Ashanti and Keyshia Cole finally did battle in the latest #VERZUZ spar.

As widely reported, the musical celebration had first been scheduled in December but was postponed when Ashanti contracted coronavirus. A rescheduled January date was then scrapped due to rising rates of infection in the US.

Nonetheless, it took place tonight and saw the ladies compete with classics such as ‘Foolish,’ ‘Heaven Sent,’ ‘Only U,’ and ‘Give It Up To Me.’

Who won? Watch below and let us know…

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Over the past 12 years, Pop icon Britney Spears has inadvertently popularized the phrase “conservatorship” as control of her fortune was handed over to her father by the courts due to her “documented inability to self-manage.”

As her assets reportedly dwindle, critics – namely Spears’ large fan base affectionately known as “the Britney Army” – have mobilized a #FreeBritney movement to not only call into question the activities of her accounts but also the measures members of the diva’s family are taking to ensure the conservatorship stays in place.  The latter being the case despite Britney’s repeated failed attempts over the last few years to have its stronghold relaxed or completely removed.

These topics are the center of a New York Times-curated documentary titled ‘Framing Britney Spears.’  Featuring “never before seen” interviews with people close to the ‘Baby One More Time’ hitmaker, commentary from supporters, friends, industry insiders, lawyers, and others tied to her conservatorship case weigh in to reassess her the necessity (or lack thereof) of the ongoing guardianship and the toll it’s taken on her life and career.

See the official sneak peek inside:

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Over 10 million viewers tuned into Wednesday’s (January 20) live simulcast of ‘Celebrating America’ – a concert that assembled some of music’s biggest music and shakers to commemorate the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

That gargantuan viewership figure made the platform a prime spot to showcase new and old music, an opportunity taken advantage of in earnest by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Katy Perry, Ant Clemons & Justin Timberlake, and other big names on the bill who opted to perform original songs instead of inspirational covers like Demi Lovato, John Legend, and more.

For Clemons and Timberlake, the exposure proved particularly lucrative as the duo unveiled the first live showing of their new song ‘Better Days.’

If real-time sales tallies are to judge by, America was pleased with the performance.

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January 15 brought with it the season 1 premiere of ‘Belle Collective’ – the newest expansion to OWN’s Friday night unscripted programming lineup.

Centered on the personal and professional lives of five of Jackson, Mississippi’s most successful African American businesswomen – Tambra Cherie, Marie Hamilton-Abston, Latrice Rogers, Lateshia Pearson, & Dr. Antoinette Liles  – the series was served as the latest OWN franchise from the producers behind the network’s other Southern-based reality hit, ‘Love & Marriage: Huntsville.’

The venture was undoubtedly touted highly, but thanks to top-rated programming from the NBA, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ and more, Friday night competition may have proven itself a bit steeper than expected for the newcomer.

See what we mean inside:

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Thanks to the ongoing success of her sixth studio album, ‘Positions,’ and the content found within, Ariana Grande finds herself in a familiar position – earning shiny new plaques from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

More inside:

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After luring new fans to her growing legion of supporters by teaming with producer Tainy on the Reggaeton-soaked tune, ‘NADA,’ former Fifth Harmony hitmaker Lauren Jauregui unleashed the official music video for the Tainy-produced ‘Lento’ to similar critical acclaim.

The half English/Spanish track was billed her first “official” solo single in March 2020, despite having launched her solo career with 2018’s ‘Expectations.’

As fans are hoping they’re closer to hearing the first official full body of work Jauregui is cooking up, she’s tiding them over with a full Spanish revamp of ‘Lento.’

Branded the ‘Brabo remix,’ look inside to hear how she’s flipped the tune with famed Brazilian singer-songwriter Pabllo Vittar.

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On the newly unveiled ‘Nasty,’ rapper Rich the Kid plays backup on his own song and limits his contribution to the tune’s chorus as three of female Rap’s most celebrated newcomers – Mulatto, Rubi Rose, and Flo Milli – take turns flexing sets of their hottest bars.

Definitely not one for the kids, the XXX-rated cut sees the trio detail their respective bedroom prowesses all while leaving little to the imagination on the Buddah Bless-produced instrumental.

Not to be mistaken with Rich’s previous releases, 2019’s ‘So Nasty’ (featuring 83 Babies) and 2018’s solo ‘Nasty,’ look inside to hear what he and the ladies cooked up:

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After thrilling viewers with her long-awaited #Verzuz showdown with Keyshia Cole Thursday (January 21), GRAMMY-winning R&B diva Ashanti has returned with a new single, ‘2:35 (I Want You).’

A bedroom-ready bop, the tune was premiered during the live battle and comes as the first taste of new solo music fans have gotten since August 2019‘s ‘Pretty Little Thing.’ 

“‘Cause ooh, my body beggin’ for you / Ain’t no mistake, you the truth / And I can’t wait till we ooh, we ooh,” she coos on the seductive track.

Is ‘2:35’ just what it will take to get the Princess of Hip-Hop/R&B reigning over charts again?

Hear it inside and let us know:

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Jay-Z continues to give back.

For, the rapper is now putting $10 million into a fund for minority-owned cannabis startups.

Full story below…

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Nearly 50 years after her death, Gospel legend Mahalia Jackson is set to be the subject of multiple biographical films depicting her groundbreaking rise to fame and civil rights activism.

In 2020, it was announced ‘Orange is the New Black’ star Danielle Brooks had been tapped to portray Jackson in the made-for-TV movie, ‘The Mahalia Jackson Story,’ while GRAMMY winner Jill Scott will assume the iconic character for the first ever big screen adaptation of her life story (produced by Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah).

Now, it’s been revealed 13-time GRAMMY nominee Ledisi is next up to show off her acting chops as the Gospel pioneer.

More inside:

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Joe Exotic is lashing out at former President Donald Trump.

After Trump passed over the ‘Tiger King’ star for a pardon on Wednesday, he now claims the reason is that he was “too gay.”

More details below…

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Megan Thee Stallion has slammed suggestion that the case against Tory Lanez have been dropped.

As reported, Lanez was charged with one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm after the femcee claimed that he shot her in the foot on the night of July 12 2020.

The ‘Say It’ performer was also hit with another count of carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle.

Earlier today, murmurs began swirling about all court dates being wiped from schedules. Leading some to assert that the charges against Lanez had been dropped.

A select sect descended on Megan’s socials to mock her and she clapped back moments ago.

Her words below…

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