Nicki Minaj Can't Be Lil Kim, Doesn't Want to

After testing the waters this summer with her third mixtape chock full of sexual references and innuendo reminiscient of rapper Lil Kim, Young Money artist Nicki Minaj has noticeably pulled back on the sex talk.
Not only was there a small backlash from Lil Kim fans that felt she was biting hard, but evidently the vibe and character that she was portraying was not separate enough for Universal to ante up.
But they finally did, after Minaj did a round of interviews downplaying the sexual aspect of her persona and music.
She's set to drop her official LP in 2010.
Are you a customer?

Priscilla Renea '22' (Original Song)

Thirty thousand people can't be wrong.
That's the number of people that are tuned in to Priscilla Renea's Youtube channel. She also has a considerable following on Myspace. Never say you can't accomplish what you put your mind to: Renea has just signed a record deal with Capitol records.

Hey Tyra, Meat us Half-Way

In the wake of a nmodel's Photoshop disaster from clothier Ralph Laure last month, there's only one way to stop young girls who aspire to be models from trying to look anorexic: Tyra Banks must gorge herself on a whole rump roast on her show.
Banks, who's known to stand her ground when it comes to the hefty-weight issue, should allow herself to be chained to a dinner table, handcuffed to a chair and some choice, black angus should be placed before her.
At the beginning of the show, they should weigh her; at the end of the show they should her.
Girls will then be able to see a "model chick" eating and enjoying a meal without them feeling there's something wrong with it.
Who's with me?

Sugarbabes new chick 'scurred' of Keisha

As if we needed another girl group spat, the British girlgroup, the Sugarbabes are planning big things with the upcoming release of their 7th album, "Sweet 7".
But after canning mocha-skinned Keisha Buchanan, there may be beef simmering in the group. New member 21-year-old Jade Ewen says she's scared of Keisha.
More Spice Girls than TLC or Destiny's Child, the Sugarbabes look to take off where Danity Kane left off, appealing to teens and tweens while leaving the grown-woman stuff to Kiesha Cole and Bey.
The English girls, who signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint earlier this year, hope the United States digs their music the way the U.K. has.
The Sugarbabes have 5 platinum albums. Not bad for a group that has recently seen more personnel shuffling than Destiny's Child.
This is not the first time there's been a shakeup in the Sugarbabes: In 2005, Amelle Berrabah was brought on to replace Mutya Buena.
Ewen, shown here in the pic leaving the club with Berrabah, has yet to be introduced to fans in the U.K. and may have a stronger U.S. following once the LP drops.
No word yet on any indication that Jay-Z had anything to do with the replacement of Keisha, but you know he'll star in a few songs with them. They also have NeYo and Sean Kingston on their new album.

Celebrity Style: RiRi goes blonde

Rihanna switched it up this week, revealing blonde coifs in the same week that she has become a Youtube sensation for her interview on the Chris Brown situation. If this is any indication of a mood change, then her hair will be a different color in as soon as a few days. In any event, blonde ambition is a good thing, I guess.

Partying in a Recession: A good thing?

You basically can't tell a recession is going on if you cruise the streets in a major city on the weekend. Go by the club. It's packed.
People are getting their drink on, their groove on, and their "stanky leg" on amid one of the worst economic downturns in the past 70 years.
Is that okay?
Some people may say that people deserve to have fun; these are rough, stressful times, and getting loose is just a small antidote to numb the pain.
But going to the club every weekend? When it's clearly a time to save, a time to help? I don't know.
I think some of our priorities are off a little.
What do you think?

Did Wendy Williams Shine in 2009?

If your TV remote has wondered toward the nether regions of the channels --you know past Nickelodeon, past Bravo, past the Food Network -- then you've no doubt stumbled upon the 6 foot 2 physique of Wendy Williams on BET. Williams, who hails from Asbury Park, New Jersey, used to call herself the Howard Stern of urban radio. Now, she's gunning for the Oprah Winfrey of urban TV. (Because we all know some folk say about The Big O).
In addition to the TV talk show, Williams got major shine in 2009: A movie about her life was put into production, with Robin Givens playing the lead role.
Williams is known as a major gossip trafficker in NYC and has had heated words with such luminaries as Whitney Houston, Method Man, and even Tupac Shakur.
The main criticism from her looks has been that she resembles a tranny.
And she does, to me. But that is irrelevant in the big scheme of things. I mean, think about it, a LOT of people on TV look like that, or even more wierd.

The Rise of Dudes Wearing Wigs

You thought it was just the girls with the weave?
So did I, but apparently, there is a burgeoning demand for hair pieces for men. It may come from the underrated market for men's hair due to male pattern baldness, but whatever it's sources. It's here to stay.
Now, don't get me wrong; men have been wearing wigs for years, but it's never been a huge market for young people. Now, it's growing Lfrom the retirement set down to young people.
But, you, what about you? Would you be cool with dating a man who wore a wig?

Beyonce Channels Vanity 6

You'd think an urban singer in a camisole would be a new idea in 2009, what with goody-two-shoes out there like Jordan Sparks and Taylor Swift, even, India Irie. But your girl Beyonce went 1986 with it in Europe recently, tapping into the raw sensuality of Vanity 6 (where is Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams when you need them)? Bey's risque outfit comes on the heels of a big uproar over her music in Malaysia, where Islamic fundamentalists say her work is Satanic.
"I do not know who agreed to this sinful, unacceptable advertisement, or indeed who agreed to these blatant sex parties," a Malaysian lawmaker is quoted as saying, accusing the government of encouraging "sin and debauchery."
Beyonce cleane up at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards, taking home three awards - Best Song, Best Video among them. And Kanye West apparently wasn't invited. Wonder why?

Random Style: Party Girl