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05-22-06 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
‘FLAVOR OF LOVE’ WINNER HOOPZ SPEAKS OUT: Nikki Alexander clears up rumors about T.I., Tiny, and has choice words for Wendy Williams.
*Just when you thought the hot mess surrounding the first season of
Flavor Flav’s reality show “Flavor of Love” was all flushed away, one of the
contestants has come forward with more dirt about the series to bring it
right back into the headlines.
Hoopz, the woman who beat out 19 other ladies to win the title of
Flav’s lady love, appeared on Chicago’s Power 92 (WPWX) last week and
divulged secrets about the VH1 production, answered rumors about her
relationship with rapper T.I. and gave details about her run in with T.I.’s
baby-mama Tiny, formerly of the R&B group, Xscape.
Interviewed by Kendra G., a co-host with Trey the Chocolate Jock on
the Morning Jump-Off show, Hoopz was asked if she was ever in love with
Flav.
“No, I don’t think anybody from the show was in love with him,” said
the 23-year-old, born Nicole "Nikki" Alexander. “There were 19 other girls.
You don’t get to spend 24 hours, 7 days a week with the person.”
Hoopz, who received her nickname from Flav because of her basketball
background, was asked if fellow contestant New York was ever in love with
Flav as she led everyone to believe.
“No. I had to be with her for three weeks, and she’s fake than a
motherf*cker," said Hoopz, a native of Dearborn, Michigan. “She’s extra,
she’s fake, she’s crazy, and she’s on something.”
While very few will openly admit that they watched the show, nearly 6
million tuned in to the season finale, making it one of the most popular
programs in VH1’s “celebreality” programming block last season.
Following the show, her increased exposure put her smack dab in the
center of ATL's rumor mill. Gossip maven Wendy Williams told her radio
listeners that a woman came forward claiming to have had a threesome with
Hoopz and T.I.
Hoopz has repeatedly denied that she was involved in the alleged
ménage-a-trois. When Kendra G. asked her to define the exact nature of her
relationship with T.I., Hoopz would only say, “That’s my homeboy; we just
cool.”
But when asked about her rumored beef with Tiny, Hoopz became
animated and said: “I don’t even know chick, so I can’t tell you that we
don’t get along. I know she opened her mouth about me. We were at a club,
…next thing you know she pulls him [T.I.] to the side like ‘who the f*ck is
that?’”
Translation: Rumor had it that Tiny was invited to a party for Nelly
in the ATL, and her ex-boyfriend/babydaddy, T.I., showed up with Hoopz on
his arm. T.I. introduced Hoopz to Tiny, and everything was reportedly fine
– until Hoopz’ homegirls began looking at Tiny hard like they were ready to
do something. This is how Tiny explained the encounter during an interview
on The Ryan Cameron Show on Atlanta’s V-103.
Hoopz continues her story to Kendra G: “A couple of days [after the
club run-in], she gets on the radio like, ‘if I would’ve known her and she
would’ve known me.’ Come on now, it don’t matter if you know someone or not,
if that’s your man and you feel like someone is disrespecting, you get on
the radio but you never say nothing to me? I would’ve whipped her ass.”
Hear the Power 92 interview excerpts for yourself.
• Hoopz on Flavor Flav www.EURweb.com/media/hoopz/01-FlavorFlav.mp3
• Hoopz on Wendy Williams
www.EURweb.com/media/hoopz/03-Married-WendyWilliams.mp3
• Hoopz on T.I. www.EURweb.com/media/hoopz/04-TI.mp3
• Hoopz on Tiny www.EURweb.com/media/hoopz/05-Tiny.mp3
• Hoopz on cast member New York
www.EURweb.com/media/hoopz/02-NY-FlavorFlav.mp3
‘DREAMGIRLS’ CLIPS DAZZLE CANNES AUDIENCE: Crowd gives standing-O after seeing only 20 minutes of footage.
*Judging by the enthusiastic reaction to just 20 minutes of footage from the upcoming “Dreamgirls” film at the Cannes Film Festival Friday night, we may very well have the year’s first bona fide Oscar contender.
Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks screened the footage for a standing room only crowd that included such celebs as Bruce Willis, Hugh Jackman and Britain's Sir Ian McKellen. Not only did an extended standing ovation follow the showing of four brief scenes, but shouts of “more” also rang throughout the theater, putting a huge smile on the face of the film’s Oscar-winning co-star, Jamie Foxx.
"They talk about the Oscar curse. I don't feel it right now," Foxx said to rousing applause following the screening. The Texas native, who earned a Best Actor Academy Award in 2005 for his starring role in “Ray,” was on hand at Hotel Martinez along with co-stars Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson.
Due in theaters this December, “Dreamgirls” is adapted from the Tony-winning musical about a female singing trio and their manager’s costly rise to stardom in the 1960s. Foxx plays manager Curtis Taylor Jr., Knowles plays the group’s lead singer Deena Jones, and newcomers Anika Noni Rose and "American Idol" veteran Hudson round out the trio.
Knowles, who played less challenging roles in “The Pink Panther,” “The Fighting Temptations” and “Austin Powers in Goldfinger,” said this film was her first major test as an actress.
"This was my first role," she told Reuters. "This was really my debut as an actor. It was the first role where I had to show that I can do the dramatic scenes and that I can play a character with range."
Beyonce, 24, also told reporters that she lost about 20 pounds for the part, which has her character fronting a group loosely modeled after Diana Ross and the Supremes.
"At the beginning (of filming), I was my normal weight," she said. "I actually gained a little bit, but then I lost 20 lbs. when I went from young Deena to old Deena. I wanted it to be something more than just make-up and hair. I wanted to see the change."
Knowles, wearing a blue halter dress designed by her mother Tina, assured folks that the weight loss was not due to pressure from Hollywood executives.
"Oh no, that was my idea,” she affirms. "The director (Bill Condon) actually kept telling me to 'eat, eat, eat' for continuity, but I really wanted to go all the way. I was inspired by Tom Hanks. He did it all the way (in “Castaway”), so I said, I can do it all the way."
Hudson, meanwhile, told reporters she was happy with her full figure and had not intentions of trying to slim it down: "Why fix something that isn't broke? Someone has to represent the average girl. Not everyone is a size 2."
Still, she added, "I've been trying to work out, to make sure my curves don't get too much curvy. I enjoy my jelly where it is."
Producer, Laurence Mark, tells Reuters that the film is far from finished, but the studios were so excited about their existing footage, that, “We wanted to put it in front of audiences, give them a taste of it and say, 'Here's what we have cooking, kids.’”
Also on hand to offer insights into their respective fields were: two-time Oscar-winning production designer John Myhre ("Memoirs of a Geisha," "Chicago"), who brought along scale models of different sets from the film; Oscar-nominated costume designer Sharen Davis ("Ray"), with mannequins displaying a few of the film's wide-ranging costumes; award-winning choreographer Fatima Robinson, backed up by a video monitor showing her working out dance moves with the cast; and twice Tony-nominated composer Henry Krieger, who composed the original Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," and returned to write new music for the film version.
HALLE BERRY’S ‘STAND’ AGAINST BRITISH DJ: Actress calls radio jock on racist humor during live appearance to plug ‘X-Men.’
*Halle Berry’s visit to a BBC radio show on Thursday turned ugly after the host began imitating what he called a “big, fat, black guy” – an impersonation Berry found extremely offensive.
The Oscar-winning actress and actor Hugh Jackman were guests on Chris Moyles' Radio One breakfast show to promote this week’s opening of their new film “X-Men: The Last Stand.” The drama started when Jackman joked about Moyles possibly starring as his body double if he ever landed the role of James Bond.
"I could definitely do that," Moyles said before adding, "Put your hands in the air!"
Thrown by Moyles’ attempt at an American accent, Jackman asked, "Are you some kind of Brooklyn Bond?"
Moyles replied: "I'm a black American guy. A big, fat, black guy. Put your hands up in the air."
Berry, clearly not amused, said to Moyles: "Are we having a racist moment here?" Moyles, who is white, explained that he just couldn't do American accents.
Berry finished the interview, but Moyles later said she was “ratty,”
the British equivalent of our term, “salty.” According to a BBC spokesman, Moyles addressed his listeners after the interview and said his comments were in no way meant to be racist.
MARY WILSON TO UNDERGO HEART BYPASS SURGERY: Singer was hospitalized with chest pains last week; friend calls for prayers.
*Singer Mary Wilson, one third of the legendary Motown trio the Supremes, is scheduled to undergo heart bypass surgery today after being hospitalized last week with chest pains, her publicist said.
The 62-year-old singer remained hospitalized in Las Vegas Friday after being rushed to urgent care by a family member on Tuesday. Wilson, who suffers from hereditary high cholesterol, was taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains, according to her publicist, Jay Schwartz.
Her friend, Paul “Billy” Wolfe, the personal manager of Marvelettes founder/singer Gladys Horton, is asking for prayers that Wilson will emerge healthy from today’s surgical procedure.
“Having known Mary for many years, I know in my heart that she is going to be alright and will come out of this just fine, but it never hurts to have others pray,” Wolfe writes in an e-mail to EUR. “Mary is a great person off the stage and has been there for the little person. I am requesting that each of you to please take a moment, and offer a prayer for Mary.”
The Detroit native last made headlines for her efforts to spark legislation against copycat singing groups who profit from established musical acts. Wilson still performs about 150 concert dates a year.
CHRIS ROCK HAS JOKES AT CW PRESENTATION: Comic pokes fun at CBS chief and the network’s all-black Sunday night lineup.
*Chris Rock threw a few zingers at CBS chief executive Leslie Moonves Thursday during the CW’s official sales presentation to advertisers – better known as “the upfronts.”
Rock told the gathered crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden theater that it was Moonves who actually cast Tyler James Williams – the actor who portrays the comic as a youngster in the UPN sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris" – after vetoing the person who had been the producers’ first choice.
"Les said, 'I know how to pick black kids,'" the 41-year-old actor-comedian said. "He's picking them for Angelina Jolie now."
As previously reported, programs from both UPN and the WB will be used on the CW, a joint venture between CBS and Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros.
"Spend some money on the new CW!” Rock screamed at the audience. “We are not going to change our name ever again! We do have a slogan, too. It's 'We Aren't Bullsh*t. That's right. We've got good shows!"
Commenting on CW’s decision to lump all of its black sitcoms into a two-hour programming block on Sundays, Rock told the advertisers: "This season, Chris is now going to be played by a white girl. As a matter of fact, you are going to see more white people on the CW than ever. Sometimes they are going to just walk by [and say] ‘hi.’”
To help illustrate its unofficial rallying cry this year, the network brought out the Black Eyed Peas at the beginning of the presentation to perform, “Let’s Get It Started.” Also, CW executives noted that one-third of their target audience of 18-to-34 -year-olds identify themselves as minorities. Sunday’s two-hour block aimed at minorities is the only one on the five biggest broadcast networks.
MOTHER OF MIJAC’S ACCUSER TO STAND TRIAL: Woman charged with welfare fraud and perjury; also new book claims to reveal MiJac sex secrets.
*The 37-year-old mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of molestation was ordered Friday to stand trial on one felony count of welfare fraud and four felony counts of perjury by falsely applying for welfare.
The woman, accused of stealing $8,000 in government aid, waived her right to a preliminary hearing during an appearance in Superior Court in Los Angeles. She was released without bail.
During Jackson’s trial in Santa Maria, the woman invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination when grilled about the welfare fraud issue and did not testify about it. A number of jurors cited her lack of credibility as a major factor in their verdict to acquit the King of Pop of all charges.
"I've had a lot of pressure from Michael Jackson fans to send her to jail," prosecutor James Baker said outside court, adding that he has received at least 15 phone calls and faxes.
Baker claims the woman fraudulently collected $18,782 in welfare payments between November 2001 and March 2003, but the amount was dropped to $8,000 because the government received child welfare payments from the father of her son.
She also failed to disclose she had received a $150,000 settlement of a lawsuit against a department store chain, prosecutors said.
*In other MiJac news, Liza Minelli’s ex-husband David Gest has said he will release an autobiography which contains secrets regarding Jackson’s sex life.
Gest, 53, says he and Jackson were friends during their teenage years as neighbors in Encino, CA. He claims Jackson's father Joe paid a prostitute to have sex with his son and that the young star was once propositioned for sex by a male record executive.
Mark Bego, the book’s co-author, tells The National Enquirer:
"Michael told David all about his sex life, and now David feels it is time to tell the world so the public can understand why Michael turned out the way he did."
A rep for Gest, who has been friends with Jackson for more than 30 years (Jackson was the best man at his 2002 marriage to Minnelli), says of the singer: "Michael has so many skeletons in his closet and David feels now is the time they should be aired."
BARRY BONDS RELIEVED TO FINALLY TIE BABE RUTH: Giants slugger is humble following historic homer in Oakland.
*It was Oakland pitcher Brad Halsey who ended up with the distinction that haunted every pitcher facing Barry Bonds this season – the man who gave the San Francisco Giants slugger his 714th home run.
History books opened up for both athletes during the second inning on Saturday, as Bonds broke a two-week slump to crack one out of Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum and tie the legendary Babe Ruth for second place on Major League Baseball's all-time home run list.
"I'm just glad it's over with," Bonds told reporters after the game.
"This took a lot off me. …This is a great accomplishment because of Babe Ruth and what he brought to the game of baseball. It's just great to be in the same class."
Many of the fans who had booed Bonds upon his introduction and as he stepped into the batter's box, gave him a standing ovation after the home run. The game was delayed about 90 seconds as he acknowledged the salute and blew a kiss to his wife and two daughters seated in the front row. Later, his seven-year-old daughter Aisha smiled and sucked on a lollipop while seated next to her dad at a postgame news conference.
The history-making hit over the 362-foot sign occurred in the long shadow of a federal grand jury investigation into Bonds on whether he committed perjury about possible use of steroids.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old college student Tyler Snyder, the man who caught Bonds’ home run ball has no love for the athlete. Asked if he would give the ball to Bonds, he responded with an emphatic no, adding: "I hate that guy. I really don’t care for the guy."
The Giants went on to win the game, 4-2, in 10 innings.
Active home run leaders:
Barry Bonds 714
Ken Griffey, Jr. 539
Frank Thomas 455
Gary Sheffield 453
Jeff Bagwell 449
Jim Thome 447
Manny Ramirez 442
NY CRITICS WEIGH IN ON ‘GENUINE BLACK MAN’: Brian Copeland’s one-man show opened last week off-Broadway.
*Critics have spoken regarding “Not a Genuine Black Man,” a one-man show from popular California DJ Brian Copeland about the racism encountered when his upper middle-class family moved to an all-white white neighborhood in San Leandro, CA during the early 70s.
The long-running hit on the West Coast opened May 17 off-Broadway at the DR2 Theater and continues through July 30. Broadway.com has amassed a sampling of reviews from the New York Times, the New York Daily News, Variety and The Associated Press. Here is what the critics have to say:
• Jason Zinoman of The New York Times: "In a squeaky, high-pitched voice, Mr. Copeland, who also confesses to liking the Beach Boys and a dry martini once in a while, tells mostly stale jokes, but he knows how to spin a dramatic yarn, especially the terrifying stories of his family being harassed. Mr. Copeland deftly plays his no nonsense grandmother and his effete, dignified mother, who says she was born in Providence, R.I., even though she's actually from Alabama. But a funny thing happens when Mr. Copeland switches to his own voice. He sounds overwrought, false and, when the script calls for anger, oddly unconvincing. His personal tales are riveting, but the manner in which they are told makes it seem that Mr. Copeland might have been better off casting someone else to play himself."
• Howard Kissel of The New York Daily News: "What is remarkable about his show is how funny he can make his life seem… The many conflicts in his psyche may account for the disjointed quality the show sometimes has - at times he stresses irony; at others he has an air of grievance, as if this were the standard monologue of several decades ago, geared to nurturing white guilt. Overall, however, the show, directed by Bob Balaban, conveys the sense of a man overcoming insuperable odds and emerging whole, sane and triumphant."
• Steven Suskin of Variety: "Copeland, who admits he likes the Beach Boys and doesn't 'talk ghetto,' is charming and sometimes poignant. In the end, though, Not a Genuine Black Man in not a genuine play… In the last half hour, Copeland switches among his tales-in-progress as if someone were playing with the remote, hoping to finish up every thread simultaneously. Despite several gripping segments, Genuine Black Man doesn't quite satisfy."
• Michael Kuchwara of The Associated Press: "Not a Genuine Black Man has more on its mind that the persistent racism that dogged Copeland's childhood. It's a story of family. Affectionate portraits of his mother and grandmother. A not-so-happy picture of his rarely seen father, a brute of a man who abused his wife and terrorized his children. That Copeland, now a radio talk-show host in San Francisco, seems to have turned out so well-adjusted is a marvel. He is a genial, accomplished raconteur, able to switch back and forth between the characters in his show… The man refuses to be categorized. And it is that refusal to be stereotyped that makes Not a Genuine Black Man such an intriguing and entertaining evening."
ROSARIO DAWSON’S VIOLENT BIRTHDAY BASH: Her mother was involved in one of three fights to break out during the occasion.
*Rosario Dawson’s mama reportedly beat up a woman during her daughter’s birthday party at New York’s Plumm night club Thursday night – an event that also saw Guns N Roses Axl Rose and fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger come to blows, and a catfight between two models.
According to the New York Post, Dawson's mom, Isabel, ended up smacking a woman who had been bumping into her at the packed club, where GnR performed a surprise acoustic set for the actress.
"Someone was pushing into Rosario's mom, and they just started pushing each other," one eyewitness told Page Six. "Then they got into a big punching fight before it got broken up by security."
Lenny Kravitz and Damon Dash were also at the party to mark Dawson’s 27th birthday, which was actually on May 9.
As for Axl and Tommy, their fight started when Axl moved the drink of Hilfiger’s girlfriend Dee Ocleppo.
"I moved his girlfriend's drink so it wouldn't spill," Rose told the Los Angeles radio station KROQ on Friday. "It was the most surreal thing, I think, that's ever happened to me in my life."
According to Rose, Hilfiger smacked him in the arm and told him to put the drink back.
“He just kept smacking me,” Rose said.
A third fight broke out that night between the Russian model girlfriend of One Model Management head Scott Lipps and a drunk girl in a long green dress, reports the Post.
FILM/TV BITS: Tyra’s near tumble; Paula dissed to her face; Samuel L stays dry; Gooding to join Murphy?; ‘Beyond Beats’; Harvey back in L.A.
*During CW’s upfront presentation in New York Thursday, “America's Next Top Model” host Tyra Banks almost took a tumble while walking onto the stage to promote her show’s upcoming cycle on the network. Quickly catching herself after slipping on her heel, she played it off by telling the crowd of advertisers: "I tell the girls to do as I say, not as I do. I almost slipped and busted my butt!" Banks was followed onstage by “ANTM's” Cycle 2 winner, Yoanna House, who also came close to slipping in the same spot.
*During the Fox network’s upfront presentation on Thursday, comedian Brad Garrett took aim at loopy “American Idol” host Paula Abdul while promoting his upcoming sitcom, “Til Death.” As she sat in the audience, the “Everybody Loves Raymond” veteran let loose several insults, staring with “Bellevue (Hospital Center) has a shuttle bus." He went on to say of Abdul’s shiny outfit: "Nice dress. Maybe it's time to get back in the lamp." His remarks were greeted with uncomfortable groans from the audience.
*Samuel L. Jackson, who has had his battles with alcoholism in the past, says he’s having a hard time trying to steer clear of available booze while attending parties at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. "People who've been through what I went through are always going to be tempted,” he said, according to Contact Music. "I enjoyed drinking and I enjoyed taking drugs. But here I have to remind myself every day that I can't have a drink."
*MTV is reporting that Cuba Gooding Jr. is the latest to join the cast of Eddie Murphy’s comedy “Norbit,” which recently picked up co-stars Marlon Wayans, Thandie Newton, Eddie Griffin and Terry Crews. In the film, “Eddie [Murphy]'s playing a guy that's married to the worst woman in the world. And he's playing the guy and the girl, which is insane," explained Crews, star of TV’s “Everybody Hates Chris.” He adds: “I don't think anyone's prepared for what they're about to see."
*Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Russell Simmons are among the rap notables featured in a new indie film titled “Beyond Beats and Rhymes: A Hip-Hop Head Weighs in on Manhood in Rap Music.” The project is from filmmaker Byron Hurt, who also includes interviews with activists such as Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall and aspiring Congressional candidate Kevin Powell. "My film challenges the idea that in order to be a successful rapper in Hip-Hop you have to be hard, tough, violent, sexist, and homophobic," Hurt told AllHipHop.com. "I've shown this film to audiences all over the country, and the first thing people say to me afterward are 'Thank you so much for making this film' or, 'This film needs to be seen everywhere, especially in the hood.'" Also a 2006 Sundance Film Festival selection, the film will air nationally on PBS in early 2007.
*Actor-comedian Steve Harvey will return to radio airwaves in Los Angeles on May 30, when his nationally-syndicated “Steve Harvey Morning Show” premieres on KDAY-FM/KDAI-FM. The program will run weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. The station said it recently made improvements to allow its signal to be heard throughout the Los Angeles-Orange County market on 93.5. Premiere Radio Networks launched “The Steve Harvey Morning Show” in October. From 2000-2005, Harvey hosted a morning radio program on rival station, KKBT.
MUSIC BITS: Kanye/Common co-chair Global Mixx; Yung Joc’s label; Cole plugs Akademiks; Nas’ ‘the N’; Remy Martin’ conducts poll.
*Kanye West and Common have been named honorary co-chairs for the Global Mixx DJ Retreat celebrating urban music, culture and lifestyle. The annual event, to be held Aug. 10-13 at the House of Blues Hotel in downtown Chicago, features music events, seminars and a showcase of the country’s top DJ coalitions. To register or receive more information, visit www.globalmixx.com or info@globalmixx.com. The 2nd Annual Global Mixx DJ Awards will be held on Aug. 12.
*It’s goin’ down for Yung Joc in the corporate offices of his brand new label Mastermind Music, an imprint under Block Entertainment and Diddy’s Bad Boy South/Warner Music Group label that jointly released the rapper’s current single “It’s Goin’ Down” and forthcoming album “New Joc City,” due June 6. "We did a deal with Block Entertainment and they have the major distribution through Bad Boy South and Warner Music Group," the 23-year-old told AllHipHop.com. "That means that when the checks get cut I get an advance check for being an artist, and I also got a big check for being the president of Mastermind and doing that deal with Block."
*R&B singer Keyshia Cole will front the 2006 Fall/Holiday advertising campaign of Akademiks Ladies, the women's arm of the urban clothing line. Cole’s addition marks the first time the company has used a celebrity to market the brand. She’ll appear in magazine ads set to run in Vibe, Teen Vogue, Essence and Latina, among others. "Keyshia Cole projects a lifestyle that is in tune with our creative direction," said Byron Kirkland, Akademiks' director of marketing. "She represents the strong young women of today; intelligent, confident, fashionable, sexy and vibrant. Akademiks Ladies is creating a movement focusing on female empowerment...we feel Keyshia Cole is that spark." To view the clothing, due in stores this August, visit http://www.akademiclothing.com.
*Nas is making a statement with the title of his upcoming Def Jam album, “Hip-Hop Is Dead…The N,” with “the N” serving as a play on “the end.”
He explains to MTV.com: "I didn't name it that. Fans named it that; rappers named it that. It's been the talk for years, so here's an album that brings ... not even the rebirth, it's just an album with that thing that everybody is talking about. I got a street look coming real soon, and more soon after. Summertime is definitely going to be Nas time." The album is due in September.
To celebrate Black Music Month in June, Rémy Martin 1738 is conducting an online poll at www.1738.com to search for the music artist who best exemplifies the term “hip hop soul.” Daily updates will provide a running list of the leaders in each category, and the final results will be revealed on July 1. The brand will also co-host a national kick-off celebration with XXL magazine in New York City, where the first Rémy Martin 1738 Award for Contributions to Black Music will be announced.
EVENT CALENDAR: Campbell’s bash; ‘Talented Teens’; comic Stephens in Macon; HHGL’s first winner; Keys,Denzel donate to auction.
*Naomi Campbell is currently on the second day of three-day birthday party in Dubai to celebrate her 36 years. According to SF Gate’s Daily Dish, the $1.8 million shindig kicked off Sunday night with an “All White” theme, and follows tonight under a Hip Hop motif and Tuesday with a “Brazilian Samba” flavor. Campbell has rented out all 18 floors of the Burj Al Arab hotel for such guests as fellow models Linda Evangelista and Eva Herzigova, and British soccer sensation David Beckham. The 72-hour fete is hosted by Campbell’s boyfriend-du-jour, Badr Jafar.
*Broadcast legend Harold "Hal" Jackson, Group Chairman of Inner City Broadcasting and founder of Hal Jackson's Talented Teens International Scholarship Program, is looking for the world's most talented teen to win his annual contest which will be held during the week of July 22-30, 2006 in New York City. This year's theme is "Phenomenal Women." Now in its 36th year, Hal Jackson's program has offered thousands of women an opportunity to receive educational scholarships and trips abroad while sharing their gifts of talent on a professional stage. Vanessa L. Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jada Pinkett Smith were part of the Hal Jackson's Talented Teens family. For more information regarding HJTTI, visit the Web site, www.talentedteens.org or call Debi Jackson, 212-592-0413.
*Comedian and impressionist James Stephens III will perform a four-night stand at the River Whiskey Comedy Club in Macon, Georgia (4570 Pio Nono Ave.) The comic, known for his dead-on impressions of Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson, is set to perform Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. Each family-friendly performance incorporates comedy, music and impressions. Call the River Whiskey Comedy Club for show tickets at (478) 788-3000 or purchase online at http://www.maconlaughs.com/.
*Eric V of the Miami-based radio duo Baka Boys won the first ever World Championships for the Hip-Hop Gaming League (HHGL), beating out such competition as B. Real, Method Man, Paul Wall, Just Blaze and Twista.
During the championship match, held May 13 at Hollywood's club Element, Eric V. faced Method Man in XBOX 360's "NBA 2K,” the official game of the league.
As the grand prize winner, Eric V. won a customized HHGL chain and medallion with black and white diamonds, worth an estimated $15,000.
*Alicia Keys, Magic Johnson and Denzel Washington were among the celebrities who donated items for an online charity auction organized by a group of Utah junior high school students to help their hearing-impaired janitor, Terry Birch, afford cochlear implants to aid his hearing. According to MTV.com, Birch and his wife, who is deaf, are already drowning in medical bills from her ongoing battle with breast cancer. Also on the block are tickets to the upcoming premiere of Jack Black's "Nacho Libre" and autographed items from Wayne Gretzky, Steve Young and members of the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. The auction is located at www.help-terry.org.
CONCERT CALENDAR: Braxton on the Strip; nonstop Sunsplash; Wu back at ‘Bells’; UCLA’s Jazz/Reggae Fest; T.I. at the Apollo; Mitchy Slick on tour; J.Lo avoids suit.
*Toni Braxton is preparing to launch an eight-month concert engagement at the Flamingo Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas beginning Aug. 3. The R&B songstress will take over the void left by Wayne Newton when his contract expires on July 1. "It's sexy, intimate, it's something you've never seen before," Braxton tells TV’s “Extra” about her show, called Revealed. She promises it will be "one of the hottest shows on the Strip."
*The Reggae Sunsplash festival in Jamaica has promised to remove the huge chunks of downtime between sets for the event this year. "During the band changes the action will continue on the amphitheatre eliminating the boredom of long band changes,” Charles Campbell, Director of Operations and Producer for Reggae Sunsplash 2006. “Pauses for band changes are a thing of the past." More than 112 acts will perform over four nights at the 200-acre Richmond Estate on the outskirts of Ocho Rios St Ann. The venue will feature two stages and more than 15 large screens. "We are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that a world class production, representative of the renowned standard of this Jamaican festival will be unveiled when Reggae Sunplash gets underway on Thursday Aug. 3," Campbell said. Tickets go on sale on June 1st at www.reggaesunpslashja.com.
*The Wu-Tang Clan returns as headliners for Rock The Bells IV, to be held Aug. 5 at San Bernardino, Calif’s NOS Events Center. Other performers on the lineup include Mos Def, Taib Kweli, Redman, De La Soul, Aesop Rock, Living Legends, DEL The Funky Homosapien, Immortal Technique, MURS 3:16, Visionaries, Self Scientific and Planet Asia. In 2004, the entire Wu-Tang Clan, including ODB, reunited on stage before a crowd of about 8,000.
*UCLA’s 20th Annual Jazz & Reggae Festival will take place May 28 and
29 at UCLA's Intramural Field, near Pauley Pavilion, (301 Westwood Plaza) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The jazzy lineup for Sunday (May 28) includes Dianne Reeves, Trio Beyond: John Scofield, Jack De Johnette and Larry Goldings, Floetry, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Kenny Burrell and Friends, Donnie and the UCLA Latin Jazz Ensemble. Monday’s reggae roster will feature Buju Banton, Bushman, Assassin, Macka Diamond, Tami Chynn, Irie Love, Panic and the Rebel Emergency.
*Despite recent events, T.I. will honor his commitment to appear as the first artist in the Apollo Theater’s 2006 June Black Music Month line-up and the first hip-hop act under its Apollo New Legends Series. The Atlanta-based MC will perform on Thursday, June 1st, 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. He’ll perform in support of his latest album, “King,” which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Tickets are $50, $40 and $30, and are on sale now through the Apollo Theater Box Office (125th St. between 7th and 8th Aves; 212/531-5305), and Ticketmaster (212) 307-7171, www.ticketmaster.com. In the past several weeks, T.I. has had to bury a longtime friend following a shootout in Cincinnati, and was cleared of charges stemming from his previous probation.
*Weeks before the July 19 release of his sophomore album “Urban Survival Syndrome,” San Diego MC Mitchy Slick will open for DJ Quik on a West Coast tour starting in Park City, UT on June 3rd. More information is available at www.myspace.com/djquik. A member of the Strong Arm Steady Crew, Mitchy Slick’s album will feature Xzibit, Kokane, Krondon, Phil Da Agony and production from DJ Muggs, DJ Khalil, Fredwreck and Jelly Roll.
