TLC COMPLETES 30 DAY KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN, RAISE $430,000

The R&B duo, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, set out to raise $150,000, but they surpassed their initial goal just a few days after launching the fundraiser on Jan. 19.

4,201 people donated to the campaign, raising a grand total of $430,255. The funds will go towards the recording of their fifth and final album.

In return for their donations, fans will receive perks including a TLC digital scrapbook, autographed lyrics, photo shoot, and listening party.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who donated to our campaign!! Xx We are thrilled to have so much love and support from fans! It means so much!

Some famous fans also donated to the cause. Katy Perry earned herself a slumber party with T-Boz by contributing $5,000, while New Kids on the Block pitched in $20,000.

“Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for our fans for all of their amazing support. We feel so blessed to know that not only do our fans love us, but they believe in us,” the group told PEOPLE. “We have received support from longtime listeners that attended our first concerts, plus new fans who have only just started listening.”

The upcoming album will mark the first new material from the group since 2002’s 3D. “Our final album will stay true to the TLC sound, always confronting the real issues and life experiences that we all must face every single day, everywhere,” T-Boz and Chilli told fans. “Of course, Lisa’s spirit will always be present in our music. That will never change.”

Starting in May, TLC will join New Kids on the Block and Nelly on “The Main Event” tour.

KEVIN DURANT EXPLAINS WHY HE DUMPED HIS WNBA FIANCEE MONICA WRIGHT

Oklahoma City Thunder super star Kevin Durant has been going through a growth period the last few years. We are watching KD transition from kid to man. In a recent interview with GQ, KD discussed why he broke up with fianceé Monica Wright, how he really felt about all the “You the real MVP” memes, and being an a$$hole.

On breaking up with WNBA star Monica Wright:

“I had a fiancée, but… I really didn’t know how to, like, love her, you know what I’m saying? We just went our separate ways. We was just hanging out, chilling. And I felt the energy. I felt, I need to do this right now. And I just did it. I was like… We’re engaged right now? We’re about to get married? So I was just like, cool! I love this girl. But I didn’t love her the right way.”

 He felt connected and wanted to keep that feeling going, but had no idea how to sustain it. I applaud him for doing the right thing and ending it sooner than later. Monica attributed the break up to Kevin wanting to live a more worldly lifestyle. Seems as if it was more than just the pursuit of varied women. Because according to Wright they had a difference of "faith".

Wizards point guard John Wall recently spoke about not wanting a girlfriend because he knows he’ll have fidelity issues. I appreciate the honesty, so do a lot of women.

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MARY J BLIGE AND KENDRICK LAMAR WILL HEADLINE THE 2015 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL

Our 2015 ESSENCE Festival line-up includes some of the biggest names in music!

Headliners include Festival first-timer, Kendrick Lamar and Festival favorite, Mary J. Blige! Also confirmed to perform at the 2015 ESSENCE Festival nighttime concerts at the Superdome include Erykah Badu, India.Arie, Common, Floetry, Kelly Price, Lianne La Havas, Elle Varner, Esperanza Spalding, Raheem DeVaughn, Mali Music, Eric Roberson, Teedra Moses, Avery*Sunshine, Bilal, Goapele, Robert Glasper, Trombone Shorty, Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Mystikal, Slick Rick, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Nico &Vinz, SZA, Dee-1, Tonya Bond Cannon, Leon Bridges, Andra Day, Kindred The Family Soul, Tweet, Jeff Bradshaw and Tank & The Bangas.

More acts to be announced, so stay tuned!

Plus, Kevin Hart will headline ESSENCE’s ‘Now Playing’ Concert on Thursday, July 2. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, February 25.

via Essence

PETA SLAMS CHRIS BROWN AND KARRUECHE FOR WEARING FUR AT FASHION WEEK

Chris Brown and Karrueche Tran made a grand entrance at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The on-again-off-again couple arrived in matching fur coats while attending the Michael Costello show on Tuesday. Breezy rocked blue hair and a hoodie while seated next to his girlfriend and her BFF Christina Milian (“My two baes,” wrote Karrueche).

They went backstage to meet with the designer and congratulate him on his fall 2015 collection. “The moment your favorite singer comes to your fashion show !!! @chrisbrownofficial living right now,” said Costello, whose clothes have been worn by Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Christina Aguilera.

But the animal police...PETA condemned the couple for their furry fashion statement. “There are few things more out of touch than draping yourself in the skins of animals who were beaten, electrocuted, and even skinned alive for their fur,” the animal rights organization told Gossip Cop. “Pink’s New York Fashion Week PETA billboard shows that true beauty comes from kindness—Chris Brown’s furs are just more of the same from him: ugly violence.”

Last week, PETA criticized Kim Kardashian and Kanye West for dressing their daughter North in fur during a Fashion Week appearance.

AMBER ROSE GOES ON AN EPIC RANT AGAINST THE KARDASHIANS (WHORES, STRIPPERS, LOSERS,ETC)

This is a mess...There's an epic Twitter war brewing right now featuring Amber Rose against Kim and Khloe Kardashian… 

It all started late last week when Amber Rose appeared on several radio shows dogging out Tyga for dating underage Kylie Jenner and calling out Kim Kardashian for sending sexy pictures of herself to Kanye West while he and Amber were still dating [click here if you missed that].

Then this happened

And then this happen....

Not sure when this will end, Amber continued but it's too many tweets to post, to read more mean tweets (Click Now)  We think they all should take several seats!  Take a time out from social media.

ARIANA GRANDE AND NICKI MINAJ PERFORM AT NBA ALL-STAR GAME HALFTIME SHOW

Ariana Grande followed divas including Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and Alicia Keys, and headlined the halftime show during the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

Dressed in a black-and-white skirt, bra, and stilettos, the powerhouse songstress delivered a six-song medley of her biggest hits. Accompanied by her adidas-clad dancers, she kicked off the nearly 12-minute set with her smash “Problem” as celebrities including Beyoncé and Jay Z looked on.

CELEB VALENTINE DAY SELFIES 2015 OPRAH, :TOM BRADY, BEYONCE, GABRIELLE UNION, BRITTNEY SPEARS & MORE

 Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady

 Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wayne

 Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham

 Iggy Azalea and Nick Young

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

 Miley Cyrus and Patrick Schwarzenegger

 Britney Spears

KANYE WEST DEBUTS YEEZY ADIDAS COLLECTION AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

The stars migrated from L.A. for the Grammys to New York for Fashion Week. On Thursday, Kanye West presented his first Yeezy collection with adidas Originals, and all the big names were in attendance.

The front row was a who’s who of music and fashion elite including Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Diddy, Cassie, 2 Chainz, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Pop queens RiRi and Bey snapped a photo together backstage, while hip-hop moguls Jay Z and Diddy congratulated ‘Ye on his Season One collection.

SIGHTING...JANET JACKSON SPOTTED IN ITALY

Finding Janet is like spotting "big foot" these days. So that’s what she’s been up to! Janet Jackson is spotted snapping up pricey shoes in Italy during first sighting in three months 

She's rarely seen in public but Janet Jackson couldn't resist indulging in a little retail therapy in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday.

The 48-year-old, who lives a reclusive lifestyle, went on a shoe shopping escapade with a pal who was seen helping the singer pick out the latest designer footwear.

The sister of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson hasn't been photographed in public since November when she was a guest at a Vogue fashion event in Dubai. 

The What Have You Done For Me Lately singer stepped out in Milan wearing stylish black wedge ankle boots, cropped pants and a warm black overcoat with a knitted cap pulled down over her long braided weave.

At one point, it seemed she couldn't quite make up her mind about a pair of open-toed, slingback designer shoes at the upscale boutique.


After spending time browsing, Jackson was escorted to her waiting car by a bodyguard who stayed close to the Mrs. Jackson if your nasty. 

BEYONCE, LADY GAGA, JENNIFER HUDSON, PHARELL & MORE PAY TRIBUTE TO STEVIE WONDER

 Paying tribute: Beyonce was back to performed at a Grammy salute to Stevie Wonder in Los Angeles on Tuesday.  — Stevie Wonder's beloved catalogue is tougher to master than you'd think.

Just ask Andrea Bocelli, who was one of many stars who popped up at the Nokia Theater on Tuesday night to pay tribute to Wonder in a two-hour special taped for CBS.

With Wonder in the front row surrounded by family, Bocelli took the stage to sing I Just Called To Say I Love You. "I thought it was a very simple song when I decided to sing (it)," he said afterward. "Jesus – it's so difficult!"

Beyonce opened the Grammy salute, and hit a high note jamming with Ed Sheeran on Master Blaster. Lady Gaga, clad in a short silver caftan, sang a rousing rendition of I Wish, while Tony Bennett put a tender, jazzy spin on For Once In My Life.

"Nobody writes and sings love songs like Stevie Wonder. Nobody," said John Legend, before launching into I Believe (When I Fall In Love), followed by a duet from Ariana Grande and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds on Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours.

LL Cool J hosted the evening, and warned attendees inside Nokia that "it's not a live show. So if we want to do something over, we'll do it over."

Curious what you won't see on the broadcast? Jennifer Hudson had to redo her intro when her microphone stopped working. India Arie, Jill Scott and Janelle Monáe blew the roof off with their gorgeous take on As, but had to re-tape the ending. And Monáe got so into the performance her hat fell clear off her head.

Wonder took the stage at the close of the show. After delivering a show-stopping set of hits from Superstition to You Are the Sunshine of My Life, he had one message for his cheering audience: "Find a way of committing yourself to love."

Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star GRAMMY Salute airs Feb. 16 at 9 pm. ET/PT on CBS.

Showing some skin: Gaga and Ariana posed together backstage

 Workin' it: Recording artists Jill Scott, Janelle Monae and India Arie perform onstage

Great view: Beyonce and Jay Z stand up from their seats as they enjoy the show from the audience