scene: USHER AND CHRIS BROWN SIT COURTSIDE

Usher and Chris Brown are homies now?

The two were spotted sitting courtside together last night (Dec 29) in Atlanta at the Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game at the Philips Arena. Other celebrities in the building included Akon, Young Jeezy, Polow Da Don and Chris Tucker. Atlanta Mayor-elect Kasim Reed was also spotted at the game. Forget all that though, check out that LV satin varsity jacket Chris is rocking.. Dope.

"WE ARE ONE" BARACK OBAMA | MLK CELEBRATION

Thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. for the "We Are One" concert today celebrating the life of Marting Luther King, Jr. as well as "change" in America. Prez-Elect Barack Obama and First Lady Elect Michelle O. arrived at the event to watch performances by Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, Usher, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce and others. HBO aired the event free to viewers.

BEYONCE, MARY J. AND OTHERS TO PERFORM FOR INAUGURATION

What kind of event could bring Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springstein, Usher, Will.I.Am, John Mellencamp, Shakira, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow and Josh Groban together to share a stage? A massive charity concert? A glitzy awards show? Nope. The inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. Those celebrities and a ton of others have signed up to perform at “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial,” the first of many official events sponsored by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. According to the The Washington Post, the 90-minute concert will begin on Sunday at 2 p.m., and HBO will air it for free (for all cable and satellite subscribers) that night at 7 p.m.

USHER IN THE STUDIO WITH PHARRELL AND ADAM LEVINE

Seems that Usher is back in the studio, this time with long-time friend and collaborator, Pharrell Williams, as well as Maroon 5 front-man, Adam Levine. It looks as if they’re working on a new album to be put out sometime this year. Interesting. I thought he'd take somewhat of a break to re-work the glitches that made Here I Stand such a failure. I guess he’s trying to make people forget the bad taste that it left in their mouths.

USHER A DADDY AGAIN!

Usher has become a father for the second time.

The 30-year-old singer and his wife Tameka Foster, 38, welcomed their son into the world at around 3am on Wednesday (10.12.08).

The couple - who already have one-year-old Usher Raymond V. The baby is named Naviyd Ely Raymond. He weighs in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces..

Usher and Tameka confirmed they were expecting their second child together last month, with the star revealing the impending arrival would make the festive period even more special.

He said: "We're actually expecting, if you didn't hear, in December. One of the best Christmas gifts there is to have!"

NEW VIDEO | USHER "TRADING PLACES"

Shot in a dope house in Venice, CA - this Chris Robinson directed Ursh video bears some pretty intimate visuals. That invisible piano is pretty slick too…

*predicts Usher/Tameka splitting rumors (again).

USHER'S NEXT GIG: LINGERIE DESIGNER

Usher is a lingerie designer. Apparently he thought you might know that. At the Dutch lingerie designer Marlies Dekkers' show in Paris yesterday, the singer told WWD, "You may have heard that I might be launching a lingerie line for men and women." We don't know about WWD, but we sure hadn't heard. Usher said some of his designs appear in the yet-to be-released video for his new joint, Trading Places. We can imagine what his ladies' lingerie might look like, but a men's lingerie line leads the mind to wander. Ursh, you have us at the edge of our seats.

USHER REHIRES HIS MOM AS MANAGER

After the moderate success of his latest album Here I Stand, Usher has fired his manager Benny Medina and has since, rehired his mother, Jonnetta Patton as his manager. Patton was unceremoniously fired last year - allegedly on orders of Usher’s wife Tameka Foster-Raymond.

Usher jokingly told the press that he “retired” his mother so she could become a glorified babysitter to his and Tameka’s son Usher Raymond V.

“With an artist like Usher, the bar is set really high,” Medina tells E! News. “Whether it was management, marketing or the music, we achieved a No. 1 single and a No. 1 album…I had a great time and we parted ways amicably.”

SPOTTED: NAOMI AND TYSON AT AFRICA RISING FESTIVAL

Favs, Naomi Campbell and Tyson Beckford were spotted over the weekend at the Africa Rising Festival in Abuja, Nigeria. The 3rd annual music and fashion festival showcases the positive elements and major improvements across the African continent. This years star studded events featured performance from the industries top acts, including Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, Usher, Chris Brown and Mary J Blige.

USHER AND SON COVERS ESSENCE MAG

Usher and son, Usher V aka Cinco, are on the cover of the Essence Magazine, August 2008 issue. This is the world's first official look of the 8 month old.

In the interview, conducted by actor/author Hill Harper, Usher speaks on the issues of fatherhood, marriage and rumors. Get your copy, on newsstands today!

Celebs: Out & About

Solange Knowles stopped by TRL yesterday to promote her album, Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. I got to admit, she looks pretty dope in Miu Miu Spring '08.
Justin Timberlake arrives at the premiere of Love Guru at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California in a dope bomber from his line William Rast. Usher promotes his latest album, Here I Stand at Shoto Gallery in Tokyo, Japan.And model/actress Yaya DeCosta attends the 19th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards pre-party at Nikki Midtown in New York, looking fresh-faced and absolutely gorgeous.

Exclusive: Beyonce To Perform At 2008 BET Awards!

Lil' Wayne confirmed that he will be taking to the stage along with Usher and Beyonce, to open the 2008 BET Awards with the Love In The Club remix in a recent interview with XM radio:

"It was suppose to be a surprise that I and Beyonce are performing with Usher when I open up the show."

OK, so the cat's been left out of the bag. I'm guessing that 'lean' kind of clouded his meaning of surprise. Any who, you better believe all eyes will be tuned in when the awards air, live on June 24. Looks like BET knows well how to get those ratings.

Music Round-Up: Usher, Lil' Wayne, and Ashanti

As Lil' Wayne gears up for the release of his long-delayed, highly-anticipated album, Carter III next week, he is in better shape than ever. His hit single Lollipop is starting it’s fourth frame at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Usher inevitably sailed to the top of the charts last week with his fifth studio release, Here I Stand, giving him his second straight number 1 album. But the harsh reality of record retailing in 2008 means first week sales totaling 443,000 copies.

Lastly, Ashanti released her new album, The Declaration, this week. The first single The Way That I Love You, did pretty good and the promotions have been heavy. I am anxious to see the week-end sales reports on this one.

BET Awards 2008 News: Host, More Performers Announced

With the 2008 BET Awards just around, more information about the much anticipated show has been announced.

Comedian D.L Hughley has been revealed as this year's host, while nominees Alicia Keys, Chris Brown and Kanye West have joined the performance roster - which already boasts showings by Mariah Carey, Usher, Lil Wayne, Mary J. Blige and more. The show takes June 24th live from the Shrine Auditorium in L.A.

Video: Usher Sets the Record Straight about Tameka!

Usher stopped by MTV's TRL yesterday to promote the release of his new album, Here I Stand. However amidst talking over the LP, Usher decided that he would set the record straight in regards to his relationship with Tameka and lay the rumors to rest once and for all. Check out the vid below:

May 27, 2008
by BFresco

Usher Covers Entertainment Weekly

Usher is popping up everwhere lately. You can't turn on the tv wihtout seeing his face or hearing his songs. From his recent interview on Ellen, to his performances on SNL and Dancing with the Stars, he is definitely the "it" boy right now. All this to promote his new CD, Here I Stand, slated for release this Tuesday. Although I'm sure most of you are already up on it since it leaked last week.

Most recently, Usher is covering the June issue of Entertainment Weekly where he explains how his album came to be what it is now. Here's what he had to say.

”It starts off with a guy who’s in the club, having a good time, and going home with a woman. The character that I’m setting up is not a guy who is married right off; he’s a guy who goes through the journey of getting married….. I was going out night to night, having a different woman in my bed every time I chose, and I began to wonder: Am I really being a playa or am I a whore?”

(P.S: He is rocking those Dior's, hard.)

New Music: Usher feat. Jay Z "Best Thing"

Jay-Z does his homie Usher a solid with this brand new track from Here I Stand, in stores next week.

Video:Usher "Moving Mountains" World Premiere

Usher - Moving Mountains
Uploaded by Bfresco

Here is Usher's new video, Moving Mountains, music produced by Tricky Strewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash. It is directed by the Brothers Strause, who also did Love in the Club and have worked on movies such as X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four, and 300.This vid is the sequel to "Love In This Club" and transitions from it where it left off. Check it out.