The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network toasted Barack Obama’s presidency with a star-studded inaugural ball at the Harman Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

The black-tie affair featured appearances from T.I. (dressed like Count Chocula), Ashanti, Bow Wow, Young Jeezy, LL Cool J, Russell Simmons, Trey Songz, Don King, Nick Cannon, Busta Rhymes, Dawn Richard, Mario, and more.

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While you were out celebrating New Years, your favorite celebs were also poppin’ bottles at events around the country. Rap-Up cover star T.I., who performed “Whatever You Like” in a pre-taped segment for “NBC’s New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly,” hosted a party with actress Chloë Sevigny at the Gansevoort South Hotel in Miami Beach.

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Mario was in Atlanta earlier this week working with producer Tricky Stewart (pictured right) on his fourth studio album, set for a March 2009 release. The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant has also been in the studio with Babyface, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Stargate, KP & Malay, and Polow Da Don.

Mario is calling this the “most personal, colossal album of his career.” It will combine an old school R&B influence with a modern pop sound.

“R&B is back,” at least according to Joe and Mario. The two R&B crooners have collaborated on “Last Sip,” a new joint off Joe’s upcoming album New Man. Listen to the B. Cox-produced joint below.

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Mario gets on the remix to Keyshia Cole’s “Heaven Sent,” which has been No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for 9 weeks! Listen below.

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