The Daily Buzz For June 26

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Pics From Donald Lawrence 20 Year Anniversary Recording

You could not help but to feel an air of excitement upon arrival at Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) — for Donald Lawrence 20 Year Anniversary Live Recording. Those present to help celebrate the industry vet, who is often times described as the pastor of music —

included Gospel legends, Karen Clark Sheard, Richard Smallwood, Edwin Hawkins, and Vanessa Bell-Armstrong; R&B divas, Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Coko, and Lalah Hathaway; and former Donald Lawrence singers, who have gone on to obtain solo success, DeWayne Woods, Anita Wilson, Sheri Jones-Moffett. See photos and read a first hand experience about the evening below

The first song of the evening was Beautiful Feet which featured Donald Lawrence on lead and dance performance from the famed choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson. Donald being known for his intellectual and inspiring message took us back to chart topping hit Blessing of Abraham for the second song..

From there he transition into a set of songs that featured some vocalist as big as the lyrics that Donald Lawrence pens. A sure highlight of the evening consisted of the reunion of dynamic duo Ted & Sheri, on the song Celebrate.

The energy did not drop in the room as Coko of R&B sensation SWV came and delivered on Mighty God. The crowd was in awe as she soared into her signature soprano range.

The sweet heart of contemporary Christian music Natalie Grant came in with such a pure sound and spirit and sung lead on the ballad, God. After that song, Donald took the time to remind those in transition that while there, God will hold your position. After sharing a little about his victory in a battle with cancer.

Singer Rudy Currence, who is a cousin of Lawrence — sat down at the keyboard and performed his own interpretation of the song that his cousin penned for the Clark Sister’s, Instrument.

This set up the song that Lawrence explained was inspired by his Pastor Bill Winston like many others in his body of work, The Gift (his current radio single).

Other highlights were: R&B Diva Faith Evans came to the stage and gave a stellar performance of Say A Prayer.

Staying in the vein of prayer, gospel legend Vanessa Bell Armstrong reminded us of the Good News. It got so good that Armstrong and Lawrence played off of each other and reprised the song with the audience joining in on the chemistry.

Feeling right it lead us right into what seemed to be the anthem and hit of the evening There Remaineth A Rest, a song that Lawrence stated was inspired by a message from mega Pastor Creflo Dollar. The upbeat song was well received, but it was the organ heavy reprise interpretation of the song that reminded you of Sunday morning where the audience and Lawrence got stuck.

As a tribute to one of his mentors Andrae Crouch, Lawrence featured the ladies of the Company doing classic Quiet Times.

Any lover of music would be ecstatic about the results of Lalah Hathaway and Lawrence joining forces. Hathaway did an awesome job painting the picture of the Ultimate Relationship, a song originally written for Mary J. Blige.

R&B Diva Kelly Price came in and did Lawrence classic When The Saints Go To Worship. Always amazing to hear her vocal styling and to see the church girl enjoy the message she sings about.

Lawrence promised the crowd to hold on that they had just two more songs and that they would go out with a bang. So why not introduce a new version of Lawrence favorite Giants featuring powerhouses Karen Clark-Sheard and Kierra Sheard. Lawrence took time to tell the audiences that Karen Clark-Sheard will be returning to Chicago Monday, September 9, 2013 to record her next project live with him in the producer’s chair.

To close out the night Lawrence called his friend and one third of the brat pack Bishop Hezekiah Walker to the stage where they did their duet You Covered Me with a fresh new groove.

It was an evening that truly represented and celebrated the 20-year journey of Donald Lawrence. Look forward to the release of Donald Lawrence 20th Anniversary in stores 9.24.13.

Faith Evans Premieres ‘Dumb’ Video

R&B Diva, Faith Evans premieres her new video for the song entitled “Dumb” which is pulled from the album R&B Divas. Faith tells her unfaithful man “toodle-loo” in the video. She jams with her band in the ’70s-themed clip and sits atop a candy red Mustang.

“You thought I wasn’t gon’ do it, but you better get into it, hunny,”

Peep the video HERE:

THOUGHTS?

Chris Paul & His Wife Jada Dine At BOA Steakhouse In West Hollywood

NBA Baller, Chris Paul, and his wife Jada stepped out for dinner earlier this week, at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood.

Jada pulled her hair up into a sleek ponytail, and rock’d a gray and white sleeveless top, white denim jeans, and a pair of black sandals – while her hubby dined in a long-sleeve denim button down, gold pants, and leopard print sneakers. Catch more pics of the couple making their way into the restaurant inside.

Nice and Comfy!

Pink Slip Problems: Did Radio Personality Kay Foxx Get Fired From Popular NYC Radio?

Rumors are running that radio personality, Kay Foxx, turned reality star (of ‘Gossip Game’) has either been fired or quit her full-time gig. The NY native is on the morning show of New York radio station, Hot 97. It’s all speculation at this point, but allegedly she was either fired or quit this week. You’ll recall her hard at work, on VH1′s new reality show ‘Gossip Game’, where she had a few  issues with her colleagues and boss Ebro. Anywho, specifically, her departure went down on Thursday (June 20th). Vibe Vixen shares that one of her alleged, co-star Ms. Drama (or JasFly, depending on reports) is set to take over Foxx’s responsibilities.

Now, JasFly shared the following statement with VV:

I love K. She’s incredibly talented and I’m excited to see what’s next for her.

Meanwhile, Ebro tweeted Friday morning that he would NEVER replace Kay with someone from the show.

Clearly, this didn’t sit too well with JasFly, who went on to tweet:

I’m all for respecting legends. But what I won’t do is allow legends to disrespect me.

Now as to why Kay is leaving, that is still unconfirmed. Some are saying because of the issues (some of them we saw on ‘Gossip Game’) that she’s had with her all-male colleagues, while other suggest it was time for her to move on.

What we do know is radio is VERY cut throat. I’m sure you’ve heard some of your favorite on-air personalities on Thursday, and the woke-up with their disappearance on last Friday. Nonetheless, stay tuned!

Serena Williams Braves The "Rape Comment" Backlash, Hits The Pre-Wimbledon Party In London

Serena Williams has had a major few weeks of headlines.  After winning the French Open for the second time earlier this month, folks were outraged by her comments about the Steubenville High School rape case in her latest Rolling Stone interview...

In a tight white mini dress with a front black zipper trim, Serena's fave style it seems, the fab tennis pro threw on her doll-like wiggery (which she could have kept honestly) to hit the annual pre-Wimbledon party at Kensington Roof Gardens in London.

But it was her recent comments she made to Rolling Stone about the high school boys in Steubenville, OH who were accused of raping a teen girl.  People said she was victim-blaming when she spoke up saying the victim was "lucky" (likely meaning lucky something worse didn't happen) and that girls should be taught how not to get themselves in situations like those (being drunk and not in control).

I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you—don't take drinks from other people. She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different."

Serena's most recent statement alluded to her words being misconstrued by RS.  She said:

"What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved — that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl's family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written — what I supposedly said — is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

"I have fought all of my career for women's equality, women's equal rights, respect in their fields — anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child."

And despite all the backlash from the media and the masses, Serena stepped out with confidence

She arrived ready to sign autographs for the fans and she chatted up the red carpet hosts. And also had a bit of a spill with her clutch, but chick picked it back up and worked it out for the cameras:

The super athlete is competing in Wimbledon's Women's Singles tournament.  Keep your head up Serena!

R&B Divas’ Syleena Johnson Wants Iyanla Vanzant to Fix Her Life

Iyanla Vanzant continues to fix folks life in a her popular OWN show, ‘Iyanla: Fix My Life‘. Next week, she returns with a new season, visiting one of our favorite singer turned reality TV stars, Syleena Johnson of ‘R&B Divas’. So what exactly will Iyanla be ‘fixing’? She’s taking her talents down to the ‘A’, to help mend the volatile relationship between Syleena and her mother.

If you’ve watched season two of the TV One show, then you’ve seen these two (mother and daughter) in action. The new season premiers, July 27th.

And in other OWN news..

OWN’s compelling update series “Oprah: Where Are They Now?,” which features former “Oprah” show guests, headline-making newsmakers and some of your favorite celebrities returns. The new season features a roster of guests and follow ups including Oprah’s sister who she met for the first time in 2010, Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife and actress Denise Richards, Fab Morvan from Milli Vanilli, disgraced Pastor Ted Haggard, Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Danielynn and Danielynn’s father Larry Birkhead, model Fabio, Donald Trump’s ex-wife Marla Maples, 80′s teen queen Molly Ringwald, environmental activist Erin Brockovich,”Diff’rent Strokes” actor Todd Bridges, favorite “American Idol” contestants and “Survivor” season one million dollar winner Richard Hatch. In addition, the series will feature a special 70′s episode with “The Partridge Family” stars Danny Bonaduce and David Cassidy and “The Brady Bunch” stars Barry Williams, Christopher Knight and Cindy Olsen.

The New Nike Air Foamposite One “Thermal Map” [PHOTOS]

Nike is gearing up to make this a hot summer not only with the release of the "Weatherman," but with the "Thermal Map" Foamposites, too.

Check them out below:

Keeping with the environmental theme, the "Thermal Maps" has red pixelated blots decorating its white upper. With an all-black inner lining, the shoe has all red sole rounding it out and is reminiscent of last year's "Bright Crimson" Foamposite. While its commendable that Nike has taken to use the Foamposite silhouette as a canvas and moved past from using solid colors to full fledged designs, it leaves much more to be desired.  Try as they may, the house that Phil Knight built has yet to rekindle what made the space-inspired "Galaxy" Foamposite so coveted.

The "Thermal Maps" are scheduled for a September 28 release for $250.00…Thoughts?

Is Suge Knight Cashing In On His R&B Diva?

Michel’le Toussant has barely reemerged in her newly landed ‘R&B Divas L.A.’ gig, but Suge Knight’s reported to already have his eyes set on the singer’s TV One paycheck.

According to HSK Suge Knight is claiming “he’s broke” to his baby momma, Michel’le. We’re told the ‘R&B Diva’ feels obligated to provide Suge with financial support. Know why? Because Michel’le is said to have her heart set on having Suge Knight make a cameo appearance on the show, airing in July.

But wait she has a child from Dr Dre and Suge????? NOT CUTE!

Billboard Illustrates Jay-Z’s Blueprint,

Jay-Z’s artistic and business blueprint remains a focal point. The the 43-year-old has snagged a recent cover illustrating his hustle on Billboard. By now I'm sure you're aware of Jay-Z's upcoming album Magna Carta Holy Grail. With a release date only about two weeks away, Billboard Magazine decided to put Hov on the cover of their latest issue.

Inside the issue, Billboard will be breaking down the deal that Jay-Z and Samsung recently worked out, and what it means for the music industry. The story will hit Billboard.com tomorrow at 9AM. In other recent news regarding the album, it was just announced that Soundscan will NOT be counting album sales for the first million fans through their app. Which originally brought up the topic of Hov going platinum before the album official drops, but that will not be the case.

Rihanna: Cussing and Clubbing in Dublin

Bringing out her Bad Girl Ri-Ri side for a night on the town, Rihanna hit up Lillie's Bordello club in Dublin, Ireland

The "Stay" singer walked out with pal Melissa Forde in a green jacket, blue jeans, and white T-shirt with the words, "Sh*t F***ing Happens" on it.

Looking cutsey!~

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

‘Delightfully Tacky’

Get on up and get on down to Hooters! Yaaa! – Seriously though, I’m a guy and I wouldn’t take a sh*t in a Hooters. Their food is awful and the cleavage is always disappointing. “Hey, sweet c-section scar, can I get some extra napkins please?”

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!

EFREM