Cristal Carrington

ShoeDazzle, shoe club of Kim Kardasian will begin sales of size 11 shoes on September 1, 2010. The launch started after many requests for larger sizes and boy is this a welcome addition. The club, which started in 2009 is a shoe mail service designed to provide fabulous divas with a new pair of shoes - hand selected by Hollywood stylists every month. It is a great way to step up your shoe game and keep it economical. Every item is $39.95. If that isn't fab - I'm not sure what is.

You can find out more about ShoeDazzle at www.ShoeDazzle.com -
Don't forget! If you are a member or want to become a member and have a size 11 shoe, you are in luck come September 1.

Smooches & Stay Fabulous!
Cristal Carrington

Kanye West clearly spent his time out of the spotlight doing more than just contemplating his future.

In fact, he probably spent most of it recording music, since he announced via Twitter (of course) on Sunday that he plans to release a new track every week between now and the holidays. "I know y'all need the music so I'm dropping 1 new song every weekend until Xmas," he wrote. "It may be my song, it may be a new Jay song, etc."

Yeezy said he's calling his new music express "G.O.O.D. Fridays" because "y'all know every Friday y'all gone have a new joint from our family. We look at the game completely different now ... It's about the fans. No more holding back. That's why I dropped 'See Me Now' ... it wasn't about me, it was about the Summer the BBQs etc."

So far, fan reaction to "Now," which features Beyoncé and Charlie Wilson, has been mixed. Some have likened the sound to that of West's debut, College Dropout, and others have said it needs a harder beat and feared that 'Ye was overshadowed by the power vocals from his big sis, Beyoncé.

In addition to the much-discussed Justin Bieber/ Raekwon remix he's just finished, West also dropped the Jay-Z/ Swizz Beatz remix of his upcoming album's first single, "Power," last Friday, which seems to have marked the official kickoff of his G.O.O.D. Fridays initiative. That song also had a mix of supporters and detractors, who weighed in on the strength of the beats and verses on MTV's Rapfix blog.

Kanye's clearly been burning it, saying he's been staying up until 5 a.m. every night working on a slew of new tunes, including songs for Clipse member Pusha T's solo album, Raekwon, Mos Def, Swizz Beatz and Pharrell. "Swizz looked at me the other night and said, 'Man are you getting sleep?' And I told him, 'I can't sleep ... my people need this new music,' " he tweeted.

He also mentioned on Sunday that he's working on a movie based on his album. Monday morning (August 23) he offered the tantalizingly vague update "working on the movie ... unicorns and RZA beats yo." A spokesperson for the rapper could not be reached at press time for more information on the movie or confirmation on the G.O.O.D. Fridays release plan.

West will perform at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, which air live September 12 at 9 p.m. The appearance marks his VMA return after a notorious onstage dustup with Taylor Swift, but it appears the rapper is taking the incident in stride. West closes "See Me Now" with the ad lib, "Uncle Charlie, by the way. And I'mma let you finish, but I got Beyoncé on the track." The rapper will be joined at the VMAs by fellow performers Justin Bieber, Drake, B.o.B and Florence and the Machine, as well as in-house DJ Deadmau5 and host Chelsea Handler.
- Godfathers

Wyclef Jean's bid to become the president of Haiti officially ends Tuesday, as Haiti's electoral council will disqualify him and deny him an appeal of their ruling.

Jean was originally disqualified based on a residency requirement; he left Haiti with his family at the age of nine. After initially accepting the ruling, Jean backtracked.

"After careful consideration and much soul-searching, I have made the decision to contest Haiti's board of election's pronouncement stating that I am ineligible to run for the presidency of the country," Jean said via written statement.

Samuel Pierre, who represents the legal department of Haiti's election council explained that rulings are definitive and can't be denied.

"Therefore there is absolutely no possibility for Wyclef Jean to be added to the list of candidates approved to run in the next presidential elections," Pierre told Reuters. "So it's over."

While not giving a specific reason, election officials did say Jean failed to meet the requirement of maintaining five consecutive years of residency in Haiti prior to running.

"I have spent half my life in Haiti going back and forth," Jean responded, in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday. "The electoral council is very corrupted."
- Godfathers

*The Uptown Diva says...Wow! What a disappointment. I was so anxious for Wyclef to get his chance to turn Haiti around. I really felt that his notoriety and star power, plus his immaculate relationships here in the states would for sure make Haiti a stronger nation. Personally, I think he should have appealed but I would try again in 5 years. Make it happen Wyclef. Haiti needs you.

- Cristal Carrington

sensation J. Cole is not letting his growing popularity rush the completion of his debut album for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.

In a recent interview with NY Daily News, the Fayetteville, NC native explained that he hasn’t released the title of his album, correcting earlier erroneous reports that he had named the project Cole World.

“I still haven’t brought out the title for the album because I want to bring it out in my own way,” he verified. “But we still got time before the album comes out. It should be no later than December.”

J. Cole had spent the majority of this year working to have the LP out by October 26.

Unlike most rap debuts, he’s hopeful to keep the guest appearances limited to just his mentor Jay-Z.

Cole also alluded that the pushback’s reason is due to his focus on putting out a debut album that will have legs into the next decade like his inspirations Nas (Illmatic) and Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt).

“It seems like every time I get in the studio the album changes a little bit and gets bigger with each song I do,” Cole disclosed. “The importance is that the music sounds special and will be something that’s around in the next 10 years.”

J. Cole’s debut will be the first album outside of Jay-Z for Roc Nation.

- Godfathers

This is a momumental moment for me....I have been going through an inspirational journey this year and I want to share a new project that I am committed to. This new project remains a challenge because I have never done it but I really think I can complete this. It is called the Harlem Avenue Garden Project. Simply put, I want to take 3 plots of land in my community of Baltimore Maryland and turn it into a viable garden for the residents of this block.

Problem is...the land is owned by three individuals of which no one has any contact. Two of the three have defunct addresses and the third...well we'll see what they are willing to do. They might actually let us use their land. The others...not so sure. Can someone sue you for creating a garden on their property if they are not keeping it up? I will soon find out! Watch Cristal Carrington as she flirts with the law and gets into sticky buisiness - The Harlem Avenue Garden Project...can she do it? Without getting sued??? Stay tuned to find out!

- Smooches & Stay Fabulous!
Cristal Carrington

rapper Chamillionaire recently spoke at the Social Currency CrunchUp at California's Stanford University.

In a technology setting, the Houston veteran expounded on his existing fan-base, created through online services like Shoutcast.com, prior to his signing with Universal Records. By way of his base, Cham said that he has an extremely artist-friendly contract dating back to 2004 or 2005. "I have a profits-sharing deal with [Universal Records]. Most artists don't [have such a deal], most artists make pennies on the dollar. I don't make that. I make what the label makes," he revealed, before clarifying that he has 50/50 share in net profits.

The former partner of Paul Wall revealed that through his website Chamillionaire.com, and iTunes-topping performance of "Ridin' Dirty," he was able to secure this venture. "If I'm spending money, I want my money back just like [Universal does] if they're spending money. At the end of the day, I make what they make. That's not necessarily normal for an artist, but when I came into a major label, I had leverage." The rapper was asked if given the change of climate since his 2005 success would make him do things differently in hindsight. "To say that I would go back [and not sign with a major label], I can't say that...I have made millions and millions of dollars with Universal [and their] corporate structure," said Chamillionaire, who remains a Universal Republic artist, alongside Lil Jon and Distant Relatives.

Chamillionaire did speak candidly about the contract structure at the labels. "Because the industry's doing so bad right now, I think most contracts are designed for artists to fail," he said. Based on his generous contract, the rapper who says that he'recouped his Sound of Revenge and Ultimate Victory releases, admitted he checks Universal's accounting, "I audit them."

Almost three years removed from a proper release, Chamillionaire also stated that he's watched his label change for the worse. "Corporations are struggling. And for somebody like me, [Universal as a major label] just doesn't seem that major anymore," he said. "They should have been more aware of what's happening. That's why I come to tech conferences, so I can see what's next. They spend their money [on sending people] to the clubs right now, and I think they should be here." The rapper said he watched entire departments at labels dwindle to staffs of five, losing personnel that had a lot to do with his own success.

- Godfathers

The Uptown Diva says... All I'm sayin is I wish Chamillionaire the best in everything. When I first got into the game - he was one of my priority artists. What a humble and talented individual. He totally made my little internship with Universal seem so much larger than life. Thanks and much continued success in the future! - Stay Fabulous

expected reunion with former NWA rappers Ice Cube and Dr. Dre has fallen through.


Ice Cube is wrapping up work on I Am The West, his upcoming album, but he hasn't been able to get in contact with Dr. Dre.

For that, he's said he'll finish it without his former bandmate.

"Many asked about Dr. Dre working on my album. Negative, Dre has been M.I.A. for a few months now. I asked Snoop has he heard from him and he said, no. I can’t wait," Ice Cube said on his blog. "I gotta turn my s**t in by Aug. 20th to make street date…Sept 28th. I’ll keep you posted if anythang new develops."

The rap legend said he is almost finished the album and expects it in stores in September.

"I’m almost done with my record, I Am The West. I’ve been mixing songs and dealing with paperwork all week and I’m down to my last 4 songs to mix. It’s bangin,' he explained. "I think we’ll end up wit about 15 songs when it’s all said and done and I’m real happy wit it."

Earlier this year, there was controversy that perhaps there was beef between the two artists stemming from an Ice Cube song called "Drink The Kool Aid."

The song lyrics say, "I ain't the doctor / This ain't the patient / This ain't that ni**a always on vacation / This ain't no white boy's rehabilitation..."

Cube denied that he was dissing Dre and the two opted to work together on both Detox and I Am The West.


"He played me some tracks set for the up and coming Detox record and we talked about me jumping on board the project," Cube said. "Of course I talked about him doing s**t on my record and he said he'd bless the album."

***The Uptown Diva says.... Dang! I soooooo wanted to hear a collaborative effort from these guys for a long time. I'm just going to pray that Dre and Cube work out their differences and make that music that we all know will rock the house! C'mon guys! Whaddup with that?

Compton, California rap star Game took offense to Miami rapper Rick Ross' song "B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast)" in the latest issue of Complex Magazine.

In the interview, Game seems to take offense to Rick Ross' glamorization of Black Mafia Family gang leader Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and Gangster Disciples' founder, Larry Hoover. While Game rarely hides his own affiliation with The Bloods street gang, he stated that he didn't want to lead his fans in the wrong direction. "All these people thinking they're gangsta. And after the Rick Ross song B.M.F. everybody thinking they're Big Meech again, Larry Hoover. Nobody really should wanna be that or aspire to be that 'cause you're gonna end up in a coffin," Game told Complex. "And trust me man, most of these rappers outside of me, 50 Cent and maybe Waka Flocka and a few others, have never felt bullets man, ain't never had a brush with actually having your life erased. So a lot of these rappers out here playing. That's just not the message I'm trying to send across no more."

Funkmaster Flex is teaming with The United States Marine Corp to build and customize a 1968, Chevy Chevelle. Flex has teamed with The Marines to promote its recruiting efforts, in addition to showing a human side of the Marines. Flex and company will re-create the 1968 Chevy Chevelle from inception on paper, to finished product, which will be displayed in The Marines' booth on Funk Flex's Custom Car & Bike Show Tour. The build out will be featured on Funkmaster Flex's show on MTV2, Funk Flex's Full Throttle, which airs on Sunday mornings.

David Banner and 9th Wonder have announced the release date for their highly anticipated album, Death of A Pop Star. The duo's first single and video "Slow Down" was well received. The duo will release their next single "Be With You" featuring Ludacris, which will also be accompanied by a video. "If rap music was a woman, she would be locked in a basement deprived of love. Death of a Pop Star is her first attempt at sex in a long time and its going to be Tantric," David Banner said in a statement. According to representatives for David Banner and 9th Wonder, Death of A Pop Star will hit stores November 9th.
-Godfathers