Alicia Keys picked up her trademark trousered-look as a teen – so she wouldn’t be mistaken for a prostitute in her native New York.

The R&B star never exposes her legs, in public or onstage, a fashion habit she picked up years ago for her own protection.

She tells the New York Daily News, “When I was young, it was for protection. It was about being able to walk the streets in a comfortable way. This was the 42nd Street of pimps and prostitutes. So if you put on a dress, you’d instantly be looked at as an object. It made me shy away from that. Besides, pants are just as sexy.”

Source, Bauer-Griffin

PCN

Pictured: Alicia Keys, Gerard Butler, Rose Byrne, Nicky Hilton & Nelly Furtado.

Fame

What do you think of Jessica Alba’s bangs? Me no like.

Pictured: Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Elijah Wood, Alicia Keys & Queen Latifah!

Splash

Alicia Keys could be named as “the other woman” in the divorce of hip-hop producer Swizz Beatz and R&B singer Mashonda, sources tell us.

Swizz has been brushing off rumors that Grammy-winner Alicia had anything to do with his split from Mashonda, his wife of almost five years and mother of his 1-year-old son, Kasseem Dean Jr.

But Mashonda isn’t buying it. Last week, she was incensed when she heard about the birthday party Alicia threw for Swizz at midtown’s Louis Vuitton store, where guests included Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Robin Thicke.

“Alicia introduced Swizz as ‘The man of the hour and my boo,’” says an insider. “Mashonda has had enough. She put her career on hold to be a wife and mother. She’s tired of pretending she’s deaf, dumb and blind to what’s going on. She can’t believe how disrespectful Alicia is being.”

Word that Swizz and Mashonda were separating came in April in a statement issued by a rep for the couple.

A friend of Mashonda argues, “That was his announcement. She got sucked into it. She thought they were trying to put their marriage back together. Meanwhile, he’s apparently been telling Alicia that his marriage was over.”

Though he accompanied Alicia on her European tour last summer, Swizz has continued to live, off and on, with Mashonda and Kasseem Jr. at their Westchester mansion, says a friend.

Mashonda is said to have exploded when she found a flirty e-mail from Alicia on Swizz’s BlackBerry. According to sources, she fired back a reply, reminding the singer he was still her husband.

Mashonda has now hired powerhouse matrimonial lawyer Bernard Clair.

“This could have been handled quietly,” said a friend. “But now Mashonda has taken the gloves off.”

Clair declined to comment. Keys’ rep didn’t return a call.

A friend of Swizz said, “His relationship with Alicia began after their separation. He hasn’t kept it a secret. He still has great love for Mashonda and has promised to take care of her and their son and support her career.”

Source

WENN

Alicia Keys is the latest star rumored to be recording the new James Bond theme.

The singer is reportedly the top contender to sing the title track for the superspy’s latest outing, Quantum Of Solace, with a source telling E! Online: “I believe Alicia is the winner.”

A representative for Keys has declined to comment on the reports, stating there is “no info” currently available.

Speculation about who will sing the title track for the new 007 movie has been rife – with rumors that Amy Winehouse, Leona Lewis, Beyonce Knowles, Duran Duran and Welsh singer Duffy all have been considered for the project.

Source

WENN