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…..

Previously: Rest In Peace: Whitney Houston, Dead At Age 48

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

: ( x 100-million-thousand.

Related:
Kenny Powers Returns! ‘Eastbound and Down’ Season 3 Trailer
Things I Love: Kenny Powers. And lucky for me, he’ll be back on Sept 26th
MissInfo.tv teams up with VH1 for the 2010 Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South

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

MTV News reports that there will be a public viewing for Slim Dunkin’s friends, family and fans:
Thursday, December 22
6pm to 9pm
Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home
1003 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard
Atlanta, Georgia

Slim Dunkin (Mario Hamilton), a 24 year old Brick Squad artist, appeared on his friend Waka Flocka’s Flockaveli album, as well as Gucci Mane and Waka’s Ferrari Boyz album and Gucci Mane and V-Nasty’s BAYTL EP. Most recently, he shot a video for the “Lightz On” (Remix) with Waka, Jadakiss and Styles P.

The Associated Press interviewed Atlanta Police Major Keith Meadows:

“It appears the victim was scheduled to do a photo shoot,” Meadows told The Associated Press. “Before the video shoot took place, it appears the victim and suspect got involved in a verbal altercation. We don’t know what that altercation was about.”

“The suspect produced a weapon, discharged that handgun one time, striking the victim in the chest,” Meadows said.

The performer was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Meadows said police have not been able to identify the shooter. He said 13 to 20 people were in the small office-type building at the time of the shooting, which took place around 5:30 p.m. local time, but they were in different places.

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

Kevin the Tattoo Artist was hilariously opinionated about this woman’s choice of rapper to tattoo:

“The funny thing is, I didn’t know who Drake was. I figured it was her hood or some shit, not some goofnugget R&B dude.“

And also aesthetically horrified:

“When it’s something as simple as lettering, I could have tried to steer her into a prettier font maybe, or a different location (obviously), but she was already set on this letterman jacket-style font.“

But it sounds like even this crazy kooky Drake-fan is having some tattoo-remorse:

“Sadly, she didn’t leave a number on her consent form, just her name. But she is supposed to be coming back to finish the tattoo once it heals (she only had enough money for the outline) and I could probably talk to her then. She was on a pretty good one when she came in, but I think by the time I finished she was coming down, because her attitude changed pretty drastically once the tattoo was finished.“

Meanwhile, someone get this guy Kevin on twitter…he’s awesome:

“I don’t particularly want this one tattoo to represent my whole body of work… I’ve actually done some way crazier facial tattoos recently, but was really careful not to blast the shit all over the internet. There are so many kids walking up and down Fairfax with ridiculous facial tattoos that I didn’t think too much about it before I did it. Plus, the whole shaved eyebrow thing usually means you just got put on to your neighborhood or whatever, so I figured she was just some crazy shermed-out cholla who was “down for her calle” or whatever.

In my opinion this whole world’s going to shit, and shit rolls downhill, so I might as well just jump in, hold my breath, and pray to God that there’s a nice big soft puddle of diarrhea for me to land in once everything hits the fan.“

I love him.

UPDATE: Wow, not only is Kevin on twitter (via Kara-Lis), but #TheGirlWithTheDrakeTattoo came back for more (see photo gallery)! Wow again. And that hashtag?! Genius.

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…
After the jump

Three of my favorite Gucci photos:

Related:
Rick Ross Screams On Kreayshawn at the VMAs: A Beef Recap (UPDATED)
Gucci Mane talks to Miss Info about The Appeal (Exclusive)
Gucci Mane talks to Miss Info about Hustling in Atlanta, etc. (Exclusive)

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…

Boosie has been making headlines from jail over the last 2 years. While awaiting trial for various murder charges, the Baton Rouge rapper racked up multiple drug offenses after he was caught trying to smuggle narcotics into prison. Today, Boosie met his fate and was hit with 8 years in jail for his crimes.

“Local TV station WFAB reports that District Judge Mike Erwin passed down the sentence after Boosie admitted that he tried to smuggle drugs into Louisiana’s Dixon Correctional Center and Angola State Penitentiary. Upon hearing his sentence, the 29-year-old rapper requested admittance to a drug rehab program, and while the judge agreed to recommend treatment, he wouldn’t order it. Boosie will receive credit for the time he has already served behind bars.”

He still faces murder charges.

This former Bad Boy rapper also caught a tough break over the holiday weekend. Chauncey Hawkins aka Loon was recently arrested in Brussells over an old Heroin trafficking case from ‘06. The rapper converted to Islam a few years back and was said to be living a new life overseas. Well, it looks like his checkered past finally caught up to him.

He is currently being held in custody in the States.

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

Signs of the Apocalypse #3:
So many bizarro moments on the American Music Awards red carpet. I mean, the founder of Papa John’s Pizza showed up…with pizza! Is that not the most demeaning thing ever? And then Christina Aguilera ate all of it.

Signs of the Apocalypse #4:
Sign I’m a fan of Amber Rose’s unique sense of style and body-confidence…but this Smirnoff ad is beyond absurd. Blue lipstick, Amber eating marshmallows, androgynous Asians guys, dobermans, aerosols on airplanes, mouthfuls of cream…candy and cream flavored vodka : (

Signs of the Apocalypse #5:
Evelyn Lozada from the Basketball Wives masterclass….has a six-figure book deal. You are excused now…feel free to curl up and cry.

Signs of the Apocalypse #6:
This is all wrong is the best way…(Thanks, 40YardSplash!)

Signs of the Apocalypse #7:
The cop who brutally pepper-sprayed students who were quietly sit-down protesting at UC-Davis has spawned a slew of hilarious memes.
Boo, Lt. John Pike. Hiss! Via Buzzfeed.

Related:
Drake’s Thank Me Later liner notes: thanking Kanye, Jay-Z, Maliah, and Lil Wayne
New Video: Drake “Find Your Love” (Directed by Anthony Mandler)
Drake’s ladyfriend Maliah Michele calls him “inspirational” (Updated)
Keyshia Cole’s mom Frankie: on attacking Chili (TLC) and marrying half her age
Dog Down: Hurricane Frankie leaves a string of victims in her wake

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

Seriously…both these clips are such perfect encapsulations of how crazy this Cain guy is….Lying is so offensive from “public servants” but he’s so absurd, it’s just pathetic.

Related:
What’s With All the Hand Jive and Roc Diamonds at #OccupyWallStreet? Stephen Colbert Investigates
Fight the Power Friday: Talib Kweli Visits “Occupy Wall Street” and More…
Lil Wayne Talks Politics and Tea Party Debate: “The Republicans Are Never Going to Like Us”
Kanye West’s Bowery Ballroom speech: Bush, Taylor, and “Like, am I the only one who’s not crazy here?!”

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…
After the jump

The new Apple.com/SteveJobs page says:

Apple has lost a visionary and a creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
If you would like to share your thoughts, memories, and condolences, please email rememberingsteve@apple.com

Steve Jobs’ much loved speech at Stanford University’s 2005 commencement ceremony: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” (read full transcript here)

Update 1: Related Links:
-President Obama expressed his sadness at Jobs’ passing (more via NYObserver)

“By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last. Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.
The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented.”

-Bill Gates of Microsoft released a statement: “…Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come…” (via Mashable)

-New York Times’ classy Steve Jobs obituary, a fascinating account of how Jobs built three different companies, but always felt like an outsider and something of a hippie. Read it here.
-gadget site BoingBoing re-skinned their site in honor of Jobs, Check it out here. (thanks to reader Advent for the tip)
-watch Gizmodo’s “Steve Jobs Think Different Tribute Video”

UPDATE 2: More Related Links

-Steve Jobs’ Family releases a statement: “…We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories…”

-Deadline Hollywood speculates on what movie company will adapt the Steve Jobs bio that is being published in Nov. But one thing’s for sure, Noah Wylie would have Jobs’ personal pick to star.

-The WireCutter: “Steve Jobs Was Always Kind To Me (Or, Regrets Of An Asshole)”

-Apple’s new CEO Tim Cook sent this email to his employees (via TechCrunch)
-Bloomberg Business’ massive Steve Jobs obituary (pre-written as most major obits are)

(a vintage photo of Steve Jobs with his early Macintosh computers)

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

Amy Winehouse surprises her goddaughter, 15 year old singer Dionne Bromfield onstage at London’s iTunes Festival….just three days before Amy’s death. Dionne is also signed to Amy’s Lioness Records.

Update: Monte Lipman, CEO of Universal Republic, tells Billboard, “We are deeply saddened at the sudden loss of such a gifted musician, artist and performer. Our prayers go out to Amy’s family, friends and fans at this difficult time.”