October 21, 2004

Ashanti Being Sued

Ashanti, the princess over at Murder Inc, is being sued by producers in Georgia who claim to have represented her before she was the success he is today. They are now demanding over $4 million dollars from her. The producers claim that Ashanti and her mom/manager Tina Douglas owes them money for the breach of a contract signed in 1997 when Ashanti was just 16-years-old. Ashanti's lawyer calls the lawsuit preposterous and says, "It is an opportunity to grab lotto. 'Here is someone I knew back in 1997, now they're successful and I want to put my hand in the pocket.'"

The producers claim that Ashanti's mother approached them in 1996 and they produced tracks for Ashanti in anticipation of future compensation. The production team claims that Ashanti and her mom broke the contract and now owe them "certain benefits and fees" to the tune of $4 million.

This is pretty typical. As soon as someone gets their career going, money in the bank, out of the shadows of yesteryear comes someone with their hand out talking about, "you owe me." Granted if these men worked with Ashanti and were promised future payment, then yeah, they should probably get something. Nowhere near $4 million, I'm thinking more along the lines of $4. It's not like she blew up off of any songs they produced for her, nor did they play an instrumental part in her career or development.
If they really wanted to be paid what they were owed, they would have called Ashanti's mama and worked something out. They would not have gotten a lawyer on some, "that bitch owes me 4 mil." Please. Hopefully the judge will see right through this extortion and not give them anything. If they get anything, hopefully it's a small amount to shut them up and make them go away.

It is a well known fact that Ashanti's mother was trying to get any and everyone to sign her daughter or help her get her music career going in any way they could. I saw it on "Behind the Music." Her mother was going to make sure her daughter became a star some way, somehow. Hopefully that will not come back to haunt her in the form of millions of dollars being taken away from Ashanti.

If the extortionists do happen to get all of this money from Shani, can you imagine the torture our ears will have to put up with? She will be writing those baby, baby, baby songs like crazy and dropping an album every 3 months trying to recoup her loss. I really hope she comes out on top in this one. Not just because I don't want to hear anymore Ashanti music, but because she is being wronged. Ashanti has worked damn hard for her money and I can't see someone being allowed to have it because they unsuccessfully attempted to help her way back in the 80's.

Roxanne Shante Sues Janet
Roxanne Shante, one of the first critically acclaimed female rapper in the 1980's is suing Janet Jackson. Shante claims that the song "Like You Don't Love Me" on Janet's latest album samples her voice. Shante spoke with allhiphop.com and says, "I figured maybe it was a sheer oversight that they didn't pay the invoice for using my voice on the record. Maybe she overlooked it with the breast popping out, she just got caught up in the mix. I fell back, like when they get around to it, they get around to it."

The lawsuit came about because Janet's people called Shante and told her that that was not her voice on the song. She says, "That really infuriated me. Any true Hip-Hop head knows it's me. The sample comes from Def Fresh Crew, a song that I did with Biz Markie on the Pop Art label. It usually doesn't go this far, they rectify it. She could pay me with she what would buy her expensive bags with, it's the principle." This lawsuit is not Shante's way of generating publicity to make a comeback to hip-hop. Shante has a successful psychology practice in New York City.

Shante says, "Life after Hip-Hop for me has been better than it's ever been. I am not after the money, but how can you come at me and say thats not my voice? The sheer humiliation and aggravation has made it go this far."

I don't know how involved with this situation Janet is, but she needs to get her people in check and give this woman her money. I don't listen to Janet, so I haven't heard this song. What I have heard is Shante's distinguishable, squeaky ass voice. If that's her voice on that song, anyone who knows her voice probably knows that. I don't see why Shante would just come out of nowhere lying, on Janet Jackson of all people. Janet gets enough bad press since flashing her boobies at the Super Bowl, the last thing she needs is a lawsuit. I am a firm believer in people being paid what they're owed. I hope Janet feels the same way and antes up.

Red And Meth
The Fox sitcom that stars rappers Redman and Method Man has been canceled. The network and the stars of the show could not come to an agreement about the show's direction.

Redman spoke with EUR in an interview and said that he and Meth often joked on set about the coonery of the show. Redman feels that he and Meth were ill prepared to go from the hood to Hollywood. He says, "You know what left a sour taste in my mouth - because I never really spoke about it, I always let my people speak on it - I don't only blame Fox, I blame our crew as well. I blame our crew for not being mentally-stated coming to Hollywood. We coming fresh out the hood to Hollywood. We should've stuck to hood rules, not let nobody manipulate one out the group, and tell one person this and tell one person that. That's what really went down. Some of us was manipulated, and it just got kind of ugly."

Redman also stated that he and Meth often changed the show's dialogue on the spot, thereby making it less buffoonish than it would have otherwise been.

I am so glad this show is over. I don't know what Meth and Red were thinking when they signed on to do this show. Redman is making it out like Fox was trying to get over on them, but quite honestly, that show looked like a weekly sitcom version of "How High", a movie they are both very proud of. I'm sure they didn't walk into this sitcom situation blindly and they knew Fox was giving them a show based on the tomfoolery we've seen from them in the past. It's good to see that they've come to their senses. I hope they will move away from the coonery for good, but that would probably be asking for too much.

Outkast
Societe des Produits Marnier-Lapostolle, a french liquer distiller has signed Andre 3000 and Big Boi of Outkast to be the faces of their new liquor, Navan. Navan will be a vanilla-flavored liquor launched in the U.S. and will be priced from $36.99-$39.99 per bottle. The company, best known for its Grand Marnier cognac was inspired to sign Outkast when they saw an increase in sales for Allied Domecq's Courvoisier cognac after Busta Rhymes name dropped the brand in "Pass the Courvoisier Part 2."
Societe des Produits Marnier-Lapostolle believes their hip-hop marketing strategy will broaden their consumer base. Is every rapper out there hawking liquor now?

Jamie Foxx
I hope you all plan to go to the movies on October 29 and see actor Jamie Foxx star in "Ray", the story Ray Charles' life. I haven't seen this movie, but the previews look great and all of the reviews have been very positive thus far. There is even Oscar talk, but who knows with those damned Oscars?

In addition to what should be Jamie's breakout performance, he has also signed on to star in a movie remake of the 1980's hit television show "Miami Vice." In addition to that, he has also signed on to star in a couple of other big budget flicks. The names of those movies elude me right now, but he's doing big things. Jamie also has plans for a new album, as Clive Davis has signed him to J Records.

I feel like Jamie Foxx's mother. I am so proud of him. This is a man who went from being Wanda on "In Living Color", to starring in "Booty Call", to doing all of the big things he's doing right now. I love how he just kept stepping his game up and now he is a well respected actor. It's sad that so many of his peers don't take this same initiative and get pigeon holed into those "Booty Call" type movies. I'm just really, really happy for him and I hope he continues to elevate his game. Maybe he can give a few pointers to some of his "Booty Call" co-stars, who are still doing those straight to DVD movies.

Formula 50
While most hip-hop stars are endorsing alcoholic beverages, rapper 50 Cent is going a different route. The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, bought a stake in Glaceau. Glaceau makes a vitamin water drink and 50 claims that he drinks it all the time since he doesn't drink alcoholic beverages.
50 is going to release his own line of drinks called Formula 50, which will be a grape flavored drink that will sell for $1.99. The drink has yet to be released, but will be test marketed in select New York City stores.

It's good see a rapper endorsing a non-alcoholic beverage. It's also good that 50 doesn't drink. Can you imagine him drunk? Hell, he talks like he's drunk all of the time anyway. I think $1.99 is a bit steep for some grape flavored water. I drink liquor and if I buy water for $1.99, it had better at least smell or taste like vodka.

Mary-Kate Olsen
Rumor has it that Mary-Kate Olsen, the anorexic half of the famed Olsen twins, has dropped out of New York University and returned home to Los Angeles. Rumor has it that Mary-Kate had a relapse of anorexia and went home for a while to get herself together. Reps for the twins say that Mary-Kate did not drop out of school and she will return when she's dealt with some personal matters back in L.A.

The Olsen twins are a mess. They are constantly shown in newspapers, US Weekly and Star magazine, and all they ever do is run the streets of New York and go to parties. They always look high or drunk and in need of sleep. I find it hard to believe that either of them have attended a single class at NYU. Not to downplay academia, but the Olsen twins are damn near billionaires and have been running a successful company since they were 2 weeks old, how high on their list could school be?

These little chicks need some parental supervision though. They're 18, but they are out of control. Mary-Kate has already crashed and burned and Ashley doesn't seem too far behind her.

Magic32
In addition to all of his other business endeavors, former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson will release an apparel line next fall. The line will feature athletic wear named for his old Laker jersey number. The clothing, footwear and accessories will be reasonably priced.

Magic says, "The primary focus of Magic32 footwear will be to combine fashion and quality at affordable prices. I really wanted to produce something that everybody in the family could afford and still be hot for kids." Magic32 footwear will hit stores next month in adult and children sizes. Clothing and apparel will make its debut in stores next year.

Don't you guys just love this man? I do. I am not entirely certain what his sneakers and clothing will look like, because Magic isn't always the best dressed man in the world. It's a nice idea though. Hopefully with the right team in place, he will have some nice marketable items at affordable prices. The last thing most people in Magic's tax bracket think about is making things affordable for the less fortunate. I love him. As much as I love Magic and this idea, in my head I picture Magic32 footwear looking like something out of Payless.

On a completely separate Magic Johnson note, I plan to meet him next summer. I don't know how, don't know where, but it's my goal. When I make it happen, you'll hear all about it. Possibly on BET News or something like that because I can already see that meeting my Uncle Earv will probably involve me getting tossed out of some establishment or other and possibly even arrested. Doesn't matter, I'm making it happen just the same.

Vote or Die
Election day is fast approaching and if I see one more television commercial on MTV or a t-shirt warning the citizens of the United States to vote or die, I'm going to have a fit. I am all for voting. I am glad to see Russell Simmons, Puffy and others steeped in the hip-hop culture try to get the urban youth of America to vote. I thought I would vote this year, but I've changed my mind. I felt as an adult American citizen, the responsible thing to do would be to cast my vote.

After months of reading, listening to Bush and Kerry prattle on about what they will do if elected and the debates, it's over for me. I do not feel that either one of those candidates are fit to be the president of this country. I feel that Bush is too stupid and Kerry is too weak. I have valid reasons for feeling this way about both candidates, but I refuse to bore you with the gory details. I think voting would be choosing the lesser of the two evils, but from listening to both, I don't know which evil is lesser.

My one consolation is that Bush is an evil that I know. Kerry is evil unknown. Rather than choose, I'll pass. I may vote for Ralph Nader, just to exercise my right to vote.

For all of you that will be voting this election year, I truly hope that you have utilized the information provided on and by both candidates and are making a decision you feel comfortable with based on the information available to you. Please don't run out there voting because you see Puffy on TV telling you do so. So even though I'm not voting, I encourage the rest of you to vote or die.

- reported by Keshawnta J.