The amiable R&B singer Bobby Valentino saw his brand thrown into dramatic waters when footage of him fleeing the home of a person he believed was a cisgender woman surfaced online.

Shortly after, it emerged that the woman was actually a transgender woman named Reima Houston who took to social media to blast claims that she catfished the straight entertainer.

Now, after V claimed she was out to blackmail and extort him, Reima has learned that details from her colourful past may sway the general public’s opinion in the singer’s favour.

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Rihanna‘s efforts to uplift the lives of people around the world continued this week now that she has welcomed the arrival of a new scholarship built to back Malawi school girls.

In a press release she shared:

I’m so happy about the Clara Lionel Foundation’s new partnership with ofo because it will help so many young people around the world receive a quality education, and also help the young girls of Malawi get to school safely, cutting down those very long walks they make to and from school all alone.

ofo founder beamed…

We are delighted to work with Rihanna and the Clara Lionel Foundation on this innovative initiative as we are keen to help improve education accessibility for students living in poverty. We believe in unlocking every corner in the world with equal access to education as well as with our bike-sharing scheme.

Brilliant.

Your thoughts?

After a very tight race between herself, Tyler the Creator, and Meek Mill, emo songstress Lana Del Rey‘s landed another run at #1 thanks to her fifth studio album, ‘Lust For Life.’

Despite an early leak, the Polydor/Interscope Records-released album – officially available for purchase on July 21 – still opened to the sum of 107,000 equivalent album units in its premiere week (80,000 in traditional album sales).  With Tyler’s ‘Flower Boy’ (106,000 units sold SPS) and Mill’s ‘Wins & Losses’ (102,000) trailing closely behind, the trio of new entries marked the first time this year that the Billboard 200’s top 3 was comprised of new albums that all sold over 100,000 in the tracking week.

Congratz are in order for all three artists, especially Del Rey.  Longtime fans of the singer know her first run at #1 came in 2014 with her sophomore effort, ‘Ultraviolence.’  

See who joins them in the top 25 on this week’s refreshed ‘TGJ Chart Check:  Billboard 200’:

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Other than being talented, highly sought after rapstresses, what’s something Young MA, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B now all have in common?  They’re the only female rap artists this decade to have at least one top 30 to their names by their lonesomes, that’s what.

Cardi, the latest addition to the female rap club, is painting the charts ‘Bodak Yellow’ thanks to some handsome streams and digital sales of the cut.  After premiering on the tally just three weeks ago, as we reported here, the braggadocious bop – B’s career Hot 100 debut – has already leaped over 50 spots to lay claim to the #28.  And, if the hype around the tune is any indication of where it’s headed, we predict it’ll crack the top 20 next week.

Until we know for sure, tuck in below to see who joins the ‘Love & Hip Hop’ alum in the top 30 on this week’s refreshed ‘TGJ Chart Check’:

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Fans of Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez may not realize their feud started long before the former uttered that infamous phrase, ‘I don’t know her.’

As had been long rumored, the ladies were being pitted against one another behind the scenes by label execs – namely Carey’s ex-husband Tommy Mottola.  And, while that’s yet to be publicly confirmed by the Sony leader himself, another industry exec – Irv Gotti of Murder Inc. – is going on record to confirm the rumor.

Claiming J.Lo’s #1 hit, ‘I’m Real,’ was rushed to be recorded and strategically promoted to spite the multi-octave songbird, Gotti recently stirred a nearly 2-decade long hot pot of beef between the beauties.  A pot, from the looks of things, that shows no sign of cooling.

Hear Gotti’s story below (start at the 2:10 mark):

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Cop a gander of Tinashe!

The R&B starlet brings the heat to the Summer 2017 issue of Galore Magazine.

Like many, we’re still wondering where her ‘Joyride’ album is. But we’re sure no one will be complaining given the gift of these sizzling snaps.

Within her interview, the singer opens up about sexism in the music industry, as well as her dating life.

Peep pics and quotes below…

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Meet the new Miguel.

Now years removed from his impact-making number ‘Adorn’ the entertainer seeks fresh glory with his forthcoming album and the material he’s recording to elevate it.

His first promotional stop? ‘Blag’ magazine where he spoke candidly on his career, culture and the music industry.

Read below…

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Like many, we often eye-roll when celebrities complain about the drawbacks of being in the public eye.

However, there are select times when we see exactly what they mean.

Case in point Mariah Carey.

The singer was swamped by paparazzi when leaving a restaurant with “boyfriend” Bryan Tanaka.

And while most of the cam-flashers were respectful, one shouted one of the most disgusting, tactless things we’ve heard in a long while.

See what we mean below…

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Armed with the momentum of the Super Bowl and Coachella, Lady Gaga kicked off the ‘Joanne World Tour’ in fine fashion last night.

The superstar songstress launched the global trek in Vancouver, Canada and reviews thus far have been potently positive.

Mounted in support of Mother Monster’s fifth album ‘Joanne,’ the mammoth arena + stadium showcase sees the singer perform much loved hits such as ‘Bad Romance’ and ‘Telephone’ as well as newer numbers like ‘The Cure’ and ‘Million Reasons.’

With Gaga having sold 820k of ‘Joanne’ Stateside and the show running right through to December, it’s safe to say more success awaits the era. Namely plaques and box office certs.

Peep performances below…

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Grace Jones’ life story is to be retold via the documentary  ‘Grace Jones: Bloodlight & Bami’, the very first comprehensive film to examine the icon’s past.

Production on the release kicked off five years ago and hopes to introduce viewers to a version of Grace they’ve never seen before via footage pulled from interviews, performances and moments prised from her colourful private life.

Its director  Sophie Fiennes shares…

This film began in a collaborative creative spirit. Grace had fiercely controlled her public image, but made the bold decision to un-mask. She never sought to control my shooting process, and I didn’t second-guess the narrative of the film as I was shooting. I just gathered evidence. The film is a deliberately present-tense experience; for me this is the thrill-ride of verité cinema.

Keep it locked on TGJ for details on its release date.

Your thoughts?

Holistically, Mariah Carey is renown for being one of the greatest voices of all time.

And while recent showings have called her present day capabilities into question, it hasn’t stopped folk from going to see her in Las Vegas and as an opener a special guest on Lionel Richie‘s ‘All The Hits Tour.’

In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight to promote the trek, the 47-year-old opened up about how she conditions her voice.

Let’s just say it’s rather…unorthodox.

See what we mean below…

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