Keepingitreal

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...

Shocker: Kris Allen takes 'American Idol' title

EXCERPT FROM SFGATE.COM ~ Kris Allen beamed with disbelief, shook his head as if to reject that this was really happening and doubled over in shock. The fact that he'd just beaten rollicking vocal powerhouse Adam Lambert for the "American Idol" title wasn't going to sink in quickly for the unassuming underdog from Arkansas. The only downside to this stunning victory: He was going to have to sing "No Boundaries" one more time. "I'm sorry, I don't even know what to feel right now. This is crazy," said the 23-year-old from Conway, Ark., as he leaned on host Ryan Seacrest to keep from staggering.Allen's smooth vocals and boy-next-door image gave him the edge after nearly 100 million viewer votes were cast, turning the theatrical Lambert into the most unlikely of also-rans. When the season started, Allen seemed unsure he had a right to take center stage, let alone stand there and snatch victory from such a formidable rival. During his "Idol" audition last summer, Allen, hands in his pockets and a newsboy cap pulled down around his eyes, was asked by the judges if he was the best singer around. "You know, there's probably people who are better than me," was Allen's response, offered in the quiet, low-key spirit he retained despite his growing profile. Conversely, Lambert's commanding vocal range and stage presence — and the judges' lavish adoration — at times turned "Idol" into "The Adam Lambert Show," with the other contestants mere guests. But it turned out that "Idol" viewers could embrace a gifted performer like Lambert, one who sported black nail polish and bold self-assurance, only to a point. Cowell tipped his hat to both contestants Wednesday night, who shared a moment of musical camaraderie when they joined with Queen on the rock anthem "We Are the Champions." "To both of you, and I don't normally mean this, I thought you were both brilliant ... the future's all yours," the judge said. "Adam did win. So did Kris. Nobody lost tonight. These are two champions," said Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley from backstage. The comments from Cowell and Stanley aren't necessarily empty platitudes. Past contestants can testify that losing the title doesn't mean you're a loser, nor does winning mean you're a shoo-in for superstardom. CONTINUE READING...

MP3: Frank Nitt - "Love" Featuring Dj Quik & J. Black

The Song:~ Ever since Motown moved to Los Angeles, sunshine and good vibes have been luring the Motor City's most musically minded to make the same migration. Now, one of Detroit's trustiest hip-hop MCs, Frank Nitt (Frank'N'Dank), heads west to team up with producer Terrace Martin (Snoop Dogg's Ego Trippin'), hot hookman J.Black, and Cali legend DJ Quik for the new Delicious Vinyl single: "Love." A perfectly pitched summertime sizzler, "Love" is a celebration of devotion with the slinkiest synths since Zapp and plenty of bump for your swim trunks. Frank Nitt, well known as half of mad sturdy Detroit duo Frank'n'Dank, has recently been hanging out in L.A. with John "Illa J" Yancey, younger brother of legendary producer James "Jay Dee aka J Dilla" Yancey. As Delicious Vinyl readied the release of Illa J's Dilla-produced debut LP Yancey Boys last year, Frank started playing Delicious Vinyl boss Michael "Mike Floss" Ross a smattering of new tracks. "Frank's incredibly prolific," says Floss. "He was playing me songs he'd recorded in the past six months, and when I heard 'Love' I knew it was a song I wanted to put out. Combining Terrace's sparkling West Coast sound with the perspective that Frank brings as a native Detroit MC, topped off with a beautiful hook by J.Black and you got yourself a party starter. The fact that this cut's for the ladies just shows we got our priorities straight!" Floss isn't the only one to fall in love with "Love." When producer Terrace Martin played the unfinished song to West Coast legend DJ Quik, Quik quickly volunteered his mixing and mastering skills as well as contributing a verse to the finished version. Because sometimes you can only beat the heat with more heat. Though it helps to have a swimming pool too. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=316478406&s=143441

Make Me a SuperModel: Sandhurst has Thunder Thighs?!

Twista Interview: Staying True to the Game

By Ron Fulcher: ~ Q. Twista, you been in the music game for about 18 years. And it has been said that there is a lot of motion and energy in your performances. A: I would agree, I am a little animated on stage, I would argue that I am creating a new rap style with my animation on stage shows because I love that drive for my music. Q. I have read, that you sometimes referred to yourself as the “Jason Voorhees of rap.” Do you consider yourself an antagonist in the music game? If so how do you maintain your resiliency in the game? A: By loving my music, I try and keep up with what’s the newest thing coming out. Q. During your rise to gain respectability in the game, who were your mentors, if any that you drew your inspiration from? A: To name a few, Rakim, CoolJ, LL Cool J, Run DMC, Fatboys, Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick Q. You started your music career in the 80’s during the Krush Groove days? When did you realize that you were truly an MC to be reckoned with? A: Early in the game, I slayed a lot people, by the time I was starting to get recognized I was already a well rounded MC Q. Your first “journey to fame” began in 1991 when Eric “The Wiz” from a local Chicago radio show saw you perform at the Golden Dome on Chicago’s Westside, and shortly thereafter released your debut album entitled “Runnin’ Off at da Mouth? Of which you were know as Tung Twista? A: I felt like, I needed to achieve different goals, I started experimenting with different flows, improving the punchline, etc. Q. You were also inducted in the Guinness World Records in 1992, for being able to pronounce 11.2 syllables per second. How did that make you feel? A: I was ecstatic Q. In 1996, you teamed up with fellow Chicago Act “Do or Die” on the track Po’ Pimp which became a hit single. Which ultimately led to a contract with Atlantic Records, and you released Adrenaline Rush in 1997 as well as dropping the Tung from your stage name. Is this when you started to redefine your music? In the redefining of your music and lyrics did you feel you had to set yourself apart from your counterparts? A: I didn’t feel like I had to redefine my music, because after my first recording, I had made that transformation. I felt I was being dissed by other rappers in the game, and at one time I had a beef with Naughty by Nature, Eastcoast MCs, and especially writers in magazines. All of the negativity, was the driving force for me to keep my craft tight. Q: You followed Adrenaline Rush, with Mobstability in 1998. You then formed your own Legit Ballin’ label, and released two compilation albums: Legit Ballin’ in 1999 and Legit Ballin’ Vol. 2: Street Scriptures in 2001. Shortly thereafter Respect the Game, Vol.3 in 2002 and Volume 4: Tha Truth in 2006. Did you consider yourself on top of your game as a performer after the release of these albums? If so why? A: Yes, I did however I feel I was doing something different, that others weren’t doing, i.e. Bad Boy, Master P, etc. What was it like to collaborate with Ruff Ryders and Drag-on on the Ruff riders: Ryde or Die Vol. 2 album, specifically on the track “Twisted Heat.” A: I got to a shot out to Crazy Swiss Beats, I found myself smiling once I got into the groove of the track, and got into the flow of things. I really have to thanks Swiss for the inspiration. Q:  In 2002, you began recording your album Kamikaze with rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris. In 2004 Kamikaze was released and debuted on the top spot of the American Billboard 200 Album chart, with the first single entitled “Slow Jamz” of which was also featured on “The College Dropout, the debut album of Kanye West, featuring West and Jamie Foxx which went on to become a number-one hit in the U.S. Other singles included were “Overnight Celebrity” and “So Sexy:” featuring R.Kelly which sold around 2 million copies. What were you feeling during this time? A: I had a long history, and at that point I felt like I had made it, but I also learned that making it is something you continuously have to do over and over. Q: It is also common knowledge you were connected with the remix of the song “Jook Gal” by Elephant Man featuring yourself and YoungBloodz. Then in 2005 “The Day After” was released featuring the hit singles “Girl Tonite” featuring Trey Songz, “Hit the Floor” featuring PitBull, and “One and Only” featuring Mariah Carey. Your next album, Adrenaline Rush 2007 came out in 2007 with singles, “Give it Up” featuring Pharrell and “Creep Fast” featuring T-Pain. Were you discouraged by the poor album sales, compared to your earlier albums? A: Yes, definitely actually it was quite depressing you thinking to yourself, Here I am in the position when I can put music out the way I want to put it out and do what I want to do, and maintain the level of success, then you come to the realization that everything around you, that’s helping you get success is not just about believing in you as an artist is more about a number, you feel bad because, you want that person to believe in you as an artist. If they just believe in your project, then they will push you one time. When it comes around the next time you have the sense that they believe me as an artist, and they don’t do the same thing for the next project that they did for the first one. You understand what your position is. I definitely felt like it put a dent in my career, but the reason I was able to bounce back from it, was because I continue to make jams, due to the fact I do consider myself a true artist. Some people just get lucky one time and make a jam, I had the ability to keep going into the studio and make something people would like. So I didn’t let it hold me down. Q: Now on your new record label GMG (Get Money Gang), a subsidiary of EMI/Capitol Records, you are about to release your 7th solo album entitled Category F5. What can your fans, and followers of your music expect to hear from Twista? A: Really, when they listen to the album, I can best describe the album, in the simplest of terms, is that people will get exactly the Twista album they want. What I mean when I say that is, when you listen to me today and you like what you’re hearing. You will get a chance to hear Twista flow as well as some of your favorites like Gucci Man, Akon, I got Static Major on the album, and there is a production from Jeff Johnson and Bobby V and things like that. However as you continue to listen to the different collaborations, it makes you say to yourself, Man! I heard Twista with this person and that person, but the truth of the matter is Man!  I still wanna hear that original Twista sound! And then when the album continues to play, you will hear guest appearances from Psycho Drama, Johnny B, Do or Die, R.Kelly, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe and all that you have come to expect from Twista. In short, he says, with the album I gave them best of both worlds. An opportunity to hear me making new music and also the opportunity to hear Twista giving you another dope version of what you like to hear from me. The album drops July 14.

Q: Last question, you know I have to ask, what is deal with that whole Pinky thing?

A: Man, they threw me out the van, the good part about it is I love the Rah, Rah, But it is definitely not true. I have nothing but love for her.

Howard and Magic muscle past Cavs

CLEVELAND - Dwight Howard made time stand still.Howard broke the 24-second clock and then helped the Orlando Magic do something seemingly even more impossible--- beating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.Trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half and 12 in the third period, the Magic put together a scrapbook comeback, winning Game 1 107-106 on Wednesday night to open the Eastern Conference Finals.You thought the Game 7 win at Boston to oust the Celtics was something?The Magic handed the steam-rolling Cavs with their first loss of the postseason, weathering James' 49-point masterpiece to steal home-court advantage from the team that posted the league's best record at home (39-2).The Magic, trailing 106-104 on James' 3-point play with 25.6 seconds left, went ahead 107-106 on a 3-pointer by Rashard Lewis with 14.7 seconds left.Cavs guard Delonte West missed a 3-pointer, and with one second left, a wild scramble resulted in a jump-ball between James and Hedo Turkoglu. James batted it out to Mo Williams, who barely missed a desperation shot.West had given the Cavs drilled a 3-pointer with 40.8 seconds left for a 103-102 lead until Lewis answered with a jumper to put Orlando ahead 104-103.James limped off the floor, his right knee bleeding and apparently was suffering from cramps. Or shock. SOURCE:ORLANDO SENTINEL

Ruben Studdard - Love Is

Okay, I'm confused.  The knock on Ruben Studdard over the five years since his glorious victory on American Idol has been that he was a powerful singer stuck with the wrong material, the wrong career vision and the wrong producers.  Like AI season two winner Clay Aiken, Studdard's "velvet teddy bear" stage presence has rarely translated to his albums, and he has traveled a road of forgettable, relatively faceless discs that have been, at a minimum, perplexing to those who expected great things from him.  Complicating matters has been Studdard's apparent lack of musical identity: Was he a modern R&B guy or was he (as many believe) really a Gospel man in hiding? So the announcement a few months ago that Studdard was working with legendary hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis excited music folks who thought that maybe, finally, experienced producers would coax the kind of R&B album that Studdard's fans have long been expecting.  Well, the big surprise is that Studdard's new release, Love Is, generally works, but not for the reasons expected. The overall theme of Love Is is unusual, even schizophrenic:  half covers of classic pop and soul tunes produced by Jam and Lewis and half new material contributed by younger hitmakers like Stargate (Ne-Yo, Rihanna, etc.) and Scyence.  Surprisingly, it is the latter that makes the album shine.  The Stargate team provides its usual uber-infectious cuts, including the first single, "Together," and the excellent uptempo "How You Make Me Feel." Just as good is the Scyence-produced "Don't Make Em Like U No More," and the album hits its high point on "Just Because," a mildly bluesy cut on which Studdard shows more personality than on the other songs combined. Credit producer John Jackson for drawing from Studdard the kind of performance that fans have expected for years and only sporadically received (mostly on his lone Gospel album, I Need An Angel).CONTINUE READING...

Malcolm X and Black Women: Struggling For Closure

EXCERPT FROM CLUTCH MAGAZINE.COM ~ Known at his death primarily to the laity as a fastball (fiery) elocutionist with Black Nationalist intentions, Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925) has come to be favored in recent years as a lover of justice and a martyr for human rights. From Chuck D to Spike Lee to the Joe on the street, the rejuvenation of Malcolm as a Black history deity has been propelled to the head of Black freedom fighter lore. In this regard, it turns out that “demagogue” and “race-baiter” were only footnotes in Malcolm’s legacy.Much is known about his peripatetic and felonious past, his recovery in the penitentiary, his autodidactic ways, his conversion to Islam under Elijah Muhammad, and his subsequent re-conversion from a separatist exclusionary to an ecumenical inclusive fighter for human rights. He discovered that the fight for black rights is indeed a human rights fight as well. But perhaps the most understated matter of Malcolm’s legacy was his renunciation of his entrenched sexist attitudes toward women.Sexist attitudes were already pervasive in this era (feminist movement didn’t come until the seventies), but the Nation of Islam was no exception. Despite its claim of deviation from mainstream Christianity practice, the NOI subjugated its women into capes and minimal activity within their sect, with Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm (being the Nation’s most promulgated face) heading the charge. In his book, Message to the Black Man in America, Muhammad wrote that women should be kept off the street because “they are given to evil and sin, while men are noble and given to righteousness.” As to be expected at the time, Malcolm’s notions were not too far behind. CONTINUE READING...

Kanye West pleads not guilty in LA airport case

LOS ANGELES – Kanye West has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from a scuffle with a paparazzo last year. Los Angeles City Attorney's spokesman Nick Velasquez says West entered the plea through his attorney on Friday. The 31-year-old was not in court. City prosecutors charged the rapper with misdemeanor battery, grand theft and vandalism. West was arrested on Sept. 11 after an incident in which he was shown breaking a paparazzo's camera flash at Los Angeles International Airport. West's attorney, Blair Berk, declined to comment on the plea. The next scheduled hearing in the case is July 15.

Americans pare back debt in frugality trend

After two decades of debt-financed consumption, Americans are rediscovering frugality in a shift that might improve their finances but will slow down the country's economic recovery, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.A report published on the bank's Web site shows that consumers doubled their debt burden over a 20-year-period that peaked in 2007, when the average household owed $1.33 for every $1 it earned in disposable personal income.A long period of easy credit allowed Americans to live beyond their means and helped boost consumer spending to roughly 70 percent of all economic activity.But now, for a host of reasons including fear of future job losses, many households have reduced debt, curbed spending and boosted savings - steps that will improve their financial pictures but reduce the flow of money in our consumer-driven economy."The subtraction from consumption growth would act as a near-term drag on overall economic activity, slowing the pace of recovery from recession," San Francisco Fed economists Reuven Glick and Kevin Lansing wrote in the report.They said that since the recession began in December 2007, Americans have brought their debt-to-income ratios down from the peak 133 percent to 130 percent.The San Francisco Fed economists think Americans could spend the next 10 years on a frugality trend that would bump their saving rate up to 10 percent of personal disposable income - it had been as low as zero in recent years - while dropping the average debt ratio down to 100 percent, or a dollar owed for every dollar of disposable income.The authors noted that many households also will end up reducing their debt burdens by going into bankruptcy or foreclosure, processes that would have other negative side effects on their own finances and the larger economy.Economists use the term "deleveraging" to describe a reduction in debt-to-income ratios, whether this is accomplished by thrifty habits or shocks like foreclosure."Either way, the process of household deleveraging will not be painless," the report said. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

Mehserle's 'surprised and shocked' reaction

(05-19) 18:35 PDT OAKLAND -- In the moments after he fatally shot an unarmed train passenger early New Year's Day, former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle looked "surprised and shocked," one witness said.A second witness recalled that Mehserle raised his hands and pressed them to his head, appearing "dumbfounded," while a third witness quoted the officer as blurting out, "Oh my God! Oh my God!"The accounts are from witnesses called by Alameda County prosecutors, who rested Tuesday after putting nine people on the stand during a preliminary hearing for Mehserle. The 27-year-old former officer is accused of murdering Oscar Grant, 22, after forcing him to his chest while trying to arrest him at Fruitvale Station in Oakland.Mehserle's attorneys, who say the officer meant to subdue Grant with a Taser when he fired his pistol and hope to get the charge reduced, are set to begin calling witnesses this morning. After the hearing in Oakland, Superior Court Judge C. Don Clay must decide whether to send the case to jury trial.The shooting, caught on film by five of the prosecution witnesses, has been shown repeatedly on a flat-screen television in court. But nearly as important as the moment that Mehserle's gun fires may be his reaction - and what it means.His attorney, Michael Rains, has said Mehserle was shocked because he had intended to squeeze a Taser trigger. But prosecutors and Grant's family members contend Mehserle made up the Taser story in an effort to avoid punishment.Mehserle has never told investigators why he drew a weapon or why he expressed apparent shock after he shot Grant. And he is not expected to testify at the hearing. But Michael Cardoza, a defense attorney and former prosecutor who has been following the case, said the officer would have no choice but to testify at trial. CONTINUE READING...

Defeat is sharp rebuke to governor, Legislature

(05-19) 22:42 PDT Sacramento -- California voters on Tuesday soundly rejected a package of ballot measures that would have reduced the state's projected budget deficit of $21.3 billion to something slightly less overwhelming: $15.4 billion.The defeat of the measures means that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state Legislature will have to consider deeper cuts to education, public safety, and health and human services, officials have said.Propositions 1A through 1E - which would have changed the state's budgeting system, ensured money to schools in future years and generated billions of dollars of revenue for the state's general fund - fell well behind in early returns and never recovered.The only measure that voters approved was Proposition 1F, which will freeze salaries of top state officials including lawmakers and the governor during tough budget years.In a written statement Tuesday night, Schwarzenegger said that he believes Californians are simply frustrated with the state's dysfunctional budget system."Now we must move forward from this point to begin to address our fiscal crisis with constructive solutions," the governor said.Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said voter rejection of the propositions reflects the fact that people are facing difficult economic times and he is prepared to return to the budget negotiating table today."We're going to get right to work ... and finish by June 30," before the new fiscal year begins, he said. "It's not going to be a long, hot summer."Opponents of the measures on Tuesday labeled the package as "flawed proposals.""The governor and the Legislature must develop budget solutions that put California on a real path to fiscal stability," said Lillian Taiz, president of California Faculty Association.The six ballot measures stemmed from a budget deal Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders brokered in February to close a nearly $42 billion budget shortfall through June 2010.Budget fixes included $17 billion in cuts, more than $12 billion in temporary tax increases, reliance on billions of dollars in federal economic stimulus funds - and asking voters to approve ballot measures to generate more revenue for the cash-strapped state. CONTINUE READING..

Lakers pull out victory over Nuggets

The Lakers traded for Trevor Ariza a year and a half ago, a move that was viewed with raised eyebrows in the locker room because two popular players were sent away. He was young, untested and an NBA unknown when he arrived, but it's now safe to say Ariza has plenty of friends, especially after making in-game amends with the biggest defensive play of the Lakers' still-evolving season.

The troubles Ariza had in guarding Carmelo Anthony were whisked away with his burst to the ball as Denver guard Anthony Carter inbounded it from the left side with 30.5 seconds left to play. There was a little too much loft on the pass, Ariza was a little too fast in ripping the ball away before it got to Chauncey Billups, and the Lakers were a little too good for the Nuggets in taking Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, 105-103, Tuesday at Staples Center. Kobe Bryant had 40 points, six rebounds and four assists, but the play of the game went to the player with only six points. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday, also at Staples Center.Ariza was the primary culprit in surrendering 39 points to Carmelo Anthony (14-for-20 shooting), but he protected a 101-99 Lakers lead with his third steal of the game. "That was a huge play for us," said Lakers Coach Phil Jackson, usually not one to use superlatives, though Ariza's effort probably warranted such an assessment. Always one to downplay his achievements, the low-key Ariza said Bryant should be credited for his defense on Anthony on the inbounds play, forcing Carter to try to lob the ball to Billups before the referees could call a five-second count. Then Ariza gave the equivalent of a verbal shrug. "He threw the ball with enough air for me to get it," Ariza said. "That's all." The Lakers had shrugged and stammered their way through a seven-game series against Houston in the West semifinals, but they stood strong in the fourth quarter against Denver. Trailing by two when it began, the Lakers rode Bryant's scoring flurry in the final 12 minutes. He had 18 points in the quarter, making four of five shots and all nine free-throw attempts. SOURCE:LATIMES.COM

LATIFAH, PEAS, RICHIE TO GRACE 'IDOL' STAGE: Also, Jamie Foxx says Adam will win, but Kris 'swooned me.'

American Idol" has announced that Queen Latifah, Black Eyed Peas, Lionel Richie and Carlos Santana are among the performers lined up for Wednesday's season finale showdown between Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. The stars will join fellow booked acts Cyndi Lauper.  Previous "Idol" winners David Cook and Underwood will perform on Tuesday's episode, which will feature Lambert, a 27-year-old theater actor from San Diego, and Allen, a 23-year-old college student from Conway, Ark., battling for a record contract and the title of "American Idol."Meanwhile, Jamie Foxx, who mentored the "Idol" contestants during Rat Pack week, weighs in on the final two contestants during an appearance on today's episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." The actor-singer said Adam has the potential to "go stratosphere," but Allen's a sleeper. "Watch out for him," he tells DeGeneres of the guitar-playing singer. "Kris really sort of swooned me. You know, I'm a macho man, but he was singing and I was like, oh my goodness. I was like, 'Dude, you had me floating for a minute.' So I told him I would really, really love to do a record with him because he's sort of understated." [Watch below.]

Mehserle case goes straight to the video

(05-18) 18:19 PDT OAKLAND -- Everyone in the courtroom knew it was coming, and they knew exactly when it was coming. Still, the bang of the gunshot that killed BART rider Oscar Grant, preserved on video, made several people flinch in their seats.Murder cases don't typically feature a replay of the death in question, over and over.But Grant's shooting early New Year's Day in Oakland got two airings Monday - on a 52-inch flat-panel television, no less - on the first day of a preliminary hearing for former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle, who is charged with murdering Grant.The case has inflamed relations between police agencies and activists for the Bay Area's progressive and African American communities, largely because of widely seen video footage that shows the white BART officer shooting Grant, who was black, as the 22-year-old Hayward man lay unarmed on the Fruitvale Station platform.Monday's session was the first of what will surely be many days in court in which attorneys, witnesses and video experts dissect whether the footage shows a murder, or something else.

Dueling views

Prosecutors say it is evidence that Mehserle shot Grant for no good reason. Attorneys for Mehserle believe the videos can support their contention that the officer fired his service weapon while intending to stun Grant with a Taser, and thus should be charged with nothing more than manslaughter.The opening day of the hearing in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland made clear the importance of the videos, as prosecutors called two BART riders who recorded the incident to the witness stand.Both said they had not seen Grant resist police before he was shot by Mehserle, 27, in the aftermath of a fight on a train.Then the witnesses' tapes rolled on the television in the third-floor courtroom, and those in the gallery sat rapt - once again."The tapes, the tapes, the tapes," said Michael Cardoza, a defense attorney and former Alameda County prosecutor who watched the proceedings. "That's the crux of the case - the millisecond that it actually happens."Cephus "Bobby" Johnson, Grant's uncle, said that seeing his nephew get shot over and over "is really striking to the soul. It's very painful each time I look at that video, and I'm sure for the rest of the family it's very painful. But we know this is something we have to go through at this time to get the justice for Oscar." CONTINUE READING...

Oakland crash victim was a film editor

(05-18) 19:26 PDT Oakland -- Todd Anthony Perea had just left his film-editing job and was looking forward to spending Saturday night relaxing at his Brentwood home. At 6:41 p.m., he was driving his Mazda south on Martin Luther King Jr. Way at Aileen Street in North Oakland just as a 41-year-old Berkeley man was crossing the street at the corner.Perea and the pedestrian had no idea that six minutes earlier and less than three miles away in west Berkeley, a man had been shot numerous times and killed with at least one assault weapon. Now, a Cadillac carrying four suspects was barreling toward them, with Berkeley police in pursuit.The Cadillac, driven by 22-year-old Stephon Anthony, ran a stop sign at the corner of Aileen and Martin Luther King and smashed into the Mazda, killing 27-year-old Perea, police said. The Mazda then spun into the pedestrian's path before coming to rest against a building. The pedestrian, whose name wasn't released, died at a hospital.In an instant, the busy street corner was transformed into a horrifying tableau of mangled car parts, wailing sirens and shattered lives.An avid sports fan and UC Santa Cruz graduate, Perea worked as a contract employee for a production company that was filming scenes at the North Oakland Senior Center just a block from where the crash occurred."Todd Perea was the type of person who always had a kind word for everyone," his cousin, Jennifer Aden said Monday. "He had an infectious smile and was known to be quite a good-natured prankster. He was not only the most positive person around, but also level-headed and mature for someone so young."Anthony, who works an electrician, and one of his three passengers, 26-year-old salesman Anthony Price of Oakland were each arrested on three counts of murder and could be formally charged Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland.Two other men who ran from the Cadillac were still being sought, Officer Andrew Frankel, Berkeley police spokesman said Monday.The suspects are believed to have used one or more assault weapons to fatally shoot 25-year-old Charles Davis at 10th Street and Allston Way in west Berkeley in what police said may have been a retaliatory strike by a rival North Oakland faction.But Davis' grandmother, Corinne Carroll, 84, said he had been attending Central State University in Ohio and may have been a victim of mistaken identity. "I know of no reason, because he's never been in trouble," she said. " I mean, I haven't heard him curse anybody."A preliminary review showed that police followed proper protocol in deciding to chase the Cadillac, as it contained suspects wanted for a violent felony, Frankel said. "We have a very strict pursuit policy," he said. "This pursuit was very much within policy." CONTINUE READING..

MP3: Blaq Poet Announces Official Album Release Date, Gives Fans Early Glimpse Into Tha Blaqprint

The MP3: ~ Anticipation for Blaq Poet's Tha Blaqprint has been bubbling for a minute. First, Poet dropped the single; then came the video, bringing the visuals to match. Next came the EPK, and now Blaq Poet, in conjunction with DJ Premier and Year Round Records are proud to bring you Tha Blaqprint Album Sampler. Totaling 21 minutes and 15 tracks, Tha Blaqprint album sampler cuts from track-to-track giving fans a taste of what to expect when the full-length drops on June 30. The sampler, which includes the fan favorites "Ain't Nuttin' Changed," "Voices," and the recently-circulating "Hate" featuring fellow Queensbridge native N.O.R.E., is full of the gritty, New York boom-bap sound that fans have grown to know, love, and expect from a Blaq Poet album. Musically, the one-and-only DJ Premier, who produced all but two tracks on the album, is responsible for providing that sound, and throughout listening to the sampler it becomes clear that neither Poet nor Premo have disappointed. Tha Blaqprint will be available June 30 via Year Round Records via Fat Beats Distribution.  For Blaq’s bio and to check out his EPK, amongst other goodies, please visit: http://www.audibletreats.com/download/blaqpoet

Today's Papers: Obama and the Fighting Irish

The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times lead with President Obama's speech at Notre Dame University's graduation ceremony where he addressed the issue of abortion directly while several anti-abortion protesters attempted to disrupt the event. The story also tops the Wall Street Journal worldwide news box. The New York Times leads with U.S. officials' increasing concern that Pakistan is adding to its nuclear arsenal even as it struggles against an insurgency that threatens to topple the government. USA Today leads with news that local law enforcement agencies are cutting back services, merging or even shutting down altogether because of the recession. Obama's speech was an attempt to bridge the gap between both sides of the abortion debate by calling on each side to respect the other with "open hearts, open minds, fair-minded words," as he said in a much-quoted part of his address. "Mr. Obama did not engage on the merits of the debate on abortion; he instead made an appeal to each side of the issue," the NYT wrote. Those on the anti-abortion side of the issue were not impressed: an anti-abortion mass was held in response to his presence, a small group protested outside (some were arrested, "nearly 40" according to the NYT) and some students registered their objection by skipping the ceremony.

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JIMMIE REIGN - Different Person {Official Music Video}

Suspects in Berkeley slaying crash, killing 2

Excerpt from SFGATE.COM ~ A car carrying four suspects in a Berkeley homicide slammed into a vehicle in North Oakland while fleeing from police Saturday evening, killing two people - one a motorist, the other a pedestrian - in a horrific chain-reaction crash, police said.The crash happened at 6:41 p.m. at the corner of Aileen Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland, six minutes after police received reports of a shooting in West Berkeley that left a young man dead, authorities said.The suspects crashed their Cadillac into a Mazda at the busy intersection, killing a motorist. That car then spun into the path of a pedestrian - killing that person - before coming to rest against a building, said Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss."It was quite a mangled scene," Kusmiss said.The names of the victims in the shooting and the crash weren't immediately released.Two suspects were arrested in the Cadillac after the collision, and the Berkeley police SWAT team, K-9 units and the Oakland police helicopter were searching late Saturday night for the two others who ran from the vehicle.The crash victims' deaths are the latest involving Bay Area motorists and pedestrians who have been killed as a result of suspects on the run.A 34-year-old Oakland woman who didn't want her name used said she was walking her two dogs when she heard sirens and saw a car being chased by police east on Aileen. The car then barreled into a sedan heading north on Martin Luther King Jr. Way."That car just goes flying," she said. "Everything is spinning and smashing into the building. The two of them got out of the car and ran. They hopped into a backyard."Moments before the crash, she said, she had seen a man crossing the street. She said she didn't know if he had been hit.he said she had mixed feelings about what she had witnessed."I don't know why these guys were running from them, why they just didn't stop and why this had to end in some horrible tragedy," she said, adding, "I feel that the police were completely doing their job, but it's a residential area. People were out walking on the street."The series of events began at 6:35 p.m. when Berkeley police received reports of a shooting near the corner of 10th and Allston streets in West Berkeley, Kusmiss said. A young man was found dead at the scene from numerous gunshot wounds, police said.Police saw four men fleeing in a tan Cadillac and began chasing it through West and South Berkeley before it crashed.The crash happened outside the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, the biomedical research arm of Children's Hospital Oakland, which is located several blocks away.Martin Luther King Jr. Way is a busy thoroughfare marked by numerous "senior crossing" signs, warning motorists to slow down because of the number of elderly residents who live at the nearby Sojourner Truth Manor retirement home.The crash was a grim reminder of the dangers posed by police pursuits.In the Bay Area, innocent motorists have been killed in recent years in Berkeley, Concord, El Sobrante, Hayward, Oakland, Pinole and San Francisco.Police in many cities are authorized to continue a chase if the person being pursued is suspected of a violent crime, such as a homicide. Some police agencies abort pursuits if the dangers involved outweigh the benefits of arresting the suspects, especially those wanted for relatively minor infractions such as speeding.In general, a police officer is allowed to pursue suspects into a neighboring city as long as a supervising officer approves it, police say, and it's customary for dispatchers to notify their counterparts when pursuits cross city lines. CONTINUE READING...