Video: Soldier Of Love, In Stores Feb/9

Some Wednesday Love For You: "There Goes My Baby"

Been busy as hell. But lots of updates are coming. Here's, Charlie Wilson's song to make you believe in love again. In case you have been under a rock, this is Snoop Dog's wife in real life. He's been with her for a looong time, since childhood. Don't give up hope. Love is alive and real. You'll find it one day. Trust me you will.

Natalie Cole on Larry King Live: In Need of Kidney

Check out Natalie Cole on Larry King Live tonight on CNN. She will discuss her fight for survival with Hepatitus C. The singing superstar who battled drug use for many years is now desperately in need of a kidney transplant. Larry King Live, tonight at 9PM EST.

Photo credit: Fanpix.net

Bebe Winans Hits Ex-Wife, Arrested

It's sad to even have to post on another story like this. Gospel singer Bebe Winans has been charged with misdemeanor domestic assault against his ex-wife in Nashville, TN. The dispute arose when Bebe was picking up his children on a court ordered visitation. According to court documents, his ex-wife Debra stated that she was discussing issues with him pertaining to their children. The R&B singer then became irate, walked around to the other side of the car and pushed her to the ground. Bebe was arrested and released Thursday on $1,000 bond.

Bebe who is most famous for his collaborations with his sibling CeCe Winans, is also host of BET's gospel show Sunday Best. Bebe denies the allegations and say they are inconsistent with his character.

Letter from John Legend to the New York Post

Open Letter to the New York Post (Johnlegend.com)



Dear Editor:

I'm trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the Economic Recovery legislation must have the intelligence and judgment of a deranged, violent chimpanzee, and should be shot to protect the larger community. Really? Did it occur to you that this suggestion would imply a connection between President Barack Obama and the deranged chimpanzee? Did it occur to you that our President has been receiving death threats since early in his candidacy? Did it occur to you that blacks have historically been compared to various apes as a way of racist insult and mockery? Did you intend to invoke these painful themes when you printed the cartoon?

If that's not what you intended, then it was stupid and willfully ignorant of you not to connect these easily connectable dots. If it is what you intended, then you obviously wanted to be grossly provocative, racist and offensive to the sensibilities of most reasonable Americans. Either way, you should not have printed this cartoon, and the fact that you did is truly reprehensible. I can't imagine what possible justification you have for this. I've read your lame statement in response to the outrage you provoked. Shame on you for dodging the real issue and then using the letter as an opportunity to attack Rev. Sharpton. This is not about Rev. Sharpton. It's about the cartoon being blatantly racist and offensive.

I believe in freedom of speech, and you have every right to print what you want. But freedom of speech still comes with responsibilities and consequences. You are responsible for printing this cartoon, and I hope you experience some real consequences for it. I'm personally boycotting your paper and won't do any interviews with any of your reporters, and I encourage all of my colleagues in the entertainment business to do so as well. I implore your advertisers to seriously reconsider their business relationships with you as well.

You should print an apology in your paper acknowledging that this cartoon was ignorant, offensive and racist and should not have been printed.

I'm well aware of our country's history of racism and violence, but I truly believe we are better than this filth. As we attempt to rise above our difficult past and look toward a better future, we don't need the New York Post to resurrect the images of Jim Crow to deride the new administration and put black folks in our place. Please feel free to criticize and honestly evaluate our new President, but do so without the incendiary images and rhetoric.

Sincerely,
John Legend

Photo of Abused Rihanna: (TMZ.com/TheBosh.com)

I know a lot of women, even in the entertainment industry, who are going through domestic violence situations.....Maybe this photo of singer Rihanna will serve as a wake up call for you to leave. Get well Rihanna.

In the meantime LAPD releases statement about unauthorized release of photo.

-Monica Peters

Photo from: TheBosh.com via TMZ.com

Ludacris to Headline Hip Hop 101

Music lovers in the Los Angeles are in for a special treat in February. Hip Hop 101 hits the Los Angeles Sports Arena on February 21 in honor of Black History month. Daylong festivities for true hip hop heads will be in abundance. Yours truly "Ludacris" will headline the concert. If you slip up and don't get your significant other that perfect Valentine's gift, Hip Hop 101 may be your redemption. Go "Luda."

Movie Review: "Notorious"... Surprisingly Good.

"Ms. Wallace conceived Biggie with a married man. One of many interesting facts that came out in the film."

By Monica Peters

I must admit that I had concerns about being potentially disappointed with the film “Notorious” starring Angela Bassett, Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Naturi Naughton, Antonique Smith and Anthony Mackie. However, the film does not disappoint. The entire cast brought home the spirit of the real life characters. To my surprise, the film also had depth.

Hollywood newcomer, Jamal Woolard hits the mark playing Notorious BIG, aka Biggie on screen. He is very natural and more importantly believable in this role. He is one to watch in Hollywood. Biggie’s relationship with his mother, Voletta Wallace played by Angela Basset provides much depth to the film as it portrays his life from early childhood to his tragic murder eleven years ago in Los Angeles. Many may not know that Ms. Wallace conceived Biggie with a married man. One of many interesting facts that came out in the film. The “mash potato” scene is a turning point in Biggie’s life where Ms. Wallace throws away what she thinks is mash potatoes from under his bed. Biggie raids the kitchen trash can to recover “the potatoes.” Ms. Wallace then realizes that her son is in an illegal profession and throws him out onto the streets.

Naturi Naughton, who plays Lil’ Kim, provided much spice in the highly anticipated film. Naughton does an excellent job in showing the vulnerable and insecure side of rapper Lil’ Kim. Initially she and Biggie had a great relationship where he pursued her romantically in their early days in Bed Stuy. He was her lover, protector and had a solid devotion to her as an artist when he discovered that she also had talent that could make her a superstar. Things soon began to get rocky when he married singer Faith Evans out the clear blue. He still kept his commitment to Lil’ Kim as his artist and continued their affair. Naughton’s racy role keeps the moviegoer intrigued with her and Biggie’s volatile off/on relationship. I was actually surprised that the film gave Lil’ Kim’s character depth given the rocky history between the raunchy female rapper and the slain rapper’s mother in real life. The recording studio scene where Lil’ Kim and Biggie have an explosive argument after his surprise nuptials to Evans, played by Antonique Smith, is classic. It is in this scene where you begin to remember that Lil Kim in real life often talked about Biggie’s physical abuse towards her. The dialogue in this scene is also classic. Let’s just say Biggie puts Lil’ Kim in her place about where she stands with him.

Actress Antonique Smith has a striking resemblance to singer Faith Evans. She brings home the prize so to speak portraying Evans on screen. Her character finds out soon enough that marrying a man after only 3 weeks of dating is not a good idea--especially since Biggie never stopped his cheating ways (the singer claims in her new book that she and Biggie courted for a few months, but the film’s depiction disputes that). She does have a physical confrontation with a random groupie who she finds in bed with Biggie. However, the only thing that was grossly missing in this film is that it does not depict her rocky relationship with Lil’Kim and does not address how she felt when she found out in real life that Biggie was having an affair with Kim. *Faith Evans and Lil’ Kim had a much publicized physical confrontation in real life.

Derek Luke to my surprise did a good job in making his portrayal of music mogul Diddy believable. His on stage persona of Diddy in the film does provide for some comedic moments though, especially the dancing. Anyone who came to the advance screening as a “Doubting Thomas” if Luke could capture the larger than life personality of Diddy were soon converted to believers.

As far as Anthony Mackie’s portrayal as Biggie’s rival, slain rapper Tupac Shakur; let’s just say he tried his best. That’s not a diss, but Shakur’s complex persona would be hard for any actor to personify.

Towards the end of the film as the rapper receives constant death threats due to his ongoing feud with Shakur, he begins to put his life in perspective. He tries to mend the fences with Faith (also the mother of his son Christopher Wallace Jr), Lil’ Kim and Jan, the mother of his first child from his teenage years by becoming a better father and more involved in their lives. But by then it’s too late.

A touching point of the film that will bring tears to your eyes: Biggie’s son, Christopher Wallace Jr., plays the role of his father in his childhood years in the film. You don’t find this out until the end of the film. It doesn’t get any better than that.

New Footage: Behind the Scenes of NOTORIOUS the movie. Hitting Theaters 2009

"In the Place With Style & Grace" Behind the Scenes with actress Atonique Smith who plays Faith Evans in the upcoming film "NOTORIOUS" based on the life of slain rapper Notorious BIG aka "Biggie Smalls" hitting theaters January 2009.


Here's the movie trailer in case you didn't catch it.

R&B, Soul, Grammy and Oscar Winner Isaac Hayes Passes at 65

Written by Monica Peters Medina

Sunday August 10, 2008, Memphis, TN: Singer, producer, Oscar and Grammy winner Isaac Hayes passed away today. He was found lying unconscious next to his treadmill and pronounced dead at 2PM after unsuccessful attempts to revive him at his home in Memphis Tennessee. He was 65 years old. Hayes was an undisputed living legend of this era. Hayes won multiple Grammy awards during his career including for best instrumental pop performance for his album titled “Black Moses” in 1972. The music and movie icon, inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, was known to this generation as the voice of Chef on the hit cartoon “South Park.” However his spectacular acting and music career over 30 years included winning an Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Music, Original Song for the legendary classic movie soundtrack “Shaft” in 1971. He also won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2005 along with fellow cast members for his role as Arnel in the film “Hustle & Flow” starring Terrance Howard.

Hayes was married four times and leaves behind 12 children including his current wife Adjowa.

Photo credit: BBC News/Associated Press

R. Kelly “Not Guilty” on All Counts of Child Pornography

By Monica Peters Medina

A jury acquitted R&B singer R. Kelly this afternoon on all 14 counts of child pornography. The R&B singer cried as the verdict was being read on each count. The diverse jury panel consisted of a mostly white jury-nine men and three women.

Post your thoughts on the R. Kelly verdict.

Photo credit: (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Lil Lil’ Kim Gets “Cut”. How Do You Feel About Her New Look?

Lil Kim has gotten more plastic surgery and has a new look. What do you think?