Celebrity News

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4 (in part)
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Michael Jordan Tried to Steal My Date -- interesting article
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Dayum. These MARRIED athlete style-menzes and eyeballing other chicks.

[Gina1201]

NEW YORK — 112 are done number crunching, at least when it comes to titling their LPs. After 112, Room 112 and Part III, the foursome has decided to use only words, Hot & Wet.

On their new LP, due September 9, the guys don't deviate from their MO of harmonizing over hip-hop tracks and flaunting their choirboy voices against slow ballad beats.

"I don't know what you're doing to me," they sing on the album's first single, "Na Na Na Na," which features Sean Paul and should hit airwaves at the end of June.

And if Q, Mike, Slim and Daron are clueless at the beginning of the song, by the time the cut is over, they are fully acquainted with what's going down. That's because they are calling the shots.

"Rock that ass, work your body, change positions, twerk it for me," they melodically encourage over Daron's bass-heavy beat that mixes bouncy down South funk with reggae.

112's lanky member handles the bulk of the album's production, and the group wrote all of the album's songs except for one. The guys did show that there were no hard feelings with P. Diddy, with whom they had a recent contract dispute, as they looked to P.D. for a few tracks.

"Knock You Down" will probably remind you of a Jodeci song, and with good reason. Diddy co-produced the record with Stevie J., who worked
with JoJo, K-Ci, Devante and Mr. Dalvin throughout their '90s run.

"Make me wanna sweat when you touch me like that," they later sing on the title track, which Diddy produced and will be laying his vocals on. Joe
Budden also makes a cameo, delivering rhymes about sex with swiftness to match the uptempo flow of the beat.

"Drop them jeans, unleash the freak," Joe spits on the track. "You looking so good I could taste the cigarette after we finish."

"Right There for You," another track Diddy had a hand in producing, finds 112 taking a more gentlemanly approach. It's about the perennial girl who is not getting treated right by her man. The guys say they have no qualms about crying or even dying for their lady. "Whatever he won't do, I'll do," they insist.

"We wanted to take it back to when you went to the club and could slow-grind with your girl," Mike said Tuesday night at Right Track studio while he and his boys played selections from Hot & Wet for a handful of people.

"This is the realest thing 112 ever wrote," Slim said about another song called "Everyday."

"It describes our situation from top to bottom," Q added.

"People look at us and say, 'Man, they got it made,' " the quartet details on the cut, using a sing-songy flow similar to R. Kelly's on "I Wish."
"They don't know what we been through."

And as they later tell on the song, if it wasn't "one damn thing," it was "another damn thing" during the past five years. The group says that
people slept on their songmaking skills even though they wrote many of their own hits. And even with all the smash records, their bank accounts
stayed diminutive. If it weren't for show money, they would have had no money.

Luckily for the guys, they have a fat new contract with Def Jam to helppay for those iced-out 112 pendants they all were rocking on Tuesday.

"The music that's been out during our time off has been cool, but we wanted to make records that, [years later], you remember where you were the first time you heard them," Slim said of the LP.

—Shaheem Reid

[CountryGurl]

James Joins Nike, Which Gambles $90M on Prep Star

By TOM WITHERS
.c The Associated Press

AKRON, Ohio (May 22) -- LeBron James went to school Thursday with enough lunch money for everyone.

The hyped high school senior and expected No. 1 pick in next month's NBA Draft, signed a multiyear endorsement deal with Nike worth over $90 million, a risky move by the shoe and sports apparel giant that helped make Michael Jordan famous.

Nike won a heated bidding war against sneaker rivals Reebok and Adidas to sign the 18-year-old James, considered a possible successor to Jordan on the floor and on Madison Avenue.

"It truly came down to which company LeBron was most comfortable with,'' said Aaron Goodwin, his agent. "Up until the end, I thought we were going with Reebok.''

Terms of the deal were not released, but a source close to James, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press the deal was for seven years and valued at more than $90 million.

James' choice of Nike, a $10 billion company and the market leader in athletic shoes, closed a frantic final week of negotiating by Goodwin with representatives for all three companies bent on signing the 6-foot-8 St. Vincent-St. Mary star.

Despite the huge deal, James didn't miss classes after signing the contract, driving his pewter-colored Hummer to school and parking it in the lot.

"Nike is the right fit and has the right product for me,'' James said. "They are a great group of people who are committed to supporting me throughout my professional career, on and off the court.''

James' deal dwarfs any of the previous initial contracts given to a young, unproven player who is skipping college and has yet to shoot his first jump shot in the NBA.

"There's no question about it, there is a tremendous risk here,'' said John Horan, publisher of the Sporting Goods Intelligence newsletter.

Nike's package includes a personal shoe and apparel line for James, who will have artistic input into his sneaker model, Goodwin said.

After Adidas pulled out of negotiations early Wednesday, Goodwin said representatives from Reebok and Nike pushed hard, hoping the other would buckle. Reebok reportedly offered $75 million.

James' deal is believed to be the richest ever given as an initial endorsement contract. It is also nearly on par with the five-year, $100 million deal Nike gave Tiger Woods in 2000.

When Jordan signed his first contract with Nike in 1984, it was for $2.5 million over five years. Shaquille O'Neal received $3 million from Reebok in 1992. Four years later, 17-year-old Kobe Bryant skipped college and got $5 million from Adidas.

Reebok signed Allen Iverson to a $50 million lifetime deal in 1996, and Tracy McGrady, another player who went to the NBA straight from high school, signed a six-year, $12 million contract with Adidas in 1997.

Combine those five, and they still don't equal James' deal. Before his first dunk, he's already soaring over some of his peers.

Bob Williams, president of Burns Sports & Celebrities, a marketing group which matches athletes with advertisers, said Nike had no choice but to extend itself.

"This was a full-blown, all-out price war,'' he said. "Nike won it. I think that Nike is the leader in the industry, and the leader in the industry cannot have a player with the potential of LeBron James sign with a competitor.''

Nike signed Carmelo Anthony to a shoe and apparel deal on Tuesday. Anthony, who led Syracuse to the national championship in April, is a close friend of James and projected to be taken second in the June 26 draft.

James also signed an exclusive multiyear contract with Upper Deck trading cards Wednesday. That deal includes a $1 million signing bonus.

Of the three companies, Nike got the final chance to make a lasting impression with James, his mother, Gloria, and Goodwin. The group spent last weekend at Nike's corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., where the company made its final presentation.

James had previously seen offers from Reebok and Adidas, whose final push included putting up billboards and placing messages on buses in Akron directed at James.

Goodwin denied that getting the shoe deal signed before Thursday's NBA draft lottery was a priority.

However, for James to maximize his earning potential, it would benefit him to be drafted by a large-market team like Chicago, New York or the Los Angeles Clippers -- three of the 13 teams in this year's lottery.

Otherwise, James could end up in a smaller market such as Cleveland, Denver or Toronto, where his exposure would be less and a company might not be as inclined to promote him.

"That had nothing to do with it,'' Goodwin said. ``We just wanted the right fit, and it turned out to be Nike.''

[AKA2D '91]

Entertainment - LAUNCH Music

Master P And Lil' Romeo Begin Shooting New Comedy Series
Fri May 23, 5:00 AM ET

LAUNCH Radio Networks

Master P and his son, Lil' Romeo, have begun production on the new Nickelodeon comedy series, Romeo!. The show is scheduled to premiere on Saturday (September 13) at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.



Master P and Lil' Romeo will shoot 20 episodes of the show featuring the father and son as part of a musical family. The single-parent family will also include a 16-year-old perfectionist sister, a six-year-old little brother, an 11- year-old foster brother and an absent-minded nanny, played by Victoria Jackson (news), known from Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV).


Marjorie Cohn, senior vice-president of production at Nickelodeon, explained the on-screen chemistry between Master P and Romeo: "We knew Master P and Lil' Romeo were extraordinary musical talents, but we've tapped into their comedic skills as well. Their father-son relationship also translates to the screen in a way that is genuine and relatable."

[CrimsonTide4]

Lawsuit: Michael Jackson Near Bankruptcy
Fri May 23, 5:28 PM ET

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson (news), the King of Pop who amassed a half-billion-dollar fortune over the past 20 years, is saddled with debt and teetering near bankruptcy, his former financial advisers say in a lawsuit.


The lawsuit, set for trial June 18, claims Jackson's extravagant spending has created "a ticking financial time bomb waiting to explode at any moment."


Union Finance and Investment Corp. of South Korea (news - web sites) filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming Jackson owes the firm $12 million in fees and expenses, plus interest. Jackson previously paid the firm $3 million, the firm said. The lawsuit also seeks punitive damages.


Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney, said he does not believe the 44-year-old singer is near bankruptcy.


"I see no signs of this impending disaster," Oxman said. "I cannot say it for 100 percent sure because nobody knows his financial statements. But I can say it for a reasonable certainty."


Oxman also said that Union Finance has been paid for its work.


The lawsuit was filed in April 2002 by Union Finance, described as one of South Korea's leading financial advisory firms. Jackson hired Union Finance in 1998 to help straighten out his finances, according to the lawsuit.


"When they were retained, plaintiffs believed that Jackson was incredibly wealthy," the lawsuit states. "At the time plaintiffs agreed to work for Jackson, there was no clue that Jackson's extravagant lifestyle had all but bankrupted him."


The firm said it soon discovered that Jackson had only two months' worth of available funds.


Union Finance's lawyer said that he stands by the allegations in the year-old lawsuit and that he took Jackson's deposition last week in Beverly Hills.


"For whatever reason, Michael Jackson is not paying his debts," said Pierce O'Donnell, a leading entertainment finance lawyer. "He has little or no means of income. He lives off a line of credit."


He added: "The day of reckoning is near."


Forbes magazine last year estimated that Jackson was earning $50 million a year at the height of his popularity in the 1980s and '90s and had amassed $500 million over his career. Forbes estimated Jackson has $200 million in debts but a net worth of $350 million.


Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller," which has sold 26 million copies, is second behind the Eagles' first greatest hits album in all-time sales in the United States. But sales of recent Jackson albums have sagged.


Jackson's assets include his Neverland ranch in the hills above Santa Barbara and homes in Southern California and Las Vegas. Most of Jackson's assets are in musical holdings worth an estimated $450 million, including 200 Beatles titles and songs recorded by Elvis Presley (news), Forbes reported.


He is a voracious spender. In 2002, he racked up a $100,000 hotel bill on a brief trip to New York, according to Forbes.


Union Finance said it helped Jackson obtain $200 million in loans through Bank of America between 1998 and 2000. In his deposition last week, Jackson said he didn't know how much he owed on the loans, O'Donnell said.

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
Entertainment - LAUNCH Music

Master P And Lil' Romeo Begin Shooting New Comedy Series
Fri May 23, 5:00 AM ET

LAUNCH Radio Networks

Master P and his son, Lil' Romeo, have begun production on the new Nickelodeon comedy series, Romeo!. The show is scheduled to premiere on Saturday (September 13) at 8:30 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon.



Master P and Lil' Romeo will shoot 20 episodes of the show featuring the father and son as part of a musical family. The single-parent family will also include a 16-year-old perfectionist sister, a six-year-old little brother, an 11- year-old foster brother and an absent-minded nanny, played by Victoria Jackson (news), known from Saturday Night Live (news - Y! TV).


Marjorie Cohn, senior vice-president of production at Nickelodeon, explained the on-screen chemistry between Master P and Romeo: "We knew Master P and Lil' Romeo were extraordinary musical talents, but we've tapped into their comedic skills as well. Their father-son relationship also translates to the screen in a way that is genuine and relatable."

NO, NO, NO!!!

[CrimsonTide4]

Dr. Dre's Mom Charged

The mother of chart topping producer Dr. Dre was arrested for allegedly shooting a gun at a male friend inside her home in Hidden Hills, California. Nobody was injured in the fracas, but Verna Griffin, 54, was arrested on investigation of assault with a deadly weapon, a felony offense.

At press time, there was no motive known for the alleged attack on her unnamed friend.

According to press reports, the shooting occurred between 7 and 9 p.m. in the home, which is actually owned by Dr. Dre (Andre Young). However, Dre doesn’t reside in the house.

Police declared they found a handgun in Griffin’s car as it was parked at a local gas. After the alleged victim returned to the house with the police, Griffin was arrested and eventually released on $50,000 bail.

[CrimsonTide4]

Orlando Jones Takes on Late-Night TV
Sun May 25,11:15 AM ET Add Entertainment - Reuters TV to My Yahoo!


By Gail Mitchell

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Lenny Kravitz (news). The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.



This eclectic lineup is not just the jump-start of the June 16 premiere of FX Network's "The Orlando Jones Show." It is also a portent of Jones' pledge to open the door to a multi-racial music world generally not seen -- or addressed -- on late-night TV.


"Many celebrities in music, spoken word, TV, and film don't have a place on Leno, Letterman, Conan, or Kimmel," the actor/comedian/writer says. "No one wants to sit on the sofa with Missy Elliott and talk. Where are Erykah Badu (news), Jill Scott (news), Fishbone, or OutKast?


"Late-night TV and TV on the whole has skipped over those guys who can't get on MTV or aren't on BET yet. Younger musicians have no place. Until they sell 4 million albums, they can't go anywhere. I'm interested more in talent vs. record sales."


Jones' late-night vision draws inspiration from three predecessors: Playboy After Dark, The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson (news), and The Arsenio Hall (news) Show. Words and phrases like "sexy," "banging vibe," and "freaking it" punctuate Jones' description of his talk/variety series.


"This show is what late-night is supposed to be: like early Johnny Carson, introducing new guys to you," he says. "It wasn't so much about name recognition. It didn't have that MTV feel: bubble-gum, pressed, and packaged."


The half-hour weeknight series (11 p.m. ET/PT) is executive-produced by Eddie Feldmann and Erwin Stoff. Grammy Award-winning producer Dallas Austin (Pink, Usher, Madonna (news - web sites), TLC) is the music director. DJ Ruckus, who spins for clubs like Los Angeles' Deep and Miami's Cru, adds turntable accompaniment.


To better acquaint an audience with an act, the cable show will occasionally go backstage as the talent sets up or rehearses.


"Late-night TV has hit a plateau," Austin says. "People need more information about today's musical artists. We're just bringing our collective efforts together and being ourselves."


Jones and Austin have worked together before: Jones appeared in the 2002 Austin-inspired Fox film Drumline.


"Arsenio helped musical guests," Austin adds. "After a performance on his show, you'd see record sales increase the next day. We'll be doing the same thing but in a modern way. For example, every now and then we'll bring in a guest producer like Rodney Jerkins."


It's not just about music. The program will also feature a 90-second animated segment with two Latino kid characters. Instead of an opening monologue, Jones will portray a diverse range of characters either in sketches or interacting with people in the audience and on the street.


Underscoring the program's alternative take on talk, current on-air promos tout "no white guy, no desk, no band." The in-the-round set will have video monitors positioned around its perimeter.


Jones envisions his audience as the 18-35 group that "has grown up with a wider breadth of influences." Feldmann, formerly co-executive producer and writer on HBO's Dennis Miller (news) Live, cites Jones' appeal beyond that demo.


" transcends race and age," Feldmann says. "Today's urban audience is someone hip to new bands, new comedy. They want to be the first to see or hear something. At the same time, there are 40-year-old guys who know Orlando from the films Evolution and Drumline."


Jones will tape the show live in Los Angeles in front of a studio audience. A former writer and member of Fox's parody series MAD TV, he is jazzed about launching what he calls the next generation of late-night TV.


"We may rock one night, do a back-in-the-day funk club, discuss politics, or talk trash. It's about creating a voice, vibe, and attitude in late-night that hasn't been there for a while."





Reuters/Billboard

[CrimsonTide4]

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.

[RedefinedDiva]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CrimsonTide4

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. *

I'm stumped.....

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.

My good guess is P. Diddy and Carl Thomas....

[Gina1201]

From mtv.com:

New York radio station Hot 97 has booked Eminem to headline its Summer Jam X. 50 Cent, Nelly, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, Lil' Kim, the Clipse and Fabolous will also perform at the June 3 festival at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Russell Simmons and a large group of his friends will converge on New York's City Hall to either praise or put pressure on Gov. George Pataki on June 4 at 2 p.m. That's the deadline Simmons has given Pataki to make changes to New York's strict Rockefeller drug laws. Run-DMC, P. Diddy, Dame Dash, Mariah Carey, Nas, 50 Cent, DMX, Eve, Cam'ron and the Diplomats, Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Carly Simon are some of the celebs who will be on hand at the rally. ...

Big D.S., an original member of the rap group Onyx, died from cancer on Thursday. In 1989, before Sticky Fingaz was even part of the group, Big D.S. teamed up with Fredro Starr and Sonee Seeza to record the group's first single, "Ah and We Do It Like This." ...

Actress Rosario Dawson hooked up with Andre 3000 of Outkast earlier this week to sing and speak on a track for the Love Below portion of the group's upcoming split album, Speakerbox/The Love Below. The song, called "She's in My Lap," is about a man who keeps his girlfriend at arm's length and her desire for him to step up his love. Dawson will also appear in the video for the song. ...

The rapper who once battled LL Cool J and, upon the release of his 1998 major-label debut, Can-I-Bus, was heralded as hip-hop's next big thing, could soon be battling terrorists and rapping about camouflage. Canibus, whose fifth album, Rip the Jacker, hits stores July 22, graduated from Ft. Knox, Tennessee's U.S. Military Academy on May 1 and is now on active duty as a certified cavalry scout/ reconnaissance specialist in the U.S. Army.

[Gina1201]

From mtv.com:

NEW YORK — If you're wondering when Janet Jackson will hit the music scene again, look toward sometime in 2004. One of her longtime producers, Jimmy Jam, says that's probably the most logical timetable for Miss Jackson to drop her latest LP.
"The record is really in its infancy, which means that we've done probably six or seven songs," Jam said of the album last week. "There is no distinct musical style yet. It's all over the place, from songs that I would call classic Janet songs, meaning that they could've been on any of her [earlier] albums. Some of the songs have a definite sort of ambient quality to them. We've been listening to a lot of everything from Zero 7 to Télépopmusik, [so]there's a little bit of that. There's some house stuff, which there always is [on her albums]. There is going to be some more
guitar-flavored things.

"It's kind of the way [her] albums always start," he added. "There's not a clear direction yet. We see what sticks. We're doing a bunch of songs and
seeing what we like. We've already thrown some [songs] out. It's sort of still the discovery process. We're not going to [put the album out] till next year most likely anyway. We've been working in New York the past couple of weeks, we're going to work in L.A., in Miami, we're probably going to work in Minneapolis. So I think the music will take on different elements as we take on different environments and work with different people."

Jam said that since they do not expect to put the album out until next year, they can work at a leisurely pace and really focus on penning good lyrics.

"The approach we're taking is that we're trying to write really good songs and worry about the production later," Jam said, "because production is one of those things you want to be up-to-date [on], cutting edge. The way we produce a record now isn't necessarily how we'll produce a record six months from now. That's how fast things change. But the song, if [the lyrics are] great, is gonna be timeless and work."

So just what is Janet going to be singing about when we hear the project? Whatever comes to mind.

"Her albums are always what she's thinking at the moment," Jam said. "Her thoughts may change six months from now. Her biggest thing is to be honest with her fans. Whatever stuff she wants to talk about, it's coming from her heart. I anticipate that we'll be working on the record for the next three to four months. Then we'll have a direction and finish it off. The record will be done by the end of the year and [will] probably come out next year. If we felt we had something strong enough as a single, I would guess we could have a single out before the end of the year and the album at the beginning of next year."

Jam said it's too early to discuss Janet's collaborations with people other than him and partner Terry Lewis. Producer 7 Aurelius has said that his handiwork may pop up on the album as well.

"Expect the unexpected, man," he said. "Really, she's totally an amazing artist, and I love the fresh, envelope-pushing vibe she brings to the
table. She's just really on some cutting edge, hard-hitting dance music and I think you are going to be really surprised. You should be excited.
It's going to be crazy."

Besides Janet, Jam and Lewis are also working on music for "The Fighting Temptations" movie soundtrack as well as upcoming albums for Mya and
Patti LaBelle.

—Shaheem Reid

[vanda]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
[B]

[b]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. *

I don't know if it's true, but I read recently that Denzel was peeved his wife wanted to restart her singing and acting career now that the kids are older.

[CrimsonTide4]

WHITNEY HOUSTON'S IN ISRAEL: Singer journeys there for 'inspiration.'


Whitney Houston
(May. 27, 2003) *Inquiring minds want to know why Whitney Houston is in Israel. Well, inquiring minds here's your answer. According to her spokeswoman and sister-in-law, Patricia Houston, Whit is there looking for inspiration for her upcoming Christmas album among other things.
While in Israel, she's staying with the Black Hebrews a group of nearly 2,000 black Americans who followed a Chicago bus driver to Israel decades ago and believe they are descendants of one of the lost tribes of Israelites. If you're not familiar with the group, their religious customs include a vegan diet and polygamy.

Houston, who arrived on Sunday with Bobby Brown, their daughter and relatives, spent her first day at the organization's compound in the desert town of Dimona, receiving massages, relaxing, and meeting with the Black Hebrews, who call each other saints.

"She is loving it," said Patricia Houston. "She is a spiritual woman and wanted to come here and touch the land and be around the saints of Dimona."

[AKA2D '91]

Houston Meets Sharon During Israel Visit

Photos

AP Photo



Wed May 28, 6:03 AM ET


Whitney Houston, on an inspirational trip to the Holy Land, met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"It's home, it's home," she said when Sharon asked her how she felt in Israel. She and her husband, singer Bobby Brown, stood next to Sharon on an outdoor patio before their meeting on Tuesday. Houston wore a scarlet African-style dress with a white lace front and a wide scarlet headband, narrow sunglasses shading her eyes.

Houston, who arrived Sunday evening, is being hosted by the Black Hebrews, a group of nearly 2,000 black Americans who followed a Chicago bus driver to Israel decades ago and believe they are descendants of one of the lost tribes of Israelites.

Their religious customs include a vegan diet and polygamy, and they have a well-regarded choir at their compound in the desert town of Dimona. Israel does not recognize them as Jews.

Sharon welcomed Houston and Brown to Jerusalem, which he called "the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years." Noting that this was their first trip to Israel, Sharon said he hoped it would be the first of many, to which Houston replied, "Yes."


Houston, who is to stay for a week, plans to visit holy sites in the country, including the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.

Before arriving in Jerusalem, the 39-year-old singer visited the southern resort of Eilat.