LIL’ KIM PULLED OVER IN NEW YORK: Rapper cited for driving brand-spankin’-new Lambo without a license.
*Lil’ Kim drew a crowd of lookiloos on Manhattan’s West Side Thursday after she was stopped by police for driving a Lamborghini without license plates.
The 33-year-old, born Kimberly Denise Jones, was pulled over at about 6 p.m. as she drove into a gas station at 50th Street and 11th Avenue, reports the New York Post. Cops soon discovered that she was also driving without a license.
According to TMZ.com, Kim told police that she was licensed to drive in New Jersey but simply forgot to bring the license with her. But Kim, in fact, is not licensed to drive anywhere, the Web site reported.
Kim also told police that she had just received the Lamborghini as a gift from her “boyfriend,” who had it shipped brand new and plate-free on a flatbed from California to NYC, TMZ reports. The car did have a temporary out-of-state registration, and she reportedly tried to convince officers that cars in Cali don't need to display license plates.
A source told TMZ that Kim stayed calm as police were questioning her, but when the paparazzi showed up, she flipped out.
"She became belligerent, loud and obnoxious. She proclaimed that if she was the average person, this wouldn't have been a problem," said the source.
Kim’s lawyer, Bernie Jackson, eventually came to the rescue and drove Kim home in the Lambo – but not before the rapper took time to pose for pictures with fans and sign autographs.
BISHOP WEEKS IN DEEP FINANCIAL DOO-DOO: Civil court judgments from Tiffany & Co.; Ford Motors and more are discovered.
*Bishop Thomas Weeks faced serious financial trouble leading up to the alleged attack of his wife, televangelist Juanita Bynum, last month in Atlanta, reports the city’s FOX 5 news.
According to the report, the 40-year-old bishop left several unpaid creditors behind when he and his wife moved to Atlanta from Washington, D.C. in 2006 to expand their ministry.
FOX 5 News uncovered court documents that show Weeks led a ministry in D.C. called, Center of Hope Community Development Corporation. Court records reveal a $63,000 judgment against Weeks from copier giant, Xerox Corporation, a $22,000 judgment against Weeks from jewelry store Tiffany and Company, a $13,000 judgment from a credit card company and a $6,000 judgment from Ford Motor Credit.
Combined, Weeks owes more than $100,000 in judgments. Three of the creditors say he has yet to pay the debt.
Family members have confirmed to FOX 5 that Weeks and Bynum began leasing a $2.5 million home with six bedrooms in the St. Marlo golf community in Forsyth County in early 2006. Earlier this summer, a court gave the order to serve an eviction notice. Dispossessory documents dated for June 26, 2007 indicate Weeks owed $54,000 in past due rent at the luxury home, the station reported.
According to the eviction notice issued at the magistrate court in Forsyth County, when deputies went to Weeks' home to serve the eviction notice, Weeks and all of his furniture were gone.
A source familiar with the housing arrangement told FOX 5 News that after Weeks defaulted on the first contract, he made a payment toward the debt and entered into a new contract agreement to buy the high-end home by April of 2008.
Weeks is facing assault charges for allegedly stomping and beating his estranged wife in the parking lot of the Renaissance Hotel, located near the Atlanta airport.
MORE DETAILS ON OPRAH’S OBAMA PARTY: Stevie Wonder, BeBe Winans to perform at Saturday shindig.
*The new issue of Newsweek magazine offers details of Saturday’s Barack Obama fundraiser being hosted by Oprah Winfrey at her Montecito, Calif. estate.
Tickets are sold out at $2,300 each, the legal maximum for primary-campaign giving, notes writer Allison Samuels. Stevie Wonder and gospel singer BeBe Winans will perform for such invited guests as Will Smith, John Travolta, Jamie Foxx and Halle Berry.
A source close to Winfrey, who declined to be named for fear of angering the talk show star, says Oprah bonded with the Illinois senator in
2005 during a flight from Chicago to Houston to visit folks displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
"I think Oprah got to see the genuine side of Obama ... and was just blown away," says the source. In fact, some celebs are contributing the $2,300 to Obama’s campaign even though they may not be able to make the party, reports Newsweek.
"Are you kidding?" says actress Holly Robinson Peete. "If she invites you somewhere, you go."
One of Oprah’s closest friends, producer Quincy Jones, will not attend the affair, as he is hosting a similar fund raiser for Obama’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton at the home of Magic Johnson on Sept. 14.
Jones tells Newsweek: "The house is incredible, and the food and music is going to be topnotch. But there is no competition here at all."
ANOTHER DIDDY WHITE PARTY IN THE BOOKS: Folks were actually turned away if dress code wasn’t followed.
*Sean “Diddy” Combs wasn’t playing when he set the dress code for his annual White Party, which took place over the weekend at his East Hampton waterfront crib.
According to the New York Post’s Page Six, guests who didn’t take the request for pure-white attire seriously were turned away or told to change clothes on the spot.
Billy Joel’s wife Katie Lee, the original host of Bravo’s “Top Chef,”
thought she could get away with dressing in a shade of cream. After she was denied entry to the party, Lee decided to go home, reports AP. The New York Post adds: “One unfortunate man was made to strip off his cream-colored pants in the street, in exchange for a pure-white pair provided by Diddy.”
Those who made it into the function include Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes, Donna Karan, Ashley Olsen, Star Jones and Tommy Lee. Guests milling about the property were entertained by painted geishas, Polynesian dancers, a jazz band and a circus performer twirling six spinning rings.
Diddy – dressed in white sneakers with silver detailing, a white shirt, white pants and a gold medallion – said of his shindig: "This party is up there with the top three that I've thrown. It's a party that has legendary status. It's hard to throw a party that lives up to its legend."
Others guests included Lil' Kim, Lorraine Bracco, Brooke Shields and Russell Simmons.
UNKNOWN ILLNESS SIDELINES GAME: Rapper misses dates for Roc Tha Block Tour.
*Three Roc tha Block Tour stops in Australia and New Zealand over the weekend had to go on as scheduled without headliner The Game, who missed the dates due to an “unknown illness.”
Sources told Allhiphop.com that the Compton rapper was under the weather and unable to make gigs in Adelaide, Australia on Thursday (Aug.
30), Sydney, Australia on Friday and Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday.
"Venue officials notified concert-goers that the rapper was feeling unwell and would not be performing," said the source. "Audiences were offered full ticket refunds at the door. I would assume that the reason for The Game's absence at the Auckland stopover was because he had not recovered from whatever illness he was suffering from on the previous two dates."
Other artists on the Roc tha Block bill include Pitbull, Naughty By Nature, Sisqo and Akon, reports Allhiphop.com.
The tour had already been pushed back by two weeks due to immigration issues with Akon's visa in Australia. The delay caused original booked acts Juelz Santana and Mims to cancel because of previous commitments.
BOYCOTT LAUNCHED AGAINST VH1: Network targeted for its negative portrayal of black women.
*A boycott has been launched against music channel VH1 to protest network executives who actively and purposely perpetuate negative stereotypes of black women through its reality programming.
An employee of the network leaked information about a production meeting regarding a potential new show titled “Interracial Love.” According to the employee, network execs passed on the idea because it would feature professional black women who choose to look beyond race to find true love.
The images would be in direct contrast to those shown on such shows as “Flavor of Love” and its spawns “I Love New York” and “Flavor of Love: Charm School.”
In a letter written to Black Press Radio, the employee shared what she was told went down behind closed doors in a meeting about the show.
According to the employee, the exec said: “It is our thoughts that the viewers are more interested in seeing black people in a ghetto role. This show will not sell.”
Black Press Radio (www.blackpressradio.com) followed up on the story and reported on an Aug. 14 statement sent to Black Press Magazine by Maura Wozniak, the Senior Publicist for VH1 Communications. In the statement, Wozniak confirms that “Interracial Love” was rejected after it was determined it just wasn't a good fit for the network.
"VH1 receives hundreds of unsolicited ideas for shows a week and has dozens of original programs in development," said Wozniak. "As is often the case, we immediately passed on this pitch because it does not make sense for the network at this time. But we are always open to ideas that fit in with our music and pop culture focus."
Black Media News fired off a letter to EUR voicing full support of a boycott against VH1. The organization wrote:
To whom it may concern,
There is a boycott that has taken a life of its own against the VH1 Network.
We here at Black Media News have been watching the support around this boycott. VH1 had made racist comments about black women and why they only cast shows that stereotype black women as ghetto. The story was leaked on the Tom Joyner morning show and was also reported on Black Press Radio. The following comments were made by an employee of VH1. We feel these statements are worse than Don Imus due to the fact that they are not talking about just 12 black women they are talking about an entire race of black women. VH1 shows their views in their shows of black women. They have been type casting with black women only in ghetto roles. This is a very racist view and we ask for the continued support of this boycott. There are links below of the story black press radio did on this boycott and an editorial.
•
http://www.vh1realityworld.com/2007/08/10/interracial-love-reality-show-edit
orial/#comment-39167
• www.blackpressradio.com
DEADLINE LOOMS FOR SPIKE LEE-JUDGED FILMFEST: Winner of Babelgum’s online contest to pocket $20,000.
*Spike Lee attended a news conference Saturday to discuss his role as a judge for a new online film festival from Babelgum, an Internet company that streams videos online for free.
The filmmaker will serve as head of the jury for Babelgum’s film festival, which will begin accepting submissions on Sept. 15. Hopefuls who have had their work accepted at other festivals from January 2007 through next February can upload their film onto the company’s Web site http://www.babelgum.com/.
"I was from the prehistoric age. If you have a film and you're talented and someone is not seeing it, it's your fault," Lee told reporters during a break at the Venice Film Festival.
Babelgum users will make the first selection, whittling each category down to 10 films starting in February. The jury will reduce the number to three, with Lee making the final selection. Winners of a $20,000 grand prize will be announced in April.
The festival will have six categories, including one recognizing new talent, short films under 20 minutes, documentary, animation, advertising and films that focus on social and environmental issues. The company said it would not accept offensive material, but Lee acknowledged that it would be tricky defining what that meant.
"What might be offensive to you might not be offensive to me, and vice versa," Lee said. "Language, I think, is clearer than the visual stuff."
ABC DRAMA INSPIRED BY ‘INSIDE MAN’: Plus, screenwriter at work on Brett Ratner’s all-black “Ocean’s 11”-style film.
*A drama pilot based on Jodie Foster’s character in Spike Lee’s "Inside Man" is being developed at ABC.
“The Fixer” will follow a high-powered female PR executive who is tied into the highest levels of power in New York and discreetly solves problems for the city's business, political and media elite.
Russell Gewirtz, the "Inside Man" screenwriter who created the pilot, explains to Hollywood Reporter: "It's not a continuation of the story in 'Inside Man.’ Jodie's character is not fleshed out, you don't know anything about her. This show is about a very specific character -- a single mother who is very clever, influential and powerful."
Meanwhile, Gewirtz has just finished writing a sequel for “Inside Man” that will reunite original stars Foster, Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and director Spike Lee.
Gewirtz is also penning director Brett Ratner’s “Ocean’s 11”-style heist film to star an all-black cast, including Eddie Murphy.
LUTHER BOXED SET INCLUDES RARE/UNRELEASED TRACKS: Package highlighted by 1981 demos; rehearsals of classic material.
*Luther Vandross fanatics can circle Oct. 16th on the calendar. On that Tuesday, Epic/J/Legacy will release a four-disc boxed set, “Love, Luther,” that features all of his hits as well as rare and previously-unreleased material recorded throughout his 24-year career.
Included are the late singer’s 1981 demos for "Ready for Love" and "If You Can't Dance" and versions of "There's Only You," "So Amazing" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart" recorded during a rehearsal at a Montserrat studio in June 1986, reports Billboard.com.
"There's Only You," the first new Vandross single since his death in 2005, will be shipped to Urban AC and Smooth Jazz radio in the coming weeks.
With extensive liner notes from writer Ernest Hardy, “Love, Luther”
runs roughly in chronological order, beginning with such early hits as "Never Too Much" and "If the World Were Mine."
Disc two includes his hits "Stop To Love," the Gregory Hines duet "There's Nothing Better Than Love" and Vandross' signature song, "Here and Now." Disc three features some pre-fame appearances with the groups Luther and Charme, plus '90s-era hits like the Mariah Carey duet "Endless Love,"
"Power of Love/Love Power" and "Don't Want To Be a Fool."
The last disc contains live recordings, a pairing with Frank Sinatra on "The Lady Is a Tramp" from the latter's 1993 album "Duets" and Vandross'
last big R&B hit, 2001's "Take You Out."
RIHANNA DATING DUDE FROM ‘TRANSFORMERS?’ Word has it she’s a fixture in Shia LeBeouf’s trailer on set of ‘Indy Jones 4’
*The gossip rags have been reporting on a supposed romance between 19-year-old singer Rihanna and Shia LeBeouf, the 21-year-old actor whose recent films include “Transformers,” “Disturbia” and the forthcoming “Indiana Jones 4.”
Janet Charlton reported that the camera-shy film star recently broke off a three year relationship last spring and claimed he was "too busy" for romance. However, “he wasn't too busy when Rihanna came along,” Charlton wrote in her column.
“Shia has been filming ‘Indiana Jones 4’ and he and Rihanna are the talk of the set,” Charlton continued. “Tuesday night when Buzzfoto spotted them on a two hour date (with strawberries for dessert) at [Los Angeles restaurant] Kate Mantilini, all was confirmed.
“Shia freaked and ran away, but Rihanna calmly posed for [a photo].
They made a quick getaway in his new pickup truck.”
‘THE VIEW’S’ WHOOPI ERA BEGINS TODAY: New host looking forward to high-profile gig.
*Whoopi Goldberg begins her reign as co-host of ABC’s “The View”
this morning in the chair once occupied by the “Today’s Show’s” Meredith Viera and most recently Rosie O’Donnell.
In an interview with TV Guide, Goldberg talks about her reasons for signing on to the high profile gig, whether her wardrobe will change and if Rosie’s nemesis Donald Trump has made contact.
TV Guide: You do movies, you have a daily radio show, you had your own talk show… so why The View?
Goldberg: I always liked the show. I always felt if there were a place for me, I'd love to be a part of it, but they always had their hosts. Then I started hearing little rumblings. It turns out that the timing couldn't be better, and it all worked out.
TV Guide: Why is it a good fit?
Goldberg: I love to talk, and I love these women. Because they have such diverse ideas about things, it's fun. Also, it'll help me understand a lot more about what's going on in the world of pop culture. I don't know anything about American Idol or who's married to who or getting divorced from who.
TV Guide: Is there any subject you can't wait to sink your teeth into?
Goldberg: Everything! We have an election year coming up, so to sit with all the candidates and hear what their thoughts are will be wonderful. There are a lot of great shows on television and some new ones coming up. There are so many exciting things happening out there.
TV Guide: Did Rosie's nemesis Donald Trump call to congratulate you?
Goldberg: No, but Donald's nice.
TV Guide: You dress very casual. Will you change your style for the show?
Goldberg: Cleaner sneakers, neater shirts. That's me.
TV Guide: What's your catchphrase as moderator?
Goldberg: I am what I am. Me and Popeye.
HBCU BANDS TO COMPETE FOR ‘BATTLE’ TOUR: Top ten will perform in January Showcase at Georgia Dome.
*Marching bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs) are currently rehearsing for the chance to earn a spot on the
2007-08 Honda Battle of the Bands Celebration Tour and Invitational Showcase.
As part of the Celebration Tour, which runs through mid-November, fans have the opportunity to get interactive by logging on to the Honda Battle of the Bands Web site to participate in the online opinion survey, nominating their favorite HBCU marching band.
By the conclusion of the Celebration Tour, the 10 bands that demonstrate the best showmanship, musicianship and fan interaction will be invited to perform in the Invitational Showcase on Jan. 26, 2008, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
"Beyond merely entertaining students, administrators, fans and alumni of these great institutions, HBCU marching bands nurture the future leaders in education, arts, music, politics and so much more," said Marc Burt, manager, Communications for American Honda. "Considering all that they give to us, Honda is proud to help showcase the hard work of these musicians as the founder and principal sponsor of the Honda Battle of the Bands program."
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. will again award a total of $142,000 in grants to the participating marching bands, including $1,000 to each for their halftime performances at selected football games throughout the fall season.
For more information on the Honda Battle Of the Bands, a list of the
42 participating HBCUs or to enter your nominee for the Invitational Showcase, visit http://www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.
BYRON ALLEN JUMPS THE BROOM: Talk show host married his TV producer Saturday in Los Angeles.
*Byron Allen, first introduced to viewers as a co-host of “Real People” in the early 1980s, became a husband Saturday to television producer Jennifer Lucas during a ceremony at the Bel Air Hotel in Los Angeles.
Lucas produces the television series “Comics Unleashed,” one of two syndicated shows hosted by Allen. The other is titled, “Entertainers With Byron Allen.”
According to People magazine, the couple exchanged vows on the hotel’s picturesque lawn before 120 of their family and friends, including Natalie Cole and Eddie Murphy.
"I couldn't wait to see her walk down the aisle," says Allen of his wife, who wore a wedding gown by Carolina Herrera.
A red-themed reception took place at the hotel's ballroom, which was filled with thousands of red roses. The dessert was a five-tiered cake with two flavors – vanilla cake with dark chocolate filling and dark chocolate cake with chocolate mousse filling – by Cake Divas, according to People.
The couple met in April 2001 and were engaged in December 2006 in Maui.
KANYE WEST TOO CHEAP TO PAY FOR LAP DANCERS?: British papers claim rapper was serviced, then left women with their hands out.
*Apparently, the woman in N.E.R.D.’s “Lap Dance” song voicing the line, “You can get this lap dance here for free,” does not speak for all lap dancers.
U.K.’s Mirror newspaper is reporting that Kanye West walked out of a prominent strip club in London without bothering to compensate several women who gave him lap dances.
According to the paper, West received six lap dances while visiting the club Stringfellows last week, but the rapper simply got up and left the club after they were finished, leaving the women unpaid for their services.
Club owner Peter Stringfellow complained to the Mirror: "If the bling around his neck had fallen off, it could have paid for holidays for all of my girls."
DENZEL WASHINGTON’S SON CUT FROM RAMS: J.D. among 11 cut to fit league-mandatory 53-man roster.
*J.D. Washington, the football-playing son of Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, was one of 11 players cut by the St. Louis Rams over the weekend.
The former Morehouse College standout wasn’t considered an NFL prospect, but he was invited to the Rams' training camp in 2006 and made a good enough impression to earn a spot on the practice squad last year.
The Rams allocated him to the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europa this spring. He gained just three yards on his five preseason carries this year.
Meanwhile, his father’s means of employment is still in tact.
Denzel’s new film, “American Gangster,” will arrive in theaters November 2.
MUSIC BITS: Gotti disses Ashanti; B.G. & Lil’ Wayne CDs; Cheetah Girls are back; VMAs add artists; Macy Gray’s ‘Humps.’
*The Inc mogul Irv Gotti visited Wendy Williams’ radio show in New York recently and, of course, began fielding her personal questions about his artist Ashanti. During the interview, Gotti said he was disappointed at her lack of support during his racketeering trial; and admitted having sexual relations with the singer while he was married. Listen to the interview here:
http://www.youtube.com/jp.swf?video_id=gYHsLYEprF4&eurl=http%3A//www.concret
eloop.com/&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/gYHsLYEprF4/default.jpg&t=OEgsTo
PDskJItdsC_xgEPaI65QtDcyZv
*Former Hot Boys B.G. and Lil’ Wayne are each releasing new solo albums in time for Christmas, reports Billboard. Santa will bring B.G.’s "Too Hood To Be Hollywood" on Dec. 4, while Lil' Wayne's "Tha Carter III"
arrives on Dec. 18.
*Disney's Hollywood Records will release The Cheetah Girls' first studio album, “TCG,” on Sept. 25. The multi-cultural trio - Adrienne Bailon, Sabrina Bryan, and Kiely Williams - co-wrote six of the eleven songs and worked with multiple producers including JR Rotem (“Beautiful Girls”), Matthew Gerard, and the team of Tim James & Antonina Armato. Their music will be featured in Disney Channel's "Twitches 2" movie this fall, and they will travel to India next year to film “The Cheetah Girls 3” Movie.
50 Cent, Akon and 17-year-old "Crank Dat" rapper Soulja Boy have been added to the list of performers for MTV’s Video Music Awards, to be held Sept. 9 and broadcast live from Las Vegas. Previously announced performers include Kanye West, Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Fall Out Boy, Nelly Furtado, Timbaland, Chris Brown, Mark Ronson, T-Pain, Cee-Lo, Common and Gym Class Heroes. MTV News' preshow begins live at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the main event at 9 p.m.
*Macy Gray is putting the finishing touches on her own plus-size fashion line, Humps. The 39-year-old explains to WENN: "It's actually for voluptuous, curvaceous girls, girls with thighs and hips." Look for Humps to launch in stores early next year.
FILM/TV BITS: Wentworth is gay?; ‘Montel’s’ ratings plunge; Aiello hated Sal; Cosby honors teachers; Silverman in blackface.
*Aceshowbiz.com is reporting that “Prison Break” star Wentworth Miller has come out of the closet as a homosexual after photos were taken of him out and about with his rumored gay partner, Luke McFarlane. McFarlane is reportedly the ex-boyfriend of "Grey's Anatomy" star T. R. Knight and is best known for his stint as actor Matthew Rhys' boyfriend on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters." He and Miller were first reported dating back in June.
*A new director and supervising producer have been hired at “The Montel Williams Show” to address its dip in ratings. According to Variety, the talk show syndicated by CBS TV Distribution has lost 20% of its household audience in the last year. The plunge represents a bigger falloff among its target demo of adults 25-54 than that of any other returning talk show in first-run syndication in the last year. “Montel” premieres its 17th season on Sept. 10.
*The actor who played Sal in Spike Lee’s breakout film “Do The Right Thing” admits that he wasn’t really feeling the movie artistically. Danny Aiello, who earned an Oscar nomination for playing the Italian owner of Sal’s Pizza, told the Montreal World Film Festival Friday that the 1989 movie "was healthy for my career, but the movie was out to lunch."
*Bill Cosby joins Rosie O'Donnell, Cynthia Nixon, and Tim McCarver of Fox Sports as they lead “Tribute: A Concert Honoring the Teachers of America,” an all-star back-to-school special set to air Thursday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on Thirteen/WNET. Providing the musical honors: icons Peter, Paul & Mary, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, and Odetta, plus Steve Seskin, Christine Lavin, folk duo Bethany and Rufus, 16-year-old Houston rapper Jonathan "Baby Jay" Gutierrez, and 16-year-old rock/pop singer Christine Evans.
*A preview copy of Comedy Central’s new season of “The Sarah Silverman Program” is raising eyebrows for a sketch that shows the comedian wearing blackface. "The theme is, Sarah is rejected from a club because she's a Jew," a source tells the New York Daily News. "She says to her black waiter, ‘There's nothing harder than being a Jew.' The waiter says, ‘Oh yeah? Try being black for a day.' So they switch places." The new season begins airing next month.
EVENT CALENDAR: Luda’s 30th b’day; I Rock the Mic Conference; UNCF to honor Smokey Robinson.
*Chris "Ludacris" Bridges will celebrate his 30th birthday Friday (Sept. 7) at an XM Radio-sponsored event at Cafe Martorano in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Joining him will be celebrity guests LeBron James, Quincy Jones, Joe Pesci, 50 Cent, Gnarls Barkley, Ciara, Music Executive Kevin Liles, Island Def Jam Records President LA Reid, producer Timbaland and actress Gabrielle Union.
*Sizzle Productions announces plans for the 2007 I Rock The Mic Conference and Awards (IRTM) from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 in Miami Beach at the Eden Roc Resort and Spa. Under the theme “Building Tomorrow Together,” the event – known as the family reunion of urban radio – offers a place for industry professionals and the aspiring to network via informative panels, talent development workshops and exclusive entertainment events. Sponsorship and registration information are available online at www.irockthemic.com, via phone 214.943.1559 or by email:
info@irockthemic.com.
*The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will present legendary singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson with its prestigious Award of Excellence during its annual television special, “An Evening of Stars.” The two-hour concert tribute will be taped at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif. on Sept. 22 and air nationwide in late January 2008. Tickets for the taping are currently on sale through Ticketmaster. Previous honorees have been Aretha Franklin (2007), Stevie Wonder (2006), Quincy Jones (2005), and the late Lou Rawls (2004).
EUR DVD REVIEW: Slow Burn
Assistant DA Admits to Killing in Self-Defense in Unoriginal Whodunit
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Based on the debut novel of the same name by Euro-Filipina Sabina Murray, Slow Burn is an intriguing whodunit about a big city Assistant DA, Nora Timmer (Jolene Blalock), who admits that she’s just confessed to killing a man (Mekhi Phifer) she claims raped her.
This development comes at the worst possible time for her boss (Ray Liotta), since he’s been carefully planning to run for mayor.
Now, the politically-ambitious prosecutor has quite a problem on his hands, because not only is his beautiful protégé behind bars, but he needs to get to the bottom of the case without letting it come out that he’s been carrying on a secret affair with her.
Then, a witness (LL Cool J) comes forward who contradicts the accused’s story, stating that she and the deceased weren’t strangers, but had been dating for months.
With only one evening to pull the assorted pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together, DA Cole’s embarks on an investigation in which he crosses paths with an array of potential material witnesses, including an ex-con (Taye Diggs), a journalist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the chief of police (Bruce McGill).
It seems that the ethnically-ambiguous Nora, who sports flowing dreadlocks, was known to hang out on both sides of the tracks, in both the white and African-American communities.
Unfortunately, this poor-man’s version of The Usual Suspects is so convoluted and poorly scripted that this flawed film noir’s only compelling theme is the recurring question of whether its femme fatale is black or white. But because the Genome Project has conclusively proven that there’s only one race, the human race, the mystery about Nora’s roots is too outdated to care about.
Slow Burn = Slow Death.
Fair (1 star)
Unrated
Running time: 93 minutes
Studi Lions Gate Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Director’s commentary, deleted and alternate scenes, and a featurette entitled “Fire in the Streets.”
EUR FILM REVIEW: Balls of Fury
FBI Recruits Retired Ping Pong Player in Spoof of Karate Classic
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Randy Daytona (Dan Fogler) was a promising ping-pong prodigy when, at the age of 12, he was thoroughly humiliated at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea by his showboating German adversary, Karl Wolfschtagg (Thomas Lennon).
Now it’s been almost two decades since Randy picked up his paddle to play competitively. Ostensibly washed-up, his career has been reduced to performing tricks as a lounge act at a seedy dinner theater in Reno.
So, it’s no surprise that he seriously considers coming out of retirement when the FBI attempts to enlist his assistance in finding a fugitive on its Ten Most Wanted List. For, not only is the diabolical Feng (Christopher
Walken) the mastermind of an international criminal enterprise, but he conveniently also happens to be the cold-blooded killer responsible for the murder of Randy’s father (Robert Patrick) many years ago.
Agent Ernie Rodriguez (George Lopez) reveals to his recruit that the very elusive Feng, who has never been photographed, is about to stage an invitation-only ping-ping tournament featuring the best players around. The plan is for Randy to work himself back into good enough shape to be among those summoned to the site of the top-secret tournament. This will enable him to infiltrate Feng’s criminal operation while simultaneously avenging his dad’s death and reasserting his prowess among his peers.
But for Randy to achieve all of the above, of course he first has to embark on a Karate Kid-quality training regimen. Therefore, the FBI hires blind Master Wong (James Hong) who, with the help of his irresistible niece, Maggie (Maggie Wong), proceeds to whip Randy back into world-class form.
With a plotline suspiciously similar to that of the Bruce Lee martial arts classic Enter the Dragon (1973), Balls of Fury is a zany spoof which substitutes ping-pong for karate while seizing on every opportunity to inject CGI-enhanced slapstick and sight gags every step of the way. Although a few of the jokes simply fall flat, this laff-a-minute adventure is so earnest in its endeavor to keep the humor coming, that you’re likely to find yourself guffawing heartily right on the heels of another bit that just made you groan.
The movie was written and directed by Ren 911’s Ben Garant, which helps explains why this production is marked by much of the same sort of insanity found on the TV show. The film’s success is attributable primarily to the inspired performances of a talented cast capable of somehow elevating a script that tends to trade in what ordinarily would be considered offensive stereotypes.
For instance, Christopher Walken’s vintage performance as Feng is so over the top, it makes you forget the patently political-incorrectness of a white person playing an Asian. The same can be said of scenes where chopsticks are used to grab a guy by his gonads, or where a character speaking Chinglish mixes his ‘l’s and his ‘r’s.
The film’s ensemble also includes Aisha Tyler as Feng’s blowdart wielding henchwoman, along with Ren 911’s Kerri Kenney, veteran character actor David Koechner and Terry Crews, a buff crowd-pleaser who seems to be asked to flex his pecs in his every cameo nowadays. But Balls of Fury is basically a star vehicle which provides a breakout role for 2005 Tony Award-winner Dan Fogler, a gifted comic who comes across like a combination of John Belushi and Candy, exhibiting the former’s impish, unbounded enthusiasm, and the latter’s ever-endearing charm and twinkle in the eye.
Just remember to check your brain at the box-office.
Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity, crude behavior and sex-related humor.
Running time: 90 minutes
Studi Rogue Pictures
STEVEN IVORY: Exclusive--Black Music Recalled
*LOS ANGELES, CA--On the heels of its recall of toys, dog food, toothpaste and foodstuffs, China and the International Trade Commission today jointly announced that China is recalling American black music.
In an admission that has rocked American culture, art and science communities, China last week revealed that in the same fashion it manufactures cut-rate products, the country created fake urban pop and hip hop and unleashed it onto an unsuspecting American market as the real thing.
According to an ITC source speaking on conditions of anonymity, the Federal Communications Commission will ask that national radio and TV outlets cease playing recordings by a list of currently popular contemporary performers on grounds that it is fake black music made in China. The source declined to reveal artists' names, but insisted the list consists of "top acts everybody knows."
The fake black music scandal quietly unfolded two weeks ago when workers at Long Beach, California Harbor reported a foul odor emanating from an unmarked shipping container. Inside, U.S. Coast Guard and Immigration authorities made a grim discovery: half-baked grooves, thin, wilting bass lines, off key lead vocals, weak musical b-sections, trite, shallow lyrics and funk from concentrate--all of which had gone bad before it could be distributed, possibly, to young, hot American urban producers and artists, who would presumably pass off the mess to consumers as real black music.
According to a musicologist called to the harbor scene, no melodies were found.
"The stench was horrific," said a Long Beach investigator. "All this stuff was disposable. Its shelf life was about six months. It smelled terrible and sounded worse. First thing I'm going to do when I get home is hug my kids. To think, I let them listen to this stuff." Subsequent early morning raids at recording studios in Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles resulted in arrests and the confiscation of more fake black music.
"For years, we been telling y'all this [new black music] had a three on it," said P-Funk founder/leader George Clinton, during a Monday afternoon press conference and protest rally held outside Harlem, New York's famed Apollo Theater. "This country been fakin' the funk so long, it don't know the difference."
Among other R&B entertainers on hand to voice their concern for the future of black popular music: Bobby Womack, Ike Turner, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, D.J. Rogers, some Ohio Players, Candi Staton, Teena Marie, Michael Henderson and Timmy Thomas.
An emotional Alexander O'Neal had to be helped from the outdoor bandstand, too broken up to get through the second verse of his 1987 hit, "Fake."
An attorney representing famed singer Ron Isley, said to be in an undisclosed location, read a statement from his client: "If there is to be a harvest for the world, we have to go all the way and fight the power, because this shit is contagious."
The NAACP on Monday called the revelation "a sad day not only for black Americans, but everyone who enjoys the rich legacy that is true black music." The organization declared this coming Saturday, when most of the nation goes out to party and dance to black music, as a day of prayer and contemplation.
Reached in the Chinese city of Beijing, businessman Won Hwang, a chief perpetrator of fake black music, through a translator explained that he chose to replicate the genre--as opposed to country or rock--because of its unprecedented global popularity and what he deemed black America's general lack of interest and respect for its musical roots. "That made it easy to feed fake black music into the minds of the black community and America at large," he said. "What is considered black music today is so inferior that we could actually create it in a laboratory."
Added Hwang, "Our fake Fendi and Louis Vuitton bags did well in America, so we figured fake black music would, too."
Meanwhile, American entertainment companies are incensed at media reports implicating them as China's silent partner in the black music shenanigan. Sniffed a Universal Music exec, "Why would we get fake black music from China? Our black music is made in Japan."
Even politicians have weighed in. Campaigning in Englewood, New Jersey Monday, Presidential candidate Barack Obama said, "If China is knowingly [manufacturing fake black music], it should be condemned and held accountable."
But the damage is already done, according to Francine Hightower, 51, one of many fans of authentic black music among the throng of protesters at the Apollo. "It's black people, not China, who are allowing real black music to die," she insisted. "If James Brown wasn't already dead, this would have killed him," she said. "You have to wonder what is next?"
In related news, Iran, while insisting it possesses enough plutonium to create a nuclear weapon, emphatically denied underground reports it is readying for the black American market a Remy Martin-flavored potion that creates a sensation that amounts to fake equality.
Steven Ivory's book, FOOL IN LOVE (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) is in stores now or at Amazon.com (www.Amazon.com) Respond to him via STEVRIVORY@AOL.COM or MYfeedback@eurweb.com
THE MO'KELLY REPORT: El Debarge Arrested...Oooh and I Like It!
*With all of the discussion on the beating of Juanita Bynum by husband Bishop Weeks, our collective attention has been focused on the evil that is domestic violence…and rightfully so.
At the same time, other incidents and issues have been lost in the confusion. Take the recent arrest of former DeBarge lead singer, El DeBarge. “Eldra” was arrested last week and is being held without bail on suspicion of domestic violence.
Semi-effeminate Eldra DeBarge is beating women now? The guy who “starred” in the Rhythm of the Night video in all of his frail dancing glory is smacking around women?
Yes, he needs his ass whooped.
The lead singer of DeBarge is in jail on suspicion of domestic abuse?! How is that possible? Really…how is that PHYSICALLY possible?
Wait…there’s more and it gets worse.
The reason why “Eldra” is being held without bail is because of two outstanding warrants on drug charges. If that wasn’t enough, “Eldra” has also been arrested for failure to pay child support.
AND…
In 1986, “Eldra” pleaded no contest to a charge of “creating a disturbance” after a college student accused him of assaulting her.
If Mo’Kelly didn’t know any better, if you hide the name, you’d assume this was the arrest record of a rapper. Drugs, delinquent child support and domestic violence.
El DeBarge was living Thug Life. La Vida Thuga! Who knew?!
Pick a reason…any reason…”Eldra” DeBarge needs his ass whooped. And seeing as we’re talking about “Eldra,” that shouldn’t be too hard. Then again, maybe not. Eldra’s been “thuggin’” for about 20 years now it seems.
Let Mo’Kelly digress for a moment…
How did “Eldra” manage to have not one, but TWO outstanding drug warrants? Is “3” the magic number of outstanding drug warrants for the police to decide to stop by your house and slap the cuffs on you? We can only assume that if DeBarge didn’t try to beat up his significant other or run a stop sign...he would still be chilling at his house dancing to the Rhythm of the Night.
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And what is it with the DeBarge family and drugs?
James DeBarge, former husband of Janet Jackson had said marriage annulled in part due to James’ drug addiction. Bobby (deceased lead-singer of Switch) and Chico DeBarge were convicted on cocaine trafficking charges in 1988. That’s not even including the cocaine conviction of Thomas DeBarge, also of the group Switch.
The DeBarge Cartel has been a major force in the drug trade it seems, dating back before the movie Scarface premiered.
How does the brother of THREE convicted drug felons, having already been arrested on child support delinquency, float amongst the general population of law-abiding citizens with two drug warrants?
Hell, if you live out in the valley here in California, you’re liable to see “Eldra” any number of places, including visiting his son who lives in the area. So if the police were actually LOOKING for him, they would’ve found him. They could’ve asked Mo’Kelly and Mo’Kelly could’ve pointed the way.
The unfunny part of this is that if a woman were killed or seriously injured, the obvious question would be why did Mo’Kelly and everyone else with a modicum of common sense know where he was…and the popos didn’t?
The hysterical part of this matter is we can all imagine what it will be like when “Eldra” comes before the judge.
“Eldra Patrick DeBarge, you have been charged with felony domestic assault…how do you plead?”
“You know judge…I, had some problems…but nobody could seem to solve them.”
“Yes Mr. DeBarge…I’ve read your rap sheet. Now how do you plead?”
“But you judge found the answer…you told me to take this chance and learn the ways…of… love…
“Sir!”
“…My baby.”
What Mo’Kelly wants to know is, who is Eldra DeBarge trying to assault? Who is he even CAPABLE of assaulting? The guy in the white suit, stringy hair, weighing 103 lbs. in music videos is trying to beat up women? I wish Eldra would try to put hands on a woman Mo’Kelly knew.
Thug life or not…Eldra would get his ass whooped.
You can’t be serious!
What Mo’Kelly does know is that they’re going to love him in jail.
Really, really love him…in a special way.
I wonder Who’s holding Eldra Now? All This Love (of your cellmate Bubba) is waiting for you Eldra.
Cell block D in the L.A. Men’s Central Jail is probably singing in 3-part harmony at this very moment.
(Bubba the 3-strike felon watches El carry his bed sheets and toiletries toward his new home and serenades his new roommate as he approaches; holding a toothbrush shank up as a “microphone.” Other cell block D residents hold mirrors out past the cell bars to watch Eldra process in. Bubba massages his own chest and sings…)
“I’ve been thinking about you…for quite awhile.
You’re on my mind every day and every night, my every thought is you…
The things you do…
Seems so satisfying to me, I must confess it girl…”
(The rest of cell block D joins in)
“Oooooooooh and I like it!”
(Bubba kisses his toothbrush shank/shive lovingly)
“You send chills up my spine every time I take one look at you.”
“Oooooooooh and I like it!”
“Girl, you're blowin' my mind with the things you say to me.”
Yes, if your name is “Eldra,” have a high voice and are best known for singing love songs with a semi-effeminate touch…jail is about the last place you want to be…AGAIN no less. You would think that you would stay far away from drugs, avoid beating your girlfriends and definitely pay all of your child support in a timely fashion.
Guess not.
But don’t think that Mo’Kelly is unsympathetic to the plight of Eldra. Mo’Kelly does care about whether Bubba will love him “In a Special Way.”
Thoughts and prayers to Eldra DeBarge. Domestic violence…what goes around, comes around.
“Love him… in a special way.
What more can Mo’Kelly say.
Love him now…”
The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo'Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex.
For more Mo'Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com. Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.
THE BRIDGE: To Be Invisible
By Darryl James
*“To be invisible will be my claim to fame. A (man) with no name. That way I won’t have to feel the pain. Indispensable--Just a plain old human being today, don’t mean a thing in a world that’s so mean. A world that seems not for me, so privately, I’ll be invisible. That way, I won’t have to explain a thing.”
--Gladys Knight, “To Be Invisible.”
It happens when I walk down the street, when I am at professional events and sometimes even in social settings.
Sometimes, I disappear.
Once, it was early on a Saturday morning and I was in a good mood, fresh from the gym.
I grabbed a few bananas and some orange juice and stepped in line behind a Black woman who was also fresh from the gym in her gym clothing.
When she turned around and looked me straight in the eyes, I spoke.
“Good morning, sister,” I said cheerily. I wasn't trying to flirt, I was simply happy to see another Black person.
To my sad surprise, she looked me in the eyes for another second or so and turned back around without saying a word or at least nodding her head in reply to my greeting. It's as if I were invisible.
It’s sad because we were the only two Black people in the store. I was surprised, but I should not have been, because this situation is repeated frequently for me as well as many other Black people across the nation.
It hurts to know that I am invisible to some of my own sisters, because I already know what people of other races think when they see me. At the worst, to quote Public Enemy: “The minute they see me, fear me, the epitome of Public Enemy Number One.” At the very least, females of other races desire me based on the mythical sexual prowess of the Black man.
In many ways, my sisters are also invisible. Their unseen hand rocked the cradle of civilization and here in America, it was Black women who nursed both Black and white babies at their breasts at the birth of the nation. During the ongoing struggle for freedom following slavery, the crucial contribution of Black women went nearly unheralded by mainstream media, leaving even some of today's Black women with the belief that the contribution was small.
In addition, I already understand that some of my sisters see Black men in the media with white women and assume that the occurrence is more widespread than it is and so feel even more invisible to their brothers.
Because we have changed the way we socialize as well as the places in which we work and live, it is harder for us to find each other, leaving both Black men and women feeling invisible. Sometimes, when we do see each other, it isn't the best image.
As a Black man, I can be seen clearly as a criminal suspect on the news; as comedy relief where the joke is all about my ethnicity; as a reason for the displacement of white men on the job due to Affirmative Action and as the reason for the problems of the world.
Black men can be seen as the cause of any Black woman’s misery; as the prime suspect of spreading HIV and as the harbinger of divorce and loneliness. We can also be seen as the sole reason for single parent homes and as the owners of lust for white women and disdain for Black women.
We are so much more than that propaganda.
Black women can be seen clearly as ever-ready promiscuous vixens and video hoes; the eye-rolling, neck-twisting ghetto birds with funny names who drag down the race's decorum with their antics. They can be seen as the consistently negative, cartoonish hoodrats; as man-hating, combat boot-wearing feminists and as mothers of the reasons for the problems of the world.
But they are so much more than that.
To my sisters: I hear you when you say that you, too, feel invisible, but if I can not get you to hear me and to see me, then we will remain inaudible and invisible to each other.
The most ignorant Negroes (most of the rappers and comedians, all of the drug dealers, plus O.J., Kobe and Michael Jackson) who are the living embodiment of all that is blamed on Black men garner more notice than the fathers, husbands, teachers and community activists who are not the loudest, but who are doing the real work.
Even in conversations with some of the Black women who see Black men for perhaps the wrong reasons, we are not seen or really heard. We hear the things being said about us, but when we begin to speak about how we really feel, there comes a rage against us for daring to speak at all. To witness this, go to some of the websites that carry my column and read the mean and ignorant responses to things I never said or feelings I've never held.
I am accused of being misogynistic, but those who hurl such accusations can not deny that situations I speak of actually exist or that the resulting pain for some brothers is real. They just don't see me or hear me.
I am invisible to many of my sisters.
I am invisible to most of America, only showing up as a suspect or a target. But that doesn't bother me, because I still work hard to represent my people well, and the only eyes I really care about are on the faces of Black women.
For a number of reasons, Black men seem to be invisible to some of our own sisters. This is a perplexing situation, indeed, but particularly frustrating when we hear Black women complain that they can not find us. If I could say it loud enough to be heard across the Diaspora, I would exclaim: "Black woman, I am here and I see you! See me!"
If we can become visible to each other, perhaps we can begin to really see and hear each other and really begin to work things out.
So my part in this is to continue to recognize my sisters. When I see them on the streets or wherever we meet, I will offer a simple greeting to let them know that to me, they are very visible.
I will continue to do so, even beyond the pain that comes when my greeting is met with a stare, a frown, or even worse--nothing. To quote Marlon Brand “She looked at me as if I was a bug.” Even that would be an improvement over what we sometimes give each other.
I will accept my role as The Invisible Man--a man with no name, because as the song goes, "that way I won’t have to feel the pain." I harbor hope that one day we will open our eyes and begin to really see each other.
But until then, I'll be invisible...invisible...invisible.
Darryl James is an award-winning author who is now a filmmaker. His first mini-movie, "Crack," was released in March of 2006. He is currently filming a full length documentary. James’ latest book, "Bridging The Black Gender Gap," is the basis of his lectures and seminars. Previous installments of this column can now be viewed at www.bridgecolumn.com. James can be reached at djames@theblackgendergap.com.
BETWEEN THE LINES: 'Young B' And The New Women's Empowerment Movement Sub head A Peek Inside Women Running the World
By Anthony Asadullah Samad
*I had a chance to catch the "Beyonce Experience" this weekend. What I thought would be just another concert, a Dad's date out with his fourteen year old, turned into a very educational (not to mention, enjoyable) experience on Generation's Y and Z's female empowerment movement.
All I can say to men is "Be afraid. Be very afraid."
The women of Generation X "waited to exhale." Generation Z, the way they're being socialized, ain't waitin' on sh*t. I don't do entertainment reviews, but this was an impressive social statement-a cultural shift of a different kind. With Hilary Clinton running for President, the Beyonce Experience gives you a more realistic insight to what it would be like when women start running the world.
We really don't often appreciate what is happening in our midst and the impact on the lives of our children. What is just another concert to us, is a cultural connection to our children. My fourteen year old daughter started three months ago, bugging us that "Beyonce was coming." The last report card not being what we expected, we were non-committal to the event. She must have asked me 60 times. "Dad, we going to see Beyonce? "No!" "Dad, we going to see Beyonce?" "No!" "Dad, we going to see Beyonce?" "No!" After about the forty-fifth time, and a summer of reading a book every two weeks, "no"
finally became "maybe." By the fiftieth time, it was "we'll see." And by the sixtieth time, it was, "Okay, baby, we'll go." Just as we "bugged out" over our cultural spokespersons, whether they were in the civil rights, sports or entertainment arenas, they bug out over theirs. Seeing what I saw, I can truly say I'm glad I went. There was a lesson here.
Every generation has its cultural influences that reach us through music, but mold our cultural values and insights. That's why Elvis, the Beatles, James Brown, the Motown sound, and Hip Hop have left such a heavy footprint on American culture. Imprints that have yet to be erased. But our girls have often been reared to subordinate themselves to the cultural values and tastes of men, who love them and objectify them at the same time. Gender subjugation integrated into a sexual culture forces men to honor and marginalize women simultaneously. As the feminist voice has evolved, the perception of the helpless, dependent woman has declined. While the forces of discrimination have arrested the professional development of women historically, women have come light years in the past three generations and they have changed everything they've touched from the workforce to education, from relationships to the law. It was "a man's world." Now it's a woman's world, for the taking. And trust me, they plan on taking it.
Enter this new cultural icon called, Beyonce. An Amazon of massive proportions; beauty, talent and intelligence, that leaves you in a trance to do with you whatever she desires. Jay-Z's my hero. Not for his musical prowess, but his being able to handle the most dynamic energy force we've seen in some time. In the context of women empowerment, Beyonce is the next generation of Oprah-controlling everything around her, from her image to her sound. In fact, she's Oprah "cubed." Oprah may have built a media empire beating down Harpo, but Oprah's reach into the psyche and self-esteem of women (while large) will not compare to how Beyonce's repertoire of empowerment music and lyrics will stamp "independence" on the minds of young (and old) girls forever. You have to see it to believe it.
The "visuals" of Beyonce, of c