Singing great Anita Baker barely missed going to jail Friday in a dispute with her ex-husband over music royalties. The 52-year old Baker found herself in a heated battle with Walter Bridgforth, her ex-husband, over the details of their divorce settlement.
"I'm so happy. ... I have never been in such a position before," Baker said in the hallway outside court. "And we don't intend to ever be in such a position ever again. I just wanna go home,and I'm happy to go home. ... As horrific as it could have been, it was lovely to feel supported, though, on the other end."
Baker was faced with a deadline Wednesday to sign documents that empower court-appointed music contract expert Howard Hertz to obtain information from record labels regarding how much Baker owed her ex-husband. The deadline passed and Baker still had not signed. This led to the Wayne County Chief Family Court Judge Lita Masini Popke ordering Baker to either show up in court on Friday or go to jail.
Anita Baker Barely Misses Going to Jail
JUICY GOSSIP: JADEN SMITH NEW MOVIE, SNOOP DOGG BLUEPRINT ALBUM, JAY-Z GOT JOKES AND MORE
As previously reported Snoop was named the creative chairman for the record label allowing him to oversee the company's new projects just in time for its 25th anniversary.
KEISHA KNIGHT IS 30…TIME DONT STAND STILL
JAY-Z AINT CHANGED A BIT, BUT HE HAS LOTS OF JOKES ON THE DAVLETTERMAN SHOW
BIGGIE GONE AND FAITH GETTING SUED FOR HIS ESTATE
As of Tuesday February 24, 2010, the law offices of Lowe Law, P.C., in Los Angeles, have moved forward with a lawsuit against Faith Evans, RocDarling, and the Estate of Christopher “Notorious B.I.G” Wallace, with claims of “Breach of Contract” by their clients Kaushi Entertainment LLC and Dro-Entertainment Inc.
The lawsuit seeks over a million dollars and punitive damages.
DEEP VIDEO BLACK PEOPLE: THE OBSESSION OF COMPLEXION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Joy talks to rappers, and video vixens about their casting in videos.
NEW TRAILER FOR THE NEW KARATE KID, AND WILL SMITH SON IS HOLDING IT DOWN
Jaden Smith stars in his new movie Karate Kid, coming to theater this summer, and it looks good. Cant wait to check it out!!!
JUICY GOSSIP: SATANA PARTY GOES WRONG, NICKI MINAJ IS BET’S NEW HOST, GAYLE CAN’T IMAGINE DAYTIME TV WITHOUT OPRAH & MORE
SANTANA BDAY PARTY DIDN’T GO TO WELL
An all-out beatdown was administered Monday night to a man who tried to crash the VIP area of a birthday party for rapper Juelz Santana.
The incident at New York’s M2 Ultralounge jumped off when a man wearing a Rev Run hat attempted to hop over the VIP divider.
read more /watch video click here
YOUNG BERG GETS ROBBED AGAIN
According to Hip-Hop Wired Recently, the young rapper was, allegedly, the victim to a robbery in a Los Angeles neighborhood on Sunday where he was relieved of some of his luxuries along with being pistol whipped.
According to reports, authorities were alerts around 2 a.m. that morning and they are now investigating the home invasion.
NICKI MINAJ IS THIS YEAR’S RIP THE RUNWAY HOST
Nicki Minaj is very popular these days as the Young Money diva has been tapped to host this year's annual Rip The Runway special on BET alongside Pooch Hall, most known for his role as “Derwin Davis” on the TV show The Game.
The special, now in its sixth year, celebrates the connection between urban music and high end fashion.
REMY MA SAYS SHE “HAS NEVER SLEPT WITH NICKI MINAJ”
"I'm not gay, how would I have sex with Nicki Minaj.”
The media is quick to jump on drama and create any type of controversy that can come from it.
When a video appeared of a woman, that was allegedly rapper Nicki Minaj before she hit the mainstream, talking about her sexual relationship with Remy Ma, many believed that Ms. Remy engaged in the accusations.
read more/listen more click here
GAYLE DOESNT WANT OPRAH TO LEAVE
Oprah Winfrey’s final talk show won’t air until Sept. 2011, but her best friend Gayle King is already going through withdrawl.
“I said to Oprah, ‘I’m having a hard time. I’m not ready,’” King told the Associated Press. “But, you know, I am ready for her. She makes the best decision for herself. I totally understand why she’s doing it. That said, I can’t imagine daytime TV without her.”
RICKY SMILEY GOTTA PAY UP FOR CALLING A MAN GAY
A federal judge has refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against comedian and radio host Rickey Smiley from a security claiming the entertainer called him gay on “The Rickey Smiley Show.”
According to courthousenews.com , the security guard, Henry Robinson, had apparently irked Smiley by trying to take a picture with him twice. Robinson claimed that on his second request, Smiley began calling him “the gay security guard” and “faggot.”
YOUNG BERG RESPONDS TO BEING ROBBED
"What you got to know is I am fine, you see me? Jesus hands, I'm good. I'm straight, it's nothing wrong with nobody.”
ROBERT PATTINSON IS CALLING BLACK PEOPLE NEGROS, SNOOP IS IN THE DOGG HOUSE WITH IRS, AND MORE
Interviewer: Rob, did you know that every time you say actor or acting you lower your voice to a whisper?
Rob: ((He’s genuinely startled.)) “I do?”
Interviewer: Yes, so quietly it’s like you’re saying Negro.
Rob: ((He laughs, lightens up.)) “What if we were ‘acting’ like ‘Negroes’? Then we’d be f**ked—we couldn’t hear anything. . . .”
Harvard University Names Wyclef Jean “Artist Of The Year”
His humanitarian efforts must have helped Wyclef Jean gain Artist of the Year honors from Harvard University, because his bleating like a goat on “We Are The World 25 For Haiti,” sure didn’t do much for us.
Jay-Z & NY Governor Paterson Are Under Federal Investigation
Governor Paterson and Jay-Z have become quite close and are starting to mix business with pleasure. Even though Governor Paterson is quick to tell you that his boy Jay-Z “Got His Back”, the federal government isn’t trying to hear that.
Jay-Z and Governor Paterson are under federal investigation for the multibillion-dollar racino venture at Aqueduct Ractrack and AEG’s
SUGE KNIGHT SOLD ALL HIS VALUABLES
Suge Knight' problems with money and bills are continuing to add up.
As previously reported, Suge was set to be taken to court by one of the mothers of his children who allege that he owed her for back child support payments.
SNOOP OWES 600K TO THE IRS
It seems that in the process of delivering so much Malice last year, rapper Snoop Dogg may have forgot to take care of some of his financial priorities as the IRS is coming after the Doggfather.
LIL WAYNE JOINED TWITTER RIGHT BEFORE THE LOCK DOWN
Lil' Wayne has decided to officially join the Twitter club.
Just 7 days before checking in to serve his one year prison stint at New York's Rikers Island, Lil Wayne joined the uber popular social media website under the tweet name @LilTuneChi.
The Young Money CEO had been able to fight the urge to follow after countless celebs who feel the need to tweet their every move until Sunday (February 21) when the prison bound MC tweeted:
“im super new to this twitter shit but wudup tho !..........follow me biot¢h..........wudup mak......happy bday LO......8 days of freedom..ym”
MARLON WAYANS AS RICHARD PRYOR, AKON & LADY GAGA, JILL SCOTT STARRING ROLE, & MORE
When it was announced that Marlon Wayans and not Eddie Murphy would be portraying Richard Pryor in the long-discussed biopic of the comedy giant, the news was greeted with Internet jeering.
Wayans wasn’t surprised when he read the disparaging comments — you can’t hang your star on films like “White Chicks” and “Little Man” without consequences.
JHUD NEW MILK AD
Jennifer Hudson on the set of her MILK AD!!!
FANTASIA HAS SOME REAL HATERS
Fantasia is having an ugly reality thrown her way. According to TMZ, the singer, starring in “The Color Purple,” playing at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, is the victim of a threatening letter.
JILL STARS IN A LIFETIME MOVIE AND IT WAS GOOD
R&B singer and actress Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency) is set to headline the Lifetime Movie Network Original Movie “Sins of the Mother,” a touching story about the harsh realities of love, forgiveness and the closest of bonds between mother and daughter.
DONALD FAISON ON CBS
*”Scrubs” alum Donald Faison has just been cast in the CBS pilot “The Odds,” a move that has sparked rumors that his current series, “Scrubs,” may soon be a done deal at ABC.
AKON CASHING IN ON LADY GAGA
Who knew Akon had it going on the way he does? The Senegalese born singer is supposedly considering an early retirement thanks to Lady GaGa.
Black Entertainment News – 2/20/10
Depardieu says he's not too white to play Dumas
By theGrio
3:54 PM on 02/19/2010
BERLIN (AP) -- Gerard Depardieu has rejected the discussion over his right to play mixed-race author Alexandre Dumas because he is a blue-eyed blonde...
Rap star says Romney got physical with him on plane
By theGrio
1:14 PM on 02/19/2010
BOSTON (AP) - A rap star says former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney first touched him -- and not the other way around...
Fan gets jail time for text-stalking Ashanti's mother
By theGrio
11:16 AM on 02/19/2010
NEW YORK (AP) - A delusional fan who unleashed his crude fantasies about Ashanti in a battery of text messages to her mother was sentenced to two years in jail...
'High School Musical' star Corbin Bleu talks to theGrio about new Broadway role
By Alex Presha
9:26 AM on 02/19/2010
VIDEO - Bleu talks about the his new role, race on Broadway and the evolution of Hollywood...
New film 'Blood Done Sign My Name' recreates 1970 battle against segregation
By Todd Johnson
8:34 AM on 02/19/2010
VIDEO - A new film looks at how the tragic murder of a Vietnam veteran prompted a small North Carolina town's black community to stand up and fight back...
Hollywood's most overlooked resource: black female directors
8:22 AM on 02/19/2010
OPINION - It took 74 years for the Academy Awards to acknowledge a black female as best actress. How long will it be before black woman is nominated for best director?...
New Sade album goes gold in first week
By theGrio
5:29 PM on 02/17/2010
NEW YORK (AP) - An army of fans -- more than 500,000 of them -- went out to support Sade's latest CD, "Soldier of Love," giving the group their first No. 1 disc in 20 years...
Bob Marley’s Family Fights to Stop Release of New Book
Ky-Mani Marley, a Grammy Award-nominated reggae and hip-hop artist, penned "Dear Dad: Where's the family in our family, today?'' which was released this month by Farrah Gray Publishing in celebration of Marley's 65th birthday.
The issue between author and publisher lies mainly in the extra coverline: "The Story The Marley Family Apparently Doesn't Want You To Know.''
In an online statement, Ky-Mani says the caption is unauthorized: "I did NOT authorize him to make any changes to the cover of my book, nor do I condone any of the captions he has written!''
Further, Ky-Mani told The Gleaner, a Jamaican newspaper, that he was considering legal action against the Gray, saying he simply wanted to tell his story without causing any conflict. He told the newspaper the title was changed from "Dear Dad: The Marley Son Who Persevered From The Streets To Prominence."
But Dr. Farrah Gray, the publisher, stands by the book, saying he worked with Marley every step of the way. He said that Marley wrote the book using a ghostwriter and the interviews were recorded.
"I didn't write his book,'' Gray told BV on Books. "I published it. He did the final edit. Now he's issuing a statement that he didn't approve it...for those of us who believe in one love, Ky-Mani Marley's story deserves light. He's throwing me under the bus and going on a smear campaign, but I have the tapes. The tapes are worse and he doesn't want those publicized.''
ASHANTI MAMA HAS A STALKER & HE’S GOING TO JAIL
The Ashanti fan who creeped out her family with a series of crude text messages to her mother was sentenced Thursday to two years in jail, despite the judge’s preference to send him to psychological treatment instead.
MB MAKING MOVES TO HELP THE KIDS
*Nationally-syndicated radio host Michael Baisden has created a campaign to encourage one million Americans to sign up as mentors for children in need through a national outreach effort.
The One Million Mentors Campaign to Save Our Kids will launch with its first event in Dallas on Feb. 17 and hit the road to visit 72 cities in a campaign-themed bus.
read more click here
THE JUDGE WAS IMPRESSED BY CHRIS BROWN
Chris Brown and his lawyer, Mark Geragos appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom today for a status hearing in his assault case.
JAY-Z DOESN’T LIKE WHITE PEOPLE
*We know Jay-Z has 99 problems. And in the scheme of things, this more than likely won’t be #100.
We’re referring to an incident in Britain earlier this week. Hova is being accused by a local paper there of discrimination.
The Daily Star is reporting that he refused to allow white people into his VIP area at Merah nightclub in London following his Best International Male Solo win at the BRIT Awards.
read more click more
FANTASIA IS RECIEVING HATE MAIL
*Fantasia is having an ugly reality thrown her way. According to TMZ, the singer, starring in “The Color Purple,” playing at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood, is the victim of a threatening letter.
LIL WEEZY HAD 8 ROOT CANALS
Like they say, “Everything That Glitter Ain’t Gold” and neither are Lil’ Wayne’s real teeth. Earlier this month, Lil’ Wayne’s sentencing was delayed because he needed some dental done, which included 8 Root Canals!!!
TODAY: TIGER WOODS PRESS CONFERENCE
When Woods finished, he hugged his mother and she whispered in his ear.
"I said 'I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you and I love you,'" Kultida Woods said.
Admitting he felt he "deserved to enjoy the temptations" that came with his fabulous success, Woods said he is solely responsible for his actions. "I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior," Woods said.
Woods said he was in treatment for 45 days and will return for more therapy, adding he has more work to do to resolve his personal problems.
Tiger Woods’ Does a Press Conference - Finally
Today, Tiger Woods finally did what everyone expected him to do: He spoke out on his own behalf. The world waited for months to hear a peep from the man who has decided to do one of the greatest disappearing acts the sports world has ever seen. When there was no Tiger, there was no professional golf.
The press conference was starting on the wrong foot, as there was buzz of a boycott from golf writers, who felt that Tiger was not giving proper respect to media by refusing to allow them to ask questions. There was also the ire communicated from his fellow golfers, such as Ernie Els, who called Tiger "selfish" for giving his press conference on a Friday, during a tournament sponsored by Accenture.
What Ernie Els failed to remember is that Accenture is the company that dropped Tiger when he was being embarrassed by the media. There is no reason that Tiger should be the least bit hesitant about stealing the headlines away from their golf tournament. Perhaps had Accenture not decided to abandon Tiger, he might not have abandoned them.
His mother was there, the PGA Commissioner was there, and one of Tiger's roommates from college was in attendance. What was missing from the press conference? Well, the press. I'm not sure if you can actually call this a press conference when you've chosen to exclude the media. The other glaring absence from the room was Tiger's wife, Elin.
Fellow Golfer Calls Tiger Woods “Selfish”
Tiger Woods is planning to have the press conference of the year tomorrow, during which he will talk about his past, present and future. He will be in the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He is not going to answer questions and the world will be watching. All three major networks are planning to tune in and for just 30 minutes, you may as well call him Tiger Obama, given that his speech is getting the same attention at the State of the Union Address.
Ernie Els, one of Tiger's arch rivals on the golf course (if Tiger has any rivals), is lining himself up to be one of the first men to attack Woods for his choices.
"It's selfish," Els told Golfweek. "You can write that. I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday. This takes a lot away from the golf tournament."
WANDA SYKES GET AN AWARD, DRAKE GETS TURNED DOWN BY SADE, AND VANITY FAIR AINT FAIR
GLAAD announced Thursday that Sykes will receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equal rights.
VANITY FAIR DID OUR GIRL PRECIOUS WRONG
The foldout photo features nine young starlets to keep an eye on, but excludes Sidibe, whose youth and Oscar nomination should have made her a no-brainer to be included. Adding to the controversy is the fact that all of the chosen actresses are white and thin.
ANGELA DIDNT MAKE THE CUT FOR IDOL, AND LIFE HAS BEEN HARD
A third time was not the charm for “American Idol” contestant Angela Martin.
While dealing with the emotions surrounding her mother, who has been missing since the day after Christmas, the Chicago singer was given the news that she would not be among the top 24 despite her third time auditioning. [Watch footage above]
Eubanks still May be around the Jay Leno Show
After reports surfaced earlier this week that Kevin Eubanks would be leaving his gig as Jay Leno’s bandleader when the “Tonight Show” returns in March, the musician took to his Twitter page to clarify.
“I’ll still be around on the show, but less as of now. I’ll tweet when a definite plan is set,” he posted Thursday.
SADE AINT TRYING TO WORK WITH DRAKE
Well all that sounds good Mr. Drake, but unfortunately, as Grandma used to say, Sade ain’t studying you. Actually it’s nothing personal, she just doesn’t do collabos.
“I don’t think they have contacted me,” Sade, 51, told Canada’s National Post. “I’ve never collaborated because I’ve always avoided working outside my safety zone – I can be exactly who I am and can fail or succeed within the moment. I feel safe working like I do. I wouldn’t want to work in a situation where I am expected to deliver, because I think I wouldn’t deliver.”
RAVEN SYMONE TRIPPING WITH WENDY WILLAIMS
Raven’s got a message for all those bloggers and writers who love to talk smack, and she shared it on the Wendy Williams Show.
Check out the clip to watch the fabulous duo chat about Raven’s role as an icon with the multi-cultural women’s empowerment movement, Pepsi We Inspire.
