Rihanna and Oprah driving around in Barbados

Recently Rihanna and Oprah were caught hanging out together in Barbados. Oprah is currently taping a special edition to the *next chapter*, where she decided to film in Barbados. So who was her guest? Non other than bad-ass, rock star Rihanna. Well after the interview and many conversations Oprah admitted that much to get surprise Rihanna was nothing like what she thought. She was the complete opposite with a soft side who was playful and very emotional. During the tapping Rihanna decided to drive Oprah around her parish in Barbados. As a huge Rihanna fan I am excited for August 19, when the shows air at 9 o'clock with all of the behind the scenes and interview will aired on the OWN network.

Happy Birthday Whitney Houston! & May You Rest Forever in Paradise

As you all know, Babbling Cartels is a Jersey based site so naturally, we think with a Jersey state of mind. (Not to be confused with the Jersey shore image and poor portrayals of people from Jersey that the media puts out there.) To think with a Jersey state of mind is to think smart, be a boss or atleast aspire to be one. Be legendary and there is no Jersey native more legendary than the great Whitney Houston.

Today would have been Whitney's 49th Birthday and while she is no longer physically with us, we are paying homage to her and her career in this post. Happy Birthday Jersey Girl!

YeKimKev: Kevin Hart's 2012 MTV VMA Commercial

   The MTV Video Music Awards (also called the VMAs / Video Music Awards) are steadily approaching (Thursday, September 6th) and the host is none other than my favorite 'Chocolate Drop', Kevin Hart! They released a little video ad featuring the infamous KimYe (Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for those of you who have been living under a rock). When I saw the video, I was rolling. What do you guys think?

Azealia Banks is Talking Reckless in The New Issue of Vibe

As we all know when it comes to female rappers, there is no female buzzing more than the Head Barbie in Charge, Nicki Minaj. But Nicki is not the only female rapper that should be on your radar. There's my girls Lola Monroe (1st Lady of Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang) and Brianna Perry. But there's also another young lady who you should look out for and that's Azealia Banks!

Azealia Banks is probably the Queen of Twitter Beefs as she has started some major drama with a few established artists such as T.I., Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim and more recently, Jim Jones; and her album hasn't even dropped yet!!! In the upcoming issue of Vibe magazine, Azealia is pictured alongside producer Diplo (who by the way, can get it!) and in this issue, Azealia talks about giving Lil Kim "some relevance" (y'all know I loves me some Kim - don't come for Queen Bee), her beef with TI and being known for her controversy more than her music in the States.

Peep what babygirl had to say below:

On if her buzz in the States is moreso built off of controversy than her actual music
Of course, because Americans are distracted by sh-t like that. It’s like, “Listen, T.I., if I was a f-cking boy you wouldn’t say anything to me.” But when I’m a girl and I say something back, the media wants to turn it into all these different things. Rappers beef all the time. I said what I said about [Iggy Azalea] and kept it moving. Then a month later you said what you said. And it keeps coming up. Leave it alone. I didn’t say she couldn’t rap. I said something very real. Out of everything, she had to [call herself] “a runaway slave master”? C’mon, that’s not swag. That’s not fly sh-t.
And that’s all it was. For T.I. to drag me through the dirt… It’s silly. In Europe they leave it alone and keep playing my songs on the radio and I keep getting booked for fashion shows because they’re about the art. All I’m doing is making myself look bad by getting engaged with y’all because no one in Europe gives a f-ck about y’all. All I’m doing is giving y’all n-ggas exposure. So if you notice I’ve backed up off Twitter the past days [laughs].

On her beef with Lil Kim
That’s what we did, and that sh-t is over. Yo, listen, [Lil’ Kim], this black cloud you got over you—don’t try to push that over me. You can keep that, because as soon as I released “Jumanji” is as soon everybody forgot about you. I have my hand on the dial; I can control how hot and cold you are right now. So I’m not even going to give it to you. I tried to make a legitimate track with you, tried to collaborate. I was bigging her up and she keeps throwing it back in my face. I tried.

On If she regrets her Twitter beefs
Of course, because it’s e-thugging… Who wants to look like that? But how else am I gonna reach y’all? I don’t have a T.I. to get on a radio show and defend me; I’m the one behind me. Y’all expect me to agree like, “Oh yea, I’m wack. I only have one song.” That’s one song y’all n-ggas don’t f-cking have. You might win some, but you just lost one.

What do you think of this Harlemite? Personally I don't think she's all that hot and she's definitely not fucking with my girl Lola! Bet that!

Passion for Fashion sisters!

 Miss Angela and Vanessa Simmons , daughters of hip-hop legend "Rev Run", were about a few days go celebrating Vanessa's 29th birthday. They both are stunning and beautiful business women. They are the face of the sneaker line "Pastry" the colorful sweet candy sneakers. They never cease to amaze me when these two hit the party scene. We desperately miss "Runs House" and "Daddy's Girls."

Looking Good.
-Babbling Bee

Rihanna, a Danger to Brands?

Princess Rih Rih is always in the headlines. Whether it be for new music, smoking ganja out in public, being seen in the same place as Chris Brown or fashion. But this time, Rih's name is ringing bells because she has just been dropped by Nivea.

As a Rihanna fan, I know just like everybody else that Rihanna is the QUEEN of switching her style up. On Monday, she can be a 1950's pin-up and by Thursday, she's street chic a la 90's Aaliyah and TLC. Apparently, Nivea is NOT a big fan of change. The head of Nivea's parent company, Beiersdorf said to German media that they would not be resigning Rihanna because she doesn't fit their family image.

"Rihanna is a no go. I do not understand how to bring the core brand of Nivea in conjunction with Rihanna. Nivea is a company which stands for trust, family and reliability."

Granted, Rihanna doesn't scream "family image"; she's more of a young sex symbol a la the infamous Marilyn Monroe. But let's not forget Rihanna is only 24 years old -- she's living that Y.O.L.O. lifestyle. And truthfully, Rihanna probably doesn't give a flying fuck about being dropped. Rihanna is VERY popular, she can bounce back from this and probably snatch up ten more deals but what she should remember is that brands like for their spokesperson to be consistent. If they saw you as wholesome on day one, then you better have that wholesome image until your contract ends. Brands and endorsement deals are important to any celebrity.

Make wise decisions people =)

Photo Op: First Public Pic of Penelope Scotland Disick

Last month we shared the news with you that Kourtney Kardashian gave birth to her baby girl, Penelope. UsWeekly have Penelope's debut paparazzi photo on their cover which she also shares with big brother Mason and mommy Kourt. (Umm, where's Daddy Scott? Never mind, it's none of my business. What do I know, I'm just a writer.)

Little mama looks like they disturbed her nap time lol. What do you think of little Penelope Scotland Disick?