Keepingitreal

iphone daily blog buzz 12.07.09

The amount of women claiming to have had affairs with Tiger Woods literally doubled over the weekend, jumping from three to six. If you thought Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman was the ideal actor to take on the role of anti-apartheid activist and first black President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, you are not alone. In fact it was Mandela himself who mentioned Freeman's name for such a role. R&B producer Danja thought Whitney Houston's comeback album "I Look To You" could've scored at least one Grammy nomination this year, but it wasn't to be. R&B producer Danja thought Whitney Houston's comeback album "I Look To You" could've scored at least one Grammy nomination this year, but it wasn't to be.Jazz icon Count Basie, Olympian Carl Lewis and baseball pioneer Larry Doby join 12 other famous natives of the Garden State in this year's New Jersey's Hall of Fame, reports the Associated Press.It was reported Friday that Katt Williams had been arrested in Georgia after a 911 call claimed the comedian, or someone in his entourage, pulled out a shotgun in a Walmart parking lot. Despite the death of Michael Jackson, his brother Jermaine says long-gestating plans for a Jacksons reunion concert are still being considered for next year, but you'll have to watch their upcoming A&E reality series to find out more details.The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Oscar winner Halle Berry at its Women in Entertainment breakfast, where she received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, previously given to such luminaries as Barbara Walters, Jodie Foster, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep. With controversial new talk of mammograms being inadequate for women under 40, the Grammy Foundation has put together an event to support breast cancer awareness among ladies within the age group. The plot of David Mamet's new play Race has finally been revealed in advance of its Dec. 6 opening on Broadway. Stage and screen star Avery Brooks has joined the cast of Baltimore Centerstage's production of Kwame Kwei-Armah's Let There Be Love, reports Playbill News.

iphone Blog Buzz 12.02.09

President Barack Obama's national security team heads to Congress today to address concerns from skeptical lawmakers on expanding the war in Afghanistan by sending another 30,000 troops.In a statement Wednesday on his Web site, Woods says he has not been "true to my values and the behavior my family deserves." He offered his "profound apology" to his supporters.The urban drama "Precious" and the Leo Tolstoy period piece "The Last Station" have each collected a leading five nominations for the Spirit Awards that honor independent film.Police in Atlantic City plan to file charges against several bouncers who were videotaped beating two men outside Jay Z's 40/40 night club early Saturday.Nicole Richie, who shot to fame as Paris Hilton's BFF on the Fox/E! reality series "The Simple Life," will return to television as the star of a scripted comedy in development at ABC.Rapper 50 Cent recently discussed his disastrous relationship with Vivica A. Fox six years ago, and the motivation behind their recent reconciliation, which apparently took place when it was time for the artist to film a video.A judge in Florida has put the kibosh on any attempt by Dwight Howard's ex Royce Lyndsay Reed to profit from his name - either financially or in boosting her own celebrity.Two months after Lil Wayne's son with actress Lauren London was born, another baby boy fathered by the rapper and another starlet has come into the world.Fantasia's anticipated VH1 reality show, "Fantasia for Real," will premiere on Jan. 11, 2010 at 10 p.m. and follow the "American Idol" champ as she juggles single motherhood with the recording of her third album.Defensive end Carlos Dunlap of the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators was arrested early Tuesday and charged with driving under the influence, just days before the biggest game of Florida's season against No. 2 Alabama.Prosecutors have accused the daughter of Rev. Al Sharpton of cursing out a police officer and cutting him off in traffic because she was in a rush to get to a theater, reports the Associated Press.Booted from track-and-field for lying about performance enhancing drugs, former Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones is seeking to earn a living in another sport - professional women's basketball.Giant Magazine, owned by Radio One's Interactive One subsidiary, has suspended its print publication and will now publish online only, reports Washington Business Journal.

iphone text talk 11.16.09

1) Supreme Court refuses to hear Redskins' naming case

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to revive a lawsuit on behalf of Native American activists who claimed that the Washington Redskins' team name is so offensive that it does not deserve trademark protection.

2) Shepard Smith, leaning against prevailing winds on Fox News

NEW YORK -- Shepard Smith had barely started his program when a Fox News producer told him that their reporter had snagged an interview with Chris Christie, the challenger locked in a tight race with New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine.

3) Cleric says he was confidant to Hasan

SANAA, YEMEN -- In his first interview with a journalist since the Fort Hood rampage, Yemeni American cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi said that he neither ordered nor pressured Maj. Nidal M. Hasan to harm Americans, but that he considered himself a confidant of the Army psychiatrist who was given a glimp...

4) Arrest at Walmart leads to charges of racism

ST. LOUIS -- Nearly three years after Heather Ellis switched checkout lines at a southeast Missouri store and touched off what she calls a racially charged dispute with white customers and authorities, the young black schoolteacher faces a trial that could send her to prison for 15 years.

5) Boomers see views relaxing on marijuana

Smoking pot isn't what it used to be for Joe Lee, a 62-year-old vintage-record dealer in Rockville.

6) Obamacare: Buy now, pay later

Obamacare is not "reform" -- given what it would do to spending, it's more like malpractice.

7) Taxpayers on hook as some bailed-out firms prove frail

NEW YORK -- A year ago, the financial system was tottering and government officials arranged a $2.3 billion emergency cash infusion into CIT Group, a troubled lender to small businesses.

8) Better, by a mile

For one Indian summer afternoon at FedEx Field on Sunday, the Redskins let Washington put on rose-colored NFL glasses that, for now, alter the hue of a dismal season. With a 27-17 win over Denver, full of battering runs by Ladell Betts and a trick-field-goal touchdown bomb by a punter named Hunte...

9) A sign of positive change

"We can do this," Phillip Daniels said. Do what? "We did it before."

10) Death through a closed door

First, there was a single bang. Then, the screams.

iphone text talk 11.05.09

ABC is expected to announce today that "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts will interview Janet Jackson for a special to air on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 10 p.m.Chris Brown will finally discuss in detail what drove him to beat up his ex-girlfriend Rihanna on that February night in a new MTV News special "Chris Brown: The Interview," which airs Friday, November 6, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.Whitney Houston will spend part of the holiday season in Russia headlining a pair of concerts that will launch a tour of Europe and Asia, the Russian Entertainment Academy announced Tuesday.s fully expected, Michael Jackson's "This Is It" album enters the Billboard 200 albums chart with an impressive 373,000 copies sold, the fifth-best sales week for an album in the U.S. this year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. contingent of Kansas City Chiefs fans are fed up with running back Larry Johnson.At least she's working! Kirstie Alley is ready to lose the weight (again!) and this time, she's planning to channel her crazy into a reality show! The currently untitled series, which follows the former TV star as she struggles to get her weight under control while raising two teenagers in LaLaLand, is set to debut [...] Lou Jing, a contestant on China’s version of “Idol,” is a recent victim of racial discrimination. The beautiful, gifted, Shanghai…Precious Premiere “This is a golden, carved, sculpted face. I really wanted to accent her gorgeous dress and since she wore minimal…They were thrilled when he came to Utah. Now Jazz fans are eager to say goodbye to Carlos Boozer. What's changed? Not Boozer.Will the pairing of Drake and Jay-Z be as powerful as the pairing of Drake and Lil Wayne? Drizzy talks to us about his latest collaborator, in Mixtape Daily.Tom Cable, the controversial head coach of the Oakland Raiders, should be suspended immediately for acknowledging on Sunday that ...CC Sabathia will start Game 4 of the World Series for the New York Yankees on three days' rest. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said ...TV News: Thesp set to star, exec produce telepic for cabler -- Gabrielle Union is set to co-star and exec produce upcoming Lifetime movie "The Vow."If you hadn't heard, the Soooooooooul Train Awards made a comeback in 2009 after being missing in action the past couple of years. This year's show was taped at the Georgia World Congress Center on Tues., Nov. 3, but won't air until Sun., Nov. 29 on both BET and Centric (the channel formerly known as BET J). (Check your local listings for air times.) If you can't wait that long to know who wins, then have a peek at the full list of nominees and winners of the 2009 Soul Train Awards. If you didn't know by now, music producer Ryan Leslie's serious about a singing career. Unlike many of the other producers who have crossed over to become performers (Diddy, Sean Garrett and others come to mind), R-Les actually has the chops to make people forget that he started out helping create hits for others.  His sophomore album, Transition, which was released in the U.S. on Nov. 3, 2009, is his second album this year; his self-titled debut came out back in February. And the two albums have the same strengths and weaknesses: the music production is hot of course, but Ryan suffers from a lack of star power and charisma. For more, check out the full review of Ryan Leslie'sTransition.

• Review: Ryan Leslie - Transition
• Review: Ryan Leslie - Ryan Leslie
• About.com interview: Ryan Leslie

iphone blog buzz 10.28.09

Andy Cohen, the network's Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Development and host of every Bravo reunion show, says he is pushing for Michelle Obama to wear an item from "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Sheree's clothing line. As Indiana University prepares to name an atrium after PBS host Tavis Smiley, another institution of higher learning has decided to remove his name from a building on its campus.Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has apologized for using a gay slur to describe a Twitter follower and members of the press on Monday, and the team has punished the athlete by keeping him off the practice field. Alicia Keys was supposed to drop her upcoming "The Element of Freedom" album on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. But the singer announced Sunday that the release date has been delayed for two weeks. The New York Yankees' run toward the World Series last weekend threatened to eclipse Jay-Z's first order of business over the weekend -- to promote his participation in the new DJ Hero Renegade Edition video game. Chris Brown took to his Twitter page Monday to announce that his next album, "Graffiti," will be released ten days before Christmas.The man accused of assaulting singer Leona Lewis during a London book signing has been ruled not fit to attend court and has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act, reports NME.com. Idris Elba, the British actor who starred in seven episodes of “The Office” last season, is staying in business with NBC. Elba will serve as an executive producer of an untitled legal drama about a vigilante lawyer who uses any means necessary to defend his clients against a corrupt district attorney and city establishment. It was written by feature scribes Sean O’Keefe and Will Staples. David Eick (”Battlestar Galactica”) will also executive produce. (Continue Reading…)

The Republican National Committee came under fire after a user posted a controversial photo on its Facebook page. The RNC “fan” upload features a picture of President Obama eating fried chicken with the slogan: “Miscegenation Is a CRIME against American values… Repeal Loving v. Virginia.” Loving v. Virginia is a milestone civil rights case that led the Supreme Court to rule that prohibiting interracial marriage violates the Constitution. Though the “miscegenation” post was removed from the RNC’s Facebook page after provoking outrage, Newsweek points out that the slip-up is not an isolated incident: (Continue Reading…)

After seeing previews and reading numerous reviews on the Internet, I finally got to see for myself what Chris Rock’s Good Hair buzz was all about. Overall, I thought the film was very entertaining. It was informative, laugh out loud funny and even sad at times.A new season is fast approaching and you need you know, nay — you demand to know! Who’s the best at each position in the league on a nightly basis in the ‘09-10 NBA season. So with your mind and excel sheet ablaze trying to figure out that riddle to no end. I’ve decided to take one for ...

LOY's PLACE a celtics green blog found this 22 hours ago on hoopeduponline.com

Find more top sports news, videos, and blogs on BallHype: NBA, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire, Josh Smith

iphone blog buzz 09.30.09

LisaRaye's publicist has denied rampant reports across the black blogosphere that the actress is dating Rev. Al Sharpton. The rumors started flying after the two were photographed holding hands at various events over the past several days. Moved by the senseless beating death of a 16-year-old honor student by gang members in Chicago, rapper Nas has written an open letter to teens who throw away their future by battling each other.TMZ.com is reporting that the quickie marriage of Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian is not even valid, and won't be unless a prenuptial agreement is signed. Good Morning America" co-host and breast cancer survivor Robin Roberts will be the guest announcer this Friday during a special Grand Ole Opry show promoting research about the disease. Past and present staffers at New Jersey's Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office are taking the witness stand as part of an investigation into whether the case against former NBA star Jayson Williams, who is black, has been racially biased.Comedienne Luenell will hit the road in a new comedy tour dubbed "More Hustlin'," a follow up to her previous stint on the Pimp Chronicles Tour with Katt Williams, Red Grant and Melanie Camacho.The very smart and very sexy James Franco is attending graduate school at NYU and is supposedly enrolled in Queer Cinema, an undergrad course in the Cinema Studies department. Here's a sample of the syllabus: Week 1: “You Don’t Know Dick: The Courageous Hearts of Transsexual Men” (1997 documentary) [...]

THE UK’s 100 most powerful people of African and Caribbean heritage are unveiled this week in the second annual edition of The Powerlist: Britain’s 100 Most Influential Black People. The list, compiled by a high-powered panel chaired by the British High Commissioner to Australia, Baroness Amos, smashes stereotypes by featuring business leaders, entrepreneurs and people from the arts, media, science and engineering – most of whom the average Briton will probably never have heard of, yet all are leaders in their field. (Continue Reading…) The US Secret Service is trying to identify the people who launched an online poll at Facebook asking whether US President Barack Obama should be assassinated. Facebook on Monday shut down the user-generated poll, which was titled “Should Obama be killed?” and offered answer choices of yes, no, maybe, and “If he cuts my health care.” “Once we found out about it, we worked with Facebook to have it removed,” Secret Service spokesman Malcolm Wiley told AFP. “ CONTINUE READING..

You're looking at what was the main road in the downtown area of Fagatogo, in the main town area in American Samoa. A towering 15-fooot tsunami triggered by a massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake swept ashore on American Samoa and the neighboring...By a vote of 8 to 15, the Senate Finance Committee rejects Rockefeller's (WV) public option amendment. This was considered the strongest Senate proposal for public option in health care reform. Four "Democrats" joined all ten Republicans to defeat the amendment: Baucus (MT), Conrad (ND), Lincoln (AR), Nelson (FL) and Carper (DE).

A host of big-name artists are releasing albums this week, starting with Madonna’s double-disc collection dedicated to her entire tenure on Warner Music, Celebration. Packing 34 hits and two new songs onto two discs, Celebration is a dizzying, non-chronological journey through the Material Girl’s hits, from “Burning Up” to “Dress You Up” to “Hung Up.” “Her hitmaking genius is unmatched and — with the new Eurocheese blast ‘Celebration’ and the Lil Wayne duet ‘Revolver’ — undiminished,” Rob Sheffield writes in his four-star Rolling Stone review of the collection. CONTINUE READING... While initially downplaying any possibility of joining Eminem's Shady Records, Royce Da 5'9 has now said a deal to bring Slaughterhouse to the Interscope imprint may be in the works. Tony Yayo recently spoke on G-Unit's current status and said despite The Game's early claims of the group shattering upon his departure, the Unit is here to stay. Written By Archie Fucque As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. For Caption Diss SOHH is asking you, the reader, to tell us what those words are...just keep it short. The person who coins the wittiest caption wins. Swizz Beatz's estranged wife, Mashonda, has inked an open letter to Alicia Keys requesting the singer to come clean about her alleged affair with the Ruff Ryders producer.Nick Cannon is going hard attempting to squash rumors that his wife Mariah Carey is the sole reason he landed a hosting position on NBC’s hit TV show “America’s Got Talent”. Nick wants all of you to know that Mariah didn’t help his ass get a job. He tells Zap2It. Once upon a time it was the norm on major pop albums for an artist to work with one producer or team of producers throughout an entire album. However, in recent years it has become more common to create an album as a hodgepodge of sometimes mismatched tracks recorded with various producers.

For Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel, Mariah Carey has collaborated primarily with the team of The-Dream and "Tricky" Stewart for songwriting and producing throughout the entire album. The result is a unique, cohesive musical glimpse of the inner life of Mariah Carey.

For fans of Mariah Carey, the quality of her singing and direction of her vocal arrangements are one of the first things looked for in a new album. As has become common since The Emancipation of Mimi, she spends most of her time singing in a midrange that eliminates much of the vocal acrobatics of earlier in her career. However, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel does insert enough moments of vocal fancy to keep most fans happy. CONTINUE READING THE REVIEW...

iphone Blog Buzz 09.09.09

In what will be his first performance since the legal woes surrounding his beating of Rihanna, Chris Brown joins Mary J. Blige and Natalie Cole as headliners for the Sept. 26 Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna, organizers announced Tuesday.Word has it that Janet Jackson has been busy rehearsing a performance for the upcoming MTV Video Awards that will honor her late brother Michael.Less than a week after Jay-Z's entire album "The Blueprint 3" leaked online, the set's initial Sept. 11th release date was scrapped and pushed up to yesterday. Also, dates for the rap mogul's fall tour and "Oprah Winfrey Show" episode were announced on Tuesday.As Mo'Nique prepares for the Oct. 5 launch of her BET talk show, industry buzz has the comedian a clear front-runner to pick up a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her forthcoming role in "Precious."Singer-songwriter Deborah Cox will portray the late, legendary Josephine Baker in the new Broadway-bound musical Josephine, based on the life of the iconic entertainer who dazzled Paris audiences.Jennifer Hudson has been booked to perform at the "VH1 Divas" concert, to be televised live from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn on Sept. 17 at 9 p.m.A Sudanese woman was convicted Monday of public indecency for wearing pants at an outdoor cafe and sentenced to jail for one month when she refused to pay a fine. It must be tough being South African track star Caster Semenya.Instead of carrying yourself like a sex goddess (like so many in the limelight), Caster is under the inverse predicament: Track and field officials apparently think she’s a man. CONTINUE READING... Supermodel Jessica White wants you to know she’s more than just a beautiful face and far from the desperate woman that “The T.O. Show” portrayed. Besides serving as a Maybelline spokesmodel, the Buffalo, New York, native has catwalked national and international runways for some of the most elite designers including Victoria’s Secret. ESSENCE.com caught up with the jet-setting beauty in Europe to get the nitty gritty on her future with T.O., surviving sexual abuse, and how she’s putting her angel wings to good use. (Continue Reading…)

X Factor favorite Danyl Johnson has been barred from appearing on Oprah and television in the America. The 27-year-old bisexual singer and YouTube sensation had been lined up to appear on Oprah Winfrey's show but ITV producers "refused to allow him on over fears it will give him an unfair advantage."CONTINUE READING..Just when you thought Miami Dolphins fans couldn't endure another horrifying embarrassment ... along comes their brand new fight song, courtesy of T-Pain and friends. The "fight" song is a remake of the classic tune from 1972 -- and now Miami ... R&B legend Teena Marie released her latest album, Congo Square, back in June 2009, but up until now only one single from it had been released, "Can't Last A Day," which features Faith Evans. Well, Lady Tee is finally about to deliver a second single, a fun, upbeat track called "You, Baby." The song, which Teena wrote and produced herself, harkens back to her music of the '80s, yet at the same time manages to still sound somewhat fresh and new. You can hear the song for yourself by clicking the link below.

• "You Baby" audio stream (Windows Media)

iPhone Mobile Chatter 09.01.09

For the first time in 40 years, a new medicine to treat lupus has proved effective in a large clinical trial. The drug Benlysta, developed by Human Genome Sciences (HGS) in Rockville, Md., is promising, particularly for African American women, who are three times more likely than white woman to develop the disease, experts say. Additionally, black women tend to get the disease at a younger age and have more severe symptoms than their white counterparts. CONTINUE READING... After three years in the studio, Whitney Houston will release her sixth studio album, 'I Look to You,' on Aug. 31. Already being streamed online, the album is creating award buzz and could be the makings of a strong comeback for the six-time Grammy-winner. So could a much-anticipated appearance on the upcoming season premiere of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Vibe magazine seems to be rapidly rising from its proverbial ashes with new owners, who this week announced that Jermaine Hall will helm the resurrected title. A native of St. Lucia, raised in Queens, Hall is the former editor-in-chief of King magazine, and previously served stints as a music editor of The Source, and a webmaster of Vibe. The Justice Department is moving forward with plans to expand its civil rights division, pursuing cases of discrimination in the workplace, housing and voting rights. From his first day on the job, Attorney General Eric Holder has pledged to strengthen the Civil Rights Division he inherited from the Bush administration.> Full Coverage A large piece of tape covered Christopher Bates's mouth as he In both People magazine and on the "Larry King Live" interview airing Wednesday on CNN, Chris Brown says he has no recollection of brutally beating his ex-girlfriend Rihanna and claims he is still in love with her. The NFL Network has hired Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin as an analyst for its Sunday programs, reports Variety.Scott Storch, the visionary music producer responsible for such hits as Fat Joe’s “Lean Back,” and “Baby Boy,” by Beyonce has fallen on hard times. Storch is reportedly homeless after his bankruptcy claim was denied and he lost his home, a $700,000 mansion in Florida.“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Lisa Wu Hartwell recently opened up about her custody battle with ex-husband Keith Sweat. In an interview with Star Magazine, Lisa said she really wants her two older boys (She appears on the show with husband, Ed Hartwell, and their 2-year-old E.J.) on the show.The Atlanta mayoral race went into overdrive Thursday when two of the leading candidates held dueling press conferences to talk about race. Sen. Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) and City Council President Lisa Borders were responding to a letter that has been circulating through the city calling for a black agenda. Specifically, the letter strongly implies that the city would be better off electing a black mayor. More specifically, the letter endorses Borders. Reed urged the Borders campaign to denounce the email, which he called “divisive,” and “racist.” (Continue Reading…) R&B crooner Mario is gearing up to release his fourth studio album, D.N.A. on October 13th via J. Records. The newest material he’s offering up for is title “Thinkin’ About You.” The new track was produced by Miami natives, The Runners and was penned by none other than Rico Love. The rest of the album features productions from Bangladesh, The Dream, Sean Garrett, Eric Hudson and more.Brooklyn might not be able to get the MTA to honor Michael Jackson at a subway station, but Kings County can still throw down for the King of Pop. As many as 10,000 people are expected at the Nethermead meadow in Prospect Park -- rain or shine -- on Saturday to honor MJ on what would have been his 51st birthday. Complete story at source>>> In a new interview with Billboard magazine, Kem talks about his long awaited third album, Intimacy.  While not committing to a release date, the Detroit-based singer/songwriter says he has "15 or 20" songs written and is working hard to create an album "that people won't soon forget."  To see the entire article, CLICK HERE. Trey Songz has been inconsistent his whole career. Some of his songs, like "Can't Help But Wait," off his second album, Trey Day are compelling, well-sung tracks that properly displaying his considerable singing talent. But for every great song of his, there's weaker tracks like "Wonder Woman," (off Trey Day) and "LOL :)" off his new, third album, Ready, which was released in the U.S. on Aug. 31, 2009. On Ready, Trey continues to straddle the fence between being a horny boy and ladies' man. The bad news is that he hasn't completely mastered the balancing act; the good news is that this is his best attempt so far. For more, check out the full review of Trey Songz' Ready. XOXO

iphone blog buzz 07.31.09

The police officer at the center of a national dispute over race and law enforcement says a much-anticipated meeting at the White House was productive and all parties are looking forward, reports the Associated Press. Michael Jackson's 79-year-old mother Katherine will receive full custody of his three children per a deal that was reached on Thursday, her lawyer announced. Michael Vick says he is getting close to signing with an NFL team but had no other details for reporters following a bankruptcy hearing in Virginia, according to the Associated Press.A battle over music royalties has pitted members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) against the owners of black radio stations, sparking a rare public fight between African-American powerbrokers that could work against lawmakers used to easy reelection, reports The Hill.Damn! He went there. He really went there! Eminem has just released a track called The Warning, completely eviscerating Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. He claims to have naked pictures of Mimi, which he threatens to release, and he calls Nick the F word, amongst other things. meone get me a cage right now. I love love love Shakira's dance moves in the video for She Wolf. I just don't understand why she had to ruin her sexy new look with that little number and hairdo in the end.HBO scores the highest among 15 networks for its representation of gay characters last season, according to a report by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. In its third annual Network Responsibility Index, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against...Eminem has released a new diss song targeting both Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon which appears to be his response to the singer's "Obsessed" music video. Released Thursday (July 30) evening, Em's song landed online and was reportedly recorded over a Dr. Dre beat.President Obama on Thursday announced 16 "agents of change" as recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilan honor. The list included several black pioneers, from the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery to actor Sidney Poitier. It also included South African Bishop Desmond Tutu. Also receiving awards were several women and openly gay pioneers. For the first time ever, the White House recognized former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and former tennis star Billie Jean King, both openly gay. The president also recognized Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland. SOURCE:THE DAILY VOICE

iPhone Blog Buzz Chatter 07.17.09

Rapper Rakim – best known as half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim – sat down with Billboard to discuss the fall release of his anticipated new album, "The Seventh Seal," a project he says is fueled by "consciousness and spirituality." The rapper signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001, but later parted ways without having ever released an album. In fact, Rakim has not released a new studio project since 1999's "The Master," save for 2008's mostly live set, "The Archive: Live, Lost & Found," which included four previously unreleased songs.The new album is being released on Rakim's Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment. Its first single, "Holy Are You," will hit shelves July 28.An attorney for Michael Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe on Tuesday angrily denied a New York Post report that she had agreed to take millions of dollars to give up parental rights to her two children with the entertainer.Two weeks after the death of her brother Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson is reportedly back in Atlanta to begin work on Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married, Too?"Actor Levar Burton was involved in a car accident that took place Monday evening in Los Angeles but he was not seriously injured.The executive producer of A&E's upcoming Jackson family reality project says she has "months and months" of recent footage -- possibly including never-before-seen scenes with Michael, according to the Hollywood Reporter.Grammy-winning music producer Quincy Jones argues in a controversial Details magazine interview - that we assume was done before Michael Jackson's recent death - that Jackson "obviously didn't want to be Black" and suggests that his psychological problem may have resulted from some childhood trauma.Chico's Tacos is about to feel the gay wrath -- a gay wrath that demolished the careers of Carrie Prejean, Tim Hardaway and Isaiah Washington. Chico's Tacos kicked out two gay men for a simple peck on the lips, spat homophobic slurs and the cops okayed it. Read the story.In all, five men were ordered to leave the restaurant. They say they were forced out by homophobic guards."It was a simple kiss...CONTINUE READING US President Barack Obama on Monday named rural southern doctor Regina Benjamin as his pick to be the country’s surgeon general. “I am honored and I am humbled to be nominated to serve… this is a physician’s dream,” the Alabama doctor said after being introduced by Obama in the White House Rose Garden as his choice for the post, which oversees 6,000 staff charged with informing US citizens about questions of health.It seems as though African-American women have come under increased fire as of late. The stereotype of the Angry Black Woman goes hand in hand with the pervasive undertone of hostility towards us as a whole. The imposed cliché of “the b*tch” seems at times inescapable, where even a mere hint of tension from a sister is interpreted as classic ABW behavior. CONTINUE READING... In the rise of natural hairstyles, the Afro aka ‘Natural’ fashionably called, ‘Curly Fro’, ‘TWA’ (teenie-weenie-afro) and ‘Puff’ has made a comeback. Today, there are several singers and entertainers who sport Afros such as Angie Stone, Jill Scott, Algebra Blessett and my personal favorite, although not in the spotlight as of late, Lauryn Hill. I remember searching the bookstore and grocery store magazine racks for pictures of a closer look at Ms. Hill’s ‘knot-out’ fro right after The Fugees, The Score was released in 1996.CONTINUE READING... Yeah, we thought they broke up too - but we all know how that goes. Check out some candids of singers Dawn Richard and Q (from Day 26) hand in hand on the streets on NYC on Monday afternoon. In related news, Dawn is currently writing for Cassie and Diddy at Bad Boy Records and working [...]Whitney Houston arrives at a London hotel on Tuesday night. The legendary singer is set to make a comeback with the release of her highly-anticipated new album in September. Her new single, “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” was just released a couple of weeks ago. Looking good Whitney!!! ( Photos: WENN ) It's been exactly 180 years to the day since the death of African Prince Abdul Rahman. Through exclusive interviews with author Terry Alford (Prince Among Slaves), Emmy Award-winning writer/director Andrea Kalin and Okolo Rasheed (Co-Founder of the International Museum of Muslum Culture), Cyrus A. Webb of Conversations LIVE! Radio talks about the life, struggles and lessons of the man who kept his dignity through incredible challenges.  San Antonio Spurs star Richard Jefferson left his bride hanging last Saturday, stopping cold a posh Manhattan wedding that reportedly cost $2 million to prepare, reports the New York Post. CONTINUE READING... Comedian Dave Chappelle delivered a free stand-up performance Tuesday night at the packed Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon that was advertised solely through Twitter, Facebook and text-message alerts.Tito Jackson has confirmed that he and several siblings had an emotional intervention with Michael Jackson before his death in an attempt to end his addiction to prescription drugs.Eastman Kodak Co. has agreed to pay $21.4 million to settle legal action brought by black workers who claim the photography products maker paid and promoted them less than their white co-workers. The deal was given preliminary approval by a federal judge last month, according to court documents. It would have the Rochester-based company, while admitting no wrongdoing, pay amounts ranging from $1,000 to $75,000 to 3,021 past and current workers.Sudanese police arrested 13 women in a raid on a cafe and flogged 10 of them in public for wearing trousers in violation of the country’s strict Islamic law, one of those arrested said Monday. The 13 women were at a cafe in the capital, Khartoum, when they were detained Friday by officers from the public order police, which enforces the implementation of Sharia law in public places.With four simple words — “Give it to me!” — President Barack Obama took possession of the economy. For months, the White House and Obama’s economic team have laid the economic crisis at the feet of President George W. Bush. But there comes a point in a presidency when inheritance becomes ownership.At a time when good economic news is scarce, it’s encouraging to hear about three businessmen, all Rutgers alumni, staking a claim to the future in Newark’s West Ward. Victor Baker, Hassan Keith and Jeffrey Montgomery are constructing houses on five empty lots on South 9th Street between 11th and 12th avenues.In his first speech before the nation's oldest civil rights organization since taking office, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the NAACP as it celebrated its centennial and also delivered a rousing sermon telling black America to become more responsible. Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z recently spoke on the creation of his record "Death of Autotune" and why its controversy and success is mainly due to Kanye West's involvement.Wendy Williams gets interviewed, speaks on Oprah, the Omarosa incident, and Botox.Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are working on a movie together, so the rumors that they are going around in a romantic were bound to happen. But Gerard is not happy about it. In fact, all the rumors are more annoying than 120 "I LUVZ u PlZ luvz me" text messages from Aniston in a 20-minute period. That's really annoying.The surge in sales of Michael Jackson's music catalog continued Wednesday with the announcement that his recordings dominated the pop charts for the third consecutive week, and a source told The Times that more than 9 million of Jackson's albums have been sold worldwide since his death June 25. As Tom Petty once sang, the waiting is the hardest part. And if you've been anxiously awaiting an upcoming R&B release only to find that it keeps getting delayed and pushed back with no explanation, your Guide to R&B feels your pain. And to keep track of album delays, record deal cancellations, etc., every quarter yours truly keeps you up to speed by compiling a list of the top upcoming albums that have been delayed, pushed back or rescheduled. So if you're wondering about the long-delayed new albums by R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Pretty Ricky, Tweet and others, check out the Summer 2009 list of delayed albums. Summer 2009 Delayed/Pushed Back Albums Jaicko Lawrence (his first name's pronounced jay-ko) is a performer from Barbados, the same island that gave us the singers Rihanna and Shontelle. According to his Capitol Records bio, he's 17 (although he looks at least a couple of years older to yours truly) and began his career in music after dropping out of high school. He started out as a rapper, but switched to singing when he realized he was better at it. He's already released one independent album in his homeland, and is now looking to break into the American market. Check out his current single, "Oh Yeah," which will be on his U.A. debut album, coming out later this year. You can stream the song by clicking the link below, and please feel free to leave a comment with your opinion. "Oh Yeah" streaming audio (Windows Media)In the past year, Justin Timberlake has become as well known as a comedic foil to "Saturday Night Live" cast member Andy Samberg as he is for being a singer. (There's also his ever expanding golf empire.) He's snagging plenty of recognition, as he found out this morning that he has been nominated for two [...]After a nearly eight year hiatus from music, singer Maxwell comes back ina big way to beat out all albums this week and top the Billboard 200. There's also debuts by the Alchemist and Cage.Making a spelling mistake on a cover letter or resume can be costly.
It could cost you a job, for example, according to a new survey that found that 76% of 150 executives in a telephone survey wouldn't hire someone with one or two mistakes. Forty percent said a single typo could cost a potential employee a job."The resume is an applicant's first chance to impress the hiring manager," said Kathryn Bolt, president of Accountemps' Canadian operations, in a Reuters story. "Mistakes on one's application materials may prompt employers to assume there also will be mistakes on the job."Continue reading Hope to hear from you shorty. Typos on resume can cost you a job THAT'S A WRAP XOXO...

iPhone Blog Buzz Mobile Chatter 07.10.09

It's over for House Resolution 600 - the legislation introduced by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas that would have proclaimed Michael Jackson as an American legend, musical icon and world humanitarian. Michael Jackson's widely televised memorial on Tuesday - carried live across an unprecedented 18 cable and broadcast networks - drew 31.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, with ABC and CNN attracting the highest number of viewers.A suburban Philadelphia swim club accused of kicking out a group of African American and Hispanic children visiting from the city is denying that their actions were racist. READ MORE Chrisette Michele has been chosen as the opening act for Maxwell during his sold-out 14-city U.S. tour in support of BLACKsummers’night, his comeback album that was released on July 7. The trek opens July 12 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, and concludes at Miami’s Waterfront Theater on July 31. Ahead of a visit to Ghana at the weekend, he said: “Ultimately, I’m a big believer that Africans are responsible for Africa. “I think part of what’s hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we’ve made excuses about corruption or poor governance, that this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism – I’m not a big – I’m not a believer in excuses. Maxwell has said he used his sabbatical to clear his head and get a life. But it’s clear from his new CD, “BLACKsummers’night,” he also used the time to woodshed something esthetically unique. While the Brooklyn-based singer has always put an original stamp on soul, never has he devised work of this invention or erudition. (Continue Reading…) En Vogue marked their 20th anniversary as one of music’s most successful female groups with a reunion show that electrified the crowd at the Essence Music Festival.“I’m just glad we were able to connect with them.” “We’re just excited to be together again,” Robinson said. “It’s like we never missed a beat. It feels normal again.” Known for their hits “Free Your Mind,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) and “Don’t Let Go,” the group opened the final night of the festival. They performed a medley of tunes by female artists who inspired them, including Tina Turner, Anita Ward and Aretha Franklin. (Continue Reading…) Terrell Carter, the talented singer and actor who starred in a number of Tyler Perry's "Madea" productions, becomes the second black male celebrity outed in the last two weeks. Carter starred in Tyler Perry’s Class Reunion and Meet the Browns, as well as the screen adaptation of TP's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Carter was also in the "What's Done in the Dark" plays. The six foot five, dark and lovely actor with the phenomenal voice also has quite the phenomenal physique, which made him all the more popular among female audiences.CONTINUE READING..A pair of Kanye West-related videos that leaked after last week’s Island Def Jam spring party made their official debuts yesterday, as legit versions of The-Dream’s “Walkin’ on the Moon” featuring West, and West’s own “Paranoid,” starring Rihanna, hit the blogs. For “Walkin’ on the Moon,” off The-Dream’s excellent second album Love Vs. Money, the Atlanta CONTINUE READING.. The Game has continued his onslaught of disses towards Jay-Z with the Day Two: Jon Clettas Edition video blog where the rapper is seen taunting the rap mogul while traveling in Spain.Very disturbing developments in the case of August Provost, the 29-year-old black gay sailor found dead at Camp Pendleton. A Southern California congressman confirms the deceased was gay and killed in a horrific manner, and is calling for congressional and Defense Department investigations.T.I. couldn’t stand not seeing his baby moms for longer than three weeks so he finally broke down and requested for her to come see him in prison. Pop the hood for more Rap artist T.I. entered a minimum security federal prison in Arkansas on Tuesday (5/26) to begin serving a 366 day sentence on federal charges.ust like most summers, there isn't a whole of R&B or Soul music coming out in July '09. But as it turns out, some of the ones being released are huge. The most noteworthy is BLACKsummers'night, the fourth studio album by Soul man Maxwell. Another is Signature, the latest release from another sophisticated brother who makes the ladies swoon, Joe (aka Joe Thomas). Also dropping a new album is yet another heartthrob, Chico DeBarge, whose latest release, Addicted, will be competing for first-month sales with Exposed, the debut album by his  niece, Kristinia DeBarge. For the full details, check out the article on the new R&B/Soul albums of July 2009. Even after a breakout debut season at Pepperdine, most people don’t know about 6-3 Keion Bell. But with 11 clips on YouTube that include a dunk over a 7-footer and a poster on DeMar Derozan, he’ll soon become a household name. This summer Keion and his 41-inch vertical found his way to the Kobe Basketball Academy where he won the Camp Slam Dunk Contest judged by Kobe, Ice Cube and Josh Powell. READ MORE..The Black Eyed Peas are being accused of swiping a song from UK-based DJ and producer Adam Freeland without his permission. THAT'S A WRAP! HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND XOXO

Best in Blogs: Measuring the MJ Aftershock; Franken Rising; Sanford Falling

Top Stories for the Week of June 29- July 3, 2009 ~ There are plenty of ways to measure the impact of Michael Jackson. The extreme strain that news of his death put on the Internet is just the latest. "Web Collapses Under the Weight of Michael Jackson's Death," TechCrunch reported. What Google mistook for a Denial of Service attack amid an epic spike in searches related to Michael Jackson was "a different kind of DoS: the Death of Superstar," says Changing Way. Google's chart of MJ-related queries on the day of his hospitalization and death looks like a tidal wave; the search service even snubbed some MJ news seekers, saying their frenzy resembled the persistence of malicious bot-a-matons. Yahoo News set an all-time record with 16.4 million visitors, beating the old record of 15.1 million set last election day, says SearchEngineLand. The Yahoo report, "Michael Jackson rushed to hospital," was the highest clicking story in Yahoo's history with "a whopping 800,000 clicks within 10 minutes" says Business Insider. Twitter was besieged. Nine of the 10 trending topics on Twitter were MJ-related. SEOMozBlog has a tick-tock-timeline of the online deluge, which blew up last Thursday when TMZ.com went live with the breaking news. An email and Twitter link to TMZ hit a high of almost 42 clicks a second. Meanwhile Cover Awards has been gathering as many MJ magazine covers as it can find.  Jezebel assembled breaking news links of immediate reactions from celebrities and early speculation about drugs, money and more. HuffPo rounds up photos of fans in mourning and tribute. Facebook reported a tripling of status updates. Wikipedia froze (uh, "temporarily protected") its Michael Jackson page amid an "edit-and-delete-the-edits scrum" by citizen-editors, says Digital Media. SearchEngineLand says "the final word about this extraordinary day belongs to AOL, whose AIM messaging service was knocked offline for 40 minutes Thursday." Now the grim aftermath unwinds. "The DEA and LAPD are looking into MJ's doctors and their drug prescription habits," reports Popsquire: "This is starting to look more and more like a criminal investigation." Initial reports that Jackson may have bequeathed the Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney are in doubt. Young, Black & Fabulous says Michael's will from 2002 has been officially filed, and he expressly said his cash should go to provide for his three children, for whom he designated his mother Katherine as guardian—with Diana Ross as a backup.

iPhone Daily Blog Buzz 06.30.09

On Friday, BET CEO Debra Lee told reporters that Usher and Justin Timberlake would be last minute additions to Sunday's BET Awards telecast, which was being "overhauled" to honor Michael Jackson in the wake of his passing. Neither performer made it to the ceremony on Sunday. The reason for Timberlake's no-show remains a mystery, but Usher explained in a statement released Sunday he was overseas and unable to make it to Los Angeles in time. "It is with regret that I [was] unable to participate in the BET Awards Tribute to Michael Jackson on June 28,” Usher said. “When the BET Awards producers and organizers reached out to me to participate in the tribute, I was extremely flattered and humbled by the opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s greatest musical icon,” the statement continued. “Unfortunately, I am currently overseas and would not make it back in time to the Awards show.” Though Usher was not able to celebrate Jackson on Sunday, the singer revealed he has a tribute honoring the late singer in the works.“I look forward to seeing the show and I plan to work on a tribute to Michael Jackson when I return,” Usher said. Entertainment columnist Roger Friedman says a Michael Jackson tribute tour featuring his sister Janet and his brothers is "on the table for consideration" in the wake of his death.Coolio will avoid jail time after taking a plea deal Friday on drug charges.The rapper pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to felony cocaine possession in a deal that requires him to spend 18 months in a drug rehabilitation program.Tyler Perry called Q100's The Bert Show in Atlanta Friday morning to discuss his thoughts on Michael Jackson's passing and to urge fans and the media to give the Jackson family "respect and room to grieve."Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship of Michael Jackson's three children on Monday, and filed additional papers seeking to be named administrator of her late son's estate to ensure that his kids are its beneficiaries. USA Today has published two commemorative products recognizing the life and death of Michael Jackson: a 96-page glossy-format commemorative edition titled "Michael Jackson: King of Pop," and a 40-page tabloid sized special edition titled "Michael 1958-2009." Both are on newsstands now.It's been close to 30 years since she starred in the original film and TV series, and now with an updated version starting production, Debbie Allen will be returning to the cast of the new 'Fame' film. Although it hasn't been stated, but Allen may... Read more  VH1 is giving two female hip-hop artists their own reality series — Sandra “Pepa” Denton of Salt-N-Pepa and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas from TLC. The as-yet-untitled series are scheduled to premiere in 2010. Eight half-hour episodes have been ordered for each. The “Pepa” series follows Denton as she begins her to search for love after living a celibate life for years. “Chilli” from R&B group TLC is also searching for romance and has enlisted the help of Brooklyn relationships expert Tionna Smalls. The network has also renewed “Celebrity Fit Club” for a seventh season and “Sober House with Dr. Drew” for a second season. (Continue Reading…) A small gay pride gathering that took place Saturday evening in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was interrupted" by riot police, according to Blabbeando's Andrés Duque, who offers a rough translation of the report "Democratic Modernity and Homophobic Repression in the...CONTINUE READING.."A small gay pride gathering that took place Saturday evening in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was interrupted" by riot police, according to Blabbeando's Andrés Duque, who offers a rough translation of the report "Democratic Modernity and Homophobic Repression in the...CONTINUE READING...After 16 years on newsstands, Vibe magazine, the biggest urban music magazines, has ceased publication. 50 Cent recently spoke on the success of Soulja Boy Tell Em, while reacting to Charles Hamilton's now infamous video tape wherein Hamilton takes one on the chin from his girlfriend.  Skull Gang leader Juelz Santana recently weighed in on Chris Brown's no-show at last weekend's BET Awards and said Jay-Z was largely responsible.Grand Hustle's DJ Drama has addressed recent rumors on T.I. being infected by a virus which hit his prison earlier this month and updated fans on the "King's" well-being. Many BET Awards viewers were outraged when Lil' Wayne and Drake were joined on stage by several pre-teen girls during the performance of their hit song "Every Girl".[Visit SOHH.com for more information] Former Jay-Z signee being held without bail… The 2009 BET Awards may have been originally conceived as a venue to hand out some award statues, but after the King of Pop, Michael Jackson died, the event was reconfigured to be part awards ceremony, part tribute. This 2009 BET Awards photo gallery is of some of the best on-stage moments during the show, including shots of Beyonce, Keri Hilson, New Edition and of course, the show's host, Jamie Foxx.

• 2009 BET Awards Photo Gallery
• 2009 BET Awards Red Carpet Photos
• 2009 BET Awards Winners & Nominees

iPhone Monday Blog Buzz 06.08.09

Rapper Earl "DMX" Simmons has reportedly dodged jail time today (June 8) after appearing in a court for felony attempted assault earlier this year while in an Arizona prison.Roc-A-Fella associate Twista recently updated fans on his relationship with the label's co-founder Damon Dash and his admiration for Jay-Z.Former G-Unit member Young Buck recently spoke on his aim to cut business ties with 50 Cent and promised there was no bad blood with his ex-labelmates.Footage of Lil Wayne reuniting on stage with former Cash Money Records group Hot Boys has begun to circulate online and shows Weezy promising a collaboration album. CHECK OUT MORE ON THESE STORIES..The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down a challenge to the Pentagon policy forbidding gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military, granting a request by the Obama administration. The court said it will not hear an appeal from former Army Capt. James Pietrangelo II, who was dismissed under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The federal appeals court in Boston earlier threw out a lawsuit filed by Pietrangelo and 11 other veterans. He was the only member of that group who asked the high court to rule that the Clinton-era policy is unconstitutional.In court papers, the administration said the appeals court ruled correctly in this case when it foun ...CONTINUE READING... The Associated Press reported that lawyer Mark Geragos (who is also representing Chris Brown in his assault case) said that his client, Keith Carradine, David Carradine's half brother, met with the FBI on Friday and filed reports that could lead to a separate inquiry by the bureau into Carradine's death.Whitney Houston’s new album “The Wait is Over” will be released worldwide September 1, 2009 on Arista Records. This is Whitney’s 7th studio album. Since her 1985 self-titled debut, she has built an illustrious career that has generated over 170 million combined worldwide sales of albums, singles and videos. Cited by the Guinness Book [...] BROADWAY'S BIG NIGHT: Sunday night's Tony Awards ceremony from Radio City Music Hall was high on performance, if a bit low on surprises. Elton John's Billy Elliot was the big winner, bringing home ten statuettes, while thirteen other shows, Angela Lansbury and Liza Minelli also received trophies. Koko Taylor, a Chicago musical icon who became one of the most revered female blues vocalists of her time with signature hits such as "Wang Dang Doodle," "I'm a Woman" and "Hey Bartender," died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago of complications from gastrointestinal surgery. She was 80. Although she's flown under the radar of the mainstream music world in recent years,  Teena Marie has still managed to cultivate a career that most singers would envy. Over a...CONTINUE READING..Despite being a huge music lover - and of course, a music critic - yours truly has never really bought into the concept of Black Music Month. It just seems like a marketing ploy to hype up certain acts or labels. And although this two-minute video from Atlantic Records doesn't exactly change my perspective, it's kinda cool to see some of today's young R&B/Soul singers - including Janelle Monae, Trey Songz, Laura Izibor and more - pay tribute to some of the legends of the music industry, such as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Roberta Flack. You can stream the video by clicking the link. Black Music Month webisode (via Atlantic Records)Did you have the sing-songy chorus of Estelle and Kanye West’s Grammy-winning “American Boy” stuck in your head for a good amount of 2008? Well, so did Estelle. That’s why she’s happy to reveal that she’s working on new material as we speak.“I’m sick of singing ‘American Boy,’ so we need something else,” the West London native confessed at a recent party for the fashion line Chloé.Recently, Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio — who has produced work for Scarlett Johansson and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs — helped her record a track. “He’s amazing,” Estelle gushed, “I’m really excited. We just finished a song together. I listened to it all the way here. I’m having a moment. He’s really, really cool.”And when all the songs have been completed, what will the body of work be titled? “Right now, I’m calling the whole project New London,” she said, ” ’cause it’s kind of [about] when I moved from London to New York and when my worlds collided and everything came together.”Although she’s made a name for herself with hip-hop and soul music, listeners could be in a for a change in sound; Estelle foresees her next release sounding “somewhere between Marvin Gaye and Coldplay.”

iPhone Entertainment Blog Buzz 06.02.09

President Obama's campaign promise to his wife Michelle ended up being a cash cow for producers of the Tony-nominated production of August Wilson's play Joe Turner's Come and Gone.Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry kissed, groped and fondled each other during the Spike TV awards Saturday night in Los Angeles. The Oscar-winning actors ended up on stage together when Foxx presented her with Spike TV's Decade of Hotness award. While giving each other a passionate French kiss, he grabbed her behind and she took hold of his crotch.A baby shower was thrown for Jennifer Hudson in downtown Chicago over the weekend, confirming rumors that the singer-actress must be pregnant, reports the Chicago Tribune.CNN's Roland Martin has responded to a New York Post story that claimed he is the reason for the network's ratings dip last month, and that he "has complained the network doesn't promote him enough or book him high-profile guests."Teen vampire romp "Twilight" took home a bunch of MTV Movie Awards Sunday night, but that was completely ignored Monday morning when clips of Sasha Baron Cohen descending from the ceiling to land genitals-first on Eminem dominated the headlines.A new book written by a roadie for Jimi Hendrix claims the late rock icon was actually murdered by his manager, Michael Jeffrey, who told the author he plied Hendrix with pills and alcohol in order to kill him and collect on the guitarist's life insurance.Rapper Earl "DMX" Simmons has reportedly pleaded "guilty" and accepted a plea deal for attempted assault charges he received earlier this year while incarcerated.OutKast's Andre 3000 recently spoke on the status of hip-hop and dismissed the idea of the genre being negatively impacted by the new wave of emcees."Hills" stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt decide they are "too rich and too famous" to stay on the reality show "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here!" and leave the Costa Rican jungle.The "Twilight" stars hope "New Moon" dominates next year's MTV Movie Awards. " 'New Moon' is going to be great," Taylor Lautner promised backstage.Kanye West said it's time to "bust another rap album." "I'm about to take it to a whole 'nother level," West promised. "I'd be scared if I was not me."Before you open that bottle of champagne, can of beer, or bottle of Hennessy in celebration of last week’s decision by the California Supreme Court upholding Proposition 8 and the ban on gay marriage, did you ever stop to think maybe the jokes on us? I mean think about it. Last November, Blacks voted overwhelmingly [...]President Bush did not apologize when Judge Alito said he would take his ethnicity into account in making decisions. So why did President Obama need to apologize for Judge Sotomayor saying the same thing?...

iphone Blog Buzz Weekend Wrap 05.22.09

DreamWorks' recently-announced plan to film a Martin Luther King Jr. biopic may be stalled if the civil rights icon's children can't work out their differences.Michelle Obama, the cover girl of Time's latest issue (on sale today), tells the magazine that living in the White House has been a particularly positive experience for daughters Malia 10, and Sasha, 7.The man accused of killing rapper Dolla in Los Angeles earlier this week has reportedly admitted to the crime, but says the act was done in self defense, according to the Los Angeles Times.Thousands showed up to the downtown arena in Tulsa to bid farewell to Wayman Tisdale, remembered Thursday as a basketball star and gifted jazz musician who led a "blessed life."Canadian rapper Drake is denying gossip reports that he and Rihanna are more than just friends after spies for at least two different publications claim witnessing the two "making out."Documents filed in Los Angeles reveal that Nas, 35, has asked a court to deny his pregnant wife Kelis any spousal support in their divorce.R&B star Usher has been added to the board of trustees for Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center, a venue that offers a variety of performing and visual arts - both traditional and avant-garde.Now that he's gone public about his romance with songstress Alicia Keys, rapper and producer Swizz Beatz wants the public barred from ongoing divorce proceedings with his wife, singer Mashonda, the New York Post's Dareh Gregorian reports.The last time I interviewed Walter Mosley, he said he was done with Easy Rawlins. He was putting him down to pursue other interests. I gathered Easy was ready to vacate the brilliant expanse of Mosley's imagination to pursue other interest himself. I ... Read moreComing out next month in limited theaters is Kerry Washington's latest film, 'Life is Hot in Cracktown,' which also stars Shannyn Sossamon, Victor Rasuk, Evan Ross, Rza, Brandon Routh, Lara Flynn Boyle, Ten Travis, Ridge Canipe, Illeana Douglas, ... Read more Will Smith’s production company has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to bring to life the story of one of the many heroes of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the two companies announced Wednesday (May 20)C. Virginia Fields, president of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, was giving a speech in Rocky Mount, N.C. last week before a group of social service providers when she made a surprising revelation about the AIDS epidemic. “One of the things I talked about were the numbers for heterosexual Black women,” Fields recounted. “When people heard that, they were very surprised. It’s something that they did not know, it’s something they had not focused on.” (Continue Reading…) When asked about the marriage date with Reggie Bush, Kim Kardashian had zilch to say except: Kim Kardashian is keeping marriage thoughts close, but not too close. “So many people rush into it and it’s all this pressure because they see we’ve been together for a while,” the reality star, who has been [...] Jada is on the June cover of EBONY and looking every bit of the beauty she has always been. She manages a Hollyweird family, she’s got a new show coming out and she addressed the rumors that have been circulating for years: Jada Pinkett Smith is proof that good things come in small [...]Neo-Soul superstar Maxwell, who's long-awaited fourth studio album, BLACKsummers'night drops July 7, 2009, will be touring this summer to support the album. The tour dates mark his first extended concert...

iPhone Friday Blog Buzz 05.15.09

Alicia Keys appeared on Wednesday night's "American Idol" program to drum up $5 donations toward the organization Keep a Child Alive by texting the word "alive" to 90999.Former rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys is reportedly facing 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on charges that he ran an Internet scam involving iPhones.To promote the 20th anniversary, remastered, re-release of his first album "Let Love Rule," Lenny Kravitz sat down with the Associated Press's Nekesa Mumbi Moody to discuss his musical journey.Actress Vanessa Williams returns to music next month with the release of "The Real Thing," a collection of classics inspired by jazz and Latin music, particularly the work of Sergio Mendes, who first performed the Stevie Wonder-penned title track.Dancing With the Stars" alum Jason Taylor has moonwalked back to his original Miami Dolphins team after being traded to the Washington Redskins a year ago - prompted by fallout surrounding his stint on the ABC show.Chrisette Michele has scored her first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, as her sophomore set "Epiphany" (Def Jam) debuts atop the list with 83,000. However, it's the lowest sum for a No. 1-debuting album in Nielsen SoundScan's 18-year history.For those who've seen the film adaptation of 'The Da Vinci Code,' you will be happy to know that Dan Brown's 'Angels & Demons,' is less talk and more action. Like 'Code,' 'Angels' is filled with such far-fetched story lines that you'll be instantly ... Read moreNeo soul siren Jill Scott is a fierce force of nature. Not only is this Philly bred diva releasing an album this June ('The No. 1 Lady Remixed') on Hidden Beach records, she is also the woman behind the Butterfly bra for Ashley Stewart and is ... Read more Last time we saw En Vogue was August of last year at B.B. King Blues Club in New York City, but it was without Dawn Robinson -- the one original group member who had not rejoined the group. But, thankfully, Dawn Robinson is back after leaving the legendary R&B group in 1997. All we can say is -- that was a long wait!  En Vogue was spectacular last year, but with all four group members back at the same venue, they were incredible. Dawn, Cindy, Terry and Maxine brought the New York crowd into a frenzy saying, "Ya’ll are giving us so much love." We surely did. The girls sounded immaculate and looked as if they haven’t aged a second -- they are all over 40. CHECK OUT THE FULL REVIEW BY CLAY CANE.. The season finale of the CW series ‘The Game’ is airing tonight at 8:00pm EST. Check out the synopsis of the episode: After Janay (guest star Gabrielle Dennis) has a false alarm with the baby’s delivery, Melanie (Tia Mowry) decides she wants to get married to Derwin (Pooch Hall) right away before the baby arrives, even [...] As of late, Ace Boon Coon's "Fruity" has transformed more than a few Atlanta night spots into alternate shooting locations for "Thriller," smoke seemingly emanating from the walls, party goers wandering around the club zombiefied. Over a beat that sounds like a spaceship's doors opening to dock a scout ship, Ricky disses British cigarettes and to our surprise, affirms a love of vegetables. But when Dro says, "Stupid stupid stupid, fruity fruity fruity," is he talking about weed or is that just his swag? Or is it both? Either way, that is how you start off a verse ladies and gentlemen.  Download: Ace Boon Coon f. Rick Ross & Young Dro, "Fruity (Got Me Gone)" In this new interview, Hoopz talks about the sextape. She breaks down the whole situation + her aspiring boxing career!! FULL INTERVIEW!! New York City police are investigating a senseless and bloody gay-bashing as that happened in the heart of New York City's West Village. The 50-year-old man was trying to get into a taxicab near the corner of Christopher and Seventh...FULL STORY T.I. will report to an Arkansas prison on May 26. The rapper was sentenced to spend a year and a day behind bars at the low-security facility.Actress Nikki Reed reveals secrets from the set of "Twilight" movie sequel "New Moon."Do you know what Neo-Soul singer Maxwell's last name is? Or what city he's from? Do you know about the personal tragedy that he suffered at the age of 3 which affected the direction of his life and music? If not, you may want to check out the About R&B/Soul profile of Maxwell; it's a concise, seven paragraph look at the man and his life, from his birth in 1973 up to the release of his long awaited next project, the BLACKsummers'night trilogy of albums, the first chapter of which is due to drop in the U.S. on July 7, 2009. This poll question isn't a diss at Killa in any way. It's just today the thought crossed my mind like, "Oh yeah, Cam IS back." You remember when most of the Hip-Hop nation was asking the question "Where's Cam?". Now he's returned with his first album in three years, Crime ...GOING THE DISTANCE: According to a lap dancer named Theresa, deliciously randy Olympic swimming star and admitted (former?) pothead Michael Phelps deserves 'Olympic gold for marathon love-making' after reportedly treating two strippers to a long night of passionately X-rated bouncy-bouncy.

iPhone Mobile Blog Buzz 05.07.09

Raymone K. Bain, the famous former publicist for Michael Jackson who became widely known during the singer's child molestation trial, has filed a lawsuit against the King of Pop for failing to pay her fee. The woman accused of stalking filmmaker Tyler Perry was indicted on Wednesday by a Fulton County grand jury in Atlanta, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.The promoter who allegedly tried to pull off a Toni Braxton concert in Suriname with an impersonator was finally arrested Monday after months on the lam with the scammed money.A statement posted on 50 Cent's official Web site claims he has been officially cleared of having any involvement with a fire that broke out last year at his Long Island home, where his ex-girlfriend was living at the time with their son.Less than 24 hours after proclaiming she is the true No. 1-ranked women's tennis player, world number two Serena Williams was knocked out the second round of Tuesday's WTA Rome claycourt International by No. 20 Patty Schnyder 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.I was saddened to hear about the recent financial trauma of Ebony and Jet Magazines. These two magazines formed powerful prototypes for success in Black media, and may now find themselves to be casualties of the general decline of the magazine ... Read more Michelle Williams will star as Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ in London’s West End this summer. The former Destiny’s Child singer will kick off her engagement at the Cambridge Theatre in July. While this marks Williams’ debut on the London theater stage, the Rockford, Ill.-bred singer starred in ‘Aida,’ the Broadyway musical produced by Elton John and Tim Rice. President Obama’s budget for next year will include $50 million to help expand nonprofit programs across the country to promote national service, first lady Michelle Obama announced tonight at an event in New York.It is one of the most powerful lists that Conversations Book Club puts together each year. The books that make the list are from authors and genre that book club President Cyrus A. Webb have personally read and has put his stamp of approval upon. Now as the first issue in 2009 of Conversations Magazine prepares to be released, the book club is pleased to unveil those who make up the "Top 20 Summer Reads" of 2009! Michael Sheen has been cast in 'The Twilight Saga's New Moon" as Aro, the leader of the Volturi vampires.Madonna is continuing efforts to adopt a 3-year-old girl from Malawi despite the rejection of her bid earlier this month.Nas calls for unity in hip-hop, and the musical vibe between Statik Selektah and Saigon was so potent, they made an entire album in one day — the aptly titled All in a Day's Work.Find out who has a shot at going to the finals and who was sent home. DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp said it burned through $10.2 billion in the first quarter, operating under a federal bailout, as auto sales fell across the globe and it scrambled to cut costs.The fallout continues from this morning's vote by the Washington D.C. City council, which approved legislation 12-1 that would recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other jurisdictions. After creating "mayhem" in the Council chambers and being forcibly ejected by security,...At the same time the Centers for Disease Controls reports black gay/bisexual men are the hardest hit in the "dramatic increase" in Philadelphia HIV infections, the former executive director of the city's largest black LGBT organization is indicted on federal...CONTINUE READING...The Roots' Black Thought recently spoke on the lack of unity between Philadelphia rappers and why past emcees like Will Smith should have made stronger efforts.In the 2004 film, The Donnie McClurkin Story: From Darkness to Light, the trials and triumphs of famed pastor and acclaimed gospel music superstar Donnie McClurkin are fully captured. Through McClurkin's personal narrative and interviews with several musical icons, McClurkin's roller coaster life is thoroughly explored, as are the excruciating circumstances of those tainted early years that would lead to years of MCClurkin continually zigzagging between darkness and light. AND THE NOMINEES ARE: The 2009 Tony nominations were announced on Tuesday and Sir Elton John's opus Billy Elliot, The Musical led the pack with a total of 15 nominations. Meanwhile Jane Fonda and Angela Lansbury also earned nominations, as did American Idol reject Constantine Maroulis who was nominated for Best Male Lead in a Musical.To celebrate President Obama's first 100 days in office, Hidden Beach has released a Presidential inauguration music and video collection titled, "Change is Now: Renewing America's Promise," that is out now. Here's their video for Stevie Wonder's "All About Love Again". With any Hip-Hop group, folks tend to try to discount someone in the group. I don’t know if anyone in a duo has been more slept on than Rapper Big Pooh. When his appropriately titled Sleepers hit the streets, folks took notice. Read the story »

iphone entertainment blog buzz 04.23.09

Screen Gems has set Jan. 8, 2010, as the release date for "The Takers," which stars Chris Brown in his first role since being charged with felony assault for the alleged Feb. 8 beating of Rihanna. Students at Washington D.C.'s SEED School were excited to get a visit from President Barack Obama, former president Bill Clinton, Sen. Ted Kennedy and others to promote the signing of a new $5.7 billion national service act. Beyonce's father/manager Mathew Knowles wasted little time Wednesday firing back at TMZ.com over posting a supposed "board mix audio" of the singer's performance at "The Today Show" in which she appeared completely tone deaf.Prince is being sued by a literary agency over his coffee table book "21 Nights," a multimedia photo essay collection documenting his 21-night residency at London's O2 Arena.Tyler Perry's new 34th Street Films has purchased its first property - an as-yet-untitled feature pitch from the writing team of Jennifer Heath and Michele J. Wolff ("Ella Enchanted").Kermit the Frog isn't the only one thinking "it's not easy being green." According to a recent Earth Day-inspired poll, Mariah Carey is singing the eco blues after being voted the "least green celebrity" out of a group of five.A man hired to tend bar at a 2007 event hosted by Jamie Foxx is now suing the actor over injuries suffered during his employment. Eminem used his Twitter feed Tuesday to reveal the cover art to his upcoming album "Relapse."While promoting her new reality series "The Cougar," about a 40-something woman courted by much younger men, Vivica A. Fox was asked if she has adopted the cougar philosophy in her own life. Mary J. Blige will join Clay Aiken, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow and Adam Levine of Maroon 5 in the May 14 season finale of NBC's "30 Rock," the network announced.The parents of missing British girl Madeleine McCann will tape an interview with the "Oprah Winfrey Show" tomorrow for an episode scheduled to air on May 4.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has set a few guidelines for Michael Vick to meet before the jailed quarterback is allowed back into the league. Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry was in serious condition at a South Carolina hospital Tuesday after experiencing complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, two Chicago newspapers reported. A judge has refused a request by rapper Lil Wayne to block the release of QD3 Entertainment's documentary about his career, titled "The Carter."Cicely Tyson, Yolanda Adams and Dorinda Clarke Cole will participate in the unveiling of a Sojourner Truth memorial bust in the U.S. Capitol building, the culmination of a ten-year journey by the National Congress of Black Women. Bob Marley's "One Love" sits atop a list of Jamaica's 100 best songs over 50 years that was unveiled Tuesday by a panel of musicians and cultural officials associated with the University of the West Indies.Singer Seal is well into a career that will cement him as one of the most critically acclaimed singers of his generation. His most recent album, 'Soul,' is a David Foster-produced opus that covers classic R&B standards. The British-born crooner also ... Read more Mike Tyson's documentary comes out Friday, which is absolutely amazing and I encourage everyone to see it over that Jungle Fever meets Fatal Attraction movie that they aren't doing press screenings for until the day it comes out. Anyway, a few weeks ago I was in the screening for Tyson and they showed a clip of Mike having a conniption at a press conference. He was grabbing his d*ck and shouting. LeToya Luckett could’ve used some better luck during the release of her first album in 2006. Soon after her  self-titled debut hit the stores, her label, Capitol-EMI, announced it would merge with Virgin Records to form the Capitol Music Group. In the midst of the restructuring, the group’s executive vice president of urban music, Ronnie Johnson, died of a heart attack.“When you get caught up in a merger and then lose someone who was so involved in your project, there’s nothing you can do,” Luckett tells the Hollywood Reporter. “You don’t have control; you can’t release another album. So you learn to be patient.” (Continue Reading…) ♫ Ciara - Like A Surgeon (full) - listen Here’s a new track from Ciara’s new album, Fantasy Ride. With all the material that leaked, it seems they’ve been able to get keep some under wraps before it’s release date on May 5th. “Like A Surgeon” was a track written by none other [...] Your favorite two-fingered mandude Diplo made a ridiculously ill sneak peek mixtape at the new Major Lazer record he and Switch have been cooking up in their alien Caribbean kitchen—it's basically snippets in the mix of the entire album, which is awesome and features everyone from Vybz Kartel to Santigold to Ricky Blaze to Nina Sky, plus that ridiculous Black Flag sample, and the T-Pain autotune baby. Basically when we are kneeling by our bed praying to Jah, this album is what we are asking for. Can we die now? Cool except we don't want to cause then we couldn't listen to this record every single day. That sounded corny but we are not shy about our love... tell the world!Former national security adviser and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice "verbally approved" the "earliest known request" by the Central Intelligence Agency to torture and waterboard detainees, reports the Associated Press, which contradicts her own testimony. As national security adviser to...The House Judiciary Committee passes H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act by a vote of 15-12. The bill is sometimes called the Matthew Shepard Act. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chair of the judiciary panel, introduced the...CONTINUE READING...
Day26 don't want to be the next Danity Kane: "We are going to be together forever," Que said. The "Making the Band" season finale airs Thursday at 9 p.m. ET. king his inspiration from the French term Classique - an author, artist or work of art, of the highest excellence - Will Downing returns with his 14th collection of sensual grooves and true love primers. Classique is his second album for Peak Records (in stores June 16 via the Concord Music Group) and a triumphant encore presentation following the challenges he faced creating his Peak debut, After Tonight (recorded while battling the muscle disorder Polymyositis). ONE HOT MESS, ONE BLESSED EVENT: While The Real Housewives of Orange County's Gretchen Rossi appears all kinds of compromised in photos on the dirty.com, Jacqueline Laurita from the newest Real Housewives of New Jersey is expecting her third child!WOLVERINE IS THE MAN: Hugh Jackman opened up to Parade Magazine and the Wolverine star had a refreshing response to rumors about his sexuality: and ldquo;I and rsquo;d be happy to go and deny it, because I and rsquo;m not. But by denying it, I and rsquo;m saying there is something shameful about it, and there isn and rsquo;t anything shameful." Read more...HOLLYWOOD ON THE HUDSON: Robert Deniro's Tribeca Film Festival opens in New York City today with a line-up of films including An Englishman in New York, based on the later life of gay icon Quentin Crisp, Luc and iacute;a Puenzo's, Fish Child and the new documentary Making the Boys which goes behind the scenes of the 1970 gay classic The Boys In The Band.

iPhone Friday Blog Buzz 04.17.09

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Former NFL running back Travis Henry pleaded guilty Thursday to trafficking cocaine in a federal drug case that could land him in prison for 10 years or more.WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — Kevin Garnett isn't ready to start the playoffs, and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that there's a strong possibility that he will miss the entire postseason. NEW YORK (AP) — John Madden's last game as a football announcer was a thrilling Super Bowl decided in the final seconds.The perfect ending to a run as one of sports' most popular broadcasters, now that Madden called it a career Thursday. Yet it didn't fit Madden's style to think about his retirement that way. "American Idol" history was made Wednesday. More on that in a moment. It's hard to believe that one hour is the same amount of time on Tuesdays as it is on Wednesdays. The performance show always runs long and this week the judges were cut in half to try to keep the show running on time. Yet, on Wednesday night's there's nothing but fluff. After striking a deal with prosecutors, Devaughndre Broussard described in detail how he carried out orders from the leader of Your Black Muslim Bakery to kill Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey, including specific instructions to fire enough rounds to make sure "it ain't no coming back."A hospital worker shot and killed two employees and then killed himself at a medical center Thursday, sending panicked people fleeing, police and witnesses said.Modesto authorities say that the parolee accused of fatally shooting four Oakland police officers last month before being killed in a gunfight with police is a suspect in a home-invasion robbery. Police spokesman Sgt. Brian Findlen said Thursday that investigators believe Lovelle Shawn Mixon was one of two men to commit the robbery in February. Police arrested the second suspect, Cedric Larue Daniels, 22, of Modesto, on Wednesday. A man who claimed he and Tyra Banks "had a thing together" goes on trial Friday on charges of stalking and harassing the model and television talk show host. Brady Green, of Dublin. Ga., is accused of harassing and following Banks from coast to coast since January of last year. He was arrested March 18, 2008, at the Manhattan building where "The Tyra Banks Show" is taped after he tried to see her. Reality shows built around singer Monica and "Everybody Hates Chris" daddy Terry Crews will be officially announced next week during BET's upfront presentation to advertisers in New York. In his upcoming film "American Violet" he plays the ex-boyfriend/baby daddy of a woman who is wrongfully caught in a drug sweep and forced to fight for her children and her freedom. EUR got a chance to speak to Xzibit about his role in "American Violet," his acting career, and the music.The saddest thing is knowing that men abandon their children ... regularly. But, what's even sadder is the essay that you are going to read from Al. B. Sure's son, Quincy, to us and his father. The absence has weighed so heavily on him that he has lashed out in a letter so profoundly illustrating his pain that your heart truly goes out to him. The saddest thing is knowing that men abandon their children ... regularly.  But, what’s even sadder is the essay that you are going to read from Al. B. Sure’s son Quincy to us and his father. The absence has weighed so heavily on him that he has lashed out in a letter so profoundly illustrating his pain that your heart truly goes out to him. He makes note of the fact that P. Diddy was the only father he ever knew.  It’s evident that he has been a major influence in his life because while the letter is moving, he also uses the opportunity, while he has your rapt attention, to promote his newest single that plays while you read.  Leave it to Puff Daddy to turn misery into profit. (Link to the letter HERE.) Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds is launching his new Sodapop Music record label in a partnership with Island Def Jam, which is run by his former LaFace Records partner Antonio L.A. Reid.The first artist to be released on Sodapop is Kristinia DeBarge (pronounced kris-ti-NEE-a) of the famed DeBarge singing family. The 19-year-old entertainer is the daughter of DeBarge keyboardist and founding member James DeBarge. As if working on new albums for Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton and Sean "Diddy" Combs isn't enough, super-producer Rodney Jerkins has added another gig to his plate - a prominent position on Diddy's upcoming MTV reality series, "Starmaker."  'One Tree Hill' star Antwon Tanner was arrested Thursday as part of an investigation into a fake Social Security card use. Karrine Steffans has been called a lot of things – though she's particular about what she answers to and that infamous nickname "Superhead" doesn't work.For all of those who rant we need to support black films -- I hope you go out to see American Violet, which opens today in select cities. The movie is worth your money. Rudy from “The Cosby Show” has grown up, and she’s about to show off her life on cable TV. Oxygen said Wednesday that it’s developing a reality show about actress Keshia Knight Pulliam and her live-in boyfriend, Atlanta area entrepreneur Kaseem Penn. It will explore what it’s like being young, rich, single and co-habitating. No air date is set for the show, titled “Keshia and Kaseem.” Is it true that women reach their sexual peak somewhere in their 30’s? I think that’s a fair question to ask being as though many of my female counterparts compare themselves to teenage boys once they enter their third decade of life. CONTINUE READING..  Fantasia Barrino was introduced to the world via a very popular reality competition (American Idol) and it has been recently confirmed that she will now join the long list of celebrities who have their own reality shows. Her challenges from fame and her unwillingness to fail have combined to create a larger-than-life talent who appeals to music lovers around the world. So many people wanted to work with her on this, but Fantasia is now part of the VH1 family, and we’re so happy to have her.Singer and former Moesha star Brandy has jumped on board ABC’s forthcoming series “This Little Piggy.” The show is centered around a family man who’s forced to take in his younger brother and sister when times get tough, “This Little Piggy” will feature Brandy as the “high maintenance wife” of the younger brother played by Jeff Davis. Will Smith channels his inner Bow Wow. The latest on the internets is that the "happily married" and "absolutely not gay" A-list actor is going gaga over bisexual electro-pop diva Lady Gaga. Oh and Perez Hilton, too.