Beyonce and Jay-Z welcomed their long awaited baby girl into the world over the weekend, on January 7th. Read their official statement on the birth inside.

Blue Ivy Carter was born at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York on Saturday. Here’s the joint statement from both Bey & Jay below:

Hello Hello Baby Blue!

We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012. Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven.

She was delivered naturally at a healthy 7 lbs and it was the best experience of both of our lives. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.

- Beyoncé & JAY Z

Daddy Jay-Z also dedicated a special song to baby Blue Ivy, and it also includes audio of lil miss Blue herself. In the song, Jay reveals that they suffered a miscarriage. Listen to Glory (feat. Blue Ivy Carter):

Download audio file (Glory.mp3)

Ludacris (gov’t name Chris Bridges) just launched an educational website called Karma’s World inspired by his young daughter, Karma, a 3rd grader who likes to sing & dance. 10 year old, Karma wanted to create an interactive website with music & fantasy. With his daughter’s idea, Ludacris got help from a very creative team and came up with an educational website with academic lessons for Karma and other children her age… And did I mention the music on the website is also by Lil Ms. Karma?

It is a site that encourages children like Karma to learn in an atmosphere of fun, offering academic lessons as well as ethical ones. It teaches the Golden Rule: how to treat others the way you would want to be treated. It teaches an understanding of “karma”: how doing good deeds can bring good into your life. It shows the importance of manners and the rewards of hard work. It reflects Chris’ belief that the habit of working joyously from the heart opens the door to children for a lifetime of meaningful success..

If you have young kids, head on over to Karma’s World & see what else it has to offer your child! I don’t have any children, but I like the fact that the site offers a fun way for the kiddies to learn through songs & games. I’ll definitely be passing this on to my God Daughter & Nieces, who love music, and are also in grade school.

Props to Ludacris on making his daughter an entrepreneur at age 10! *Some other folks in the industry should take notes*

Nicki Minaj teamed up with the creators of Barbie, and came up with her very own version of a doll that looks exactly like her. The doll is being auctioned off through CharityBuzz for $1,000 as of now, and all proceeds will go towards the Project Angel Food. Project Food Angel is a service which provides daily meals for people homebound or disabled by HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses.

Check out the doll up close!

We have recently learned that Rapper Heavy D has passed away today, at age 44. Read more about his sudden death.

According to TMZ, the rapper (real name Dwight Arrington Myers) had just returned home from shopping. As he began climbing the stairs, Myers experienced breathing troubles. Witnesses called 911 where he was then rushed by ambulance to an L.A. hospital around Noon, and at 1PM he was pronounced dead. It is believed that the artist died of a heart attack, but those claims have not yet been confirmed.

I remember growing up listening to Heavy D. Check out one of my favorite Heavy D tracks below:

*Shout out to Cynthia Bailey (The Real Housewives of ATL) – We see ya!”

Boxing Legend Joe Frazier passed away on Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer. He was 67. Watch a brief tribute to Frazier inside.

Frazier held a 32-4-1 record as a pro with 27 knock outs, was the World Heavyweight Champion from 1968 – 1973, won the heavyweight Gold Medal in the 1964 Summer Olympics, and defeated Muhammed Ali in 1971 in the “Fight of the Century”

“I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration,” Ali said in a statement. “My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones.” – Muhammed Ali

The Singer/Actress/Weight Watchers Spokesperson can now add ‘Author’ to her resume. Jennifer Hudson is releasing a book called I Got This: How I Lost What Weighed Me Down and Found Myself. The title is self explanatory, but here is the description…

Soulful and sultry, Jennifer Hudson wowed the world with her powerful voice in American Idol’s third season, and then took Hollywood by storm with a star turn in Dreamgirls that won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. But before we knew her as an American Idol standout, Jennifer was singing in her church choir in the Southside of Chicago. This uplifting memoir tells the story of Jennifer’s meteoric rise from American Idol to Dreamgirls to her amazing weight loss on the megablockbuster Weight Watchers diet plan. With the Weight Watchers brand endorsing her, Jennifer gives her fans tips for embracing a healthy lifestyle in order to lose weight and reclaim their bodies. Full of stories from her American Idol days, her experience acting in Dreamgirls, and how her son inspired her to want to live healthfully, this book is a gift for her millions of fans and an inspiration for anyone struggling with weight issues.

I Got This: How I Lost What Weighed Me Down and Found Myself is set to be released on January 10th, 2012. You can preorder your copy of the book on Amazon now.

Let’s keep Rick Ross in our thoughts & prayers. He had a seizure earlier today, and while on his way to perform at a concert he suffered another one. It is now being reported that he is at a hospital in Birmingham, AL.

It’s the second time today where a plane in which the rapper was a passenger made an emergency landing. We broke the story … Rick suffered a seizure this morning on a Delta flight that returned to the Ft. Lauderdale airport.

Rick went to the hospital, was released, and then took off at 5:07 PM ET from Ft. Lauderdale to make his concert tonight in Memphis. But at 5:44 PM CDT, the plane was diverted and landed in Birmingham after Rick had a seizure on board.

Rick is currently in a Birmingham hospital emergency room. We do not know his condition. – Source

Check out this video Ross’ team posted before his 1st seizure earlier today..

Alright, Mr. Rozay, get well soon!

On Wednesday, September 21st, 42-year-old Troy Davis was executed for the 1989 murder of an off-duty office named Mark MacPhail. Too much doubt, and no strong evidence relating Davis to the crime, made the story widespread. 7 out of 9 original witnesses who claimed Troy Davis shot the victim later recanted their testimony. Some say they were harassed by officials, so they lied on Davis, and others even named another person by name who they say was indeed the killer of Mark Macphail – not Troy Davis…. However, even with this – he was still executed.

Here’s Troy Davis’ last statement to his loved ones, the family of the victim (who are still convinced he is guilty), and those who took his life:

“The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask … is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth. I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight. For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls.” – Troy Davis

He was then pronounced dead at 11:08PM…

After the execution, the mother of Mark MacPhail, Anneliese MacPhail told reporters:

“I’m kind of numb. I can’t believe that it’s really happened. All the feelings of relief and peace I’ve been waiting for all these years, they will come later. I certainly do want some peace.” –
Source

In my opinion: If Mrs. MacPhail hasn’t found any peace in over 20 years since the murder of her son, then she may never get it… Troy Davis’ death shouldn’t be the closure she needs for peace. Anneliese MacPhail, you may need to seek GOD.

How do YOU feel about the Troy Davis execution, and statement of Anneliese MacPhail (the mother of Mark MacPhail)?

It is now being reported that T.I. has finally made his way back to the Atlanta Halfway House, after recently being placed back into prison by the officials over his transportation ordeal.

T.I.’s lawyer, Steve Sadow, tells TMZ, “We have good reason to believe that this favorable result was reached because of the proactive and assertive approach taken to protect T.I.’s rights by providing B.O.P. officials and the media with reliable and accurate information and that T.I. did not intend to violate his transfer furlough or any other B.O.P. rules en route from the prison facility in Arkansas to the halfway house in Atlanta.”

Sadow adds, “T.I. will be released from custody on Sept. 29, and then will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for a period of 1 year.” – Source

Now he can began focusing back on the release of his book, and his upcoming reality show…

Props: Miss Jia

After the death of his mother, Charlotte, Paul “Power” Clay allows himself to be guided by Slim, a local businessman. Slim always has the best of everything, and Power is sure that if he learns Slim’s ways, he’ll make something of himself–and perhaps be worthy of Tanya “Beauty” Long. From Chicago to Miami to New York, through drugs, women, and violence, Power makes the difficult transition from boy to man and, in doing so, begins to question if those who have taught him–including Slim–truly have his best interests at heart.

Beauty has always known that the only person she can rely on is herself. After her mother died when she was eleven years old, she was adopted by close family friend Charlotte Clay. But with Charlotte’s death, Beauty knows she’s no longer safe and protected–especially as Power gets sucked into a new kind of life. As soon as she can, she turns her back on Atlanta–and the growing love she feels for Power–for a chance to make it in the Big Apple. With a successful fashion career on the horizon, Beauty takes New York by storm with her wit, business savvy, and breathtaking good looks. But she’s never forgotten those she left behind. And when it becomes clear that Power needs her, Beauty will risk everything to save the man she loves. – Source

The fictional novel (also co-written by David Ritz) will be available on October 18th. Pre-order your copy of Power & Beauty HERE!