• Is Eddie and Tracey’s marriage over before it even began? [SOHH]

• Tiffany “New York” Pollard said she didn’t participate in a sex tape. Which definitely leaves room for “I was filmed without my knowledge.” [People]

• ‘Tis the season of scientific studies showing that black people get inferior medical care. [AFP]

• This Jamie-Lynn Spears and Solange stuff is ridiculous. [NL]

• The NCAA hopes to change it’s minority coach recruitment strategies for the better. [USAT]

• Tyra Banks fed her employees McDonald’s cheeseburgers at the staff Christmas party. True story. In other news, she wants to adopt a kid. [CB]

• Oh, Vivica. Say it ain’t so. [SR]

• Next time you’re thinking of talking shit about Solange Knowles, just think of that middle finger. [Bossip]

• You know what, New Jersey? Apology not accepted! [HC]

• Janet Jackson likes to hear about when, in the course of having sex to one of her songs, a couple conceives a baby. [People]

Despite rumors to the contrary, Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in Las Vegas passed inspection and opened (in typical grand style) last night for LeBron James’ 23rd birthday party. Lots of stars were in attendance, but expect more at tonight’s New Year’s Eve party — apparently, none of these people mind spending two nights in a row at Jay-Z’s club. More pictures, including one of Rev. Al “Decency in Hip Hop” Sharpton throwing up the Roc sign with Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel, after the jump.

CONTINUED »

• Label me a skeptic, but I find it very hard to believe that Solange Knowles’ new album is truly “bananas.” [BB]

• Michael Vick’s sentence might have been harsh, but it was for something he has admitted to doing. It’s time for the NAACP to chill with its “the Feds care more about dogs than black people” bit. I’m not sure if they realize it, but their Vick protests are succeeding in making an organization look bad, but it’s not federal law enforcement. [NBC12]

• Let’s lay it on the table now — a noose is not always a symbol of racial intimidation. Sometimes it’s a rope with knots in it. [BG]

• A group of fatherly black men just want to give Dog Chapman a big hug. No, really! [BT]

• Naomi Campbell gets what’s coming to her. [SB]

Even people who haven’t had kids will probably hate on Garcelle Beauvais for losing her baby weight in such a swift, thorough fashion. If you recall, she looked like this less than two months ago. She showed off her toned-mommy body at People’s Grammy nomination party. Check out more pics, including a special one of Solange and her tights, after the jump.

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Omarion and Bow Wow, who looks to have recovered nicely from the harrowing moments he spent on Tyra’s lap, performed in LA last night at a launch party for Chris Stokes’ t-shirt line. It must have been a slow night in LA, because quite a few semi-celebs, including Solange Knowles, Shar Jackson, and the Simmons sisters, showed up. Pics after the jump.

CONTINUED »

It’s a good thing Solange doesn’t aspire to her sister’s level of stardom because, well, it probably wouldn’t happen if she did.

Here’s what she tells Essence.com:

ESSENCE.com: So you don’t aspire to your sister’s level of superstardom?

S.K.: No, I don’t want to get that far. (Laughs) I feel really bad for my sister. I’m always like “Oh, let’s go to the mall” or “Let’s go here” and she can’t. I enjoy having that.

ESSENCE.com: But do you ever feel as if you have to compete with her?

S.K.: No, I think that as artists we’re totally different, and when this record comes out it will express that. But I admire my sister so much. She’s one of my role models in that she is successful and classy. She’s very diplomatic and lives her life true to self.

She may be successful and classy to you, Solange, but I know a whole country full of Malaysians that would beg to differ.

[Essence]

It’s almost as if Solange was allowed to come to Canada to launch House of Dereon with her mother and sister only if she was okay with wearing the least noticeable outfit and having to do her own hair. This picture lays bare all the inequalities in that family. It’s not really Beyonce’s fault, though, and in the Knowles’ defense, what family doesn’t have inequalities of some sort? More evidence after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Matthew Knowles will get Solange’s voice out there if he has to launch an entire line of wierd, hip hop-inspired toys called Baby Jamz to do it. The toys in his new line, which his grandson, Daniel Juelz, will be the face of, will include recorded nursery rhymes sung by Solange. Find them in Wal-mart at the end of the month. Hey, babies everywhere will be bigger fans of Solange than Beyonce. That’s got to heal at least one of her emotional wounds.
[AHH]

Solange Knowles has officially bought into the annoying celebrity trend of having birthday parties in several different cities. And Solange isn’t even really a celebrity, her sister is. Anyway, she had 21st birthday party No. 2 this weekend and celebrated with Beyonce, Tank, Toccara’s breasts, and Q-Tip. Saving grace: she scrapped the plastic dress.

[WI]

Beyonce, Chris Brown, Bow Wow, Hillary Clinton, Mary J. Blige, Frankie Beverly and Maze, Lionel Richie, and Kelly Rowland (to name a few) took the stage Friday and Saturday at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans. Check out plenty of pictures from the final two days of the famous festival after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Nothing says, “I’m the birthday girl” like a see-through plastic dress! Now that I’ve taught you that important piece of birthday etiquette, guess whose 21st bday bash went down in Houston this weekend?

The A-Listers came out (well, most of them kind of had to) for the bash, including Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kelly Rowland, and rumored flame Lil Wayne. More pics courtesy of INDMIX after the jump.

CONTINUED »

I’m shocked and amazed at the lack of major fashion don’ts last night, considering the crowd. Even Lil’ Kim, while I wouldn’t have chosen that outfit/makeup/hair necessarily, could have done much, much worse. I’m not saying there weren’t some questionable wardrobe and hair choices — I’m talking to Keyshia Cole and Vivica Fox specifically, here — but in general things were looking pretty good. More red carpet pics than you can handle after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Keyshia Cole and rumored lover Young Jeezy appearing for the first time in music video form. I would say they were cute together. But I’d be lying. [SOHH]

R.Kelly’s wife comes out of hiding but says nothing to make us understand why she’s still married to that man. [C&D]

Melanie “Scary Spice” Brown is planning on confronting Eddie Murphy at the premiere of Shrek 3 in two weeks. It’s likely all of his legitimate kids and may some nieces and nephews will be in attendance. Great plan, Mel. [Bossip]

Having failed at an entertainment career, Solange Knowles’ next job is to fail at being her older sister’s manager. [CM]

It’s time to snatch that Pretty Ricky CD away from your little sister. [C&I]

The little “inappropriate touching” problem Tyra had with Rosie O’Donnell last week ain’t so little. [BWE]

Monica’s son is going to beat up Solange’s in about 15 years. [Bossip]

“Chris Rock, you are my baby’s daddy. On second thought, I may have hallucinated the whole thing.” [AP]

Denzel Washington is the celebrity women most want to “tuck them in.” [Starpulse]

The Source files for Chapter 11, although, journalistically speaking, it’s been bankrupt for years. [All Hip Hop]