E3 FLASHBACK FRIDAY

After watching the new movie Notorious, a lot of my friends and acquaintances were very vocal about the depiction of Tupac Shakur. So with that in mind, for today's Flashback Friday joint E3 chose 2 videos from the late and great Tupac Shakur. The 1st video is one of Shakur's most touching and poetic works, his debut solo single, "Brenda's Got a Baby", taken from his album 2Pacalypse Now. The song features R&B singer Dave Hollister. The 2nd video, "I Ain't Mad at Cha," was the last music video Shakur ever filmed before his death. Peep both videos below.

UP FOR OSCARS

The 2009 Oscar Nomination announcements were held in Beverly Hills, California on Thursday morning and as expected some of the Gloden Globe front runners were among the nominees.
Actresses Taraji P. Henson (’The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’) and Viola Davis (’Doubt’) are both up for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. Plus
Rapper M.I.A., best known for her hit song “Paper Planes,” can now add Oscar nominee to her résumé. The Sri Lankan artist was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Song for “O Saya,” featured on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Congrats to all the ladies..

The 81st Academy Awards will air on February 22nd.

MAKING THE BAND 4 : NEW SEASON, NEW DRAMA

Peep the trailer for the latest season of Making The Band 4. After the drama from last season, which displayed two members of Danity Kane getting booted from the group, not to mention Day 26's below mediocre success and Donnie's complete and utter tanking. This new season should ought to be interesting, if not for just the drama then at least for Diddy's comical catchphrases. The new 4th season will premiere February 12th on MTV.

BEYONCE'S OBSESSION!

Beyoncé stans have something new to add to their own obsessed collection... The official movie poster for the thriller Obsessed, starring Idris Elba, and Ali Larter. Beyoncé takes another stab at acting as she portrays Idris Elba’s wife in the new movie Obsessed, in theaters April 24. I can just hear Beyoncé’s character saying “You don’t want none of this b%$ch!”

FROM COVER 2 COVER

Actress Rosario Dawson is featured on the cover of the latest issue of MAX Magazine, an Italian publication.

Runway and Designer favorite, Chanel Iman covers the newest issue of Page Six Magazine.

KANYE WEST DEBUTS LV SNEAKERS

Kanye West debuted his new Louis Vuitton sneakers (available in 4 different colors) during the Paris Fashion Week on Thursday in France.


Mr. West describes his collaboration with the luxury fashion brand as “what dreams are made of.”
Kanye West and designer Marc Jacobs pose for a photo backstage at the Louis Vuitton fashion show.

KEYSHIA COLE FEELS "COMPLETE"

Off Keyshia Cole's 3rd LP 'A Different Me' is the video for her latest single "You Complete Me." Peep the video below:

CELEBS DISH ON THEIR FIRST TIME!

This powerful short film premieres on Starz In Black, and plays throughout February for Black History Month.
Thanks to Blackarazzi.com for putting this on E3's radar.

MAGICAL MOMENT: PRES. BARACK & MICHELLE OBAMA’S FIRST DANCE

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, he in a white tie and black tux, she in a white evening gown by Jason Wu, started the tour of inaugural balls Tuesday night which cap the swearing-in of the 44th president. They started at "the Neighborhood Ball,'' which the president called one of the most important tonight. Beyoncé sang Etta James’ “At Last” as Barack and Michelle Obama took their first dance as President and First Lady at the Neighborhood Ball in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Watch as Beyoncé sings at Obama's first dance.



DWYANE WADE INFECTED WIFE WITH STD

Dwayne Wade has infected his wife with a STD, according to court records. This divorce is getting very bumpy (no pun intended)… In legal papers, high school sweetheart and ex-wife Siohvaughn Wade alleges he abandoned his children, committed adultery, and infected her with an unspecified sexually transmitted disease. She wants the names of "all of his sexual partners" during their six-year marriage. Dwyane, who turns 27 on Saturday, petitioned for the divorce last May. He and Siohvaughn, 27, have two boys, Zaire,who will be 7 next month, and Zion, 1. Siohvaughn moved back to Chicago with the kids last year. Siohvaughn Wade claims that Dwyane hasn't seen his sons in months. His ''failure to spend time with them . . . has resulted in the children at times being afraid of him; in fact, Zion . . . does not recognize or know Dwyane.'' She wants sole custody, and support. She also says she has suffered ''grievous physical, emotional and mental injury'' from the STD, diagnosed in the fall of '07. "Dwyane has squandered substantial sums of marital property including . . . buying his mother a $2 million church; placing substantial sums of money in an account with another woman; providing numerous friends and family members with unrestricted access to accounts with hundreds of thousands of dollars of marital funds from which they made substantial withdrawals …'' Meanwhile, she says, he cut her off financially.Dwyane's Heat salary is $14,410,581, according to published reports. He hauls in millions more from major endorsements such as Gatorade and Converse. The All-Star has been romantically linked to actress Gabrielle Union.
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A DATE TO REMEMBER: STARS AT THE INAUGURATION

Obama's big bash: Celeberities flocked to D.C. to pay tribute to the new President in Washington D.C.. A cold but well-dressed Beyoncé and Jay-Z stood in the crowd at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., for President Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday. Other celebs in attendance included Oprah Winfrey, Diddy, Denzel Washington, and Muhammed Ali to name a few. Check out who watched Barack Obama get sworn in.





PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday afternoon, promising a new era of “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” Watch the video below as President Barack Obama takes the oath of office and delivers his inaugural address from the steps of the Capitol.


CIARA DOSEN'T REMEMBER ANYMORE

Ciara's new song entitled "I Don't Remember" has been leaked. Reportedly coming from the writing hands of Ne-Yo, the ballad track is believed to be listed on her upcoming third major studio album "Fantasy Ride". Ciara is expected to release "Fantasy Ride" on April 7th. On the new album, she teams up with Ludacris in the single "High Price". She also joins forces with T-Pain on "Go Girl" and Young Jeezy in "Never Ever".


JOHN LEGEND'S 'EVERYBODY KNOWS'

John Legend has released a music video for his single entitled 'Everybody Knows', which appears on his third studio record 'Evolver'. Peep the video below:

BEYONCE SINGS AT ‘WE ARE ONE'

Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Rock, and Country united for HBO’s “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial” in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. A patriotic Beyoncé performed “America the Beautiful” in front of the nation’s next first family and celebrities including Usher, John Legend, Shakira, Bono, Mary J. Blige, Tom Hanks, and Stevie Wonder to name a few.



NOW SEE THIS: J. HOLIDAY

Since releasing his debut album, Back of My Lac, Washington D.C. native J. Holiday has been working hard in the studio on a new album. Recently the R&B singer has premiered the official music video for his lead single. “It’s Yours” is the first single off J. Holiday’s sophomore album Round 2, scheduled for release on March 10. Watch the video below.

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS


Happy Birthday to R&B singer Aaliyah. A star in the R&B world before she was even out of her teens, who would have been just 30 years young today but Aaliyah's promising career was tragically cut short by her death in a plane crash at age 22. Even with only three albums under her belt, she'd already earned a place as a talented trendsetter among the R&B elite. Gone, but not forgotten.... Happy Birthday baby gyrl. You are truly missed. ~ Love E3 Gossip!




BEYONCE REVEALS INAUGURATION PERFORMANCE SONG

This is E3 Official... Beyoncé Knowles has revealed the song she'll sing for Barack and Michelle Obama's first dance on inauguration night Tuesday. "I am so honored that I will be performing for President Obama and the First Lady,..." "To sing 'At Last' while they have their first dance is a dream come true," she says. "I could not be more honored and excited that they have asked me to be part of this moment in history." Knowles had been vocal about wanting to be a part of Obama's inauguration. "I'm there. I can't wait," she said in November. "I feel like all of us, we're ready to do whatever we have to do. Whatever they want -- if they need me to volunteer, they need me to sing, I'm there, and I'm ready." Watch Beyoncé's as she covers the Etta James classic 'At Last' below:


A BABY AT LAST

Kimore Lee Simmons finally has her long-sought-after bun in the oven. The demanding diva and fashion maven has been trying for a child with her lover, Djimon Hounsou, and sources say the two have finally made magic. "She's pregnant," a source told UsMagazine. Currently, Simmons has two daughters, Ming Lee Simmons, 8, and Aoki Lee Simmons, 5, with ex husband Russell Simmons.

RIHANNA'S FAVORITE SONGS

As the 51st Annual GRAMMY awards draw near, a portrait of Rihanna for the awards and the 'Celebrate The Music That Makes Us' promotional campaign has surfaced this week. All of the text used for Rihanna's portrait contain song titles from artists who have influenced or affected her life and career. Rihanna says she was so inspired by Destiny's Child's that stormed onto the charts in 1997 with “No, No, No” that she’s named five of the groups songs in addition to cuts from Prince, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston in her recently revealed GRAMMY portrait. Some of the other GRAMMY artist that are involed in this campaign and that will have a portrait created using song titles that have inspired them include Stevie Wonder and Lil' Wayne.

THE OBAMAS SAY HELLO TO CANADA

The presidential family covers the January issue of Hello! Canada.

NOW DIDDY IS HAVING DAYDREAMS ABOUT BEING THE 1ST BLACK BOND

Diddy's Considers Fragrance Ad As Bond 'Audition Tape'

Rap mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs is so hungry to be the next James Bond his new fragrance commercial is his "audition tape." Diddy shot the ad for the "I Am King" scent in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and he portrayed a a "black Bond" while shooting the commercial. Now he hopes 007 producers are taking note. He explains, "I really was inspired by James Bond because he's always so cool, so confident, so strong. He saves the world. I felt like after watching 12 Bonds, I wanted the agency to know that there's also some black men that can save the world. It's my fragrance ad but it's also my audition tape to be the next black Bond." But Diddy insists he's not after current Bond Daniel Craig's job: "I have a concept that he has to go and solve a problem in New York and that I'm one of the agents that he meets in New York, but he's not from New York, so he gets kidnapped... so I have to save him. By me saving him, he realizes he's getting a little rusty, he wants to go and retire and he passes it to me... 008."
Diddy has got to be one of the funniest cats out there, but I guess anything is possible. You can watch Diddy's so-called "audition tape" after the jump.