Black Celebrity Men

Actor Alfonso Ribeiro, best known as high brow Carlton Banks on the hit 90s TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and the tap-dancing kid of the Pepsi Generation, is taking on the role of host for the Game Show Network’s new series Catch 21. “I’m doing this game show because it’s really a fun game. With poker becoming very popular, I think card games are making a comeback. And this brings all of the great aspects of game shows together – multiple choice questions, cards, people having a good time. I think it’s a really fun show and people will really like it.” Created by the game show gumption of Merrill Heatter, Catch 21 pits three players in a game of cards. Each contestant is given one card and in order to up their number of cards, and thus their total, they have to answer a multiple choice question.

As for his hosting duties, Ribeiro brings a new energy, but he's not actually new to show hosting. In 1999, he hosted a show called Your Big Break. But this is his first entry in to the game show realm – and even though he's not the first, it could be considered key step for African American game show hosts. “I don’t think that has any credence on it,” Ribeiro, however, said of any sort of racial breakthrough. “That’s great, but I try to live my live outside of the color lines. I think ultimately, if it’s a step forward it’s in the fact that there isn’t a color.”

The 40-episode series airs on the network daily at 7:30p/ET. For more info, visit gsn.com.
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Damon, Shawn and Marlon of the Wayans brothers clan attended the grand re-opening of the Hollywood Palladium which was headlined by Jay-Z back on October 15, 2008 in Hollywood, California. Peep the pics below.

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El DeBarge was sentenced to two years in state prison Tuesday for violating his probation on a 2007 drug case in which the singer was found in possession of crack cocaine. The former R&B crooner, born Patrick Eldra DeBarge and best known as the former lead singer of the ‘80s group DeBarge, was immediately taken to California State Prison in Lancaster to begin his sentence, reports TMZ.com. The ruling follows DeBarge’s arrest on Monday in Los Angeles. In that case, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Am I the only one who still bump some of DeBarge and Switch's greatest hits such as: I Call Your Name, Love Me in a Special Way, All This Love, Time Will Reveal, I Like It and Rhythm of the Night.
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The other day I thought to myself, 'which black celebrity man hasn't had a reality show?' So far we've seen reality shows from celebrities such as George Foreman, DMX, Luther Campbell, Coolio and Deion Sanders. Bobby Brown, Irv Gotti and Snoop Dogg are the only three (that I can think of) who's shows have been successful enough to see a second season. On November 30th, the second installment of Snoop's Father Hood will debut on E! at 10:30 pm. Peep the trailer below.

F. Gary Gray is set to direct Marvin - a biopic of iconic singer Marvin Gaye with C. Gaby Mitchell signed on to write the script. Variety reports the film will be produced by David Foster with Duncan McGillivray. The duo are planning to shop the film to studios and financiers next week and the production does have complete music rights to Gaye’s catalog of songs –including his biggest hits Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Heard It Through the Grapevine, What's Goin' On and Let's Get It On. Filmmakers are planning to have the movie’s star lip synch to Gaye’s original recordings. Gray (Set It Off, Sexual Healing also in the works.mSexual Healing (which stars Jesse L. Martin) is said to focus on Gaye’s declining years in the music industry due to the film only receiving the rights to Gaye’s post-Motown career.

Gray’s Marvin will cover the singer’s entire life including his rise at Motown, his defiance of Berry Gordy with the recording of What's Goin' On, and his death in 1984.

Any ideas on who you all think should play the lead role?
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A select group of Master P's popular 90's No Limit Soldiers roster will be joining forces once again for a special reunion tour traveling across the nation this winter. Rappers Mia X, Mo B. Dick, Mr. Serv-On, KLC and Fiend are scheduled to make an exclusive ten-city only tour to bring their core audience a memorable experience. "We owe this tour to our fans," Mr. Serv-On said in a statement. "This is long overdue." The tour will make stops in major cities Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Baton Rouge, Jackson (Mississippi), Nashville and New Orleans.

Beginning in 1990, Master P brought No Limit Records to the mainstream with the help of additional roster artists including Silkk the Shocker, C-Murder, Mystikal, Soulja Slim, Snoop Dogg and others. An official start date has yet to be released for the upcoming tour.


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While confirming Rihanna and Chris Brown's relationship recently (something we already knew to be true), Ne-Yo says he could have been with Rihanna. The chart topping singers have shared the hit single Hate That I Love You and label home at Def Jam in recent years but Ne-Yo says there was potential for more -- at least for publicity purposes that is. "Just months prior to them dating record companies were trying to put me with Rihanna to build up some controversy" says the Year of the Gentleman star. "They've (the record companies) been trying to do it with me for years but I refuse to sell my soul." Umm-hmm. He may not have sold his soul, but he definitely made an attempt at it. I distinctly remember Ne-Yo and Rihanna arriving hand-in-hand on the red carpet at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Anywho,while there is nothing going on between him and Rihanna now Ne-Yo is very sure that the star's relationship with Chris Brown is the real deal. "I've hung out with them so much that I know that it's the real deal and they're in a relationship. They tear hair out of each other and argue. I've seen them kiss and make up like other couples do," he says via The Sun.

In related news, Ne-Yo is looking forward to working with Alicia Keys. "She can do no wrong in my eyes. I have a little crush on her. I'd love her to star in one of my music videos."
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The Game is set to release a DVD entitled, The Game...Life After The Math, a documentary from Polychrome Pictures about his turbulent rise to fame. In telling his story, the film contains rare, never-before-seen footage of Katt Williams, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and Kanye West, among others. “Rarely do you find an artist who is so confident and secure with themselves and their abilities that they are willing to let fans into their head to see the demons they’ve battled," said Danny Rodriguez, co-founder of Polychrome Pictures. "Game has exposed his soul in his music and in 'Life After The Math' he reveals the reasons he was driven to street life, not justifications for it. We could not be more honored to be a part of the project.”
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50 Cent will front a new street/hood version of The Apprentice called The Money & the Power which features 14 contestants competing in various business challenges to become the next big mogul. Slated to premiere on November 6 at 10 pm on MTV, the rapper says the purpose of this show is to find, "the next person who can change nothing into something and be the new gamechanger." The hopefuls live together in a Brooklyn warehouse dubbed “Camp Curtis” and will see one contestant per week eliminated until a champion is crowned. G-Unit member Tony Yayo will serve as the show’s “Underboss,” keeping the contestants in line and making sure they're prepared for the various tasks. The winner, 50 says, must possess the best combination of “business flair, strength, ambition, and fearlessness,” and will be awarded a grand prize of $100,000 plus assistance from 50 to help pursue their music dreams.

And 50's catchy catchphrase for the show - when he selects contestants for elimination: "Get the f**k outta here." Expect to see special appearances from LL Cool J, Aubry O’Day of Danity Kane, Lloyd Banks, and blogger Miss Info.

Watch trailer below.

I swear if I read about another rap/hip-hop/R&B 'supergroup', I'mma scream bloody murder. First there was LSG (Levert, Sweat & Gill) and yes they have been very successful, or, according to who you ask, the most successful supergroup in R&B history. But it seems like after they're rise and fall from fame more supergroups emerged wanting to experience that same success. Jay-Z and R. Kelly were thisclose to making history when they recorded Best of Both Worlds back in 2002. But because of 'Chester's ' bitchmade attitude and pedophilia ways their venture eventually hit FAILville. Omarion and Bow Wow really believed they'd go multi-platinum if they hooked up and recorded an album together. They must've thought it was a sure thing considering their huge female fan base. FAIL! Their album barely went gold. Then R&B pretty boys Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank a.k.a. TGT banded together and wouldn't you know it: FAIL! They couldn't even get an album deal. And the mere thought of having to hear Lil Wayne's scratchy, incoherent, nasal voice alongside T-Pain and his v-coder is enough to make me lose my salvation (and I say this with love because he's my fellow Tallahasseean and his sister cuts my hair). But the coup di grace of them all came (and went) about 2 years ago. That's when Shawna (from Luda's DTP camp), Remy Ma (we all know where she is and will be for the next 8 years or so) and Jacki-O (do I even need to go there?) had the nerve to form an all-female supergroup, which eventually....wait for it...FAILED! I remember reading about that and thinking to myself, 'What in the fuckery fuck is this shit?!!!' (excuse my un-Southern-ish language).

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW.

Could a second set of twins convince Diddy to finally wife up his baby mama Kim Porter? Or has actress Holly Robinson-Peete and her hubby Rodney gone back on their word after they vowed that they had no plans whatsoever about adding a fifth and sixth child into their beautiful brood? Or is there a one in million chance that maybe The Game's Coby Bell and his wifey will soon welcome another adorable set of twins into their lives?

Well one of the Celebrity Black Men pictured below is expecting another set of twins with their significant other. Can you guess who?

CLICK THE LINK BELOW AND LET ME KNOW!

Jeezy celebrated his 31st birthday at Amore in Atlanta, Georgia. Celebs in attendance included Ciara, Jermaine Dupri, Lazy Bone, and Slim Thug.

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Here are more pics from Flo Rida's birthday party in Miami. The b-day bash, which was sponsored by 1800 Tequila included performances by Flo Rida himself as well as Rick Ross and Flo Rida performed. One of Flo's gift for the night was a custom made bottle of Tequila with a image of his face on the inside.

MORE PICS WHEN YOU CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

What's really real, Eddie? Here we have Mr. Murphy pictured with an ummm, fan? At some nightclub in Los Angeles. I tried yall. I can't even call it. I just can't. In other Eddie news, rumor has it he will star (in the lead role, of course) in an all-black version of Ocean's 11 titled The Trump Heist. In the film Eddie plays the leader of a crew of con artists who land jobs at Donald Trump's Trump Towers so they can steal from its residents. Murphy's fellow comedian collegues Chris Rock, Mike Epps, Chris Tucker and Dave Chappelle are also reportedly a part of the cast.

I don't know about yall, but I'd go see that on the first day!

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And below the comedian is spotted by the paparazzi walking towards his black Phantom after leaving a coffee shop in Beverly Hills with an unidentified woman.

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I've been sitting on these two photoshoots for months. Guess I'm getting kinda lazy, huh? Anywho, as you can very well see, the first Celebrity Black Man in the photoshoots below is none other than Lamman Rucker. Uhh, do we have to circulate a petition around the web in order to get a p-shoot of him withOUT his shirt?! I mean, really Lamman? What's the hold-up. Rick Ross takes his shirt off ALL the time...even when we don't want him too...which is ALL the time. At least give us a little something.

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And here's Carmelo Anthony in a photospread for XXL magazine. Yes, sir!!

I also found some candid pics of Carmelo vacationing with his son Kiyan in Hawaii a few weeks ago. You can peep those when you click on the link below.

Remember these photos from Tyler Perry's grand opening of his multi-million dollar tv and film studio in Atlanta this past weekend? Everyone who has seen these two particular pictures has asked the same question: 'What was going on to make Tyler and Oprah cry openly?' Well as a proud Tallahasseean, I am happy to tell you that the tears they shed were tears of joy as the listened to the angelic voices from the The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee. Choir director Dr. Earl Lee Jr. said he thought someone was trying to pull a fast one on him when he received the call saying Tyler wanted the Boys' Choir to sing at his grand opening. And then it took another two weeks before he was convinced that the call was real. Tyler found the choir after doing a bit of online research. Once he went to their official website and listened to their voices, it was a wrap! He footed the bill so that the 70 member choir could travel to Atlanta and have ample time to rehearse for his big historical day.

"The boys will definitely be talking about this experience for a long time. They were greeted and received by a thunderous applause from the special guests in attendance. The talk at the gala was 'What choir is that performing?' They stopped and watched the choir and they were in tears. They were crying. The stars were actually taking pictures of the local stars so it made the boys feel real good that those folks actually were in tears because the Amazing Grace was absolutely gorgeous. He (Tyler) wanted the choir to sound like angels and to look like angels and that's what they did," Lee wrote Sunday in an e-mail to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Amazing Grace happens to be Tyler's favorite song, hence the tears. As for Oprah, well we all know it doesn't take much for her to cry! Bless her heart. Besides, she's not a stranger to the Boys' Choir. The group performed on her talk show back in 2002 as part of her Angel Network. Lee says Tyler told the group that they are now a part of the Tyler Perry family and that "they will go down in history" as the first choir or boys choir to perform at Tyler Perry Studios. They were also the first to see Perry's new studio. Fourteen year old Boys Choir member Forrest Price said, "It was fantastic. We met a lot of people. We met new stars, we saw Tyler Perry. We went to a studio. It was a lot of fun." Jamaal Shareef-Rogan, a 14-year-old choir member, said, "When I saw Oprah in person, I really just wanted to stop singing and say hey to her. But I really couldn't get off focus. It was really exciting." Hell, now I'm over here about to cry. I'm so proud of them! The Boys' Choir sung at my grandmother's funeral about 8 and a half years ago when two of my cousins were members. She LOVED to hear them sing and adored Dr. Lee, so hearing them sing at her funeral was truly bittersweet. Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the church on that cold January morning but on the flip side, there also was a lot of hand clapping and rejoicing as well! After high school, one of my cousins later became a mentor to the new members coming in.

To read the background history of The Boys' Choir of Tallahassee, go to their official website by clicking HERE. I'm just sorry I'm not able to provide you all with any photos of the guys at the event, but here are a few file photos of the choir.

I also found a few more pics from Tyler's grand opening. Below you'll see pictures of actor Palmer Williams Jr. with two of his House of Payne co-stars (L) Bobbi Baker and Denyce 'Made in Korea' Lawton (I'm sorry, but I laugh hard as hell everytime I hear Palmer call her that!); newly married couple Malinda Williams and Derrick D-Nice' Jones; New Edition member Johnny Gill; and House of Payne co-star Larramie Doc Shaw and his mother.

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T.I. has proven once again why he's the King of the South. The rapper's latest album Paper Trail has been certified gold after selling an astonishing 568,000 copies in its first week! According to the Nielsen Soundscan, this marks Tip's third consecutive time in which he's received the number one debut and the second time since 2006's King that he's gone gold within a week's time span. The Grammy-winning rapper's long-awaited sixth album features guest spots from artists such as Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Justin Timberlake and Rihanna; along with production by DJ Toomp, Swizz Beatz and Kanye West who created the star-studded hit Swagger Like Us.

Below are candid photos of the rapper leaving Beso restaurant in Los Angeles last Sunday.

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