2 CHAINZ REVEALS LIL WAYNE AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

2 Chainz provides insight into how Lil Wayne encouraged him to be a success.

Any emcee looking for a model of success need not look further than Lil Wayne. Accordingly, 2 Chainz made sure he paid attention to the Young Money head's advice.

"The thing behind me and Wayne was that he always believed in me as a musician, as well as being a cool dude," said 2 Chainz of Weezy in an interview with AlLindstrom.com.

"And everybody thought he was the illest nigga in the world. So that's where my confidence kinda started. Just derived from him. It's like, 'everybody fucks with you, and you fuck with me!' So that's where our relationship came in."

2 Chainz revealed the effect of Wayne's advice. "He used to say encouraging things that I'm sure another rapper, [if] that didn't get that, they'd start figuring something else out."

"Me even being around him, seeing what they have, seeing the things you can get from puttin' words together, it kinda kept me inspired."

BIRDMAN SAYS HE WILL DO "WHATEVER IT TAKES" TO SIGN CHIEF KEEF

Birdman says he'll pull out all the stops to sign Chief Keef to Cash Money.

It's been a big week for Chief Keef. First Kanye West remixes the young rapper's song "I Don't Like." Now, Birdman says he's trying to sign the 16-year-old.

"I like him, he kinda reminds me of us," said Birdman in an interview with MTV News. "[He's] out the streets, I think he's swagged up and I'm definitely talking to his people and I'd like to see if we can make it pop, see if I can see if I can get him to be down with the team."

Birdman continued to explain his interest in signing Keef. "That's what I like, it's a movement and he's young, I think the game needs young blood all the time," he said. "[We] need youngsters to keep it innovative, because they're new and creative in their own way. I'm into the young world, that's my thing. And I'ma do whatever it takes to make it happen."

I DONT USE CONDOS ANYMORE - TIGER WOODS

Wanna buy an AMAZING beachfront property? Do you also have A LOT of bleach? Then you might be interested in Tiger Woods' crash pad in Orange County, CA ... 'cause it's officially on the market.

TMZ has learned ... Tiger's 2000 sq. foot condo in Corona Del Mar -- the one he purchased back in 2004 -- has been listed for a cool $2.495 million. According to reports, he bought the place for $3 mil.

The place is pretty nice ... with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a beautiful view of the ocean ... and plenty of privacy to bang all the floozies you want without your wife knowing.

In fact, Jamie Jungers reportedly claimed she spent LOTS of quality time at the pad ... before Tiger got caught.

Like we said ... bleach.

ACTRESS SOLA SHOBOWALE BURIES DAD TODAY

Long-time Nollywood actress Sola Shobowale will be burying her late father Pa Olagookun today Friday May 4, 2012.

Reports say the burial which will be held in Akure, Ondo State will be attended by her Nollywood colleagues. Pa Olagookun died on March 5, 2012 at the University College Hospital (UCH) after a brief illness.

Shobowale made her Nollywood debut in the mid 90s. She is often referred to as ‘Toyin Tomatoe‘ after playing the part of a boisterously adventurous woman in ‘Oh father oh daughter‘, a series off the very popular Wale Adenuga-produced soap opera ‘Super Story‘

ARSENAL TO PLAY PRE-SEASON GAME IN NIGERIA.

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that the first-team squad will travel to Nigeria this summer for a pre-season match in Abuja on Sunday, August 5.

In what will be the Gunners’ first match on Nigerian soil, Arsène Wenger’s side will play at the 60,000 capacity Abuja National Stadium. Arsenal’s opposition will be confirmed soon and is likely to be a leading African national team.

The Club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent.

The visit to Nigeria will conclude an exciting pre-season tour schedule for Arsenal, who return to both China and Malaysia in July, following the success of last term’s Asia Tour.

The Asia leg of the tour starts in Kuala Lumpur, when the team plays against a Malaysia XI on Tuesday, July 24. The Gunners then travel to China, to play against Manchester City in Beijing on Friday, July 27, followed by a trip to Hong Kong for a match against Kitchee FC on Sunday, July 29.

Further details regarding the match in Nigeria will feature on Arsenal.com as soon as they are confirmed.

MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES ALBUM RELEASE DATES, PARTNERSHIPS AT NYC PRESS CONFERENCE

Rick Ross appeared alongside Diddy, Swizz Beatz, French Montana, Omarion, Meek Mill and Wale to reveal news about his label.

Last week, Maybach Music Group and Warner Bros. Records sent a save the date for a special press conference to take place at the Eventi Hotel in New York City. Rumors circulated that the event, hosted by Rap Radar’s Elliott Wilson, would be for the signing of Omarion and Mase, as well as release dates for Self Made Vol. 2 and God Forgives, I Don’t.

This afternoon, Ross appeared to announce several new ventures including a big and tall line with Swizz Beatz and Reebok; a June 26th release date for Self Made Vol. 2; an August 28th release date for Meek Mill’s debut Dreams & Nightmares; a July 31st release date for Rick Ross'

God Forgives, I Don't; and Omarion's signing to Maybach Music Group. With Def Jam and WBR executives including Lyor Cohen, Steve Bartels and Todd Moscowitz, as well as Sean “Diddy” Combs and Swizz Beatz, in attendance, the event began with a short film that showcased the MMG squad, which includes Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill and Stalley. CEO of Recorded

Music for Warner Bros. Lyor Cohen took the podium to introduce Ross, marking the first time that he’s publicly introduced an artist or label since Roc-A-Fella Records 18 years ago. “When I got a chance to meet him, I saw someone that was going to be undeterred in achieving the success that he has,” said Cohen. “He’s not satisfied. There’s no stopping him. I’m so grateful that I’m associated with him and that the Warner Bros. label is associated with him.

The possibilities that Rick and Maybach Music are going to bring is going to be, in my mind, unprecedented.”

After a short Q&A with Ross about his in-studio work ethic and social media savvy, Swizz Beatz took the podium to announce a partnership with Rick Ross for Reebok to release a big and tall clothing line.

“He’s going to lead the big and tall movement,” said Swizz. “There’s a limit with clothes that stops at a certain point. With Ross, everything has to be custom made. [...] I felt that instead of just doing a regular sneaker, we give Ross his own big and tall line.”

Diddy was next to take the stage, praising Ross’ abilities and thanking him for promoting Ciroc. “I’m here to celebrate the hard work and success of my brother Rick Ross,” he said. “He, to me, is one of the hardest working men in this business. To have a relationship with him, this is not by accident. […] I know he will go down in history as one of the great record men.”

Wale took over to announce that Self Made Vol. 2 will release on June 26th, while Meek Mill revealed that his debut album Dreams & Nightmares will drop on August 28th. Rick Ross also said that his upcoming album God Forgives, I Don’t will hit retail on July 31st and that a single will drop “extremely soon.”

Rick Ross then brought out Omarion and announced him as the latest signing to Maybach Music Group. "A lot of people have been wondering what’s up with Omarion? Is his career over?" said Omarion. "I’ve never been a fan of popular opinion, but from now on, when you see me,  understand that it’s Maybach Music." After French Montana announced the release date for his debut Excuse My French (July 17th), and that the first single will feature Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne, Omarion played his new single "Let's Talk" that samples The Notorious B.I.G.

Rick Ross said that he just "lets the rumors circulate" regarding signings, but wouldn't confirm any partnerships with Mase, Dom Kennedy or Nipsey Hussle.

KEYSHIA COLE PARTNERS WITH BET FOR REALITY SHOW "KEYSHIA COLE: FAMILY FIRST"

Keyshia Cole will be "at her most vulnerable" on the six-episode series, airing this fall.

Keyshia Cole has announced that she is reteaming with BET for the upcoming reality television series Keyshia Cole: Family First, which is a working title.

The six-episode series will begin airing this fall, and “allow viewers to see the singer at her most vulnerable.” DuBose Entertainment’s James DuBose will executive produce the show, as will Cole, her husband Daniel Gibson and Michele Barnwell.

Cole has previously worked with BET on the reality show Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which aired from July 2006 to December 2008. On the series, Cole let cameras into her life as she recorded albums and interacted with family members.

OMARION TALKS RECORD DEAL WITH MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP

Earlier today, DX reported that Rick Ross announced that he had officially signed R&B singer Omarion to his Maybach Music Group. Now, XXL has caught up with the latest member of Rick Rozay's music empire to discuss how the deal came about.

Omarion said that the deal came about by accident when he bumped into Ross and asked him for a collaboration. He says that before he even got a response from Ross, the Bawse brought him aside and said that he had been wanting to sign him to his MMG roster before that. Omarion added that he and Rozay already have a number of records in stash that they will release soon.

"Yeah, Maybach O. That’s the new movement, man. I’m so excited. I can’t even express, you know, how excited I am," he said. "It’s been a blessing...I saw Ross in North Carolina, you know, and I was telling him like 'Yo I’m bout to do...you know, I need you on these records, man, you know what I’m sayin’? I’m ‘bout to do this ill so and so with so and so.' And he was like 'Man, we need to have a conversation before that.' And we sat down and he said some real important things to me that not even executives have said to me, you know what I mean? He showed that love and he showed that respect and he was like “I believe in you,' you know what I mean? I can’t even count to you how many times on my hand in my whole career that I’ve actually had people tell me that."

He added, "[We already have a number of songs] in the stash. Recorded. Probably over the next like couple months, we probably be dropping some stuff, you know. I want to do an EP just for the fans, you know. By the way, I did recently just do a DJ Drama mixtape that I dropped just for the fans, you know. Let them know I’m still, you know, doing music and everything. But, I have to say this. I have to say that this is probably the most interesting time in my life and or career because of the perception of what people think and what they do not know."

JENNIFER LOPEZ COVERS GLAMOUR UK JUNE 2012

She's wrapping up another season of "American Idol", just announceed a tour with Enrique Iglesias and is readying for the May 18th release of her new movie, but Jennifer Lopez somehow managed to find time to partake in a cover girl gig for the June 2012 issue of Glamour UK.

Decked out in an Enza Coasta vest teamed with a Salvatore Ferragamo bandeau top and a Chris Benz skirt, the 42-year-old superstar worked it for the Matthias Vriens-McGrath shot spread while opening up about topics including cosmetic surgery, raising twins and relationships.

Highlights from Miss Lopez's interview are as follows. For more, be sure to pay a visit to Glamour UK!

On raising twins Max and Emme:
"It takes a village - you do really learn what that means when you have kids. It's a juggling act, just like any single mom. They just started sachool, three days a week. I have to travel without them here and there, so it's really important they're surrounded by family when I'm not there. They come first, though. I like to wake up with them. I like to put them to bed. That's how we do it so they feel loved, happy and what they are - the most important thing in my life."

On starting a relationship:
"You've got to be OK on your own before you can be OK with somebody else."

On the importance of keeping new relationships out of the spotlight:
It matters. Especially at the beginning of a relationship. To give something a chance, to really get to know somebody, you want to do it out of the public eye. The media, they want to rush everything. Give their seedy opinions without knowing all the facts."

On cosmetic surgery:
I'd like to think I'll age gracefully, but then I think, 'Well, what if I do want a little bit of something?'

FORMER ACTRESS, REGINA ASKIA IS NOW A REGISTERED NURSE IN USA

Former beauty queen and actress, Regina Askia-Williams is settling down to a new life and career as a registered nurse in the United States of America. The mother of three and one-time model, who relocated to the United States in 2000, recently recounted her first experience with a dying patient.

"My first code experience was on a hospice patient who unfortunately we lost. Wilding out inside but have to be professional. Family weeping..." She wrote on her Facebook page.

'.....0MG! I should have taken that course on death and dying. How do I come to terms with losing a patient...,' she asked rhetorically.

The award winning actress and model made her foray into the Nigerian film industry with her critically acclaimed role as Tokunbo Johnson, a gold digger, in the soap, Mega Fortunes, produced and aired in 1993 by NTA network.

She thereafter went on to star in a number of home videos, an early incarnation of what is now known as Nollywood, before quitting the scene.

Regina who lives in New York now works with a hospital there.