August 2009 - Celebrity Bug

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8/31/09

Drake & Trey Songz - 'Successful' [Video]

8/31/2009 0
Drake and Trey Songz roam the streets in the Jake Davis-directed video "Successful", which hails from their albums So Far Gone and Ready.



Nice video.
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8/30/09

Album Review: LeToya - 'Lady Love'

8/30/2009 0
With one certified platinum album under her belt, LeToya Luckett returns with a new chapter on her sophomore album, Lady Love, which was released on Tuesday.

Packed with earnest ballads and mid-tempos that profoundly document the ups and downs of love and relationships, the songstress struts a new found confidence that wasn’t effectively present on her debut album. For the most part, she kicks the hip-hop and H-town representing tracks to the curb and offers a journey that cohesively fits as the fifteen tracks (plus one bonus) transition from one to another.

“Lady Love”: With Ron ‘Neff-U’ Feemster (Ashanti’s “In These Streets” and Keyshia Cole’s “You Complete Me”) taking the reigns with production, this track forcefully exudes a winning and retro 80s vibe, as well as, a heavy dose of swagger from the songstress. Towards the middle it can start to feel a slight bit cheesy, but it still encompasses all the makings of a really solid track.

“She Ain’t Got Shit On Me”: This is one of the few times that the album dives into upbeat territory, as she assertively allegates a mistress failing to embody a bulk of her characteristics, a declaration filled with electric guitars and heavy drums. The track was produced by Corey Bold and features Chris Brown on writing duties, which probably helps explain why the sound is a bit more pop.

“Not Anymore”: As the past shows, Ne-Yo has a niche for crafting massive female anthems, which is most adequately showcased with Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” and Rihanna’s “Take A Bow”, and this one is no different. It served as lead single and offered a nice reintroduction to the star, and rightfully takes its place as one of the best female summer anthems.

“Lazy”: This track is what one might call a slow cooker, given it doesn’t immediately hit you until you listen to it a couple of times and finally realize that it is a realization of how love can make you feel at times. It has an ore that could easily find solace in the arms of Urban radio, as she chronicles not being ready to give your heart to another.

“Good To Me”: She gathers a list of all the things she wants in a man, one that goes to church with his mama and doesn’t mind cooking her dinner are just a few of the things that make the list. The track itself just mirrors amazing, but the best thing about it is that it focuses the attention on her vocals, which have greatly improved since her debut album. Third best track on the album.

“Over”: Standing as the album’s best offering, it sees the singer declaring that if she’s wronged in a relationship, then that will mark its end. It simply embodies all the making of the word stellar, and the piano melodies, in addition, to the great vocals from Ms. Luckett, quickly help sail this one into the winner’s circle.

“Regret”: The songstress strongly tell an ex, “you must regret the day that you left me”. As I previously noted, a couple of things sell this track, which entails the changing in dynamics, the Ludacris feature, and her beaming presence on the track. I've heard a couple of people and bloggers compare this track to Kelly Rowland’s “Ghetto”, which I guess is a safe assumption since they were both crafted at the hands of Tank, but the key element that separates the two is that this track is actually good and the other is on the opposite end of that spectrum.

“I Need A U”: Calling this track sexy would easily fall into the understatement pile, as she seductively coos in a light whisper that matches a sense of sexiness only rightfully own by Janet Jackson in the past. It blows your mind in more than one way, and for me, easily take residence as the album’s second best offering.

“Take Away Love”: Embraced with a laidback vibe, the songstress finds a conflict in not wanting or being ready for a relationship. It is a throwback to R&B of the 90s, but still equipped with a sound that is very reflective of today, and even Estelle makes a nice contribution.

“After Party”: There is a hidden appeal to this track that I can’t quite put my finger on, maybe it's the slight transition of dynamics or the winning melodies and adlibs. Either way, it is a really solid contribution that slightly indulges into upbeat waters.

“Drained”: A solid track on which the songstress admits not giving her all to a relationship and draining her partner’s energy in the process.

“Tears”: This track originally surfaced as a demo in 2008, which was sung by Asia Cruise, it was beautiful then and it remains so here. It travels with a laidback essence that again captures a throwback to R&B of the 90s.

“Matter”: Penned by Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry, this one rides the rails of solid as she serves up another helping of ‘I Can Do It Better Than Her’.

“Love Rollercoaster”: This track originally saw placement on Mims’ 2009 album Guilt, and LeToya simply serves as the featured vocalist. For me, its appeal is very limit and most will probably cast it off as a filler, which likely won’t be disputed.

“Don’t Need You”: Produced by Madd Scientist, this one after a few prior bumps, brings the album to a nice finish. Her vocals are great and the production, which entails piano melodies and slight beat boxing references, is top notched.

“Swagger” (Bonus Track)”: With a reference to Beyonce’s “Upgrade U” and features from Killa Kyleon, Slim Thug and Bun B, it does contain the essence heard in the uptempos on her first album, but as I originally stated, it is more deserving of placement on a mixtape than a studio album.

Final Verdict:
The album lacks the presence of a bad track, but it does encompass several that tend to run together with the extremely restricted subject-matter. That said, it does follow an effective transition from her debut, but elaborates the blueprints with growth in vocals and a confidence that made it hard to sell pieces of the first album.

Whether it sees success or not has yet to be determine, but Lady Love is the best female R&B album so far this year, and the second best R&B album (No.1 is Maxwell’s BLACKsummers’night).


4 out of 5

Celebrity Bug’s Key Tracks: “Lady Love”, “She Ain’t Got Shit On Me”, “Not Anymore”, “Good To Me”, “Over”, “I Need A You”, “Take Away Love” and “Don’t Need You.
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Leona Lewis' New Single To Debut Mid-September

8/30/2009 0
With Leona Lewis set to take the stage at this year's Diva's Live, the show's producer Rick Krim has revealed some of the details surrounding her upcoming first single, which reportedly goes by the title "Happy".


“We shot her last week while she was working on a record in the studio. She was a ‘You Oughtta Know’ artist for VH1 when she first came out. She’s an amazing vocalist, and her new song goes to radio a day or two after the show airs. They’re using ‘Divas’ and some other stuff to launch the single. And it’s an amazing song”.
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Ciara Poses For GAP's 40th Anniversary

8/30/2009 0
R&B star Ciara celebrates The Gap's 40th anniversary by posing as the face for their skinny jeans line.



Not feeling it. Other stars that are set to take place in their celebration campaign include Lily Allen, Pharrell, The Virgins and The Veronicas.
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New Music: Cassie - 'Can You Feel Me'

8/30/2009 0
With 'Electro-Love' now tentatively set for a November 24th release, a new track from R&B star Cassie has surfaced with "Can You Feel Me".




As you've seen in Cassie's new music posts, the songstress has almost completely divulged herself into the electronic/pop genre. Sadly, as those posts have also documented, that transformation has brought very little to surface that is actually worthy of a second listen, which is put on full display here.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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Kim Kardashian Goes Goth For 'YRB'

8/30/2009 0
Reality star Kim Kardashian crosses over to the dark side for a spread in the September issue of YRB.



“My YRB magazine shoot just came out and I am loving the results!” Kim writes on her website. “I really love the transformation and the clothes were amazing!!! This has got to be one of the most unique shoots I’ve ever done! Not sure I’ll ever go for a permanent short cut, but it definitely works for this shoot.”
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New Music: Amerie Featuring Lil Wayne – ‘Heard ’Em All (Remix)’

8/30/2009 0
R&B star Amerie get the Lil' Wayne treatment on the remix for her second single, “Heard ’Em All”, which hails from her forthcoming album In Love & War.




The original was stellar and I guess this one follows suit, but no thanks to the assistance from Lil' Wayne, given he does absolutely nothing to enhance the track.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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8/29/09

Happy 51st Birthday To Michael Jackson

8/29/2009 0
Late legend Michael Jackson would have celebrated his 51st birthday today, if he hadn't died after suffering a cardiac arrest on June 25.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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LeToya Performs On 'The Tom Joyner Morning Show'

8/29/2009 0
R&B star LeToya performed her singles "Not Anymore" and "Regret", during a recent promotional stop by 'The Tom Joyner Morning Show' for her Lady Love album.



Nice performances.

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Aubrey O'Day On 'It's On With Alexa Chung' & 'Raw News'

8/29/2009 0
Danity Kane alum Aubrey O'Day appeared on 'It's On with Alexa Chung' and 'Raw News' to talk about the group's demise, working on solo material, her clothing line and her new role in Peepshow.



Great interviews.
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DJ AM Found Dead In New York City

8/29/2009 0
Yesterday, Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, has been found dead in NYC at the age of 36. Police sources suspect he died of a drug overdose.
DJ AM has been found dead in his New York City apartment.

Det. Brian Sessa tells PEOPLE that at 5:20 p.m. on Friday New York Police Department officers entered an apartment on Lafayette Street in response to a 911 call about a man who hadn't been seen for two days. Inside, they found the body of a white male in his 30s. Another police source confirmed to PEOPLE that the dead man was DJ AM.

The cause of death has not been released by the medical examiner, although N.Y.P.D. Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne said there was no apparent evidence of foul play. A police source said prescription drugs were found in the apartment.

Goldstein's publicist released a statement Friday confirming the news of his death. "The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear. Out of respect for his family and loved ones, please respect their privacy at this time," the statement says.

DJ AM (real name: Adam Michael Goldstein) was 36. He had a near brush with death in a 2008 jet crash with Blink 182's Travis Barker.

"There's no reason why I lived and they didn't," DJ AM said last month at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, referring to the others who died in the crash. "It's something that I struggle with every day, you know, kind of wondering. But I’ve just realized I'm never really going to know. I'm alive, and I'm here, and I have another chance. So I have to do something better with my life this time."

[Source]

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8/28/09

Mary J. Blige Featuring Drake - 'The One' [Video]

8/28/2009 0
R&B veteran Mary J. Blige packs a punch filled with swag in the video for “The One”, the Drake-assisted single from her forthcoming album Stronger, which is set to hits stores on November 24th.



Hotness. To say this has restored my interest in the song and the songstress in general, would be an enormous understatement, given it epitomizes fire. From the special effects, nice choreography, fashion forwardness, and her youth appeal, this one quickly claims a seat in the winner's corner.
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Miley Cyrus Performs On 'The Today Show'

8/28/2009 0
Teen star Miley Cyrus performed on the Summer Concert series for 'The Today Show', which included past hits "The Climb" and "See You Again", as well as, songs from her new EP, Time of Our Lives ("Party in the U.S.A." and "Kicking and Screaming").



Time Of Our Lives hits Walmart stores on August 31st.
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8/27/09

Album Cover: Backstreet Boys - 'This Is Us' + [Official Tracklisting]

8/27/2009 0
The Backstreet Boys have revealed the official album cover and tracklisting for their forthcoming album, This Is Us, which hits stores on October 6th.



1. Straight Through My Heart
2. Bigger
3. Bye Bye Love
4. All Of Your Life (You Need Love)
5. If I Knew Then
6. This Is Us
7. PDA
8. Masquerade
9. She's A Dream
10. Shattered
11. Undone
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LeToya Performs On 'Good Day NY'

8/27/2009 0
R&B singer LeToya appeared on 'Good Day New York' to chat and performed her rumored third single "Regret", from her newly released album, Lady Love.



She looked great and the performance was nice. Unfortunately, her album is on track to sell a measly 25 to 30K, but it is still expected to make a Top 10 debut.
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Rihanna Covers 'Vogue Italia'

8/27/2009 0
Grammy winner Rihanna covers the September 2009 supplement issue of Vogue Italia, which was shot be photographer Steven Klein.



Fierce. Say what you want about the so-called songstress, but there is no denying that the chick rocks fashion like few singers in the business. The Grace Jones influence is also clearly visible here.
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New Music: LeToya - 'Don't Let Me Get Away'

8/27/2009 0
R&B singer LeToya is playing for keeps on "Don't Let Me Get Away", a I-tunes bonus track from her recently released album, Lady Love.




Not feeling this one.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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New Music: Monica - 'Betcha She Don't Love You'

8/27/2009 0
R&B singer Monica knows that her love is better on "Betcha She Don't Love You", a new track that hails from the recording sessions of her forthcoming album.




The Missy Elliott-produced joint is nice, minus the unnecessary bickering at the beginning. The old-school 80s flare and funky sound, along with extremely nice vocals from Ms. Arnold help wheel this one into that territory. I don't think it is radio-friendly enough to serve as the official lead single or any future single, but it will serve as a solid addition to the album.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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New Music: Drake Featuring Kanye West, Lil' Wayne & Eminem - 'Forever'

8/27/2009 0
Rap heavyweights Drake, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne and Eminem come together on the Boi-1da-produced “Forever” from the More Than a Game soundtrack.


You always have those artists that never quite live up to the hype that surrounds them, but with every track Drake continues to prove that his hyped is well-deserved. I will say that considering the roaster the track as a whole can fall slightly into the disappointment pile, but it's still solid and Drake and Kanye deliver great verses.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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Backstreet Boys - 'Straight Through My Heart' [Video]

8/27/2009 0
The Backstreet Boys turn the vampire world upside down in the video for "Straight Through My Heart", the first single off their forthcoming album, This Is Us.



Nice video.
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Album Cover: Eminem - 'Relapse 2'

8/27/2009 0
Rapper Eminem has unveiled the official album for the second installment of his Relapse album, which is aptly entitled Relapse 2.



Relapse 2 will hit stores on November 17th.
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New Music: JoJo - 'Wrong Man For The Job'

8/27/2009 0
Singer JoJo delivers walking papers on "Wrong Man For the Job", a new track that hails from the recording sessions of her third album, All I Want Is Everything.



This is such a nice track. I've long attested to the fact that JoJo is well beyond her years on the vocal front, and tracks like this continue to verify that.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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Kellie Pickler On 'The Today Show'

8/27/2009 0
American Idol alum Kellie Pickler to talk about her hit single "Best Days Of Your Life", touring with pal Taylor Swift, Paula Abdul leaving American Idol and her charity, Soles4Souls.



Kellie Pickler's self-titled sophomore album is currently in stores, and the songstress recently shot a video for her next single "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You".
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New Music: John Legend - 'Return To Our Love'

8/27/2009 0
Grammy winner John Legend wants to get back to the core on "Return To Our Love", which hails from the new mixtape, Southern Smoke TV R&B Vol. 2.




Upon hearing this track, the words bland and uninspired come into play, given the track just seems to be there and fails to become anything more. John is one of the few R&B dudes that brings substance to the forefront with his music, but there's no denying that at times watching paint dry is more of a thrill.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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8/26/09

Britney Spears Promo For '2009 Video Music Awards'

8/26/2009 0
Check out this new promotional clip for the upcoming Video Music Awards, which features Britney Spears and Russell Brand.



The 2009 Video Music Awards air live on September 13th on MTV.
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Tyra Banks Waving Goodbye To Her Weave

8/26/2009 0
Tyra Banks has given fans a sneak peek of what she looks like without her trademark lengthy locks on Twitpic.



"Here's me rockin my REAL hair, had 2 blur it so its still a surprise on Sept 8!" Tyra wrote, referencing the big reveal, which she will show when her talk program, "The Tyra Banks Show," returns to The CW next month.

"Who else is sportin their real hair that day?" she added.

The supermodel-turned-television mogul has declared September 8, National Real Hair Day. "We welcome everyone to go natural with me," she said in a statement.
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Beyonce Named Billboard's Woman Of The Year

8/26/2009 0
Billboard announced that Beyoncé will be accepting its Woman Of The Year Award at the 2009 Billboard Women In Music Event, which is scheduled to take place in New York City on October 2nd.



The honor, given to a female recording artist that has inspired the music business with her success, leadership and new ideas, will be awarded to the singer for her accomplishments over the past 12 months.

In the last year, Beyoncé kicked off her world tour "I Am..." in support of her third solo album "I Am...Sasha Fierce," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in November and features the hit singles "If I Were A Boy," "Single Ladies," "Halo," "Ego" and "Sweet Dreams."

The tour also showcased Beyoncé's philanthropic side as she gave 2,500 tickets to families affected by the auto industry crisis in Detroit and joined forces with General Mills Hamburger Helper and Feeding America to deliver 3.5 million meals to local food banks.

"Beyoncé is a multi-platinum artist and a multi-talented woman who clearly embodies the qualities of excellence and achievement that the Billboard Woman Of The Year Award was created to honor," said Bill Werde, Billboard's Editorial Director, about Beyoncé, who is the only performer in the 51-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 to top the chart for 10 weeks or more with a group and as a solo artist. "She has not only influenced pop culture with her hit songs and signature dance moves, but has inspired women everywhere with her unique style, business savvy and dedication to charitable causes."

The Billboard Women in Music Event celebrates the most powerful and talented women in the music business and is also held in conjunction with the Women In Music Power Players List issue, which recognizes the top female music executives who are leading the industry with their artistic and business vision.

[Source]

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Queen Latifah On '106 & Park'

8/26/2009 0
Multifaceted star Queen Latifah appeared on '106 & Park' to promote her new album, Persona, and talk about her upcoming movies.



Persona is currently in stores.
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New Music: Alexandra Burke Featuring Flo Rida - 'Bad Boys' [Official Lead Single]

8/26/2009 0
UPDATE: CD Quality Added.

Last year's X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke premiered her new single "Bad Boys", which features Flo Rida, earlier today on Radio 1. The upbeat, Phantom Boyz produced track, will serve as the lead single for her forthcoming debut album.




I love it. The song is extremely catchy in its on right, but what I'm really digging is that she chose to throw her audience a curve ball and didn't deliver the typical, soulful ballad that they were obviously expecting. I could have done without the Flo Rida feature, given he has a tendency to make a track feel cluttered with all his blabbing, but I still think this one is a winner.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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Jonas Brothers Perform On 'Stripped: Raw & Real'

8/26/2009 0
The Jonas Brothers performed a set of selections for 'Stripped: Raw & Real", which included "Paranoid", "Sweet Caroline", "World War III" and a Jordin Sparks-assisted take on "Battlefield".



Nice performances.
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Behind The Scenes: Katharine McPhee - 'Had It All' [Video]

8/26/2009 0
American Idol alum Katharine McPhee takes you behind-the-scenes of her new video "Had It All", which hails from her sophomore album, Unbroken.



Unbroken will hits stores on October 13th.
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Jay-Z Featuring Rihanna & Kanye West - 'Run This Town' [Video]

8/26/2009 0
Heavyweights Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West pledge their allegiance in the dark and dangerous clip for Jay’s second single "Run This Town", which was directed by Anthony Mandler.



The video immediately reminded me of Tupac and Dr. Dre's classic collaboration "California Love", with its overall look and feel. That said, I can't say it matches the hyped promotion or is in-breed with a concept, but visually it is a really nice effort.
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2009 MTV VMA Side Story [Extended Version]

8/26/2009 0
2009 VMA Side Story photo mg_0511.jpg
Check out the full-length promotional clip for the upcoming Video Music Awards, which features Taylor Swift, Leighton Meester, Cobra Starship, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and Russell Brand.

The 2009 Video Music Awards air on September 13th at 9pm/8c on MTV. Lady GaGa, Jay-Z, Green Day, Taylor Swift, Pink, Muse and Beyonce are among the show's confirmed performers.
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Britney Spears Launches 'Circus Fantasy'

8/26/2009 0
Superstar Britney Spears released her fifth fragrance Circus Fantasy, earlier this week, which captures the magical atmosphere of the show with a colorful illusion of fun, sexiness and glamour.





Welcome the Ringleader
The spectacle opens with juicy accords of sugar-coated raspberry and apricot blossom, reminiscent of tempting candy.

Uncover the Illusion
The magic continues as blue peony, waterlily and addictive red sweetheart orchid take the limelight with delicious sensations and exhilarating temptations.

Steal the Spotlight
The grand finale is a captivating sense of seductive sensuality, blending sweet vanilla wood, creamy musks and violet candy.

Click Here To Order
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New ABC Promo For 'Desperate Housewives'

8/26/2009 0
Check out this newly released promotional shot for the upcoming sixth season of ABC's hit dramedy, Desperate Housewives.



Desperate Housewives' sixth season will premiere on September 27th at 9pm/8c on ABC, with an episode entitled "What Wedding, What Way".
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8/25/09

Chris Brown Sentenced to Probation & Community Labor

8/25/2009 0
R&B star Chris Brown’s fate was decided, when the pop star was sentenced in his assault case against Rihanna on Tuesday.
Chris Brown will spend 1,400 hours removing graffiti and washing cars for assaulting Rihanna.

Brown, 20, was formally sentenced in a Los Angeles courtroom Tuesday to six months of community labor in Virginia after he pleaded guilty in June to one count of felony assault against Rihanna, 21.

Brown's six-month labor sentence will be supervised by the chief of police in Richmond, Va., who wrote to the judge that Brown would perform graffiti removal, cleaning and maintaining grounds, and washing cars. "Brown's labor hours will be flexible to accommodate his entertainment career," according to DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

The singer, who looked solemn and wore a black pinstripe suit and matching tie, was also sentenced to five years of probation, a year of domestic violence classes, and was ordered to pay fines. He was accompanied in the courtroom by his mother and at least one bodyguard.

As part of his plea bargain with prosecutors, a second felony charge of making criminal threats was dropped. Rihanna was not present for the hearing.

Donald Etra, an attorney for the "Umbrella" singer, had previously asked the judge for lesser restrictions on communication and contact between the two singers.

However, L.A. Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg ordered Brown not to have any communication with Rihanna for the next five years, which includes phone and email contact. Brown was also ordered not to come within 100 yards of Rihanna – 10 yards if they're both at the same event.

Toward the end of the hearing, Judge Schnegg warned Brown, in an apparent reference to reports that the two singers may have had contact against court order: "I'm not immune to any chatter on the airwaves. Do you understand, Mr. Brown, that any violation of this order is a violation of your probation and it comes with the possible penalty of prison?" Brown responded "Yes."

Asked if Rihanna was disappointed by the stay-away order, her lawyer stated: "There were no surprises today. The decision was up to the court, not Rihanna."

Etra added that Rihanna does have the option of asking the court to soften the stay-away order down the line, but he wouldn't say if she plans to do so. Etra added that while the order specifically forbids Brown from contacting Rihanna, she was also warned by the court back in June not to contact him.

Last month, Brown publicly apologized for the incident, saying, "I have told Rihanna countless times, and I am telling you today, that I am truly sorry and that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better."

Asked if Rihanna has forgiven Brown for the incident, her lawyer replied, "I do not discuss her personal life in public."

Brown and his attorney, Mark Geragos, left the courthouse without making a comment.

[Source]
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Remembering Aaliyah: 8 Years Later

8/25/2009 0
We remember the legacy of Aaliyah Dana Haughton, who died tragically on August 25, 2001, but continues to resonate well beyond her 22 years on Earth through her incredible music and visuals.



Celebrity Bug's Top 5 Aaliyah Videos:

1. "Are You That Somebody"



2. "Rock The Boat"



3. "Try Again"



4. "One In A Million"



5. "We Need A Resolution"


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Christina Milian On 'It's On With Alexa Chung'

8/25/2009 0
Actress Christina Milian appeared on 'It's On with Alexa Chung' to chat about her engagement to The Dream, creative antiquing, wearing a "mankini" on the cover of 'Vibe,' and getting cheery for Bring It On: Fight to the Finish.



Bring It On: Fight to the Finish hits stores on September 1st.
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Kristinia DeBarge Performs On 'It's On With Alexa Chung'

8/25/2009 0
Rising star Kristinia DeBarge performed her second single "Sabotage", from her debut album, Exposed, on MTV's 'It's On With Alexa Chung'.


Nice performance.
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New Music: Katharine McPhee - 'Had It All' [Official Lead Single]

8/25/2009 0
American Idol alum Katharine McPhee will release her sophomore album, Unbroken, on October 13th, and "Had It All" is slated to serve as the project's first single.




This is a tricky one, because on one hand, it sheds a lot of light into her new blonde look, however, on the other end of the spectrum, I can't help but point out that this fails to strike you as a lead single. Not a bad song, by any means, but it just fails to house that radio friendly spark.

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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New Music: Selena Gomez & The Scene - 'Falling Down' [Official Lead Single]

8/25/2009 0
UPDATE: I-tunes Rip Added.

Disney star Selena Gomez and her band The Scene are gearing up to release their debut album, Kiss and Tell, and "Falling Down" is the project's first single.

Photobucket

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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8/24/09

Raising The Bar - Season 2 Episodes To Download

8/24/2009 0
Raising the Bar follows the cases and lives of young lawyers who work on opposite sides – the public defender’s office and the district attorney’s office – as well as those who sit in judgment on their cases.

This season’s cases tackle such issues as hate crimes, drug dealing and child pornography as the lawyers face off against each other in the courtroom. In addition to the difficulties they confront in Judge Kessler’s court, they now have to endure the draconian rules of Judge Albert Farnsworth. And with Roz missing the hands-on aspect of public defending and Balco determined to reach new political levels, they’ll both find themselves in the courtroom more and more, alongside their talented staff members.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar leads the cast as idealistic public defender Jerry Kellerman, who is driven to do everything he can to secure a verdict of not guilty or a decent plea deal for his clients.


Raising The Bar airs every Monday night at 10/9c on TNT.
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Coroner Rules Michael Jackson’s Death A Homicide

8/24/2009 0
Two months following Michael Jackson's tragic passing, L.A. County coroner’s officials have reported finding “lethal levels” of the powerful anesthetic propofol in his body, and it is being reported that his death is now being treated as a homicide by the police.
The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide and a combination of drugs was the cause, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press, a finding that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with the pop star when he died.

Forensic tests found the powerful anesthetic propofol acted together with at least two sedatives to cause Jackson’s death June 25 in his rented Los Angeles mansion, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the findings have not been publicly released.

Dr. Conrad Murray, a Las Vegas cardiologist who became Jackson’s personal physician weeks before his death, is the target of a manslaughter investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. A designation of homicide means that Jackson died at the hands of another, but does not necessarily mean a crime was committed.

A search warrant affidavit unsealed Monday in Houston includes a detailed account of what Murray told investigators.

According to the document, Murray said he’d been treating Jackson for insomnia for about six weeks with 50 milligrams of propofol every night via an intravenous drip. But he said he feared Jackson was forming an addiction to the anesthetic, which is normally used in hospitals only, and was attempting to wean his patient by lowering the dose to 25 milligrams and adding the sedatives lorazepam and midazolam.

That combination succeeded in helping Jackson sleep two days prior to his death, so the next day, Murray told detectives he cut off the propofol — and Jackson fell asleep with just the two sedatives.

Then around 1:30 a.m. on June 25, starting with a 10-milligram tab of Valium, Murray said he tried a series of drugs instead of propofol to make Jackson sleep. The injections included two milligrams of lorazepam around 2 a.m., two milligrams of midazolam around 3 a.m., and repeats of each at 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. respectively.

But they didn’t work.

Murray told detectives that around 10:40 a.m. he gave in to Jackson’s “repeated demands/requests” for propofol, which the singer referred to as his “milk.” He administered 25 milligrams of the white-colored liquid, — a relatively small dose — and finally, Jackson fell asleep.

Murray remained with the sedated Jackson for about 10 minutes, then left for the bathroom. No more than two minutes later, he returned — and found Jackson had stopped breathing.

“There’s no surprise there” that death could result from such a combination, said Dr. David Zvara, anesthesia chairman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“All those drugs act in synergy with each other,” Zvara said. Adding propofol on top of all the other sedatives “tipped the balance.”

Besides the propofol and two sedatives, the coroner’s toxicology report found other substances in Jackson’s system but they were not believed to have been a factor in the singer’s death, the official told the AP.

When he died, Jackson was skinny but not overly emaciated, and his body had bed sores, the official said. The singer is believed to have developed bed sores in the months following his 2005 acquittal of child molestation charges, when he went into seclusion and spent long stretches in bed.

Murray has spoken to police and last week released a video saying he “told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail.” Murray did not say anything about the drugs he gave to Jackson. Murray’s attorney, Edward Chernoff, had no immediate comment but has previously said Murray never administered anything that “should have” killed Jackson.

A call to the coroner’s office was not returned Monday.

Jackson’s family released a statement Monday, saying it has “full confidence” in the legal process and the efforts of investigators. It concludes: “The family looks forward to the day that justice can be served.”

The 25 milligrams of propofol Murray told police he gave Jackson the day he died “is not a whopping amount,” said Lee Cantrell, director of the San Diego division of the California Poison Control System. But by combining propofol with a cocktail of the other sedatives, known as benzodiazepines, it “may have been the trigger that pushed him over the edge,” Cantrell said.

Cantrell said it’s perplexing that someone would give various benzodiazepines if one was found not to be effective.

“This is horrible polypharmacy,” he said, referring to the interaction between the various drugs. “No one will treat an insomniac like this.”

The affidavit says Murray told investigators he didn’t order or buy any propofol and had found about eight bottles of it in Jackson’s home along with numerous other medications. But investigators served a search warrant Aug. 11 at a Las Vegas pharmacy and uncovered evidence showing Murray legally purchased from the store the propofol he gave Jackson the day he died.

Murray didn’t tell paramedics or doctors at UCLA hospital where Jackson was rushed June 25 about any drugs he administered other than lorazepam and flumazenil, according to the affidavit. The document says it was only during a subsequent interview with Los Angeles Police detectives that Murray gave a more full accounting of the events leading up to the 911 call.

The coroner’s office has not publicly released its autopsy findings, citing a request from police detectives to withhold results until their investigation is complete.

Homicide, or “death at the hands of another,” is one of several possible findings in a coroner’s death investigation. The designation does not necessarily mean a crime was committed though it is a useful starting point for prosecutors, said Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner in New York City and a forensics expert involved in many high-profile murder cases.

“It is an easier prosecution when the medical examiner calls it a homicide,” said Baden, who is not involved in the Jackson investigation.

Additionally, in the search warrant, obtained by Access Hollywood, Murray reportedly told officials that he estimated Jackson was not breathing at 11 AM. According to the physicians cell phone records obtained by authorities, Murray made three calls between 1118 and 1205, which authorities claim he did not tell them about during interviews.

The warrant also revealed that a prescription pill bottle of Tizanidine (zanaflex), prescribed to Jackson by Dr. Arnold Klein, was found at the pop star’s bedside.

According to the warrant, an unidentified female caller spoke to authorities and claimed Jackson used a host of aliases including Omar Arnold, Fernand Diaz, Peter Madonie and Josephine Baker as aliases when he visited Dr. Klein.

Additionally, detectives recovered a prescription at Jackson’s home prescribed by Klein and in the name of Omar Arnold.

Although authorities subpoenaed medical records from Klein, he only provided records dating back to March 2009, according to the warrant.

On Monday evening, an attorney for Murray issued a statement about the report.

“Much of what was in the search warrant affidavit is factual. However, unfortunately, much is police theory,” the statement read. “Most egregiously, the timeline reported by law enforcement was not obtained through interviews with Dr. Murray, as was implied by the affidavit. Dr. Murray simply never told investigators that he found Michael Jackson at 11:00 am not breathing. He also never said that he waited a mere ten minutes before leaving to make several phone calls. In fact, Dr. Murray never said that he left Michael Jackson’s room to make phone calls at all.

“We will not comment on the ‘anonymous’ law enforcement source that claims that Michael Jackson’s death will be ruled a homicide. Most of the reports by ‘anonymous’ sources have been proven wrong,” the statement continued. “We will be happy to address the Coroner’s report when it is officially released.”

[Source]
Even two months later, it's really hard for me to grasp the fact that he's gone, but as time goes by his death is seeming to spiral from a combination of two things: His own self-destruction tactics and doctors, who administrated numerous procedures that they clearly knew were wrong.

One can only cross their fingers nad hope that justice is truly served.
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Leona Lewis Set To 'Echo' On New LP

8/24/2009 0
International star and Grammy-nominated star Leona Lewis has unveiled the title and set a tentative release date for her highly-anticipated sophomore album.
Simon Cowell protégée Leona Lewis has decided on a title and release date for her new album. Echo, the follow-up to Lewis' platinum-plus 2008 debut, Spirit, is due Nov. 17.

"An echo describes a big, organic sound," Lewis says of her choice.

Lewis is recording in various cities, including New York and Los Angeles. Though one track called Don't Let Me Down has

leaked online, neither the lineup of songs nor the list of contributors has been finalized. "I'm working with incredible songwriters and producers, and my music has really evolved," Lewis says.

Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote and produced Lewis' chart-topping breakthrough hit, Bleeding Love, is one confirmed collaborator, and a number of top artists have joined her in the studio, including Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo and producer Timbaland.

[Source]
Aside from "Bleeding Love" and a few other cuts, her debut album's material failed to live up to her big voice, but given her impressive list of producers hopefully that will be different this time around.
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Album Review: Kristinia DeBarge - 'Exposed'

8/24/2009 0
The age old sayings “it runs in the family” and “the apple don’t fall far from the tree” prove to be true with Kristinia DeBarge, who followed in the footsteps of her musical father James DeBarge (keyboardist and founding member of '80s group DeBarge) when she released her debut album in late July.

Filled with poppy gems and duds, the songstress intertwines that with a slightly R&B flare, under the supervision of legendary hit-maker Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds and rising producers Ryan Tedder and Evan "Kidd" Bogart.

On the bouncy “Somebody”, she picks up the pieces and finally lives in the joy of being loved by somebody, while on “Future Love” she dreams of finding the one and manages to put her own stamp on Varsity Fanclub’s 2008 song. Aside from that, she effectively loses the cluttered feel that lies within their version, and goes for a softer approach that actually allows you to properly soak in the words of the track co-written and produced by Ryan Tedder.

“Goodbye”, which served as the album’s lead single, landed the star her first Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, as the track peaked at No.15. The track samples the popular 1969 song by Steam, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,” and while the song itself was run of the mill, it did offer a nice introduction to the star.

On the catchy “Sabotage”, her inner bad girl finally breaks free and takes control, and this is a track that if slightly enhanced or modified, could easily fit into the mold that Rihanna has crafted for herself.

She wants you to open up and let her know how you feel on “Speak Up”, which is another Ryan Tedder-cut, she sees the destruction of her relationship on “Died In Your Eyes”, she lets it go on “Powerless”, and refuses to make amends on “Cried Me A River”. It’s quite interesting how these few songs play out like a storied break-up from the failure to communicate, realizing he’s no there emotionally, shutting down the relationship that drained you, and him finally realizing he let a good thing go.

“Doesn’t Everybody Want To Fall In Love”, “It’s Gotta Be Love” and “Disconnect”, effectively bring the album to a nice finish with some solid vocals from Ms. DeBarge.

Overall, the album is enjoyable and she does a nice job of staying within the realms of her age. With that said, the biggest flaw is her inability to evoke personality and sell the material with her voice. She climbs that mountain a few times (mostly towards the end), but she rarely stays atop and that in unison with the lack of a “must-have song”, quickly makes her entrance forgettable.


3 out of 5

Celebrity Bug’s Key Tracks: “Future Love”, “Died In Your Eyes”, “Powerless”, “Sabotage”, “It’s Gotta Be Love” & “Disconnect”.
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Usher Covers 'Uptown'

8/24/2009 0
Superstar Usher graces the August/September 2009 issue of Uptown, which celebrates the magazine's fifth anniversary.

Usher
Usher
Usher Uptown2

Uptown's fifth anniversary issue is currently on newsstands.
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Sean Paul Performs On 'Wendy Williams' & 'Alexa Chung'

8/24/2009 0
Last week, Sean Paul performed his hit single "So Fine" on 'The Wendy Williams Show' and 'It's On with Alexa Chung', in support of his recently released album, Imperial Blaze.



Imperial Blaze is currently in stores.
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Jay-Z - 'The Blueprint 3' [Official Tracklisting]

8/24/2009 0
Rap mogul Jay-Z rolls out the official tracklisting for The Blueprint 3 and it’s packed with a star-studded line-up.


1. “What We Talkin’ About” (Featuring Luke Steele)
2. “Thank You”
3. “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)”
4. “Run This Town” (Featuring Rihanna and Kanye West)
5. “Empire State of Mind” (Featuring Alicia Keys)
6. “Real As It Gets” (Featuring Young Jeezy)
7. “On to the Next One” (Featuring Swizz Beatz)
8. “Off That” (Featuring Drake)
9. “A Star Is Born” (Featuring J. Cole)
10. “Venus vs. Mars”
11. “Already Home” (Featuring Kid Cudi)
12. “Hate” (Featuring Kanye West)
13. “Reminder”
14. “So Ambitious” (Featuring Pharrell)
15. “Young Forever” (Featuring Mr. Hudson)

The third installment of the classic Blueprint series drops September 11.
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Christina Milian On 'The Today Show'

8/24/2009 0
Music and movie star Christina Milian appeared on 'The Today Show' to promote her new straight-to-DVD movie, Bring It On: Fight to the Finish, and talk about her struggle to secure roles because of her ethnicity and look.



Nice interview.

Bring It On: Fight to the Finish
will hit stores on September 1st and her new album is expected to be released by the end of the year.
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Cassie Debuts New Photoshoot For 'Dimepiece'

8/24/2009 0
R&B star Cassie shares her 10 cents in these black-and-white photos for Dimepiece Clothing’s Fall/Winter 2009/10 collection, which was shot in conjunction with her sophomore album, Electro Love.

CassieCassie
CassieCassie

“Cassie did this shoot b/c she is collaborating with DIMEPIECE on a few exclusive pieces for her album, Electro Love,” tweeted Diddy. “I like this particular shoot b/c it showcases her unique style & goes w/her new album.”
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New Whitney Houston Promo For 'I Look To You'

8/24/2009 0
Singing legend Whitney Houston is radiant in red in a newly unveiled promotional shot for her new album, I Look To You.

Whitney Houston

Stunning.
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Asher Roth Featuring Keri Hilson - 'She Don't Wanna Man' [Video]

8/24/2009 0
Asher Roth tries his luck with Keri Hilson in the video for “She Don’t Wanna Man,” the third single off his debut album, Asleep in the Bread Aisle.



Asleep in the Bread Aisle is currently in stores.
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Heidi Montag Performs On Miss Universe 2009

8/24/2009 0
'The Hills' star Heidi Montag deliver her first live performance on the 2009 Miss Universe pagent by performing her single "Body Language", which hails from her forthcoming album.



TRAIN-WRECK! The dancing was all kinds of awkward, the lip-syncing was horrible, and the song itself is in the pits, in fact, the only positive thing that I can say about this performance is that she looked great in her outfit.
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New ABC Promo For 'Desperate Housewives'

8/24/2009 0
Check out this newly released promotional shot for the upcoming sixth season of ABC's hit dramedy, Desperate Housewives.

TV,Eva Longoria

Desperate Housewives' sixth season will premiere on September 27th at 9pm/8c on ABC, with an episode entitled "What Wedding, What Way".
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New Music: Lloyd - 'Pusha' [Official Lead Single]

8/24/2009 0
R&B star Lloyd gets high with a little help from The Runners on “Pusha,” the lead single from his fourth album and first since parting ways with The Inc./Universal Motown.

Lloyd

As always, the download link is located in the comments.
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LeToya Performs On 'KTLA'

8/24/2009 0
R&B star LeToya performed her second single "She Ain't Got..." on KTLA, as she begins to kick off the promotional trail for her new album, Lady Love.



Nice performance. An album review for 'Lady Love', which hits stores tomorrow, is in the works and should hit your screens later this week.
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New Music: Backstreet Boys - 'Trouble' & 'All Of Your Life (Need Love)'

8/24/2009 0
The Backstreet Boys are gearing up to release a new album, This Is Us, on October 6th, and "Trouble" and "All Of Your Life (Need Love)" are two tracks that hail from the album's recording sessions.

Backstreet



As always, the download links are located in the comments.
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