crazy days and nights: November 2009

I AM...YOURS in a year with a new album

stay together or stray together?

JAY-Z AND BEYONCEA COULPE IN CRISIS?They say diamonds are forever, but is there a crack in this rock? Hip hop weekly weighs in on the drama surrounding the platinum Carters.

By Cynthia HornerSince photos of Beyonce’s bodyguard Julius Hollander appearing to have bold red lipstick staining his lips accompanied by another damning photo of Beyonce shielding her mouth hit the internet, bloggers have been chatting about Beyonce’s alleged cheating ways. People have been putting two and two together and have come to the conclusion that Beyonce and her handsome bodyguard may have been having a fling overseas while Jay-Z remained stateside.What’s interesting is that following the publication of these photos, Jay cancelled a series of concerts and flew right to Europe to spend a little bit of time with his much younger wife, however the damage had already been done. Stories about what may have happened between Beyonce and her bodyguard had already reached all the major gossip sites, one insider said he’s not surprised if Beyonce has been looking for romance as Jay’s schedule is so hectic that, “She sees the bodyguard more than her husband.”Who is the woman in the tight pants?Although the couple are tight lipped about what may or may not have taken place, other tantalizing photos have now surfaced, this time with Jay-Z and a sexy mysterious woman entering a posh New York City eatery. Both took pains to conceal their identity, but the paps were able to capture them before being stopped. Were these photos of Hay and a friend leaked in an effort to preserve his macho image or was this an innocent business outing?Is there trouble in paradise? The Carters have been married less than two years, which is not long by most standards, although considerably longer than most other A-list Hollywood marriages. Many of these celebrities haven’t even made it past the first year. And both Beyonce and Jay-Z are high profile attractive celebrities whose careers often take them in two different directions and different parts of the world.Although there are a number of photos of Beyonce and Jay-Z cozying up and going on dinner dates and vacations, according t o sources close to Hip Hop Weekly the two have actually been singing the marital blues. Who will ever forget the disastrous night at the VMA Awards when Jay’s artist Kanye West treated award recipient Taylor Swift in an inappropriate manner, causing a horrified Beyonce to try to make a way for Taylor to get her moment later in the show. This was done without the consent and approval of Jay-Z who was rumored to be so incensed by Beyonce’s magnanimous gesture which could have been seen as a diss to the Roc, that he later attended VMA after parties without his wife, opting to hang out with Rihanna instead.Are the two at odds?This was not the first time the two have been at odds. In 2007 it was rumored that the couple had broken up for awhile, partially over their opposing views toward parenthood. Jay was ready, but she was not. People close to the golden-haired superstar said that Jay has been ready to have kids with her for quite some time, but she wasn’t ready to settle down. According to a report on Mediatakeout.cm, the pressure got to be too much and they broke up. The two reconciled and married in April 2008 but recently, when asked about her plans for motherhood, Beyonce was said to have replied, “I definitely want one (a baby), but I’m not ready for all that,” she said of the delivery room experience. “I don’t think a person should see that before her time. It was little much. But I’m so in love with my nephew, and every time I see him I’m like, ‘God, he’s just amazing.” Jay-Z, on the other hand, has been telling the pres that they are ready to settle down and start a family. “Most people dream of having a family someday,” he told the New York Daily News. “So I’m just an American boy.”Well, he did put a ring it!Although Hip Hop Weekly insiders close to the couple believe that there could be something going on between Beyonce and the bodyguard, Beyonce has been going out of her way to be more affectionate with her husband in public. She even said at the MTV Europe Music Awards “There’s only one person I want to thank and that’s Jay for putting a ring on it.” And onlookers said she then planted a big red lipstick print right on his lip!So will the couple stay together or stray together? Only time will tell.

Kelly & Nelly again?

B crowd surfs

Beyonce & Alicia Keys

LeToya Luckett & Missy Elliot - Regret (Remix)

Beyonce & Lady Gaga - Video Phone (Remix)

cause you know they gone block when i take these flicks...

you can find me in da club...

Letoya - Complex Magazine

Lady Love sat down to answer complex magazine complex 7 questions this month:

Interview by Andrew Rivera

Sometimes music comebacks can be doomed by irrelevance (word to the homie Ma$e). Luckily, LeToya Luckett doesn’t have that problem. The lovely LeToya has had a spot in our hearts since she was with Destiny’s Child, so we were happy to see her pop up on 106 & Park last night with her new video “Regret,” featuring Ludacris. We figured it was high time to catch up with the confident singer/actress.Yep, actress. Oh you ain’t know? Between working on music and promoting her album Lady Love, LeToya is set to appear in two films next year—Preacher’s Kid and Killers—as well as the play Rumors. Sure, she’s busy, but who’s too busy to undergo The Complex 7? Peep LeToya’s answers on “roach killers,” Marvin Gaye, and whose poster she used to kiss every night.#1: WHAT’S THE NUMBER ONE DEAL-BREAKER FOR A POTENTIAL BOYFRIEND?LeToya says: If you have no personality, I can’t do it…no personality and body odor. And you have to have some relationship with God. You can’t be one of those atheists.

#2: WHAT TYPE OF FOOTWEAR WOULD MAKE YOU COMPLETELY DISMISS A MAN AS A POTENTIAL HOOK-UP?LeToya says: Like the wrong pair of shoes? I don’t know if I’m a square-toe shoe sort of girl. No! I don’t know if it’s the pointy ones I don’t like—we call them “roach killers” in Houston. [Laughs.] Like, I better not see a dude with roach killers on, no roach-killer Gators!

#3: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RAP ALBUM?LeToya says: T.I.—yeah, I mean there is no specific one. You’ve got Paper Trail , I love I’m Serious, his first album, and King is great.

#4: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COMFORT FOOD OR HANGOVER REMEDY?LeToya says: I don’t drink or smoke. Comfort food? You know what? I love cupcakes, I’m a cupcake girl. I always go to Crumbs when I’m in the city.

#5: WHAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE APHRODISIAC FOR YOU?LeToya says: Anything by Marvin Gaye. His voice is a problem. He has the sexiest voice. Or Maxwell! Yeah, I wouldn’t know about a liquor or anything, so I guess I’d have to apply it to music.

#6: WHO IS A CHILDHOOD CRUSH YOU CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAD?LeToya says: I only had one crush. The only reason I want to take it back is because he ended up being one of my best friends. I was in love! When I say love, I mean, oh my god. Like kissed his poster everyday. Romeo from Immature. Yes, Romeo from Immature, I wanted the eye-patch and everything, I loved him. Kissed the poster every day. But we ended up becoming best friends, so it’s weird, cause now that’s the homie and it’s like, “Wow, I liked you—a lot.”

#7: DO YOU HAVE A FEMALE CRUSH?LeToya says: No!

Michelle Williams - Until There's A Cure

B & Gaga

Bootylicious?

Beyone & Lady Gaga

Beyonce is a stupid person

CAIRO: In a shocking display of poor diplomacy, Egypt’s chief Egyptologist Zahi Hawass allegedly called American pop-star Beyonce a “stupid person” during her brief tour of the Giza pyramids earlier this week. Writing in al-Shorouk newspaper, Summer al-Gamal said that Hawass became fed up with the pop star’s attitude after she did not show the interest Hawass felt was deserved of the pyramids.According to Gamal, during Hawass’ self-guided tour, he said “I showed her the Sphinx and I gave her a book on King Tutankhamen,” but then his anger and frustration made its way to the forefront.“Then he stopped being diplomatic and said in anger, ’she’s a stupid person and she doesn’t understand a thing and she doesn’t want to understand’,” wrote Gamal.Hawass is known for his outbursts. A number of foreigners have told Bikya Masr that he has employed Arabic to insult others at dinner events and gatherings, believing the non-Egyptians will not understand his Arabic. Beyonce, obviously, did not understand his jabs, Gamal said.“She’s coming here to take pictures and that’s it,” Gamal quoted Hawass as saying.He then assigned one of his assistants to take the American star and her entourage to a designed location nearby to shoot the photos. Similar to any high profile guest, pictures by the pyramids have become almost routine. When American President Barack Obama was in Cairo last June, Hawass personally escorted the president around the monstrous pyramids, allowing Obama to have his photo taken on the plateau.Gamal added that Beyonce did not win over the journalists following her, however, as at least one bodyguard threatened a cameraman with violence if he did not give the pop-star her space. “One of the bodyguards threatened the cameraman, saying he would smash the camera if he continued to film,” Gamal wrote.The incident has left archaeologists angered. They say it is time to show the world the real Hawass. “He insults and is so controlling that it has become extremely difficult to work in this country,” one archaeologist said.Hawass’ office did not return phone calls on Thursday morning to discuss the actions of the country’s Supreme Council of Antiquities chief’s comments in front of journalists and Beyonce.“We are talking about an Egyptian government official and he goes as says something like this? Come on, this is very rude and totally undiplomatic,” said another archaeologist, both of whom asked not to be named as their current work is funded by the council headed by Hawass.

Ms. Luckett

Wale on Solange

Miss Kelly - T for the Trust

Cater 2 theft?

First a lil history:

Cater 2 U is an R&B song written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Rodney Jerkins, Ricky "Ric Rude" Lewis, Robert Waller for Destiny's Child's fourth studio Destiny Fulfilled (2004). It was produced by Knowles, Rude and Jerkins and released as the album's fourth and final single in summer 2005, while the song peaked at number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. "Cater 2 U" was nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo Or Group. It is also the band's last high-charting single.

However interestingly enough only Beyonce is named as being sued.

A copycat claim contained in a 2006 lawsuit is expected to land the "Bootylicious" sensation in a witness chair next month as part of a copyright infringement trial to be held in Chicago's federal courthouse.

A Chicago songwriter copyrighted the song "Cater 2 U" long before Destiny's Child came out with a song by the same name. The songwriter also says the lyrics are similar. (AP)

In dispute is a song titled "Cater 2 U" released by Destiny's Child in a 2004 compilation called "Destiny Fulfilled." The video features sultry scenes of the musical trio proclaiming: "Whatever you desire, I'll aspire."

But Chicago songwriter and performer Rickey Allen says it's his song, and a judge has given the green light for a jury to hear his claims against Mrs. Jay-Z.

Allen first copyrighted his "Cater 2 U," -- with the same spelling -- in the mid-1990s. He performed the song locally and updated the copyright three times, as recently as 2000.

Allen's song is about "relieving the stress of a significant other, and getting them to relax." He says Destiny Child's version contains similar steamy lyrics.

When Allen's song says: "I want to rub you down," Destiny's Child asks: "Want a foot rub?"

Allen's lyrics say: "The tub has hot steam rising," and "I'm waiting to soak your body through."

The Destiny's Child song offers to: "Let me run your bath water."

"Do we say [Beyonce's] responsible for copying? Yes. But there's no such thing as innocent copying, even if it's unintentional," said Allen's lawyer, Matt Wildermuth. "The jury will decide the notion that these are simple coincidences."

Allen says he passed a copy of his "Cater 2 U" to Chicago remixer Maurice Joshua, and the two planned to collaborate on a demo.

That never happened, Allen says. But Joshua later spent several hours in a session with Destiny's Child recording a different song, according to court papers. Joshua says he never had a copy of Allen's work.

Lawyers for the threesome say the case has no merit and asked that it be tossed.

It was Knowles who was the source for the idea of "Cater 2 U," her lawyers said in a court filing.

"She is perhaps the most important witness for the defendants," they said.

U.S. District Judge James Holderman has ruled there's enough evidence for the case to go before a jury, pointing to Joshua as the link and saying it's possible he could have provided a copy of Allen's song before they released their hit. The trial was delayed once because of conflicts with Knowles' schedule but is set for Dec. 10.

Beyonce & Julius leaving the telly...

Michelle Williams - Alter Ego

Beyonce's “insolent sex party” ends well

http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/2009/11/06/1257247733625.html

As Egypt gears for pop diva Beyonce Knowles’ first performance in North Africa, Islamic conservatives are branding her show an “insolent sex party” that threatens the Muslim nation’s “social peace and stability”.

On giant posters palstered across the Egyptian capital advertising the Friday evening concert, Beyonce sports a revealing, flame-covered outfit and grips a set of motorcycle handlebars extending from her hips – a sharp contrast to Cairo streets, where most women wear the traditional Muslim headscarves.

TV ads promoting the show, part of Beyonce’s “I Am …” world tour, have run on Egyptian and Arab satellite stations. The tour, which took Beyonce to the United Arab Emirates last week, had grossed $US53.5 million ($58.66 million) as of October, according toBillboard magazine.

But in Egypt, Islamic lawmakers and their supporters have waged campaigns on social networking web sites, accusing the government of encouraging debauchery and calling for the concert’s cancellation.

“Why are you encouraging this insolent sex party?” lawmaker Hamdi Hassan from the opposition Muslim Brotherhood wrote in a letter to the government. “You are accused of disturbing social peace and stability, encouraging vice and debauchery.”

Another Islamic lawmaker, Ali Laban, called for banning the “nudity concert.”

A Facebook campaign against Beyonce’s concert collected nearly 10,000 supporters.

But the war of words has not derailed the glitzy concert, due hundreds of miles south of Cairo in the luxury Red Sea resort of Port Ghalib.

Organisers said “ultra” security will be deployed to protect the thousands of concertgoers.

Beyonce cancelled her stop in Malaysia last month following opposition from a conservative Islamic party.

Malaysia requires female artists to cover up from the shoulders to the knees and bans any showing of cleavage.

Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, is torn between a growing secular and economically prosperous class and a large mainly conservative, poor population.

The government has been squeezing Islamic conservatives with security crackdowns and administrative measures aimed at curbing outward manifestations of conservatism.

Beoynce’s event organiser Ahmed Beltagi said tourism and police officials cooperated to make the concert happen because they believe it’s a way to promote Egypt as a centre of culture, entertainment and art.

“We are Muslims too … this will not stop Egypt from hosting an award-winning, first class artist,” Beltagi said.

“We should salute her instead of criticising her,” he said of the diva.

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Above are the pics of Beyonce in Egypt. No acts of violence occured. I see she wore a skirt instead of the usual bodysuit...

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