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Is
former Boxer Mike Tyson at the breaking point? Tyson’s four-year old
daughter, Exodus, died in a tragic accident at his Phoenix home earlier this
week. Exodus became entangled in a chord connected to a treadmill. Exodus
was Tyson’s youngest child. Tyson and his current girlfriend were raising
Exodus and her seven-year old brother at their home in Phoenix. In a recent
interview, Tyson said he wanted to do better than his former life. Since
releasing a new documentary movie about his life, he was proud he was no
longer the person he was. Tyson’s life was out of control with drugs,
alcohol, bad decisions and rage. The documentary called Tyson really tells
the story of his life in his own words, and now there’s another sad chapter
to add with the tragic death of his daughter.
Tyson’s ex-wife, Robin Givens, is also having a tough week. The feds are
after her for back taxes. She owes the government over $300,000.
The James Brown estate is settled. A judge recently ruled on the estate, and
half of the money is going to charity. A quarter will go to Brown’s widow, Tomi Rae Hynie, and the rest will go to the Brown children. Since his death
close to three years ago, the family has been fighting over the money. There
were dozens of DNA tests taken and various incidents involving fighting,
stabbings and deceit. The family has also been ordered to start up a museum
in honor of James Brown’s legacy.
Will the shows go on? I hear
Michael Jackson could be having a change of
heart regarding his upcoming 50-night concert series in London. Jackson has
already postponed the first four dates on the show leaving 10,000 fans in
the lurch. Concertgoers were promised their shows would be rescheduled for
next year. Sources say Jackson is too frail and not ready for a 50-night
song and dance marathon. The King Of Pop is 50-years old, and he stands to
make $50 million for the series of shows. Jackson has been telling people he
was tricked into signing a deal that was too ambitious for him. Jackson is
reportedly proposing a deal where he would do one show to be shown on
Pay-Per-View, and he would get the same amount of money. The shows, entitled
This Is It, could signal the end of The
King Of Pop’s career. He has battled
so much. If he pulls out, he might as well call it a wrap. Maybe now is the
time to call your brothers for some help. You need them, and they need you.
In other Jackson news, his former publicist, Raymone Bain, is talking about
why she is suing Jackson. For years she worked tirelessly for him, but he
stiffed her and she never got paid. According to Bain, Jackson fritters away
millions of dollars every year on impulsive and irresponsible purchases. She
says he lives beyond his means. Bain is currently suing him for $44 million.
Please Get My Husband Help! These are the words of the wife of former
Basketball Star Jayson Williams. Williams is a former shadow of himself, and
his life is slowly unraveling. Williams was arrested last week in North
Carolina. He was charged with simple assault after getting into a fight at a
bar. Last month, he tried to kill himself and was placed in a mental
facility. In April, he was tasered by police after getting into an
altercation with them. Earlier this year, his wife Debra filed for divorce
citing abuse. In a recent interview, Debra said her husband needs and should
get mental help. Williams was on top of the world a few years ago. He was
playing basketball, writing books and was a staple on late night shows. He
was good looking, outgoing and the life of the party. Then one fateful night
in 2002, he shot and killed his limo driver and his world fell apart. Was it
an accident, or was he being reckless while showing off his gun collection
to friends? He still faces a reckless manslaughter charge, and prosecutors
feel he should be locked up immediately. Debra Williams says she is at her
wits end. Her husband is troubled, and he needs help. Will he get help, or
will he wind up hurting himself?
After a trying week,
Natalie Cole is out of the hospital. It was an up and
down week for the singer. On one hand, she got her wish, a kidney
transplant. But, at the same time, she lost her sister Carole to cancer.
Cole is currently at home recuperating with her family. The surgery was
successful, and she hopes she can live with her new kidney.
Keyshia Cole
is not happy with the fact that the BET network wants to give
her mom Frankie a reality show. Cole’s mom became an instant star on Keyshia’s reality show, The Way It Is. To put it mildly, Frankie is a little
wild, and this is what concerns Cole. She wants to have 100% creative
control over the show. Cole was glad her show was a hit, but she wasn’t
happy with the way her mom started handling success. Cole was often
embarrassed by her mother’s antics, so she wants to have control over her
mom’s image.
Check out our First Lady, Michelle Obama, on the new issue of Time magazine.
In an article title The Meaning Of Michelle, she talks about life in the
White House.
Steven Spielberg may not be doing a movie on the life of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. after all. Spielberg announced plans along with his studio
DreamWorks and Producer Suzanne de Passé to do a movie based on the life and
legacy of Dr. King, but the King children’s fighting could torpedo the
project. Spielberg had the blessing of Dexter King and the King Foundation,
but Martin, III and Bernice have already stated that if the project proceeds
they will sue to stop it. Spielberg says he doesn’t want to get in the
middle of the family drama. He asked how he can do a movie based on Dr. King
if his children don’t get along. Bernice and Martin, III feel Dexter is
tarnishing the King legacy with his business dealings.
Usher
says his new album, Monster, is coming out this fall. The new project
features production from Ne-Yo and Jermaine Dupri.
Speaking of
Ne-Yo, Mary J. Blige is teaming up with the singer/songwriter
for a duet. Their new song will be featured on the soundtrack to the new
Tyler Perry movie I Can Do Bad All By Myself. The movie starring Mary J.
Blige, Taraji P. Henson and Gladys Knight opens in theatres in September.
The soundtrack to the movie also features songs from Knight and Marvin
Winans.
Tyrese
had to learn a hard lesson recently. If you get a new Maserati, make
sure the license plates are on it. Tyrese was stopped by the police when
they noticed his Maserati didn’t have any license plates on it. The car was
registered, but Tyrese was told get your plates immediately.
Fantasia
is ready to tell all in her new VH1 reality show. The show debuts
in January, and Fantasia will reveal all, including being a teenage mom, to
winning American Idol, to almost losing two homes. Fantasia is about to go
on tour with The Color Purple road show, and she is working on a new album.
Ron Isley
is due to get out of federal prison next April. The 74-year old
lead singer of The Isley Brothers is in jail for tax evasion.
This is going to be the year of
Mariah Carey. She’s working on a new album
called Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel. Plus, she has two new movies coming
out this year. First up is the movie Tennessee, where she plays a waitress
on the run. In the fall, she stars along with Mo’Nique in the drama
Precious. In the new movies, Mariah drops the glam and shows off her acting
chops. Producer Lee Daniels brings out the best in Mariah, and he is going
to reveal a Mariah Carey we haven’t seen. When we think of Mariah, we think
of the Diva with the 15 person entourage, the wet wipes and five bodyguards.
Carey’s 15-person entourage includes three personal assistants, a
hairdresser, a stylist, a make up artist, a masseuse, a chauffeur and a
dietician. She commands a million dollars a performance, and she is known to
stay silent for days preserving her voice. There’s also her young hubby Nick
Cannon. Cannon just announced a deal to head up a teen record label for Def
Jam Records. Cannon will also be hosting the new season of the NBC variety
show America’s Got Talent, which debuts on June 23rd.
Will Smith and his production company, Overbrook Entertainment, are planning
to do a movie about the heroes of the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Smith is
scheduled to star as one of the heroes. Meanwhile, Smith’s other half, Jada
Pinkett Smith, has a new show coming on the TNT network. June 16th is the
debut of her nursing drama series Hawthorne.
Bob Johnson is looking to unload the Charlotte Bobcats. Johnson, who used to
own BET, is hoping to get $330 million for the team. Sources say the team is
only worth $224 million. Will Basketball Legend Michael Jordan step in and
buy the team from Johnson?
Queen Latifah is putting the final touches on her new album Persona. It’s
due out July 7th.
Chris Rock’s documentary, Good Hair, is coming out this fall. Good Hair is
an in-depth, comical look at hair care in the black community. Rock teamed
up with pop culture critic and Author Nelson George for the project.
Spice Girl Mel B
has just signed a deal with the VH1 network for a talent
show. The talent show will be focusing on girl groups, and Mel B would be
hosting the show. In other Mel B news, her baby daddy, Eddie Murphy, has a
new movie coming out in early June. It’s a family comedy called Imagine
That.
Has Lil’ Kim gone overboard with her plastic surgery, and will she be
getting more? So far she has had breast implants, two nose jobs, a brow
lift, her skin lightened, her lips plumped with collagen, and she’s got a
Brazilian butt lift.
Congrats to Actor Terrence Howard. He recently got engaged to a Colombian
Actress Zulay Henao. Howard says Henao helped him get over the death of his
mother last fall. Howard is currently filming the George Lucas World War II
drama Red Tails.
The TV One network is gearing up for the second season of its popular
documentary series Unsung. The series features well known singers, and the
real story behind their rise and fall. The second installment of the series
kicks off June 7th, and will feature Melba Moore, Minnie Riperton, Shalamar
and Florence Ballard of The Supremes.
LL Cool J
is coming to a TV near you this fall. His new cop drama, a spinoff
called NCIS: Los Angeles, debuts on CBS.
Jamie Foxx
will be hosting The 2009 BET Awards on June 28th.
Beyonce is
scheduled to perform, and The O’Jays are getting a lifetime achievement
award. Ne-Yo and Maxwell are also scheduled to perform. And, speaking of
Jamie Foxx, he is currently planning a music tour, which will bring him back
to Philly on September 13th.
Check out tour dates here.
Look for the latest Tyler Perry movie, Madea Goes To Jail, on DVD June 16th.
Teena Marie’s
latest CD, Congo Square, arrives in stores on June 9th. Check
out Teena Marie this year at The West Oak Lane Jazz And Arts Festival. Teena
Marie and The Whispers were just added to the lineup. It all takes place
June 19th -21st on Ogontz Avenue, between 70th and 74th.
Beyonce
is releasing a new video anthology based on her CD I Am….Sasha
Fierce. Wal-Mart is carrying it exclusively starting June 16th.
Tavis Smiley has a new documentary called Stand. The Stand documentary is a
road trip featuring Smiley and ten of his friends, including Dr. Cornel
West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and BeBe Winans, to name a few.
Get ready for the Neely’s. Pat and Gina Neely, from the Food Network show
Down Home With The Neelys, have a new cookbook out filled with delicious
recipes. Down Home With The Neelys is available in bookstores now.
Check out who’s coming to Good Morning America: Lionel Richie on May 29th,
John Legend on June 5th, Jamie Foxx on June 19th and Queen Latifah on July
10th.
Singer Will Downing is marking his 20th anniversary in the music business
with a new release called Classique. The album, his 14th, arrives in stores
on June 16th. The new CD will feature Downing recording some classics
including David Ruffin’s Statue Of A Fool and Barry White’s I’m Gonna Love
You Just A Little Bit More. Downing says he’s excited about the project, and
his health has been progressing since being diagnosed with the muscle
disorder Polymyositis.
Will Smith and Samuel L. Jackson will be appearing in a new ABC money
special called Unbroke. Unbroke is everything you need to know about money,
credit cards, mortgages, the stock market and investing. The special airs
May 29th on ABC.
Gladys Knight is coming out with a jewelry line. The singer/actress and
business woman is exited about her new venture. The Gladys Knight Jewelry
Line will be sold at major department stores and through The Home Shopping
Network. The Gladys Knight Jewelry Line debuts in December. Also check her
out in the new Tyler Perry Madea movie I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which
opens in theatres in September.
The Norman Lear Collection, a boxed DVD set, is coming out on June 9th.
Norman Lear is the famed producer behind the TV classics The Jeffersons,
Good Times, All In The Family, Maude and Sanford & Son to name a few. The
first seasons of those and other Lear classics will be included in the set.
Denzel Washington’s new movie, with John Travolta and James Gandolfini, The
Taking Of Pelham 1, 2, 3 hits theatres on June 12th. We have the exclusive
trailer on our website at wdasfm.com. Just go to Patty’s Page and check it
out. Let me know what you think. I can’t wait to see it. It’s a remake of
the 70’s action thriller, which originally starred Walter Matthau, about a
trio of bad guys who take a New York subway care hostage. We also have the
exclusive trailer of the new Lee Daniels’ movie Precious. The movie stars
Mo’Nique and Mariah Carey, and is due out this fall. The trailer is
powerful. This is another must see for me. Check both these movie trailers
out on line at wdasfm.com under Patty’s page.
The 15th Annual Essence Music Festival is set for July 3rd, 4th and 5th in
New Orleans. Beyonce, John Legend, Eric Benet, Robin Thicke, Anita Baker,
Bill Cosby and Maxwell are all on the bill. There will also be seminars
featuring Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Roland Martin. Plus, there’ll be an
all-star tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes. |
