EURweb |
08-27-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
DR. DRE'S SON FOUND DEAD: Cause not yet determined for 20-year-old Andre Romelle Young Jr.
*The 20-year-old son of hip hop producer Dr. Dre was found dead Saturday morning at his home in Woodland Hills, California.
The body of Andre Romelle Young Jr. was discovered in his bed at around 10:30 a.m. by his mother, Jenita Porter. She called 911 when her efforts to wake him were unsuccessful. Paramedics arrived and were also not able to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A cause of death has yet to be determined, but police said they did not suspect foul play.
Young had spent the previous evening with friends. His mother told police that he'd returned home Saturday at around 5:30 a.m., and that she'd heard him in his bedroom, the coroner's spokesperson stated. However, TMZ.com is quoting a source who claims Andre, Jr. was home by 12:30 a.m., and in bed shortly thereafter.
A spokesperson for Dr. Dre issued the following statement Tuesday on the rapper's behalf: "Dr. Dre is mourning the loss of his son Andre Young Jr. Please respect his family's grief and privacy at this time."
R. KELLY WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN S.A.: Authorities probe link to tour scam.
*Authorities in South Africa are looking to question R. Kelly regarding a scam in which he allegedly profited $130,000 from a tour despite failing to show up, reports WENN.
Busiswe Zakwe was arrested and charged with swindling thousands of dollars from investors by promising ticket sale profits if they brought an R. Kelly tour to the country in 2005. Kelly never stepped foot in South Africa, but the woman claims she deposited the investors' money into his account.
Local police have reportedly confirmed that the account Zakwe claims is Kelly's is authentic, but the money is nowhere to be found. Police want to question Kelly about the missing funds.
Zakwe has been charged with fraud and is due to appear in a local court on September 10.
FAITH EVANS ADMITS BEATING LIL' KIM: Excerpt from new memoir details night she caught rapper in bed with Biggie.
*In her new book, "Keeping the Faith" singer Faith Evans writes of catching rapper Lil Kim red-handed and buck naked in the bed of her husband, the late Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace.
Evans writes: I don’t know what got into my head. But I decided that I needed to know once and for all what Big was really trying to do. On that night before Christmas, I drove to Big’s house on a mission to find out where I really stood.
The security guard at the gate just waved me in when I pulled up. It was Christmas Eve and she’d seen me come into the complex with the kids, so I guess she didn’t think anything of it. I parked in the rear of Big’s town house and walked up to the garage. It was locked. I hadn’t been over to Big’s house a whole lot but I did know that you jiggle the garage door a certain way and unlock it.
I got into the garage, where there was an elevator that would take me to both floors of Big’s duplex. There I was, rocking a black skully cap and a heavy goose-down jacket, tiptoeing into the elevator and pressing the button to go up to the second floor, where his bedroom was located. I got to Big’s bedroom door, turned the knob, and went inside. As soon as I saw a small lump next to Big’s large frame, I flew into a rage, ran over to the side of the bed, and pulled back the covers. I grabbed some chick out of the bed and started beating her ass. At some point, the chick’s wig came off in my hand; it was a short, cropped wig. I stopped throwing punches for a minute to get a good look at the chick I was beating up. It was Lil Kim. She was completely butt-naked, yelling as I pushed her around the room.
“So you not f***king her, right?” I screamed at Big. “Yeah, you not messing with her anymore, right?”
When they heard all the commotion, Cease, D-Roc, and Gutter came running into the room. ‘Oh sh**!” they yelled in unison. “It’s Faye! How the hell she get in here?”
Big sat up in bed and pointed at Kim, who was standing in a corner of the room, trying to cover her naked body with her hands while I was still yelling at Big. “Yo, get her outta here,’ Big said. They led Kim out of the room and she screamed and cursed the whole way.
It was absolutely crazy in that house. Kim was naked and being led somewhere to get dressed. I was still screaming on Big. Damion, Cease, and Gutter were laughing in amazement that I would be so bold. And Big looked like he was just too through with all of us. He sat up in bed shaking his head. Kim left the house and I stayed, talking to Big about why he couldn’t be honest with me about her.
"I thought it was all about Tiffany?” I asked. "You still messing with Kim, too?” Big had nothing to say.
I have to say I actually felt some pity for Kim. Big had a wife, and she settled for messing with him. Then he started dating Tiffany and Big had a wife and a mistress. And Kim still settled for being the other other woman. It seemed pretty sad to settle for that.
When I left a few hours later to get the kids, I noticed that Kim had taken my key to my Land Cruiser and scratched up my entire car, from the hood to the back bumper. Even though we ended up having sex that day, at that point I decided I was 100 percent through. I was not going to be a ride or die chick, always going to lengths to show Big how I felt. I was the mother of his child and his wife. But I was going to have to let go.
ANOTHER TYLER PERRY PROJECT 'MEETS' TBS: Network orders 10 episodes of sitcom based on 'Meet the Browns.'
*A television version of Tyler Perry's play and film "Meet the Browns" is headed to TBS early next year.
The network ordered 10 episodes of a sitcom based on the property, which will be executive produced and directed by Perry for a scheduled premiere in January. The show will join Perry's other comedy, "House of Payne," on the TBS schedule.
"I am so excited to continue my relationship with TBS," Perry says. "It has been so fulfilling artistically, I feel as if I've been adopted into another family. An artist such as myself cannot imagine being in a partnership with any other network."
The film version of "Meet the Browns" starred Angela Bassett as a struggling single mom from Chicago who meets the family of her estranged late father in Atlanta and inherits a house. Actor David Mann will reprise his role from the movie as Leroy Brown, the head of the Georgia family. The sitcom will kick off with Leroy inheriting the run-down house from his late father.
SHAQUILLE ACCUSER HAS STALKING HISTORY: Woman filed restraining order against Alexis Miller last year.
*The woman who accused Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal of harassing her has herself been accused of stalking, reports TMZ.com.
Alexis Miller, an Atlanta rapper who goes by MaryJane, got a restraining order against Shaq last week, claiming he threatened her and, among other things, made heavy-breathing phone calls to her.
TMZ said it obtained court papers flied last year by Lakisha Renae Hall in which a judge ordered Miller to stay 500 yards away from her and avoid any contact.
The Web site also learned that in October 2007, Miller tried getting a restraining order against Jonathan Stubbs, claiming he stalked her -- once pulling out a gun, shooting it once and yelling, "Who were you with?" That petition was dismissed because Miller never followed through.
RUN & JUSTINE'S BOOK IS NY TIMES BESTSELLER: 'Take Back Your Family' offers parental advice based on experience.
*"Take Back Your Family," a new book by reality show stars Rev. Run and Justine Simmons, entered the New York Times’ list of best selling Hardcover Advice books this week in the number 15 position.
The married couple's first joint book offers parental guidance based on the same principals they use to raise their own children.
“My whole show is a ministry,” Rev. Run, born Joseph Simmons, told AllHipHop.com of his series "Run's House" on MTV. “I don’t have a church that I’m the pastor of. So in my mind, I’m a very untraditional reverend.
And my pulpit just happens to be MTV, which is a very different type of congregation."
Included in the book are lessons like “Run your family as the COEs: Chief Officers of Everything; Lead by example, not by preaching;'" and what Run considers the most important lesson of all: “When they get older it’s not time to back out, it’s time to push further in their life.”
“That’s the time when they need mentoring the most, and they need love the most when they get older," Run told AllHipHop.com. "Some parents might think it’s time to cut the strings, I think it’s time to get closer. These are when they’re making the biggest decisions of their life.”
RAY-J DATING SHOW CASTING CALL: VH1 looking for women who think they can take Brandy's brother off the market.
*VH1 is looking for "single, beautiful women" who think they can turn singer Ray J, a tabloid-heavy playboy who has famously dated Whitney Houston and Kim Kardashian, into a one-woman man.
Here's VH1's casting notice:
If you are over 21, single, and love the hip hop scene, we want to meet you. Dating a hip-hop artist can be a full-time job requiring not only looks but infinite amounts of smarts and stamina. So we’re looking for women who can handle the pressure that comes with being on the arm of a hip hop star including red carpet events, the paparazzi, and all the crazy fans.
Submit your name, age, phone number, Myspace page or web site (if any), short bio and recent photo of yourself to your closest audition city:
Los Angeles - LA@realtalentcasting.com - NY/New Jersey - NY@realtalentcasting.com Oklahoma City - OK@realtalentcasting.com Dallas - Dallas@realtalentcasting.com Houston - Houston@realtalentcasting.com Chicago - chicago@realtalentcasting.com Miami - Miami@realtalentcasting.com Las Vegas - Vegas@realtalentcasting.com
'L WORD'S' ROSE ROLLINS SUES EX: Actress says she was swindled out of nearly $300,000.
*Rose Rollins of Showtime's lesbian-themed series "The L Word" is suing a defendant in Los Angeles County Superior Court for allegedly stiffing her out of nearly $300,000.
In the lawsuit, Rollins stated she shared a "confidential relationship" with the defendant, whom TMZ.com reported as a male.
Rollins claims she gave Cartznes $30,000 to invest in a piece of property. However, the defendant reportedly put it in his name and she was left out of any profits. The TV star also says that she and Cartznes opened several credit card accounts and ran the bill up to $53,689. The defendant has reportedly failed to pay any of it.
The 30-year-old actress also said that Cartznes has not paid a $6,991 cell phone bill and owes her $2,265 for money she fronted to Cartznes' daughter. Rollins added that her partner cheated her out of $22,064 on Range Rover payments and $54,321 real estate related deals.
Rollins, who plays Tasha Williams on "The L Word," said in the lawsuit she is "very unsophisticated as to business matters."
SCARY SPICE TO RENEW WEDDING VOWS: Melanie Brown and husband to throw ceremony at Egyptian resort.
*OK! magazine is reportedly paying £200,000 to Melanie Brown to help pay for a lavish ceremony in Egypt to renew her wedding vows to husband Stephen Belafonte. But there's a catch. The Spice Girl must pack the place with celebrities.
According to London's Daily Mirror, trying to collect famous faces for the function is a lot harder than she expected.
A source explained: "Mel and Stephen wanted a lavish do to celebrate their relationship. They agreed to allow the event to be covered by a magazine but are obliged to fulfill certain requirements. One of these is a certain quota of well-known faces - family and close friends simply won't do.
"Most of her friends now are American and Mel keeps herself away from the showbiz scene in London. And she has felt slightly pressured into inviting celebs she's not actually met. But whatever happens Stephen or Mel will have a fantastic day."
'CSI: MIAMI' CEMENTS ECHIKUNWOKE: Recurring actress bumped up to series regular.
*Megalyn Echikunwoke, who joined the cast of CBS' "CSI: Miami" last season in a recurring role, was just promoted to a series regular, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Echikunwoke will be introduced in Episode 2 as new medical examiner Dr. Tara Price. The forensic drama will begin its seventh season on Sept.
22.
The actress, 25, is best known for her roles as Nicole Palmer in the first season of Fox's "24" and Isabelle Tyler in "The 4400."
'THE WIRE' UP FOR HUMANITAS HONOR: Episodes from HBO series named among finalists for award saluting exploration of human condition.
*Episodes of HBO's "The Wire" have been recognized by The Humanitas in its annual awards honoring film and TV writing that explores the human condition.
"The Wire" faces competition from ABC's "Boston Legal" and the HBO mini-series "John Adams" in the 60-minute television category.
Meanwhile, the writers behind "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Juno" and "Lars and the Real Girl" have been named finalists in the 2008 Humanitas Prize feature film category.
Ronald Harwood ("Butterfly"), Diablo Cody ("Juno") and Nancy Oliver ("Lars") are now in the running for part of the $115,000 in prize money that will be handed out.
Humanitas' annual luncheon is also changing its venue, from the Hilton Universal to the Beverly Hills Hotel for its Sept. 17 awards festivities.
VIN DIESEL TALKS FATHERHOOD/'RIDDICK': Actor discusses joys of being parent; says two more 'Riddick' films on deck.
*Between a new baby and plans for at least two more films in the "Riddick" franchise, Vin Diesel barely has time to catch his breath. However, he finds inspiration just being around his four-month-old daughter.
"Someone once told me that, when you have a child, it opens up parts of your heart that you never knew existed. And it is so true," Diesel told Parade magazine. "It's like you have a child and you think, 'Everything that I've done up until this point is insignificant in comparison to being a father.' It's a beautiful, beautiful thing."
Meanwhile, Diesel tells MTV News that he's expanding the "Pitch Black" franchise with two more films, despite the box officer failure of its second installment, "The Chronicles of Riddick."
"Everyone knows I love the Riddick character and I'm always working on it," said Diesel. When asked why the films are spaced so far apart, he answered: "It just takes five years to make another one because David Twohy and I are so precious about it..."Sooner or later we all end up in the Underverse."
TALIB KWELI, DAVID BANNER ON TOUR: Rappers headline 15-city 'Hip Hop Live! trek.
*Rappers Talib Kweli and David Banner headline the upcoming Hip Hop Live! tour, which kicks off Sept. 28 in San Diego, CA, and will hit 15 cities through late October. [Schedule listed below.]
The outing, presented by hip-hop video-sharing Web site Flow TV, also features alternating opening support from Little Brother and B.O.B, along with the 10-piece live band Rhythm Roots All Stars, who will provide musical backing for all performers.
Kweli will be promoting his most recent solo album "Eardrum," which features production assistance from Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am, Madlib and Hi-Tek, with guests on the album including Norah Jones, Jean Grae and UGK.
Banner' will support his fifth studio album, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," which debuted in July. The set has spawned three singles: "9mm," "Get Like Me" and the most recent, "Shawty Say," which was sent to radio stations the first week in August.
Here is the Hip Hop Live! tour schedule:
September 2008
28 - San Diego, CA - Canes
30 - West Hollywood, CA - House of Blues
October 2008
3 - San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom
3 - Portland, OR - Roseland
4 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater
5 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
8 - Boulder, CO - Fox Theater
10 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
13 - Bloomington, IN - Bluebird
18 - Athens, GA - Georgia Theatre
19 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
20 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club
23 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
24 - Boston, MA - Showcase Live!
25 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre
MUHAMMAD ALI'S LONGTIME MANAGER DIES: Jabir Herbert Muhammad passed away following heart surgery.
*Jabir Herbert Muhammad, who served as boxer Muhammad Ali's manager for most of his professional career, died on Monday following heart surgery in Chicago, his son told the Associated Press. He was 79.
Ali's manager was the son of Elijah Muhammad, the former leader of the Nation of Islam. Some reports say it was Elijah Muhammad, born Elijah Poole, who renamed the fighter born Cassius Clay.
Herbert Muhammad signed on to become Ali's manager in 1966 when the fighter's contract with a consortium of Louisville, Ky., businessmen expired, but he had unofficially controlled Ali's career well before that date.
He went on to promote several million-dollar purses for Ali's bouts and stayed on as a spiritual adviser well after the former heavyweight champion's last bout in 1981. The business relationship started to sour by the 1990s as Ali and his fourth wife, Lonnie, began to assert more direct control over his affairs. Ali and Herbert Muhammad were on opposite sides in a number of lawsuits, including over the "Ali" biopic released in 2001 starring Will Smith.
Herbert Muhammad is survived by his wife, 14 children and several grandchildren.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Spragga Benz's son dies; Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge; Ashanti at The Grove; Willie Randolph
*Carlton Grant Jr., the 17-year-old son of dancehall artist Spragga Benz, was shot and killed by local police in Kingston, Jamaica on Sunday (Aug. 24). Cops say they stopped two men on a bicycle in the Kingston 8 area and when they approached them, one of the men began firing at them, according to Radio Jamaica. The police said they returned fire and the men fled. When they searched the area; they found Grant Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds and in possession of a .45 semi automatic pistol. Grant Jr. was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
*The 2008 Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge begins tomorrow (Aug. 28) at the La Costa Resort and Spa near San Diego. Celebs taking part in the weekend include Doug E. Fresh and DJ Dee Wiz, Ashford & Simpson, Suzanne de Passe, The Gap Band, Rev. Al Sharpton and Anthony Hamilton. For more information about the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, call 800-209-7229 or visit www.blackenterprise.com/begt.
*Ashanti performs songs from her recent album, "The Declaration," in Los Angeles tonight at The Grove (189 The Grove Drive, located at Third and Fairfax). The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the fountain. The first opening act is new boy band Varsity Fanclub. The second opener will be pop group Karmina.
*Former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph participated in a charity event Sunday night with Mets GM Omar Minaya, the man who fired him from the team. Both were on hand at NY's Marriott Marquis to help raise money for the African Development Fund, the favorite charity of Ghana-born George Ntim, who handles guest relations at the Times Square hotel, reports the New York Post. Retired Giants tight end Howard Cross served as auctioneer, and reggae legend Jimmy Cliff flew in from Paris to sing "You Can Get It if You Really Want" and "I Can See Clearly Now."
OBAMA BITS: Tubbs Jones funeral; Michelle's turquoise dress; Biden memoir; assassination plot?
*Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and his running mate Sen. Joe Biden will attend Saturday's memorial service of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones in Cleveland, Democratic officials announced Tuesday.
Tubbs Jones was a vocal Hillary Clinton supporter, but was expected to campaign for Obama after Clinton exited the race. The Democrat, who was the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress, died Aug. 20 after suffering a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She was 58.
*The turquoise, double-faced wool dress worn by Michelle Obama for her headlining speech Monday night was from Chicago-based Maria Pinto, the same hometown designer responsible for her purple sheath worn the night her husband won the Democratic primary.
*The memoir written by presumed vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden is being reissued in paperback with a first printing of 100,000, reports the Associated Press. The Random House Publishing Group first released "Promises to Keep" in hardcover a year ago. After a brief appearance on the New York Times' hardcover best-seller list, the book faded along with his presidential candidacy, which ended in early January. According to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks about 70 percent of sales, the memoir had only sold 15,000 copies before last weekend's announcement that Sen. Barack Obama had chosen Biden as his running mate. "Promises to Keep" quickly reached the top 25 on Amazon.com and was out of stock as of Monday afternoon.
*Federal authorities investigating an apparent plot to assassinate Barack Obama found "no credible threat" despite arresting four people in Denver Monday on charges of firearms and drug possession. Denver-based CBS34 said one of the men arrested had told authorities they were "going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using ... a rifle ... sighted at 750 yards" during his scheduled nomination speech Thursday at Invesco stadium. CBS34 also reported that one man was arrested on Sunday after police found two high-powered rifles in a rented pick-up truck he was driving, while another man in custody reportedly was wearing a swastika and was thought to have links to white supremacist groups. But the United States Attorney said law enforcement officials are "absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate."
BASEBALL PITCHER, 9, DISQUALIFIED FOR BEING TOO GOOD: Undefeated Connecticut team targeted by rival coach.
*Fox News is reporting that a Connecticut youth baseball team with a phenomenal 9-year-old pitcher has been disqualified because its team is too good.
The team, Will Power Fitness, has an 8-0 record thanks in large part to pitcher Jericho Scott, the New Haven Register reports. His pitching is so fast and accurate, the Liga Juvenil De Baseball De New Haven asked the team's coach, Wilfred Vidro, to replace him so he wouldn't frighten other players.
“The spirit of the league was community, family, well-being, nurturing," Peter Noble, the league's attorney, told the Register. "It’s an extended family and it’s been disrupted.”
On Saturday, Jericho and his team showed up to the field despite the fact the league canceled the game because they feared an "unhealthy environment" due to parental bickering, Noble told the paper. Jericho's parents, Nicole and Leroy, planned to meet with an attorney on Monday.
The Scotts said the league — which is not affiliated with the Little League — wanted Jericho to play for a stronger team. The parents and the coach claim the reason is because that team is sponsored by a local barbershop where the league's president currently cuts hair, the paper reported.
“If you keep these kids on the field you keep them off the streets,” Leroy Scott told the paper. “I’d rather have him [Jericho] in the midst of this controversy on the field than dealing drugs on a street corner.”
EUR DVD REVIEW: A/K/A Tommy Chong
DVD Chronicles Case of Pot Comic Imprisoned after Passing of the Patriot Act
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Cheech & Chong were a celebrated comedy duo whose sophomoric brand of humor appealed to stoners because it basically revolved around behaving like their brains had been burnt out from smoking pot.
They came to fame in the Seventies, appearing in a seemingly never ending series of Marijuana movies in which they were typecast as goofy hippies.
After the comedy well ran dry, Chong chose to continue to milk the theme that had made them famous by selling a line of bongs and other drug paraphernalia over the Internet.
The business flourished until President Bush came into office and decided to make an example of the 66 year-old head shop supplier.
Attorney General John Ashcroft set up a sting operation in Pennsylvania, one of only two states where it's illegal to sell pipes and rolling papers. From there, federal agents called Chong in California over 20 times, trying to entrap him into sending some contraband across state lines.
Because Chong repeatedly refused, the frustrated agents finally traveled West to place a huge order in person, promising to return to pick up the merchandise. But then they began nagging Tommy to mail the goods to an address outside Pittsburgh. After eight months, against his better judgment, he capitulated, since the boxes were taking up half his valuable storage space.
Well, that technical infraction was all that Ashcroft needed, and immediately, helmeted DEA agents with guns drawn swooped down on the house, arresting the entire Chong family. This frightening nightmare ended with Tommy behind bars after pleading guilty only to save his wife and son from a long stint in Federal prison.
A very scary documentary considering the carte blanche accorded Big brother by the Patriot Act.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 80 minutes
Studi Infinity Entertainment
DVD Extras: an interview with Cheech and Chong, and a featurette showing Tommy at home.
To see a trailer of A/K/A Tommy Chong, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWpBfJLQ_p4
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." — Jack London
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Aug. 27: Gospel singer Yolanda Adams is 46. Percussionist Bobo of Cypress Hill is 40. Actress Chandra Wilson ("Grey's Anatomy") is 39. Rapper Mase is 31. Singer Mario is 22.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
On February 9, TV stations will broadcast in digital only. Find out if your TV is ready via a quiz at www.dtvtransition.org
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Aug. 27, 1949: Paul Robeson's scheduled singing appearance at the Lakeland picnic grounds in Westchester County, NY is disrupted by a riot instigated and provoked by whites angry at Robeson's political stands. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
Click for the latest Obama - Political headlines
Share and Bookmark |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
