Ice-T Admits Paternity

Feb 4, 3:22 PM EST

(NEW YORK) -- Ice-T, a star of television's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," admitted Tuesday that he is the father of a Board of Education clerk's 15-month-old son and was ordered to pay $4,000 a month for temporary support for the child.

He waived his right to a paternity trial after Manhattan Family Court Hearing Officer David Kirschblum said a DNA report shows that the rapper-actor is the father of Kevin Ice Marrow.

Ice-T, whose real name is Tracy Marrow, had initially denied he was ever intimate with Linda Marie Sanchez, 27, whom he met at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe in November 2000; she sued for support. By waiving his right to a paternity trial, he in effect admitted he is Kevin's father.

Sanchez' lawyer, Suzanne Kimberly Bracker, asked for $8,000 a month, but Kirschblum awarded Sanchez $4,000 a month, pending the outcome of a trial on a final support amount.

Bracker said Ice-T, 45, who lives in a penthouse apartment in Manhattan and has a home in Beverly Hills, Calif., is supposed to start paying the support by Feb. 15.

"We're happy that Mr. Marrow has finally admitted what he has known since Kevin was born, that he is the child's father and will be assuming financial responsibility for him as he should," Bracker said.

Ice-T told the court he earns about $25,000 for each of 22 episodes a year of his television show. He also lectures a few times a year for about $5,000 to $10,000 per appearance and is starting a new clothing line called Ice Wear.

The rapper-actor said he made no records or movies in 2001 or 2002, Bracker said.

Bracker said Sanchez lives in the Bedford section of the Bronx and takes home $589 every two weeks as a clerical worker at the city Board of Education.

Kirschblum set May 1 for the next Family Court appearance for Ice-T and Sanchez.
**************************************************

Snipes Sued for Mortgage

Feb 1, 9:11 AM EST

ORLANDO (AP) -- Actor Wesley Snipes has been sued for the second time in two years for failing to make mortgage payments on his 10,000-square-foot mansion in the gated community of Isleworth.

The lawsuit was filed two weeks ago in Orange County Circuit Court by Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corp. The lawsuit said Snipes defaulted on his payments last October and owes the bank almost $609,000.

No one answered at an Orlando telephone number listed in court records as belonging to Snipes.

Snipes was sued by the bank for $640,700 in February 2001 for failing to make his mortgage payments. Chase Manhattan asked for dismissal of the lawsuit a month later, after payments were made.

The mansion was purchased in 1993 for more than $1 million. It is now valued at $1.7 million.

L. Joseph Hoffman, an attorney for Chase Manhattan in Coral Gables, said Friday he couldn't comment on the case.

Isleworth residents also include Tiger Woods, Ken Griffey Jr. and Shaquille O'Neal.

Patty Jackson 411

Radio Personality Wendy Williams is the talk of the town in New York City. She is doing afternoons at WBLS in New York and she is as wild as ever. Wendy is truly entertaining and last week her shows were off the hook. Wendy is known for not pulling any punches and she will go there. Singer Whitney Houston was so enraged at one of Wendy’s reports that she called her up and cursed her out. Whitney was rambling on and she threatened Wendy. This was not a good career move for Whitney because during her tirade against Wendy she appeared to be high. Wendy also got into a confrontation with Singer Chante Moore. Chante is married to Singer Kenny Lattimore and the conversation between Wendy and Chante got heated. Wendy called Chante evil and referred to her as an industry Ho who had to settle for a gay man. DAMN! Wendy claimed that Chante was used by men such as R Kelly, Jermane Dupri and others before she hooked up with Kenny. Chante did not take these comments lightly and before she ended the conversation she called Wendy a Fat Bitch. Damn! Chante is pregnant and she is due this spring what happened between these two for the conversation to turn so ugly?

Singer/Actress Nell Carter died broke. Nell who passed away two weeks ago had filed for bankruptcy. She was 1.3 million dollars in debt and she owed the IRS a lot of money. During her career Nell blew 8 million dollars. Nell was best known for the 80’s TV Show Gimme a break and she a Tony Award for her work in the musical ‘Aint Misbehavin’. Over the past year she had lost 170 pounds and reports say she died of natural causes. Nell was raising two teenage sons at the time of her death and they will be now be raised by a woman that she was romantically involved with.

What’s going on with Prince? Prince is married but he’s not acting like it. Sources say Prince is infatuated with a 17 year old British Model. They say he’s even thinking of moving to England to be with her. The model is ten inches taller than Prince. What is he going to do about his wife?

Jennifer Lopez wants a big Catholic Church wedding to prove her love to Actor Ben Affleck but first she’s going to have to get an annullment. Jennifer has been married twice and the problem is coming from her first marriage to Ojani Noa. They had a catholic ceremony when they tied the knot and he won’t agree to an annullment. Ojani doesn’t want to cooperate because he feels he was screwed out of decent divorce and last year she fired him as manager of her restaurant. Jennifer will probably have to give him a lot of money to agree to an annullment and an annullment process could take as long as two years. Meanwhile I hear there is trouble in paradise with Ben and Jen. Ben wanted to hang out with his buddies at the Sundance Film Festival but Jen had a fit she wanted to come along and told him who do you want to be with your friends or me?

Diana Ross was a no-show at a recent tribute to her in New York. Diana was being honored by the ‘We are Family Foundation’. Diana was being honored for her Humanitarian efforts. Producer Nile Rodgers from Chic fame heads up this foundation. Diana did call in to express her thanks and she said thanks for the love and support right now she is going thru one of the biggest challenges of her life. Diana got a lot of support from her fellow entertainers including Patti Labelle, Nile Rodgers and Ashford and Simpson.
Diana made no mention of her recent drunk driving arrest.

Halle Berry’s Dad Jerome died last week. Halle has been estranged from her father for years. In interviews she claimed she cut off contact with her dad because he was abusive to her, her mother and sister. Jerome Berry was 68.

I got a lot of emails last week about the identity of Deborah Cox’s Husband. Deborah is married to her manager Lascelles Stephens they are expecting their first child. Deborah is four months pregnant and she is currently starring in a stage musical ‘Love on Layaway’.

Get ready for everything Michael Jackson. On Friday February 7th ABC’s 20/20 will be airing the special ‘Living with Michael Jackson’. ABC Paid 5 million dollars for this British Documentary that Michael agreed to participate in. For the first time Michael takes you inside his life with his children and his plastic surgeries. Michael wants to combat a special that NBC is doing on his face. On February 17th NBC’s Dateline is doing a special on Michaels ever changing face, all the plastic surgeries. In other Michael news he says when his brothers go on tour he will not be joining them.

Aretha Franklin says she is disappointed and puzzled with authorities who claim she is not being cooperative with the investigation involving a fire that detroyed one of homes. Aretha has been threatened with a subpoena for refusing to talk with authorities. Aretha insists that she hasn’t slowed down their investigation and she will get her attorneys to talk to them.

Barry White is still in the hospital. Barry has been in there for the past six months. He is still waiting for a kidney transplant.

A few weeks ago I mention how Pop Singer Carnie Wilson from the group Wilson Philips was going to take it all off for Playboy Magazine. Carnie underwent Gastric Bypass surgery and she lost 150 pounds. Carnie was scheduled to do a nude layout for the April edition of Playboy but when the new Editors of Playboy saw the pictures they decided she was still too fat so they are going to use Dennis Rodmans Ex-wife Carmen Elektra instead.

Singer Heather Headley is going to have a cameo in the new Jamie Foxx Comedy ‘The breakup Handbook’. The movie comes out this summer and also stars Gabrielle Union and Morris Chestnut.

Sidenote: How many more times will Gabrielle Union and Morris Chesnut meet up in a movie? They sure know how to recycle black actors in Hollywood for the same roles :rolleyes:

I was thinking the same thing. Surely Sanaa Lathan is not busy. WTH is NIA LONG!?!?!?!?!? :mad:

Either:
1. Directing stupid A-- videos. :rolleyes:
2. Raising babies (baby and hubby...lol)
3. Deemed too old to play these roles now that she is a real life mom...
4. All of the above
5. None of the above
6. Just MIA

:confused:

:D

I thought Nia was being a mommy right now. Isn't that why she's MIA?

*Soror, seems we were posting at the exact same time, lol*

I know she is out being a mommy but umm right Gabrielle is getting a little too much exposure in the industry. There are a lot of talented actresses who have not had many movie roles lately.

Maybe she has SKILLZ to land the roles. ;) Or she has MAJOR "hook ups". :confused:

I didn't know Gabbie was married.

Ben Affleck on the 'Ben-Jen Hype'

One couple going strong, personally and professionally, is Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. Now, Ben opens up to Vanity Fair magazine about the media fascination and how the public misunderstands J. Lo.

With Daredevil about to hit theaters and the frenzy surrounding his engagement to Jennifer Lopez still red-hot, Ben was a natural choice for Vanity Fair's March cover story. Writer Leslie Bennetts learned that Affleck doesn't believe all the "Ben-Jen hype."

"He thinks it's just crazy. He said, 'I don't understand it. There's war looming in the Middle East and we're in the middle of this terrible recession in America. The fact that I'm romantically linked to someone -- that should be a page 20 item?'" Leslie told Access.

In what would be his final shoot, late photographer Herb Ritts supplied the pictures for the article in which Affleck explains that he thinks his fiancee's red-hot image is totally overblown. "She's characterized as oversexed. I mean, the woman's had five boyfriends in her whole life. She's a deeply misunderstood woman in my opinion," says Affleck.

As far as how he fell for Lopez on the set of their upcoming film Gigli, Affleck swears that he had no plan to make a move on the then-married star but "it changed when she told me she was getting separated. At that point it became a possibility; doors were opened."

Ben also gladly sets things straight on the many rumors surrounding his life. For the record: he does not wear a hairpiece, he did not get his chin done, he and Jen are not getting married in February and he never spent over a million dollars on ex-CIA and FBI bodyguards for Jen. Apparently, the public just has to live with the stories.

"He knows what they're up against, but he just figures 'What can I do but live my life? This is the person I want to be with.' The rest of it is not his problem," said Leslie.

The issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands on Feb. 11.


:rolleyes:

H-town singer dies in car crash.
 

I heard this on the readio on Monday but did not see it in the thread. The accident was Tuesday a week ago but his body was not identitfied until Friday.

From mtv.com-
Keven A. Conner, better known to R&B fans as Dino, lead singer of the group H-Town, was killed in a car accident on Tuesday.

According to Houston police, Dino, 28, had just left a recording studio and was a passenger in a car being driven by his girlfriend, 22-year-old Teshya Rae Weisent. Their vehicle was struck by an SUV that ran a red light and both Dino and Weisant were killed.

Three people were in the SUV and all fled after the accident. One man, Juan Diaz, was apprehended, however, and faces felonious charges of failure to stop and rendor aid.

Originally signed to a recording contract by 2 Live Crew's Luther "Luke" Campbell, H-Town rose to prominence 10 years ago with their debut album, Fever for Da Flavor, which spawned their biggest hit, "Knockin' the Boots." In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Shazam, Dino's twin brother and groupmate, said the trio had just finished an H-Town reunion album. Their last LP, Ladies Edition, was released in 1997.

I remember a while back when I first started seeing her on City of Angels, she did an interview and said she was engaged to a football player.

Ok, so let's see. Five boyfriends in her whole life. Married ONE, forget the name. Dated Puffy, that's TWO. Married Chris, that's THREE. And about to marry Ben, that's FOUR. So out of the five, she will have married THREE of them? 3/5? That's 60%. So she will have married 60% of her boyfriends? WTFever. And who said you only had sex with your BOYFRIEND??? Shoot, anybody can count how many BOYFRIENDS they've had. What that got to do with crankin'????? Like I said, WTFever. :rolleyes:

The first Mr. J.Lo-Ho's name was Ojani Noa, and he was a waiter. He didn't fare as well as Jo Jo Dancer in the $$$$ ranks.
:p

According to the episode of DRIVEN on her, she dated the same boy throughout High School, so that is four, right? Dang, I cant keep track.. but like you said, WTFEVER!!!! who cares?:D

Im mad you called him Jo Jo Dancer.. lol

Hip hop icon Russell Simmons wants hip hop fans to boycott Pepsi. Simmons says the soft drink giant used a double standard when it featured foul-mouthed rocker Ozzy Osborne in a Super Bowl commercial but canceled Ludacris’ commercial because the rapper uses vulgar language in his songs. Hmmmm, Russell DOES have a point here... Russell is calling the boycott "The Campaign for Respect.” The proteste will be officially announced at a news conference next week. Simmons said the action follows six months of unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a settlement of the dispute. He said the boycott will continue until Pepsi agrees to three demands: (1) issuing a public apology to Ludacris and the hip-hop community, (2) making a $5 million charitable contribution to the Ludacris Foundation and (3) reinstating the Ludacris Pepsi television commercial. Yesterday, a Pepsi spokesman said, quote: "We learned from it (the Ludacris situation) and we moved on. We completely understand and respect Russell Simmons' passion for promoting hip-hop music and we are working with him and others to do just that.”

Sean “P. Diddy” Combs is spending a grip on his big fashion show Saturday at Cipriani in New York. Last year’s event cost $1.2 million, and insiders say that Puffy will spend even more this year! The invitations alone will cost $75,000 (up from $60,000 last year). A thousand invites are being sent out and each one costs 75 bucks! The invitation is a fancy box (stamped with the Sean John logo) with a drawer that you pull out; inside the drawer is a black-on-black T-shirt imprinted with the words HARD SEXY & BEAUTIFUL. A tag attached to the shirt serves as your ticket to the fashion show.

Beyoncé Knowles almost panicked when she realized she’d lost her bracelet during a party after the Golden Globe Awards. It was a one-of-a-kind Bulgari platinum bracelet encrusted with 390 diamonds, so you know Beyonce was buggin’ when it came up missing! After searching the restaurant with her friends, Beyonce told the manager who asked his staff to help look. After about an hour, the bracelet was found by one of the busboys. I hope Beyonce tipped that busboy very well!

Vanity Fair magazine has chosen Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson for the cover of its annual Hollywood issue (which goes on sale March 7). This issue supposedly highlights the hottest stars in Tinsel Town, but guess who wasn’t asked to be on the cover? He’s definitely one of the biggest men in Hollywood. He’s got two Academy Awards (including the Best Actor honor last year) and he’s been getting rave reviews for directing his first movie. His name: Denzel Washington! According to one published report, Denzel might have been invited to participate if Vanity Fair had done an extra-wide cove! r that folded over inside. VF reportedly wanted Mel Gibson to be on this inside flap but he declined and the magazine decided to do a regular cover. Vanity Fair is known for not putting African-Americans on the cover. The last black person on a VF cover was Barry White who was on the cover of last November’s Music Issue. Where was brotha Barry? On the inside flap! Will Smith was also on the inside flap the year after “Independence Day” came out!

Jennifer Lopez is ready to produce her first movie. It’s called "Double of Nothing" and it’s about two women police officers who team up to solve the murder of a male cop who they both used to date. L.Lo will produce the movie through her Nuyorican Productions in partnership with New Line Cinema.

Father-and-son hip hop stars Master P and Lil' Romeo will step in front of the movie cameras later this month to shoot a family comedy called "Uncle P." This flick is about a superstar rapper and tycoon named P. Miller (an obvious nod to Master P’s real name, Percy Miller) who puts his businesses on hold to look after his ailing sister’s three kids. Romeo will play the middle child, a trouble-making 12-year-old in desperate need of a father figure. Looking after the kids helps Master P’s character to see that there’s more to life than business; he gradually realizes the importance and the joys of family. Master P said, quote: "With the success of films like 'Barbershop' and 'Drumline,' I felt it was time for Romeo and I to step into the family comedy genre and take it to the next level with one of the funniest scripts I ever read." Master P is co-financing this movie with a lot of his own money.

The Universal Music Group has canceled its Grammy after-party bash which was supposed to jump off immediately after the February 23rd awards show. Sources cited by the Los Angeles Times claim the plug was pulled on the bash because of potential friction between feuding rappers 50 Cent and Ja Rule (who are signed to separate labels which are both distributed by Universal Music Group). Other sources claim the party was canceled because the cost had climbed to half a million dollars! That’s a hefty price, especially since record sales are down across the music industry.

Michael Jackson swears in that new documentary that there’s nothing weird or inappropriate about him sleeping in the bed with kids. But lawyer / activist Gloria Allred doesn’t trust the King of Pop. Yesterday , Allred sent a letter to chilld welfare services in Santa Barbara County ( where Jackson lives with his three young children) urging them to interview any children who may have been in Jackson’s home or bedroom without the presence of their parents. The documentary airs on ABC’s “20/20” tonight at 8:00.

Some one pointed out that a boycott of pepsi would need to include all of its related products on another list I am on..We really need to focus our attention on bill o'reilly, IMO, b/c he was the one who suggested that Luda be dropped in the first place. I dont hear him complaining about Ozzy and 'nem, even though I like the Osbournes.. Let me see if I can find that list..

here it is
 

Also add KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut to this list
>If you are going to boycott Pepsi, then it goes further than the soda. Here
>is a listing of what they supply:
>
>Lay's potato chips
>Lay's Bistro Gourmet potato chips
>Lay's kettle cooked potato chips
>Wavy Lay's potato chips
>Baked Lay's potato crisps
>Maui Style potato chips
>Ruffles potato chips
>Baked Ruffles potato chips
>Ruffles Flavor Rush potato chips
>Doritos tortilla chips
>3D's snacks
>Tostitos tortilla chips
>Baked Tostitos tortilla chips
>Santitas tortilla chips
>Fritos corn chips
>Cheetos cheese flavored snacks
>Rold Gold pretzels
>Funyuns onion flavored rings
>Sunchips multigrain snacks
>Cracker Jack candy coated popcorn
>Chester's popcorn
>Grandma's cookies
>Munchos potato crisps
>Smartfood popcorn
>Baken-ets fried pork skins
>Oberto meat snacks
>Frito-Lay dips & salsas
>Frito-Lay nuts
>Doritos, Cheetos & Chester's snack crackers
>Fritos, Tostitos & Doritos snack kits
>Pepsi-Cola
>Caffeine Free Pepsi
>Diet Pepsi
>Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi
>Pepsi ONE
>Wild Cherry Pepsi
>Pepsi Twist
>Mountain Dew
>Diet Mountain Dew
>Mountain Dew Code Red
>Mug Sierra Mist
>Slice
>Lipton Brisk (Partnership)
>Lipton Iced Tea (Partnership)
>Dole juice drinks
>FruitWorks juice drinks
>Aquafina purified drinking water
>Frappuccino coffee beverages (Partnership)
>SoBe juice drinks and teas
>AMP
>Gatorade
>Propel Fitness Water
>Tropicana Pure Premium
>Tropicana Season's Best juices
>Tropicana Twister juice drinks
>Tropicana Smoothies
>Tropicana Pure Tropics juices
>Dole juices
>Quaker Oatmeal
>Quaker instant oatmeal
>Cap'n Crunch cereal
>Life cereal
>Quaker Toasted Oatmeal cereal
>Quaker 100% Natural cereal
>Quaker Squares cereal
>Quisp cereal
>King Vitaman cereal
>Quaker Bagged cereals
>Quaker Oh's! Cereal Mother's cereal
>Quaker rice cakes
>Quaker Quakes rice snacks
>Quaker Chewy granola bars
>Quaker Fruit & Oatmeal bars
>Rice-A-Roni side dishes
>Pasta Roni side dishes
>Near East couscous/pilafs
>Aunt Jemima mixes & syrups
>Quaker grits

Is it me...or does this sound like the Bernie Mac Show?

LOL. Jo Jo Dancer actually came from someone on another list I belong to. :p

The J. Lo-Ho, I hope, is fast approaching her 16th minute of fame. Can you say played out?

I heard it this morning on Russ Parr and was like Bernie Mac should get some cash off of that idea.

Although it does sound less ghetto than I GOT THE HOOK UP.

Re: here it is
 

:eek: What will I do?

50 Cent....His life is like The Coldest Winter Ever with a twist.


http://www.rollingstone.com/news/new....asp?nid=17326

When he says, "I know if I ever ran into someone's house during a robbery, I'm not leaving no one in that house to be a witness for me, I'll kill everybody in that motherfucker before I go," he is smiling. www.rollingstone.com

--50 cents needs to get it together :rolleyes:

As a matter of fact this is her 2nd marriage. The first one whom her son is by, looks like a real geek. Has anyone seen the 2nd husband?

I had to reread this post and do a edit, it's not G. Union that has been married twice. She is married to a football player that plays for the Jacksonville Jags in the NFL.

I was actually thinking of that chick that played ont eh Jamie Foxx show. She is the one that is on her 2nd husband, and I want to know if anyone has seen husband #2.

RE:G.U.
I haven't seen hubby #1 nor hubby #2. LOL


Ashanti to Headline Holyfield Fund-raiser
22 minutes ago

By The Associated Press

FAIRBURN, Ga. - Evander Holyfield is ready to party — and raise money for kids.


His "Main Event" fund-raiser this year coincides with this weekend's NBA All-Star game in Atlanta, his hometown.


Grammy-nominee Ashanti and the R&B group B2K are among headliners performing at a benefit concert Friday at the Georgia World Congress Center. Other artists include Baby of Cash Money Millionaires, Fat Joe, Jadakiss and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.


The concert, along with a dinner at his Faiburn estate and a gospel brunch, are aimed at raising money for a $20 million youth center Holyfield plans to build.

According to imdb.com , she's marrried to "Chris Howard" of the Jacksonville Jaguars. :confused: Never heard of him! I remember reading somewhere that she was dating Curtis Martin, also an NFL player.

http://www.mtv.com/shared/media/news...orange-cnn.jpg

From mtv.com:

CHICAGO — What role R. Kelly's recent arrest in Florida will play in his Chicago case remains to be determined, but that very question created a hiccup in the proceedings of the singer's preliminary hearing on Friday the Cook County Criminal Courthouse.

Though the prosecution was scheduled to complete the discovery process this week, that matter has been delayed for another month, much to the consternation of the judge slated to oversee Kelly's child pornography trial.

When prosecutors handed over a packet of photographs, saying that a new matter had come to light since Kelly's last motions hearing in December, and then requested more time for expert analysis, Judge Vincent Gaughan scolded them for not being ready.

"I'm not going to let this go on," Gaughan said. "If your experts aren't done [by the next court date], I expect them to be in this courtroom to explain why."

Gaughan admonished defense attorney Edward Genson as well. Whenever Gaughan grants permission for Kelly to leave the jurisdiction, as he had for the singer's Powerhouse concert in New Jersey and his "Ignition" video shoot in Florida, Kelly is required to call a probation officer daily to check in. However, the prosecution complained Kelly had failed to do so on four of the days during his court-consented trip, constituting a violation of the terms of his bond.

Genson replied that Kelly failed to make two of those calls on his advice, due to a misunderstanding of procedure, and one call because he was in jail in Florida. He provided no explanation for the failure to make the fourth call. Gaughan ultimately ruled that Kelly had violated his bond and scolded the singer for doing so, but not before also scolding his attorney for talking over him.

"You better listen to me," Gaughan said.

"I've learned that," Genson interjected.

"You can't learn that if we're both talking at the same time," Gaughan countered testily.

Though Gaughan dressed down both Kelly and his attorney for the bond violation, he imposed no sanctions. Kelly, who stood in front of the judge with his hands behind his back, did not speak.

Kelly's next court date is March 7. His new album, Chocolate Factory, is due February 18.

After Reading HONEY . . .
 

Well accordng to nfl.com there is no player named "Chris Howard" that plays for ANY team in the NFL. So who he is remains a mystery.


Alright it even says the same thing in HONEY. It also states they have been married for less than 2 years.

And after a quick search, I found the mystery man:

Chris Howard

Get outta dodge!
 

:eek: He's from the "east"bank. :eek:

RD, do you remember him? I wonder what HS school he attended?

P. Diddy Picks New Partner

Feb 7, 11:50 AM EST

(Associated Press) -- P. Diddy's picked a new partner.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, the 33-year-old hip-hop entrepreneur, has signed a 3-year deal with Universal Records to press, distribute and promote music from Bad Boy Entertainment, both sides said.

The agreement, reached eight months after Combs ended his long-time joint venture with Arista Records, allows Combs to retain 100 percent ownership of his company, its artist roster and catalog.

Specific financial details of the agreement were not made public, but Combs told The Associated Press on Thursday that the deal's structure — allowing him to keep control of Bad Boy — was more important that the money.

"I'm blessed to make the money," Combs said after the deal was finalized. "But what I'm trying to do is make history, make some hit records."

When the Arista deal ended, Combs had said he hoped to sign a $100 million deal similar to that arrangement. But he soon discovered that the record business was going through difficult economic times.

"It's been a difficult time to negotiate a new record deal," said Combs. "This has been a wakeup call for me."

Mel Lewinter, chairman of Universal/Motown, said the label was excited about adding Combs.

"As a songwriter, producer and artist, P. Diddy is one of the world's most gifted and accomplished talents," Lewinter said.

Under the deal, Universal will be responsible for the promotion costs of Bad Boy's musical acts. Among the label's upcoming releases are CDs from the reunited New Edition, the girl group Dream, rappers 8Ball & MJG, and rapper Loon.

Combs, who produced and appeared on B2K's recent chart-topping single "Bump Bump Bump," is currently producing the new album from hip-hop diva Mary J. Blige.

In addition to his music interests, Combs owns the Sean John clothing line, two restaurants and a market research company. Fortune magazine once estimated the Grammy-winning performer's annual earnings at more than $50 million; Sean John did a reported $325 million in sales in 2002.

Yet Bad Boy's only music release in 2002 was "We Invented the Remix," a compilation album that debuted at No. 1 but wound up selling just 1 million albums — below many previous P. Diddy successes.

Combs said he looked forward to getting involved again with the music business, and promised to take a major role with his label now that the Universal deal was in place.

"I do my best work when I'm working under pressure," Combs said. "I'm in the prime of my life as a creative person. I'm extremely focused after all the years of partying, running around.

"This is a good time for me."

Halle Berry has signed on to star in Oprah Winfrey's next television venture, "Their Eyes Were Watching God." Reports say the Oscar-winning actress will play a free-spirited woman whose personal quest for happiness puts her at odds with people in her community. The show is scheduled to début during the 2003-04 season.

Mary J. Blige has joined American Express Blue and VH1 in a venture to support music education in public schools

Aaliyah's first single, "Miss You," from the late singer's greatest hits album is #1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart..

Dionne Warwick will receive a special honor at the 17th annual Soul Train Music Awards next month. She'll receive the Quincy Jones award for outstanding career achievements, female
LL. Cool J will receive the male award

For more about radio show host DeDe McGuire, go to Dedesword.com

Does anyone know if this is based on Zora Neal Hurston's book? :confused: Interesting

Yes it is. I am not so certain that I am feeling Halle for this role though. Too bad it will not come to the big screen. I am glad that it will finally be made into a movie. Well I do know that Oprah will play the grandmother role -- betcha.

YES!!!!! He is doing Mary's next CD!!!! I am a Mary fan for sure but her last CD that stayed in rotation was My Life -- produced by Puffy.

**singing** Janet's Got a Man @ Home. . .
 

BELOVED singer and actress Nell Carter filed for bankruptcy just weeks before her tragic death, with debts amounting to more than $1.3 million, Star can exclusively reveal.
The once-wealthy Gimme a Break star - found dead Jan. 23 - had assets totaling $92,000, or just twice what she earned per episode of the smash 1980s sitcom.

The 4-foot-11 performer also had huge tax bills: $913,327 owed to the IRS and $231,428 in California state taxes.

Friends estimate the 300-pound former alcohol-and-drug addict blew almost $8 million after suffering a series of medical crises in recent years.

"Rich is not better," Carter, a diabetic who had brain surgery in 1992 for an aneurysm, recently said. "Rich means you have to stay there to maintain it."

Creditors are already swarming over her estate. Her debts also include bills for auto repairs on a friend's car, $500; dermatology appointments, $195; medical services, $30; coffee bills, $31.35, and loans totaling $26,000.

Carter, 54, filed for bankruptcy Nov. 5, claiming she earned $10,500 per month, but her monthly expenses exceeded $15,000. She paid $5,900 per month to lease her Beverly Hills home.

Financial papers also reveal her personal wealth had dwindled to $92,000 - $67,000 of which was in savings and a pension fund. Other assets included a Cartier watch, $2,000; a Bulgari watch, $500; clothes, $500; household furnishings, $5,000, and books and art objects, $5,000.

Ironically, the actress was two weeks away from making a comeback when one of her 13-year-old adopted sons found her dead in her home from apparent natural causes.

Carter, a Tony Award winner in 1978 for the Broadway smash Ain't Misbehavin', was rehearsing for a musical version of Raisin in the Sun at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, scheduled to open Feb. 7.

"Sadly, she didn't live to see her dream come true," theater spokesman Denis Nigo tells Star.

Carter always feared her weight and other health problems might kill her, a friend says.

"She had been in poor health for the past few years, but recently she seemed to rally," the pal adds.

The troubled star - who was divorced from Austrian businessman Georg Krynicki and has a grown daughter, Tracey, 36 - desperately wanted to live for her sons Daniel and Joshua Bernard, the friend says.

"Having those boys changed Nell's life forever," her friend reveals. "They were her whole world, and they loved her very much.

"It's tragic that it had to be one of them who found her. Now Tracey will most likely raise them."

A devoted mom, Carter will surely be missed by all three of her children.

"She didn't have any money when she died," says the friend, "but she was still a success. Her children were her greatest achievement in life."

Re: **singing** Janet's Got a Man @ Home. . .
 

He's still good googly moogly oogly.
:D :rolleyes:

Sugar Pie Honey Bunch
 

Re: Sugar Pie Honey Bunch
 

GROSS.

Re: Re: Sugar Pie Honey Bunch
 

:eek: :o :eek: :o :eek: :o OMG the man I went out with this past weekend favored Jermaine Dupri sans the braids. :eek: I JUST realized that. He is not getting a call back for several reasons though.;) :p

Christina Aguilera is REALLY small