July, 2008

Chris Brown was spotted enjoying the attention from some groupies  at bubblegum Doublemint event in N.Y.C. Tuesday, where he revealed that his hit single, “Forever,” is actually the revamped jingle for Doublemint gum. “Metrosexual” singer Ne Yo tagged along.

Michelle Obama ,the future first lady of the US ( yes we can) tops Vanity Fair’s ‘The International best-dressed list’ for 2008 and superstar Kanye West also made the cut.

Here is what VF had to say ’bout Barack’s wifey:

MICHELLE OBAMA, 44, Because she’s our commander in sheath.
Residence: Chicago.
Occupation: Vice president for community and external affairs, University of Chicago Hospitals, on leave.
Notable ensembles of 2008: Maria Pinto purple sheath, with a black Azzedine Alaïa belt, worn when her husband claimed the Democratic presidential nomination; Donna Ricco black-and-white print dress on The View.
Causes: “Youth leadership programs, education, talking with women about work/family life balance.”

Hip hop genius Kanye west also made the cut!!!!

Kanye West, 31, Because, yes, he Kanye.

Residence: SoHo, New York City.

Occupation: “Ripping stages apart!”

Personal style: “I like to have fun and push the boundaries of what everyday outfits should look like.”

Favorite fashion purchase of 2008: “A special-order red Epi leather Christopher backpack from Louis Vuitton.”

Most frequently worn item: “My bape camo boxers.”

Dress up or dress down: “It’s way harder to dress down than to dress up. Casual is the true test of an outfit master. Old men dress the best. They’ll just be sitting in the park with a Missoni sweater, some tonal khakis, and some New Balance sneakers, and you’re like, Damn, that outfit is perfect.”

Virginia Mokopo , the former employee accused of abusing children at Oprah’s all-girl academy in South Africa has pleaded not guilty to all charges. She was arrested in October 2007 on 14 charges including assault, indecent assault and soliciting underage girls to perform indecent acts. She is accused of committing the crimes at Winfrey’s Henley-on-Klip Leadership Academy over a period of four months in 2007. The trial opened in Johannesburg on Tuesday with Makopo entering a not guilty plea to all charges against her.

If found guilty on all 14 charges, Makopo faces a minimum of 10 years in prison. The trial is expected to run until 1 August 2008. Winfrey co-founded the academy in 2006, and in late 2007, issued a heartfelt apology to the students who suffered at the hands of school officials.

If found guilty , she must be locked away for a long time!!!!

Prosper Mkwaiwa who recently broke up with afro popstar Kelly Khumalo is suing NEDBANK for R10m after an assault at a Pretoria branch of the bank. The music promoter and businessman  said he was kicked and assaulted by Ms Theresa Kgafela  the bank manager as well as two security officials. His lawyers have sent a letter to the bank that it should along with Kgafela, the security company and two security officials should come up with the R10m by end of the business day on the 23rd July 2008 or summons will be issued.

R 10 million for assault??? That’s kinda exagerated dont’ya’ll think???

Anyway Good luck Bro!!!

New York-based publisher Simon and Schuster last week filed lawsuits against rival rappers Lil Kim and Foxy Brown The company claims the two MCs failed to make good on memoir book deals, for which they were both paid advances. The lawsuits, filed July 23 in New York, seek return of the money.

Brown, born Inga Marchand, was reportedly paid $75,000 in 2005 to deliver an autobiography called “Broken Silence” by February 2006; while Lil’ Kim, real name Kimberly Denise Jones, was paid $40,000 in 2003 for a novel that was due June 2004. Coincidentally, both women ended up in prison shortly after signing their deals.

Foxy Brown’s attorney  Laura Dilimetin, has spoken out for her client, claiming that Simon and Schuster agreed to allow Foxy to put the project on hold because of her legal woes and a health issue took precendence in the rapper’s life. Brown was diagnosed with sudden severe hearing loss the same year she sign her book deal.
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Despite months of rumors that Amy Winehouse would be the singing Bond Girl, it is multiplatinum-selling Grammy winner Alicia Keys who will team up with White Stripes rocker Jack White to perform “Another Way To Die,” the theme for the 22nd James Bond movie, the Quantum of Solace, which hits theatres in November.

“Another Way To Die” will be the first theme to feature a duet in James Bond history.

The soundtrack to Quantum of Solace will be released by J Records on October 28, 2008.

Poor thing!!!

Ciara revealed to Billboard magazine earlier this month that her new movie, Mama I Want To Sing, will not be hitting theater screens later this year, but rather will be going straight to DVD in early 2009.

Jaws dropped when news spread that the dance diva was cast in the starring role and even more questions were raised when the only clip from the movie to be released did not feature Ciara and had the title song being sung by another singer.

Meanwhile movies’ website IMDB still has October 10th. 2008 listed as the release date.
The movie stars Ciara , Billy Zane, Hill Harper ,Lynn Whitfield ,Patti LaBelle and is about A preacher’s daughter, Amara, sings in the church choir before being discovered by a well-established musician. Soon she rises to international fame as a pop singer.