BOBBY BROWN TELLS WHY HE LEFT WHITNEY HOUSTONS FUNERAL

R&B singer Bobby Brown has come forward to clear the air on drawing concerns over his early departure from his late ex-wife Whitney Houston's publicized funeral Saturday (February 18) afternoon. Speaking via a statement Brown said extreme security measures forced his exit.

"My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston. We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions," he stated. "I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how." (Statement)

Reports of Brown's early departure hit the Internet Saturday.Brown was seen arriving with several people and had sat down in the front row of a section marked off for family, before being asked to move. Brown had entered the church with other mourners, separate from Houston's family. He appeared emotionally distraught, with red eyes and head hanging as he walked up the aisle of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He approached Houston's casket, passed it and went back down the aisle. Ultimately, he left the church. (CNN)



Despite what took place at the funeral, the music veteran performed in his ex-wife's honor hours later. A grieving Bobby Brown began to fulfill his promise to "continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how," and returned to the stage with the New Edition at the Mohegan Sun last night just hours after making a cameo appearance at Whitney Houston's funeral. The Roxbury R&B singer, who explained earlier that he left Houston's star-studded "home going" in New Jersey when his entourage was dissed by security inside the New Hope Baptist Church, joined the New Edition 10 minutes into their set dressed in a white and black ensemble with a black fedora. (Boston Herald)

Yesterday's gathering featured fellow music stars like Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce Knowles-Carter.The invitation-only crowd of 1,500 filled the New Hope Baptist Church, where an arrangement of multicolored balloons greeted the gold hearse carrying the body of the multiplatinum singer and actress. Though limousines dropped off a procession of stars, including Jennifer Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé Knowles and Angela Bassett, many in the crowd knew Houston as "Nippy" -- a childhood nickname. (New York Daily News)

(Bobby & Whitney in Happier Times)

50 CENT PUSHES HIS ALBUM BACK PROBLEMS AT INTERSCOPE AGAIN?

Fans hoping to get their hands on a new 50 Cent solo album may have to wait a bit longer as the G-Unit leader has expressed disinterest in putting the project out. Based on a Twitter response to a fan, Fif gave little assurance of the LP being retail-ready in the near future. This is the first real sign that 50?s fifth, yet untitled album may never arrive in stores anytime soon. In a response to a fan asking "so did you just give up on your new album? I was expecting a classic man", 50 said "I may have to fall back" signalling that the long delayed LP may be shelved, at least for the time being. (Hip Hop N More)

Last month, the rap star blamed Interscope Records' lack of interest and energy for delaying its release."I wrote this album. I went through the process of writing it. It's been discouraging at points to not see the same efforts from everyone," 50 said when asked about his label frustrations and perceived depression. "As far as me partnering with Feeding America for this actual project, the business model that I adapted was -- conscious capitalism. [New album this year?] Hopefully." (CES)

A few weeks ago, Fif issued an open apology for going off on Interscope over an unauthorized leak via twitter. "Discovered a computer glitch leaked my song. Sorry to team at interscope for over reacting!," he tweeted January 8th. "I put a lot in to this project but I don't care if it ever comes out. Jimmy iovine has been like a mentor for me. I just want to stay friends" (50 Cent's Twitter)

In December, the New York rap star revealed he had no intention of rushing out a new LP."I want to come out at the top of the year, I want to be ready, but, you know, of course it's all on how everybody else puts together their actual marketing campaign and get it right," 50 said in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid. "I don't have a timeline anymore. I'm doing the Dr. Dre. I'm doing what Eminem does. I've been on a shot clock my entire career. 'I've gotta come out during this period. I've got to come out during this period.' Like, every other year. My albums are so successful that it would take me a year to get done touring off of them. I may not necessarily tour off of this album. I might release it and decide I'm going to make the next one instead of actually going out and touring and let everybody live with that and do something different. Or they'll see me at spot dates." (Shade 45)

MEEK MILL TALKS MMG DEBUT "DREAMS & NIGHTMARES"

Maybach Music Group rapper Meek Mill is currently gearing up to drop his long-awaited debut album this year and has revealed its title will be Dreams & Nightmares. While mum on the details, Meek said the LP would tentatively hit stores in the summer. "We out in L.A., Grammy weekend. On our way to Club Colony to do our thing. MMG we in the building. You already know man. I ain't get no Grammy's this year, but next year it's gonna be a wrap. Wrap city," Meek said in an interview, "dropping my album in 2012. This summer, Dreams & Nightmares. Wrap city. They don't give it to me I'm gonna take it. That's how we ride. Feel me? Cause we want it all. Young n*ggas from the ghetto getting money." (Maybach Music Blog)

Last year, "King of the South" rapper T.I. talked about trying to sign Meek.Unfortunately Mill's Grand Hustle signing fell through due to T.I.'s run-ins with the law. "After my two hiatuses I was put in a position where I couldn't really make moves on Meek as quick as he may have wanted to," T.I. told Billboard.com's The Juice. "I never been one want to hold anyone back or to slow down the success of anybody. I'm the first to try to enhance what you have and if I can't make it better than I shouldn't be a part of it." (The Juice)

In mid-November, Maybach Music Group leader Rick Ross expressed the importance of a strong Meek Mill debut."That's what the focus is: making sure it's classic. And I'm really excited and proud that the homey is taking his time to go to that next level," Ross said. "Of course he's the hardest new artist in the game -- we know that, hands down. Of course he can capitalize right now and we know that, that's the obvious. But what's not, is his debut album will be a classic." (MTV)