Black Vibes

Keri Hilson @ 2010 NAACP Image Awards

Keri Hilson is ridiculously gorgeous. Check out the video and enjoy.

Today at Ulysses S. Grant High School in Los Angeles, CA, Grammy Award winning artist and actor Common, and MTV News Correspondent Sway Calloway hosted a Youth Summit and SURPRISED 2600 high school students. The event was the latest stop on the Get Schooled National Challenge and Tour - a multi-city tour to engage students in an effort to help improve high school graduation rates and ultimately raise college completion rates. The Youth Summit engaged students in a conversation about what their biggest challenges are in school. The celebrity education ambassadors asked the students to identify personal educational goals and to commit to achieving them.

El DeBarge is recapturing his fan base with quality, grown-folks music. Shout out to Faith Evans who's still looks and sounds great!

Lil Wayne is wasting NO time in getting back to work! Rick Ross and Birdman and Weezy = "Veterans Day"

Janelle Monae

Is it just us or should Janelle Monae have been featured on 'Black Girls Rock'? Download "Shape Of Things To Come" below!



Download JANELLE MONAE's "Shape Of Things To Come"!

Oprah Winfrey

Talk Show Legend Will Tape Two Shows at Sydney Opera House

SYDNEY - Bidding for tickets for the taping of the Australian editions of Oprah Winfrey's Oprah show has opened, with confirmation Thursday that two programs will be filmed in the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on December 14.

Tickets will be available to both U.S. and Australian audiences via a public ballot over the next two days, with bidders limited to two tickets each. While no numbers for the outside broadcast have been confirmed, it is understood that the Sydney Opera House forecourt can hold between 3000 and 6000 people depending on whether they are seated or standing. The tapings, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon, will go ahead rain or shine, a letter from organizers to bidders says.

Situated at the edge of Sydney Harbor and the city's central business district, the Sydney Opera House forecourt is no stranger to big entertainment events. It is the venue for this weekend's ARIA Awards, Australia's equivalent of the Grammys, and each season finale of Australian Idol was filmed in the forecourt with between 4000 and 6000 Idol fans in attendance.

The Opera House shows are part of Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure, with Winfrey and 300 of her audience members taking a 10-day trip down under in December as part of the final season of her eponymous program. The shows filmed in Australia will go to air in the U.S. in January.



Crews from Harpo Productions have been location scouting around the country for the last few months.

Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure is being partly underwritten by Tourism Australia and the New South Wales government for around $3.5 million, with Qantas, RM Williams, and several state-based tourism bodies also involved. Actual locations being visited are being kept under wraps at this stage, as are the guests who will appear on the shows.

Source: THR

Angela Burt-Murray

Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief of Essence magazine resigned from her post on Monday after a five-year-run.

Apparently, Burt-Murray summoned her editors and made the big announcement that she was moving to Atlanta with her family. Insiders say Burt-Murray had actually laid the groundwork for her resignation last July and wanted to keep it under wraps.

Red Cafe has a definite banger with this one. Shout out to Diddy and Fabolous.

Rihanna

Check out Rihanna's new single, "Cheers (Drink To That)" below!



Click to download RIHANNA's "Cheers (Drink To That)"!

Tony Austin

Tony Austin is not your normal indie artist by any stretch. In fact, some might question why he's decided to pursue music as an artist when he's had so much success in other areas of the industry and is so well-connected. He served as an A&R at Def Jam under his cousin, music honcho Kevin Liles, he's promoted national tours for R.Kelly and LL Cool J, he was president at Russell Simmons Music Group and he owns a strip club. Who is Tony Austin? Let's find out.

BV: You're unlike almost any other independent artist in terms of what you've already accomplished in the music industry. Tell us how you got started.

TA: Got my start driving for my cousin, Kevin Liles, which allowed me to be surrounded by people in the music industry. Asst VP to Def Jam Records, then went on to becoming Co-Owner of Russell Simmons Records.

BV: What made you decide to transition from the A&R/label side of music to becoming an artist?

TA: Something I always wanted to do, and since I had some idle time I made it happen.

BV: Tell us about your first single and upcoming album? Who are you working with, in terms of guest artists, producers, etc.? What can people expect from the album?

TA: First single is "Bang Bang". Has a strong street beat. Working with Waka Flocka, Gucci Mane, and Jazze Pha. Track is produced by Ice the Super Star.

BV: Who has assisted you thus far in getting to where you're at?

TA: This is an independent project.

BV: How will you make yourself stand out in the current music scene?

TA: By putting out great authentic music with lyrical content and subject matter.

BV: Who are some of your greatest musical influences?

TA: Luther Vandross, Spinners, Anita Baker, Aerosmith, Jay-Z and many more.

BV: Where can your fans see you in person? Do you have any upcoming performances?

TA: Stay tuned. Working on upcoming club dates.

BV: If you weren't doing music, where would you be?

TA: Entrepreneur and business owner.

Website: TonyAustinEnt.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TonyAustinMusic

Click for Tony Austin's single, "Maybe" featuring Gucci Mane