JAWN’S JUICE # 12 – VOL. Lll / JULY 07, 2004: Hotter Than July Series: Raz-B of B2K, Kedar Massenburg, Mo’Nique, Ying Yang Twins, Ruben Studdard, LaShun Pace, Jay-Z and so much more…
By Mr. Jawn Murray (Washington, D.C.)
Trouble In Boy Band Land: Okay, B2K fans will be sad to know that singer Raz-B (De'mario Thornton) is facing some troubles with the law. Late last week, Raz-B was arrested in Los Angeles after being pulled over by cops for allegedly driving erratically, according to a rep for the group. After running a standard search of Raz-B’s driving record, police realized that the singer had several warrants out for his arrest for failing to show up in court for another case, in addition to a new charge from New York City where a 17-year-old girl filed a rape allegation against him.
Apparently the outstanding warrants in Los Angeles stemmed from a recent case in which Raz-B was charged with running a driver off the road during a road rage incident. Apparently two bodyguards and a female friend involved showed up for court, but Raz-B failed to make the numerous court dates. The judge then issued a warrant.
When Raz-B was arrested for the most recent incident, he was held and bail was set at $75,000. I’m told that his cousin and former B2K manager, Chris Stokes, showed up to put down the standard 10 percent of the bail to have Raz-B released, however the judge declared him a flight risk and required the full bail. Raz-B spent approximately five nights in jail and celebrated his Independence Day on Tues. July 6, when his rep says he was released.
This is the second time Raz-B has been arrested in the last couple of weeks. The 18-year-old was arrested nearly three weeks ago and held for ten hours in jail for drug related charges, but was released when an associate took accountability for the illegal substances.
Let’s hope these troubles aren’t the beginning of many more to come for Raz-B. Those waiting on a B2K reunion shouldn’t hold their breath either because I’m told that, while J-Boog and Lil’ Fizz have been regularly communicating with former lead singer Omarion, neither have spoken to Raz-B since March.
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This Just In…: Looks like Universal/Motown President and CEO Kedar Massenburg has quit his job. I’m told by a reliable source familiar with the company that Kedar vacated his post just prior to leaving for vacation last Thursday.
Here’s what I am told. Apparently Kedar was tipped off by the human resources department at his company that the call had come to prepare an exit package on him. He then questioned the higher ups about the decision, and they supposedly acted as though they were ignorant to what was going on. Kedar was outraged that the company brass was not being forthright with him and decided to bounce.
It was already speculated that Kedar didn’t like the proposed plans of former Elektra Records CEO Sylvia Rhone becoming the chairman of the Universal/Motown group, replacing the retiring Mel Lewinter who is scheduled to retire in September. Coincidentally, an artist formerly under Sylvia’s reign told me that they recently spoke to her, and she said she’d be starting her new job in September. The rumored setup would have Kedar and Universal Records president Monte Lipman reporting directly to Sylvia.
Now, I’m told that Universal planned to nix Kedar to make room for Sylvia’s right-hand man Richard Nash, who would be following Sylvia from Elektra. Of course everyone at the Universal/Motown group is mum for now, and numerous calls to Universal/Motown reps were not returned at press time.
More details as this story develops…
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Party Patrol: Hollywood was hopping during the BET Awards. The night before the awards, Smooth magazine and Seagram’s Orange Twisted Gin presented a pre-BET Awards party at Ivar. “Baby Boy” actress and fitness guru A.J. Johnson hosted the shindig, and “The Real World” alumni turned Hollywood actor Teck Money was the celebrity deejay. Among those in attendance included; Claudia Jordan (“The Price Is Right”), Brian Hooks (“Eve”), Tatyana Ali (“The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”), Michael Jai White (“Spawn”), Angell Conwell (“Soul Plane”), Rockmond Dunbar (“Soul Food”), Lil’ Mo, rapper Fredro Starr, Monica Calhoun (“The Best Man”), Corey Clark (“American Idol”), Truth Hurts, Brian Russell of the L.A. Lakers, Mari Morrow (“How To Be A Player”), stuntwoman April Weeden Washington, Sicily Sewell (“One on One”), Tami Anderson (“The Real World”), spoken word artist CoCo Brown, comedienne Thea Vidale, singer Lina, porn star Mr. Marcus, Robin Dowes (“Yoga Flava”), Enya Flack (CBS sports), porn star Justin Slayer, Nzinga Blake (Cartoon Network), Gina Hiraizumi (“Kingston High”), DeDe McGuire of the Doug Banks Morning Show, and adult film star Lexington Steele among others. Additional tastemakers at the event included Star editor-at-large Brenda You, Fred Charleston of E! Entertainment, Brandi Miller of “Entertainment Tonight,” gossip maven Flo Anthony, publicist Steve Manning, Phil Thornton of Bright Star Entertainment, and Robin Miller of MaxMara. The entire shindig was coordinated by Lynn Allen Jeter of Lynn Allen Jeter & Associates and her savvy assistant Brandon Bragg, and Helen Shelton of Ruder Finn Arts & Communications Counselors.
…Jay-Z partnered with Reebok, Fat Cats Entertainment Group and Fixins.com to give a post-BET bash at the Henry Fonda Theater. I never spotted Jay-Z, but saw R.L. of Next, actor Dwayne Adway (“Soul Plane”) and Tevin Campbell before jetting.
…More celebrities were spotted at BET Awards host Mo’Nique’s post party at her house. Yes, tons of people piled into Mo’Nique’s backyard for a hot Hollywood party around her pool. Among those spotted included Dorien Wilson (“The Parkers”), Terri J. Vaughn (“The Steve Harvey Show”), comic Michael Colyar, Sicily Sewell (“One on One”), Dawnn Lewis (“A Different World”), fitness guru A.J. Johnson, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth (“The Apprentice”), Mari Morrow (“How To Be A Player”), comic Alex Thomas, Angell Conwell (“Soul Plane”), comic Lavelle Crawford, Kevin Hart (“Soul Plane”), Michael 'Bear' Taliferro (“Life”), Phil Thornton of Bright Star Entertainment, publicist Priscilla Clark and publicity duo Edna Sims and Damian Bruce. The party had an open bar and free-flowing hors d’oeuvres, but was shut down around 12:30 a.m. by the police for being too noisy.
…A.J. Calloway, formerly of “106 & Park,” held his “I Quit” party at Pearl in Los Angeles following the awards. However, by the time I arrived, actor Lamman Rucker (“As The World Turns”) and Andre Showell (“BET Nightly News”) were leaving. Inside was A.J. along with Rick James and nearly thirty other people. Let’s just say I left shortly after I arrived…
…At the infamous Mel’s Diner on Sunset Blvd., Tweet (formerly of Next) and Max Lux of Goldiggez was spotted dining with Phil Thornton of Bright Star Entertainment. At a nearby table was Usher’s little brother James Lackey, his assistant Keith Thomas of the nineties R&B group Subway, and another guest. Also in Mel’s was hip-hop model Escko.
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Couple’s Corner: Someone please tell former football player Tim Crawford’s mom to stop telling people at the Greater Jerusalem Baptist Church in Houston, Texas that the reason her son and his ex-wife Yolanda Adams split was not because she had an affair with Gerald Levert. A devout reader of this column, and member of the church, wrote in to tell me what ol’ Tim’s momma was telling the congregation. If the reports this column initially received are true, Tim needs to confess to his mother who the real adulterer in the relationship was.
Hollywood’s newest couple happens to be actress/fitness guru A.J. Johnson and actor Michael Jai White (“Spawn”). A source spotted the couple nearly two months ago cuddled up in a both at the Los Angeles hotspot Temple Bar catching a performance by singer N'Dea Davenport. I contacted a rep for A.J., who at the time wasn’t aware of the relationship. However, when I cornered the couple at the Smooth magazine and Seagram’s Orange Twisted Gin’s pre-BET Awards party, they came clean and complimented my savvy source.
Actress Golden Brooks (“Girlfriends”) arrived at the BET Awards with Three Keys Music CEO and accomplished jazz musician Marcus Johnson. The two looked like a couple and acted like a couple, but the question is, are they a couple?
Congratulations to actress Salli Richardson (“Antwone Fisher”) and hubby Dondre Whitfield (“Hidden Hills”). Salli is expecting the couple’s first child this fall.
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Public Display of Foolishness: I’m sure Bill Cosby just loves the Ying Yang Twins. I know he sat home last week watching the BET Awards, just proud as D-Roc of the hip-hop duo sat giving his signature “Haaaaaahn” growl throughout the show. I know Bill was just excited to know that D-Roc shouted out his “Haaaaaaahn” during commercial breaks, in the middle of acceptance speeches, and even during India.Arie’s performance. I know Bill was so upset when show host Mo’Nique lashed out against the rapper and admonished parents to use their birth control. (Can you hear the sarcasm?) If his public displays of “Haaaaaahn” weren’t enough, you’ll be glad to know that there is a song called “Hahn” on the Ying Yang Twin’s TVT Records release, “Me & My Brother.” The song was made available online the day after the awards at: http://www.tvtrecords.com/audio/2480/a2480_1_02.mov
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“American Idol” Ruben Studdard is planning to release a gospel CD in November. Prior to making it on “A.I.,” Ruben was a member of a gospel group in Alabama. He’s decided to release his upcoming gospel album to celebrate his foundation in music. His next R&B effort will be released in February 2005, and he hopes to tour with current “American Idol” champ Fantasia Barrino in the future.
Gospel powerhouse LaShun Pace has inked a new recording contract with EMI Gospel, after years of being signed to Savoy/Malaco Records. LaShun, who’s overcome so much adversity in recent years, has industry types waiting on the edge of their seats for her new music. It was announced at Dr. Bobby Jones’ Las Vegas retreat in May by gospel superstar Kurt Carr that he’d oversee production on LaShun’s upcoming set.
Speaking of Kurt… His group the Kurt Carr Singers will be recording their next effort on July 10 at the West Angeles Church of God In Christ in Los Angeles. This will be the follow-up to Kurt’s 2000 gold-selling release “Awesome Wonder.” Kurt is still signed to Gospo Centric Records.
Speaking of Gospo Centric… Industry buzz is that label CEO Vicki Mack Lataillade is putting the once chart-topping gospel label up for sale. Insiders say that Vicki has grown tired of the music business and wants to venture into the film industry. Having branded itself one of the premiere gospel labels with successful releases over the years from Kirk Franklin, God’s Property, Kurt Carr and Trin-I-tee 5:7; Gospo Centric has struggled tremendously lately and has had less than stellar success with artists that should have been easy sellers like R.J. Helton (“American Idol”) Natalie Wilson & SOP and Dru Hill’s Woody Rock. Let’s hope that even during their transition, if the sell does happen, Gospo Centric can revitalize Natalie’s “Good Life” release and have success with debuts by newcomers J. Moss and the Soul Seekers.
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"Darkchild wasn't exclusive with it....They created a sound with me, and they gave it to everybody, and I didn't like that. Every female that worked with Rodney Jerkins had my sound."—Brandy, Vibe, July 2004
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Can’t Say Names: A certain Hollywood actor is rumored to be keeping company with his female co-star. While the married actor has a notorious reputation for his infidelity, this is apparently his first time getting involved with a co-star.
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~ Prayers go out to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly percussionist McKinley Williams who had a massive heart attack during the group’s performance on July 4 at the Essence Music Festival. His heart attack took place shortly after Frankie received his award from Essence for having performed for the entire ten years of the festival. At press time, McKinley was still in intensive care.
~ It is confirmed. Former Elektra artist Lil’ Mo has apparently signed with Cash Money Records. Lil’ Mo joins Teena Marie as the second R&B female to join the hip-hop roster. Early word is that a single could hit radio as early as late summer, with an album following in fourth quarter. Lil’ Mo released two albums on Elektra Records; 2001’s “Based On A True Story” and 2003’s “Meet The Girl Next Door.” However, Elektra Records didn’t seem to quite get Lil’ Mo, and her record sells never matched her overall popularity.
~ Slick Rick is still signed to Def Jam and anticipates his new album to bow this fall. His last effort was 1999’s “The Art Of Storytelling.”
~ Rapper Pastor Troy is no longer signed to Universal Records, again. This is the second time the Atlanta-based Pastor Troy has both signed and parted ways with the label. His last effort for the label was this year’s “By Any Means Necessary.”
~ For those who keep e-mailing and asking, the Jay-Z footage floating around the Internet was apparently a gag. The retired rapper tells the New York Daily News that he was only fooling with a friend when he slapped her in the 2000 documentary "Backstage." "We were playing. We were laughing and joking around. She's one of my best friends." A hip-hop Web site had resurrected the footage and questioned whether Jay-Z hit the woman in anger. "I'm a man with a lot of pride," Jay-Z said. "I would never lie to you."
~ Next week, I’ll have a full recap of my trip to New Orleans with Chevrolet for the Essence Music Festival and tell you about Mase’s exclusive listening party in Los Angeles.
~ They have dressed Free from “106 & Park,” Ruff Ryder's deejay Swizz Beatz, Jaheim and even lil’ old me. A special thanks to Aja Imani for keeping me “GQ.” Aja Imani is located at 9244 East Hampton Drive, Suite #622, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. Contact them at 301-324-8300 or at ajaimani@aol.com.
Well I’m Jawn and that’s your Juice! See you next week!
E-mail me directly at GarekNews@hotmail.com because I never read the message board!
© 2002-2004 Jawn’s Juice. All rights reserved worldwide. All information provided by Jawn’s Juice on this Internet site is for personal use only. No commercial exploitation of anything contained herein may take place without prior written permission from the column’s author, Jawn Murray. Material contained herein may not be re-sold, loaned, hired, exchanged, bartered, or in any other way re-distributed in any other manner whatsoever.
Kendra Story, senior contributing editor of Upscale magazine, edited this column. You may contact her directly at KendraStory@aol.com.
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