Photo: Jaecyne Howell (MoonRisingNYC.com)

So after all that drama that Nas and Kelis went through during the months surrounding their divorce it appears the couple has made amends.

Essence reported that the estranged duo has been stepping out in public arm in arm.  On Monday the were caught looking “lovey dovey” at New York hot spot Marquee and were allegedly inseparable all night.  Then next night they hit the opening of celebrity hairstylist Dickey’s new salon, Hair Rules New York (they’re pictured above and I would say Nas doesn’t look too thrilled but it’s hard to tell since he never really smiles in pictures anyway).

Kelis and her mom catered the event for Dickey–who has done Kelis’ hair in the past–so it makes sense that she was there, but I’m still confused about Nas?  Essence insiders said the couple looked friendly and even brought out their baby Knight to the celebration.

So I guess she’s over him cheating and he’s over the fact that she got him for $40,000+ during their divorce and child custody hearings?  That was quick!

Kudos to them for being able to put their feud behind them at least long enough to be in the same room together without drama. The last thing their child needs is to have to deal with his parents at war.  Though I wonder if these outings are just their attempt to make nice for the sake of their child or if they actually have plans to get back together?  A permanent reunion certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing, but if that ends up being the case they could’ve save themselves months of stress!

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Remember that “well written” blog post we told you about that  Tameka Foster wrote about the plights of being dark skinned? Well BV Buzz reports that blog post may have been plagiarized! According to the article author Aisha Curry, who wrote the book ‘Pretty For a Black Girl’  read the piece and had the sinking feeling that she had seen it before…because she wrote it. “Why did I feel so connected to this article? Suddenly, it came to me. It was my work! It was my work, my voice, but in her words,” Curry said. “The only difference between her article and my book is she used ‘dark-skinned’ and I used ‘Black.’”

Curry’s 96-page pocket-size book, which was self-published in March 2008, though Tameka’s reps deny she ever saw the book before writing the article. I guess the topic at hand is one that many women of color have struggled with, so it’s not like Tameka couldn’t have come up with the topic on her own, but after some of the letters I’ve seen that Tameka has written bloggers in the past, I was a little surprised at her poise with the pen in that blog. I’mjustsayin.

Wigging Out

Did you see the Real Housewives of Atlanta last night?  Luckily no one tried to pull Kim Zolciak’s hair out, but on the internet this morning for some reason, people were still wondering if those shiny blond locks are real. If there was any confusion Kim’s hair is a wig! Not only did she reveal this on the season one reunion, she keeps addressing it in interviews and supposedly even has a wig line that’s coming out soon.  Last night Kim appeared on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live and some un-aired footage hit Bravo.com where the two extensively talked about Kim’s extensions.  “So literally it’s woven in?” Cohen asks.  “No I just put it on honey!”  Kim said of her wig.  She did admit that there’s several pictures out there of her at the beach with her real hair and she said “my natural color is black” (surprise, surprise).  Not sure why everyone is so fascinated by Kim’s hair piece, it’s not like everyone else on that show hasn’t dabbled in some Yakki (I mean even Kandi had a piece glued in the front of her short bump and curl before the photo shoot on yesterday’s episode!).  Let the girl have her Barbie weave.

All About the Benjamins

Kelis still can’t keep her hands out of Nas’ pockets! It wasn’t enough for her to receive a nearly $55,000 child and spousal support settlement after her divorce, according to TMZ, Kelis’ lawyer Laura Wasser has filed documents requesting that Nas pay $281,571 in retroactive spousal support and $29, 522 in retroactive child support. But, that’s not all: because Nas makes over $244k per month, Wasser believes Kelis is entitled to $72, 728 in spousal support and in the future, $17,225 a month in child support. Ok now I am saying she’s a gold digger! Kelis is really trying to take a brother for all he has! There’s no way baby Knight Jones needs all that money, though note to self: put Laura Wasser’s name in my rolodex for the future….just in case!

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It’s a boy! Academy Award winning singer Jennifer Hudson welcomed her first child yesterday night. According to Hollywood Reporter’s Showbiz411 blog:  ”His name is David Daniel Otunga, Jr., named for his father and Hudson’s fianceé. Hudson tells me he weighed in at seven pounds, 14 ounces. And Jennifer and David, Sr., by the way, did not know the sex of the baby in advance. They bought blue and pink clothes, just in case!”

The couple is said to be in a secret location laying low from paparazzi. Congrats to the new parents! 

Meanwhile, here we go again with baby rumors. This time the chatter is that Amber Rose might be pregnant. Media Takeout reports that an “insider” said Kanye’s girlfriend “suddenly and abruptly given up smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol,” even going so far as to refuse to allow smokers anywhere near her. The “insider” stressed: “she usually never turns down a drink – so something must be up. And to all of a sudden give up cigarettes too … come on you do the math.”

Ehh, maybe she’s just scaling back on the party life. Does that mean she’s pregnant? I’m not sure I’m convinced.  

Amber did sleepwork her way up to that recent Ford Agency modeling contract.  I’d find it hard to believe that she’s planning on throwing that career for a Yeezy W. baby.  On the other hand babies with entertainers do mean 18 years of hefty paychecks (just ask Kelis) so I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if this turned out to be true.

So while the likes of hip-hop’s Ren & Stimpy (Method Man and Redman to ya’ll) declare war on purported trife and lazy women over Nas paying a grip in child support, it seems the man himself isn’t all that worried about the excessive amount.

Why? Because that’s the figure he proposed himself.

That is, according to his lawyer.

On the $55,000 per month Nas has to hand over to Kelis every month in child support and alimony, his attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told OK! Magazine: “This is the exact same amount that my client offered to pay from the beginning.”

Suddenly “You Owe Me” is playing in my head.

Now, he could be lying to save face, but if true, does that mean everyone will stop taking shots at Kelis for getting that money if Nas is the one handing it out?

While Nas is probably off somewhere quietly hurting because of the crazy sum of money he was recently ordered to pay Kelis,  Method Man and Redman were very vocal about the whole debacle!  The two rappers visited EZ Street of WKYS and went in once they were told the amount that Nas would have to cough up. Here’s what they had to say:

“….I don’t know the ends and outs of their relationship but as far as speaking for men in general…. 50 grand a month for some p-ssy is some bullsh-t. Ladies for real all you did was f-ck your man. That money right there? A kid doesn’t need that much to survive. You trying to maintain your life style. That’s f-cked up. I want to see the shoe on the other foot…If we don’t nip this sh-t in the bud right now and have the court system seeing sh-t for what it actually is. If you ask me the court system is geared more towards the women than the men.”

“What the kids don’t understand is the air they breathing. The lights. The cable. The Mortgage. All that fall on Daddy’s shoulders. Not to mention he has to pay this stanking a– b-tch that he don’t even f-ck with anymore to look good for some other n-gga. This sh-t is crazy to me and any chick that does that sh-t is foul.”

Tell ‘em why you mad son!

For all those who have argued that Kelis deserves the money for her son:  actually according to court reports, baby Knight Jones will only get $9,027 per month.  Where’s the rest of the $55K going to?  Well Kelis will receive $30,471 a month in spousal support and Nas will continue to pay the couple’s mortgage until it is decided what will happen with their house. In addition to all that Nas will have to cough up $45,000 for both Kelis’ attorney fees and for a forensic accountant, cost incurred during the whole money argument that has spanned the last few months!

Poor Nas. Hope he was serious when he said all he needs is one mic (that might be about all he can afford at the end of each month after Kelis rings him dry). At least he’s still got some friends in his corner too.

Right now Nas is somewhere wishing he had made Kelis sign a pre-nup.

Let that be a lesson to you folks: Unless you have your spouse sign that piece of paper, it’s very likely you’re gonna get stuck with one hell of an unwanted bill.

Indeed, a judge has ordered Nas to pay Kelis $55,000 a month in combined spousal and child support — plus the mortgage on their L.A. residence.

Nas also has to pay for the baby nurse, prenatal expenses and medical insurance.

And if that weren’t bad enough, Nas also has to shell out $35,000 to the woman who just chin checked his bank account — Kelis’ lawyer, Laura Wasser.

In Kelis’ defense, she gave the world ample warning in the hook to “Milkshake.”

My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,

And their like
It’s better than yours,
Damn right it’s better than yours,
I can teach you,
But I have to charge

Next time read the fine print, Nasir.

P.S. Congrats on the baby.

T.I.’s still giving his boo Tiny whatever she likes, even though he’s in the slammer!

Tiny was celebrating her 34th birthday at Luckie Lounge in Atlanta with guests  including her reality TV show co-star Toya and her old fellow Xscape member Kandi Burruss when she got a special delivery from TIP.  Her boo sent her a 10-carat diamond ring, a diamond necklace and a Louis Vuitton bag!  Get it girl! At least the diamonds can be her best friend while she waits to get her man back from jail in Arkansas.

In not-so-happy-couple news Kelis and Nas are still hashing it out over money in the midst of their divorce. Kelis is still saying that Nas is being stingy with the child and spousal support and in recent legal documents claims she’s only received a $350 check and $2,500 to date from her ex-husband.

Nas has shot back at Kelis saying that he doesn’t make nearly as much as she thinks he does. Kelis claimed he brought in $11 million from his most recent recording deal but according to TMZ, Nas filed legal documents this week that say he only received $4 million from the deal.  Nas has said he wants to be a “fully involved” in the parenting of the child and has also claimed that he’s agreed to pay $350 for a stroller, $450 for a baby sling and $1,598 for two cribs (Kelis previously asked for $20,000 for strollers, cribs and other baby supplies). Something’s just not adding up (is Kelis asking for too much or is Nas just being trifling?), but here’s hoping that they figure out the math soon! Kelis’s due date is reportedly July 21st.

Meanwhile Beyonce was in the spirit of giving. In a generous gesture towards Detroit, Michigan residents who have been hit hard by the economic times, the songbird gave away 2,500 free tickets to her I Am… concert that’s going down at the Palace of Auburn Hills tomorrow. Sweet! Be sure to tell us about the scene if you were actually able to get a free ticket and enjoy the show!

Even if you’re not on your way to see Beyonce preform for FREE-99, have a great weekend anyway! We’ll chat with you next week!

Just in time for Father’s Day, Nas blogged a tender message to all dad’s.

On Global Grind he said: “Right now I’m shouting out to real dads. Some are great role models with real academic achievements. Some are not … We deserve the love! Becuz [sic] we don’t even expect it, we do what we do regardless! With no signs of a reward for it. We put up with everything, standing true to what’s real and letting life take its course protecting our household, our woman, our children, our family … Biggest Shout To My Son On The Way!!”

This is sweet and all but if you ask Kelis, I’m sure she’ll tell you their unborn child will need Pampers, not a shout out. Nas has said he’s not paying Kelis spousal support or legal fees in the wake of their divorce drama, but hopefully, as far as their child is concerned the two can put aside their differences and do what’s right.

Speaking of children, don’t expect to see a baby bump on Kelly Rowland any time soon, the singer says she wants to adopt.

She told The Daily London: “I would adopt in a heartbeat but I don’t want a baby. I want to get a child that’s five, six or even ten. I was doing Home For Holidays, a charitable program for kids in the States, and the older children don’t get adopted as much.”

She added: “I don’t want that many children, but I want a family of five, including adopted children.”

I love that Kelly’s looking out for the children that usually are left behind! Can’t you already picture her brood going on play date’s with Beyonce’s future children?

In other news, turns out Rihanna might not be a good girl gone bad neighbor after all!  Although a man who lives next door to the songbird hit her with a lawsuit earlier this week for trespassing, among other things, Ri-Ri’s other Hollywood Hills neighbors are coming to her defense.

One resident told RadarOnline, “She is a good neighbor” adding Rihanna “is hardly ever” at the house.

Another neighbor chimed in about the situation: “Several years ago it had squatters living there and it became a real party house with people coming from all over Los Angeles. But after they were kicked out, it became really quiet again and Rihanna hasn’t caused any real problems. There have been a few parties there in the past month but nothing really so bad that people would file a lawsuit.”

Good to see she has some people in her corner, especially since I’m sure she doesn’t have time to deal with this lawsuit foolishness with THE big trial starting next week. Hold onto your hats folks! That’s sure to be a crazy ride.

Until then, enjoy the weekend!

Yesterday, my girls and I were talking about how much we miss Kelis’ music (we still go hard to Wonderland to this day), well apparently she needs to drop another album with that baby because mama is crying broke!

TMZ reported the singer’s recession confession: “I have run out of money,” she said.

Besides wanting a divorce, Kelis also wants Nas to pay up! She’s asking a judge to grant her spousal support, child support, all pregnancy-related expenses, one-half of all medical expenses after the child is born, $3,500 for the baby nurse after the child’s birth, and $20,000 for strollers, cribs and other baby supplies.

Somewhere a group of brothers are screaming, “We want prenup!”

What’s funny is that Kelis claims: “My survival is based on [Nas'] will at this time. If he does not want to pay for an expense, it does not get paid.”

(Ahem, Kelis, letting your bills go to hell if someone else doesn’t pay them is not Bossy!)

But then she turns around and says that while living the high life with her estranged hubby: “There were many expensive pieces [of jewelry] such as a princess-cut diamond tennis bracelet that was recently appraised for $190,000. My engagement ring is an approximately nine-carat cushion-cut diamond solitaire. I have numerous watches…such as Cartier, Rolex, Frank Muller and Chopard.”

Girl you better take that mess to the pawn shop! Or get tips from Lala Vazquez how to hustle up money from stuff around the house. I keep seeing her Twitter updates asking folks to spread the word that she’s selling her pink Range Rover on Ebay.

Either way, get it together! Cause, right or wrong, Nas already said he’s not coming off of his dead Presidents.

Do you think Kelis should get all of the financial aid she’s requesting from Nas?

More details on what led to Kelis filing for divorce from Nas 7 months into her pregnancy are starting to leak.

Initially, it was alleged that Nasir was a cheat and verbally abused Kelis throughout their two year marriage.

Now it’s being speculated that Nas may have taken it one step further.

MediaTakeOut.com says that VIBE is about to print a report on the fallout of their marriage and in their findings they claim Nas “threw a glass of patron in Kelis’ face before abandoning her at a London club.”

The report says Kelis was in tears following the incident.

I imagine if there is any truth to this, the soon to be ex Mrs. Jones may allude to it in her tweets.