Keepingitreal

Luxury of Being Black

Obama Offers Universal Health Care Plan

By MIKE GLOVER Associated Press Writer -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday offered a sweeping health care plan that would provide every citizen a means for coverage and calls on government, businesses and consumers to share the costs of the program. Obama said his plan could save the average consumer $2,500 a year and bring health care to all. Campaign aides estimated the cost of the program at $50 billion to $65 billion a year, financed largely by eliminating tax cuts for the wealthy that are scheduled to expire. President Bush wants to make those cuts permanent. "The time has come for universal, affordable health care in America," Obama said in a speech in Iowa City, at the University of Iowa's medical school. While Obama's plan is aimed at expanding coverage, he said cutting costs was also essential. "We have reached a point in this country where the rising costs of health care has put too many families and businesses on a collision course with financial ruin and left too many with no coverage at all," Obama said. "This cost crisis is trapping us in a vicious cycle." Obama's plan retains the private insurance system but injects additional money to pay for expanding coverage. It would also create a National Health Insurance Exchange to monitor insurance companies in offering the coverage. SOURCE OF THIS POST

Cleavage: What's Appropriate, What's Not

The weather's getting warmer and necklines are dipping lower -- sometimes, too low.
From the beach to the mall to the office, women seem to be showing off their cleavage more than ever before. Why? According to Elisabeth Squires, author of "Boobs: A Guide to Your Girls," American breasts are getting bigger while shirts are getting smaller. "We are seeing more cleavage these days for a few reasons. First, the fashion of the day is tight and skinny. At the same time, women are bigger than they were even 15 years ago. Bra fitters tell me that an E cup is the new C cup," Squires said on "Good Morning America." "We have to remember that while more women are showing more cleavage, you really have to use your breast power responsibly," Squires said. What's Appropriate When What looks sexy for a night out on the town may not be appropriate in the workplace. In fact, Squires said cleavage should never make an appearance in the office. "It's way too big of a distraction for men and women," she said. "If cleavage isn't in your job description, don't put it in." SOURCE OF THIS POST

TYRESE: Ready to Give Much More

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Tyrese is ready to let it all hang out -- and ready to take his show on the road. And he's taking his hip-hip soul brothers along for the ride. For a proposed "Shirts Off" tour, the NAACP Image Award nominated crooner/actor has designs to join other platinum-plated R&B crooners Ginuwine and Tank. Along with plans for an international trek, the three men will form R&B's latest super-group, called TGT. Fans will get a first listen of the new trio together with the remix of Tank's current single 'Please Don't Go' in the coming weeks. "With all the support our fans have given us individually over the years for our distinct signature styles, collectively we felt our fans deserved to hear great music in a way that they could never have imagined," Tyrese (legally known as Tyrese Gibson) offered. "I've known these guys for years and they are truly like brothers, so it only felt right to come together as a trio to make history!" Tank (legally known as Durrell Babbs) said the group's inception is a dream come true. "It only makes sense that the three best R & B crooners in the game come together for an event that will reshape the face of R&B and music as a whole." "Basically the world of R & B needed a change, and there were only a few that could do it, R & B needed a pick up, R & B needed "TGT,"" added Ginuwine (also known as Elgin Baylor Lumpkin). The group is currently in the studio recording music for a forthcoming album, and plans to launch the tour in the fall. MORE ON THIS STORY

JAY-Z & HIS 40/40 CLUB STIFFING WORKERS?: Lawsuit says yes, club says no.

What?! Jay-Z's gettin' funny with the money? Maybe so. The urban rapper and his hit New York night spot 40/40 Club have been hit with a lawsuit alleging waiters, bartenders and other employees have been short-changed. The New York Post reported Wednesday that lawyers for Celeste Williams, a former waitress at the club accuses Jay-Z and the establishment of keeping a percentage of workers' tips and willfully failing and refusing to pay them at the legally required minimum wage and overtime since the nightspot, on West 25th Street in Manhattan, opened in 2003. The suit seeks unspecified damages and estimates that more than 100 staffers have been treated similarly. Club management said Williams worked at 40/40 for only four days in December 2005. Club spokesman Ron Berkowitz said 40/40 has not yet been served with papers and added, The allegations are false. MORE ON THIS INFORMATION

NICK CANNON: Making A 'Breakthrough'

Nick Cannon has made a breakthrough this week at the Cannes Film Festival. The 'Drumline' star will be honored tonight with the "Breakthrough Actor of the Year Award," at the 'Studio' Magazine/Chopard Revelation Awards, which is one of the four official events of the annual film festival. The 26-year old San Diego native is receiving the honor for his work in the critically acclaimed Emilio Estevez-directed drama 'Bobby.' According to his rep, this marks the first time in the festival's history that any African American Actor has received such an honor. "I am humbled and grateful to have received such a coveted award at this prestigious event at the Cannes Film Festival," the recently-engaged 'Wild' N' Out' producer shared. "It was a great privilege to have been a part of the amazing ensemble cast of 'Bobby' and now, to be recognized amongst such tremendous talents is truly an honor." Cannon is sharing this award with newcomer James McAvoy ('Last King of Scotland'). The awards will be presented to the at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France by the award show's co-president and actor, Jude Law. Actress Evan Rachel Wood will be honored for "Breakthrough Actress." n the fall of last year, the former Nickelodeon star signed a 'first-look' television production deal with MTV (reportedly the largest talent/producer deal in MTV's history). In the feature film arena, he has concluded a similar deal with Lion's Gate Films, his rep confirmed. MORE ON THIS STORY

The Advocate

End of Week Blog Wire

TYRESE, GINUWINE AND TANK TO RELEASE JOINT ALBUM: Trio to call themselves TGT.

*Introducing LSG for a new generation. Just as Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill joined forces in 1997 to form a supergroup, so are current R&B crooners Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank.

PRINCE TO BOOK SEVEN-WEEK RUN IN L.A.: Artist reportedly being paid $3 million to perform at Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.

*Folks in the U.S. who can't make it to Prince's London shows can start saving their pennies for the singer's planned seven-week run here on American soil.

PROSECUTORS WANT FOXY BROWN'S DNA: Rapper's sample to determine origin of alleged spit in beauty supply case.

*Broward County prosecutors have asked Foxy Brown to submit a DNA sample to determine whether the spit that landed on the owner of a Pembroke Pines, FL beauty supply store really came from the rapper, as alleged.

EVE PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN DUI CASE: Pretrial hearing set for June 28 in Los Angeles.

*Her arraignment on DUI charges was supposed to take place today, but Eve's lawyer opted to speed up the process and went before a Los Angeles judge Tuesday to enter a plea of not guilty on the rapper's behalf.

'NIGHT' FALLS ON CED THE ENTERTAINER: Actor to play first serious role in drama opposite Forest Whitaker.

*Cedric the Entertainer is stepping up his Hollywood game to tackle a serious role in "Night Watch," a cop drama to be directed and co-written by "Training Day" scribe, David Ayer.

KEYSHAWN RETIRES FROM FOOTBALL; Wide receiver hangs cleats after 11-year-career; begins new life as ESPN commentator.

*The last straw for Keyshawn Johnson was being cut from the Carolina Panthers within days of the NFL draft.

CONGRESSMAN CRITICIZES GLOVER FOR CHAVEZ TIES: Rep. Connie Mack wants actor to turn down $18 million from Venezuela.

*You knew this was coming. Word of Venezuela's generosity toward actor Danny Glover hit the U.S. Congress and has prompted one Republican to speak out in frustration.

DENZEL'S SON JOINS NEW NFL EUROPE SQUAD: John David Washington leaves Hamburg and signs with Dusseldorf.

*It sounds like a dorm in a Harry Potter movie, but for the 23-year-old son of actor Denzel Washington, a move to Dusseldorf brings with it new hope and a fresh chance to show what Morehouse men are made of.

AFRICAN FILMS ABSENT AT CANNES: It's the first time in 10 years this has happened.

*Allegations of discrimination are wafting through the Croisette in France this week based on the lack of African films in competition for top awards at the annual Cannes Film Festival.

MySpace to Share Sex Offender Data

Faced with legal demands from several state attorneys general, MySpace.com said Monday it will immediately begin sharing data on the registered sex offenders it has identified and removed from the popular social networking Web site. ySpace balked last week when attorneys general from eight states demanded it provide data on how many registered sex offenders are using the site and where they live. The company said federal privacy laws required the states to file subpoenas or other legal requests before it could release the information. MySpace general counsel Mike Angus said company officials met with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal last week to sort out the details of those requests. "We hope to get requests from every state," Angus said. "From day one, we have preserved all the information in the hopes of getting these requests."MySpace, owned by media conglomerate News Corp., obtained the data from Sentinel Tech Holding Corp. The companies partnered in December to build a database with information on sex offenders in the United States, and Angus said MySpace has already used the database to remove about 7,000 profiles out of a total of about 180 million. SOURCE OF THIS POST

Senate Puts Off Final Action on Bipartisan Immigration Deal Until June

Senate Puts Off Action on Immigration Senate leaders agreed Monday that they would wait until June to take final action on a bipartisan plan to give millions of unlawful immigrants legal status.The measure, which also tightens border security and workplace enforcement measures, unites a group of influential liberals, centrists and conservatives and has White House backing, but it has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. In a nod to that opposition, Senate leaders won't seek to complete it before a hoped-for Memorial Day,"It would be to the best interests of the Senate ... that we not try to finish this bill this week," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as the chamber began debate on the volatile issue. "I think we could, but I'm afraid the conclusion wouldn't be anything that anyone wanted."The bipartisan compromise cleared its first hurdle Monday with a bipartisan Senate vote to begin debate on a separate immigration measure. Still, it faces significant obstacles as lawmakers seek dozens of modifications to its key elements. SOURCE OF THIS POST

our Two Cents Required: Boy Suspended From School Hair Being Too Short

Your Two Cents Required

By Fresh --- 7th grader Derek Jackson says he is back in his normal classes today following his placement in in-school-suspension for having a haircut that was too short; something the school says was both a violation of the school dress-code and a distraction. Derek's mother, Amanda, says she met with Bailey Middle School Principal Dr. Julia Fletcher, and Dr. Fletcher told her that the issue was "not worth the fight". Leaders of Austin's NAACP are convinced the suspension of Derek Jackson is racially motivated. Nelson Linder with the NAACP says there's no other reason he can think of why a 7th grader would get in-school suspension for having hair that's too short. "We think that Derek is just a metaphor for how people are treated," he said. "For whatever reason, African-Americans are put under very high scrutiny...gang issues, all kind of what I call 'racist projections'. So I think when a black kid has a haircut that they might think is inappropriate, you're seeing phobias from people. (source) Discuss.

Laurie Ann Gibson Files a Complaint

Breakin’ Down With Laurie Ann Gibson

In Laurie Ann Gibson A recent altercation brings new meaning to the made up “boom cat cat” sound effect, a staple of Making the Band choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson. Well, ex-Making The Band choreographer. Things got a little ugly on the set of the new season of the show, during which Diddy, with the help of Gibson and Michael Bivins, will select members for a new male R&B group. When all was said and done, Diddy had fired Gibson, and she was headed to the courthouse to file a complaint. Say it ain’t so!! While Gibson’s lawyer said cops were still probing the incident, an NYPD spokesman said Manhattan detectives investigated the allegation, found no criminality and closed the case. In the complaint filed with Manhattan cops May 11, Gibson said she got into a heated argument with Diddy and celebrity judge Michael Bivins during the April 25 filming of the MTV show at a branch of New York Sports Clubs in Greenwich Village. Gibson said the two men started yelling and cursing at her when she told them the dancers had been given only a day to practice in order to see what they would do in a crunch. Bivins then allegedly grabbed her while Diddy picked up a chair and threatened her. She said she broke free, tried to run and Bivins allegedly grabbed her once again. Then she left, the complaint stated. Sources said Diddy fired her during the angry exchange - and at one point yelled for the MTV cameras to be The whole scene sounds dramatic and uncharacteristic of either Diddy or an innocuous 80s and early 90s boy-bander, especially if they knew the cameras were rolling. The image of Diddy threatening Laurie Ann with a chair — a detail he vehemently denies — is what gets me. I hate to not take the side of the most amusing choreographer in the business, but I’ll believe it when I see the tape. SOURCE OF THIS POSTING

Lauryn Hill's Return

More signs of Lauryn Hill’s Return

By Greasy Guide on Greasy News Listen to “Lose Myself’ via Singersroom.com

Last week we wrote about Lauryn Hill on the come back trail and how she has a new album in the works. Well yesterday SingingRoom.com posted her latest track from the forth coming kiddie movie Surf’s Up. She performs the tune “Lose Myself” on the CD, which will be released June 5th. Lauryn appears to be the only African-American artist on the soundtrack with a ton of other rock acts like 311, Sugar Ray, Ken Andrews, Nine Black Alps and Big Nose. I love the sound of new song, it has that trip-hop/ funky sound that I’m really digging. Face it folks the Lauryn Hill that we knew on “Miseducation” is long since gone. Leave that silly R&B mess to chicks like Beyonce. I’m glad that Lauryn Hill branched out and experimented with other forms and sounds for her music. Everyone tried to box her into being one way but I’m glad she is taking her career in her own hands.

Review: The Last Days of Left Eye

It sounds like a plotline for an independent film. A frustrated artist retreats to the jungle to find peace and solitude. She reflects on her chaotic life, mistakes, abuse, selfishness, rebelliousness, disappointments, creativity and success. However, she believes a "spirit is chasing her". In the end, the spirit catches up with her...
Not even the greatest gossip columnist could have made up the mystical events that lead up to the death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes on April 25, 2002. I wouldn't have believed it myself if I didn’t see the most chilling documentary I have ever watched on a pop artist, Rock Docs: The Last Days of Left Eye, which debuted on VH1 at 9pm Saturday night.

Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was one third of the biggest selling R&B female group of all time, TLC, and the biggest selling female group next to the Dixie Chicks (number 93 of all time to be exact). I never I understand why the Destiny's Child camp claim they are the biggest selling group of all time. I’ve had to argue this fact with many delusional Bey and DC fans so for those who don’t believe me, click here for the direct link.

Seeing the documentary I couldn't help but recall the impact TLC had on pop culture in the ‘90’s. They had a message we never heard from three black women in the music industry, safe sex and female empowerment. It’s interesting to hear people criticizing hip-hop now because I vividly remember when parents were mortified by TLC…yes, good ole’ non-threatening T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli were supposedly corrupting the children of America. Left Eye said in the song “Fanmail”, “Some parents was like, you're the thieves and the pimps and the thugs of stage and you owe every mother in America a public apology.” They were as political as R&B music was going to get in the 1990’s. MORE ON THIS STORY

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ROOTS on DVD

Posted May 18th 2007 5:48PM by Wilson Morales
Filed under: It's All Reel I can't believe that it's been 30 years since the greatest miniseries of all-time, ROOTS, played on TV. I was such a young lad at the time watching this show and remember how intense it was for my parents and everyone I knew who watched it. Back in the late 70s there was only 3 major TV networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC, so ratings were very high then for them. These days when you have over 500 channels and non-scripted programs such as reality shows, the competition is fierce. Anyway, ROOTS was such an important and historical event that you can still watch it over the course of a week and it would still be better than 90% of the shows playing on TV now. On May 22, you can watch the miniseries at home as Warner Bros. Home Video will be releasing a 4-disc box set DVD. Some of the extra features incudes "Remembering Roots" featurette, Video highlights with cast relaying stories about filming particular scenes, Audio commentary from key cast members, New bonus disc: "Crossing Over: How Roots Captivated a Nation" (2007), Documentary "Roots: One Year Later" (1978).

Subway B-Boys

SOHH Soulful: Robin Thicke Comes Clean, "I Believe in Drugs As A Form of Celebration"

  During a recent press conference where he helped announce nominees for the 2007 BET Awards, R&B singer Robin Thicke shared the truth about his song "Cocaine," how hip-hop inspires him, and finding his way. BET's recent press conference for BET Awards nominees turned into some very revealing moments for Robin Thicke. The platinum-selling singer spoke candidly when questioned about the song "Cocaine," one of the more controversial records on The Evolution of Robin Thicke. "'Cocaine' is about a feeling, it's about a time, a scene, about the appeal of when people you think are cool are doing something. It's about what you think is cool and do you want to feel left out of something, do you want to be the only one that's not doing it, peer pressure situations," Thicke told reporters. "When I wrote that song... I had some old friends that were doing it, I had made some new friends that were doing it, and I was traveling from New York to L.A., and it seemed like it was everywhere and I felt like nobody was talking about it. Everyone was acting like it's done and it doesn't exist and yet it was in every bathroom at every party, it was all over the place. And how cool is that? I believe in drugs as a form of celebration." [Watch Interview Here]

During the press conference, Thicke also praised rappers T.I. and 50 Cent for their honesty in their music and spoke about how hip-hop has influenced him. "I'm less honest than 50 and T.I., but everyone is getting on their case about how they are saying b**ches and h*es. I've certainly used those words before, but I wouldn't put them in songs -- does that make me a liar or a gentleman? I don't know, but it definitely makes them honest, it makes them pure to a point that they are living what they're reflecting," Thicke told reporters. "Even though I'm a singer and not a rapper I'm influenced more by hip-hop music than anything else in the world," Thicke added. "I think hip-hop music is the leader of artistic expression in the world right now. It's changing the way people dress in Asia and Russia. There is no painter that is doing that right now, there is no movie star that has everyone dressing like them and talking them."The singer credited his frankness to a newfound confidence he discovered after hitting a low point in his early career. SOURCE

Audio: Kanye West, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (Full Version)

You knew it wouldn't be long until Roc-, uh, the internet leaked the full version of "Can't Tell Me Nothing" once the snippet was out. So here it is, what sounds like Kanye's ode to the South with cathedral drums and keys (Toomp-assisted), Jeezy samples (once was his) and Kanye talking about money setting him free (haha). We can't lie, between this, the Daft Punk jack and other super secret Graduation jams, we are officially fully nerded for summer.


(via OnSmash)

             

Stomping the Market Place

Earlier this year, a group of nine historic African-American fraternities and sororities entered into a unique licensing deal with Converse Footwear Company. Although the partnership was born out of a trademark infringement lawsuit filed in 2003 by six of the organizations over the use of the organizations' colors and marks by converse, it is a sign of a new trend of such groups venturing outside of the collegiate community to create deals. And many seem to agree that such moves will not only generate increased revenue for the organizations but also help to position them as global brands. The long-term Converse agreement includes a multi-part business opportunity that will now enable Converse to manufacture, distribute and sell footwear featuring the trademarks of these organizations (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.). Converse will pay the organizations a percentage of the gross revenue on every product sold by Converse that bears the trademark of the organizations. Converse will also host internships to college and university students and graduates from these organizations. MORE ON THIS STORY

here! Networks' Original Horror Series The Lair Debuts Friday, June 1st

LOS ANGELES, CA – May 15, 2007 – Here!, America's premium gay television network, is pleased to announce the debut of the first season of the new, original, scripted series "The Lair." The first of six half-hour episodes will be available on the network beginning Friday, June 1st and will continue through August with a new episode airing every other week. Suspicions arise when young men turn up murdered with vicious, mysterious wounds on their necks. Determined to solve the crimes, a young journalist discovers clues leading him to a private gentlemen's club called 'The Lair.' As he closes in on the truth, he becomes ensnared by a coven of vampires led by the enigmatic Damian. "The Lair" stars Peter Stickles, who gathered a following this year from his work in the critically-acclaimed indie "Shortbus," as Damian, as well as Colton Ford as the heroic Sheriff Trout. For a sampling of provocative and innovative here! content, visit the here! Video Player found at www.heretv.com/videoplayer. For more information on how to subscribe to here!, please call the toll free number at 1-888-HERE-NOW. Recent and upcoming here! original films, series and specials include: "The DL Chronicles," an award-winning series focusing on the diverse stories of men of color who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles; the critically acclaimed "Shock To The System: A Donald Strachey Mystery," the second installment in the series of original films starring Chad Allen as a gay private investigator; the provocative six-part docu-series "Lesbian Sex and Sexuality," an unblinking look inside the world of lesbian culture from award-winning producer Katherine Linton; and the original film "Shelter," an indie romantic drama about love, family and trying to stay true to yourself. MORE ON THIS STORY