Lee Bailey's EUR/Electronic Urban Report
July 2, 2003 (Wednesday)
The EUR is factual online infotainment on today's hottest
celebrities, events and issues in urban/black entertainment
and culture.
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In This Issue:
* LISARAYE TAKES ON THE SMALL SCREEN
* PO' SUGE IS GETTING PICKED ON
* BEYONCE CALLS HER CREW
* THE GHOSTLY BEATMAKER
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LISARAYE TAKES ON THE SMALL SCREEN
Actress talks about new sitcom.
*When LisaRaye made her big screen debut in
"The Players Club," she had the women rolling their
eyes and men trying to roll up on her. Yes, she was
noticeably fine, but that exterior concealed an ambitious
inner fire that many in Hollywood's media circus took
for granted.
Fast forward to the present and we see LisaRaye
is still shining and growing as an actress and entertainer.
Her breakout role was supposed to be in the prison film
"Civil Brand," but that project had been shelved for two
years. It will finally drop this summer with a cast that
features Da Brat, MC Lyte, Lark Voorhies, Mos Def,
and many others. We've seen it, it's worth the wait.
In the meantime, LisaRaye has been tabbed
to co-star in the Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith produced
sitcom for UPN, "All Of Us," alongside Duane Martin
and Elise Neal. Our Lee Bailey ran into the statuesque
beauty after the BET Awards and managed to get all
the juicy details from her. But first, she lets us know
how she's feeling about her bright future and tells
us about her latest projects.
"I'm wearing white because it's like a new beginning
for me. It's going to be my year," said a gleeful LisaRaye.
"I feel that way because I have two movies coming out.
I have a sitcom with Will and Jada. I have the Hennessy
campaign where I am the first black spokesperson for
Hennessy, so I said, 'You know what, I need to be seen,
so I'm gonna wear white.'"
And speaking of that sitcom, in past roles, LisaRaye
usually plays the protagonist, but in this role she will be
the antagonizing troublemaker.
"It's loosely based on Will and Jada's life," she explains.
"It's mainly about Will and his wife and his ex-wife and child,
bringing them together with his new wife and kids and
sometimes it's not easy bringing two families together."
Then she gave us the details of her role in the
"confusion."
"I'm right there in the middle. I play the ex-wife, I'm
the drama. My character's name is Neicey."
It seems that LisaRaye is having a great experience
with the new sitcom and received a lot of support from
the "dynamic duo" on this one.
"It's wonderful and I'm having so much fun. Will
and Jada have been involved from the beginning; from
the audition process to the rehearsals to the actual pilot
shooting."
Elaborating on her character she says, "If anyone
out there knows a Neicey then you know how Neiceys
can be sometimes. It's a perfect name for a villain."
As for the good folks, LisaRaye broke down the
plot and what not.
"The current wife will be played by Elise Neal and
Duane Martin is actually playing the Will-type character.
The basis of the sitcom is Duane Martin is a newscaster
[and] Neicey doesn't have a job. My thing is that I just
want to take care of my position with my ex-husband.
How am I going to be taken care of now that he's getting
remarried? Elise Neal's character is a school teacher."
OK, though the careers have changed and the names
have changed, how much else has been altered to protect
the innocent?
"We had to change it up a little bit, I said it's loosely
based on Will and Jada's life. It's more about bringing two
families together. We heard Jada talk about it on Oprah.
She said that to embrace (Will's son) Tre from the previous
marriage, she had to embrace Will's ex-wife. I think that
takes a helluva woman to be able to do that. I think they
were like 'Hey, we gotta get along until these children
turn 18, ten years from now. So, we've got ten years
where we've gotta be around each other."
That is an admirable, and very adult, way of looking at
a situation such as that. Unfortunately, when it comes to
emotions, most adults don't behave like adults at all.
"The conflict is when a woman feels threatened that
her position is being taken," explains LisaRaye."It's like,
'Where does that leave me and our son? She's not me,
she's new and she doesn't know you. And where does she
get off trying to steal my ex-husband? I know I gave you
away and said that I didn't want you anymore, but I think
I might want you now that you have something else started."
"All Of Us" may be a comedy, but the subject matter
is a real life phenomenon. LisaRaye feels that it can help
soothe bruised egos and give real world advice on how
to get along with your ex, especially when there are
children involved.
"Being a single parent, I think that a lot of the
episodes are going to help me deal with some of the
things that I'm going through with my daughter. It's
showing how to deal with the lighter side of things
and educating people on a funny note. It's going
to show how we dealt with the situation."
--Ricardo Hazell
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EUR Newsbits
IS PO SUGE GETTING PICKED ON?
Death Row founder not guilty ... says lawyer.
*In an alleged parole violation, controversial
rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight was jailed for
punching the parking attendant (07-01-03) at a Hollywood
nightclub because he did not bring his car
quickly, prison officials have said.
Knight's attorney, Robin Yanes told Reuters,
"Mr. Knight never touched anybody." Yanes said
that during a routine "conversation" with his parole
officer on June 21, he was arrested.
"When he got there, they slapped the cuffs
on him and said, You're going to jail.' They even
told him they knew he hadn't done anything,"
Yanes said.
Yanes went on to say that his client had
no idea that any altercation had taken place
when he left the club shortly after midnight.
only that "there was some confusion about
cars being blocked in and some people got
angry and agitated with the attendant because
Suge's car was brought up before theirs."
If the California Board of Prison Terms board
upholds the allegations, it could revoke Knight's
parole for up to a year.
IDOL ALUM GETS SLAP ON WRIST
Corey Clark gets probation for sister-bashing.
*Here's yet another dose of "American Idol"
alum news that you may or may not care about.
You remember Corey Clark? He was the young
man who didn't disclose to producers his legal troubles
and was booted off the show. Corey had been arrested
for allegedly hitting his 15-year-old sister.
Well, two misdemeanor assault charges have
been dismissed against him, but the 22-year-old
pleaded guilty to "obstruction of legal process."
He was sentenced to six months
of unsupervised probation.
Join us as 50 contestants compete Saturday, August 23
for the nationally televised, Miss Black USA Pageant in
Sunny Miami Florida at the Radisson Biscayne Bay Miami
Hotel (1601 Biscayne Bay Blvd. Miami, Florida 33132)
Call 314-241-5700 ext. 4 for more information, travel
packages, or tickets
LES NUB IS IN THE GROOVE
French sisters get all up in your system.
*Soul sister duo Les Nubians, are transcending
the spectrum of black music on their new set "One
Step Forward." The set is their second LP and is
inspired by their mother and her love for art
and music.
The first single, "Temperature Rising," features
Brooklyn's Talib Kweli rapping between the sisters'
harmonic vocals. Helen and Celia are preparing
to hit the road in the US to promote the new set.
Les Nubians tour dates:
7/16: Orlando, House of Blues
7/17: Tampa, The State Theater
7/19: New Orleans, House of Blues
7/20: Houston, Numbers
7/22: Dallas, Trees
7/24: Las Vegas, House Of Blues
7/26: Seattle, Showbox
7/27: Portland, OR, Portland Zoo
7/28: Vancouver, The Commodore Ballroom
7/30-8/1: San Francisco, Bimbo's 365 Club
8/2: Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theatre
8/3: Hollywood, The Palace
8/5: Boulder, CO, Boulder Theater
8/8: St. Louis, The Pageant
8/9: Minneapolis, The Quest
8/10: Chicago, House of Blues
8/12: Detroit, St. Andrews Hall
8/13: Toronto, The Phoenix
8/15: Burlington, VT, Higher Ground
8/16: Somerville, MA, Somerville Theater
8/17: Providence, RI, Lupo's
8/19: New York, Webster Hall
8/20: Philadelphia, Theatre of Living Arts
8/22: Baltimore, Recher Theater
8/23: Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
8/24: Atlanta, GA Roxy Theater
THE GHOSTLY BEATMAKER
The man behind the "Magic Stick."
*He produced the beat to the Lil' Kim and
50 Cent "Magic Stick," and has worked with everyone
from UMC's to Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Busta
Rhymes and many more. He's so incognito that it's
almost like he's a phantom. Actually, a Fantom
is more like it as in Fantom of the Beats.
Known to hip-hop vets as Hass G of UMC's, his
company is fast becoming one of the most sought
after beatmakers in the game. His Fantom of the
Beat production company consists of him and
Boo Who? His work can also be heard on 9
of the 20 some odd tracks off Inspectah Deck's
upcoming set "The Movement."
"Inspectah Deck and I grew up together in
Staten Island. Back in the days it was our group
UMC's and Wu Tang rockin' The Island, so Deck
and I have known each other for a long time."
"Magic Stick" isn't the first time Fantom of The
Beat hooked up with 50 Cent. If you own 50 Cent mix
tapes then you should remember bouncing your head
to "Dead Men Don't Talk," "Bad Luck," and "Rotten
Apple" which hit the streets and underground circuits.
ABSOLUT SOULFUL SUNDAY
Radio is live every Sunday in Chicago on WCFJ AM1470
1:30pm-4:30pm, New York on WSNR AM 620 from 9pm-12
and Los Angeles KMPC AM1540 9pm-12. Hosted by DJ
FINK and Shelly Shel you can log on and listen anytime
at http://www.clubbintv.com. If you want to hear artists
like Donnie, Talib Kweli, Steely Dan, K-OS, or new
artists like Big Brooklyn Red, there is no other choice
do not take kindly to the use of indecent language
on stage,"
CUBAN GOES FOR ZO
Alonzo courted by the Dallas Mavericks.
*In the latest round of Alonzo Mourning free
agency news, eccentric billionaire owner of the
Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban is sweating your
boy Zo something terrible.
Zo's free agency began at midnight on Monday
and despite Mourning's expressed desire to remain
in Miami, Cuban was already in Miami waiting for
the free agency deadline so he could be the first
to get at Zo.
The Dallas Morning News sent Cuban an
e-mail regarding his desire to sign Mourning and
he responded, "All I can say is that I'm in Miami."
Why is he on Mourning like he is? If you watched
the 2003 Western Conference Finals then you know
that, although the Mavericks are full of shooters and
scorers, they are incapable of guarding the chair
you're sitting in or out-rebounding Gwyneth
Paltrow. Zo would certainly add toughness,
defense and ferocity to their frontline.
BEYONCE CALLS HER CREW
New video is sorta like Ladies' Night part 2.
*Calling out Missy Elliot, MC Lyte and Free
to appear on your album is like calling out the
national guard for an emergency. But Beyonce
Knowles is far from being in trouble.
She's just trying to let all her homegirls eat
by featuring them on her next single, the title track
from the upcoming "Fighting Temptations" soundtrack.
MTV reports that the participants got down at an
abandoned mansion near LA to shoot the video.
"Basically, it's kind of like a ladies' night 'cause
it's all us females and the song is about basically all
these temptations you have with this guy and you're
kind of fighting it," Beyoncé explained on the set.
"The house came from the movie because it kind
of reminds me a lot of the house that we filmed
in for the movie."
"The Fighting Temptations," which opens
September 19, stars Beyonce as a nightclub
singer who is persuaded by a New York
advertising director (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.)
to join a small town gospel choir he is directing
in order to collect an inheritance.
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tfn
THE BLUES TREATMENT
Blues interests are on the rise this year.
*This has certainly been a year for the proliferation
of our heritage in the blues. Congress declared 2003
"the year of the blues" and Sony Legacy and Universal
Music Enterprises (UME) are rolling out a flood of
releases tied to the fall PBS series "Martin Scorsese
Presents the Blues -- A Musical Journey."
The series, executive produced by Scorsese, will
include seven different original films, each with a unique
angle on the blues.
The alliance between Sony and Universal marks
the second time the companies have joined together
for a PBS-related project. Two years ago, their mammoth
effort for "Ken Burns Jazz" ignited new interest -- and
sales -- in the genre.
Executives hope the upcoming releases do the
same for the blues, which has made up a very small
percentage of overall sales in recent years.
HE WAS MILES AHEAD
New DVD helps you catch up with jazz great.
*Do you want to know the story of one of the
greatest musicians to ever live? You may get that
opportunity when The Miles Davis story is released
on DVD.
It's filled with tales of drug abuse, spousal
abuse and a musician many considered an a
world class a-hole. But, despite it all, everyone
who speaks of Davis speaks of respect and
admiration for this mammoth talent.
The anecdotes about Miles' life are told
by his closest acquaintances. Despite the
horror stories, you can tell that the people
telling the story have nothing but admiration
for the man. The contributors to the film include
his collaborators Chick Corea, John McLaughlin
and Keith Jarrett. One of his better known band
members Herbie Hancock says a few words
and the whole thing is pieced together
by biographer Ian Carr.
The DVD features some great performances
with footage from 1959 with the Kind of Blue band
and Gil Evans, and 1967 footage with Wayne Shorter.
Along with Herbie Hancock, it also features Ron Carter,
Tony Williams and rare footage of the lost quintet from
1969 featuring Jack DeJonnette, Chick Corea, Dave
Holland and Wayne Shorter.
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ITTY BITTY BITS
Man charged in theft of Kim's jewels, Ruben & Clay won't compete and Justin in trouble in Texas
**The AP reports that John Acheson, 31, of
New Rochelle, NY has been charged with demanding
$25,000 from rapper Lil' Kim to return a necklace that
went missing from her luggage at JFK airport. The
Queens, NY district attorney said Acheson contacted
Lil' Kim's attorney last week, saying he had the necklace
and demanding money for its return. He said Acheson
turned himself in to authorities Monday.
**RCA Records has changed its mind and decided
not to make Ruben Studdard and his "American Idol"
runner-up, Clay Aiken, go head to head again. The
label had planned on releasing both singers' albums
on the same day (August 19). "They're not going to
come out on the same day," an RCA spokesperson
told TV Guide Online. "They're going to be spaced
apart."
**Speaking of "American Idol," last year's
runner-up, Justin Guarini was cited by Grand Prairie,
Texas police after witnesses said he almost ran over
a young girl with a personal watercraft at Joe Pool
Lake, according to a report in the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram.
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OTHER NEWS:
UNION HIRES MORE MINORITIES THAN ANY OTHER BANK
Nobody said anything about black folks!
*Union Bank of California was ranked as the
No. 4 overall employer by Fortune magazine in its
July 7, 2003, annual list of "America's 50 Best
Companies for Minorities."
The bank was also ranked as the nation's top
employer among financial services companies, for
the fifth consecutive time. Union Bank was among
the top five companies in key categories such as
supplier diversity (ranked No. 2), managerial diversity
(No. 2) and workforce diversity (No. 5). As indicated
by Fortune, 56 percent of minorities comprise the
bank's workforce, with 26 percent Asian employees
and 21 percent Hispanic (ED NOTE: Which, by the
way, only leaves 9 percent of the positions to be filled
by African Americans and Native Americans.).
Additionally, minorities make up nearly 39 percent
of the bank's officials and managers. In 1999, Union
Bank topped Fortune's list as the nation's No. 1
employer for minorities. The bank also secured
a high ranking in 2000 at No. 6, and finished
at No. 11last year.
Fortune's ranking was based on Union Bank's
diversity in its hiring and promotional practices as
well as in its investment and support/patronage
of minority-owned businesses.
"Diversity is one of our core values, so it's very
humbling to continue getting recognition for doing
what we feel is our responsibility as a company,"
said Paul Fearer, executive vice president and
director of human resources for Union Bank.
"We can only be truly successful by ensuring
that our employees, consultants and suppliers
reflect the communities we serve. This
commitment will continue to be evident
in all of our practices."
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EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
So you wanna start your own business? Don't
quit your day job yet. Make sure you have the inner
stamina, passion, drive, resources, strategic networking
connections, business plan, faith and savings before you
make that leap. Being your own boss can be very gratifying.
Email me to request the questions you should ask yourself
before getting off the plantation and moving into
entrepreneurship. -- The Innertainer, Jewel Diamond Taylor,
Motivational Speaker and author, get motivated to take your
life to the next when you visit the most popular motivational
web site in cyberspace - www.DoNotGiveUp.net
e-mail - Jewel@DoNotGiveUp.net
Save the date to attend Jewel Diamond Taylor's
Don't Give Up Conference the weekend of October 24
in San Diego, CA
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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
07-02: Singer Fontella Bass, 63; Talk-show host
Montel Williams, 47
WEBSITE OF THE DAY
Get the scoop on new singer Lumidee. Find out
what's up with that name (http://www.lumidee.net/)
Submit your favorite website to us along with
a 15-20 word (or less) description to: info@eurweb.com
BLACK HISTORY
July 2, 1908: Thurgood Marshall is born. Also, slain civil
rights activist Medgar Evers is also born on this day in 1925.
(source:www.BlackFacts.com)
Get Lee Bailey to Voice It!
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tfn
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You never know when your comment or question will turn up.
ALL letters are subject to editing.
*Vinette K. Pryce, New York, NY:
"Simultaneous to the national broadcast of BET's
third annual awards at the Kodak Center in LA where the
king of pop Michael Jackson surprised viewers with an
appearance in order to laud the godfather of soul with his
Lifetime Achievement honor ... here in New York at the
Apollo Theater, Maceo Parker jammed for a packed
Harlem showcase. Just when the music simmered
with soul, out walked the Prince, the undisputed royalty
of pop. Although the King was awesome in LA, New Yorkers
who may have felt left out of the special treat and were
present at the Harlem landmark, left feeling fully rewarded.
Prince strummed a mean guitar. He was spectacular."
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Today: Tyrese handles his Big Willie status like a pro
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*Autumn Lynn (no city given):
"(In re: to Celeste Wright, NYC / 07-01-03 EUR) I'm
not sure what version of Monica's CD you purchased, but
if it's the same 'After the Storm' that I purchased your rating
is a little off. I'm glad you don't work for a recording label.
Lyrically Monica doesn't have it. People like you are
part of the problem contributing to the music industry being
so overwhelmed with mediocre talent now. With the exception
of 4 or 5 tracks the entire albums was an absolute failure
to me, mainly because Monica felt the need to 'attempt'
to rhyme on the other tracks.
Maybe you could send me the $15.89 I wasted
purchasing the album, and I could send you my copy,
that way you could have two, since you think it's so
hot.~EUR, thanks, and keep on keepin' us informed."
We always wanna know what's on your mind. Hit us back at: EURfeedback@eurweb.com
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