Following appearances in “Happy Feet Two” and the AMC TV series “Hell on Wheels,” Common takes on his most challenging role yet in Sheldon Candis’ drama LUV, which makes its debut at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The rapper-turned-actor stars alongside Michael Rainey Jr., Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, and Charles S. Dutton in the story of an 11-year-old orphan who discovers unpleasant truths about his uncle. Get a first look below.

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Dwyane Wade was living large at his 30th birthday bash in Miami last night. The NBA star partied with his pals at the swanky affair at The Setai hotel. T.I. and Rick Ross got the crowd hype with their performances, a dapper Common freestyled over his single “Celebrate,” and Kelly Rowland serenaded the birthday boy with “Happy Birthday.” If that wasn’t enough, D-Wade was gifted with a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C valued at around $230,000. Other celebrity well wishers included Usher, Flo Rida, LeBron James, and Fat Joe.

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BET recognized the achievements of legends in the fields of music, literature, entertainment, media, service, and education at its 5th Annual BET Honors. Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Maya Angelou, and Spike Lee were among the honorees at Saturday’s taping at Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. The star-studded evening featured musical performances and touching tributes.

L.A. Reid bestowed praise on Mariah Carey before Patti LaBelle left the diva in tears while performing her classic ballad “Hero.” Nick Cannon honored his wife with an emotional speech as he held their son Moroccan (his sister Monroe was backstage feeling camera shy). A grateful Mariah thanked everyone for their love and support as she accepted her award.

With her idol in the front row, Kelly Rowland joined Raekwon for a cover of MC’s ODB-assisted hit “Fantasy.” “I love and respect her so much,” said Kelly. “I have to look at her forehead when I’m singing and not her eyes ’cause I know I’m gonna break out in tears.”

Common, Jennifer Hudson, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Willow Smith, Jill Scott, and First Lady Michelle Obama were also on hand to salute the honorees. The special will air during Black History Month on February 13.

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The celebration continues. After hitting up “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on Thursday, Common brought the party over to “Live with Kelly.” Looking sharp in a double-breasted blazer and jeans, the rapper-turned-actor performed the No I.D.-produced “Celebrate” off his latest album The Dreamer/The Believer. Raise a toast with Common.

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Common’s beef with Drake may be getting all the attention lately, but the Chi-town MC turned the focus back on his music. Confetti and disco balls set the party mood as Common joined The Roots to perform his feel-good single “Celebrate” on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.” His album The Dreamer/The Believer falls 26-42 in its third week on the charts.

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The Weeknd rushed to his friend Drake’s defense after his beef with Common. Now Drizzy’s YMCMB boss Birdman throws his support behind his artist in the ongoing battle.

“Drake the homie so we ride or die,” the Cash Money CEO told Power 106’s “Big Boy’s Neighborhood.” “Ain’t no second questions about that. We never been a brand of making money off of [diss records]. That’s not what we ’bout. So however the young homie deal with it, we behind it, we supporting him 100 percent with our life.”

He continued, “Drake the little homie. That’s blood, that’s family, and ain’t no siding with that. It’s Drake or nothing.”

Despite his full support for Drake, Birdman has no plans to get in on the feud.

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The Weeknd is showing his loyalty to Drake. The Canadian singer lashed out at Common after he dissed his friend on a remix to Rick Ross’ “Stay Schemin’.”

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After Drake took a subliminal shot at him on Rick Ross’ mixtape single “Stay Schemin’,” Common fires back with a venomous verse.

“It bothers me when the gods get to acting like the broads/ Guess every team doesn’t come complete with ni**as like ours,” raps Drizzy over the Rich Forever cut featuring Rozay and French Montana.

The Chi-town MC adds some lethal bars to the song, referring to Drake as “That Hoe Ass Ni**a.” Listen and check out the lyrics below.

“Everybody know you sweet, what the problem is/ Don’t play dumb, I’m the one that acknowledged it/ Son of a bitch, I imagine what your father is/ She said, How you make your opponent/ Rapper of the moment, his style he don’t own it/ Acting all hard when he hardly like that/ Mess around and make me catch a body like that/ Don’t do it ’cause every song you make is really hoe music/ I heard you said wasn’t a bitch ’cause you sing, you a bitch ’cause you cling like a bitch that’s 18/ Can’t say my name, but rap about ni**a’s wife/ You show black and white tryna live a ni**as’ life/ I’m taking too long with this amateur guy/ You ain’t wetting nobody ni**a, you Canada Dry.”

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