What’s life like, world travelers? It’s the first official
Word for the ‘09 and the war in Gaza and NFL playoffs are going strong, Arizona
Gov. Bill Richardson vacates his nomination for a spot on Obama’s cabinet amid
questions over shady dealings and Capital Hill deads Roland Burris’ quest to
take the President-elect’s Senate seat. Add to that Hustler magazine owner Larry Flynt and Girls Gone
Wild founder Joe Francis writing a letter
to Congress to request a $5 billion bailout for the p### industry and you have
another five days to soak up.
R.I.P. to Oscar Grant, who lost his life too soon to yet
another senseless bout of police brutality. Prayers that justice will be
served. Shout out to the sounding boards for already shining in ’09.
This all brings me to…the Last Word for the week ending Jan.
9, 2009
1. Mariah
Carey Celebrates New Year $1 Million Ways; Gets Made Up for Art
Ah, the New Year. That time where we make resolutions to
lose weight, quit whatever vice we have, pay our debts and make more money. And
the stars are no different. Look at Mariah Carey, who got a jump-start on
everybody as she got royally paid recently.
The Sun reports that
Carey collected $1 million for putting in a hard night’s work performing four
songs at a private New Year’s Eve party for the son of Libyan dictator Colonel
Gaddafi.
Not only did partygoers bring in the ‘09 with Mimi, but also
Jay-Z and Timbaland made cameos to make it a celebration to remember at the
Nikki Beach Club on Caribbean island St Barts. Even Beyoncé showed up for the
occasion, but she reportedly did not take the stage with Jigga.
And if that isn’t enough, Mariah made such an impression on
Jason Mecier that the mosaic portrait artist put his talent to use by creating
a portrait of Mrs. Cannon from various make-up products like lipstick, nail
varnish bottles and eyeliner. That makes perfect sense, considering we have
never seen Mariah Carey without make-up. Do we even want to?
2. Voletta Wallace Shares Notorious Memories of Angela
Bassett, Gravy and Lil’ Kim
With a week to go before the highly anticipated Biggie
Smalls biopic Notorious hits the big
screen, fans are counting down the days to see if the movie does justice to the
legend of Christopher Wallace. For the rapper’s mother, Voletta Wallace, there
was only one person she wanted to play her in the film.
“…If there was anyone who was going to play Voletta Wallace,
I wanted Angela Bassett,” she told Essence.com. “I read the script and sent it
out to her on tape to get my accent down pat. She was very gracious and humble,
and I was honored to have her.”
While Ms. Wallace adored Bassett, the real test came with
the actor who would play her son, Jamal “Gravy” Woodard. The concern instantly
became a moot point upon her first meeting with the entertainer.
“When he walked into the room, his whole demeanor was
Christopher and I knew. I was in the corner and he never saw me and I said,
‘That’s my son there,’” said Wallace who didn’t need to see anybody else for
the role. “There were days I had goose bumps just watching him. I was always
close to my son and now I’m close with Jamal for the respect that he had for my
son. Believe me, to fill Christopher’s shoes wasn’t easy. That’s a size 13.”
Judging by the previews and commercials, Notorious looks to be an interesting peek inside the world of
B.I.G. And while reports have surfaced of Lil’ Kim’s criticism of the project,
Ms. Wallace expressed a desire to chat with the rapstress about the
relationship she shared with Biggie.
“I would love to speak to Lil’ Kim, because I need to ask
more about this love relationship because I really didn’t like the way he
treated her and I’m praying that that’s not it,” said Wallace. “Only she can
answer those questions. She’s a sweet girl and I didn’t think she deserved to be
treated the way he treated her, if that’s the case.”
Judge for yourself how B.I.G. treated Lil’ Kim when Notorious hits theaters Jan. 16.
3. Amy Winehouse, fashion designer?
Let’s see. You’ve put out two critically acclaimed albums,
notched five Grammys and spent 2008 keeping drug dealers and tabloid
photographers and writers gainfully employed. What’s the next thing to conquer?
Fashion, of course.
And Amy Winehouse knows it. Media sources report the
embattled songstress is in negotiations with Fred Perry to design clothes for
the clothing brand. Winehouse, who is known to wear Fred Perry shirts, seems to
be serious about this as she has a few designs already sketched and ready to
show.
The singer made her feelings known recently as she
reportedly told anyone who would listen about her fashion dreams in a hotel bar
in St Lucia. While no information on when the line will launch is available,
bets will placed on whether or not Winehouse even remembers having the
conversation about a potential clothing line when the time comes. Hey, if it
keeps her in rehab, let’s all buy a shirt!
4. Tyrese Invites Fans Into His “Love Circle”
With this summer’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen coming into theaters, it looks to be a nice 2009 for
one Tyrese Gibson, who returns to the big screen with the warring Autobots and
Decepticons. And why not add to the imminent success by lending a helping hand
to music and movie fans that have been in his corner?
WENN reports the entertainer is adding to his string of
accomplishments with a new telephone hotline. The new venture will allow fans
to call 818-287-8968 to register to receive words of wisdom from Gibson.
“It’s a free number. I’m not making any money off of it,”
admitted the former model, who called the new hotline the “love circle.” “When
I have advice and information and anything that’s going on in my life, I’m able
to call this number and verbally leave a message, which goes directly into my
fans’ in-box on their cell phones.”
Although he doesn’t know what his next message will be,
Gibson shared that what he says “always comes from a real place as he is quick
to point out that the love circle is his way of “telling the fans thank you for the years of supporting me
and all my career moves.”
“I can’t cut a check and pay everybody’s bills, but I can
give people knowledge and information that I have that’s contributed to my
success,” the model/actor/musician stated. It’s a crapshoot though whether or
not you will be receiving messages from Tyrese or Black Ty on any given day.
5. Beyoncé Enlists YouTube for Obsessed Research
Playing an embattled and drug addicted singing icon in Cadillac
Records may have caught fans off guard, but
Beyoncé shows no signs of playing it safe as she portrays a the wife of a man
who is stalked by a woman he works with in the upcoming film Obsessed.
If the film’s trailer is any indication, then we’ll be
seeing another side of Bey when she takes on the stalk to protect what she has.
To tap into her inner hulk, Mrs. Carter prepped by watching videos of women
battling one another on YouTube.
“We did look at girl fights on YouTube,” the film’s director
Steve Shill told WENN. “There’s a lot of hair pulling, shouting, and rolling
around on the ground. We didn’t really want to do that.” I’m sure men
everywhere will disagree with that decision. Obsessed hits theaters this April.
6. Aubrey O’Day Gears Up for Rumored Playboy Close-Up
Not one to rest on her laurels, former Danity Kane member
Aubrey O’Day is already striking while the iron is hot with a rumored
appearance in Playboy magazine.
According to reports, the singer allegedly received $500,000
for doing a naked photo shoot for the publication. The offer to pose, which
came from Playboy founder Hugh Hefner,
seemed to be too good to refuse, a source told the New York Daily
News.
“Aubrey’s making about $500,000 to drop trou. For that kind
of money, she was like ‘Why not?’” the source said about the diva, who created
a buzz for her au natural self after posing sexy for Complex magazine. As it stands now, neither Playboy nor reps for O’Day are confirming the shoot, which
may feature several lion cubs. The cubs will be nicknamed D Woods, Aundrea,
Shannon, and Dawn.
In Other Words…
* Make way for
India.Arie. The Grammy-winning singer is gearing up for the release of her new
upcoming album, Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics. The follow-up to Arie’s 2006 opus Testimony: Vol.
1, Life and Relationship will feature the Musiq Soulchild-assisted “Chocolate
High” as well as “Therapy” with Gramps Morgan. Both singles are available now
on iTunes. Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics is slated to hit stores Feb. 10.
* This year’s NAACP Image Awards looks to be wide open for
Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys. The women are nominated for
outstanding female music artist and for best music video as well as supporting
film actress. Bey could take the film award home for her work in Cadillac
Records while Keys and Hudson are in
contention for their respective work in The Secret Life of Bees. Best picture nominees include Cadillac
Records and The Secret Life of
Bees as well as Miracle at St.
Anna, Seven Pounds and Tyler Perry’s the Family That Preys.
* With a bunch of films to his credit, you would think that
Spike Lee is swimming in dough. But to hear the filmmaker tell it, he’s in
shallow water compared to other entertainers. “It’s not rich rich,” he told
Britain’s Observer. “Rich is Spielberg.
Lucas. Gates. Steve Jobs. Jay-Z. Bruce Springsteen. I’m not complaining. But
that’s money. Will Smith. Oprah Winfrey – that’s a ton of money. Compared
to them, I’m on welfare.”
* Will Chris Brown and Rihanna jump the broom? Things seem
to point in that direction as the rumor mills is in full swing over pictures of
Ri-Ri sporting a big diamond ring on her wedding finger. Rihanna was also seen
with said accessory at Elton John’s New Year’s Eve party at the O2 Arena in
London. Needless to say the rock commanded its own attention among the party
people.