Brandon Barnes Speaks On His Background & His Mom Debra Antney

After first dishing to Bossip on that tense fight with Reginae, Brandon Barnes of “Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta” gave us the run-down on his background and his family.
The artist developer whose worked with Kash Doll, Jhonni Blaze and Zonnique spoke on his relationship with his tough as nails mom Debra Antney who he calls “Debbie” when he needs advice.

Unbeknownst to many, Ms. Deb is actually his godmother who raised him and helped him grow into the person you see on TV.
Brandon also took time to dispel rumors that he’s aggressive.

“People mistake my passion for aggression,” said Brandon. “As an artist developer as a vocal coach, as a an acting coach, whatever it is that I’m doing as a form of development, I have to sit down and have a conversation with you before I can work with you.”

“That conversation is going to tell me several things, one of those things being how my appraoch needs to be with you. A lot of people don’t full-blown understand that.”

Watch Brandon’s interview with Bossip above.

“Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta” airs Thursdays at 9:00 on WE tv.

Instagram: @IAmBrandonBarnes

James Pray fo WE tv

Eric Benet Claps Back A Jay-Z For Calling Him Out On 4:44

You almost went Eric Benét Let the baddest girl in the world get away I don’t even know what else to say N*gga, never go Eric Benét  

Hey yo #Jayz! Just so ya know, I got the baddest girl in the world as my wife....like right now!

Image via Scott Olson/Getty Images

Former Homeless Mother Murdered After Facebook Testimony

It’s a sick, sad world we live in and it seems that social media has made it that much sicker and sadder.

We ran across this story on PalmBeachPost about a Lake Worth, Florida mother of 3 who was gunned down in her home just a few short hours after sharing her inspiring story on Facebook.

Makeva Jenkins was homeless in 2013-2014 and in just two short years she got a job with a 6-figure salary and a happy life. She took to Facebook share her blessings:

Not even 2 hours after this post, an armed and masked man appeared at her door. While holding everyone at gunpoint, the man ordered all the occupants into a room. According to DailyMail, someone in the home convinced the man to allow the children to leave the house. He then forced the adults to the floor, shot Makeva in the head and fled the scene in her family’s car. Makeva was taken to the hospital where she then died.

The man who took Makeva’s life still has not been caught and police do not currently know his identity.

Absolutely heartbreaking. People ain’t isht, but especially in Florida.

AT&T Pushes BETX To Stunning New Heights

AT&T reinvented tech style at the crowd-pleasing BET Experience in LA with its dazzling #BeTheGlow experience featuring endless giveaways, flashy gadget candy and live performances that attracted seas of excited guests during BET Awards weekend.

BETX guests were treated to cool hands-on experiences with the chance to win tix to the hottest concerts in LA. Oh yes, it was LIT.

Wait, there’s more: BET x AT&T presented their annual “Genius Talks” series that offers an exclusive peek into the lives of future (and current) legends, tastemakers and moguls. This year, Issa Rae, Ava DuVernay, Tracee Ellis Ross, New Edition and Nick Cannon wowed capacity crowds with major keys, funny gems and priceless advice.

Tracee Ellis Ross x Charlamagne Tha God

New Edition x Charlamagne Tha God

Nick Cannon x Charlamagne Tha God

Pusha T, Angela Rye, Marilyn Mosby and Charlamagne Tha God had a powerful (and essential) discussion about mass incarceration in the Black community.

Overall, BETX was a smash success fueled by AT&T’s larger-than-life footprint.

Make sure you follow AT&T’s #BeTheGlow campaign on your socials and visit The Bridge for more information on how AT&T is supporting Black Music Month.

Some folks think this is Jay-Z’s greatest piece of work. I would agree. This is grown folks rap…

Go To Tidal To Subscribe & See The Whole Video For “The Story Of OJ” And Supporting Black Business.

TIDAL.com

Lori Harvey Shows Off Memphis Depay Engagement Ring

Hit the flip for another look at Lori's ring.

(Headlinephoto / Splash News)

Hassan Jameel Won Rihanna Over By Wooing Her With Romantic Gifts

RihRih’s finally met a man on her level and we hear he went to extremes to impress her.

Daily Mail reports that Jameel had a life size bear flown to RihRih on an empty jet, just to show her how much she means to him.

A source for the UK Sun says,

“It sounds outrageous, but these guys are obviously in a different world to the rest of us – although even by their standards with was a seriously big romantic gesture.

The Sun also reports:

‘This relationship is the real deal. Rihanna has told friends she’s in love with him and seems completely smitten.

‘They’ve been spending a lot of time together away from prying eyes and are really serious. They’re really enjoying each others’ company.’

She definitely did a great job hiding him away from the public. She hasn’t been hiding him from her family though.

Daily Mail also reports that Rihanna told her family about the romance a month ago, but apparently her dad is worried he may be too rich.

‘I didn’t know he was a billionaire. Too little money, or too much money can’t make you happy, you need to something in-between.’

‘He’s going to have to buckle up, she’s a hard-working girl, she’s very independent and ambitious. Nobody can tell her what to do. ‘She doesn’t want to be lifted up, she wants to get up there herself.’

Something tells us RihRih will be just fine.

SplashNews/WENN

Maja Sly Makes History For Hair Extensions Infomercials

Congratulations are in order for Maja Sly!!! Sly is a cast member on WETV’s Cutting It In The ATL and she is turning her reality TV success into even more expansion for her business and empowering women in the process. This month she began airing the first ever infomercials from a Black women for Hair Extensions nationally.

She posted her testimony and more from the informercial on social media.

For more information check out her website http://www.prettyhairnow.com and follow her on Instagram @MajaSly

Miami Gardens man, “Big” Steve St. Felix, is in jail for terrorist threats after tagging Rep. Jose Felix Diaz in a threatening Facebook post. Big Steve stood up during his mental evaluation hearing and let everyone in the courtroom have it. Safe to say… Steve is crazy, right?

Carter Twins Names Revealed

While Jay-Z was busy bearing his side of the Lemonade saga…his newborn twins were busy getting their names trademarked for later business ventures. You know, regular Carter fam isht.

TMZ is reporting that Jay and Bey’s little natural miracles names appear to have been revealed, though there’s no confirmation from their fiercely private parents quite yet.

Docs were filed under Jay and Bey’s company — the same one that trademarked Blue Ivy’s name for business earlier this year — that reserve the names Rumi Carter and Sir Carter for the billionaire babies.

And if you’re scratching your head over the names’ meaning, you KNOW the Carters have some deep, artistically-rooted reason for picking these particular monikers.

Apparently, litty lady Rumi’s name is named after famed 13th century Persian Muslim poet of the same name (sometimes appearing as Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi). Sir supposedly comes from one of his most famous quotes:

“Bring the pure wine of
love and freedom.
But sir, a tornado is coming.
More wine, we’ll teach this storm
A thing or two about whirling.”

Hmm. Of course, this is all pieced together info, but seems solid-ish. Still, this could all totally be shut down by a middle-of-the-night reveal from Mama Bey herself. But for the time being…what do you think of the rumored baby names?

Splash/Getty/WENN

Allison Williams Sues For Lost Potential Earnings

Chris Bosh is still battling his baby mama in court. THIS time, it’s because she’s claiming that he cost her millions by blocking her chance at reality TV stardom.

According to The Jasmine Brand, Bosh’s baby mama (mother of his oldest daughter Trinity) Allison Mathis claims that Bosh went behind her back to intervene on her filming during the first season of Basketball Wives back in 2011.

She says that even though she had signed an NDA with Bosh and already had an agreement with Vh1 that she would not directly refer to her relationship with Bosh, reveal his name at any point, or show her daugter on the show — much like her friend and ex-BBW cast member Royce Reed, who has a child with Dwight Howard. However, Chris reached out to production behind her back warning them that he would file suit if he was uncomfortable with anything aired.

Allison claims that production never had any issues with the scenes she shot, but after the alleged calls from Chris she was cut from the show and her scenes never aired. She claims he wrongfully deprived her of the opportunity to provide herself an income and believes she lost out not only on the $191,000 she signed for in her Vh1 contract, but up to $1 million in lost opportunities earnings over the years — additional seasons of the show, appearance fees, book deals, etc.

As a result of her firing, Allison claims she has struggled financially and even had to file bankruptcy to maintain the home she shares with her daughter. She says she’s even had to (gasp) work in clerical and retail positions to make ends meet. The tragedy of it all.

The thing is…we’re SURE she gets a fat child support check from the Boshes every month. The average NBA baby mama manages to keep the bills paid for the child’s housing and schooling and whatever other necessities in that way…so we’re not sure how earning an honest day’s work for the supplemental income she needs is a huge issue. Retail isn’t going to earn her a million or get her industry invites to rub elbows with other ballplayers and reality stars/celebs on the regular…but people work 9-5s every day.

Seems like she thought that her choice in baby daddy entitled her to a level of d-list celeb-hood, and Bosh put a HARD stop to that one.

What do you think?

WENN/Instagram

Young Thug Donates Money From Performance To Planned Parenthood

Young Thug cares about the reproductive rights of all the Easy Breezy Beautiful Thugger Girls out there. So much so, that he gave all the profits from his show in NYC to make sure that stuggling reproductive healthcare provider Planned Parenthood had a little extra funding.

Thug announced on his Twitter that 100% of the proceeds from his Thursday night concert at Terminal 5 in New York would be donated to the organization, amid constant attacks on it by the US government.

Welp, Young Thug is probably one of the last rappers most “mumble rap” haters would think to take a stand on any issues facing Americans. Good for him on this one!

WENN/Splash

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Customers In McDonald’s Attacked Employee Over Broken Ice Cream Machine

Sometimes you just really want a McFlurry, mkay?

Three customers in Daytona Beach, Florida ventured to McDonald’s to get themselves some ice cream, but like 90% of McDonald’s customers, they were told the machines were down for maintenance. We’ve all been there, it stings…but here’s when things got real. The customers proceeded to make their way from the drive-thru into the dining room, where they found another customer chillin’, eating a whole ice cream cone.

After that, the very hungry group of ladies proceeded to argue with the employee who took their order, with one of them threatening to jump behind the counter to scuffle. After that, another lady in the group took matters into her own hands and charged the lady, pulling her hair and hitting her.

The attacker and her friends all fled the scene into their red sedan and drove off, but authorities are waiting for the review of security footage to catch them. It might not be worth risking a case over, but maybe this will make McDonald’s employees more weary of denying us that sought-after soft serve.

Chief Keef Named The Father Of A Child With Ex-Porn Star

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The Carmichael Show Ends On NBC

The Carmichael Show is coming to an end as it’s star and creator has decided to exit the series. Jerrod Carmichael released the following statement to Variety:

“For three seasons (okay 2.5), I got to make a show that I love with my friends. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was 13. Now, I’m excited to go make other things that I love. Thank you to every person who worked on or watched the Carmichael show.”

Damn. He didn’t give a specific reason as to why he’s saying adios but, maybe he’s really just ready to move on? Last week, we spoke to Lil Rel Howery who stars on the show, and he said the network had given them a hard time about airing an episode about a mass shooter. Eventually the controversial piece aired.

Lil Rel says he’s proud of Jerrod and everything they created together on the socially conscious family show.

Rapper T.I. commented under the post “Booooooooo this some BUUUUULLSH-T”

Anyone else disappointed??

WENN

Alex Rodriguez Knows His GF Jennifer Lopez Is More Famous Than Him

Retired Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has been cuddled up with Latin songstress and bangin’ body ambassador J Lo for quite some time now. The two have both formerly been known for their flings with much younger celebrities, but this match seems to be more appropriate for the two 40-something year olds.

A Rod took to The Tonight Show to talk about his relationship with Lopez, saying that wherever they go, people are yelling at him to get out of the way while taking pictures of his girl. He explains that he was used to getting recognized all over New York when he was the golden boy of the Yankees, but now when they travel internationally, Rodriguez is often mistaken for J Lo’s bodyguard.

Jenny From The Block has been A1 from day 1 and even now at 47 looks more gorgeous than ever, so it’s no mystery why papz wanna get solo pictures of her. A Rod explains his struggle all in good fun and doesn’t seem to mind being mistaken for his bodyguard, being J Lo’s boo thang is a very humbling experience.

Getty Images

On The Run: Shooter Injures 17 At Arkansas Nightclub

Arkansas police are investigating a shoot out that took place at a nightclub that injured over a dozen people, according to a Daily News report. Thankfully, there weren’t any reported fatalities during the melee, but everyone is still asking “why?”

Police Chief Kenton Buckner said all of the victims are alive and recovering from non-life threatening injuries.

A party goer named Darryl Rankin was actually on Facebook Live streaming the concert when everthing popped off. You can see things go from 0-100 around the 4:17 mark.

The shooting reportedly began around 2:30 a.m., and the youngest victim is believed to be 16 years old, NBC News reported.

Police don’t “believe this incident was an active shooter or terror related,” but rather “some sort of dispute” that escalated into gunfire according to a tweet. Apparently some gun-toting rapper named Finesse 2 Tymes was on the bill that night and people think they may be the reason isht went left. Here’s the flyer promoting the event:

Image via Getty/Joos Mind

Pregnant Detroit Mother Stabbed To Death In Front Of 4 Children

The levels of depravity that people can reach is beyond disturbing.

According to Fox2Detroit, 23-year-old Ladiamond Meyers, a pregnant mother of four, was found dead fin a vacant house surrounded by her 3 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old and 8 month old children. Ladiamond lived in the house with her boyfriend, but he was nowhere to be found, she suffered numerous stab wounds including two in her gestating belly.

Ladiamond’s family says she was with her abusive and controlling 29-year-old mate for four years. During that time, both police and child protective services had attempted to intervene in the tumultuous relationship.

R.I.P. to Ladiamond and prayers up for those babies. There’s no telling what type of trauma this will leave them with.

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Lauren London Shuts Down Everyone Who’s Been Criticizing Her Body

“I’m a woman, and I like french fries, and I like pizza, and I like burgers” YAAASSSSS, LO!

Lauren was a guest host on CBS’ The Talk on Friday and discussed the incident she dealt with a few months back when she revealed her post-baby body at a Laker game with her right hand man Nipsey Hussle. There were pictures floating around of the LA girl scrumptiously filling out her jeans, to which the internet decided to bash to no avail.

Ms. London was not quiet during the time of the Twitter harassers, and now spoke out about how she really feels about the incident, and people shaming her body in general. She had just given birth super recently before the photo op, and labels that as “God’s work,” aka, she has better ish to do than listen to y’all bash her online.

Lauren’s self love is at one hunnid, and we love her for that. She said she’s not going to stop eating or doing things she enjoys just to get the approval of others. *snaps* we’re right behind you, sis.

Kenya Moore Details Family Plans With Husband Marc Daly

Congratulations but, Fans of RHOA’s are scratching their heads at Kenya Moore’s recent nuptials. Are they real? She tells People.com, yes! She and her hubby Marc are the REAL DEAL and she says they’re ready to procreate.

Kenya, on why she kept Marc a “secret”:

He didn’t sign up for this world, I did,” Moore explained. “Every time someone has been associated with me, they attack that person – immediately going after them, trying to bring them down and saying crazy things. They tear people apart. And so for [Marc], he was like, ‘This is about me and you — it’s not about me or you.’ He just wanted it to be about our pure love and not about him.

Kenya confirms Marc is not a gold-digger, he just wants her heart.

“That’s why I fell in love with him. For him, it’s about being my protector and my best friend  — not being someone that stands next to me, but someone who supports me and is okay with being behind me sometimes. He doesn’t want my money, he doesn’t want my fame, he doesn’t want my success — he just wants my heart, and he has it.”

On trying to get a gut full of her husband, Kenya says: