RESPECT.

Rapper J. Cole appears on the cover of the year-end, 2nd Anniversary issue of RESPECT. magazine. The cover boasts the headline, “Nice Guy. Mean Flow. No. 1 Album,” followed by this honest tagline: “Jay-Z’s Roc Nation MC Silences the Critics.”

Undoubtedly, the 2011 Rap Rookie of the Year Award belongs to J. Cole. After waiting three years on the sideline anxious to get his chance to shine, he has now become one of the most promising artists in the rap game. His debut LP ‘Cole World: The Sideline Story’ is by far one of the best rap debuts of 2011.

‘Cole World’ is also this year’s highest-charting debut album from a first-time artist, with 218,000 copies sold in its first week of release. Now that’s respect on a whole new level.

The RESPECT. cover features a sauve-looking Hollywood Cole with his well-groomed Fu Manchu beard and mustache. He’s also wearing a cool black military jacket with matching embroidered T-shirt and jeans. With both hands in his pockets, the North Cackalacka rapper looks like the average Joe from around the way. Much like the cover, Cole’s songs reflect a street attitude but have plenty of lyrical style and wit.

In addition to J. Cole, the magazine will also feature interviews with this year’s rap heavyweights including Big Sean, Common and rap newcomer Meek Mill. There’s also a handy Winter Gift Guide to help you find the perfect present for that music lover in your life.

Overall, this is a wonderful pre-Christmas gift from the editor (props to Elliott Wilson) of RESPECT. magazine. The year-end issue will hit newsstands on Nov. 29. Go cop it!

Like father, like son? Not at all, says Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent. The rapper/actor/author  talks about how very different he and his son are in the latest issue of Jet magazine

The following is an excerpt from 50?s interview with JET:

50 Cent on being a bully and his new book, 50 Cent: Playground, The Mostly True Story of a Reformed Bully:
“I was [a bully] at different points during my childhood,” the 36-year-old shares. “I was dealing with my emotions the wrong way. From a child’s perspective, you don’t understand. As an adult, you get that’s not the way to deal with things.”

The story follows Butterball, a youngster who hits a kid on the playground… with a sock full of batteries. Butterball comes from a broken household and is dealing with relocating and feelings of powerlessness. “It’s for everyone,” he adds.

On his son Marquise:
Though father and son grew up in the dichotomous worlds of poverty and privilege, there is one commonality: the focus on intelligence. Jackson assigns his son books to read during the summer and sends him excerpts of material to read during the school year, then calls him to discuss it. Moreover, Marquise, his son, is afforded the opportunity to be taught by the best because Jackson lives what others teach.

“My son is 15, and I have conversations with him about things like this. He isn’t being bullied, but he meets people who have expectations of him because of the aggressive energy that I have and the content of the material I create. They look at him like he’s supposed to be like that,” he shares. “But he’s not. He doesn’t even know what it feels like to need for something. When we didn’t have any money, he was too young to notice.”

Tami Roman covers the latest issue and pages of S2S Magazine where she opens up about the never-ending drama drama surrounding “Basketball Wives”, her former marriage, and being a single mother. See her pics inside…

Tami Roman is a woman on the move. In the latest issue of S2S she talks about “BBW”, the show that’s made her a household name and famous face again post-”Real World,” as well as her outside life as a mother and business woman.

And there are big things coming up for Ms. Roman as she recently tweeted:

Wow 2 films in Urbanworld this year-1 I produced called The Tombs and the other I’m acting in Life Love SoulA come support me & @EgyptSaidSo

Hmm…..acting and producing? Seems lke Tami has a little more to offer than what’s shown on “Basketball Wives.” Too bad we’ll likely never get to see it on the show. Y’all know how they do.

BONUS: Looks like Tami will be making a guest appearance on an upcoming episode of Tatyana Ali‘s TV One sitcom “Love That Girl”:

These pics were tweeted from the set.

Here comes the bride!

Dressed in her beautiful, $ 25,000 Vera Wang wedding dress, Kim Kardashian graces the cover — with groom Kris Humphries nowhere in sight — of the latest issue of People Magazine in an exclusive story that they paid $ 1.5 million to secure.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries got married over the weekend, and inside the latest issue of People, you can take a look at a number of official (and exclusive) wedding photos from the ceremony, as well as details that you won’t find anywhere else.

VIBE recently released a hot set of pictures of Trina rocking a swimsuit and gold heels in the last install of the magazine’s “Summer of Celebs in Swimwear” for their new fall issue (on stands now).

If you’ve ever wondered the proper way to rock a “natural” with an evening gown, The New York Times T Magazine called in Solange, Les Nubians, and Corinne Bailey Rae to pair their naturals with evening wear.  Meanwhile, Grammy-winner Esperanza Spalding  appeared on the cover of the mag.  See the pics inside….

In “Nightie Aphorodites” some of R&Bs brightest stars paired their “naturals” with evening wear.  The gorgeous YBF chicks showed off what their mamas gave them in the new style magazine called “T” by New York Times.

Above, Solange rocked a Giambattista Valli dress, Leviev ring and a Cartier ring. Her hair was by Chuck Amos for Bumble and Bumble at Jump and her makeup by Regina Harris for Lancôme Cosmetics.

Helene and Celia Faussart, aka Les Nubians, also posed.  Célia wore a Bottega Veneta dress, Borgioni earrings and Sevan Bicakci rings.  Hélène wore a Bottega Veneta dress, Bulgari earrings and Sevan Bicakci rings.  Their hair was by Gerald DeCock and makeup by Regina Harris.

Corinne Bailey Rae rocked Donna Karan with H. Stern necklaces, a Leviev brooch and Carolina Amato gloves.  Her hair was by Gerald Decock and her makeup by Regine Thorre.

LOVES these pics of the ladies.  WORK.

Kelly Rowland continues her journey towards becoming the UK’s sweetheart as she does a star turn in the UK’s GRAZIA Magazine. See Kelly’s pics from the magazine inside and find out who her secret crush is……

We told you previously about Kelly Rowland looking stunning as she did a photo call and press conference for the "X-Factor," and now she’s opening up about her new gig in GRAZIA Magazine. 

When asked about taking over as one of the judges she said,

“I’m not scared, I’m excited. I’m not intimidated. Not at all. I know Cheryl [Cole] is the nation’s sweetheart. But I’m not trying to be Cheryl, because Cheryl does Cheryl best. I’m not trying to be Dannii [Minogue], because Dannii does Dannii best. I’m just going to be myself.”

Also in the piece, she reveals that she has a secret crush on her co-worker, fellow judge Gary Barlow, saying,

“I can hardly talk to Gary without blushing. He is sooo handsome, and sooo charming. But I know he’s married – I’ve met his wife, and she is lovely. And girl, she has a nice piece of husband at home.”

Don’t go across the pond and start any trouble Miss Kelly!

Mashonda took her writing skills she gives to VIBE to the photoshoot studio.  And their Pandora’s Box columnist rocked some sexy swimsuits and heels in honor of Uncle Sam’s b-day.

Pics of Mashonda’s Independence Day shoot inside…

HOT sparkling wedges.  She paired it with this blue Badgley Mischka one-piece and cute nautical hat and flaunted a sexy body for the shoot.

She rocked a metallic gold and silver one-strap two piece by Keva.

And went swimsuit flapper style in all white Michael Kors and gold sequin gloves.

Beyonce‘s already donned the cover and pages of L’Umo Vogue recently.  And now she has some black and white vintage glam pics for the July 2011 issue of Vogue Italia. 

We’ve got her gorgeous pics, plus video of her performances from last night’s Macy’s Fireworks show in NYC, when you read on….

She turned up the full out glam with floor length fur coats and beaded evening gowns.

Gorgeous spread.

Meanwhile, she performed at the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on Liberty Island last night (still unclear if it was live despite them claiming it was):

She performed “Best Thing I Never Had” and “God Bless The USA”:

‘Grenade’ singer Bruno Mars poses it up in the latest issue of GQ magazine. The singer-songwriter, who rose to industry prominence as part of production group The Smeezingtons, has had much success as a solo act over the latest year – notching up a Grammy in the process.

Speaking of his influence on others, the 25 year old told the magazine: “I’m not gonna preach that I’m a role model. I’m a fu**ing musician! But I’ve learned people are watching, so don’t do nothing stupid.”

Mars recently copped a plea deal, after being found in possession of Cocaine in Las Vegas.