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He once wanted to “Buy U a Drank,” and now he wants to help people make them. T-Pain has been a busy man lately after he’s taken on the daunting task of answering hundreds of DMs that he’s ignored for the better part of two years. The accomplished performer recently took to Instagram to share a screen recording of himself scrolling through the unread messages, but it looks as if returning those DMs has paid off.

He was able to link with Kehlani on a new track called “I Like Dat,” and T-Pain even spoke with Mark Zuckerberg on Instagram Live about switching up some of those request folder features so artists don’t miss out on communicating with their fellow entertainers. On Tuesday (May 18), it was also reported that T-Pain is moving into the spirits game by releasing a cocktail recipe book, Can I Mix You a Drink: 50 Cocktails From My Life & Career.

The cover for the book was shared just yesterday and now T-Pain is detailing his latest endeavor with “beverage professional” Maxwell Britten. T-Pain told Billboard, “Years back, I got up with my friend, [author] Kathy Iandoli, and told her I wanted to do some innovative sh*t, so this was a concept we had in mind for a while, where I could combine my music with my love of drinking.”

“She and I worked on this for a while, and then we both were busy with other stuff, then we came back together and finished this up,” he added. “I like listening to and making music when I’m drunk. If the drink sucks, then so does the music and vice versa.”

Can I Mix You a Drink: 50 Cocktails From My Life & Career will hit shelves on September 14, but it’s available for pre-order.

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Time is flying for proud parents Future and Ciara. Their romance may not have lasted, but the pair of entertainers will always be connected through their son, Future Wilburn. Wednesday (May 19), marked young Future’s seventh birthday, so both Ciara and Future Sr. took to Instagram to share wholesome, loving messages to their growing boy.

“Baby Boy!! I just can’t believe you are 7! You are the sweetest Son, and Big Brother anyone could ask for!” Ciara wrote on Instagram.

“You have an incredible sense of Wonder, Curiosity, Determination, and a Big Heart full of Gratitude!” she continued. “I have no doubt you’re going to do Amaaazing things! Big things in life! I’m so excited to keep watching you grow! Happy Birthday Sunshine! I love you so much!” Father Future also gave his youngin’ a shoutout on his Instagram Story by sharing a series of photos of the now-seven-year-old.

“Happy birthday to the smartest,charismatic most talented kid n the world,” wrote the rapper. “Baby Future! The Best wishes and bigger blessings for u my son,I LOVE UU.” In a separate slide, he added, “Baby Future Day.” Both Ciara and Future have been at odds over the years about Future, often taking things to court. Since marrying Russell Wilson, Ciara and the NFL superstar have been expanding their family and the singer has welcomed two more children. 

Future has been in and out of court over reports that he fathered more children, one with a woman named Eliza Reign. The rapper initially denied that he was the father of Eliza’s daughter but paternity was later proven. It’s reported that Future has six or seven children with just as many women.

Check out those birthday posts for little Future below.

Inspired by hit girl groups like TLC and SWV, the ABC show Queens follows the story of four members of an imaginary, but once-popular, 90s group called “Nasty Bitches.” The drama begins when the ladies are forced to reunite due to a last-minute offer to perform at an award show.

According to Entertainment Tonight, the series cast Eve as Brianna aka Professor Sex, Naturi Naughton as Jill aka Da Thrill, Brandy as Naomi aka Xplicit Lyrics, and Nadine Velazquez as Valeria aka Butter Pecan.

Although the cast plays fictional characters, each role mimics the real-life career of the actress. Brandy’s musical career took off in the 90s, leading up to her famous sitcom Moesha, and her 1998 hit with Monica, “That Boy is Mine.”

Eve came onto the scene right after, releasing her debut album in 1999. The rapper/singer-songwriter went on to become one of the most influential artists of the early 2000s. 

Naturi was actually a singer in the girl group 3LW, alongside soon-to-be The Cheetah Girls stars Adrienne Bailon and Kiely Williams. 

Nadine has no musical experience but does have a lengthy acting resume, including starring alongside Denzel Washington in the 2012 film Flight.

Brandy, Eve, Naturi, and Nadine shared their excitement for the new project on Twitter, alongside the announcement. The show will premiere this fall according to a tweet by Power star Naturi Naughton. Deadline also reports Brandy and Eve will record songs for the soundtrack of the show.

Take a look at the teaser below, and let us know if you’ll be adding this series to your rotation.

Let us know what you think about the trailer below.

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It is never easy discussing personal issues for anyone, but Billy Porter has taken a giant leap of faith. The Grammy, Tony, and Emmy award-winning actor has recently been celebrated for his role as HIV-positive Pray Tell on the megahit series Pose, but his career has spanned for decades from Broadway stages to movie sets. Porter has often sat down for interviews where he’s shared bits about his life, upbringing, and artistic endeavors, but it was his chat with The Hollywood Reporter that has made headlines on Wednesday (May 18).

For nearly 15 years, Porter has told almost no one that he’s been living with HIV, a diagnosis he received back in 2007.

“In June of that year, I was diagnosed HIV-positive,” said Porter. Because his Pose character shares his health issues, Porter found comfort in communicating through a work of fiction. Additionally, he told the publication that no one on set or in production was aware of his status.  “I was able to say everything that I wanted to say through a surrogate.”

“The shame of that time compounded with the shame that had already [accumulated] in my life silenced me,” said Porter of learning of his diagnosis in 2007. “I have lived with that shame in silence for 14 years. HIV-positive, where I come from, growing up in the Pentecostal church with a very religious family, is God’s punishment.”

Porter detailed his journey poetically for The Hollywood Reporter, mentioning telling his mother and reconciling any feelings he had within himself about the relationship with his church. Porter got married to someone who isn’t positive and is glad that at this stage of his life, he’s being taken seriously as a performer, more so than he ever has in his career.

“This is for me. I’m doing this for me. I have too much sh*t to do, and I don’t have any fear about it anymore. I told my mother — that was the hurdle for me. I don’t care what anyone has to say. You’re either with me or simply move out of the way.” Check out a few shots from his cover feature below.

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After NBA YoungBoy declared his love for her in a letter from jail, Jazlyn Mychelle is returning the sentiments. The latest of YoungBoy’s baby mamas is expecting what’s reported to be his eighth child after he recently welcomed two babies with two different women since last November. One of those mothers is Floyd Mayweather’s daughter Yaya who just weeks ago seemed to tease Jazlyn for receiving the same jailhouse message from YoungBoy that she did. However, that prodding came to a stop when YoungBoy recently begged Jazlyn not to leave him.

“I really just want to be there when my daughter born i want to be in the same house as her while she grow up i never had that experience,” YoungBoy recently wrote, confirming that Jazlyn is pregnant. 

“Jaz im sorry (ma’ma) i promise im sorry for every time i said something to another woman for every time they ever gotten the chance to come around ill give you anything for you not to leave anything to have you when its all said and done,” the rapper continued.

In response, Jazlyn cleared her Instagram timeline aside from a photo of YoungBoy. “Forever with you [red heart emoji]#freeyou,” she penned in the caption. Meanwhile, after YoungBoy openly stated that he’s riding for Jazlyn, Yaya took to her Instagram Story to say that she’s “outside this summer,” letting folks know that they can “shoot y’all shots.”

Check out a couple of posts below.

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