[Afrochic]

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 20, 2003

The relationship between Vivica A. Fox and rapper 50 Cent has hit a rough spot. The popular rapper is getting tired of her temper tantrums and her jealousy. I hear he's already cheating on her. Vivica doesn't like it when other women get close to him and that includes dancers and back up performers. Vivica made him tone down his raunchy performance at the World Music Awards. How long is the romance going to last? She's 39, he's 27 and he is the hottest rapper out there. Everybody wants to get close to him, including his new video co-star. The newly single Brandy is co-starring with 50 Cent in the music video "Stunt 101." Brandy likes 50 and she has been calling him a lot. Brandy is looking to revive her career and she thinks 50 could be her ticket. Brandy would like to have a relationship like Beyonce has with Jay-Z. In addition to dating, teaming up with Jay-Z, gave Beyonce a lot of street credit when they collaborated on "Crazy in Love." Will 50 take the bait and take up with Brandy? Not if Vivica has a say in it. She likes being with 50 and she doesn't care what anybody thinks including her ex-husband singer 6'9 who has told her friends he is not happy about her relationship with 50 Cent. He feels the rapper leads a violent life and that Vivica could get hurt. On Saturday the 25th, Vivica will be one of the hosts of the World Music Awards, 8pm on WB-17. 50 Cent is one of the honorees and special awards will be given to Chaka Khan, George Benson and Mariah Carey.

The UPN shows Eve starring Philadelphia's own Eve and the Will and Jada Pinkett Smith produced show All of Us has been picked up for the rest of the season. Both shows are doing very well in the ratings.

New books in stores include Donna Summer's Ordinary Girl. Donna talks about her life as the reigning "Queen of Disco" and what led her to almost kill herself. Donna was so distraught about being in an abusive relationship she considered killing herself by jumping out of a window. Chaka Khan also opens up in her autobiography Through the Fire. Chaka talks about her drug use and being addicted to crack cocaine. She also discussed the flak she received when she married a white Jewish guy. Chaka says she was criticized for marrying this guy and she says blind singer Stevie Wonder really gave her hell. Well, a few years later Chaka ran into Stevie at a party and he had a white woman on his arm, when Chaka confronted him and asked him what was going on he claimed he didn't know. Another autobiography on the way is Diana Ross' Upside Down, Wrong Turns, Right Turns and the Road Ahead. This book is supposed to come out in February and unlike her original autobiography, The Sparrow, released a few years ago, this book is going to tell the truth. In her previous book she conveniently left out the fact that Berry Gordy fathered her first child. Three weeks after the book came out the truth was revealed and Diana had to fess up. In the new book she addresses her daughter's hidden paternity and her failed second marriage. Just in time for Christmas, you can pick up the special edition Diana Ross Barbie Doll. The doll goes for $50 and it will be inspired by her days with the Supremes.

Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle and Destiny's Child are just some of the artists joining forces on Songs for Life, a CD of songs with proceeds going towards the effort to fights AIDS in Africa. For more info call 1-800-44-3311.

Dawn Robinson, formerly of En Vogue and Lucy Pearl, is enjoying married life. Dawn recently married a fellow musician and she is working on a new solo LP. In a recent interview she says an En Vogue reunion would be nice but she wants to work on her own thing. She says she doesn't do well in groups.

Prince is taking his Jehovah's Witness religion serious. Prince goes door to door in Minneapolis spreading the word. His wife and Larry Graham often join him.

Singer Barrington Henderson is suing Motown and The Temptations for firing him from the group. Barrington was in the Temptations for five years and he says he hasn't been paid for royalties for two albums. He also says the group continues to use his image and his voice on their website. Barrington has added a defamation charge because he says false statements were made about his singing voice. Make no mistake Otis Williams, the only original member of the Temptations, runs this group and if you rub him the wrong way, he will put you out the group. Otis has shown the late David Ruffin the door as well as Dennis Edwards and Ollie Woodson, who sang "Treat Her Like A Lady."

Nike has dropped Kobe Bryant as a spokeman for their company. Sources say his on going legal problems regarding his sexual assault case is getting in the way. Kobe had signed a $45 million, 5-year contract, but Nike decided to give him a $1.5 million payoff to make him go away. The company wants someone to represent a family image and with news of Kobe's adultery and the tawdry details of what allegedly happened they decided to let him go.