1. Serena Williams Reveals Problems with Insomnia and Relationships
Serena Williams recently shared her troubles with insomnia and relationships and how she’s planning to deal with the two in opposite ways: the first she’ll tackle head on and the latter will be pushed to the back burner while she focuses on her career. The tennis star has dated rappers Common and Drake, but it seems like her failed relationships have hurt her so much, she’d rather stay away from playing the field for the next 10 years. [MORE]

2. Allen West Blames Obama for Suicide Bombing in Afghanistan
Rep. Allen West never has a kind word to say about President Obama, and today’s no different. In a morning tweet, he linked the suicide bombing in the Afghan capital of Kabul to the president’s surprise visit to the country to mark the anniversary of Osama Bin Laden’s death.

“Pres flew into Afghanistan at night for 7 hrs,” West wrote. “As sun came up, Taliban gave its response 2 his Chamberlain like actions.” [MORE]

3. 13 Charged in Hazing Death of Fla. Band Member
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Thirteen people were charged Wednesday in one of the biggest college hazing cases ever prosecuted in the U.S., accused in the death of a Florida A&M University drum major who authorities say was mercilessly pummeled by fellow members of the marching band.

The charges came more than five months after Robert Champion, 26, died aboard a chartered bus parked outside an Orlando hotel following a performance against a rival school. [MORE]

4. Historically Black Colleges Embrace Entrepreneurship Programs
Amid sky high unemployment numbers for African-Americans, Black colleges are now beginning to teach students to take their earning potential into their own plans. Institutions like Howard University and Bowie State are now expanding entrepreneurship courses generally only offered to business students, and welcoming in students from all disciplines, reports the Washington Post. [MORE]

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, so that means love is in the air (well almost). And while a substantial amount of the population manages to be boo’ed up come February 14, I’ve always managed to be single on Cupid’s holiday—happily single, of course. While boo-less, I am never void of some tasty mental Valentine options. A girl can dream can’t she? There are a certain group of celebrity men that are the perfect eye candy on ANY day of the year, but on Valentine’s Day, they prove a far better choice than polishing off a box of chocolate (Godiva chocolate of course). Here are the top ten Black male celebrities I wouldn’t mind calling my boo (in no particular order):

1. Maxwell, 38
Although I’m mad that the second installment of his BLACKsummer’snight trilogy has been on serial delay for nearly two years, I can’t deny this man. Beside the fact that he can sing women, and a few men, out of their drawers, with his sensual ballads and slow jams; his strong Puerto Rican and Haitian features have only helped his career.

2. Michael Ealy, 38
Those eyes. That strong jaw line. That skin. Michael Ealy is one attractive man—sexy even. From the moment I saw him in the 2002 film, Barbershop, I knew Ricky—I mean Michael—was the man for me.

3. Common, 39 (pictured above)
Common once said in a BET commercial, “Knowing is Beautiful.” But guess what Common? YOU are beautiful. Any man that can wear crochet pants, and still keep a swagger about him, that most men couldn’t touch is they tried, has my heart.

Read the rest of this entry »

1. Houston Recalled as Happy in Days Before Death
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston’s last days were spent surrounded by family, catching up with old friends and doing a bit of what she was best known for: singing.

Her death Saturday afternoon in a Beverly Hills hotel room came hours before she was scheduled to appear at an annual pre-Grammy party that introduced her to the industry decades ago and was expected to honor the six-time Grammy winner.

The 48-year-old singer had been making the rounds in the days before the event, appearing at rehearsals and offering advice to singers Monica and Brandy. On Thursday, she appeared with fellow singer Kelly Price on stage at a Hollywood club, where she sang the hymn “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” to loud cheers. [MORE]

2. Obese Vs. Overweight: How to Tell the Difference
To be obese is to be overweight, but to be overweight doesn’t necessarily make you obese. A bulky weight trainer, whose muscle mass may take up a high percentage of their weight, could have the same BMI as a dormant couch potato.

Here are a few ways to help you determine whether you are overweight, obese or average. [MORE]

3. President Obama Compromises on Birth Control Coverage
After almost three weeks of criticism from the GOP and religious groups, the White House today announced that it will no longer require religious institutions such as hospitals, universities and charities to provide free preventive care services, including contraceptives to the insured. [MORE]

4. Money Monday: Celebrate Valentine’s Day Without Spending Money
There are ways to show your thoughtfulness that don’t involve $100 long-stem roses or a costly romantic getaway. BET.com shows you how. [MORE]

5. BET News Explores the Life of Icon Maya Angelou
In an exclusive documentary hosted by Common, the network highlights the legendary master of literature’s life as not only a writer, but a dancer, a singer and even a street car conductor. [MORE]

For more news and information, visit BET.com/news

(L-R) Tonya Lee, Chris Rock and Spike Lee

(Park City, UT) Acclaimed film maker Spike Lee, hosted an after party for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of his latest film, Red Hook Summer at TAO at the Samsung Galaxy Tab Lift.

Guests were treated to cocktails courtesy of Lee’s ABSOLUT Brooklyn collaboration, and a performance from singer, Judith Hill.

The film which, has been met with mixed to bad reviews attracted a slew of celebrities including, Common, Chris Rock, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Alfre Woodard.

Red Hook Summer, Lee’s first full length film since 2008’s Miracle at St. Anna, tells the story of a boy from Atlanta who lands in Brooklyn to spend the summer with his grandfather, who he’s never met before.

Cedric The Entertainer

If you missed the 2011 Soul Train Awards, you missed a night of groovin’ performances, great laughs (courtesy of show host Cedric The Entertainer), timeless soul (Gladys Knight, anyone?) and great surprises. But while Soul Train is synonomous with music, it was also a known hotbed for the hottest fashion—and last night’s award show was no exception. Who were we loving? The fellas. From smooth and daper to funky and original, the men of Soul Train showed up and showed out. Check out the photos below and tell us who you thought was best dressed of the night.

Catch an encore airing of Soul Train Awards 2011 tomorrow (November 29th) on BET at 8P/7C.

1. Oprah Winfrey And James Earl Jones Honored
The icons received honorary Academy awards this weekend. [Read more]

2. Common to Release Ninth Studio Album in December
The Dreamer, The Believer will drop Dec. 20. [Read more]

3. More Evictions, Police Standoffs Across Occupy Movement
Protesters of the Occupy Wall Street movement have held their ground in cities across the country, even as increasing pressure from police and local governments threaten to boot them from their encampments. Here is the latest from around the country. [Read more]

4. Uganda Jails Gay Activist’s Killer
Often in the spotlight for its hostility to homosexuals, the African nation upholds the rule of law and sentences David Kato’s assassin to 30 years in prison. [Read more]

For the latest in news and updates, visit BET.com/News

1. Original Dreamgirls Divas Reunite
Three decades since Dreamgirls opened on Broadway, launching the careers of Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine and Jennifer Holliday, the musical’s original stars reunited at Los Angeles’ Wilshire Ebell Theatre to perform at the 21st annual Divas Simply Singing benefit. [Read more]

2. Common Calls ‘Blue Sky’ Video A ‘Dream’
After introducing his “Blue Sky” single last month, Common is giving fans a behind the scenes look at the song’s video. [Read more]

3. Want Better Health? Either Move or Improve Your ‘Hood
Where you live may play a factor in your health outcomes, suggests a study conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). [Read more]

4. Teen Arrested in Murder of Brooklyn Mom
A suspect has been arrested and charged with the murder of Zurana Horton, a 34-year-old mother of 12, who was shot fatally last Friday while trying to shield a group of neighborhood children from gang gunfire as they left a public school, The New York Daily News reports. A second mother and an 11-year-old girl were also wounded in the attack. [Read more]

5. Report: More Young Black Men Fill British Prisons
Each year, scores of young Black men enter correctional facilities across the U.S. — now, new data from across the pond shows that Black boys aren’t faring any better in Britain. According to a report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, young Black males now make up nearly 40% of the population in youth jails across England and Wales. [Read more]

For the latest in news and updates, visit BET.com/News

A literary co-sign from esteemed poet Maya Angelou, is the ultimate stamp of approval for any writer, let alone a new one—and rapper Common has been lucky to receive just that for his first book and memoir One Day It’ll All Make Sense.

Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, the book gives readers a closer look at the entertainer’s childhood growing up in the hard-knock streets of Chicago’s South Side, his decision to drop out of college, and his road to success in the rap music—the good and the not so good.

“People who know me as Common might find it hard to believe some of the things that made me Rashid,” said the “Ghetto Dreams” rapper. “That’s partly why I’ve written this book, so that I can show myself as a man in full. That means telling some tough truths, revealing my faults and vulnerabilities. But it also means showing the true strength of my character.”

The book includes open letters to loved ones both living and deceased, as well as details of his relationships with some very special women in his life—his mother, the mother of his daughter, Omoye; Erykah Badu, and actressTaraji P. Henson.

The book is available now online at Amazon.com

Common will be featured on a special 2-hour episode of “The Hot 10″ this Saturday (Oct. 1), so we are giving away two (2) copies of his book. Join our Twitter chat during the show (@CentricTV) and test your luck.  

1. A historian told the British press that the violent London riots stem from his view that “whites have become Black.” In a controversial interview on BBC2’s Newsnight show, British historian Dr. David Starkey shocked fellow guests when he said the underlying cause of the riot in London, was truly black and white: Too many white people had now “become Black.”—>http://goo.gl/J0zGJ

2. The Help earns $25.5 million over the weekend, despite criticism—>http://goo.gl/S226m

3.  Rapper Common is set to pen his memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense. —>http://goo.gl/VuFcH

4. The N-Word Rears Its Ugly Head Again, this time on EBay. A seller uses offensive term to describe color of a bag—>http://goo.gl/nRex2

For the latest in news and updates, visit BET.com/News

During her recent trip to Europe with President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama stopped by Oxford University and she took the opportunity to address the controversy regarding rapper Common’s recent visit to the White House.

“We had a poetry session and we invited young kids in just last week from all over the country. And they talked to some of the most outstanding poets, and they read their poetry in the state room. And then we had a poetry night and Common was there. He’s very cute. But everybody from poet laureates to hip-hop folks, being able to mix up the world in that very interesting way, the White House allows you to do that.”

First Lady Obama also shared with the students if she knew early on that her husband would become the President Of The United States and she replied, “Absolutely not.”

She stated that it wasn’t a lack of potential that she saw in her husband because she knew without a doubt that he would move towards great opportunities.

“I always thought he would be useful, but I had no idea he was going to be president.”

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