TAMEKA HITS UP CNN

Tameka hit up CNN today to talk about her foundation, The Lost Ones



Too bad they only wanted to talk about her ex-hubby Usher

USHER OFFERS ADVICE

So fresh off his divorce, Usher is offering advice:

“Having kids man, don’t wear white. Have you ever had an explosion?” the singer asked George Lopez on Lopez Tonight Thursday. “Changing the diaper, obviously when they gotta go they gotta go.”

Usher has two sons - Usher ‘Cinco’ Raymond V, 2 ½, and Naviyd Ely, 15 months.

“I just decided, if anybody is going to [poop] on me it would be my kids,” he says. “That is real love, man. It’s like, ‘How do you produce this much doodoo?’”

But fatherhood is much more than dirty diapers and juice stains, Usher, 31, points out. “One of the most incredible experiences in life is to be able to put all of your energy and effort into making sure that you raise an incredible young man."

“I have two young boys that I love very much and I just want them to be the most incredible young men that they can be.”

USHER GRACES BILLBOARD

Usher graces the cover of the new issue of Billboard magazine and talks music and marriage.

“I went all the way into being super husband and super dad, thinking, ‘I’ve got to be serious all the time. I’ve got to be the man.’ I put my swagger down for a minute, but I didn’t throw it away, now it’s time to get it back.”

‘Papers’ let everyone know that Usher knew what everyone was saying about him, his marriage and his relationship with his mom; that he understood what was being said,” Pitts says. “It was just to make a statement. We didn’t realize it would be as big as it was.”

Usher adds, “The song wasn’t intended to glorify my personal situation or people breaking up. I didn’t know if it was going to be the single or part of the album. I just thought it was a special track that would represent me well.”

USHER & HIS MOM ON THE OUTS AGAIN

NY Daily News reports that Usher & his mom are on the outs again....and you know what that's behind:

We hear the crooner has had his latest CD, which was supposed to be released Sunday, pushed back until March 30.

Why the delay? A source at the "Confessions" singer's record company says Jive Records refused to put Usher's album out until he signs with a new management firm.

Apparently the crooner and his mother -- and former manager-- Jonetta Patton are officially on the outs and severed their professional ties in late November 2009.

"She walked away from the project because Usher had his girlfriend [and former Def Jam executive] Grace Miguel was all in the mix," says the source.

"She felt as though if she didn't end things when she did, it would permanently affect their personal relationship," continues the source.

Usher had apparently declared that he would manage himself, with the help of Miguel, but the label felt that "there was chaos in the camp."

Jive has released three singles in an attempt to launch the CD "Raymond vs. Raymond."
The first single, "Papers," which was released last September, only reached No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, so the label began working two more new singles, "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" and "More."

But there may be hope for the singer yet: It appears Usher is close to signing an agreement with AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips, manager for Lionel Richie, Toni Braxton and the late Michael Jackson.

In fact, Usher was spotted sitting at Phillip's table at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy bash.
Just as Usher's career may be looking up, it appears his love life is, too.

Our source says that despite Usher's attempts to downplay his romantic involvement with Miguel, the former Def Jam exec also was by Usher's side during Grammy weekend in L.A.
The two were spotted "holding hands," and Usher was seen "gently caressing her back" when he thought no one was looking at L.A. Reid's post-Grammy party at the L.A. restaurant Cecconi's.

GV Says: Usher's mom doesn't take kindly to these cougars I see....

KANYE, USHER & OTHERS UNITE

Music's brightest stars were back in a familiar "World" on Monday - recording a new version of the song that raised more than $30 million for African hunger-relief programs 25 years ago.

"We Are the World," which was responsible for getting such '80s icons as Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie and Cindy Lauper under one roof, is being updated to benefit the victims of last month's devastating earthquake in Haiti.

NY Daily News reports that a day after Sunday's Grammys in L.A., some of today's biggest names - and a smattering of familiar old faces - were part of an all-star choir that gathered in the same Hollywood studio where the original was performed in 1985 under the direction of Quincy Jones.

Joining Jones, who was back again as producer, and Richie (who co-wrote the song with Jackson) was singer Wyclef Jean, a native of Haiti who has been at the forefront of earthquake relief efforts.

"When I got in the music business, my whole life changed," Jean told the group, according to EW.com. "Today, it represents what the whole mission was for me.

"What's bigger than a contribution is the fact that you lent your voice," he added. "The fact that you lent your voice means that we are going into the 21st century Haiti, and I promise you we are not going backwards."

While nearly 50 artists collaborated on the original, Monday's recording session attracted more than 80 singers representing several genres and generations of music, according to cnn.com.

Huddled in the same crowded studio were such stalwarts as Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand alongside fresh faces like 15-year-old singer Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus.

The cross-section of artists also included Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Pink, Celine Dion, Usher, Will.i.am, Enrique Iglesias, Kanye West, The Jonas Brothers and Robin Thicke, CNN.com reports.

The video of the new "We Are the World" recording session, directed by Paul Haggis ("Crash"), will premiere on Feb. 12 on NBC during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.