazine.com.

Jay-Z, 38, and Beyoncé, 26, have always dodged questions about tying the knot. In 2007, the always tight-lipped rapper would only tell reporters: "One day soon - let's leave it at that." Are kids next for the couple? "One day I hope to be married with children" Beyoncé told Ellen DeGeneres in 2006. "I don't want to retire at 30, I want to relax," she said. "I still want to make albums and movies, but at a slower pace."

CONTINUE READING THIS NEVER-ENDING STORY AFTER THE JUMP!

Early Friday, white checked linens were delivered, as well as boxes of white flowers. Tall silver candelabras were stacked on the street. A white tent was visible on the roof of the building.

Why wed on April 4? They're obsessed with the number! The rapper named his club 40/40 after a baseball term. (If a player hits 40 home runs and steals 40 bases in the same season, it's considered a major coup.) The couple also have matching IV tattoos on their ring fingers, and they were each born on the fourth day of a month (Beyoncé on September 4; Jay-Z, December 4).

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*UPDATED* PICS *ADDED*: FAMILIES OF JAY-Z & BEYONCE ARRIVE AT RUMORED WEDDING LOCATION.

According to the New York Post, rumors that Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles plan to tie the knot are as omnipresent as their No. 1 hits, but this time, it looks like it's the real deal for music's most powerful couple. Not only did the duo take out a marriage license in Scarsdale, NY, this week, but today family members dressed in wedding attire began showing up at Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment. Earlier in the day, a large array of flowers and candelabras were delivered to the apartment and a tent was put up on the roof of the building. This meshes perfectly with the long-held theory that the duo would marry on 4/4/08 because both of their birthdays fall on the fourth (hers in September, his in December) and Beyonce and 40/40 Club-owner Jay-Z reportedly got 4/4/08 tattooed on their ring fingers while in Paris this past December. Also meshing with the "four" scheme, The Insider reported that the roman numeral "IV" would play a major part in the decor.

TO READ DETAILS ON THE OVERLY RAMBUNCTIOUS MEDIA & PAPARAZZI AS WELL AS RUMORS OF THE WEDDING BEING A HOAX, CLICK HERE.

Their reportedly small wedding will consist of just 30 people, keeping with the intense secrecy that has surrounded Beyonce and Jay-Z's entire courtship, since 2002. If a wedding does in fact take place today Jay-Z will barely have time to celebrate, let alone jet off on a romantic honeymoon, as is tradition. He is scheduled to perform tomorrow night with Mary J. Blige at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. In fact, the rapper has almost nightly shows scheduled through May 8 when he concludes his mini-tour with Blige at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

BELOW ARE IMAGES OF THE FAMILIES OF JAY-Z AND BEYONCE AS THEY ARRIVE AT THE RUMORED WEDDING.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: The Insider cameras catches a glimpse of Jay-Z covering his face with a white towel as he arrives at his rumored wedding location; Beyonce's baby sister, Solange Knowles, leaves Beyonce's apartment in a white dress to go to what might be Beyonce and Jay Z's wedding.

From left to right: Jay Z's mother, Gloria Carter heads to what might be Beyonce and Jay Z's wedding; the building where wedding might take/took place; Beyonce's father, Matthew Knowles, leaves Beyonce's apartment to go to the site of the possible wedding.

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UP-TO-MINUTE DETAILS ON BEYONCE & JAY-Z'S RUMORED WEDDING TONIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY.

Entertainment Tonight is on location at the New York City building where the Beyonce and Jay-Z wedding is rumored to be taking place tonight. Here's what ET has learned so far:

Orchids are being delivered and a cake is currently being built. It will be an intimate affair with a sit-down dinner planned for just 30 people. The color scheme is off-white and the theme is, appropriately, the roman numeral four -- representing today's date. ET has also learned that Beyonce's mother TINA has already arrived. Celeb blogger Perez Hilton first broke the news that the two were marrying today.

-Beyonce's dressing room is set up in gym with a vanity and flowers.

-There are secret service everywhere inside...they swept the place.

-Fridge stocked with Jay-Z's favorite champagne.

-There was a platform - maybe for the ceremony.

-Tables were set for about 30, so the event will be intimate.

ET has also obtained what is believed to be the bouquet (see pic below) that rumored bride-to-be Beyonce will carry during her wedding to Jau-Z. The arrangement dons white roses and a white feathered fan complimented with decorative gold birds.

New photos of cream-colored flowers and oversized silver candelabras for what is presumed to be the New York City wedding for Beyonce and Jay-Z, rumored to be happening tonight.

While some say it may be a party to celebrate Jay-Z's new deal with Live Nation, The Insider has learned that preparations for a big event are being laid out right now at the Tribeca apartments in New York that could very well be for his rumored wedding to Beyonce! A box from Amy's Orchids was just delivered and CC Rental has been delivering as well. Busy workers are building an indoor tent with an all-white theme and the Roman numeral IV. We're told the event will be for about 30 people. The "magic hour" -- when all the workers need to be out -- is 3 p.m.

A tent on the roof of the building where Jay-Z owns an apartment in New York

From People.com: For Beyoncé and Jay-Z, April showers brought flowers – and a possible wedding. On a rainy Friday in New York City, crews delivered floral arrangements, video equipment and a tent into Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment building. The wedding buzz began when the couple went to get a marriage license at a village hall in Scarsdale, N.Y., on Tuesday. "It's [happening] tonight," says a source. "A lot of their friends are booking hotel rooms." Early Friday morning, workers erected a white tent atop the building, where Jay-Z owns a penthouse apartment. Not long after, an SUV carrying photo and video equipment arrived, followed by floral deliveries.

More evidence of an impending wedding? Likely guests have been gathering in New York. Producer Rodney Jerkins, who is working on Beyoncée's new album and is a friend of Jay-Z's, zipped into town a couple of days ago. Beyoncé's former Destiny's Child bandmates, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, are also here, coyly divulging in a YouTube video that they are camped out at The Four Seasons Hotel, giggling about "sisters" getting together.

And of course, there's Jay-Z, who was spotted hopping a flight from Boston, where he performed last night, to New York this morning. Friends of the couple say they are very eager for the nuptials to happen. "It's about time," says producer Dallas Austin. "I think it's great that they're getting married."

MORE UPDATES

FROM YBF.COM: YBF New York correspondents are currently on the scene around 195 Hudson St. (Jay-Z’s place) which is the rumored place Beyonce & Jay-Z wedding festivities are going down today. It’s a paparazzi and media zoo to the utmost power down there and we’ve definitely found out some interesting tidbits. Here’s what YBF has seen and heard so far while on the scene:

* Around 5p est today, a black SUV with full tinted windows flew through the crowd of media to enter the building’s garage. Only one paparazzo landed a pic of the unconfirmed woman inside. But she was by herself and purposely covering her face with a black and silver “Dereon like” hoodie.
* Another person was spotted entering the building who resembled Irv Gotti.
* 20 minutes later 8 black SUVs of the same kind exited the garage one right after the other. All SUVs were empty.
* Word on the street (from an unreliable source) was that the wedding was over and had taken place in a different location.
* But another word on the street (from a more reliable source) is that the wedding is actually taking place tonight. This would make more sense if that was indeed Bey in the first SUV.
* Word has it the SUVs all left to pick up guests and transport them back to Jay-Z’s place for a possible reception/party.
* Ironically, Dame Dash lives on the same street.
* Jay bought the penthouse for approx. $6 mill even though the building looks like crap from the outside.
* People were spotted setting up for “what looks like a party” under that white tent on the roof.

FROM THE INSIDER ONLINE: "The Insider"'s sources just spotted a man who might be JAY-Z entering the rapper's Tribeca residence through the garage in a black Cadillac Escalade. The man was dressed up and was holding a white cloth over his face. A neighbor of Jay-Z's told our sources that he was aware of the wedding, and that preparations for it have been in the works since Tuesday. He added that he's seen Jay-Z and BEYONCE a few times since they moved in to the apartment a week ago, and that they've been ideal neighbors.
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PICS: EDDIE MURPHY CELEBRATES HIS 47th BIRTHDAY WITH HIS MAMA & QUINCY JONES.

Look at this old monkey-dog. Ol' funky-ass Eddie Murphy celebrated his 47th birthday among family and friends last night at STK restaurant in Los Angeles. Or should I say family and 'friend' considering the only 'friend' in attendance was Quincy Jones. Johnny Gill nor Barry Bonds weren't anywhere in sight. And instead of 'family' I should have just said 'a family member' because the only family member I saw (as far as these pics are concerned) was his meddling mama Lillian. But you know what's really messed up? It's the fact that Eddie and the adorable innocent daughter (who didn't ask to be here) he refuses to have anything to do with unless it involves money, also celebrated her 1-year birthday yesterday...the same day as her old mangy, mutt-face, mountain goat-looking father. Lonely bastard.

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SNOOP DOG ACCUSES BARACK OBAMA OF TAKING MONEY FROM THE KU KLUX KLAN.

I don't know what's worse: Diddy detailing his bitchassness-like thoughts on marriage or Snoops displays of pure jackassery-ness when talking about female singers or public figures. This dude has catapulted himself into a ranting rampant attack on presidential candidate Barack Obama accusing him of gleaning support from a race hate group. The rapper, real name Calvin Broadus Jr., insists the Democratic candidate has received funding from historically anti-black organization the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). He says, "The KKK gave Obama money. They was (sic) one of his biggest supporters...Why wouldn't they be? The media won't tell you that. They don't want you to know that. They just want you to know that this n*gger befriended this other n*gger who be (sic) threatening your values. But we all know all presidents lie to get into f*cking office. That's they (sic) job."

But Dogg insists Obama will still emerge victorious in the October (08) elections. He adds, "In America's eyes, that muthaf*cker's gonna be president 'cos (John) MCCain can't f*ck with him. Hillary (Clinton) can't f*ck with him. He's winning over white people, white ladies."

Well, where's the proof Snoop?
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WHITNEY HOUSTON ANGIRLY RESPONDS TO BOBBY'S ACCUSATIONS IN HIS NEW TELL-ALL BOOK.

Bobby Brown is dishing on his rocky marriage to Whitney Houston in a new tell-all autobiography – but she's not letting his accusations affect her. In this, the latest installment of the couple's long-running marital feud, Brown says of his ex, "I never used cocaine until after I met Whitney." Details from the 39-year-old pop star's book, Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But, began surfacing Thursday in the New York Post. Before Whitney, Brown writes: "I had experimented with other drugs, but marijuana was my drug of choice." Whitney's rep responded in a statement to PEOPLE: "Miss Houston is sad that Bobby feels he need to say such things but she choses to take the high road and will not speak badly about the father of her child even if it's to set the record straight."

Brown also describes his 14-year marriage as "doomed from the very beginning." "I think we got married for all the wrong reasons," he says in the book. "Now, I realize Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married ... I believe her agenda was to clean up her image." In addition, Brown also claims to have dated Janet Jackson and Madonna before hooking up with Houston. Chapter titles from the book include "Whitney Houston – The Untold Truth," "The Press, More Problems, and Passion for Drugs," and "The Bad Boy Of Boston ... Straight From The Hood."

The couple, who have a 15-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, split in September 2006.

SOURCE: People.com

And I don't have a problem telling yall that I will be copping that joint when it hits the bookstores.
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AL B. SURE, BOBBY BROWN & MC HAMMER'S SEEDS MAKE THEIR SHODY DEBUT ON MTV'S 'ROCK THE CRADLE.'

(CLICK ON PICS TO ENLARGE)

A couple of weeks ago, I made a post telling you all about MTV's new reality live musical competition show, Rock the Cradle. The show features the offspring from yesteryear's top music artists in rock & roll, R&B and hip-hop (read more about the show by clicking HERE) as they strive to reach an imaginary status that their parents once held at the height of their careers. Well, needless to say, I was only interested in watching the performances of MC Hammer's daughter, Akeiba, Al B. Sure's son, Lil B. Sure! and Lil B. Sure's B.F.F. and son of Bobby Brown, Landon (from a previous relationship). Now if any of you watched last night's debut then you know that not only is this season going to be laugh out loud-able. Compared to their parents, damn near every kid who hit that stage was whack. And I know I wasn't the only person who thought so after watching the camera pan over to their parents sitting in the VIP section. Their expressionless faces said it all: 'Someone please remind me to sue Mother Nature for malpractice of my child's vocal chords.' I didn't see a proud face in the bunch. Although it was hard trying to gauge the look on Bobby's face because of...well, yall know. Imagine the difficult task of having to sit and listen to your off-key offspring attempt to sing as they could really could sing?! Those poor parents gave the phrase 'just grin and bear it' a new meaning.

First up. Lil B. Sure!. The other son of Al blew me away as he sung his own soulful rendition of Leon Russell's A Song for You. Although his voice sounds better than his father's (at least to me) and his B.F.F. and he scored really high with the judges, I still had a hard time looking at him. I'm sorry. But I did. Dude just looks difficult in the face. Bless his heart. I've always wondered what his mother looked like (click and peep the picture on the right). When you think of someone named Lil B. Sure, you're thinking this person is going to at least favor his father a little bit, right? At least enough to take you back to the days of watching Video Soul where you could see Al's tall, beige and handsome self in one of his videos as he sang in his tight-ass stonewashed denim jeans and matching jacket while doing the Alf. But as I watched Lil B. last night, I sat and waited and waited for that nostalgia to hit me, but it never did. Maybe his nickname and his slot on the show should've been offered to Al and Kim's son, Quincy. And (sarcastically speaking) I still have a hard time believing Quincy is Kim's biological son because he looks so much like his daddy. But I'll digress. All that aside, I can definitely see Lil B. going far in this competition, maybe even winning it. Maybe.

AFTER THE JUMP, CONTINUE READING MY REVIEW ON LANDON'S PISS POOR PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS AKEIBA'S HIGH-SCORING PERFORMANCE ON 'ROCK THE CRADLE.'

Mark my words: sooner or later if Bobby's boy Landon don't get his singing chops up to par, chances are he's going to either get his feelings hurt (and believe me after watching that hour and a half episode, he will not be the only one) or he won't last in this competition. This dude had the nerve to come out singing and wasn't 2 bars into his song before he tried to coerce the audience into helping him sing the song along with him! Waving his hands in the air talking 'bout, 'Yall, come on!' I'm looking at him like, 'Niggah, we ain't the ones competing to become a star-ruh. That's you! The first episode and you already trying to cheat!' I'm convinced Landon snagged his place on the show because of his looks and of course, his father. A father who he shares no physical resemblance to whatsoever. We viewers should all be thankful.

Last but definitely not least, along came MC Hammer's baby girl Akeiba. In the pre-recorded footage of her performance we saw a quick snippet of her father's rise and fall to fame (that too took me back, yall) which happened around the time when she was barely knee high. But as the cameras showed her rehearsing her song of the night, Love You I Do (from the Dreamgirls movie soundtrack), an homage to Academy Award winning actress Jennifer Hudson, it was blatantly apparent that she's grown into a full-size, beautiful grown woman. And even though we saw her struggle to hit that high note in the song, once she hit the stage everything flowed nicely including her high note. Now, I won't say perfectly because then I'd be lying. But out of all the nine performances of the night, I enjoyed hers the most. And my sentiments were mirrored by the judge's scores. Akeiba scored one of the highest shows of the night including a perfect 10.

But this is just the first airing. There's going to be plenty more. The question is, what star's offspring will have what it takes to make it to the end. I'm putting my money on Akeiba. To all of you teenage girls, grown women, groupies (male and female) and cougars, feast your eyes on Landon while you can because if his Thursday night performance is any indication of what's to come....

And for all of you who missed the show, you can watch the full episodes and/or clips from the show by clicking HERE.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

JAY-Z CELEBRATES THE END OF HIS SINGLE LIFE @ PRIVATE BACHELOR PARTY; WILL HE & BEY JUMP THE BROOM TODAY?

More details have surfaced surrounding Beyonce and Jay-Z's alleged impending nuptials. And I must say that this time around the reports are more believable simply because well...there has been more than one legitimate report. The trip to the courthouse last Tuesday to obtain their marriage license is the first real indication that the pair – who first started dating in 2002 – will soon make things official. One witness told People magazine, "It was just the two of them. They were very polite and smiling as they filled out the paperwork. They were holding hands for a while. They looked really happy." Add to that the fact that the only comments coming from Bey and Jay's camps are the standardized 'no comment.' While in the past, they're publicist would quickly shoot any rumors down as just that: rumors. As of now and according to numerous reports, Jay will finally make Bey Mrs. Shawn Carter today (April 4, 2008).

Currently on tour with Mary J. Blige, Jay has reportedly (dammit, if I have to use the word reportedly one more time, I'm going to scream) cleared his busy schedule for the big day. In addition, Beyonce's mother Tina and Destiny's Child member, Michelle Williams have landed in the Big Apple for the event. It's been a busy week for Jay to say the least. On Wednesday, he hosted a private party under the disguise of a bachelor party in Toronto, Canada. Another source told People magazine, "It looked like a bachelor party because soon the doors closed to all but the immediate guests. Jay-Z was laughing and happy and talking to everyone around him. It was amazing how many girls were flirting with him, but he was just being nice to everyone."

It has been rumored that Jay-Z, 38, proposed to Beyonce, 26, during a luxury holiday in Cannes, France, last May. The couple has 60 days from the original date of the signing of their marriage license to exchange vows - before the paperwork deadline expires.

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PICS: 'GIRLFRIENDS' CO-STAR PERSIA WHITE @ GENESIS AWARDS; CIARA, KELLY & CRAIG DAVID @ CHOICE FM's ANNIVERSARY DINNER.

R&B artists Kelly Rowland, Ciara and Craig David (who hasn't been seen in a month of Sundays) wined and dined at Choice FM's 18th anniversary dinner in London, England on April 2, 2008.

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Ex-'Girlfriend' Persia White attended the 22nd annual Genesis Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, California last week (3.29.2008).

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BOBBY BROWN BLASTS WHITNEY & THEIR MARRIAGE IN NEW TELL-ALL BOOK, 'THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT.'

Well this is a shock to me. Bobby Brown will be releasing his autobiography Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But in May. I didn't even think he could read and write. You learn something new everyday. Anyhoo, in his new memoirs the Mr. Bi-polar blasts Whitney and accuses her of being the force who drove him into the dismal world drug addiction. "I never used cocaine until after I met Whitney. Before then, I had experimented with other drugs, but marijuana was my drug of choice," Brown writes. "At one point in my life, I used drugs uncontrollably. I was using everything I could get my hands on, from cocaine to heroin, weed and cooked cocaine." As far as his 15-year marriage to Houston is concerned, it "was doomed from the very beginning. Within the first year we separated, with several more to follow," Brown writes. "I think we got married for all the wrong reasons. Now, I realize Whitney had a different agenda than I did when we got married...I believe her agenda was to clean up her image, while mine was to be loved and have children."

CONTINUE READING MORE EXCERPTS FROM BROWN'S TELL-ALL BOOK AFTER THE JUMP!

Whitney, he alleges, had been under "a lot of pressure. The media was accusing her of having a bisexual relationship with her assistant, Robin Crawford. Since she was the American Sweetheart and all, that didn't go too well with her image...In Whitney's situation, the only solution was to get married and have kids. That would kill all speculation, whether it was true or not. In the short, I think I got caught up in the politics and ended up marrying one of the biggest stars in the world." But Brown notes that he was no saint in their relationship, confessing in his book, "I am guilty of sleeping with other women...Women are always throwing themselves at you. I'm only human, so I would make the mistake and bite the hook sometimes . . . I let the testosterone take over." One of his most public indiscretions was an affair with former exotic dancer Karrine "Superhead" Steffans. "Yes, I've slept with her," he confesses. "Yes, I've spent several nights at her house. But she was only good for what her nickname stood for."

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FORMER CRIME MOB MEMBER, DIAMOND & T.I. LOVE THE ATLANTA KIDS; RAPPERS LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO AT-RISK YOUTH.

Female rapper Diamond (former member of Crime Mob) joined a great list of artists from the music industry supporting the It's Cool to be Smart Music Mentor Program for teen girls. Last month, Diamond spoke with 18 girls from the program hosted by Hot 107.9 in Atlanta. the It's Cool to be Smart 'Real Talk Career Day Series' with Radio One is an ongoing event that collaborates with community organizations such as the Carver Boys & Girls Club, Harland Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta and Nellies Hope. Curtis B., Executive Director of ICTBS stated, 'These artists really touch our girls' hearts with their real life experiences growing up with issues of peer pressure in school and communities such as what Diamond discussed with our organization.' At the event, Diamond stressed the importance of 'keeping it real' and 'staying true to yourself and not letting anybody take advantage of you.' Yeah, Diamond, those words are definitely words of encouragement. Hell, a stranger on the street could've told them that.

But Diamond isn't the only Atlanta-based hip-hop artist to lend her support to ATL's inner-city youth. Rapper T.I. (real name Clifford Harris) who has over a thousand more hours of community service to complete on his sentence also on board. On Monday (March 31st), Harris conducted an intense and powerful speech for the sole purpose of inspiring and motivating the young men who attended the at-risk program at the Inner Harbour for Children and Families and the Carver Boys and Girls Club of Metro Atlanta. He explained the difference between the entertainment industry and real life. "What you see in videos and what you listen to is just entertainment," he said."But what I am talking to you about today is about gang prevention,positive reintegration into the community and school, establishing a positive pattern of behavior, and allowing yourself to trust positive people is real!"

BELOW ARE PICS OF T.I. FULFILLING HIS COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENTS.


CONTINUE READING THIS STORY BY CLICKING 'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!'

The rapper also addressed the youth on topics centered on managing their anger and walking away from negative influences and environments.

ICTBS is more than just community hours for T.I. Hopefully his latest trials and tribulations will have a positive impact on each at-risk youth he reaches out to. Curtis B. says,'Other than music, I believe TIP really loves and enjoys working with the youth of America and it's really a blessing to witness his interactions with them." T.I. will head 'Stop Teen on Teen Violence which aims to lower overall rates of incarceration of young men and repeat offenders from entering back into the criminal justice system in Atlanta and other partnering cities across the country.

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KIMORA LEE SIMMONS TO BRING NEW 'FABULOSITY' SPORTSWEAR LINE TO JC PENNEYS.

Baby Phat designer Kimora Lee Simmons is launching her own sportswear line for the younger market. The fashionista entrepreneur will be releasing "Fabulosity" through JCPenney in July. The collection which is inspired by her own lifestyle and embodies confidence, beauty and fashion sense all at an affordable price, will feature tees, jeans, hoodies, and skirts, and will retail from $29 to $108.

Simmons, 32, says of her new collection, "I can't wait to bring Fabulosity to the JCPenney Juniors customer! Young teen girls are fabulous and my new collection will further build their confidence as they head back-to-school." The former model continues, "Fabulosity is all about celebrating who you are and your individual greatness - living your dream and being whatever you want to be. This is a great message for your teens - and I am so proud to partner with JCPenney on this collection."
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SOULJA BOY TELL 'EM SNAGS TOP SPOT ON FORBES MAGAZINE HOTTEST NEW MUSIC STARS LIST.

Some recording artists toil for years without ever scoring a big hit. Then there's the fortunate few who skip all the dues-paying hardships and skyrocket straight to stardom. That pretty much sums up the experience of Soulja Boy Tell 'Em and other new music acts on Forbes' list of music's hottest new stars. Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, whose Crank That (Soulja Boy) was one of the biggest hit songs of the year. Soulja Boy (DeAndre Way, to his mom) got his first exposure by posting songs and videos on his YouTube and MySpace pages, which helped attract the attention of hip-hop producer Michael "Mr. Collipark" Crooms and eventually landed him a contract with Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.

To refer to Crank That as a mere "song" would probably underplay its multi-platform ubiquity. The official video racked up tens of millions of hits on YouTube and spawned a dance craze that prompted Soulja Boy to shoot an instructional video that generated more than 30 million hits of its own. Then there were the countless spoofs and imitations that featured mashups of SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora The Explorer, Alvin and the Chipmunks and others. "Crank That" has also sold more than 3 million song downloads and more than 2 million ringtones. With that kind of reach, it was hard to escape the song's catchy refrain of "Yoooooo!/Crank that Soulja Boy, now watch me/Yoooooo!"

AFTER THE JUMP, TAKE A PEEK AT THE OTHER UP AND COMING ARTISTS (INCLUDING TWO FROM FLORIDA) THAT MADE THE CUT & WHAT STEPS FORBES TOOK IN ORDER TO COMPILE THEIR LIST.

To compile a list of the hottest new stars of music, we examined several measures of popularity and success. To start off, we looked at the top searches and downloads on peer-to-peer networks during the past 12 months as measured by BigChampagne, as well as press mentions as measured by Factiva. Then we looked at U.S. digital track downloads and album sales in 2007 and the first two months of 2008, as measured by Nielsen SoundScan. Finally, we took a look at "mastertone" ringtone sales during the same period, as measured by Nielsen RingScan (mastertones are ringtones that play a snippet of the actual recording of your favorite song).

Other artists who made the list include: Sean Kingston, Flo Rida, Plies, J. Holiday, Hurricane Chris and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks.

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NEW PICS: RAY J. PEFORMS AT SPOTLIGHT LIVE IN TIMES SQUARE.

Ray J. performs at R&B Live Presents Ray J. at Spotlight Live in New York City's Time Square on Tuesday. Although his big sister, Brandy was noticeably absent, the sibling's mother Sonja Norwood did attend. Celebs Anthony Anderson, Ray J.'s protege Young Berg and rapper..or is it former rapper AZ also attended.

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