To honor rapper Jay-Z's humanitarian work with helping stymie the world's water crisis, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon busted out a rap at the UN Global Leadership Awards celebration this week in New York. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas also showed up to take in the awkward-but-endearing performance.

The quality on this clip is lousy, but its worth a look if only to see the world's diplomatic leader attempt to kick it.

Sort of reminds us of the cringe-worthy moments when our parents attempted to display their hipness with teenage lingo when delivering the obligatory "Don't do drugs!" speech in high school. Check it:]]> ced138 2008-10-08T11:30:41-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/26/223056/256

L.A. concertgoers, rejoice! The Hollywood Palladium, once host to both the Rat Pack and the Grammy Awards, will reopen this fall with a gala concert by the 2008 equivalent of Frank Sinatra, Jay-Z.

The Palladium has been closed for repairs since being purchased by Live Nation in April 2007. Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke at the Palladium despite a bomb threat and artists from The Rolling Stones to the Red Hot Chili Peppers have performed there. But for us, it'll always be known as the backdrop to this scene from "Almost Famous" starring Kate Hudson:

Tickets for the Jay-Z show go on sale September 5.

Related Stories:
· 2007: Live Nation Inks Palladium Deal [Billboard.com]
· Jay-Z To Open Renovated Hollywood Palladium [Billboard]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Jay-Z performing at Glastonbury 2008: dannynorth]]]> egw 2008-08-27T08:45:17-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/30/9497/91743

The Glastonbury Music Festival is perhaps better known for its epic mess than its gritty performances. But this year's fest was remarkably dry, bringing the stars out in record numbers. There was rain, don't doubt it, just less than usual, so Kate Moss' boots looked more like a fashion statement than a meteorological necessity.]]> egw 2008-06-30T10:45:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/19/060/33059

Among the cheering crowd at Coldplay's live gig at London's Brixton Academy (a live music venue, not a school) we saw two people who, if they aren't best friends already, should be: Jay-Z and Ricky Gervais. Both stood off to the side and watched the band run through new tracks from their latest album "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends."

Longtime Coldplay or Carter/Gervais fans will know that both rapper and comedian have worked with Chris Martin, Jay on the 2006 song "Beach Chair" and Gervais on his TV show "Extras." But can Ricky rap? We wish we knew.

Didn't get into the exclusive gig? You can visit the BBC Television Studios in London six days a week for £9.50 a ticket (about $18), which gets you a guided tour and a peek into the studios. Pool party not included.

Related Stories:
· Together at Last!! [ONTD]
· Backstage Tours [BBC]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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While Americans braved $4-plus-per-gallon prices at the pump--or watched people spend tons of gas money at the Indy 500--celebs flocked to the tiny principality of Monaco for a weekend away. Whether they were attending the Formula 1 race, like Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, or otherwise occupied, stars alone or in pairs made the best of the holiday.

Kate Hudson relaxed in Monte Carlo with her new fling, racer Lance Armstrong, while newlyweds Jay-Z and Beyonce looked like they weren't having such a good time outside of their hotel. (Maybe they couldn't get tickets to Indiana Jones 4!)

Monaco is shaping up to be a very popular destination for celebs in 2008. In May, Bono celebrated his 48th birthday there, and Brangelina took the kids for a family vacation. Another advantage to this tiny principality? It's close enough to Cannes that stars can run over (in private helicopters, natch!) and catch a film or two.

Related Stories:
· Monaco Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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Hey, did you hear that hip-hop royalty Jay-Z and Beyonce got married in New York this weekend? While the pair has yet to release an official statement about the possibly of their legal union, a marriage certificate was issued in the state of New York, and crowds of black Hummer limos swarmed lower Manhattan on Friday--allegedly to take the rapper and the R&B diva to the courthouse and on to a party at his TriBeCa loft.

So where did they go for the honeymoon? How about romantic... Greensboro?! If the chart-topping power couple tied the knot Friday, they sure picked an odd time to do it, with three tour dates left on Jay's "Heart of the City" tour with Mary J. Blige.

The pair dispatched with two of those this weekend in North Carolina (where Blige wished them vague congratulations) and Washington DC. Jay and Beyonce will have some time to take a real honeymoon before the April 16 show at the Hollywood Bowl.

Related Stories:
· Kanye's Favorite Thing To Do In Vegas (Connect Four With Beyonce) [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Superficial]]]> egw 2008-04-08T10:34:39-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/4/82323/10097

Hopping from expensive club to expensive club? Buying out the Louis Vuitton store? Lying down in the sun at the Rehab pool party surrounded by ladies? Kanye West has done all that, but recently on his blog he revealed one of his favorite things to do in Vegas: Play Connect Four!

Apparently Kanye and Beyonce were in Vegas for the opening of Jay-Z's new 40/40 Club, and while the club was fine, they got into several heated games of Connect Four. She beat him nine times straight. You go, girl.

Related Stories:
· Kayne's Blog [Official Site]
· Beyonce and Jay-Z's Weekend Travel Plans [Jaunted]
· VMA Post Mortem: Kid Rock Tommy Lee Fight Video [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Kanye's Blog]]]> egw 2008-01-04T09:00:02-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/