+ At Gwen Stefani's recent L.A.M.B. fashion show in New York City, models strutted the catwalk to 80's new wave like The Normal's "Warm Leatherette." Apparently, that's the direction No Doubt will be going for their upcoming, untitled album. According to Stefani, any recording session usually starts with her and bassist Tony Kanal listening to the records of their 1980's youth. Like The Normal and, um, Lionel Richie. (Rolling Stone)
+ Lady Gaga will apparently be striking while the iron is scalding hot. She and her go-to producer, RedOne, will be heading back into the studio in a matter of weeks to begin work on the follow-up to her massively successful The Fame (and its sister release, The Fame Monster). According to RedOne, when he and Gaga get in a groove the magic happens, and happens fast. The two recorded her smash, "Bad Romance," on her tour bus. (MTV News)
+ The world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Nicki Minaj was reunited with her stuffed, pink monkey (that is not a euphemism), Oscar. The baddest Barbie had lost the keepsake a little while ago and was offering a 50,000$ reward for it, claiming she would travel to the ends of the earth to find it. The fine folks at Idolator took that idea and ran with it, superimposing Nicki onto shots of some of the world's great monuments and attractions. So if you ever wondered what Nicki Minaj would look like at Greece's Parthenon...it's your lucky day. (Idolator)
+ This will be welcome news to fans of Kanye West's actual music and haters of his public outbursts. Looks like we'll be getting more of the former and less of the latter in 2010. Kanye is currently sequestered in Hawaii (nice work if you can get it), working on the highly anticipated follow-up to 808's And Heartbreak. According to Big Sean, one of the artists in West's G.O.O.D. Music stable, the album will be called Good Ass Job. Can't wait. Music sounds better with you, 'Yeezy. (Rap Radar)
+ Speaking of Mr. West, just because he's in the bunker working on new music doesn't mean his better half ain't out there in the world looking fabulous and adorable. Two important Amber Rose Internet sightings to call your attention to. One: check her out wearing some straight up Geordi La Forge from Star Trek: The Next Generation shades at Nicole Miller's New York Fashion Week show, here. And then watch her half-sing, half-lip-sync the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way," (with a quick break to apply lip gloss) here. (Oh Not They Didn't!)