50 CENT ORDERED NOT TO SELL NY MANSION: Judge tells rapper he can not dispose of property destroyed last month by fire.
*A New York judge on Tuesday ordered 50 Cent not to sell the property where a fire destroyed his $2.4 million home and where his ex-girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins, lived with their son.
State Supreme Court Justice Carol Edmead also ordered Tompkins to pay the rapper $4,500 in rent by Friday for staying in the house during its final month, lawyers for both sides said, according to Reuters.
Edmead has also ordered 50, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, to put insurance proceeds in a trust account pending the outcome of his dispute with Tompkins over the home.
Tompkins sued 50 for half of his estate based on an oral agreement the two made early in their 10-year relationship, said Tompkins' lawyer, Paul Catsandonis. Tompkins was living in the Long Island home with their 10-year-old son until a fire broke out in the early hours of May 30. Police said they were investigating the fire as suspicious.
Tompkins escaped through a window and six people, including children, were treated for smoke inhalation, Catsandonis said.
"I think it speaks volumes about Mr. Jackson" that he would compel Tompkins to pay the rent, Catsandonis said, calling it an "undue hardship."
But 50 Cent's lawyer, Brett Kimmel, said Tompkins has repeatedly ignored court orders to pay the rapper, and that paying rent was a condition of her continuing to live in the house.
"My client is not the one who started a lawsuit for $50 million,"
Kimmel said.
The two are due back in court on July 15.
R. KELLY SPEAKS FOR FIRST TIME AT TRIAL: Plus, judge says jurors can view sex tape during deliberations.
*R. Kelly will not be testifying in his own defense at his child pornography trial in Chicago.
The artist spoke for the first time in court Tuesday when Judge Vincent Gaughan informed him of his right not to testify. According to the Associated Press, the Grammy-winning singer leaned forward at the defense table with his hands folded and responded: "I decided not to testify." The jury was not present at the time.
Kelly, 41, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. Both Kelly and the alleged victim, now 23, have denied being on the tape.
Also Tuesday, the judge ruled that jurors are allowed to view the sex tape once they begin deliberations. Kelly's lawyers had asked the judge to bar jurors from reviewing the graphic video, saying they worried jurors would overemphasize one piece of evidence. But prosecutors argued the tape is the primary subject of the trial and couldn't be kept from jurors.
Two rebuttal witnesses were scheduled to be called as of press time:
Grant Frederics, a forensic video analyst who found what appeared to be a mole on the back of the man in the sex tape; and Robert Wolf, an assistant district attorney from Atlanta who is expected to deny suggestions that Lisa Van Allen, who testified she had a three-way sexual encounter with Kelly and the alleged underage victim, was given a deal to testify in the Kelly case.
Closing arguments are likely to be delivered Thursday.
WARREN G. WON'T BE CHARGED FOR DRUG BUST: Prosecutors cite insufficient evidence.
*Prosecutors said Monday they will not bring charges against rapper Warren G, who was arrested early Sunday in Hollywood for being a passenger in a car with marijuana.
According to the Associated Press, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said there was insufficient evidence to prove the rapper, whose real name is Warren Griffin III, had prior knowledge of the drugs.
Warren was riding shotgun in a car that was driven by Ryan Butler and registered to a third party, who was not present when LAPD stopped them for running a red light. Warren and Butler were released later Sunday after posting $20,000 bail. Police had been seeking felony charges against the pair.
In an interview with Allhiphop.com, Warren G called the arrest "bogus" and said cops were only trying to make a name for themselves by arresting someone famous.
NUMSKULL DENIES SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES: Statement from rapper's rep also plugs new Luniz album.
*In a statement denying 12 felony sexual assault and weapons charges brought against rapper Numskull of The Luniz, his rep also took the opportunity to promote the artist's forthcoming project.
The statement insists Numskull is a "family-oriented man" who is innocent until proven guilty, reports Web site TMZ.com. The press release ended with a plugging of the Luniz "Lost Tapes" Album, stating, "people have not heard the last of Numskull."
The Oakland-based MC, whose real name is Garrick Demond Husbands, has been charged with 12 felony counts, including sodomy and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in relation to an alleged attack on a woman being referred to as "Jane Doe" in March and April of last year.
He's been in police custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California since January, but the charges only came to light last weekend. He faces between 25 years to life in prison if found guilty of the rape charges.
MAGIC AND COOKIE JOHNSON PLUG AIDS AWARENESS: Couple stars in Spike Lee-directed PSAs.
*Spike Lee is calling all the shots when it comes to two new HIV-awareness public service announcements starring NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson and his wife, Cookie.
Titled "Stand" and "Talk," the PSAs feature the couple encouraging folks – particularly the younger generation – to get informed about the disease. The former Lakers star, who announced he was HIV positive in 1991, says there's no excuse for anyone to be ignorant of their status.
"There are millions of people walking around who are HIV positive and don't know it," Magic told us at a recent press event for the PSAs. "So we're trying to get the word out to go get tested and make sure you know your status. My wife Cookie and I are really working hard to do that."
Cookie, meanwhile, is on a five-city speaking tour with the aim of boosting awareness of HIV and AIDS among minority women and young adults.
She says her goal is to "one, encourage them to get tested; two, to get them educated about the disease, because it's a totally preventable disease; and three, to empower them to feel good about themselves, to love themselves enough to take action."
The PSAs are being launched by the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott, a global, broad-based health care company. Scroll down to view.
"Stand": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoW8S5WbWNM
"Talk": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXfsKv7bsVE&feature=related
CHUCK BERRY'S 'JOHNNY' USED BY MCCAIN: But rock pioneer is 100% behind Obama.
*Veteran rock 'n' roller Chuck Berry says he's supporting Democratic nominee Barack Obama for president, even though Republican nominee John McCain used his classic hit "Johnny B. Goode" as an early campaign theme.
"America has finally come to this point where you can pick a man of color and that not be a drawback," the 81-year-old guitarist told Reuters by phone from New York ahead of a Brazil tour that starts next week. "It's no question, myself being a man of color ... I mean, you have to feel good about it."
"In the '50s there were certain places we couldn't ride on the bus," Berry said. "And now there is a possibility of a black man being in White House. Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last!"
McCain has since switched his campaign song to Abba's "Take a Chance On Me."
GNARLS BARKLEY PLAYS 'SECRET' MYSPACE GIG: Janelle Monae also on bill for Sunday's concert in NYC.
*Gnarls Barkley, Janelle Monae and Battles took the stage at New York's Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Sunday night (June 8) as part of MySpace's 150th "Secret Show," a free concert for users who have signed up as a "friend" of the Secret Show profile.
With the temperature hovering around 90 degress, Gnarls Barkley vocalist Cee-Lo took the stage in a tuxedo shirt and tie to belted out tracks like "Run" and a cover of the Violent Femmes' "Gone Daddy Gone." By the end of his set, he had stripped down to an undershirt and had taken a seat to sing the final songs of their set, including the group's breakthrough hit, "Crazy," "Smiley Faces," "Who's Gonna Save My Soul Now" and "Whatever," reports Billboard.
Working with labels and artists, MySpace Music launched the Secret Shows franchise in January 2006 and has since hosted such acts as Rilo Kiley, Moby, Maroon 5, the Killers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tenacious D, Lily Allen, Ice Cube, James Blunt and Neil Diamond in cities around the world.
The concept is the brainchild of MySpace Music editor Isac Walter, who wanted to attract fans to a MySpace profile where they could find out about promotional shows, with an urgent call to action.
"We have such a large social network we can pull from that we literally can go into any city and announce a show 48 hours in advance and fill an entire venue," Walter said.
KEN GRIFFEY JR. HITS 600TH HOME RUN: Athlete becomes 6th player to reach milestone.
*Ken Griffey Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds took his place in history beside Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa as the 6th Major League Baseball player to hit 600 home runs.
The 38-year-old outfielder homered Monday night off a 3-1 pitch from Florida lefty Mark Hendrickson in the first inning of the Reds' 9-4 victory against the Marlins. With Jerry Hairston on third and one out, the left handed slugger smacked the ball 413 feet into the right-field seats. A standing ovation from the crowd of 16,003 immediately followed.
"I don't think I touched any of the bases. I sort of floated around," Griffey said.
Manager Dusty Baker has managed the last three players to achieve the 600 milestone: Bonds in San Francisco, Sosa in Chicago and now Griffey. He was there for Bonds' 600th, on Aug. 9, 2002.
"It's awesome every time you see a milestone like that," Baker said. "It doesn't take away from the others. It adds to it."
Not so awesome is what happened to the man who says he caught the home run ball, only to have it snatched away by another fan. Justin Kimball, a 25-year-old from Miami, said he caught the ball and put it in a wool cap for safe keeping. He says someone ripped the cap from his hands and took off running.
Police said they had found the fan with the baseball and would look at video tape to see if Kimball's claims could be supported. However, the Florida Marlins announced Major League Baseball had authenticated the home run ball for a middle-aged male fan who would only give his first name as Joe.
JAMES BROWN ITEMS HEADED TO AUCTION: Christie's lots will include instruments, awards, hand-written lyrics and more.
*Christie's is putting up for auction some 320 items belonging to the late Godfather of Soul James Brown on July 17.
Among the belongings to be offered at "The James Brown Collection" auction are some of his instruments, hand-written lyrics, awards and grooming artifacts. The entire event is expected to gross about $1 million, reports Reuters.
The sale will include photos and letters from Presidents Reagan and Bush, as well as a Republican Presidential Task Force Card priced at $200 to $300.
A leather belt with a red-and-silver rhinestone buckle reading "Sex Machine" and tooled "We Love You James, Blue Express" is seen fetching $2,000 to $3,000. Brown's Kennedy Center Honor from 2003 ($10,000 to $15,000) and his 1986 Grammy Award for "Living in America" ($15,000 to $20,000). His jumpsuits, many priced around $5,000, are grouped with other clothing in the sale catalogue by color.
Brown's Yamaha baby grand piano and his Hammond B-3 electric organ with Leslie speakers are each expected to fetch $15,000 to $20,000. His jumpsuits, many priced around $5,000, are grouped with other clothing in the sale catalogue by color.
Less expensive items include photos, hand-written notes and letters estimated at a few hundred dollars. Other lots such as an engraved silver plate, or sets of cufflinks and studs, are similarly priced.
The sale also includes rollers, picks, hair products and a dome hair dryer from the salon in Brown's South Carolina home. Furniture, sunglasses, hats, scarves, bow ties and shoes round out the collection.
WYNTON MARSALIS TEAMS WITH WILLIE NELSON: Jazz and country stars unite in honor of the blues.
*Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and country legend Willie Nelson hit the studio together for the first time to record a new album titled, "Two Men With the Blues," due for release on July 8.
The unlikely pairing came as a result of both musicians discovering their common love of jazz standards and the blues, according to a press release.
"These songs, heard this way with this group--that's never been done before," Nelson said in a statement on the album's official Web site. "Whatever I'm doing, if you put Wynton and these guys around it, that brings it up to a different level."
The Web site offers previews of two tracks, "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Georgia on My Mind." The disc can also be pre-ordered via the site. To see a video about the making of "Two Men With the Blues," click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaPX7761DiI
J.LO TO DEVELOP LINE OF EXERCISE GEAR: Singer/actress looking to focus on sneakers, yoga pants and dance wear.
*Word has it that Jennifer Lopez is designing a range of exercise clothing that draws its inspiration from her own battle to restore her pre-pregnancy figure.
The singer/actress – who gave birth to twins Max and Emme in February – is aiming to feature the line alongside her current J.Lo, SweetFace and JustSweet lines in department stores.
"She has some street gear already in her lines, but she wants something exclusively for sneakers, yoga pants and dance gear," a source tells OK! Magazine. "She wants it to look great in the gym and in the street, and to be affordable and functional."
MEL B. BEHIND 'BLACK HANNA MONTANA' SERIES: That's how Scary Spice describes her new sitcom for Nickelodeon.
*Melanie Brown, formerly of the Spice Girls, has written a new half-hour TV show which she describes as the "black version" of the Disney Channel's popular children's series, "Hannah Montana."
"I've written my own sitcom that's just been picked up by Nickelodeon that I start at Christmas," she said, according to Contact Music. "I'm the star of it. It's a bit like 'Hannah Montana,' but the black version."
The project is reportedly scheduled to go into production later this year. No other details were given.
"Hannah Montana," meanwhile, focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart (played by Miley Cyrus) by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real identity from the public, other than her close friends and family.
KRAVITZ, MO'NIQUE, PATTON IN MAJOR 'PUSH': Trio signs on for new Lee Daniels film.
*Rocker Lenny Kravitz will make his big screen acting debut in "Push," a Lee Daniels-produced and directed film based on the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling novel by Sapphire.
As previously reported, newcomer Gabourey “Gabbie” Sidibe survived a nationwide open casting call to earn the lead role of Clareece “Precious” Jones, an overweight African-American teenager who has grown up amid loneliness and abuse in Harlem.
Although she is a ninth-grader, Precious still hasn’t learned how to read or write and is about to give birth to her second child. When she's accepted into an alternative school, a caring teacher gives her the gift of words and opens her life to a new dimension.
Mo’Nique will play her mother Mary, while Patton stars as the influential teacher, Ms. Rain. Susan Taylor, Editor Emerita of Essence magazine and founder of National Cares Mentoring Movement, will make a cameo in the opening and ending scenes playing a fairy godmother of sorts to Precious.
The project, recently greenlit by Smokewood Entertainment Group, will be produced by Lee Daniels Entertainment with Smokewood principals Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness in executive producer roles. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in New York this week.
AMY WINEHOUSE'S RACIST DITTY HITS INTERNET: Star issues apology after British tabloid posts footage.
*Grammy winner Amy Winehouse has issued a public apology for a racially-offensive song she sang in a home video that somehow made its way to the Web site of a British tabloid on Tuesday.
In the clip, Winehouse, 24, changes the lyrics to the popular children's song "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" to "Blacks, Pakis, Gooks and Nips. On the word "Nips," she pulls her eyes into slits. She also sings the lyrics: "And deaf and dumb and blind and gay."
The scenes were filmed by Winehouse's currently-jailed husband Blake Fielder-Civil, and the video was reportedly given to tabloid News of the World by a former friend determined to show how Fielder-Civil manipulates his wife, according to the British tabloid.(Click here to watch clip: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GSh89HrWELU&feature=related).
Still photos from the footage also show Winehouse and Fielder-Civil swapping white tablets from mouth to mouth. Another photo catches Winehouse clutching what News of the World says is a homemade crack pipe.
Appearing Sunday before the paparazzi outside of her London home, Winehouse apologized for the footage, adding: "I don't want to play anything down, but I'm the least racist person going."
JOY BRYANT BOOKS FOX TV GIG: Actress stars in telefilm/backdoor pilot about the crew of a starship exploring space.
*Joy Bryant is one of five actors who have joined the cast of FOX's "Virtuality," a two-hour telefilm/backdoor pilot from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the story revolves around a 12-member crew aboard a starship on a 10-year mission to explore outer space.
The ship has been equipped with state-of-the-art virtual reality modules that allow crew members to escape their constrained surroundings. But, when things start going wrong with the virtual reality, actual reality becomes just as complicated.
*Sienna Guillory, Nelson Lee, Omar Metwally and Richie Coster have also come on board. Bryant will play Alice Thibadeau, Lee ("Blade: The Series") is Kenji Yamaguchi, Guillory ("Eragon") is set as Rika Goddard, Metwally ("Rendition") will be Dr. Eyal Meyer and Coster ("The Dark Knight") has been cast as Jimmy Johnson.
BRAVO FINALLY FINDS SOME BLACK 'HOUSEWIVES': Blog says network just wrapped series featuring black socialites in the ATL.
*Bravo's popular reality series "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and its recently-wrapped New York City spinoff will finally have a version featuring women of color.
In August, the network will premiere "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," featuring an African American cast of socialites, according to blog site YBF (Young Black & Fabulous).
Cast members include NFL wives Lisa Hartwell and Sheree Whitfield, as well as Deshawn Snow, wife of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Eric Snow. A wrap party for the first season, which just finished taping, was held at the Atlanta restaurant Straits, owned by Ludacris.
The show's Atlanta run is Bravo's first featuring any African American among the main cast members.
Sources associated with the program spilled the beans on the cast members, listed below, per YBF:
• Lisa Hartwell, a screenwriter and film producer who also is in real estate with her husband, Oakland Raiders player Ed Hartwell • Sheree Whitfield, the former wife of retired Atlanta Falcons player Bob Whitfield. She is pursuing a career as a clothing designer and used to own a store call Bella Azul • Nene Leakes, who develops real estate with her husband • Deshawn Snow, wife of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Eric Snow • Not much was known about the fifth housewife, except that her first name is Kim.
According to YBF, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" had its premiere date pushed up to August because the show is in such hot demand. View pictures of the cast members here: http://theybf.com/2008/06/09/ybf-exclusive-the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/#m
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SPORTS BITS: Strahan retires; VA prosecutors will wait on Vick; Gatlin still trying to compete; Caffey behind in child support.
*Although his team knew it was coming, Michael Strahan of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants just up and retired this week, catching folks completely off guard. The defensive end, who went to seven Pro Bowls and recorded the fifth- most sacks in NFL history, informed the Giants of his decision on Monday. In walking away, the 36-year-old is passing up the final year of a contract that would have paid him at least $4 million this season. "Money was never the issue for him," Strahan's agent, Tony Agnone, told The Associated Press. "Really I thought he was going to retire before last season. I'm happy he stayed around." just four months after helping them win the Super Bowl.
*A Virginia prosecutor said they will wait until Michael Vick and three co-defendants on dogfighting charges are freed from federal prison before beginning their state trials. Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter says it's not worth the expense for Surry County to transport the men from prisons in different states for trial and escort them back later.
Vick and the other defendants face charges of beating or killing dogs, or causing dogs to fight other dogs, and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback is serving a 23-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to federal charges in a dogfighting operation.
*Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin filed a lawsuit Monday in a last-ditch effort to compete at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in less than three weeks. According to the AP, the complaint alleges that penalizing Gatlin for a 2001 doping violation, which involved medication he was taking for attention deficit disorder, violates the Americans with Disability Act. Gatlin's lawyer, Joe Zarzaur, said they will request an injunction to allow him to compete at the trials, which begin June 27 in Eugene, Ore. On Friday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a four-year doping ban against Gatlin, the reigning Olympic 100-meter gold medalist.
*Former Chicago Bulls player Jason Caffey will be hauled into court this week for failure to pay child support for at least one of his ten kids by eight different women. He was initially ordered to jail in 2007 after falling behind $100,000 in child support payments to his son with Lorunda Brown, but the order was put on hold after he filed for bankruptcy. Brown's lawyer is now seeking a detailed account of Caffey's finances, including the whereabouts of the $35 million he made in his last NBA contract.
FILM/TV BITS: King in VH1's 'Rehab'; Stacey Dash's cracked ribs; Rocky Carroll joins 'NCIS'; 'Step Up 2' DVD; Luda on TV One;
*Millions will be able to watch Rodney King try to kick his substance abuse habit on VH1's second season of "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew." The show follows real-life experiences of celebrity patients undergoing detox and treatment at an L.A. rehab under the supervision of Dr. Drew Pinsky. Joining King will be returnee Jeff Conaway, Sean Stewart (Sons of Hollywood), Amber Smith (model/actress), Nikki McKibbon (American Idol), Steven Adler (Guns N' Roses), Tawny Kitaen (Actress) and Gary Busey, who is 13 years sober from his cocaine addiction. Eight new one-hour episodes are slated to begin in October.
*Celebrities are being seriously injured left and right on NBC's "Celebrity Circus," a reality show that follows famous participants as they learn to perform circus acts. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Stacey Dash cracked three ribs climbing "The Silks," a length of fabric suspended 30 feet in the air. NBC used the clip of Christopher Knight fracturing his forearm in the German Wheel as a promo for the show, which premieres tonight at 9:30. Not only did Olympic swimmer Janet Evans fall 15 feet from a trapeze during a rehearsal, she also got her fishnet stockings caught on her partner's top, causing a Janet Jackson-like wardrobe malfunction in front of the entire crew.
*Rocky Carroll has joined the cast of CBS's "NCIS," reports Variety. The actor, best known for his role on "Roc," had previously been on the military-themed crime drama in the recurring role of Leon Vance, but his character has now been promoted to director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, replacing Lauren Holly's character, who was killed in the show's season finale. Carroll's casting also continues the "NCIS" connection to mid-'90s CBS drama "Chicago Hope." Not only does onetime "Hope" star Carroll replace another onetime "Hope" actor, Holly, but it also reunites him with another "Hope" alum, "NCIS" star Mark Harmon.
*"Step Up 2 the Streets" arrives July 15 on DVD and Blu-ray Hi – Def Disc, courtesy of Touchstone Home Entertainment. Bonus features include: "Thru Fresh Eyes," a behind the scenes look at the film's choreographers and dancers; "Outlaws of Hip Hop - Meet the 410’s," an exclusive profile of the film’s real life underground hip hop dance crew, "Robert Hoffman Video Prank," deleted scenes, bloopers and five music videos: Flo Rida (featuring T.Pain) “Low,” Missy Elliott “Ching-A-Ling,” Cherish (featuring Yung Joc) “Killa,” Plies (featuring Akon) “Hypnotized” and Brit and Alex “Let It Go.”
*Ludacris is in the hot seat on the next airing of "TV One on One," premiering Saturday (June 15) at 10 p.m. on TV One. The rapper sits down with host Cathy Hughes to discuss his transition from rap into acting, his upcoming movie projects, what he looks for in a woman, how he’s raising his daughter, and more. In the final segment of the interview, actor Larenz Tate joins in for a discussion about the two actors’ projects and the Tate Brothers Foundation’s efforts to spotlight sickle cell anemia. The interview repeats at 1 a.m., Thursday, June 19 at 10 a.m. and Sunday, June 21 at 6 a.m. (all times ET).
MUSIC BITS: Def Jam on Janet; Coolio collared; T.I. in D.C.; Silumo killed; Danity Kane members fight.
*Island Def Jam has responded to Janet Jackson's claims that the label will no longer support the promotion of her current album, "Discipline," which has sold only 392,000 copies in the U.S. since its February release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. In a statement released exclusively to Billboard, a label rep says: "Unfortunately we haven't experienced the results we would have liked with this new album. But we respect and support Janet." Jackson also claimed that the lack of label support won't allow her to visit Europe as part of her upcoming Rock Witchu tour, which begins Sept. 7 in Vancouver.
*Coolio was arrested in Hollywood Monday night for driving with a suspended license, reports TMZ.com. The rapper, born Artis Leon Ivey, Jr., was behind the wheel of his 1996 Hummer when he was pulled over around 1 a.m. for a minor traffic violation. Cops ran his tags and found out he had a warrant stemming from a 2001 suspended license stop in San Bernadino County, Calif. His bail has been set at $10,000.
*Jail-bound rapper T.I. played a 90 minute, 24-song set at Washington D.C.'s Love nightclub Friday night. It was his first gig since his arrest on gun charges in October of last year. According to MTV.com, he started with "Help Is Coming," "Top Back" and "Rubber Band Man." He followed that with "Let's Get Away," "Freak Through" and "Why You Wanna." He also performed one song from his upcoming CD "Paper Trail," due Aug. 12. Tip looked at the crowd and said of himself: "He still got it. I can go all night with all the hits I got."
*Pioneering South African rapper Tiny Motho Silumo was shot to death outside of his apartment in Johannesburg Monday night. Police arrested four men aged 31-44, in connection with the murder. Silumo toured with his brother, producer Richard Silumo, and reggae singer and cousin Lucky Dube, who were members of a group called The Love Brothers, which was formed in 1982. Dube was also gunned down in Johannesburg in October of 2007. Silumo’s death has been described as a great loss to the local music community.
*New York Daily News columnists Rush & Malloy are reporting that two members of Danity Kane got into a physical fight before a gig last week in Las Vegas. Their names weren't mentioned in the column, but it went on to quote a source who said: "The group was 20 minutes late going on stage because of the alleged scrap. The two were all smiles when they arrived - an hour late - at their after-party at Prive, but spies say they kept their distance in the club and left separately. A rep for the group insisted that there was no physical or verbal altercation."
EVENT CALENDAR: Pieces of a Dream in Newark; Common, Akon, Three 6 in LA's RockCorps; Keyshia Cole at IfLooksCouldKill.com launch;
*Acclaimed smooth jazz group Pieces of a Dream will perform two shows at The Spot Lounge in Newark Sunday to benefit The Guiding Hand, a local organization that keeps young people off the street by engaging them in positive activities that expand their horizons and opportunities. The Spot is located downtown at 45 Commerce St., easily accessible from Newark Penn Station.
*Common, Akon, Three 6 Mafia, Puddle of Mudd and Flyleaf will perform for more than 3,000 youth volunteers at this year's Boost Mobile RockCorps Los Angeles Concert, to be held June 20 at Gibson Amphitheatre. This year's program started in May with the "BMRC Green Kickoff" weekend and through June 20, BMRC will execute approximately 35 additional volunteer projects in the Los Angeles area, include planting trees, wetland restoration near the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers, cleaning up beaches and community gardens and rebuilding local parks, all in an effort to make Los Angeles more beautiful for local residents and children. People interested in participating can visit www.boostmobilerockcorps.com or call 888-ROCK-889 to register for membership.
*Www.IfLooksCouldKill.com, a Toyota Web site that promotes its new Camry V6 XLE to black women, is holding a launch event tonight in New York that will feature music by DJ Beverly Bonds, a runway show by Alexis Phifer of GHITA and a musical performance by Keyshia Cole. With the tagline "Where Espionage and High Fashion Collide," the Web site is described as "a serialized interactive entertainment adventure that has all the elements of blockbuster entertainment: fast and high-performing Camry V6 XLE, exciting locales, mystery, romance, high stakes, proven sensational plot lines and a beautiful, take-no-prisoners heroine." Tonight's scheduled launch event is from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Eyebeam (540 West 21st St. - between 10th & 11th Avenues).
OBAMA'S ECONOMY TOUR TO AVOID BIG CROWDS: Democratic nominee will reach out and touch folks in smaller, closed door events.
*Addressing critics who feel Barack Obama's huge rallies highlight his oratorical skills but do nothing to promote his policy or empathy for regular folk, the Democratic presidential nominee has decided to tone things down for his current two-week economic tour through swing states.
The change in pace and tone was obvious Tuesday when Obama visited Missouri, a classic toss-up state, and left by lunchtime without doing any events open to the public, reports the AP. He will campaign every day this week, but for the first time will hold none of the rallies that often draw 10,000 or 20,000 or more. The shift is designed to introduce the senator one-person-at-a-time to swing voters who know little of his background and don't necessarily feel he understands them.
"What people know of him is that he defeated Hillary Clinton and he gave a speech at the (2004 Democratic) convention," said spokeswoman Jen Psaki. During this month's economic tour of battleground states, she said, "he will continue to visit people in their workplaces and spend time with working Americans one on one, and in smaller groups."
The quieter, more intimate settings make it easier for Obama to focus on the specifics of his economic proposals, such as granting a $1,000 tax break to most families, Psaki said. Aides often complain that he peppers his rally speeches with many such details, but voters seem to remember only the cheering throngs and loftiest language. The rallies "are so luminescent, they can come to define you," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist. "In a weird way, you're among 20,000 people, but you're isolated."
EUR DVD REVIEW: The Bucket List
DVD Features Freeman and Nicholson in Sentimental End-of-Life Saga
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*The paths of terminally-ill Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) would never have crossed, if they hadn't ended-up roommates on the cancer ward.
For the former is a billionaire businessman while the latter's a relatively-lowly auto mechanic.
The two soon discover that they share an aversion to the idea of slowly wasting away attached to tubes, monitors and hi-tech machines.Determined to go out on their own terms, they start compiling a "Bucket List" of things they want to do before "Kicking the Bucket."
Giving full vent to their imaginations, they come up with everything from getting tattoos to visiting the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids and the Taj Majal to race car driving and skydiving to scaling the Himalayan Mountains to finding the perfect woman to joining the proverbial Mile High Club at 30,000 feet in the air aboard Edward's private jet.
So, ignoring doctors' orders, they make their break and embark on a macho male-bonding opportunity. And as the intrepid pair gradually check all of the above items off their checklist, they reminisce, philosophize, and most of all, misbehave.
Thus unfolds The Bucket List, a surprisingly lighthearted saga for such a morbid theme. Directed by Rob Reiner, the movie co-stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in roles they've practically trademarked. Nicholson steals the show as that bombastic bon vivant we've all come to adore, opposite Freeman's equally-endearing portrayal of a wizened sage wise beyond his years.
The fly in buddy adventure's ointment arrives when Carter is temporarily tempted to break his marriage vows with a ready-and-willing, seductive vixen (Rowena King). Not to worry. When was the last time you saw Morgan Freeman touch a woman in a movie who wasn't dead?
A feelgood, end-of-life flick that transcends its sobering subject-matter to miraculously buoy one's spirits.
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity, mature themes and a sexual reference.
Running time: 97 minutes
Studi Warner Home Video
DVD Extras: John Mayer music video, DVD-Rom PC weblink to more features, and an interview with scriptwriter Justin Zackham.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts....take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." — Marcus Aurelius
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
June 11: Singer Gioia Bruno of Expose' is 45.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
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Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
June 11, 1963: Vivian Malone and James Hood, accompanied by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, attempt to register at the University of Alabama. Governor George Wallace bodily blocks their entrance. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)