Black Celebrity Men

So now he wants to claim he doesn't remember beating the brakes off of Rihanna? Mmm-hmm. That's what he told Larry King last week in a taped interview that will be air Wednesday night at 9 pm on CNN. And although he says he doesn't remember bashing Rihanna's face in, he does insist and swears he'll never hit another woman again. Chris also said he still loves Rihanna and that it's tough for him to look at the photo showing Rihanna’s battered face, the one image that might haunt and define him forever. “When I look at it now, it’s just like, wow, like, I can’t believe that that actually happened.”

Contrary to reports and rumors after the incident claiming Chris and Rihanna had kissed and made up, Chris says he has not seen Rihanna for a couple of months, and said the separation has been difficult, especially when it comes to her dating others, but they’ll always be friends.

In another interview with People magazine, Chris also made the following revelations:

• He still loves Rihanna: "I never fell out of love with her. That just wouldn't go away."

• How he felt right after the assault: "I was distraught … I went to my mom on the same night and told [her] what happened and broke down."

• Why he's different from his stepfather, who he says regularly abused his mother: "I feel like he enjoyed it. He was an abuser. It was continuous. I used to be scared to go to bed. Nobody taught us a book on how to — how to control our emotions or our anger.” The 20-year-old said, “I wish I could have changed that night.”

Check out the clip below.

Common (real name Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.) and his 12-year-old daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn, were seen shopping in Hollywood on Sunday.

------------------------------

Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds was spotted leaving the Ivy restaurant last Saturday with his ex-wife Tracey, their two sons, Brandon and Justin and Babyface's baby girl (with dancer Nikki Patenburg). Some may look at these pictures and go, 'what the hell?' But for me, this doesn't surprise me one bit. Both Babyface and Tracey have stated in several interviews that even though they're divorced, they still make an effort to spend quality time (family outings, vacations) together with their children. This outing is no exception. And in a way this is a very good look. It shows that there's no animosity between the former couple and Babyface's baby's mother.

P.S. My money is funny and my change is strange so yall are going to have to excuse the watermarks on the photos because I wasn't about to pay fifty-leven dollars for some untagged photos. Real talk.

I told my reader FrescaBella I'd post Idris Elba's Essence magazine photospread for her. So here you go, girl! And for a bittersweet extra treat, I've also included an excerpt from the interview where Idris talks about the kind of women he dates.

"You see actors with models and actresses, and it's so cliche. I'd rather date someone who's regular. But what often happens is that she faces huge criticism like, 'Why her? She's Miss Ordinary.'" Idris likes when a woman makes him feel needed. "Be an independent woman. I love that. But at the same time don't be ashamed to, you know, throw your toys on the floor and let me pick them up."

Isn't he something special? Now, earlier I mentioned the word 'bittersweet.' I used that word because although it's refreshing to know that this very sought after bachelor would rather date us 'regular' women, in real life, and much to many women's dismay, he's actually dating a regular, nice woman from New Jersey.

......

Things are still going strong between Common and his girlfriend Serena Williams. The couple was lensed attending the Just Wright wrap party at Greenhouse in NYC last night.

......

Producer Swizz Beats was spotted dining with his new boo, Alicia Keys at the VIP Club in St. Tropez. Though the pair initially dismissed the rumors of a relationship, last May Mr. Beatz admitted to having a relationship with songstress. He explained that he’s kept their relationship under wraps because he didn’t want to aggravate his ex-wife Mashonda and says that what he and Miss Keys have is “so precious.”

Professionally, Alicia and Swizz recently collaborated write and produce Million Dollar Bill for Whitney Houston’s seventh studio album, I Look to You. It was reported that Keys approached Clive Davis for permission to submit a song for the album.

Pics: FadedYouthBlog.com
......

In all my years, I never heard of anyone celebrating being sentenced in the brutal beat-down of the year of their girlfriend. But that's what Chris Brown did at Hollywood nightclub Guys and Dolls just hours after he was ordered to serve five years probation, six months community service (removing graffiti and washing cars) and a year of domestic violence counseling. And judging by the reports of his celebration, he's apparently still a bit miffed at being denied the chance to pay homage to Michael Jackson at the B.E.T. awards and other events because being the attention whore that he is, Chris took it upon himself to hop up on a table and give an impromptu performance of Michael's Dirty Diana. Despite telling his probation officer that he had been "very depressed," he didn't look it Tuesday night. Also spotted with him was a woman who he appeared to be dating. According to one witness: "He stood up on the back of the booth when the song came on, got a mic and not only sung, but danced his a*s off. He didn't seem to care at all that everyone was watching him. He was in a totally good mood, just hanging out with his buddies. Then all of a sudden he decided to put on a little show."

Man, please!

After his performance, Chris said: "There was only one 'King of Pop'. We love you, Michael."

Below are pics of Chris Brown, Nelly and Chris' BBF (best buddy forever) Omarion and several of their 'fans' at Skateland.

MORE PICTURES & DETAILS ON CHRIS' SENTENCE AFTER THE JUMP!

......

Congrats to T.I. who is still incarcerated on felony weapons charges. The rapper's last album aptly titled Paper Trail was certified double platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). That's a good look because most people aren't going to the record stores to purchase albums when they can easily (and illegally) download it on the Internet. Nearly a year after it's release (in September 2008), Paper Trail has remained on Billboard's Top 200 chart. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 568,000 copies in its first week, becoming T.I.'s best debut sales to date and the fourth highest debut of the year. It has also become T.I.'s most successful and biggest album to date.
......

Can Usher look any happier? Was being married to Tameka that damn bad? Especially when you consider the fact that they were married less than two years...and separated for a year. What the hell did she do to him? Getting those emancipation papers (i.e. divorce) has literally made him a free man. Check out the pics of Usher vacaying on the sandy beaches of St. Tropez earlier week.

MORE PICS AFTER THE JUMP!

......

MORE AFTER THE JUMP!

......

Okay ladies, I have another Laz Alonso photoshoot for you all and this time it's better and sexier (at least in my opinion) than the last one. I had never received so many emails on any man I have featured on Black Celebrity Men (well, Lamman comes in at a close second) more than I have on Laz! The ladies love themselves some Laz...and looking at him, I can definitely understand why! Well, I have some good news for some of you. Unless he has hooked up with someone within the past two and a half months, Laz is very single and very available...at least according to a recent online interview I read. And yes, I'm late reporting it because I haven't updated this blog in a minute, but that's my bad. Now, if you're a true Laz Alonso fan, you'll melt once you read what he said. The article was mostly about his education, career and what it's like being a Latino living the Black experience. Well, just as sure as my name is SouthernGurl, I skipped through all of that mumbo-jumbo because 1.) I knew most of that information already; and 2.) I knew my readers would only be interested in knowing what's going on in his personal life. Some of yall are so nosy! LOL! Anyhoo, check out the excerpt I pulled from the interview.

LiveSteez: Oh come on! We have to know! Are you single?

Laz: Yes I am single. I've been single since 07.

LiveSteez: Why?

Laz: Well, [pause] um, I'm the type of dude that doesn't want a girlfriend unless I'm madly in love with her. If I'm in a relationship with a woman that I'm not madly in love with, then she's not going to get the Laz that I can give. She's just going to get a diluted version. If I'm not one hundred percent completely in it and head over heels, then I'd rather be single and just wait until I get smashed over the head with that feeling again. I'm not going to be in a relationship for the sake of being in one, you know? When I'm in an intimate relationship, I'm either all in or all out. I don't do half way. That's unfair.

LiveSteez: Hmm, quality vs. quantity for you then?

Laz: Oh, absolutely. When I'm in a relationship or have a girlfriend, she's my best friend. I want to do everything with her. If I'm out having fun without her, I'm mad that she's not there. When I find my other half, that's literally what they are, a part of me and vice versa. I know instantly when I have it, too. I've only felt that way a few times and it's like a tidal wave. I would never not give that to somebody and call myself their man. That, to me, is just a waste of their time and mine.

Laz also talked about his single status to Lossip.com. Let me find out he opened up more to them than he did to Livesteez Lounge!

Laz: You know, I’ve been single since ’07. When I get in a relationship, its basically a long one, you know what I mean? I don’t just jump in and out of relationships because, for me, I’m not going to get into a situation that I’m not 100% head-over-heels invested in. Its something that I can’t fake, I can’t create, I can’t fabricate. When it hits me, it hits me hard and I literally go all in. Forget about it, I want to see her everyday, I want her to be with me everyday, I want to go out with her, I want to eat with her, I want to party with her. Everything that I’m doing I want to include my girl! Its something that, for me, I don’t take lightly. We’re working our way toward marriage. That’s the way I look at it. I take my time. When I’m single, I’m dating people, I see people, because when it hits me over the head, I’m planning on being there for a while and I’m planning on going all in.

I’m in that stage when I’m waiting for it to hit me over the head again. The problem is that people end up dating somebody because they don’t want to be alone, and then they’re taking up that room in their lives. They’re occupying that space that should be left open for the right one. You just need to be patient and take a minute and just chill. That person will come. You just can’t force it. You’ve got to relax and sit back and let it happen, because it will happen.

The girl that I broke up with in ’07, we had an amazing relationship, granted that a big part of relationships is both people being ready for the same thing at the same time. And at the time, she was just out of a very intense relationship, so she wasn’t ready to commit on the level that I was. She still needed her time to decompress from her last situation. So, you know, it didn’t work out but I don’t love in fear. I go all in. If I meet someone that I really feel, and I like it…boom! I’m going in head-first.

Interview excerpts provided by: LiveSteez Lounge and Lossip.com

FIND OUT THE KIND OF GIRLS LAZ LIKES + MORE PICTURES FROM HIS PHOTOSHOOT AFTER THE JUMP!

Photos provided by F. Holder at HM magazine

There's a reason why Usher's looking happier than a fat kid in a grocery store in the pic above. He's once again a single man. (As for Snoop, that's a different post for a different day!) Was I the only one who thought the divorce wouldn't happen this quickly? For a moment I actual believed that Usher was pulling a publicity stunt in an effort to drum up interest in his upcoming album. Damn, he didn't waste any time at all in ending his marriage to her. Wow. What a track record Tameka has: five sons, (four of them under the age of 12), three baby daddies, two divorces and at least one mother-in-law who must be somewhere in Atlanta doing the Stanky Leg happier than a mug!

According to journalist, Jawn Murray of AOL's BV Buzz:

Singer Usher Raymond is officially back to being a bachelor. BV Buzz has learned that the 30-year-old singer’s divorce from his wife, Tameka Foster, has been finalized and an agreement was reached in a pre-court settlement. The camps aren’t talking now – likely preparing to give an exclusive to a media outlet like People magazine – but I hear an official announcement should drop soon. A rep for the singer did not answer a detailed request for comment. Foster’s publicist refuses to issue any statements to BV Buzz. “In the future, please don’t bother us again for direct quotes or responses from Tameka,” a one-named flack identified only as Melody e-mailed last week.

Usher is currently in Paris, France celebrating the end to the two-year marriage.

SOURCE

Double wow at the last two sentences. Someone sounds a wee bit bitter. And I'm betting it has to do with Jawn's entertainment report on the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning. Yep. For those of you who don't know, Tameka has been a thorn in Jawn's side for years. He has told her time and time again to leave him alone (on and off of Twitter) and to leave his name out of her mouth and she goes and does the exact opposite. Anytime she goes after bloggers or journalists, she somehow, finds a reason to include Jawn's name or make some sort of implication regarding him in her messiness. He says he has dirt and concrete evidence about how sheisty she really is. Maybe if he called her bluff and blast her ass (that's obviously what she wants), she'd sit down and shut the hell up. But then again, for her, that might be too much like right.

Where was I? Oh, yeah, Jawn reported their divorce on TJMS and one of my readers heard it and wrote her own transcript.

AFTER THE JUMP, CHECK OUT THE TRANSCRIPT *PLUS* THE LINK TO THE THE AUDIO OF THE REPORT.

From reader GTT:

I was listening to "The Tom Joyner Morning Show" this morning and Jawn Murray (the entertainment reporter for the show) let Tameka HAVE.IT!! He said that the reason that he has become the object of Tameka's venom (she called him a "disreputable journalist") is because the divorce is final and Tameka is desperate to do anything that she can to stay relevant (calling desperate her "emotion of choice"). He said that the divorce is the reason Usher was photographed all over Paris partying it up because he was free. He [Jawn] said that he is no longer going to report on Tameka because he only reports on celebrities and since her scam didn't work out and she is not associated with a celebrity, she no longer matters in her effort to stay famous. He said that when he worked at the NY Daily News, they took a break from reporting on Paris Hilton and E! News took a break on reporting on Spencer and Heidi because they didn't matter, so he is going to take a break on reporting on Tameka since she is no longer married to a star and is in the nobody category.

Jay [Anthony Brown] said "no matter what she does?" and Jawn said "Well, if I decide to release the audio of her calling me and trying to use me as a pawn to set up Usher in the divorce before she had that second child, I might change my mind since it is must hear audio. Or if she decides to have another botched surgery and almost dies, then maybe I'll say something. Or if she finds another victim to give her some more children, maybe then." He said that this is her entertainment funeral today and cougars should be on alert (only if you are forty and over telling Sybil that she might be too young) if they want to get at Usher. Jay said "how many kids should you have?" and Jawn said that since she has five children now, you should have about three children to start and you'll be good to go. He mentioned that her nickname online is Manmeka. He said that she could have been Tracey Edmonds or Kimora Lee but instead she has a botched up belly and nothing to show for it. Finally, he told her that "she should write a book; it worked for Karrine Steffans."

After the entertainment report, Tom mentioned that he sent Tameka Foster some candy and a note knowing that she is going through a difficult time with her very public divorce and all of that drama that comes with it. He said that Tameka's publicist got in touch with him pretty quickly and said basically that he could keep his candy and should call off Jawn Murray. Sybil and Jay started laughing immediately and Jay said "Girl, you better keep that candy because there's no stopping Jawn Murray." Tom said "I'm saying enjoy the candy because we can't call off Jawn. Enjoy the candy."

Here is the link to the "If you missed it . . ." part of the site with the entertainment report. You can click on Jawn Murray's gossip report. The audio garbles a bit a fifteen or twenty seconds into the report, but it gets clearer as the audio goes along.

Thank you so much, GTT! I appreciate it, gurl!

Yes, sir!! Remember the dude Mehcad Brooks who played 'Jerome', 'Girl Melanie's' love interest in The Game after her break-up with 'Derwin'? Well, unless I missed an episode, we never got a chance to see how 'Jerome' looked shirtless. Until now. Last Sunday, 28-year-old Mehcad (who now stars in True Blood) competed in the 'Tag the World Celebrity Charity Triathlon' in Waikiki, Hawaii. The triathlon benefited It Takes An Ohana (ITAO), whose mission is to offer resources to those concerned with protecting the interests of youth in out-of-home care. More info at TagTheWorldTriathlon.com.

See how the sweat is just glistening all over his body!

MORE PICS OF MEHCAD AFTER THE JUMP!

The Game actor Hosea Chanchez decided to punk the paparazzi when he was spotted leaving Katsuya restaurant hand-in-hand and playing kissy-face with Tamera Mowry, his former co-star Tia Mowry Hardrict's twin sister on Monday night. As soon as the pics hit the blogs everyone began buzzing about them being the new celebrity couple. Then on Tuesday morning, Tia sent Hosea the following tweet:

Doesn't sound like a love connection to me! LOL!


PICS SPOTTED AT CRUNK & DISORDERLY
......

I'm sorry, but for some reason these dudes remind me of a liter of 'bama-fied, geechie-talking Gremlins. I swear they do. And for a long time I gave them the benefit of the doubt because they're a group of young, black men doing something more with their life than hanging on the street corner with no job. But when I came across the following video of them discussing how they got down with a couple of groupies during a recent show in Jacksonville (my old stomping grounds, but as usual I digress), I couldn't do nothing but shake my head. But since this is BlackCelebrityMen and since they are somewhat celebrities, I'll go ahead and give them this one post.

Tyrese spend quality time with his baby girl Shayla and posted them on his Twitter page. One word: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

========================

How adorable is Tiny Lister's (better known as 'Deebo' from Friday 1, 2 and 3 movie series) daughter?! Tiny and his beautiful wife Felicia, along with their baby girl were spotted leaving the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, California earlier this week. Can you imagine the frightening madness any dude who dates his daughter is going to have to endure?! LOL! Anyway, according to imdb.com (Internet Movie Database), Tiny currently has about 10 movie projects in post production.

......

This sheisty dog, here! Can I tell yall why I'm mad? I found these candids of Michael's brother JerPain(in the ass) a.k.a. Jermaine and his latest wife shopping for million dollar condos the other day. What for? His ass ain't got no job. It was just two years ago when he told a judge, who was about to put him behind bars for non-payment of child support for that football team of kids he has, that he only made $10,000 in 2007. How'd he go from living in his mama house to shopping for condos? Yeah, I'm feeling some type of way about ol dude. And to say he is not one of my favorite people would be a gross understatement.

I also refer to him as JerManiac because his ass has been completely out of control since Michael's death. If you want to know the real deal and all the sheisty things JerMonkey did to his baby brother, I suggest you read JerInsane's common-law wife's (Margaret Maldonado) book Jackson Family Values. He has appeared on Larry King Live about 5 times talking about his 'existence is now dedicated to spreading Michael’s message.' Man, please. I do not need you to help me remember what Michael's purpose in life was. Real talk. Jer-Greasy is the same dude who wrote that filthy song about his own brother in hopes that he would tarnish and destroy his image....all because Michael wasn't returning his phone calls. Years later, after Michael pulled rank and got the song yanked off the airwaves, Jermaine carried on in his quest to ruin Michael again when he began writing a tell-all book that did what? Bash Michael.

Just trifling. Now do yall understand why JerMooch-A-lot talked until he was blue in the face about wanting Michael to be buried at Neverland? So that he could profit off his brother's death and possibly even dance on top of his grave at his convenience. Dude would do anything to live off of other people! Michael's memory and legacy is going to live on forever...even after Jermaine is dead and gone.

GET A DAMN JOB!

MORE PICS OF JERMANGY & HIS ENTOURAGE AFTER THE JUMP!

New photos showing actor Shemar Moore using a walking cane as he arrived at Mr. Chow restaurant earlier this week had many folks wondering, 'What's wrong with him?' 'Is he sick?' Well, earlier this month Shemar was involved in an accident when a car clipped the bicycle he was riding on and broke his leg. He's obviously doing a bit better. As for all the comments implying that he looks 'sick' or 'ill', well, I think it's the fact that he's gotten rid of his facial hair. Other than that he looks perfectly fine. Bless his heart.

With that being said, and since this is Black Celebrity Men, check out several photos from one of Shemar's throwback photoshoot.

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON EACH PIC TO SEE ITS FULL IMAGE.

......

Comedian/actor/author/radio host Steve Harvey covers the latest issue of Upscale magazine. Harvey has been on a roll since releasing his book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man (a book of advice for women seeking to better understand their male counterparts, it's been on the New York Times best seller list for the past six months and has earned over a million dollars in sales), appearing on Oprah, Tyra and The View and snagging a 'contributor' position on Good Morning America. Harvey will bring "GMA" viewers a series of reports on topics ranging from relationships to parenting over the next few months. He will bring his own unique perspective, style and humor to morning television while interacting with viewers around the country via ABCNews.com, Skype and live guests in-studio.

As for his Upscale interview, Steve discussed, of course, his new book, dethroning Tom Joyner, male/female relationships, Oprah and his flaws.

STEVE ON WHY HE WROTE HIS BOOK: 'When you talk to women about their relationships, they are hurting. And they're not hurting because all men are dogs. They are hurting because they don't understand men. That's all it is. Every man ain't a dog. Every dude ain't a bad dude. There are a lot of good men out there if you know how to bring out the best in a man. If you can get a woman to stop thinking she can change a man, if you can get a woman to stop thinking she can make him be a man--[she] can't. All you can do is breing out the best in that man. If you know what makes him tick, what makes him function, then you can bring out the best in him. Since most men aren't going to be forthright, what I decided to do was write a book to show women whether a man is 'playing with you' or 'planning with you.' That's all the book is. I'm teaching women to recognize what men do.

Actor Hill Harper and rapper/actor Ludacris have one thing in common: actress Gabrielle Union. It's no secret Gabrielle's relationships with black celebrity men has been the target of some of the most vicious and unfounded rumors that have not only bombarded the blogosphere, but has also motivated the actress into filing a lawsuit against a popular Black blog who has gone above and beyond in their efforts to smear her name. While going through this drama, Gabrielle has 2 of the most successful men in their respective fields in her corner. In separate interviews with Essence.com, both Hill and Luda explained their platonic relationships with Union.

HILL HARPER: Gabrielle Union is one of my best friends. People have always said we've hooked up. We've shared great memories and very difficult times together, but we've never crossed the line of friendship. Men and women can absolutely be friends and that's what we need to be. Part of the problem is that we aren't friends enough. Our relationships are negotiations and that is not friendship.

LUDACRIS: ....And yes, men and women can be friends because Gabby's my friend. (Laughs.) Even if a man is physically and mentally attracted to a woman, if he's respectable he can remain [platonic] with that woman and respect those boundaries.

......

Can someone please tell me the 'reasons' Earth, Wind and Fire member Verdine White continues to rock this 'do in the '09? I don't know whose worse, him or Nick Ashford.

-----------------------

Look at Usher's God daddy with his lil Taco Bell dog.

......

NFL player Terrell Owens opened up to Essence.com about his new reality show, 'The T.O. Show', which I have the hardest time watching. I swear. I think it has a lot to do with his 'bama accent (it grates my nerves LOL!) and the notion that at times (and in certain 'scenes' except for the one with him and his grandmama) it comes off as being a bit scripted, which he vehemently denies. I don't know why it's so hard for celebrities with these reality shows to refuse to acknowledge that their shows are 100% 'real' and unscripted. Anyway, as I read his interview, I noticed that he really tried to make it a point to let everyone know that he loves Black woman....although he doesn't date us exclusively. I said to myself, 'T.O., of course you love Black woman, because, needless to say, it was a Black woman who raised you.' But we also know...well, yall know what we know. I'm just saying. Whatever tickles your pickle, hunny. It is what it is...I guess. Anyhoo, here's how he explained it to Essence:

.....Black women I do love you. Honestly, if I were to reveal the Black females I've dated, the women who are accusing me of that would be surprised. I've had a lot of Black women hit me up on Twitter accusing me of not liking my own kind and all I have to say is that they are thinking too much. These women don't know me like that to have something negative to say about the women I date. Perhaps I have a certain type of woman that I like and a preference and I shouldn't be faulted for that. And for the record, I'm very familiar with headscarves because my grandmother wore them. I was just saying to Kiya that the women I date don't wear them because it's the truth. If I'm dating a Black woman and we hang out it doesn't mean she's sleeping over, so I might never see her in a headscarf. Again, I think some women are thinking too much about this because I love Black women.

As for the rumblings about his show being totally scripted, here is what he had to say:

It ticks me off when people try to say that my show is scripted. What I went through with my grandmother that wasn't easy for me because she is my everything and I'd do anything for her. I'd sit behind bars for her with all that she's done for me and helped me gain so much on and off the field. I was truly overwhelmed. I didn't see cameras because there was nothing but pure love there. All I saw was my grandmother and her telling me about different things in life and I saw me as young boy with my grandmother. I know when my grandmother said everything was going to be fine that that was God's confirmation through her to let me know keep moving on because He's all powerful. So no matter what my critics say, this show is far from fake.

Mmm-hmmmmm.
......

Martin Lawrence has big television and movie plans for 2009 and the following year. Personally, I'd love to see him on a weekly basis in some kind of sitcom, especially with the crap that's on tv now, but for now, I have no other choice but to take what I can get. Unfortunately, Marty-Mar's return to television will be behind the camera. He currently has three shows in development with his production company Runteldat and two shows already have network commitments. Fox has picked an animated comedy of his, written by Rodney Barnes, which is based on his experiences growing up in the D.C. area. Also, according to the Hollywood Reporter, Martin and fellow comedian Tracy Morgan have joined Chris Rock in his remake of the British comedy, 'Death at a Funeral.' The film revolves around a funeral that goes awry with new deaths and misplaced corpses. And, Martin's also working on one featuring an interracial family which, is based on the comedy of Gary Owen and that's been picked up by Starz.

Annnnnnnnnnd last but definitely not least, according to Variety, if everything goes according to plan, Martin is set to star in 'Back to America'...not 'Coming Back to America 2', but 'Back to America.' Lawrence, who has a first-look deal with Alcon partners Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, created the pitch and will produce the film via his Runteldat Entertainment alongside the Alcon duo. The comedy centers on a working-class man from Queens who discovers he is heir to the throne of an African country and travels there to claim his birthright.

In the meantime and in between time, you all can catch the fourth season of Martin's 'Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand Up' on Starz.

......

I haven't seen or heard from R&B singer Case in years and once I read an interview he did with Jawn Murray of BV Buzz, I understood why. Dude has been through some true drama over the past several years. In the interview, he talked about his 8 year absence from the music industry, shooting himself in the throat, his new album 'The Rose Experiment' and those pesky decade-long rumors about him dating Beyonce, Foxy Brown and Mary J. Blige. Peep the excerpts below.

CASE ON HIS 8 YEAR ABSENCE & HOW HE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED HIMSELF DURING THAT TIME: There was a lot of stuff going on. First of all, I moved to Atlanta to be closer to my kids. They were there, and I was still living up in New York/New Jersey and that wasn't working for me, so I moved. Then, I had a mishap with a gun and I shot myself in the throat by accident. I didn't know where it hit me, so I looked and I saw the hole in my neck and saw that it came out the back. Once I saw that, I was like, 'Let me see if I can still sing.' Once I saw I could sing, I then I smoked a cigarette. Seeing if I could sing was the first thing I did. I was out of the hospital within four hours. For a while, my voice wasn't as strong, because I hurt the muscles around it. I recorded the first song for this album about three weeks after that. It didn't take too long....I was still doing shows. I never stopped doing shows. I did a tour during that time. I was writing for other artists and had a couple of features. I did the deal with Def Jam before I left them, so I had that money, and I got the new deal for the independent thing so I had to do what I could.

CASE ON HIS NEW ALBUM 'THE ROSE EXPERIENCE': Blaxl Rose [as in the Black Axl Rose] is my alter ego, and he comes out a lot. On this album, I wanted the music itself to sound lighter, and I wanted to have a lot of fun with it. With my experiences, I've gone a little deeper into the twists and turns of a relationship. This is the first dose of Blaxl Rose that you'll get from me.

Look at lil Ja Rule. Hasn't had a hit in damn near a decade...at least not that I can remember. But hey, at least he's still working at keeping his body in shape. I guess. In a recent interview Ja spoke about his part on the remix to Rick Ross’ recent record 'Mafia Music.' He explained that he did not jump on the 50 Cent diss record in order to revisit past hostilities between the two rappers, and referred to 50 as “Curly” in the process. “[The track is] fuego, you know what I mean? But that beef was like 10 years old. I’m not rehashing beef, I just went in and did the record with Rick Ross and I’ll always speak my mind on how I feel. I could gives a fuck about Curly. It’s not like it’s a shock to nobody that I’m on the record.” The rapper claims he has an upcoming radio show, clothing line, and mixtape in the works.

-------------------------

Remember 'Buddah' from season 2 of 'I Love New York'? He was the dude who continously punked the hell out of Tailor Made...who went on to 'win' New York's heart. Anyhoo, here are candid shots of 'Buddah' (real name Ezra Masters) working out somewhere in California. According to his official website, he now spends his days volunteering 'at local homeless shelters, gives religiously to prevent animal cruelty, motivationally speaks, and privately gives personal training and self defense lessons as part of his "Life Coaching.”

Kel Mitchell of Nickelodeon's comedy show Kenan & Kel has been keeping himself extra busy since last appearing on the small screen on UPN's 'Half & Half.' He's starring in a new movie called 'Chicago Polanski Jones' (with Cedric the Entertainer, Tommy Davidson, Affion Crockett and Tia Mowry's husband, Cory Hardrict); a new solo album to be released later this year AND he's also developing a new show for Nickelodeon called, 'Orange Soda Boy' (remember his 'Orange Soda' song: 'who loves orange soda/Kel loves orange soda/is it true/mmmhmm/I do I do I do ho'). In an interview with HM magazine, the married father of two discussed his new projects. Read the excerpts below.

KEL ON HIS NEW MOVIE: I love kung fu movies, and I also love dance movies. People who know me know I love to dance. I decided that I wanted to create a film where I could use both elements, so I decided to make a film about a guy who could only fight when music is playing, and that's how I came up with 'Chicago Pulanski Jones.' I'm the writer, producer, I play the lead role, and I even play the villain in the film. I took it over to Bird and a Bear Productions, and when Ced said he wanted to direct it, I got so excited. I look up to Ced--we worked on Steve Harvey's show together--so it's like a dream come true. I also have another movie with Cedric called 'The Jump Off', which is another dance movie. It's crazy. I guess we just love dancing. Ced's got skills too!

PICS COURTESY OF F. HOLDER, HM MAGAZINE

AND SPEAKING OF KENAN & KEL, KENAN WAS SPOTTED ATTENDING THE 2009 COMIC CON IN JULY.


AFTER THE JUMP, READ DETAILS ON KEL'S 'ORANGE SODA BOY' AS WELL AS HIS NEW ALBUM.