BET HIP HOP AWARDS CAME WITH A LITTLE DRAMA

An altercation took place a the BET Hip Hop Awards during a tribute … A TRIBUTE of all things, to Chris Lighty who passed away last month. Here’s BET’s official response that was issued Saturday night: Tonight during a taping of the BET Hip Hop Awards 2012, an altercation between two rap entourages broke out backstage. Atlanta police and BET security quickly defused the altercation. BET Networks works very hard to bring the best in entertainment to the city of Atlanta. Due to some misjudgment of select attendees, it is unfortunate that certain incidents took place. BET Networks does not condone any type of violence. Local authorities are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.” Despite the actions of a few the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards embodied the true spirit of hip hop and was not impacted at all by any incidents. As for the actual awards part, Kanye West received 17 nominations, but didn’t even show up. Others, however, showed some respect. LL Cool J paid homage in remarks to Lighty, who he says helped shape his career and many others in hip-hop. After Cool J spoke, rappers Q-Tip, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and 50 Cent took the stage to perform. The show was highlighted by several freestyle sessions that included rapper T.I., B.o.B., Snoop Dogg, E-40 and Cassidy. Others who performed included Rick Ross, P. Diddy, 2 Chainz and Future. T.I. presented legendary rapper Rakim with the “I Am Hip-Hop Icon” honor. 2 Chainz won the People’s Choice award, and Kendrick Lamar came away with Lyricist of the Year award. Tune in on Tuesday, October 9, 8P/7C to watch the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards.

USHER’S EX DOESN’T GET THE CLUE

Well look who’s playing hardball. It’s none other than Usher Raymond. The singer has made it clear to ex-wife Tameka that he’s selling the mansion she’s been living in since their divorce and she needs to start packing … NOW. Sources close to the couple tell TMZ, Usher’s lawyer sent Tameka Raymond a letter informing her the 12,000 sq. ft. Georgia home — which Usher owns — is going on the market and she needs to find new digs. Usher has allowed Tameka to live in the home for the last few years — but per their 2009 divorce agreement, Usher has the right to sell the pad at any time as long as he gives 60 days notice. According to sources, Tameka didn’t take the news well, seeing as she has no income of her own and has been financially dependent on Usher since the divorce. On the flip side, we’re told Usher feels he’s given Tameka plenty of time to get her act together … and enough is enough. Tameka has responded, saying thatTMZ got it all wrong … that they’ve been reporting she’d be kicked out for 2 years now and so far they’ve been wrong. Well, we’ll see in 60 days who’s right and who’s wrong.

CELEBRITY QUICKIES

Today, OWN – Oprah Winfrey Network announced an exclusive partnership with Tyler Perry, to become his singular destination for all new television series and projects, including two new scripted series for the network to premiere in mid 2013.  These will be the first original scripted series for OWN and Perry will executive produce, write and direct both series. “It’s a dream realized to partner with Oprah and bring scripted programming to OWN,” stated Perry. “She has accomplished so much with the network and I’m excited to work with her to be a part of its continued growth.”

Janet Jackson is famous for being married without anyone knowing. And who can blame her?  But rumors are surfacing that Ms. Jackson may become Mrs. al Mana sometime in 2013 in a “secret” $20 million dollar wedding extravaganza. Twenty million dollars is chump change when you’re a billionaire businessman like her boyfriend Wissam al Mana, who’s been dating Jackson for approximately two years. The couple is allegedly planning to wed in Doha, Qatar, the place where al Mana was born.

TLC lead singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins will star in her own reality series to air on, ironically, TLC. Citing sources close to the production, TMZ reports that the network has ordered four episodes of the show,  titled “Totally T-Boz,” due to premiere in 2013. The show will focus on the 42-year-old single mom as she tries to re-launch her music career after recovering from the life-threatening brain tumor she was diagnosed with in 2006. The tumor was so invasive that once removed, T-Boz had to relearn how to walk and talk. T-Boz’s daughter, brother, cousins and friends will also star in the series, which is currently filming in Atlanta.

Mike Tyson is sporting a neck brace and a significant scar after undergoing surgery to fix a degenerated disc. The boxer, 46, showed up to a charity auction held by the World Boxing Council and Hublot Watches in Las Vegas with the large scar on his neck. It has since emerged that Tyson recently went under the knife and had titanium pins inserted to support his neck as a result of an old spinal injury which had been causing him pain. Tyson tweeted an explanation on Sunday, writing: “I was damaged before I even entered boxing.”