Star Catcher
Pre-VMA Parties

It was an especially star-studded night on Wednesday in the Big Apple, as celebs infested New York in advance of tonight's MTV Video Music Awards.

Our first stop was the gala opening of Rocpopshop, the Midtown Manhattan retail outlet of one of rap's true moguls -- Jay-Z -- where we ran into the proprietor himself. The self-proclaimed "CEO of Hip-Hop" arrived in true blinged-out fashion and stopped by the red carpet for the paparazzi, while showing off his fashion line.

From there we were off to another VMA-eve soiree at the swank Bryant Park Hotel thrown by Nick Lachey. The former boy-bander showed in the same car with rumored girlfriend and "TRL" eye candy Vanessa Minnillo but the two were careful not to walk the red carpet together. Vanessa waited in the car until Nick was done gladhanding and posing, and then traipsed down the red carpet herself. Why these two are even bothering with the coy cloak-and-dagger act is beyond us.

Our last stop was the biggest one of the night, at new NoHo hotspot Chinatown Brasserie. Thrown by Grammy-winning producer Pharrell Williams, the bash's guest list was absolutely crammed with stars, like the Dogg Father (Snoop Dogg) himself, Ciara, Cee-Lo (one-half of Gnarls Barkley), the brothers Wayans, a very bitter Ed Lover, hip-hop legend Common, and -- well what would a party be without them? -- the Hilton clan, which included, as ever, producer Scott Storch and supporting actor Brandon Davis.

All this and much much more in this VMA party packed Star Catcher.

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Tags: Brandon Davis, BrandonDavis, Cee-Lo, Ciera, Common, Jay Z, JayZ, Kanye West, KanyeWest, Nick Lachey, NickLachey, Nicky Hilton, NickyHilton, Paris Hilton, ParisHilton, Pharrell Williams, PharrellWilliams, Scott Storch, ScottStorch, Snoop Dogg, SnoopDogg, Vanessa Minnillo, VanessaMinnillo, Waynes

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(Page 3 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. The VMAs just bombed this year for some reason. Just awkward and stupid.

Posted at 2:11PM on Sep 1st 2006 by Jason

32. vanessa ur dress looks awful...paris what's up with ur hair do???and that plastic thing on ur hair...pharell..i bet all he liked was those lips....on his u know what...and jay z i wouldn't buy that shirt if it where on clearance...kanye those glasses GOT TO GO>>>please donate........and what's up with all these rapper doing hand geastures.....great role models....just take a damn picture

Posted at 4:50AM on Sep 1st 2006 by critic

33. "stop crying racist and stop naming your kids lequisha and try to be protective members of society"

Yes, by all means, Black people should follow the lead of the briliant and articulate Chris in an effort to improve their lives. And by the way, moron, the word is PRODUCTIVE, not "protective". Nothing like thoroughly revealing your own ignorance in your pathetic attempt to put down an entire race. I simply LOVE it when stupid people reveal their 4th grade educations. After all, failure to achieve is at the heart of most racism. I'll let you go now, since I'm certain you have an order of fries to bag.

Posted at 10:34AM on Sep 1st 2006 by cheryl

34. wow, look what the world has come to. Throughout these years of struggling we have finally become something. Rap music is on top and you racist crackers can't stand it. Jay-z one of the most powerful BLACK men in the entertainment industry have gotten your panties in a bunch (Chris). Black people continue to rise, and white people you are either with us (Justin T.) or against us(George Bush). It's funny there are so many well educated African Americans out there but they don't get any lime light because they don't make the White people money. That comment about selling drugs is idiotic, you guys (white people) deliver it to our front doors and then lock us up when instead of using it turn it ,we turn it into profit. The reason we like bling is because it's beautiful. Think about it where we are from? Africa. what is in Africa Beautiful land, warm climates and diamonds. Where are you from? North America, Cold, cold,cold. That's it nothing special. We are all still happy in the ghetto and you have white people who have it all cheating, manipulating and stealing(enron). The fact is all Black people are who we are different shades, different features, different curves and you love us. Why do you think Angelina Jolie is so popular, you have finally found a white girl with our features. You love us and you know it. ( Now let me clear the water, in no way am I racist towards all white people just the idiots who can't stand the fact that you love our swagger. Jay-z, Beyonce, Pharell the reason why they are so big is because they are not you so deal. Love you guys keep pushing us forward, the future is here and That is Black or should I say tan) lol. Please reply Black people

Posted at 10:55AM on Sep 1st 2006 by lacey

35. I think Pharell and Kanye look good.

Posted at 10:43AM on Sep 1st 2006 by lacey

36. EGO, I love you. You said it all. Chris just wants people on here to get all excited and make trouble on this blog. hey listen, Every nationality has something good and something bad about them. We all look different. I'm a black person and I have green eyes and light skin. If you didn't know where I came from you would think I was a white person. Just think Chris I could pass as white and marry someone in your family and you wouldn't know what I was until it was to late. Beautiful comes in ALL SHADES. It's the uneducated people who make racial comments like this that wants to talk sh*t. You know what EGO? I think Chris is just jealous. He can't get a girl and black brothers can pick up BLACK females, WHITE females, ASIAN females, etc. Chris is jealous, Chris is jealous, . I love being black. And not ashame at all. Hey Chris, I may be your cousin and YOU DON'T KNOW IT!!!!

Posted at 11:22AM on Sep 1st 2006 by Marques

37. "hey "by what" im not saying i wouldn't f*ck some of you half n*ggers like hale berry or alicia keys just not full blown jungle bunny..."

Chris, my dear, young, product of a failing school sysem, given your inability to construct a single grammatically-correct sentence in any of your inane posts, good luck in finding a woman, of any race, willing to sleep with you (absent the exchange of currency). She would have to possess a unique ability to endure your ignorant, disjointed ramblings, your unfamiliarity with either punctuation or capitalization, your inability to spell, and failure to attain even a 12-year-old's understanding of vocabulary ('protective" members of society???)). Like you, she would need to be an intellectual bottom-feeder.

But I can certainly understand your bitterness. You are quite sad, actually. As a White male in America you've had more opportunities than any other group. Yet your lack of brain power has rendered you an underachiever. So you desperately search for a group that you HOPE is even lower on the totem pole. And what do you find -- Black multi-millionaires with only high school diplomas, while you labor at Mickey D's. But don't give up, my friend. You are certain to achieve that GED one of these fine days, and you'll move from fries to counter in no time. So hang in there!

And by the way, THIS jungle bunny happens to hold a law degree from one of the top 5 law schools in the nation, owns her own real estate corp., owns property in New York, and is thoroughly amused by your juvenile attempts at writing. You must live in the backwoods of Kentucky. Here in NY, I've never met a White man as stupid as you. Here, they are pretty adept at reading and writing. But do keep telling yourself you're superior. Based on your level of communication, you will be a party of "one" in believing it.

Posted at 11:14AM on Sep 1st 2006 by cheryl

38. If africa is so great and america sucks so bad I would be glad to chip in for a boat ride back for you.

Posted at 11:17AM on Sep 1st 2006 by I speak Bachi

39. Lacey, I'm a black person and you are so correct. Whatever the black person does or have. Bam, a white person has to do it to. But that's okay, They like it!! People like Chris just can't get there so they have to make fun of it. Jay-Z is not the best looking person on earth. But he can pull one of the prettiest black women of today. And the rappers, good for them. They are making millions and what are we doing. Typing on our computers about them. Chris will get off of his computer and step out of his mobile home and get in his beat up 1972 truck and go get a beer. It's so sad for the world to have haters. I don't hate all white people. Some of my best friends are white. Just the ignorant ones!! LIKE YOU CHRIS. GET A LIFE!!

Posted at 11:23AM on Sep 1st 2006 by Marques

40. "That comment about selling drugs is idiotic, you guys (white people) deliver it to our front doors and then lock us up when instead of using it turn it ,we turn it into profit. The reason we like bling is because it's beautiful. Think about it where we are from? Africa. what is in Africa Beautiful land, warm climates and diamonds."

You've asked for a Black response and I am happy to comply. White ignorance need not be met with Black ignorance. As I previously noted, much of the bitterness of White posters is due to their own failure to achieve on the level of a Jay Z or a P Diddy. They continue to struggle while these men (whom I by no means idolize, since they are rife with faults) are multi-millionaires.

On the issue of drugs, just because Whites import it into your community does NOT mean Blacks have to be stupid enough to distribute it and contributie to the demise of their own people. Exercise common sense and individual responsibility (I'm speaking to Blacks generally, not to you individually, Lacey). SOMETHING in your life has to be more important that money. And if money is what you seek, there are more honorable ways of earning it than via drug sales. Through education and hard work, opportunites can be tapped and financial independence achieved. But if you want success OUTSIDE of sports, drugs or music, stop glamorizing the ghetto. An ability to speak and write properly is crucial (and it's NOT "talking White", it's speaking the grammatically correct English used in corporate America). And corporate America is NOT only White. I and MANY Blacks own our own businesses and small corporations. But I would not own it for long if I couldn't speak and write properly. Utilizing ghetto slang merely perpetuates the stereotype that all Blacks are stupid. When you open your mouth (or put pen to paper) you should quicky and succinctly dispel that notion.

On the issure of bling, again, don't glamoize it. The Ivory Coast is home to thousands of women and children (BABIES) who have had hands, feet and other appendages chopped off by BLACK diamond traders. It is SHAMEFUL that hip hop stars place their own self interest (and images) above the suffering of impoverished Black people. Criticize ignorant Whites when necessary, but level that same criticism against ignorant and/or selfish Blacks when similarly warranted.

Posted at 12:01PM on Sep 1st 2006 by cheryl

41. My only question to all this is when, where, & how dose this ever end?

Posted at 12:16PM on Sep 1st 2006 by I speak Bachi

42. "My only question to all this is when, where, & how dose this ever end?"

It ends with the understanding that people are individuals. Not all Blacks are stupid "jungle bunnies" and not all Whites are successful "captains of industry". So you take each INDIVIDUAL as you find him or her, and judge them on their own merits.

Posted at 12:30PM on Sep 1st 2006 by cheryl

43. I HATE RAP AND RAPPERS!!!!!!!

Posted at 12:39PM on Sep 1st 2006 by Babee

44. Well Cheryl you comment still didn't help the situation your remarks where still racist.

I don't think it will ever end and it is only getting worse this will all implode one day you will see.

Posted at 12:37PM on Sep 1st 2006 by I speak Bachi

45. "I think Paris HIlton would make a perfect partner for him."

I Speak Bachi, I believe you have my posts confused with those of another. Please give a single example of a racist remark on my part. My posts are truthful and point to the shortcomings and misperceptions on the part of both races. My INDIVIDUAL critiques were directed at those who MADE racist statements, NEVER to the entire White race (for that would be juvenile and silly). But I agree with you that it is disheartening to see the young people on this board often engaged in racist name-calling. I mean honestly, calling people Jungle Bunnies and Crackers in the 21st century! And similarly, offering to pay for people to go back to Africa (as you offered) merely because a poster makes laudatory comments about the continent? This is not the behavior of enlightened people. It would all be laughable if it weren't so sad and inexcusable.

Posted at 3:40PM on Sep 1st 2006 by cheryl

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