While details are still coming in regarding the tragic, shocking and unfortunate death of the great Whitney Houston, many celebrities have taken to Twitter to express shock and their condolences to one of the greatest voices of our time.

RIP Whitney Houston.

Reactions from all corners of the entertainment industry after the jump…..

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“Your base tan’s lookin’ nice. I’m hoping to get there myself this season.”

I’ve been trying to escape something horrible awful hurl-inducing that infected my eyes the other day….but to no avail. I’m talking about those photos of Christina Aguilera singing at Etta James’ memorial service. It wasn’t her weird bank teller skirt suit, or her inappropriate Frederick’s of Hollywood bustier. Or her aggressive thighnees. And I fully admit that she rocked her rendition of Etta’s “At Last.” But as much as we all keep telling ourselves that Xtina had an unfortunate “spraytan” malfunction…my twisted brain just keeps poking holes in that explanation for what my eyes can’t un-see.

The only thing that has helped to distract me today….a new trailer for the upcoming season of HBO’s Eastbound & Down, which kicks off Feb 19. Kenny Powers is back from Mexico, he’s got a new baseball team, he’s back with his woman, his “manager” is still mentally challenged….but Kenny’s got a new bestie, Shane, played by Jason Sudeikis! This is a new macho side of simpy Jason that we rarely see on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. I bet Shane is the one who bagged Olivia Wilde.

But soon, my mind will drift back to the horror of Xtina’s inner-leg condensation. And Misery loves company….
After the jump
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What an awful low point to end 2011 with….Police in Atlanta are still trying to track down the man who shot and killed Bricksquad rapper Slim Dunkin this past Friday. Slim had just recently shot a video with his longtime friend Waka Flocka, Jadakiss and Styles P, and he was featured on Gucci Mane and V-Nasty’s BAYTL EP. But the events leading up to his death are increasingly disturbing.
According to homicide detective, David Quinn:

“The victim, Mario Hamilton, known as Slim Dunkin,….according to witnesses, someone came into this room, struck him and a fight ensued. The information we’re getting, it’s unconfirmed, but witnesses are saying this whole thing started over a piece of candy….“

It’s naive to reduce the entire motive to candy. Obviously, this is about pride, jealousy, possession, posturing in front of others, and so many other machismo elements that cause trivial things to spark unthinkable violence.
But for a piece of candy to be the catalyst for hate like this…in a studio filled with folks who could have stepped in with voices of reason (or how about stepping up in the past 4 days with information?!)….just every thing about this is a disgusting shameful tragedy.

If you know anything helpful, call Atlanta’s crimestoppers 1-404-577-TIPS (8477)

More on the ongoing investigation into Slim Dunkin’s death…
And his public viewing…
After the jump
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This woman took that Drake and Rick Ross “Free Spirit” song….way way too seriously.

Holy crap. I’m speechless. I guess I had somehow convinced myself that last week’s viral photo of a young women with her eyebrows shaved off and a huge tattoo on her forehead that read “DRAKE” was just a horrible figment of my imagination. Or some cruel photoshop joke played by rival highschool cholas on facebook.

But NO! It’s so real. And thank you, Vice. And thank you Vice writer Kara-Lis Coverdale for christiane-amanpouring this so that we could know what really happened at LA’s Will Rise tattoo shop….when this chick walked in with a mission.

Kevin Campbell tells Vice:

“She was really psyched about it. She had the shitty font all picked out on her iPhone ready to go and was pretty adamant about putting it on her forehead…When I printed up the first image of the lettering, she wanted me to go bigger…“

“My whole deal with people wanting completely outrageous and potentially life-ruining tattoos is this: I’ll ask them three times if they really think it’s a good idea, I tell them what the potential consequences of getting a tattoo on their face might be, and after that, the bad decision is on them. I believe that people get the tattoos that they deserve…
I guess I feel bad that this dumbass got the name of the softest motherfucker in hip-hop tattooed on her forehead. But what makes that any less valid of a tattoo to her?… I lost a little sleep over it that first night, wondering if I wanted to be known as the asshole who tattooed “DRAKE” on some crackhead’s forehead.“

(You can’t see me but I’m hyperventilating at this whole interview.)
More photos of this woman’s epic fail of all fails…
And more of Vice x Kevin Campbell’s awful/awesome commentary…
After the jump
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You know when something or someone is bad for you…High-fructose corn syrup. Bleached flour. RUSH pre-paid credit cards. Mixed beverages sold out of car trunks at Summer Jam. Women with neck tattoos and Worldstar dance moves. Guys in shiny moncler jackets who pull up next to you at the light and slowly lower their limo tint…

But how often do we ignore our better judgement and indulge? Hey, the heart wants what the heart wants…..

So perhaps the combination of Gucci Mane and V-Nasty (Kreayshawn’s less mainstreamed doppelganger and famous word-equality warrior) should raise a red flag….but instead, this song “Loaded” is today’s musical 5-Hour-Energy shot. Now, in a few years we’ll figure out that those 5-Hour things cause bone rot. And maybe the same goes for the upcoming Gucci x V-Nasty BAYTL mixtape*. But we live in the now. F&%k school.

New Music: Gucci Mane x V-Nasty feat. Mistah Fab “Loaded” (Prod. by Zaytoven)

This song is better than the other mixtape cuts that have leaked so far. You think?

*but what the hell does that title mean? Beatle? Battle? Bay-tell? Bad acronym?!* (Update: oh. eh.)

Watch Gucci and Mlle. Nasty in the studio…
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The man blamed for Michael Jackson’s death had his final day in court earlier this afternoon. He was sentenced to four year in prison but due to overcrowding Murray will serve his time in LA County jail. Also to his benefit, the doctor could only end up serving less than half of his time. It’s been reported that most sentences differed to LA County jail are cut in half.

Murray’s lawyers gave this statement: “Yes, of course [Judge Pastor] was harsh. He gave the stiffest penalty he was entitled to give under the law,” Murray’s attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, told reporters. “He was openly hostile. … [Murray has] led 56 years of exemplary life. He was really dreading [sentencing]. I think anybody would dread going into it. He’s an honorable man, and he’ll get through this. The family is suffering more than Dr. Murray is. … Dr. Murray is the provider in that family.”

More on Lil Boosie’s drug charges and Loon’s recent heroin case after the jump…

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Signs of the Apocalypse #1:
Sunday night’s American Music Awards was ham-tastic overload, but I also noticed and the interesting red carpet cupcaking by young Sean Kingston. The pop star looked healthy after his recent jetski accident and was sporting a new lady friend….But If she doesn’t look familiar, it might be because she had clothes on. Just keeding. Seriously though, Sean’s new buddy is Drake’s former buddy…and by buddy, I mean, Drake’s booty model former girlfriend, Maliah Michel. (Remember her?)

Signs of the Apocalypse #2:
But speaking of things that won’t end well….what about this new VH1 reality show, Mama Drama? If I understand correctly, this show will capture all the maternal magic of Keyshia Cole’s mom Frankie, Jim Jones’ mom Nancy, Lebron James’ mom Gloria, Tyler’s mom…
But look at this cast photo!! (Click to Enlarge)

Be afraid…be very afraid. This is like “Bring Your Daughter To Work”-Day at HBO’s Hookers On The Point. Look at the pair on the far right!! And the two doozies in the middle!?!
Move over sniveling teen moms, it’s time for crazy inappropriate cougar moms to get their 15 minutes of fame!

More Sean Kingston and Drake’s ex Maliah….
More disturbing moments from the American Music Awards….
More things to be afraid of…
After the jump
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oh. my. god!! HAHAAA. I’ve literally kept my TV on all day just to get giggles every time they replay that Herman Cain news clip….the one where GOP frontrunner/pizza-exec/999-er Cain gets ambushed by reporters who want him to comment on the three women who have stepped forward to accuse him of inappropriate sexual advances.
Must See TV: Cain’s struggle to spazz out on the reporters all while trying to maintain his creepy jello grin….so awesome. And so are his comments:

“Don’t even bother asking me about all these other questions that y’all are curious about….what did I say!….excuse me…EGGS-SCUSE ME!“

But wait….what was that I heard? Let me rewind that….HA!! Pay attention at the 0:35 mark:

“Rick Ross…the rapper Rick Ross…had a seizure…do you have any….on seizures??….(1:06) Sir, can you help Rick Ross out??“

*crying*

Watch Jon Stewart’s take on Herman’s calamity…After the jump
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Steve Jobs, the visionary founder of Apple Computers, died today after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He underwent a liver transplant in 2009, but his failing health forced him to step down as Apple’s CEO just this past August. Jobs not only lead Apple into probably every household in the developed world via the personal computer, the ipod, iphone, and ipad… but he also helped to build Pixar, which has taken animation to new heights. His company inspired everything from books (The Cult of Mac) to plays (The Agony and Ecstacy of Steve Jobs). He leaves behind 4 children and a wife. Steve Jobs was 56 years old. (above: photo taken outside Apple Store, via Ishish via Danamo)

Apple Computers released the following statement:

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” the company said in its statement, released shortly after 4:30 p.m.
“Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.”

The Apple website also posted a message with a feedback email…
Reactions from Apple’s new CEO, Tim Cook…
And Jobs’ longtime rival, Bill Gates…
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Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London apartment just a few hours ago.

According to the UK Telegraph:
“[Metropolitan Police] say that they received a call at 4.05pm calling for help for a woman in Camden. Paramedics were called to the scene, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The death is “unexplained” but not thought to be suspicious, according to police. Sources have told the Sunday Mirror that an overdose of drink and drugs is the suspected cause of death.”

Just last month, Amy cancelled her tour after a humiliating concert in Serbia where she appeared intoxicated and incoherent onstage. This despite the fact that Amy had just completed a short rehab stint. After the Serbia incident, her reps announced that she would be going back for another short stay. I remember wondering how her team could act as if a few weeks of outpatient rehab could even scratch the surface of this woman’s years of self-destructive substance-abuse.

Ever since songs like “Rehab” on Back To Black, she’s been enabled and encouraged to keep up with this “wild, party-girl” image. We were enthralled and entertained when she delivered that drug-magnifed passion and pain in her music. We were disgusted and entertained when the drugs delivered a broken zombie shell of Amy onstage and in the tabloids.

Now both the highs and the lows are over for Amy Winehouse, just 27 years old. Even that short life must have felt so exhausting. May she rest in peace.

Three days before her death, Amy Winehouse surprised her goddaughter, singer Dionne Bromfield, by showing up onstage during Bromfield’s iTunes Festival concert in Camden. Amy didn’t sing, just hugged the excited 15-year old, danced onstage, and later told the crowd to buy her goddaughter’s album…

Watch the last public footage of Amy Winehouse…
After the jump
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