Carter & Zandu Press: January 2014

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Fashion Queen: Beyoncé Crowned Grammy Best Dressed...Tops Fashion Police's Grammy List..

Hova's 19: Jay Z Takes 2 More Grammys...And Once Again Gives Best Acceptance Speech...He Now Has 19 Grammys...

Nice!!! Jay Z takes home two more Grammys last night and gives the best accepatance speech of the night... Pure Comedy.

Jay now has a total of 19 Grammys or "gold sippy cups". Luv it!!!

Jay also gave special thanks to God "for bringing the beautiful light" in his life.

"I want to thank God – I mean a little bit for this award, but mostly for that and all of the universe for conspiring and putting that beautiful light of a young lady in my life," he told the audience as Beyoncé beamed from the front row.

"And I want to tell Blue, 'Look! Daddy's got a gold sippy cup for you,' " he said referring to his gramophone award. (Source: People)

Congrats Jay!!!

Hip Hop Royalty...Jay poses with Kendrick and Pharrell backstage, at last night's Grammy awards.

Mr. Carter added two more Grammys (or gold sippy cups) to his collection--he now has 19. Pharrell took home four trophies of his own as well. Congrats Royals!!

Love my Hov!!!!

After opening the Grammys with one hot performance. B changed into one haute dress, earning her top honors on many Grammy Best dressed lists. Mrs. Carter roc'd a gown by Michael Costello Couture, Lorraine Schwartz jewels and Christian Louboutins. (Source: Beyoncé.com)

While Mr. Carter roc'd Tom Ford. Jay wore a black cocktail jacket, white evening shirt, black bow tie and black leather evening shoes all by Tom Ford. (Source: Fashion Magazine)

And they looked good!!!

The Carters were all about each other last night!!! Too sweet. Jay picked up two more Grammys last night, bringing his total to 19. Congrats Jay!!!

Little Blue was in the house as well, she was snapped backstage earlier in the day. Check out more photos of Jay & B below.

The Carters sizzled at last night's Grammys. They opened the show and performed one sexy number.

Performing her latest hit, "Drunk In Love," Queen B graced the stage in one of her sexiest looks yet...and the wet hair made her look even sexier. It was very Marilyn Monroish.

B's stylist Ty, says the look was inspired from the song's video.

And it was perfect, and pretty obvious. Surfboard....

The performance was all Carter...perfect!!!

Beyoncé. Once and forever, Beyoncé. Let's raise a gold sippy cup to the queen of this and every night, Beyoncé. She owned the Grammys from the opening seconds of "Drunk in Love." Everybody knew her big number was going to slay, and we were all correct, as she rode her surfboard with nothing but her voice and a chair and her wet hair and the most emotionally omnivorous will-to-awesome in the music game. When Jay Z finally showed up, it looked as if all he could do was marvel at Bey's "nice planet, I'll take it" soul power. Like the rest of us. ---ROB SHEFFIELD (Rolling Stone)

For the opening performance of the 2014 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé and Jay Z tag teamed on “Drunk in Love.” The joint performance opened with Bey sitting on a chair with her back to the audience, belting out the slow, sexy lyrics – taking a few moments to give a sultry glance to onlookers at home. The stage was dark and smoke surrounded the superstar until she finally got up and started to strut a bit. When Jay Z came out for his verse, the audience erupted. The pair held hands, slow-danced a bit and got the show off to a steamy start. It was a near flawless performance — and the first time they’ve played this song together in public live. --Rolling Stone

We're going to start campaigning now for Jayoncé 2016. The two brought the house down during the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26. Beyoncé and Jay Z opened the night's festivities and performed their hit track "Drunk in Love." Nearly everyone inside of Staples Center was on their feet for the couple's song, and for good reason. The husband and wife—and some might say King and Queen of Everything—easily gave the performance of the night. (And that's saying something considering that they were the first performance!). --E!

The stage looked like the scene out of a sexy cabaret show, with Beyonce posing seductively on a chair, enveloped in smoke, as the curtains lifted. When the dim lights turned on and her first vocals came booming through the arena, you could almost taste the aroma of sex appeal in the air. That chair might be the luckiest piece of furniture in the world, as Bey spent plenty of the performance grinding and werkin' it while seated, her mesh body suit leaving very little, but just enough, to the imagination. As expected, Jay Z showed up his in black and white three-piece suit and bow tie to spit his verse on the track. The couple held hands as they exited the rotating stage platform and did a full, sexy strut towards the audience that was fit for any haute couture runway. --MTV

Nice!!! Check out more photos of the Carters below.

Grammy Family: Jay Z & Beyoncé Grab Lunch in Venice...On Grammy Saturday

Before Jay headed off to the annual Roc Nation Pre-Grammy Brunch, he had lunch with Beyoncé in Venice.

B didn't attend this year's brunch, it looks like she decided to spend time prepping for her Grammy performance.

The Carters will be opening tonight's award show. I can't wait. Tune in tonight at 8:00 PM Est on CBS.

Check out a few photos below.

Grammy Carpet: Kevin Hart "Woke Up Like This"...Sings Beyoncé's "***Flawless" Again...

Kevin stans for B again, this time on the Grammy red carpet.

Congrats Kevin and Ice Cube, Ride Along is No. 1 at the box office again this weekend, grossing over $21 mil in in second week. ***Flawless.

It was a D’ussé and Comador afternoon, at Saturday afternoon's annual Roc Nation Pre-Grammy Brunch.

Mr. Carter was surrounded by friends and stars as they celebrated at a private mansion in LA. Jay rolled Comador (his new cigars) cigars and sipped on D’ussé, while he chatted and partied with guests.

The party was full of The Roc Nation family. Jay Brown, Ty Ty, Lenny S. and the rest of Roc Nation's head honcho were there.

Kevin Hart, T.I., Rita Ora & Calvin Harris, Willow and Jayden Smith, DJ Mustard, Skylar Diggins all attended.

As did regulars Ellen Pompeo and her husband Chris Ivery, Rihanna, J. Cole, Wale, Adriene Bailon, and more sipped D’ussé and enjoyed a few Comadors.

Mrs. Carter wasn't in attendance she was prepping for her big day. She's opening tonight's Grammys with a special set, and she'll be joined by Jay. The two enjoyed a romantic lunch on their own in Venice, before Jay headed to the brunch.

Check out more pictures from the event below. It looks like they had a blast. And, how dapper is Mr. Carter!

Blue was snapped backstage at the Grammys earlier today. She's too cute. I love her outfit and those shoes. It Looks like she'll be enjoying her parents big night at the Staples Center.

B will be opening the awards with Jay--Terrence Jenkins of E! news reports it's a B set and Jay will join her. He also said, "they may not be walking the red carpet because, they're opening the awards, it'll be a last minute decision." And Pepsi tweeted, What if the Grammys had a Halftime Show... I can't wait!!!!

Grammy Kickoff: Solange & Kelly "Bug Out" During Pre-Grammy Party

Solo and Kelly both attended Spotify and Troy Carter's pre-Grammy party in LA, Thursday night, and the youngest Knowles--who DJ'd at the event--was as usual, fashion forward. Solange roc'd an Azede Jean-Pierre spring 2014 white bug print long-sleeve crop top and matching skirt--which has everyone talking.

People either loved it or hated it...but that's what the role of a fashion icon is, to keep us in awe and constantly talking.

Check out photos of Solange and Kelly below.

And be sure to tune into this Sunday's Grammy awards to see the Carters set the stage on fire and to watch Jay snatch up multiple awards...he's up for nine the most of the night.

The Carters Reign continues. Jay Z & Beyoncé have topped Billboard's Power 100 List. Both are making and breaking records and setting new rules. Jay who coined the term #NewRules when he released his 13th No. 1 album Magna Carta...Holy Grail in conjunction with a multi-million dollar Samsung deal. Mrs. Carter followed in her hubby's footsteps, with the surprise release of her record breaking, new album, Beyoncé.

Trendsetters, creators, innovators...they're just on another level!

Billboard reports:

Leveraging their star power to release new albums in unprecedented ways—Jay Z through Samsung and Beyoncé through iTunes—they instantly changed how the industry and fans thought about interacting with music. He gave his album away; she charged a premium price for hers. But they both used the element of surprise to restore the excitement that used to accompany a new release, before that impact was dulled by the endless thunder of carefully plotted promotion.

In short, they proved that content truly is king. Or, in this case, king and queen.

For years, Jay Z has been building the most powerful artist-driven empire in music, ever since he founded Roc-a-Fella Records in 1996 to bypass a music industry uninterested in his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. By 2004, he'd become president/CEO of Roc-a-Fella distributor Def Jam, and his concert stage would feature an Oval Office set (in a few years, his friendship with Barack Obama would get him much closer to the real thing). A major investor in Steve Stoute's Translation Advertising, he left Def Jam and founded the multifaceted entertainment group Roc Nation in 2008, in partnership with Live Nation. The company oversees a varied roster that includes Rihanna, Shakira, Stargate, Calvin Harris, Timbaland and Deadmau5, and, in partnership with Creative Artists Agency, has added sports to its oversight. And though he's cashed out his stake in NBA team the Brooklyn Nets, Jay Z remains an influential presence at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, which he helped open in 2012 with a series of concerts.

Since parting ways with father Mathew Knowles as her longtime manager in 2011, Beyoncé has proved through her Parkwood Entertainment just how powerful—and productive—a self-managed artist can be with Beyoncé. When the album arrived just before year-end 2013, it silenced months of whispers about delays, scrapped songs and missed deadlines, and it did so with 14 critically acclaimed songs accompanied by 17 jaw-dropping videos, all meticulously curated and co-edited by Beyoncé herself.

"Artists have always had the power but courage is in short supply. It's just that the hip-hop generation believes in the possibilities," says Lyor Cohen (No. 74), a longtime associate of Jay Z's from his days running Def Jam in the mid-'90s, and founder of new music venture 300. "Jay and Beyoncé don't listen to the noise—they make the noise."

The decision to release Jay Z's Magna Carta . . . Holy Grail for free exclusively for five days to 1 million Samsung customers was hailed as a major coup for Samsung to build buzz against rival Apple as it launched its Galaxy S4 smartphone. But the deal wouldn't have happened had Jay and a Roc Nation team led by business managers John Meneilly and Desiree Perez not been actively seeking a partner to help them forge "#newrules," as the rapper famously tweeted from his rarely used Twitter account on June 17.

"We've got to continue to find ways to put music in the hands of the fans, and I think this is a great way to do it," Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta (No. 41) told Billboard at the time of the Jay Z announcement. "You've got to have cutting-edge ideas with cutting-edge companies who are ready, willing and able to reach a mass audience. It's great Jay Z is forcing all of us to think this way." (Source: Billboard)

Congrats Jay & B!!! Don't miss the Carters at this Sunday's Grammys!!!

The women of Miami's Big Three were all smiles before the Lakers -vs- Heat game last night at American Airlines Arena. The women had good reason to smile, their hubbies and Team Heat beat the Lakers 109 to 102.

Sisterhood, is the only way to survive as an NBA wife...werk it ladies!!!!

Grammy Family: Jay Z & Beyoncé Seated Front and Center Grammy Night...

The Grammy seating charts have been released and Jay & B are seated front and center. Can't wait til Sunday!!!!

Marcy & Overbrook: Jay Z, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith to Produce New HBO Series...HIGHER

They've got Fela! and Free Angela under their belt. And Annie is coming out December 19, 2014, and now Jay's Marcy Media and Will & Jada's Overbrook Entertainment are teaming up again.

This time the producing trio is partnering with HBO for Higher, a half-hour comedy, starring Roc Nation artist, Scottish DJ and record producer, Calvin Harris.

The comedy will be set in the world of electronic music...a perfect setting for Calvin. Indiewire reports: The project will be scripted by Irvine Welsh (Trainspotting), and that specific story details are underwraps for now. The 30-year-old Calvin Harris (birth name, Adam Richard Wiles) holds the record for the most top ten hits from one studio album on the UK Singles Chart, with nine hits. And according to Forbes, Harris was the highest paid DJ of 2013, grossing an estimated $46 million.

Nice!!!

Beyoncé's chart success continues.

BEYONCÉ is #4 on this week's Billboard 200 chart, selling another 61,399. In its seven weeks the album has sold a total of 1,572,162 in the U.S..

B & Jay's latest hit collaboration, "Drunk in Love" moves up four spaces to #12 on this week's Billboard Hot 100. The track is #1 on the streaming songs chart--a first for Mrs. Carter. "Drunk" is also #1 on Urban Radio, and after this Sunday's Grammy performance, the sky is the limit.

Watch the video below.

"I'm the new Jean-Michel, surrounded by Warhol,

my whole team ball". -Picasso JAY x WARHOL (Photo Credit: @KodakLens)

Hov!!!

Mr. Carter channeled his inner Warhol--during a visit to the Andy Warhol Museum, last night. Jay reenacted one of Andy Warhol's famous poses on The Factory's iconic couch--and Mr. Carter might have upped the cool factor in his version. Sweet!!!

Legend has it that the couch was found on the street by American photographer Billy Name and became a popular crash pad for Warhol's many friends. It also appeared in Warhol's films Couch and Blow Job. (Source: Complex)

The moment, of course, was captured by Jay's good friend (and "personal photographer"), Lenny S. (also known as The Kodak Man). Lenny captioned the moment with a line from Jay's, Grammy nominated, "Picasso Baby" one of the many jewels off his Grammy nominated album, "Magna Carta...Holy Grail."

'I'm the new Jean-Michel, surrounded by Warhol, my whole team ball'. -Picasso JAY x WARHOL."

Be sure to catch Jay and B's performances at this Sunday's Grammy Awards, January 26, 2014 on CBS at 8:00 PM EST. He's up for nine awards the most of the night.

Check out the Grammy nominated "Picasso Baby" video below.

FLOTUS MOVES: First Lady Michelle Obama & The Miami Heat Share Healthy Tips....

The First Lady calls on the champs for Let's Move!...I just love her!!! Watch the funny clip below.

Video Fresh: Kevin Hart is "Flawless"...Sings Beyoncé's "Flawless"

Kevin felt a little Flawless this morning--with another No. 1 movie under his belt this weekend, Ride Along, also starring Ice Cube and Tika Sumpter earned $41.2 million--so, Mr. Hart was feeling himself...

Lmaoo...to funny. Kevin posted the above video and message on Instagram today: “THUG SHIT…REAL NINJAS CAN RELATE LMAO #iWokeUpLikeThis #Flawless #BeeHive #MyGirlMadeMeDoThis.”

Jay & B are coming!!!

Billboard reported today that the Carters will be performing at this Sunday's, 56th annual Grammy Awards:

After some speculation last week, Beyoncé has been confirmed to be taking the GRAMMY Awards stage on Sunday night (Jan. 26), alongside hubby Jay Z.

The appearance was confirmed in a commercial that aired on CBS on Sunday (Jan. 19), listing the married couple among the performers of the upcoming ceremony.

The GRAMMY Awards has yet to announce the latest lineup additions, and whether or not Bey and Jay will collaborate onstage. Although Jay Z pops up on his wife's latest hit single, "Drunk In Love," the rapper is also entering the upcoming GRAMMY Awards with nine nominations, including Best Rap Album for last year's "Magna Carta... Holy Grail." Beyoncé's upcoming GRAMMY moment will mark the singer's first televised performance since the launch of her self-titled fifth album last month. Current sales for "Beyoncé" stand at 1.5 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan. (Source: Billboard)

So will Jay perform any of his "Magna Carta" hits "Tom Ford," "Holy Grail," "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt," maybe a little "Picasso Baby"? Or will he and B just team up for "Drunk in Love"?

Watch the beautiful rendition below. Never forget his dream!!!

Via the White House: President Barack Obama checks in on First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia as they prepare burritos while volunteering at the DC Central Kitchen in Washington, D.C., on Martin Luther King Day, January 20, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Leading by example.

Hope!!! Dream!!! Love!!! Peace!!! Together!!! Equality!!! And Nonviolence!!! Dr. King lead by example and fought for the rights of African Americans and all people to live equally.

Celebrate Dr. King's day by watching three of his greatest speeches: I Have Been to The Mountain Top, Letter From Birmingham Jail, and I Have A Dream--below.

The Carter Life: Jay Z, Beyoncé & Blue Enjoy Sunday in NYC...Snapped Out & About in The City...

After celebrating the First Lady's 50th birthday in Washington, DC Saturday night--Jay, Beyoncé & Blue are back home in NYC.

The Carters were snapped out in--a cold--NYC today, and it looks like they had a special day planned. The trio were snapped in the city in their Sunday best.

Blue is a daddy's girl. Jay & B just can't get enough of her...it's so sweet.

Check out more photos of their Sunday outing below.

Beyoncé shared these performances a few weeks ago, from her Revel performances, Live in Atlantic City, which is also featured in her Life Is But A Dream documentary.

Watch the Queen roc "Party", "Dance For You" and "Schoolin' Life" below.

The Carters (and Mama Tina, too) headed to the nation's capital last night to help, First Lady Michelle Obama celebrate her 50th Birthday Bash at the White House--B performed and wowed the crowd of 500 guest who danced the night away.

Before the performance Jay, B and Blue went on a tour of the White House and it looks like little Blue had a ball. She created a card, admired the Gold Star Christmas Tree and bonded with Sunny--the Obama's youngest dog. Too cute.

Sasha and Malia Obama watched in awe as Beyoncé sang, while elsewhere, Paul McCartney danced and Hillary Clinton schmoozed, while the POTUS helped the FLOTUS, cut a rug!!!!

B uploaded the family's events on her site.

Every since, Kerry debuted her baby bump at last weekend's Globes she has been letting it take center stage.

The proud mom-to-be glowed at last night's SAG Awards in a hot pink midriff-baring beaded top and midnight blue silk skirt by Prada. (Source: People)

“I don’t have anything to hide anymore, so I’m having a little fun tonight,” she said on the carpet. (Source: People)

It was a busy weekend for Kerry and her Scandal family who celebrated attended the Entertainment Weekly Party and the ABC/Disney Television Critics Association Winter Press tour party in Pasadena, California, on Friday.

Check out photos from both events, below.

So are the Carters headed to the Grammy stage....rumor has it that they are supposed to make appearances, at next week's golden night in music.

First there was a report from Kontrol Magazine --about a week ago--claiming that Jay & B would open the Grammys.

Kontrol claims that the Grammy producers are trying to keep the opening a top secret.

And then there's the LA Times article, which also reports, that B will be performing.

The Grammys is where she (Beyoncé) will make her first televised performance in support of the project — which shattered iTunes records upon its release in December — according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

Longtime Grammy Awards show producer Ken Ehrlich said he “can’t confirm” an appearance from Beyoncé during an interview with Pop & Hiss to preview the show.

“Let’s put it this way … we have a really great history that goes back to the early days of Destiny’s Child,” Ehrlich added. “I love working with [Beyonce]. She’s incredible. She is so into what it is that she does and making sure that everybody who sees her walks away saying, ‘wow.’ ”

“Should she be on the show this year?” he continued. “I would think that the potential is there for that kind of moment.” (Source: LA Times)

Jay's up for 9 Grammys this year, the most of the night. And B has an album to promote. So it all makes sense. Fingers Crossed!!!!

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards is next Sunday, January 26, 2014. Tune in to see if the Carters do in fact take the stage and to see, how many trophies Hov takes home.

The Carter Life: Beyoncé & Jay Z Take New York + B Shares More Personal Photos...

The Carters are back at home. Jay's in the Tri-State area for his Magna Carta World Tour and B & Blue are back home, taking care of business and taking in Mr. Carter's tour. Jay was snapped leaving his office, on Thursday, January 16, and Hov even stopped to give a fan some love.

While, Beyoncé & Blue were snapped leaving B's office in Midtown. And it looks like Blue had a busy day. She slept away in her mommy's arms as, they walked to their waiting car.

Beyoncé is still on her photo sharing frenzy, sharing more sweet family moments, and of her time in New York--she's turning the sidewalk into her catwalk...so, is she prepping for the Grammys????

Check out more photos of the Carters in NYC and Miami, below.

The Carters kicked off 2014 with three big parties. First a New Year's Bash with family and friends at the Versace Mansion in Miami, then Blue's 2nd birthday party at Jungle Island and Ms. Tina's 60th Birthday Party in New Orleans--and, Beyoncé has been on a photo updating frenzy sharing the cutest and dearest moments with Jay, Blue, her family and friends--from all three events.

She's shared photos of Princess Blue Carter's second birthday party at the Miami Zoo's Jungle Island, an interactive wildlife park and botanical garden. And it looks like, B had as much fun at the party as Blue, did.

I love their crowns.

They boogied at Ms. Tina's Masquerade Party and roc'd out at the Versace Mansion. Check out photos from all three events below. What a life!!!

Golden Globes Edition....Kerry's Big Debut: Kerry Washington Officially Debuts Baby Bump at The Globes

Kerry officially debuted her baby bump on the Golden Globes red carpet last night. The mommy-to-be roc'd a custom Balenciaga gown and proudly showed off her baby bump. She looked gorgeous. And she was glowing.

Kerry also brought her husband, Nnamdi Asomugha to the Golden Globes after parties.

Saturday night, Beyoncé & Solange threw Ms. Tina a royal affair for her 60th birthday in New Orleans--an old New Orleans Masquerade Party.

Ms. Tina, who is a New Orleans girl, and boyfriend Richard Lawrence, arrived by a horse drawn carriage--led by a marching band. NOLA Baayyybe!!!! She was followed by Solange and boyfriend, Alan Ferguson, Julez and Angie, and Kris Jenner who all arrived by horse drawn carriages. While, Jay & B slipped in through the back.

Once inside the family partied the night away with family, close friends and a host of celebs. Kelly, Monica & Shannon Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Gayle King and more came out to celebrate.

Jay and his grandmother.

The Carters came out too, Jay's mom, Gloria Carter, grandmother and other family members came to, celebrate with the birthday girl.

Looks like it was a beautiful night. Check out more pictures below.

Blue's World: Jay Z & Beyoncé Take Over Jungle Island for Blue Ivy's Second Birthday...It's A Miami B'Day for Blue's Second Birthday

After spending her first birthday in the Bahamas, Miss. Blue Carter, celebrated her second birthday in Miami...what a life!!!

Jay & B took over Jungle Island, the bird sanctuary inside the Miami Zoo on Wednesday to celebrate Blue's birthday, which was on Tuesday, January 7. The Carters, along with a group of friends, enjoyed the first half of their day exploring the wildlife habitat and botanical garden.

What a perfect way for Blue to enjoy her birthday. And, how cute does Blue look, and she's roc'n her Mommy's Flawless chain.