Hip Hop star Jay-Z’s new LP ‘American Gangter’ shot straight to the top of the Billboard 200 album chart this week, with sales in excess of 425,000. The rapper is now tied with the legendary Elvis Presley for the most #1 albums – both having 10 apiece – just behind The Beatles.

Hollywood actresses Gabrielle Union, Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan were interviewed together for the December issue of Essence magazine. As well as addressing the hardship they face as black women in Hollywood, the trio discussed internet gossip blogs. Check out what they had to say:

Gabrielle: Just last week somebody gave me a baby. This isn’t Perez Hilton or the White gossip people, these are women of color, specifically Black women who, for whatever reason, don’t like the company I keep.

Sanaa: She’s talking about the gossip sites.

Essence: The blogs.

Sanaa: That are run by Black women.

Gabrielle: And now because everyone is clamoring for celebrity tidbits, the bigger gossip sites and even mainstream entities are picking up on it. No fact-checking, no nothing. And in one week’s time, there were like five different dudes, a baby – I’m a homewrecker. In literally seven days. I can’t point the finger at the White media. They don’t care about us. Paparazzi are not staked out in front of any of our houses. They are not going through our garbage because they don’t care about us in that way. So when you hear crap about us, it is coming from our own community, which hurts.

Nia: We are some of the few Black actresses whose passions are rooted in our community.

Gabrielle: There is this idea that there is integrity in journalism; if it’s written it has to be true. But that’s not the case. When blogs or any of the magazines get it wrong, there’s no accountability. In the next breath, they’ll complain on the blogs that we don’t have enough Black stars. Well, you rip us to shreds every two seconds from our nose to the weave to the clothes to the shoes to the ashy ankles. {Source}

Though I can see where they’re coming from (especially Gabby), they know the business they’re in and what comes with it. In a day and age where any publicity is becoming good publicity, they’re best bet is to just get on with it.

R&B superstar Mary J. Blige features on the cover for the November issue of fashion and beauty magazine Genlux. As has been the case recently, Mary’s looking great. ‘Growing Pains’, Mary’s forthcoming studio album, is set for release on December 18th.

Like myself, I’m sure many of you are tired of Soulja Boy’s ‘Crank That’ song/craze, but this remix caught my attention. Last month I posted a performance of the 17 year old performing a more edgy-rock inspired version of the song on the Jimmy Kimmel show with former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker. Since then, this studio version of the remix has surfaced; I’m liking this one alot and think it’s actually better than the original.

Rapper Lil’ Wane covers three special edition covers of the January/February (Love/Hate) issue of XXL. Check the two below:

I’m kinda lost for words with Weezy and these covers. Damn.

As many of you by now Kanye West’s mother, Dr. Donda West, sadly passed away over the weekend. West was 58. Whilst no official word has been given on the cause of death, some reports have cited ‘complications from cosmetic surgery’. Check out the reports below, both via TMZ:

A plastic surgeon refused to perform plastic surgery on Dr. Donda West because he thought there was a risk of a heart attack. Dr. Andre Abolian told her she needed to get clearance from an internist but Dr. West went ahead with a tummy tuck and breast reduction without the co-sign from the internist.

The fire service were called to Ms West’s residence, following a 911 call:

A hospital spokesperson tells TMZ that an unresponsive West was brought to their ER around 8:00 PM Saturday night. They attempted to resuscitate her, but were unsuccessful. She was pronounced dead around 8:30 PM that night.

Whatever the cause, this really is sad. When I heard the news on Saturday, I was in shock. Evidently Kanye and Donda were close and it’s probably near impossible to identify with what he’s going through right now. Having been in London when he received the news, I can’t help but think what the plane journey home must have been like for him. My condolences go out to the entire West family. RIP Dr. Donda West.

Rihanna appears on the cover UK magazine YOU’s November issue. She looks good, but it’s starting to become….

Following a lengthy spell away from the music scene, new material from R&B star Usher has surfaced. Produced by Rich Harrison (‘Crazy In Love’, ‘One Thing’), ‘Dat Girl Right There’ is a welcome departure from the established sound of all those involved. The uptempo track differs from Harrison’s typical Go-Go inspired production style – in fact he’s switched things up altogether. It’s good to see Usher coming from a different angle musically this time around too.