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His Own Words

I like Ne-Yo! Why? Because he's the real deal! See, most artists are like Play-Doh. They've been molded into the image that you see and say the things some publicist or record label executive have coached them to say. But that's not the case at all with this quadruple threat.

I caught up with the singer songwriter/producer/actor recently at The W Hotel in Westwood, Calif. and during our frank chat, the Las Vegas-bred entertainer talked openly about any and everything I wanted to. Last fall, there were some photos that were taken by Ne-Yo showing one of his dancers performing oral sex on him that surfaced online. I asked Ne-Yo had he tired of all the questions about the pictures. "No," he replied.

"Well what's the real story behind the photos," I asked. Without blinking he shot back: "I was just having fun one day. Someone did something childish and broke into my damn sidekick. It happens. It comes with the territory."

The singer, who also stars in the #1 box office smash 'Stomp The Yard,' said that a man actually attempted to extort money for the pictures. "Somebody was trying to actually get some money for them pictures, can you believe that? The dude that stole the pictures was like, 'Give me x-amount of dollars or I am going public with these pictures.' So I am thinking to myself, okay if I send this dude this money, what guarantees me he aint going to go public with these pictures anyway. So I hit him with the f-bomb via sidekick and I kept it moving. The pictures came out; it was what it was and its whatever. I'm grown, I don't care," he explained.

Before his debut album "In My Own Words" sold 1.5 million copies and he was co-headlining tours with Omarion, Ne-Yo sang in an R&B group called Envy with troubled 'American Idol' finalist Corey Clark. Ne-Yo said it's been some time since he's communicated with his former group member. "Haven't talked to Corey in a really long time. Corey, man, what to say about Corey? Talented cat, he really, really is. He has some personal issues that he has to deal with, within himself. And when he does, if he does, I think that he could possibly come back from the drama that became his life behind the whole Paula Adbul thing," shared the singer.

Now that he has his own thriving production company, would Ne-Yo consider signing Clark to his own roster? "Not until he worked out his personal issues," he said emphatically.

In addition to his work as singer and now an actor, Ne-Yo has struck gold (and often platinum) by penning songs for the likes of Mario ("Let Me Love You"), Rihanna ("Unfaithful"), Heather Headley ("The Letter") and Marques Houston ("All Because of You"). Clearly, his song "Irreplaceable" by Beyonce saved her 'B'Day' album from being a total failure! If that's not impressive enough, Ne-Yo will next write on upcoming albums by Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Britney Spears. Expect a sophomore album from Ne-Yo later this year.

Frankly Speaking

"Do you know that I'm not even allowed to go to The Grove for a year? We've all been banned! But, whatever. They don't have any good shoe stores there, anyway." - Nia Long, talking about the fight between her son's father, Massai Z. Dorsey, and her unnamed ex-boyfriend at the Los Angeles shopping center The Grove in the Feb. '07 issue of Essence.

Being Blogger-like

Everyone is talking about the Ray J and Kim Kardashian sex tape. You've been flooding my e-mail box with questions regarding it. I broke news last Wednesday on the 'Tom Joyner Morning Show' that Vivid Entertainment had acquired the tape for $1 million after being tipped off the day before. I'm not weighing in on what I think will happen to either of their careers, cause clearly only one of them really has one. Nonetheless, I will say this…Ray J may have realized that he'll likely never win a Grammy, Emmy and certainly not an Oscar, but his chances of landing an AVN Award-the highest honor in the porn industry-are likely very good!

Buzzworthy

I recently attended the live concert recording of the gospel quartet, The Soul Seekers. The music collective-made up by Teddy Campbell; Warryn Campbell; John "Jubu" Smith; Gerald Haddon; Charlie Bereal; Eric Seats, Craig Brockman and founder, Nisan Stewart-recorded their sophomore CD at the packed-to-rafters Love & Unity COGIC Church in Compton, Calif. Among those in attendance included Musiq, Mary Mary, Deitrick & Damita Haddon, Coko of SWV, comic Jonathan Slocumb, Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, producer Rodnie Jerkins, Marvin "Coconut" Winans Jr., Ty Tribbett, Daryl Coley, Nysa Shenay, singer/producer Eric Dawkins, Dr. Bobby Jones, newcomer Onitsha, musician/producer Derek Lee, Fred Hammond, comic Broderick Rice, Fonzworth Bentley, actress Faune Chambers ('White Chicks'), singer Yvette Williams, George Huff, Marvin Winans and a host of gospel music executives and radio talent. While the entire session featured a solid collection of modern quartet music, one of the highlights for me included group member Warryn Campbell's song "Trust In Me." In addition, Marvin Winans duet with The Soul Seeker's lead singer Teddy Campbell was an additional standout. Expect The Soul Seekers follow-up to their 2005's self-titled album to drop before the year's end.

Apparently students at the Bronx Community College think their classmate looks a lot like the guy who played Lionel on "The Jeffersons." Well it is! The actor Damon Evans, who also played young Alex Haley in 'Roots II: The Next Generation,' is studying psychology and teaching there.

Hollywood personality Wendell James launched his new radio talk show "Talking with Wendell" on Jan. 20, on KCAA 1050 AM in the Riverside/San Bernardino area of California.

Golden Globe winner and Oscar frontrunner Jennifer Hudson graces the March issue of Essence magazine, but Hudson told Jay Leno during an interview on NBC's 'The Tonight Show' that her words were taken out of context. The Essence cover story made headlines because of a press release that promoted the issue with a quote from Hudson that said: "You've been abused, misled and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you to think." But the 'Dreamgirls' star told Leno, "Sometimes people take what you say a whole other way!" I detailed during my 'Tom Joyner Morning Show Report.' In other Hudson magazine news, she'll appear on the cover of Vogue magazine's March issue. This news has sent the media world into shock. Karu F. Daniels has the scoop in his BV Newswire Blog.

Can't Say Names…

Sources say that a certain C-List Hollywood star is so desperate to win her boyfriend back that she's undergoing plastic surgery to make herself more appealing. Said actress recently underwent a breast lift and her second round of liposuction in an attempt to resurrect the romance with her often-mocked beau.