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NUDE MODELS PROMOTE NEW KANYE ALBUM: Rapper brings several dozen to L.A. listening party for '808s & Heartbreak.'
*Kanye West was accompanied by more than 20 nude models Tuesday night at his Los Angeles listening party for "808s & Heartbreak," his new album due Nov. 25.
As some 200 guests looked on, the ladies stood in a triangular formation in front of a glowing neon-light background, reports People.com, with nothing but black stiletto heels and curly brunette or blonde wigs over their faces.
"I like the idea of nudity because I realize it's society that told us to wear clothes at a certain point," said West, 31, when his 50-minute album concluded. "The irony for me [as] somebody who's talked about so many labels – Louis Vuitton this, [Mercedes] Benz that, this girl looks good – [is that] now it's time to deliver ideas in the most naked form possible."
The naked models occasionally sat down on the concrete floor or bent over, all while curious audience members watched and listened from just a few feet away.
According to People, the new album is filled with vocals manipulated by Auto-Tune, a studio pitch-correction device. Recorded in Hawaii last month, "808s & Heartbreak" can be described as a more experimental effort for the 10-time Grammy winner.
"It's from my heart. I don't give a f*** if someone rates it 'hot' or 'not.' It doesn't matter to me at this point," West told his guests, who included Jay-Z, Jimmy Kimmel, Will.i.am, L.A. Reid and deejay Steve Aoki. "I can only request that other people who make real art won't dictate their passion based on what is 'hot.' … I'm here to bring sensitivity that cannot be judged."
West also revealed plans to release another album in June 2009. "I have more music to do," he said. "It will be from my heart."
LISA BONET CONFIRMS PREGNANCY: Actress is seven months along on her third child.
*Lisa Bonet has officially announced that she is expecting her third child, reports People magazine.
The star of ABC's new drama "Life on Mars says: "I'm seven months and I feel great. I've had a tremendous amount of energy, which is lucky, because I have a 14-month-old."
Bonet, 40, and her boyfriend of two years, actor Jason Momoa, have 14-month-old daughter Lola. The actress also has 19-year-old daughter Zoe Kravitz with rocker Lenny Kravitz.
The actress, best known for her role as Denise on "The Cosby Show,"
has no plans to find out whether a son will be joining the two daughters.
"When my friends ask me, I say, 'I really don't know,'" she says. "I love the mystery and I trust the mystery about it. It adds a whole other component at the end."
BIRDMAN SUED OVER LIL' WAYNE NO-SHOW: Rap mogul accused of taking money for a concert that never happened.
*Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams has been sued for breach of contract and fraud by a promoter who claims the mogul received an advanced payment for a concert by his artist Lil Wayne that never took place.
According to TMZ.com, Jose Fernandez from Illuminaty, Inc says it paid $275,000 in cash to Birdman for a concert billed as "Lil Wayne and Birdman and Friends," to be held on Nov. 23 of last year in their New Orleans hometown.
But, Birdman cancelled the concert claiming there was "lack of time to promote the event, not enough time to schedule the talent and that the weather was too cold," according to documents obtained by TMZ.
At Birdman's suggestion, the show was rescheduled for Jan. 5 and relocated to Miami, but that concert was also cancelled, with Williams and his business partners – Rhonita Thornton and company bosses at Kreativ Kontrol – claiming there was "not enough time to promote and the inability to line up the talent."
The show was rescheduled for March 16, and Fernandez alleges he continued to transfer funds into the trio's account in an effort to guarantee the gig, but the concert was cancelled for a third time - and no reschedule date was suggested.
Fernandez filed the lawsuit at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday (Oct. 15). He is seeking damages and court costs.
STEVIE WONDER DENIES REPORTS OF BURNED HOME: New York Post claimed singer had a Porter Ranch dwelling destroyed by wildfire.
*Stevie Wonder has denied a story in the New York Post Thursday claiming he lost his home in the Porter Ranch area north of Los Angeles in one of the wildfires raging throughout California.
Page Six quoted a "Left Coast source" who said: "Everything was destroyed - all of Stevie's memorabilia, photos, musical instruments, history, clothing, furniture, everything. It's all gone. It was his main residence and he is utterly devastated. Stevie's had to put his tour and appearances on hold while he deals with this."
Later Thursday, Wonder, 58, released a statement shooting down the report.
"I'm grateful to say that my house was not burned down in the fire," he said. "I extend my sympathies to anyone who may have been touched by this horrendous event."
Wonder's rep, Shelley Selover, said the singer does not even have a house in the immediate area hit by the fire, although he does have a home in the San Fernando Valley.
The fire at the northern edge of the heavily populated San Fernando Valley has destroyed 19 homes since a downed power line sparked the blaze on Monday.
BEYONCE DONATES $100K TO IKE VICTIMS: Plus singer's foundation helps wedding couple affected by hurricane.
*Beyonce Knowles has made a personal donation of $100,000 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund benefiting victims of Hurricane Ike in the Greater Houston area who've lost homes, property, and jobs.
The Fund was established at the request of Houston Mayor Bill White to help fill human needs for victims located primarily in Galveston, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties.
The Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund will provide aid to nonprofit organizations providing immediate relief in the area including shelter and temporary housing, food and household supplies, transportation and child care.
Beyonce is currently organizing a fundraising benefit for Hurricane Ike Relief through the Survivor Foundation with full details to be announced soon.
In the meantime, her not-for-profit organization Survivor Foundation - founded with her parents Tina and Mathew Knowles, sister Solange and former Destiny's Child band mate Kelly Rowland – helped a couple to get married after Ike caused two wedding facilities in the Houston area to go bankrupt.
Nathan Rhodes and Ronda Lotter were among thousands of brides and grooms left without a place to exchange vows. The Survivor Foundation donated the House of Dereon Media Center for Rhonda and Nathan's wedding and reception. It was the first wedding ever held there.
EMINEM TITLES NEW ALBUM 'RELAPSE': Plus, rapper develops another shoe with Nike.
*At a release party in New York Wednesday night for his new book "The Way I Am," Eminem announced that the official title of his upcoming album is "Relapse" and will be led by first single "I'm Having a Relapse."
The disc is due sometime before the end of the year," reports Allhiphop.com. Previous rumored album titles were "Empack" and "King Mathers."
In related news, the Detroit native and Nike's Jordan brand are teaming once again to create Eminem custom Jordan sneakers.
The Jordan 2, which is the rapper's favorite in the Air Jordan collection, will be produced by Eminem in different colorways than then original AJ2. The limited edition kicks also come with handwritten lyrics from various Eminem songs.
In honor of Detroit and its 313 area code, only 313 pairs of the sneakers were created, with all proceeds going to Eminem's non-profit, The Marshall Mathers Foundation, which helps disadvantaged youth in the state of Michigan.
L'OREAL TAPS KERRY WASHINGTON: Actress joins new campaign to fight ovarian cancer.
*Kerry Washington has signed on as the spokeswoman for a new ovarian cancer awareness campaign from cosmetics giant L'Oreal."
The actress will appear in ads for the new Color of Hope campaign, which aims to encourage more women to get checked for signs of the disease.
"One of the reasons why I decided to work with L'Oreal is because of all the philanthropic work that they do in the community," Washington tells OK! magazine. "I feel like they're not a company that tries to take advantage of women’s insecurities by making women feel not good enough so they have to go and buy makeup to feel good about themselves. Instead, they really believe in the work of women and that women deserve to look good and feel good every single day.
"And part of that is health and their commitment to women’s health and ovarian cancer. They are really leading the way. It’s frightening how we don't have the kind of research and development that we need for ovarian cancer. When it comes to breast cancer, we know how to do early detection. The research is there, but for ovarian cancer, that just doesn't exist and by the time people know, it’s too late."
Three items have been launched for the Color of Hope campaign - a lipstick, a bag and a necklace - with all proceeds going towards the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
"My mom is a breast cancer survivor and part of the reason she is a survivor is because of early detection so I understand the importance of early detection. If it wasn't for the advancements in technology that allow for early detection in breast cancer, I probably wouldn't have my mother today."
MOTOWN CELEBRATES BIG 5-0 WITH BOXED SET: Package includes 10 discs with 191 No. 1 songs.
*Famed record label Motown has gathered all of its U.S. and international chart-topping hits for a boxed set to be released on Dec. 9.
"Motown: The Complete No. 1's" is a 10-disc set that features 191 songs from the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, the Four Tops, Martha & the Vandellas, Mary Wells, the Temptations and Gladys Knight & the Pips.
Ten bonus tracks round up cover versions of Motown songs that reached the top of the charts, including singles from acts such as Vanessa Williams, Jodeci, Coolio featuring L.V., Blood, Sweat & Tears and David Bowie and Mick Jagger, reports Billboard.
TYRA BANKS OFFERS 'HOT BAGS & COLD CASH': Talk show host to launch giveaway period on Monday.
*Next month, “The Tyra Banks Show” is providing a little economic stimulus with Tyra’s Hot Bags and Cold Cash Giveaway.
From Monday, (Oct. 20) through Friday, Nov. 14, viewers can tune in each day to learn the “keyword of the day” necessary to enter and win cash, including a grand prize of $10,000. Fans simply have to enter the correct “keyword of the day” online at http://tyrashow.warnerbros.com/ or text 42107 for a chance to win.
Users who enter the correct keyword are entered into daily prize drawings and the grand prize drawing. Each weekday, a lucky winner will be chosen randomly from the entries and receive a Botkier bag filled with $300 in cash, a $200 gift card from trendy footwear and apparel retailer Underground Station, and a $100 gift card and one-year membership to Avelle, a luxury accessories rental company.
The grand prize winner will receive a Prada bag valued at $1,100 from Avelle and filled with $10,000 in cash, a $100 Avelle gift card and one year membership, plus a $200 Underground Station gift card. Tyra will call the lucky grand prize winner on the Nov. 19 broadcast of "The Tyra Banks Show."
HERBIE HANCOCK TO TOUR WITH CHINESE PIANIST: Jazz legend and Lang Lang plot 2009 trek through at least 10 cities.
*Herbie Hancock is planning on hitting the road next summer with Chinese pianist Lang Lang for a tour through the United States and Europe, reports Billboard.com.
The duo collaborated earlier this year during a live performance at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Hancock went on to win album of the year for "River: The Joni Letters," marking the first time an African-American jazz artist won the award.
Details for the tour are still being worked out, but the pair intends to visit at least 10 markets in the United States, according to the 26-year old pianist. The trek would likely visit outdoor venue settings and concert halls. Both artists would likely share the stage alongside an orchestra, Lang Lang notes, adding that improvisation will also be a part of the shows.
Although nothing is confirmed, the pair has already been approached to do a concert at the O2 Arena in London, Lang Lang says.
LUPE FIASCO ON TOUR THROUGH DECEMBER: Rapper continues supporting his sophomore album.
*Lupe Fiasco will continue touring in support of his sophomore album "Lupe Fiasco's The Cool," with dates extending into December, reports Live Daily.
The Chicago-born rapper has been touring most of the year, headlining shows and opening for the likes of Kanye West. His tour continues tonight (10/17) in Mansfield, MA, and the run is set to visit a dozen cities primarily around the eastern U.S. through Dec. 5.
Stops include the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans and a host of college venues. Details are listed below.
October 2008
17 - Mansfield, PA - Decker Gymnasium/Mansfield University
22 - Atlanta, GA - Morehouse College/Forbes Arena
23 - Nashville, TN - Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium
26 - New Orleans, LA - City Park/Voodoo Music Experience
31 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater
November 2008
6 - Greenville, NC - East Carolina University/Minges Coliseum
7 - Carlisle, PA - Dickinson College
12 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
15 - Storrs, CT - Jorgensen Theatre for Performing Arts
17 - Elmira, NY - Elmira College/Emerson Hall
22 - Geneseo, NY - SUNY Geneseo
December 2008
5 - College Park, MD - University of Maryland/Ritchie Coliseum
ESTELLE, LEONA LEWIS WIN BIG AT MOBO AWARDS: Artists pick up two trophies each at annual event.
*Singers Estelle and Leona Lewis were the big winners at the 13th annual MOBO [Music of Black Origin] Awards Wednesday night in London. Each artist went home with two awards, according to the Associated Press.
Estelle won best U.K. female and best song for "American Boy" featuring Kanye West. She also performed a medley of tunes during the ceremony, including a duet of "No Other Love" with her label boss, John Legend.
Legend opened the show at Wembley Arena with his new single, "Green Light."
Lewis, meanwhile, was a no-show Wednesday night and delivered her acceptance speeches for best video ("Bleeding Love") and best album ("Spirit") via pre-recorded video message. Her absence didn't go over too well with the audience, who made their frustration known through boos.
Other missing winners Dizzee Rascal, Chris Brown and Mavado were also booed for sending friends or fellow artists to accept their awards, reports Billboard.
Mary Wilson, on hand to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the winners Motown, went on to close the show with a medley of "Can't Hurry Love," "Come See About Me" and "Back In My Arms Again."
The big surprise of the night came with special guest Craig David and his duet with grime favorite Tinchy Stryder. Mel B and Rev Run served as co-hosts of the ceremony, which was broadcast on BBC Three.
The complete list of winners is as follows:
Best U.K. Male: Dizzee Rascal
Best U.K. Female: Estelle
Best U.K Newcomer: Chipmunk
Best International Act: Chris Brown
Best Reggae: Mavado
Best Jazz: YolanDa Brown
Best Gospel: Jahaziel
Best African Act: 9ice
Best Song: "American Boy" - Estelle feat. Kanye West (HomeSchool/Atlantic) Best R&B/Soul: Chris Brown Best Hip Hop: Lil' Wayne Best Vide Leona Lewis - "Bleeding Love" (Syco/Sony BMG) Best Album: Leona Lewis - "Spirit" (Syco/Sony BMG) Best Radio DJ: Trevor Nelson Best Club DJ: Tim Westwood Lifetime Achievement: Motown
TAVIS SMILEY SELLS 'JOYNER SHOW' COMMENTARIES: 'Best of' set available from SmileyBooks.
*Tavis Smiley is releasing a four-CD collection of his most memorable commentaries made during his four-year run on Tom Joyner's nationally-syndicated radio program.
Released this week from SmileyBooks, "ON AIR: The Best of Tavis Smiley on the Tom Joyner Morning Show 2004–2008" comes with a booklet featuring color photographs that capture the essence of Smiley and the Tom Joyner Morning Show, memorable moments, reflections from well-known fans of the show, and the text of Smiley’s last commentary.
During the commentary for his final show on June 26, 2008, Smiley explained: “My role has been one of challenging us to re-examine the assumptions we hold, helping us to expand our inventory of ideas, and hopefully empowering us with information that can help us live better lives.”
"ON AIR" retails for $23.95. Smiley is currently on a promotional through Walmart stores around the country. Dates and locations are listed
below:
Walmart
Friday, October 17, 2008
4005 West 167th St.
Chicago, IL 60478
6pm-8pm
Walmart
Saturday, October 18, 2008
3580 Memorial Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30032
12:30pm-2:30pm
Walmart
Sunday, October 19, 2008
2727 Dunvale Rd.
Houston TX 77063
3pm-5pm
Walmart
Thursday, October 23, 2008
4545 Lafayette Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46254
5pm-7pm
Walmart
Friday, October 24, 2008
9350 Cortana Pl.
Baton Rouge, LA 70818
12:30pm-2:30pm
Walmart
Saturday, October 25, 2008
4800 US 287 Highway
Fort Worth, TX 76011
12:30pm-2:30pm
Walmart
Sunday, October 26, 2008
621 Uptown Blvd 75104
Dallas, TX
3pm-5pm
ITTY BITTY BITS: Prince recons new club; Rodman bounces on Bounce; Colin Powell gets his groove on.
*The New York Post's Page Six reported that Prince had an "advance man" canvas New York's new hotspot Eldridge before going inside to join his friend Hill Harper of "CSI: New York." A Page Six witness said: "Five security guards escorted him to the very back table. He sipped on water and stayed for about an hour." Later, Prince brought his personal deejay to Butter where "they closed the downstairs for a private buffet."
*Dennis Rodman, star of Donald Trump's upcoming "Celebrity Apprentice," reportedly ran up a tab at New York's Bounce Uptown and then ran out without paying the bill. "After imbibing a steady stream of champagne, the former hoopster grabbed a half-finished bottle of Veuve Clicquot - along with the champagne glasses that were on his table - and left without paying," a source told the New York Daily News. Rodman's rep confirms that Rodman skipped out on the bill, but added: "Dennis does not recall leaving the club with a bottle and glasses."
*Former secretary of state Colin Powell performed an impromptu dance and freestyle rhyme at London’s Africa Rising Festival, a traveling showcase for African music and culture. Joining African rapper Olu Maintain on stage for his hit “Yahoozee,” Powell performed both the dance and the various call and response lyrics of the song. Afterward, he told the crowd: “I stand before you as an African-American. Many people have said to me you became secretary of state of the USA, is it still necessary to say that you are an African-American or that you are black? And I say yes, so that we can remind our children.”
OBAMA BITS: Taylor for Obama; MLB's shift; Stephen Baldwin's challenge; racist Sac County GOP Web site; Jesse Jackson denies Post story.
*James Taylor will play five free concerts in North Carolina in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The shows are scheduled in Charlotte, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wilmington beginning Sunday, reports the Associated Press. Taylor, who was raised in Chapel Hill, will encourage Obama supporters to get out and vote early.
One-stop voting begins Thursday in North Carolina, a state that hasn't voted for a Democratic president since 1976.
*To accommodate the half-hour Oct. 29 time buy by the Obama campaign, Major League Baseball has agreed to move the start time of World Series Game 6 by about 15 minutes, from about 8:20 p.m. ET to 8:35 p.m., reports Reuters. Along with CBS and NBC, Fox was approached by the Obama campaign last week to purchase the 8-8:30 p.m. time slot Oct. 29. The blessing from MLB clears the way for Fox to air the promo and collect upward of $1 million in ad revenue for the half hour, more than what either CBS or NBC was charging.
*Actor Stephen Baldwin was reportedly overheard threatening to move to Canada if Barack Obama is elected president. He also challenged the Democratic candidate to a boxing match. "I'd like to knock some good sense into Barack," he reportedly said, according to both the New York Post and Daily News while working out at the Printing House Gym in the Village. "I wouldn't hurt him. But if he wins the election, he'll hurt me. He's a cultural terrorist." In 2004, Baldwin's brother Alec famously threatened to move out of the U.S. if President Bush was re-elected.
*Sacramento County Republican leaders Tuesday took down offensive material on their official party Web site that sought to link Sen. Barack Obama to Osama bin Laden and encouraged people to "Waterboard Barack Obama."
Taking credit for the site was county party chairman Craig MacGlashan. The Sacramento Bee asked him about the content after seeking his reaction to hate-filled graffiti that was spray-painted over an Obama display on a fence in Sacramento. He told the Bee: "Some people find it offensive, others do not. I cannot comment on how people interpret things." MacGlashan said he would "consider people's complaints" before taking any action.
*The Rev. Jesse Jackson is vehemently denying a New York Post report that he told an audience at the World Policy Forum in France last week that the "Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" will lose influence if Barack Obama is elected. "That is not true," Jackson told XM radio talk show host Joe Madison. "That's a fabrication." Jackson said the story's writer, Iranian columnist Amir Taheri, has no credibility. He also pointed to inaccuracies in the writer's previous Obama-related reports. "My sense is that to drop this article the day before the debate, to be the news of the debate, is a Swift Boat tactic and we refute it, we reject it," said Jackson. "The writer chose to distort and fabricate and we are now pursuing vigorously the guy."
THE GAME BITS: Rapper cancels festival appearance; sister reportedly shot in drive by days later; documentary DVD about his life to be released.
*The Game, born Jayceon Taylor, canceled his scheduled headlining appearance at the SAIG Entertainment and International Arts Festival earlier this month without giving a reason, reports Allhiphop.com.
The event took place Oct. 11 and 12 and also featured performances by Tamia, Morgan Heritage and New Orleans native Lloyd.
According to the Festival's founder Ernest Kelly, event producers were told that The Game had failed to board a 3:30 pm flight on Sunday (Oct 12) for unknown reasons and that his management had cancelled all New Orleans hotel and transportation accommodations.
*AllHipHop.com is also reporting that The Game's sister was shot during a drive by shooting in Compton on Oct. 14. Sources told the Web site that she was sitting on her front porch when she suffered minor injuries after being grazed by a bullet.
*The Game is set to release a DVD entitled, "The Game...Life After The Math," a documentary from Polychrome Pictures about his turbulent rise to fame.
In telling his story, the film contains rare, never-before-seen footage of Katt Williams, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and Kanye West, among others.
“Rarely do you find an artist who is so confident and secure with themselves and their abilities that they are willing to let fans into their head to see the demons they’ve battled," said Danny Rodriguez, co-founder of Polychrome Pictures. "Game has exposed his soul in his music and in 'Life After The Math' he reveals the reasons he was driven to street life, not justifications for it. We could not be more honored to be a part of the project.”
SPORTS BITS: O.J. goes to prison church; Serena to play Sydney in January; Philly gets Tiger Woods tournament.
*Las Vegas gossip guru Norm Clarke is reporting that O.J. Simpson "was allowed out of his cramped cell to attend worship services" at his new address in the Clark County Detention Center. His co-defendant, CJ Stewart, also attended the same service. Blogger Janet Charlton added: "O.J. was so confident he'd have a hung jury that he had an acquittal party planned." He was found guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery, and is due for sentencing on Dec. 5.
*Serena Williams, 27, has been confirmed to play in January's Sydney International tennis tournament, officials announced Thursday. The world No. 3 and current U.S. Open champion joins world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, second-ranked Dinara Safina and Beijing gold medalist Elena Dementieva in the Jan. 11-17 mixed tournament. "Having Serena Williams back for the first time in a few years is just an absolute boon for the event," tournament director Craig Watson said.
*Tiger Woods' AT&T National event will be held in suburban Philadelphia in 2010 and 2011 at the Aronimink Golf Club. Board members there accepted a proposal Wednesday night that came after nearly a year of discussions with officials from the tournament as well as the Tiger Woods Foundation, which benefits from the event. The tournament will be played at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., in 2009. The greens there are to be renovated in 2010 and the U.S. Open will be played there in 2011.
EVENT CALENDAR: NABFEME honors Debra Lee; Sheryl Lee Ralph's DIVAS; 'Broadway Voices For Change'; Jay-Z and DJ AM at Palladium.
*NABFEME Southeast Network presents “Conversation with a Legend” featuring BET CEO Debra Lee, today (Oct. 17) from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Atlanta at Straits Restaurant (793 Juniper St.) “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get one-on-one with an industry legend, giving members an opportunity to network and communicate on a personal level with not only Ms. Debra Lee, but her executive team as well as news anchor Monica Pearson, radio personality Porsche Foxx, Ms. Roberta Shields (Ludacris’ mother) and our founder Johnnie Walker,” says NABFEME Southeast Network Zina Brown. Admission is $65 per member and $75 for non-members. To join NABFEME (National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment)
and register for the luncheon, log ont www.myspace.com/nabfemeatl
*Sheryl Lee Ralph's 18th annual DIVAS: Simply Singing raised over $150,000 this past weekend at LA's Wilshire Theatre. Headliners Patti Labelle, Patti Austin, Angie Stone, Lalah Hathaway, Rachelle Ferrell and Siedah Garrett all joined forces in front of an over-capacity crowd to raise funds for HIV/AIDS research. Ralph's son, Etienne Maurice, also hit the stage with his cast mates from BET's forthcoming season of "Baldwin Hills"
to help the cause.
*Married couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick will host Broadway Voices For Change, a benefit concert starring Tony Award winners Audra McDonald and Barbara Cook, on Oct. 19 at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Proceeds from this one-night-only event will go to America Votes, a coalition with the goal of increasing progressive voter registration and turnout.
*Tyrese. Donald Faison and the Wayans brothers were among the celebs attending Jay-Z's show at the grand reopening of the Hollywood Palladium Wednesday night with DJ AM, who spun at his first event since surviving a fiery plane crash that killed four others and seriously wounded drummer Travis Barker. Jay-Z found time during his set to drum up votes for Barack Obama, reports E! Online. After showing a large photo of President Bush, the rapper asked the crowd, "We're voting for Obama, right?" The audience responded enthusiastically.
BLACK MARSHALS SUE OVER RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: African American employees say they've been called 'lazy' and denied promotions.
*Black employees of the U.S. Marshals Service filed a racial discrimination lawsuit Wednesday, saying they have been denied promotions by managers who belittled them as lazy, reports the Associated Press.
The suit in U.S. District Court seeks broad changes in job practices at a law enforcement agency that has grappled with race bias accusations dating back to the 1990s. It cast the agency as a "good old boys network" that exploited loopholes to groom whites for leadership positions while reprimanding blacks for "trivial mistakes."
Seeking to sue on behalf of 200 current or former black employees, the challenge alleges violations of federal civil rights laws. The suit is asking for damages of at least $300 million for lost back pay and harm suffered in a "hostile work environment."
The allegations also come as black agents at the Secret Service, which protects presidents, their family members and other dignitaries, are making similar charges of denied promotions because of their race. That 2000 suit in federal court claims white colleagues and supervisors regularly use a racial epithet to refer to criminal suspects and black leaders of other countries.
"This is the way the agency treats African-American deputies all over the country," said deputy marshal David Grogan, a 20-year employee. "If you're an African American doing a good job, they're going to find some loophole or exception to keep you from getting ahead." Suing in the case are Grogan of Bowie, Md., and chief deputy marshal James Brooks, of Brandywine, Md. Their complaint charges the Marshals Service:
_Systematically denied special assignments and training to blacks despite their seniority and qualifications.
_Canceled vacant higher-ranking job positions when white applicants didn't qualify under the agency's merit ranking system.
_Failed to provide timely notice of job openings to many black employees.
The Marshals Service, a division of the Justice Department, has 4,700 employees and is responsible for apprehending fugitives and protecting federal judges.
Jeff Carter, an agency spokesman, said, "These allegations do not reflect the culture of this agency or the high standards to which we hold our employees."
Grogan said he repeatedly was denied promotions to senior positions despite commendations for his service from the departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
In one incident, Grogan said he was taunted and insulted by a manager for using the gym. Agency policy allows deputies up to three hours a week of gym time, but the manager said he "set a bad example" because he spent too much time exercising and did not take his job seriously. That manager also agreed when a white co-worker asserted that Grogan "doesn't take his job seriously because he works out at 0600," even though that co-worker often napped at work, according to the complaint.
David Sanford, a lawyer for the black employees, contended that discrimination at the Marshals Service dated back to at least the mid-1990s. He noted that Matthew Fogg, a former black deputy marshal, won a $4 million jury verdict in his racial bias suit against the Marshals Service that alleged denied promotions and choice assignments.
"This discrimination is long-standing, pervasive and cannot be allowed to persist," Sanford said.
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun For movies opening October 17, 2008
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Max Payne (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, intense violence and drug use) Mark Wahlberg stars in the title role of this revenge thriller about a DEA agent and an assassin (Mila Kunis) who join forces to find the killers responsible for the murder of his family and her sister. Cast includes Ludacris, Beau Bridges, Nelly Furtado, Chris O’Donnell, Donal Logue and Kate Burton (Richard’s daughter).
The Secret Life of Bees (PG-13 for violence and mature themes) Dakota Fanning stars in this Southern saga, set in the Sixties at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, about a motherless teen who runs away with her surrogate mom (Jennifer Hudson) from her abusive father (Paul Bettany) to a tiny South Carolina town where they are taken in by an eccentric trio of beekeeping sisters (Queen Latifah, Sophie Okonedo and Alicia Keys).
Sex Drive (R for crude humor, sexuality, nudity, and drug and alcohol use, all involving teens) Raunchy road comedy about an 18 year-old virgin (Josh Zuckerman) who steals his big brother’s (James Marsden) classic Pontiac GTO in order to drive with a couple of friends (Amanda Crew and Clark Duke) from Chicago to Knoxville where he expects to rendezvous with a temptress (Katrina Bowden) he met over the internet.
W. (PG-13 for profanity, sexual references, smoking, alcohol abuse and disturbing war images) Josh Brolin plays the President in this bio-pic directed by Oliver Stone recounting the checkered career of George W. Bush. With Elizabeth Banks as his wife, Laura, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell, Richard Dreyfuss as Dick Cheney and Toby Jones as Karl Rove.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
Azur & Asmar (Unrated) Animated fairytale about a couple of boys raised like brothers in a castle, one, a motherless, young aristocrat (Cyril Mourali), the other, the son (Karim M’Ruba) of the family nanny (Hiam Abbass), who grow up to find themselves rivals in a race to find a princess (Thissa d’Avila Bensalah) in a magical, faraway fantasyland.
(In French and Arabic with subtitles)
The Elephant King (R for drug use, violence, profanity and sexual content) Intervention drama about a young introvert (Tate Ellington), sent by his domineering mother (Ellen Burstyn) to Thailand to bring his decadent brother (Jonno Roberts) back to America, who finds himself falling in love for the first time with a local girl (Florence Faivre) while wondering whether he’s arrived too late to save his self-destructive sibling. (In English and Thai with subtitles)
Filth and Wisdom (Unrated) Madonna makes her directorial debut with this “Three’s Company” sitcom about the misadventures of a cross-dressing Russian immigrant (Eugene Hutz) who shares a London flat with two roommates: a ballerina-turned-stripper (Holly Weston) and a drug store clerk (Vicky McClure) with a bleeding heart. (In English and Russian with subtitles)
Frontrunners (Unrated) Egghead documentary chronicles the campaign for student body president at Stuyvesant High School, the most competitive public high school, academically, in New York City.
Morning Light (PG for mild epithets and crude dialogue) Seafaring documentary about 15 intrepid young men and women who undergo a rigorous training regimen in order to race a 52-foot sloop across the ocean in a 2,300-mile sailing competition against some of the world’s top professional sailors.
Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie (Unrated) Missing Link documentary about the effort of a couple of best friends, Dallas Gilbert and Wayne Burton, to flush the ever-elusive Bigfoot from his hideout in the Appalachian Mountains near their Rust Belt hometown located in rural Ohio.
Tru Loved (Unrated) Homoerotic coming-of-age drama about the difficult adjustment a gay 16 year-old (Najarra Townsend) makes to her new school and surroundings after moving with her lesbian parents from San Francisco to a conservative, Southern California community. With Jasmine Guy, Bruce Vilanch, Nichelle Nichols, Jake Abel, Matthew Thompson and Alexandra Paul.
What Just Happened? (R for profanity, sexuality, violence and drug use) Barry Levinson directs this ensemble comedy about two weeks in the life of an unhappily-married movie producer (Robert De Niro) who’s desperate to get his next picture made. With Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Catherine Keener, Robin Wright Penn and Kristen Stewart, and also Sean Penn and Bruce Willis as themselves.
Who Does She Think She Is? (Unrated) Female empowerment documentary focusing on the lives of five women determined to balance motherhood, career and a host of other concerns on their own terms.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"You grow up the day you have your first real laugh--at yourself." — Ethel Barrymore
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Oct. 17: Reggae singer Ziggy Marley is 40. Rapper Eminem is 36.
Singer Wyclef Jean of the Fugees is 36. Actress Sharon Leal ("Boston
Public") is 36.
Oct. 18: Singer-guitarist Chuck Berry is 82. Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 47. Rapper Nonchalant is 35.
Oct. 19: Singer Jennifer Holliday is 48. Rapper Pras Michel of The Fugees is 36. Actor Omar Gooding ("Barbershop") is 32.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
A Touch of Classic Soul is your companion to the classic soul music of the early 1970s and the artists who created it (www.touchofclassicsoul.com).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Oct. 17, 1969: Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr. was elected president of Michigan State University and became the first African American to head a major, predominantly white university in the 20th century.
Oct. 18, 1968: World long jump was beaten by Bob Beamon, record at 29 ft, 2.5 in., at the Mexico City Olympics.
Oct. 19, 1943: On this date, Paul Robeson opened in Othello at the Shubert Theater in N.Y. City. The show ran for 296 consecutive performances.
(Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
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