Hip hop really, really, really, really loves Barack Obama. Jay-Z, who has been campaigning and giving free concerts for Obama, was joined this weekend in Miami by friends Mary J. Blige, Russell Simmons, and Sean "Diddy" Combs. Congressmen Jesse Jackson Jr and Kendrick Meeks added some political heft to the proceedings. [WI]

• All you have to do to gain Bill O'Reilly's respect is go on his show and let him bark at you for an hour! [BO]

• Solange, let the beef with Las Vegas go. They care enough about you to follow you around! [TMZ]

• Alicia Keys chats about Secret Life of Bees. [E!]

• Sometimes animal-rights activist Russell Simmons is well-aware that his clothes "are not especially animal friendly." Uh, knowing is half the battle? [BB]

• For the fanatics: Kanye's new album is already on presale at Amazon and Target. [EUR]

Porschla Coleman and Russell Simmons didn't necessarily look broken up at Russell's annual Art for Life benefit in the Hamptons, but then again word on the street is they do still hang out. And perhaps they were mainly just really good friends to begin with. And look at that — I have already spent way too much time thinking about the relationship between Porschla and Russ. Moving on: lots of people looking very overheated (it was unbearable in NY Saturday) were in attendance. My favorite picture: Governor David Paterson posing with the Real Housewives of New York.

Dear Porschla,

It was fun doing yoga with you.

Best of luck,

Russ

That was a paraphrase of what was, according to BET, Russell Simmons' send-off of his much-younger girlfriend, Porschla Coleman, on his Huffington Post blog. I'm not sure a relationship based entirely on the study of yoga was meant to last anyway.

Somewhere, Kimora is jumping for joy.

• The past is coming back to haunt Jennifer Lopez and Diddy — it's been haunting Shyne for a while now. [SR]

• Keep Lil Wayne away from the homonyms! [BX]

• Wesley Snipes is trying to make a little money before his appeal fails and he has to go to jail. [EUR]

• Russell Simmons explains, in great detail, the custody arrangement between him and Kimora. He's happy with it. [PH]

• Rick Ross and Foxy Brown aren't getting married because, he says, he's "married to the money." Oh, sweet romance! [MTV]

• Time for someone to lay off the Ciroc? [MLH]

• I didn't need to know that Jay-Z waxes his pubes, did you? [Bossip]

• Russell Simmons has to shell out $40,000 a month in child support to Kimora Lee Simmons. It's a good thing, too. Those kids would starve otherwise! [TMZ]

• Time to judge people for there fashion choices. [SOHH]

• In a reversal of popular Western opinion, this dude thinks there are too many blacks and Asians on television. [Guardian]

KIMORA WANTS IT ALL Although original reports about the official divorce between Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons said otherwise, Russell wants joint custody even though Kimora initially requested sole custody when she filed for divorce in March. Sole custody sounds extreme, particularly considering the outward appearance of their relationship, but maybe she knows something we don't. [TMZ]

• Even in death, James Brown is single-handedly keeping the DNA-testing industry alive. [RWS]

• The Roots were live on The Late Show last night with Wale and Chrisette Michele. [NR]

• Guess which one is directly related to Biggie Smalls? [CL]

• Russell Simmons says he doesn't have a small penis. Just so you know. [Bossip]

• En Vogue returns! [TGJ]

It's Tribeca film festival time, and the NY-based stars put on their best outfits (yes, that's Russell Simmons' best outfit) for the annual Vanity Fair Party that kicks off the events. After the jump, a flawless Iman, an uncharacteristically-clean-looking Zoe Kravitz, and more.

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What Russell Simmons said:

"Kimora and I will remain committed parents and caring friends with great love and admiration for each other. We will also continue to work side by side on a daily basis as partners in all of our businesses."

What Russell Simmons meant:

"Kimora and I will remain committed parents, business partners, and completely platonic friends while we carry on relationships with other people. Basically, we'll just conduct ourselves in divorce exactly the same way we conducted ourselves in marriage. And someone should really warn Porschla Coleman about me, but she probably doesn't care because I'm filthy rich."

Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons, the most content (as long as Porschla Coleman isn't around) estranged couple in all of the land, are about to graduate from separated to divorced. Kimora filed for divorce in LA Tuesday.

In court papers, Kimora, 32, cites irreconcilable differences and asks for legal and physical custody of the couple's two daughters, Ming, 8, and Aoki, 5. She requests that Simmons, 50, get "reasonable child visitation … to be accompanied at all times by the children's nanny and security personnel.

I'm not well versed in child-custody language, but that sounds sort of harsh to me. On second thought, Russell Simmons would probably never want to spend time with his kids without a nanny and security. Plus, there were no rules about how much time they get to spend with Porschla. Kimora must be lightening up.

This divorce comes at an interesting time; there are rumors swirling that she's pregnant (it looks doubtful) and things are getting more serious with Djimon Hounsou. Celebrity wedding as soon as the divorce is final? I think yes.

At the Baby Phat show earlier this month, Kimora Lee Simmons' past and present beaus, Russell Simmons and Djimon Hounsou, were like old friends, posing for the photogs with bright smiles. Kimora and Russell's girlfriend Porschla Coleman? Not so much. It's long been rumored that Kimora is no big fan of her ex's young lover, but according to Page Six, she banned Coleman from attending the Baby Phat show because she didn't want her photographed with her kids. PS's source said Russell is pissed about Kimora's have-her-cake-and-eat-it attitude, but he seems to be going along with the plan, nevertheless.

The Simmonses like to portray themselves as a model for happy broken families everywhere. But while Kimora Lee Simmons seems to have moved on with major upgrade Djimon Hounsou, she might not have really moved on. According to Page Six, she's less than fond of Russell's young girlfriend, Porschla Coleman.

The two have seemed to be friendly, with Kimora even throwing Russell a birthday party last month at Guastavino and inviting his new girlfriend, Porschla Coleman. But she was overheard by the same source saying she invited Coleman that night to meet the "major players" because she "wants this stupid b - - - h to get a clue." "The exes are all very civil, there's no negativity," said Kimora's rep.

I predict a four car pile-up in the Fab Lane.

Russell Simmons, who has done PSAs about animal cruelty in the past, appeared in a clip about dog fighting that was released on YouTube yesterday. I'm waiting for the one starring Michael Vick.

Yay, Alicia! She got it right at last night's annual "Black Ball," a benefit for the Keep A Child Alive charity! Finally. And even if you don't like the dress, you have to admit that at least she didn't get it wrong. Her stylist did it for the children. More pics from the ball after the jump.

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