It’s hard to stay relevant in the music industry. Every day there is a new face ready to drop their clothing and sing with auto-tune that can easily catch the attention of the masses and take it away from true talent. Nobody knows that more than these artists, who’ve had major highs in the industry, and quite a few lows as well. They’ve managed to bounce back and forth over the years, some finally getting positive shine, but their talents are so worthy, we just want to see them win in the long run. How about you?

Brandy

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Currently, Brandy is doing big things. She’s got a regular casting role as Chardonnay on The Game, recently put out a critically acclaimed album, Two Eleven, and she got engaged to music exec Ryan Press during the holidays late last year. But as we all know (and you can watch the Behind The Music) episode for further confirmation, things haven’t always been a winning situation for the singer. There was the fatal car accident, the fake marriage scandal, the reality show that didn’t paint her or her brother in the best light, and a fickle listening audience who stopped checking for her. Now that she’s regained a good amount of relevance, we’d love for her to keep it. B Rocka’s voice has always been one of our favorites!

In the cutthroat world of show business, sometimes it’s comforting to have a familiar face and someone you can trust as part of the team. These 15 celebrities left their fate and careers into the hands of their parents and it served them well — very well.

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The Kardashians

Perhaps the mother of all momagers, Kris Jenner helped her Kardashian daughters become household names. In addition to launching the careers of Kim, Khloe and Kourtney as reality television stars, the Kardashians have segued into the world of fashion design. Ready to have the limelight to shine on her, Jenner has inked a deal for her own talk show. In 2011, it was reported that she was worth an estimated $20 million.

Whenever a celebrity first gets on, they, naturally, always want to introduce the people around them to the life of luxury they’ll soon be accustomed to. Some people get a house, others get cars, but then there are some family members and friends who make freeloading a way of life once someone they know starts getting paid. You know, they stop working like they’re they ones bringing home the bacon. Here are some of the worst offenders.

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Lamar Odom’s Father

Lamar Odom’s father should be ashamed. He hasn’t been a part of his son’s life for decades. But as soon as he realized what he’s been missing, he returns with his hands out. That’s very tasteless. This poor old man was begging on TV for tickets to the game and whatever else he could stiff Lamar on. Lamar is being played because as everyone says,” you only get one father”.

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Last week R&B’s problem child William Ray Norwood Jr. aka Ray J dropped controversial track, “I Hit It First.” Considering the title of the song, his previously released sex tape and his use of a pixelated photo of Kim Kardashian for the single’s art work, it didn’t really take a rocket scientist to figure out what (and who) the song was about. Since its release, the track has received mixed reviews. Some are begging Ray J to sit down and be quiet, while others have sheepishly admitted that they kind of dig the ratchet spectacle being offered in the form of a three-minute song. Ray J’s big sis Brandy, however, seems to be among the group of those begging her baby bro to have a seat. During a recent interview with Karen Civil, Ray revealed that Brandy isn’t at all please about his newly released track.

“I gotta be honest with you, Brandy’s a bit upset. I haven’t talked to her because I know what type of lecture I’m going to get. Brandy is a whole different type of person. She lives in a different kind of world. I’m way more turnt up, my lifestyle is way more on the edge. For her, a lot of things I do, she might not understand but I can say she has my back. She is a little bit concerned and worried about the journey. But in every campaign I do, at the end of it, it always comes out with a positive message. It’s a beginning of a story that we are telling, there’s a middle and there’s a finale, so everyone has to stay tuned, including her.”

He ironically went on to say that the goal of the “I Hit It First” marketing campaign is to not say names because he wants to be “respectable.”

“I don’t wanna say no names. Like the main mission for this whole campaign is to not say no names. Even though the song is edgy and the song is intense and people think it’s a little over the top, we want to be respectable, especially in these interviews. So I don’t really know what’s going on with the other parties and with other people that might feel like they’re involved in the record.”

That’s very noble of you, little Willie. I think you and your “marketing campaign” passed “respectable” a long time ago.

In case you were wondering, Ray also says the video, which he hesitantly compared to an “SNL skit,” will be dropping sometime next week.

Turn the page to watch Ray J’s full interview. Should Brandy be upset with her little bro or should she just chill out and let him live? 

In the newest issue of PYNK magazine, the very beautiful and #WINNING Brandy opened up about how she fell in love with Ryan Press, her fiancé, her work on The Game, being underrated, and the reality that doing Brandy & Ray J: Family Business for VH1 was probably not the best decision at that time of her life.

On how she met Ryan Press:

“He’s a music executive. So, we actually met in the studio a long time ago. We reconnected at a music event sometime later and when we talked, it just felt like I knew him. Then I would just run into him in random places in New York…I’d walk into a restaurant for lunch and he’d be there. I ended up running to him at another event and he kept staring at me the whole night. It made me so uncomfortable because I thought he was married. So, I told him that he should stop staring at me because he’s married and it’s not a good look. He was like ‘what are you talking about? I’m not married.’ [laughs] From there, we just started talking on the phone. Then, dating. When he told me he was relocating to LA for his job, I just thought to myself, ‘he’s going to be my husband’. I took that as a sign.”

The singer also opened up about the state of R&B and who she does rock with in the game:

“I’m not okay with the current state of R&B. That’s why ‘Two-Eleven’ was so important to me. I wanted to do an album that contributed to that genre of music. I think it was very necessary for the music industry and the hearts of people. As far as newcomers, I hadn’t really been paying attention because I was so focused on the album but I can’t help but pay attention to Kelly Rowland. I admire her so much and would love to collaborate with her. Beyoncé is phenomenal and Rihanna is amazing too.”

“Sometimes I agree with it because I know there are a lot of talented people that have shown me a lot of love on top of my fans really expressing their love for me. Sometimes I think your ego gets in the way because you know you want everybody to feel that way about you. You want to get the credit. You want to get the props but I try not to live in that space because I know it’s ego. I’m just happy with being me. I’m happy with being able to be so connected in my being that I’m able to express that in my music. There are so many people who get the credit but they’re not really connected to their music. I would take the honesty and the connection with my music over the credit any day…but both would be nice! [laughs]“

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Threatening to spill tea is a great way to get everybody’s attention. But you’ve got to have a juicy secret to get folk to stop and listen. These celebrities are spillin’ stories, but holding back on what we really want to know. Here are the secrets we’ve heard and why we think they can do better on the rumor front.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Lauren London on the big or small screen like that in a big role, and that probably has a lot to do with the fact that she has a three-year-old son at the house that she’s a doting mom to. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know that the gorgeous actress brought her son into the world with the help of rapper Lil Wayne. The shock over their choice to procreate together (more or less, the fact that she wanted to get down with the get down with him) has come and gone, and clearly, London is back to work, but it doesn’t mean people don’t have questions about it all. Well, really, just Wendy Williams does.

While on The Wendy Williams Show with Brandy and Jay Ellis to promote season 6 of The Game, in the short time that London was on the couch, Williams asked the actress about her new character, Keira Whitaker, a child star who is a “hot a** mess” on the show, but she really spent more time inquiring about her “baby’s father” (Wayne) and how having the baby at a time when her career was hot might have affected it after she had him. She made it the central topic after London brought him up as a reason why she doesn’t engage in after-hour shindigs with the cast. Here was their exchange, which starts around the 2:55 mark in the video below:

Wendy: Lauren’s baby’s father is the rapper Lil Wayne, and you two are no longer together, right?

London: No. We’re great friends though.

Wendy: You’re friend’s And you co-parent?

Lauren: Yes, of course.

Wendy: And is it difficult being a single parent in Hollywood?

Lauren: I think it’s difficult being a single parent period. For me, with my job, luckily I can bring him to work–

Wendy: –Cause I remember early in your career you were in a few projects and then you fell off the map. Then you had the baby. Do you feel as though you lost traction?

Lauren: You know what…No, because life happens. As an actor, your depth as an actor comes from life experience. And I think it just gave me life experience.

Wendy: How is Lil Wayne doing health wise?

Lauren: He’s great! His album comes out today! He’s really good.

Wendy: More money for you, girl…

Lauren: I make my own though.

Wendy: Isn’t that nice?

Lauren: Yes, my mother taught me well.

So glad to see that London handled such a line of questioning with class, because she could have been mum about it all, or acted a fool. Much respect, because we know how Wendy’s mouth can get. Check out their interaction below and let us know your thoughts!

By the way, did you check out the season premiere?

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Back In August when Brandy expressed that she hoped her longtime boyfriend, Ryan Press would be popping the question soon, she caught a bit of backlash. Many called her thirsty and desperate for publicly expressing that desire; others applauded her for being woman enough to boldly state what she wanted. Either way, Ryan heard his lady loud and clear because a mere four months later, he asked for the singer’s hand in marriage. During a recent stay in New York City, Brandy visited the Wendy Show where she chatted it up with Wendy about Ryan’s Christmas Day proposal and future wedding plans. Take a peek at some of what she had to say below.

On Ryan’s proposal:

“He popped the question on Christmas. My Dad had finished praying for the food and after everybody said ‘amen’ he was on one knee, asking me to marry him.”

On if she was shocked:

“We all had a feeling. We didn’t know when he was gonna do it, but we all had a feeling. He asked my parents’ permission. You know, the whole traditional thing. I did not [go diamond shopping]. He did a really good job. I told him that I liked round instead of square and he did a really good job. I’m not a big diamond girl at all, but I like this diamond.”

On her daughter Sy’rai:

“She’s the maid of honor [in the wedding]. She’s 10. She’s my best friend. I love her unconditionally. Everything that I do in my life is for her. Every decision that I make, I have her in mind. It’s just beautiful to have a bond with her and I just thought that would be a special moment for the both of us. You know, for her to share in that happiness on that special day.”

On if she’ll be doing a reality TV wedding special:

“I don’t know. I just wish I could invite a lot of my core fans to the wedding because they’ve been there for me for so long… That’s what makes me think about it that way because I’m very, very close with my fans.”

Of course, as she does with everyone, Wendy advised her not to allow reality TV cameras into her wedding, but I suppose we will all have to wait and see what she decides to do.

Turn the page to see Brandy’s full interview where she discusses her roles in Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor and the new season of The Game.

Credit: WENN

From EurWeb

Recently Brandy spoke to EURweb associate Cherise (CNikky) Nicole during an event to launch the premiere of season 6 of BET’s The Game.

Read more of her interview on EurWeb.com.

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With the premiere of Season 6 of BET’s hit television show The Game swiftly approaching, fans are rather curious as to what can be expected this season, especially considering that the show lost one of its main stars, Melanie Barnett-Davis(Tia Mowry-Hardrict) and Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall) has been reduced to a mere accessory character. The show’s resident mama’s boy, Malik El Debarge Wright aka Hosea Chanchez recently chatted it up with Shadow and Act, discussing the forthcoming season and what fans can look forward to.

On Season 5 issues being smoothed out this season:

“Season 5 ended with a lot of the characters being in limbo. Melanie and Derwin moved away. My character was dealing with the crash of his substance abuse problems and his relationship issues, Mom and Dad issues. There were a lot of open ended storylines, which will get worked out in this season.”

On his role as Malik:

“He is a very emotionally charged individual. I know that everyone may see a hot headed person, but it really stems from him being this sensitive and caring guy that really does not know how to express himself in the right way.  In this season, you will get to see this character get fleshed out way differently than before.”

“Malik runs through women, and you really don’t get to see the character of a man until you see him with a woman. That’s just the way it is, and not just a fly by day and night woman, a woman that he really loves. You also get to see the character of a man when you watch how a man behaves with his mother. So with Malik, if you look at how he behaves with women and his mother, you will see his character.”

“Dude takes a lot of energy. He is so opposite than me in so many ways. I have to get in the mind set of being on all the time. The guy is on all the damn time. Early on in this role, I prepared for him by watching tapes of Dieon Sanders, Bo Jackson, Terrell Owens. Now, with this character it’s like being on auto pilot. So it’s like retraining something that is already there. I don’t have to study as much as I used to for this role.”