JAY-Z WANTS YANKEES IN HIS PORTFOLIO?: Rap mogul reportedly open to owning shares in the New York ball club June 30, 2008

Jay-Z is reportedly looking into becoming a part owner of the New York Yankees, which would expand his diverse range of investments that already include a record label, clothing line, liquor and the New Jersey Nets basketball team.

 

      The rap mogul, at one time, was close to buying into London soccer team Arsenal Football Club, but the deal fell through.

 

      “I had invested in the Nets, and they (Arsenal bosses) asked me if I was interested in investing. But I get that from time to time,” Jigga explained to London’s Time Out magazine.

 

       He continued: “Someone told me yesterday that someone else had a piece of the New York Yankees – ‘We wanna talk to you, yadda yadda yadda.’ I mean, I love the Yankees so I’m in the middle of following that through, but sometimes it comes to be nothing. That (Arsenal) was one of the times it came to nothing.”

NICOLE RICHIE HITS UP ‘CHUCK’: Lionel’s daughter to guest star on NBC series in the fall June 30, 2008

Nicole Richie just got a new job to go along with her newborn baby. The mother of four-month-old Harlow will make a guest appearance on the NBC comedy “Chuck” when its second season begins on Sept. 29.      

       “Chuck” stars Zachary Levi in the title role of a nerd who becomes an unwitting counterterrorism operative.      

       The celebutante will play a snarky, spiteful girl who went to school with Chuck’s CIA handler, Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski), and has to confront her at their 10-year high school reunion, according to the Hollywood Reporter.      

       “This role is a great opportunity for Nicole to show off her comedic skills and be diabolically evil and kick some butt,” executive producer Josh Schwartz said.

Katt’s deal; Sharpton’s diet; AOL taps Tatyana; Santiago-Hudson’s ‘Things’; Adriane Lenox ‘Ruined’ June 30, 2008

Katt Williams is getting his hustle on at Comedy Central. The self-described “pimp” is close to wrapping a deal that will net him a pilot for a sketch comedy series as well as a comedy special, reports Variety. Williams will star in and executive produce the series, details of which are still being hammered out.

 

       *Rev. Al Sharpton is apparently on a diet. The New York Daily News’ Full Disclosure column says he’s lost 20 pounds in the past six month from walking four days a week on the treadmill and elliptical and adhering to only two meals daily, both before 6 p.m. His breakfast is reportedly two hard-boiled eggs and tomato, and his other meal is fish accompanied by a green salad. One day a week, just to mix it up, he throws some chicken on the salad.

 

       *Tatyana Ali hosts the new AOL Black Voice Weekly Wire, a three-minute video recap of top entertainment news presented each Friday on Black Voices’ Entertainment Newswire and Style Spotter blogs. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the official sponsor of the six-week program.

 

       *Theater veteran Ruben Santiago-Hudson is among the directors chosen to helm a production for the New York Theatre Workshop’s 26th season. In spring 2009, he’ll bring to life Things of Dry Hours, playwright Naomi Wallace’s story set in Depression-era Alabama. “Black Sunday school teacher and Communist Party member Tice Hogan lives on the edge of trouble. When a white factory worker on the run demands sanctuary, Tice and his daughter may be pushed over that edge.” For tickets to shows at NYTW, 79 East Fourth Street, call (212) 460-5475. For more information visit the Web site at www.nytw.org. (Playbill)

 

       *Tony Award winner Adriane Lenox of Doubt will star in Manhattan Theatre Club’s 2009 world premiere production of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined, a co-production with the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. The drama is a “haunting, probing work about the resilience of the human spirit during times of war – set in a small mining town in Democratic Republic of Congo. Lenox plays Mama Nadi, a shrewd businesswoman in a land torn apart by civil war. But is she protecting or profiting by the women she shelters?” The play runs at New York City Center Stage I beginning Jan. 21, 2009, toward a Feb. 10 opening.

Winehouse swings; Diddy’s dalliance; Ras Kass CD; Miss Jones cancelled June 30, 2008

Amy Winehouse, fresh from her performance the day before at Nelson Mandela’s birthday concert in London, attempted to knock out a concertgoer while performing Saturday night at England’s Glastonbury Music Festival. During her hour-long set, the troubled singer climbed down into the audience to work the crowd. Cameras were rolling as she swung at a man who reportedly tried to touch her breasts. [View footage here.]  Both performances over the weekend follow her hospitalization with emphysema-like symptoms.

 

       *The New York Daily News column Full Disclosure is reporting that the teen girl who supposedly slept with Christie Brinkley’s husband also had a fling last summer with Sean “Diddy” Combs. “His reps, however, assure us it isn’t true,” the column stated. “The pair did meet out east a few months back, but Puffy’s peeps insist that they didn’t spend any ‘quality’ time getting to know each other, if you catch their drift.”

 

       *Underground rapper Ras Kass, currently behind bars in California, has announced through a press release that his new album, “Institutionalized Vol. II,” is due on Aug 5. The MC was arrested in October 2007 for breaking his probation, leaving California and traveling to the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, according to reports.

 

       *New York radio station Hot 97 has cancelled its “Miss Jones in the Morning” show and will replace it with two nationally-syndicated programs.  According to a statement from the station’s owner Emmis Communications, the morning drive slot in the New York Tri-State area will feature Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and the Los Angeles-based radio show “Big Boy’s Neighborhood” from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

‘MILLER BOYZ’ INVADE WAL-MART: Master P and son Romeo to relaunch clothing line through nationwide chain June 30, 2008

Romeo Miller will enter his freshman year at USC this fall as an actor, rapper, and now, budding fashion tycoon.

 

      The 18-year-old teen and his father, No Limit founder Percy “Master P” Miller, have agreed to relaunch their P. Miller Designs clothing line exclusively through Wal-Mart, reports Billboard.

 

        The brand of men’s apparel, featuring graphic T-shirts, fleece hoodies and fashion denims, will be available at about 350 Wal-Mart stores beginning next month.

 

      “Wal-Mart stands for everything P. Miller does,” said Master P. “It’s America and diversity. Our whole thing is price point. I want to put out affordable clothes where the masses can buy them.”

 

      The P. Miller line used to be available at such retailers as Kohl’s and Mervyns “a few years ago,” said Master P. Moving their business to Wal-Mart, the mogul added, was a good look for P. Miller Designs and its emphasis on “high fashion at an affordable cost.”

 

       Master P said he has shifted most responsibilities for the clothing line to Romeo, whose previous dealing with Wal-Mart was on the duet CD, “Miller Boyz: Hip-Hop History,” an album with his dad sold exclusively through the discount chain. (The album is also available for download at online music stores.)

RICK ROSS QUIET ON FOXY BROWN RUMORS: Rapper won’t confirm rumored engagement June 30, 2008

Rick Ross, a.k.a. “the biggest boss that you’ve seen thus far,” isn’t really big on kissing on telling about his love life.

 

      The publication Hip-Hop Weekly got the rumor mill churning about a serious romantic relationship that had developed between Ross and trouble-prone rapper, Foxy Brown. The article even reported that Foxy was planning a move from New Jersey to Ross’ Miami digs because they were so in love with each other.

 

       But Ross told MTV News Tuesday: “Nah, nah, nah. The engagement is just speculation. I’m married to the money.”

 

       As far as “The Boss” and “Il Na Na” being an item, Ross didn’t say. In the meantime, the rotund rapper is partnering with Baby from Cash Money for a movie and possible duet album – both entitled “H.”

RACISTS HACK INTO HIP HOP WEB SITES: AllHipHop, SOHH forced to shut down temporarily last week June 30, 2008

Hip Hop was under attack in cyberspace late last week by racists who hacked into the sites of AllHipHop.com and SOHH.com and swapped out the usual rap-related articles with fake headlines and racial slurs.

 

       According to MTV.com, the hackers also swiped personal information about workers at SOHH.com.       

       Both Web sites were first infiltrated early last week through its forum pages, and both were forced to shut down temporarily on Friday. Taking credit for the crime is a party identifying itself as “Anonymous.”      

       “AllHipHop and SOHH, two pioneering Web sites that have been in the industry for over 10 years, are appalled by the unprovoked racist attacks of these cyber terrorists,” said AllHipHop co-founders Chuck Creekmur and Greg Watkings in a statement released late Friday. “With all the social strides that we have seen for several years, it is sad to see that this sort of blatant, hateful racism still exists in 2008 — a time of tremendous possibility. Together, AllHipHop and SOHH are committed to relentlessly pursuing these attackers, using every resource available, to ensure the capture of these criminals and prevention of repeat offenses.”      

       SOHH CEO Felicia Palmer, the personal victim of derogatory comments by the hackers, said in a statement: “It appears that hackers are specifically targeting Black, Hispanic, Asian and Jewish youth who ascribe to hip-hop culture. Other websites, including AllHipHop and DatPiff[.com's] forums have also been compromised or threatened this week. … Also, as this is an international issue, it is being addressed by the FBI and the Strategic Alliance Cyber Crime Working Group.”

DMX’S RAP SHEET GROWING BY THE DAY: Rapper arrested again Friday, this time for trying to buy cocaine June 30, 2008

On the heels of his arrest exactly one week ago for driving on a suspended license, DMX found himself in handcuffs again – this time for attempting to buy cocaine and marijuana from an undercover cop in Miami.

 

      The rapper, born Earl Simmons, was arrested as part of a narcotics investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department.

      According to authorities, he approached an undercover narcotics detective and requested “30 Powder & 15 Weed” – a.k.a. cocaine and marijuana. The Yonkers-born artist was reportedly arrested when he paid the fake dealer $45.       

       This is DMX’s fourth arrest since May 7, when he was charged with racing on a highway, reckless driving, two counts of endangerment, three counts of criminal speed and driving on a suspended license.       

       On May 9, he was charged with seven misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and four felony drug possession charges.  Last Monday (June 23), he was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

 

RUSSELL SIMMONS EXPLAINS CUSTODY AGREEMENT: Also, Kimora Lee puts L.A. house on market for $7.75 million June 30, 2008

Russell Simmons says he’s happy to pay $20,000 per month for each of his two children in a divorce agreement with his former wife, Kimora Lee Simmons.

 

      The amount was made public last week with the reporting of his child custody arrangement regarding 8-year-old Ming and 5-year-old Aoki Lee.  Kimora won sole custody of the girls, while Russell gets his daughters one week out of every eight, plus extra time for summer vacations and holidays, according to court documents.

 

       As previously reported, the monthly $20,000 per child ends when each reaches the age of 19 1/2, or until the daughter is emancipated, married, becomes self-supporting, joins the armed forces or stops living with their mother.       

       Russell is also required to buy or lease a car valued at $60,000 or more for the girls once every 24 months.

 

       In a letter addressed to critics, Simmons defends his child support ruling and explains the reasons he thinks it’s appropriate. He stated the following:       

        Friends of mine have forwarded me gossip online about my custody agreement details with Kimora. The fact is, we’ve had a pretty good partnership at sharing the girls in the past.        

        There have been a few bumps in the road, and those bumps have led us to negotiate a minimum amount of time I’m guaranteed to see my kids. That deal is as follows: I have the girls one full week out of every eight, half of the summer, half of all the holidays, a full week at Christmas, and half of Spring Break.        

        Like in all good partnerships, contracts are meant to protect the partners but are usually not the only way the partners work together. If I show up in L.A., where she now lives, unannounced, I can call up Kimora and she will most likely send them right over. The same goes for when she comes to New York.        

        We have always had a school in New York and a school with the same curriculum in L.A., so when the girls are with me in New York, we can spend quality time together. I can get up with them, take them to school and just be together. Kimora consults with me about doctors or schools for the girls, but she’s always had final say in those areas. If we had an argument about a school, guess who’s going to win?        

        But there are other stipulations in our agreement where we have to make final decisions together. Anything having to do with business decisions pertaining to my kids cannot be done without my consent. I’ve also seen a lot about people reading into the supervised visits stipulation. Kimora travels with a security guard and a nanny.         

        In the past, she’s gotten really nervous that I never travel with security, so if it makes her more comfortable to have her security and a nanny with us when I’m with my kids, that’s OK with me. Finally, I want to say Kimora is an excellent mother and is doing a great job with them. My kids are studying a couple of foreign languages, they travel around the world, they practice yoga, ballet, swimming, karate and piano, among other things…sometimes I think they do too much, but I trust in Kimora on this because she IS a good mother.        

        Regarding the money, my kids live a tremendous life. They do have lots of security, nannies, educators, special programs, travel, chefs, on and on. Their mother manages all of those luxuries and I’m happy to provide for that.

With great love all things are possible.
Russell Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons

 

 

       In other Simmons news, Kimora has just put her Beverly Hills home on the market for $7.75 million, reports the Los Angeles Times.      

       The 6,000-square-foot, guard-gated, country-style home has five-bedrooms, eight-bathrooms, and a private courtyard entry with a sitting area and a fireplace. It also has a two-story entranceway, a formal living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room, a bar and a new gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances.       

       There are dark hardwood floors, a spacious master bedroom suite and leaded-glass windows. Outside, there is a swimming pool and room for a tennis court.

 

JAY-Z SINGS ‘WONDERWALL’ AT GLASTONBURY: Rapper mocks his most strident detractor by performing musician’s biggest single June 30, 2008

Jay Z had an answer for his toughest critic at the annual Glastonbury Music Festival in Britain Saturday.

 

       The 142,500 fans in attendance cheered as Jigga took the stage with a guitar slung over his shoulder and immediately sang along to “Wonderwall,” the 1995 hit single from British band Oasis. [Scroll down to view clip.]

 

       Oasis lead singer, Noel Gallagher, has repeatedly voiced his frustration with Glastonbury organizers for choosing Jay-Z, a hip hop act, to headline a festival that has been traditionally rooted in rock and alternative music.

 

      Judging from fan reaction to Young Hov, and the increased cheers that followed his segue from “Wonder Wall” to his rock-flavored “99 Problems,” Gallagher’s opinion of hip hop at Glastonbury appeared to be in the minority.     

       “The world should be all about mixing culture,” Jay-Z said to UK radio personality Tim Westwood. “Hip-hop is music in its art form. It should be accepted and respected. It’s all the same thing, it’s just coming from a different perspective.”

 

Jay-Z’ Performs “Wonderwall” and “99 Problems”