Buzz Watch - What's Hot & Happening Now!

BET.com lists spring's top 20 buzzin' topics.

Songwriters/Singers - The movement of famous songwriters to recording artists seems to be a fool-proof formula.<BR>Ne-Yo did it, and now it’s singer/songwriter/producer The-Dream and Keri Hilson’s turn.

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Songwriters/Singers - The movement of famous songwriters to recording artists seems to be a fool-proof formula.<BR>Ne-Yo did it, and now it’s singer/songwriter/producer The-Dream and Keri Hilson’s turn.

Angela Bassett - ‘ER’s’ buzz has skyrocketed and so has Angela Bassett. The Oscar-nominated actress, who plays attending physician Cate Banfield, could make Emmy history. If nominated in lead, she would be the first African American to ever win Lead Drama Actress. The 61st Emmy Awards will air live September 20 on CBS.

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Angela Bassett - ‘ER’s’ buzz has skyrocketed and so has Angela Bassett. The Oscar-nominated actress, who plays attending physician Cate Banfield, could make Emmy history. If nominated in lead, she would be the first African American to ever win Lead Drama Actress. The 61st Emmy Awards will air live September 20 on CBS.

First Lady Fab - There's a big buzz about the new first lady and her notable sense of style. Not only does Michelle Obama exhibit a fresh, young approach to what she wears, designers and fashionistas have also developed an obsession with toned biceps. Plan to see more sleeveless shirts, dresses and evening gowns this summer.

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First Lady Fab - There's a big buzz about the new first lady and her notable sense of style. Not only does Michelle Obama exhibit a fresh, young approach to what she wears, designers and fashionistas have also developed an obsession with toned biceps. Plan to see more sleeveless shirts, dresses and evening gowns this summer.

Love Gone Wrong - Shortly after a Clive Davis pre-Grammy party, Chris Brown and Rihanna both skipped out on the 51st Annual Grammy Awards leaving everyone wondering what had happened. All that was known up to that point was that on the evening of Feb 8, Brown and an unidentified woman were engaged in an argument that turned violent. Brown would turn himself in to authorities the following day.

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Domestic Abuse - Coverage of the Chris Brown and Rihanna incident has brought the serious issue of domestic violence into the national spotlight. Many media outlets, including “Oprah,” The Washington Post and The New York Times, have been reaching out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) in an effort to bring to light the severity of the issue.

Architectural Pieces - It’s all about exaggeration. Padded shoulders, paneled dresses and boxy shapes are very modern and very hip.

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Architectural Fashion - It’s all about exaggeration this season, and the influence of architecture on fashion is stronger than ever. Padded shoulders, paneled dresses and boxy shapes are very modern and very hip, with celebrities making huge fashion statements in videos and on the stage.

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Eating In - With the plunging economy, consumer behaviors are changing. Cooks are rediscovering the grocery store and cooking at home again. As diners alter eating habits to fit tighter household budgets and dwindling assets, restaurant owners are feeling the crunch.

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Eating In - With the plunging economy, consumer behaviors are changing. Cooks are rediscovering the grocery store and cooking at home again. As diners alter eating habits to fit tighter household budgets and dwindling assets, restaurant owners are feeling the crunch.

Freelancing - The recession clearly has prompted the growing trend of workers who have gone from regular full-time jobs to contract work or freelancing. At the same time, cash-strapped companies are taking advantage of the situation and more freelancers are becoming a permanent fixture.

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Freelancing - The recession clearly has prompted the growing trend of workers who have gone from regular full-time jobs to contract work or freelancing. At the same time, cash-strapped companies are taking advantage of the situation and more freelancers are becoming a permanent fixture.

A Greener You - Not just a passing fad, the green movement is a trend that will be around for quite some time. Many people are making eco-friendly changes in their lifestyles and more and more businesses are trying to find ways to green up their operations.

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A Greener You - Not just a passing fad, the green movement is a trend that will be around for quite some time. Many people are making eco-friendly changes in their lifestyles and more and more businesses are trying to find ways to green up their operations.

Charity Work - A quick look at Hollywood makes it obvious that charity and integrity are popular topics of discussion these days. We see celebrities adopting children, lending their names to charitable organizations, giving their time, energy, money and endorsements to the charities of their choice. Let them inspire you to go out and do your part.

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Charity Work - A quick look at Hollywood makes it obvious that charity and integrity are popular topics of discussion these days. We see celebrities adopting children, lending their names to charitable organizations, giving their time, energy, money and endorsements to the charities of their choice. Let them inspire you to go out and do your part.

Steve Harvey's Book - It's the best-selling no-nonsense advice book that has women buzzing. &lt;i&gt;Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy and Commitments&lt;/i&gt; is flying off the shelves. The comedian and syndicated talk-show host Steve Harvey lets women inside the mind of a man, and they're soaking it up like a sponge. Men, run for cover.

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Steve Harvey's Book - It's the best-selling no-nonsense advice book that has women buzzing. <i>Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy and Commitments</i> is flying off the shelves. The comedian and syndicated talk-show host Steve Harvey lets women inside the mind of a man, and they're soaking it up like a sponge. Men, run for cover.

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Twitter - Everybody's tweeting. Even Diddy has succumbed to Twitter mania. Twitter is increasingly loved both by politicians looking to communicate with the public, celebrities reaching out to their fans and everyday people tweeting their every move.

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Twitter - Everybody's tweeting. Even Diddy has succumbed to Twitter mania. Twitter is increasingly loved both by politicians looking to communicate with the public, celebrities reaching out to their fans and everyday people tweeting their every move.

Statement Jewelry - Bigger and bolder is always better. From oversized chains to exotic shapes, statement jewelry is still on the rise for spring ‘09 fashion.

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Statement Jewelry - Bigger and bolder is always better. Whether it’s dangling from your ears, or hanging from your neck, bold statement jewelry can take an outfit from drab to fab.

UPTOWN Magazine - UPTOWN, the only luxury lifestyle magazine targeting the growing affluent African-American market, is currently published in NYC, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. In 2009, UPTOWN will expand to include a Charlotte edition and increase to six issues per year. As many prints have struggled to retain sales, UPTOWN has grown exponentially.

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UPTOWN Magazine - UPTOWN, the only luxury lifestyle magazine targeting the growing affluent African-American market, is currently published in NYC, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. In 2009, UPTOWN will expand to include a Charlotte edition and increase to six issues per year. As many prints have struggled to retain sales, UPTOWN has grown exponentially.

Hard Working - First Lady O and her family have taken action to set an eco-example for the nation. She recently broke ground for an organic herb and vegetable garden on the White House South Lawn.

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Home Gardens - With the popularity of going green and the recession in full swing, many Americans are getting down and dirty, breaking ground in their backyards to make room for home gardens. First lady Michelle Obama followed suit and has made plans for an organic vegetable garden right on the White House’s South Lawn.

Ethnic Fashion - American fashion isn’t the only popular style in the States. Ethnic-inspired attire and accessories can definitely add some uniqueness to your look.

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Ethnic Fashion - Fashion is growing everyday and the mixing of different cultures and trends continues. Even designers like Dior and Dolce & Gabbana get inspired by other cultures for their collections. Noted prints that continue to inspire designers are African and Asian-inspired trends.

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Noelle LuSane - This politically savvy sister’s beauty takes us back to Africa. Noelle LuSane is the Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health in the Office of Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ). She cares about bridging the gap between the motherland and the United States, and we’d love to join in the cause.

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Young, Black Professionals - Barack Obama's election has encouraged many young African Americans to step it up in their personal and professional lives. His feat followed a burning itch to be a part of change, get involved in politics and become the next generation of movers and shakers in American life.

Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico is fast becoming a travel hot spot, and not only because of its beautiful beaches and safe tap water. With the rising violence from drug cartels and gangs in Mexico, more vacationers are crossing out Mexico and penciling-in Puerto Rico on thier list of “Top Vacations.&quot;

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Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico is fast becoming a travel hot spot, and not only because of its beautiful beaches and safe tap water. With the rising violence from drug cartels and gangs in Mexico, more vacationers are crossing out Mexico and penciling-in Puerto Rico on thier list of “Top Vacations."

DVD Downloads - Just as the music industry was hit with the large increase of downloading, the movie industry might be next. Burn-to-DVD applications are popping up everywhere, allowing movie buffs the freedom to (obviously) burn movies onto a DVD and watch them on any standard DVD player, like the Xbox 360, for example.

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DVD Downloads - Just as the music industry was hit with the large increase of downloading, the movie industry might be next. Burn-to-DVD applications are popping up everywhere, allowing movie buffs the freedom to (obviously) burn movies onto a DVD and watch them on any standard DVD player, like the Xbox 360, for example.

Ultimate Frisbee - It’s the hottest new trend in summer sports. Ultimate Frisbee has become one of the most popular sports on college campuses and is also played internationally in over 42 countries. It's taking off as a serious sport with serious athletes, and it is going to get extremely competitive in the next few years.

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Ultimate Frisbee - It’s the hottest new trend in summer sports. Ultimate Frisbee has become one of the most popular sports on college campuses and is also played internationally in over 42 countries. It's taking off as a serious sport with serious athletes, and it is going to get extremely competitive in the next few years.

Detective Jill Scott - There have been dozens of TV detective shows, but The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency presents two things rarely seen on American TV: An African female lead character and a positive portrait of Africa, rather than the conflict and crisis on the continent. The series stars Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose.

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Detective Jill Scott - There have been dozens of TV detective shows, but The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency presents two things rarely seen on American TV: An African female lead character and a positive portrait of Africa, rather than the conflict and crisis on the continent. The series stars Jill Scott and Anika Noni Rose.