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(June 13, 2006)
CHRISTINA MILIAN AND DEF JAM PART WAYS: Singer reportedly difficult to work with.
*It’s official, Christina Milian is no longer an artist under Island Def Jam.
While rumors had been circulating for weeks that the singer was
kicked off the label, Milian’s publicist made the split sound less cut
throat, stating: "Christina Milian and Island Def Jam have decided to end
their relationship due to creative differences. This was a mutual decision."
The news comes amidst sluggish sales of her latest album, “So
Amazin’.” According to Lloyd Grove’s Lowdown column in the New York Daily
News, Vibe magazine has reportedly decided to scrap Milian's scheduled
August cover in light of her firing and has instead chosen Keyshia Cole.
Lloyd Grove also reports that Milian, 24, refused to take direction
from Island Def Jam CEO L.A. Reid, who reportedly begged the singer to
record "S.O.S. (Rescue Me)," which ended up becoming a hot single for her
label mate Rihanna.
Def Jam reportedly spent a huge chunk of change promoting Milian’s
album, only to have it move a paltry 50,202 units in the week after its May
16 release. By contrast, Rihanna’s latest album, “A Girl Like Me," sold
115,000 copies in its first week.
Sources tell Grove that “folks at Island Def Jam are blaming Milian's
boyfriend and executive producer, Marcello (Dre) Valenzano, of the producing
team Cool & Dre, for the artist's alleged lack of cooperation.”
TYRESE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT LEAKED ALBUM: Forthcoming dual-disc 'Alter Ego' is all over the Internet.
*The world has just witnessed how easy it is for Web sites to
swipe pictures of the most guarded baby on the planet (Shiloh Nouvel
Jolie-Pitt) from media outlets that paid good money for exclusive rights. If
this was possible, music artists hoping to keep their mp3 or wav files from
being leaked onto the Internet should just give up right now.
Tyrese Gibson's forthcoming album "Alter Ego," a dual disc with
R&B songs on one CD and rap joints on the other, is making its way around
cyberspace as we speak thanks to an employee in his company, the singer
recently told EUR's Lee Bailey.
"Right now, we're trying to get down to the bottom of who did
this," said Tyrese "They like to say that it ain't really a big deal, but I
think it's a big deal because I got a new company and you kinda just wanna
know you can trust people with your private files."
As previously reported, the album features collaborations with
such artists as Snoop Dogg, Paul Wall, Chingy, the Game, Guerilla Black, and
Kurupt.
Hear Lee Bailey's full interview with Tyrese here.
SMITH, PIERCE, ROSS KIDS LEND ‘SUPPORT’ TO LATIFAH: Actors added to the cast of HBO’s ‘Life Support.’
*Queen Latifah will be joined by Anna Deavere Smith from NBC's "The
West Wing" and actor Wendell Pierce of HBO's "The Wire" in the cast of HBO’s
original movie "Life Support," which is being executive produced by Latifah
and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx.
Also new to the film are Tony Rock of the UPN sitcom "All of Us" and
Diana Ross’ kids Evan Ross and Tracee Ellis Ross. Newcomer Rachel Nicks
rounds out the cast.
Based on a true story, "Life Support" centers on Ana Willis
(Latifah), an HIV-positive former addict who beats her drug dependency to
become a wife and mother committed to educating people in the black
community on how to protect themselves from becoming infected.
Pierce will play Willis' husband, Smith will play her mother, and
Nicks will play her daughter. Evan Ross, fresh from his starring role in
"ATL" and soon to appear in the upcoming "P.D.R.," will play Trace, a gay
teenager and childhood friend of Willis' daughter who was born HIV-positive
and ends up on the street, selling his AIDS drugs for money. Evan’s
half-sister, Tracee Ellis Ross, landed the role of his older sister in the
movie. Rock will play a friend of Trace.
As previously reported, "Life Support" was written by Nelson George
(who based the script on his sister) along with Elizabeth Hunter and Jim
McKay & Hannah Weyer. George will also direct the movie, slated to begin
production this week in New York.
COSBY DONATES $3 MILLION TO MOREHOUSE: Gift is the largest individual amount the school has ever received.
*The Morehouse School of Medicine is $3 million richer thanks to the
generous donation of comedian Bill Cosby and his wife Camille.
Morehouse officials said the money, the largest individual gift
given to the school, is meant to honor its interim president, Dr. David
Satcher, and will fund the endowment of a chaired professorship in mental
health.
The donation also honors Doctor Alvin Poussaint, a child psychiatrist
at Harvard Medical School who served as a script consultant to Cosby’s
former NBC sitcom, "The Cosby Show."
Morehouse officials said the endowed professorship is meant to help
erase the stigma of mental health and to better involve mental health care
into general health care. The school's Satcher Health Leadership Institute
will focus on mental health, sexual health and the health of black families.
PRINCE, TAMAR TO ROCK ‘GMA’: Duo will perform Friday in Bryant Park in
support of Tamar’s upcoming LP.
*Prince and his protégé Tamar Davis will perform Friday morning
(June 16) on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
The pair will take the “GMA” stage at New York’s Bryant Park to
perform songs from Tamar’s debut album “Milk & Honey,” due Aug. 29.
The young singer/songwriter from Houston Texas has been a personal
music student of Prince ever since she was 14, according to a press release.
One of the original lead vocalists in an early incarnation of Destiny's
Child called Tyme, Tamar has been singing since childhood, eventually
becoming one of only 20 high school students to be named a Presidential
Scholar for the arts from a field of 8000 applicants. She also earned a
degree in composing and arranging from USC.
After graduating, she reunited with Prince and the two began
co-writing and co-producing songs for “Milk & Honey.” The pair also began
collaborating on a series of stage events to introduce Tamar, including this
past February's 2006 Brit Awards (along with other Prince mavens such as
Sheila E. and Wendy & Lisa), and a top-rated “Saturday Night Live”
performance.
.
The singer provides her own introduction to the world with the
following message on her Web site: “U don't know me, nor do eye know u, But
eye saw U years ago searching 4 a sound that a siren would make...”
SINGER AVIANCE INJURED AFTER VICIOUS BEATING: Police are calling the assault a hate crime.
*Singer Kevin Aviance, whose songs have graced the Billboard dance
charts for nearly a decade, was released from a New York hospital Monday
where he was treated after being attacked by a group yelling anti-gay slurs.
The 38-year-old performer suffered a broken jaw and other injuries
after a group of six or seven males attacked him early Saturday on a corner
in Manhattan's East Village, said Aviance’s publicist Len Evans. There were
witnesses, but none bothered to help the artist as attackers hurled objects
at him, Evans told AP.
Aviance underwent surgery over the weekend and had his jaw wired
shut. According to Evans, he’s hoping to bounce back in time to perform in
New York’s Gay Pride parade at the end of the month.
Aviance performs professionally in drag, but was "dressed like a
boy" when he was attacked, Evans said. His songs include "Alive," a No. 1
dance hit in 2002, "Give It Up” and 1997’s No. 1 single, "Din Da Da.”
The four people arrested for the attack ranged in age from 16 to 20.
ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE FEST IS BACK ON: Marley family announces return; concert to visit 17 cities beginning in August.
*The Marley Family has announced the return of the “Bob Marley
Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival,” a five-hour genre-blending outdoor music
festival tour featuring music, food, street vendors and good vibes.
The 17-city event kicks off Aug. 6 at the Reggae on the River
Festival in Redway, CA (full tour schedule below). The festival title was
borrowed from the Bob Marley song “Roots, Rock, Reggae,” featured on his
1976 album “Rastaman Vibration.”
This year’s festival marks the first time sons Ziggy and Stephen
Marley have joined reggae pioneer Bunny Wailer on tour. It will be the
first time Ziggy will perform songs from his upcoming CD “Love is My
Religion,” set for release July 2 on the Marley Family record label Tuff
Gong Worldwide. (As previously reported, Target will act as the sole U.S.
retailer for the album.)
The tour also marks the first time Stephen Marley will perform songs
from his solo debut album “Mind Control,” set for release thisfFall on Tuff
Gong/ Ghetto Youths/ Universal-Republic.
Grammy-winning Latin rock band Ozomatli and MuzikMafia godfather John
Nicholson are also confirmed for the bill. During the event, the street
vendors will also offer a variety items including authentic Jamaican cuisine
and wares. For more information, go to http://www.rootsrockreggae.com.
Roots, Rock, Reggae Festival Schedule:
Sun-Aug-06 Redway,CA Reggae on the River
Tue-Aug-08 Reno,CA Reno Hilton
Amphitheatre
Thu-Aug-10 Alpine,CA Viejas Casino -
Concerts in the Park
Fri-Aug-11 Santa Barbara,CA Santa Barbara Bowl
Sat-Aug-12 San Rafael,CA Marin County Civic
Center - Lagoon Park
Sun-Aug-13 Los Angeles,CA Hollywood Bowl
Tue-Aug-15 Las Vegas,NV Palms Hotel - Skin Pool
Stage
Wed-Aug-16 Tucson,AZ Anselmo Valencia
Amphitheatre
Thu-Aug-17 Mesa,AZ Mesa Amphitheatre
Fri-Aug-18 Albuquerque,NM Journal Pavilion
Sat-Aug-19 Morrison,CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
Sun-Aug-20 Kansas City,MO World War One Memorial
Park
Wed-Aug-23 Hyannis,MA Cape Cod Melody Tent
Thu-Aug-24 Boston,MA Bank of America
Pavilion
Fri-Aug-25 Philadelphia,PA Penn’s Landing -
Festival Pier
Sat-Aug-26 Portsmouth,VA Telos Pavilion Harbor
Center
Sun-Aug-27 Vienna,VA The Filene Center at
Wolftrap
MUSIC BITS: Busy Premo; Jay-Z’s anniversary concert and HP ad; Tupac Legacy
Tour; RL is trippin’; "40 Cal." taken seriously; ‘Mercy’ covered; B.B. to
slow down.
*Super producer DJ Premier is quietly stacking his paper via new
collaborations with Christina Aguilera, Amerie and Nas. The Gang Starr
veteran produced Aguilera’s current single, “Ain’t No Other Man,” and is
looking forward to even more soulful connections with the singer in the
future. "It' a jump off," he told MTV of her new single. "So far, so good.
We do it for the money and the sales but we don't focus on that: We focus on
'Can you feel it?' If you can't feel it, it ain't real. …She took a risk and
did a whole new style. I appreciate what she's doing, giving me a chance to
rock."
*On June 25, Jay-Z will celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut
album “Reasonable Doubt” with a one-off concert at Radio City Music Hall,
reports Much Music. For the first time ever, the retired rapper will perform
the historic album in its entirety. In other Jay-Z news, the Def Jam
president stars in a new online ad for HP laptop computers. While his head
is never shown, he is featured flipping through the different aspects of his
life – all with its proper place in his computer. Go
http://www.hp.com/personalagain/us/en/index.html?jumpid=ex_R11260_vanity/personalagain/psg/home to view the ad and click on “Viewing Room” to watch.
*The Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation has announced the “Tupac Legacy
Tour,” a 25-date concert trek that will feature prominent artists performing
songs from the late rapper’s catalog with the backing of a live band.
Proceeds will benefit the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, founded in
Stone Mountain, GA by Pac’s mother, Afeni Shakur. While several artists have
reportedly signed on, an official announcement of the lineup will be made in
the coming weeks. For more information, log onto www.2paclegacytour.com.
*RL of the R&B trio Next is suddenly barking up a storm. The singer
is hollerin’ G-Unit and putting rival groups Jagged Edge and 112 on blast in
a new song called, “Hater In You,” currently making its way around the
Internet. Borrowing the instrumental to Destiny’s Child’s, “Cater 2 U,” R.L.
responds to rumors of Next being R&B has-beens. Although there has been no
official word on whether RL has signed with G-Unit, he also shouts out the
crew’s DJ Whoo Kid during the song.
*A man in the New Orleans area was listening to The Diplomats' "40
Cal." when he playfully pulled a .40-caliber semi-automatic on his friend
and accidentally shot him to death. According to the New Orleans
Times-Picayune, Ronnie Webber of Kenner, LA did not check if the gun was
loaded before aiming it at his friend, Jonathan Beasley. Both young men had
been listening to the song from The Diplomat's “Diplomatic Immunity 2” album
when the incident occurred. After the shooting, Webber called 911 and tried
to revive his childhood friend, but Beasley died shortly after arriving to
the hospital. Webber was charged with negligent homicide.
*A cover version of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" has been recorded
by rock band The Strokes along with Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme and
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. Vedder apparently shares vocals with Julian
Casablancas on the track, while Homme plays drums alongside Fab Moretti,
reports Billboard. The track is due to appear on The Strokes’ forthcoming
album.
*B.B. King and his musical companion Lucille say they may have to
slow down a little when it comes to touring. "I still will tour domestically
somewhat, not nothing like I've been," King told The Associated Press. "It
is time to cut down a bit. Now that I am 80 years old, I said that once I'd
made it — 80, that is — I would cut back." But it won’t be anytime soon. The
blues legend has several more U.S. concert dates before heading to Europe
early next month for his final overseas tour performances. And then back to
America for a last leg.
FILM/TV/MAGAZINE BITS: Men love Leezzy; HBO’s ‘Yesterday’ wins a Peabody; Urbanworld to honor Mackie; 'Kicks' on DVD.
*Men who read Esquire magazine have chosen Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice as the woman they’d most like to invite to a dinner party.
The high-ranking official beat out such competition as Oprah Winfrey (No.
2), Angelina Jolie (No. 3), Julia Roberts, Jennifer Anniston and Jessica
Simpson. The 29-question survey, conducted by Beta Research Corp., polled
1,083 men aged 25 and older. The full results may be found in the magazine's
July issue.
*The HBO film “Yesterday,” the first South African film to receive
an Oscar nomination and the first isiZulu film to receive international
acclaim, has just become the first South African film to win the coveted
Peabody Award. The film’s producer, Anant Singh, said in a statement: "We
are humbled with the recognition that Yesterday, an indigenous South African
film in isiZulu, has received on the world stage." The Peabody Award
recognizes distinguished achievement and meritorious public service by
stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals.
*The Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival today announced actor Anthony
Mackie as its inaugural NEXT Award honoree. Selected as an individual who is
“one to watch,” Mackie will accept the award at a special 10th anniversary
celebration ceremony during the festival on June 25. His resume includes
“She Hate Me,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “Brother to Brother,” “8 Mile” and the
upcoming films “We Are Marshall,” “Half Nelson” and “Crossover.” Mackie said
in a statement: "I would like to thank Mr. Spikes and everyone at Urbanworld
for this recognition of my work. I hope to continue to present different
shades of American life in a truthful and entertaining fashion. Being one to
watch in my own community is an honor." For more information, please visit
http://www.urbanworld.org.
*“Just for Kicks,” a documentary about sneakers, hip-hop and the
corporate game, is now available on DVD via Image Entertainment, Inc. The
film is billed as the first documentary to reveal the cultural influences
behind the nation's sneaker obsession. With a perspective from the ground
up, hip-hop superstars, athletes, brand gurus and compulsive collectors
share their opinions on why athletic footwear has left the sports arena to
become the most important fashion accessory of the last 30 years. The film
premiered last year at the Tribeca Film Festival and has since screened in
over 35 cities on 5 continents, including over a dozen film festivals
worldwide. Most recently, "Just For Kicks" was named winner-best documentary
award by the 2006 New Jersey International Film Festival.
SPORTS BITS: Shaq woes; Roethlisberger’s crash; black tennis umps charge
racism; Rice gets Sirius; Brown lets O.J. go.
*After scoring a career playoff low of five points in Sunday's Game
Two of the NBA Finals in Dallas, Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal refused
to talk to the press, which cost him a $10,000 fine by the NBA. The Miami
Heat organization has also been fined $25,000 for failing to ensure its
players comply with league rules concerning media interviews. The Heat lost
to the Mavericks 99-85 at the American Airlines center. Dallas leads the
best-of-seven series 2-0 with Game Three to take place tonight in Miami.
*Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is lucky to be
alive this morning after suffering a broken nose and jaw Monday during a
motorcycle crash in which he was not wearing a helmet. Steelers president
Art Rooney II said the team was "encouraged by the early reports from the
medical team" at the hospital. "I am sure Ben knows that we are praying for
his complete recovery." The 24-year-old QB was on his black 2005 Suzuki
Hayabusa – described by the company as the world's fastest bike for legal
street riding – when a Chrysler New Yorker traveling in the opposite
direction turned left and directly into the motorcycle, throwing
Roethlisberger from the bike. As of press time, he was in serious but stable
condition, Dr. Larry Jones, chief of trauma at Pittsburgh’s Mercy Hospital
said before surgery. "He was talking to me before he left for the operating
room," Jones said. "He's coherent. He's making sense. He knows what
happened. He knows where he is. From that standpoint, he's very stable."
*Members of Congress and several civil rights and women’s
organizations are supporting African American and women tennis umpires in
their lawsuit against the USTA alleging racial, sex and age discrimination,
reports the Washington Post. Of the 2,000 umpires certified by professional
tennis's ruling bodies, less than 1 percent are black, and none has umpired
a men's semifinal or final singles match. Nor has a female umpire worked on
any of the top 16 male matches at the U.S. Open.
NFL Legend Jerry Rice has been tapped to host an exclusive show on
Sirius Satellite Radio’s Sirius NFL Radio - Channel 124, the only 24/7
year-round radio channel devoted to the NFL. Beginning today, Rice will
co-host "The Afternoon Blitz" with Adam Schein from 3-7 p.m. ET. He will be
heard three days a week on Sirius every week throughout the year. "Sirius is
the Super Bowl Champion of satellite radio companies," Rice said in a
statement. "I'm going to approach my broadcasting career with the same
energy and enthusiasm I had during my playing career and we'll put on a fun
and informative show for all the listeners out there." More information on
Sirius programming is available at http://www.SIRIUS.com.
*Denise Brown says she has learned to let go of her all-consuming
hatred of O. J. Simpson. The sister of Nicole Brown Simpson told "Inside
Edition": "I was really angry (at him) for a long time and I did anything I
could to irritate him and, in a sick sort of way, it gave me pleasure,"
Brown said. "It's as if a whole load of yuck was just built up on my
shoulders and now it's gone." Simpson was acquitted of the June 12, 1994,
murders of his former wife and her friend Ron Goldman outside her Brentwood
home. No one else has been arrested.
EVENT CALENDAR: Services set for Preston; NY’s CPF launches performing arts
programs; Hollywood Bowl honors Santana.
*A musical tribute for the late Billy Preston will be held at 7 p.m.
Monday, June 19 in Inglewood, CA at Faithful Central Bible Church (321 West
Florence Ave.), according to his sister, Lettie Preston. A memorial service
for the musician will be held in the same location the following day
beginning at 1 p.m.
*City Parks Foundation (CPF) is hosting the inaugural launch of two
free performing arts programs, CityParks Theater presented by TimeWarner and
CityParks Dance. CityParks Theater presented by Time Warner will be an
annual summertime program of free theater in New York City public parks.
Five high-quality theater groups will offer fifteen public performances over
the summer season, along with hands-on workshops for kids ages 12-17.
CityParks Dance is the inaugural season of what will be an annual summer
series of free dance performances in New York City parks with groups of
small and mid-sized dance companies. In addition, CPF is proud to announce
the 2006 season schedules for the 17th season of CityParks Concerts
presented by Snapple as well as the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, both of
which are also free.
*Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Carlos Santana will be honored with
another milestone induction on Friday, June 23 when he becomes part of the
Hollywood Bowl Hall Of Fame during their Seventh Annual ceremony. Founded in
2000, the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame, "celebrates those consummate creators
and performers, who, through their talent and effort, have established
themselves as true superstars -- with appearances on screen, stage,
recordings, and at the Bowl -- whose contributions to the arts have made
them part of the fabric of American culture." Carlos will perform on a
special bill that includes Andre Watts, Blue Man Group and John Mauceri and
the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The gala event, which begins at 8:30 p.m.,
benefits Music Matters, the Los Angeles Philharmonic's educational
initiative.