TASTY CLIPS TODAY

THE TASTY CLIPS FAVES OF 2010!!

2011-01-27T16:15:00.005-05:00

MOVIES: Inception; Toy Story 3; The Social Network (This film haunted me for days afterwards, much like last year's Best Picture The Hurt Locker did - Could be an omen of accolades to come); The Fighter (Christian Bale, Melissa Leo & Amy Adams actually stole the film from lead Mark Wahlberg); Black Swan; Iron Man 2; The Karate Kid (Jackie Chan's finest English language performance and lets face it, Jaden Smith is the most talented youth actor in the biz today); Kick-Ass; The Kids Are Alright; True Grit TV: Sons of Anarchy; Treme (David Mills, R.I.P.); Boardwalk Empire; LOST; Dexter; Survivor: Heroes & Villains (Watching Russell go against Rob was a treat while it lasted. It's rumored the rematch goes down this season); The Walking Dead (Put a knot in my stomach I hadn't felt since 24); Mad Men; Men of a Certain Age; Chopped; Fringe

CDs: Travie McCoy - Lazarus (A hip-hopper who understands melody); Sheryl Crow - Last Train To Memphis; Nas/Damian Marley - Distant Relatives; Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid; Kem - Intimacy (Album III); Prince - 20 Ten (And why wasn't this released in the US?); Voodoo Weekend - Contra (Their Afro-Pop influences caught me delightfully unaware); Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy; Raheem DeVaughn - The Love & War MasterPeace; B.O.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray INDEPENDENT RELEASES: Sonya Robinson - Cry; Toro Y Moi - Causers of This BEST REISSUES/COMPILATIONS: Fela - The Best of The Black President; Jimi Hendrix - Valleys of Neptune SONGS: Space Cowboy - Herbie Hancock w/Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks; Sometimes I Cry - Eric Benet; California Girls - Katy Perry w/Snoop Dogg; On My Way - Res (Can't tell you how many times I played this for inspiration. Would've gotten top airplay if say a Rihanna had recorded it ... and that's part of what's wrong with radio today); Riverman - Kathryn Bostic w/Keb Mo (This sneak preview of the singer/songwriter's long awaited album delivered a poignancy rarely heard these days. The cut is memerizing); Glad I Met You Tonight - Will Downing (Tres cool cut from the crooner's ambitious Audio Novel: Lust, Love & Lies); F**k You - Cee Lo Green; Grenade - Bruno Mars

CONCERTS: Fantasia/Eric Benet/Kandi - Nov 19 - Township Auditorium (Fans expecting a concert got a show as the headliner presented a history of Black music as seen through the signs of the times. Starting as a Cab Calloway like revue to a 40s flapper singing Prince to 60's protest songs through today's hip-hop influences, "Tasia" proved she can reign supreme. Loved how she dealt with her tabloid infamy by telling the audience that "We're young people. We're going to make mistakes ... But we really just want to make good music); Maysa - May 21 - Center Stage (Rarely does this vocalist of Incognito fame get to perform with her full band. It took a friend of hers, who had never promoted before, to miraculously make it happen. That it was a near sell-out had to be rewarding as well) THEATRE: Jersey Boys - Apr. 2 - Belk Theatre; Jitney - Jun 25 - Alliance Theatre (Finally got to see this piece of August Wilson's oeuvre in a True Colors Theatre Company production expertly directed by Kenny Leon); Porgy & Bess - May 14 - Belk Theatre (Opera Carolina brought the 75th Anniversary Tour of this classic. Magnificent!!); Darker Face of the Earth - Aug 7 - King's Plow Arts Center (Rita Dove's plantation tragedy was imaginatively staged by Essential Theatre. That director Betty Hart only does one production a year is a crime)

DINING: Antico Pizza Napoletano - Atlanta (This has now become my #1 recommended culinary must when visiting "The A." Winner of the prestigious Top In Class from Naples' Festa Della Pizza. A couple of heads ups: Go during prime dinner hours and chance long waits. Family style dining is near the ovens and they don't serve slices or take special orders ... but trust me and them .. It's all worth it!); Central Piedmont Community College Culinary Arts Night - Charlotte (A foodie's heaven! Some of the QC's most promising future wizards preparing recipes from around the world. Loved the Braised Short Ribs on Creamy Grits, Barbecued Pork Belly, Coconut Shrimp, Fig & Goat Cheese Tarts, Petit Fours, and flowing wine. Let's make this an annual event!); Hector Santiago of Top Chef fame - Atlanta (One Saturday, I arrived too early to try his tapas restaurant, Pura Vida and his gourmet latino sandwich shop, Super Pan is only open on weekday afternoons. My sadness turned to joy upon discovering the chef under a tent in the parking lot across the street! This is the day - weather permitting - he sets up shop and serves these incredible burrittos and sopas. His marinated chicken was so good it didn't need the extras many shops pile on. Wash it down with some Mexican Coca-Cola and you'll be straight for about seven bucks!) Also want to give a shout-out to who catered Nordstrom's Private Holiday Shopping Evening in Charlotte. The butter poached lobster on crumpets was delectable and those white cranberry martinis a big hit! FAVE 2010 PRODUCT DISCOVERIES: The Oilerie - Hilton Head, SC (Owners Linda & Tom encourage you to sample some of the finest varieties of olive oils on the planet ... and wait til you taste their premium balsamic vinegar! Best I've ever had); Falafel Chips (Perfect for your hummus and other dips. They're availabe mild, spicy, organic, and all natural); Gullah Luv Seasoning (Shake this on your meats, greens, eggs, and popcorn and you can't go wrong. I can guess some of the authentic low country spices. Must be the Luv that keeps it secret); BodTea Shoppe (I was thoroughly impressed by the aroma and taste of these teas. Open a tin and you'll hold an upgrade on the ordinary tea bag. Their mail-order and packaging are top notch. Order some for that special person in your life.

And now some FAVES of 2010 from some illustrious friends and supporters:

KEKE PALMER - Actress (True Jackson, VP & the currently filming Joyful Noise w/ Queen Latifah & Dolly Parton)/Singer (The One You Call)/Blogger (www.kekepalmer.com) - SONG: Most of the songs off of Rihanna's Loud. RECORDING ARTISTS: Too many to name. MOVIE: Tangled TV: Degrassi FAVE 2010 ACTOR & ACTRESS: Denzel Washington & Angelina Jolie BOOK: Unfortunately did not have one. DINING: Saddle Ranch - Universal City, CA

GLENN LEWIS - Recording Artist (Good One) CDs: Slum Village's "Fantastic Voyage Vol 1", Drake's "Thank Me Later" BOOKS: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Pimp by Iceberg Slim, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: Paris, France. London, UK. Jamaica. Los Angeles, Miami, ATL, Houston, Philadelphia. DINING: Cheesecake Factory, Fatburger, and any steak house or pasta place. FAVE SITE: World Star HipHop.

JULIA PACE MITCHELL - Actress (The Young & the Restless) MUSIC: Erykah Badu's Cd was on deck for all of 2010. BOOKS: I reread Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by Bell Hooks. FILM: I loved the scary sexy movie, Black Swan. TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: I traveled to Las Vegas for the Daytime Emmys and won at the Penny slots. Goodtimes! DINING: And many a late night in LA was spent with my fave #9 at Roscoes Chicken and Waffles.

LENNY GREEN - Radio Air Personality (SupeRadio syndicated show, KISSing After Dark) DINING: Reddings in Atlantic City, NJ. They do Southern cuisine, being conscious of health for people of color. It's good and thought out well, prepared delicately and not over-seasoned. It's exquisite. BOOK: Quincy Jones' new book, The Quincy Jones Legacy Series: Q on Producing. Whether you love music or not, this book is quite inspiring, informative and in depth about his life, the lives he touched and the things he did to make great careers. MUSIC: On the new side, I'd like to big up Trey Songz because he reminds me so much of Kevon Edmonds. And Jazmine Sullivan because she's just raw, great talent. Then among our classic singers, quite a few returned to the forefront in 2010 with some great new music, from Sade to Will Downing, Maxwell and Lenny Williams. TRAVEL DESTINATION: The beautiful island of Turks and Caicos. It's a true reflection of what paradise is. TV SHOW: The Event starring Blair Underwood as the President. That tv series was very surreal and it really makes me scratch my head about everything now.

JULIANNE MALVEAUX - Author/Lecturer/Columnist/President (Bennett College) THEATRE: I didn’t see much on Broadway this year, but Fela was the bomb. I found myself sitting in a row with half a dozen women who had also come solo, and I found myself standing for much of the play and dancing with the dynamic music. CONCERTS: This year’s Essence Music Festival had, as always, dynamic entertainment. Mary J, Patti, wow! I am always grateful for the opportunity to attend that celebration. BOOKS: Isabel Wilkinson’s book, Warmth of Other Suns, is a masterful and personal story of the Great Migration. It expands our view of the migration from the 1917-1919 period, as is customarily interpreted, to a migration that took place into the 1950s. The three people and the families that she follows offer rich interpretations of what we African Americans gained, and what we lost, by leaving the South. BOOK SIGNING: I have a new book out, Suriviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History (available at www.lastwordprod.com) and did several signings in 2010. My favorites came at the end of the year, in a bookstore I grew up in, Marcus Books. Can’t say whether I preferred the Oakland signing or the San Francisco one, because in both places friends of long standing came, shared, and bought. I must say, though, that it is marvelously affirming to be in the oldest black bookstore in our nation and to have the daughters of a mentor lift me up. CHARITY: Africare. My grad school classmate Darius Mans is leading an effort to continue to involve America in Africa. His dinner is November was masterful and included tributres to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former South African President (and our icon) Nelson Mandela. Darius is a man to watch as he brings his leadership to this important organization. OPENING: The International Civil Rights Museum opened on February 1, 2010, fifty years after four young men (supported by dozens of Bennett College women) sat in at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina. Amelia Parker masterfully led the fundraising campaign to complete this museum, and the entire Greensboro community rallied around her. The is a must-visit. VICTORY: DC Mayor Vincent Gray beat incumbent Adrian Fenty who was considered invincible just six months ago. Though Fenty won every precinct in 2006, he managed to alienate enough people (with his pivotal diss revolving around his failure to meet with Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Dorothy Height around his attempt to remove Cora Masters Barry from the house she built – the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center) to simply squander this race. TRAVEL: I have always wanted to do “April in Paris” and so managed to get there with bells on. Thanks to Ricki Stevenson and her Black Paris Tours, my trip absolutely exceeded expectations. I stayed at the Hotel Letitia (conveniently located across the street from a department store – heaven for a shopaholic), learned how to ride metro, and had a great time at several museums. DINING: I love eating in my mama's house. This year she put her foot up in some clam chowder. I don't have the recipe and I could not replicate the experience. But this is one of those ask, tell, kind of things (as in if you ask I will tell). Even though I've been eating there for five years, my favorite DC restaurant is Acadiana on 9th & New York Ave. Lord, the grilled oysters will make your temperature rise. The gumbo is almost as good as Mom's.

JEFF REDD - Recording Artist (new single--Take You Higher; new CD in 2011) MOVIE: The Social Network--a very interesting film. BOOK: It was good to see Terry McMillan release a followup to Waiting To Exhale, with Getting To Happy. TV: TV One's "Unsung" series, particularly the shows on Sylvester, Heatwave and the Bar-Kays. And, of course, their show on Teena Marie is now a classic. Also, the Wendy Williams Show really took off! RESTAURANT: The final dining experience at the closing of Tavern on the Green, a phenomenal, historic restaurant in New York's Central Park. MUSIC: Eclectic music is my favorite, but I'm most impressed with Melanie Fiona, Kem, Janelle Monae and Jazmine Sullivan. EVENT: The Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC--I was glad to see two people of color honored in 2010.

MARA DAVIS - Radio Host (DAVE FM - ATL)/Blogger (www.maradavis.com) ALBUM: Vampire Weekend’s “Contra”. Without a doubt, this album was my all time favorite. It sucks that Honda has kinda ruined the song “Holiday” but whatever. This album rocks. TV: Andy Cohen and anything on Bravo. He is my gay best friend crush. Watch What Happens has become my all time favorite show. Count me in for any housewife show that is on. Even if they go to Boise, I’ll be watching. Special props to the new Beverly Hills cast, this is definitely the best one by far. Lisa Vanderpump is a goddess. Conan O Brien. The late night wars were fascinating and Coco handled all of it with grace and class. Getting the chance to go to LA and interview him was a career highlight. It’s very rare to meet one of your heroes and have them exceed your expectations. The Walking Dead. Normally I wouldn’t be into a zombie show but watched because it was filmed in Atlanta. Interviewing Jon Bernthal each week about the show was too much fun and I am counting the minutes till next season. This really is the new LOST—but dare I say a little better? Mad Men. Don’t even get me started on Don Draper. There are very few shows that I don’t want to end after each episode and this is one of them. Each season and episode gets better and better. FAVE ATL HANGOUTS: Dragonfly Salon and the Westside in general. This is my favorite part of Atlanta. It’s a little gritty but it’s just so hip. Restaurants like Bocado (love), Miller Union (overrated, sorry) and JCT Kitchen make it a destination for a night out. It’s also got great shopping for furniture and housewares and an anthropologie coming soon!!! OMG!! Shout out to my favorite new salon, Dragonfly. I love going there to see Beth, Brett and Kyoko!!! MEDIA: Howard Stern. Yes, I’m obsessed with the whole thing. Thank jebus that Howard has resigned with Sirius and he’ll now be on a phone app so I can listen anywhere. Gary’s book was also awesome and I highly recommend it. Hey now. Oprah’s last season. WTF am I gonna do when this is over? I know OWN is coming but the idea that this is the final season is so depressing. How amazing was favorite things? Seriously, I could not stop laughing at the 2 (!!) episodes of this.

JASON ORR - Founder (FunkJazz Kafe)/Filmmaker (Diary Of A Decade) MOVIE: The Book of Eli; Radiant Child (movie about Jean Michel Basquiat) BOOK: The Immortal Cells Of Henrietta Lacks CONCERTS: Goodie Mob reunion (at Masquerade - ATL); Sa Ra & Razzi Dame (live at Lenny's - ATL) TV: Boondocks [love Uncle Ruckus]; Soul Train Awards 2010 (BET/Centric) RADIO: Novaradio.com (French radio- this is the way radio should be. They play EVERYTHING) MUSIC: Black Coffee - "Superman"; Mos Def & Slick Rick - "Auditorium"; Bilal - "Robots"; Erykah Badu - "New Amerykah-Return Of The Ankh"; Osunlade's remix of Erykah Badu's "20 Feet Tall" (Jammin'); Prince - "20Ten"; Cee Lo - "You Don't Shock Me Anymore"; Dead Prez & DJ Drama Mixtape; Maddslinky feat. Omar - "Special"; Janelle Monae - "ArchAndroid"; Lil Louis - "Two Sides To Every Story" (a super classic if you can find it); Avery Sunshine - "All In My Head"; W. Ellington Felton - "Land of Sheep, Ran by Pigs, Ruled By Wolves"

TAMI ROMAN - Reality TV Star (Basketball Wives; The Real World) CD: Usher, Drake, Fantasia SONG: Hello, Good Morning - Diddy-Dirty Money BOOKS: In the Paint by Philana Boles; DeCoded by Jay Z; Dateable, Are You, Are They by Justin Lookadoo and Hailey DiMarco MOVIES: Inception; The Social Network; The Fighter TRAVEL: Madrid, Spain - went there with the cast of Basketball Wives and thoroughly enjoyed it. A country very rich in culture, old world architecture and the "jamon" was to die for. DINING: Since I live in NY, my favorite this year was Crustacean in Beverly Hills. I've been there before, but I haven't had it in a very long time. It was just as good as I remember.

CORY WIRES - Recording Artist (Debut single Lost In The Music due Jan. 26 via Sound Shuttle Records/Bronx Bridge Ent.) MOVIE: Inception ALBUMS: David Guetta - One Love; Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans; Daft Punk - Tron: Legacy (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) DINING EXPERIENCE: I was working on a movie this past summer up in NH and we stopped at this place called The Red Arrow Diner. They had some of the best tasting Coke ever ... LOL ... but the food was really good. It just had this really old fashioned feel. Something you just couldn't recreate these days. It was good to see a restaurant that's been around for such a long time. It's also Adam Sandler's favorite food spot back near his home town.

DYANA WILLIAMS - Radio Host (107.9 WRNB-FM/RNBPHILLY) MUSIC: I was totally captivated with Foreign Exchange's Authenticity! My real joy was when I had the pleasure to host their SRO performance at BB King's in New York this past fall. Nicolay, Phonte and company represent in the fashion of the truly gifted! If you haven't heard this and their other cd's, do yourself a favor! Second Chance, El DeBarge!!! My favorite track that gets me going, is El & Faith Evans, Lay With You. It brings back classic r&b with sheer joy, produced by Mike City! The leaked 1000 Deaths by D'Angelo was just an appetizer...recently I savored the entire track and more from the forthcoming album. A soul satisfying and delectable treat for sure! Get ready universe for soul stirring music from one of our most gifted artists. BOOKS: My Life in Three Acts: A Memoir by Pam Grier with Andrea Cagan. The iconic actress delves into her roles in blaxploitation films, the impact that it had on the community at large, sexism, and racism. Plus, she shares details about her high profile romances with Richard Pyror, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Freddie Prinze Jr. The Olympian: An American Triumph by Craig T. Williams -This is a compelling historical novel about Dr. John Baxter Taylor Jr., the first African-American Olympic gold medalist. He won his medal over 100 years ago. Why aren't our children being taught these kinds of stories of triumphs in the face of great adversities? The Style Checklist: The Ultimate Wardrobe Essentials for You by Lloyd Boston: Ladies, this is a delightful book that will help you stay stylish and revitalize your look! MOVIES: Must see documentary films about two of my preferred musical stars. Coming Back for More: This Sly Stone documentary by Willem Alkema is a fascinating search for the mysterious and brilliant, Sly! Also Still Bill, about Bill Withers, directed by Alex Vlack and Damani Baker. These filmmakers spent years trying to track down these reclusive artists to share insights about their rise, global musical influence and why they disappeared from the public. Also The Social Network. TV: TV One's Unsung, reigns supreme on my list of engaging and enlightening television. I had the honor of serving as a co-executive producer, with Mark Rowland on last season's opener on Teddy Pendergrass. HBO's powerful Boardwalk Empire. Also, Showtime's comedic drama, The Big C starring Laura Linney as a schoolteacher whose life is radically changed when she is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Oscar nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) is hilarious as a contentious student with a crush on fine, Idris Elba!

SERGIO KARDENAS - Photographer/Filmmaker/Recording Artist (Designer Music) CDs: Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster, Fangoria (Spain) - Del Vaudeville A La Astracanada MOVIES: Machete; The Slayer Bureaucrat BOOK: Still being Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley DINING: Anywhere there is sushi. FILMMAKER: Robert Rodriguez FAVE SINGERS: In 2010 I fell in love with the voices of Mary Wilson, Miki Howard and Vesta Williams after hearing them upclose in concert.

RAH DIGGA - Recording Artist (Classic; You Need This Music by NottzRaw) CDs: Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) and Sade - Soldier of Love. MOVIE: The Book of Eli starring Denzel Washington. THEATRE: Fela (although technically released Nov. 2009). TRAVEL EXPERIENCES: Bungee jumping in Croatia for the first time!! Finding a classic MCM bag in Germany like the one I lost in a housefire never to be replaced!! FINALLY!!: After 20 years of friendship doing a collaboration with Redman for my first single. DINING: A.W. Shucks Raw Bar & Grill - Norfolk, VA. Best Crab Burgers ever!!!

DJ DOC ERVIN - DJ/RADIO HOST (V103-ATL; Spasmodic Radio Movements) MOVIES: The Fighter, Inception, Ironman, Black Swan and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Trilogy. TV: Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire FAVE INTERVIEW: I got the chance to interview and have a candid conversation with 98.7 Kiss' Legendary Kool Dj Red Alert. ALBUMS: Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Janelle Monae-The Archandroid, Angela Johnson-It's Personal, Erykah Badu-New Amerika Part 2, Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot Son of Chico Dusty, Avery Sunshine-Avery Sunshine, Yahzarah-Ballad of Purple St. James, Chico Mann-Anolog Drift, Zo!- Sunstorm, Blue Six-Neosis, Cee-Lo-Stray Bullets, Black Coffee-Home Brewed FAVE MIXTAPE: Vikter Duplaix-For Players Only Compiled by Vikter Duplaix and mixed by yours truly Dj Doc and Dj Mars BOOKS: (Were not published this year but I re read and read this year) The Don Miguel Ruiz Box Set (I got as a gift)

CYNTHIA HORNER - Celebrity Magazine Editor/Owner (Cinnamon Chips P.R./Cinnamon Flix Photo Agency w/ hubby Kenneth Harris) MUSIC: Nicki Minaj, Sade, Trey Songz, Chrisette Michelle, Jazzmine Sullivan, Mindless Behavior TV: 24. I am crushed that they cancelled this show. I didn't get into it until season 7 and after season 8, it was a wrap! I'm saving up to buy the DVD of the eight seasons so that I can catch up with the previous cast of characters. My niece-in-law, Kosi Harris, loves Criminal Minds, so I recently started watching it, and I am hooked on this FBI show. Shemar Moore is easy on the eye, but the scripts are real winners, too. I found out that it airs on two different networks, so I am having fun! I don’t believe that I will watch Dancing With The Stars in 2011, however, I was interested in supporting my friend Brandy who was amazing on the series. I did an interview with her and I let her know that she did a superb job and she looked incredible. It was a great experience for her and she was number one, in my opinion. Law and Order: SVU. My friend Ice-T said he will stay on the show until they throw him off! It has been an incredible experience for him and he has had a lot of longevity with the program. BOOKS: Zane has come out with a whole series of authors who are very interesting. But my favorite African-American fiction authors are Rochelle Alers and Brenda Jackson. MOVIES: Yogi Bear was always a childhood favorite of mine, so naturally, I had to see Yogi and Boo Boo in 3-D! Salt is one of the few films that I actually paid to see. But kudos go to Brooklyn’s Finest, directed by Antoine Fuqua. TRAVEL: Atlanta, Paris, Bermuda, Atlantic City, Martha's Vineyard.

A. SCOTT GALLOWAY - L.A. based Music Writer/Liner Notes Essayist (Bill Withers’ “+Justments,” Tony Williams’ “The Joy of Flying,” Nina Simone’s “Black Gold (Live),” Phyllis Hyman’s “Goddess of Love” and “Somewhere in My Lifetime,” Labelle’s “Pressure Cookin’,” Esther Phillips’ “Capricorn Princess,” and the Ohio Players’ ”Contradiction.”) ALBUM: I’m New Here by Gil-Scott Heron is short on time but long on impact. Comprised of new songs, a couple of blues covers, some poetry and spoken interludes, it was a disturbing snapshot of a man that sounds as if he has literally been to Hell and back - and still carrying a few demons ON his back. Play it alone in the dark after midnight and it will chill you to your core…a riveting glimpse into the dark side of a brilliant Black man’s tortured soul. COMEBACK: El DeBarge – Second Chance. The title track of El’s album is a heart-on-sleeve letter of thanks to God for giving him a second chance. The rest is a winning update of his ice cream soul sound from a man still young at heart and still spinning his carousel of sweet love. May he remain as sober and saved as the three Christmas songs he included as heartfelt bonus tracks. SINGLE: “I’ll Be Back” (from “The Beatles Complete on Ukulele”) – Nicki Richards. Very, very biased here, but at least I’m keeping it real. This lady took a song from my least favorite period of The Beatles’ canon - the early years – and completely won me over by whisking it to the Motherland via her hypnotizing arrangement that prominently features the African kalimba and kora. The world needs to pay better attention to this artist. She goes a long time between releases, but when she strikes, it’s with the precision of a panther on a nocturnal mission. EP: Lions & Fires & Squares - Carolyn Malachi. Two words: Next Level! Singer/Songwriter Malachi and Producer James McKinney wove a brilliant tapestry of techno soul with this Grammy-nominated gem that in all fairness should be giving Gaga, Badu and Monae a serious run for their money. TRIBUTE ALBUM: Lady – Lynne Fiddmont. Some of the finest musicians in jazz have waxed albums dedicated to the haunting mastery of Billie “Lady Day” Holiday, but Fiddmont – in only her second project as a solo artist – has put an artfully contemporary spin on classics from her portfolio that, in a perfect world, would introduce her to a new generation while also giving longtime fans some irresistible new ear candy to savor. CONCERTS: Jose’ Feliciano, Dumpstaphunk, Gipsy Kings, Jeff Beck, Teena Marie, Sugarfoot’s OHIO Players, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Barbra Winn, Wild Lotus @ The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – April 29-May 1; Sonny Rollins - Disney Hall - May 16; Jimmy Webb/Thelma Houston - Grammy Museum - May 21; Billy Childs - Redcat - June 10 (2nd Set); Scorpions "Farewell Tour" - Ontario - July 29; Bettye LaVette - Santa Monica Pier - Aug. 19; “Bitches Brew 40th Anniversary Band”- Sunset Junction – August 21; Herbie Hancock “Seven Decades Celebration” – Hollywood Bowl – Sept. 1; Charles Lloyd Quartet – Nate Holden Performing Arts Center – Sept. 25; Tia Fuller Quartet – Catalina Bar & Grill – October 27. TV: “Unsung” MOVIE: “Night Catches Us”

AVERY SUNSHINE - Singer/Songwriter/Pianist (All In My Head) CDs: B. Reith; Charlie Wilson; Earnest Pugh FAVE LIVE PERFOMANCE: Jamiroquai @ The Jazz Cafe - London MOVIE: Tron Legacy BOOK: A Letter To My Daughters - Maya Angelou TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: London ! ! ! Miami ! ! ! DINING EXPERIENCE: Mambo's in London; Croakers in Richmond, VA ! ! !

NOTTZ - Recording Artist (You Need This Music) MUSIC: Trey Songz - Can't Be Friends; Tank - You Mean That Much; Alicia Keys - Unthinkable. MOVIES: Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too? and Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad By Myself. TRAVEL: Cayman Islands; Jamaica; Costa Rica. HOTELS: The Ritz-Carlton; The Villa.

LIL MO - Recording Artist/Radio Host (WPGC-95.5 - DC) MUSIC: I have a lot of favorites, but one that never ceases to stop being my all time fave producer/artist/writer/mogul/ is none other than THE KANYE WEST. All of his albums, no matter how weird the media makes him seem, I feel I totally understand where he is going with his vision. So hate it or love it, Kanye is the best artist of our time, in my MOpinion. Owwwww! DINING: The CheeseCake Factory. Insane thing is I only eat my mothers' cheesecake, but the food at the CCF is amazing. They make your plate so full, a doggy bag is inevitable. If my husband and I could go everyday I think we would, if we don't already. MOVIE: The Town TV: MARTIN. Hands down this show is one of the greatest shows created in sitcom history. Since it has been off the air, TV just hasn't been the same. I began my radio career just off the fact that if Martin could do it, so could I. I've since had a #1 Afternoon Drive show and have been in the SOURCE Magazines Power 30 in Radio. Owwwww

STEPHEN KING - Author (The Dark Tower) 2010 MOVIES: 10. Green Zone – “one Iraq war movie that puts story and suspense above shrill outrage.” 9. Jackass 3D; 8. Monsters; 7. Splice; 6. Kick-Ass; 5. Takers - “This satisfyingly complex cops-’n'-robbers movie features great performances … and the armored-car heist is the best action sequence I’ve seen this year.” 4. The Social Network - “succeeds where Michael Douglas; Wall Street sequel fails.” 3. Inception; 2. The Town – “Bad title, fantastic movie. … a strangely intimare film” 1. Let Me In - www.ew.com

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2010….LIGHT FROM ABOVE

2010-12-16T09:10:00.006-05:00

The party’s over, as this year’s annual Toronto International Film Festival recedes into memory, but oh what memories it produced! The focus, as usual, was on the plethora of films (over 300), that were on display throughout the numerous screens in this film loving city.

However, what was different at this year’s festival as compared to previous years was a smaller African-American presence, in terms of both press, actors, directors, and producers in attendance, as opposed to last year’s festival which had a large slate of urban themed films. Perhaps this was because of the proximity in dates to New York City’s 14 Annual Urbanworld Film Festival, or lack of contemporary African-American films. Whatever, your guess is as good as mine. I did come across some familiar faces, but most of these brothers and sisters were here to check out films that dealt with the Diaspora in a broader setting. They were here mainly to check out films from the continent of Africa, and on that point they weren’t disappointed, but the absence of new faces was somewhat disheartening to say the least.

Having said that, in my opinion, there was still plenty to get excited about with the bounty of flicks that we’re on display and the opening of TIFF’s dazzling new headquarters…the Bell Lightbox, a stunning five storey space which features five state-of-the-art cinemas, two galleries, three learning studios, retail space, TIFF offices and a three-story atrium. Also, cinemas in the Bell Lightbox are the first in North America to show 16mm, 35mm and 70mm in addition to digital movies. From casual conversations overheard at press screening there, the Bell Lightbox is being viewed by the international film community as an overwhelming success, and something that has changed the event’s landscape, and basically relocated the festival’s epicenter from Bloor St. down to King St West. Quite a difference!

SCENE & HERD….. What’s up with all of the so-called “celebrities” trying their hand at DJing these days? The two latest, Bob Geldorf’s daughter Peaches, and porn star Sasha Gray (who was here last year starring in Steven Soderbergh’s, THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE), were displaying their “skills” at The Drake Hotel and video game developer Ubisoft’s parties respectively, during the festival and produced similar results,….they quickly emptied the floor….Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, who can definitely spin, was the DJ for the ET Canada party, while across town band mate Apl.de.ap manned the 1’s & 2’s at the Blackberry jam… Spotted former heavyweight world boxing champ Lennox Lewis kicking it with singers John Legend and Keisha Cole at a reception held for guests of The ONEXONE fund raiser…. actor/director Clint Eastwood in town for his latest film Hereafter, is going ahead with plans to shoot an autobiography of former FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, with Leonardo DiCaprio slated to portray Hoover. Wonder if DiCaprio has been fitted for any of the dresses that rumoured cross dresser Hoover, who was also known as “Betty” wore…. Toronto strip clubs, including the posh, FOR YOU EYES ONLY, had to hire extra staff as they geared up for what has traditionally been one of their busiest times of the year, as various film biz folks hit town for the fest and proceed to get their “lap” on. Stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and even Queen Latifah have been seen in past years enjoying the company of the club’s stunning ladies…. Festival opening night and Canadian film SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL, which has generally garnered some pretty awful reviews, was definitely not on Toronto writer/director Bruce LaBruce’s, (whose festival entry the controversial hardcore gay porn feature L.A. ZOMBIE, was banned from the Sydney Film Festival, thus guaranteeing it cult status), list of must see films. Rumour has it that he gave his opening night tickets to a homeless person….which were then probably sold, just sayin’… Young, black, and extremely talented Toronto director Charles Officer, NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY, was hoping to get his latest effort MIGHTY JEROME, a documentary about the troubled life of legendary black Canadian sprinter Harry Jerome (who back in the sixties held the world record for both the 100 meters & 100 yards), finished in time to be included in this year’s festival. Unfortunately it wasn’t, but it will be screened at The Vancouver Film Festival later this month…. I am also waiting to check out black Toronto director Clement Virgo’s (RUDE, POOR BOY”S GAME), interpretation of writer Lawrence Hill’s bestseller, THE BOOK OF NEGROES. A novel that follows the sweeping story of heroine Aminata Diallo, tracking her life as she goes from her African village to being a slave in the southern U.S. and continuing on to Halifax, Nova Scotia and then to London, England. Early word is that it’s his best work to date…. What’s a film festival without at least one or two publicity stunts? This year it’s the unmasking of actor/”rapper” Joaquin Phoenix and actor/director Casey Affleck, whose documentary, actually a “mockumentary” I’M STILL HERE, was exposed as being a hoax. To further the hype there were even sightings of a man rumoured to be Phoenix, wearing an obviously fake beard and sunglasses at various locations in the city …. Of course there were the by now obligatory “swag salons”, known now as “gifting suites” (such as DPA, IT Lounge, and Tastemakers Lounge to name but a few), aplenty, with “free” everything and anything that today’s stars and hangers on don’t need, but starving reporters such as yours truly could use…. There were just too many parties to mention, and with the growth of this festival, too hard to get in. I did however manage to get a pair of tickets (thanks Genevieve), to TIFF’s opening night party at the immense Liberty Grand. The theme at this year’s party, like it is every year, was centered on the opening night film, which in this case was SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL. There were lots of good eats, great music, and interesting people in attendance and I also got to kick it with Canadian actor Stephen McHattie, a very down to earth guy… Robert Redford, in town for his film THE CONSPIRATOR, revealed at a press conference that he and old friend Paul Newman had planned on doing another movie together. Newman’s passing in 2008 put an end to that project which was going to be an adaptation of a Bill Bryson book called A WALK IN THE WOODS . It was about two older guys who hadn’t seen each other in thirty years reuniting and planning on walking the Appalachian Trail…. Actor Josh Brolin had to put a persistent radio reporter in check after the reporter went tabloid on him and asked Brolin about him having to talk his wife, actress Diane Lane, out of getting boob jobs. Brolin told the reporter, “Dude, you are weird, I’ll remember you forever”…. Eighty year-old Clint Eastwood was seen at Avenue Restaurant, bustin’ a move to Timbaland’s The Way I Are and Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind ….British singer and mash-up artist M.I.A. was seen at a French cinema party and had this to say about her presence there , “I’m here to support my friend Roman Gavras (Costa Gavras’ son), the director of OUR DAY WILL COME”. Gavras directed her controversial video, Born Free…. Matt Damon, who is set to portray Liberace in an upcoming biopic along with Michael Douglas, talked about Douglas’ recent health concerns, “Michael is obviously going through his health issues, but from what I understand that’s not going to be any problem at all. He’s a very healthy guy and the numbers are on his side. We’re hoping to be on track to shoot next summer”….Like social activists actors Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson who seem to get involved in local social justice issues whenever they’re in town, Martin Sheen was spotted walking the picket line with a group of hotel workers who were protesting their wages outside of a hotel where festival officials had set up a workshop… Speaking of walking, I’m calling it a day until this time next year. I’m gone! - VICTOR BAINS MARSHALL

FROM TORONTO: FILM PREVIEWS!

2010-12-16T07:41:00.008-05:00

VIVA RIVA! – Djo Tunda Wa Munga (Democratic Republic Of The Congo, France/Belgium) *** Out of “Nollywood” comes this tale of a heist gone terribly wrong. Set in Kinshasa, this film comes pretty close to realizing the huge potential of cinematic talent that can be found in Africa. Dazzling camera work along with excellent acting (although sometimes a bit over the top), and a killer soundtrack combine to tell the tale of Riva played by Patsha Bay Mukuna, a would be hustler, player, and lover just trying to get his while being pursued by a group of Angolans he ripped off for a shipment of fuel. The Angolans, led by the ruthless Cesar (Hoji Fortuna, reminiscent of a tall Spike Lee, walk and all), coerce the lesbian military commandante Marlene Longage into helping them find Riva, who by this time has enlisted his buddy J.M. (Alex Herbo), to help sell the fuel and in the process make a killing in the fuel starved capital city of Kinshasa. To complicate matters further Riva has fallen hard for the beautiful red head, Nora, seductively played by the sexy Manie Malone, let’s not forget Nora’s jealous boyfriend Azor, convincingly played by Diplome Amekindra. He’s out to avenge his wounded pride and of course get his lady back by his side. Add to this whirlwind of action, the exotic location shots and the other players hustling to get over, and you end up with a highly entertaining film that was a hit at the festival…..tons of fun!

STATE OF VIOLENCE – Khalo Matabane (South Africa/France)*** This powerful, politically imbued tale of retribution for earlier transgressions, once again confirms Matabane’s status as one of Africa’s most influential young film makers. With his first feature, Conversations on a Sunday Afternoon, Matabane established his credentials and left many of us waiting to see what new vistas his talents would lead us to. Well, the wait is over. It’s modern day Jo’Burg and Bobedi (expertly played by Hotel Rwanda’s Fana Mokoena), is enjoying the bountiful fruits of his labour as part of the new black business elite. One evening him and his lovely wife Joy (Lindi Matshikiza), are chilling out at home when an intruder rocks his world as he witnesses Joy shot before his eyes. As the film unfolds, we learn that Bobedi has done things as a youth that he’s not proud of, and that he also has reasons to believe that Joy’s murder wasn’t just a random act of violence. The plot, as they say, thickens as numerous suspects with their own axes to grind are introduced. It all culminates in an ending that is both shocking and tragically sad, but truthful in its realization that justice is oftentimes complicated and unsatisfactory, while the commitment of past injudiciousness, however well intentioned, almost always ends in a bad way. This here one stays with you long after the credits roll …… haunting.

I SAW THE DEVIL – Kim Jee-won (South Korea)*** Somewhere in this bloody tale of revenge there’s a lesson to be learned, and it is that in the act of achieving vengeance we can sometimes set in motion forces that can overwhelm and irrevocably change who we are as a human. Or magnify it. Joon-yen (Lee Byung-hun), has just found out that his young fiancée has been horribly mutilated, raped and murdered. He narrows the suspects down to Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik), and proceeds to hunt him down utilizing the skills that he’s developed over the years as a trained secret agent/assassin. In the process, Joon discovers that his fiancée isn’t the only victim of Kyung, seems as though he’s a genuine serial killer who’s been at it for years. What ensues is a sadistic cat and mouse game with Joon inflicting physical damage upon Kyung at will, and supposedly exacting the revenge on his fiancée’s murderer, but in the process finding out that maybe he’s just as much a monster as Kyung…..extreme violence, blood and gore. Loved it!

OTHER FILMS OF INTEREST…. CASINO JACK, BARNEY’S VERSION, HEARTBEATS, RABBIT HOLE, STATE OF VIOLENCE, TAMARA DREWE, YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER, THE DEBT, DIRTY GIRL, LEGEND OF THE FIST: THE RETURN OF CHEN ZHEN, SUPER, PASSION PLAY, GIRLFRIEND, OLIVER SHERMAN, A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE, BLAME, CONVICTION, 22nd OF MAY, CAVES OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, ANOTHER YEAR - VICTOR BAINS MARSHALL - Host of The Middle Passage - Weds. 5 - 7 p.m. www.ckln.fm.

CAROLINA BLOGGING

2010-12-16T07:07:00.000-05:00

MORE TASTY CLIPS FAVES OF 2009!!

2010-01-07T14:58:00.004-05:00

RAYVON - Recording Artist (Back It Up; with Shaggy on Bombastic and Angel) MOVIE: Public Enemies TV: Law and Order (SVU); CSI and Bad Girls MUSIC: Jay Z & Alicia Keys; Hustlers Poster's Child BOOK: The Last Symbol GAMES: Call of Duty & SOCUM on PS3 DINING: Kiku Japanese in New York

VONETTA DeVONISH - Writer (Tasty Clips Contributor) MOVIES: Precious (Great perfomances by strong female-led cast, plus good cameo by Lenny - loved seeing him do even this small role); The Hangover (One word - hilarious); Capitalism, A Love Story (Thought-provoking and terrifying); New York, I Love You (Nice homage to love and relationships in the Big Apple); The Ugly Truth (Better than expected and Gerard Butler was perfect in the role of the crude cad); Sin Nombre (Deeply moving film by promising new director); I Love You, Man (Paul Rudd consistently cracks me up); Taken (Action-packed, intense - Liam was great in the role of the overly-protective father). SONGS: Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart - Alicia Keys; I Am - Mary J. Blige; Give It Up To Me - Shakira. TV: 30 Rock (I joined the party late, but this show has recently become one of my weekly must-sees); The Office (Too funny); Law and Order SVU (Still going strong); The Good Wife (Great cast - Julianna Marguiles has turned this show into much more than the tale of a wronged wife); Dollhouse (Interesting fantasy storylines); CSI (Nice addition with new cast member Laurence Fishburne); The Real Housewives of Atlanta (a guilty pleasure I'm not ashamed of); Tabatha's Salon Takeover (She's British and she's bitchy but she's the best).

MIKE ADAMS - Professional Athlete (Cleveland Browns) FAVE '09 ARTIST: Fabolous. MUSIC: Salute by Fabolous; Be Where You Are by Trey Songz. BOOK: The Good Life. DINING EXPERIENCE: XO Steakhouse - Cleveland. TRAVEL EXPERIENCE: Puerto Rico

TONY DAWSEY (not pictured) - Mastering Engineer (NYC's Masterdisk: Jay Z, Akon, Ghostface, Kid Rock, Method Man & Redman, Nine Inch Nails, Whitney Houston) FAVE '09 ARTISTS: Jay-Z - Jigga did it again with The Blueprint 3, his 11th #1 title of his career. I've been lucky to have been the mastering engineer on nine of them. In a year that the Yankees once again won the World Series, the song Empire State of Mind with Alicia Keys inspired New York and the world. Michael Jackson - His death reinforced his status as the greatest entertainer of all time. Susan Boyle - A musical and marketing story that Hollywood couldn't have made up. This woman captivated people all over the world as someone with a dream and a big heart to match. Lady Gaga - She represented the total package in entertainment. Taylor Swift - She had the top selling CD of the year, and if you didn't know that you probably did after Kanye West interrupted her speech at the MTV Awards.

The Tasty Clips Fave Party of 2009!

2010-01-07T14:47:00.002-05:00

A No Grease Experience

2009-10-13T07:15:00.006-04:00

Why is this man smiling? It's because he was just treated like a king at a top notch tonsorial parlor controversially titled and logoed as No Grease at the Time Warner Arena Complex in Charlotte, NC. CEO Damian Johnson, a Buffalo, NY native who came south to attend Johnson C. Smith with his brother and co-founder Jermaine Johnson, laid his roots down in the Queen City to fill a need. This led to the opening of three shops, a barber academy and being voted Charlotte Magazine's 2009 Best of the Best. Their commitment to the community has been a godsend. Pop in and you'll witness some of the best grooming around. A fave of area businessmen and ballers alike.

Atlanta Summer Storm 09

2009-10-01T10:04:00.004-04:00

A rare cool summer evening was a perfect contrast to the sizzling performances at the Mablehouse-Barnes Amphitheatre as Norman Brown's Summer Storm hit Atlanta. Despite the death earlier of co-headliner Wayman Tisdale, the show went on as a tribute to the big bassist at the urging of promoter Michael Alexander of J.A.M.S. Productions. Grown Folks Radio's Carol Blackmon hosted the stellar line-up that featured keyboardist Brian Simpson, saxophonist Euge Groove (who delighted concert goers by coming off stage and playing at their tables), and guitarist Brown (pictured with reedman Eric Darius) who closed the show with one of Tisdale's staples, Aint No Stoppin' Us Now. Click on photos by Glen Frieson to enlarge.

Carol's Daughter ATL Opening

2009-10-01T09:06:00.007-04:00

"The Fabulous" Nikki Walker handled the crush of writers and photographers covering the event. Carol's Daughter Media & Consumer Relations Mgr. Lauren Branche flashed a lovely smile while coordinating interviews with founder Lisa Price. After long admiring her work, I finally got to meet Upscale Beauty & Style Editor LaConia Jenkins Dean who was all that! Former NBA All-Star (and Jordan BF) Charles Oakley was a late arrival. As was Boris Kodjoe (though no one was complaining. He told me he's enjoying the fact that he's getting hired now for different types of parts including one in the current Bruce Willis flick Surrogates, and the now filming Resident Evil 4. Click on pics by Bill Vaughan to enlarge.

Carol's Daughter Opening Pt. II

2009-10-01T08:48:00.010-04:00

Lamman Rucker (Meet The Browns) & Carol's Daughter founder Lisa Price (who told me that she planning another store for Richmond, VA; and the reason why her products all have a edible base - she's a great cook whose best dish is Chicken and Roses!). Sports marketing ace/publicist LaTonya P. Story walked up on me after years of us corresponding and introduced me to her charming client: Musiq Soulchild/95.5 The Beat DJ Traci Steele. ATL make-up artist to the stars Toni Acey & Tahnesha of The Arches Threading Lounge posed for my camera. Toni has been all over this season of The Atlanta Housewives. CBS Atlanta Better Mornings host Tracye Hutchins shared that her favorite product is the Body Jelly. Mine is The Big Kahuna Collection, which I found out is Jay-Z's fave also (though I'm starting to become fond of Lisa's Hair Elixir for its amazing holding ability - will make a note to try some of her other hair products). Shout out to ATL store manager Antoinette Jackson and writer extraordinaire Ronda Racha Penrice. It was a pleasure to meet you both. Click on photos by Glen Frieson and Bill Vaughan for larger images.

Columbia Summerfest 09

2009-10-01T08:20:00.006-04:00

Summerfest 09, held at Benedict College's Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, was a valiant attempt at mixing students and grown folks. The presentation of radio stations The Big DM and HOT with their personalities like the pictured Neek in tow, featured performances from Kevon Edmonds (formerly of After 7 and yes, Babyface's bro) who mixed his hits with new songs off of his just released album Who Knew; Abdul Ra'oof and his SOS Band mates, who proved they're still one of the most slamming live acts in the biz with their set featuring a crowd pumping tribute to Michael Jackson; and Pretty Ricky, who cracked me up by joking I was an original member. Behind the scenes snafus kept headliner Musiq Soulchild offstage and led Lil' Boosie and Chrisette Michele to give extremely abbreviated appearances, but all in all it was a good crack at pleasing everybody. Click on pics by Bill Vaughan to enlarge.

George Clinton's 68th Birthday Bash!

2009-08-13T08:41:00.005-04:00

Images of guitarist Gary Shider, Sir Nose and the P-Funk All-Stars shot by Glen Frieson at the Bergen PAC on July 22. Click on photo for larger image.

Top Chef Goes Live!

2009-08-13T08:00:00.003-04:00

Richard Blais, who shot to nationwide stardom on Bravo's Top Chef, brought his molecular gastronomy demonstrations to an attentive audience of foodies at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse. For $25 a pop, foodies got to hear anecdotes of Blais' life as a culinary rock star, and saw him use liquid nitrogen to reconstruct popular dishes. We even got to sample his take on Nachos (they're best fried in duck fat) with salsa turned into gel cubes. Have to admit they were yummy. But if you're in the A-Town you haven't missed the boat. Just head on over to Flip Burger Boutique on Howell Mill Road. We suggest the great crispy fries and ginger margueritas.

Chris Rock Exposes Good Hair

2009-08-03T22:54:00.002-04:00

Capital Jazz Festival 09

2009-08-02T21:32:00.004-04:00

Roy Ayers; Will Downing (whose new CD Classique marks a triumphant return to recording); Regina Belle; S.M.V. (Bassists Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller & Victor Wooten); and Al Jarreau were but some of the many acts holding court at the 2009 Capital Jazz Fest at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in MD. Images by Glen Frieson.

BACK UP! Concrete Diaries

2009-08-02T15:14:00.003-04:00

Here's a look at a documentary that had its debut at Oakland's
Eastside Arts Alliance. Filmmakers Nijlan Mu'min & Monique
Hazeur and others wish that they could walk down the street
without being subject to what some guys feel is complimentary
behavior. A little respect could go a long way.

Spike Lee - "MJ Was In That Casket!"

2009-07-24T15:45:00.008-04:00

The Director opens up about Michael Jackson, their 1st
meeting, the video shoots, his experience at the memorial,
and what he did when he got back to New York. Stan
Washington presides over this interview.

The Censored Michael Jackson/Spike Lee Video

2009-07-24T11:51:00.000-04:00

MJ - Remember The Dance

2009-07-24T08:10:00.002-04:00

Denzel Does Doom

2009-07-24T06:40:00.003-04:00

Smooth Jazz Lounge - Atlanta

2009-05-26T08:59:00.011-04:00

MICHAEL ALEXANDER of J.A.M.S. Promotions and his headliner - guitarist/vocalist NICK COLIONNE - bask in the success of their Smooth Jazz Lounge at the InterContinental Buckhead. Saxophonist WARREN HILL, whose set was hard to follow, is pictured giving birthday wishes to KIM HICKS, who was Bejeweled by Gina. Glowing host Rene Miller of WCLK-FM and Joni Hawkins of Brand It! contributed to the splendid evening that featured both artists venturing out into the elegant ballroom to a delighted audience. A tribute show for Wayman Tisdale at GA's Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre was announced. On the July 18th bill: Norman Brown, Euge Groove, Brian Simpson and Eric Darius.

Jasmine Guy Frankly

2009-05-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

LaBelle & Powell @ Newark Bears Home Opener

2009-05-18T15:28:00.003-04:00

Newark Bears manager Tim "Rock" Raines met former Secretary of State Colin Powell on the mound to hand him a first pitch ball for their home opener. Patti LaBelle blessed the stadium with the national anthem. Also on hand Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith and NY/NJ broadacasting legend Gus Heningburg. Images by Glen Frieson - Corporate Photo Services

Mother's Day Biker Rally - Newark

2009-05-16T18:40:00.003-04:00

The annual Mother's Day Biker Rally, sponsored by the Newark Knights Motorcycle Club, was attended by hundreds of bikers from dozens of clubs throughout the NY/NJ area.

On the street, all was love. On the side: deals were made, bad blood negotiated, and all past beefs settled. Woo Da Chef, Iceberg and Big were among the attendees. Images by Glen Frieson - Corporate Photo Services

More Mother's Day Biker Rally - Newark

2009-05-16T18:29:00.003-04:00

Hennessy Black Launch Event - New York

2009-05-06T15:37:00.010-04:00

New York, NY – May 5: Kim Kardashian and Ciara capture the moment at the launch event for Hennessy Black, a new highly versatile cognac “done different” that is perfect for being enjoyed UP (as shots) or DOWN (as mixed drinks), where the original song When I Step In The Club was premiered by Swizz Beats along with an original dance by the JabbaWockeeZ at 7 World Trade Center in New York City. Credit Theo Wargo/Wireimage.

My Black Is Beautiful - Charlotte

2009-05-06T01:30:00.008-04:00

Lalah Hathaway, Eric Roberson (who has a new CD out in June) and DJ Frances Jaye (who is launching a new website) were among the participants of the My Black is Beautiful Tour which I caught up to in Charlotte. Missed out on seeing Tasha Smith and A.J. Johnson's panel discussions but did get a heck of a massage in one of the pamper centers. Chicago on May 30th is the next and final stop with Angela Bassett scheduled to appear. For more info, visit: www.myblackisbeautiful.com

Taste of the Nation - Charlotte

2009-05-06T01:25:00.006-04:00

Add some of Charlotte's top bartenders, chefs, Panthers stars Thomas Jones and Muhsin Muhammad, and foodies together and you have the making of one of the town's premier charity events: The Taste of The Nation. Executive Chef Anthony Watkins and Marketing Manager Andrew Morgan were a big hit with delectibles from the menu at The Capital Grille. A recent visit was superb. Watkins' Pan-Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers, and Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzarella with Vine Ripe Tomatoes rank among the city's best dishes. Tasty Clips also loved the offerings from area restaurants: Basil Thai; Mez; Savannah Red; The Westin (Chef Tessia Harmon gets down); and Zink American Kitchen. Look for more detailed reports on these spots in the pages at http://www.tastyclips.com/.

20th Anniversary of Do The Right Thing

2009-04-04T18:06:00.008-04:00

ImageNation Cinema Foundation led a benefit tribute to the 20th anniversary of Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater and Toni Dubois was there to snap it. Spike (with co-star John Turturro and IC's Moikgantsi Kgama), Rosie Perez, Mr & Mrs. Chuck D, Frankie Faison and his guest, and Malinda Williams and DJ D Nice represented. Among the other alums in the house: John Savage, Roger Guenveur Smith, Joie Lee, Ernest Dickerson, Darnell Martin, Monty Ross, Steve Park and Richard Edson.

David Sanborn/Tower of Power @ The Bergen PAC

2009-04-04T15:37:00.008-04:00

Glen Frieson provides these images from the David Sanborn/Tower of Power concert at the Bergen Peforming Arts Center in Englewood, NJ. Saxophonist Sanborn was accompanied by drummer Gene Lake (standing - who hands down gave the best drum solo seen in years). TOP is still held down by founding members Stephen "The Funky Doctor" Kupka on baritone sax and Emilio Castillo on alto sax. They're coming to Charlotte's Neighborhood Theatre on Sat., April 18. Visit: www.neighborhoodtheatre.com for more info.

Mardi Gras Mambo @ The Belk Theatre

2009-04-04T15:30:00.003-04:00

A well oiled crowd attended the Mardi Gras Mambo concert at Charlotte's Belk Theatre. The legendary Mac Rebenack a.k.a. Dr. John showed he still had the goods with an opening set that had him at the keys and guitar. Aaron Neville came out to join him on a number before he and the rest of The Neville Brothers came out to tear the house down.

Antilia Carnival NYC 08

2009-01-23T13:47:00.002-05:00

Simon Khan along with the Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Development Co. brought the flavor of the island to this huge bash with dancers, drummers, Caribbean cuisine and specialty Alize cocktails in commemorative goblets. Hosts AJ Calloway (EXTRA TV) and Vashtie Kola introduced an electrifying array of stars including Wyclef Jean, Shaggy, singer/songwriter Kees, and Barbadian soca sensation Rupee. This was a bash not to leave til the lights went out. Photos courtesy of Glen Frieson.

Taste of Atlanta 08

2009-01-21T18:57:00.004-05:00

Food Network host Ted Allen (Chopped; The Food Detectives); WGCL's Tracye Hutchins and Brakeeta Bell of Better Mornings Atlanta.

Remembering The Mac Man & Black Moses

2008-08-12T10:48:00.002-04:00

A nation is saddened at the news of the passing of these two giants (who worked on a last film together: the upcoming Soul Men with Samuel L. Jackson). I first met Bernie Mac while on the Club Benson & Hedges tour in 1996. Ironically, it was during the Olympics in Atlanta, that I was staying at The Mondrian in L.A. I got into the habit of rising at dawn to go for a walk down Sunset Blvd, and pick up a morning paper. The Mac man would be the only brother outside waiting for a car to bring him to the Moesha set. Somehow it went beyond the usual nod of the head and we'd have warm conversations about life, career, and choices. One thing he told me that I don't seem to be able to verify was that he was not the first person in his family to have success in the public eye. He mentioned a brother who played Major League Baseball and another who sang with The Chi-Lites. The last time I saw Bernie was while I was a publicist working on The Kings of Comedy Tour.

One of the last extensive interviews Isaac Hayes gave was with Tasty Clips in 2007. It was tough to get due to him being in recovery from a stroke suffered in 2006. I pursued it because a good friend 'Freddie Boy' Sawyers sang backup with him for years and used to tell me what a great guy he was. Ledisi started out singing with Isaac too and shared a couple of great stories that I edited out of our interview due to space. He started off slowly in the scheduled 15 minute phoner with one word answers. I was frustrated that after 10 minutes I had barely anything. However, as a caregiver at the time, I knew to be patient. Suddenly, at our cut off time something changed and he opened up in a number of ways you'll understand after reading the interview here.

AARP 50th Anniversary Celebration

2008-08-06T22:34:00.007-04:00

(from L: Patti Austin, CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Jamia Simone Nash, Yolanda Adams, Paris Bennett, Ann Nesby) backstage at the Phillips Arena for the American Association of Retired Persons 50th Anniversary Celebration. The show also featured Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick, Chaka Khan and Debbie Allen, who directed and choreographed her dancers. With this being in Atlanta with E.O. homie Latifah, auntie Dionne, and BFF CeCe, would someone tell TC if there was a better place for Whitney Houston to perform? Not even I'm Every Woman? (Image - VPress)

National Black Arts Festival: Actors

2008-08-06T00:09:00.004-04:00

Thomas Jefferson Byrd (Ray, Get On The Bus) after his performance in the True Colors Theatre Company production of James Baldwin's The Amen Corner at the Alliance Theater. On the other side, 91 year old actor/singer Herb Jeffries, Hollywood's first black cowboy (The Bronze Buckaroo) was greeting folks outside of the screening of a documentary of his life at the Pan African Film Festival. (Images - VPress)

Vernon Davis Weekend Extravaganza DC 08

2008-08-05T19:37:00.002-04:00

Vernon Davis & Too Short; Jameka Cameron & Jackie Long; Niecy Nash & Omar Benson Miller; Allen Iverson

Video Music Box 25th Anniversary

2008-08-05T19:11:00.002-04:00

Melle Mel; Mike Wonder (Sugar Hill Gang) & Dana Dane; DJ Red Alert & Mike C (Cold Crush); Special Ed & friend (Images by Toni Dubois)

Art, Beats + Lyrics - Atlanta 2008

2008-08-05T16:31:00.008-04:00

Sights galore at this revolutionary presentation of art sponsored by Jack Daniels. Call me Ol' Skool, but I didn't even know there was a Gentleman Jack spin-off. It was smooth alright. So was the cocktail made with it, Chambord, cranberry juice, and a splash of champagne.

Artist Maurice Evans and DJ Nabs were spotted among the many beautiful people in the house including former L.A. Sentinel writer turned Spelman PR pro Angela Johnson, trend spotter Kebo, yoga stylist Sheryl Brown, and Jasz of the venerable Ear Wax brand.

These ears were bent quite a few times about how much the historic record store is missed since leaving their midtown location in the ATL. The prevalent thought among the consensus was that there was no longer a place that you could go to and get plugged in. Ear Wax should have the status reserved for other local treasures like the APEX museum and the Hammonds House. You simply cannot talk about anyone in the Atlanta music scene that didn't walk in the door - and out a little wiser. (Images - VPress)

Rock The Bells - Pt. I

2008-08-05T16:06:00.004-04:00

Africa Bambaataa, B Real, Mos Def, Pharoah Monche, The Pharcyde (via Toni Dubois' lens) More shots can be seen in Previous Posts

Rock The Bells - Pt. II

2008-08-05T15:35:00.006-04:00

For the most part it was really great line up. The crowd went absolutely bananas when Redman & Meth (w/ Busta Rhymes), DeLaSoul, Nas & Jay Z and of course Tribe Called Quest went on stage. It was a really nice mix of people that was there. The only complaint I had was the press area was a hot mess. Beyonce is absolutely beautiful in person. I was really trying to get a shot of her but security wasn’t trying to hear it. - Toni Dubois

CUBA CLOWNING!

2008-06-08T14:53:00.002-04:00

GIL SCOTT-HERON TODAY

2008-06-08T14:19:00.003-04:00

Poet/Singer Gil Scott-Heron was the subject of my first published interview during the years of his hits of Winter in America, The Bottle, and Johannesburg. The years haven't been too kind to him due to drug use and subsequent jail time. This favorite of Howard Stern, who plays Gil's composition Whitey on the Moon often, is making a comeback of sorts. He'll be performing this month at NY's JVC Jazz Festival with the Mos Def Big Band; in a tribute to The Last Poets at NY's Schomberg Center with Amiri Baraka; and at Atlanta's Sugar Hill on the 5th of July. If his head is right, it would be prime time for his commentary. Wonder what he has to say about Obama.

SUMMER SOUL MUSIC FESTIVAL 07

2007-10-18T14:48:00.000-04:00

Unannounced guests Stephanie Mills (pictured with featured performer Angela Winbush) and acclaimed violinist Renee Briggs (who joined Loose Ends in their crowd pleasing set) were but some of the surprises at the first Summer Soul Music Festival held in Charlotte, NC.

Promoter Michael Alexander of 2 The Limits Events needs to take a bow for presenting one of the most organized outdoor events this reporter has ever experienced. The relaxed crowd was able to roam the grounds without the fear of an imposing presence of security to enjoy the foods, drink and art provided by vendors. By the time headliners Cameo finished their sizzling show at sunset, the grounds were returned to a near pristine state, with a good time had by all. Alexander promises this will be an annual event (we certainly hope so), and drops hints that next year's card will feature a famous diva, and a veteran party band. In the meantime, he's making history by bringing Stevie Wonder to the Bobcats Arena in November. The Motown legend hasn't been in the area for 33 years. (images by Glen Frieson & Bill Vaughan)

VH1 HIP HOP HONORS PT. I: DA FELLAS

2007-10-18T12:26:00.001-04:00

LL Cool J, Nelly, Nick Cannon, Snoop Dogg, Tracy Morgan (images by Toni Dubois)

VH1 HIP HOP HONORS PT. II: THE LADIES

2007-10-18T12:17:00.000-04:00

Ciara, Eve, Salt & Pepa, Spinderella (images by Toni Dubois)

VH1 HIP HOP HONORS PT. III: THE COUPLES

2007-10-18T12:06:00.000-04:00

Coco & Ice T; Harvey Keitel w/ his ladyfriend & publicist (images by Toni Dubois)

WHO SHOULD GET THE POWER RING?

2007-10-18T08:23:00.000-04:00

Comic fans are geeked at the news that the Justice League will be coming to the big screen in a live-action/motion capture combo to be directed by George Miller (Happy Feet, The Road Warrior). So far the parts are wide open. In fact, Jessica Biel has turned down an offer to be Wonder Woman. For the John Stewart Green Lantern role, the producers reportedly reached out to Tyrese, but he has commitments to John Singleton to be a hero from the Marvel side Luke Cage. Rapper T.I. was supposed to next read for the part but that idea had to be scrapped for obvious reasons. Now comes word that Common auditioned last week. Should someone else be considered?

MONTE IRVIN PARK LIVE!

2007-10-18T07:55:00.000-04:00

The self-proclaimed Queen of All Media Wendy Williams hosted this annual event held at the former Orange Park in New Jersey. This is the place immortalized in the classic Slave song Watching You. You know the words. Photographer Glen Frieson covered the festivites that included performances from Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, EnVogue, and Col. Abrams!

FAVES OF 2006!

2007-01-12T07:36:00.000-05:00

Dre Bowie - Model/Actor (Freedom Writers) Music: I love Jay Z's music. Also Ne-Yo. TV: Dave Chappelle Show: The Lost Episodes. I can watch that show all day and won't get bored. Movies: Even though Saw III was crazy, that's still my favorite movie of the year. Just how the previous 2 were linked up with this one made it a great trilogy. It's a movie I would watch over and over again. L.A. Dining: Uncle Andre's BBQ is exquisite! This place is located in Studio City on Moorpark and Colfax. Their BBQ Boneless Beef Ribs are just unrealistic! Travel: I recently went to Las Vegas for the first time and stayed at the Palms Hotel. It was out of this world. While I was there I got my very first tattoo. It's on my upper right arm and says I'm Blessed on a banner wrapped around a cross. That is exactly why I'm am blessed.

Cheryl D. Broussard - Financial Advisor/Author (Sister CEO) CDs: Once Again--John Legend; For Your Ears Only--Whispers; Books: The Maui Millionaires, David Finkel and Diane Kennedy; Trump 101: The Way to Success, Donald Trump; The Success Principles, Jack Canfield. Movies: The Pursuit of Happyness; Dreamgirls. Travel Experience: Alaskan Cruise and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Juliette Fairley - Actress (The Situation; Walking in the Dawn)/Author/TV Host (Discovery's Cha Ching! Money Makers) Films: It is a toss up between Dreamgirls and The Pursuit of Happyness but I think Dreamgirls is my favorite because of the strong redemption theme. Books: I discovered Reverend E. Bernard Jordan's the Laws of Thinking which pushes the whole idea of positive thinking up another level. Music: Gnarls Barkley's Crazy. TV: HBO's The Wire. Dining: My mom's French, so I love French food. My favorite French restaurant is Josephine's as in Josephine Baker & also Le Brasserie. Travel: I went to St. Lucia in June and loved it. I'm going to St. Kitt's in January.

A. Scott Galloway - L.A.-based Music Journalist/Music Editor (Urban Network) Albums: Beyond the Wall - Kenny Garrett (Nonesuch); Virgin Forest - Lionel Loueke (ObliqSound); The Town and The City - Los Lobos (Hollywood); Retro Blackness - Gary Taylor (Morning Crew); Flow - Lynne Fiddmont (MidLife); Heritage/Juniflip - Chico Hamilton (Joyous Shout!); The Ultimate Adventure - Chick Corea (Stretch/Concord); Mr. Brown - Sleepy Brown (Purple Ribbon); Piece by Piece - Katie Melua (Dramatico); B-Day - Beyonce' (Music World Music) Songs: If This World Were Mine/Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (2/3 of The Tammi Terrell Medley from Live in Belgium 1981 DVD) - Marvin Gaye; We're With You - Mike Stern; Hearing 'Take Five' - Michael Franks; Make Me Like the Moon - Kenny Lattimore & Chante' Moore; Wounds in the Way (from Madea's Family Reunion stk.) - Rachelle Ferrell; Love is a Gangsta - Teena Marie; Somewhere in Between - Russell Taylor; What's Not Being Said - Heather Headley; Angels - Robin Thicke; Seasons of Change - Tim Dillinger Concerts: Herbie Hancock/Christian McBride/Joshua Redman - Hollywood Bowl - 8/9; Patricia Barber - Vault 350 - 10/6; 16th Annual Divas.Simply Singing - Wilshire Ebell - 10/7; Dee Dee Bridgewater - Catalina Bar & Grill - 6/8; Jeff Beck - House of Blues - 4/5; Latimore - Gibson Amphitheatre - 10/29; Steely Dan/Michael McDonald - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - 7/19; Sean Franks - Genghis Cohen - 11/3; Lionel Loueke & Gretchen Parlato - The Vic - 10/5; Clairdee - The Vic - 3/30 Reading: Wax Poetics Magazine (for whom I will be contributing an article on jazz drumming great Chico Hamilton in 2007.) Film: Eddie Murphy as "James 'Thunder' Early" in Dreamgirls (I believe it's Oscar time for Eddie.)

Carvin Haggins - Producer/Songwriter/Karma Productions (Musiq, Jill Scott, Faith Evans) Book: The Bible. For 2006 and always. Dining: Buddhakhan (Old City, Philadelphia) Play: I saw Martin Short One Man Play in New York. It was phenomenal. CD: The Philadelphia International Experience with the Gamble & Huff material. Concert: Believe it or not, I didn't see any amazing concerts or performances in 2006. Movie: I just saw The Pursuit of Happyness and that movie was ridiculous. It was excellent. Travel: I love to travel to Savannah, Georgia. It's secluded and a little "off the map" and it's just that down home love. 2007 Prediction: My 2007 prediction is somewhat selfish because I predict that our projects (Musiq, Aaries and Adrian Hood will do incredibly well.)

Cynthia Horner - Sr. Contributor, Celebrity Hip Hop Weekly/Entertainment Editor, Black Noir/Special Celebrity Correspondent, Word Up! Publications/Pres., Cinnamon CHIPS Dining: Bergdorf Goodman Restaurant, NYC; Maroons Caribbean and Soulfood Restaurant, NYC; Delta's Soul Food Restaurant, New Brunswick, NJ; East of Eighth Restaurant, NYC. Movies: The Departed, Deja Vu. CD's: Lionel Richie, Coming Home; Diana Ross, I Love You; Brian McKnight, Ten; Ultimate Luther Vandross; Heather Headley, In My Mind. Books: Kimani imprint series (formerly BET Books); The Da Vinci Code; No Place Like Home, Mary Higgins Clark; Two Little Girls In Blue, Mary Higgins Clark; Any books written by Rochelle Alers and Brenda Jackson. Travel Experience: Dallas, TX; St Maarten

Kid Capri - DJ/Producer( )/TV Star(Def Comedy Jam) Music: Not a lot of things came out this year I liked. I like what Jay Z is sounding like right now. I like Beyonce's album cause she did it herself. That's hot. I like that fact that she said she was going to get away from everybody. I'm going to make my own decisions and do my shit and nobody's going to know I did it and come back and everyone's going to love it. That shit right there was kinda hot. Beyonce to me is the goddess of all these chicks. They got to live up to her expectations because she's the I hope that Jay Z know what he's got. Movies: I like Shottas (laughs). It's a Jamaican movie. Go check on that right there. TV: I like watching Forensic Files and Court TV and all that shit. That's what I be into. Books: I read all the time. There's a book about the music industry I'm about to read and another book called Queen Bee that my man from Brooklyn wrote.

Victor Bains Marshall - Radio Host (The Middle Passage; CKLN.FM) Films: Pan's Labyrinth - Amazing imagery and story telling. A fairy tale for adults; When The Levees Broke - Although not a theatrical release, this Spike Lee Joint documentary was nonetheless an impactful and compelling work that gave us an inside view of hell on earth and the overwhelming ineptitude and disregard of poor and black folks by the Bush administration; Dreamgirls - This work is at once a powerful, entertaining, fun, and most importantly a historically crucial film in light of these days of instant pop stars. Old School "fo sho"!!! Babel - Simply, in my opinion, one of the year's best!! Albums: I'm really feeling UK songstress, Amy Winehouses' Back To Black, and fellow Brit, Lily Allens' Alright, Still. Playful, eclectic, and downright soulful CDs! Daedelus - Denies The Day's Demise. A sweet mash-up of funk, found words, and rap, more of the same from this brilliant song deconstructionist. The Happy Feet soundtrack, is one that I have come to appreciate more, especially since checking out the movie. Books: I have to admit that I haven't read any books thus far this year, but I am in the process of reading The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, and William C. Rhoden's Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete. Concerts: Richard Wagners' Ring Cycle, the inaugural production at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the Canadian Opera Company's new opera house. Marcus Miller and Maceo Parker at the Toronto Jazz Festival. Any show featuring local Toronto hip-hop, funk, rock, jazz scenesters, KC and the Raw Blue (who you can listen to at myspace.com/kcrobertsandtherawblue), The From Jamaica to Toronto CD release concert at the Harbourfront Centre was sensational! Oh Yeah, rest in peace Mr. Brown!!!!

Cee Cee Michaela - Actress (Girlfriends)/Author/Youth Mentor Music: India.Arie's latest CD Testimony. I Am Not My Hair is off the chain. Book: Rich Dad Poor Dad; Movie: Esther was beautiful. 2007 Forecast: I am opening my new center in Conyers, GA for teens Michaela's Place: The Motivation Studio. It's gonna be awesome. And the website: www.ilovetheyouth.com.

Alesha Renee - TV Host (BET's HotWyred; Black Carpet) 2006 Highs: Well I just made my first year at BET and we had our 1st annual Hip Hop Awards. I got my own show this year! I started up boxing, so I'm ready to kick the butt of the next man that pisses me off. LOL TV: I love Sex and the City!! Also Law and Order Special Victims Unit, Boondocks, um HotWyred :-) self promotion. Music: Brian McKnight is that man! Tamia. Beyonce. I'm from Houston, so I gotta rep the home team. Also Young Jeezy. I got a lil gangsta in me. LOL Movies: I have an ole soul. I love Imitation of Life, Barefoot in the Grass, The Notebook. Anything that is TMC or AMC. Book: The Coldest Winter Ever!! I'm gonna turn that into a movie one day! Concerts: Boyz 2 Men LOL and Brian McKnight. Jon B, that's a sexy white guy! Those are my faves but I had the chance to catch Busta Rhymes. He is bannanas in concert! Dining: I'm originally from Louisiana so I eat everything. Travel: I got my first passport stamp this year! Jamaica. I wish the experience was a little better. I saw the bad before the good. We went to all the troubled neighborhoods. It really saddened me but made me more grateful and thankful. Prayerfully, my next time will be better

Linnyette Richardson-Hall - TV Host (Style Channel's Whose Wedding Is It Anyway) Music: I am truly LOVING The Evolution of Robin Thicke. It's sensual, mellow and has a nice groove. Plus it doesn't hurt a bit that he's easy on the eyes :) Fave Las Vegas Spot: Hands down - my favorite place in Sin City is the Wynn Las Vegas! Amazing rooms, super-courteous staff, delectable cuisine, shopping that will make your head spin and the hottest nightclub (Tryst) that I've ever set foot in. On The Tube: House, Prison Break, Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? (of course!) and on Monday nights - I am glued in front of the plasma, eagerly watching Fox's 24. Jack Bauer is the MAN - if you are ever in trouble and you see him coming, please know that he is about to handle his business!! Eating Healthy: Now that I'm down 25 pounds and counting :), I've developed an addiction to these crunchy good little granola bars called "TLC" - short for Tasty Little Crunchies by Kashi Foods. The trail mix blend with almonds, cherries and cranberries is simple delish. Vacation Spot: Every summer, the family and I hit a Caribbean island - this year it was Turks and Caicos. Breathtaking, crystal clear water - baby powder fine beaches, vivid sunsets and some of the friendliest people I've ever met Absolutely paradise on earth! In Concert: Saw jazz guitarist Waymon Tisdale this fall - that dude can lay down some serious licks! AND - he's a sweetie in person, really down to earth with a terrific sense of humor.. For A Fine Meal: Check out Linwoods in Baltimore, MD. Every time I go there - I leave totally satiated and shaking my head in amazement, Chef Linwood Dame gets that food right every single time. Try the beef short ribs and the lobster tempura with honey butter..YUM!!!

Michael V. Roberts, Sr. - Co-Owner/Founder/CEO of Roberts Companies Play: The Color Purple in New York. What you see is the beginning of new acting stars. We will see members of this cast in the years to come. Book: The World Is Flat ..Tom Friedman. If you want to prepare your mind for the future of this planet you should read this. If you want to address your future, then you should read my book, Action Has No Season...Combined reading will offer you the best possibility to gain wealth and authority. Dining: Mobay's in Harlem on 125th St. Very seriously, great food with a pound of soul. Travel: Nassau Bahamas at the Roberts Castle on the beach. I go there monthly from my home in St. Louis. As with one of my hotels in Dallas, Tampa, Houston, Atlanta, Spartanburg, or Shreveport. Movie: Déjà Vu with Denzel Washington. This movie will twist your mind. Much fun. Concert: B.B. King is the king. Blues makes everyone feel good. Prediction: 2007 Will offer people of action, a/k/a Actionaires (my coined word) the opportunity to become wealthy and develop authority. If you enjoy what you are doing you'll never work a day in your life!

Gary Sturgis - Writer/Rap Artist/Actor(Daddy's Little Girls, Pride) On My Tivo in '06: Lost, Survivor, The Wire, Weeds, Daybreak, America's Next Top Model, American Idol, Mindfreak, CSI, Without A Trace, The Surreal Life, Celebrity Fit Club, The Biggest Loser. What I Enjoyed This Year: My iPod (Addictive), XBox 360, PSP, New Orleans food, 48 Laws of Power (fun read), recording music, making movies, Jamaica, Work-related travel, Popcorn, Kool-Aid, red carpets, The Saints, Friends and family. Watching my sons grow up. Waking up in the morning. What I Listened To in '06: Will Smith Lost and Found, Busta Rhymes, Dem Franchise Boys, Lil Wayne, Christina Aguilera, Ludacris, Gnarls Barkley, The Temptations, Luther Vandross (very missed), The Roots, Illuminati (my own ish), Simfani Blue, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Ice Cube. Favorite Movies in '06: Last King of Scotland, Dreamgirls, Idlewild

Hannibal Tabu - Journalist/Author (The Crown: Ascension; and the new novel Faraway to be released in '07 via Writers of Worlds) www.operative.net) Movies: Screw the hype, Snakes On A Plane is amazing if you see it with a group of witty friends. I also loved Idlewild (which many totally missed the point on and had amazing visual style). Accepted, 16 Blocks, Inside Man (catchphrase of the year: "This ain't no bank robbery!"), Lucky Number Slevin and Waist Deep (a pleasant surprise). I'm sad to say I haven't slowed down enough to see Dreamgirls, The Departed, Catch a Fire, The Pursuit of Happyness, or a few others. Music: I've played Like A Star by Corinne Bailey Rae so much the MP3 looks exhausted. Also feeling Lupe Fiasco; that Amerie album (I may be late, but so); that Megan Rochelle single; Weird Al's White and Nerdy and You're Pitiful (hilarious); Rhymefest; The Fray; that rowdy Buckcherry single, Black Horse & The Cherry Tree; Boogie Monster and Storm Coming and tons of other undiscovered tracks on Gnarls Barkley; Welcome To The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance; virtually every note recorded by Panic! At The Disco; and some indies like Brig Feltus, Aviatic, Kevin Sandbloom, Dwight Trible (possibly the finest vocalist alive) and more I forget. TV: Grey's Anatomy, of course, but also Scrubs; The Unit; Psych; My Name is Earl; Boston Legal; Dexter; The Office; a resurgence of Smallville (last season was atrocious); American Dad; Rescue Me; Prison Break; Monk; Family Guy; Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (more DL Hughley please!); Nip/Tuck; Battlestar Galactica and Ugly Betty (make that money Salma). Life In General: Barack Obama's optimism that he can run for the presidency without a hail of gunfire from white militias taking him down, how far Colin Powell was able to distance himself from the sinking ship of the Bu$h administration, the sad public criminalization of MySpace doing nothing to deter its growth and cultural importance, TMobile creating a killer app to penetrate numerous strata of society with the Sidekick (although the Treo 680 is a much, much more effective choice), the continued rise of lackluster slam poetry and spoken word with little literary value not completely tramping down real work being done, and the idea (if not the implementation) of banding together to save the gulf coast (more than New Orleans suffered, y'all). Carry on.

Vesta - Singer/Songwriter (new CD Distant Lover is due Jan. 30 on Shanachie) Dining Experience: My birthday, December 1st. My boyfriend prepared the most wonderful dinner for me. It was everything I wanted plus him! It was awesome. Travel Experience: A trip I made to Baltimore. The travel part of my trip was wonderful because I sat next to the most intriguing people. One was an ear, nose and throat doctor so I got to pick his brain and the other was someone from NASA. They also found me interesting!

Elisabeth Withers - Actress (Shug in The Color Purple on Broadway)/Singer (It Can Happen To Anyone due Jan. 30 on Blue Note) TV: Girlfriends; Music: The Ultimate Luther Vandross; Movie: Monster House; Book: The Bible; Play: The Color Purple (it's not a play but it's still my favorite!) Concert: Prince; 2006 Dining Experience: Chez Oskar's in Brooklyn, NY (French/American food).

REPORT REQUESTS "NEW BLACK FRIEND"

2006-09-26T09:46:00.000-04:00

Portland based artist DAMALI AYO, author of How to Rent a Negro and its website rent-a-negro.com, has STEPHEN COLBERT of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report in her gun sight. On the news satire show, Colbert recently put in a request for a "new black friend" and suggested to start "blackfriendster.com." Ayo feels he's biting her ideas. "Let's make Colbert aware!," she writes in her weekly newsletter alert. "The best way to do this is to inundate Comedy Central with emails about the book. You can see Colbert's "Black Friend" schtick here. Amazingly, Julian Bond appears on the show and does a fantastic job, especially towards the end when they get to the photos. I think he is far and away more brilliant in this sketch than Colbert himself, who I admit, is pretty entertaining. Proof of my qualifications to be a "professional black friend" can be seen on YouTube."

KATRINA VICTIM GETS COVER SHOT

2006-09-26T09:31:00.000-04:00

Native New Orleans poet/arts advocate SARAN BYNUM, who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina, has started a new life in NYC that was kicked off by her being chosen as the subject of TLC's Cover Shot. Her episode airs October 13 @ 10 p.m., with rebroadcasts throughout the weekend.....

TC FESTIVAL FILE: Urbanworld

2006-07-21T12:51:00.000-04:00

The 10th Annual Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival announced the winners for its feature, documentary, short film, screenplay and music video categories on Sunday (June 25), in a closing awards brunch in New York City. The festival screened 70 films this year, including VH1’s Last Days of Left Eye, a full-length vivid documentary recounting the final month in the life of Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes of TLC. The festival also screened The Will to Survive – The Story of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, which stares into the spirit and soul of Georgia’s Sapelo Island. In addition, the festival conducted a special screening of Shaft, in the honor of the film’s late director Gordon Parks. The winners are as follows: Best Narrative Feature Film: Wholetrain; Best Narrative Documentary Film (Feature Length): American Blackout; Best Narrative Short Documentary Film: Adios, Para Siempre; Best Documentary Short Film: God Sleeps in Rwanda; Best Music Video: Churrp; Best Screenplay: The Man Who’s Never Been Kissed; & the Audience Award Winner: Word Life: The Hip-Hop Project. Clockwise from upper left: Zoe Saldana, representing her film Premium; Meagan Goode, promoting Miles From Home; Stacie J and Rosie Perez courtesy of Tasty Clips shooter Deborah Marcano.

Tasty Pics: Good, Williams, Ne-Yo, Cole

2006-05-16T12:04:00.000-04:00

Tasty Clips nabbed these exclusive shots from photographer John Crooms on location for the Atlanta shooting of Steppin'. The film, from the same folks who made The Gospel, is about the popular African-American fraternal activity. Stars caught in action include MEAGAN GOOD (Waist Deep, Roll Bounce); and JERMAINE WILLIAMS (Fat Albert) with R&B singer NE-YO (currently riding the charts with the song So Sick). The movie is scheduled for a late January '07 release.

Guess Who? OAN caught NATALIE COLE in full dress for the disco fever-themed Race to Erase MS gala. Cole was one of the evening’s performers at the bash that was attended by lots of young Hollywood types, including arch enemies Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, each backed up by her second-in-command, Kimberly Stewart and Lindsay Lohan, respectively.

Good Times/Cooley High Creator On Skid Row

2006-05-12T09:20:00.000-04:00

Tasty Clips was disheartened to read John L. Mitchell's piece on Eric Monte in the L.A. Times. Who would think that this talent who created such thought provoking entertainment (as well as a staple of TV Land) would be living at a Salvation Army shelter with a cellphone, a wireless laptop, and a laser printer to his name? "A series of strokes led to a spell of anti-seizure medicines and the loss of some memory. A year of crack cocaine abuse robbed him of money, dignity and a circle of Hollywood friends. Attempts to sell a self-published book drained the last of his savings. The laptop, he insists, holds the key to a comeback: 30 movie and book projects waiting to be pitched. And that just might be true.

Thirty-five years ago, Monte wrote and helped create some of the most popular — and groundbreaking — movies and TV shows of the 1970s. He started with one episode of "All in the Family," moved on to co-create "Good Times" and wrote the 1975 film "Cooley High," which, in turn, inspired the hit 1976 TV series "What's Happening!!" With success came an NAACP Image Award, a house in Tarzana at the foot of the Santa Monica Mountains, a Mercedes-Benz and the excitement of helping to spur a new generation of programming.

Monte, considered by some — even his friends — to be his own worst enemy, was prickly about script changes and refused to endorse plots he considered degrading to blacks. He wanted more control, but when it came to ownership, he says he was frozen out. In 1977 he filed a lawsuit accusing ABC, CBS, producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin and others of stealing his ideas for "Good Times," "The Jeffersons" (an "All in the Family" spinoff) and "What's Happening!!" Eventually, he says, he received a $1-million settlement and a small percentage of the residuals from "Good Times" — but opportunities to pitch new scripts dried up along with his money. He lost the car, the four-bedroom house he shared with his two daughters and almost all the trappings of his successful life. Today, the 62-year-old Chicago native receives occasional residual checks, enough to cover the $300 a month the shelter charges for housing, three meals a day and counseling.

When one of his episodes airs on the shelter's wide screen, Monte doesn't watch. "I'm not bitter; I'm angry," he says. "Bitterness is something that stays with you. Anger comes and goes. When I see those old shows, they make me angry." "That's a bitter pill to keep sucking on," said Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who played Cochise in "Cooley High."Glynn Turman, another friend and former "Cooley High" cast member (he played Preach), added: "Eric ran smack into the wall of 'Don't Care,' where this town just doesn't care about its talent. It has no use for talent; it only cares about survival."

Over the years he continued pitching scripts for episodic television, but only two were bought: for the sitcom "Moesha," and the "The Wayans Bros." Both shows debuted in the mid-'90s. By 2003, Monte had developed a craving for crack cocaine."People around me were getting high on crack and I decided to give it a try, and that was a major mistake," he says. "The only thing crack did for me was give me a tremendous desire for more. I did it for two years and gave it up."He left Los Angeles to live with his daughter, Deborah Williams, in a suburb of Portland, Ore. "He had no money and had to get away from those people who were nothing but users," she said. "Once he came up here, no drugs, no this or that. He was able to get back on track."

With $10,000 from a "Good Times" movie option, Monte self-published a book, "Blueprint for Peace." In it he wrote that peace could be achieved if humanity followed seven basic principles: merge all nations into one, stop manufacturing weapons of war, adopt one universal language, eliminate money as the medium of exchange, abandon the concept of land ownership, abandon the concept of inheritance, and control population growth. Monte rented a booth at last April's Los Angeles Times Book Festival, but he failed to sell a single copy of his book."I just have to figure out how to market it," he says. "I know that as soon as it starts selling, it will sell for 1,000 years."In the meantime, he was out of money again. "I do it all the time," he says. "I don't care about being inconvenienced. That's how I look at being broke, as a minor inconvenience."

Michael Jackson's Just Chillin'

2006-03-30T22:14:00.000-05:00

Loved that MTV item on DJ Whoo Kid and Michael Jackson. Whoo Kid just came back from spending some time in the Persian Gulf nation with its ruler, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Sheikh's son, John Legend, model Tyson Beckford and Jackson. Whoo Kid said he and Mike became so tight on the trip that he's trying to orchestrate a collaboration between 50 Cent and M.J. "I [saw] Michael Jackson sitting by the pool sippin' lemonade," Whoo Kid recalled of the beginning of his day with the royal family and others in Bahrain. "They didn't tell me he was going to be there - I didn't even expect Michael to be in the country. So I'm like 'F---ing Michael Jackson is here, sippin' lemonade!' "I said 'What's up?' to him and acted like I wasn't groupie-sized. I gave him respect for all the sh-- he did, but in my head I was going crazy. He said, 'I'm just chillin' ' - he actually said 'chillin'!' F---ed my head up, so I walked away from him. Everybody gave him his respectful space.

"Whoo Kid said he originally connected with Bahrain's royal family after he was recommended to DJ their parties by mutual contacts, including the Prince of Monaco and Seif Khadafy, son of Libyan dictator Moammar ("They're huge G-Unit fans," the DJ said).

During his trip, Whoo Kid also found himself invited to dinner with the sheik, Legend and Jackson. Apparently people were giving Jackson too much space at dinner - there was an empty seat next to him, which other guests were evidently too intimidated to fill. Finally Jackson, who'd laughed at some of Whoo Kid's jokes earlier in the day, called the DJ over to sit with him. "Mike was like, 'Whoo Kid, come sit over here,' the DJ said in a high-pitched voice, mimicking Jackson. "I was like poinng! He was supposed to be there for like 45 minutes; he stayed for five hours. We was talking about Eminem. He was like, 'Is Eminem really retired?' I forgot that Eminem totally cremated him in one video ['Lose It'], but [Michael] didn't even bring it up. Then he started talking about 50."Whoo Kid said that Jackson expressed some interest not only in working with 50 but also Kanye West on a new album. Whoo Kid arranged a phone conversation between Fif and M.J. awhile later.

As for the dinner itself, Whoo Kid said he was acting as a dietary and fashion consultant to Jackson. "You can't talk to Mike all fluffy like everyone does," he continued. "I got him to curse - he said 'sh--.' I told him he needs to cut his hair, get some million-dollar earrings, get a million-dollar watch and take all them spaceship clothes off. He said, 'I have to change my whole outlook.' He said he was trying to work out."

CLIPPETTES: Latifah, Rock, Hayek, Bowie, Pras

2006-03-30T22:04:00.000-05:00

CLIPPETTES: Queen Latifah (as pictured by Glen Frieson) will join John Travolta in the film version of the Broadway musical Hairspray. Latifah will portray Motormouth Maybelle, a civil rights activist and dance show host in the 1962-set musical. The part was originally essayed by R&B legend Ruth Brown. After filming, Latifah is reportedly shutting things down for 12 months to concieve a child.....British R&B star Craig David is willing to pose nude for pornographic magazine Playgirl, as long as the photographs are "done carefully." The Fill Me In hitmaker tells Female First: "I'm not squeamish when it comes to nudity. Maybe a shoot done carefully could look the part, rather than me standing there looking like a dick - so to speak.".....Chris Rock will star in I Think I Love My Wife, a remake of the 1972 French film Chloe in the Afternoon. Charles Stone (Drumline) may direct the script by Rock and longtime collaborator Louis C.K......Mos Def and Sophie Okonedo are expected to co-star in Stringbean and Marcus, a exploration of the relationship between two former Black Panther members, written and to be directed by first-time feature helmer Tanya Hamilton.....Women in Law, looks to be the hot show on the TV horizon. So far, Regina King, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and Kelli Williams (The Practice) are cast.....Keb' Mo' will release his eighth studio album, Suitcase, on June 13 and begin a tour with Bonnie Raitt that begins June 20 in Atlanta. Naughty By Nature's Treach and Brand Nubian's Lord Jamar will appear in upcoming episodes of the final season of The Sopranos.....Salma Hayek has a full-frontal nude scene in Ask the Dust.....According to Rosario Dawson, the Sin City sequel is being held up to wait for the expectant Angelina Jolie to star.....Jennifer Lopez has written a comedy script with Eva Longoria targeted for an upcoming movie. The two would play "sisters, both Hollywood stars, who fall out and dish the dirt on each other to the press.".....Martial arts superstar Bruce Lee is set to be the subject of a new Broadway musical featuring music provided by David Bowie. Tony Award-winner David Henry Hwang has been hired to write the musical hoped to be ready in 2008.....MTV2 is prepping the Chico & Guapo shorts from the FX Orlando Jones Show as a series premiering June 9.....Page Six reports that Pras, one of the stars of the Fugees, has agreed to appear in a documentary about homelessness called First Night in which he'll live on the streets for nine days with a mere $9 in his pocket.

TC CDs

2006-03-30T21:06:00.000-05:00

GERALD ALBRIGHT New Beginnings
(Peak/Concord); MONTY ALEXANDER Concrete Jungle (Bob Marley tribute w/ Luciano & Delfeayo Marsalis)(Telarc); LARRY CARLTON Fire Wire (Bluebird/RCA); D.M.C. (of Run-D.M.C.) Checks Thugs and Rock 'N' Roll (w/Rev Run, Kid Rock & more)(RomenMpire/From Rags 2 Riches); ETTA JAMES All the Way (RCA); JAVIER Left of Center (Capitol); JUVENILE Reality Check (Atlantic); KENNY LATTIMORE & CHANTE MOORE Uncovered (La Face/Jive); M1 (of dead prez) Confidential (w/ Q-Tip, Cassandra Wilson)(Kela/Koch); ODEAN POPE SAX CHOIR Locked & Loaded: Live at the Blue Note (w/ Michael Brecker, James Carter & Joe Lovano w/ rare liner notes by Ornette Coleman)(Half-Note); PRINCE 3121 (Universal); PUBLIC ENEMY Rebirth of a Nation (Guerrilla Funk); TAKE 6 Feels Good (33rd Street/Bayside); TANIA MARIA Via Brasil (Sunnyside); T.I. King (Atlantic); RANDY WESTON Zep Tepi - The African Rhythms Trio (Random Chance); PAMELA WILLIAMS Elixir (Shanachie) If you've heard any of the above, what do you think?

Dave Chappelle's After-Party

2006-03-07T18:55:00.000-05:00

The movie world continues to be astounded by the success of Tyler Perry's flicks. Madea's Family Reunion topped the domestic box offices for a second week in a row earning a total of $47.7 million. This despite competition from the more critically accepted Bruce Willis/Mos Def led 16 Blocks and DAVE CHAPPELLE's Block Party, which phenomenally drew raves from 93% of the nation's cine-journalists. Count Tasty Clips in that group. The movie is the best of the year so far. With its musical contributions from the aforementioned Def, Kanye West, Common, Jill Scott, Big Daddy Kane, and a heralded Fugees reunion, it is the best cultural/concert film since Wattstax. So why did Block Party only gross $6.2 million for a seventh place showing, beaten even by the month-old remake of The Pink Panther? "Chappelle is a television comic," offers column contributor Emdee8ch. "He just hasn’t proven himself to be funny carrying a movie like an Eddie Murphy or Martin Lawrence. Because of the genre, many already have it on DVD or will wait until it comes out officially."

The week before his opening, Chappelle brought his soiree to an audience in North Carolina, but it was the after-party that got the attention. Tonya Jameson of the Charlotte Observer reports that she and a few hundred people at Tempo went home with tales to tell. For at least an hour, Chappelle, rapper Talib Kweli and friends celebrated singer Erykah Badu's 35th birthday. They cut loose. It was a jam session and sing-a-long. It was like hanging on their tour bus or behind the scenes on the set of the Chappelle's Show. Chappelle asked fans what they wanted to hear. Then he sang a few versus of Notorious' B.I.G.'s Fuck You Tonight. The crowd, Kweli and Badu joined in for that one. Chappelle sang the first line of Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing. That would be "Baayybeeee..." Then he started laughing and gave the microphone to Kweli. They went on like that for a while. Chappelle would sing a little something and then pass the microphone around. Badu sang Bag Lady and threw in impromptu rap about liquor, driving her man's car and sleeping with his best friend. When she finished, fans were cheering and laughing. Her brother and sister cut-up on stage as well. Even better than their stage antics was how approachable all three were. At the bar, Chappelle and Badu signed autographs, talked to people and posed for pictures with anyone who asked.

Nash Has A Bash

2006-03-07T16:22:00.000-05:00

NIECY NASH, star of the hit Comedy Central series, Reno 911!, and host of The Style Network’s number-one program, Clean House, celebrated her birthday at a lavish red carpet party last week at the popular Asian-inspired White Lotus restaurant and nightclub in Hollywood. Looking like a real-life version of the famed cartoon character “Jessica Rabbit,” Niecy (pictured with Mehcad Brooks of Desperate Housewives - via Filmmagic) was a sight to behold in a beautiful full-length cherry red dress with a matching red rose in her long, curly black hair. She partied the night away with such celebrity friends as John Salley, Malinda Williams, Kym Whitley, Darius McCrary, Loretta Devine, Angell Conwell, Dorian Gregory, and her fellow TV cast mates. One of the sponsors of the party was Jenny Craig Incorporated. Niecy has lost 40 pounds on the famed weight loss program and credits them for her giving her a “new body!” Look for her this year in the upcoming Reno 911!: Miami, a big-screen spin-off of her hit TV series; and The Cleaner, an action-comedy with Cedric the Entertainer and Lucy Liu.

Nadine Goes Rogue

2006-03-07T16:00:00.000-05:00

NADINE VELAZQUEZ, a regular scene stealer as sexy cleaning woman Catalina on NBC's My Name is Earl, is about to make a move to the big screen. Named as one of USA Today's Five Rising Stars to Watch Closely, the bombshell has been cast as the female lead in Rogue. Her co-stars are two of the hottest action stars in the business: Jet Li and Jason (The Transporter) Statham. The cat and mouse thriller begins filming this week in Vancouver, with the renowned Cory Yuen (Lethel Weapon 4; X-Men) directing and choreographing the action scenes.

Howard Learns Pimpin' From Affleck & Cooney

2006-03-07T15:30:00.000-05:00

TERRENCE HOWARD (pictured with Gayle King, Morgan Freeman, Will Smith & Jamie Foxx in an Oprah exclusive) is receiving dating advice from some other Hollywood pros. The actor, nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Hustle and Flow, has been heeding the info regarding his personal life. The Crash star says he deals with his new-found fame by "taking really great advice from Ben Affleck and George Clooney." He explains, "They say, 'It's all right here in front of you - you can have your pick (of women). "You'll sleep with somebody and you won't tell nobody about it. "But if you sleep with a woman, she'll tell everyone she knows.'" On Howard's busy slate this year are PDR (Philadelphia Dept. of Recreation) with Bernie Mac; August Rush with Robin Williams; and The Brave One opposite Jodie Foster. Oh, and he celebrates a birthday this month on the 11th.

Cuba Comes Clean On Dirty

2006-02-28T09:07:00.000-05:00

Oscar-winner CUBA GOODING JR premiered his corrupt cop film Dirty in the southeast before its nationwide release this past weekend. When Tasty Clips asked writer/director Chris Fisher about the odd rollout there was a simple answer: "His last films performed best in the south." The tense thriller, based on L.A.'s Ramparts scandal, boasts a hot cast of Clifton Collins Jr (Capote), Wyclef Jean, Keith David, Cole Hauser, Wood Harris and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas making his film debut. After a private showing in South Carolina, Cuba came under fire during a Q&A from an audience not accustomed to hearing such profane language from the likeable actor. He had to defend his choice to star in a film with what he called "the most authentic script I'd read since Boyz N The Hood." "Unfortunately, that is the vernacular that is used today in our community," said Cuba. "It not only is used by the police, but by social workers, and in the schools. It is realistic to the situation we're portraying." Perhaps it is a testimonial to the strength of his performance that he had to assure the crowd that he was far from the Salim Adel character he portrays. "I no more talk like Salim than I do Radio," he joked citing his lauded role as a challenged adult. Up next, Cuba hosts The 37th NAACP Image Awards, which airs March 3 on Fox. On the big screen, he has Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels' directorial debut Shadowboxer coming.

Flavor of Love Revealed

2006-02-28T08:46:00.000-05:00

"I am one of the luckiest human beings on the planet, ladies and gentlemen," crows FLAVOR FLAV on VH1's number one show Flavor of Love. It would be hard to deny his statement as millions watch the network's grilled star play this unlikely dating game on his reality (?) series. The 20 ladies from all walks of life, who were given nicknames like Smiley and Pumkin by Flav are now narrowed down and Tasty Clips is about to scoop you on who sources tell us is the winner. L.A. Herald Dispatch readers were given the tip in this column two weeks ago. Now it's your turn. Stop reading now if you don't want to know. The most entertaining contestant going for the gold has been without a doubt Miss New York, who can't seem to get along with anyone. But she gets the silver and the prize goes to that chicken frying Hoopz. Can't wait to see what the producers cook up next for Flav. In the meantime, look for the hypeman on Public Enemy's experimental album with controversial Bay Area rapper Paris due March 7 called Rebirth Of A Nation; and a proper P.E. record called How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who've Sold Their Soul, out in the spring of 2007.

CLIPPETTES: BET Walk of Fame; Ludacris; Lenny Kravitz

2006-02-27T23:45:00.000-05:00

Tasty Clips hears Anita Baker will be honored at this year's BET Walk of Fame. Jill Scott, Toni Braxton, Shanice (whose 5th album Every Woman Dreams has just been released), Kenny Lattimore, Trey Songz, Mary J Blige, India Arie, Rachelle Ferrell and others are on the wish list to perform.....Some former members of Prince's New Power Generation reed section have left to form Hornheads, a five piece a cappella jazz funk group that sax great David Sanborn calls "Tighter than a gnat's asshole." Their release Fat Lip is available through CD Baby......Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, whose long-awaited solo album is completed and should be released this spring, is dropping hints that he's next writing and producing for Brandy.....Actor's actor Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast of the upcoming James Bond adventure thriller, Casino Royale as Felix Leiter, a role once played by Bernie Casey.....Ludacris will appear in an episode of Law & Order: SVU as the artist nephew of Ice-T's Detective Fin.....Kid Rock, on his first-ever live album, dubbed Live Trucker, is performing a cover of the Gap Band's classic, Outstanding.....Denise Quiñones, who was recently seen in a Smallville episode as Andrea, the "Avenging Angel," has been cast in the upcoming Aquaman pilot Mercy Reef along with Ving Rhames.....Page 6 is reporting that rocker Lenny Kravitz, who will make his film debut as a crack-addicted musician in Iced, got cozy in Las Vegas with Tracey Edmonds, ex-wife of Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.....The 5th Annual Black Women Film Preservation Project is honoring filmmaker/author Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust), TV's Jacque Edmonds Cofer (Cuts), actress/activist Elisabeth Omilami (Glory Road) and producer Rueben Cannon (Madea's Family Reunion). For more info on the Awards and Scholarship Luncheon to be held March 3 at Atlanta's Marriott Marquis, call: 404-272-3385.

TC FESTIVAL FILE: VIBE; IBFF; 3 RIVERS

2006-02-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

Looks like once was enough for the Vibe Music Festival. Despite having a three year option in place to stage the event, Tasty Clips hears that VIBE is pulling the plug on the Atlanta based youth gathering due to losing well over a million bucks and poor attendance. Their impact in the market, clashing with the long running Music Midtown, contributed to that festival shutting down this year as well. A number of local promoters are now scrambling to come up with a fill-in. Instead look for the mag's energy to go into the Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival (6/21-25).....Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (with orchestra), George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, and jazz guitarist Earl Klugh are headliners of Columbia’s 3 Rivers Music Festival (4/21-23). A three-day ticket will cost $35 and a one-day ticket will be $20.....The emerald coast of Destin, Florida is the site of the Sea Breeze Jazz Festival (4/22-24) with this year's edition featuring Kem, Wayman Tisdale, Rick Braun, The Rippingtons, Nestor Torres and others. There will also be a celebrity golf tournament.....Despite Essence leaving, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is set for 4/28-30 & 5/5-7 with Lionel Richie, Yolanda Adams, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Special Ed, Big Daddy Kane, Keb’ Mo’, Robert Randolph And The Family Band, Dr. John, Fats Domino, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Irma Thomas, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Meters, Galactic, Dave Matthews Band and over a hundred acts. For more info call: 800-488-5252.....The ATL HipHop Film Festival (4/28-30) honors Lauryn Hill, LL Cool J, F. Gary Gray and Ice T, who will receive the first Jack "The Rapper" Gibson Hip Hop Pioneer Award.

TC CDs: Maysa

2006-02-27T22:18:00.000-05:00

DILATED PEOPLES 20/20 (Capitol); VICTOR FIELDS Victor (Regina); JAHEIM Ghetto Classics (w/Jadakiss)(Warner Bros); BOB JAMES Urban Flamingo (Koch); Madea's Family Reunion (SDTK w/songs by LL Cool J, Brian McKnight, Chaka Khan)(Universal Motown); MAYSA Sweet Classic Soul (Shanachie): The Baltimore native, who was once a member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove and currently tours with Incognito, wants her 5th solo CD to go down in history as the ladies mackin' record. "Women always wait for the man to make the first move, but sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands," says Maysa. Highlights include covers of her favorite tunes like All I Do, Love Won't Make Me Wait, Playing Your Game, Wishing On A Star and Love Comes Easy, a song she selected for the powerful message and for her love of Eloise Laws who she says "has a voice as sweet as honey." SERGIO MENDES Timeless (Concord/Starbucks Hear Music); JASON MILES What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye (Narada); ?UESTLOVE (of the Roots) Misery Strikes Back...No More Babies (mix CD w/Ohio Players, Albert King, Betty Davis and more) (BBE); ALTHEA RENE In the Moment (Chocolate Caramel) This Showtime at the Apollo winner shines on her third disc. The flutist covers Patrice Rushen's Number One and Beyonce's Me, Myself and I along with her smooth self-penned instrumentals. Tsotsi (SDTK w/modern South African artists)(Milan); MARY LOU WILLIAMS Collective with GERI ALLEN Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary)

TC SPORTS: Where's Air?

2006-02-27T21:36:00.000-05:00

The biggest question not answered during the NBA All-Star activities was Where's Air? Michael Jordan was a no show for the dunk contest and rookie/soph game. And he certainly wasn't at The Toyota Center while the stars were hooping. No, Tasty Clips finds him in a suite at the Four Seasons behind three deep security enjoying a game of cards with his former Bulls teammate Charles Oakley. Wasn't he rumored to have lost a lot of change to Jordan in the past? Anyway, L.A. Clippers GM and NBA legend Elgin Baylor, whose scoring record was just crushed by Kobe Bryant, held court in another part of the suite.....Next year's NBA All-Star activities should be wild with Las Vegas as a host city. There should be none of the security issues that plagued some Houston spots and all events will be centrally located. While there, the competitions will be off the betting lines. The league hopes to award the 2008 games to that other famed party town: New Orleans.....Robert Redford, not Spike Lee will be directing The Jackie Robinson Story. Lee moves on to make a biopic of Joe Louis to star Terrence Howard who once also portrayed Muhammad Ali in a TV film.

Favorite NBA All-Star Quote: "Hey Tim [Duncan], Your game, its effective, but BORING. This is the All-Star Game. People want to see threes, dunks, not backing down folks like Charles Barkley. Shaq tries to bring it, but he's rusty." - TRACY McGRADY, Houston Rockets

Prince Project May Need More Work

2006-02-08T11:41:00.000-05:00

Tasty Clips contributor MDH was on the scene last week to catch new PRINCE protégé TAMAR with the purple one sitting in at NY's Nokia Theater. Here's what he had to say: "The show started about 12:15 a.m. Prior to them hitting the stage, they played Tamar's single Beautiful, Loved and Blessed, which I found weird but ultimately understood after sitting through what was essentially an uneventful evening of Prince showcasing someone that he must be boning. I felt as though I was watching a bad Las Vegas cover band with a really good guitarist (Prince). He walked her through a diva songbook including Not Gon' Cry (Mary J Blige), Rock Steady and I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Aretha Franklin) and Love Changes (Melisa Morgan/Kashif). It gets even better. They did Play That Funky Music and invited some guy from the audience to sing the song.

Tamar's two backup singers/dancers were C-level performers who attempted to sing something that I remembered at the time but now escapes me. She also managed to perform some songs from what promises to be a "stellar" debut and I use that term loosely. Afterwards, she invited more audience members on stage to dance. I'll sum up the evening in a nutshell. Long and boring. Tamar was a background singer who kept calling the audience Nokia (The name of the venue. Either she's not very bright or didn't realize she was in New York); and Prince was her hype man. After an hour and a half, he thanked the audience (what was left of them) for always showing love and he appreciated us showing up for his baby sister. You're welcome!!! 3121, the new Prince album with the single Black Sweat is due March 20 on Universal/Motown. A limited number of CDs will have “purple tickets.” The lucky person who finds such a ticket enclosed wins An Evening With Prince - A Private Performance at Prince's House. A two-disc compilation of his hit remixes called Ultimate is out on Rhino Records March 21.

Spike Lee Plays The Blame Game

2006-02-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

SPIKE LEE blamed Irv Gotti and 50 Cent for helping perpetuate violence in hip-hop in the Feb/Mar issue of Complex on newsstands now. "I love hip-hop," Lee told the magazine. "But there are certain elements that are just [problematic]. You name your company Murder Incorporated, your logo's got bullet holes in it, you changed your name to Gotti, and you wonder why your ass is in court? I mean, come on. You want to be a gangster? Alright, well gangsters go to jail; gangsters get shot. I mean, look, 50 Cent has made a lot of money, but whatever you are doing that makes you have to put a bulletproof vest on your 5-year-old son, that's time for some deep introspective shit. That whole mantra-'Get Rich or Die Tryin'-for me that's criminal," Lee explained. "Because young brothers, they took that to heart: 'Whatever I got to do to get them rims, get my fly gear, to get my bitches and hos, I'm going to do it. Fuck who I got to hurt, who I got to shoot, who I got to kill.' That's crazy to me. And his video game, Bulletproof? I'm sorry, I can't get with that."

The 16th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards

2006-02-08T07:54:00.000-05:00

The 16th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards is honoring Billy Dee Williams with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Diahann Carroll will be presenting this coveted award to her close friend and co-star in the 80's TV hit Dynasty. The Award show takes place on Monday, February 20th at the Directors Guild of America in L.A. Other honorees include Tyler Perry, Heavy D, Mitsy Wilson, and Magic and Cookie Johnson. The presenters are Malinda Williams (pictured with ET's Kevin Frazier at the announcement ceremony), Gabrielle Union, Flex Alexander, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, LisaRaye McCoy, Fresh Prince TV dad James Avery (a Lead Male nominee for Othello), Golden Brooks, Obba Babatunde, Essence Atkins, Dorien Wilson, Niecy Nash, Monica Calhoun, Vanessa Williams, T’Keyah Crystal Keymah, Leon and Anne-Marie Johnson, to name a few. Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change) and Loretta Devine (Purlie) are nominated as Equity Lead Females. In the Local Nominees, we find former Atlanta actress Diedre R. Henry in the Shirley Jo Finney directed Yellowman up for Lead Female; and eclectic songstress Sy Smith for Supporting Female in Body Language. Ticket prices are $200, $125 and $75. For ticket purchases or more information, visit www.bhwdnaacptheatreawards.com or call (323) 464-7616.

George Clooney's Favorite Dirty Joke

2006-02-07T23:40:00.000-05:00

GEORGE CLOONEY's Favorite Dirty Joke as told to Quint of AICN News: "They're usually so goddamn long I have to think of the ones that aren't, so.. A guy is in a bar. He's so drunk he throws up all over himself. He tells the bartender, "What am I doing? When I go home my wife's going to kill me..." The bartender puts twenty dollars in his shirt pocket and says, "Go home..." Have you heard this one? He says, "Go home and tell your wife you were in a bar and a guy came up... he was drunk, threw up all over you, but put $20 in your shirt pocket." He goes home, walks in and his wife says, "Hap, look at you. You threw up all over yourself!" He goes, "Honey, a guy got drunk and threw up on me and he put $20 in my shirt pocket." She reaches in and pulls out $40 and says, "What's the other $20 for?" He says, "He shit in my pants, too!"

TASTY GOODS: Fair Game

2006-02-07T23:12:00.000-05:00

FAIR GAME, in stores nationwide, stars Gina Torres, Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), Christopher B. Duncan (The Jamie Foxx Show), Terri Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show), Michael Jace (The Shield), Mother Love and Michael Whaley (CSI Miami, Profiler), who also wrote and directed the film. This comic look at the uneasy mix of business and romance is made more palatable by the easy going charms of Whaley and Torres. The actress/wife of Lawrence Fishburne breaks away from her trademark warrior women (Xena, Serenity, The Matrix Reloaded) to play an administrator blinded by her career aspirations. Have you ever dated in the workplace? Tell Tasty Clips your story and you may win a DVD of this movie.

B.E.D. Atlanta Insider

2006-02-06T14:14:00.000-05:00

The much anticipated B.E.D. Atlanta opened downtown but was a bit more down tempo than other locations in New York and Miami. The Glenn Hotel hot spot, where patrons dine on beds with 400-thread-count sheets, has a sexy earth tone décor, reports Dock "DJ Doc" Ervin of HOT 107.9 to Tasty Clips. The bar boasts 21 signature drinks like the Bed Knob, Heavy Petting and "Everyone's Favorite" - The Pussy Galore... "If the title doesn't grab your attention, the taste and look of the martini will," he says. "After two, the buzz is definitely there. Love the razor thin like apple shaving on the top of the drink. An eclectic mix of music can be heard in the air. The serving staff has a metro sexual appeal. For the most part, everyone is beautiful. The Click Modeling Agency in the building adds to that."

"As for the food, there's a delicate fusion of different tastes that provide a unique blending for some dishes. Mahi Mahi was delicious as served over plantains. Finally, someone who can do a Duck Egg Roll right. The meat was tender not chewy. The Baked Brie will be a favorite for many. Key Lime Pie was good too. One might enjoy lunch over dinner just on portions alone though. Have a happy meal before dinner or eat lots of bread. You will not get full here. Overall the food is pricey, but you're paying to be in the mix." B.E.D.; which stands for Beverage, Entertainment, Dining; is located at Spring and Marietta Streets.

Sharpton Says Boycott The Boondocks

2006-02-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

REV. AL SHARPTON has called for a boycott of Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks. The plot in question centered on a fantasy scenario that has the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. surviving his 1968 assassination and awakening from a four-decade coma. Sharpton, who is one of the country's foremost leaders for civil rights, says: "Cartoon Network must apologize and also commit to pulling episodes that desecrate Black historic figures. We are totally offended by the continuous use of the "N" word in McGruder's show. While I can appreciate Mr. McGruder and his achievements, this particular episode is over the line. If we don't receive an apology, we will picket the corporate headquarters."

"I'm astonished by the psychological gymnastics some people perform to make that self-denigrating word acceptable," he told the Daily News. "No other race does it. Why is it accepted? In an industry that makes Michael Jackson take out a word that was offensive to Jewish people, why does it sanitize a word that continues to be used by the Ku Klux Klan when it attacks our people?"

Comic/Actor FRANKLYN AJAYE, currently enjoying a run on the acclaimed HBO series Deadwood, thinks Sharpton's remarks are the expected politically correct response. "Satire is supposed to push boundaries and be irreverent, and satire without irreverence is toothless," he told Tasty Clips. "The Cartoon Network should just ignore Sharpton and anybody else who wants to water down Boondocks. When Sharpton and other Black leaders take on those ridiculous "gangsta rappers" who are desecrating modern day Black culture, then they can once again earn the right to be listened to on other subjects."

CLIPPETTES - Oscars; Jimmy Castor; Mariah & Janet; Toni Braxton; Ice Cube; Jesse L. Martin; Vin Diesel

2006-02-03T15:51:00.000-05:00

It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp from Hustle & Flow was one of three nominees for Best Song at this year's Oscars. In the Deep from Crash and Travelin' Thru from TransAmerica will go against the Terrence Howard/Three 6 Mafia tune.....America Ferrera (Real Women Have Curves; The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) has won the lead role in the movie version of the Columbian telenovela Ugly Betty about a young woman who is not terribly attractive, but certainly is an efficient secretary.....Old heads will appreciate the news of the legendary Jimmy Castor Bunch making a rare appearance in an After Grammy Jammy at L.A.'s Key Club on Feb. 8. He's slated to do all his hits like Potential, Hey Leroy, Bertha Butt, Troglodyte, King Kong, Super Sound, Space Age, and more.....Jermaine Dupri, boyfriend of Janet Jackson and the producer of Mariah Carey's comeback album - The Emancipation of Mimi - has told MTV he'd like to pair the two divas on disc.....Toni Braxton has been added to the Essence Music Festival lineup. The Festival set for July 1,2 and 3 in Houston, TX, includes Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, Cedric "The Entertainer" and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.....While putting his film career on hold, Ice Cube has announced that he's been working on his seventh solo album, Laugh Now, Cry Later, to be released June 6.....The sixth season of Surreal Life will have Mr. Jefferson himself - Sherman Helmsley when it debuts March 19.....Law & Order's Jesse L. Martin will play Marvin Gaye in an upcoming biopic called Sexual Healing.....Vin Diesel will star in Babylon A.D., a big-budget futuristic thriller about what happens when a mercenary, charged with delivering a young woman from Russia to Canada, learns that she has been manipulated by a synthetic virus and what lies inside her could doom the human race.

TC CDs: INCOGNITO Eleven

2006-02-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

Tha Alkaholiks Firewater (group's final album; w/production by Danger Mouse, Evidence of Dilated Peoples and more)(Koch); Chamillionaire The Sound of Revenge (Chopped & Screwed)(Universal Motown); The Color Purple (Broadway cast recording)(Angel); Chick Corea The Ultimate Adventure (Stretch/Concord); Jack DeJohnette & Bill Frisell The Elephant Sleeps but Still Remembers (Golden Beams/Kindred Rhythm); Dem Franchise Boyz On Top of Our Game (Virgin); Walter Hawkins Live Songs in My Heart (Coda); Charlie Hunter Trio Copperopolis (Ropeadope); Incognito Eleven (Narada): Tasty Clips has a limited number of this hot new release from the British soul masters available for you. Just be among the first to leave your mailing info and e-mail address in the comments below. ATL fans may catch the group on 2/13 @ The Roxy. Ladysmith Black Mambazo Long Walk to Freedom (Heads Up); Jason Miles What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye (Narada); David "Fathead" Newman Cityscape (HighNote); Remy Ma There's Something About: Based on a True Story (Universal Motown); Tony Rich Pictures (I.M.); Sly and the Family Stone Different Strokes for Different Folks (Epic/Legacy); Soweto Gospel Choir Blessed (Shanachie); subdudes Behind the Levee (Back Porch); Temptations Reflections (New Door/Mercury/Universal); Mary Lou Williams Collective with Geri Allen Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary)

TC TV: 2/8-15

2006-02-03T14:02:00.000-05:00

W/8: THE GRAMMYS - 8 PM, CBS: Mary J Blige with U2, Herbie Hancock/Christina Aquilera, Jamie Foxx & Kanye West, and the rumored return of Sly Stone! Says George Clinton: "Sly was like all the Beatles and all of Motown in one. He was the baddest thing around. What he don't realize is that him making music now would still be the baddest. Just get that band back together and do whatever it is that he do." LOST - 9 PM, ABC; AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES - 9 PM, PBS; THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT - 10 PM, TV LAND: Spike Lee, John Ridley, Wanda Sykes, Reverend Al Sharpton & Greg Anthony; TH/9: EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS - 8 PM, UPN; INFINITI IN BLACK - 9 PM, BET: Moderated by former New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell, this show broadcasts the made for the internet shorts which feature oil painter Kehinde Wiley; music producer and DJ Paul Miller; dancer Dierdre Dawkins; industrial designer Stephen Burks; and movie director Euzhan Palcy. NICK CANNON presents WILD N' OUT - 10 PM, MTV; THE SHOP - 10:30 PM, MTV; THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW - 12:05 AM, ABC: Damian Marley; F/10: THE BERNIE MAC SHOW - 8 PM, Fox; SU/12: NAJEE: SAX IN SOUTH AFRICA - 11 AM, 7 PM, BET; INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO - 8 PM, Bravo: Two hours with Dave Chappelle. CELEBRITY FIT CLUB - 9 PM, VH1: FLAVOR OF LOVE - 10 PM, VH1; BOONDOCKS - 11 PM, Cartoon; W/15: THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT - 10 PM, TV LAND

TC Sports: Usher Go Home? NBA All-Star News

2006-02-03T13:53:00.000-05:00

Has Usher been shown the door by the Cleveland Cavaliers? The Grammy-winning R&B artist, who said "I look for Cleveland to be my home away from home" when he became a minority owner last year, has not attended a Cavaliers home game this season, according to the Associated Press. On top of that, his hit song Yeah is no longer blasted inside Quicken Loans Arena, and perhaps more telling, the Atlantan does not appear in the club's media guide along with principle owners Dan Gilbert, Gordon Gund and David Katzman. Usher's financial investment in the Cavaliers was never made public. Katzman described Usher's ownership share as "very, very significant" last year. Usher followed hip-hop artists Nelly (Charlotte) and Jay-Z (New Jersey) in becoming celebrity owners of an NBA team, and now he might the first one out.

Queen Latifah will host a celebrity pool tournament for All-Star weekend in Houston on Feb. 16. Boost Mobile will present the event, billed as Zo & Magic’s 8-Ball Challenge, in conjunction with Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and NBA legend, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. NBA players Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat), Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), rap superstars Ludacris and Nelly, and actor Dean Cain are confirmed to participate for the public event, competing for luxury gift items courtesy of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Boost Mobile and Tiffany & Co. Proceeds from the event, to be held at Jillian’s of Houston, will benefit Alonzo Mourning Charities and The Magic Johnson Foundation

Destiny's Child will sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Feb. 20 NBA All-Star Game in their hometown of Houston "The appearance is being billed as the "last-ever appearance" of the group.

Introducing The Dreams

2006-01-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

Here is a first look at Tony award winner Anika Noni Rose, Beyonce and an almost American Idol Jennifer Hudson as The Dreams from the upcoming film version of Dreamgirls. Tasty Clips thinks they nailed this one. Though there was this comment from a popular sports personality: "The outfits look good and the hair is from the 60s period but that makeup is too modern. Check out Ms. Ross and the girls during that era - makeup was dramatic - bold lips and eyes. The blue shadow and brown lips is the current trend (that does not work on everyone). I think makes the girls faces look somewhat too muted." What do you think? Beyonce, while promoting her upcoming film The Pink Panther, is effusive about taking on the role of Deena. "I am so excited about it, I can't even talk," she told Latino Review. "I'm shaking cause I'm so happy. I've been hearing about Dreamgirls since I was 15. I have never seen it because I was born the year it was Broadway, but I have seen the bootleg tape of it. I've been hearing about Deena and everything about her because my choreographer is obsessed with her and when they told me they were doing this movie, I was like, "Oh, my God. I have to have this movie. At first they weren't sure if I can play the part because I haven't done anything like it on film. I knew I could do it. I just never had a chance to do it. I got the movie and I'm so excited because I'm proud of myself and I get to play a character with range and I'm 16 in the beginning and I grow up to be 36. And there's nothing glamorous about Deena, and she kinda butterflies into this diva. I have dramatic scenes and emotional scenes and very funny scenes, and there are all these colors. I'm so excited cause people will see me act for the very first time."

Star Jones Reynolds Gets Testy

2006-01-20T11:45:00.000-05:00

It was the dial tone heard 'round Atlanta yesterday, reports the Journal-Constitution. "The View" co-host and fledgling self-help author Star Jones Reynolds exploded during a phone interview with a local morning show, dissed their disrespectful, inappropriate lines of questioning and hung up. The interviewers in question were Star 94's Steve McCoy and Vikki Locke, who, in the past, have gleaned fun interviews from the prickly likes of Madonna, Cher and even Kevin Costner when he was out plugging his ill-fated "Waterworld." The Q&A went into free fall when McCoy asked Jones about the ongoing rumor that she had her alleged gastric bypass surgery at a hospital in Atlanta, a clearly emotional Jones questioned the duo's ethics, informed the pair "I don't discuss gossip!" and promptly left the airwaves.

Jones is making the media rounds, promoting her new book "Shine: A Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Journey to Finding Love" (HarperCollins, $24.95). The book frankly explores how Jones' "obesity precluded her from crossing her legs" and meeting, romancing and marrying her husband Al Reynolds. However, Jones' handlers are making it clear that she does not want to address how she happened to lose 150 pounds in a little over a year.

"We offered her the opportunity to set the record straight and she just hung up on us," Locke told Buzz Thursday. McCoy and Locke had a treat awaiting them in their e-mail "in" boxes when they got off the air as well. Eileen Sullivan, the Launch Radio Networks rep. who booked Jones on Star 94 e-mailed McCoy the following loaded missive: "I don't even want to discuss the Star Jones interview. . .When I got her back on the line after your interview, she turned on me. . .Apparently, I didn't drop the line fast enough and I put her in a terrible position by putting her on with a 'hostile station' (her words)." Sullivan then requested an apology. This afternoon, she was still waiting. "They just asked her something that upset her and she decided to end the interview," Sullivan told Buzz from her office in New York. "I don't want to get much more specific than that." A note for any lingering Jones admirers: The author had earlier postponed her planned Jan. 29 book-signing in Atlanta, the only appearance on the tour that has thus far been scotched.

Later in the day, Star told her TV audience that the war on terror was nothing more than a clash of male egos between President Bush and Osama bin Laden. The NY Post reports that even her co-hosts seemed taken aback by her latest rant. She even suggested that Bush hold some kind of talk with the man behind 9/11. "I won't trust him, but anything that gives me the opportunity to seek peace, I would at least check it out. "People make deals with the devil all the time. We make deals with people we don't like," she said during the show's opening segment. "You don't negotiate with terrorists," said Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the show's youngest host. "You don't negotiate," Jones interrupted, "but I do think you figure out when there is a solution that's diplomatic that doesn't result in [loss of] human life. "What do we have to lose to check it out?" Star said. "You know what?" she then added, "At some point, one of these men has to put it back in his pants and zip up the zipper at some point." "This isn't somebody whipping it out," shot in Meredith Vieira. "You know what, I'm a little tired of posturing back and forth," Jones replied. The four women on the popular morning show were responding to reports that bin Laden was apparently offering to spare the U.S. any more terrorist attacks if President Bush withdrew troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dr. King's Visit To The Boondocks

2006-01-20T11:08:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday night's "The Return of the King" episode of "The Boondocks" on Cartoon Network kept the episode's writer and the comic strip's creator --- Aaron McGruder --- in the controversy pile. The plot centered on a fantasy scenario created by McGruder that has the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. surviving his 1968 assassination and awakening from a four-decade coma. In response to the Sept. 11 attacks, King goes on "Politically Incorrect" and suggests: "As a Christian, we should turn the other cheek." In the episode, which could be the most inflammatory piece of satire ever aired on Cartoon Network, King's comments land him on the cover of Time with the headline: "Traitor?"

"Boondocks" family Robert "Granddad" Freeman and his grandsons, Huey and Riley, help the beleaguered civil rights leader as he attempts to comprehend a modern age of boneless fast-food rib sandwiches, BET, posterior-shaking hip-hop videos and iPods. The episode builds to a rally organized by Huey and King that disintegrates into a radio station nightclub "partay!" promoted by WFRK-FM, "The Freak." The toon version of King looks out at the disrespectful booty-shaking crowd and says: "Is this it!? Is this what I got all those [posterior]-whoopings for? I had a dream once. It was a dream that little black boys and little black girls would drink from the river of prosperity, freed from the threat of oppression. But ... some four decades later, what have I found, but a bunch of trifling, shiftless, good-for-nothing [deleted]!"

Peach Buzz reports that on Monday night's "Nightline," ABC News co-anchor Cynthia McFadden attempted to grill McGruder on the use of the incendiary word. Asked McFadden, "You have Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. using the n-word on your show. Isn't this going to be highly offensive to many people?" McGruder replied: "Actually, we used the word .. . We don't use 'the n-word' on my show." Of the potential for uproar, McGruder explained, "It comes with the territory of being a satirist. It's our job to be out there on the edge."

Tasty Clips Today asked a number of African-American industry professionals if the show was offensive to them and is it deserving of the NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Comedy. If this can be nominated, why not Flavor Flav? Also isn't it ironic that the show it quite critical of BET, though it's executive producer Reginald Hudlin is now president of the network?

"I didn't see the episode. No, I don't find it ironic at all that Reggie Hudlin is President at BET. I think Debra Lee promises to take BET into a new era, which very well has appealed to Reggie Hudlin. The Question is, will Debra Lee be able to deliver on her promise with BET now being apart of Viacom and with other potentially competitive content diverse black channels snapping at BET's heels. As for the Image nom, why not? At least McGruder is trying something on the road to positive. Giving the Award to Boondocks is a step in the right direction for the NAACP Image Award, considering some of it's past recipients. Flavor Flav should be nominated too. At least he's working and that in itself needs to be commended." - A 30 something NY Director/Producer

"Didn't see it. But Hudlin's past criticisms of BET were accurate, and now he's in a position to act on them." - A 40 something Hollywood comic/actor.

"I love Boondocks, warts and all, because to me, the outrageousness of our less amiable people (i.e.--niggas) that show their ass is tempered by an important message; a counterpoint of civility we lack sometimes. McGruder just overtly says what we all introvertedly think. Yes, it is worthy. It is the only medium that showcases our stupidity and then takes us to task for it. and Hudlin, as I understand from an interview with McGruder, is no longer associated w/ the project. It's just a contractual thing that they have to keep his name on it because he was there when the show first started at Fox." - A 20 something Atlanta writer.

"I haven't watched the show since the thrown chair. If they can bleep out curse words yet say the N-word, I want nothing to do with them. [But I heard so much about this episode I gave it a look]. I was deeply depressed. The show is trying so hard and failing so powerfully. [As for the BET slaps, I don't think it's ironic.] Aaron is critical of the past regimes at BET, and a close personal friend of Reggie. Reggie discussed that very thing at the TCA up fronts. BET has a certain coonishness that is required to keep its core demographic, but they have a plan to do some smart things to off set it. As for the show being NAACP Image worthy, What does it take? To have a Black person on the show?" - A 30 something Hollywood author.

"The Return of the King" episode of "The Boondocks" will encore on Cartoon Network at 11 p.m. Saturday.

TASTY CLIPS FAVES OF 2005!

2006-01-04T00:02:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Tasty Clips Faves of 2005! edition. Here are the gems I most enjoyed:

CDs: Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business (Most hip-hop heads abandoned this group as they crossed over to the world. It's their loss as this album could probably spawn enough hits to be hot in 2006); Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough; Common - Be; Earth Wind, & Fire - Illumination; Soulive - Breakout (Why this disc got little support from their new label is beyond Tasty Clips. Cuts from this jam band feature Robert Randolph and Chaka Khan sounding like she's back with Rufus. If you liked The Blackbyrds and The Olympic Runners, this is for you); Little Brother - The Minstrel Show; Herbie Hancock - Possibilities; Leela James - A Change Is Gonna Come (This girl is the real R&B deal); John Mayer Trio - I Try; Joshua Redman Elastic Band - Momentum; John Scofield - That's What I Say; Various Artists - Different Strokes by Different Folks; Various Artists - Impulsive! - Revolutionary Jazz Reworked; Kanye West - Late Registration; Charlie Wilson - Charlie, Last Name Wilson Tracks: Amerie - 1 Thing; Freddie Jackson - Don't Know Why; Terrence Howard - It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp & Whoop That Trick Mixtape: J.Period - The Best of Lauryn Hill, Vol. 1&2

Movies: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Crash; Four Brothers; Hustle & Flow; King Kong; Lackawanna Blues; Red Eye; Unleashed Book: Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffens TV: 24; The Apprentice; Battlestar Galactica; Carnivale (A great season and finale); Commander In Chief; Lost; Pardon the Interruption; Real Time with Bill Maher; Sleeper Cell

Performances: Kindred The Family Soul at the Koger Center in Columbia, SC (Husband and wife duo Fatin Danztler and Aja Graydon brought so much fire to their set that headliner and '05 "It Guy" John Legend seemed tired. Was this why their appearance was never announced by promoters?); Chante Moore (2005 Women of Soul) at the Atlanta Civic Center (Who knew she would outshine Tamia, Kellye Price, Shanice, and Deborah Cox on this bill?); Queen Latifah (Sugar Water Tour) at Charlotte's Verizon Amphitheatre (It was good hearing her rap hits performed along with her new found singing voice. Proved she could still work a crowd by venturing out to the lawn seats to nothing but love); T.I. (Vibe Music Fest) at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta (So hot that after his set the crowd dwindled leaving Big Boi and Lauryn Hill to perform to an empty stadium!); Zap Mama at ATL's Variety Playhouse (This act has come a long way from their days as a novelty opening for Natalie Merchant's 10,000 Maniacs. The beat ruled over any language barriers to the delight of the multi-ethnic, all ages audience)

And now for what made '05 live for some Tasty Clips Faves:

Franklyn Ajaye - Comic/Actor (Deadwood)/Author (Comic Insights) Favorite Film: Haven't seen many. I liked Shopgirl. I thought Claire Danes was great and it had an air of melancholy. Fave Book: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly. An excellent legal thriller. Another book that I really found insightful this year was John Wooden's book on Leadership. Very inspiring. Television: I really enjoy watching Court TV's Forensic Files shows. Also their show The Investigators. I like seeing the real bad guys get caught after they think they've gotten away with their dastardly deeds. HBO's comedy Extras was very funny, subtle, and poignant.

Babs - Rap Artist/Reality TV Star (Making The Band) Favorite Performers: G-Unit Album: Naked Truth by Lil Kim TV: Everybody Hates Chris, America's Next Top Model

Bob Baldwin - Musician/Composer (All In A Day's Work)/Radio Host (KJAZ-FM, Bermuda) Music: Frank McComb/Straight From The Vault - McComb is a Donny-Stevie clone with some Herbie thrown in. He did this record outta pocket at the crib. I'm impressed with his songwriting....it's a little to the left. It's a hard find, but you'll thank me later. Stevie Wonder/A Time 2 Love - His maturity as an artist is quite vibrant on this one. He goes back to his old analog self. Check out the bass on Sweetest Somebody I Know. It gives me Superwoman goose pimples. Now the only question I really have is why are they not playing Stevie on the radio? Does Mmmmm.....oh - don't let me go there! George Duke/Duke - Thank you, GD for finally have the guts....and the contractual wherewithall to step out and doing your own record. I hope that Duke gets the opportunity to buy back some of his older works and keeps them in circulation.

Playthell Benjamin - Author (Reconsidering The Souls of Black Folk)/Radio Host ('Round About Midnight/WBAI-FM, NYC)/Commentator (The Black World Today) Books: Barbara Goldsmith's Other Powers: The Age of Suffrage, Spiritualism, and the Scandalous Victoria Woodhull; and Robert Farris Thompson's Tango: The Art History of Love. TV: The McNeil-Lehrer Report; Dancing With The Stars; CBS Sunday Morning; Fox Pre-Game Show. I also like the dating shows like Elimidate. As a seasoned player, I like to see who has it and who doesn’t. The seduction of women, I've spent a lot of time on. So I'm interested.

Yvonne Bynoe - Author (Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip Hop Culture)/Lecturer/Commentator (News and Notes with Ed Gordon - NPR) Album: Get Lifted - John Legend Singles: Gold Digger - Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx and Shut Up by Lil Kim Movie: Good Night, and Good Luck Books: Let The Lion Eat Straw by Ellease Southerland (fiction) and Make It Happen: The Hip Hop Guide to Success by Kevin Liles (non-fiction) Best Dining Experiences: Jerk Chicken on the beach - Negril, Jamaica; Mama Mexico restaurant, New York City (Broadway location)

Casual Cal - Ringmaster (Bumpin' Big Top Circus of Soul) Movie: We move so much I rarely get a chance to sit in a theatre. 2005 Recording Artists: Kanye West. Any brother do a record with his mouth wired and determination to be something when nobody believed in him and come out on top, I think I'm with that. I thought Toni Braxton's return was pretty cool. And of course, Hezekiah Walker and his choir. TV: I'm a CNN man. I like to see everything that's happening now as it happens. As far as shows, I'd have to say Bernie Mac. Love a lot of Discovery Channel. Book: The Bible. The book is more interesting every time I pick it up. Memorable '05 Experience: Starting this new show. Having to wear more caps than I've ever worn before. The challenges. The politics. Being up early. Going to bed last. All that good stuff.

Dwele - Singer/Songwriter (Some Kinda) CDs: Faith Evans; Tweet Movies: Team America. I hate to say I'm a big fan. It was hilarious. I enjoyed Crash. TV: Don't really get a chance to watch much, but I just got the DVD of 24 and it's crazy. Books: Dan Brown books: The DaVinci Code and Angel and Demons. He took a little bit of reality and mixed it in with fiction. Before everybody takes it to heart they should do a little research. I read it as entertainment. Video Games: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was last year. This year Halo II was pretty hot. Fave Fashion: The button ups with the T shirt over the top of it. That was the look this year.

A. Scott Galloway - L.A.-based Music Journalist (CD Liner Note Essays: Patti LaBelle's Gold, Teena Marie's Wild & Peaceful (Deluxe)/ Music Editor (Urban Network) Favorite Albums: Waltz Again - David Murray 4tet & Strings (Justin Time); J'ai Deux Amours - Dee Dee Bridgewater (Sovereign Artists); Lyric - Billy Childs Ensemble (Lunacy Music); Charlie, Last Name Wilson - Charlie Wilson (Jive); A Kiss in The Sand - Leon Ware (Kitchen) Best Single: 1 Thing - Amerie (STILL electrifying!); The DJ (I Fell in Luv) - Che'Nelle (runner up) Best New Artist: Nuwamba Top 10 Concerts: Zap Mama/Amp Fiddler - Royce Hall (UCLA) - Sept. 23; Marcus Miller/Lalah Hathaway - Royce Hall (UCLA) - Oct. 25; Destiny's Child (farewell)/Mario/Amerie/Tyra - Staples Center - Sept. 1; Alicia Keys (w/ orchestra)/Isley Brothers - Hollywood Bowl - May 21; Gladys Knight - Hollywood Bowl - Aug. 3; Faith Evans - The Roxy - Mar. 15; Deniece Williams (jazz debut) - Catalina Bar & Grill - Nov. 8 I know it sounds crazy, but Deniece did some very nice jazz work in tribute to the likes of Billie, Nancy and Jimmy Scott on the gig. I was thoroughly impressed and surprised. RioSoul (farewell show) - B.B. King's - July 21; Rebirth - Club Vanguarde - Nov. 9; Raheem DeVaughn/Emanon - Conga Room - May 4 Best Books: Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter - Michelle Mercer (non-fiction); Freshwater Road - Denise Nicholas (fiction)

Michael Henderson - Singer/Songwriter/Bassist(The Bassplayers Ball) Music: Kanye West; Floetry; Destiny's Child. Stevie Wonder (That's my man. He's brilliant) I don't care about R. Kelly stuck in the closet with criminal activity going on. 50 Cent's got it going on. Charlie Wilson coming back like he did. Fave Hobby: I'm a chef. I got my own damn restaurant in my kitchen. I cook it all. Negro chicken. slavery food, Italian. My food is just like the music: All encompassing. '05 Achievements: Sony BMG releasing my recording with Miles Davis: Live-Evil. Miles didn't get funky until my little black butt got in the band in 1970. Also forming The BassPlayers Ball with Ray Parker, Jr.; Bro. George Johnson; and The Calloway Bros. from Midnight Star. Imagine if The Funk Brothers not only played behind everybody, but they had 35 million in record sales on their own. That's who we are.

Chamique Holdsclaw - Pro Basketball Player (Los Angeles Sparks) Music: I'm really into my music and in 2005 Raheem DeVaughn's The Love Experience was so hot. What an amazing album. Common's album Be was the year's best comeback album. He represented for all his true fans. Book: Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery by my favorite author bell hooks. Fave Accessory: My Sidekick 2. It keeps me connected and I'm thankful since I hate talking on my cell phone. Fave Fashion Statement: My Nike Blazer sneakers. I love the vintage kicks.

Stacie J - Model/Harlem Subway Franchise Owner/Reality TV Star (The Apprentice) Music: Mariah Carey Favorite Restaurants: Tao; Cipriani's(NYC) TV Show: Late Night with David Letterman Play: Shakespeare's Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington

Freddie Jackson - Singer (Personal Reflections) CD: Fantasia's debut album. The girl can sing! Book: The Bible. It's always a good read. Movie: Crash. Great multi-cultural cast, like real life. '05 Experience: Recording my new CD. It was very special to me.

Melvin Jackson, Jr. - Actor (The Wire, Everybody Hates Chris)/Rapper/Composer Movie: Get Rich or Die Tryin because this movie proved that a rapper can be the star of a movie and not be seen as a rapper who is acting, but as an actor who did a great job. '05 Experiences: Meeting John Singleton and discussing working together. He has turned actors into stars and is just an all around good person to know. Also being able to do a movie with one my friends Lil Zane. He has been in the business since he was young and has a lot of experience. A good hearted dude who looks out for his friends and family.

Kenny Leon - Actor/Broadway Director (Gem of the Ocean)/Artistic Director (True Colors Theatre Company-Atlanta) Actor: The exciting Terrence Howard with his performances in both Hustle & Flow and Crash. Book: The Year Of Magical Thinking (winner of the National Book Award) by Joan Didion. It's a very poignant story about grief. From what I understand it will also be translated into film. Eternal Favorite: The late, August Wilson. A man, and icon who did what no other playwright in the history and canon of American theatre has ever accomplished - he completed a 10-play cycle chronicling African-American history. To say the least, August Wilson is a literary giant who will forever be remembered!

Branford Marsalis - Musician/Composer (A Duo Occasion with Harry Connick, Jr. DVD now available) CDs: Greg Osby - Channel Three; Pierre-Laurent Aimard - Vingt Regards Sur L'Enfant Jesus - composed by Olivier Messiaen; Frank McComb - The Truth; Les Arts Florissants - Castor & Pollux - composed by Jean Philippe Rameau; John Coltrane - One Down, One Up - Live at the Half Note Movies: Capote, The Fog of War, Hotel Rwanda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Motorcycle Diaries Books: Since I have small kids, and am forced to choose between music or books, I've not read in years. But here are a few of the books I read on a regular basis (to my kids, of course). Shel Silverstein - Fall Up, Nancy Freeman Marks & Su Jen Buchheim - Just As You Are: The Story of Leon and Sam, Julia Donaldson & Alex Scheffler - The Gruffalo, The Tale of Peter Rabbit - Beatrix Potter, Berkeley Breathed - Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big Dining: Nana's - (Nouveau American) - Durham, NC; Four Square (Nouveau American) - Durham, NC; Tamarind (Thai) - Atlanta, GA; La Pyramide - Vienne, France; Gordon Ramsey - London, UK

Victor Baines Marshall - Radio Host (CKLN-FM, Toronto) CDs: Steve Spacek SpaceShift has got to one of the year's best "future soul" joints. I'm also feeling the recently discovered concert CD, Thelonius Monk with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. Another talent that was "rediscovered" was singer Bettye LaVette with her stunning I've Got My Own Hell To Raise. The reissue of UK soulster Lewis Taylor's Stoned was one of this listeners highlights as well. Concerts: The Last Poets at Toronto's Harbourfront in August was amazing. It's good to see that the brothers are just as incendiary nowadays as they were back in the sixties. Amp Fiddler at Toronto's Downtown Jazz Festival in June was outstanding. Got a chance to get to know tha brotha a bit and he's the real deal, fo sho! Film: I just saw Transamerica, which features Desperate Housewives' Felicity Huffman in a gender bending turn that is sure to receive considerable Oscar buzz for best actress. King Kong, of course, was highly entertaining and true to the original, with the stunning special effects work worth the price of admission alone. Good Night And Good Luck was excellent and rather scary in that it parallels to some extent what is happening in Washington DC right now. Hustle & Flow was a great vehicle for up and coming Terrence Howard to showcase his skills particularly after his role in Crash, which was one of the year's best films. C.R.A.Z.Y. out of Quebec was also an excellent film that I really felt was quite honest in its portrayal of a dysfunctional Montreal family. Dear Wendy, out of Denmark was an exceptional work that spoke volumes in regards to the U.S, (and Canada's) obsession with guns and the resulting violence. TV: Topping my list of favourite TV shows is Blue Jays Baseball. I'm definitely a House man, and, of course, Deadwood is a lock. I miss NewsNight with Aaron Brown on CNN. Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson, Ken Burns' unflinching account of the life and times of the legendary boxer, broadcast on PBS, was unquestionably one of the year's best.

Tammy Pescatelli - Comedienne/Actress (Last Comic Standing) 2005 wouldn't have been the same for me without TiVO!! That little machine has changed my life. I sit glued to CSI, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Law & Order:SVU, and any Ultimate Fighter match. I loved that Denise Richards, 7 months pregnant kicked her husband, Charlie Sheen out of the house-showing that a girl, no matter what her current state can make it on her own and doesn't have to put up with anything she doesn't want to. I also loved that she took him back-showing that a girl can be tough, but can use her heart to give a second chance. I loved that Philadelphia Eagles player, Terrell Owens suspension was upheld - it's a TEAM sport, so perhaps you might want to be nice to your TEAMMATES!! I couldn't fly without my Bose Headphones, in which my favorite '05 song - Gold DiggER was often rocking. And most of all I loved how the country came together for the Hurricane Katrina Victims.

Public Announcement - R&B vocal group (When The Smoke Clears - due Jan. 10) TV: Nip/Tuck; America's Next Top Model; Making The Band; Break Out Music: Mariah Carey; Destiny's Child; R. Kelly; Heather Headley Movies: Stealth; XXX 2 DVD Rentals: Shrek 2; Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? Concerts: Usher; R. Kelly; Destiny's Child Restaurant: McGarther's in Chicago Fave Cities: Los Angeles; New York; Memphis; St. Louis; Louisville, KY

Lance Reddick - Actor (The Wire)/Singer/Musician Films: Crash; Hustle & Flow; Syriana TV: CSI:Miami; The Oscars; Everybody Hates Chris Actor/Actresses: Terrence Howard; George Clooney; S. Epatha Merkerson Albums: BB King & Friends; Stevie Wonder's A Time To Love; Thelonious Monk Quartet w/ John Coltrane Book: Kaffir Boy: The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age Story in Apartheid South Africa; Fave City: Baltimore. We're filming The Wire there this season and it's actually my home town.

Juelz Santana - Diplomats/Def Jam Recording Artist (What The Game's Been Missing) Books: All Donald Goines' books cause they depict real life experiences. Movie: Saw II TV: The Wire on HBO Fave Concerts: Usher benefit concert I performed at in Atlanta for the hurricane victims, NYC's Scream Tour concert at Madison Square Garden where I performed as a surprise guest during Bobby Valentino's set, and the concert I performed at along with Young Jeezy for Virginia State University's homecoming. Fave Restaurants: Flor De Mayo, McCormick & Schmick's, Olive Garden Fave Music: Anything from my personal discography or my other Dipset crew.

Leslie "Big Lez" Segar - Broadcast Personality/Host (Urban Beauty Collective (UBC-Radio) Book: The book by Superhead (Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffens). I've never met the girl but I know that 99 percent of what she said was true. Movie: Crash. I mostly like foreign films. TV: I have to say I'm caught up in reality shows. I watch The Apprentice all the time. I still watch The Real World every season. I watch Made, Breaking Bonaduce, and Making The Band. I'm caught up. Music: I Changed My Mind by Keyshia Cole

Slum Village (T-3) - Rap Recording Artists/Producers (Slum Village) Music: I like what Wu Tang was doing. MF Doom. Common. Games: Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monk; Liberty City for PSP Movies: I Kinda liked Four Brothers because it was supposedly based in Detroit. Lord of War. I even liked Saw II. TV: I watch a lot of VH1. Celeb-Reality is hilarious. Rewarding '05 Experience: Completing this last project. A lot of people counted us out.

Sy Smith - Singer/Songwriter (The Syberspace Social) TV Show: Family Guy! I was so happy that this show returned to primetime network!!! This is the funniest no-one-is-safe cartoon EVER! Song: Feel Good, Inc. by the Gorillaz! This song was my getting-dressed-to-go-to-the-club music! It bangs so hard and who doesn't love De La Soul on the rhyme! Book: Dean Koontz' Frankenstein (actually it's two books, Part 1 & 2). This is a trilogy and I absolutely can't wait for the third book to come out! Koontz tells an excellent story about the monster, mysterious and enchanting and thrilling! Restaurant: Zip Fusion, Downtown L. A. Best sushi in L.A. and great service! I demand that everyone go there and try the albacore sashimi! ooooh weeee! Runner-up: Wà Sushi in West Hollywood, CA! Bar: Little Temple, L.A. (Silverlake) - This bar/venue has it all - great music (live and DJs), intimate/sexy atmosphere, great drinks and bouncers who even remember your name. Where else can you see Raphael Saadiq, Dawn Robinson (of EnVogue), Joi (formerly of Lucy Pearl), performing full-blown funk sets along with local artists?? It's always a cool hang there (and I'm not just saying that because I perform there too!) Runner-up: Bar Nun in Washington, DC! DVD Rental: Triplets of Belleville - Sometimes you just wanna kick it at home, rent a movie and make it a "BLACKbuster" night, right? Well, my favorite DVD rental this year was a different kind of movie - an animated musical in French with subtitles; but one of the best films I've ever seen! Live a little and rent this movie!!

Urban Mystic - Singer/Songwriter/Producer (Ghetto Revelations II - due Feb. '06 from SoBe Ent.) Fave 2005 Song: Unpredictable by Jamie Foxx Movie: Hitch Book: Definitely the Bible! Fave City: My hometown of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. TV: The Bernie Mac Show Fave Couple of 2005: Bow Wow and Ciara

Finesse Mitchell - Comic/Actor (Saturday Night Live) Music: I discovered Jah Cure. He is a reggae artist who is accused of rape and is currently serving a 10 year sentence in Jamaica, but has still been allowed to record his music. He has an incredible voice and great lyrics. His music is all about love and he is as conscious in his messages about love as Bob Marley was about social issues. '05 Diet: I became a vegetarian. I decided I should do something healthy so I figured I would do it and see what would happen. I feel more energized and not as tired as I used to. I actually don't miss eating meat at all. Fave '05 Experiences: Becoming a regular cast member of SNL; and falling in love. I finallly have my love life focused in one direction. It's a great thing to not feel all over the place just for the sake of being all over the place.