NAS MARCHES ON FOX TODAY: Controversial rapper joins protest against on-air racism at 'Faux News.'
*Nas will join activists from MoveOn.org and ColorOfChange.org today as they march on Fox News headquarters in Manhattan demanding that the conservative network end what protesters call a "pattern of racist attacks against Black Americans including presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle."
Nas will help deliver a petition bearing 600,000 signatures to the Fox News offices at 2:00 this afternoon.
The groups criticize Fox's overall approach to news but singled out a few specific examples including: a reference to Michelle Obama as "Obama's baby mama," saying that Barack and Michelle's fist pound had been called a "terrorist fist jab," a commentator confusing "Obama" with "Osama" and then joking about assassinating both and Bill O'Reilly using the term "lynch party" while criticizing Michelle Obama for comments she made about being proud of America.
"Fox poisons the country with racist propaganda and tries to call it news," said Nas, who slams Fox News in a track called "Sly Fox" on his new Untitled album.
"When FOX talks about lynching the woman who may soon be our First Lady and then refers to this wife and mother as a 'baby mama' they are maligning not only the Obamas, but Black women and Black people across this country. We have over 600,000 signatures - more than half a million people, saying we won't stand for FOX's racism and hate-mongering," James Rucker, director of ColorOfChange.org, added.
NO CHARGES IN SHARPTON INVESTIGATION: Federal prosecutors drop probe into possible tax fraud by the civil rights leader.
*Rev. Al Sharpton is out of hot water with the U.S. Attorney's office.
Federal prosecutors dropped their investigation into allegations that the activist cheated on his taxes and extorted contributions from corporations in exchange for not protesting against them.
Sharpton has agreed to pay millions of dollars in back taxes but he won't face criminal charges or have to appear before a grand jury.
About a dozen of Sharpton's aides who were served with federal subpoenas will no longer be required to testify.
However, Sharpton and his National Action Network (NAN) will have to pay unpaid taxes which are believed to total anywhere between $2 million and $9 million. Prosecutors have given the case to the IRS which will calculate Sharpton and the NAN's final tax bills.
"According to the government, Rev. Sharpton individually owed in excess of $1 million and NAN owed in excess of $1 million, over 50% of which was penalties in both cases," Sharpton's lawyer, Michael Hardy, said.
Sharpton's legal bills could add up to an additional $2 million.
Sharpton earns about $750,000 a year through his various media gigs: his syndicated daily radio show (heard in 40 markets nationwide), weekly TV show and appearances on the "Tom Joyner Morning Show." He gets between $15,000 and $20,000 each time he appears on the lecture circuit and another $2,000 each time he gives a guest sermon at somebody's church. He's still earning royalties on two books, as well.
When you add all of those numbers up, Sharpton can easily pocket a million dollars a year. He puts a lot of that money back into the National Action Network. Most of the group's income and tax records were destroyed in a fire that gutted the NAN headquarters a few years ago.
SHERRI SHARES PAINFUL PAST: 'View' host Sherri Shepherd opens up to Christian women's magazine about multiple abortions and crack-addict sister
*Comedian/actress and co-host of "The View" Sherri Shepherd has been through a lot in her 41 years of living and she hopes that discussing the pain of her past will inspire others to change their lives.
Shepherd tells the Christian women's magazine Precious Times that she had such low self-esteem at one point that she was "sleeping with a lot of guys and had more abortions than I would like to count."
Having a sister caught up in drug addiction only underscored Sherri's feelings of being worthless.
Shepherd said, "My sister was heavy into drugs, and we would have to go and get her from crack houses. I felt if someone killed me, it wouldn't even make a difference." But that changed when Shepherd started living for Jesus. "God showed me that it would make a difference," she says.
Shepherd has often talked about how her Christian faith carried her through her difficult divorce from Jeff Tarpley, whom Sherri says got another woman pregnant.
Now that she's on "The View," Sherri wishes she was a better evangelist. Shepherd told Precious Times, "Oh, sometimes I say, 'Lord, Juanita Bynum or Joyce Meyer would be so good at this table. They could lay hands on Barbara Walters and get her saved.'"
KANYE AND SWAY SPOTLIGHT VETS: Rapper and MTV host help returning war vets deal with debt and depression on MTV News special.
*Kanye West and MTV personality Sway Calloway are reaching out to young veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
'Ye and Sway will be featured in an MTV News special called Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming that spotlights the difficulties faced by three vets trying to re-adjust to life at home.
Those difficulties range from psychological problems to financial issues. Kanye and Sway actually help the vets by paying their bills or assisting them with tuition.
"There are hundreds of veterans out there who are falling through the cracks. They make the ultimate sacrifices for us by laying down their lives, but it seems like a lot of them just get forgotten about," West said.
Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming will air on MTV next Monday, July 28, at 10 p.m. ET.
PIMPIN' IN PARIS: France and Sweden embrace Nelly's Pimp Juice energy drink.
*Nelly's Pimp Juice energy drink is being distributed in France and Sweden. The brand was launched in Paris last week at a talent showcase featuring several top French DJs.
Talks are also underway for Pimp Juice to sponsor French basketball leagues. Meanwhile, Pimp Juice has become the official soft drink sponsor at all MTV events in Sweden.
Fillmore Street Brewery, which manufactures and distributes Pimp Juice, is planning a major U.S. and European promotional push to coincide with the September 16th release of Nelly's new album, Brass Knuckles.
In other Nelly news, is he messing around behind Ashanti's back? Britain's Mirror tabloid quotes an anonymous source who claims the St. Louis rapper has been kickin' it with Caucasian soul singer Joss Stone.
"Joss and Nelly have been out on a few dates together ...we haven't seen Joss this happy in quite a long time. It's great she has met someone as successful as she is and who understands the pressures being a performer can put on your life. And it helps that he is hot too - he is just her type," says the alleged insider.
Joss Stone has also been romantically linked to Raphael Saadiq, who has produced tracks for the British vocalist.
BOBBY VALENTINO LIVES HIS 'DREAMS': Former DTP/Def Jam artist signs deal with EMI Records; launches Blu Kolla Dreams label
*Former Def Jam and Disturbing Tha Peace artist Bobby Valentino has landed a deal at EMI Records for his own label, Blu Kolla Dreams.
Valentino commented on the new deal by saying, "I have been blessed to be in the music industry for over 10 years and my past endeavors have been great learning experiences.
Now I have the opportunity to step out on faith and use the knowledge and experience that I have gained to take my career to the next level."
Valentino's partnership with EMI comes just three months after he was dropped by Def Jam and left DTP.
But Valentino says he's still on amicable terms with DTP CEOs Ludacris and Chaka Zulu and the entire DTP/Def Jam staff. His manager says launching the Blue Kolla Dreams imprint with EMI opens an exciting, new chapter in Bobby Valentino's career.
"(This is) the start of a new business venture for anyone who has taken the Blu Kolla approach and worked extremely hard over time to make an impact in their communities, achieve greatness and make their dreams come true," Courtney "Colt Luv" Stewart of Right Hand Management said in a statement.
Bobby Valentino recently released an EP called Come With Me exclusively on iTunes. Valentino described that project as "an exclusive online release with innovative material created specifically for my true fans."
His self-titled debut album was certified platinum and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart. His second CD, Special Occasion, went gold.
DR. DRE DROPS $350 HEADPHONES: His high-end headphones hit stores this week; daughter Menaj says he won't help her with her career.
*Back in January Dr. Dre and Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine appeared at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to unveil a new line of professional quality headphones called Beats By Dre.
The fancy ear speakers will arrive in stores this Friday with a price tag of $349.95.
Designed and built by leader audio accessories company Monster, the Beats By Dre headphones deliver sound quality that has been unheard of (literally) in the music industry until now.
Dre said, "Artists and producers work hard in the studio perfecting their sound, but people can't really hear it with normal headphones. Most headphones can't handle the bass, the detail, the dynamics.
Bottom line: the music doesn't move you. With Beats, people are going to hear what the artists hear and listen to the music the way they should -- the way I do."
The headphones can also interface with an iPhone, Blackberry or other music-enabled phones using a special cable with an integrated high grade microphone and answer button.
Starting this Friday you can listen to the Beats By Dre headphones at special demonstration stations inside select Apple and Best Buy stores. For more info visit www.BeatsByDre.com
Meanwhile, Dr. Dre's daughter, who's his splitting image, is putting him on blast for not giving her a helping hand with her career through a video on YouTube:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie"value="http://www.youtube.com/v/41TYznvGtxY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param
name="allowFullScreen"value="true"></param><embedsrc="http://www.youtube.com/v/41TYznvGtxY&hl=en&fs=1"type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425"height="344"></embed></object>
KELLY ROWLAND SHOOTS TV PILOT: She also talks D.C. reunion
*Kelly Rowland has filmed a pilot for a new a travel and lifestyle series called Around The World.
Kelly will host and executive produce the show which will spotlight the best in dining, hotel accommodations and party destinations throughout the world.
The pilot's already caught the interest of several networks including E!, Bravo, Style, A&E, VH1 and Oprah's O.W.N., but so far no deal has been set.
Networks have all taken a look at providing a home for the show - which is being produced by Acclaim Films (aka yummy model Datari Turner and his partner Phil Thornton) along with Kelly and of course Music World Entertainment.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kelly claims that a Destiny's Child reunion could take place at some point in '09.
"Me [Beyonce and Michelle] never split up. We are as close as we always were, like sisters, and we may do some projects next year," Kelly told Starpulse.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. FRANKIE!: Keyshia helps momz celebrate her b-day. Holla!
*Keyshia Cole threw a big birthday party for her mom, Frankie, in Atlanta on Saturday night.
Friends and family members crowded into the Pearl Bistro and Bar to celebrate "Ms. Frankie" She turned 48.
"I came out to show my support because Ms. Frankie is like a mother to all of us. I also wanted to show love for my girl Keyshia," is what R&B songstress Monica, who was in the house, told an Atlanta TV station.
Celebrity invitees also included Snoop Dogg, Akon, Flava Flav and designer Mychael Knight from Project Runway.
A camera crew was there taping footage for Keyshia's mom's upcoming reality show, Holla: I'm Just Frankie!
ROCKING FOR FASHION: R&B and hip-hop stars sign on for 5th annual Fashion Rocks concert.
*Lil Wayne, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey are among the stars set to perform at this year's Fashion Rocks concert which is set for September in New York City.
Fashion Rocks celebrates hot music and hot clothes and raises money for charity along the way. Proceeds from this year's concert will benefit Stand Up To Cancer. The 5th Annual Fashion Rocks concert will jump off at Radio City Music Hall on September 5.
The show will be taped for a two-hour CBS television spectacular that will air on September 9. The Black Eyed Peas, Kid Rock and Keith Urban will also perform on the show.
"Fashion Rocks uniquely celebrates the intersection of two of the sexiest cultural paradigms: fashion and music. This year, we have a spectacular lineup of talent and performances that will take the show to a whole new level," Richard Beckman, president of Conde Nast Media Group, which produces the concert, said yesterday.
As in past years, the concert will be accompanied by the publication of a one-off Fashion Rocks magazine which is being put together by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and will accompany the September editions of 16 Conde Nast magazines.
BLACKS BANNED FROM OLYMPIC BARS?: Chinese newspaper article claims blacks will be banned from Beijing bars during next month's Olympics.
*A recent article in the South China Morning Post alleged that the Chinese government had ordered Beijing bars to ban blacks and other "undesirables" from entering during next month's Olympic Games.
The article came to our attention through the comprehensive black search engine RusmoreDrive.com.
The article stated, quote:
Bar owners near the Workers' Stadium in central Beijing say they have been forced by Public Security Bureau officials to sign pledges agreeing not to let black people enter their premises ... Security officials are targeting Sanlitun (district), which Olympic organizers expect to be a key destination for foreign tourists looking for a party during the Games. The pledges that Sanlitun bar owners had been instructed to sign agreed to stop a variety of activities in their establishments, including dancing and serving customers with black skin, they said.
Chinese officials denied the report right away and so far there is very little evidence to support the article's claims. A blogger called Beijing Boyce talked to a few bar owners in Beijing's Sanlitun area who said that they had not been ordered to keep black patrons out.
An African-American sports reporter for China Central Television named Tony Perkins told Beijing Boyce that he had not been discriminated at any of the bars.
The South China Morning Post acknowledged the lack of proof for its original report and offered this explanation:
"Further investigation found that not all bars in the newly revamped area known for its nightlife had been ordered to refuse black customers, suggesting police are targeting specific bars."
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, who will be in Beijing next month for the Games, stated:
"The Olympics is a global event for peace and unity, and I would expect the Chinese Government to accept all people. We've been down this road before and I thought we were past that."
EUR DVD REVIEW: Without the King
DVD Features the Misadventures of Mswati in Swaziland
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*King Mswati III is a benevolent despot ruling the tiny African nation of Swaziland with a velvet-gloved iron fist.
This last absolute monarch on the continent governs just about the only sub-Saharan country somehow untouched by civil war or ethnic cleansing over the last 30 years.
In contrast to such war-torn lands as Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Sudan, Swaziland has enjoyed a relatively-peaceful existence.
This, despite the fact that its citizens have a 42% AIDS rate and the world's lowest life expectancy at 31. Plus, most of the population has to survive on about 63 cents a day, and are thus very dependent on donations from international charities to survive.
Meanwhile, the royal family lives in the lap of luxury, starting with the king. He has 14 wives, and picks another new one to add to his harem from the 75,000 topless young virgins participating in the annual Reed Dance, a weeklong celebration of chastity.
He also owns 7 palaces, a fleet of luxury cars, the media and sugar industries, and most of the developed real estate. Plus, he has $45 billion stashed away in a Swiss bank for safekeeping. Political parties are banned in Swaziland, so the miserable plight of the people isn't about to change any time soon in the absence of a revolution.
Besides Mswati, the film focuses on the decadent behavior of his spoiled-rotten eldest child, an airhead attending college in California. Well aware of the exploitation of her father's subjects, this future queen sarcastically appraises the situation shortly before the curtain comes down, vaguely promising to make some changes while rolling her eyes.
We're supposed to buy the idea that the Swazis will be saved by Africa's answer to Paris Hilton? Yeah, right. Proof-positive that decadence comes in all colors.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
In English and Siswati with subtitles.
Running time: 84 minutes
Studi First Run Features
DVD Extras: Deleted scenes and a theatrical trailer.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don't hoard it. Don't dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke. -- Brendan Francis
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Eriq Lasalle ("ER") is 46. Guitarist Slash of Velvet Revolver (and Guns N' Roses) is 43. Singer Sam Watters of Color Me Badd is 38. Singer Dalvin DeGrate of Jodeci is 37. Actor-comedian Marlon Wayans ("The Wayans
Brothers") is 36. Actor Omar Epps is 35. Singer Michelle Williams (Destiny's
Child) is 28. Radio personality Don Imus is 68.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Independent author Jenna Marie Christian's wants you to know her mission is to Inform, Entertain, and Uplift her community. You can support her at: www.missjenaamarie.com.
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less)
description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
July 23, 1962: Baseball great Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)