03-04-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE

MIJAC TO ANNOUNCE LONDON COMEBACK: Longtime rumors of 02 Arena shows to be confirmed in Thursday press conference.

 *Michael Jackson is set to make a "special announcement" in London Thursday confirming longtime speculation that he will perform a string of concerts at the city's O2 Arena.

       Celena Aponte, spokeswoman for the venue's operator, AEG Live, said Jackson arrived in London on Tuesday and would appear at a press conference at the arena Thursday afternoon.

 Sky News is reporting that the first dates of the concerts will be announced at the press conference, while more dates will be revealed at a later date – emulating Prince's successful 21-night stay at the venue in 2006 – if interest in the shows is as high as promoters expect.

       Jackson's last live performance in Britain was at the 2006 World Music Awards. He was scheduled to perform "We Are the World" but only managed a few lines before leaving the stage.

PAPS CLAMOR FOR CHRIHANNA SHOT: Photo of the reunited couple together going for at least a hundred grand.
 
 *The hunt for a photo showing Chris Brown and Rihanna together has been on ever since news broke of their Feb. 8 altercation on a Beverly Hills street and his subsequent arrest in connection with her beating.

       But, the stakes are even higher now that the two have reportedly gotten back together after spending the weekend at Sean "Diddy" Combs' Miami mansion. Paparazzi in helicopters buzzed over the private estate trying to get photos of the pair, but only managed to snap Brown as he frolicked on a jet ski.
      
       According to Rutgers, photo agencies said Monday that the first picture of the couple together again, three weeks after Brown's alleged assault on his girlfriend, would fetch at least $100,000.
      
       Francois Navarre, owner of photo agency X17, said a shot of the "Umbrella" singer and her 19 year-old boyfriend is one of the most sought after in the celebrity news world -- right behind an idyllic family photo of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie with their six children.
      
       As previously reported, TMZ.com on Monday posted grainy video it said showed Rihanna and the clean-cut Brown exiting a jet separately in Los Angeles the night before.
      
       Los Angeles prosecutors have yet to decide whether to formally charge Brown over the incident. He is due to back in court on Thursday.

MICHAEL STEELE APOLOGIZES TO RUSH LIMBAUGH: Democrats pounce; use statement to prove radio host is indeed running the GOP.

 *The beef between Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele and Rush Limbaugh ended with an apology issued to the radio commentator late Monday, less than an hour after his show criticizing Steele went off the air.

       "To the extent that my remarks helped the Democrats in Washington to take the focus, even for one minute, off of their irresponsible expansion of government, I truly apologize," Steele said in his apology. 
      
       The drama began with Steele's Saturday appearance on D.L. Hughley's CNN program, where he called Limbaugh a mere "entertainer" with an "incendiary" talk show, and not the de facto leader of the Republican Party.
      
       Limbaugh responded to Steele's comments on Monday afternoon, telling his talk show listeners, "Why are you running the Republican Party? Why do you claim you lead the Republican Party when you seem obsessed with seeing to it that President Obama succeeds? ... I would be embarrassed to say that I'm in charge of the Republican Party in the sad-sack state that it's in. If I were chairman of the Republican Party, given the state that it's in, I would quit."
      
       “I hope the RNC chairman will realize he’s not a talking head pundit, that he is supposed to be working on the grassroots and rebuilding it and maybe doing something about our open primary system and fixing it so that Democrats don’t nominate our candidates,” Limbaugh told listeners. “It’s time, Mr. Steele, for you to go behind the scenes and start doing the work that you were elected to do instead of trying to be some talking head media star, which you’re having a tough time pulling off.”
      
       Exactly 51 minutes after the show ended, Steele called Limbaugh to personally apologize, and followed it up immediately with a statement acknowledging the right-wing commentator as a "national conservative leader." Below is Steele's apology in its entirety:
      
        I respect Rush Limbaugh, he is a national conservative leader, and in no way do I want to diminish his voice," Steele said. "I'm sure that he and I will agree most of the time, but will probably disagree some as well, which is fine.
       
        The Democrats are doing everything they can to find ways to take people's attention off of their massive 36-billion-dollar-a-day spending spree that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have embarked on. To the extent that my remarks helped the Democrats in Washington to take the focus, even for one minute, off of their irresponsible expansion of government, I truly apologize.
       
       Democrats, who have been trying to handcuff Republicans to Limbaugh, reacted gleefully to Steele's apology, saying it illustrated Limbaugh's influence over the party.
       
       "Chairman Steele's reversal this evening and his apology to Limbaugh proves the unfortunate point that Limbaugh is the leading force behind the Republican Party, its politics and its obstruction of President Obama's agenda in Washington," Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said Monday evening.

LUDACRIS TO HELPS SERENA FIND THEME SONG: Rapper and tennis champ hosting worldwide competition.

 *Fresh from her win over sister Venus in Madison Square Garden Monday night, Serena Williams is teaming with rapper Ludacris to launch a worldwide competition designed to land her a theme song.

 The contest, titled Serena's Song, seeks songwriters, rappers and singers the world over to create original material that will help motivate the reigning Australian Open champ. The winner will be selected by the fan communities on Ludacris' and Williams' official websites.
      
       "Pop music knows no boundaries," says Ludacris in a statement. "We're hoping to prove that yet again with the Serena's Song contest."
      
       Williams adds, "Sports and music have such a powerful connection. I always see athletes including myself listening to music, while they're getting ready for or decompressing after a match, or a race, or a game, whichever the sport."
      
       On Monday, Serena took home $400,000 for winning the inaugural Billie Jean King Cup, a one-day, four-woman event that took place at Madison Square Garden. Just after 11 p.m., Serena defeated her elder sister Venus 6-4, 6-3 in the final, which was aired live on HBO.
      
       Venus Williams, coming off WTA titles in Dubai and Acapulco in the past two weeks, opened the tournament by defeating 2008 year-end number one Jelena Jankovic 6-4 in one no-ad scoring semi-final. Serena beat 2008 French Open winner Ana Ivanovic 6-3 in the other. That set the stage for a sister act showdown in the best-of-three set final.
      
       Each of the Serbian stars received 250,000 dollars while Venus pocketed a runner-up prize of $300,000 in the 1.2 million-dollar event.

SOLANGE TWEETS ABOUT MIC STAND MISHAP: Singer accidently hits fan during concert, then runs to Twitter and tells all.

 *Solange Knowles attempted a heavy metal move during a recent concert only to have it go awry and send fans on the front row ducking for cover.
         According to WENN, Beyonce's younger sister was performing on-stage at the House of Blues in Chicago on Feb. 25 when she decided to channel her inner rock god by grabbing the stand and swinging it high into the air.
      
       She then attempted to throw it across the stage - but it slipped from her grasp and went flying into the crowd, striking a fan.
      
       Horrified Knowles muttered, "Didn't mean to hit you there," before sprinting off-stage.
      
       Hours later, she tweeted the following explanation: "Yeah, I wasn't feeling 'the love' from my parents so I threw a mix (sic) stand on someones head? Smh (shaking my head)! But Lmao (laughing my a** off) too. Heheeheh. I was trying to throw it off stage but it went into the crowd. Turns out I'm a bad rock star."
      
       Solange said she made sure that her fan wasn't injured in the mishap, adding: "I did however feel really bad about it, I looked and made sure everyone was ok and had someone go and double check."

ANGELA BASSETT TO MAKE DIRECTORIAL DEBUT: Actress steps behind the camera for indie feature 'United States.'
 
 *Angela Bassett is set to make her directorial debut with "United States," an independent film she will also produce alongside her husband Courtney B. Vance under their Bassett/Vance Prods banner.

 Based on the novel "Erasure" by Percival Everett, "States" is a dramatic comedy about Monk Ellison, a prominent black literary figure who writes a faux autobiography from the perspective of a barely literate hoodlum to decry what is wrong with the glorification of "ghetto" culture.

       But when the book is lauded as a possible contender for the National Book Award, he must choose between pride and fame.

       "States," adapted by screenwriter Dwayne Johnson-Cochran, is the first project produced by Bassett/Vance and is scheduled to begin shooting this summer.
      
LIL KIM – FROM RUMBLES TO THE RHUMBA: Rapper watched 'Dancing with the Stars' in prison; encouraged to compete by fellow inmates.

 *Lil’ Kim's journey toward her March 9th debut on "Dancing with the Stars" began in 2005, while she was still a prisoner at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center.

 “Me and my girls used to watch it and they would say, ‘You need to be on that show,’” the hip hop star tells The Insider. “In prison you have to agree on what to watch, “[and Dancing] was the number one show. We watched it faithfully and we were so into it.”

       Born Kimberly Jones, the artist was sentenced to one year and a day for lying to a federal grand jury about a shootout outside a Manhattan radio station.  She was released early after serving nearly 10 months behind bars.
      
       As for the elaborate and form-fitting costumes she will wear on the show, the rapper should be a perfect fit. “Those are natural Lil’ Kim outfits,” she says.
      
       She’s also giddy to be paired with "Dancing" pro partner, Derek Hough. “I prayed and was hoping to have Derek as my partner,” she says. “When those doors opened and I saw him, I was like ‘Yes!’”
      
       Adds Derek, “We gelled immediately. She really caught me off guard. She was really sweet and soft-spoken. A bowl of sunshine!”

ABDUL SUED OVER 'HEY PAULA' FALL: Woman says celeb's 'defective' property caused her to trip during filming. 

       *A woman is suing Paula Abdul and the studios behind her former reality show "Hey Paula" claiming the singer's shoddy property caused her to fall during a taping, reports TMZ.com.
      
       Jill Kohl is suing the "American Idol" judge, Bravo Television, NBC Universal, and a host of others -- claiming she took a tumble while walking down a driveway during production.
      
       Kohl claims she fell because the property "was in a dangerous and defective condition," according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court. She is seeking damages in excess of $25,000.

CW PLUS ADDS 'BRIAN MCKNIGHT' TO WEEKENDS: More affiliates to air singer's weekly talk show.

       *The CW Plus, which comprises digital subchannels and cable outlets in markets 100 and above, has added "The Brian McKnight Show" to its weekend lineup for fall 2009, Litton Entertainment announced Monday.
      
       The one-hour weekly entertainment show will feature live performances from Hollywood stars, musicians, athletes and comedians.
      
       "We are delighted to welcome 'The Brian McKnight Show' to our lineup of CW affiliates," said Russ Myerson, executive vice president and general manager for CW Plus. "Brian is an enormously talented and versatile performer who is extremely well connected in the entertainment world.  His great energy and enthusiasm, coupled with the production mastery of Larry Klein, should make this weekly program a must-see."
      
       Among the stations signed to carry the series include Tribune's WPIX New York, Weigel's WCIU Chicago, as well as groups including LIN, Sinclair, CBS, Newport, Barrington, Local TV, McKinnon and Hubbard.

OPRAH RECEIVES AWARD FROM COLUMBIA U: Talk show host honored for her philanthropy in education and promotion of reading.

       *Oprah Winfrey just added another award to her vast collection. The talk show host was honored for her work in education by New York's Columbia University, reports the Associated Press.
      
       University officials say the talk show host received the 2009 Klingenstein Leadership Award Friday for her philanthropy in education and promotion of reading. The award is given by The Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership.
      
       The center says Oprah's Angel Network has helped open 60 schools in 13 countries while her foundation has awarded hundreds of grants and scholarships. In 2007, Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.
      
       Klingenstein's director presented the award to Winfrey in Chicago.

LIKE A FISHBURNE TO WATER: Actor says he and 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' are 'a natural fit.'

       *Laurence Fishburne says he's already feeling warm and cozy in his new role on CBS' ratings winner, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
      
       The actor was introduced this season as Dr. Ray Langston, an academic turned rookie forensic investigator on the "CSI" team. Langston "is a guy who was brilliant in his world," Fishburne tells the Associated Press, "but here, he's a little out of his depth. He's got to learn, and he's going to make mistakes."

       There were doubts as to whether fans would take to Fishburne in the show's lead after having William Peterson on board since its debut nine years ago. But continued solid ratings prove Fishburne's transition is being embraced.
      
       The actor admits he had never seen "CSI" when he was approached to join the cast. But he says he immediately felt in synch with what he sums up as the series' "tone," without quite being able to elaborate on what that tone might be. He also approved of the musical theme and the band that performs it: "I'm a big Who fan."

'TROPIC THUNDER'S' REAL BLACK ACTOR LANDS FILM: Brandon T. Jackson joins Chris Columbus-directed 'Percy Jackson.'

 *Brandon T. Jackson has managed to jump from one unconventional film role to another.

       The budding star was recently seen in "Tropic Thunder" playing Alpa Chino, a rapper-turned-actor who takes issue with a white cast member's decision to portray an African American character in their action film.

 In Brandon's next film, "Fox 2000's "Percy Jackson," the 24-year-old plays the best friend of a schoolboy whose world is turned upside-down when he discovers that his father is actually the Greek god Poseidon.

 According to Variety, the story kicks off with Percy becoming the prime suspect when Zeus' master lightning bolt is stolen. The boy has just 10 days to find and return the stolen property to bring peace to the warring gods.
 
       Jackson will play Grover, a satyr. In Greek mythology, satyrs were a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus. They are often associated with sex drive and vase-painters often portrayed them with perpetual erect penises.

        Chris Columbus will direct the adventure/fantasy. Fox 2000 is looking to place a number of big-name actors in the smaller roles of the gods. Production is scheduled to begin in April in Europe.
      
       In addition to "Tropic Thunder," Jackson's credits include "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and the upcoming "Tooth Fairy." He was named one of Variety's "10 Comics to Watch" in 2008.

NEVILLES, SHORTER IN PLAYBOY JAZZ FEST: Full lineup announced for annual summer concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.

 *The Wayne Shorter Quartet and The Neville Brothers are set to co-headline the 31st annual Playboy Jazz Festival, which will take place on June 13 and 14 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

       The Neville Brothers will anchor the June 13 show, which includes a "Kind of Blue @ 50" band led by drummer Jimmy Cobb, the Jon Faddis Quartet, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, bassist-singer Esperanza Spalding and the New Birth Brass Band.

       Longtime Southern California bandleader and trumpeter Jack Sheldon will make his festival debut with his orchestra. The Pete Escovedo Orchestra is also on the bill.
      
       The June 14 lineup will feature The Wayne Shorter Quartet and include Kenny G, Patti Austin, King Sunny Ade from Nigeria, the Dave Holland Big Band, Monty Alexander's reggae project Jazz and Roots, Oscar Hernandez and the Conga Room All-Stars and the Anat Cohen Quartet.

       Cohen also will perform Saturday the 13th in the band hand-picked by emcee Bill Cosby, which this year features Dwayne Burno, Ndugu Chancler, Luis Conte, Tanya Darby and Geoff Keezer.
      
MARIAH IN THE STUDIO; DOG PREPS FOR CLOSEUP?:  Singer jokes about her Jack Russell Terrier starring in a new reality show.
      
 *While Mariah Carey is in the studio with producer-writer The Dream working on tracks for her new album, her beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Jack, could be preparing to star in his own reality show.

       Perhaps joking to Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman, the songbird explained, "It will be all about our lives seen through his eyes.”
      
       Meanwhile, Carey's husband Nick Cannon will definitely make his hosting debut on "America's Got Talent" this summer, but has no plans to put his acting career on hold to accommodate the new gig.
      
       “The opportunity came up and I thought it would be fun,” he told Friedman.
         
CARL FRANKLIN TO DIRECT COMING OF AGE INDIE: Film adapted from novel 'Bless Me, Ultima.'

 *Carl Franklin has signed on to write and direct an adaption of the Rudolfo Anaya novel "Bless Me, Ultima," reports Variety.

 The novel is a turbulent coming-of-age story about Antonio, a youth growing up in New Mexico during WWII. He develops a relationship with Ultima, an elderly medicine woman who helps the young man navigate the battle between good and evil that rages in his village.

       Wal-Mart heiress Christy Walton, who will be financing the project and serve as executive producer, says of the film, "It talks about magic, miracles, acceptance and reconciliation. It's a difficult book to adapt, and Carl is the person to do it."

 Monkey Hill Films' Sarah DiLeo will produce with Mark Johnson and his Gran Via Productions as well as Jesse B. Franklin, who'll produce through Monarch Pictures.

       Walton, widow of the late John Walton (son of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton) is estimated to be worth $23.2 billion by Forbes.
 
WINNING OVER SELITA EBANKS: Model outlines her turn-ons and pet peeves, including white socks with a suit.

       *Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks gets candid about her dating guidelines in the new April issue of Best Life magazine.
      
       "I'm a big sports fan, and nothing is more unattractive to me than a guy who doesn't appreciate ESPN," said Ebanks, 26. "If I have to explain football or basketball, that's the biggest turn-off."
      
       Among Ebanks's other deal breakers: "Aggression doesn't belong in the home. And if he gets too excited by gore or violence on television, I'm out of there." Also, "a man has to have big, strong hands to make me feel safe.
When he makes me feel safe, I feel sexy."
      
       The model, however, is not a fan of white socks: "A man once walked up to me … and I saw he was wearing white socks with his suit! I would have beat anybody in the dash to get out of there."
      
       Finally, she says a nice, white smile would be nice: "I want to kiss something that looks like it would taste good."

AMERICAN BLACK FILM FEST SET FOR MIAMI: HBO-sponsored event to include Hollywood premiere and Independent Film Awards.

       *Film Life's American Black Film Festival (ABFF), will be held June 24-27 on South Beach in Miami, FL. Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO) is the festival's Founding and Premier Sponsor.
      
       "We began 13 years ago as an annual film retreat, showcasing and celebrating the best and brightest filmmakers of color. We are returning to that model, and will restore the tropical intimacy the ABFF has always been known for," said Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc. and Founder of ABFF.
      
       This year's event will open with a star studded Hollywood premiere and close with the ABFF Independent Film Awards. Festival and registration information is available online at www.abff.com, via phone 646-375-2144 ext 1 or by e-mail: abff@thefilmlife.com.

THEATRE BITS: Zooman and the Sign; August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone.

       *Signature Theatre's new Off-Broadway production of Charles Fuller's 1980 drama, Zooman and the Sign, began performances March 3 as the final production of Signature's season-long tribute to the Negro Ensemble Company.

      
       The opening is March 24 and performances continue through April 26. According to Signature, "A random act of violence devastates Reuben Tate's family and scares their once caring community into silence. While young Zooman terrorizes the neighborhood, Reuben makes a dangerous appeal which may tear their world apart.
      
       The troupe includes Ron Canada ("Wedding Crashers," "Cinderella Man"), Amari Cheatom (Lower Ninth), Rosalyn Coleman (Radio Golf, Seven Guitars, The Piano Lesson), Peter Jay Fernandez (Cyrano de Bergerac, Julius Caesar, Henry IV), Lynda Gravatt (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, King Hedley II), Tre Davis (NYSF's Hamlet), Jamal Mallory-McCree (The Fabulous Miss Marie), Evan Parke (The Lion King) and Portia (The Ride Down Mt. Morgan). Performances play Signature's home at The Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd
St.) 

       *Tickets are now on sale for the revival of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Directed by Bartlett Sher, the play begins performances at the Belasco Theatre on March 19. Opening night is set for April 16.
      
       Part of Wilson’s 10-play cycle depicting the African-American experience in each decade of the 20th century, the play is set in 1911 and tells the story of Herald Loomis who, after serving seven years hard labor, has journeyed to the North with his young daughter and arrives at a Pittsburgh boarding house filled with memorable characters who aid him in his search for his inner freedom.
      
       Featured in the cast will be Marsha Stephanie Blake (The Crucible), Chad L. Coleman (Two Trains Running), Michael Cummings (Emancipation), Aunjanue Ellis (The Tempest, The Cider House Rules), Danai Gurira (In the Continuum), Andre Holland (Wig Out), Arliss Howard (A Number, The Late Henry Moss), Ernie Hudson The Great White Hope in L.A. and many films, including Ghostbusters), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf), Amari Rose Leigh (guest role on TV’s Law & Order: SVU and Roger Robinson (a Tony nominee for Wilson’s Seven Guitars).
      
       To book tickets, click here:
http://www.broadway.com/Joe-Turner-s-Come-and-Gone/broadway_show/5020825 or call 1-800-BROADWAY.

WOMAN DIALS 911 OVER DENIED MCNUGGETS: Florida customer calls emergency three times from McDonalds, ticketed for 'misuse.'

 *A woman in Florida was arrested for "misuse of 911" after calling emergency services three times in a row to report that a McDonalds was refusing to give her a refund for Chicken McNuggets.

  Latreasa Goodman said she paid for an order of McNuggets, only to be told that the food item had run out. When an employee told her it was against store policy to give refunds, Latreasa called 911 from the restaurant -- three consecutive times.

       According to TMZ.com, cops responding to the scene tried to explain that McNugget drama is not an emergency -- but according to the police report obtained by TheSmokingGun.com, Latreasa begged to differ:  "This is an emergency, If I would have known they didn't have McNuggets, I wouldn't have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don't want one. This is an emergency."
      
       A rep for McDonalds released a statement to TMZ: "Satisfying each and every customer that visits our restaurants is very important to us. Regarding this isolated incident, we apologize for the inconvenience caused. In the event that we are unable to fill an order, a customer should be offered the choice of a full refund or alternative menu items. We regret that in this instance, that wasn't the case.
       
        "We want to correct our mistake. We will be sending the customer her refund, along with an invitation to return for her original order, on us. We never want to disappoint a McNuggets fan or any McDonald's customer.
Customer satisfaction is our top priority."

EUR FILM REVIEW: This Is the Life
Hip-Hop Doc Revisits Legendary L.A. Rap Scene
DVD Review by Kam Williams

      *Most people probably think of the Los Angeles rap scene as primarily being comprised of the West Coast gangstas who became locked in a bloody turf war with their East Coast counterparts which claimed the lives of Tupac and Biggie. While that sensationalized story was recently revisited by the bio-pic Notorious, folks interested in a more accurate, historical account of the evolution of the L.A. hip-hop scene ought to check out a documentary called This Is the Life.

      The film marks the impressive directorial debut of Ava Duvernay, herself a founding member of this collective of talented artists who, in 1989, began gathering every Thursday evening at the Good Life Café, a health food store located in South Central.

      Once a week, from 8 to 10 PM, proprietor B. Hall turned the place into an impromptu nightclub where street poets aspiring to be rap stars could hone their skills in front of critical audiences from the community which crammed into her tiny establishment. Ms. Hall had a few rules which were strictly enforced, including “no profanity,” “no leaning on the paintings,” “no gum on the floor” and “please pass the mike” when being booed off the stage.

      Via a vibrant mix of archival footage and present-day interviews with both performers and their appreciative fans, This Is the Life chronicles the rise and fall of an innovative, musical movement which profoundly influenced commercial hip-hop. Unfortunately, although a few of the emcees who got their start at the Good Life Café went on to enjoy a modest measure of success in hip-hop, we learn that they were generally unable to cash-in like their better-connected contemporaries with more business-savvy.

      For apparently several industry icons like Ice Cube stole material from Good Life Café regulars en route to fame and fortune. But the movie opts to downplay incidents of plagiarism in favor of featuring appearances by artists who employed such colorful sobriquets as Abstract Rule, Born Allah, Pigeon John, Riddlore, Big Al, Wreckless, Ellay Khule, Medusa, Q., MYKA NYNE, Busdriver, Ganjah K, Big Baby, CVE, Tray-Loc, Cut Chemist, Volume 10, Jyant, Ronda Ross, 2 Mex, Fat Jack,T-Love, Peace, Chali 2NA and F Stl, and perhaps most notably Eve, aka Ava Duvernay, a rapper-turned-filmmaker with a very bright future behind the camera.

      An overdue tribute to a generation of gifted youngsters whose seminal contributions to popular culture deserve to be acknowledged, if only to validate the fact that L.A. rap’s roots are far more rich, diverse, sophisticated and uplifting than the materialistic and misogynistic messages that they’ve been reduced to by the music videos found in regular rotation on BET and MTV.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 97 minutes
Studi Forward Movement Films

To see a trailer for This Is the Life, visit:  http://www.cocaineblunts.com/blunts/?p=899

EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE

       “I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” - by Mark Twain
 
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS  

 March 4: Singer Bobby Womack is 65. Actor Mykelti Williamson is 49. Rapper Grand Puba (Brand Nubian) is 43.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
 
       Afro Sugar is an "overdue tribute to the diverse collective beauty of women of African decent." Visit it here www.AfroSugar.com  
      
       Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.      

BLACK HISTORY
  
   Mar. 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr. announced plans for Poor People's Campaign in Washington. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)