Alicia Keys is not only a singer, she is also a new mommy, and an HIV/AIDS Activist. She is well known for her charity work, such as her Keep A Child Alive organization, which is dedicated to providing assistance and support to children and those who are infected by HIV/AIDS in Africa, as well as India.
The Buy Life Campaign is about buying life to give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. The charity provides medicine, food and shelter needed to fight the disease.
Alicia Keys signed on her husband Swizz Beatz as well as a few of her fellow friends like Kim Kardashian, Ryan Seacrest, Usher, Katie Holmes, Jay Sean, Jaden & Willow Smith, Serena Williams and many many more, to support the “Buy Life” campaign.
As stated on their website:
“It’s the one purchase nobody can live without. It’s Life. When you buy life, you give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by providing the medicine, food and shelter needed to fight this awful disease.
There is a profound difference between living and life. Living may extend time for another day. But life is far more than sleeping and waking. Life is more than merely existing. And, although it would be easier, life cannot be bought in a pill.That is why Keep A Child Alive buys more than just the pills needed to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. It buys the essential nutrition, shelter, support and education to help ensure those pills are taken properly and effectively. It buys the things we all take for granted, but that make all the difference. A bed. A roof. A ride. A book. A smile. KCA offers children, their families and entire communities a shoulder to lean on and a heart that beats for them. Because KCA believes we can do something far bigger and better than buy the ability to live. We can buy the dignity that is life. We can buy compassion. Buy love. Buy the cure. Buy life. Because the more you buy, the more you save. KEEP A CHILD ALIVE.”
Check out the photos of those who are involved with the Buy Life Campaign:
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The shirts that these celebrities are rocking aren’t just a message or fashion. They might look simple, but as you can see, they all have scannable barcodes. These shirts serve an even bigger purpose, because they’re scannable, by purchasing a “Buy Life” tee, you can become a walking charity box with your own, scannable BUY LIFE American Apparel Unisex T-Shirt. This shirt can be scanned using the Stickybits or Wimo app and will allow yourself and others to donate to the Keep A Child Alive foundation (Note: If you own a smart phone, you can order one via your phone), by simply scanning the t-shirt with your smart phone (Blackberry, iPhone, etc.).
The following is written on the back: “This Shirt Fights AIDS – Scan the barcode or Text ‘BUYLIFE’ to 90999 to Join the Fight.”
“It’s the one purchase nobody can live without. It’s Life. When you buy life, you give life to millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by providing the medicine, food and shelter needed to fight this awful disease.
Whenever you see a “BUY LIFE” bar code, simply scan it using Stickybits or WiMO and instantly make the purchase of a lifetime.
You can also purchase a fully scannable “BUY LIFE” t-shirt and invite others to buy life wherever you go. This shirt not only looks good, but every scan does the world good.”
You can also purchase a tote bag…
Rock this Buy Life tote bag that can also be scanned with the Stickybits or Wimo app which will also allow people to give to Keep a Child Alive.
Check out the details and how to participate in the initiative by visiting the BUY LIFE website at BuyLife.org.
Nicki Minaj doesn’t even have an album out yet, but she was one of the biggest winners at the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards, which were taped on Saturday, October 2 in Atlanta for an upcoming broadcast. The Young Money rapper took home Rookie of the Year, People’s Champ, and Made You Look (style) awards,MTV News reports.
Fitted to kill in a black dominatrix-like outfit, NYC-ish blond bob hairdo, pink nails and lipstick, Minaj grabbed her awards and “ran.” Minaj made sure to thank her “Barbies” as she accepted the award for “Favorite By Fans.”
“Last year, I was here in anticipation of the cypher,” she told the crowd, referring to the artist rap freestyles that run in between the award presentations and performances. “Now I’m here in anticipation of my debut. [‘Pink Friday’, set for release November 23.]
“I’m paving the way for girls,” she continued. “I wanna thank all the girls of hip-hop.”
Jay-Z, who was not in attendance at the awards, was also able to bag three awards. Tied Minaj’s award total, taking home trophies in the categories of Perfect Combo (Alicia Keys duet “Empire State of Mind”), CD of the Year, and Best Live Performer. Other awards went to Rick Ross(Club Banger of the Year and Track of the Year for producer Lex Luger, both for “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)”), Salt-N-Pepa(I Am Hip-Hop), Diddy (Hustler), Swizz Beatz(Producer of the Year), and DJ Khaled(Best DJ).
Now let me remind you, the 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards kicked off on quite the high note as Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, and Diddy opened with “B.M.F.,” one of the year’s biggest hits. To the surprise of those in the audience Ross‘ set then segued into an unexpected performance from MC Hammer, who danced frantically with a group of dancers as he performed ‘2 Legit 2 Quit.’
The 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards welcomed a number of newcomer’s including Alabama’s own Yelawolf who performed alongside Big Boi for their hit song “You Ain’t No DJ.”
“I feel overwhelmed, you know, coming out with Big Boi from OutKast and doing our record. I never thought it would lead to here, but I’m taking it in. I’m happy and I’m honored to be a part of it,” Yelawolf explained to The BoomBox.
The Hip-Hop Awards cypher’s proved yet again to be one of the highlights of the show with a number of artists taking part in this Hip-Hop Awards staple. Kanye West gave folks a taste of G.O.O.D. Music with a cypher that featured verses from himself, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, and Cyhi Da Prynce.Ice Cube and Rev. Run kept it all in the family with a cypher that consisted of performances from Diggy Simmons, JoJo Simmons, OMG, and Doughboy.
More images from the performances below and after the cut.
This year’s 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards, hosted by Mike Epps, will air Oct. 12 at 8 P.M. on BET. Will you be tuning in? Which award categories are you most looking forward to seeing televised?
Jay-Z & Eminem’s first show at Yankee Stadium for their “Home & Home” tour was full of surprises. It was a star studded event.
The duo brought out special guests that included: Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Drake, Nicki Minaj, B.O.B., 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Swizz Beats, and Bridget Kelly for the show in which both headliners went through dozens of songs each.
Check out videos from the show below:
Jay-Z & Kanye perform “Power” Remix and Nicki Minaj comes out for “Monster”
Jay-Z performs his verse from “Free Mason” and does “Renegade” with Eminem.
Jay-Z & Eminem perform “Renegade” and “Light Up” with Drake
Jay-Z & Chris Martin perform “Heart of the City”, “Most Kingz”, “Lost” and “Viva La Vida” at Yankees Stadium
Jay-Z & Beyoncé perform “Forever Young”
Eminem brings out B.o.B., 50 Cent & G-Unit, D-12 & Dr. Dre for his set at Yankee Stadium
Sunday night at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards the audience went Gaga over the night’s top nominee while Taylor Swift and Kanye West delivered performances that reflected on the infamous incident that put them both in the spotlight after last year’s VMAs. So who were the winners at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards?
Comedian Chelsea Handler, who admitted she was “high as a kite”, hosted the 27th annual VMAs, rocking a house on her head as she made her grand entrance on to the stage. Her monologue included the obligatory disses. After giving a nod to the cast of MTV’s Jersey Shore, Handler told the audience, “Don’t applaud- they’re the reason MTV doesn’t play your videos.”
Musical guests at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards included Eminem, Rihanna, Usher, Justin Bieber, Florence and the Machine, Drake, Mary J. Blige, Swizz Beats, Taylor Swift, Linkin Park and Kanye West.
Lady Gaga accepted the Best Female Video Award from comedian Ellen DeGeneres. Gaga told her fans, “Tonight, little monsters, we’re the cool kids at the party.” And as Gaga accepted several awards throughout the evening, her constant costume changes kept things interesting. She also announced the title of her new album- “Born This Way”.
Eminem was also a big winner, but jetted from L.A.’s Nokia Theatre before accepting any of his awards. His show at Yankees Stadium was slated for today and he had to hit the road.
Let’s break it down!
The night opened up with Eminem performing his comeback hit “Not Afraid”, which lead into a surprise appearance by Rihanna for “Love the Way You Lie”. Looking a lil Courtney Love circa 1995, but much cuter.
Hearing Rihanna’s voice come out of the blue and very unexpected gave me chills in a good way.
It was definitely nice to see her and Eminen performing together on stage. Definitely one of my picks for best performances of the night.
DOPE breakout song of the year.
Justin Bieber put on an a semi-good performance with great dancers, a cool drum solo and confetti. He gets kudos for reacting fast to losing a drum stick. He had a quick recovery during his solo.
Next on stage was Justin’s mentor, Usher. His medley of “DJ Got Us Falling in Love”/”OMG ” was not my favorite performance to be honest. He barely sang anything. He sounded really bad and I was not a fan of the dancing. The ninja dancers descending from the ceiling were fun, but there wasn’t really anything memorable about the performance.
In my opinion Usher flopped this one.
Now was it me or were the majority of these performers lip synching? That was really starting to piss me off about the whole show.
Good punch line moment was when, Katy Perry hands Nicki Minaj the VMA Moon Man award and tells the rapper that’s she found her a “stiff man”.
I needed the laugh and that to me was funny!
Florence and the Machine may have sung her hit song “Dog Days Are Over”, but what she should have been singing was “Underdog Days Are Over”. She was definitely one who had a great performance. While much of the music world has finally started to take notice of the phenom that is FATM, mainstream music listeners have only just started to see the singer on their radar. Florence showed the MTV VMAs what real singing is all about.
She sang her ass off….GREAT!!
Now off to the best collabo performances of the night besides Eminem & Rihanna‘s performance. I have to hand it over to the next performers of the night.
Bruno Mars got everyone hyped for his upcoming album when he and B.o.B. performed their huge hit “Nothin’ on You“. B.o.B. kept the momentum going while performing his joining of two worlds collabo for “Airplanes” with Paramore’s Haley Williams.
Williams is super dope and has some serious swag.
Williams ended the performance while taking it back to her roots and performing with her band under a skyline of floating lightbulbs. This trifecta performance was likely was off of most people’s radar and yet delivered the most impressive talent of the night.
Drake got all “Fancy huh“, while rocking a white tuxedo jacket. His surprise guests consisted of Mary J Blige andSwizz Beatz. It was something expected from Drake, since he’s been on some serious hype lately. He’s everywhere! It was a good mood booster a very nicely high-energized performance.
Justin Bieber took home the moon man for Best New Artist award, but got a bit confused and couldn’t figure out how to get on the stage.
Linkin Park performed their song “Catalyst” off-location on the top of the Griffith Observatory. Good performance.
Last night was Lady GaGa’s night at the 2010 MTV VMA’s as she won 8 awards including “Video Of the Year.” GaGa rocked three crazy pieces of fashion, all of which seemed to be ones that she appeared in recently in magazine pictorials.
Later the legendary Cher took the stage, calling herself “the oldest chick with the biggest hair and the littlest outfit”. She also said she had shoes older than most of the VMA nominees.
Cher still looks good for her age. She still can rock a see-through outfit and not give a damn about what anybody says.
Cher presented Lady Gaga with the award for Best Video of the Year.
A well-deserved win for Gaga.
After shedding tears of joy, GaGa was emotional and moved by the win that she even went as far as telling fans the album title for her next album. She scratched the plans of a New Year’s album title announcement and just blurted the three worded title. The album title for her next album will be called, “Born This Way”.
Now what was the deal with her meat dress? Really Gaga? I thought it was a bit way out of the box, but with Gaga you never really know what to expect.
She’s still DOPE!!
Now for the most anticipated, what I should be saying the most talked about performances of the night go out to Taylor Swift & Kanye West.
What a Difference a Year Makes…
A year after Kanye West stormed the VMA stage, stealing Taylor Swift‘s thunder as she accepted her award for best female video, the rapper was back on the VMA stage to make amends…
But first, Taylor Swift showed a mature and much more solemn side of herself. Swift performed her new song, “Innocents”, off her yet to be released album ‘Speak Now’. The song was penned about West‘s infamous interruption of Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video at last year’s VMAs. The video clip of the incident played at the beginning of her performance, making it clear who and what she was singing about. But the lyrics “32 and still growing up now” and “who you are is not what you did” seemed to offer forgiveness to the rapper. The song, forgiving West of his rudeness, is one of Swift’s strongest songs lyrically to date.
Now off to Mr. West…
Asis Ansari’s introduction for Kanye West should have been funny. It had all the makings to be a classic Ansari funny moment, but fell short. Like, really short.
Thankfully, Kanye’s performance did not fall short.
West ended the night on a high with his own pennance, delivering a song called “Runaway”, an ode to being a “d—-bag’ and offering a toast to “scumbags”.
Even more shocking?
Taylor Swift was nowhere in sight. While both artists had their performances slightly overshadowed by the anticipation of a possible cameo from one another, neither Swift nor West collaborated on either performance. A positive reuniting of the two music powerhouses would have easily been the show-stealer.
That definitely would have been the icing on the cake, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.
Lets not talk about the pre-show performance. Nicki Minaj & Will.i.am?! WACK as hell, now don’t get me wrong I am a fan of the both of them, but I feel the performance could have been superfly and it just went down the drain for me. I was not impressed. Sorry guys. This is just my opinion.
Oh and lets not forget Will.i.am’s black face and Nicki’s outfit. WTF was that?!! Bad, bad, bad fashion choices.
Major Winners at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards:
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
“Tik Tok” – Ke$ha
“California Gurls” – Katy Perry
“Video Phone (extend remix)” – Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga”Fifteen” – Taylor Swift “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga – WINNER
BEST ROCK VIDEO
“Ignorance” – Paramore
“Flash Delirium” – MGMT “Kings and Queens” – 30 Seconds To Mars-WINNER
BEST MALE VIDEO
“Airplanes” – B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
“In My Head” – Jason Derulo “Not Afraid” – Eminem – WINNER
BEST POP VIDEO
“Tik Tok” – Ke$ha
“Nothing on You” – B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga – WINNER
BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO
“Airplanes” – B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
“Forever” – Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne & Eminem
“Pursuit Of Happiness” – Kid Cudi featuring MGMT & Ratatat “Not Afraid”-Eminem – WINNER
BEST NEW ARTIST
“Tik Tok” – Ke$ha
“In My Head” – Jason Derulo
“Massive Attack” – Nicki Minaj featuring Sean Garrett
“The Ghost Inside” – Broken Bells “Baby” – Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris – WINNER
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“Kings and Queens” – 30 Seconds To Mars
“Not Afraid” – Eminem “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga – WINNER
BEST COLLABORATION
“Airplanes” – B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
“Telephone” – Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce
“My First Kiss” – 3OH!3 featuring Ke$ha
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z and Alicia Keys “Video Phone (Extended Remix)” – Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga – WINNER
BEST DANCE MUSIC VIDEO
“Evacuate The Dancefloor” – Cascada
“OMG” – Usher featuring Will.I.Am “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga – WINNER
BEST ART DIRECTION
“Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
“Not Afraid” – Eminem
“Video Phone (Extended Remix)” – Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence and the Machine – WINNER
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
“Telephone” – Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce
“Video Phone (Extended Remix)” – Beyonce featuring Lady Gaga
“OMG” – Usher featuring Will.I.Am
“Tightrope” – Janelle Monae featuring Big Boi “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga – WINNER
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Not Afraid” – Eminem
“Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
“Little Lion Man” – Mumford and Sons
“Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – WINNER
BEST DIRECTION
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
“Not Afraid” – Eminem
“Kings and Queens” – 30 Seconds To Mars “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga-WINNER
BEST SFX (SPECIAL EFFECTS)
“21st Century Breakdown” – Green Day
“Symphonies” – Dan Black
“Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
“Not Afraid” – Eminem “Uprising” – Muse – WINNER
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO
“Symphonies” – Dan Black
“Stylo” – Gorillaz featuring Bobby Womack and Mos Def
“Strawberry Swing” – Coldplay “Tighten Up” – The Black Keys-WINNER
Check out the photos and videos below…
Eminem & Rihanna
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift
Kanye West
What do you think of the MTV VMAs 2010 Winners list for the Video Music Awards?
Alicia Keys is spending her honeymoon in France. She was spotted aboard a yacht with her husband Swizz Beatz and good pal Queen Latifah on Wednesday.
From the looks of it, it looks like Queen Latifah brought along a special friend ‘Jeanette Jenkins‘ to join her. I guess you can say that the cat is officially out of the bag?
Alicia Keys, who also revealed she is “right about” five months pregnant proudly showed off her baby bump Friday morning (June 25), while performing on ABC’s Good Morning America. She performed a collection of her new material including her latest single, ‘Unthinkable (I’m Ready)’
In May, UsMagazine.com confirmed that the singer, 29, is expecting and engaged to producer Swizz Beatz. See more photos of the baby bump below.
“They are very happy,” a pal told Us Magazine.
“[Alicia] is with the man who has inspired so much of her music and her album [The Element of Freedom],” another friend told Us of Beatz.
Check out more photos & videos after the jump.
Source: OMG!
“She looks so happy and she’s even glowing. I’m truly happy for her.”
Alicia Keys is in a motherhood state of mind: She’s pregnant with her first child and officially engaged to Swizz Beatz. Alicia is indeed 4 months pregnant will be married at a private ceremony later this year. Representatives for the couple confirmed the news Thursday night.
Beatz and Keys have been friends for several years and worked together on one song for her current album, “The Element of Freedom,” the publicist said. He has also written hits for Beyonce‘, Jay-Z amongst others.
Keys last year teamed up with Jay-Z for a hit song about New York called “Empire State of Mind.” She’s among a string of international artists slated to perform at a June 10 concert to mark the start of the World Cup soccer tournament in South Africa.
Swizz Beatz, — whose real name is Kasseem Dean — has one son from his marriage to Mashonda Tifrere. He also has a second son from a previous relationship.
They would not say when the child is due, but weeks of photos have shown Keys noticeably fuller in the mid-section and sporting a collection of loose-fitting black tops.
“They’re very happy,” a source close to the couple said.
Check out more photos of the couple and Alicia performing below…
Source: Yahoo News, CNN, necolebitchie
I am so happy for them. I wish them the best. Congrats Alicia & Swizz!
Random internet gossip sites are ranting that Alicia Keys is pregnant. Pictures of the star performing at a concert in the Netherlands showed the pretty singer with what seemed to be a swollen tummy. The convincing images spread like wildfire over the web causing widespread commotion.
Last year the New Yorker came under fire for starting a relationship with music producer, Swizz Beats who was still, at the time, married to estranged wife, singer Mashonda. News that she may be carrying his child set tongues wagging. In the midst of the pandemonium, an insider told an American gossip site that Alicia’s camp had started to act shifty.
They said: “They’re saying that she’s decided to take a year off starting in [the fall] for ‘personal reasons’ No one has the [guts] to ask about it. We’ll all know soon enough.”
However, Alicia Keys’ manager, Jeff Robinson has since hit out at the pregnancy claims denying that his client is with child, saying:
“This rumor is 100 percent false. Alicia is currently overseas on tour and will be touring the U.S., Europe and Australia throughout the winter. And she’s using her spare time to continue to raise money and awareness for important causes like HIV/AIDS.” He said.
Today, comes what could be more proof that she is in fact, with child.
The Empire State singer has moved in with her boyfriend Swizz Beatz and has gotten engaged! As they say, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes…
Congrats are decidedly in order, but there is at least one person who is not happy at the way this relationship is panning out.
Mashonda Deen, Swizz’s ex, is involved in a big messy lawsuit with the producer, partially over $334,000 in child support he hasn’t paid. The7.5 carat engagement ring now adorning Alicia’s finger cost a large sum and the penthouse they’re staying in clocks in at a cool $14.5 million.
Swizz should pay up what he owes and just get a move on with his new life with Alicia. Even if he does write a check for this wrong, I’m gonna go ahead and say I’m pretty sure Mashonda will not be invited to the wedding.
Photo Source: celebitchy, google search
I’m happy for her. I hope it comes out in fact to be true. Congrats to them ahead of time. What do you think?
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats were spotted having dinner at VIP club in St. Tropez, France on August 26, 2009.
Below is another photo of them posing as a couple with Ricky Martin at Jennifer Lopez’s birthday party.
“I think it’s about time she has a public relationship, she’s always so private. It’s nice to see something so out in the open. Your thoughts on this couple?”
Last night was Lady GaGa’s night at the 2010 MTV VMA’s as she won 8 awards including “Video Of the Year.” GaGa rocked three crazy pieces of fashion, all of which seemed to be ones that she appeared in recently in magazine pictorials.
JNEL & J. Magazine 