WILL 'NORBIT' RUIN MURPHY'S OSCAR CHANCES?: 'L.A. Times' article explores the question.
*An article in Thursday's "Los Angeles Times" explores Eddie Murphy's chances of winning an Academy Award later this month in light of his appearance in the new film "Norbit," a comedy opening today that depicts the supporting actor front-runner in a "fat suit, garish eye shadow and little else."
Times reporters Greg Braxton and Robert W. Welkos also bring up the frustration of black activists who are protesting the film's depiction of black women, alleging that it plays into common racial stereotypes. As previously reported, some in the black community are tired of seeing yet another film about a black man dressing up as an unsophisticated, overweight black woman. The movie's release during Black History Month makes matters even worse.
"Every time I pass that billboard, it makes me sick," said one veteran Oscar consultant, who declined to be identified and is not involved in a rival campaign. "I think his performance in 'Dreamgirls' is so fabulous" and deserves to win the Academy Award. But, he added, Murphy's latest comedy offering "doesn't help."
"For Eddie to follow what he did with 'Dreamgirls' with this just doesn't make sense," said Robert M. Entman, author of "The Black Image in the White Mind: Media and Race in America." "There's no excuse for him to lend his prestige to something like this.. There has to be a point where African American stars of his stature have to take some responsibility for their actions and just say no."
Murphy has already won supporting actor honors from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild. Ballots for the Academy Awards are due back on Feb. 20th, five days before the awards are handed out in Los Angeles.
According to the Times, creative forces behind "Norbit" say the film just may work in the actor's favor, "because the comedy demonstrates Murphy's range and ability to morph into multiple characters. It's an approach the actor has used to great success in 'Coming to America' and the two 'The Nutty Professor' films."
Stacey Snider, co-chairwoman of DreamWorks, tells the newspaper of focus groups who "have always loved" the film, and that Oscar voters are smart enough to judge each of Murphy's two roles individually.
"People can separate the performance in 'Dreamgirls' for the career-defining role that it was.. They accept this movie for the comedy that it is.. I think people are wise enough and savvy enough to understand the spirit that was intended," Snider said. "They know not to read too much into it."
R. KELLY HAD SURGERY FOR BURST APPENDIX: Procedure caused singer to miss court appearance this week.
*R. Kelly went under the knife in Miami last Sunday to address a burst appendix, his lawyer said Thursday.
The operation, performed at Jackson Memorial Hospital, caused the 40-year-old R&B singer to miss a court date Wednesday regarding his 14 counts of child pornography charges.
Kelly's attorney Terence Gillespie said Thursday that the artist is in good condition and was expected to be released from the hospital later in the day. Gillespie also said that Kelly is expected to appear at his next scheduled court date on Feb. 21.
In December, a Cook County judge issued a ruling that allowed Kelly to travel out of state for business purposes without permission. R's business trip to Miami included a performance at a Super Bowl party.
DR. DRE IN 'LINE' FOR FILM PRODUCTION DEAL: West Coast maestro to run his Crucial Films under New Line Cinema.
*Music producer Dr. Dre is coming after that Hollywood money with the announcement of a new joint venture between his newly-minted Crucial Films production company and movie studio, New Line Cinema.
According to the trades, the multiyear feature producing deal calls for Dre to co-produce projects with longtime collaborator Phillip Atwell.
Crucial Films plans to focus first on developing dark comedies before moving into other areas, such as horror. Dre, born Andre Young, will be heavily involved in the music side of the company's projects.
"This is a natural switch for me, since I've directed a lot of music videos," Dre told Daily Variety. "And I eventually want to get into directing."
Dre's past history with New Line includes the scoring of several films, including "Set It Off." He says it was New Line's production president Toby Emmerich (formerly New Line's head of music business) who convinced him to move into features in a manner similar to that of other music-industry heavyweights.
"Everything Dre has worked on becomes a hit, and one of the reasons for that is that he never put his name on anything that he doesn't really believe in," Emmerich said. "His records have always been very narrative in nature, and you can tell from his songs that he understands how to tell a story. We're excited to work with him as he branches out into the film world."
ALICIA KEYS PURSUES ANIMATED FILM ROLE: Singer wants to follow up 'Smokin'
Aces' with 'Frog Princess.'
*Alicia Keys, currently in theaters as an assassin in "Smokin'
Aces," is reportedly jumping through hoops in an attempt to get Disney to hire her as the lead of its upcoming animated musical, "The Frog Princess."
"How interested is she?" writes E! Online's Planet Gossip Blogger Marc Malkin. "So much so that after Keys auditioned, she actually called Disney's studio chief, Dick Cook, directly to let him know how much she wanted the gig, according to a well-placed source. 'She did it all herself. She got one of his personal numbers and just called him up.'"
Malkin also says Oscar-nominee Jennifer Hudson and her "Dreamgirls"
co-star and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose are top contenders for the lead role of Mandy, a young southern girl living in New Orleans during the roaring '20s Jazz Age.
"One of the big questions is if Alicia can do a Southern accent, because she has such that New York voice," a source told Malkin.
SEN. OBAMA TRYING TO KICK CIGARETTE HABIT: Presidential hopeful wants to quit smoking before formal campaign launch Saturday.
*Sen. Barack Obama says he's determined to quit his nasty smoking habit before the official launch of his presidential campaign tomorrow, fearing a nicotine-addicted candidate would not go over well with voters.and also because his wife, Michelle, insisted that he stop.
"My wife wisely indicated that this is a potentially stressful situation, running for president," Obama said Tuesday. "She wanted to lay down a very clear marker that she wants me healthy."
Pundits have already weighed in on the matter. Anti-smoking advocate John Banzhaf III, a law professor at George Washington University and executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, told the St. Petersburg
Times: "For many people, smoking is seen as a sign of weakness and lack of willpower. A presidential candidate would not want to be seen as lacking strong will or lacking determination."
But others say Obama's smoking and his struggle to quit could enhance his image. "I think it humanizes him," said Chuck Todd, editor of the Hotline, a political Web site. "He's got a vice. We all have vices."
Obama said he has always been discreet with his habit, which he picked up as a way to deal with the stress of former campaigns and writing books.
"I've never been a heavy smoker and don't smoke in front of folks or in the house," he said. But like many smokers, he has been unable to quit.
"It's one of those habits you can quit for a while and then you start back up," he said, adding that his use of Nicorette gum has been working "pretty well" in curbing his nicotine addiction. The Democrat's effort to quit smoking is being well received by antismoking activists.
"Whenever you have high-profile people do this, it has a secondary effect in encouraging others to try," said Stan Glantz, director of the tobacco control research center at the University of California at San Francisco.
THE THANDIE NEWTON 'NORBIT' INTERVIEW: Thandie is Dandy
by Kam Williams
*Thandiwe Newton was born in London on November 6, 1972 to a mother from Zimbabwe and British father.
En route to fame and fortune, the 5'2" cutie pie would remove a "w" and a syllable from her name, which means "beloved."
This is ironic because she later played the title character in the screen adaptation of the Toni Morrison novel "Beloved."
But Thandie is probably now best known for her work in Crash, where she played a woman violated right in front of her husband by a crude cop during a profile stop. Although she wasn't even nominated for an Oscar, she won a British Academy Award for that nonpareil performance.
Also on her resume' are memorable outings in Besieged, The Trouble with Charlie, Mission: Impossible II, The Chronicles of Riddick, and as Sally Hemmings in Jefferson in Paris. Recently, she appeared opposite Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness.
Here, Thandie talks about working opposite Eddie Murhphy in Norbit.
Kam Williams: What interested you in playing Kate?
Thandie Newton: After all these years, here was something that just pushed things a bit more. I also thought it was an opportunity to really explore character. And despite the fact that in many ways Kate is the straight man of the film, there were still moments of fun and silliness that I could really enjoy. And, to be honest, the main thing I wanted to experience was to be around a craftsman like Eddie, a genius, to be in the presence of someone creating something memorable. And I just knew from reading it that it was going to be memorable.
KW: What's it like working with Eddie?
TN: You bust out with laughter and there's romance, and it's smart, and makes you kind of think about stuff, but not so much so that you're twisting
your brain. Everybody loves Eddie Murphy. Everybody appreciates what he does
and wants to see him enjoying what he's doing. And he's enjoying what he's doing and he's doing something really special. I mean, I didn't know that this was going to be an opportunity for that, to be around someone creating something special. It's been a privilege.
KW: How do you generate chemistry with a character like Norbit?
TN: What the character Norbit is putting out there is basic human kindness, and it's got to be the most attractive, beautiful quality. So, for me as an actress, and a person defining this character, to genuinely feel that Kate would genuinely fall in love with Norbit is so exciting for me actually.
Because even though I'm doing this film which relies heavily on suspending your disbelief, and is a fantasy, I always love to find the truth in things.
And there is in this, and it's such a welcome surprise.
KW: What did you think of the rest of the cast?
TN: Cuba Gooding, Jr., I was so excited to be working with him, and to be playing this couple with him, because he brings so much more complexity to it. His comic timing is so good, and he's such a cool guy. And every single character in the film, no matter how small, is played by someone who just fills it to its maximum. The movie has just drawn really strong quality performers together. And I really feel like it's a celebration of the work of Eddie Murphy. Everybody says the same thing. We're all bowing down to a great man, and a great work. I love this film because it seems to bring so many of the qualities that make him great together.
KW: What did you think of the makeup job they did on Eddie?
TN: The makeup is so advanced now that it really is real! So, when Eddie walks on as Rasputia or as Mr. Wong, it's fascinating.
MORE 'AMERICAN IDOL' RAP SHEETS: Akron Watson's weed bust gets him booted; Ashlyn Carr arrested in sugar attack.
*Two African American contestants on "American Idol" were discovered to have rap sheets, one of which led to the perpetrator's forced removal from the show's Hollywood round scheduled to air next week.
Akron Watson, a hopeful who auditioned in San Antonio, was arrested in April 2003 for misdemeanor possession of marijuana, according to court records obtained and posted by PegasusNews.com.
Watson told Pegasus News that producers contacted him with the news two days before he was due to catch the Hollywood flight. He was told that he would not be competing anymore "for unknown reasons."
Meanwhile, Ashlyn Carr, the woman who was nearly passed over during auditions in San Antonio because she made weird faces when she sang, was reportedly arrested in August for pouring sugar into the gas tank of her ex-boyfriend while a student at Sam Houston State University, according to a report in The Houstonian Online.
O.J.'S BOOK MONEY FROZEN BY JUDGE: Simpson barred from spending or moving any of his reported $1 million advance.
*A Los Angeles Judge on Wednesday barred O.J. Simpson from going anywhere near the money he received as an advance on his aborted book "If I Did It," or its companion television interview about the murders of his ex-wife and her friend.
Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg's ruling broadens a January restraining order sought by the father of murder victim Ron Goldman, which prohibited Simpson from spending or moving funds from any past book or movie deals at least until a February 20 hearing. However, the ruling exempted the "If I Did It" advance because Fred Goldman had filed a separate case in federal court over that money.
Rosenberg's new order stops Simpson from "transferring, conveying, expending, liquidating, encumbering, hiding, concealing or otherwise disposing" of proceeds from book, media or movie deals. He made an exemption for the payment of "ordinary living expenses."
"I can't stop Simpson from selling his book rights to the Martians, but if he does, the money lands in Judge Rosenberg's court," Goldman's lawyer David Cook said after Wednesday's ruling.
Simpson's lead attorney, Yale Galanter, said the ruling did not significantly change the status of the case and he expected to prevail at the Feb. 20 hearing.
?UESTLOVE TO PRODUCE NEW AL GREEN ALBUM: Roots drummer hopes to finish recording by September.
*Al Green is currently in the studio recording his upcoming album for Blue Note Records over tracks produced by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of the rap collective The Roots.
According to Billboard.com, the unlikely pairing came about after Thompson "ran my big mouth" and told [Blue Note senior director of A&R] Eli [Wolf], "'Yo, man. You want a real Al Green record? Come see me.' So now I've got to live up to that."
?uestlove had some initial reservations in tackling the production for Green's follow-up to 2005's "Everything's O.K."
"If it were up to me and it was absolutely totalitarianism, I would live all my derivative fantasies out on this record," he says. "It would be
1974 all over again, sonically. I think they're still getting used to that."
One of the frustrations, according to Thompson, is that veteran artists find it hard to resist teaming with younger, hotter talent in an attempt to reap commercial acceptance.
"If you're going to compete with T.I., Chamillionaire and Jay-Z, then by all means, let's try and reach the kids of today," he tells Billboard.com. "But if you put the dart in your hand and you're not going to hit a bullseye, you're better off just doing what you know best."
"I'm not saying Al Green wants to do his version of [Chamillionaire's] 'Ridin',' but for veterans, their examples are the Santana of 1999 and the Tony Bennett and Rod Stewart of today," he continues. "They're thinking, 'Okay, that is going to get me to the Grammy podium. Someone phone up John [Legend], Alicia [Keys] and Corinne [Bailey Rae] and let's get on Adult Contemporary radio.' I'm trying to get them out of that mode. It'll be a struggle but I think at the end of the day it will be a quality record."
YOUNG BUCK PREPS NEW ALBUM FOR MARCH: Rapper says he's 'created a masterpiece' with 'Buck the World.'
*Young Buck is excited about the March 20th release of his sophomore album "Buck the World," which was supposed to come out on Nov. 28 but was pushed back because.well, it just wasn't feeling right.
Back in mid-November, Billboard.com asked Buck about the album's arrival status. The rapper responded: ""When everything is feeling right, then I'll release it."
On Wednesday, the Tennessee native said in a statement promoting the new release date: "I think I created a masterpiece here. I put my heart in it and I think my fans are gonna love it."
The G-Unit/Interscope project is co-executive produced by 50 Cent and Sha Money XL, while producers on the disc include Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Hi-Tek and Jazze Pha.
T.I., Young Jeezy, Pimp C, Snoop Dogg, Trick Daddy, Lyfe Jennings, Trey Songz, Linkin Park's Chester Bennington and Buck's G-Unit crew are among the guest artists.
The first single off the album is "I Know You Want Me," featuring and produced by Jazze Pha. The follow-up track is intended to be "Get Buck,"
which ships to U.S. radio outlets Feb. 26.
EUR VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Take a video journey through Black History.
Revisit some of the fascinating people and pivotal events that tranformed Black culture.
*In honor of Black History Month, check out videos we've come across that are relevant to Black culture and we think are worth sharing.
If YOU'D like to submit a video that you think is worthy, please send the link or file to videosubmit@eurweb.com and we'll check it out.
Today's vide An enlightening and humbling Black History Month presentation by Devon Joseph....check it out here: http://eurweb.com/story/eur30893.cfm
MARCUS HOUSTON, A 'VETERAN' AT AGE 25: Singer's third solo LP features Yung Joc, Mya and Shawnna.
*Marcus Houston will have new material in the streets on March 20th under his new T.U.G./Universal album, "Veteran."
The set features production from Bryan-Michael Cox and the Underdogs, who also produced the singer's prior hit track, "Naked."
"Veteran's" first single is "Favorite Girl," with a video directed by Chris Stokes and starring "Clueless" actress Stacey Dash. Stokes also directed a video for "Circle," a piano-based love song intended as the second single from the album.
Among other tracks on "Veteran," Yung Joc teams with Houston for "Like This," while Mya and Shawnna jump on the song, "Hold N' Back."
"Veteran" is the follow-up to 2005's "Naked," which peaked at No. 5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 13 on The Billboard 200.
BET.COM PREVIEWS NEW LEVERT ALBUM: Plus, Web site offers up "advice and counsel" from Brian McKnight.
*A flurry of activity is jumping off over at BET.com. The Web site is currently streaming the entire length of Gerald Levert's posthumous album "In My Songs" preceding its release next week, and is also offering fans the chance to receive "individual counsel, critique and advice" from crooner Brian McKnight.
Gerald Levert fans can log onto www.Bet.com/Transmission to hear the entire new album before it hits the shelves on Tuesday, Feb. 13. An anthology of Levert's music videos and photos spanning the legend's life can also be found on BET.com.
Brian McKnight fans can access BET.com's Ya Heard University at http://YaHeard.bet.com to upload original music, bio's and pictures for a chance to win words of wisdom from the singer. Ya Heard University is an online community-based application that allows unsigned artists to upload their music, photos and information to the BET.com community. At the closing of the session, McKnight will listen to five songs and will post his feedback and comments online for the world to see.
Past experts featured on Ya Heard University include: BMG Senior Vice President of Urban Music, Derrick Thompson; singer, songwriter and So So Def Recording Artist, Johnta Austin and Grammy award winning songwriter, singer and producer Rodney Jerkins.
NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND CALENDAR: LeBron and A.I.'s 'Tip Off Party'; Nelly and J.D.'s 'So SoDerrty Expereince.'
*Hundreds of superstars from the sports, music and movie industries - including hosts LeBron James and Allen Iverson - will descend on ICE Nightclub in Las Vegas for four consecutive nights of celebrity-filled parties during NBA All-Star Weekend 2007. The Allen Iverson/LeBron James All-Star Weekend Celebration begins on Feb. 15 when Iverson and Universal Records present Club AI: Welcome to Las Vegas Tip-Off Party. Featured guests include Lil Wayne, Baby, Akon, Chamillionaire, Lloyd, Irv Gotti, Ashanti, Ja Rule, DJ Self and Kid Capri. Doors open at 8 p.m. each evening and tickets are available by visiting www.allstarparty2007.com.
Additional NBA All-Star Weekend 2007 events at ICE Nightclub include the following:
. Friday, Feb. 16: Allen Iverson & celebrity friends present Club AI:
Welcome to Vegas, Part 2, The Official NBA/NFL Players Party. Featured guests include players from every team, DJ Self and BET's DJ ProStyle . Saturday, Feb. 17: Roc-A-Fella Roc-A-Wear present The Roc-A-Fella NBA All-Star Weekend Takeover: The Dynasty Continues. Featured guests include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Memphis Bleek, Foxy Brown, Peedi Peedi, Tru Life, Freeway, Young Gunz and DJ Clue . Sunday, Feb. 18: LeBron James, Interscope Records and MTV present The LeBron James Celebrity All-Star Weekend Grand Finale. Featured guests include Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Timberland, Rich Boy, Slim Thug, Eve, Pharrell, Keyshia Cole and Funkmaster Flex.
*Nelly and Jermaine Dupri will host the "So SoDerrty Experience"
during the NBA's All Star weekend, described as a series of exclusive events featuring such celebrities as Bow Wow, Pharrell, TI, Carmelo Anthony, Floyd Mayweather, Akon, Lil Wayne, Chingy, Cedric The Entertainer and others. The festivities take place at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino starting on Feb. 15 with a "Tip Off Concert" that will feature Bow Wow, Akon, Chingy, Lil Wayne Ali+Gipp, St. Lunatics and The Clipse. For ticket prices and schedule, log on to www.sosoderrty.com.
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening February 9, 2007
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Hannibal Rising (R for sexual references, profanity, and grisly violence) Hannibal the Cannibal's (Gaspard Ulliel) formative years are chronicled in this prequel to the Silence of the Lambs franchise. Story explores the origins of Dr. Lecter's savagery, opening in Lithuania during WWII, where as a young boy he was irreversibly scarred by witnessing his parents' murder in the family's medieval castle.
The Last Sin Eater (PG-13 for mature themes and intense violence) Coming-of-age tale of redemption from 20th Century Fox's new faith-based division, set amidst a community of Welsh immigrants Appalachia in the 1850s, revolves around a 10 year-old girl (Liana Liberato) looking for forgiveness following the death of her littler sister. Cast includes Louise Fletcher and Henry Thomas.
Norbit (PG-13 for nudity, sexuality, profanity, and crude humor) Eddie Murphy handles a trio of roles in this romantic comedy about an orphan abandoned as a baby on the steps of a Chinese restaurant who is eventually forced to marry an obese junk food junkie instead of his childhood sweetheart (Thandie Newton). With Eddie Griffin, Terry Crews, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Katt Williams and Marlon Wayans.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Breaking and Entering (R for sex and expletives) Cross-cultural drama, written and directed by Anthony Minghella, about a London architect (Jude Law) in a listless relationship who reevaluates his life after embarking on a lusty liaison with the Muslim mother (Juliette Binoche) of a petty thief (Rafi Gavron). With Robin Wright Penn and Vera Farmiga.
Burning Annie (Unrated) Art imitates art imitating life in this romantic comedy about a college student (Gary Lundy) whose best friend (Brian Klugman) points out that his unhealthy obsession with the movie Annie Hall has been interfering to with his ability to have a healthy relationship with any of the real women (Sara Downing and Kim Murphy) in his life.
The Lives of Others (R for nudity and sexuality) "Big Brother is watching you" drama revisits repression behind the Iron Curtain during the Eighties at a time when the East German government employed an intimidating system of surveillance to keep the populace in line. (In German with subtitles)
Unconscious (R for sexuality and drug use) Set in Barcelona in 1913, this Freudian erotic comedy features Leonor Watling as a pregnant woman who's desperate to get to the bottom of her psychiatrist husband's (Alex Brendemuhl) sudden disappearance. (In Spanish with subtitles)
FILM/TV BITS: Mary J. on 'Ghost Whisperer'; LL on CBS; Cuba on 'five blondes'; Evan & Michelle; the Dreams at Oscars; Ebony's Pre-Oscar party.
*Current eight-time Grammy Award nominee Mary J. Blige will guest star in tonight's episode of "Ghost Whisperer" on CBS. Blige, whose music will be featured in the episode, plays Jackie Boyd, the coach of a high-ranked high school cheerleading team whose members are being disabled, one by one, by seemingly freak accidents in the days preceding their big cheerleading competition. Melinda (Jennifer Love Hewitt) soon discovers that the vengeful spirit of a former cheerleader is behind the calamities and that a life-altering happening in Jackie's past is hindering her sincere efforts to put a stop to her team's adversities. "Ghost Whisperer" airs Fridays at 8 p.m. To view some preview clips, go t http://www.cbs.com/primetime/ghost_whisperer/ and click on the Mary J. Blige "Watch Now" section.
*CBS announced it has ordered a pilot for LL Cool J's television drama "The Man," according to the Hollywood Reporter. As previously reported, the rapper stars as an undercover Los Angeles cop who juggles his job while developing a father-like relationship with a boy orphaned after one of his drug busts. The script was written by "CSI" creator Anthony Zuiker.
*The New York Post's Page Six is reporting that Cuba Gooding Jr. was "making a spectacle of himself" at New York's Bungalow 8 Wednesday night while sitting at a table of women. He "kissed like five blondes - he was all over the place," a source said. Page Six also says that Diana Ross' son, Evan Ross, was spotted at the same club Wednesday night making out with actress Michelle Rodriguez.
*In addition to Jennifer Hudson's scheduled performance of her "Dreamgirls" number "Love You I Do" during the Oscars, the nominated actress told E! News at the annual Oscar nominees luncheon on Tuesday that helmer Bill Condon will direct a musical number for the telecast that features Hudson along with her fellow Dreams Beyonce and Anika Noni Rose. The 79th annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on ABC Feb. 25.
*Academy Award winner Halle Berry, 2007 Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Forest Whitaker, Actress and Grammy Award winner Janet Jackson and Academy Award winner Herbie Hancock will be honored for their numerous accomplishments at the Third Annual Ebony Pre-Oscar Celebration, to be held on Feb. 22 at the Jim Henson Studios in Hollywood (1416 North LaBrea Ave.). Sponsors will contribute a scholarship to the Howard University John H. Johnson School of Communications, named for Ebony's founder.
MUSIC BITS: T.I., EW&F added to Grammys; Paul Wall's 'Money'; N.O.R.E.
leaves Def Jam; Beyonce still No. 1, shoots 'Got Milk' campaign with Solange.
*Rapper T.I. has been added to the Grammy night lineup for Sunday, and the legendary R&B band Earth Wind & Fire will join Mary J. Blige and Ludacris on stage in what's being billed as a "special performance" during the 49th annual ceremony. Also, Natalie Cole has been added as a presenter during the event, to be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS.
*SwishaHouse/Asylum/Atlantic recording artist Paul Wall has announced early details of his second album, "Get Money - Stay True," due April 3rd. The set, which features first single "Break 'Em Off," includes guest artists Jermaine Dupri, Snoop Dogg, Lil Keke, Freeway, Rick Ross, Fergie, Jon B, Trina, Crys Wall, Yung Redd and Expensive Taste (Travis Barker & Skinhead Rob). AOL Music is offering an exclusive First Listen of the album at www.aolmusic.com. Paul's weekly series, "Get Money TV," has just launched on YouTube at www.youtube.com/profile?user=GetMoneyTV.
*Rapper N.O.R.E. tells AllHipHop.com that he has bounced from Def Jam for good following a volatile experience that included discontent over the lack of promotion for his previous projects. "I love Def Jam and every bit of history that we have together, but it's time to move on," N.O.R.E told AllHipHop.com. "I'm fully on my own and I want to be my own boss. There will not be a Jay-Z diss or an LA Reid diss record, because this is what I asked for." N.O.R.E. says he's considering other avenues for his records and is currently recording another studio album with his rap partner Capone.
*Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" single has just lodged its 10th week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100, holding Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right" at bay in second place and Fall Out Boy's "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" at No. 3. Meanwhile, Beyonce and her little sister, Solange, shot a "Got Milk" ad this week for the California Milk Advisory Board's ongoing campaign. Beyonce has already sported a milk moustache for a previous "Got Milk" ad shot alongside her mama, Tina. Watch video from the Beyonce/Solange "Got Milk" photo shoot here; http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid285859616?bclid=294430730&bc
tid=483267983.
SPORTS BITS: Tyson's rehab confirmed; Serena to join Fed Cup; Barkley celebrates with gambling money; Abdul-Jabbar book signing in L.A.
*It was confirmed Wednesday by Mike Tyson's attorney that the former boxer has checked himself into an inpatient treatment program for "various addictions" while awaiting trial on drug charges. The 40-year-old pleaded not guilty on Jan. 22 in Arizona to felony drug possession and paraphernalia possession counts and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of drugs. The rehab facility was kept a secret by Tyson's lawyer, but TMZ.com spoke with a patient at the Wonderland Treatment facility in California earlier this week who said Tyson is there, and has been one of the "humblest, sweetest, and most genuinely considerate celebrities" they've ever met. Tyson is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Feb. 26.
*Fresh off her Australian Open victory, Serena Williams will join her older sister Venus on the U.S. Fed Cup team that faces Belgium in the first round in April. "I was very happy when Serena called me and said she wanted to play, especially coming after her big win in Australia," U.S. captain Zina Garrison told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Thursday. "She had texted me a couple of times and said she was contemplating playing Fed Cup. She actually let me know last week she'll play." Serena is undefeated in her Fed Cup career, going 3-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles. She last played for the United States four years ago, in a first-round victory over the Czech Republic.
*In its "We Hear." section, the New York Post's Page Six reports that self-described gambling addict Charles Barkley was spotted at Bellagio's Light nightclub in Las Vegas celebrating his $700,000 win in blackjack and his impressive earnings from betting on the Colts in the Super Bowl.
*NBA veteran Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will be in Los Angeles Monday (Feb. 12) to sign his book "On The Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through The Harlem Renaissance" at 7 p.m. at Eso Won Books (4331 Degnan Blvd. in Leimert Park).
CPB COLLECTING ORAL HISTORIES FROM BLACK FAMILIES: $1.4 million features 40-minute interviews with ordinary citizens.
*The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is behind a new project that aims to record at least 1,500 oral histories from black families over the next year for storage at the Library of Congress and in the archives of the Smithsonian's future National Museum of African American History and Culture.
"One of the greatest treasures of African America is the stories, the words, the family memories," the museum's director, Lonnie Bunch, tells the Associated Press. "In essence, this is really one of the ways we will help America to remember by preserving those words."
New York-based nonprofit group Sound Portraits Productions will produce the audio CD recordings, which will go toward the creation of an oral history of the nation through 40-minute interviews with ordinary citizens, including survivors of Hurricane Katrina and relatives of those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is funding the $1.4 million StoryCorps Griot project. The first recording sessions are planned for Feb. 15 in Atlanta through a mobile recording studio that will stop in nine cities over the next year. The mobile recording units also will travel to Chicago; Clarksdale, Miss.; Detroit; Memphis, Tenn.; Montgomery, Ala.; Newark, N.J.; Oakland, Calif.; and Selma, Ala.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
Motivation123 Newsletter
by J. M. Gracia
www.motivation123.com
::Why Having a Goal Isn't Nearly Enough::
Twenty-three out of twenty-five people couldn't give me the answer I was looking for. Unfortunately, this means that twenty-three of the twenty-five people I met with will never experience the motivation necessary to get what they want.
If you want to get motivated to change something in your life or achieve an important goal, you must know the answer that ninety-two percent failed to deliver.
Before you can offer the right answer, however, you have to know what I'm looking for.
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I Used to Believe This...Not Anymore
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So much has been said about the importance of having goals that many people have been lured into the false notion that having a goal naturally leads to the motivation to achieve it.
Even more, setting a specific goal with a timeline will all but guarantee success. As someone who has set goals in the past, I'm sure you know firsthand that merely having a goal isn't enough.
While setting clearly defined goals is critical to living the life you want to live, lasting change requires something more than a specific goal.
And this extra step was something that twenty-three out of the twenty-five people I spoke with didn't know. They had goals, some of them even specific and scheduled, but without answering the most important type of question, the motivation to achieve success will be short-lived.
And if you don't have the motivation to follow through on your goals and dreams, you'll never succeed. That is why you must take that extra step, you must answer the most important questions.
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Here is the Missing Link
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If setting a clearly defined goal isn't enough, what's the missing link?
W-H-Y
That's right, the missing link is why you want the goal.
Without a strong and persuasive 'why' behind each one of your goals you'll never achieve it.
As I sat down with those twenty-five individuals I asked them each about their personal and professional goals.
Every one of them had an answer. Some took time to think about what they wanted while others already had a clear idea of what they hoped to achieve.
After the goal was identified, I asked each the exact reasons why they wanted to achieve the goal, the compelling and powerful motivators.
Only two out of the entire group offered satisfactory answers. I say 'satisfactory' because reasons such as being happier or making more money aren't strong enough. Reasons such as these will never overpower the habits and obstacles that stand in your way.
We will soon discuss specific techniques to uncover the reasons you need to get what you want, but before we do that I want to mention a note about choosing your goals in the first place.
If you don't know what you want, nothing else matters. I have worked with many people who only knew that they wanted something different in their lives, but it stopped there.
If this describes the situation you are facing, visit the address below to learn about several methods to help you discover exactly what you want to have, experience, and
become: http://www.motivation123.com/cmd.php?ad=211382
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Feb. 9: Author Alice Walker is 63. Saxophonist Dennis "DT" Thomas of Kool and the Gang is 56. Actress Camille Winbush ("The Bernie Mac Show") is 17.
Feb. 10: Singer Roberta Flack is 68.
Feb. 11: R&B singer Otis Clay is 65. Singer D'Angelo is 33.
Singer-actress Brandy ("Moesha") is 28. Singer Kelly Rowland (Destiny's
Child) is 26.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Here's a Web site where kids can have fun reading stories and then create their own and win gifts. Check it out: www.panic-tonic-kids.com.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Feb. 9, 1971: Baseball Hall of Fame inducts Leroy "Satchel" Paige.
Feb. 10, 1927: Attorney Ronald Brown was elected national chairman of the Democratic Party and became the first African American to hold the post.
Feb. 11, 1976: Clifford Alexander, Jr. is confirmed as the first African American Secretary of the Army. He would hold the position until the
end of President Jimmy Carter's term. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)