Kandi Burruss is all sorts of busy these days.

The singing entrepreneur has been racking up praise as part of the reformed Xscape and is enjoying ample success with her new restaurant – ‘The Old Lady Gang.’

Perhaps most exciting for fans though is her role in the upcoming 10th season of ‘The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.’

During a visit to the TODAY show this week, Ms. Burruss opened up on what taping has been like thus far – as well as what it’s been like filming with the returning Nene Leakes.

Check out what she had to say below…

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Is ‘Love & Hip Hop’s Cardi B making a beeline to the top of rap charts?  Time will tell, but the growing commercial and critical response to her latest release – ‘Bodak Yellow’ – is certainly a good indication.

Unveiled in late June, the braggadocious bop’s real sendoff occurred over BET Awards weekend where she not only gave the tune a live showing, but also won over some new fans along the way.  With her glowing buzz – assisted by two BET Awards nominations (Best New Artist & Best Rap Female) – the colorful tune was hoisted to a Hot 100 debut on this week’s refreshed tally.  It comes as her first appearance on the chart.

Like Cardi, Tyler the Creator – who has been active in various capacities since 2011 – also saw his inaugural appearance on the Hot 100 this week.  With his song ‘Who Dat Boy,’ the first release from his latest album, ‘Scum F*ck Flower Boy,’ Tyler debuted at #87 on this week’s tally.  Yet, with the heightened attention and boiling controversy surrounding some lyrics found on his latest album, we wouldn’t be surprised if the song bursts into Billboard’s upper half next week.

Until we find out for sure, look below to see who’s ruling the top 25 on this week’s refreshed TGJ Chart Check:

Hot 100 This Week

Your thoughts?

With each passing episode it seems TNT’s breakout new series, ‘Claws,’ is leaving more and more of a mark on its legion of growing fans.  For that reason and more, the network has renewed the Niecy Nash-led dramedy for a season 2, set to kick off in 2018.

Currently just midway through its inaugural season, the critically acclaimed series – also starring Karrueche Tran, Carrie Preston, and more – follows the lives of manicurists at a Floridian nail salon who have become wrapped up in some serious illegal activity.

And, if the way Twitter is set alight when the show airs is any indication, fans are wrapped up right along with them.

Deadline reports:

Five episodes in, Claws — from producers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, creator Eliot Laurence and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois — has become the highest-rated TNT series launched since the cable network’s programming shift last year under the new regime.

It also is the youngest-skewing TNT drama series. Ranking as cable’s No. 4 new drama with adults 18-49 for 2017-to-date and No. 4 cable drama in social engagement, Claws is reaching a multiplatform audience of 6.3 million viewers per episode across TNT’s linear, digital, mobile and on-demand platforms and averaging 1.1 million adults 18-49 in linear Live + 7.

‘Claws’ airs Sundays at 9 PM, with the season finale set for August 13th.

Your thoughts?

Following a window of exclusivity on TIDAL, JAY-Z‘s much discussed ‘4:44’ album hit all services (sans Spotify) within the last week.

It meant that Jigga’s numbers would be easier to track in the traditional sense. Especially after the confusion that ensued when he was awarded a Platinum plaque for “selling” 1 million copies of the LP in the US – despite the project only being available on TIDAL (who didn’t report their numbers). Later, it became apparent that this was possible due to Sprint “buying” a million copies to give away for “free” to customers.

So, how do the numbers stack for the album’s first wide week of availability?

According to Hits Daily Double, the simple answer is: good enough to secure a #1. 

Jay will officially sit atop of the Billboard 200 this week and shifted the following to do so:

277,601
[Sales Plus Streaming]
———
175,441
[Pure Sales]

******************

For what it’s worth, another week at #1 looks likely. For, the 47-year-old is still in pole position on the iTunes US store and boasts more star power and hype than a number of the releases unleashed in this new tracking week.

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Getty]

For almost 20 years, Beyonce has proven a formidable force and 2016 was no different.

Billboard have published their list of Top 50 Music Money Makers and unsurprisingly Queen Bey has bested the rest.

The criteria drawn on to compile the tally were: sales, streaming, publishing, and touring.

While the list, in itself, makes for an interesting read, the difference between each act on certain fronts is even more riveting.

For instance, though Bey excelled in pure sales and touring (enough to make her total $20 million ahead of the act in #2 spot), other names like Rihanna and Drake outranked her streaming figure.

Check out key names, where they placed, and how they got there below…

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Michael Jackson‘s estate may have trouble on its hands if it doesn’t comply with the wishes of his producer Quincy Jones.

Quincy created a number of the late star’s greatest hits and mourned his passing with the rest his star-studded family.

Alas, things have taken a turn for the worst now that he believes his estate is refusing to cough up cash he is owed for building his discography.

How much?

$30 million.

‘Variety’ reveals…

Attorney Mike McKool delivered his opening argument in the trial, which is now underway in Los Angeles Superior Court. McKool said that before Jackson’s death in 2009, Jones had received his customary royalties from producing three albums: “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad.”

But, McKool argued that that changed when Jackson died and the singer’s estate took control of his finances. Jackson’s death brought a surge of interest in his catalog, and the estate reaped an increased share of the royalties from his hit songs. But Jones was not allowed to share in the bounty, McKool contended, and indeed was not even informed of the increased royalties until after filing suit in 2013.

Michael’s team thinks differently.

We believe the evidence will show that Mr. Jones is not entitled to anything but a fraction of the money he’s after. Mr. Jones has been paid over $18 million, and he will make millions more.

He didn’t get paid any of the money Michael was going to get because he didn’t do any of the work. Mr. Jones is asking for tens and tens of millions of dollars. He just wants it and he hopes you will give it to him.

The trial is set to last three weeks and will see Jones testify next week.

Your thoughts?

Nostalgia is proving a popular play in todays TV and film arenas. And Russell Simmons wants in.

The media mogul is reportedly readying a reboot of his ‘Def Poetry Jam’ series for HBO and has his sights set on Chance The Rapper to host.

If a go, the updated show would be titled ‘All Def Poetry.’

The original ‘Def Poetry Jam’ was a spoken word poetry series hosted by Mos Def on HBO; it ran  from 2002-2007.

As Deadline notes, it was an off-shoot of Simmons’ classic ‘Def Comedy Jam’ which aired 1992-97 – also on HBO. Recently rebooted (as ‘All Def Comedy’), the initial incarnation of the series launched the mainstream careers of talent such as Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker, Bernie Mac, and Steve Harvey.

The first run of ‘Def Poetry’ earned a Tony, a Peabody, and an NAACP Image honor. So, any such revival has a firm foundation to build on.

A post shared by Russell Simmons (@unclerush) on Jul 14, 2017 at 7:47am PDT

Your thoughts?

JAY-Z continues his unorthodox push for new album ‘4:44.’

Each week since the June 30th release of the LP has brought with it a new video and the latest is for ‘BAM.’

Directed Rohan Blair-Mangat, the visual was shot in Jamaica and features the song’s guest feature Damian Marley.

Watch below…

‘BAM’ is easily one of our most played tracks from the album, so it’s awesome to see it receive the video treatment.

In other Jay news, he announced the US  ‘4:44 Tour.’ Click here for dates.

Your thoughts?

Jaden Smith‘s discography has welcomed a new edition to its growing family.

The name of his latest cut? ‘Watch Me’, penned as part of his exciting partnership with Roc Nation and his bid to permeate Pop culture as a bonafide multi-hyphenate star.

Just tell your man that it’s all in the pelvis / Watch me, watch me, watch me do this / Since 2012 I’ve been the coolest / If you do not get it, my ni**a, you foolish.

Intrigued by his union with the Roc?

Here’s what he had to say about it.

The collaboration between Roc Nation and MSFTS Music is empowering for the youth and flat out legendary. Having the support of Roc Nation to get our music to the masses and change culture is a dream come true and a blessing. For My Republic I Stand MSFTS Over All, Thank You.

Your thoughts?

Beyonce makes stage slayage look easy and now she’s doing the same with her post-pregnancy snapback.

Queen Bey made headlines when she gave birth to twins Rumi and Sir Carter exactly one month ago and broke the internet today when sharing the first snaps of the babies.

While doing so, it turns out she was also making her first public appearance.

Looking like a snack, the singer attended rapper Vic Mensa‘s album listening event in Los Angeles with hubby JAY-Z.

Peep pics of Bey below…

A post shared by Beyoncé, Solange and others (@formation.tour.2016) on Jul 14, 2017 at 9:06am PDT

A post shared by Beyoncé, Solange and others (@formation.tour.2016) on Jul 14, 2017 at 8:19am PDT

Mama is clearly playing no games! Push through!

Your thoughts?

Tyler Perry has achieved a wealth of success marching to the beat of his own drum; and now, as he gears up for the next chapter of his career, he’s teaming with Viacom for an unprecedented content partnership.

According to THR, the multi-year deal covers TV, film and short-form video projects, including producing approximately 90 episodes annually of original drama and comedy series for BET and other Viacom networks. The media juggernaut will have exclusive licensing rights on Perry programming and exclusive distribution rights to his short-form video content (sitcoms et al).

On the movie front, the Viacom owned Paramount will have exclusive “first look” rights on any and all new film concepts from Perry.

The film facet of the deal is effective immediately (and will include the ‘Madea‘ franchise), while the TV side of things goes into effect in May 2019, after the expiry of Perry’s exclusive agreement with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN – home of a number of his shows including ‘The Haves & Have Nots.’

Speaking on the deal, Perry said in a statement:

“Viacom has a rich tradition of reaching my audience through their TV, film and digital platforms and I am excited to partner with them. I am eager to have one home where I can leverage all of their assets to tell my stories to an even wider audience. I have been very blessed to have worked with the incredible people at Lionsgate and OWN over the last few years and I look forward to continuing my work with them on a non-exclusive basis.”

Congratulations!

This is a huge look and will see Perry harness the collective clout of Viacom film and TV divisions (which include BET, MTV, and Comedy Central) to broaden his reach.

Your thoughts?

TLC may not have set the charts alight with their final album, but that hasn’t stopped the bookings coming in.

Fresh from announcing a new European tour, the ladies catered to their Stateside base with a performance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live.’

Joined by Hip-Hop veteran Snoop Dogg, T-Boz and Chilli rocked out to their single ‘Way Back.’

A troop of dancers added pepper and spice to the showing, which seemed to go down well with the audience in attendance.

Check it out below…

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