MAGAZINE RACK: Vibe celebrates Biggie; Essence features the Obamas; hr: Watches and Luxury Lifestyle clocks Ced the Entertainer August 19, 2008

Vibe’s September 2008 issue features a tribute to late rapper Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace (aka Biggie) as part of the magazine’s 15th anniversary “Juice” issue.  On newsstands today (Aug 19), the issue includes an exclusive first-look at the cast from the upcoming B.I.G. biopic “Notorious,” due for release on Jan. 16 by Fox Searchlight. As part of the fashion feature, Vibe re-creates its memorable October 1995 cover featuring Biggie and his wife Faith Evans in the back of a 1968 Cadillac DeVille. To celebrate the rapper’s legacy, most of the magazine’s exclusive photos – styled by veteran Vibe Fashion Director Memsor Kamarake – were shot on St. James Place in Brooklyn, NY, the site of Biggie’s childhood home.      

       *Essence magazine’s September issue features the cover story “The Obamas: Portrait of An American Family. In a special interview, veteran political journalist Gwen Ifill has a conversation with the couple and their children, discusses the political attacks on Michelle, Barack’s take on his controversial message to black men, and how the family remains so close when they are so often apart. Elsewhere in the issue, Rihanna addresses the Chris Brown rumors and Faith Evans sets the record straight on her drug abuse, ghosts from the past, and how she has found happiness with her husband and four children.

 

       *The August issue of hr: Watches and Luxury Lifestyle (http://www.hrluxury.com/) features Cedric “The Entertainer” on the cover with an exclusive interview inside. The issue covers his background and shows how much Cedric cares about watches. It also shows his community outreach with charities to support and advance education. “I really admire Cedric,” said Hans Peter Jeschke, the publisher of hr: (pronounced by saying the letter names, “h”"r”) Watches and Luxury Lifestyle magazine. “Marla Winston, Cedric’s publicist, called and told me that Cedric wants to be on the cover of my magazine. This is truly an honor.”

Will.i.am vs. Fergie?; Roseanne Barr vs. Brangelina; Frenchie Davis performs at fetish fair August 19, 2008

The New York Post’s Page Six is reporting that Fergie and her budding film career is causing turmoil within her group, the Black Eyed Peas. Bandmate will.i.am is said to be “furious” with the singer because she “won’t commit to a tour schedule to promote the album.” Fergie is currently on location in Europe shooting “Nine” with Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson, and filming is expected to go into late fall.

 

       *Roseanne Barr went off on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt via her personal blog, claiming the actress likes Sen. John McCain, but hasn’t decided who to officially endorse. Barr, a liberal, wrote: “…do you not know that the African daughter you hold in every picture had parents who suffered and died because of the Republican Party’s worldwide economic assault on Africa…” Roseanne called Brad “vacuous” and said he makes $40 million a year in violent, psychopathic films and gives away a relatively paltry $3 mil “to starving children trying to look as if they give a crap about humanity.”

 

       *”American Idol” alum Frenchie Davis, who was booted off of the Fox competition show after racy pictures of her turned up on the Internet, was spotted performing at Toronto’s “Fetish Fair,” reports TMZ.com. Organizer Cam Lewis described the event as more than just a marketplace for leather apparel and sex toys. “It’s a community fair with a fetish edge,” he told the Toronto Sun. “It was first started because we wanted to bring a fair to the area consistent with the (gay) village.”

YUNG JOC SUED FOR BACK CHILD SUPPORT: Baby mama says she’s struggling while he’s living large August 19, 2008

Rapper Yung Joc has been sued by the mother of his 7-year-old son for failure to pay back child support.

 

      According to Atlanta channel WSB-TV, the artist owes about $2,000 dollars to Fatimah Jester for their son, Amoni. Jester says it has been difficult collecting payments from the rap star.

 

       “I never thought he would be putting me through some of the stuff I’m going through now. I can’t even get in contact with him for things for my baby…it’s just hard,” Jester told WSB-TV. “Mr. Robinson has all kinds of cars, Bentleys, Mercedes Benz, Range Rovers, Two Range Rovers.”

 

      Jester says despite his lavish lifestyle, she and Amoni struggle financially on a daily basis.

 

       Yung Joc, born Jasiel Robinson, is due in court on Sept. 11.

MIJAC ACCUSED OF STIFFING HIS BROTHERS: Singer reportedly owes hundreds of thousands to four of his siblings August 19, 2008

The New York Post is claiming that Michael Jackson owes four of his brothers $840,000 in royalties, but hasn’t spoken to any of them since he was acquitted of child molestation charges three years ago.        

       According to Page Six, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie Jackson are owed the money from their Jackson 5 hits.       

       The news can’t be good for organizers of next month’s BMI Urban Awards in Los Angeles who were hoping for a Jackson 5 reunion before receiving their lifetime achievement honor.

 

      Tito, meanwhile, could really use the money he’s allegedly owed. As previously reported, British newspaper The Sun said Jackson family friend Matt Fiddes sued Tito because he allegedly borrowed $24,000 and only paid back $17,000.     

       Fiddes lent Jackson the money for expenses and airfare from the United States to the United Kingdom when he and other members of his family visited England this year, the newspaper said.

R. KELLY SUES CLUB PROMOTERS OVER FLIERS: Singer claims they used his name and falsely claimed he was hosting an event. August 19, 2008

R. Kelly is suing two Los Angeles club promoters for using his name and image to promote an event without his permission.

 

      The lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims the pair of promoters from Sugar nightclub featured his name and face on fliers for an event they claimed R. Kelly was hosting.

 

       Kelly says this constitutes “false advertising” – because he knew nothing about the party. 

‘COSBY SHOW,’ UP FOR ‘MEMORABLE TV MOMENT’: Emmy special to feature top drama and comedic clip based on fan voting August 19, 2008

The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards next month will feature a presentation of the most memorable moments in television history as voted on by you, the public.       

       Twenty dramatic and 20 comedic moments are in the running. Comedy contenders include “The Cosby Show” (Happy Anniversary, Oct. 10, 1985); “All in the Family (Sammy’s Visit, Feb. 19, 1972) and “South Park” (Trapped in the Closet, Nov. 16, 2005).         

       “Roots” (Episode 1, Jan 24,1977); “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” (Jan 31, 1974) and “Brian’s Song” (Nov 30, 1971) are among the drama candidates.      

       “It’s a perfect opportunity both to celebrate the history of television and at the same time introduce new generations to some of the medium’s most important events,” Emmys executive producer Ken Ehrlich said in a statement Monday.

 

       Fans can view clips and vote for their favorite moments online (click here) until Sept. 15. The top five vote-getters in each category will be presented during the Emmy show on Sept. 21, and the two winning moments will be revealed just before the year’s outstanding drama and comedy series are named.

ISAAC HAYES CELEBRATED IN MEMPHIS: Jesse Jackson, Richard Roundtree among celebs at Monday’s memorial August 19, 2008

The life and legacy of soul legend Isaac Hayes were celebrated in his hometown of Memphis at two gatherings – a private burial service on Sunday and a public memorial held yesterday with 3,000 fans and friends in attendance.

 

       Sunday’s ceremony included Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise and Wesley Snipes; while the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D., Bootsy Collins and actor Richard Roundtree were on hand for Monday’s farewell, according to the Associated Press.      

       “What would you say if you were flying into Memphis and they said you are about to land at Isaac Hayes International Airport,” U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen asked the mourners, drawing a huge round of applause.       

       Cohen, who represented Hayes’ area of Memphis, said the city should celebrate Hayes, an architect of the Memphis sound, as it celebrates Elvis Presley. “He is a world person who the world will miss,” Cohen said.      

       Monday’s four-hour service at Hope Presbyterian Church featured music, speakers and video clips. It began with a drum march through the sanctuary and a video clip of Hayes and Jackson on stage together at a 1972 concert in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Memorialized in the documentary film “Wattstax,” Jackson pulled off Hayes’ cap to reveal his signature shaved head, then Hayes slipped off his robe to show his red spandex paints and chain vest.      

       “He was a lovely man, always involved with causes,” Jackson told the AP before the service. “Literacy, civil rights. He was always there, and that’s why we’re all here for him.”      

       “Isaac came from our culture. He emanated our culture. That’s why he never lost his authenticity, never lost his conviction,” Sharpton told the crowd. “There is a difference between authentic and fabricated.”      

       Also speaking during Monday’s service were fellow Scientologists Anne Archer and Kelly Preston.      

       Rap veteran Doug E. Fresh, also in attendance, said outside the church that Hayes’ music directly influenced rap and hip-hop. “Hip-hop wouldn’t be what it is without Isaac Hayes,” he said.      

       Hayes died Aug. 10 after he was found unconscious at his Memphis residence. No autopsy was performed, but paperwork filed by Hayes’ family doctor, David Kraus, lists the cause of death as a stroke.

Jesse Jackson Introduces Isaac Hayes in the 1973 Documentary “Wattstax”

TYRA ANGERS TALK SHOW AUDIENCE: Witnesses run to Page Six after host keeps them waiting for more nearly two hours August 19, 2008

A recent taping of the “Tyra Banks Show” got started nearly two hours later than scheduled – which angered audience members because the delay appeared to be for no good reason.

 

      An audience was brought into the West 26th St. studio for a taping of her episode “Celebrating Black Models, Past, Present and Future.” But, an audience member tells the New York Post’s Page Six that Tyra kept them waiting nearly 120 minutes as she stood backstage giggling, snacking and chatting with the crew.

 

       “You could hear her going on and on because she was standing right behind the stage curtain,” said the audience member. “She’s talking and talking. Meanwhile, you have the entire audience waiting almost two hours for the taping to start.”       

       The spy also said Banks had the nerve to have a bad attitude when she finally started the show, which featured interviews with Beverly Johnson, Veronica Webb, Chanel Iman and Tameka Jacobs.      

       “She leaves us waiting, and everyone is sitting there complaining, and then she comes out and doesn’t say a word about it. She didn’t even say hello, she got right into her script,” said the source. “She acted so cold towards everyone. She’s a phony.”       

       Another audience member told Page Six that Tyra’s guests couldn’t get a word in edgewise. All along, “Tyra kept saying, ‘When I was a model,’ and would hardly let them talk,” said the audience member. “It was all about her, as usual.”       

       After the in-studio interview, the entire audience – which featured loads of aspiring models – was led outside onto the street for the show’s ending.       

       “Cops had it closed off, and Tyra had bodyguards,” laughed the spy. “She had the audience prance down the street and then release black balloons. Some were whining that it was so bad for the environment. It was so disorganized, people fell over the press outside and almost trampled two little girls. Tyra was acting like it was a live sporting event instead of the most self-indulgent, narcissistic crap.”