Raheem DeVaughn Explains New X-Rated Video

R&B Singer Raheem DeVaughn had some jaws dropping and tongues wagging earlier this week when he released a video for his new mixtape single “She’s Single”. He recently sat down with Vibe to discuss the new video as well as the comparisons to Keri Hilson’s new video and the double standards involved.

We see. Those sex scenes were super intense, are you sure that was just acting?
No one will ever know.

What do you say to those who think this is all a quick way to gain attention?
It’s not a moment of desperation. Technically there ain’t no records to sell. It’s a free mixtape. I paid for the video to be shot myself. It’s just another way for me to display my artistry. I’m constantly reinventing myself. It’s a constant thing that I do. No diss to any of my homies, but I pay very close attention to what people say about me. I maybe saw five negative comments out of thousands. And whats interesting is it was from dudes. But I made this for women. I made this for a woman to say that’s how I want to be loved down. And for the brothers who do ride with me I made it for them to say yeah that’s how I put it down.

Coincidentally, Keri Hilson also premiered a sexually-charged music video this week that caught people off guard. Except I think she might’ve received more flack than you.
I haven’t seen her video yet, but I’ve seen some of the comments. Someone created a blog page on just me and her. They had our pictures up like mug shots like how does this dude go from “Customer” to this? Easy. It’s art man, don’t take it so seriously. I’m a fan of Keri. Unfortunately for women though, if they decide to be promiscuous they’re going to get a bad rap. It is what it is. We all know that. But hopefully it was her decision. If she’s cool with it, I’m cool with it.

Jay-z, Beyonce, Drake, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Monica & More Earn 53rd Annual Grammy Nominations

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations were in announced yesterday evening in Los Angeles and there is no surprise that Eminem racked up a whooping 10 nominations. Newcomer Bruno Mars earned a total of 7 nominations, including 3 nods for his collaboration with Cee-Lo Green titled “F*ck You” & 3 for his collaboration with B.O.B titled “Nothing On You”. Jay-z earned six, newcomer B.O.B earned five, and Drake & Rihanna earned 4 a piece.

Monica’s comeback album earned her two Grammy nominations which included “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for ‘Everything To Me’, and “Best R&B Album”. Beyonce snagged 2 (including her “Telephone” collab with Lady Gaga), Alicia Keys snagged 3 (all for her hit song “Empire State Of Mind” w/ Jay-z) as well as Chris Brown for “Best Contemporary R&B Album, Graffiti”, “Best Rap/Song Collaboration – Deuces” and “Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group – “Take My Time” w/ Tank”. R. Kelly earned 2 (Best Contemporary R&B Album, & Best Traditional R&B Vocal for “When A Woman Loves) and Nicki Minaj also gained a grammy nomination for “Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group – My Chick Back w/Ludacris”.

That was a mouthful. See the complete list below:

Record of the Year“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
“Nothin’ on You” – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum
“F**k You” – Cee Lo Green

Album of the YearRecovery – Eminem
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire

Song of the Year“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
“F**k You”- Cee Lo Green
“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
“Beg, Steal, or Borrow” – Ray LaMontagne
“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum

Best New ArtistDrake
Esperanza Spalding
Justin Bieber
Florence + the Machine
Mumford & Sons

Best Pop Vocal AlbumMy World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
Battle Studies – John Mayer
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals“Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version)” – “Glee”
Cast “Misery” – Maroon 5
“The Only Exception” – Paramore
“Babyfather” – Sade
“Hey, Soul Sister (Live)” – Train

Best Female Pop Vocal PerformanceSara Bareilles – “King of Anything”
Beyoncé – “Halo (Live)”
Norah Jones – “Chasing Pirates”
Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
Katy Perry – “Teenage Dream”

Best Male Pop Vocal PerformanceMichael Bublé – “Haven’t Met You Yet”
Michael Jackson – “This Is It”
Adam Lambert – “Whataya Want From Me”
Bruno Mars – “Just the Way You Are”
John Mayer – “Half of My Heart”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals“Airplanes II” — B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams
“Imagine” — Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
“If It Wasn’t For Bad” — Elton John & Leon Russell
“Telephone” — Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
“California Gurls” — Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Dance Recording“Rocket” – Goldfrapp
“In For The Kill” – La Roux
“Dance in the Dark” – Lady Gaga
“Only Girl (In The World)” – Rihanna
“Dancing on My Own” – RobynBest Female R&B Vocal Performance“Gone Already” – Faith Evans
“Bittersweet” – Fantasia
“Everything to Me” – Monica
“Tired” – Kelly Price
“Holding You Down (Goin’ in Circles)” – Jazmine SullivanBest Male R&B Vocal Performance“Second Chance” – El DeBarge
“Finding My Way Back” – Jaheim
“Why Would You Stay” – Kem
“We’re Still Friends” – Musiq Soulchild
“There Goes My Baby” – UsherBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals“Love” – Chuck Brown, Jill Scott, and Marcus Miller
“Take My Time” – Chris Brown & Tank
“You’ve Got a Friend” – Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin
“Shine” – John Legend & The Roots
“Soldier of Love” – Sade

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance“When a Woman Loves” – R. Kelly
“Hang On in There” – John Legend & The Roots
“You’re So Amazing” – Calvin Richardson
“In Between” – Ryan Shaw
“Go (Live)” – Betty Wright

Best Urban/Alternative Performance“Little One” – Bilal
“F**k You” – Cee Lo Green
“Orion” – Carolyn Malachi
“Tightrope” – Janelle Monáe & Big Boi
“Still” – Eric Roberson

Best R&B Song“Bittersweet” – Fantasia
“Find My Way Back” – Jaheim
“Second Chance” – El DeBarge
“Shine” – John Legend & The Roots
“Why Would You Stay” – Kem

Best R&B AlbumThe Love & War Masterpeace – Raheem DeVaughn
Back to Me – Fantasia
Another Round – Jaheim
Wake Up! – John Legend & The Roots
Still Standing – MonicaBest Contemporary R&B AlbumGraffiti – Chris Brown
Untitled – R. Kelly
Transition – Ryan Leslie
The ArchAndroid – Janelle Monáe
Raymond v. Raymond – Usher

Best Rap Solo Performance“Over” – Drake
“Not Afraid” – Eminem
“How Low” – Ludacris
“I’m Back” – T.I.
“POWER” – Kanye West

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group“Shutterbugg” – Big Boi & Cutty
“Fancy” – Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
“On to the Next One” – Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
“My Chick Bad” – Ludacris & Nicki Minaj
“Lose My Mind” – Young Jeezy & Plies

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration“Nothin’ on You” – B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
“Deuces” – Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
“Empire State of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
“Wake Up! Everybody” – John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

Best Rap Song“Empire State Of Mind” – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
“Not Afraid” – Eminem
“Nothin’ on You” – B.o.B & Bruno Mars
“On to the Next One” — Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz

Best Rap AlbumThe Adventures of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
Thank Me Later – Drake
Recovery – Eminem
The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
How I Got Over – The Roots

Best Short Form Music Video“Ain’t No Grave/The Johnny Cash Project” – Johnny Cash
“Love the Way You Lie” – Eminem & Rihanna
“Stylo” – Gorillaz, Mos Def, and Bobby Womack
“Cee Lo Green” – “F**k You”
Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”

Alicia Keys On 106 And Park & “Biutiful” Screening

Alicia Keys made an appearance on 106 & Park yesterday afternoon for “World Aids Day” and to promote her Buy Life campaign. Later that night, she made her first red carpet appearance since giving birth at a special screening of the new film “Biutiful”.

*Fixed* Ray-J Tells Brandy She Is Jealous Of His Success On “A Family Business” Season 2 Trailer [Video]

Kanye West Is Getting It In On “Kourtney & Kim Take New York” Season Trailer! [Video]

They’re Heeeeeeeere!!! NASA Discovers New Alien Life Form… On Earth!!!

We’ve always thought it would be a ridiculous waste of space for Earthlings to be the only life form in the entire Universe. We just didn’t think they’d find the aliens secretly living among us….

NASA announced Thursday it has discovered alien life – in California, natch.
In a bombshell that upends long-held assumptions about the basic building blocks of life, scientists have discovered a a whole new type of creature: a microbe that lives on arsenic.
It is unlike every other lifeform on the planet – from the simplest plant to the most complex mammal.
“It’s terrestrial life – but not life as we know it,” said Mary Voytek, director of NASA’s astrobiology program.
All life so far discovered by scientists is composed of combinations of the same six elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus.
But Felisa Wolfe-Simon, a scientist at Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration, found a strain of Halomonadaceae bacteria on the bottom of California’s volcanic Mono Lake that lives without any phosphorus.
Instead, it uses arsenic to build cells. On its DNA strand, where phosphorus should be, is instead arsenic.
The implications are profound. Astrobiologists looking for life on other planets may be able to vastly expand their search to places with non-Earth environments.
“We’ve cracked open the door to what’s possible for life elsewhere in the universe,” said Wolfe-Simon. “What else might we find?”
NASA planetary scientist Pamela Conrad said “the implication is that we still don’t know everything there is to know about what might make a planet habitable.”

So now that we’re one step closer to finding life on other planets, do you think they’ll come for us first???

Halle Berry’s New Movie “Frankie & Alice” Trailer: A True Story And Seems Oscar Worthy! [Video]

A “Lil Positivity”: Yeezy Is A Do-Gooder,”Spontaneously” Wraps Christmas Gifts For Foster Children In NYC

Kanye West spent 90 minutes gift wrapping presents for foster kids today at a charity event in NYC — but he didn’t do it for the publicity … he did it because he happened to be in the area and he felt like helping out. Sources tell TMZ West was not scheduled to attend the New Yorkers for Children’s 8th annual “Wrap to Rap” event at the Ainsworth in NYC this afternoon … but around 6:00 PM, he strolled right in and asked if he could help out.
We’re told some people at the event asked West why he decided to roll in — and Kanye explained he simply felt compelled to lend a hand because he believed it was a good cause.
Our sources say West cheerfully wrapped some of the 2,000 gifts that were donated by Wal-Mart … and then quietly slipped out the back.

Celebrities Who Owe Thousands & Millions To The IRS

1. Wesley Snipes

When it comes to owing money to the IRS, there is no one who is more outstanding and darker than Wesley Snipes.
On April 24, 2008, actor Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years in prison for willful failure to file federal income tax returns.
Snipes, who owes the IRS $13,000,000 was recently ordered to start serving his prison sentence, but will try and plea for bail for the tax evasion sentence.
2. Sinbad
Comedian/actor Sinbad at one point owed the IRS $8,120,000.
After losing his home and working with the IRS, Sinbad in 2009 brought the debt down to $2,500,000, which may not be something to be happy about, but it is progress.
3. Dionne Warwick

Dionne has worked with countless amazing artists and has had many number one hits in her discography, as the soul singer has been blessing us with music over the past 40 years.
However, when it was discovered the legendary singer owed the IRS $2,200,000, she released a statement saying that she wasn't the one to blame.
4. BeBe Winans

Bebe Winans may be a man of God, but it's pretty obvious he's also a man of back taxes.
Placing as the first on our list to owe the IRS millions, Gospel recording artist, BeBe Winans owes the IRS $1, 200,000 in back taxes.
5. Toni Braxton

Toni Braxton is no stranger to financial danger, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
With an intense shopping habit and a taste for the expense life, Toni Braxton, and estranged husband, Keirston Lewis (singer in the group, Mint Condition), owe the IRS $396,000.
6. Young Buck

Rapper and former G-Unit member Young Buck, has had one of the most bizarre roller-coaster ride careers in the rap game.

From being on top of the world with his label mates 50 cent and Loyd Banks, Buck now finds himself in a lot of tax trouble that he doesn't seem he can get out of.

After the IRS didn't get the $300,000 dollars Buck owed them, they took matters into their own hands and raided his house.

7. Flavor Flav

Although Flav may have 3 seasons of beautiful women chasing after him, he probably didn't count on Uncle Sam chasing after him as well.
Balancing seven children and seven girls must be hard, which is why the Rapper & Reality TV Star, Flavor Flav owes the IRS $183,000.
8. Evander Holyfield

Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield may be one of the highest paid fighters to ever box, but that doesn't mean it's all his.
Evander Holyfield has been in a variety of tax issues, and at one point owed  the IRS $145,000.

The Camel’s Club Coming Soon To An Airport Near You!

Hovi Hov has done it again! This time the rapper/husband/mogul has partnered with Delaware North Companies to bring his famed 40/40 Club to airports across America.

“The 40/40 Club is all about creating first-class experiences for guests who want to relax and watch their favorite games,” said Desiree Perez. “We want to see our club grow, and to bring those experiences to travelers. A partnership with Delaware North will do just that.”
The new deal could bring Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club into up 20 major U.S. airports, where Delaware North Companies operate dozens of national and regional brand restaurants.

This is gonna be awesome. Watch the game, drink some Ace of Spades, and miss your layover, thanks Hov you’re a swell guy.

Awards Watch 2010: Most Valuable Player Watch

	1. Dwight Howard Orlando Magic	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		16	34.4	.598	.000	.538	1.1	2.4	11.9	1.3	22.6	26.6
	If the league's most dominant big man wins the MVP trophy, he should bring Hakeem Olajuwon, who worked with him in the offseason on his low-post moves, to the podium. (Last week: 3 | Team record: 12-4)

	2. Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City Thunder	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		18	37.3	.447	.286	.886	2.2	0.4	5.1	8.6	23.8	26.1
	In September, when Kevin Durant was leading Team USA to the gold at the FIBA World Championship, who'd have thought KD would be the second-best player in OKC? (Last week: 5 | Team record: 12-6)

	3. Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		17	33.4	.433	.333	.877	0.9	0.2	5.8	4.6	26.5	24.3
	In the eight years I have been writing about NBA awards, last week was the first time the Kobe bashers outweighed the Kobe supporters. Are fans taking him for granted? (Last week: 1 | Team record: 13-4)

	4. Derrick Rose Chicago Bulls	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		14	39.1	.468	.327	.776	1.0	0.6	4.6	8.2	26.6	22.8
	You know things are going well when you score 30 in a game while fighting neck pain. Carlos Boozer is returning soon. What's that mean? A small dip in points for Rose. (Last week: 7 | Team record: 9-6)

	5. Deron Williams Utah Jazz	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		19	38.1	.464	.366	.856	1.3	0.2	4.2	9.9	21.9	22.9
	All things considered, D-Will might be the most complete point guard in the league. Utah is rolling, winner of six straight, including wins against the Lakers and Hornets. (Last week: 8 | Team record: 14-5)

	6. Dirk Nowitzki Dallas Mavs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		17	36.8	.545	.382	.847	0.5	0.7	8.3	2.2	25.7	24.6
	My bad, Dirk. It took a five-game winning streak by the Mavs with you playing lights-out ball in that span for me to realize I had been sleeping on you. (Last week: NR | Team record: 13-4)

	7. Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		17	34.5	.490	.474	.901	2.9	0.1	4.7	10.3	16.5	27.3
	CP3 leads the league in PER and steals and is second in assists, but he continues to slide down this list with every Hornets loss. New Orleans has dropped four of five. (Last week: 2 | Team record: 12-5)

	8. Carmelo Anthony Denver Nuggets	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		16	35.1	.459	.364	.867	1.3	0.6	8.6	3.4	23.8	23.2
	Melo took a sick day in Denver's win against Phoenix on Sunday, but contrary to what some experts predicted, he has done anything but mail it in this season. (Last week: 10 | Team record: 10-6)

	9. Manu Ginobili San Antonio Spurs	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		16	33.3	.474	.402	.911	1.8	0.4	3.6	5.1	21.6	25.1
	This spot was a toss-up between Manu and TP, but I gave the nod to Ginobili, who seems to be hitting his stride (23.6 pts, 6.6 ast and 5.2 reb) in his past five games. (Last week: NR | Team record: 14-2)

	10. Kevin Garnett Boston Celtics	G	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	STL	BLK	RPG	AST	PTS	PER
		16	33	.525	.000	.848	1.7	0.6	9.3	1.9	15.7	19.5
	Garnett doesn't have a realistic chance of winning the award because if you ask four people who is Boston's best player, you'll get four different answers. (Last week: NR | Team record: 12-4)

Sports Play Of The Week: Middle School Football Trick! (This Boy Took The Hell Off) [Fixed]

Rejectz (Starring Chris Brown) - Cat Daddy

Diddy-Dirty Money - Coming Home

Keri Hilson (Feat. Rick Ross) - The Way You Love Me (Starring Faith Evans & Dawn Of Dirty Money)

Lebron James Is Heated: Lebron Bumping Coach Spoelstra After Losing To The Dallas Mavs

8 Inspiring Celebrity Career Comebacks

Will Smith
Before he arguably became the biggest movie star in the world earning around $20 million per film, Will Smith was one half of the hip hop duo, The Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff, who won the first Grammy for best rap duo in 1989. Though he was earning million of dollars (and underpaying his income taxes), at age 19 his splurging days came to an abrupt halt when the Internal Revenue Service assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against him. Nearly bankrupt, Smith got a break when Benny Medina and Jeff Pollack approached him with an opportunity to star in his own television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Though the show was successful, for the first three years, the IRS was taking 70 percent of Smith’s paychecks to repay his debt. Once he was cleared, Smith’s acting career propelled to new heights and has since made him more money than his rap career ever did.
Tina Turner

Tina Tunrer’s story is probably one of the most well-known and celebrated comebacks in music history. She started her music career as the lead singer and one half of the musical duo, Ike & Tina. They had a string of hits including “Proud Mary” and “A Fool In Love.” But in the 1970s, Turner left the successful duo after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her husband, Ike. But when she left him, she left a fortune and struggled to move forward with a solo career. By 1984, Turner’s comeback was official with the Grammy award winning song, “What’s love got to do with it?” She has been called the most successful female rock artist having sold nearly 180 million records worldwide and more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history.
Whitney Houston

For a the first decade of her career, Whitney Houston was pop music’s princess. Her 1985 self-titled debut album became the best-selling album by a female artist at the time of its release. Her star status reached new heights as she took on acting roles in the early 90s, most notably in “The Bodyguard” and “Waiting To Exhale,” and took on producer roles for both movies’ soundtracks. “The Bodyguard” spent 20 weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard charts and won a Granny Award for Album of the Year. To date, it has sold over 44 million copies.”Waiting to Exhale” snagged the number one spot for five weeks, went 7x platinum by Sept. 1996 and earned Houston a Grammy for Best R&B Song: “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).” But between a tumultuous marriage with Bobby Brown and her abuse of drugs, Houston’s magical voice went silent for the most part in the early 2000s. After some personal rehabilitation, which included divorcing Brown, Houston made her comeback last year with the record “I Look to You.” It premiered at the top of the Billboard charts selling over 300,000 copies in the first week.
MC Hammer

MC Hammer was a phenomenon in the late 80s and early 90s with his incredible dance moves and infectious hits such as “U Can’t Touch This” and “Pray.” But his meteoric rise was soon followed by a legendary fall. Saddled with a $13 million debt, he filed for bankruptcy in the mid-1990s. Now, the former rapper, whose birth name is Stanley Kirk Burrell, has returned to the music industry as an entrepreneur. He is the chief strategy officer of the new website DanceJam.com, which started with $1 million in seed money. He also is launching a business venture in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Chris Brown

At just 16 years old, Chris Brown made an explosive splash onto the music scene with the hit single “Run It!” in 2005, which helped his debut album go double platinum. Brown followed with a string of radio hits and gained the adoration of millions of fans, including then-girlfriend Rihanna. However, that relationship proved toxic to Brown, both personally and professionally. In 2009, he plead guilty to felony assault on Rihanna and faced heavy criticism from the media, his peers in the industry and fans. Arguably, his moment of redemption came when he broke down on the stage at the BET awards while singing Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” Since then, he’s bounced back with his ninth top ten single “Deuces” and co-starred in the crime thriller Takers. Most recently, he was nominated by the American Music Awards for Favorite Male Artist in the Soul/Rhythm & Blues category.
Monica

The world was introduced to 15-year-old Monica when she made her debut with the 1995 album, “Miss Thang.” She went on to become a dominant figure on the R&B charts, earning a Grammy for her duet “The Boy Is Mine” with singer Brandy in 1998. But Monica’s career stalled at the start of the new millennium due to personal troubles. She witnessed the suicide of her boyfriend and carried on an emotionally draining relationship with rapper turned inmate C-Murder. She made her comeback with the release of her fourth album “After the Storm,” which contained her sixth number one single, “So Gone.” Her latest album, “Still Standing,” produced her seventh number one hit single “Everything to Me.”Her album was complimented by the BET reality series of the same name. The premiere attracted 3.2 million viewers and the show made the second highest series debut in BET history.
Brandy

Brandy dominated the R&B and Pop Charts in the mid-1990s with her self-titled debut album, which spawned several top ten hits, including “I Wanna Be Down” and “Baby.” She also found success on the small screen in the starring role of the television series Moesha. But Brandy’s music career started to wane after 2001 and in 2006, she was involved in a fatal car accident that claimed the life of one person. Even though no charges were brought against her due to insufficient evidence, multiple lawsuits were filed against her. Brandy sought solace in seclusion. She came back last year with a new VH1 reality show titled Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business, which has been renewed for a second season. Brandy was also a contestant on the recent season of Dancing with the Stars and ultimately placed fourth in the competition. To date, she’s sold over 30 million records worldwide and ranks as one of the best-selling female artists in American music history by the RIAA.
Mariah Carey

Armed with a five octave vocal range, Mariah Carey proved early that she was a force to be reckoned with when her 1990 debut self-titled album produced four number one hits and earned her two Grammy Awards. She rarely surrendered the top spot and in 1998, she was deemed the world’s best-selling recording artist of the 90s. Carey, a notoriously career-driven artist, worked to maintain that success at the turn of the century. But in 2001 she suffered a breakdown. After a stint in the hospital to recover from exhaustion, she released Glitter, but both the film and the accompanying soundtrack of the same name flopped. In 2002, Virgin Records bought out Carey’s contract. But the pop diva wasn’t down for long. She signed with Island Def Jam and her first album for the label, The Emancipation of Mimi, produced the number one hit, “We Belong Together.” The Emancipation of Mimi was named the best-selling album of 2005 by Nielsen SoundScan. Carey continued her reign on the charts and in 2008, she earned her 18th number one single, placing her only second behind The Beatles for the most number one hits.