Has it been that many years since I paid attention to R&B singer Angie Stone? I know she changed her image during the promotion of her last album, rocking long straight hair and sleek threads in contrast to her Afro and bohemian threads during albums of the past, but what’s going on here? She seems to be trying to sex up her look (her boobs look like they’re about to jump out of that corset and smack her in the face!).

The picture above is said to be the cover for her upcoming  album “Unexpected.” What do you think of her new look?

Haute Mama

Tina Knowles is pushing out another collection from her line “Miss Tina” which features contemporary dresses, shoes and accessories. Beyonce’s mama presented the collection yesterday on HSN, where it’s available for purchase. The line promises to offer “a taste of couture” and help it’s wearers “transition perfectly from fall to holiday.” She lost me with back in 1998 when she was creating Destiny’s Child’s matchy-matchy dresses and costumes but good for her!

Dwight Packing Heat

Did you see the second part of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion last night?  I was anticipating less fireworks than last year, especially since I had a feeling that Andy Cohen would ask Kandi about her late fiance AJ’s death –  then, “fifth housewife” Dwight Eubanks came on the stage complaining that he felt like he’d “been in church all day” because of the lack drama. Be careful what you wish for!  The tables quickly turned to Dwight when Kim Zolciak outed him for getting a penile implant.  Surprisingly, Dwight owned up to and even owned it! Think his fiance is happier?

To say it’s been a rough weekend for Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss is a gross understatement. She had already planned to bury an uncle on Saturday and then came an untimely tragedy on Friday night: a fight in the parking lot of Body Tap Club in Atlanta that claimed the life of her fiance Ashley “A.J.” Jewell.

Atlanta police charged Fredrick Richardson, an employee of the strip club and the man that AJ fought with that night, with voluntary manslaughter, though they, like most people who heard the shocking story over the weekend, are still trying to figure out what exactly happened.

At first, Kandi updated her Twitter page and said “Im just in one of those moods where i dont wanna talk” but somewhere in the chaos, she wrote a blog expressing her grief on HelloBeautiful.com. Snippets of the post:

“Why is it that every TIME something great is happening in your life it seems like its accompanied by something tragic? I have lost two very important men in my life in one week. The 1st was my Uncle Ralph, the 2nd is A.J.,” she wrote. “When you loose someone to an illness like cancer it hurts bad, but at least you get a little TIME to prepare yourself for what’s coming….I hate to question God but don’t you hate when you feel like somebody was just taken away too soon? I just feel like A.J just had so much more living to do.”

She also noted that AJ “wasn’t a scrub” and that while he had six kids, he acted like a father to many children including her own. “Now they have no father. That breaks me down inside,” she said.

Last month, Kandi spoke to Essence.com and told them that the couple’s engagement was on hiatus but they remained friends and she was the legal guardian of two of his children. “We didn’t get a chance to spend a little more TIME & make amends,” she lamented in the blog. “Please take it from me, treasure the TIME you have with your loved ones & if there are issues or problems make sure you work it out before you run out of TIME...”

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Sad news.  According to published reports, Ashley “A.J.” Jewell, the fiancé of songwriter and Real Housewives Of Atlanta cast member Kandi Burruss, has been killed in Atlanta.  Some reports claim he was the co-owner of the Atlanta strip club, Body Tap, and a fight occurred during a brawl in the parking lot, resulting in fatal injuries.

According to Burruss’ publicist, she is “stunned and speechless.”

Kandi has custody of two of Jewell’s six kids.

Our condolences go out to his friends and family.

Check out the clip below, which features A.J.

Beef with Bloggersphere

TV personality and former Xscape singer Kandi Burruss has had it with bloggers talking mess about her fiancée Ashley “AJ” Jewel and her upcoming involvement on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, among other things.  So much so that she told Essence her upcoming album (which features a song with her former group mate Tiny) will be called B.L.O.G. (B–ches Love Online Gossip).

“I came up with the concept based on things that were going that were relevant to what’s going on in my life now including the show and what things have been written about me and my fiancée by bloggers,” she said. “The whole album isn’t about the show but there are definitely songs inspired from the show like ‘Fly Above,’ and ‘It Must Be Good.’”

I don’t understand folks who whine and complain about what people have to say when they willingly thrust themselves into public view!  Kandi also told Essence:

“I was supposed to be on the ‘Tiny & Toya’ show along with our friend Joy, Lyfe Jennings’s ex-fiancée,” and explained that it fell through. “I was disappointed because I was looking forward to getting into reality television, but the next week I was approached to join the cast of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ so it all worked out.”

So let me get this straight, you try multiple times to get down with the reality TV circuit that’s going to blast the details of your life but get mad when people talk about the details of your life? Not that anyone deserves to be trash talked but if you can’t stand the heat… Plus what would reality personalities and er, washed up celebrities from yesteryear really be without the blogs and gossips reporting on them and thus making them even remotely relevant in the celebrity world? I’mjustsayin.

Baby Baby Baby Baby…

Tisha Cambpell Martin is in the preggers club: she’s expecting her second child with actor Duane Martin (they already have a son, 8 year-old Xen). The Martins recently had a baby soiree in LA and guest list included fellow mommies-to be actress Jennifer Freeman and Lauren London. I wonder if we’ll see celebrity play dates in the coming months; it seems like so many stars are ready to pop or welcoming new bundles of joy (shout out to two-day old Knight Jones!).

What’s in a Name?

Paris Hilton recently revealed that Michael Jackson asked her mother for permission to use her name for his only daughter Paris Jackson. “My mom and Michael went to high school together and they were best friends since they were 13,” Hilton told Extra. “So I grew up knowing Michael very well and when he had his daughter, he always loved the name Paris and grew up being an uncle to me. So he asked my mom if it was okay and of course she said yes and I think she’s such a beautiful little girl and I’m proud we have the same name.”

Cute, I guess?  Let’s just hope the younger Paris doesn’t follow in the elder’s wild footsteps.

SOURCE 1, 2