• Yes, we get it. Lauryn Hill is crazy. Can Wyclef and Pras stop talking about it, please? [DL]

• Chico DeBarge apparently has not learned his lesson yet. Hey, maybe we’ll get another album out of this. [C&D]

• At some point, every single man in the entertainment industry will have to field gay rumors. It’s part of the business, obviously. [SR]

• A match made in heaven? Was that in poor taste? [TAN]

• If you live in NYC, I expect to see you and your friends at Katra tomorrow night, because who doesn’t want to party with Stereohyped, The Fashion Bomb, and The B-Life? [FT]

Super-designer Tracy Reese (shown here with Veronica Webb, Deborah Cox, and fashion industry maven Bethann Hardison), showed her glamorous, retro, resort-chic collection earlier today at Bryant Park. After the jump, check out her famous guests, some runway shots, and the scene backstage.

CONTINUED »

Some might say that these mommy and daughter matching purses are the epitome of excess and conspicuous consumption. I, on the other hand, think it’s kind of cute. And you all know I don’t even like the mom!

[MG]

Struggling to feel relevant, the ex-Mr. Halle Berry has released a statement publicly congratulating the actress on her pregancy.

Uh, wouldn’t a personal note have worked just as well?

Oh! Then Eric Benet’s name wouldn’t have been in People. I get it.

[People]

“This is the most brutally fun and amazingly accurate football experience out there. Set in the unique and colorful world of Black College Football, BCFx puts you in the spotlight. Step into the cleats of a player: Make hard hits and split decisions, as you guide your team through the season. Feel the passion of the fans and the music from the band coarse through your veins as you get closer, yard-by-yard, to the Championship game. Step into the boots of a drum major: Halftime offers no respite as you suit up, grip your baton and lead your band of musical maestros through intricate formations as the crowd roars in amazement. It’s the Battle of the Bands: Win this and you just might give your team what it needs to prevail in the second half.”

Does Nick Cannon provide any of the voices?

[NOISB]

Kanye West has joined 50 Cent on the publicity train. And we all knew he would — I believe the Rolling Stone cover is case in point. He’s finally agreed to a “debate” with 50 Cent on BET next Tuesday, when both of their albums come out.

Terrence and Rocsi will host a “battle” during the show, where 50 Cent will perform singles from his upcoming album Curtis, while Kanye West will perform songs from his upcoming effort, Graduation.

ESPN’s Stuart Scott will deliver commentary and a statistical breakdown of both 50 Cent and Kanye West.

“How could I not come to 106 & PARK on the day my album comes out? I’m definitely coming,” West stated, while 50 Cent said ominously: “Just make sure that Kanye West shows up.”

The more publicity stunt-ish this little competition gets the more tiresome it becomes. My Team Kanye enthusiasm has weakened considerably.

Team Kenny Chesney!

[AHH]

Tisha Campbell on the Duane Martin and Will Smith gay rumors:

When two brothers are successful or have influential and powerful friends, we have to emasculate them. On the real, we even did it to Oprah and Gayle. We have to get over that because at the end of the day who really cares? We have Katrina, autism and children killing one another in my hometown of Newark. I don’t know what the obsession is with celebrities, but maybe it helps people feel better about their own situation. We just know that it’s something that comes along with being in front of the camera.

Kanye West managed to drop the dreaded f-bomb (learning nothing from Isaiah, obviously), a word he has denounced in the past, and credit his success to his “feminine” ways all in one statement. Characteristically, it makes little sense.

“It’s like what if your drawbacks ended up being your superpower? I’ve always had an issue with masculinity. I’m like, ‘I hope this person isn’t looking at me like I’m a faggot ’cause I have some feminine ways.’ Maybe I’m not the guy who kicks off (a fight) in a club. Now I’m a 30-year-old, I’ve accepted that.

“Because of that I’ve ended up having the No.1 album.”

This quote is just kind of floating with no context, so I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say maybe it’s a misquote. But that whole “superpower” line has Kanye written all over it, doesn’t it?

[SP]

For all the attention the media paid to Bill O’Reilly’s stupid campaign against Nas performing at last night’s Virginia Tech welcome concert, reporters certainly didn’t have anything to say about his actual performance, except that he the audience stayed on their feet for his entire 20 minutes set and that he was wearing a special Hokies shirt. Sorry to disappoint, Bill.

Before the concert, Nas had this to say about Bill O’Reilly’s misguided rage.

“He’s a racist,” Nas said. “Everybody has a marketing plan; his marketing plan is racism.

“He doesn’t understand the younger generation. He deals with the past,” Nas continued. “The people he represents are Republican, older, a generation that has nothing to do with the reality of what’s happening now with my generation. … He’s not really on my radar. People like him are supposed to be taught and people like me are supposed to let n—as like him know. I don’t take him serious. His sh– is all about getting ratings or whatever. I wouldn’t honor anything Bill O’Reilly has to say. It just shows you what bloodsuckers do: They abuse something like the Virginia Tech [tragedy] for show ratings. You can’t talk to a person like that.”

No, you really can’t. But I’m sure he’ll appreciate being called the n-word. He’s gonna take that and run with it.

[MTV]

This one might be a little off topic, but that’s what Friday’s are for. On second though, this isn’t really off topic, since High School Musical has swept the kid nation from coast to coast. My little cousin lives for HSM.

Now, of all the teenage stars out there, can’t we at least expect the kids in these movies to keep their clothes on? Can I not go on Perez Hilton and see Vanessa Hudgens naked boobs and pubic hair, please? Can my little cousin have a few teenagers to look up to? It really might be too much to ask.

I do have a good feeling about Monique Coleman — she’s just got to avoid the nude photo trap for a few more years.

[People]