Dear Beyonce: Why We Love You Till The End Of Time

These days, Beyoncé is breaking down her personal "fourth wall," letting fans into her life more and more, after living as a pop-star enigma for more than a decade.

She recently re-launched her website, began tweeting, started a personal Tumblr account and even Skyped with a contest winner this week after her "End of Time" remix competition.

Somewhere in there, Blue Ivy's mama found the time to handwrite letters to several famous people and post them on her site. She shared her warm, fuzzy feelings for some key figures, including First Lady Michelle Obama, the late New York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and R&B star Sade . In honor of that, I decided to turn this week's Above the Buzz into a letter to Beyoncé, in the key of B, of course.

Dear Beyoncé,
First off, I just want to say "Hey Girl!" You're truly an inspiration to girls everywhere. You represent ladies in a great way, what with your girl power anthems and messages of female independence.

And it seems these days, in spite of how busy you are, you're focused on heading back to school. Education is a really awesome message to spread to all the young women out there. Stay in school kids, right, B?

Next, I just want to let you know that I am still into 4. It's a pretty great album to just leave on repeat while I'm at work or just living life. I mean, those are some jams on there. And, not to quote you or anything, but you shared with Sade that her music helps you get through times, good and bad — well, back at you.

Also, you've been rocking some awesome street style recently. Those "cat" flats you donned a few weeks back have me dreaming of kitschy, animal-themed couture every night. I can only imagine the kind of crazy looks you are planning for the string of shows you have lined up next month in Atlantic City. I assume my tickets are in the mail?

Anyway, I don't want to take up too much of your time. I know you're busy being a mom and working on new music and probably prepping for your show and all, but if you and Jay-Z can make the time, I think I can pencil you guys in for dinner or whatever. I'm cool with wherever you guys pick. You know me, pretty easy-going and all. Alright then, talk to you later.

Your girl,
Jocelyn

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'N---as In Paris' Producer Hit-Boy Has Plans To Rap

Behind the Beats: Hit-Boy
Here's a challenge: place all of Chauncey "Hit-Boy" Hollis' beats in a single playlist, take a listen and try to find some common threads. Besides the name in the production credits, there aren't too many sonic similarities in Hit-Boy's celebrated productions.

"That's been my whole thing ever since I started producing," Hit-Boy told Mixtape Daily of his musical diversity. "I look up to Scott Storch, like when he came out he was doing Beyoncé, he was doing Chris Brown, he was doing Fat Joe. None of his music sounded alike, but it just sounded like the highest echelon of that genre, and that's what I want to do."

The kinetic bleeps and bloops of the Throne's "N---as in Paris" prompted Jay-Z and Kanye West to record an inescapable rap anthem, while the track for Kelly Rowland's "Lay It On Me" was composed of all the summery sounds that make any pop record enjoyable. The beat for Rihanna's island-inspired "Watch n' Learn" perfectly complements her West Indian roots, the bassy "Come on a Cone" gave Nicki Minaj the rap cred she so eagerly sought on Roman Reloaded, and Kanye West's "Way Too Cold" simply sounds like nothing we've ever heard. Earlier this week, Hit-Boy added another twist with "Goldie," A$AP Rocky's screwed-inspired single.

Hip-hop greats like Dr. Dre, DJ Premier and the Neptunes all have a signature sound, but in his young career, Hit-Boy looks to avoid predictability. "If I'm making a pop record, I want it to sound like a [producer] who only does pop records. If I'm doing a trap beat, I want it to sound like somebody who only does trap music," the G.O.O.D. Music producer explained. "I just want it to sound like the highest quality of whatever genre I'm producing."

A producer's sonic success can be a gift and a curse, for example after "N---as in Paris" hit #1 on Billboard's Rap Songs chart, of course other artists came out of the woodwork looking for Hit-Boy to make a similar-sounding track. "Yeah, I get that, but I kinda like try to stay away from it, I just really want to make good music," he said.

That good music can come in the form of the beat or as a rap. "A lot of people don't know but I rap, so I got some stuff coming out. Just be on the lookout for that," he said. "In the next couple of months I'm gonna be dropping some stuff." Will that stuff be included on Kanye's upcoming G.O.O.D. Music album? "We'll see," Hit-Boy answered sheepishly.

What's your favorite Hit-Boy beat? Tell us in the comments!

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Whitney Houston 'Prepared' Monica For Her Life In Music

Monica and the late Whitney Houston shared a special bond. Not only did the fallen pop icon influence Monica, she also mentored her from a very young age.

"Losing somebody that you idolize is one thing, but losing a friend is another thing," Monica told MTV News during an April 10 interview. "I look back over many, many years of my life, and Whitney wasn't the type of person that would call and ask if I was OK; she would actually fly to me. She would come looking for me, she would sit with me.

"She prepared me and always reminded me to never lose sight of who I was, and I think she could be a testament to that because of what she experienced," she continued. "It's hard on a daily basis, especially when I'm thinking about her."

It's been almost three months since Houston passed away after accidentally drowning in a bathtub in her Los Angeles hotel room. While the wounds are still fresh, Monica marches on. The 31-year-old singer just dropped her seventh solo album, New Life, and has been singing Houston's songs since the very beginning of her career.

In March, Monica partnered with Brandy in Atlanta, and together they sang touching Whitney covers. It was far from the first time they paid homage to her. "I guess I get through the tributes for Nippy because I knew how much she enjoyed them," Monica explained. "I didn't just start doing tributes to her: I was signed at 11 years old singing 'The Greatest Love of All.' "

While on the road with Trey Songz during his 2010 Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour, Monica would honor her idol every night, and Houston was alive to see it. "I would put on a gown and do a full-out salute to her from top to bottom and sing," she said. "She got a kick out of that."

Though Whitney's death has been difficult for Monica, the spirited singer takes comfort in knowing that her friend and teacher left a legacy that will transcend generations. "I really appreciate the fact that for almost three decades she gave us music that will last," she said. "My grandchildren will know exactly who she is; my great-grandchildren will know exactly who Whitney Houston is."

Share your favorite Whitney Houston memory in the comments below.

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