News:

[AKA2D '91]

Happy New Year!

[Afrochic]

411 for the week of December 28, 2003

Is it wife number three for Michael Jackson? Published reports say the King of Pop took a bride over the summer and she’s African American. Wife number three is a 23-year-old Muslim woman. Her name is Alisha and she’s an accomplished musician who plays classical piano. Reports say the 45-year-old troubled superstar married the woman in a ceremony over the summer. Alisha still lives with her parents. She had a very sheltered upbringing and she has never owned an album or attended a concert. Michael and Alisha do not live together, their marriage has never been consummated, but they do drink tea and talk a lot. Michael faces 24 years in jail on charges of child molestation. The nation of Islam has been close to Michael in recent weeks and a lot of people thought he joined the organization. Michael has not. If these reports are true Alisha will be Michael’s third wife. His previous wives include Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, and Debbie Rowe, who is the mother of his two oldest children.

A recent accident on the set of the movie Catwoman almost sidelined Oscar Winner Halle Berry. A motorcycle fell on the actress and she thought she re-injured her arm that she broke on the set of her last movie Gothika.

Star Jones from the ABC show The View is not only losing weight, but she is in love. Star has songstress Alicia Keys to thank for her new found love. Star is dating a banker named Al Reynolds and she met him at a party for Alicia. Star and Al had their first dance to Alicia’s smash hit “You Don’t Know My Name.” Star says she feels like a teenager with this man. She says when their eyes met she heard bells and chimes, and now they’re off to Jamaica to ring in the New Year.

American Idol winner Ruben Studdard wants to get into the restaurant business. Ruben says he would like to open a restaurant in his home state of Alabama. Ruben says down home cooking will be on the menu.

[vanda]

I heard on the radio B2K has disbanded. Has anyone else heard this also?

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by Afrochic (in part)
411 for the week of December 28, 2003

Is it wife number three for Michael Jackson? Published reports say the King of Pop took a bride over the summer and she’s African American. Wife number three is a 23-year-old Muslim woman. Her name is Alisha and she’s an accomplished musician who plays classical piano. Reports say the 45-year-old troubled superstar married the woman in a ceremony over the summer. Alisha still lives with her parents. She had a very sheltered upbringing and she has never owned an album or attended a concert. Michael and Alisha do not live together, their marriage has never been consummated, but they do drink tea and talk a lot. Michael faces 24 years in jail on charges of child molestation. The nation of Islam has been close to Michael in recent weeks and a lot of people thought he joined the organization. Michael has not. If these reports are true Alisha will be Michael’s third wife. His previous wives include Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, and Debbie Rowe, who is the mother of his two oldest children.

"Michelle" Jackson, you are a shim DEGENERATE. Marrying a 23-year-old Muslim woman will NOT improve your image. And I don't think drinking tea and talking a lot equal marriage.

[abaici]

Originally posted by vanda
I heard on the radio B2K has disbanded. Has anyone else heard this also?

Nope, and I live in LA. If it's true I know hundreds of little girls who will be crushed.

[MeezDiscreet]

Originally posted by vanda
I heard on the radio B2K has disbanded. Has anyone else heard this also?

my mom said that chris stokes, B2K's manager, was on the radio and confirmed that they have broken up and one of them has to have back surgery. my mom didn't pay attention to all of the details but she did say that some young girl called up to the station and cursed chris and the d.j. out because she refuses to believe that B2K could do that

[littlelady93]

They did break up, but they didn't say why. Girls have been calling the radio stations in Chicago for the last two days like they lost someone in their families. We didn't act like that when New Edition broke up, did we

[abaici]

Originally posted by littlelady93
We didn't act like that when New Edition broke up, did we

That's because they didn't, not really.

Well darn, the one day I DO listen to morning radio, I miss the big announcement.

THANK GOD I am out of the classroom...I know those children are in mourning!

[kiml122]

I have been out of the scene since 12-23, and I'm just back to owrk today. Well B2K was to do a New Year's Eve concert here in Philly, and it was canceled because they broke up. I heard a little snippet about it this morning on the radio on my ride in. Apparently there was a lot of tension in the air amongst the members, and the stress leve was way to hi, so they broke up. I did hear that one of the members has to have back surgery, but when I caught the tail end of the snippet about which member. Apparently ego's got in the way. They really need to work that mess out. Blwoing off tours, and this is how they really mkae their money. They really need to take a look at groups of the past and see that they really need to stop tripping and work that mess out.

[Convinced]

No news, just wanted to thank you guys for welcoming me back. Sorry I stayed away so long, and it won't happen again!!!! (Missed you Ideal!)

[Gina1201]

Are B2K Breaking Up?

B2K fans have a new reason to scream over their favorite group, but unfortunately it's not in jubilation — they're yelling in angst. For the past few days radio stations have been saying the foursome has split.

Could it be that the "B" in B2K can now stand for "broken," as in the hearts of girls across the country, because Omarion, J-Boog, Raz-B and Lil Fizz are breaking up? Here's where you need Columbo or maybe just a good lawyer to figure things out.

On Monday morning (January 5), longtime B2K manager Chris Stokes released a statement saying that the act he was instrumental in putting together had disbanded because of something B2K's rabid following would deem unfathomable: the seemingly tight-knit collective had fallen victim to inner turmoil.

"We've had a great run together making hit songs, albums and now movies," Stokes said in the statement. "The kids are growing up and are interested in pursing their own careers. I have enormous respect for each of them, and I wish them success in their pursuit of their individual careers. B2K was an extremely talented singing group that will surely be missed."

Stokes also said he would continue to guide the career of the group's lead singer, Omarion. Here's where the situation gets sketchy. Pictures have surfaced of the remaining B2K members at a contract signing over the weekend with the sports and entertainment company CMX. Cozying up at a table together, the three don't look like they're ready to split from each other anytime soon. CMX chairman Antonio Demetrius Brown was unable to be reached for comment.

Whether Stokes' declaration of the group calling it quits holds true or whether Omarion is just vying to go the solo route remains unclear. A spokesperson for their label, Epic, had no comment.

B2K as we've known them for the past few years had the strongest following of any male R&B group in the market. Their movie "You Got Served" hits theaters at the end of this month, they released the film's soundtrack shortly before Christmas, and they had scheduled auditions for their next music video later this week.

In the middle of a short tour, the quartet postponed its remaining dates on the eve of Friday's show at New York's Beacon Theater, claiming an injured Omarion as the reason.

Prior to Stokes' announcement, the foursome revealed plans for solo projects from Omarion as well as Lil Fizz later this year. There's no word yet on whether those albums will still come or if the joint LP between B2K and Bow Wow that was beginning to take shape will see the light of day.

—Shaheem Reid

[AKA2D '91]

Ashanti Gets 'Carter' for First Film

By Chris Gardner

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Grammy-nominated songstress Ashanti is headed to the big screen for the first time, scoring a supporting role in "Coach Carter," a fact-based basketball drama starring Samuel L. Jackson (news).



The Paramount Pictures project revolves around Richmond (Calif.) High School coach Ken Carter, who made national news in 1999 when he benched his entire undefeated basketball team for poor academic performance. He forfeited two league games and made the gym off-limits until students raised their grades, a move that drew praise and criticism from parents and school officials.


Ashanti will play Kyra, the newly pregnant girlfriend of one of the basketball players to be played by Rob Brown of "Finding Forrester" fame.


Robert Ri'chard (news), a series regular on "One on One," also has joined the cast, landing a meaty role as Marcus Carter, the son of Jackson's character and one of the team's top players.


Shooting is scheduled to start this month with Thomas Carter ("Save the Last Dance") at the helm.


Ashanti's second album, "Chapter II," debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop albums charts in July, and the singer will vie for three Grammy Awards next month.


Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

[lostnfound117]

By ADAM GOLDMAN, Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS - Pop star Britney Spears (news) married a childhood friend from Louisiana in an early morning ceremony, but quickly arranged to have it annulled, people close to the entertainer said Sunday.

The 22-year-old Spears and Jason Allen Alexander of Kentwood, La., "took a joke too far by getting married" Saturday, her record label, Jive Records, said in a statement released to "Entertainment Tonight."


"Ms. Spears and Mr. Alexander have filed for an annulment which will become official on Monday," read the statement by Sonia Muckle, Jive's vice president of publicity.


George Maloof Jr., owner and operator of the Palms Casino Hotel, said Spears and Alexander got married about 5:30 a.m. Saturday at a Las Vegas wedding chapel.


"Nobody knew it was coming," said Maloof, Spears' good friend.


The two arranged an annulment Saturday afternoon in the presence of several people, including a Las Vegas lawyer, said a source close to Spears who spoke on condition of anonymity. The signed annulment will be filed when the courts open Monday morning, the source said.


Spears and Alexander journeyed by limousine to the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Strip after a stop at the Ghostbar, a club in the Palms Casino Hotel. The chapel staff told the couple they couldn't get married without a license, so they were taken to get a license and driven back to the chapel, where they were married.


The bride wore a baseball cap and torn jeans down the aisle and was escorted by a Palms limousine driver, the source told the AP.


Maloof denied rumors that Spears was drunk and had to be carried out of the Rain nightclub inside the Palms on New Year's Eve.


"I was with her the whole night," he said. "None of those reports were accurate. She was just having a good time."


Spears was still staying at the Palms and was expected to leave Sunday. Employees at the chapel declined comment.


Alexander was back in his hometown Sunday, according to his grandfather, Robert Alexander.


"He'd been through a lot. We picked him up in New Orleans coming back and he didn't have much to say," the elder Alexander told "Entertainment Tonight."


"I wish them well," he said. "Whatever happens, happens."


He said Spears and Alexander had also spent Christmas Eve together.


Calls to Alexander's family home in Kentwood were answered by a machine. His grandmother said any details about the wedding would have to come from Jason or his father.


"We know about the wedding and stuff. It's all over the news," Betty Alexander said.





Spears released her fourth album, "In the Zone," last November. It debuted at the top of the album charts. She begins a concert tour March 2 in San Diego.

[lostnfound117]

Outkast plans sex toy


By WENN

Published December 2 2003


Enterprising Outkast stars Big Boi and Andre 3000 are planning to add to their own clothing line in 2004, by introducing a range of sex toys.

The pair joked about creating a new vibrator called the Big Boi and now it looks as if the idea will become a reality.

Big Boi, real name Antwan Patton, says, "I think Andre is dead serious about it because he's freaky as hell. They should be out around February or March."

[nikki1920]

no, they arent kidding.. lol