Source: Twitter

From StyleBlazer

It’s not always sunny on the Vegas strip. Alicia Keys laments on a lover she’s missing on the Bruno Mars penned track, “Tears Always Win.” In the clip, Alicia leads the lonely life of a Vegas show girl, as she paints on a happy face by night, while she misses her long lost love on the inside by day.

Source: Twitter

Clearly relishing in the chance to play dress up, Alicia shared looks from the video set on Twitter.  Aside from the standard feather, lace and head dress Vegas fare, she rocks a denim shirt and a fedora, keeping her style super simple away from the flashing lights. As usual, she’s having fun playing up her short do, from a sleek and shiny structured finger waves to an understated straight ‘do. And what we love most is that she finds her way back home at the piano keys, where she shines best.

Read and see more at StyleBlazer.com 

For anybody else trying to tone up to look absolutely fabulous in their swimsuit this summer, we’ve got some inspiration for you. And it comes from an unexpected source: Ashanti!

The singer took some time out from trying to put together new music so that she could vacay it up in Las Vegas with her friends and family. Kicking it at the Palms, she took pictures with rapper Flo Rida, and soaked up some sun with her mom and manager, Tina Douglas, who she calls a “best friend” when captioning a photo of the two:

“Not a lot of people can honestly say that their mom is one of their best friends.. We can hang out, talk about life.. & jus kick it.. She gives some of the best advise & will check a ########## in a heartbeat! lmaooo I love my mom she is truly beautiful inside & out!”

When she wasn’t lauding momma Tina, she was showing off some very sick abs. Ashanti is looking very toned and in tip-top shape these days, and we’re not hating! Check out a few more photos that she posted of her super fit frame and all the fun she was having poolside at the Palms in Vegas on the next page. Back to the gym I go!

Source: WENN

From EurWeb

Akini Jeffrey of the 94.5 Streetz Morning Grind show hosted by Rashan Ali in the ATL, hit us up to let us know that Ciara stopped by yesterday. The Hot singer/dancer wanted to clear of rumors about her and boyfriend, rap artist Future, skipping out on a promoter in Vegas.The original story broke about a month ago when a promoter that hired Future to headline a Vegas show during the Floyd Mayweather fight, called a radio station in new York.

The promoter stated that Future was a NO SHOW, and that he and Ciara weren’t happy with the transportation services that were provided. There was also a rumor that Ciara didn’t want to ride in the limo with another celebrity that Future was originally bringing. Well, Ciara stated that “the entire story is NOT true and she and future came into town at different times.”

“I put my hand on the Bible, this didn’t happen,” said Ciara.

Watch the full interview on EurWeb.com 

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Many stars dream of having a Las Vegas run. Boyz II Men have achieved it. They have just announced a deal to perform weekend shows at the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage starting March 1. Tickets, which are on sale now, start at $40. It’s not a full-residence gig like Celine Dion, but they have signed on for a healthy number of shows. The Grammy-winning 1990s R&B trio will perform 78 weekend shows through the end of the year, reports The Grio.

“Vegas residencies are usually reserved for seasoned or veteran artists; legacy artists. Boyz II Men have been around 20 years now. They are a bit younger than most of the entertainers who do Vegas residencies,” explains David Mitchell, publisher of music industry trade publication Amalgamation. The group’s broad appeal — across demographics, genre, and even families, is their biggest asset. “They would attract thirty-somethings who grew up on their music, and that audience is prime target for Vegas shows and nightlife. The cool thing about Boyz II Men is they have a string of pop crossover hits so their appeal will be across age and racial lines. They can appeal to the entire family. And not every group from the ´90s era can replicate this move.”

Some artists turn to Vegas to revive their careers. Toni Braxton is a case in point. After her half-year Vegas residency at the Flamingo, which was interrupted due to her health problems, the singer was back into the spotlight. She went on to snag a reality show and become a media attraction — financial drama aside.  There aren’t many opportunities for artists without current hits and Vegas gives them an option.

“Opportunities in the music industry aren’t what they once were, especially in the States, so a Vegas residency isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Mitchell tells us in an email.

Vegas can also give bigger-name acts a chance to do more extravagant stage shows. It’s costly to take shows with special effects on the road, but if done in Vegas at one location, the costs are kept in check. “A Vegas move could place Boyz II Men in a position to create more spectacle since they are in one place night to night. I would think an Usher or Beyonce tour, featuring all of the stage effects, could be a cost benefit from being in one place nightly,” Mitchell points out.

It’s also a big pay day for major acts. Celine Dion’s first five-year residency in Vegas from 2002 to 2007 was a multi-million dollar deal. She performed her “A New Day…” show for more than three million fans and the series of shows grossed  more than $400 million, reports Ace Showbiz. Dion re-upped in 2010 — again for a multi-million-dollar contract — for a three-year run at the Caesars Palace theater, which was originally built for her concerts.

But there can be some downside to playing in Vegas. Braxton says her financial troubles started with her stint in the city. According to TMZ.com, “[W]hen Toni’s heart condition started to act up  – in the middle of the show’s run — she had to pull the plug, but she was still on the hook to the hotel for big bucks.” The singer expected her insurance policy to cover the bill, but reports TMZ, the company claimed “Toni had an undisclosed, preexisting medical condition, rendering the policy void.”

Braxton’s case is unique, but Mitchell says there are other downsides to a long-term Vegas gig. “Some critics think once you’ve done Vegas, you’re old. I think that notion is changing, especially since seeing an artist like Toni Braxton leading the same path.”

And for big name acts, they “miss a large part of your audience by not touring. Not everyone is going to make a pilgrimage to Vegas,” he adds.

Would you go see Boyz II Men in Vegas?

Source: WENN

The Jackson family has been dealt yet another trial this week as Joe Jackson, the patriarch of the Jackson family, has suffered a stroke.

A source close to the family told CNN that the stroke occurred Thursday morning and that he’s currently being treated in a Las Vegas hospital.

Jackson, 83,”is in very good spirits” and expects to be sent home from the hospital Friday, said the source, who asked not to be identified.

The “mild” stroke is similar to two others he suffered in the past five years, another source close to Jackson said.

Katherine, the matriarch of the Jackson clan who is still married to Joe but lives separately from him, was reportedly on her way to visit him in the hospital yesterday. Joe maintains a permanent residence in Vegas while Katherine resides in Los Angeles.

Though yesterday Fox reported that Joe was in “serious” condition following his stroke, all other accounts seem to suggest he’s on the mend. Michael Jackson’s one-time attorney, Brian Oxman, told Reuters:

“He was doing well and says he’s feeling OK.

“He was talking fine,” Oxman added. “He sounded excellent to me.”

Hope he gets better soon.

Source: Blog.VH1

From the sounds of things, marriage has moved up pretty high on Gloria Govan and Matt Barnes’ list of priorities, so much so that the couple secretly got married over the weekend — let the Las Vegas Review Journal tell it.

In their sightings section, the journal reported that on Saturday someone saw:

“Matt Barnes of the Los Angeles Clippers, marrying Gloria Mendoza-Govan on Sunday at the Little Church of the West with teammate DeAndre Jordan serving as best man.”

Stranger things have happened I suppose.

When we got deep into Gloria and Matt’s lives on “Basketball Wives LA” they were chugging along on the struggle bus of love, several years and a set of twins later. Their relationship hung on after they called off their engagement but at the end of the premiere season of BBWLA they went their separate ways. Eight months later, the pair decided to give it another go with Matt opting not to appear on the reality TV show for the sake of their union. If the rumor that these two tied the knot this weekend proves true, it sounds like that was definitely a smart move.

So far, man nor his alleged wife have responded to the rumors, but the marriage license NecoleBitchie obtained might say it all.

Source: NecoleBitchie

Are you surprised these two supposedly got hitched?

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A cell at the Clark County Detention Center, similar to one where boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. is serving an 87-day term. Source: LATimes.com

To be an undefeated, five-division World Champion boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is definitely acting like a wimp.

Mayweather went to jail on June 1st after pleading guilty to domestic battery for beating his girlfriend, threatening her and threatening two of their three kids. He was supposed to report earlier, but the judge allowed him to delay his reporting date so he could fight on Cinco De Mayo. Now, just 12 days after going to jail, the boxer’s lawyers have asked the judge to let him serve the remainder of his jail sentence from home. Why? Well, according to FoxSports.com, Mayweather says the low-quality food and water have threatened his health and he is losing muscle tone which puts his boxing career in jeopardy.

Cry me a river.

Not surprisingly, Las Vegas Judge Melissa Saragosa denied his request.

The LA Times reports:

After being taken into custody to begin his sentence in a domestic violence case, Mayweather “discovered his subjective understanding” of jail conditions “was inaccurate,” Judge Melissa Saragosa wrote in a decision Wednesday that voided a scheduled Thursday hearing on the matter. “These facts do not give rise to jurisdiction of this court to modify defendant’s sentence.”

Saragosa was told by Mayweather’s attorneys that the boxer’s plan to fight for two more years was in danger because jail deprives him of proper nutrition and exercise. In a 35-page request, the attorneys cited a doctor’s report that said Mayweather’s caloric intake was one-fifth as much as it was outside jail and that isolation effectively stops him from exercise.

Mayweather began an 87-day jail sentence on June 1 after pleading to domestic battery for a physical confrontation with the mother of his three children.

“The court finds the alleged dehydration of the defendant to be self-induced as water is made available to him 24 hours a day,” Saragosa wrote. “The court further finds the estimated intake of only 800 calories per day is also self-induced as defendant chooses not to eat the food provided.”

Saragosa added the physical training areas “may not be consistent with his prior regimen,” but, “he is indeed provided sufficient space and time for physical activity if he so chooses.”

Like the old saying goes: If you can’t do the time, then don’t do the crime. As if a man hitting his girlfriend isn’t enough, Mayweather is a professional boxer who hit his girlfriend in front of their two kids. He faced 34 years in prison and got a mere 90 days and now he is asking to serve the time at home? On what grounds? The fact that, as Fox Sports reported, he isn’t drinking enough because he isn’t allowed bottled water and doesn’t enjoy tap?

This kind of hubris is definitely not limited to Mayweather, but it is a prime example of celebrities thinking they should nearly get away with murder in the case of battering women. When Michael Vick was convicted of dogfighting, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison (I think he ended up serving 19). In comparison, Mayweather received a slap on the wrist for a more egregious crime. Then again, Pastor Creflo Dollar is still preaching on Sundays despite being accused of punching his 15-year-old daughter. How is that legal?

I definitely don’t support the lock-em-in-jail-and-throw-away-the-key justice system when it comes to black men in our country. But I also think there is a time to be held accountable for physically abusing women whether you’re Joe Blow living in Detroit, a top-selling R&B singer, the biggest pastor in Atlanta, or an undefeated pro boxer. Especially a pro boxer.

It’s sad that Mayweather is having to spend time away from his kids in order to spend time in solitary confinement, but maybe this will be a lesson to his own kids that, despite their father doing it in front of them, it’s not okay to be hit on by your boyfriend or to hit your girlfriend. Jail is not a five-star hotel, it’s punishment. Requesting to go back to your mansion in lieu of serving your time in jail is ridiculous.  If Mayweather’s career is that important to him then maybe he should have saved his punches for the boxing ring instead of laying them on his girlfriend.

What do you think about Mayweather’s request to serve the rest of his sentence on house arrest?

Alissa Henry is a freelance writer living in Columbus, OH. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink or check out her blog This Cannot Be My Life 

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Source: fashionincsociety.blogspot.com

I don’t know about you, but after looking at this man, I’m certain that I need more chocolate in my diet and in my life. BJ Williams is beautiful! This brotha with his light eyes and sparkling smile is the type of model we need more of in the magazines, and his abs are extra proof of that! The model hailing from Las Vegas is on the come-up, appearing in ads for the likes of Sean John, Levis, and doing spreads for GQ, Ebony and more over the years. If you’re trying to see what he’s working with, you’re welcome to click through this slideshow (though I know how you all are about slideshows…). We promise you won’t be disappointed by this delectable piece of man meat!

Source: popcrush.com

Ray J had a rough Billboard Music Awards experience all around. After issues with security and Pat Houston over seating, Ray J apparently had an even tougher night because the next morning he was found “out of it” in his hotel room and he couldn’t get out of bed. An ambulance was called because the singer was so disoriented and he was immediately taken to the hospital.

According to TMZ, the cause for the hospitalization was a combination of exhaustion and stress. In the entertainment world, we know exhaustion is usually code for drug abuse but Ray J did have a pretty hectic schedule this past weekend. On Sunday, he had just returned from a 32-hour round trip to China and when he landed he immediately drove four hours to Las Vegas for the awards show. Add that to Pat’s shenanigans during Whitney Houston’s tribute and you can see how Ray J would be a bit out of sorts.

As of earlier this morning, Ray J was still in the hospital with no word on when he would be released. Hopefully he’ll get himself together. Whatever that means for him.

What do you think about this hospitalization?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Welterweight fighter Floyd Mayweather, with a 41-0 record, returns to the ring tonight, Saturday September 17^th for the first time in 16 months and is expected to make at least $40 million – whether he wins or loses. Wow!

The 34 year old boxer is a true business man in the sense of building his empire and getting paid for every part of the broadcasted fight. Want a hot dog at the fight? Mayweather is going to get paid from that. Want a T-shirt? That’s Mayweather money.  His unique business model is the first in entertainment and sport history, read how he does it here…