Apparently, the “Louis Vuitton Don” (who we’ve seen front row at some of the most notable fashion shows in the world) has been secretly interning at The Gap, of all places.  A source told US Weekly magazine:

“He works all the time, and one Friday night recently he stayed until 12 a.m.! He is learning the fashion business from the inside and trying to do it quietly.”

According to New York magazine this may not be his first “internship;”  he’s rumored to have also offered his services (for free!) to Louis Vuitton and Raf Simons last year. Hilarious! If this is true, at least he’s serious about actually learning the industry! I’m about tired of seeing celebrity crap on the shelves just because someone likes clothes and thinks they can be a designer (but I’m not calling any names).  Hopefully he checks that ego at the door, though!

In other news, Lil’ Wayne is scrapping scheduled concerts at the last minute, again. According to a press release, Wayne has been ordered by a doctor to rest and thus will not be able to reschedule the tour, which was to make stops in Denmark and London.  Hopefully it’s nothing serious, like er, an unwanted condition from “loving” every girl in the world (that’s just not sanitary Weezy F Baby!) or a fallout from his other seemly favorite pastime. If you were looking forward to seeing him in concert in the States don’t fret: his US tour that runs from July 27-August 23rd is still scheduled.

Looks like Raven Symone came back to claim what was hers! The actress has recently been spotted in the “half-head shave off” hairstyle we’ve been seeing more of as of late.  Now you may think that Cassie started this trend (that La La Vasquez also eagerly picked up) but don’t get it twisted, Raven also had this hairstyle back in ‘08. No matter who was the first girl to shave off a track, I hope we see the end of this madness soon!

Until next time, have a great 4th of July weekend folks! Get down on some BBQ and enjoy yourselves!

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I don’t know why celebrities bother deleting their tweets. By the time you hit that delete button chances are 80 people have already screencapped whatever it is you said and have started passing it around like a blunt on Lil’ Wayne’s tour bus.

So, when you have a million followers and all of your fans are like 17 and typ3 lyk3 th!$, you already know they’re gonna be up on game and spread the news.

Such is the case for Soulja Boy, who seems to have a case of the “woe is me, I’m rich and famous” foot in mouth disease.

Peep the tweets:

“My music dream was THE SH*T 2 years ago before I was signed. It was everything I could ever imagine. Then I get signed. this is where my dream slowly died.. these c*****z wanna criticize a ni**a. Take REAL SH*T and turn it to trash. Water down my music and my appearance and make me look like something I’m not. THESE C******S DONT KNOW WHO THE F**K I REALLY AM!!! I go to the studio make new music for my fans to enjoy and party to. They take my sh*t hate on me. Make me look ignorant in the media. It’s all bullsh*t. Like WHY do I have to put up with this? because it’s my dream? that sh*t died when crank that went #1

I know what you thinking. But SOULJA BOY its the American dream your rich I would kill to be in your shoes. thats what you THINK its all BS! They say soulja boy u changed. soulja boy u hollywood I ain’t ask for this SH*T!!!!!! I want it to go back to how it was before i was signed I might be soundin crazy now.. I don’t really know about alot of things these days. But I just want EveryBODY to know this sh*t. Just KNOW that i’m only 18 man… And it’s only so much I can do. It’s only so much I can take. If your really fans and love and support me. You would hear me out and help ya boy get thru this sh*t.. I know everybody is gonna have opinions on the things that i’m saying right now.. but there it is. I’m not perfect.”

To his credit, he is only 18 and I imagine that sort of sudden fame and wealth is overwhelming. Not to mention quickly recording a follow-up album.

However, as I’m still in the process of making my first million, my sympathy levels aren’t shooting [that] high. If he has enough sense to make a fortune off of an album he created on his PC, he can figure out how to deal with this.

He better call some of his kinfolk and take a quick vacation.

I find this hard to believe but word has surfaced that those who seek to pay their respects to the late great, King of Pop will have to shell out $25 for entry.

Indeed, Michael Jackson’s public memorial will take place on Tuesday, July 7th (allegedly at the Staples Center in Los Angeles), but fans will have to pay $25 to sit in the stands.

Why the entry fee (if this is true!)? Before you blame Papa Joe, there may be a number of factors involved.

The most noted one is the state of California being broke.  The City of Los Angeles is facing a $530 million dollar deficit and to properly secure a spectacle of this nature is not cheap.

On the other hand, the memorial service will include guest speakers, music and video screens inside and outside of the Staples Center, and celebrity guests like Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Ross.

They’ll even be selling the t-shirts from Jackson’s would be comeback tour, “This Is It.”  It’s a recession, ya’ll: We can’t waste cotton like that.

To be fair to Mike, he is the best to have ever done it. He can’t go out with a boring memorial. If I remember James Brown’s funeral correctly, it was one of the best concerts I had seen in years. Mike has to raise the bar!

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What a sad week in entertainment!  I was on my way to the Apollo Theater’s tribute to Michael Jackson on Tuesday when my Twitter account lit up with more unfortunate news: Vibe magazine had closed. The plug has also been pulled on the production of Vibe.com.

The magazine was approaching a 16-year anniversary and staff was in the middle of working on a Michael Jackson tribute issue when they got the news of the close which was effective immediately after the announcement was made.

Now according to RapRadar.com (which was started by former XXL editor Elliott Wilson, the husband of Vibe’s current Editor-in-Chief Danyel Smith), the final issue will feature The-Dream and a topless Christina Milian (looking like a bootleg remake of Janet Jackson’s “Janet” album cover. I hate to see them go out like this! Wish they could’ve finished the MJ special edition issue).

In a recent interview, Quincy Jones who founded Vibe magazine in 1993, chimed in on the fold:

“I’m trying to buy my magazine back now. They just messed my magazine all up, but I’m gonna get it back. You better believe it, I’m’a take it online because print and all that stuff is over. We gotta get into the 21st century you know. Print and all that stuff is over, we gotta remember that. The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Post Intelligencer. The Miami Herald. They’re over the same way as the record business. We have got to get into this century.”

I hope he makes good on these plans. If The Source magazine (which is currently the only large-circulation magazine focusing on hip hop and R&B on newsstands) could go through bankruptcy and emerge surely there’s some hope for a Vibe revival?

Besides lamenting the loss of the iconic music magazine that I grew up with I can’t help but be saddned that yet another publication aimed at African Americans has bitten the dust. Guess I better go renew my subscription of Essence.

There’s talk that the reason Beyonce and her mama, Tina Knowles, are introducing a new junior’s line called “Sasha Fierce” is due to their feeling that the name “House of Dereon” does little to grab the attention of consumers.

I’d believe you if you told me that the sky had turned Thriller red in honor of Michael Jackson a lot sooner than I would that theory.

Beyonce mentions the name of the line all the time via song lyrics or promotional press, so unless you’ve been living under a rock, I imagine you know who’s behind House of Dereon.

On the collection, Tina told WWD that “Sasha Fierce” is “edgier and trendier and reflects Sasha Fierce’s daring and outgoing attitude.”

They sure know how to pimp a press release, don’t they?

The line is said to be inspired from Beyonce’s tour wardrobe designed by Thierry Mugler.

So I guess there’s nothing left to say but to ask will any of you actually go out and buy it?

You know, you could buy your mama pieces from Tina’s HSN line, get yourself some Dereon jeans, then get your little sister some “Sasha Fierce.”

Those Knowleses got you covered.

Source: 1, 2

The soon to be ex-Mrs. Usher says she had no idea that Urshur was about to dump her because they only “got it in” a week prior to him filing for divorce.

In new court documents, Tameka Raymond disputes Usher’s claims that the two have been separated since July 2008.

In papers filed on Monday she said she “had every reason to believe her marriage was intact” and that two were “intimately together as husband and wife as recently as June 6.”

If true, that would mean mini-Ben Vereen smashed his wife one last time then upped and divorced her without letting her know.

CLASSY, Usher.

Yesterday in New York, fans packed the legendary Apollo Theater  for a public tribute to Michael Jackson (after all this is the theater that helped launch the Jackson 5’s careers when they won Amature Night in 1969) and the scene was unbelievable!

All over the streets vendors peddled bootleg copies of “Moonwalker,” buttons, shirts and other memorabilia while thousands of fans wrapped around the block (many waited for hours in the sweltering heat, and later on in the evening: pouring rain!) just to experience the event. The crowd was full of people showing off their dance moves, singing songs and rocking some of Michael’s signature styles.

Groups of 600 were rotated in and out of the theater for a tribute that was simple, but extremely lively. Inside, the Apollo set up floral arrangements and blown up photos of the star that fans took pictures with before they took their seats. On stage (which was decorated with a fedora, shades and one sparkly white glove in remembrance of Michael and then later in the evening became cluttered with a sea of letters, posters, flowers and stuffed animals left by fans) a DJ from New York radio station 107.5 rocked the house with all the MJ classics we’ve grown to love. (Side Note: did you hear that MJ’s albums and other Jackson albums currently hold the top nine positions on Billboards Top Pop Catalog chart!?)

Spike Lee came to the theater to show his respects and at one point took to the stage with Al Sharpton, who attended to offer a offered a eulogy for Michael after each group finished rocking out. At 5:26pm (the exact time the East Coast learned that MJ passed), there was a moment of silence in Michael’s honor.

There was so much love for Michael in Harlem, it was truly amazing! Below are pictures from the event! If you happen to be in New York, be sure to check out the Apollo again tonight: the theater is dedicating its weekly Amature Night to Michael and there will be special performances and dance features such as a moonwalking contest.

The funk don’t stop!

Click here for a full photo gallery of the Michael Jackson tribute at the Apollo in New York City.

Like most of you, I haven’t taken Michael Jackson’s death well. But, I’ll be damned if I kill myself over it.

Bless his dedicated fan base, but for those of you entertaining thoughts of suicide following the death of the King of Pop, keep it in the closet.

Unfortunately, it’s too late to relay that message to the 12 Jackson fans who have taken their own lives after being too overcome with grief following the death of their idol.

Gary Taylor, president and owner of MJJcommunity.com, says he expects even more fans to ether themselves.

Taylor said:

“I know there has been an increase; I now believe the figure is 12. I believe here may have been one Britain who has taken their life. It is a serious situation that these people are going through but Michael Jackson would never want this. He would want them to live.”

Taylor believes even more may take the plunge at the funeral, adding:

“I think the funeral will be where the reality kicks in that he is gone and won’t be coming back, there will be a huge depression in the fan community when that happens.”

Jesus be a prescription to Zoloft.

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In news as shocking as word of a shooting at a rap concert, it seems Michael Jackson is not the biological father of his precious pasty children.

I know what you’re thinking: How can that be when the resemblance is so uncanny?

Alas, Us magazine has revealed that Michael Jackson’s dermatologist is in fact the biological father of Jackson’s three kids.

If you’re wondering, no that guy isn’t Creole, he’s white. I’m talking white as the cast of The Brady Bunch to be exact.

Take a moment to calm yourself down if you’re overwhelmed by the fact that Jackson’s children having none of the classic Jackson family features is not just a coincidence.

Not to be outdone, TMZ reported that Debbie Rowe isn’t the biological mother of the children. However, her lawyer has since released a statement denying such claims.

None of this is particularly shocking unless you’re blind and thus not reading this anyway. I’m sure Michael had his reasons for ordering these kids and I’ll just leave it at that.

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