He Said, She Said: Hollywood Stories…

Wow, so much is going on via the gossip/topic talk circuit. Where to start, where to start… Obama’s camp takes the time out to address Ludacris’ new song which blatantly disrespects Senator Clinton and McCain (have you heard this record?)… Word is that Sarah Jessica Parker is living the real “Sex & The City” life – but not the good part. Her husband and the father of her child, actor Matthew Broderick has supposedly been stepping out of their union (this would really infuriate us!!)… Meanwhile, Lance Armstrong just can’t keep a lady these days. Or maybe he’s just interested in being single. He and Kate Hudson have reportedly called it quits. And on the luxe front, Wyclef is being sued by Jacob “The Jeweler” for unpaid balances (SMH on all accounts with this one)…And television homemaker host and comedian Niecy Nash is said to be dating “Wood” from “I Love New York”… Really???

Birthday Spotlight: Tempest Bledsoe

Tempest Bledsoe celebrates her birthday August 1. Tempest is well known for her long time role as Vanessa on “The Cosby Show.” After “The Cosby Show”, the New York University graduate went on to host a talk show and then participated on VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club.”

Most recently Tempest has worked the day player circuit on “The Practice” and “Strong Medicine.”

Angela Simmons’ Not So Secret Singing Career?

Damn, this girl is ambitious! Angela Simmons will not lose! We previously reported that the middle daughter in Run’s family was kinda, sorta embarking on a singing career… but now, evidence of it has arrived in the form of a music video (see vid clip below).

Directed by Bryan Barber, Angela’s video for “Center of Attention” has hit the ‘net courtesy of her company website Pastry Kicks. The video features the quintessential modest “ugly betty” turned juicy “gossip girl” transformation story line with Angela playing the starring role of course. Sis Vanessa gets busy as the DJ while Pastry’s Kicks are sprinkled around the house party set.

Spoiler Alert: At the end Angela wakes up from her dream only to be reminded by Vanessa that they have to open the store… which says to us, this may be just as much part of a Pastry’s marketing campaign as the beginning of Angela’s full-fledged singing career. Either way, it is a very cute video. The only thing missing- and we thought this was imminent… Team Blackout’s rap verse… Guess JoJo got no love this time around.

Solange Knowles: New Armani Jeans Global Ambassador

Solange Knowles has been named Georgio Armani’s new Armani jeans ambassador. What does this mean, you ask? Well, basically the singer gets paid to rock the fashion line for a set amount of time.

Solo Star will be sporting Armani during her European press tour which kicks off at the end of this month and likely into her world tour which is slated to begin after the release of her Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams project on August 26, 2008. If I’m not mistaken, Lauryn Hill had a similar deal with Armani when they dressed her for the entire “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” tour. And sis Beyonce has definitely been endorsed by G.A.

As to why Solange has been chosen, Giorgio Armani had this to say: “Armani Jeans expresses my vision of a young, independent, casual lifestyle with a strong and cool, fashion sensibility. Solange epitomises this style perfectly and brings to it that swing so evident in her new single, ‘I Decided’.”

Government Finally Apologizes for Slavery

There has been an on-going and quite cumbersome sentiment regarding the fact that the government has never apologized for the travesty that was (and still affects people)… slavery in America. Yesterday, the House issued an unprecedented apology to Black Americans for slavery and Jim Crow laws and the crimes committed against Blacks and our ancestors.

The urge to come to this resolution came from Tennessee Democrat Steven Cohen. While there have been previous apologies issued to Asians and Hawaiians for crimes against humanity, this is the first for Black Americans and not because the issue hasn’t come up before but because there has been a fear that talk and demand of reparations would arise.

Here is an excerpt from Steven Cohen’s Introduction of the U.S. Apology:

This Congress did the right thing in apologizing for the imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and in encouraging the Japanese Government to apologize for the use of “comfort women.” But the fact that this government has not apologized to its own citizens, African-Americans, for the institution of slavery and for the Jim Crow laws that followed and accepted that fact and encouraged changes in our dialogue and understanding in the actions of this country to rectify that is certainly a mistake. And today we rectify that mistake. This is a symbolic resolution but hopefully it will begin a dialogue where people will open their hearts and their minds to the problems that face this country, from racism that exists in this country on both sides and which must end if we’re to go forward as the country that we were created to be and which we are destined to be. So it is with great honor that I speak on this resolution and urge the members of this body to pass this historic resolution, recognize our errors, but also recognize the greatness of this country, because only a great country can recognize and admit its mistakes and then travel forth to create indeed a more perfect union that works to bring people of all races, religions and creeds together in unity as Americans part of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the time and I urge my colleagues to vote unanimously to pass this resolution today. Thank you.

A very passionate speech, but what do you think? Does this help heal the open and bloodied wounds of slavery, Jim Crow, racism, institutional racism? An official apology is certainly a step in the right direction, but what comes after? How do we now undo rectify the damage that second class citizenship (if that) has afforded the ancestors of/and Black Americans?

Fergie Foot & Film Fetish…

Black Eyed Peas’ first lady Fergie is very busy these days. The “Duchess” singer unveiled her own line of shoe wear titled Fergie and Fergalicious by Fergie with Brown Shoes in Las Vegas this week.

The stiletto, pump, and gladiator sandal footwear won’t be available until next year at as yet to be named outlets. This will be Fergie’s second foray into the fashion world as the singer teamed up with Kipling to put out a handbag line called – keep it simple – Fergie for Kipling.

And from what we hear, she’s excited to play a prostitute in the upcoming silver screen adaptation of Tony award winning musical “Nine.” Fergie will star alongside Daniel Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson and Judi Dench as the character Saraghina, a sensual beach “comber”.

Alicia Keys a Bond Girl?

Well, not so much, but the New York singer, songwriter and pianist will be lending her talents to the new .007 movie “Quantum of Solace” which stars, again, the older man delight that is Daniel Craig.

Alicia Keys is hooking up with White Stripes’ drummer and super talented musician Jack White to perform the first ever Bond duet theme song “Another Way to Die.” The song will be featured on the soundtrack which will be released on October 28 with the movie to follow on November 7.

Trial Begins For South African School Matron

Today, the trial surrounding the dormitory maid who was accused of abusing students at Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy For Girls in South Africa began. According to several published news reports the school matron, real name Tiny Virginia Makopo, has plead not guilty to over a dozen charges including indecent assault, verbal assault, and soliciting a minor to perform indecent acts. The trial will be closed to the public.

Are You an Aspiring Model?

Well now is the time to get your reality show challenge on. Starting August 4, in Albuquerque, New Mexico open casting calls for cycle 12 of “America’s Next Top Model” will begin. Stops in Charlotte and Seattle will occur on August 9 and August 12 respectively. And on August 16, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, the casting call will be held in New York City at Park Central - 870 Seventh Avenue with more cities to follow.

The search, of course, is for women, age 18-27, all shapes and backgrounds. However, you must be at least 5′7″ in height. (Damn them! Can us shorties live??) Other cities will follow suit with open casting calls, so if you’re not in the Big Apple or any of the other aforementioned cities, check out The CW for applications and more information.

And if you don’t want to go the “ANTM” route, Bravo has kicked off a nationwide casting effort for season two of the competition series “Make Me A Supermodel”.

This show is based on the UK series, where men and women selected compete for a chance to launch their modeling career.

Casting calls are being held in Los Angeles, Portland, Miami, Seattle, and Nashville. Check out Bravo for more information and details.

Man Candy: Nelly, The New Sean John Model

Nelly has joined the Diddy team as the new face body of the Sean John underwear line. So here is one of the fall advertising campaign pictures. No offense Ashanti, but we want to know when he’s going to take it to David Beckham status.

In a press release, Diddy had this to say about his new recruit, “I have known Nelly for many years and I really admire his work. To me, Nelly is the quintessential definition of the Sean John man. He has the attitude, the swagger, and most of all the physique that our customers can both aspire and relate to. And let’s be honest, all of the ladies out there are going to be thanking us for this campaign. The images are so strong; they speak for themselves. We are truly excited to welcome Nelly into the Sean John family.”

As for Nelly’s music, we hear the Brass Knuckles CD is now pushed back to a September release. In the meantime, he has teamed up with his wifey Ashanti for her latest video “Good Good” and he recently released his own “Body on Me” video also featuring the other half and Senegalese singing sensation Akon.

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