LIL WAYNE GETS TOP NODS

LL Cool J and Taylor Swift hosted the first ever Grammy concert special which served as the platform for announcing all the Grammy nominees.


Mimi performed....she actually looked cute to me....sans the hooker apparel I see. I think she's pregnant but that's just me.

Smokey and Natalie came through

Ne-yo


Rapper Lil Wayne came out with top nods (I know....can you believe it) - eight to be exact. ay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West followed each earned six nods, while new comer Jazmine Sullivan received. Rappers Lupe Fiasco and T.I. are up for four.The 51st annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS this coming February 8.

LL COOL J DROPS FROM JANET JACKSON TOUR

Rapper LL Cool J has dropped from Janet Jackson’s tour.

After canceling a string of dates earlier this month due to migraine-associated vertigo, Jackson's troubled Rock Witchu Tour was dealt another setback on Monday (Oct 27), when a spokesperson for opening act LL Cool J announced that the veteran rapper has dropped off the bill due to unspecified "scheduling conflicts."

Even before LL announced his departure, the first tour in seven years by Jackson was a troubled affair. The 42-year-old singer canceled nine shows earlier this month due to what was initially an unspecified illness. Jackson first fell ill during soundcheck for a September 29 show in Montreal and ended up postponing shows in Philadelphia; Boston; Greensboro, North Carolina; Atlanta; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Uncasville, Connecticut; Verona, New York; and New York City. An initial attempt to reboot the tour in Connecticut on October 11 was scotched when her doctors ordered her to get more rest.

JANET JACKSON LEAVES DEF JAM

Surprise, surprise...JJ is leaving Def Jam.

JJ announced Monday that she has parted ways with Island Def Jam Records after just 14 months on the label. According to Billboard.com, Janet’s publicist noted that the label agreed to dissolve the relationship upon Jackson's request.

"Now more than 20 years after the release of her iconic album, Control, Janet will have autonomy over her career, without the restrictions of a label system," Jackson's publicist said in a statement. "Always known to break new ground and set trends, Janet's departure from Island makes her one of the first superstar artists to have the individual freedom to promote their work through a variety of avenues such as iTunes, mobile carriers and other diverse and innovative channels."

In March, Jackson released Discipline, an album that reflected a return to her Control era in more ways than just its title. But after debuting at #1, the album has sold a disappointing 415,000 units, according to SoundScan. The singer's unhappiness with the label was reflected in recent interviews. "I can't say if we'll be working with them in the future," Jackson told Billboard last month. "I don't know what the future holds between the two of us."

Janet will continue her current Rock Witchu Tour, which is scheduled to continue through October 22 with supporting act LL Cool J.

GV Says: Isn't it ironic that she's touring w/ LL....Read HERE

LL NOT A HAPPY CAMPER

According to the rumor mill, LL hasn't been a happy camper lately.

msnbc gossip column reports:

LL Cool J and Jessica Simpson make unlikely competitors, but the rapper is said to be furious that Simpson’s album, “Do You Know” outsold his own the week both debuted. According to Nielsen Soundscan, Simpson’s first country album topped the country chart and came in No. 4 overall in the rankings by moving 65,000 units. LL’s “Exit 13” came in at No. 9 with sales of 44,000.

“LL is furious,” says a source close to his label, Def Jam. “He was so angry at one point that he was beaten by Jess that he actually threatened to quit rap.” As it turns out, LL was likely just having a moment. A rep for LL says that “he has no plans to quit now,” and the he’s focusing on celebrating his “sixth consecutive top 10 album in his nearly 25 amazing years in music.”

GV Says: Surprise, surprise....I thought it was Jay-Z's fault that he didn't sell records. Remember THIS...or perhaps you remember THIS...

NAS & LL GRACE THE SOURCE

Nas and LL Cool J are gracing the cover of The Source’s 20th Anniversary edition.

What's going on w/ LL's lips


Nas is an interesting choice these days

LL GRACES MEN'S FITNESS

LL graces the August ‘08 issue of Men’s Fitness magazine

COOL J SUPPORTS OBAMA

LL Cool J and wife Simone were spotted heading to Barack Obama’s fundraiser hosted by Calvin Klein and Andre Leon Talley - whom according to the NY Post, has expressed an interest in outfitting Michelle Obama.

GV Says: Looks like Mrs. Cool J had a little injury.

LL COOL J HITS UP THE CIRCUS

The UniverSoul Circus honored LL in NY this weekend.

Looks like he brought his daughters wit him. Cute!!!

This would never happen with the Ringling Brothers.

CELEBS HIT UP DIDDY'S RAISIN IN THE SUN

Celebs hit Diddy's premiere of Raisin In The Sun in NYC this week.

Diddy and Audra McDonald

LL

Bad Boy artist Janelle Monae....Is this a grown woman or a little boy. I'm confused.

Egypt

LL COOL J GETS FREAKY WITH IT

LL don't let this girl get you in trouble....LL was recently in Park City, Utah at the Sundance film festival when he got a little 'bout it, bout it'.

USHER , BEYONCE TURN OUT FOR MOVIES ROCK

Celebs galore came out for CBS' Movies Rocks concert.

LL Cool J came out. He suit looks a little dated.

Mary and Kendu showed up

Nicole Schrezinger showed up. She's so pretty.

Regina King's been hitting the gym I see.

T-Pain.

Beyonce looked pretty in green. She loves the mermaid style dress I see. She wears that cut pretty frequently.

Chris Brown looked pretty reg.

Eddie Murphy & Tracey Edmonds

Jennifer Hudson looked gorgeous

J.Lo came in all her glory


Usher performed "Singing in the Rain"

Chris Brown performed "Jailhouse Rock"

Beyonce performed "Over the Rainbow"

Eve performed the "Theme from Shaft"

Jennifer Hudson performed "Somewhere"

Nicole performed "Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”

Queen Latifah performed "Big Spender"

A cast of many hit the stage for "White Christmas"

DIDDY COMES OUT FOR FUNKMASTER FLEX

Celebs came out last week when Funkmaster Flexhosted his 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition Launch Party at Classic Car Club in Manhattan.

LL came through

Jim Jones came through as well....you didn't have to clean up Jim....oh you didn't

Fat Joe and Shaggy showed up

Diddy was there

ERIC HUDSON CELEBRATES B-DAY

Brandy hit up music producer Eric Hudson’s b-day party at Phillipe Cow in NY.

Glad to see her out and about.

She looks good.

Raven Symone was there

Along with Trey Songz.

LL came through.

Dame came solo