WEDNESDAY R&B GRIND ...

US talk show host Oprah Winfrey was in South Africa last Friday to throw a New Year's Eve party at the plush Sun City casino resort that was attended by some of Hollywood's top celebrities.

During her crusade, she made an excellent quote about inner-city children which I agreed with whole heartedly:

"If you ask the (American) kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school." - Oprah, in response to criticisms for her decision to open a school in South Africa instead of the United States.

As today, these kids are so overprivileged. My sisters get playstations, laptops, expensive stereo's, designer clothes, you name it. Now she wants an Xbox. What the hell? My middle sister hasn't even left high school yet and is already on her 5th mobile phone (she upgrades every year). I don't recall getting spoilt back in the 80's and 90's during my upbringing. I wasn't getting expensive computers and stereo's. I got clothes and crappy LA Gears and my ass was always ripped a new one at school by the kids who loved to poke fun. It was hell. I know we're in a different generation where everything is more modernised and everything is about the latest new technologies but today's kids are more focused on the stuff that matter the least.

Oprah who has set up a leadership school for girls (see above) and made several previous visits to the country, was seen at the resort north west of Johannesburg. Some of her guests, including actor Sidney Poitier, director Spike Lee, comedian Chris Rock and singers Mariah Carey, Tina Turner and Mary J Blige who was also spotted enjoying breakfast there.

Most of the guests are believed to have jetted into the country on Friday for a weekend at the 5,000 rand ($A1,141) a night resort with the wealthy talk show host who reportedly paid for everything except the flights. You would think Mariah was back at Aspen, Colorado partying away:

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For such an extremely important occasion, you would think Mariah would have the sheer dignity not to have her tata's on display but no, they had to come out which somewhat bothers me. There is in fact a time and place for everything. Anyway, check out all the other big names that were there:

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Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and music executive LA Reid.

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Chris Rock, family and Sidney Poitier. Last but certainly not least ...

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Mary J Blige and Tina Turner.

Toni Braxton performed with her back-up dancers on the Countdown Stage in Times Square as part of the New Year's Eve celebrations, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in New York:

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Toni looked hot on that stage and I am glad her bare arse wasn't on display this time. She performed two live songs, her #1 song "Un-Break My Heart" The Remix Version and the 2000 hit single "He Wasn't Man Enough". Just before the ceremony started, Toni was spotted in New York looking really rough:

But at 39 years old, this woman really scrubs up well, because once she hit the stage she was back to her luscious best.

Beyonce and her jiggaman was spotted at their New Years holiday weekend in the Dominican Republic:

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The pictures are really grainy as if they were taken on somebody's mobile phone but nevertheless, they are pretty identifiable. Now these two should just get married, pop out some babies and give us a damn break. I have been reading articles that Beyonce is going back into the studio later this year to start recording another studio album to be released in 2008. Say what? Can we say overkill? This chick will crash and burn with dire consequences if she's not careful, but it was good to see her enjoying the New Years weekend.

Here are the latest new candids of Brandy looking mad happy in LA. I wonder why she's so happy:

I have to admit she looks mad cute and really healthy because for the past couple of months chick was looking really malnourished and run-down. The last set of Brandy pictures I posted a couple of weeks ago was when she ate out at Savannah's and she didn't look so good but she is looking kind of hot here, save for the outfit which was horrible but other than that B-Rocka looks great. Hell, Brandy hasn't looked this good since her Moesha days. Does she have a new secret man in her life? I would bet my money on it. Either way I cannot wait for her new album this year and I am mad happy that Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins will be producing on this new album. Never Say Never still remains an R&B classic to this day.

Letoya Luckett did a really hot shoot for Lush magazine and totally worked it, chick looked absolutely hot:

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Actually, I am mad surprised I like this shoot because I haven't been feeling any of her shoots in the past, maybe it's because they are in black and white, I don't know but this latest photo shoot truly rocks. Rock on Toya! By the way, she looks the spitting image of Amerie in that first picture.

On the Amerie tip, her official website has confirmed a couple of tracks that will make her new album Because I Love It. They consist of the following: Paint Me Over, Make Me Believe, That's What U R, Some Like It and Crazy Wonderful.

The new album doesn't drop until spring but here is a rare unreleased track (well actually, it is a Japanese bonus) concocted from her debut All I Have. As All I Have was one of those brilliant but underground R&B albums that failed to receive commercial success, not much people have heard this track and I didn't start blogging until late 2004 so here is the track. It's called Just What I Needed To See and it was produced by Rich Harrison. This is just something to get you all buzzed until the new stuff comes in. Enjoy.

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Just What I Needed To See - Amerie
[DOWNLOAD]

Here is a new promo shot of American Idol contestant Paris Bennett. Once I get hold of more pictures I will post them but this is the look she will be maintaining for the release of her upcoming debut album Princess P:

She looks cute. This is definitely an upgrade. Love the hair! It's not babyish or old-fashioned or ragga-muffin looking like the weirdo hairstyles she use to rock on A.I. She has even shaped up her caterpillar eyebrows. I think Paris came fourth in the finals earlier this year but I do look forwards to the album since Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins has produced on it.

Lastly but so not least, ya'll know I am the biggest Alicia Keys fan (my banner is proof of that) and it was such a beautiful photo-shoot that I fell madly in love with it. But yesterday, she exclusively told MTV that her new album will possibly be out by June (YES!!!).

Of the new albums, she says: "It's coming together incredibly. I am in love with this album. It's very fresh and new. I'm really enjoying the process, and I think this may be the most fun I've had recording yet, in regards to just being free about it and allowing all the new things I'm learning to come out through this music." [READ MORE]

I have loved BOTH of Alicia's albums and own them too and they are both legit copies. In fact, alongside Brandy, Alicia's album is one of my most anticipated albums this year. Stay tuned for more R&B crumbs.