Imagine if you will.

It’s Friday afternoon, and the streets are a blaze of black. The glitterati city slicker photographers stand in a perfect 180° on the subway platforms, like a line of a coke a mirror shard. Staring through plated glass, fashionistas copulate wordplay of their favorite obsession. Its was that time of the year again, New York’s Fashion’s Night Out and most importantly, its fashion’s night out. Rule of thumb, wear something black… or black-like.

Sean “Diddy” Combs blasts party crunk jams on a sight-seeing bus through 34^th Street, his Sean John insignia below his B&W Herb Ritts-inspired mug in a white tuxedo on the side. Sexy women in skimpy outfits dance as spectators take pictures from the sidewalks of the assiduous fashion Mecca. Rock band Train tunes their guitars and rocks out to their signature jingles like “Soul Sister” at a Tommy Hilfiger tailgate soiree. And despite the saturated Technicolor of fabric swimming in the wind and neon lights swirling amidst the night air, it’s like a neo-cosmopolitan funeral for club kids and nu-vogue wild wunderkinds.

The second annual credit card chewing monster extravaganza involving 1,200 retail galas around the megacity began with rendezvous at Macy’s. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, designers Michael Kors and Rachel Roy, performer Jennifer Lopez, and actor Neil Patrick Harris were among the millions of shoppers. There were others all over the city: Magic was made with a performance by turntable gizmos N.E.R.D. and a surprise pop-and-lock cameo by former R&B poster boy Chris Brown and a warped recital by the cast of the Broadway musical “Hair.” Not to mention, there were tons of celebrity appearances by Michael Bloomberg, Serena Williams, Metric, Tyrese and Ludacris, producer Ryan Leslie and Japanese designer Nigo to name a few.

It was a grand ole time in the city and here are some trends we’d expect to see in this fall:

Tailored Suits

The Ultramodern Military Jacket

Camel and Sequined Jeggings (however, not together)

Velvet Suits

Tailored Denim

Combat Boots

Plaids

Orange

Monk Straps

Flannels & Stripes

Dapper Debonair

Leather

Beyonce Wigs Out During New York Fashion Week [PHOTOS]

Nicki Minaj Comes “Out” For Magazine [PHOTOS]

Super mogul Diddy takes a break to bask in the Hollywood sun… and pose for his GIANT cover shoot.

This Halloween step out in the hottest costumes around. You can be sexy,or scary – even manly, Halloween is the day where you can dress however you want and get away with it. These celebs know how to have fun, so get their same swag for cheap.

Sexy Sailor Costume- Halloweencostumes.com (Lauren Conrad)

Greek Warrior Costume- Buy.com (P.Diddy)

Marie Antoinette Costume- Amazon.com (Christina Milian)

Flapper/Gangster costume- Costumerentals.com (Kim K, Reggie Bush)

Nurse Costume- Amazon.com (Christina Aguilera)

Firefighter Costumes- Amazon.com (Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon)

Wonder Woman Costume- Amazon.com (Kim K.)

We all know there’s that something special and unique about certain celebs that makes us tune in to hear them speak, watch their videos, or listen to their music. It could be something as small as their stylish accessories to their ridiculous ensembles, but what happens when we get tired of the same ol’ thing or we just don’t want to see the sh*t anymore? Then it’s time to switch it up! So here are some suggestions that could help their career:

Fans are hyped over the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys duet performance (sans Lil’ Mama) on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Listening to these two heavy hitters on the “Empire State of Mind” track recalls to mind all the other collaborations in music. Songs with one superstar are good, but songs with two or more superstars are even better.

Watch the music videos for some of the hottest track collaborations over the years:

Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West – “Run This Town”

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”

Jay-Z and Mary J Blige – “Can’t Knock the Hustle”

T.I., Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and M.I.A. – “Swagga Like Us”

T.I. and Justin Timberlake – “Dead and Gone”

Ciara and Justin Timberlake – “Love, Sex and Magic”

Diddy, Jermaine Dupri, Murphy Lee and Snoop Dogg – “Welcome To Atlanta (remix)”

Diddy, Faith and 112 – “I’ll Be Missing You”

Busta Rhymes, DMX, Mary J Blige, Missy, Rah Digga, Papoose and Lloyd Banks – “Touch It (remix)”

Busta Rhymes and Janet Jackson – “What’s It Gonna Be”

Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – “Scream”

R. Kelly and “Mr. Biggs” (The Isley Brothers) saga -

• “Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)”

• “Contagious”

• Kelly Price’s “Friend of Mine (remix)”

Drake and Trey Songz – “Successful”

Left Eye, Lil’ Kim, Missy, Angie Martinez and Da Brat – “Ladies Night”

Brandy and Monica – “The Boy is Mine”

If T-Pain’s circus buffoonery wasn’t enough, how about him coming at Jigga to tickle your fancy? It has been revealed via Fabolous’ twitter that Mr. Pain was taking shots at Jay’s (old) age. It might be Jay’s “DOA” track that got the ball rolling, but sorry T-Pain, if your’re not Nas, then don’t try your luck.

In this matchup there’s no contest. 

Winner: Jay-Z

T-Pain at Rehab in Los Vegas:

2. Eminem vs. Mariah & Nick

Eminem may be lyrically devastating but Mariah embarrassed him in the “Obsessed” video (Come on, he got hit by a bus!). Slim Shady tried to save face by coming back at  at Mariah and Mr. Canon but at least Nick can last in the bedroom.

Winner: Mariah

Eminem-”The Warning”

3. Nelly vs. KRS-1

Nelly a.k.a Dr. Seuss wouldn’t understand lyrical content if it slapped off his Band-Aid. Good thing this beef didn’t get onto the Jay-Z and Nas level or Nelly may not even have a career. 

Winner: Nelly

KRS-1- “Ova Here” (Nelly Diss)

Nelly- “Roc The Mic Remix”(KRS-1 Diss)

4. Suge Knight vs. Diddy

Whether it be about East Coast vs. West Coast, or Biggie vs. 2 Pac, these two have gone back and forth for years. Suge Knight has bullied and patronized Puff since 94′. Suge recently got knocked the f*ck out by some barber dude and hasn’t been seen since. Good for Diddy,now he can dance in his artist’s video all he wants!

Winner: Diddy

 Suge Knight at the Source Awards (94′)

5. Kanye vs. The Paparazzi

 Three words Kanye. GET OVER IT! The paparazzi have been here before, and will be here after you.

Winner: Paparazzi ( They don’t quit!) 

Kanye vs. Paparazzi

6.  50 Cent vs. Everyone

50 cent has no life and too much money, period point blank! If he isn’t coming at someone’ throat then he’s making mediocre songs about getting money. He used to be hot but not even his current beef with um…. everyone can bring back his career.

Winners: Lil’ Wayne, Jadakiss, and Rick Ross

50 vs. Fat Joe & The Game

Young Buck Crying

50 vs. Ja Rule

50 vs. Jadakiss

Pimpin Curly (50 Cent) vs. Rick Ross

50 vs. Nas

50 vs. Lil’ Wayne

7. Vida Guerra vs. The Game

Really, Game you couldn’t touch Vida with a ten foot pole! There are plenty of good rappers she could mess with if she wanted to get to the top. What foolishness were you trying to pull?

Winner: Vida Guerra

(Game Diss)

 ”Wouldn’t Get Far” (Vida Diss)

Bonus Round: Hmm…You know what battle I’d like to see… Jimmy vs. Rick (The kid that put him in a wheelchair on Degrassi)

Winner: Kick his ass Drake!

1. Diddy: Check out this Bad Boy getting all Dirt Money in his newest video, “Angels.” The track features the late great Notorious B.I.G. Diddy’s Last Train To Paris album should be leaving sometime next year.

2. Kanye West: This bi-polar superstar was all smiles with Dame Amber Rose at the movie screening for the highly anticipated film Precious, starring Mariah Carey, GIANT Paula Patton, and funny woman Mo’Nique. Yeezy’s was in rare paranoia form last week when he threw a temper tantrum because the paparazzi were following him while he was shopping. Cool it down Yay, I don’t think Amber would approve.

3. Ciara: Seems like after that short weave, I mean cut, CiCi’s hair, shoot, I mean weave just keeps getting longer and longer. The singer was spotted leaving the hair salon with that good import from Taiwan.

4. Raekwon: The buzz around  this former Wu-Tang Clan member is getting crazy. Kwon’s Only Built For Cuban Linx… Part II is getting so much attention, it’s even giving HOV’s Blueprint III a run for its money.

5. Jamie Foxx: Smh… C’mon now Jamie, you couldn’t blame these nude pics on alcohol. It’s about time you admitted to the photos, but did you admit to much with the large gay following?

6. T-Pain: The auto-tunes king spoke on his Jay-Z beef this morning when he called into the Power 105 Morning Show and did a little venting. Pain was actually a little salty because he felt like Jigga was dissing him on the low… well duh!! Everyone’s getting a little tired of that screechy voice and probably those ridiculous top hats. HOV might have done you a favor.

7. Barack Obama: Guess some parents didn’t want their their little chaps to hear President Obama’s back-to-school speech. The president called for all schoolers to work hard and focus on their school work instead of outside nonsense. Yea parents, Obama’s speech was definitely bad and too much for the precious children to bear.

8. The Dream: Wonder how long The Dream and Christina Milian will be together now that they’re officially married. As long as there’s no sex-tape surfaced,  cheating, domestic abuse, money stealing, subliminal disses on records, or infatuation with Amber Rose the happy couple should do just fine.

9. Mary J. Blige: Did this R&B diva have an alter-ego named Brook-Lynn long before Beyonce introduced us to Sasha Fierce? Seems like Mary is quite as contrary as she proclaimed to be…

10. Chris Brown: Seems like the Virginia native is having a lot of fun at his tricked out crib lately. Breezy tweeted some of his household toys to his fans. Hope the singer’s remorse for woopin’ up on Rihanna was genuine. Still can’t get over that baby-blue boe-tie.

Today’s hottest celebs rock the flyest clothes, drive the paparazzi wild, and make controversy the new “it” factor. But, before these trendsetters started shopping at Louis Vuitton and chowing down on calamari they were struggling to find their place in the entertainment world. Through their bumpy transitions, a little money in the bank, and help from a good publicist today’s attention getters have made an even better name for themselves. Check out the GIANT alterations that made these lack luster appearances pop into household stars.

With Making the Band and StarMaker, Diddy probably prides himself with finding talent and elevating them to stardom, but in actuality he is really kinda good at bringing them down and making sure they don’t see their maximum potential. Rumors are swirling that he is being sued by Yung Joc and a book by Mark Curry is focused on how Bad Boy burned hiphop. It makes you wonder: is Diddy the career shatterer?

On December 27, 1999, Shyne and Diddy were involved in an incident at a Manhattan club which left three people injured. Although several witnesses admitted to see Sean Combs with the gun, Combs was found not guilty on all charges. The 19-year-old rapper faced charges of attempted murder, assault, and reckless endangerment. He was found guilty on all of them.

 Even the biggest Diddy hater tuned into MTV to watch the hopefuls walk to Brooklyn to bring Diddy home a piece of cheesecake. The band consisted of Sara Stokes,Dylan ”Dylinjah”John, Rodney “Young City” Hill, Lynese “Babs Bunny” Wiley, Lloyd “Ness” Mathis, and Fredrick “Freddy P” Watson. Soon after the release of their album Bad Boy This, Bad Boy That went Gold, their careers quickly faded  and the band was dismantled in the third season of Making The Band.

Blame it on Aubrey all you want, there’s a pattern occurring with Diddy and he’s the constant factor. Season four of Making the Band brought out every hot singing, dancing, wanna-be star they could find. After grueling standards placed on them by Mr. Combs, five women succeeded: Aubrey O’Day, Wanita “D. Woods” Woodgette, Shannon Bex, Dawn Richard, and Aundrea Fimbres. Two platinum albums and three seasons of Making The Band, Diddy kicked Aubrey and Wanita out. The remaining girls called it quits for reasons they can’t explain. 

Mark Curry was featured on the “Bad Boy For Life” single and wrote many of Diddy’s number one hits. He never released an album but he was promised one. “Dancing With The Devil” was released in 2009. The book is a firsthand account from Curry on P.Diddy’s lavish spending of his artist development money and dishonest ways. Curry never made it past the gates, his career was doomed from the start.

Black Rob has been associated with Bad Boy Records since 1996. His debut album “Life Story” debuted number one on the charts and went platinum. Although his troubles started before his entry to Bad Boy, it seems like when he got there they only got worse. His second album “Black Rob Report” failed to do as good as the first due to promotional issues. Black Rob was involved with a robbery in 2004 an charged with Grand Larceny for theft of $6,000 in merchandise. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Mase was one of Bad Boy’s biggest stars. He and P.Diddy revolutionized the way rappers were dressing, coining shiny suits and bright colors. Since its debut Harlem World has gone four times platinum, but not even that could keep Mase with Diddy. After only two albums Mase ran to the Lord.

 She was signed to Bad Boy in 1995 and straight out the gate wrote songs for Mary J. Blidge and Usher. Her debut album Faith went certified platinum. Faith was the hook behind Diddy’s biggest single “I’ll Be Missing You” and gave birth to his best friend’s child.  Faith was later rumored to be on drugs with no help from Mr. Combs. After exposing her talent, Faith is now MIA and another victim of the Bad Boy curse.

******************

These A-listers can’t keep themselves out of the public. Find out which celebs are making headlines and have made todays GIANT list…

1. Jennifer Hudson: For dropping her load! Congratulations on her new baby boy. 

2. Taraji P. Henson: Simply for remaining classy and sexy while oiled up in her new Men’s Fitness Photoshoot.

3. Diddy: Who else can drop every group signed to Bad Boy but have two brand new shows on MTV in the works? I also blame him for Sara Stokes psychotic stab fest with her husband, if only she had a career…

4. Rihanna: For deciding getting frisky with a dj in Pink Elephant was more fun than attending the Teen Choice awards. Good Girl Gone Bad you say, more like good girl turned vampire. 

5. Lebron James: Holding down the crown as King James on the court and becoming the Michael Jordan of our time. 

6. Cassie: Looking fabulous and stunning while attending the GIANT/SoBe Lifewater event. 

7. Kim Kardashian: Trying to maintain banger status sans Reggie, but the blonde hair isn’t for everyone. 

8. Russell Simmons: Despite his divorce and nasty rumors, Uncle Russell remains consistent with keeping a new pretty young thang on his arm.

10. Ludacris: Keeping fellas fresh in this time of recession with his upcoming TAG fragrance.

Oh, no! Big Shyne Po, back in the muthafuckin’ heezy, fa sheezy” might be the first thought running through Puff’s head when Shyne walks out of jail after serving eight years in the NY penitentiary system. After all, it’s been said that Puff played Shyne on the way to his own acquittal and Shyne’s imprisonment. Naturally, after losing almost a decade of his life, Shyne may want some type of revenge on Puff. So, come October, for safety reasons—and of course, financially beneficially ones, too—Puff should consider the following approaches.

1. Hop on the last first train to Paris

With Shyne facing traveling restrictions due to terms of his parole, there’s no way he’d be able to chase Puff down across the pond in Paris, or even across state borders for that matter.

2. Hide behind Jay-Z

If the rumors are to be believed, Hova’s thinking about inking Shyne to Roc Nation, perhaps in an effort to keep the crown in Brooklyn—a problem when you consider Fabolous and Memphis Bleek’s careers up to this point.

Puff could even get in on the action and garner some goodwill by throwing Shyne some Grind Music beats for a possible album.

3. Pay his debt to Shyne

Since Shyne took the fall for Puff, the Bad Boy boss should hand over a suitcase full of millions, some of those light-skinned models from the Ciroc ads, make him the spokesperson of Ciroc, give him some Sean John billboards, and whatever else opportunities he has to offer. Shyne would know better than to sign a recording contract with Puff, though.

4. Executive produce Bad Boyz That’s Gangsta

Puff can commission a biopic on Shyne and call up Cheo Hodari Coker to pen it, using Shyne’s music—which in all likelihood Puff owns the masters of—in the film and on the soundtrack as well. The two could then break bread over the box office receipts.

5. Show up at Woodbourne Correctional Facility on October 6th.

Puff should be the first one to greet him there. Granted, Shyne might attack him or the omnipresence of press could sully the moment but if Puff were to offer a helping hand right as Shyne walks out, who knows what could happen? Hell, J.Lo could mediate any discussions.

With a Diddy album, you know you’re not getting a lyrical masterpiece (unless he takes a cue from Charles “Dukie” Hamilton and were to summon the ghost of Biggie via a séance) but the production would at least be tight. Besides being able to lock down any name in the game like he did on Press Play (Timbo, Kanye, Just Blaze, etc.), he could also turn to his in-house Hitmen squad, including the likes of Sean C and LV who were responsible for the best cuts on Jay-Z’s American Gangster.

However, as per HipHopDX, Diddy’s magnum opus Last Train to Paris is indefinitely shelved according to the man himself. Puff cited not wanting to be caught in the middle of both Drake’s and Jay-Z’s respective buzzes over their upcoming albums, which were set to be fourth quarter releases along with Paris. And so, the project, announced back in February could very well get the repeat push-back treatment a la Detox for the following reasons:

1. The Auto-Tune factor

Even with T-Pain’s blessings, which Puffy stated he had in the bag, it might be a stretch to think he could continue with its use ever since Jay effectively read it its last rites.

2. Who’s gonna ghostwrite for him?

Sure he doesn’t write rhymes, but according to Mad Skillz and a laundry list of other emcees, Puff doesn’t always write the checks either. Plus, everyone’s favorite ghostwriter, T.I., who may have or may not have penned some material for Press Play, is currently incarcerated.

3. The film accompaniment.

It takes a while to make a film—and by film I don’t mean some 30-minute, shot-by-your-homeboy-in-a-couple-of-days joint like Loso’s Way (Skip it, yo). Rumors stated that Hype Williams was set to direct the Last Train film portion but it seems like Hype is always busy shooting some new Kanye joint and knowing Kanye, he’s probably dropping an album any month now so a single or two will need visuals. Not to mention Hype’s last full-length foray Belly wasn’t exactly a blockbuster. It wasn’t his fault though—the Lil’ Homey couldn’t act a lick.

4. The business behind it.

Puff’s a business man, and according to Forbes, a damn good one, too. Albums don’t sell so why even bother? And whatever he has up his sleeve couldn’t possibly come cheap.

5. His fledgling acting career.

The whole Bond thing was never gonna happen for Puff (Idris Elba got it), but there’s always Broadway, right?

-Devin Chanda

If the bright light that came along with using naked photos as a PR stunt has already faded, then look no further than Twitter to reignite it. Yes, I’m talking to you, Yung Joc, who took to the micro-blogging site on Sunday to tell a twisted tale of a rabid dog, a trip to the hospital, and a coke-fueled fight between Katt Williams and DMX.

But he was just kidding! After all, he’s too busy suing Diddy, Bad Boy Records, and Block Entertainment (for failure to fulfill contractual obligations) to bother with promoting anything else (here and here).

But now, Russell Simmons has followed suit. Today, the Def Jam co-founder tweeted that he is planning on suing the company he helped build. No word as to why yet, but he did engage in a bit of name-calling (“bullies”).

However, everybody has to answer to somebody and Russell’s lawyers must have demanded he retract the impulsive statement, because the tweet has already been deleted.

Broadcasting potential legal affairs in 140 characters or less? Now, that’s hip-hop.

Despite not having a song on the radio, a tour in the works and her sophomore album indefinitely delayed, Cassie’s been in the spotlight as of late, but it’s mostly do to her using drastic measures to keep herself there.

Not too long ago, she lopped off her luscious locks and last night, lit up up the blogosphere as topless photos of her leaked on the Internet. Cassie claims her computer was hacked.

Here’s her reaction to the incident: 

Click here to see what all the fuss is over. (NSFW) 

Diddy is holding a model search for his Sean John Fall/Winter 2009 Campaign “Faces of the Future”.  If you feel like you’re that “diamond in the rough” check out this video.

Mr “I Am King” himself, Sean “Diddy” Combs will be working with the comedic genius writer/producer Judd Apatow in Get Him To The Greek, which is scheduled for 2010. Combs will be playing a music exec named “Sergio” (that’s good!) alongside Jonah Hill, British comedic actor Russell Brand (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Rose Byrne (Knowing). Also listed are Dee Snider(!), Pink, Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera.

The movie is about a record company intern who convinces a loony rock star to show up to his gig at the Greek Theater in L.A.

The producer, Judd Apatow, is most noted for films such as Knocked Up, The 40 Year-Old Virgin, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Pineapple Express.

-Jeremy Clayton

You might hate Cassie’s new hair-do, but you’re going to love her latest single “Must Be Love,” featuring her man Diddy. This track is Bad Boy certified, which means its another banger that will have you grooving at home, work and especially in the clubs. 

Diddy sure knows how to influence his artists to pull a stunt or two to create a buzz. 

Check out Cassie and Puff mixing “Must Be Love“ up in the studio.

-Nakia Hill

must be love – cassie ft p. diddy

Everyone may be on Twitter (including us), but who’s really worth following? The micro-blogging phenomenon has bridged the gap between celebrity and pedestrian, business mogul and intern, and even porn stars and their admirers. With people transitioning from full-blown blogging to condensing their thoughts at a 140 characters or less, we picked who we think should be added to your follow list. Some choices are obvious, some not so much. Enjoy!

Diddy

Though he many be a little late to new trends in Web 2.0, Sean “PTwitty” Combs more than makes up for it with his rambunctious, over the top tweets and accompanying video blogs. Take that, take that, take that.

Miss Info

Want to know what upstart rapper is chucking darts at more established, yet irrelevant ones? Can’t find Cam’Ron? No worries, Miss Info’s got you covered.

Emil Wilbekin

Even while painting the town red some of the fashion’s most elite events, GIANT’s Editor-in-Chief still finds time to tweet classic tunes and new-school anthems.

Darth Vader

Not only has he mastered the Dark Side, give the 56,000+ followers, he seems to have also mastered Twitter.

Joe Quesada

The world of Marvel Comics E-I-C must be a nice one. Thankfully, Mr. Quesada’s tweets provide some access into the mind of a modern day superhero.

Cassie

Cassie in a bikini > Cassie’s tweets > Cassie’s music.

?uestlove of The Roots

It should come as no surprise that the Brother ? has such a huge following on Twitter. After all, he was posting on the Okayplayer message boards before it got all trendy.

Jim Jones

The Dipset Capo and all around nice guy gives you a glimpse into his life… Spell check not inkluded [sic].

Jenna Haze

Jenna Haze is very “talented,” if you know what we mean (Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. Giggity). If you don’t know, then you probably shouldn’t follow her on Twitter (NSFW) until you view some of her “work” (also NSFW).

Steven Brown (SteveONotes)

Part of the crew that brought you Mickey Factz, co-founder of Laced magazine, knows more about sneakers than the above average Hypebeast, and will probably run a major label by the time he’s 30.

William Yan

“Chinatown Will” has his hands in numerous things but wears even more hats. Which is to say his hat game > Lids. Not to mention his blog and tweets read like a venerable play-by-play of New York City life.

Erykah Badu

The most hardbody thing you can do? Twitter while giving birth.

Solange Knowles

Beyoncé’s little sister goes in on everything from new music and her live show to breakfast and her son. Funny thing is… her tweets are kind of addictive. Not to mention she routinely has near-death experiences.

And if you’re not up on Twitter, here’s a little video that will explain all:

So, who are you following?

Is Diddy a genius? Barry Michael Cooper, acclaimed director of such films as Sugar Hill, Above the Rim and New Jack City, attempts to answer this question in a candid interview with the Bad Boy CEO where he discusses the making of Biggie’s acclaimed first album Ready to Die, among other things.

The conductor of the Last Train to Paris reveals a lot of intimate details including how he convinced Biggie to make party records, his chemistry with producer Easy Mo Bee and why he sampled “Juicy Fruit” for the B.I.G. classic “Juicy.” He even affirms that Big was actually getting oral sex on that album’s particular skit. Watch the interview from Sean John Combs: Once Upon A Time In America in three parts below. – Pharoh Martin

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

And for more Diddy, check out these links below:

P.Twitty Is A Tweaker

Tell ‘Em Why Ya Mad, Diddy

Diddy Is King… Didn’t You Know?

Ciroc Obama Celebrates

Philippe on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is the place where all of the luminaries of music, fashion, film and media meet and eat. Chef/Owner Philippe Chow ran Mr. Chow for 27 years before opening his own restaurant in New York City and in Miami at The Gansevoort South along with his partner Stratis Morfogen. Chow takes traditional Chinese food and adds a modern and unique twist to the cuisine. Note: The chicken satay is to DIE for. Philippe is minimal, cozy and all about the delicious dining experience, of course the celebrities sightings adds to its mystique. Check out some of the famous patrons who dine at Philippe.

Watch Diddy “crank” out hits in the Bad Boy factory during the wee hours of the morning and decide for yourself if P.Twitty was hopped-up on something or not.

Check out our Diddy gallery here!

Pop over to The Urban Daily for sexy Cassie photos!

And for exclusive Cassie video, click here!

Wall Street Journal reporter/CNBC correspondent Lee Hawkins has spent the past three years interviewing droves of black entrepreneurs in the sports, entertainment, and media industries. His subjects include Sean “Diddy” Combs, LeBron James, Chris Lighty (manager to 50 Cent, Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes), Lil’ Wayne, Nelly, and Bob Johnson.

Interested in covering the Rise of America’s New Black Overclass (or “NEWBO” in his own terms), Hawkins was in search of discovering what it takes for African-Americans to maximize their opportunities. GIANT got the chance to speak with Hawkins about his study and upcoming television special (watch the preview below).

GIANT: You’ve spent the last three years researching for this project? What made you want to get involved?

Lee Hawkins: I’m a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and I cover business. I look at the hip-hop industry as a business and I look at the sports world as a business, and I had a hunch that African-American athletes-in a society where there’s so much emphasis on the negative statistics surrounding black men in America-were something that had not been studied. I had a curiosity about how much they were earning and what the impact of wealth was on their life. I did some research and found out that in 2007 the salaries of all black athletes in the NBA, NFL, and MLB totaled nearly $4 billion. I was interested because I grew up in the hip-hop culture. The young people see the business side of hip-hop a lot more clearly than America does. If you’re part of the hip-hop culture, you’re looking at these individuals as entrepreneurs and not just caricatures. There’s a reason that Sean Combs is worth more than 300 million dollars, and it’s because, whether society accepts it or not, he’s a very legitimate, gifted business man. This is our generation, these are our stories, and I felt it was important to chronicle this black history.

GIANT: Can you explain “NEWBO?”

LH: I coined the term. You don’t have to be a multimillionaire to be a NEWBO, but you do have to think-not like an employee, but like an owner-and look at the sports media and entertainment industry as areas where you can grow. I’ve adopted some of that in my own career. I started out as a newspaper reporter but I’ve added television, books, and the lecture circuit. There are many opportunities for African-Americans to diversify. Not just celebrities, but entrepreneurs and people that work behind-the-scenes. The original BlackPlanet.com was formed by NEWBOs and any business that’s looking to the youth culture and black culture as a core audience and is using entertainment, sports, or media as a platform, are using NEWBO concepts. We have stylists, publicists, people that are representing athletes and hip-hop moguls, branding experts like Chris Lighty and Steve Stoute. And there are women coming up, too: Marvet Britto is a publicist out there, Melody Hopson, and I have quite a few sisters in my book.

GIANT: The book contains statistical data about black uber-wealth. What’s the most outrageous one you’ve discovered so far?

LH: I think the $4 billion number was probably the most significant because that doesn’t include corporate endorsements; that’s just salary. Also, the average salary for a black NBA player is more than 4 million dollars. I think the other statistic that shocked me was Lil’ Wayne and Cash Money Records sold a million CD’s in one week. No executive, and that includes Tommy Mottola and Clive Davis, is doing that in this environment. While it’s easy to just dismiss the Williams brothers because they don’t look like Fortune 500 CEO’s, you can’t discount the entrepreneurial acumen of these guys. You can’t.

GIANT: Do you think these people have always had the entrepreneurial spirit or that it was something that came with wealth?

LH: Entrepreneurship has always been part of the black experience in America because we have traditionally been disenfranchised and not accepted in the professional class or corporate world. You see the “last hired, first fired” method, especially in difficult economic times. Economic times and the unemployment rate have always been difficult for black America, not just in times of an American crisis, but we’ve struggled, in general. Entrepreneurship from the era of segregation to now has always been part of our community. The idea of working more than one job has been something that’s been part of our community, so it doesn’t surprise me that someone like Sean “Diddy” Combs or Jay-Z or any number of these athletes would diversify beyond just basketball or beyond just music, because it’s part of our culture.

GIANT: You’ve stated that there are sociological implications that newfound wealth can have on young African-Americans who are acquiring it quickly. What are they?

LH: I’ll start with the negative ones. When people come into this kind of wealth, and I’ll use Torii Hunter as an example, there are a lot of responsibilities that are thrust upon them. If their family is still struggling financially, they become the income generator for everyone. In Torii’s case, the electricity in his mother’s house was cut off at the time he received his first minor league contract, so the first thing he did was turn the lights back on. He purchased a home for his mother and condos for each of his bothers. Things like car notes don’t exist anymore because he takes care of those things. But these young people can find themselves in a position where it’s not always practical to do that, especially if you consider today’s economy. If you purchase a home for your mother and yourself and a few cars in this economy, what happens if you get traded? And now you have to move? You have to figure out how you’re going to sell. And undoubtedly, you’re going to sell it at a vast discount. Financial planning and tax planning are part of wealth building and if you’re the first generation or individual holding this kind of wealth, it’s a challenge. It’s not just for black people, it’s going to be a challenge for any 21-year-old to come into a $10 million signing bonus. And what happens is, when you haven’t had some of these luxuries-if you haven’t had a car in your life-the first opportunity that you get, you’re going to buy the best car you can get, even though the depreciation is going to be immense the minute you drive it off the lot. Rims, windows, TVs, and DVD players in the car are all just a function of never having some of these amenities. There’s an enjoyment stage that people go through and it’s not until they got out of that enjoyment stage that they can really start to build the wealth that they hope to leave behind to their children.

The positive is that when you go through struggle, there are two ways you can deal with it. It can stop you or it can motivate you. Most of these people don’t like to lose. These are people who are incredibly motivated, that will work 100-hour weeks, and are, almost to a fault, some of the hardest-working people you’ll ever meet. It’s not just talent. Talent isn’t enough. You have to be willing to put in the time, you have to be smart, you have to be connected, and then when you get there, you have to maintain it. And that’s a lot of pressure, to stay on top.

-DANIELLE CHEESMAN

“Newbos: The Rise of America’s New Black Overclass” will air on Thursday, February 26 at 9pm on CNBC. A book, of the same name, will be released later this year. For now, go to blackoverclass.cnbc.com

Nikki Beach has been dubbed as “The Sexiest Place on Earth”.  It’s often described as the ultimate beach club, bringing dining, music, fashion and entertainment together.  You can find global beauties from all over sipping cocktails at noon or champagne at night accompanied by mood enhancing tunes.

It has transcended its international venues and turned into a lifestyle company complete with Nikki Beach Clothing; launching at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, a music division, Nikki Beach music; a seasonal publication, Nikki Style and a host of other segments.

In eight different countries you can find the Nikki Beach lifestyle: Miami Beach, FL; Saint-Tropez, St. Barth, French West Indies, Marbella, Spain; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Marrakech, Morocco; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands; New York City.

This luxury brand continues as it’s new location in Koh Samui, Thailand opens this April.  Known as “The Land Smiles” Thailand shows much pride in their exceptional service, hospitality and breathtaking landscapes.  The well-established chain plans to attracts an entourage of savvy international players in search of jet-setting and beachfront locales.  With such sophisticated ambiance, relaxation, fabulous entertainment, haute cuisine and world class service who wouldn’t want to be there?

For more information on Nikki Beach, visit www.nikkibeach.com

Nikki Beach Koh Samui

Looks like Diddy’s finally reached his breaking point. Somebody call the WAAAAAMbulance.

Something about Diddy and gangster rap is so hilarious to me. Maybe I’m the only one. I don’t know. But his “new” song “Fuck Yall Niggas” just makes me go, “Diddy… Really?”

Apparently, he knew from the gate not to trust us niggas, and we act like he won’t break and bust us niggas. Some gems to listen out for:

• “I’d like to dedicate this to my nigga Notorious BIG. Because if he was here, this is how he would want me to come: FUCK YALL NIGGAS!”
• “I know niggas pressed to stick me; that’s why I pack glocks that hold shots – nuttin less than 50″ (word?)
• “Hate on me cause I got the keys to the city. You wanna see me get notorious without Biggie. See me without The Lox – say I ain’t jiggy. See me without Ma$e – say I ain’t pretty!”
• “Why you mad cause I’m bad and the boy get papers? Is it the looks, the wheels, the skills, the flavor? House on the hill, hundred acres, no neighbors – you can’t hate this 90s Lee Majors”

This song just made my whole world. Whenever Diddy turns on the hood, all I want to do is clap my hands and call him “My Little Gangster.” Then walk the ends of the earth to secure him a pint of Cambodian breast milk. And Diddy, if you ever read this, I’m sorry that I have such trouble taking you seriously. Maybe it’s cause you have items (read: “famous money”) hanging out your anus, or maybe it’s because you snitched on Shyne, or maybe it’s because you fight with champagne bottles instead of these alleged glocks that hold shots, or maybe it’s simply because you really used to refer to yourself, with a serious face, as Puff Daddy. I don’t know.

But I do know you can fuck some Junior’s cheesecake up proper.

DIDDY – “FUCK YALL NIGGAS”

See all the celeb action in Chocolate City celebrating the historic inaguration of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States of America!

Did Hip-Hop’s first couple steal the show at the 2009 Golden Globe Awards? The photos don’t lie; Jay and Bey did look absolutely stunning last night. See the hot pics straight off the red carpet here!

For more on the 2009 Golden Globes, click here for the full recap from our resident film/TV expert Ethan Alter.

The film Notorious is excellent. Yes, you heard it here first. I went to the premiere last night in New York City skeptical. Could Hollywood, the very place where Christopher Wallace was slain on March 9, 1997, capture the real character, swagger and larger-than-life personality of B.I.G.? The answer is a resounding yes.

Thanks in part to Fox Searchlight, Director George Tillman, Wayne Barrow (one of Biggie’s co-managers), Sean “Puffy” Combs and of course Voletta Wallace (his mother). This team of people took the life and times of Biggie Smalls and made it into the epic tale of the American dream. Notorious captures the essence of Christopher’s life from Brooklyn school boy to street hustler to hip-hop icon. The movie also serves as a metaphor for hip-hop’s meteoric rise and gradual decline through the ’90s.

For me, a person who had the rare pleasure of working with Biggie on several shoots for Vibe magazine back in the day, this movie was a memoir of a time when rap music flourished and bling was still a dream. I styled Biggie’s first cover of Vibe photographed by Eric Johnson. The one with Big and his wife Faith Evans sitting in the convertible on the Brooklyn waterfront. It was my first cover too. And styling someone of B.I.G.’s stature was no easy feat. Thankfully Groovy Lou was there to help out. But like most things in urban culture and fashion, in the words of Tim Gunn, you “make it work!”

Last night’s screening was a tribute to Biggie Smalls, but also a love letter to all of us who had the great opportunity to work with one of the greatest rappers of all time. What you will learn about Christopher Wallace while watching Notorious is that he was a visionary, a sexual creature and a comedian…a real man. I will never forget Big’s grand sense of humor or his hearty laugh. He was truly a gentleman. His mother, Puffy, Faith, Lil’ Kim and many people who knew Big remember that he also had a huge heart. Newcomer Jamal “Gravy” Woolard precisely captured the spirit of Biggie and brought his character to life.

All of the industry cats whom I watched the movie with last night agreed: Notorious is a movie that pays respect to hip-hop. It’s our movie. It also reminds me that the art of rhyming and making great urban music is a thing of the not so distant past; a remnant of hip hop’s “Golden Era.” If you love hip hop and are a fan of Biggie Smalls, then I recommend checking out Notorious on January 16 when it opens nationwide. It’s worth it just to hear the music, but the acting, directing and story telling are like icing on a delicious cake.

Big shout out to my colleague Cheo H. Coker, who co-wrote the script. Big things indeed.

For more on Notorious, check out our behind-the-scenes video with the cast here!

Check out the photos from last night’s Bad Boy reunion at the NYC premiere of Notorious!

For more Notorious, check out our behind-the-scenes video of the cast at our photoshoot here!

They’ve worked hard all year, and just before the new year hits, celebs show us how hard they can play.

Not sure what to wear this New Years Eve? Check out these celebrity red carpet looks for inspiration. Here are some ideas of how to sparkle, shine and look fine to bring in ’09.

1. James Bond Style: A classic white dinner jacket is always a good choice. Note: Attention to detail will set you apart from everyone in the room. Especially if you are dancing on tables with a mike and bottle of Ciroc in your hands.

2. Get Your Shine: Metallic will keep you in the spotlight on New Year’s Eve. When the ball drops your outfit or accessories will light up the room. All eyes will be on you.

3. Tuxedo Dressing: Men, women and penquins know that classic black and white is a full proof way of looking good for New Years. Warning: Don’t get mad when some asks you to bring them another bottle of bubbly…just laugh and tell them you want one too.

4. Contrast: If tuxedos are not your thing, a shiny suit with contrasting lapel and tie works.

5: Not So Basic Black: Don’t get lost in the night in an all black outfit. Add a little sizzle, glitter or shine to stand out and be the life of the party.

6. Short and Sweet: Ladies…NO long award show gowns. Keep it short this New Years Eve. Legs, legs, legs. And please remember to moisturize!!! Don’t forget your pedi. Fierce high heels. You are good to go.