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MUSIC BITS: Foxx loves Terrell; Jellybean hogs Pun; Kiki’s ‘Me’; Arie’s ‘Testimony’; Jurassic 5 in UK; Willie Denson dies; Lil' Kim is free.
*Terrell, Texas native Jamie Foxx says he’s planning something huge to honor his hometown, but he’s keeping the detail under wraps for now. "We're going to do something real special in Terrell - for the whole city," the singer-actor told the Associated Press Sunday at the Essence Music Festival. Foxx said he has “snuck back” into Terrell several times since winning the Academy Award for his starring role in “Ray,” and was particularly excited to perform at the Essence event because it is being held for the first time in his home state. "When you're in Texas it's that great southern feeling and it's just great to be able to do it in front of my folks," he said.
*Producer Jellybean Benitez is reportedly the holdup behind Sony’s new album of unreleased music from late rapper Big Pun. Sources tell the New York Daily News that he is refusing to allow Pun’s songs to be used for the project "because he didn't think of it himself,” a source told the paper. "Sony owns Big Pun as an artist, but Jellybean owns the publishing rights to many of the songs," says an industry insider. "Sony wants to do another album, but [Benitez] hasn't returned calls. He's playing the game." Pun, born Christopher Lee Rios, died of a heart attack in 2000 at the age of 29.
*Eighteen-year-old gospel star Kierra "Kiki" Sheard admits nervousness surrounding last week’s release of her second album, “This Is Me,” via EMI Gospel. She tells Billboard: "There's that thing called the sophomore jinx and I was a little nervous about whether or not I would be able to do what I did on 'I Owe You,"' her first outing which set a record by becoming the first gospel album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart. Since the historic feat, Kiki graduated from high school, became a freshman at Detroit's Wayne State University and is majoring in law. The daughter of gospel great Karen Clark Sheard says “This Is Me’ is a “personal record” which “has songs that I sang from the bottom of my heart in the studio. I cried on some of the songs. It ministered to my soul, so I know it will minister to those out there that may need a little encouragement or just the gospel word to help them get through the week."
*India.Arie’s new Universal Motown album “Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship" has barely been out a week and already the singer is putting the finishing touches on its follow-up, "Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics." The album, already written and partially recorded, will include the track “Vagina’s Monologues,” which Arie has already performed live. She tells Billboard: “People will assume 'Vol. 2' is about the war and American politics. A little of that is in there. But as in 'Vagina's,' I'm also talking about the way women view their bodies and how that affects our health. …I talk about AIDS in Africa; the hip-hop generation that doesn't prioritize its money. It's about the politics of human nature and humanity.”
*Rap group Jurassic 5 will hit the road in the UK this fall in support of their new CD, “Feedback.” The dates are as follows: Bristol Academy (September 26); Birmingham Academy (27); Southampton Guildhall (28); London Brixton Academy (30); Manchester Academy (October 4); Newcastle Academy (5); Glasgow Academy (6)
*Singer and songwriter Willie Denson, best known for co-writing the hit "Mama Said," has died at his Columbus home of lung cancer at the age of 69. “Mama Said” was one of more than 250 songs published by Denson, some recorded by such artists as Aretha Franklin, Gene Pitney and the Ronettes. "He was the kind of man who kept everyone's spirits up," said Ann Denson, his wife since 1960 and mother of his four children. "He loved to write poetry. He played the keyboard by ear and banged on his bongo drums when working on a song." Co-written by Luther Dixon and sung by the Shirelles, “Mama Said” was written in memory of his deceased mother, Lillie. In 2001, he won a $3 million Lotto Georgia jackpot, taking a $1.29 million cash option.
*Just in case you've been under a rock, Lil' Kim used her get out of jail early card on Monday. She's a free woman after being incarcerated for nearly 10 months in federal prison in Philadelphia. Yep, Lil' Kim (nee Kimberly Jones) left jail looking hot to trot in sunglasses and an all-white, cleavage-baring outfit. Carrying a balloon and a bouquet of white roses, she waved to dozens of cheering onlookers before getting into a silver Rolls-Royce. The car pulled into a nearby parking lot where she re-emerged to greet the throng. For MORE (and photos), click HERE.
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