December 31, 2004
Carmelo Anthony and La La Engaged?
Earlier this week, a rumor surfaced that NBA star Carmelo Anthony proposed to his girlfriend, MTV host Alani "La La" Vasquez on Christmas morning with a 9 carat diamond ring. Sunny, a radio personality on NYC's Hot 97, reported this information on Monday morning, as she and La La are friends and Murder Mami affiliates. Murder Mamis is some click of women involved in the entertainment industry of hip-hop or something. I have no idea how to explain Murder Mamis, because I am not really in the know about it myself.
After the rumor went around for a day or two, Anthony and his agent, Calvin Andrews, squashed it, claiming there was no truth to the rumor. Anthony said that when La La heard about the rumor "she was happy".
Carmelo just digs himself deeper and deeper everyday. He's in the news everyday for some b.s. and it never has anything to do with him playing basketball. Why the hell would he and La La be engaged? How long have they been together? Since that spitting incident a couple of months back? Ridiculous. Not just that, but the boy is all of 20-years-old and not the sharpest minded 20-year-old in town, I might add.
Then there's La La, whose sole purpose in life seems to be getting engaged. Wasn't it not too long ago on New Year's Eve that she got engaged to Sugar Plum who spit in her face? She's a mess too. La La is really something. She was interviewed by the Denver Post not too long ago and all she talked about was celebrities. She was going on and on about the relationships she has with celebrities, what a cool guy Tom Cruise is, and the cream of the crop of the entire article was when she referred to Melo as "Carmelo Anthony". Who the hell refers to their man by his first and last name? That is just plain old tomfoolery right there.
The entire reason for the Post even talking to her was to talk about her relationship with Melo, therefore, they were well aware of his last name. She is such a ditz. Reading that article, I got the impression that she wanted to jump up and down and start shouting, "I got me a baller. Yes!" Really, I did. She was like the ultimate groupie. They showed TV clips of La La and Melo feeding the homeless community in Denver on Christmas and they make a lovely pair. Despite the fact that they look like dumb and dumber, they really do look cute together. Kind of slow, but cute none the less.
La La has always struck me as strange, but since the whole engagement scandal, I think this girl is a real headcase. Let's break down the engagement rumor for a minute. Now Sunny, who runs in the same group with La La made the engagement announcement during her radio show, the Monday after Christmas. She said that La La told her this. I have no reason to believe that Sunny is lying or would choose to exploit her "friendship" with La La for the sake of spreading rumors.
This said, La La has apparently, and more than likely, started this rumor herself. Why would anyone be happy about a rumor that their boyfriend of 10 days bought them a nine carat engagement ring and proposed to them, especially if it weren't true? If it were true, I still see more cause for alarm than celebration.
Why is this rumor making you happy La La? Could it be because you started it and wanted to see how far it would go before your big goofy boyfriend's "people" nipped it in the bud? Mission accomplished, Alani.
I think Carmelo needs to run, run as fast as he can from you. Though La La and Melo look really good together, they both seem a wee bit off, I definitely hope this relationship never makes it to the procreation stage.
Ashanti
According to MTV, singer Ashanti is contemplating writing another book. This one would not be filled with the simplistic poetic meters of her last book, "Foolish/Unfoolish", it would be a book that would fill the masses in on the behind the scenes life of the singer. Ashanti has a few ideas and says, "It could be everything from going to the radio station, all the interviews, the hard part that a lot of people don't see. My skirt ripping onstage before I have to go out, my shoes coming off, just little things that happen that people don't realize. All the hard work, the preparation, the ups, the downs; a lot of things, behind the scenes."
No word on whether or not Ashanti will turn this idea into reality. How about Ashanti, not write any books and not sing any songs either. I only want her to utilize a skill set that she does possess and singing and writing are not two of them. No but seriously. Can Ashanti even write? Not for nothing, I have bought and paid for many a poorly written book. But, those books were purchased without any knowledge or wherewithal of what I was actually getting myself into. I would never intentionally pick up and pay for an Ashanti book. If she wants to talk about her top dropping mid-performance or her shoes being too tight, she should slip it in during interviews on BET and MTV. There is not a reason in the world that I can see for this mess to be published and paid for.
I am not opposed to singers writing books. Not even singers who can't sing, as that has nothing to do with writing. Ashanti's extreme use for the word baby and other simplistic four letter words, leads me to believe that she doesn't have much writing skill in her. You can not write an entire freaking book using the word baby over and over again. I'd love to read a book by like Alicia Keys. I don't question her intelligence and I know that she has a pretty good command of the English language, grammar and usage; Ashanti, not so much.
She can barely string together a grammatically coherent sentence to speak, much less write one. Even if she enlisted the help of a ghostwriter, who the hell wants to read this stuff? If I hear her talk about her trials and tribulations one more time, I'll scream. Does this woman not know that America is at war and there are famines and droughts in other countries? Boo hoo hoo, it took Ashanti's non-singing ass a few years to con some poor fool (i.e. Irv Gotti) into signing her to a record deal. That shit is beyond old and I don't know that anyone, her fans included, wants to hear about that anymore.
From what Ashanti has shown me, she is as vacuous as she is vapid and she needs to leave the writing alone.
Snoop Admits To Cheating On Wife
In May, rapper Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, filed for divorce from his wife Shante citing irreconcilable differences. Months later he admits to Rolling Stone magazine that he has in fact cheated on Mrs. Broadus. He says, "I cheated on her. That's the worst thing you could possibly do - lose somebody's trust who really loves you. I'm thirty-three years old now, I see a lot of things differently now than I used to. I try to do more right than wrong and to keep God in everything I do and to keep the devils away from me. But I know by trying to stay so right, the devil is going to keep on working on me. That's going to be a curse around me all the time. But I don't think it's going to get to me. I really don't think that it is".
It's recently been reported that Snoop has had second thoughts about the divorce and he and Shante may stay together.
I'm glad Snoop came clean about cheating on his wife. Why, I don't know? It's not anyone's business, but it was good to hear him own up to it and be a man about it. It was great to hear him say that at 33, he is growing up and some things in his life need to change. I am all about grown ass men acting accordingly and there are too many old ass men in hip-hop still carrying on like they're 24 when they're well into their 30's. That's not cool at all.
I hope he and his wife can work out their differences and remain together. I think they are the cutest couple with the most adorable children. Snoop and Shante were shown together at the L.A. Laker game on Christmas, so hopefully that's a sign that they're on the up and up. If only Shante could get that 33-year-old man to stop wearing his hair in pigtails, all would be right with the world.
Lil Jon And Usher
The NY Post has reported that the king of the crunk, Lil Jon does not get along with fellow Atlanta dweller, and sometimes collaborator, Usher. An unnamed "insider" told the Post that Lil Jon did not feel that Usher was giving him enough credit for the hit song "Yeah". The "insider" said, "Lil Jon seriously hates Usher. He feels like he was responsible for the success of 'Yeah,' which he was. He produced the song and sang on it. He likes to mock Usher by saying his name in a little high voice and calls him 'Baby Usher'."
Usher appears on Lil Jon's latest album and their have been talk of Lil Jon, Ludacris, and Usher joining forces to create a super group and release an album. I have no idea what is going on with Lil Jon and Usher, but I doubt Usher could care less if Lil Jon likes him or not. From what I can tell as long as Usher has the money to pay Lil Jon for his services, they shouldn't need to be buddies.
I am really curious about this "insider" running around giving out such useless information. If they are that much of an insider, they need to come a little better than that. The NY Post shouldn't have spent any ink on that story. We really shouldn't be wasting our time on it here either, so we'll stop now.
Hollyhood
Rapper Lil Kim has been talking about producing a clothing line and the idea seems to be in the process of being brought to fruition in the near future. The line will be called Hollyhood, according to Kim it will be for "the trendy fashionista". Kim will design the collection which will feature tops, denim, active and fashion wear for women, with prices ranging from $25 to $200. Also included will be a more upscale line, also designed by Kim, where prices will range from $75 to $2,000.
In a released statement Kim says, "I've always expressed my love for fashion through my music. Hollyhood is a label for those who believe in my philosophy that there are no rules when it comes to fashion; it's about having fun and choosing to dress in a way that makes you feel good."
Hollyhood is scheduled to debut in department and specialty stores in the fall of 2005.
Give me a break. First of all, for mispronouncing designer names in her songs throughout the years, Kim should not be considered expressing a love of fashion. Lil Kim is a fashion no-no, not a fashionista. Her sense of style is damn near non-existent and anyone can count on two fingers how many times this woman has worn something that was nice or even fashionable.
I definitely don't see this being lucrative, unless Kim steps to the side and hires a really good design team that will create nice wearable fashion - something Kim seems to know nothing about. I wish her good luck with this task, she will definitely need it.
Ciara
It's been a long time since I've just randomly picked on someone for no good reason. Time's up. I have some gripes about Ciara, that "1, 2 Step" girl from Atlanta. Number one, she looks exactly like Wanda Sykes, the comedienne. I mean it's like she's her long lost daughter or something. I haven't started picking on her just yet, that was only an observation and it is neither here nor there that she looks like Wanda.
I think this girl is Atlanta's answer to Ashanti, like the world needs an answer to Ashanti from another region of the United States. This Ciara chick is just the worst. Can't sing, can't do anything. Some people think she can dance, but all I ever see is her impersonating Keanu Reeves in the "Matrix" or that damn 1, 2 step move. It could just be me, but that is not impressive.
Then she's always making ugly faces while she's dancing like she's Janet Jackson or somebody. Every time I see her she is wearing a bodysuit like it's 1992. She just seems to be a real disaster and I'm wondering how or why she is always on my television.
Her live performances sound really bad. I just don't get this girl or why she even exists as an artist. It could just be me, I'm just saying.
Nas And Kelis' Nuptials
A source told me that Nas, our favorite street disciple, and his fiancee, singer Kelis will be getting married in Atlanta this Saturday.
Congrats to the couple and I wish them a happy, successful marriage. Can't we all just see them having little wild haired, activist kids? While we're on the topic of Nas, that Street's Disciple CD is not selling and I am holding every one of you responsible. If you don't have one, get one. Please.
Baby
The same source who told me about Nas' wedding also tipped me to the fact that there is a possibility that Baby of the Cash Money Millionaires has Aids. This person runs in some of the same circles as Baby and notices that he has been losing a ton of weight and looks sick.
As a disclaimer, I am NOT trying to say that Baby has Aids or is sick. That is really not something to be taken lightly.
This is just speculation from an observation made by one person, who also has no knowledge as to whether or not Baby is really sick. I have no idea what's really going on with Baby, but let's hope all is well with the Birdman.
Jermaine O'Neal
We all should remember that horrible incident that occurred in the NBA on November 19. Big melee, Ron Artest, Jermaine O'Neal, and Stephen Jackson running around knocking fans out and what have you. Jermaine O'Neal was granted permission to play after missing 15 games of a 25 game suspension. It was a really drawn out process and his re-emergence to his Indiana Pacers team on Christmas day was only temporary.
Yesterday a judge ruled that Jermaine O'Neal is clear to continue playing for the remainder of the season. When you look at it, Jermaine didn't too much that could be considered wrong. He hit a fan that was on the court, violating his work space. Where's the harm in that? I don't really want to get too deep into the whole situation, but this whole suspension ordeal seriously gave me a headache.
I think Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal got really harsh suspensions. I actually felt Stephen Jackson's 30 game suspension and Ron Artest's season long suspensions should have been transposed. Yes, Artest jumped into the stands and attacked a fan, the wrong fan at that, but he was responding to beer being thrown on him after already ignoring a hard shove from Detroit's Ben Wallace. He's only human and there is only so much one person can be asked to take. Yes, he should not have done that, but in some instances there isn't time to think you just react. I completely understood.
On the other hand you had Stephen Jackson vehemently follow Artest into the stands and indiscriminately start swinging on anyone in his path, without rhyme or reason. It was absurd. Before that Mr. Jackson was trying to fight damn near the entire Detroit Pistons roster, taking special care to harass Lindsey Hunter, the smallest and likely oldest man on the team.
Stephen Jackson is a menace and a nuisance and I felt his suspension was the only suspension warranted. I was wondering when they were going to tack a few more games on to his suspension, because something just doesn't seem right with that man.
As usual I'm all off track, but I am just really happy O'Neal is back. Indiana is my favorite team, O'Neal is one of my favorite players and the Pacers are just a shell of a team without O'Neal and the other two guys. Watching the Pacers minus O'Neal, Artest, and Jackson was like watching paint dry, only a lot less fun.
Though I think Stephen Jackson is an insane nutbucket, I can't wait until he comes back, because the Pacers need him almost as much as they need O'Neal.
Eva
There are rumors floating around that Eva, the winner of "America's Next Top Model", is dating a rapper. Depending on who tells the story, said rapper is anyone from 50 Cent to Fabolous. That is not true at all. Eva is dating a man from Connecticut and by no means is he a rapper.
- reported by Keshawnta J.