#BBB NEWS| How Jay Z Helped Infuse D’USSE Into His Hip-Hop Empire [PHOTOS]

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: General views of the TIDAL X: 1020 Amplified By HTC - Activations At Barclays Center Presented By D'USSE at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on October 20, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for D'USSE)

It was billed as the epic event of the year; a ridiculously lofty title that even within the razzle dazzle showbiz universe we live in can come off as pure, eye rolling hype.

But even if Tuesday’s (October 20) buzz-heavy, star-studded Tidal X concert at Brooklyn’s Barclay Center—headlined by Jay Z and Beyonce, and backed up by the roaring likes of Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, French Montana, Usher, Nick Jonas, Nas, and Lil Wayne—didn’t have extended set lists by these music mavens (all did one or two songs, yet the consensus is the head-banging, hair whipping Queen Bey stole the show), the sheer star power of it all was still impressive.

Yet for the thousands of fans who were a part of the fast-paced festivities, a chest-beating statement to celebrate 1 million subscribers of the Jay Z owned streaming music service Tidal, the nonprofit charity show featured an omnipresent brand throughout the main stage of the arena home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets as well as behind-the-scenes: D’USSE cognac. Of course, this was by no means some ham-fisted advertising ploy.

#BBB NEWS| Police Arraign Masterminds Of Kuje And Nyanya Bombings, One Suspect Pleads Guilty [PHOTOS]

The five masterminds of the October 2nd bomb attacks in Nyanya and Kuje areas of Abuja, which killed several people, were arraigned today before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Abulwaheed Nasiru plead guilty to being in possession of materials to make a bomb. However, he insisted that these materials belonged to his friend, who is currently at large.

The other four suspects: Andulazeez Muhazab, Ishaka Jimoh, Mohammed Jimoh, and Abullahi Nasiru all plead not guilty to all five of the counts they were charged with.

The charges included conspiracy to carry out a bomb attack utilizing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), resulting in the death of scores of citizens and the injury of several others, as well as the possession of materials which could be used to make IEDs.

#BBB NEWS| Vice-President Osinbajo Confirms Administration’s Commitment To Anti-Corruption Campaign At University Of Ibadan Conference

During a speech at a conference entitled, “The Predicament of Corruption and the Quest for Holistic Development in Africa” and hosted by the University of Ibadan, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo reiterated the Buhari administration’s commitment to combat corruption, and to the recovery of looted funds.

Vice President Osinbajo stressed the need to strengthen the relevant anti-corruption institutions in order to accomplish these goals The Vice President expressed his appreciation for the conference’s organizers, and promised that any recommendations made at the conference would be forwarded President Buhari himself.

Vice President Osinbajo then laid out the three primary goals of the Buhari Administration as the improvement of security, fighting corruption, and growing the economy.

Aside from the Vice President, and his staff, the conference was also attended by several noted academics. The presence of these educators did not escape the Vice President Osinbajo’s attention, who noted that education was crucial to building minds and the nation as whole.

#BBB NEWS| Snoop Dogg Celebrated His 44th Birthday With The Launch Of MerryJane.com, Like A G [PHOTOS]

Everybody’s favorite uncle, Snoop Dogg, celebrated his 44th birthday in a big way and he officially launched his marijuana-centric website, MerryJane.com.

The site, which Snoop said he hopes will give smokers “an opportunity to come out of the closet and admit they like to smoke,” was feted earlier this week at the rapper’s birthday slash website launch party.

The celebration, which took place at Moonlight Skating Rink in California, saw some of entertainment’s biggest names including Ty Dolla Sign, Zendaya, Chris Brown and Daz Dillinger offer the father of three their sincerest congrats and birthday wishes at the same time.

#BBB NEWS| The Weeknd Covers Rolling Stone; Talks Drake, Bella Hadid + More [PHOTOS]

The Weeknd used to never do interviews when he first started back in 2011, but thankfully, as his celebrity has risen, he’s finally began opening up.

Covering next month’s issue of Rolling Stone, the XO singer discussed everything from his relationship with Bella Hadid, to regrets about Drake, how he was discovered and more.

On how Drake found him:

    He and his crew posted three songs on YouTube and started spamming their friends on Facebook, then watched the play counts slowly climb. “I don’t know how many it actually was, but it felt like a million,” Tesfaye says. “Five hundred plays? Holy shit!” Toronto being a small town in some ways, the songs were heard by Drake’s manager, Oliver El-Khatib, who posted them to the OVO blog, where they promptly blew up. “Apparently, Drake wasn’t even fucking with it at first,” Tesfaye says today. “Oliver was the one vouching for me.”

#BBB NEWS| Boxing: Floyd Mayweather Shows Off His Huge Collection of Title Belts [PHOTOS]

Floyd Mayweather has reiterated that he will remain retired and the undefeated boxer has a lot to show for his 19-year career. 

He took to his Instagram account and showed off the many title belts he’s won during the course of his career.

People remain skeptical of his retirement given he went out with a lackluster fight against Andre Berto. There’s questions as to whether or not a major money fight could coax him out of retirement. 

If it did, it would give him the chance to go out 50-0 and reel in one more big pay day (not that he needs it). See photo below..

#BBB NEWS| Jidenna Serves “Coming To America” Realness In Parallel Magazine [PHOTOS]

The classic man himself covers Parallel Magazine looking like royalty straight from a movie screen, making him the first to cover Parallel Magazine’s ‘special edition’ issue.

Parallel Magazine is a publication that highlights Africans and innovative individuals from around the world who are seeking to contribute to the growth of the continent of Africa.

Jidenna, known for his always dapper attire, is styled in a fitted uniform adorned with metals and gold detailing for the issue that titled him “General Jidenna” which is very befitting of him; he is the son of a chief. Here’s how they described him:

    The son of a Nigerian chief and an American anthropologist, Jidenna Mobisson is an East Flatbush, Brooklyn-based lyrical genius, and a thought leader with magnetism to spare. His worldly origins birthed the groundbreaking genre Swank, a classy and funky take on hip-hop that transfigures ordinary parties into sweaty soirées.

#BBB NEWS| Adele Announces Her New “Make-Up” Album, ’25’ [PHOTO]

Adele is finally making a comeback. The British songstress announced on Wednesday (Oct. 21) that her new anticipated album 25 represents a “turning point” in her life, that marks the transition she made into adulthood, as she lets go of her turbulent heart broken past.

In the candid and heartfelt Facebook post, she detailed how 25 will be a “make-up record” in efforts to let go of all the baggage that came a long with her 2011 chart topper 21. She also went onto to admit her personal battle with regret and wishing she was ahead of her present.

“When I was 7, I wanted to be 8. When I was 8, I wanted to be 12. When I turned 12 I just wanted to be 18. Then after that I stopped wanting to be older. Now I’m ticking 16-24 boxes just to see if I can blag it! I feel like I’ve spent my whole life so far wishing it away,” she wrote. “Always wishing I was older, wishing I was somewhere else, wishing I could remember and wishing I could forget too. Wishing I hadn’t ruined so many good things because I was scared or bored.”

#BBB NEWS| Khloe Kardashian And Lamar Odom Reportedly Call Off Divorce

After a medical emergency last week kept the relationship of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian under a huge microscope, it has been reported by TMZ that the on-again/off-again couple have decided to call off their divorce, which was headed for finalization, and will give another shot at their marriage.

“Khloe’s lawyer Laura Wasser went before a judge Wednesday morning, asking a judge to withdraw the papers they both signed to end their marriage,” the site reports. “The file was sitting in a pile waiting to be processed and signed by a judge. The judge granted Wasser’s request and the file is now dead.”

The basketball player and the reality starlet tied the knot in September 2009 after a month of dating, and Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013 after months of speculation from the press.

The cause for the split was cited as “irreconcilable differences,” with numerous outlets claiming Odom was having difficulty keeping his drug and alcohol problems under control and that he was cheating on Khloe.

#BBB NEWS| United States Offers Niger Surveillance Planes As Boko Haram Attacks Continue

The United States offered Niger two military surveillance planes Wednesday as attacks by suspected Boko Haram extremists continued in the country’s south-east region bordering Nigeria.

Two Niger soldiers were killed and several injured Wednesday in a foiled suicide attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters, Defence Minister Mahamadou Karidjo said.

Karidjo spoke as he took possession of two Cessna C-208 planes equipped with intelligence and reconnaissance systems, as well as around 30 military vehicles and ambulances. A US official said the aid was worth around 32 million euros.

The aircraft “will enable Niger’s armed forces to identify local threats and better secure the border,” said US Ambassador Eunice Reddick.

#BBB NEWS| President Buhari Appoints Yakubu As New Chairman Of Independent National Electoral Commission Chair

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Professor Mahmud Yakubu as new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The appointment was confirmed at the emergency Council of State meeting held today by the president.

Sokoko State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, said the appointment of the new INEC boss was in line with relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State.

#BBB NEWS| Rick Ross & Lira Galore Stunt For The ‘Gram Together! [PHOTOS]

Rick Ross and Lira Galore are the new “it” couple and we are loving these two power players together.

As far as the vixen world is concerned, Lira is currently at the top and when it comes to the rap game, Ricky Rozay is extremely influential and powerful with his MMG empire that he built.

Ross recently popped the question to Lira and as we’d expect, she said yes!

To celebrate being the future Mr. & Mrs. Roberts, both Lira and Ross took to the ‘Gram to slay together. They are the definition of a power couple!

See Lira and Ross flossin’ below..

#BBB NEWS| Fela: The Noise Of Advancing Ideas By Tochukwu Ezukanma

The first time I watched Fela perform was in the mid-1970s at the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Then, he was lusty and nimble. He sprang across the stage, as he danced, sang and played both the piano and tenor saxophone.

Every move he made was mirrored in the sound of the music, as the drummer and the other percussionists followed his every move with their beat. His band members were decked out in pink “Crepelin” outfits. His dancers were scantily clad, and they seductively swirled and swayed their hips to the rhythmical throbbing of the Africa 70 (the name of Fela’s band in the 1970s).

Over all, his music was of unequalled excellence and his stage work, extraordinary. It was obvious that this maestro had taken music and entertainment in Nigeria to new heights.

The last time I watched him was in the early-1990s in Washington, DC, at the Kilimanjaro Night Club. By then, his years of struggle against the evil oligarchy that ran Nigeria had taken a toll on him. As such, he was not as gorgeously attired and his band was not as splendidly arrayed. But he remained his defiant and indefatigable self, his band, unflappably first-rate, his dancers, vivacious and matchless, and his music, exquisite.

#BBB NEWS| White Man Arrested For Breaking Elderly Black Man’s Jaw Sentenced For Hate Crime [PHOTO]

A white man who viciously punched an elderly black man as part of a racially-motivated “Knockout” game has been sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison, according to the New York Daily News.

The incident, which took place in Texas, saw Conrad Alvin Barrett, hit then 79-year-old Roy Coleman in the face after randomly selecting him to be on the receiving end of an unprovoked punch.

In the November 2013 video filmed by Barrett, who was 27 at the time, approached the elderly man, yelled “Knockout,” and ran to his car once the man fell to the ground. Coleman, who was walking near his home in Katy, suffered two jaw fractures as a result of the attack.

Barrett’s assault on the senior citizen was one he was proud of as days later; he showed the violent footage to patrons in a bar, one of whom happened to be an off-duty police officer.

#BBB NEWS| Tinashe Shows Off Her Curves In The Newest Issue Of Playboy [SEXY PHOTOS]

Tinashe is gearing up for the release of her sophomore album Joyride and as promotion has graced the pages of Playboy.

But before you get excited, the “2On” singer is fully clothed, being as though the publication has announced it will no longer publish nude photos.

“Sexuality has always been part of who I am as an artist—emphasis on part,” says Tinashe. “I’m an all-around entertainer, my own creative force, and I’m bringing something fresh to the table.”

While sporting a red lip in a racy two-piece, Tinashe unapologetically shows off her curves.

#BBB NEWS| Jill Scott And Babyface To Be Honored At The 2015 Soul Train Awards

With Erykah Badu as the confirmed host for this year’s Soul Train Awards, it’s not clear what could go down. But while the event’s agenda is still up in the air, the honorees have been set in stone.

Centric Network announced that it will honor Jill Scott and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds at this year’s show.

Jill Scott will receive the first-ever Lady of Soul Award, and it’s pretty clear why she will be the first recipient of the title.

The singer-songwriter has won a number of Grammys for Best Urban Performance for her singles “Daydreamin” and “Cross My Mind.” Aside from her Grammy awards and topping singles, Scott won three Soul Train award, including two in 2011 for Best R&B/Soul Female and Best R&B/Soul Female Album for Light of the Sun. She also earned her second No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this summer with her most recent release, Woman.

#BBB NEWS| Erykah Badu Set To Host The 2015 Soul Train Awards

Our favorite analog girl in a digital world, Ms. Erykah Badu will act as host of the 2015 Soul Train Awards, which means it will be a glorious mix of soul with just the right amount of turn up.

The taping will take place November 6 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, and the show will air November 29 on BET and Centric.

This year’s ceremony will honor Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds with the Legend Award and Jilly from Philly will take home the first ever Lady of Soul Award.

#BBB NEWS| The Game’s ‘Documentary 2′ Lands No. 2 Spot On Billboard Charts

It took The Game ten years to drop the sequel to his acclaimed album The Documentary, and according to the response, it was definitely worth the wait. It hasn’t been two weeks since he released the albums sequel, The Documentary 2, and yet it has already landed a spot on the Billboard 200 charts.

The album earned itself a top spot at No. 2, under Selena Gomez’s new album.

For those who have yet to hear the album , it features a long list of notable artists including Dr. Dre, Diddy, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Q-Tip, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Future,and YG. He also continued to fill in the puzzle, dropping The Documentary 2.5 shortly after.

#BBB NEWS| Lamar Odom Reportedly Released From Las Vegas Hospital

Former NBA player Lamar Odom has been released from a Las Vegas hospital and is being transported to another hospital closer to his Los Angeles-area home, E! Online reported Monday.

E! reported that doctors wanted to be sure Odom was stable enough to be moved. Odom, who played 14 seasons in the NBA — 12 years between the Clippers and Lakers — collapsed last week while at a Nevada brothel following a suspected binge of alcohol and drugs over the course of four days.

He spent the next couple of days in a drug-induced coma and the worst was feared.

While still unable to stand on his own, Odom steadily improved over the weekend. He is still on dialysis because of failing kidneys, but passed a swallowing test and is breathing on his own.

#BBB NEWS| N400m Scam: Nigerian ‘Lover-Boy’ Bags 12 Years Imprisonment [PHOTO]

A Vietnamese court has sentenced a Nigerian, Mr. Oshanugor James Anyasi, 35, to 12 years in prison for allegedly conniving with three others to dupe 10 women, many who are Vietnamese of N400 million after promising them fake love and business.  James Anyasi "Lover Boy" Scammer in a Vietnamese Court Photo Credit: Vanguard

Anyasi was found guilty of a two count charges of fraud and cyber crime by a Hanoi Court.

According to the report, Anyasi and three others had hooked up with the women online sometimes in September 2012, pretending to be their lovers and business associates and then promising them expensive gifts, while faking phone calls and e-mails from customs and shipping agencies to ask them to transfer shipping fees to certain accounts.

Investigations revealed that the gang had defrauded the ten women of some huge amounts of money in separate interactions before they realized they had been duped. Of the money stolen from the women, Anyasi got 15 per cent by playing the role of an English businessman and chatting with the women, while their female accomplice got 10 per cent, and the other two, who are reportedly based in Malaysia, got 75 per cent.

#BBB NEWS| Former Kebbi Governor Dakingari Arrested By The EFCC

A former Governor of Kebbi state Usman Dakingari has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations that he laundered N3.8 billion from the state.

Mr. Dakingari was detained at the EFCC headquarters around 10 AM Nigerian time. He is currently undergoing interrogation at the hands of EFCC investigators.

Mr. Dakingari is an in-law to late Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’dua.

Recently, the EFCC arrested Mr. Dakingari’s wife, Zainab. She was accused of laundering N2billion for her husband.

#BBB NEWS| Beyonce And Blue Ivy Had A Mommy-Daughter Date At Janet Jackson’s “Unbreakable” Tour [PHOTOS]

Last Halloween, Beyonce and Blue Ivy paid homage to The Jacksons as Janet and Michael. This year, the Carter ladies caught up with real Ms. Jackson at her “Unbreakable” tour in Los Angeles on Friday night. (Oct. 16).

The mother-daughter pair was spotted in the crowd at the Forum, and backstage after the concert. Photos surfaced online of their night on the town:

#BBB NEWS| I Will Not Resign If We Fail To Defeat Boko Haram – Buhari

In a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with Al Jazeera English’s flagship current affairs show, ‘UpFront’, Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari pledged to defeat Boko Haram by December but also acknowledged he would be willing to negotiate with the group to secure the release of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls.

“They have to prove to us that they are alive, they are well, and then we can…negotiate with them,” President Buhari told ‘UpFront’ host Mehdi Hasan. “We said it and we meant it. If we are satisfied that the girls are alive.”

When asked whether he would offer financial payments, or a prisoner release, to Boko Haram in return for the girls, Buhari did not rule out either option. “Well it depends on the negotiations with the leadership of Boko Haram.”

The president has pledged to defeat Boko Haram by the end of 2015 and told Hasan: “As soon as the rainy season comes, which is by the end of the year […] Boko Haram will virtually be out of their main stronghold and that will be the end of it [….] Attacks by Boko Haram on townships, on military installations, will certainly stop.”