Nicki Minaj returned to her old elementary school, P.S. 45 in Queens, New York on Monday afternoon. Sponsored by Hot 97′s Hip-Hop Has Heart Foundation, Minaj returned to school for the holidays to give away turkeys for the less fortunate. The pop star spent time with the kids, and provided words of encouragement and inspiration to the young children. Later on that day, Nicki appeared on BET’s 106 & Park and donated $15,000 to the Food Bank of New York City.

Nicki returns to school, and watch her appearance on Good Morning America after the jump…..

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Our buddy and Gears-of-War-teammate Todd James REAS (above, in the grey shirt) has been on a tear this year….following up last year’s “Art In The Streets” installation at Los Angeles’ MOCA, with a solo show at Gering & Lopez in midtown, a great group show called “Livingston Street Market” with Steve “ESPO” Powers in Brooklyn, a Yield to Temptation book release at the Standard Hotel, and that’s not including all the exhibitions overseas that Todd’s done this year. This week, he unveiled a whole new set of large paintings at “Beyond Elegance,” a dual show with the enigmatic Alexis Ross at the Valmorbida pop-up gallery in the West Village. The big white space featured Ross’ twisted storyboards, and James’ Somali pirate scenes, along with a “nap” shack, and a small table where Ross was tattooing friends.
As always, it was a pleasure seeing Todd, his wife Dana, and all the other talented artists and friends: Kaws (whose “Companion” will be floating down Central Park West in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade next week), Julia Chiang, Steve “ESPO” Powers, Erik Parker, Kevin Lyons (who has his own pop-up shop at Colette in Dec), producer Emile Haynie, producer Benny Blanco, gallerist Joshua Liner, photographer Shadi, MOCA director Jeffery Deitch, BBC’s Loic Villepontoux, and more!

(hmm, just noticed that painting says “desrie”…weird.)

After getting proper cultured, we joined the Capsule Trade Show crew for their #CapsuleSocial cocktails for a cause! They raised a total of $2,400 for victims of Hurricane Sandy…and looked dapper doing it.

Check out photos from the Todd James REAS x Alexis Ross “Beyond Elegance” party at Valmorbida…
And photos from the Capsule Social…
After the jump
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Some of music’s biggest stars will come together for a greater cause next month. Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, The Who, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, and Rogers Waters have been announced as the first group of acts to perform at “12.12.12.: The Concert for Sandy Relief.”  The event takes place on Wednesday, December 12th at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, with proceeds from the show going to the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

According to the NY Daily News, the benefit concert will be televised but no channel has been confirmed yet. The likely candidate, Fuse Network, is owned by organizers of the show: Madison Square Garden Company and Clear Channel. Expect ticket details and more acts to be added in the coming days.

Thanks to FADER

Previously:
Mary J. Blige Performs on NBC’s Hurricane Sandy Telethon
Hurricane Sandy LiveBlog: Lights Are Coming Back On, How To Help, and NYC Marathon Cancelled
New York Underwater: The Most Surreal, Shocking Hurricane Sandy Photos
Hurricane Sandy Highs and Lows: All the Photos, Memes and Parodies You Need Beat Cabin Fever

(Rihanna and her gifted underboob on the latest GQ Magazine)

Another Rihanna album release means a few things…
1) There will be some great new songs, with exciting pedigrees: Like the new song, “Stay” which Rihanna debuted on SNL over the weekend. Our insider tells us the song is co-written by Justin Parker (who wrote on Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die) as well as newcomer Mikky Ekko (more on him later, I’m already a fan).
2) There will be some kind of ridiculous pre-release buildup stunt: Rihanna will do that thing where she performs a bunch of shows all over the world in a few days. Remember when Hov did that 24-hour Kingdom Come tour? Rihanna’s doing 7 shows in 7 cities in 7 days.…because this is her 7th day. And 7 rainforests will die from the 7-hundred foot carbon footprint. jk.
3) Rihanna will re-affirm her claim as the most photogenic woman in pop music: Just like last album, there will be many crazy hot photos of her. Both men and women will be agog at Rihanna’s pearlescent skin and uninhibited raunchy gaze. She will wear some couture, but mostly she will wear nothing at all. This is Rihanna’s never-not-nude season, 2012. And it is “unapologetic.”

(Rihanna and Kate Moss take turns as each other’s sticky seat cushion for V Magazine)

Rihanna’s hot Victoria’s Secret Show photos…
And a brief timeline of her never-not-nude seasons…
After the jump
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In light of ongoing Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Redman lends his lyrics to support. Earlier, the rapper released a “Hurricane Sandy Relief” freestyle to pay tribute everyone impacted by the storm. In his signature flow coupled with some offbeat references, Reggie lifts our post-Sandy spirits:

Look around Jersey, it ain’t no lights/ Peace to Queens and Rockaway/ Jersey, I love the way we operate … I’m sittin’ in Hurricane Sandy/ Bumpin’ the new album by Brandy/ Check in on my moms and granny/ Everybody’s alright, family/ God is good, look at the 2013 light-skinned Robin Hood/ And when the lights come on, we can party up/ I hit mommy up with the Cali bud

Listen to Redman’s “Hurricane Sandy Relief” offering after the jump…

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After a grueling campaign, and a thrilling re-election victory on Tuesday night…President Obama visited his campaign office to thank all the staff and volunteers.

There’s no need for a description here. Just watch the 5minute clip.

Oh and at around the 3 minute mark…don’t fight the waterworks.
There’s no way you can not be touched by the words of a leader who not only believes in his power and responsibility to leave a mark…but someone who also believes in the abilities and potential for greatness in others.
As someone who is so jaded by so much around me, and someone so doubtful of her own power….this speech not only describes “hope,” it procreates it.

After you’re done blowing your nose…
Just a couple other post-election gems…
After the jump
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When I first read the TMZ headline “The Game–I’m Paying Voters to Vote” I positioned a ballpoint pen to poke my eye out, but upon closer inspection….phew! The Game did not do something wildly illegal like voter tampering, and he did not then brag about said federal crime to a gossip site. PHEW!

At least I don’t think what he did was illegal….The Game says he spent $10,000 by giving people in New York and New Jersey $20 each to use as cab money or gas money to help them get to the voting polls. Assuming that he did not compel them to vote for any specific person….(oh god, please tell me he did not tell them who to vote for)…I think this is all kosher.
Nervous. But kosher.

Check out more voting insanity here: Election Day 2012: Big Bird Votes, Obama Gifs, Rush Limbaugh Raps, and More

Oh, and just in case you weren’t already a bundle of nerves…
There as a voting machine that hated Obama in Pennsylvania,
A man literally died and re-animated at the polls, and…
What if we don’t get a clear Presidential winner today?

All after the jump
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(Big Bird’s revenge vote in Texas. LOL! Via Godfree)

Did you vote yet? Wait…don’t even tell me if you didn’t. My blood pressure is already on “pressure busts pipes” level today…and it’ll keep ramping up as I go to a beer garden tonight with some friends to watch the returns, until it’s all over. For better or for worse.

My voting experience was totally painless, for some reason, there was no line for my district at my local polling place. Which I felt a little sheepish about because there were other folks standing 2 hour lines…at the same polling place! Ionno why. But I was a bit concerned about the poll volunteer who looked through 10 pages of last names in the “R” section, but couldn’t find my name. Probably because my last name starts with the letter “O.” I didn’t want to be pushy but eventually, I had to tell him to go up a few pages. Did you meet up with any clueless poll workers?

Now if you’ve just gotten off work or school or your ass, and now you’re in line to vote….good for you!
Here’s a couple things to keep you entertained or infuriated….
-Rush Limbaugh was so pissed off that Jay-Z performed at President Obama’s Ohio rally, that he spit a horrible 16 (video)
-Jon Stewart had a hilarious rant about the political pundits who “predict” the election outcome (video)
-Hot97′s own DJ Mister Cee aired a special “Election Day Mix” (audio)
-Romney supporters in the media really manage to say the most offensive things (quote)
And more…

After the jump
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Mary J. Blige made an appearance on NBC’s “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together” telethon on Friday night. As her 2001 hit song “No More Drama” served as inspiration and therapy following the 9/11 tragedy, The Queen of Hip-Hip Soul returned in need to perform her empowering song “The Living Proof.” Before the performance, MJB opened with a speech to the people affected by the storm.

“My prayers go out to everyone who was affected by the hurricane. Things are gonna get better, so please just hang in there, be strong, and have faith. And please everybody watching tonight, give something….anything. Every penny counts.”

The special also included appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and Christina Aguilera, who helped raise millions. Network ABC recently announced they’ll be having a similar show on Monday night. Make a donation via the Red Cross.

Watch MJB’s powerful performance after the jump…..

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Jay-Z has been one of Obama’s biggest celebrity endorsements during his run for reelection, and he plans to lend his support until the very last day of the presidential campaign. According to The Washington Post, Hov and Bruce Springsteen will join the Prez in Columbus, Ohio on Monday for a final rally before election day. This comes as no big surprise, as both Jay-Z and The Boss have been publicly active about their support for the president–Jay and Beyonce threw a fundraiser at their New York 40/40 Club back in September, and Bruce has appeared at rallies in Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Ohio.

Continue reading after the jump…

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