The nominations for the 2010 BET awards were announced at the 230 Fifth Rooftop Garden Bar and Restaurant in New York City and celebs with Caribbean heritage are in almost all categories.




Alicia Keys and Melanie Fiona each have four nominations, followed by Rihanna with 3 nods. Nicki Minaj has two on her own, but added with her nominations as part of Young Money she has a total of five nods.

The 10th annual show will feature performances from Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Diddy-Dirty Money, who was on hand to announce the nominations, along with Oscar nominee Queen Latifah, who will serve as host.

The BET Awards 2010 will air live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 27, at 8 p.m. The nominees are listed below.

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Alicia Keys
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
Maxwell
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Gospel
The Anointed Pace Sisters
Kirk Franklin Presents Artists United For Haiti
Tamela Mann
Marvin Sapp
Vickie Winans

Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Ester Dean
Lil Kim
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Trina

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
B.o.B.
Drake
Fabolous
Jay-Z
Ludacris

Best Group
Black Eyed Peas
Clipse
Diddy-Dirty Money
New Boyz
Young Money

Best New Artist
Justin Bieber
Melanie Fiona
Nicki Minaj
Wale
Young Money

Best Collaboration
Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – Video Phone
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Drake & Trey Songz – Successful
Drake f/ Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem – Forever
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – Say Aah

Video of the Year
Beyoncé f/ Lady Gaga – Video Phone
B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars – Nothin’ On You
Melanie Fiona – It Kills Me
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West – Run This Town

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Anthony Mandler
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Best Actress
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Mo’Nique
Zoe Saldana
Gabourey Sidibe

Best Actor
Quinton Aaron
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Jamie Foxx
Denzel Washington

YoungStars Award
Selena Gomez
Lil JJ
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith
Tyler James Williams

Best Movie
Avatar
Law Abiding Citizen
Michael Jackson’s This Is It
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
The Blindside

Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Tamika Catchings
Vanessa James
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Usain Bolt
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Tiger Woods

Viewers Choice Nominees
Beyoncé – Sweet Dreams
Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State of Mind
Monica – Everything To Me
Rihanna f/ Young Jeezy – Hard
Trey Songz f/ Fabolous – Say Aah
Young Money (Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Jae Millz, Drake, Tyga) f/ Lloyd – Bedrock

Centric Award
Melanie Fiona
Maxwell
Chrisette Michele
Monica
Sade


Best International Act
Kojo Antwi (Ghana)
Chipmunk (UK)
Dizzee Rascal (UK)
Estelle (UK)
Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) (South Africa)
K’NAAN (Somalia)
M.I. (Nigeria)
P-Square (Nigeria)
Corinne Bailey Rae (UK)
Sade (UK)

Log on to www.EstelleMusic.com THIS FRIDAY, February 26 at 4pm EST for the WORLD PREMIERE of Estelle's new single "FREAK"!


"FREAK" was produced by David Guetta and is off of Estelle's new album "All of Me", coming soon! Also the "FREAK" track, extended dance mix and "FREAK" tank will be available to buy exclusively on www.EstelleMusic.com for $19.99! Get a sneak peek of the making of the "FREAK" video above, and make sure you log on Friday for the single premiere!

Estelle celebrated her 30th Birthday Abe & Arthur’s in New York City some of the people to attend were singer Wynter Gordon,Rocsi from 106& Park Kevin Liles, and model Tyson Beckford.

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To me she looks her age, no more...no less. Estelle has been working hard in the studio, so I am sure the party was a well deserved break. Can't wait for it to drop. Click HERE for more pics!

Here's Estelle leaving a London hotel to go check out the styles for London Fashion Week....


And I doh care if Rihanna wear stone wash....Ayeola will not be rocking that ish any time soon!


This year my New York Fashion Week coverage was lackluster to say the least (compared to last year's) ....too much going on.. Anyway check out Islandista and Au Courant in The Caribbean Blogs for their NYFW coverage, and all things Caribbean Fashion!

Here's a shot of supermodel Jourdan Dunn (due to give birth in December) at NY Fashion Week, posing with Sessilee Lopez.
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Arthur's Day is September 24th!

On that date, the internationally popular GUINNESS brew celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founder, Arthur Guinness, signing a 9,000 year lease on the St. James’ Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The celebration will begin at 17:59 local time in Dublin, Ireland, with a toast to Arthur, and will then carry on around the world in Lagos, Kuala Lumpur and New York.

Over 60 artistes will perform more than 60 hours of live music in just one day in events to be held worldwide including Austrailia, Indonesia, Canada, and the US. These artists include Estelle who will perform at St James Gate Brewery and Sean Paul who will perform in Lagos Nigeria. Click HERE for updates on the events!

You can log on to the site to join fans of Guiness from around the world in making a toast to Arthur by uploading your video.

When I heard Nia Long was on the cover of Pride magazine, I thought maybe she was talking about gay rights and the gay community.Lol. I know some of you probably thought the same thing! Anyways its the Essence magazine of the UK so I guess it means black pride more than anything else:

Listen to what she has to say about musicians turned actors:

I didn’t see ‘Obsessed,’ so I can’t comment, but it’s just not about how talented you are anymore. It’s about, ‘How much box-office revenue will this person generate?’ When you see certain people – we won’t name names – they just don’t have the skill, and no one in their team has said, ‘You need acting classes,’”

She also goes on to say, “If you’re a singer not an actress, you should sing. If you’re a rapper, you should rap,” “If you take time to develop your craft, God bless you. Jamie Foxx is an example of both [actor and singer].”

She then adds “If you were able to take all the Black actresses and the choices we’ve made collectively, it’s a pure reflection of what you see on film. People need to work. But the content? The opportunities for Black actresses are more widespread today, but the quality has suffered.”

See more caribbean stars on the covers of your favorite magazines by clicking HERE!

To celebrate the launch of their latest Macerated vodka, Belvedere Black Raspberry, Grammy Award winning artist Estelle and fashion designer Jonathan Kelsey have collaborated on the creation of a new luxury overnight bag – The Belvie.

Check out the shots of the two:








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The bag is cute. Not my style though. I'm more for understated elegance. It's too busy for me.

So Estelle is on MySpace fashion site www.myspace.com/thefit and she takes viewers with her shopping around NYC. Every ting was cool till she made a comment about another celebrity's dressing.

MySpace Presents: The Fit with Estelle


I love you eh Estelle, I love you fuh true. But you should ask yourself that very question before you go out. Or god-forbid, if you have a stylist ask her/him.


Now if she had said something like I hate how all these actors/actresses want to sing or something like that, it wouldn't have been so bad. (Cause sister can Saaaangggg!) But homegirl is shoe-in for an episode of What Not To Wear.

Oh chile, people in glass houses Estelle....go look it up.

Well now, Estelle recently revealed her new look at a recent event in NY. Couldn't really see her gorgeous eyes with that one-sided bang.

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From the inception of this blog I'm sorry to say Estelle has made some serious fashion faux pas.
Remember this dress??? Not everything that looks good on the mannequin/runway gonna look good on the red carpet eh.



Anyways, back to the positive. Love the haircut. Braces not permanent, can let that slide. I'm not even gonna touch the purse or the contraption around her neck. As the saying goes: If you can't say something nice..........

As far as the clothing, so not in the A range a la Rihanna, but still not a Leona Lewis, I-love-wearing-grandma-sweaters-and-plain-dresses-and-not-too-banging-boot-grade D look.

Serani is definitely the man ofthe hour as a headliner of the Metro PCS/Hot 97 5 Boro Takeover Tour

On March 20th, he will be at Amazura in Queens with Buju Banton and Elephant Man. Though I lived in Texas which has no Metro PCS (that I am aware of,) as Dominicans would say,it was making ding dang in Florida. Of course there is a significant Caribbean population in the Miami/Ft Lauderdale area. I am sure that that is the basis for using these West Indian / Urban artists for their New York launch.

The Metro PCS Tour stops at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, on March 25th, where Serani will be joined by Alliance colleague Mavado, as well as Akon, Busta Rhymes and Estelle.

MetroPCS, Hot97

Check out some of your fav celebs out and about this past weekend and at some events this week. Enjoy!

Sessilee Lopez celebrates at her belated (born Jan. 4th) birthday party at the Yellow Fever End of Fashion Week Party with the line's designer Jamison Ernest(R) and singer Ryan Leslie (L)

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Check out these shots of Mavado performing on BET's Rip The Runway Saturday Feb. 21st. The show will air on March 2 at 9 PM ET.The hosts of the show are model Joy Bryant and actor Derek Luke

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Anywaaaaaayyyyy!!!!

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Busta was in the house too!

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Tyler Perry, Taraji P.Henson, Alicia Keys mom Terri Augello and Alicia Keys at Prince's “The Purple Party” For LotusFlow3r.com in Hollywood following the Oscars. According to SandraRose.com LotusFlow3r.com is a new website named for one of the three albums Prince will supposedly release this year.
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Gary Dourdan and his girlfriend at the Mando Diao's MTV Winter Party in Valencia Spain on Feb 24th
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Mel B attending the "Only In A Woman's World" Premiere party at Coco Deville in LA. Sexy!!!
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She and Halle Berry have the best skin in Black Hollywood!

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Estelle performing at the House of Blues in Chicago Feb. 25th
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Zoe Saldana in Seoul Korea yesterday for her Star Trek: The Beginning movie press conference.
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Busta at the launch of Vibe's V Sessions at Joe's Pub in NYC yesterday.
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Last night Juelez Santana (hisfather is Dominican-the Spanish Dominican. lol)celebrated his birthday at the Hiro Ballroom in NYC. He turned 26 on Feb 18.

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Mr. Vegas and Chaka Bomani of Upscale Crowd Entertainment at Club Element's Caribbean Fridays event

Assasin, Rhona Fox, and Kevin Lyttle at SOBs in Manhattan


Lisa Raye at the 2nd Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon.

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Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon was there too.

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FaithEvans and son CJ (his father is Christopher Wallace AKA Notorious B.I.G) atStreetfighter IV launchin L.A
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Faith Evans and Family at Street Fighter IV launch (Husband Todd Russaw holding son Ryder, CJ, daughter Chyna and son Joshua)
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Estelle atBrit Awards. SMH....SMH.....there are no words
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The who's who in the fashion industry pull out all the stops to present their fall 2009 collection at the prestigious Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week at Bryant Park. Here are some Caribbean ladies and guy at various shows.

Eva Mendes and Kate Beckinsale at Calvin Klien Women's Wear

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Zoe Kravitz, Joy Bryant, Santogold and Monet Mazur at Mathew Williamson.

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Model Tyson Beckford and designer Carlos Campos at the desginer's show.

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Noemie Lenoire, Jessica Stam, and Doutzen Kroes at the amFAR New York Gala at Cipriani.

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Dayana M endoza Miss Universe 2008, at Akiko Ogara

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Estelle at Nicole Miller.

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Alicia Keys at Max Azaria

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Estelle and Kanye West at the 2009 Grammy Awards

Estelle will join the who's who of the music industry with her contribution to the new charity album War Child Heroes: The Ultimate Covers Album. It features music by legends such as Stevie Wonder, Bob Dyland and Sir Paul McCartney. Estelle will cover Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"
Click HERE to listen to the song!!!

Proceeds will benefit Warchild charity


BTW she is joining the Ting Tings at the Brit Awards Feb 18th at London's Earls Court. Estelle is in the running for two prizes - British Female Solo Artist and British Single for "American Boy", her duet with Kanye West.

Burning Spear accepting his Grammy

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Keshia Cole and Leona Lewis

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Estelle at Def Jam after party

Christina Milian at Def Jam After party
See official pics by Clicking HERE

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance "Superwoman" Alicia Keys

Best Reggae Album Jah Is Real Burining Spear

Estelle won the Grammy for Best Rap Sung Collaboration for "American Boy" feat. Kanye West. Check out their performance below!

Estelle & Kanye West - American Boy [51st GA]
by Alisvideo