Rihanna Offers to Pay Funeral Costs of Young Fan

Rihanna is a real soldier when it comes to holding down her #Navy. After learning about a devoted Brazilian fan stabbed to death by his drunken stepdad—along with his younger brother and mom—the multiplatinum-selling singer released a couple tweets in his honor. She later reached out to the family of 14-year-old Thiago Sobral Valencia to offer financial support for his funeral expenses, but the gesture was declined by Thiago’s biological father, Eronilton Santos. He did, however, request that she pen a tribute in his son’s honor, since Thiago was always too poor to see her in concert. No word on whether she’s going to fulfill Eronilton’s wish, but bad gal definitely takes the cake for good deed of the week.

Read it at Madame Noire.

Lupita Nyong’o Covers Vogue Italia’s February Issue

Forget lip gloss, let’s talk about Black skin poppin’! Lupita Nyong’o is all kinds of heavenly on the cover of Vogue Italia’s latest issue. Her spread in the upscale fashion mag exhibits her flawless bone structure, luscious lips, lean sculpted frame and radiant skin. While she may be new to the scene, falling into superstardom after her breakout, Oscar-nominated role as Patsey in director Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Miss Slay ’Em is killing the industry already—and this looks like only the beginning. Werk!

Read it at Madame Noire and The YBF.

Nas Announces 20th Anniversary Illmatic XX

Twenty years ago, on April 19, 1994, Nas dropped a jewel that would go on to become one of hip-hop’s most prized possessions—Illmatic. In celebration of the classic LP, on April 15 Nasty Nas will release Illmatic XX: a two-disc compilation equipped with remixes, unheard demos and a few funky fresh freestyles from the master MC. The new album will be preceded by a national tour where the Queens rapper is scheduled to perform every track from his esteemed masterpiece, and followed by a documentary centered around the LP’s assembly and impact on hip-hop culture. It’s obvious that age won’t be slowing down the 40-year-old MC any time soon.

Read it at BET.