CELEB SPOTTINGS: R&B SINGERS OUT & ABOUT [IN NEW ORLEANS]....

Young superstar couple Chris Brown and Rihanna performed at the Louisiana Superdome during the 2008 Essence Music Festival yesterday (July 4th) in New Orleans:



Check out what Billboard had to say about Rihanna's new single 'Disturbia': Rihanna has scored 10 top 40 hits since her career launched in 2005. More staggering, the 20-year-old has four songs riding the Pop 100: top two ‘Take a Bow,’ Maroon 5 duet ‘If I Never See Your Face Again’ just entering the top 40, ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ inside the top 40 after 30 weeks—and now ‘Disturbia.’ It’s safe to say that Rihanna is the premier artist of the second half of the decade, with no signs of wear and tear. This latest is a sort of ‘Thriller’ for partygoers, with multilayered vocals cascading across Ri’s lower register, alongside fun scatting, a la ‘bum bum bi dum bum’ with co-writing (and background vocals) from the irrepressible Chris Brown. Rereleased albums with added cuts have become a tedious trend, but ‘Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded’ is actually worth its weight in platinum. In short order, Rihanna has become the trustworthy ‘it’ girl of our time.’ That said, I agree with Billboard. Riri has EARNED her right as the premier artist of the last five years. Her singles NEVER fail. Anything she puts out UNQUESTIONABLY becomes a smash. Even Disturbia looks likely to get to no 1. Good for her.

More flicks:




Those two REALLY are the business.

Solange Knowles also attended the ‘2008 Essence Music Festival’ which went down yesterday:




For once she looked cute. I'm still not that pressed about the hair though. Her lead single 'I Decided,' off of her forthcoming CD, SoL-AngeL and the Hadley St. Dreams has enjoyed the #1 spot on both Billboard’s 'Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales' chart and the 'Hot Dance Singles Sales' chart. It also landed at #2 on Billboard’s 'Hot Singles Sales' chart. SoL-AngeL and the Hadley St. Dreams, Solange’s sophomore set, will be released on Music World Entertainment/Geffen Records on August 26th.

Anyway, TLC's Rozanda 'Chilli' Thomas also hit up that same event:



Those baby hairs never fail, lol.

Solange also attended 2008 Interscope Geffen A&M Records "Creme of the Crop" BET Awards afterparty during that week:



Almost there but not quite. I am sooo happy that she's finally seeing success with this new project of hers.

Earlier this week, Usher attended Polow Da Don's Bowling event at Tin Pan Alley in Atlantic Station:



He was chilled with rapper Nelly who was also in attendance.

Recently, Usher revisited the Mississippi Gulf Coast to continue the work he began in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina:




‘Usher’s New Look’ along with ’Trustmark National Bank’, ‘Visions of Hope’, and ‘Beau Rivage Resort and Casino’ announced a partnership to offer home replacement and renovation benefits to employees who owned homes that were destroyed significantly by the destructive hurricane. Through this year’s program, 80-100 families are expected to be supported through a housing initiative that provides homebuyer and financial education, training and counseling to displaced employees. The announcement took place during a kick-off rally before 1,500 Beau Rivage employees. Since its inception, ‘New Look’ has provided assistance to over 750 families throughout the New Orleans region with rent and utility assistance. The Rally was held at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi.

Usher ended his vist on the Gulf Coast at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, LA to meet with medical professionals including LSU Health Science Center and US Doctors for Africa, to better understand the health care crisis facing youth in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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