Beyonce & Jay-Z Help Toast 'Sportsman of the Year' LeBron James

Beyonce and Jay Z attended the 2012 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year Award presentation in New York City on Wednesday (December 5).
The Grammy Award-winning songstress looked gorgeous in an all-red cleavage baring ensemble while posing with her hip hop mogul hubby, who looked dapper in a black and white tux.

Jay-jay Z Wasn't Happy With Alicia Keys' First Take For Empire State Of Mind

Alicia Keys had to swallow her pride and re-record her vocals for Jay Z's smash hit Empire State Of Mind after the rapper raised concerns about the quality of her work.

The track has become an unofficial New York anthem since its release in 2009, but the singer/songwriter admits she was asked to do a second take for the

 tune after initially laying down her vocals while battling a little nasal congestion.

Keys opened up about the recording process during an episode of Vh1 Tv show Storytellers, which aired in the U.S. on Monday (12Nov12).

Recounting the meanings behind her songs and how they came about, she told fans she thought Jay Z was calling her to congratulate her on a job well done, but instead Keys was left a little red-faced as she had to accept that she hadn't done her best on the track.

She recalled, "(He said), 'It's good, it's good, but maybe you need to hit it one more time.' I was like, 'What? Whatchu (what do you) mean?'

"I honestly felt a little some kinda way (annoyed). But you know, I was like, 'You know what? I can probably hit it one more time; I was kinda congested, it's true.' So I go into the studio in L.A. and now, I'm aggressive with it, now I feel like someone's challenging me, 'Oh, I wasn't good enough? Oh, Ok.' So I go in, I hit it hard... put my little swag on it, send it back, like send! Bet you ain't have nothing to say now (sic)!

Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z joined alongside Kanye West and Kim Kardashian at this year’s 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles

As two of the entertainment industry’s top couples, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z joined alongside Kanye West and Kim Kardashian at this year’s 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday evening (July 1).

The “Best Thing I Ever Had” songstress looked stunning in yellow as she sat arm-in-arm with her music mogul hubby while the E! reality star wowed in white as she supported her rapper beau at the Shrine Auditorium held event.
Aside from being some of the most well-known faces in the crowd, Kanye and Jay-Z were also among the big winners while grabbing up Best Group and Video of the Year honors for "The Throne" with Beyonce doing quite well for herself, as well, as she won trophies for Best Female R&B Artist and Video Director of the Year.

As for the ceremony, the 2012 BET Awards were hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson while featuring performances by Usher, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, 2 Chainz and Nicki Minaj, among others.
Of course, with the passing of iconic singer Whitney Houston earlier this year, the show offered up a tribute delivered by her mother, Cissy, as well as Mariah Carey, Monica, Gary Houston, Brandy and Chaka Khan.

Beyonce blazes through Paris in hotpants and Prada heels with flaming wings and a taillight

Beyoncé Knowles and Jay-Z were seen out and about in Paris, France this afternoon (June 7).
The “Empire State of Mind” rapper and his “Crazy in Love” wife headed back to their hotel to get ready for Jay’s Watch The Throne gig with Kanye West.

In related news, Beyonce’s opening act for her Atlantic City shows, Luke James, told press that in addition to getting great career exposure, he also took away some life lessons.

James explained, "What I learned from Beyoncé is just the focus, the drive and to stay creative and to always give, just keep giving. Throughout the years that she's been doing it, since Destiny's Child to now, she's been giving. This is the beginning for me ... I just want to remain giving and always [be] a necessity to people, you know? Giving [fans] what they need. At the same time, it's basically giving me what I need."

Beyoncé and Jay-Z were spotted getting the week underway in Paris, France

 Making for quite the fabulous family, Beyoncé and Jay-Z were spotted getting the week underway in Paris, France on Monday (June 4).

The "Halo" singer was decked out in a cute and colorful ensemble as she was escorted inside Meurice Hotel while her rap star hubby toted baby Blue Ivy into the posh City of Lights resting spot.


The sighting comes as it has just been announced that Beyonce has signed on to voice a role in a new animated film titled "Epic".

According to ContactMusic, the 30-year-old will assume the role of Queen Tara with the plot of the movie finding "a teenage girl who, after finding herself magically dropped into a secret universe, teams up with a unique group of characters to help save the world."

Directed by Chris Wedge, other stars attached to the project include Colin Farrell, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Knoxville, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler and Josh Hutcherson.

"Epic" is scheduled to be released on May 24, 2013.

Jay-Z and Kanye 'enjoyed party marathon'

Jay-Z and Kanye 'enjoyed party marathon'

Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rihanna reportedly drank their way through 60 bottles of champagne while in the UK recently.

The two rappers were in London to perform on their Watch the Throne tour in May.

Kanye was joined by his girlfriend Kim Kardashian, while Rihanna flew in to watch the show.

After the performance the group ' along with Stella McCartney, Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow and others ' partied at London nightspot DSTRKT. It's claimed the posse's table at the club was decorated with 3,500 calla lilies.

By the end of the evening Grazia magazine claims the group had made their way through 60 bottles of top notch champagne, totalling £72,000.

The party was so good that Rihanna overslept, missing her flight the next day.

The hip-hop stars took to the stage for another show the following day, with the party continuing in full flow.

According to the publication, over the weekend 18 bottles of Belvedere Vodka costing £8,280 were drunk, 100 red velvet cupcakes were devoured and 150 canapés eaten.

The Watch the Throne tour hit London for five nights in May.

Rita Ora Shocked By Jay-Z

Rita Ora Shocked By Jay-Z

The 21-year-old singer didn't expect the media mogul to be present when she flew to New York to meet with his Roc Nation record label and was completely overwhelmed when she walked into the room and was greeted by the ''legend''.

She told Q magazine: ''I went straight from the airport and I thought it was just a boring meeting.

''He was sitting there and I went into shock. I mean, he's a legend.''

Rita is currently working on her debut album and though she is collaborating with a number of high-profile stars, she insists she has full control over the record.

She said: ''There are a lot of co-writers, Chase & Status, Drake and Stargate, but the concept always comes from me. Even when it's someone as big as Drake.''

Rita was born on Kosovo but moved to the UK from the war-torn region when she was just one year old, and says her background has made her more driven.

She said: ''We were lucky to get out of there when we did. It's made me strive harder.''

Kanye, Beyonce Lead 2012 BET Awards Noms, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj to Perform

We have a little over a month in countdown to see Samuel Jackson host the 2012 BET Awards with Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj hitting the stage as the headline performers. Kanye West leads the pack with seven nods, including two Video of the Year spots for "N***as in Paris and "Otis." Beyonce is close behind with six and her husband Jay-Z follows with five.

On the R&B side of things, the coveted awards are competitive with Marsha Ambrosius, Beyonce, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, and Melanie Fiona battling for Best Female R&B Artist, while Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Miguel, Trey Songz, and Usher duke it out in the Best Male R&B category.

Tween group Mindless Behavior will need the support from their die hard fans to propel them past, Jay-Z/Kanye Wast as The Throne, Maybach Music Group, Diddy Dirty Money, and Eminem's Bad Meets Evil in the Best Group rank, while Nicki Minaj will most likely take the plaque for Best Female Hip Hop.

Jay-Z a Fan of Rita Ora's Energy

It's a dream come true for hungry artists to be discovered, and a bigger dream come true to be discovered by Jay-Z’s camp. Hov had his hand in the launch of the careers of Kanye West and Rihanna, and he is excited about his new protégée Rita Ora. The rap entrepreneur holds high expectations for the newest member of Roc Nation, and loves the energy she brings to the game.

Jay recently spoke to MTV news on Monday about the spunky singer, saying, "I think her energy is infectious, because out the gate, two #1s in London and she'll just continue to grow from there." He goes on the speak about her hunger as an artist. "She was the cool girl that worked in the sneaker store in the hood and everyone knew of her. She was just in there dreamin' and she just wanted it so bad," he said, describing Ora with awe. "You could just feel the excitement and the energy when she walks in the room, the room really changes. I know a lot of people say that and it gets to be cliché, but when she walks into a room, her energy picks you up."

Jay Z And Beyonce Up Sticks To London

London looks like it will become home to yet more musical superstars as rapper Jay Z and his singer/actress wife Beyonce Knowles announced their plans to move to the English capital in the near future. The pair has decided to rent a swanky five-bedroom gaff in the capital because they are apparently tired of pouring money down the drain on posh hotels in the city they so often visit.

In a report from the Sun, the new parents struck a deal this week for a posh property in the same vicinity where X Factor boss Simon Cowell, Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson and director Michael Winner live. They were enticed to the area through recommendations by friends Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay's Chris Martin as much as they were by the convenience it will offer to future ventures to the city. A spokesperson for the couple has discussed the move to the media, stating "they wanted to have somewhere more homely now they are parents." The duo will next be in the country's capital when Jay Z performs in the Watch The Throne Tour and Radio 1's Big Weekend whilst Beyonce will be launching her perfume in Europe over the summer.

Jay-Z And Rihanna To Play At London Olympics Arts Festival

Jay Z and Rihanna will join a host of other big names at the London Olympic Arts Festival this summer (12).

The 17-day event coincides with the city's Olympic Games and will also feature performances from Jack White, Florence + the MAChine and actress Cate Blanchett.

London 2012 Festival Director Ruth MACkenzie says, "The London 2012 Festival will be the largest cultural celebration in our lifetime. With new work from the best musicians, comics, artists, filmmakers and more, there will be arts events taking place in unusual places all over the U.K. that will showcase the best in international culture when the eyes of the world are on us this summer."

The festival runs from from 27 July (12) to 12 August (12).

FORBES just released the 5 wealthiest hip hop artists

Well we'd be cheesin' this hard too if we were worth over a billion dollars combined. FORBES just released the 5 wealthiest hip hop artists. And the usual suspects are indeed on the list. While the names are no surprises, their worth may be.

These fellas are well on their way to reaching that elusive billion dollar circle. Check this rich people ish:

Sean "Diddy" Combs is the king of the list...having an estimated net worth of $550 million. Now Kim Porter & Cassie's inability to leave him alone makes a least a little more sense.

The Bad Boy head honcho is ca-chinging all over the place with his partnership with Ciroc Vodka. He gets a double digit salary annually to be the face of the liquor and to push t to the masses. In addition to several shares of the company. Not to mention he's entitled to a nine figure sum of money if the Diageo company ever sold Ciroc.

He's got stakes in the Sean John & Enyce clothing companies, his marketing firm Blue Flame, a few tech startups and his own Bad Boy label. And since he will actually have ownership of his new Revolt tv channel (not just stakes) in 2013, it could possibly push him into the billionaire category in the next few years.

Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has a reported networth of $460 mill. His stakes: 40/40 Clubs, the ad firm Translation, NJ Nets, Carol's Daughter & more. His $150 mill 10-year deal with Live Nation (signed in 2007) and $204 mill deal selling his Rocawear label (2004) are part of his net worth, as well as his major tour money.

Dr. Dre is #3 with a $260 mill net worth. The price on his lifestyle doubled due to the $300 mill sale of his BEATS headphones to HTC.

Birdman takes the $4 spot with $125 mill. Mainly thanks to his $30 mill deal he twerked with Universal Records for them to house his Cash Money Records label he and brother Slim founded decades ago. And the new crop of YMCMB folks like Nicki Minaj & Drake, in addition to the original head honcho Lil Wayne, who up the value of the company. By the way, Universal's deal with Cash Money is up this year--so a high priced bidding war amongst the record labels may ensue.

And capping off the 5 is 50 Cent. He's got a $110 mill net worth....with $100 mill stemming from that HUGE Vitaminwater deal where the company and his stakes were sold to the Coca-Cola company. He's made some millies from touring and sales from his clothing company, but has also spent a lot on cars, trips, and living that life. But he's still sitting on the nest egg of his back catalog, acting gigs and 50 Cent-themed videogames, shoes and books, as well as his new headphone line SMS.

FORBES posted this message in regards to how the list was developed:

In order to form the Forbes Five list, we followed the same procedures we use to calculate our list of the world’s billionaires—looking at past earnings, valuing current holdings, leafing through financial documents and talking to analysts, attorneys, managers and other industry players to find the nitty-gritty details. We considered only performers, which is why hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons isn’t on this list.

Congrats to the fellas!

Beyonce & Jay-Z spent a warm & beautiful Sunday afternoon courtside at the Knicks game,

New parents Beyonce & Jay-Z spent a warm & beautiful Sunday afternoon courtside at the Knicks game, then at one of their fave spots (which Jay has part ownership in) Bar Pitti for some post-game lunch.

Pics of the happy couple...and Beyonce's leopard pants we can't decide if we love...inside....

Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, Jay and wife Beyonce, rocking an interesting animal print look, watched the Knicks get beat by the Miami Heat: