Did you know that Christina Aguilera lives in the same home the Osbourne family lived in while they were filming their hit MTV reality series “The Osbournes?”

The 28 year-old-old pop singer gave Instyle Magazine a tour of she and her husband’s massive five-bedroom 11,000 square foot home, which sits in the Beverly Hills section of Los Angeles, California. Even though the house still has the same gothic feel it had when the Osbournes owned it, the Aguilera Family has added some color to it and Christina herself switched some things up to make it her own.

“I wanted every space to have its own personality,” she said.

She even talked about her shoe wall: “Everything on my shoe wall is grouped by designer — Louboutin, McQueen, YSL — all in their own little family … And there’s room for boots up top.”

Instyle Magazine says: “Whimsical furniture, radical art, and an abundance of red roses makes a visit to Christina Aguilera’s home feel a little like falling down a magical rabbit hole. Which was exactly how she wanted it.”

Continue reading for more pics of Christina’s big ol’ house!

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Rapper 50 Cent is featured on the cover of the December 2009/January 2010 double issue of XXL Magazine, set to hit stands December 1st.

In the December/January cover story, the G-Unit CEO breaks bread with XXL to talk about his new album Before I Self Destruct, his big year on the Web with his site thisis50.com, his role in hip-hop and much more. Also included is a 10-year anniversary tribute to the making of the record that first brought 50 to the public, “How to Rob.”

50’s latest album Before I Self Destruct drops next Tuesday (Nov 16).

Jay-Z is on the cover of Gotham Magazine this month after celebrating his 11th number one album, The Blueprint 3, topping this year’s Forbes list of earnings in hip-hop, and also starting a new chapter of manhood with turning 40 next month. In the issue, Jay-Z talks a little bit about his self-esteem at this moment and about his short-temper:

“I don’t dislike anything about myself,” he says. “I know this sounds a little arrogant but I really accept what God has given me. I’ve got a short temper but I work on controlling it. I can say inappropriate things because I believe them to be true and sometimes that can be hurtful to others. But I think in the long run it is more helpful.”

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It sounds like R&B/pop entertainer Chris Brown and the iconic hip-hop magazine we all know and love as VIBE Magazine are teaming up to resurrect each other. Chris will cover the magazine’s official “come back issue,” out December 8th. ]

Hip-hop newcomer Drake will also have a shot at being a part of VIBE history as he has the alternate cover of the winter issue.

In the meantime, VIBE has released this one picture of Chris and no, this is not his cover shot. That should be making its way to the front pages of all the blogs shortly though.

Shakira and her chi-chi’s are front and center on the cover of the November 2009 issue of Rollingstone Magazine. And the 32-year-old singer says she’s ready to make some babies now she’s sold over 50 millions records and racked in over $100 million in doing so. At this stage in the game, the Colombian entertainer is on the verge of releasing her third English album She Wolf and now she’s ready to “reproduce.”

In Rolling Stone’s new issue, on stands today, Shakira tells Vanessa Grigoriadis about the pressures of becoming a true superstar in the U.S. now so she can indulge a “physical calling” soon: “My body feels like it is asking to reproduce,” she says, revealing that a baby could be in her post-She Wolf future.

To meet that goal, Shakira hit the studio hard for She Wolf, and gave Rolling Stone an up-close look at her coffee-fueled sessions at the Bahamas’ Compass Point Studios, a location she chose specifically for its rock & roll cred. “I am such a huge fan of Bob Marley, the Cure and AC/DC, and when I heard about this legendary studio where all of them recorded, I knew I had to be here,” she says.

Shakira also talks about Lil Wayne being on her new song, why she refuses to marry her boyfriend of nine years and more in the latest issue of RS, on stands now!

The New York Times has a preview on the upcoming movie “Precious” directed by Lee Daniels (producer of Oscar-winning film “Monster’s Ball”). The movie stars Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, pictured above on the cover of the Times. The article explores not only the story of Precious but also process that it took to make this film. From having studios reject the story to casting Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique as her “demon” mother. The article also goes into the inspiration behind the film. Below are some quotes that struck us and a link to the whole article. It is well worth the read!

As the script was being written, Daniels began to figure out the financing of the movie. “Getting Sapphire’s permission was only half the challenge,” Daniels explained. “ ‘Shadowboxer’ hadn’t done so well, so I found myself back at Square 1. It was very, very hard to get financing for ‘Precious.’ All the studios said no. They didn’t want to make a film about a 350-pound black girl who is abused. Everybody kept saying no. My whole life was no. It was just a bunch of nos.”

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In honor of The Simpsons’ 20th anniversary, the matriarch of the Simpson family, Marge Simpson, will bare all for the latest issue of Playboy Magazine! The November 2009 issue will feature a three-page pictorial, complete with poses of Marge in sexy lingerie, an exclusive interview and a fact sheet.

We’re sure those freaks into “toon porn” came in their pants a little bit when this was announced. It’s actually sort of sick to think about the people who really think this is “hot” in a sexual way!

We managed to get our hands on a couple of alternate covers from Beyonce’s “Woman of the Year” Billboard Magazine issue, on stands now!

Something else that’s about to happen is your new Coty fragrance. Can you give us a sneak preview?
I’ve been partners with and have endorsed different fragrances. But this is my first time developing my own fragrance. I’ve spent over a year having meetings, working with the perfumeries. It’s been really interesting. I’d done a little of that in the past, approving a couple of things here and there. But I’ve been a part of this from ground zero. We’ve gone back and forth and back and forth over and over again to get the perfect fragrance. Everything I love, that’s what this fragrance is. Fragrance makes me feel sexy, so I want my fragrance to be sexy and seductive.

My favorite color is gold and that’s also being incorporated into the project. I grew up playing with my mother’s perfumes and love antique bottles, so I wanted my fragrance to have this antique feeling. The bottle looks like a piece of art. I can’t reveal the name yet, but it comes out early next year. I’ve already shot the commercial.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL BILLBOARD INTERVIEW!

PICTURES: BEYONCEDAILY.US

Singer (and mommy) Solange recently sat down with Honey Magazine and talked about a lot of interesting things, including raiding Bjork’s closet, fashion, her new haircut, her son  and her new album, among other things. She even touched a bit on her “relationship” with rapper Wale, which she sort of denied but at the same time left the possibility open.

Well, speaking of assumptions. I think a lot of people have been zeroing in on Twitter convos between you and a certain Mr. Wale, automatically linking the two of you together. Then we see Central Park photos…
Riiiight.

Whether we’re rooting for it or not… we just want to know.
Well, he’s definitely not my boyfriend.

Well, we can cross that off the list.
No, I just stated that he’s not my boyfriend, but we are good friends. I have worked with him in the past and I think he’s uber-talented. I think he’s really smart and really creative. And I respect his art. We have a mutual thing. We’re on the same record label and yeah…

Continue reading for more of the interview!

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Beyonce is currently Billboard’s “Woman of the Year” (story) and she’s featured on the cover of the latest issue of their magazine. In the issue, she reveals her secrets on balancing her personal life and her uber busy professional life, as well as her philanthropic efforts and the future of the “Beyonce/Sasha Fierce” brand.

The average person can’t keep up your pace. How do you it?
I’m an all-or-nothing type of woman. Either I’m doing absolutely nothing and relaxing — reading a book, sitting by the ocean and not answering any questions — or else I’m hands-on and giving 100%, working really hard.

I was just on vacation for three weeks after touring for a couple of months. I have to schedule time to rest, rejuvenate and get inspired to work again. Now I’m definitely rested and thank God I had the rest — that’s the only way I would be able to get through a week like this. After three weeks without giving any answers or approvals and no performing, I came back like, “Yes! I’m ready to work!” [laughs]

How do you flip the switch from Beyoncé to Sasha Fierce on tour?
It’s a lot easier than it used to be since I’ve put so many hours into performing; I can make the transition from Beyoncé to Sasha Fierce really fast. I don’t have any crazy rituals beforehand. I get in maybe two-and-a-half to three hours before each show. I do my makeup on tour myself and get my hair done. Then we all come together, say a prayer and do a little stretch. I also do meet-and-greets during which I meet a lot of my fans. I usually meet children from the Make a Wish Foundation. I’ve basically given them an open invitation whenever anyone wants to come. That’s always a highlight of the day for me.

On my days off from the tour, I do a lot of sightseeing. I love to visit churches and museums all over the world. The architecture in America is amazing but in Europe, there’s so much history. I also started riding a bike on my days off with others like my assistant and stylist. It’s amazing how I’m able to ride around on a bike. People kind of see it’s me but since I’m on a bike, they think, “No, it’s not her.” And by the time they realize it’s me, I’m already gone. It’s great to do something normal every day. It keeps me grounded.

What do you do to maintain your tour stamina? I heard a rumor that you run on a treadmill in heels and sing.
[Laughs heartily] No, I don’t run on a treadmill in heels. That’s a bit extreme. But I do practice my choreography in heels. And I have a rule that when I have my heels on, everyone has to have their heels on too. Sometimes the dancers are like, “Oh, God, we hope Beyoncé comes in late,” because I’ll go all day. And in the end, I’ll have blisters and my toes will have bruises. It’s really hard sometimes. I still do all the boring things that everyone else does in regular workouts like squats and the treadmill. But I mainly get in shape from doing the choreography during those long 12-hour rehearsals for two months before a tour.

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Complex Magazine revealed their second cover for their upcoming October/November 2009 magazine issue, which features rapper Young Jeezy. The illustration was done by ESPO, a graphic artist out of Philadelphia who shares Jeezy’s interest in confronting American capitalism. The actual issue doesn’t drop nationwide until October 6th, but in the meantime check out a few photo outtakes and snippets from the interview…

Everyone seems to downplay your creative process as a songwriter. So walk us through developing a song.
Young Jeezy: I don’t go in the studio like, “I’ma make a smash today”—that ain’t my whole method. My music is feeling. If I just left the club or somethin’, I’ll probably go and cut a club record. If I’m going through something, then instead of it being bright in the studio, it might be a little dark, a little mellow in there, and it might be a feeling song.

So when you’re writing rhymes, and sh*t’s starting to connect, how do you feel?
Young Jeezy: Oh man, I get this sh*t in my stomach, it’s almost like butterflies.

People probably understimate your level as an artist.
Young Jeezy: Yeah, but you know, it’s always that fourth album. It’s like, n*ggas question Jay, n*ggas question Tip, niggas question Wayne, you know what I mean? It’s that fourth album: “Can you do it again?” Like I did it the first time. Came back, The Inspiration, done it again. The Recession, done it again. TM103, we’re doing it again! And it ain’t about a fan base — these are not fans. I look at this shit like family, like when you talk to your cousin: “Get your money.” But it ain’t what you got, it’s what you keep.

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Complex Magazine has been releasing different covers every day this week to celebrate their October/November 2009 issue, set to drop on newsstands everywhere on October 6th. Above is Clipse’s action figure inspired cover, designed by art icon KAWS, who frequently collaborates artistically with the hip-hop duo.

The guys talk about staying away from going commercial, setting trends, accomplishing goals and more in the upcoming issue…

Is there any push to become more commercial this time around?
Pusha: I don’t think so. Sonically, we always go above and beyond in our efforts to disrupt radio. It’s always about being different. Our radio is never conventional anyway. “Grindin’” — no hook, but big record. “Mr. Me Too” — very minimal.

Malice: “What Happened To That Boy.”

Pusha: Yeah, you know. We’re always about being different. I like to call this album hip-hop on steroids, because everything is to the third power. The flow, the sound, everything is just in your face, and driving.

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R&B singer Mary J. Blige is featured on the cover of the October 2009 issue of Essence Magazine and she talks about her forthcoming album, Stronger, her new movie, Tyler Perry’s “I Can Do Bad All By Myself” and her FFAWN foundation (Foundation for the Advancement of women Now), among other things.

Essence.com’s readers submitted hundreds of questions to MJB via Twitter and their own website and you can check out some of our favorites below:

Do you feel any pressure to keep pumping out hits because of the younger artists?—Angie Kyles, Los Angeles
MARY J. BLIGE: I feel no pressure. I pump out hits for my fans. They just want to hear from me. I don’t compete with the young generation, I learn from them. I listen to what they’re saying, so I can get a little bit of that, so we can cross, so we can have an understanding and hear each other.

Will you ever sing “I Don’t Want to Do Anything Else” [her duet with Jodeci's K-Ci] live again? Angela Ervin—Greensboro, North Carolina
No. I mean, if I sing it with someone else, yes.

How would you encourage a single woman who is feeling depressed because of this recession? Claudine Browne—Kingston, Jamaica
Don’t be defined by what your circumstances are. Free your energy up. Don’t think that money or being able to pay your bills makes you who you are. God made you the way you are, so don’t let not having money take that away.

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Janet Jackson gave her very first interview since the passing of her brother Michael Jackson to Harper’s Bazaar Magazine. The pop diva is featured on the cover of the October 2009 issue of the magazine and talks about the last time she saw Mike, her break-up with Jermaine Dupri and everything in between. She even revealed that she’s stayed away from the television, newspapers, the internet and the entire media in general ever since June 25th.

Janet Jackson hasn’t watched television since her brother Michael died suddenly in Los Angeles on June 25. She has blocked herself off completely from the hysterical media coverage of his death — who did it, what did it. “It will drive you crazy,” she says. “People can have rhinoceros skin, but there’s a point when something’s going to hurt you. Not everyone is stone, stone. I haven’t watched the news in weeks. I had to ask my chef, How’s Obama doing? I haven’t read a newspaper. On top of that, [we've lost] a family member.”

The last time Janet saw Michael was on May 14, two days before her 43rd birthday. It was a family celebration, the Jackson kids were running around, and she and her big brother hung out, ate Thai food, and tormented each other. “We had so much fun that day,” she says, her soft voice almost inaudible. “We kept calling each other after and saying how great it was.”

—–

Janet is also now single, recently breaking off her seven-year relationship with music producer Jermaine Dupri. Does she still believe in marriage? “For [some] people, sure! I don’t know if I’ll get married again. [She's been married twice, as a teen to James DeBarge and to choreographer René Elizondo.] I’ll put it like this: If God wants me to, then I will.” Dating? “Yeah, I’ve had people ask me out. I haven’t entertained any offers thus far, but I’m locking myself in my work right now.” Some might say boys smell anyway. “Yeah, they stink,” she chuckles, “and they’re dirty.”

Visit Harber’s Bazaar for more…

Rapper Jay-Z took Oprah Winfrey to his old neighborhood in the Marcy Projects of Bedstuy, Brooklyn and opened up to her about his past as a teen drug dealer, his superstar hip-hop status and his marriage to one of the biggest female entertainers alive, Beyonce Knowles, for the October 2009 issue of O Magazine. He also talks about getting shot at, usage of the N-word in hip-hop lyrics and offending people due to the fact that he and Beyonce had to keep their surprise wedding a secret.

Oprah: So tell me how you got into the drug dealing.

Jay-Z: It was natural.…

Oprah: Because drug dealers were your role models. There wasn’t a teacher or a lawyer or a nurse or a doctor or an accountant in the neighborhood?

Jay-Z: Well, we were living in Marcy by then, so, no. And if anyone did become something like that, they moved out. They never came back to share the wisdom of how they made it. If anyone made it, you never knew it. That’s why I’ve always said that if I became successful, I’d come back here, grab somebody, and show him how it can be done.

Oprah: So by the time you were 13, this was a way of life. Did the lifestyle frighten you?

Jay-Z: No. It was normal. And at some point, you become addicted to the feeling. The uncertainty and adrenaline and danger of that lifestyle.

Oprah: This is where we differ. This is where we differ. Because I’d be very scared! Weren’t you shot at three times—within six feet—and you lived to talk about it?

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Whitney Houston says she’s thanking God for never letting her go on the cover of the October 2009 issue of Ebony Magazine, due to hit stands nationwide nest Tuesday, September 8th. In the issue, the legendary R&B singer talks about her daughter, future plans and her journey back to the music industry with the release of her sixth studio album, I Look To You, which is in stores today!

“I shed a lot of stuff, a lot of unnecessary weight in the last three or four years. I left a lot of old luggage behind, and when I did, the blessings just started pouring on me, and the light in my spirit started to lift again,” she says in the cover story.

Just in time for the release of his 11th studio album, Blueprint 3, rap star Jay-Z is featured on the cover of the October 2009 issue of XXL Magazine. Check out a few excerpts from the issue, which asks if Hov is indeed “bigger than hip-hop” below:

CRITICISM OF “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)”
“I’m not hating on young people. Like, when people say that, I’m like, What are you talking about? It’s just stupid. I’m not hating on young people… I’m not Bill Russell, [saying] Michael Jordan ain’t shit. I’m saying Lil Wayne and Kanye are like LeBron and Kobe. My job as someone at the forefront of the game is to leave it in a better position than when I came in. Same way that Russell [Simmons] left it to me. ’Cause this thing saved my life. Literally. So I have a responsibility to it karmically. And after that it’s on you. I did my part. I made ‘D.O.A.’ I said it. I made the statement. I made the push. Here, y’all take it from here.”

HIS LEGACY AS FORMER DEF JAM RECORDS PRESIDENT
“So if you ask me to grade my performance as the president, I’d say A-plus. No one can bat a 100. It’s impossible. I mean, everyone is looking at my sh*t. But if we really looked under the hood [of] every single [record exec] and the acts they put out in that time, I’d be comparable to anyone.”

HIS STANDING IN THE GAME
“But when I say I’m the best, I don’t say that outta my ass. I say that with all my stats behind me. I put that against anybody. I mean anybody. I really believe that… I believe in a lot of things. ?I believe that ‘SportsCenter’ is the best thing on TV. I shouldn’t have to prove it. But I do have these stats to prove it. I’m talking about real run. I’m not talking about years off. I’m talking about straight—boom, boom, boom—back to back. We’re not talking about heritage acts either. We’re not talking about respect what I’ve done. I’m talking No. 1 [albums] 10 times. The Beatles is the only one [to have more ?No. 1 albums]. They got 19, and if I get a surge of creativity, I could make nine albums next year.”

Pick up the issue when it drops September 15th!

The View’s Sherri Shepherd is showing off her new bod on the cover of the latest issue of OK! Weekly. In the magazine, the talk show co-host reveals how she lost 41 pounds the old fashion way: diet and exercise.

She publicly stated on The View that she would be going on a diet and working with a personal trainer to knock off the weight she gained back after losing it the year before, upping the ante with promises of appearing on the live show in a bathing suit. Ms. Shepherd definitely kept her promise and now she’s telling her story!

“I lost weight last year and started gaining it back because I wasn’t exercising,” Sherri explains in the new issue of OK!. “I said to my producer, ‘Why don’t we do something where I tell people ‘Let’s do it together!’ and maybe [up the ante with] a bathing suit. The minute I said that, I was like, ‘Gosh, I should take it back because I really want M&M’s!’ But I had to do it. Then all of sudden I had all these people doing it with me. I’d Tweet about going to the gym and how hard it was, and followers would write and say, ‘Sherri, I’ve lost two pounds!’ I thought, ‘Okay, people are getting into this.’”

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“The only marriage that I’ve ever been a part of destroying is my own, and it’s not my place to talk about anybody else’s…,” the actress, who recently joined the cast of the new ABC sci-fi drama “FlashForward” said.

Pick up the issue, on stands now!

In related news, Gabby’s mother, who is a social worker and already has a young adopted daughter, has fostered a newborn baby. The 36-year-old actress admits that she loves helping out with her new siblings even though she doesn’t have any children of her own.

“We got her straight from the hospital,” she told Sister 2 Sister Magazine. “We’re hoping she could be the newest official member of our family but she’s definitely always going to be a part of the family.”

A French photographer who goes by the name of Jean Paul Goude captured fashion icon Naomi Campbell in a unique safari experience for the latest issue of Harpers Bazaar Magazine where she can be seen riding an elephant, running with a cheetah, playing jump rope with monkeys and sitting on top of a crocodile. Her spread is appropriately titled “Wild Things.”

Everybody’s favorite bisexual model Amber Rose is featured in the latest issue of Complex Magazine and here are some sexy outtakes from the shoot! I think we should all pen a special “Thank You” letter to Kanye West for bestowing this gem upon us. That lucky SOB…

Anyway, in the interview, Rose dishes on her childhood, how her face is on blogs 24/7, Kanye West (of course) and much much more. Continue reading for more of the interview and for more crazy hot shots from the photo spread!

Complex: You’re a Philly girl. What was your childhood like?
Amber Rose: I grew up in South Philly. I grew up very poor with a single mother. My mother is a waitress, and she raised me on a waitress salary. I went to a Philadelphia public school. I’ve been in Philly my whole life, but obviously I’ve traveled in between. I was definitely not in the suburbs, I was in the inner city of South Philly.

Complex: What were some street experiences you’ve witnessed?
Amber Rose: Like gun violence, drug dealers, nowhere safe for the kids to play. In the schoolyard people were drinking 40s, smoking weed. I personally used to drink, I never smoked weed though. The craziest shit was just having my friends’ parents die of drug overdoses and things like somebody getting shot on the corner of my block.

Complex: How have you been dealing with the gossip blogs?
Amber Rose: This is my life, this is how my life’s been since I was a kid. I’ve always been popular, my name has always been in somebody’s mouth in high school. I don’t lose no sleep over this shit. Some of the stuff, when it’s extremely far-fetched and stupid, I just laugh. I don’t lose a minute of sleep over this.

Complex: What’s one thing about ’Ye that really blew you away about him?
Amber Rose: Well, the fact that there can be a noise in the background, or like a windshield wiper and he will start beat-boxing or banging on the dashboard and start doing some type of beat and it sounds so fresh. I remember when he first did something like that and he just closed his eyes, and gets in the mode. I was like, “Wow.” You have to be a genius to that. He’s amazing.

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Up and coming rapper Drake is featured on the cover of the September 2009 issue of The Fader magazine. In the issue, the Toronto native talks about his rise to fame and fortune and more. Pick it up when it hits newsstands August 18th!

Baby Phat CEO Kimora Lee and her husband Djimon Hounsou, along with their newborn son Kenzo Lee Hounsou, are featured in the latest issue of OK! Magazine.

“I  just never thought it could be this good,” Kimora Lee Simmons coos to OK!. In an exclusive interview and photo shoot with OK!, Kimora — who also has two daughters Ming, 9 and Aoki, 7 (with ex-husband Russell Simmons) shows off her family’s newest addition.

Pick up the latest issue of OK! for the full story and continue reading for more pics of Kimora, Djimon, Kenzo, Aoki and Ming.

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R&B songwriter turned singer Keri Hilson and her sexy oiled up body (minus the badonka … cause “she no got one”) is featured on the cover of the August/September 2009 issue of Complex Magazine, along with rapper Kid Cudi. In the issue, the BET Rising Icon talks about being frugal, her thoughts on being “overexposed,” and how you’ll never see nude pics or a sex tape from her. Check out some snippets below!

So you were in college, cashing checks?
Keri Hilson: My very first check was for Ruben Studdard’s first album, like $25,000. And my family was like, “What the hell is this? This is what you’ve been doing? Who the hell brings home a check like this?” They’re thinking $2,500 here and there, whatever. It was crazy.

Did you blow it?
Keri Hilson: No! I’m very frugal. Very.

We haven’t seen you as much as your contemporaries on blogs and gossip sites.
Keri Hilson: Good. Good. I’m not camera-hungry. That was never part of my dream, to be overexposed. I’d much rather be mysterious.

So we’re never going to see a Keri Hilson sex tape, then?
Keri Hilson: Or Playboy, or any of that. Nah. If I do something naked, it’ll be for Allure’s skin-cancer benefit auction or something like that—it would be to help some cause other than my record sales.

What was Keri Hilson’s first reaction when scandalous photos were leaked of certain “other artists?”
Keri Hilson: My first reaction was “Thank God I never did that.” I never let anybody take any naked pictures of me, so there would be none. I was always one of those over-paranoid people, convinced that someday that I would be living the dream, so as early as middle or high school I wouldn’t do certain things, just in case.

Continue reading for lots of sexy outtakes from the shoot!

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R&B crooner Maxwell is best known as the guy who moistens panties with the sound of his falsetto. But he wants you to know that there’s more to him than making women’s drawls (or drawers, whichever you prefer) perspire.

The “Pretty Wings” singer is featured on the cover of the September 2009 issue if Giant Magazine, where they delve deep into his personal life by answering questions that haven’t been answered, and you get a glimpse at what made him who he is today. PIck up the issue when it hits newsstands August 11th!

Cleveland, Ohio bred rapper Scott Mescudi, known to the general public as Kid Cudi, is featured on the cover of the August/September 2009 issue of Complex Magazine. In the issue, which is also the mag’s annual Style & Design special, he talks about trying not to be a one-hit wonder, the hell of the music biz and his thoughts on groupie love. He also gets personal when he talks about his dad dying of cancer and having night terrors shortly after his passing.

Artwork: Augor

Are you worried about recapturing the success of “Day N Nite?”
Kid Cudi: I was briefly, and then I started to record and just make shit. That’s when I realized I’m going to be OK. Shit is going to come together as it should, don’t worry about it. I didn’t come in the game to just do that one joint, you know what I mean? I came in the game to have multiple hits.

What kind of fears do you have about releasing your album?
Kid Cudi: I don’t really have any fear about the business; my biggest fear is getting wrapped up in the illusion of fame and Hollywood and shit like that. Getting wrapped up in the worldly things like drugs and the excitement of being famous. I have a vulnerable enough past that it could propel me into that world. I don’t want to be caught up in it. I want to do something while I’m here. This is hell. All the shit that’s going on around us, this is hell.

What’s hell about it?
Kid Cudi: Just turn on the f—ing news.

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Rapper Young Jeezy is featured on the cover of the September 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which is also the hip-hop magazine’s 12th Anniversary issue. In the cover story, the Atlanta native talks about his upcoming album and his beefs with DJ Drama and Gucci Mane, among other things.

The issue also includes interviews with 50 Cent, Juvenile, Nelly, Fat Joe, Damon Dash and others, who dish on their favorite XXL covers and some of the magazine’s greatest moments.

Pick up the issue when it hits newsstands August 11th!

Ebony Magazine has added to the trend of honoring the late great Michael Jackson by giving him a “commemorative edition” of their monthly publication. MJ covers the exclusive commemorative book, which features 100 pages of never-before-seen photos, celebrity tributes and 5,000 words from the King of Pop himself! You can also read the thoughts of Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Ne-Yo, Rev. Al Sharpton, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Suzzane de Passe and countless others in the issue, set to hit stands next week!

Scheduled for release the week of July 13, the exclusive commemorative book will feature never-before-seen photos of Michael, his family and many others along with various stories from those who truly loved him.

“Michael was a genius. Michael was a researcher. He’d study, study, study. He was one of the greatest listeners I know,” said Berry Gordy, founder of Motown.

As the world’s largest Black magazine, Ebony has documented the superstar’s life since the beginning of his phenomenal career with thousands of photos and countless articles. For the first time, Ebony has opened the archives like never before to help celebrate Michael Jackson’s incredible legacy.

Successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Russell Simmons is featured on the July 6th – 13th cover of JET magazine along with his young daughters Aoki Lee (6) and Ming Lee (9).

Russell Simmons can’t stop talking about his little girls. Jet magazine caught up with the busy hip-hop mogul as he was preparing to attend yet another business meeting in New York. But he made plenty of time to talk about his No. 1 priority – daughters Ming Lee, 9, and Aoki Lee, 6, his children with ex-wife Kimora Lee Simmons. “I am with them as much as possible,” he tells Jet. (p. 36)

Pick up the issue, on stands now!

Contrary to previous reports, it looks like The Dream & Christina Milian’s VIBE just might see the light of day. Here are a couple scans from the final issue. We’re not sure how much “in love” these two are but these shots don’t show any of it. Total lack of emotion and chemistry here… Christina looks HOT though! But Terius just looks looks so bored. He needs to take notes from Tyra Banks and learn how to “smile with his eyes.” Continue reading for 1 more shot of the emotionless pair.

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And another one bites the dust… Due to the recession, VIBE Magazine has been forced to shut down. The urban-music magazine was founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones and had a great amount of success during that decade. But under its new owner, the Wicks Group, the magazine has fallen and has lost many of its readers. In February, Vibe’s circulation went down, salaries were cut, and employees were no longer working five-day workweeks.

Christina Milian and The Dream were set to cover the next issue of the magazine, which according to Rap Radar unfortunately will not be hitting newsstands. Follow the break to read a statement from CCO/Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith.

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R&B/pop singer Ciara and rapper Rick Ross are both featured on the cover of the Summer 2009 issue of Rap Up Magazine, which also doubles at the hip-hop/R&B mag’s 4th Anniversary Issue (Happy Anniversary Rap Up fam!).

This particular issue features over 10 pages of all-new photos and will show Super C “like you’ve never seen here before,” according to Rap-Up.com. You’ll also find stories on Letoya Luckett, Jadakiss, Flo Rida, Akon and much more. The magazine hits stands nationwide this week.

R&B singer/songwriter The Dream, along with rapper Fabolous, already share the same Def Jam Records imprint, but now they both share the cover of the August 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which also doubled as the “Hip-Hop Soul Issue.”

This special edition of the popular hip-hop magazine focuses on the connection between hip-hop and R&B and will feature interviews with “Loso” and “The American Dream,” in addition to an essay on the history of hip-hop soul and a package featuring the Top 10 Hip-Hop Soul singers, songwriters and producers to look out for in 2010. You get all of this and much more in the August issue of XXL, which hits stands July 7th.

Queen Latifah recently revealed in her July 2009 cover story for Essence Magazine that as a child, she was sexually abused by a teenager who was taking care of her.

“He violated me,” she says of the abuser. “I never told anybody; I just buried it as deeply as I could and kept people at an arm’s distance. I never really let a person get too close to me. I could have been married years ago, but I had a commitment issue.” Eventually, she opened up to her parents, who separated when she was young.

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R&B singer Maxwell is back on the scene, but not without worries. It’s been almost 8 years since he released his last album, Now, which reached #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K, and when the time came to put out new music, he knew his absence to the scene for nearly a decade would be a gamble. And it definitely had folks talking and making their own speculations. But the 36-year-old Brooklyn native says he didn’t really pay attention to those crazy rumors:

“I don’t really put power into that. It’s just what people do and there’s no way I can control that. I can’t stand up at every moment and say ‘this true and this is not.’ There aren’t that many hours in the day to do that.”

His Jet Magazine cover story is on stands now and his upcoming album, BLACKsummers’night is set for a July 7th release. Peep the entire story on page 36 of the June 15th 2009 edition of Jet Magazine! And if you haven’t checked out his latest music video for the new album’s debut single, Pretty Wings, you can do so here.

Here are some brand new fire hot photos of VH1 reality star and I Love Money 2 winner Myammee (aka Angela Pitts), who is featured in the latest issue of Blackmen magazine. Guys (and some of the ladies haha), do yourself a favor and continue reading to check out the rest of the scans!

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Mo’Nique and her husband Sidney Hicks are featured on the cover of the June 8th 2009 issue of JET Magazine. The issue talks about her recent weight loss, her personal & professional relationship with her husband, and how her upcoming late-night BET talk show, The Mo’Nique Show came about.

Actress and comedian Mo’Nique has taken her career to the next level, and it’s no secret that her husband, Sidney Hicks, is right by her side making things happen. In fact, he recently made one of her dreams come true by helping her negotiate a deal for her own late-night BET talk show, The Mo’Nique Show. “We’ve been working together now for four years,” said Hicks.

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At 28 years old, Nick Cannon is definitely coming into his own as a media/entertainment mogul and this notion is proved as he covers the July 2009 issue of Giant Magazine, which the magazine has dubbed its “power issue.” In the cover story, the newly appointed president of Nickelodeon’s teen division talks about the pros and cons of being a child star and how he’s kept up with youth culture over the years. Continue reading to peep Giant’s exclusive outtakes from the issue!

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As we previously reported, Keyshia Cole was featured on the cover of the last issue of King Magazine, along with Joe Budden’s wife Tahiry. Here’s some shots from Keyshia’s spread. You can get this issue of the mag at your closest newsstand. Continue reading for the rest of the pics.

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Will Smith’s gorgeous wife Jada Pinkett Smith is featured on the June 2009 cover of Ebony Magazine, which hit stands today! In the issue she talks about her marriage, her views on the Church of Scientology and even those crazy Internet rumors we all love to read about.

“You want people to talk about you, because once they stop talking about you that’s when you’re really in trouble!” She continues, “I’m happy to have people talk about all the craziness they want to talk about, whether it’s things like every year we’re getting divorced or we’re an open family or Will’s gay, or I’m gay.” (p.72)

Continue reading to peep what else this issue covers.

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Dear Editor:

We were dismayed to see the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which features a photo of Rick Ross wearing a pair of sunglasses prominently featuring counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks. Because the photo has generated considerable confusion among your readers and Louis Vuitton customers among others, we feel it is important to clarify several points.

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Rapper Eminem managed to get himself on the cover of Vibe Magazine’s Second Annual Real Rap Issue, which is also the June 2009 issue for the popular hip-hop mag. According to the good people over at Rap Radar, the issue hits stands on My 19th, which is also Em’s release date for his upcoming Relapse album, and will delve into his past addiction to narcotics. The issue will also feaure a “VIBE Verses Presents No. 1 Stan” contest also. Hit up RR for more info on that. And be sure to pick up this magazine when it hits shelves May 19th!

Rudy Huxtable aka Keshia Knight Pulliam snagged herself a nice photospread/feature in the latest issue of King Magazine, which is also the mag’s very last issue. She also has a feature in Vibe, so continue reading to peep that too.

Props: The Cutie Blog

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Eminem landed himself not one, but two, covers for the June 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, set to hit newsstands May 5th. After a three year hiatus from the music industry, the Detroit bred rapper is preparing to release his fifth studio album, Relapse, on May 15th. The cover on the right is a special collector’s edition and features Eminem as Marvel Comics’ notorious vigilante “The Punisher.” Below is a quote pulled from the interview where he talks about how he feels about T.I., Lil Wayne and hip-hop and general, which he felt has gone way downhill. But he said he respects Tip and Weezy’s respective flows.

On T.I., Lil Wayne & Hip-Hop:
“I stayed up on the music, and obviously I watch TV and saw what was going on. And without naming any names, it just felt like hip-hop was going downhill. And it seemed like kinda fast. You know, in them three years, it was like everybody just cares about the hook and the beat; nobody really cares about substance. But with this new T.I. album, with this new Lil Wayne album of recent, it seems like things are looking a lot better now. You can appreciate Lil Wayne using different words to rhyme and actually rhyming words that you know. Or T.I., where you hear shit and you’re like Whoa, ah, I wish I would have thought of that! You know what I mean? Or you hear all the compound-syllable rhyming and all that. It just seems like now the craft is getting cared about more.”

Continue reading to peep a few more excerpts from the interview!

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Not only is he a triple threat in real life, but actor/singer/comedian Jamie Foxx is a triple threat on the cover of the April/May 2009 triple issue of Uptown Magazine. The issue, which hit stands Tuesday April 7th, talks about what drives Jamie’s ongoing success.

“Jamie Foxx is a powerful entertainer who doesn’t get all the credit he deserves as a musician, comedian and actor. Not since Sammy Davis, Jr. has there been a force that can flourish in all three mediums,” said Brett Wright, Uptown’s Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer. “His selection of film work and musical gifts are sure to leave a mark on Hollywood and entertainment.”

We think Jamie is one of the few celebrities who actually has had successful crossovers in his career. He’s funny as hell as a comedian, a damn good actor and can sing/write his @ss off. Keep stackin’ that paper, Jamie! Peep the other two covers when you continue reading.

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Keyshia Cole is featured on the cover of the May 2009 double issue of King Magazine, which will mark the urban magazine’s last. This is the other cover we told about this morning when we posted Tahiry Budden’s.

Rihanna’s face is what you’ll see on the May 2009 issue of Vibe Magazine where they go in on the alleged fight between her and boyfriend Chris Brown, which occursed on February 8th 2009, exactly 2 months prior to today’s date. We think it’s a little too soon to be making this situation a “cover story,” unless you’re a tabloid like Star, Enquirer, etc. Accredited and respected publications like Vibe know better. Or at least we thought they did.

From Giant Magazine, who has chosen super model Naomi Campbell as the cover girl for their May 2009 issue:

There are many words to describe the supreme being that is Naomi Campbell, (gorgeous, trend-setting, iconic, etc.) but the one we’re most happy with calling her is GIANT. For the cover story of our May ‘09 issue (on newsstands now), the strikingly beautiful supermodel breaks down the trials and tribulations of her personal and professional life, paving the way for the next generation of supermodels of color and other things you can do with a cell phone.

Oscar nominees Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson are featured on the cover of the May 2009 issue of Ebony Magazine, on stands nationwide Thursday (Apr. 14th).

Academy Award-nominees Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson have both proven that when you know your worth, no one can take it from you. At the 81st annual Oscar ceremony, the two found themselves waiting to win the same award for best supporting actress. While the audience applauded for winner Penelope Cruz, they both shared in a symbolic moment that still remains dear. “We looked right at each other, we connected,” says Henson. “We had to have that moment, just for each other, to let each other know, ‘You know what? It’s still all good.’”

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For all of the men out there who have an undying love for Halle Berry, you should definitely NOT be expecting to wife her up … ever. Not even her man/baby daddy is going to get the chance to wife her on account of her being “done” with the whole marriage thing. But she does want more kids though, which means she definitely wants more… Well, you get the point! Get a load of what she told Harper’s Bazaar in her May 2009 cover story.

Harper’s Bazaar: Would you ever get married again?

Halle Berry: No. I’m done. Also, I happened to find a person who feels done too, and he’s never even been married before. So it works.

Harper’s Bazaar: More children?

Halle Berry: Yes. My pregnancy was amazing. I was happy that whole time, I felt good, I had energy, I was like Superwoman. I wish I could feel like that for the rest of my life, that’s how fantastic it was.

Continue reading for the whole interview!

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