What it is, smart people? We got
the end of another week upon us. With wildfires gripping San Diego,
Hillary Clinton calling Vice President Dick Cheney Darth Vader and
Jackie Chan trying to sing instead of fight, it was a another week in
paradise.I gotta join Illseed in
sending my congratulations to actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and her
husband Michael Nilon for the birth of their twin boys. Thoughts and
prayers go out to the family of Jennifer Lopez, whose maternal
grandmother, Julia Rodriguez, died Saturday (Oct. 13). Shout out to
Prince, who topped the Vanity Fair best soundtrack list with his
classic album Purple Rain, and the infamous sounding boards for being
they way they are with the guidance.So here we are…the Last Word for the week ending Oct. 26, 2007.1. Michael Jackson Recruits Akon for Thriller Upgrade Finally!
Some music news from Michael Jackson. The singer has gotten out of the
courtroom long enough to work on a 25th Anniversary Edition of his
classic album Thriller. According to reports, Jackson has
enlisted the likes of Akon, Kanye West and Will.i.Am to redo hit
singles “Billie Jean,” “The Girl Is Mine,” “Wanna Be Starting
Something,” and “Pretty Young Thing.” The updated tracks will be
accompanied by commemorative artwork and four additional songs that
were left off of the original Thriller LP. Although the name of
the previously unreleased tracks are under wraps, Jackson’s longtime
producer Bruce Swedien confirmed that “Don’t Be Messin’ Around” is in
the running to be one of the featured songs. As it stands,
there is no release date scheduled for the album. However, Rolling
Stone and Fox News report that the project could hit stores in early
2008. 2. The Power of Prayer, According to Mariah Carey Paris,
Lindsay and Britney may be embroiled in one drama after another, but
Mariah Carey has found a way to keep things balanced in her life. “If
you’re not spiritually centered, you’re kind of back and forth,” the
song bird told People.com. “But you know, not everybody is at that
point, and maybe some people have to reel themselves in and get back to
that point.” With her voice, Carey has gained numerous fans
and awards during her career. As a result, she is well aware of the
presence of a higher power as she admits to using that power as a
source of strength. “Prayer works for me,” Carey revealed. “Reading the Bible does work for me, because knowledge is power.” Those
praying for new music from Carey can take comfort in knowing that the
singer’s album, which was originally scheduled to come out at the end
of the year, will instead be released in early 2008.3. Dionne Warwick and Sinbad Among IRS Most Wanted Think celebrities pay their taxes on time? Guess again. According
to TMZ.com, singer Dionne Warwick and comedian Sinbad are among those
featured on California’s list of the biggest tax offenders. Warwick
owes the state $2.67 million dollars in back taxes, while Sinbad is
$2.14 million in the hole. Although Warwick’s publicist revealed
that the Grammy-winner is “aware of the tax situation,” the publicist
told TMZ that the debt was a result of “the negligence of previous
business advisers.” “She and her current business management
team are now working with the state of California to resolve and settle
the matter with the FTB [Franchise Tax Board].” the publicist said. California’s
biggest tax dodger list is announced every year by the FTB as a way of
shaming and embarrassing the worst dodgers into paying their debt.
While Warwick has come forward to address her debt, there has been no
word from Sinbad. At least the funny man can take comfort in knowing
that he is in good company. O.J. Simpson also made the list
with $1.55 million due in back taxes. I guess being delinquent with
O.J. puts you in the top tier of those who like to multi-task their law
offenses as they compete for the honor of Celebrity Most Likely to
Remain a Fixture in the Eyes of the Law. 4. Beyonce Sets Up Virtual Food Drive With Pastor Although
she’s out touring the world in support of her latest album, Beyonce has
slowed down long enough to launch an international virtual food drive
initiative to help feed the needy. According to media
sources, the singer has linked up with her minister Pastor Rudy Rasmus,
the Global Food Banking Network and Aidmatrix to bring the venture to
life. Those who use the service can select from a shopping list that is
appropriate for each country. Donations are also illustrated so people can visually see how many lives are being helped. “Reaching
out and touching lives is incredibly empowering, that’s why I want my
fans to experience more than my music,” Beyonce said. “I want them to
experience the joy of making a difference by helping someone else.” The joy of giving. Nuff said. 5. Bobby Brown, Jamie Foxx, and Sisqo Take the Country Route With
its slate of reality shows and behind the music episodes, VH1 may have
a lock on bringing back entertainers from back in the day. But the
network may have some competition as Country Music Television (CMT)
branches outside its traditional demographic by recruiting Bobby Brown
and former Dru Hill member Sisqo for its new show Gone Country. According to CMT.com,
Gone Country will center around seven celebrities who compete for a
chance to reinvent themselves with a country music career. The stars
will live in a Nashville mansion together and
compose songs with Nashville songwriters. They will compete against
each other in each episode in challenges that will test them musically
and physically to adapt to a country music lifestyle, both on and off
the stage. John Rich of Big & Rich will chose the winner of
the competition at the end of two weeks. From there the entertainer
will record and release a song at the end of the six-episode series,
which is currently in production in Nashville and is set to premier in
January 2008. In addition to Brown and Sisqo, the show will
feature Wilson Phillips member Carnie Wilson, Dee Snider of Twisted
Sister, American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo, Julio Iglesias Jr. And
Maureen McCormick from The Brady Bunch. And if that doesn’t
make you want to get that Johnny Cash or Reba McEntire CD, maybe
having Jamie Foxx on board for this year’s Country Music Association
(CMA) Awards will do the trick. The actor/singer will share his talent
with country music fans when he joins Rascal Flatts for a duet
performance of the group’s song “She Goes All the Way,” for the show,
which will air live from 8 to 11 p.m. Nov. 7 from the Sommet Center in
Nashville on ABC. Now that he’s added some country twang to
his swagger, it’s only a matter of time before Foxx and country rapper Cowboy
Troy give us that Best of Both Worlds release, titled Little Prairie in
the Ghetto
. 6. Music Is Therapy for Brandy Let’sface it. We all have different ways of dealing with whatever life
throws at us. For Brandy, the best medicine for lawsuits and possible
criminal charges from a fatal four-car traffic accident is working on a
new album. According to the 28-year-old singer, the project ranks high on her things to do list. “I’ve just got to get that album out,” Brandy told People. “I have to get it out, if it’s the last thing I do.” The
album, which will be Brandy’s fifth studio release, will be the first
offering from the songstress since her 2004 album Aphrodisiac. And it
couldn’t come at a better time. “I’ve been gone for a long
time,” said Brandy. “I really want to give the fans something that they
deserve to have. So, I’m working really hard on this. I really want to
make it the best work I’ve done so far.” As it stands now,
the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has yet to file charges against
the singer, despite reccomendations from police investigators that she
be charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Nevertheless, Brandy is holding steady while working on the album.”I
think it’s really finding that belief in yourself, where you just have
it no matter what’s going on, no matter what anyone else says,” she
said. “I think that’s the challenge, is to really have that belief in
yourself.. I’m really working on this thing. This is what I’m supposed
to do. I’m destined to do it. You just keep affirming everyday, and it
will just be there.”