BET NETWORKS PREPARES FOR THE ULTIMATE CAMPUS TAKEOVER WITH THE 2010 BET BLACK COLLEGE TOUR

School is now officially in session as BET Networks and some of its key marketing partners hit the road this fall in a 14-stop tour of historically black colleges and universities. The 2010 BET BLACK COLLEGE TOUR, the largest and only tour of its kind, returns for the eighth consecutive year to bring campuses across the country a dizzying day of entertainment, games, contests, product samples and consumer information. The tour makes its first stop on Wednesday, September 1st at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley , Georgia .

"The BET BLACK COLLEGE TOUR highlights the Networks' continued effort to support and engage our HBCUs in an entertaining and enlightened environment," said Michelle Garner, Vice President of Consumer Engagement for BET Networks. "The tour is an exciting opportunity for BET and our marketing partners to interact with more than 75,000 college students each year." (PR)

Vanessa and Angela Simmons, Rob Kardashian and Day 26 Support the She Cares Foundation 2nd Annual Celebrity Basketball Game

The She Cares Foundation, with support from today's hottest rising and established artist and personalities, will be hosting a day full of entertainment and fun on September 4th in Long Beach, CA at the Walter Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach. With the generous support of EA Sports and Fatburger, this year's event will continue to deliver the necessary assistance and aide to the single mothers and families the She Cares Foundation serves.

The She Cares Foundation's 2nd Annual Celebrity Basketball Game promises to be bigger, bolder and better while raising funds and awareness for single independent mothers across the nation. Additional celebrity and media personalities that are lending their support include Jackie Long (Actor), DeRay Davis (Comedian/Actor), Keith Robinson (Actor), NoID (Grammy-Award winning Producer), Wesley Jonathan (Actor), Quincy Brown, Claudia Jordan (Radio/Tv Host and Model), Tank (Singer/Songwriter), Terry Kennedy (TV Personality/Skateboarder), Elise Neal (Actress) Darrin Henson (Actor), Christian Keyes (Actor), Texas Battle (Actor), Cuttino Mobley (retired LA Clipper), Corde Broadus (TV Personality/Model) Lil JJ (Comedian), Angell Conwell (Actress), Lil Mama (Rapper/TV Personality), LaVan Davis (Actor) and many more.(AP)

The Moet Rose Lounge Presents NE-YO's Champagne Life

Moet & Chandon, the world's premier champagne since 1743, and Def Jam Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter, composer, producer and actor NE-YO announce their collaboration on a seven-city fall event series, The Moet Rose Lounge presents NE-YO's Champagne Life. An extension of the popular Moet Rose Lounge summer series that featured The Dream, these fall events will be private, invitation-only evening affairs hosted in New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Cleveland and Detroit to celebrate the launch of Libra Scale available on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010.

Inspired by the first single from Libra Scale - "Champagne Life" - Moet & Chandon's Nectar Imperial Rose, the #1 Rose Champagne in the United States and the preferred champagne choice of the Libra Scale album release tour, will be featured. NE-YO will host the events and will give guests a musical sampling preview of Libra Scale, a monumental concept album that tells the story of the rise of R&B's first superhero squad, The Gentleman, a trio of garbage men who are granted special powers, money, fame and women sans love.

The Moet Rose Lounge presents Ne-Yo's Champagne Life will take place in September and October 2010 at locations to be disclosed. (PR)

Paris Hilton arrested for cocaine possession

This girl just needs to be locked up for good! Over the past 2 months she has been arrested three times in relation to drug possession.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – US socialite and paparazzi darling Paris Hilton was arrested in Las Vegas on charges of cocaine possession, but released shortly afterwards, local police said Saturday.

"Police stopped a black Cadillac Escalade outside the Wynn Hotel about 11:30 pm Friday, because officers believed someone inside was smoking pot, and officers found an unspecified amount of cocaine in a purse of Ms Hilton's," Las Vegas police spokesman Marcus Martin told AFP.

She was arrested on cocaine possession charges. Hilton's spokeswoman Dawn Miller did not respond to questions for comment. (AP)

Celeb stylist has 10-step plan for shopaholics

"The Shopping Diet" (Gallery Books, $15), by Phillip Bloch: Celebrity stylist and fashion commentator Phillip Bloch has a solution for those who want to spend less and get more for their money when clothes shopping.

This includes the woman with a closet filled with clothes, but who feels she has "nothing" to wear; shoppers on a tight budget; and those who are limiting the number of items they wear each month (typically, about six items, not including underwear) in a self-imposed exercise in frugality.

"The Shopping Diet" is a 10-step plan that starts with acknowledging an addiction to shopping, then committing to the diet and going through a "closet cleanse."
Divide your clothes into keepers, fixers and returns, Bloch writes. The rest? Sell, donate or throw them away. Then reorganize your closet space and learn how to satisfy your wardrobe needs.

For "smart shopping," Bloch includes a directory of websites, outlet malls, department and big box stores, off-price retailers and nationwide charities including Goodwill, Housing Works and Dress for Success.

Some of his advice is familiar: Dress for your body type; create a clothes budget; ditch what doesn't work. But the emphasis is on making "the shopping diet" a way of life. (AP)

Kanye can attend Suge lawsuit mediation by phone

MIAMI – Hip-hop star Kanye West won't have to attend in person a mediation session aimed at resolving a lawsuit filed against him by rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight.

A Miami federal judge recently agreed to permit West to take part in the Aug. 26 session by phone. West's lawyers say he can't be there personally because of a long-standing business commitment outside the continental U.S.

Knight is seeking more than $1 million in damages from West and his companies. Knight was shot in the leg at a 2005 Miami Beach party hosted by West, whom he blames for lax security.

West, Knight and their lawyers met in New York for six hours in June but failed to settle the case.

The shooter has never been identified and the case is unsolved. (AP)

Lil Wayne orders Kool-Aid in Jail!

Click here to view a document of what Lil Wayne orders in JAIL!

Lil Wayne orders Kool-Aid in Jail!

Click here to view a document of what Lil Wayne orders in JAIL!

Obamas hit Spanish beach, with help from police

ESTEPONA, Spain – Spanish police cleared off a stretch of beach for U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha to relax by the Mediterranean Friday after a busy day of sightseeing.

Police used palm trees to mark off the boundaries of a 100-meter (100-yard) expanse for the American delegation. On either side, onlookers gawked.

As the first lady rested inside a canvas hut by the shore, her 9-year-old daughter splashed around in the sea and a security guard swam with her.

The Obamas arrived Wednesday for a five-day stay in southern Spain that is being described as private, although Mrs. Obama is to meet with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia Sunday at their summer residence on the island of Mallorca. (AP)

Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons House Sale

SADDLE RIVER, N.J. – Buyers checking out the contents of a New Jersey estate once owned by Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons should bring a lot of cash.

The Saddle River mansion was featured on MTV's "Cribs" and Style Network's "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane."

Inside, a bed once owned by slain clothing designer Gianni Versace is selling for $200,000. The pillow is $2,000.

A Faith Ringgold acrylic painting, "The Dinner Quilt," is selling for $100,000. And don't forget the Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel dog carriers.

For those not in the market for furs or bling, there are mugs selling for $3.

The nearly 4-acre estate is on the market for $13.9 million, down from the original asking price of $23.8 million. The couple divorced in 2008.

The sale ends Saturday. (AP)

Michael Jackson's last home up for sale

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Los Angeles mansion where pop star Michael Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest last year is up for sale, with an asking price of $28.9 million, celebrity property website RealEstalker.com said on Wednesday.

Jackson was renting the seven-bedroom French Chateau-style house, located in the swanky Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, while he rehearsed for a series of London comeback concerts.

But the 50 year-old singer was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest there on June 25 2009, and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The house is over 17,000 square feet and boasts 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces, pool, guest house, a theater, wine cellar, gym and an elevator. It belongs to Herbert Guez, the chief executive of U.S. clothing company Ed Hardy.

Jackson fans feigning interest in the mansion, under the guise of seeing where he
died, should take note. Celebrity website TMZ.com reported that interested buyers must go through an "extensive pre-qualifying check" before being allowed inside.

The "Thriller" singer's death was attributed to an overdose of powerful prescription drugs and the anesthetic propofol, which was used as a sleep aid.

Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is awaiting trial in Los Angeles on charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Kanye West "paints" his way back onto MTV

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Kanye West is "painting" a new picture on MTV on Thursday, debuting a video he hopes will offer fans a better image of himself than the one he made at the network's award show last year when he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech.

"It's not a video...it's a painting," the rapper said of his new video, called "Power", airing Thursday night.

At MTV's Video Music Awards in September 2009, West unexpectedly took to the stage of the live televised broadcast when country singer Swift won best female pop video.

West grabbed the microphone from Swift's hands and declared that R&B singer Beyonce should have won instead.

MTV never officially banned Kanye West from their studios after last fall's VMA Awards, and the network continued to play his old videos. But since then, he has not debuted any new work on MTV, and there has been much speculation on music websites about whether the network would take him back.

MTV's head of music and talent, Amy Doyle, told Reuters "there's no beef" with the rapper and that they have moved on.

"We've always been supporters of his art and his music, and we're excited to partner with him, whether it's his new painting or new album," said Doyle.

Naomi Campbell admits receiving diamonds gift

THE HAGUE (AFP) – Supermodel Naomi Campbell told a court Thursday how she received a pouch of rough diamonds as a late-night gift she assumed came from a former Liberian president in the dock for war crimes.

Demurely but stylishly dressed, the catwalk queen told judges it was a "big inconvenience" to have to testify about a bag of "dirty-looking pebbles" in Charles Taylor's trial at The Hague for murder, rape and enslavement.

"I really didn't want to be here," she said. "Obviously I just want to get this over with and get on with my life."

Campbell said she was woken by a knock on her bedroom door at a guesthouse after meeting Taylor at a celebrity dinner hosted by then South African president Nelson Mandela in September 1997, and handed a pouch she only opened the next morning.

"I saw a few stones in there. Very small, dirty-looking stones ... maybe three, two or three," Campbell, 40, said of the gift delivered by two men she did not know.

At breakfast the next morning, she told her then agent Carole White and actress Mia Farrow about the gift, both of whom assumed the stones were diamonds.