T-Pain’s Interview Demands Revealed: “He Will Only Answer One Question About Wayne” November 11, 2008

The usually easy-going T-Pain has apparently developed diva-ish tendencies. Jive Records, T-Pain’s recording home, reportedly sent media outlets a list of regulations to follow should they want to interview the self-proclaimed “ring leader,” according to TMZ.

“Please let interviewers know that Pain will only be discussing his album release on 11/11 and any other topics surrounding what he is currently doing,” the list read. “He will only answer one question on Wayne and upcoming projects they have. No questions on picking favorite artists, who he would like to work with or any other kind of lists.”

T-Pain’s Thr33 Ringz hits stores tomorrow.

Lil Wayne Hits The Road With T-Pain & Keyshia Cole November 11, 2008

Time to hit the road. MTV reports that Lil Wayne is set to headline an eigh-week nationwide tour featuring T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Gym Class Heroes starting December 18th.

Wayne is also scheduled to release his highly anticipated Dedication 3mixtape with DJ Drama this Thursday(11/11). Similar to the two previous installments, the tape features Wayne rippinng known instrumentals like DJ Drama’s “The Art Of Storytelling Pt.4,” Soulja Boy’s “Shootouts” and Lil Jon and Too $hort’s “Dick Pleaser.”

The 23-track disc features guest verses on nearly every cut. But rather than collaborate with established artists, Weezy is mostly sharing mic time with Young Money and signees and affiliates, including Nicki Minaj, Drake, Gudda Gudda, Mack Maine and especially Jae Millz, who appears on nearly half of the records. Drama affiliates Willie Da Kid and LA The Darkman also appear numerous times on the tape.

Photo of the Day November 11, 2008

Michael St Rose Male 22 years old  Brooklyn, New York

MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/MichaelStRose

More Details, Of Shakir Stewart’s Suicide, Revealed November 11, 2008

 

Friend describes executive’s troubled behavior day of tragedy. R&B star Ne-Yo sings at memorial. 

Smith told police that soon as he stepped out the door he called 911. Seconds later, he heard a gunshot.

A day after Def Jam’s Shakir Stewart committed suicide, the family of the executive released a statement: “Over the past several weeks, Shakir’s behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence.” 

Now newer details are emerging regarding the “inconsistent behavior.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Stewart’s friend Herb Smith, who was present at Stewart’s home the day of the tragedy, told police that Stewart was “wigging out” before his death. 

On October 31, Stewart’s finance Michelle Rivers, first noticed things were strange with Stewart when they went out for Halloween. At a loss, Rivers called Smith to talk to him. 

Smith says that he went over to Stewart’s Marietta home, to find his friend visibly shaken. Stewart never confided in Smith, nor Rivers, what was wrong and he eventually told Smith to leave the house and go “back home to his wife and children.” 

Smith told police that soon as he stepped out the door he called 911. Seconds later, he heard a gunshot. Rivers, who was in the couple’s kitchen at the time, found Stewart on the master bedroom floor with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head— not the bathroom, as previously reported. 

A private funeral for the executive was held Thursday. On Friday, a public memorial at Stewart’s alma mater Morehouse, was held at the King’s Chapel in Atlanta, where Def Jam artist Ne-Yo sung “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday.” Guests included many of Stewart’s Def Jam family: LL Cool J, Chrisette Michele, Steve Bartels and Karen Kwak. Other mourners included DJ Don Cannon, Big Oomp, Atlanta City Councilman Ceasar Mitchell, and DJ Toomp.  A biographical video tribute (to the tunes of Michael Jackson, Prince, Maxwell, Ginuwine, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy) was played. 

Autopsy reports will be available in 12 weeks. 

‘Wrap To Rap’ Plans Sixth Celebrity Gift Wrapping Event November 11, 2008

 

Despite past differences, Jay-Z and Damon Dash both set to appear 

It’s clear that hip hop mogul Damon Dash, and hip hop mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter no longer “kick it.” But in a couple weeks, both men are promised to show up for the one-day, sixth annual “Wrap To Rap” charity event. 

The event will focus on providing gifts for kids in foster homes in the New York City area. The maestro will be DJ D-Nice, there will be a performance by Sean Kingston, and Damon Dash’s wife, designer Rachel Roy, will host it. Kevin Liles will also be present. 

In the September issue of VIBE, Jay-Z spoke candidly about the break-up of Roc-A-Fella Records and his strained relationship with his former business partner and sidekick, Damon Dash. 

“That was the biggest tragedy for me,” he told writer Elliott Wilson. “In concept, [Roc-A-Fella] was the perfect thing. But sometimes life gets in the way…I’ve never said this before, but any second-guessing [about severing ties with Dash] went away when Dame was participating in the whole beef [with Cam’Ron]…I’m not going to do certain things or say certain things about Dame… I’m not going to go too far.” 

“Wrap To Rap” will be Wednesday, November 19 at the Empire Hotel Rooftop in New York. 

Clinton clone; Usher’s organic rush; Nelly’s Ford Flex; Joe the Plumber at 40/40; Obama’s “Huxtable Factor”; Collier shooting suspect November 11, 2008

 

Funkmeister George Clinton tells Details magazine that he’s storing his DNA so he can be cloned one day. The eccentric musician says cloning has actually been going on for thousands of years. “Cloning – we got generations of that s***,” Clinton said. “The pyramids? They was for cloning. That’s why embalming lasts so long. Get the DNA and pull ‘em back. So somebody been cloned already, but not me. Not yet.”

 

       *One shopper in the organic fruit section of Whole Foods at New York’s Time Warner Center ran to the New York Daily News to report that Usher was given special treatment and “cut [in front of] about 15 people waiting in the checkout line.” The witness continued: “He was whisked to the front to pay in a ’special’ line. Everyone was grumbling as he was escorted past.”       

       *The Daily News is also reporting that Ford gave rap star Nelly a custom-made Flex vehicle at his birthday bash in Vegas. “He then headed to dinner at Lavo at the Palazzo, where the Grammy winner blew out 34 candles on a cake in the shape of his new ride,” according to the paper.

 

       *TMZ is reporting that Republican mascot Joe the Plumber ended up at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club over the weekend and was greeted by staffers with “open arms and drinks on the house.” The rap mogul famously supported Barack Obama, whose tax policy was questioned by Joe during a campaign stop in Toledo.  He was quickly adopted by the GOP as a middle class symbol after Obama said his tax plan sought to “spread the wealth around.” Born Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, Joe also dropped by the Navy’s USS Intrepid and Coyote Ugly during his NY trip.

 

       *Los Angeles Times columnist Greg Braxton spoke to Bill Cosby about the ‘Huxtable factor” in the election of Barack Obama. “For all those people who said they didn’t know any black people like the Huxtables,” quipped Cosby in a phone interview, “all I can say is, ‘Will you watch the show now?’” Read entire article here.

 

       *A man charged in the shooting of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier has pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Tyrone Romaro Hartsfield stood silently as public defender Ann Finnell pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, reports the AP. The 32-year-old Hartsfield is charged with shooting Collier 14 times on Sept. 2. Collier is paralyzed from the waist down and his left leg had to be amputated as a result of the shooting. Hartsfield is being held without bond. A judge set another hearing for Dec. 1.

FRENCH FIRST LADY CAN’T WAIT TO MEET MICHELLE November 11, 2008

 

France’s first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy says she can’t wait to meet her incoming American counterpart, Michelle Obama.             

       “I don’t know her yet,” the model-turned-pop singer said in an interview with TV’s Public Senat. “I admire the couple though and I can’t wait to meet her. To see this couple go to the White House is just magnificent, a magnificent symbol, a progress.”

 

       Inspired by Barack Obama’s election, Bruni-Sarkozy and other leading figures are calling for an end to racist discrimination in French politics and society.

 

       The daily Journal du Dimanche published a “manifesto” calling on employers to hire more minorities and urges the government to fight racism and improve schools in ethnically mixed neighborhoods. Politicians from the left and right, and other public figures, signed the manifesto released Sunday.

 

       She said in light of Obama’s election in the U.S., France is running “behind” in its efforts to build a more diverse political elite.

 

       Meanwhile, Bruni-Sarkozy is trying to stiffarm her Italian heritage after hearing Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s crack about Obama’s “suntan.”

 

       The First Lady, who married French President Nicolas Sarkozy in February after a whirlwind romance, became a French national and lost her Italian citizenship after her marriage.      

       In the Le Journal du Dimanche interview, she put Berlusconi on blast for saying on Thursday that Obama was “handsome, young and also suntanned.”      

       “When I hear Silvio Berlusconi making light of the event (Obama’s election) and joking about the fact that Obama is ‘always tanned’, it feels strange to me,” Bruni-Sarkozy was quoted as saying. “Some people will no doubt put it down to humor, but often I find that I am pleased to have become French.”

KEYSHIA COLE READIES NEW CD November 11, 2008

 

R&B star Keyshia Cole is returning on two fronts – her new CD “A Different Me,” is due Dec. 16 via Imani/Geffen/Interscope, and her BET reality show, “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” begins its third season tonight at 10.

 

      The singer tells Billboard that her new album marks a fork in the road. 

 

       “The first two albums were more … painful,” she says. “It’s a different me this time: a young woman who’s still growing and finding myself, exploring life through different routes musically and in other areas. I wrote more about other people’s situations than my own. I’m moving forward.”      

       “A Different Me” features Cole collaborating with Polow Da Don, the Runners, Neffu, Kwame, Orthodox & Ransom and the Trackmasters.       

       Tracks include the lead single “Playa Cardz Right,” featuring a posthumous Tupac Shakur; “Trust,” featuring real-life friend Monica, and the Polow Da Don-produced “Make Me Over.” Cole further hones her ballad skills on the track “You Complete Me” and flashes a sultry side on a cover of R. Kelly’s 1992 No. 1 R&B hit, “Honey Love.”      

       As part of a 360 deal she recently inked with Interscope, Cole is developing a movie based on her life. A screenwriter has been hired to go on the road with the artist in 2009 to begin developing the script.       

       Meanwhile, the new season of BET’s “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” finds the family making progress and discovering their own personal paths. Frankie, Neffie and Keyshia attempt to truly step above their past hurts. During the process, Keyshia finds herself on the road to becoming the woman she is destined to be, leading her family and her business toward success. This new direction also opens Keyshia’s heart and she is finally ready to allow herself to find love once again.

KANYE, LUDACRIS RELEASE DATES PUSHED UP November 11, 2008

 

Island Def Jam is moving up by a day the release dates for Ludacris’ “Theater of the Mind” and Kanye West’s “808s & Heartbreak,” in what it says is an attempt to capitalize on the Thanksgiving shopping weekend.      

       Both albums were due Nov. 25 but will now arrive off-cycle on Monday, Nov. 24 in both physical and digital formats.      

       Each project has already spawned a hit. Ludacris’ “One More Drink” co-starring T-Pain is No. 34 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while West’s “Love Lockdown” has already peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

OBAMA’S SECRET SERVICE CODE NAME REVEALED November 11, 2008

 

To the world, he is known as U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama. To the Secret Service charged with protecting his every move, he is referred to by the code name, Renegade.

 

      Officials at the White House Communications Agency on Monday released their code names for the entire incoming First Family.  Michelle Obama is tagged Renaissance, 10-year-old Malia is Radiance, and Sasha, 7, is Rosebud.

 

      Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s security name is “Celtic,” according to reports.

 

       White House officials would not comment on the selection process. In a previous news report, however, an agency spokesman said the names are assigned by “sheer whim.”

 

      The Washington Post quoted a Secret Service spokesman who said all code names are chosen by military officials, suggesting that they should not be examined too closely for deeper meaning.

 

      These days, code names have little to do with actual safety; instead they play a more ceremonial and logistical role, letting agents bark easily understood directions into their sleeves as a protectee is moving from location to location. Now the military and Secret Service can communicate over highly secured lines, making a code name irrelevant. Still, habit lives on.