What’s good, young world? And Happy Halloween. After being

out of commission last week, I’m feeling much better. With less than five days

to go before a new president is crowned, the week comes with Obama taking over

prime time with a 30-minute infomercial, rumored infighting among those in the

McCain and Palin camps, and the Philadelphia Phillies capturing their second

World Series title on Wednesday (Oct. 29).

 

Thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer Hudson regarding the

death of her mother, brother, and nephew. Many thanks to Nora, who was kind

enough to sub for me last week. It was much appreciated. Shout out to Faith,

Bill and Michael, who are personally responsible for my addiction to Townhouse

Toppers, those who checked in with lectures and well wishes to make sure I’m

alive and kicking, and the sounding boards for staying relevant in an

irrelevant world.

 

So this is what we have…the Last Word for the week ending

Oct. 31, 2008.

 

1. Alicia Keys Maintains Financial Control By Any Means

Necessary

 

Alicia Keys is not the one to play with. Especially when it

comes to her finances.

 

In an interview with Parade magazine, the hitmaker made it known that she will not be the subject

of any riches to rags story when speaking on her rep as a workaholic who wants

control over all aspects of her career.

 

“I just want to know what’s going on with my money,

where it’s going, how it is being spent,” Keys said. “I don’t give a

damn if people hate me. I’m never gonna be one of those stories you read about

where someone had all this and ended up with zero because so many people took

advantage of them.”

 

I guess this is another glimpse into the secret life of B’s.

I’m not mad at you, Miss Keys. Be about your money man, or in this case

Superwoman.

 

2. Jessica Alba, Nick Cannon and Eva Mendes Trading Cards

Up For Grabs For Charity  

 

Have you ever wanted to trade Jessica Alba for Eva Mendes?

The idea may not be so far- fetched as a new line of celebrity trading cards

featuring the actors is coming to stores.

 

The line, which is called PopCardz, is being released by an

entertainment product company called A-List Global Media. Some 40 celebrities

will be featured on the PopCardz line, including Scarlett Johansson, Jared

Leto, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Raven-Symone, Nick Cannon, Ashley

Tisdale, Megan Fox, Jessica Biel, Hayden Panettiere and Christina Ricci.

 

The back of the cards will list various facts about the

stars such as birth dates, hometowns and mottos as well their favorite charity,

movie, song, book, place, sport, food – and a secret.

Look for PopCardz to arrive in stores starting in November.

The line will be sold in five-card packs where each card will have a 10-digit

access code printed on it that will provide additional online content at

PopCardz.com.

 

Proceeds from the sale of PopCardz will go to the

celebrities’ charities.

 

3. Gabrielle Union Unites Women for Breast Cancer

Reduction

 

It seems like every celebrity has a cause they hold near and

dear to their heart. And Gabrielle Union is no different as she takes breast

cancer reduction seriously.

 

Essence.com reports the actor took a trip to Ghana as part

of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s mission delegation trip to help reduce the

rate of breast cancer among women in the country. During her visit, Union got

an up-close look at the effects of the disease as she spent time with at least

50-60 breast cancer survivors and joined Ghana President John Kufuor for a

dedication ceremony at the HopeXchange Medical Center, a new state-of-the-art

breast cancer diagnostic and treatment facility in Kumasi.

 

So why would someone like Gabrielle Union lend her fame and

name to the cause of breast cancer? According to the actor, the motivation came

two years ago when a close girlfriend was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic

breast cancer.

 

“She was underinsured and needed money for treatment and

medications,” Union told Essence. “I

instantly became active in fund-raising to help her and then became passionate

about making sure other people didn’t have to go through what she did. I wanted

to make sure that people have the access to health care, support groups,

counseling and whatever is needed as they battle this disease.”

 

The disease hit Gabrielle even harder when she found out her

aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was in Africa. As a result, the

entertainer is on a mission to raise awareness of breast cancer as well as

funds for research and treatment.

 

“By going to Ghana and seeing firsthand that African women

are suffering and dying at an alarming rate from the disease is terrible

because I know if caught early, breast cancer is treatable and survivable,”

Union said. “It just makes me want to help that much more.”

 

4.  The

Jackson 5 and Janet Reunite for 2009 Reunion

 

After much drama and up and down record sales, the Jackson 5

is coming together for an official reunion.

 

Jermaine Jackson confirmed the news Wednesday (Oct. 29) to

the Australian Associated Press during a

trip to Australia to help launch a “greatest hits” TV channel for

Paynet Foxtel.

 

“This has been a long time coming for the Jackson

family to get back together,” said Jermaine, who labeled the reunion as a

“family affair.” It is just the timing, so what we’ve been doing is

working on the music and all the logistics. It is going to be more like a

family affair – Janet’s going to open and, of course, the original

Jackson 5…Michael, Randy and the whole family. We’re in the studio, we’re

planning on being out there next year.”

 

As much as I would love to see the Jacksons on stage, I’ll

believe it when it happens. Don’t be surprised if the whole thing is called off

at the first of the year because of Michael’s pending legal drama, Janet’s

health issues and Tito’s impossible demands for his small but vocal entourage.

Hopefully, Joe will break out the whip or the strap to bring things back to the

way they were.

 

5. 112 Member Reveals Reason for Breakup

 

R&B groups are rare these days. While solo aspirations

and ego may cause some collectives to break up, Bad Boy Records quartet 112

fell victim to the root of all evil, money. According to former 112 singer

Michael Keith, the split came last year after he and Marvin “Slim”

Scandrick had issues with another member of the group.

 

“I had to leave because I found out that a certain

member of the group took my publishing check. It was made clear that it was

intended for myself and another member, Slim,” Keith told EUR’s Lee

Bailey, adding that he expects former bandmates Quinnes Parker or Daron Jones

to come clean about the check. “I’m all about trust. And once you lose that

trust with me man, it’s just time for me to make a move and focus on my solo

career. Everybody else was focused on their solo careers, the outside

endeavors, and I just decided it was time for me to make that change and go

into solo mode, Michael Keith mode.”

 

Although 112 had its share of arguments and infighting over

the years, Keith admits that keeping the group together was more

important.  But to devote so much

time to an effort to only have it wrecked over money was “something I

can’t forgive.”

 

As a result, Keith and his business manager are thinking of

filing charges regarding the situation, which comes as a difficult revelation

for the singer. Maybe they should’ve heeded the advice of their legendary label

mate, the Notorious B.I.G., when he said “Mo money, mo problems.”

 

6.  Tracy

Morgan Has Gay Flashback With Prince

 

Alcohol is a helluva drug. A few drinks can get you ready

for a good night out on the town. Too many drinks can make you like Tracy

Morgan, who recently quit wearing an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet.

 

The comedian reminisced over his wild past during an

interview with Complex magazine as he

revealed a brief gay moment he had when he went to a pre-Grammy party at

Prince’s house. 

 

“When I was wilding? I got kicked out of Prince’s house.

The last time he won a Grammy, we went to the pre-Grammy party. Free booze all

night,” Morgan shared. “Prince had his band in the living room. Everybody

left the house except for me and my boy. It was 6 o’clock, 7 o’clock in the

morning, the sun was coming up, and we were still drinking. And Prince and his

wife were at the door in their pajamas and said, ‘Come on, Tracy, you’ve got to

go.’ And I was gay for about five seconds because he’s a pretty muthaf**ker. If

Prince was a woman, I would go down on him. All the way down. Swell his v#####

lips up.”

 

Damn. He’s talking about five seconds? That sounds like

something pre-meditated. I think Tracy may need a role model, a hug or some

type of male reinforcement and divine intervention in his life. Tracy Morgan,

you are now suspect. Case closed.

 

In Other Words…

 

* The film version of the ’80s hit TV show The A-Team has hit an obstacle. Daily Variety reports the feature, which currently has no cast

attached to it, is now without a director. John Singleton, who had signed on to

helm the film, dropped out of the picture after Twentieth Century Fox said it

wanted more time to develop the script.

 

As a result, The A-Team

is now set to hit theatres on June 11, 2010. The film, which had gone through

various rewrites, was originally slated to come out June 12, 2009. 

 

* Days after rumors surfaced about Donnie Klang making

racist comments about being on his label Bad Boy, the singer has issued a

statement addressing the situation and the source that reported the story.

 

 “A

popular website posted a completely fabricated story about me yesterday, and

now it’s circulating around the internet. It is important for me to speak to my

fans and let them know that the story is 100% fiction,” Klang said. “It’s

completely made up! I love all my fans and all people of various racial,

ethnic, and religious backgrounds. I would never, in any way, say anything

racially derogatory. In addition, I love my Bad Boy family and have nothing but

love for the entire label and staff. Don’t believe the lies! The story is

absolutely false.”

 

* We all know that Samuel L. Jackson is a bad m###, but the

actor is doing his part to live up to that description as he gets set to play

Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem in a remake of Berry Gordy’s 1985 cult classic The

Last Dragon. No other casting news has been

announced so far for the film, which will follow the plot of the original film

as it centers on Sho’nuff’s rival Leroy Green and his quest to achieve the

highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as the Last Dragon.

 

* Leonardo DiCaprio is back again to encourage people to

vote. The actor, who lined up stars like Usher and Justin Timberlake in his

first PSA, 5 Friends, has gathered Will Smith, Harrison Ford, Scarlett

Johansson, Tom Cruise and Shia LaBeouf for a new PSA, titled 5 More Friends.

The new group of celebs go against the first PSA’s sarcastic do not vote

message as Cruise asks, “‘Don’t vote?’ Now, what do you mean ‘Don’t vote?’”

 

After Steven Spielberg explains the reason behind 5 Friends

to Cruise, the other stars reveal why they are voting in this year’s election.

After which, a web address appears at the end of 5 More Friends where you can

find your local voting polls.

Born Yvette Marie Stevens, Chaka Khan, who changed her name while

working as a teen for the Black Panthers as part of their Free Breakfast For

Children program, is a modern day entertainment icon. From her group work as

part of Rufus to her hugely successful solo career, she’s worked with everyone

from Prince to Mary J. Blige, and her final product is always of a high

standard.

 

If it’s not her undeniable musical prowess, it’s her willingness to give

back that sets her apart from the rest of the pack. Not only is Chaka always prepared

to help other musicians when called upon – her song “Through The Fire”

was resurrected with her permission when Kanye West sampled it on his debut

smash “Through The Wire.”

 

Chaka also has her very own charity Foundation. Formed in 1999, the Chaka

Khan Foundation helps women and children in crisis. Chaka has taken part in

many benefits dedicated to the conquering of AIDS and HIV prevention. Basically

she’s someone who wants to give back.

 

Returning with a new album, which has already won two Grammy Awards,

Chaka Khan has teamed up with virtuoso production team Jimmy Jam & Terry

Lewis to bring us Funk This. AllHipHop.com Alternatives managed

to catch a bit of time with the legendary lady of soul on a quick promo trip to

the UK.

 

AllHipHop.com

Alternatives: It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything new from you. Why

did you decide to release an album now?

 

Chaka

Khan: It really wasn’t that I decided to do an album now. I’ve courted a few

labels over a ten-year period, and then I decided things weren’t really right

for me. So I continued to work on the road to pay the bills, and then finally a

label came to me and wanted to sign me. They were a great label, very

supportive and very helpful. Like many of my previous labels, they tried to

find me the right producers to work with, which they couldn’t.

 

Then my

sister/manager Tammy said, “Why don’t we take Jam & Lewis up on their offer

that they want to work with you?” We had been talking about it for years in

passing, but had never laid anything down. Finally they moved from Minneapolis

to Santa Monica, right up the street from me, and I paid them a visit. I asked

them if they’d be interested in working with me. They were very interested, and

then that’s where the new album started.

 

AHHA: Funk

This contains a few covers and some of your own records. How did the

concept come about that you were going to do the album this way?

 

Chaka

Khan: I have so many songs that have accumulated over the years, and we

wanted to make sure that this album had some chance at commercial success. So,

some of the covers are for that reason. We picked only the best, without

sticking to a theme. There is a sort of underlining theme to the album but it’s

very hidden. I don’t even know what it is.

 

Everything

just goes together nicely. I wanted it to go back to me and my authentic roots,

the organic Chaka Khan. Basically what made people fall in love with me in the

first place was hearing me with Rufus doing live music on a board with live

musicians, as opposed to doing it via the internet and what not.

AHHA: Following

the US release of the album you won two Grammy Awards for it. How does it feel

to still be winning Grammy’s this far in to your career?

 

Chaka

Khan: It’s special. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised to have even

been nominated. I mean…I was expecting something from this album; I just wasn’t

sure what. I didn’t expect to win two Grammy’s. I can tell you that for

nothing. All my friends were telling me I was going to win both. I was like,

“Yeah, right!” I was just happy to have even been acknowledged. I then gave it

no more thought and carried on working. And lo and behold I got them both. To

me, that was a sign that we did right by this album.

 

AHHA: You’ve

had a long and successful career in music. What would you say has been the key

to your success? What keeps you going?

 

Chaka

Khan: I mean c’mon, first of all it takes a certain amount of talent to stay

relevant. And people have to recognize that. They need to know it and feel it.

That’s part of it. I’ve paid my dues. I’ve paid a lot of dues in fact. I’ve

been through a lot and I think because of that people recognise that I am

authentic, at least in my musical communication. Other than that, I don’t

really look at it or think about it that much. I’m just thankful.

 

AHHA: While

some of today’s youngsters may not know who you are, especially in physical

form, you allowed Kanye West, who at the time was trying to get his music

heard, to sample your hit “Through The Fire.”

 

It was

definitely an important moment in music. You effectively helped kick start the

career of one of today’s most credible Hip-Hop artists. How did this come

about? Did you think it would help him? And how important do you think it is to

share samples with other artists?

 

Chaka

Khan: I thought it would help him. I really did. I did for a whole different

reason though. He called me and asked me if he could use the song because he

had been in an amazing accident and my song helped him to recover. So how could

I say no? That was my primary reason for agreeing to it. Of course I didn’t

expect him to speed it up and make me sound like a chipmunk.

It wasn’t

until later I found out that his trademark was in fact speeding up older

records and using them on his tracks. I’m just glad I was of some assistance in

helping him get better. However, I do believe there should be a lot more

legislation when it comes to using other people’s music. If you can’t play the

music, then why bother? Be a DJ. That’s how I feel personally.

 

If you’re

going to be a musician, be a musician. Play it. Play the instrument or get

somebody that can to play it, because I think that things like Pro Tools and

other electronic recording equipment are made to enhance music that’s already

been done. It’s used to freak it, tweak it, whatever…

 

AHHA: Music

has changed a lot since you first burst on to the scene. So who is it that you

listen to?

 

Chaka

Khan: Through the years I’ve gone through five-year patches where I’ll be in

to five or six CD’s. That’s it. And I don’t really listen to music at home. I

like to listen to it in the car. So in my car right now I think there is Joni

[Mitchell], Miles [Davis] – “Tutu” is probably in there, Kim Burrell, Rahsaan

Patterson, Mica Paris. Oh, and I love Anthony Hamilton. He’s not in my car

though. I need to get him in my car. I’m really particular when it comes to

what I’m listening to. I don’t listen to the radio. Even satellite stuff I

don’t deal with. I hate being at the mercy of someone else’s selection. I have

to have my own. I can’t trash out my ears otherwise it messes with me. I need

music equilibrium.

 

AHHA: You’re

back in the UK promoting the new album, which includes a few performances, one

being at the O2 Arena. What is it about touring that you love so much?

 

Chaka

Khan: That’s what it’s all about. At the end of the day it’s about

communicating person to person. It’s about the giving of yourself, the offering

of yourself, and then getting back whatever is given back to you. There’s

nothing like it. If you want to talk about something that’s addictive, then

performing is it. Just that feeling once you step on stage is enough to drive

you to do it over and over again.

 

AHHA: What’s

next for you?

 

Chaka

Khan: Well… working this CD to death, to the limit, working it to the

rafters, and doing all that I can to make a success of it. Then it’s back in to

the studio I go. I also have a Foundation, which I’m going to hook up with a

few key people here in the UK to help further it. It’s a Foundation that helps

children and women in crisis. We have an education initiative that we’re

working on right now. We also work with autism.Chaka Khan Performing at the Diesel xXx Party