REMEMBERING LISA 'LEFT EYE' LOPES: MAY 27, 1971-APRIL 25,2002.

Today, April 25, 2008 marks the 6th anniversary of the death of Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, a founding member and creative force behind TLC, the most successful-selling R&B/Hip-Hop female group of all-time. The singer was killed as she was driving on a Honduran road on that fateful Thursday evening six years ago. Seven other people, including Lopes' brother, Ronald, and sister, Raina, were in the Mitsubishi Montero sports utility vehicle when the crash happened near Jutiapa, 150 miles north of Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. The vehicle rolled several times, throwing Lisa out of the window. She died instantly from severe head injuries. She was 30-years-old. Her funeral was held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. Over 30,000 fans came from all over the world to bid her farewell. Engraved upon her white casket was her verse from Waterfalls: "Dreams are hopeless aspirations, in hopes of coming true, believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you."

TLC, formed in 1991 (with remaining surviving members Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins and Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas) in Atlanta was signed to LaFace Records and produced by super-producer Dallas Austin. Some of the trio's biggest award-winning hits include: What About Your Friends, Baby, Baby, Baby, Creep, Red Light Special, Unpretty, Waterfalls and No Scrubs.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF THE LATE SINGER BELOW. CLICK 'EM TO SEE 'EM.


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GARY COLEMAN & WIFE HEADING TOWARDS DIVORCE COURT....LITERALLY!

Looks like Star Jones and her sugar-pie Al aren't the only celeb-couple heading toward divorce court. And I mean that literally. Little Gary Coleman, the former real-life version of a 40-year-old virgin, and his wife of several months, 22-year-old Shannon Price will appear in a two-part episode of Divorce Court next Thursday, May 1st. I knew when I saw those two on the Tyra Banks Show, that they weren't going to last. Hell, who am I kidding? I knew they wouldn't last when it was revealed that they'd gotten married! Anyhoo, here's a description of the episode(s) from the show's official website:

Today on a special two-part session of Divorce Court, 80’s child star Gary Coleman and his new wife Shannon have come to Divorce Court seeking Judge Toler’s advice on their troubled marriage before it’s too late. Gary says he met Shannon on a movie set and was glad to know Shannon did not know who he was when they first met. Shannon proposed a year later after an argument. Gary is in love with Shannon and calls her his star protector. Shannon says she is tired of Gary’s anger issues and blames her for anything that goes wrong and is sick of playing the blame game.

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NEW PICS: CHILLI'S ROLLING OUT MAG PHOTOSHOOT + NEW PROMO PICS & DETAILS ON WINNING A CHANCE TO DANCE WITH CHILLI ON HER PROMO TOUR.

R&B singer Chilli is featured on the latest cover of Atlanta's Rolling Out magazine on stands now. She's on her grind for real this time! Now, it was just yesterday when I told you all that Chilli had chosen a title for her new solo debut album which is Bi-Polar. When I say she's so serious about this project, please believe me. Now, yes, a couple of years ago when she was featured in a couple of urban magazines and her tracks Gameproof and Straight Jack 'Em had leaked onto the Internet...it got quite a bit of buzz going suggesting she was indeed about to do the damn thing. But in the end fans got nothing. This time around, however, the singer has finally got the molasses out of her ass: she's hired an entire new PR team, freed herself from TLC's former manager Bill Diggins (for trying to pull a fast one over on them), recorded a hot new track, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb which will be the first single from Bi-Polar and last but not least, Chilli is currently gearing up for an upcoming promotional tour (read about that after the jump) to support her new LP.

In her feature story for Rolling Out magazine, Chilli dished on why she made the decision to stand out on her own and reveals the celebrity, who also hails from Atlanta, who inspired her: “Probably three years ago, I was kind of at a crossroad[s] with everything,” she admits. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I just got on my knees and asked God, ‘what is it that you want me to do?’ I was definitely born to be a Mommy and an entertainer — it’s all I could think about since I was a little kid. Listening to radio, I started to miss good messages — [songs] that young people can listen to and their parents can be happy. It inspired me to go back into the studio and make music like that. I did some [rapping] on our first [TLC] album, and that was a lot of fun for me. [This time] I definitely stepped outside the box. André 3000 was my inspiration. He stepped outside the box to sing and pulled it off. I wanted to tap into that."

CHECK OUT PICS FROM CHILLI'S 'ROLLING OUT' MAG PHOTOSHOOT + PROMOTIONAL PICS FOR CHILLI'S NEW SINGLE 'DUMB, DUMB, DUMB.'




VIEW MORE PICS FROM CHILLI'S ROLLING OUT MAG PHOTOSHOOT AS WELL AS PROMOTIONAL PICS. ALSO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN WIN A CHANCE TO DANCE WITH THE SINGER ON HER UPCOMING PROMO TOUR...CLICK ON 'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP! ON THE BOTTOM LEFT TO FIND OUT!

And Chilli's still in business of keeping it real....especially with her fans: “What’s funny in this industry [is that] I find that a lot of people had to struggle in the beginning and once the success came they changed into someone that no one knew. I’ve been in the industry for 17 years. Because of my personality, I’ve always been the type of celebrity that if I’m eating and someone comes over and wants my autograph, I’ll [sign] — or ask politely, ‘can you wait?’ I was that way at 20 and I’m still that way today.”

In the meantime, Chilli has reached out to those same fans--both old and new. Her first solo single, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, is a pulsating club banger, with Chilli’s trademark sexy vocals over a funky Eastern-flavored digital backdrop. The infectious track has also inspired her to challenge her fans to participate in a contest to create a dance for the tune. “I thought it would be a lot of fun to incorporate the fans. I want all of the dancers out there to make up a routine. It would super-hot if we had a ‘Dumb, Dumb, Dumb’ dance!” Chilli is looking for the hottest dancers to perform with her on her upcoming promo tour. To enter, create a one minute choreographed routine to the single Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, upload the video onto youtube, and send the link to CHILLISDANCECONTEST@GMAIL.COM.

PHOTOSHOOT PICS: ROLLINGOUT.COM
PROMOTIONAL PICS: CHILLI'S MYSPACE

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RANDOM PICS OF MADNESS: NAOMI CAMPBELL'S BARELY THERE HAIRLINE.

Uh, you would think with all the bitter bouts of bitching, whining, moaning, groaning and Blackberry-throwing Naomi does on a nearly daily basis, it would release enough stress in her life where it wouldn't show on her hairline or lack thereof. Here she is at the Metropolitan Opera Opening Night Gala at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 22, 2008.

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*UPDATED* WESLEY SNIPES SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS IN PRISON ON TAX CHARGES; CO-DEFENDANT GETS 10 YEARS BEHIND BARS.

I guess the 'good luck' message I wished for Wesley was in vain. According to the Associated Press, Snipes called on famous friends to vouch for him, highlighted his clean criminal record and even wrote the government $5 million in checks — all in an effort to convince a judge that his conviction on tax charges should cost him nothing more than home detention and some public service announcements. None of it worked. The "Blade" actor was ordered to do hard time. Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison Thursday for failing to file tax returns, the maximum penalty — and a victory for prosecutors who sought to make an example of the action star. Snipes' lawyers had spent much of the day in court offering dozens of letters from family members, friends — even fellow actors Woody Harrelson and Denzel Washington — attesting to his good character. His attorneys recommended he be given home detention and ordered to make public service announcements because his three convictions were all misdemeanors and the actor had no previous criminal record.

Snipes apologized while reading from a written statement for his "costly mistakes," but never mentioned the word taxes. "I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance," Snipes said. He said his wealth and celebrity attracted "wolves and jackals like flies are attracted to meat." He called himself "well-intentioned, but miseducated." Snipes surprised the court before Hodges handed down the sentence by offering the government three checks totaling $5 million in unpaid taxes over several years, money the government first denied but then accepted. Prosecutors called it "grandstanding" to avoid jail time, and a mere down payment on the actor's still-undetermined multi-million dollar tax bill.

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Co-defendants Douglas P. Rosile and Eddie Ray Kahn were convicted on both those counts. Kahn, who refused to defend himself in court, was sentenced to 10 years, while Rosile received 54 months. Both will serve three years of supervised release. Snipes will serve one year of supervised release. Snipes and Rosile remain free and will be notified when they are to surrender to authorities. Defense attorney Carmen Hernandez signaled in court that Snipes would pursue an appeal.

Wesley Snipes has enlisted a couple of his celebrity friends--Denzel Washington and Judge Joe Brown--in order to drum up support in hopes of getting a lighter sentence (if any at all...which I highly doubt due to the fact that Johnnie Cochran done gone on to glory) at his tax invasion sentencing which will be held today (Thursday, April 24). Thirty-one character references were submitted by Snipes' legal team, according to Ocala, Fla's Star-Banner newspaper. The letters are written to Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges, who is scheduled to sentence Snipes today on three counts of willfully failing to file tax returns. Snipes faces up to three years in jail and possibly $5 million or more in fines. His legal team hopes letters from Washington, Brown, Woody Harrelson and others will encourage the judge to go easy. "Wesley is like a tree - a mighty oak," Washington wrote in his letter to the judge, adding he has known the actor for 20 years. "Many who know him have witnessed the fruit of his labors, have sat in his shade and even been protected by his presence. I am proud of him, proud to call him a fellow thespian and most importantly, proud to call him a friend."

Good luck, homey.

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NEW PICS: ALICIA KEYS VISITS B.E.T.'S '106 & PARK.'

Singer Alicia Keys made a stop at B.E.T.'s 106 & Park in New York City on Wednesday (April 23). Peep the pics below.

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DEAR KHIA a.k.a. 'MISS SLEEPY TITTIES': PLEASE...PRETTY PLEASE, SHUT THE HELL UP!

"It was my perfect exit. I planned on going to the show to promote my music. My mission was accomplished. Everybody there used pre-written material, so it was like [MC] Serch was hating all along. Serch and all the rest of them will have to really accomplish something, before I have anything to say about them. The show was a joke. Now that I'm gone, the ratings will be going down. Everybody know they were watching the show to see me.....I'm such an actress, you didn't see me? I'll have my own show soon. That's what it was for. I want to do television all the way around. I screen write -- I want to get hands on with all of the sides -- as far as production and television, whether reality or sitcom. I'm a creative writer first so you'll definitely be seeing a lot of me. It was a platform. I'm independent and I don't want to be signed to a label. I like the independent money and the independent success. I'm Khia, I'm still in my same neighborhood, I'm around my people, my community, I want to uplift them and let them know you can make it no matter where you're from, or what struggles you've been through. Everybody is like 'You wish you had this, or you wish you had that,' but my wish came true. I'm successful doing what I love to do and I don't want to change anything about it. I would never want to be under the microscope. I would never want to be put up on a pedestal to be torn down. I'm comfortable and content where I am."

--Khia explains to SOHH.com her dismissal from VH1's Miss Rap Supreme, why she feels it was a joke, the hateration she has for the contestants and host, MC Serch, why she never wants to be placed under a microscope--and Khia, believe me when I say that the last thing we would ever want to see is a magnified version of your mug....that is not the business--as well as her plans to launch her own television show and the release of her new album Nasti Muzik. Ewwwwwwww.

Oh and I found more promotional photoshoot pics of the rapper. Click 'em to see 'em.


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ACTRESS TERRI J. VAUGHN & HER HUSBAND WELCOME A BABY BOY; HIS FIRST, HER SECOND.

According to Essence.com, Actress Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show, All of Us, Daddy's Little Girls, Dirty Laundry) and her new husband Karon Riley of the Arena Football League (AFL) welcomed a baby on Monday (April 21) evening in Los Angeles. Vaughn, who spent six hours in labor, named her bundle of joy Kal'El Joseph Riley. Lil dude came bouncing into the world at 6:05 P.M. PT, weighing in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and measuring 19.5 inches. The proud father, a defensive lineman for the Cleveland Gladiators and self-professed Superman fanatic, named his son after his favorite superhero's Kryptonian name (Kal'El), which he interprets to mean 'of God-like abilities. I think the name is very fitting for him. He's strong, cool and mellow, just perfect. I could tell even when I was carrying him inside me because he made me feel like Superwoman!,' Vaughn said from her hospital bed.

And the first-time dad wasn't short on compliments for mother and child: "Terri was amazing during the delivery, and Kal'El looks just like his daddy." Although this is the couple's first child together, the 38-year-old actress has a son, Daylen Ali, 6, from her first marriage. Daylen was excited and ready to assume his new role as Big Brother. 'He couldn't keep his hands off of him,' Vaughn said. 'I keep him loaded up with hand sanitizer!'
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Vaughn, who eloped with Riley this past January in Vegas, said motherhood the second time around is familiar territory. 'Once a mom, always a mom,' she proclaimed. 'But my sons each bring different spirits to my life. Daylen softened my heart and spirit while Kal'El strengthened my heart and soul. God knows what He's doing. I need them both. I just hope that Kal'El fulfills his God-given purpose, which will make the world a better place.'

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OJ SIMPSON WANTS TO STAR ON THE NEXT 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE.'

Former sportsman-turned-actor O.J. Simpson is desperate to take part in the next season of The Celebrity Apprentice, and has reportedly asked Donald Trump for the chance to star on the reality show. The hit TV show, which sees various celebrities vie for the approval of property mogul Trump, could score a ratings coup if it recruits Simpson, who has been surrounded by controversy since being named a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. He was acquitted of the charges in 1995, but was later found responsible for their deaths in a civil trial held in 1997.

But, according to New York gossip column PageSix, Simpson's appearance on the show has been met with mixed reactions by the show's producers. A source says, "Simpson really wants to do it. Trump and NBC are thinking about it, but are being very cautious. There's a certain amount of heat associated with Simpson."

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PIC: USHER & CHILLI....TOGETHER AGAIN? CHILLI'S GOES 'BI-POLAR' ON NEW ALBUM + LISTEN TO USHER'S 'LOVE IN THE CLUB' REMIX FEAT. BEYONCE & LIL WAYNE.

Sandra, you crazy for this one! LOL! If I didn't know that this is an old picture, you may have gotten me...cause Lord knows I don't can't tell when a photo has been Photoshopped. But I must admit, the picture is still cute to look at even if it isn't real. For those of you who were fooled at first glance, the picture above was actually taken of the couple as they played a Nintendo Game Boy while attending the Smirnoff Ice Triple Black Lounge/swag room (where celebrities get a whole bunch of sh!t they don't need for free!) during the 3rd Annual BET Awards in Los Angeles in June 2003. Usher and Chilli broke up about six months after this pic was snapped. Oh, and the magazine they happen to be 'looking at together' is actually the May 2008 issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine with Chilli on the cover. In her cover story, Chilli dished details on her relationship with Usher as well as her upcoming solo debut album. It's been confirmed that the name of the new disc will be called Bi-Polar. Yeah, I know, it threw me for a loop too! But folks in her camp say the singer chose Bi-Polar because it basically serves as the theme behind the album's tracks. You know? Emotions all over the place and every which-a-way and whatnot. But remember, people: although the title is rather um....different, wait and listen to it before passing judgment. It could be fire. (Thanks Zay, for the album title info!)

Speaking of new music, CLICK HERE to listen to Usher's Love in the Club Part II featuring Beyonce and Lil Wayne & CLICK HERE to view another promotional pic from his upcoming album. For more news on Chilli, plug her name into Real Gossip 101's customized search box (up above).

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WOMAN ACCUSES CHRIS TUCKER OF BEING A DEADBEAT DAD TO HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

According to the National Enquirer, actor/comedian Chris Tucker is facing a legal battle with a woman who claims he is the "deadbeat father' of her two-year-old daughter. Gail Webb is demanding child support payments from the 35-year-old comedian, claiming the pair dated for years before he disappeared as soon as they discovered she was pregnant with little Krista Jane. She says, "I just want help with Krista and want her to know her father. If Chris Tucker wants to go to court, I welcome the opportunity to show the world what a big liar - and deadbeat father - he really is." But the Rush Hour star maintains he has never even met his accuser. His representative tells the National Enquirer, "Chris has never met or had a child with Gail Webb. And he has never seen the court papers."

Okay, so this must mean either someone's head is crammed with craziness or someone needs to invest in a paternity test to prove to that other someone whose mind in crammed with crazy that she is indeed stuck on stupid.
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STAR JONES REYNOLDS FINALLY FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM HER HUSBAND OF 3 YEARS.

Are we really surprised to hear of an impending divorce between Star Jones and her husband of three years, Al Reynolds? I mean, really? According to Entertainment Tonight, Jones, 46, filed divorce papers March 26 in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan. The papers are reportedly sealed. In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Jones wrote: "Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life. A month ago I filed for divorce. The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts. I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace and look forward to emerging from this period as a stronger and wiser woman."

Mmmm-hmmm. Girl, you knew exactly what kind of person you were marrying when proposed to ol dude three years ago.

A source close to the former talk show host says the couple’s relationship has been in peril for some time, saying, “It hasn’t been an easy relationship for a while. There were all these rumors out there, all this speculation, which made it difficult for Star.” Jones and Reynolds were married in November 2004 in New York City. The massive ceremony included 500 hundred guests, three matrons of honors, and 12 bridesmaids. Jones was publicly criticized by several peers for using her wedding as an excuse to gather freebies from the wedding industry.
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FOXY BROWN COMMITS A BIG NO-NO: ATTEMPTS TO NEGOTIATE A PLEA DEAL WITH FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEYS WITHOUT HER LAWYER.

Don't you just hate it when people do stupid sh!t? Foxy Brown hasn't been home for jail for a week, and yet she's already inching herself back into her old ways. The same old ways she claims to have left behind Rikers prison walls in order to 'embrace her maturation' and 'foster her growth.' If her Tuesday (April 21) courtdate is any indication, Foxy still has a lot more maturing to do. The rapper showed up in a Broward county courtroom for a status hearing for assault charges stemming from a February 2007 altercation at a beauty supply store, without her lawyer and proceeded to make an attempt at negotiating a plea deal with the state attorney. It was this move that led to her lawyer resigning himself from her case. And can you blame him? How in the hell do you think that trying to negotiate with the prosecutors ON YOUR OWN will make your legal situation better? Especially when you just got out of prison?

I guess the prayers she made at a New York church the other day weren't in vain because the judge in her case gave her two weeks to find a new attorney and to return to court on May 8th. She better be thankful the judge has given her more time to seek legal counsel...something she wouldn't have had to do if she had conversed with first lawyer on what strategy they would use to get her a decent plea deal. The girl goes to prison for 8 months, gets out and all of a sudden she think knows everything there is to know about the judicial system. Somebody better tell her she can't be bringing her jailhouse-lawyer teachings into the real world.

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Foxy was arrested in Pembroke Pines in Broward County after allegedly throwing hair glue at a beauty supply store employee last year. Police claim she became angry after being asked to leave the store since it was closing. Brown was also charged with resisting an officer with violence, battery and struggling with an officer on the scene. After posting bond, Foxy was permitted to return to New York and later wound up in trouble with the law again. Foxy was already on probation for assaulting two manicurists in a Manhattan salon in 2004. She was warned by a judge in March 2007 that she would be sent to prison for a year if she got into any trouble with the law. Five months after the warning, Foxy was sentenced and incarcerated (Sept. 7) for assaulting her neighbor, Arleen Raymond.

Brooklyn's Don Diva is scheduled to be released on May 13.

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JANET JACKSON REVEALS HER CELEBRITY GIRL CRUSH.

Janet Jackson has revealed her girl crush. When questioned by E! online what celebrity she'd have a girl-on-girl (lesbian) relationship with, the singer said Alicia Keys. "I think I would pick Alicia Keys. I think she's wonderful." Jackson said she felt the media questions the sexuality of stars such as Keys and talk show host Oprah Winfrey due to their strength of character. "They are strong women. Maybe they want to put something else behind it because of the strength. Like, you can't be a woman and be strong, and there has to be something else to it."

Janet has been dating record producer Jermaine Dupri for six years and admitted she would be distraught if he revealed he was gay. "I'd be upset because I want to be with him! It's so funny because I joke with him, 'It drives me crazy to be a girl sometimes, so in my next life I'm going to come back as a guy, and you're going to be my b****!'"
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ORISH GRINSTEAD, TWIN SISTER OF 702 MEMBER IRISH, DIES AT THE AGE OF 27 OF KIDNEY FAILURE.

Orish Grinstead, founding member of R&B girl group 702 out of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on Sunday, April 20th from kidney failure. She was 27 years old. Orish, who created the group along with her twin sister, Irish and big sister Lameisha, was what friends called 'a good person, sweet, sincere, humble and full of life.' According to friends Orish had been ill for a long time, and sadly, due to other medical complications she suffered from including cancer that had yet to be treated, she was not expected to live too long. I'll post more details as they become available. But for now, my condolences sincerely go out to the Grinstead family, especially to Orish's twin sister, Irish, during this time of their bereavement.

702 got its start during the mid-90s. after being discovered by comedian/actor Sinbad in the lobby of Caesars Palace where they would sing to anyone who would listen during big boxing matches. Originally called 'Sweeta than Suga' before they knew it, with the help from Sinbad, the three sisters headed to Atlanta to compete in a talent show, coming in second place. Later that same night, the ladies met Michael Bivins (New Edition, Bell, Biv, DeVoe) and sang for him. Bivins, who had already signed Chicago-based boy-band Subway to his Biv 10 Entertainment record label--a subsidiary of Motown Records) agreed to work with the sisters. According to Wikipedia, the sisters (along with their cousin Amelia) made their recorded debut on Subway's hit single This Lil' Game We Play (watch video HERE.) Before their solo album No Doubt was recorded and released in the fall of 1996, Orish left the group and was replaced by childhood friend, Kameelah Williams. The three members renamed themselves '702,' which is Las Vegas' area code.

Thanks to DSR at LSA for the details.

No Doubt, spawned such hits as Steelo, All I Want, Get It Together and the album's title track; as well as a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for BestR&B/Soul Album of the Year - Group, Band or Duo in 1997. It went gold for selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. In 1999, the release of the group's self-titled sophomore album, 702, awarded the girls only one hit single, Where My Girls At? (which was written and produced by Missy Elliott). Still, the album eventually went gold.

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