MONEY TALK: Top 10 Richest, Biggest Musicians in 2014

1. Beyonce Knowles

The biggest year of Queen B’s career comes courtesy of a massive tour. The superstar singer played 95 shows, bringing in an average $2.4 million per city, according to Pollstar. She also dropped her most innovative album. Titled simply “Beyoncé,” the record hit iTunes in December with barely any publicity; the single “Drunk in Love” has already sold more than 1 million copies. 

2. Dr. Dre

It was a year of superlatives for the legendary producer, thanks to Apple’s $3 billion purchase of Beats, announced in May. His spoils boosted his annual income to an astronomical $620 million — not only the best year of his career and tops among the names on this year’s Celeb 100, but the highest yearly earnings total of any entertainer ever evaluated by FORBES. 

3. Jay Z

The mogul’s $60 million total is his highest since 2010, bolstered by a diverse list of sources. There’s his growing Roc Nation empire; 68 concerts in our scoring period; business ventures ranging from his 40/40 clubs to his D’Ussé cognac; and his latest album, which was certified platinum before it was released due to an agreement with Samsung to buy 1 million copies. For more on Jay Z’s rise, check out Empire State of Mind. 

4. Rihanna

Rihanna may be the perfect embodiment of the modern pop star. The 26-year-old Barbados native churns out radio hits like “We Found Love” and “Diamonds” and collaborates with some of the biggest names in the business like Jay Z and Eminem. But she also uses social media better than almost anyone. Her Twitter and Instagram feeds allow her to connect with her fans in a way that feels honest and unfiltered and they love her for it. Rihanna is the second most-powerful social media user on our list after Justin Bieber. 

5. Katy Perry

Even with a fairly modest touring schedule this year (Perry only played 20 public gigs during our time frame), the pop star is still one of the biggest earners in her field. Perry is unafraid of the shill. She gets paid to endorse brands like CoverGirl and Pop Chips and she has her own fragrance with Coty brands called Killer Queen. Perry also earns big playing private events. What rich kid wouldn’t love Perry to play her Sweet 16? 

6. Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi’s massive touring schedule lands the New Jersey band on our list for the 7th time. With “What About Now,” the band is still selling out arenas all over the word en route to $82 million in earnings. But age may be taking a toll. Drummer Tico Torres was sidelined for part of the tour due to gallbladder surgery and Richie Sambora skipped the tour to take care of personal issues. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi shows no signs of slowing down. His Soul Foundation branched out into housing this year with a four-story mixed-use development in Philadelphia for formerly homeless people.

7. Bruno Mars 

Mars debuts on our list thanks to a busy touring schedule: the 28-year-old crooner played 118 dates during our time frame. He also managed to squeeze in a performance at the Super Bowl halftime (along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers) that earned him the title of the youngest halftime headliner ever. The performance helped propel sales of his latest album, “Unorthodox Jukebox” to double platinum. For more, check out “The Evolution of Bruno Mars.”

8. Miley Cyrus 

Cyrus returns to the FORBES Celebrity 100 after a four-year absence. The last time she made our list was when she was still rolling in Hannah Montana money. Now the pop singer is all grown up and courting controversy at every turn. Her twerking at the MTV Video Music Awards shocked many people who still see Cyrus as a little girl but the attention helped record sales. Her latest album “Bangerz” has been certified platinum. 

9. Taylor Swift

Only 24 years old, Swift is making her fifth appearance on the FORBES Celebrity 100 with her highest earnings to date: $64 million. Swift’s latest, “Red,” was shut out at the Grammy Awards but the cross-over star was honored with the Pinnacle Award at the latest Country Music Association Awards for her success. The award has only been given to one other person, singer Garth Brooks. Swift also earns with endorsements for Diet Coke, Keds and CoverGirl.

10. Lady Gaga 

Gaga’s earnings continue to fall from her 2011 peak of $90 million Her third studio album, “Artpop,” has failed to produce the same success as her prior efforts and a hip injury side lined part of her world tour. Despite those setbacks, Gaga is still one of the most influential pop stars out there and she ranks 19th on our list. Only 28, she has plenty of time to return to the top 10.

Bridesmaids flashing their butts in wedding photos

Bridesmaids...and sometimes the bride..flashing their butts in wedding photos has sparked a new trend in some parts of the world. It supposedly started after some models posing as bride and bridesmaids did a photo shoot in wedding attires showing off their derrieres for an underwear campaign...and now real brides and bridesmaids think it's cool and have started doing it. Sometimes they wear matching underwear...and sometimes they go as far as showing off their bare bottom.

The ladies say it's a way of spicing up the traditional wedding photos. Should this trend catch on or die fast? See more photos after the cut...

Photo Credit: UK Mirror

MAN ARRESTED IN TRAGIC HIT-AND-RUN DEATH OF 12-YEAR-OLD BROOKLYN GIRL

The man accused of mowing down 12-year-old Joey Sellers in that tragic hit-and-run accident has been identified as Robert DeCarlo, 26,” the New York Daily News reports. He was speeding in a stolen minivan when the vehicle jumped the curb, striking Joey, her mother, 38-year-old Marsha Landais and her sister, 9-year-old Charlie Sellers.

As it turns out, Robert has quite the rap sheet, which includes drug possession, robbery, grand larceny and possession of stolen property charges. In fact, just 24 hours before the tragic incident, the troubled Brooklyn man appeared in court regarding a purse-snatching case. Now, family members of the middle schooler are questioning why he was even allowed to walk the streets in the first place.

“How come this guy is on the street, and to end up doing what he did just now?” questioned family member Roland Pierre. “Does the system kill us or what?”

Marsha and Charlie were both critically injured in the accident. Charlie is scheduled to undergo neurological surgery sometime today.

“Right now, we’re hanging in there,” a family member said Thursday. “The other two are in critical condition. It’s really tough.”

Robert was arrested earlier today as he made his way towards the 62nd Precinct to turn himself in.
We send our prayers to the victims and their family.
- See more at: http://madamenoire.com/444992/man-arrested-tragic-hit-run-death-12-year-old-brooklyn-girl/#sthash.IGXf4b9R.dpuf

‘He Needs Help!’ Solé Goes Off After Ginuwine Implies That Their Child Is A Stripper On Instagram

Speaking of parental disputes, Ginuwine was recently called out on Twitter by his wife, Solé, after he demonstrated extremely poor judgement on social media site Instagram. The father of five uploaded an image of his teen daughter surrounded by singles and five dollar bills and proceeded to imply that she had been working as an exotic dancer in the caption.

“My daughter just came in should I be asking so [sic] questions!?????” he wrote.

He then reposted the photo with another caption that reads:

“Man I gta stay home more this is getting catastrophic.”

Shortly after seeing his post, Solé took to Twitter to defend her daughter and to slam her husband for his twisted sense of humor.

“That was NOT my daughters money that @Ginuwine posted.. It was HIS & his sick idea of a joke..Been trying to keep silent but he needs help,” she tweeted.
“I’ve remained silent but my child will not be publicly humiliated by a sick joke by some1 whos [sic]  judgement is impaired”

We definitely can’t blame her for wanting to defend their daughter. Thoughts?
- See more at: http://madamenoire.com/444806/sole-goes-off-after-ginuwine-implies-that-their-child-is-a-stripper/#sthash.te7QDCg5.dpuf

Update on snakes tangled in electric lines in Benin

Told y'all yesterday about some snakes that were found tangled in electric wires on a street in Benin city (read here). Well, here's what the people of Ekosodin did to the snakes. They are still trying to figure out how the snakes got on the wires. #flyingthinz! :-). See more pics after the cut...

I Did NOT Have Affair With Jay Z !"Never did. Never will' - Mya denies affair with Jay Z

          
Mya is RIPPING allegations she had an affair with Jay Z.
Outlets like MediaTakeOut and other disreputable have recently accused the rap mogul of cheating on Beyoncé with her fellow R&B singer.
But on Thursday, Mya vehemently put rumors of her involvement to rest after a fan questioned her on Instagram.
“Never did, never was, never will,” she wrote. “Illegitimate, thirsty sources with no facts and that’s the ‘media’ for you-especially today.”

Singer Mya has denied reports that she's Jay Z's longtime mistress. There was a recent blind item suggesting Mya and Jay Z have been in an 11 year affair, with the rapper allegedly financially supporting her. But Mya says it is 100% false.

Mya denied the reports on instagram today after a fan asked her if it was true. "Heard you and Jay Z had an 11 year affair. Are you his side chick or nah?" the fan asked

Mya replied;

Never did, never was, never will. Illegitimate, thirsty sources with no facts and that's the 'media' for you - especially today. I play second to no one, pay my own bills, have my own label, own management company, rely on God only and respect myself & marriage too much for nonsense."

False rumors are crafted for ratings & numbers. And miserable, unhappy people need someone to judge to deter the attention away from their own misery and feel better about their miserable lives. If they did it to Jesus, they'll do it to anyone. God bless."

 

LOTTO SCAM:Nigerian man jailed for 8yrs in the UK for scamming pensioners with fake lottery

Found this report on UK's Daily Mail about a Nigerian man named Frank Onyeachonam, who has been jailed for eight years in the UK for running a lottery scam which targeted vulnerable pensioners, stole from $3,000 to $800,000 and spent the money to fund his lavish lifestyle. Full story below..

A fraudster nicknamed 'Fizzy' because of his love of champagne has been jailed for eight years for conning vulnerable pensioners out of their life savings. 

Frank Onyeachonam ran the UK end of global lottery scam that was orchestrated from his native Nigeria for seven years to fund his lavish millionaire’s lifestyle. 

It involved hundreds of perpetrators in several countries, detectives say.

In the UK, 38-year-old Onyeachonam conned pensioners out of sums from £2,000 to £600,000, deliberately targeting his victims because they were potentially vulnerable to his tactics. Continue...

While he bled them of their life savings, Onyeachonam enjoyed a life of fast cars, champagne and designer clothes.

Pictures he posted on Facebook show he spent the cash on Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Armani designer clothes, Rolex watches, Porsches and Maseratis. 

He even stuck wads of what look like £50 notes in his Buzz Lightyear toy. 

Onyeachonam, of Canning Town, east London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to defraud following a three-week trial.

Lawrencia Emenyonu, 38, and Bernard Armah, 51, both of Wood Green, north London, were also found guilty of money laundering. All three denied the charges.

Emenyonu was jailed for 18 months while her partner Armah received an eight-month term. 

Judge Rebecca Poulet QC, said there had been 'some very serious outcomes' for the victims caught up in the scam.

She told married father-of-two Onyeachonam: 'I judge your culpability to be very high. This was a very well thought out operation, sophisticated in both its planning and its operation.

'Mr Onyeachonam, you targeted these individuals because they were elderly and likely to agree and be tricked by this scam.'

This was demonstrated in the fraudster’s own notes in which he described them as 'crippled, old or poor', she said.

One of the Rolex watches Onyeachonam allegedly spent the money on

Lavish lifestyle: A property in Nigeria belonging to fraudster Frank Onyeachonam who has been jailed for eight years at the Old Bailey

A regular in members' clubs Onyeachonam's favourite drink was Ace of Spades champagne (pictured in the door) costing between £300 and £500 a bottle. His fridge was also stacked with Dom Pérignon (top shelf left) and Moët & Chandon (middle shelf)

The harm that was caused to these people could not just be calculated in financial terms but also on the 'dreadful impact ' on their lives, mental capacity and relationships with loved-ones.

The judge went on: 'You contested the case in the face of powerful evidence. You demonstrated the arrogance that you must have carried with you throughout this fraud by continuing after you knew that the police had raided your premises.'

The ruse - known as an 'advance fee' fraud - saw Onyeachonam send victims emails claiming they had won millions of pounds on a non-existent Australian lottery and requesting a charge to release their winnings.

He even stuck wads of what look like £50 notes in his Buzz Lightyear toy
 

Onyeachonam spent the cash on Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Armani designer clothes, Rolex watches, Porches and Maseratis

 Onyeachonam was seen as the key figure in the UK but police suspect a criminal network was in place in several countries around the world

When they raided his luxury apartment in Canary Wharf police discovered an 'Aladdin’s cave' of evidence pointing to an advanced fee scam 

Investigators traced 14 victims - mainly from the U.S. but including one from Britain - who were defrauded of a total of around £900,000.

But detectives believe this is the 'tip of the iceberg' with evidence suggesting there may have been as many as 400 victims and the sum may be as high as £30 million.

Onyeachonam was seen as the key figure in the UK but police suspect a criminal network was in place in several countries around the world. Authorities found an alleged co-conspirator abroad had an email containing the details of more than 100,000 potential victims.

Detectives believe this is the 'tip of the iceberg' with evidence suggesting there may have been as many as 400 victims and the sum may be as high as £30 million

The defendant was thought to have started working on the scam almost immediately after he arrived in the UK from Nigeria in 2005, and was said to have carried on into 2012 while he was on bail following his arrest the year before.

His crimes were uncovered in a three-year operation led by the National Crime Agency with assistance from the Postal Inspection Service and Internal Revenue Service in the US.

When they raided his luxury apartment in Canary Wharf police discovered an 'Aladdin’s cave' of evidence pointing to an advanced fee scam.

Among 200 exhibits were notebooks containing the names, addresses, cash tallies and other personal details relating to 406 people. Police estimate that the fraud is likely to have run to at least £5 million and possibly as high as £30 million if all those in the notebooks suffered losses.

Onyeachonam, at his London apartment in Canary Wharf, overlooking the Millennium Dome

Partners in crime: Bernard Armah and Lawrencia Emenyonu who were jailed for their part in a scam involving fraudster Frank Onyeachonam

Steve Brown, senior officer in the NCA’s cyber crime unit, said the majority of Onyeachonam’s victims were from America.

He is thought to have selected his targets from a database known among fraudsters as a 'suckers list', which includes people who are believed to be susceptible to the tactics.

Mr Brown said: 'Victims were sent an email from an alias used by Onyeachonam saying they had won an Australian lottery. They would be directed to ring him and he would say ‘if you send me money I will then release your lottery funds’.'

The lottery ‘winnings’ ranged from £2 million to £9 million and once they sent on cash victims were 'hooked' into the 'unrelenting' scam, he said.

He added: 'Once they’ve got their claws into someone they won’t stop. As long as they keep sending them money they will keep going until there’s nothing left.'

Onyeachonam, 38, of Canning Town, east London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to defraud

Using the alias Dr Jeff Lloyds, Onyeachonam built up a rapport with his victims and continued extracting money from some for as long as seven years.

In order to make the required payments several victims took out high interest loans, forcing them to come out of retirement to repay the debts.

Some of those exploited by Onyeachonam suffered the added trauma of falling under suspicion themselves as they were used as 'pawns' in the criminal network to launder the proceeds of the fraud by sending on money from other victims or setting up business accounts.

Mr Brown said the scam had made a 'mental wreck' of victims, 'hammering' their life’s savings, forcing them to lose their homes and leaving them isolated from their friends and families.

Emails showed victims pleaded with Onyeachonam to send them money to pay for healthcare, while some died before he could be brought to justice.

The British victim was left with debts of £90,000 and was forced to sell her home, move into rented accommodation and return to work in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy.

An American victim lost her dream home and she no longer speaks to her sister or friend.

She described how the scam made her feel like she had been 'raped over and over again'.

While he left a trail of destitution and devastation in his wake, Onyeachonam enjoyed the high life from the fruits of his deception.

Mr Brown said he lived a 'cash rich' lifestyle, earning the nickname 'Fizzy' for his taste for expensive champagne. Photographs show him surrounded by cash and bubbly in nightclubs.

His car collection included Porsches and Maseratis while his Thames-side flat was full of luxury brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton when it was searched by police.

Onyeachonam was the key figure as far as the 'UK nexus' was concerned but detectives believe this was part of an international enterprise.

The alleged mastermind or 'chairman' of the network is based in Nigerian capital Lagos and he is currently under investigation by authorities there.

Asked how many people were working on the global scam, Mr Brown said: 'Name a country and there seems to be a connection. It’s been almost impossible for us to track everybody down. They’ve all got responsibility for their own country.'

The prosecution has moved for a confiscation hearing for Onyeachonam.

Culled from UK Daily Mail

WATCH: Selena Gomez Gets Arrested At Brothel In Behaving Badly Trailer

Behaving Badly stars Nat Wolff as a guy who makes some bad decisions while trying to win over his dream girl (Selena Gomez).

Things got very complicated.

Heather Graham, Elisabeth Shue, Dylan McDermott, Jason Lee, and Mary-Louise Parker also star.

The movie comes to theaters in August.

Check out the new trailer below!

WATCH:

Dbanj & K-Switch’s dad,Mr Oyebanjo celebrated his birthday yesterday and the Lee family

Dbanj & K-Switch’s dad,Mr Oyebanjo celebrated his birthday yesterday and the Lee family was there to celebrate with him..New dad,K-Switch’s  also posed with his daughter
Tonto looking fab too….Meanwhile Dbanj gushed about meeting World’s richest man bill Gate and music legend bono of u2…He said he is inspired to work on a new song “Bill Gates knows my name “

Radio station intern claims French Montana tried to 'date rape' her

A college student and radio station intern named Mariela Sanchez (pictured right) is claiming that Khloe Kardashian's boo, French Montana, attempted to 'date rape' her when she tried to interview him a while back...

Here's what In Touch magazine is reporting;

Mariela Sanchez just wanted to interview French Montana for her YouTube channel. But the hard partying rapper - who's been dating Khloe Kardashian since February - had something else in mind when he invited the brunette onto his tour bus . . .
"He climbed on top of me and wouldn't get off," Mariella 23, tells In Touch. "I had to say 'stop' a few times. He tried to force himself on me." . . .
"He kept grabbing my head like he wanted me to give him oral sex," she said. "When I told him to stop, that I have morals and wasn't interested, he was in shock. He was like, 'Don't you know who I am?'. . .

The curse of the Kardashians. All your secrets are in the closet until you start to date one of the girls ...lol

UNI BEN EKOSODIN Photos: Snakes tangled in electric wires

A LIB reader who lives in Benin sent in the pics. Says they, residence of Market Road in Ekosodin, Benin City, woke up this morning July 2nd to find several snakes bunched up and tangled in the electric wires in the street.

"We have been confused and keep on wondering just how they got there. We eventually looked for a way to get rid of them by removing them and using the electric power to burn them. We don't know the means by which they got there o, whether its through spiritual means, we are still wondering. May God help us" He said

Reminds me of that final scene in the Indian movie, Snake Girl. Remember when the snake girl fell from a building as a snake, landed on a railing and then changed into a human being? #runningthinz

Police building collapses in Lagos

There are several dilapidated building in police barracks across the country.

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A three-story building at the Pedro Police barracks in Lagos State collapsed at about 8 p.m. on Monday, a police source said.

“It was a part of the building that collapsed. The building is old and I think the collapse is due to old age,” the source, who sought anonymity as he was not authorised to speak, said.” The building is used by the police to keep old stuffs of piles of clothes.”

On Tuesday, ‎officers of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, were at the scene of the incident while police officers from the Pedro police station, cordoned off the area.

No casualty was recorded from the collapse.

The building is one of several dilapidated buildings in police barracks across the country.

In 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan, paid an unscheduled visit to the police college in Ikeja following a Channel Television Station report that exposed the dilapidated state and horrible living condition at the barracks in the college.
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The story caused the government to carry out massive renovations of the buildings in the college. However, several other barracks are still in
bad shape.

Insecurity: Abuja hotels to submit guests list to SSS

Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister

The Abuja minister directed Abuja resident to embark on an “Operation Know your Neighbour campaign”.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, on Tuesday ordered all hotels to forward their daily guest list to the Abuja  directorate of the State Security Services, SSS, and the city’s police command.

Mr. Mohammed also requested hotels to install security cameras within their vicinity and ensure thorough checks of all vehicles entering the hotel and those within their environment.

The minister directed all Abuja residents and associations operating in Nigeria’s capital city to embark on an “operation know your neighbour”
campaign.

The campaign, he said, will ensure that all criminally-minded elements are easily detected within Abuja.
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The security department of Abuja Administration, Mr. Mohammed said, will liaise with the various security agencies in Abuja on the
modalities for implementing the directive.

Mr. Mohammed also directed all traditional rulers in Abuja to conduct periodic meetings with various communities within
their domains.

This, he said, will help keep track of strangers living with them. He also requested that they report all new comers within 48 hours to the local police and SSS office, in furtherance of the “operation know your neighbour” campaign.

Mr. Mohammed enjoined all Abuja residents to be vigilant and cautious of strange objects or movements of persons, vehicles around them, as well as stationary vehicles and report any of such to their nearest security agencies.
The Abuja Minister said all trailers/lorry operators bringing goods into Abuja shall no longer be allowed to offload their contents at night.

He said all offloading must be done in the day time under supervision in designated places.

Mr. Mohammed ordered owners of uncompleted or abandoned structures without security guards to provide guards or face sanctions.

He said owners plots of land left fallow and taken over by criminals would now face appropriate sanctions.

He reiterated that the ban on smoking of Indian hemp and other narcotic substances saying his administration will clamp down on violators.

The minister’s directive comes four days after a ban on unauthorized use of power bike in Abuja

Jeezy Says Upcoming Album Will Be His Most Honest Album!

With the release of his latest banger ‘Seen It All’ featuring Hov, the ATL repper has announced that his 5th studio album will be a true reflection of who he is, now that he is able to express himself without limitations!

Jeezy took to the V 103 Atlanta radio station to discuss his upcoming album ‘Seen It All’ and has revealed the influence behind his title came from his experiences. Simply put, he’s been through it all, done it all, ‘seen it all’. He also explained that he has more freedom with this album, and can tell his story the way he wants:

“A lot of y’all know when I came in the game, I pretty much came in the game with my hands behind my back. ‘Cause a lot of the shit I’d a like to talk about or could’ve talked about probably would have got me in a lot of trouble,” Jeezy said. “This is probably my first album where I can explain and let niggas know where I stand. In layman’s terms, the statute of limitations is over with.”

(Video) Check Out The Latest Episode Of ‘Vinyl Destination’ With Jazzy Jeff, Featuring Redman And More!

DJ Jazzy Jeff has taken over Bonarroo in episode 13 of ‘Vinyl Destination! Watch as the legend, backed up by a liveband, practice with ScHoolboy Q, The RZA, Solange, Ghostface and more during the summer festival, below.

(Video) Check Out Episode 1 of Cam’Ron’s ‘First Of The Month’ Series!

The return of Flea a.k.a Cam’ron has come upon us with the first release of ‘First Of The Month’, in this action packed hood tale, jealousy and envy starts early! In this episode, Cam’ron is caught up spending all of his time with his love, the beautiful Juju; while the block warms up with shootings, fights over drugs and more. Watch the full story unfold below.