NO MONEY, MO' PROBLEMS FOR DAME DASH

We'll pretend like we didn't see this one coming.

Roc-A-Fella Records and Rocawear co-founder, Damon Dash has been slapped with divorce papers by wife Rachel Roy. The stunning fashion designer piled onto Dash’s already sizable stack of lawsuits when she filed for divorce from her husband of four years this month in Manhattan Supreme Court. Ed Hayes, a lawyer for Roy, declined to comment, and a Dash spokeswoman did not return calls or e-mails. An electronic record of the case says the divorce is for “nonmonetary relief” and should be resolved by February. Dash and Roy, who put her own name on a women’s fashion line, got hitched in Mexico in January 2005. They met when Roy was working at Rocawear and have two daughters. The breakup is the latest legal mess for the has-been hip-hop titan, whose empire - which he once pegged at “about $50 million” in a New York magazine profile - has crumbled under massive debt, bad business deals and one suit after another. Dash, who in 2005 sold his stake in Rocawear to Jay-Z for $20 million, owes $2 million in state taxes, and a bank has started foreclosure proceedings on his two Tribeca condos.

SPOTTED | RIHANNA IN NEW YORK CITY

A happy, smiling Rihanna was spotted last night here in NYC as she celebrated an extremely belated birthday at The Spotted Pig restaurant in the West Village. Celebrity friends, Brandy, Beyonce, and of course Jay-Z shared some laughs with her as well. Despite everything, we’re glad to see that she is coming out of hiding and enjoying time with friends.

In related news, sources connected with both Chris Brown and Rihanna are saying that Brown’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, wants the judge to give Rihanna a pass from testifying because of leaks in the case. We’re told Geragos and Rihanna’s lawyer, Donald Etra, believe Rihanna was compromised when her name surfaced as the alleged victim in the beating. They claim this and other leaks violate her privacy rights and therefore she should not have to further put herself out to the public by testifying against Brown in the case. It’s further proof Rihanna and Brown are back together and in lockstep. Geragos asked to meet with the judge in chambers, along with the prosecutors, on March 23 to discuss letting Rihanna off the hook. Brown’s arraignment is set for April 6.

ETTA JAMES NO LIKEY BEYONCE

Just when we thought Etta James may have been happy about Beyonce singing her song “At Last” for the President Obama and the First Ladies’ First Dance on Inauguration night, seems we were wrong. In a Seattle concert a few nights ago Etta popped off extra hard on Beyonce. She told the crowd: You know, YOUR President, the one with the big ears-he ain’t MY President–had that woman singing for him at his Inauguration. She’s going to get her a** whooped.”

She went on to say, “How dare Beyonce sing MY song that I been singing forever. Now I’m going to sing it for y’all….” Even the Seattle papers were shocked. I always knew Ms. Etta was fiesty thang, but damn. Somebody no likey Beyonce at all.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

Sean "Diddy" Combs was supposed to co-host a birthday party for DJ Clue at Club M2 in NYC Monday night with Kobe Bryant after the historic Knicks/Lakers game in which Bryant scored 61 points. But nobody warned Combs that the NYPD had an undercover gun detail searching guests as they came into the club. “Everyone wanted to make sure that the dozens of NBA stars in attendance, including Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Pau Gasol, would be safe,” the insider said. When Diddy arrived at 1:45 a.m. with a six-man entourage, a witness said he “flipped out” when cops asked to search him and his friends. “He went nuts, saying, ‘Why are you disrespecting me like this? Why are you doing this to me?’ During the commotion, one of his guys slipped away, unsearched, back to the car.” Combs “stormed off and started to text DJ Clue asking, ‘What the [bleep] is going on?’ and asked if he could go in the back entrance.” When told that the cops would have to search him and his friends there as well, Combs decided not to attend the party. His rep had no comment. Combs has had issues in the past with hidden weapons and cops. You may recall back in 1999, while he was dating Jennifer Lopez, a member of his entourage opened fire in a nightclub. A stolen pistol was found in one of Combs’ SUVs, but he was acquitted of gun-possession charges. Suspect?

KELLY ROWLAND & MATTHEW KNOWLES SPLIT

Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé’s father/manager Mathew Knowles jointly announced that they are ending their working relationship. “Mathew Knowles has been a positive influence in my career,” Rowland said in a statement.

"Mathew Knowles has been a positive influence in my career," Rowland said in the statement. "I have had great success under his guidance — both as a member of Destiny's Child and with my solo projects. Although we have decided to part ways professionally, the Knowles family and the entire Music World Entertainment team will always be my family."

The move comes more than a year after Rowland's last album, 2007's Ms.Kelly. The album was delayed a number of times, and upon its release, the project featuring the single "Like This," failed to live up to the commercial success of her debut, which sold over 500,000 copies and was certified gold.

Rowland was practically raised by the Knowles family, making the split that much more surprising. The singer moved into the Knowles' Texas home during the formation of Destiny's Child and often refers to Beyoncé as her sister. Mathew Knowles acknowledged their ties, saying Rowland will always continue to be a part of the Knowles clan.

He also stressed that no animosity was involved in this business separation.

As of press time, it is unclear if Rowland has retained new management.

KIMORA LEE AND DJIMON HOUNSOU HAVING A BABY

Some might call a new baby a blessing. In that vein, Kimora Lee Simmons has blessed the world twice, first with darling Ming Lee and then with infinitely charming Aoki Lee. And now a third little treasure is on the way, her first with boyfriend Djimon Hounsou. She sparked rumors of being pregnant last week, when she unveiled her skincare line in Miami and showed her baby bump. This week a source closeto the couple confirmed the pregnancy to the New York Post.

NAS AND KELIS EXPECTING FIRST CHILD TOGETHER

Nas & Kelis, are rumored to be having their first child. According to US Weekly,

“It’s all they are talking about. She is carrying hip-hop royalty!” says the insider, who adds Kelis — currently in her first trimester — already has a little bump. “They are so excited.”

There’s been no word from either camp’s reps... CONGRATULATIONS to the happy couple!

AUBREY O'DAY CONFIRMS PLAYBOY DEAL

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's official. Aubrey O’Day has confirmed the rumors that have recently circulated. She will indeed pose nude and bare all for Playboy magazine.

“I’m honored to be a part of the Playboy legacy and look forward to my March cover hitting newsstands on February 13,” O’Day tells Us Weekly.

If you thought the Complex spread screamed HOT MESS WHORE!, just you wait!

WTF?! REAL HOUSEWIFE OF ATLANTA SHOWING AT FASHION WEEK?

Sheree from the Real Housewives of Atlanta will reportedly show her fashion line at New York Fashion Week next month. We can't believe we just wrote that, but Page Six reports she has completed her line, "She by Sheree," and plans to subject us all to it. We find it hard to believe she managed to finish it, considering that, on the show, ex-Project Runway contestant Michael Knight came on to point out all her mistakes and she looked as amateur as we imagined, not lifting a finger. There's no word yet on when or where this collection will walk or, for that matter, who actually designed it, but Sheree's not short of cash to put on a show. She's taking her ex-husband, former New York Giant Bob Whitfield, back to court because she's not satisfied with the $1 million she got in the divorce settlement. You know things are bad when designers like Betsey Johnson and Vera Wang are dropping out of the tents and a Real Housewife is showing.

DIGGY HAS HIS OWN BLOG.. SMH

Diggy Simmons is the epitome of gangsta. Obviously. He just started his own blog, which you can check out here. It's called the Life of a Jet Setter and chronichles Diggy's life, with a little help from an experienced ghost blogger. So far the future entrepreneur/stylist, who has an affinity for all things Louis Vuitton, has shown off his new LV skateboard and case as well us given a sneak peek into the new season of Run's House.

KANYE TYPES SOME CAPS IN THE PAPS A$$

As I previously reported Kanye West was arrested and detained by London police for allegedly assaulting a member of the paparazzi... again. Well Ye wrote a blog entry on his site yesterday explaining his frustration with the Paparazzi and he also gives the real reason for the arrest. He really makes some good points and I just hope the Paps can take it easy on him. Check out an except and link for the full blog entry below:

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED…WHEN I LEFT THE CLUB, I WAS ENCOUNTERED BY A THIRSTY PAPARAZZI AS USUAL. HE FELT HE HAD MORE RIGHTS TO MY SPACE THAN ME, SO I PUT MY HAND UP TO PREVENT HIM FROM TAKING MY IMAGE. I DIDN’T ASSAULT HIM BUT MERELY PUTTING MY HAND UP TO COVER HIS LENS. MY SECURITY YELLED, “GET THE CAMERA OFF HIM.” I GUESS IN ALL THE COMMOTION THE CAMERA SCRAPED HIS NOSE.

THREE HOURS LATER I GET A KNOCK AT MY HOTEL DOOR. THERE WERE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS IN FRONT OF MY ROOM AND I HAD NO IDEA WHY. I HAD MY SECURITY GO SPEAK WITH THEM. THE COPS WERE VERY CORDIAL BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD TO ARREST ME BECAUSE A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THAT WAS THE BOGUS PART. THEY PLACED ME IN HANDCUFFS AND DROVE ME TO THE STATION. THEY SPOKE ABOUT HOW THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY A PUBLICITY STUNT BY THE PHOTOGRAPHER BUT THEY STILL HAD TO GO THOUGH THE MOTIONS. WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL THERE WERE PAPARAZZI HANGING OVER THE BRIDGE ABOVE THE HOTEL TRYING TO GET A SHOT OF ME GETTING OUT THE POLICE VAN. EVEN THOUGH I WASN’T CHARGED, THE DAMAGE WAS DONE. SURE ENOUGH THE NEXT MORNING, PLASTERED ACROSS EVERY MEDIA OUTLET… KANYE GETS ARRESTED. IT DIDN’T MATTER THAT I WASN’T CHARGED OR THE FACT THAT I HADN’T ASSAULTED ANYONE. ALL THAT MATTERED WAS THAT I WAS ARRESTED.

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WHITNEY SPEAKS OUT | COVER IS A FAKE

As you probably knew, the Whitney Houston "Undefeated" cover that surfaced this week was a fake.

"The alleged 'new' Whitney Houston album cover circulating throughout the internet is not a legitimate cover for Ms. Houston's forthcoming Arista disc," Houston's label rep said Thursday.

The photo, as shown above, was reportedly created by a fan and sent to numerous blogs, including my own, earlier this week. Seems as though the photoshop haters duped all of us, using a picture of supermodel Naomi Campbell with Houston’s head superimposed. (See photo below)

In related news... Whitney Houston is reportedly in the studio putting finishing touches on her forthcoming album.

"Ms. Houston is still recording and we look forward to unveiling new music along with the official album cover in due time," says Arista.

Whitney Houston's forthcoming project is rumored to feature production/collaborations with Akon, Bryan Michael Cox, and Ne-Yo.

KANYE ATTACKS THE PAPS.... AGAIN!

Kanye West will not be charged with assaulting a photographer — in an alleged incident that went down yesterday in the UK. West was arrested at a hotel in Gateshead, England early Friday morning after allegedly getting into a tussle with a photog on his way out of the Tup Tup nightclub in Newcastle. After a short investigation, West was released from police custody without charges. FYI — The person alleging the assault made the same claim against a famous British soccer player around a month ago — but the charges unfounded in that case as well.

UPDATE: TMZ just spoke with the photog — who claims Kanye did, in fact, smash his face in around 2AM London time. According to the snapper, it all went down when Kanye was leaving the club with 4 girls, upset that he was being captured on film. After getting angry, Kanye allegedly got violent — shoving the camera into the snappers face, causing a cut on his nose.

It might be just me, but I can't wait for these pics to leak. LOL

We In The House

Welcome to the inaugural post of Fresco Daily. (Inspired by the many blogs I find myself fishing through from day to day to suit my many interests.)

I decided that there really should be a place where one can go to get there "daily dose" that fuses different facets together to ammeliorate the bouncing around from blog to blog. Sort of a one-stop-shop, feel me? Plus alot of these sites didnt really expose influential and interesting elements of NYC urban life and failed to give me what I really wanted altogether. So suddenly I was hit with a jolt of inspiration and decided, who better than to give me what I want than me.

So here it is. Bringing you up to date daily (or as frequently as my schedule permits). Fresco Daily. Blending Fashion, Pop Culture, Lifestyle, Entertainment and Sports. Highlighting emerging trends and talent.

Ya dig