This Just In…: Deborah Cox is a Clive Davis diva no more. Deborah and J records have mutually decided to part ways. In a statement, Deborah said, "I've enjoyed working with Clive over the years. I've learned a lot, and we've had great success together." Deborah released three albums on J Records, and is apparently looking forward to the change and moving on. There’s already buzz of several labels attempting to sign the singer, though the news of her parting from J only came late last week. In the meantime, look for Deborah to release a dance remix album of her #1 hits remixes in July.
In other news, Deborah has about seven more weeks until her first child is born. The baby is due on Independence Day. Deborah has been doing both yoga and swimming in preparation for it.
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Tinseltown Tidbits: Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith have found a cast for their UPN sitcom “All of Us.” The sitcom based on their real-life blended family, will star the Smith’s good friend Duane Martin (“Deliver Us From Eva“), LisaRaye (“The Player’s Club“), and Elise Neal (“The Hughley’s”). According to reports, when the show's stylists needed clothes and accessories for a pilot episode, Jada plunked down her credit card and told the women to spend whatever it takes to make her fictional family look funky. Jada will make guest appearances on the half-hour sitcom.
LL Cool J will co-star with Ray Liotta in a crime thriller called “Slow Burn.” LL will play a mysterious stranger who helps to manipulate an ambitious district attorney (played by Ray) during a 24-hour showdown with a powerful gang leader. In other news, LL’s last album “Ten” is on the verge of being certified platinum, and as of May 11th, SoundScan reports the album sold 896,193 units. Not bad for a crossover rap superstar that has been in the business as long as he has. Look for LL to tour this summer with labelmates Dru Hill.
Marlon Wayans, who has starred “Scary Movie 1 & 2” and “The Sixth Man,” will be starring alongside Tom Hanks in the Coen Brothers' remake of the 1955 comedy “Ladykillers.” Tom and Marlon play thieves who have to silence their landlady when she discovers their plan to rob a riverboat casino. They soon find out that the little old lady isn’t as easy to get rid of as they had anticipated.
“Gangsta Paradise” rapper Coolio will appear opposite Lou Diamond Phillips (“La Bamba“) and Kristy Swanson (“Dude, Where’s My Car”) in the TBS Superstation original movie "Red Water." The film is set to premiere August 10th on the popular cable channel.
Current “it girl” Gabrielle Union will play a mental patient who thinks she’s possessed by the spirit of Adolf Hitler in the upcoming movie “Neo Ned.” Gabrielle, whose recent films include “Deliver Us From Eva” and “The Brothers,” plays a woman who is in a romance with a neo-Nazi who also resides in the mental ward. Additionally, Gabrielle stars opposite Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in “Bad Boys II.”
“Batman & Robin In The Boogie Down” opened recently in Los Angeles to a standing-room-only crowd. Among those spotted opening night at the production were Vanessa Williams, Hill Harper, Regina Hall, and Sanaa Lathan. The one-woman play, directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, stars Juliette Jeffers, and is quickly becoming the hottest ticket in Tinseltown. Juliette creates a touching story of two lives ceaselessly intertwined, illustrated with 20 vibrant characters from the Boogie Down Bronx and beyond. For more information on the production, visit
www.batmanboogiedown.com.
Hip-hoppers Snoop Dogg and Method Man will star in "Soul Plane," which is described as an urban version of the classic 1980 comedy "Airplane." Snoop will play the plane's pilot, and Method will portray Muggsy, the airline owner's best friend who is put in charge of the plane's business class. The film is slated to begin shooting in late June.
Former "ER" actress turned Tina Turner backup singer Gloria Reuben heads to her hometown of Toronto on June 9th to begin filming an hour-long special for the Lifetime network called "1-800-MISSING."
UPN’s hip-hop drama “Platinum” has caught a brick. That’s right, the weekly drama, which stars rapper Sticky Fingaz of Onyx and actor Jason George, has not been renewed for the fall season. The show debuted on UPN with high ratings and quickly plummeted in the weeks to follow.
Can’t Say Names: What actor is rumored to be upset about his wife’s plans to reenter the entertainment industry. Unlike Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, only one half of this couple has achieved success for their acting skills, while the other focused on raising their family. Despite the fact that the couple has ample nannies and maids to look after the children, said actor is supposedly furious that his wife wants to resume her acting and singing career. *
Sources say the relationship between a certain hip-hop mogul and one of his current hitmakers has gone from bad to worse. Insiders say that the singer/songwriter/producer recently secured new management and the initial phone conversation between the new manager and the old one did not go well at all. Said producer may be headed to a new camp soon if things don’t get better.