OBAMA BITS: Tubbs Jones funeral; Michelle’s turquoise dress; Biden memoir; assassination plot? August 27, 2008

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and his running mate Sen. Joe Biden will attend Saturday’s memorial service of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones in Cleveland, Democratic officials announced Tuesday.  Tubbs Jones was a vocal Hillary Clinton supporter, but was expected to campaign for Obama after Clinton exited the race. The Democrat, who was the first black woman to represent Ohio in Congress, died Aug. 20 after suffering a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She was 58.      

       *The turquoise, double-faced wool dress worn by Michelle Obama for her headlining speech Monday night was from Chicago-based Maria Pinto, the same hometown designer responsible for her purple sheath worn the night her husband won the Democratic primary.        

      *The memoir written by presumed vice presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden is being reissued in paperback with a first printing of 100,000, reports the Associated Press. The Random House Publishing Group first released “Promises to Keep” in hardcover a year ago. After a brief appearance on the New York Times’ hardcover best-seller list, the book faded along with his presidential candidacy, which ended in early January. According to Nielsen BookScan, which tracks about 70 percent of sales, the memoir had only sold 15,000 copies before last weekend’s announcement that Sen. Barack Obama had chosen Biden as his running mate. “Promises to Keep” quickly reached the top 25 on Amazon.com and was out of stock as of Monday afternoon.

 

       *Federal authorities investigating an apparent plot to assassinate Barack Obama found “no credible threat” despite arresting four people in Denver Monday on charges of firearms and drug possession. Denver-based CBS34 said one of the men arrested had told authorities they were “going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using … a rifle … sighted at 750 yards” during his scheduled nomination speech Thursday at Invesco stadium. CBS34 also reported that one man was arrested on Sunday after police found two high-powered rifles in a rented pick-up truck he was driving, while another man in custody reportedly was wearing a swastika and was thought to have links to white supremacist groups. But the United States Attorney said law enforcement officials are “absolutely confident there is no credible threat to the candidate.”

Spragga Benz’s son dies; Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge; Ashanti at The Grove; Willie Randolph August 27, 2008

Carlton Grant Jr., the 17-year-old son of dancehall artist Spragga Benz, was shot and killed by local police in Kingston, Jamaica on Sunday (Aug. 24). Cops say they stopped two men on a bicycle in the Kingston 8 area and when they approached them, one of the men began firing at them, according to Radio Jamaica. The police said they returned fire and the men fled. When they searched the area; they found Grant Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds and in possession of a .45 semi automatic pistol. Grant Jr. was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.      

       *The 2008 Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge begins tomorrow (Aug. 28) at the La Costa Resort and Spa near San Diego. Celebs taking part in the weekend include Doug E. Fresh and DJ Dee Wiz, Ashford & Simpson, Suzanne de Passe, The Gap Band, Rev. Al Sharpton and Anthony Hamilton. For more information about the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, call 800-209-7229 or visit www.blackenterprise.com/begt.

 

       *Ashanti performs songs from her recent album, “The Declaration,” in Los Angeles tonight at The Grove (189 The Grove Drive, located at Third and Fairfax). The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the fountain. The first opening act is new boy band Varsity Fanclub. The second opener will be pop group Karmina.

 

       *Former New York Mets manager Willie Randolph participated in a charity event Sunday night with Mets GM Omar Minaya, the man who fired him from the team. Both were on hand at NY’s Marriott Marquis to help raise money for the African Development Fund, the favorite charity of Ghana-born George Ntim, who handles guest relations at the Times Square hotel, reports the New York Post. Retired Giants tight end Howard Cross served as auctioneer, and reggae legend Jimmy Cliff flew in from Paris to sing “You Can Get It if You Really Want” and “I Can See Clearly Now.

MUHAMMAD ALI’S LONGTIME MANAGER DIES: Jabir Herbert Muhammad passed away following heart surgery August 27, 2008

Jabir Herbert Muhammad, who served as boxer Muhammad Ali’s manager for most of his professional career, died on Monday following heart surgery in Chicago, his son told the Associated Press. He was 79.     

       Ali’s manager was the son of Elijah Muhammad, the former leader of the Nation of Islam. Some reports say it was Elijah Muhammad, born Elijah Poole, who renamed the fighter born Cassius Clay.

 

       Herbert Muhammad signed on to become Ali’s manager in 1966 when the fighter’s contract with a consortium of Louisville, Ky., businessmen expired, but he had unofficially controlled Ali’s career well before that date.      

       He went on to promote several million-dollar purses for Ali’s bouts and stayed on as a spiritual adviser well after the former heavyweight champion’s last bout in 1981. The business relationship started to sour by the 1990s as Ali and his fourth wife, Lonnie, began to assert more direct control over his affairs. Ali and Herbert Muhammad were on opposite sides in a number of lawsuits, including over the “Ali” biopic released in 2001 starring Will Smith.      

       Herbert Muhammad is survived by his wife, 14 children and several grandchildren.

TALIB KWELI, DAVID BANNER ON TOUR: Rappers headline 15-city ‘Hip Hop Live! trek August 27, 2008

Rappers Talib Kweli and David Banner headline the upcoming Hip Hop Live! tour, which kicks off Sept. 28 in San Diego, CA, and will hit 15 cities through late October. [Schedule listed below.]

 

       The outing, presented by hip-hop video-sharing Web site Flow TV, also features alternating opening support from Little Brother and B.O.B, along with the 10-piece live band Rhythm Roots All Stars, who will provide musical backing for all performers.      

       Kweli will be promoting his most recent solo album “Eardrum,” which features production assistance from Kanye West, Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am, Madlib and Hi-Tek, with guests on the album including Norah Jones, Jean Grae and UGK.      

       Banner’ will support his fifth studio album, “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” which debuted in July. The set has spawned three singles: “9mm,” “Get Like Me” and the most recent, “Shawty Say,” which was sent to radio stations the first week in August.

 

      Here is the Hip Hop Live! tour schedule:

September 2008
28 – San Diego, CA – Canes
30 – West Hollywood, CA – House of Blues

October 2008
3 – San Francisco, CA – Grand Ballroom
3 – Portland, OR – Roseland
4 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater
5 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Sodo
8 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theater
10 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
13 – Bloomington, IN – Bluebird
18 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
19 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
20 – Washington DC – 9:30 Club
23 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
24 – Boston, MA – Showcase Live!
25 – New York, NY – Nokia Theatre

RAY J DATING SHOW CASTING CALL: VH1 looking for women who think they can take Brandy’s brother off the market August 27, 2008

VH1 is looking for “single, beautiful women” who think they can turn singer Ray J, a tabloid-heavy playboy who has famously dated Whitney Houston and Kim Kardashian, into a one-woman man.

 

      Here’s VH1’s casting notice:      

      If you are over 21, single, and love the hip hop scene, we want to meet you. Dating a hip-hop artist can be a full-time job requiring not only looks but infinite amounts of smarts and stamina. So we’re looking for women who can handle the pressure that comes with being on the arm of a hip hop star including red carpet events, the paparazzi, and all the crazy fans.

 

      Submit your name, age, phone number, Myspace page or web site (if any), short bio and recent photo of yourself to your closest audition city:

Los Angeles – LA@realtalentcasting.com
NY/New Jersey – NY@realtalentcasting.com
Oklahoma City – OK@realtalentcasting.com
Dallas – Dallas@realtalentcasting.com
Houston – Houston@realtalentcasting.com
Chicago – chicago@realtalentcasting.com
Miami – Miami@realtalentcasting.com
Las Vegas – Vegas@realtalentcasting.com

RUN & JUSTINE’S BOOK IS NY TIMES BESTSELLER: ‘Take Back Your Family’ offers parental advice based on experience August 27, 2008

Take Back Your Family,” a new book by reality show stars Rev. Run and Justine Simmons, entered the New York Times’ list of best selling Hardcover Advice books this week in the number 15 position.

 

      The married couple’s first joint book offers parental guidance based on the same principals they use to raise their own children.       

      “My whole show is a ministry,” Rev. Run, born Joseph Simmons, told AllHipHop.com of his series “Run’s House” on MTV. “I don’t have a church that I’m the pastor of. So in my mind, I’m a very untraditional reverend. And my pulpit just happens to be MTV, which is a very different type of congregation.”       

      Included in the book are lessons like “Run your family as the COEs: Chief Officers of Everything; Lead by example, not by preaching;’” and what Run considers the most important lesson of all: “When they get older it’s not time to back out, it’s time to push further in their life.”       

      “That’s the time when they need mentoring the most, and they need love the most when they get older,” Run told AllHipHop.com. “Some parents might think it’s time to cut the strings, I think it’s time to get closer. These are when they’re making the biggest decisions of their life.”

SHAQUILLE ACCUSER HAS STALKING HISTORY: Woman filed restraining order against Alexis Miller last year August 27, 2008

The woman who accused Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal of harassing her has herself been accused of stalking, reports TMZ.com.

 

       Alexis Miller, an Atlanta rapper who goes by MaryJane, got a restraining order against Shaq last week, claiming he threatened her and, among other things, made heavy-breathing phone calls to her.

 

       TMZ said it obtained court papers flied last year by Lakisha Renae Hall in which a judge ordered Miller to stay 500 yards away from her and avoid any contact.

Alexis Miller

 

       The website also learned that in October 2007, Miller tried getting a restraining order against Jonathan Stubbs, claiming he stalked her — once pulling out a gun, shooting it once and yelling, “Who were you with?” That petition was dismissed because Miller never followed through.

 

ANOTHER TYLER PERRY PROJECT ‘MEETS’ TBS: Network orders 10 episodes of sitcom based on Meet the Browns August 27, 2008

A television version of Tyler Perry’s play and film “Meet the Browns” is headed to TBS early next year.

 

       The network ordered 10 episodes of a sitcom based on the property, which will be executive produced and directed by Perry for a scheduled premiere in January.

      The show will join Perry’s other comedy, “House of Payne,” on the TBS schedule.      

       “I am so excited to continue my relationship with TBS,” Perry says. “It has been so fulfilling artistically, I feel as if I’ve been adopted into another family. An artist such as myself cannot imagine being in a partnership with any other network.”

 

 

       The film version of “Meet the Browns” starred Angela Bassett as a struggling single mom from Chicago who meets the family of her estranged late father in Atlanta and inherits a house. Actor David Mann will reprise his role from the movie as Leroy Brown, the head of the Georgia family. The sitcom will kick off with Leroy inheriting the run-down house from his late father.

HILLARY CALLS FOR PARTY UNITY: Obama’s Democratic primary foe addressed DNC August 27, 2008

Last night in Denver, Hillary Clinton delivered a ringing call for Democratic Party unity on Tuesday, promising to work for Barack Obama and challenging her supporters to bury their grudges and rally behind his White House bid.

 

      “Whether you voted for me or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose,” said Clinton in a speech Democrats hope will end a lingering party rift left over from their bitter nominating fight.

 

      Clinton, a New York senator, praised Obama and said Democrats could not sit on the sidelines and watch Republican presidential candidate John McCain take the White House and “squander the promise of our country.”

 

      “No way, no how, no McCain. Barack Obama is my candidate and he must be our president,” Clinton told a roaring crowd waving a sea of white “Hillary” signs.

 

      Clinton used her highly anticipated turn in the spotlight to say Democrats must unite to help the first-term Illinois senator beat McCain in the November 4 election. A Democrat is needed in the White House to turn around the struggling U.S. economy, she said.

 

      “When Barack Obama is in the White House, he’ll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our time,” Clinton said.

 

      Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, watched from the balcony. At one point his eyes welled with tears and he mouthed the words “I love you.”

 

      Obama watched the speech on television in Billings, Montana, as he makes his way to Denver to accept the nomination on Thursday night. “That was a strong speech,” he said. “I thought she was outstanding.”

 

      He called Hillary and Bill Clinton afterward to congratulate them on the speech and tell them he was grateful for their support, Obama adviser Robert Gibbs said.

 

      Clinton also offered plenty of criticism of McCain, an Arizona senator who she called “my colleague and my friend.”

 

      “But we don’t need four more years of the last eight years,” she said, linking McCain to the policies of Republican President George W. Bush.

 

      “John McCain says the economy is fundamentally sound. John McCain doesn’t think that 47 million people without health insurance is a crisis. John McCain wants to privatize Social Security. And in 2008, he still thinks it’s okay when women don’t earn equal pay for equal work,” Clinton said.

 

      “With an agenda like that, it makes sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities. Because these days they’re awfully hard to tell apart.”

 

      Meanwhile, Clinton, 60, is expected to free her delegates to back Obama on Wednesday. She will be formally nominated although a roll call vote by states could be cut short and Obama nominated by acclamation under a deal being negotiated by the two camps.

 

      For MORE, go here.

      In other news involving Hillary Clinton and the DNC, a press release from TV One says the former First Lady will appear on its “After Party” program tonight at 11pm Eastern. She will be interviewed by Rev. Marcia Dyson, who, by the way, was one of her staunchest supporters during the primary campaign.

Other guests include:
- Radio talk show host Michael Baisden
-  Singer and songwriter John Legend*
-  Essence magazine Editor in Chief Angela Burt-Murray
- Rapper and political activist Chuck D

Topics expected to include hip hop and politics – plus the youth vote in the 2008 election 

*TV One says John Legend was erroneously included on the media advisory for the After Party show lineup on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

R. KELLY WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN S.A.: Authorities probe link to tour scam August 27, 2008

Authorities in South Africa are looking to question R. Kelly regarding a scam in which he allegedly profited $130,000 from a tour despite failing to show up, reports WENN.     

       Busiswe Zakwe was arrested and charged with swindling thousands of dollars from investors by promising ticket sale profits if they brought an R. Kelly tour to the country in 2005. Kelly never stepped foot in South Africa, but the woman claims she deposited the investors’ money into his account.

       Local police have reportedly confirmed that the account Zakwe claims is Kelly’s is authentic, but the money is nowhere to be found.  Police want to question Kelly about the missing funds.     

       Zakwe has been charged with fraud and is due to appear in a local court on September 10.

UPDATE:
      R. Kelly’s camp today released the following statement regarding media reports about an alleged South African swindler who used his name to bilk investors.

    “There is absolutely no truth to the reports that R. Kelly received money from a South African woman accused of swindling investors by convincing them to invest in a non-existent R. Kelly tour in 2005. Mr. Kelly has no knowledge of this woman, has never received any money from her, and has not been contacted by any law enforcement authorities regarding the matter. He will, of course, cooperate fully with any legitimate investigation of this matter, since he has nothing to hide.”