Monday Memo

The film "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt 1" topped the weekend box office earning over $130 million dollars. "Happy Feet Two", "Immortals", "Jack and Jill" and "Puss and Boots" round out the top five films of the week. Music's hottest stars turned out for the American Music Awards last night. Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and Usher all performed at the ceremony. First Lady of Young Money Nicki Minaj won Favorite Hip Hop Artist, while Beyonce won Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, Female, and Favorite Soul/R&B Artist, Male, went to Usher. All in all, the show was an exciting one for the studio and television audience alike, ensuring that next year's show will be even better. Many paid their last respects to hip hop legend Dwight "Heavy D" Myers when he was laid to rest on Nov. 18. Mary J. Blige, Johnny Gill and Sean "Diddy" Combs were among those in attendance. President Barack Obama sent a special plaque to the later rapper's 13-year-old daughter Xea Myers, who spoke to the crowd during an emotional moment. The rapper has left a rich legacy that will live on forever. May he rest in peace. Rapper Lupe Fiasco was the victim of some overzealous TSA officers when he was detained while boarding a plane at LAX. They spotted what they assumed was a suspicious recording device in the rapper's luggage, which turned out to be  a piece of recording equipment he didn't know was not allowed on the plane. He later tweeted about the incident and boarded his plane without further incident. In case you haven't already, pick up a copy of the latest issue of GQ magazine, featuring rapper Jay Z on the cover. The magazine also features a profile of Odd Future crooner Frank Ocean as it' Rookie of the Year. The singer, dressed in a black-and-white three-piece, discusses the opportunities he was presented. GQ magazine is on newsstands now. Although he's been a recluse for some time now, singer D'Angelo seems ready to hit the scene again. He's announced  a series of shows in Europe next year. According to Soul Culture, the singer will appear at the Le Zenith in Paris on January 29, then hit Amsterdam's Paradisco two nights later and finally play London's O2 Academy Brixton on February 3. While some may seem sceptical, since the singer's been quite for some time, minus a few arrests, D'Angelo friend and collaborator ?quest Love of the Roots revealed that the singer's new album is in the "home stretch" and that Q-Tip will be featured on the record. Let's hope we hear from the singer soon. He's been away too long and talent like his goes a long way in the industry. Rap rookie Asher Roth has left Steve Ritfin and SRC/Universal Records for Def Jam Records, according to Shawn Pecas, VP of Lifestyle, Promotion and Marketing for Def Jam. The suburban rapper has a mixtape "Pabst & Jazz" set for release on December 21. A sophomore album titled "Is This Too Orange" will be released  early next year, and will feature Pharrell Williams and Nottz Raw. He created a buzz with the release of his debut album "Asleep In The Bread Aisle". He's sure to keep the buzz going. The competition continues on "Dancing With The Stars" and it's sure to be an exciting evening for the studio and viewing audience as well. It's down to the wire and it's anyone's guest who will win the grand prize. On the tube: "Terra Nova" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC and "The Sing-Off" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

There's a lesson to be learned for being an artist who shows up an hour and a half late for a concert. Singer Rihanna took the stage a hour and a half late recently. She was scheduled to perform at 8, but didn't make it until 9:30. Once onstage, the singer was greeted with boos from the crowd. She received a different crowd response on last night's "The X Factor", where she was a guest star. The singer turned in a magnificent performance.  It looks like the album rapper Rick Ross has been tweeting about won't be released when first thought. "God Forgives, But I Don't" was scheduled to hit stores in December, but may not be released until January or February of next year. Rapper/actress Queen Latifah looks to add mother to her list of accomplishments. She says she'd like to adopt a child soon. In addition, she has a talk show in the works along with a movie, "Joyful Noise", with Dolly Parton. No doubt, the talk show and movie will be must see items for fans. Another Hollywood couple bits the dust. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are divorcing. Rumors regarding infidelity have plagued the two for some time now, and it looks like things have finally come to a head with divorce proceedings. At any rate, best wishes to both. Beyonce and Jay Z's wedding was one of the most well-guarded secrets in show business, no doubt. Now, with the release of the video for her latest single "I Was Here", Beyonce is giving fans an opportunity to see her wedding dress as well as her meeting Oprah Winfrey, her performing around the world, joining hubby Jay Z on stage, revealing her baby bump on the MTV Video Music Awards and other events in her life. The video is worth checking out. Despite dispelling rumors that the Blackeyed Peas are splitting up, group member Will.I.am is reportedly working on a solo album. No word on a release date as of yet. It's the end of a television era. Regis Philbin signed off "Live With Regis & Kelly" this morning, with fans, family and celebrity guests all paying tribute to the host and his long career in television. He will be missed. There's no word on a replacement, however. In theaters this weekend: "Happy Feet Two" and "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Pt 1". On the tube: "Kitchen Nightmares" on Fox, "A Gifted Man" on CBS, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on ABC and "Chuck" on NBC. Make it a weekend!

Thursday Dish

Actor/comedian Kat Williams is probably wishing he had taken time to re-think a recent shopping trip. He was questioned by police while at a Best Buy regarding a shop lifting incident, and it turns out the guilty party was a member of his entourage. No charges were filed and all was well. That's good to know, considering the problems the star has had lately. Singer Chris Brown's neighbors are probably happy he's finally sold his condo. As mentioned previously, they complained that he parked illegally, had wild parties and had dog races in the halls. He' s since purchased a home in Hollywood Hills. Here's hoping he doesn't have any further neighbor trouble. Once again, couples are hooking up and breaking up in Hollywood. Actor/comedian Eddie Griffin married in October, separated earlier this month, and now has reportedly reconciled with his wife. Former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard has divorced his wife of three years on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. Here's wishing both the best. Since the ending of her 72 day marriage to Kris Humphries, a boycott of sorts has begun against reality star Kim Kardashian. A petition to have the E! reality series "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" cancelled, in addition some are protesting Tyler Perry's decision to cast her in his latest film "The Marriage Counselor". It remains to be seen how things will pan out from this point. Stay tuned. With 2011 almost done, XXL magazine has released it's covers, yes that's right covers, all of which feature rapper 50 Cent is various poses. One cover includes the G-Unit general along with friend Floyd Mayweather Jr. Chris Brown is apparently so over questions regarding ex-girlfriend Rihanna that he's deleted his Twitter account, leaving only a few positive messages for fans. He hasn't been able to ignore comments and questions regarding the incident involving he and his ex three years ago and took to the social networking site to rant about it. Let's hope folks leave the singer alone so that he can get on with his life and career. It's the best for all concerned. The competition continues on "The X Factor", and so far, it's been an exciting season for fans of the show. Simon Cowell has been his usual self, while Paula Abdul has been ever the mentor to contestants. Be sure to tune in tonight. Another week of competition has ended on "Dancing With The Stars". It's down to the wire and only time will tell who will win the grand prize. Keep tuned in.  On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "20/20" on ABC and "Community" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

Rapper Drake wants to challenge mentor Lil Wayne to a battle of sorts. The Toronto MC says he wants the two to get on stage with mics and a DJ and see who the crowds loves more. It sounds like an interesting battle, if it can be pulled off. In the meantime, the rapper also dispelled rumors that he was elbowed by singer Chris Brown. He says the incident never happened. Kanye West and Jay Z have a collaboration album on the charts and are touring together as well, now two more hip hop heavyweights are looking to do the same. ATL rhyme spitter Young Jeezy says he's spoken to fellow ATL rapper T.I. about the possibility of doing an album together. Although nothing's definite as of yet, the two have collaborated in the past, and most recently on Jeezy's single "F.A.M.E.". Jeezy says he was inspired after seeing Kanye West and Jay Z's opening night performance of the Watch The Throne tour in Atlanta. He says he's ready to take things to the next level. Here's hoping the two do get together soon. The chemistry between the two is incredible. While he has fans waiting with baited breath for his "Detox" album, Dr. Dre reveals that he intends to take a break from music to concentrate on his head phone line Beats By Dr. The rapper/producer started the line some time ago, and it appears to be doing well in the industry. Let's just hope the retirement from music won't last long. He's been missed by many and deserves to be heard. Long before Rockawear, Phat Farm and House of Deron made fashion and hip hop  a billion dollar a year industry, legendary rap group Run-DMC started the trend with their classic "My Adidas". In a recent interview, member Darryl "DMC" McDaniels stated that it started as a song about the group's sneakers and it came from a place where people would look at the b-boys and b-girls and say they were the one who created problems. The song's impact was evident when the group toured. The group was paid handsomely as well. Run-DMC became the first rap group to received a endorsement deal. Now, in honor of their classic track and the timeless shoe, Run-DMC and Adidas are bringing back the 80's with a limited edition version. Adidas has produced over 1,986 pairs of the same shoe that Run, DMC and the late Jam Master Jay wore over two decades ago with special details like the JMJ logo on the heel, "1986" stitched on the side and a gold lace lock designed to look like a dookie-rope chain. Old school hip hop fans should get the item while the can, they won't last forever. Contestants Hope Solo and Makism Chmerkovskiy were eliminated from the "Dancing With The Stars" competition. This leaves Ricki Lake among those who will go on to the next round of competition. Be sure to tune in next week as the competition continues. The competition on "The X Factor" continues also, as contestants attempt to wow the judges and audience. On the tube: "The X Factor" on Fox, "Survivor: South Pacific" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Up All Night" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

Just when it looked like the "Occupy All Streets" t-shirts rapper Jay Z manufactured had been taken off the market, they have returned. Back orders of the shirts have been processed after reports that the proceeds weren't given to the current Occupy Wall Street movement. Meanwhile, Hova is set to appear on the cover of GQ magazine as it's king. It seems fitting since he's married to the queen. Rappers Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa are set to tour together next month and have a film in the works as well. The tour and film should be a  hit with fans. Rumors of a romance between rapper Drake and tennis star Serena Williams persists. The rapper is coy saying the two are good friends and he enjoys watching her play tennis. If it isn't  love, it sure sounds like a very special friendship at any rate. Having lost 30 lbs after giving birth to twins and now the new spokesperson for Jenny Craig, singer Mariah Carey says she's done having children. The singer, who gave birth via C-section, says she's not sure if she can endure what she went through again. What she went through was gestational diabetes, and a lot of pain, as she describes her pregnancy. She went on to say that having the twins was a blessing. There's been no word on when the singer will return to work. With the American Music Awards drawing nearer, the list of performers on the upcoming telecast has just gotten larger. First Lady of Young Money Nicki Minaj and house music sensation David Guetta will take the stage on the annual awards show. The two collaborated on the single "Where Them Girls At?" and will likely perform the song on the show. The list of performers on the show include Chris Brown, LMAFO and Christina Aguilera. The American Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theater in New York on Sunday November 20 at 8 p.m. R. Kelly's autobiography "Soulacoaster: The Diary Of Me", has been pushed back to a spring 2012 release, a representative for SmileyBooks told the Village Voice. Originally set to hit stores on November 15 according to online book seller Indigo, the book is Kelly's chance to address the highs ( 13 Top Ten albums) and lows (child pornography charges, throat surgery) of his life and career. "Soulacoaster: The Diary Of Me" was co-written with David Ritz, who has also written books with Grandmaster Flash and Ray Charles, among others. Smileybooks is the PBS talk show host's publishing imprint. Another week of competition will end on "Dancing With The Stars" with the results show airing tonight. Ricki Lake received a score of 59, putting her well ahead of the other competitors. Tonight's results show is sure to be a real winner. On DVD: "West Side Story", "Evil Dead 2", "Bellflower" and "Beginners". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Last Man Standing" on ABC and "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Monday Memo

The film "Immortals" topped the weekend box office earning over $30 million dollars. "Jack and Jill", "Puss in Boots", "Tower Heist" and "J. Edgar" round out the top five films of the week. Just days after the passing of hip hop legend Heavy D, the world nearly lost another hip hop legend. Eric Sermon of the iconic rap group EPMD suffered what's believed to be a heart attack and is reportedly recovering well. Although he's been quite on the scene for some time now, Sermon and partner Parrish Smith recorded such hits as "You Gots To Chill", "So What You Sayin" and "The Crossover", among others in the late 80's, early 90's. At any rate, it's great to hear Sermon is doing well. Hopefully, fans will get to hear new music from him after his recovery. Singer Beyonce made an appearance on Jimmy Fallon recently, causing more rumors about faking her pregnancy to swirl around the industry. The show was taped back in July, so that would account for the lack of a baby bump. Singer/songwriter/producer R. Kelly is adding author to his list of accomplishments. He's set to pen an autobiography titled "Soulacoaster: The Story of Me" along with writer David Ritz, who has penned books on Smokey Robinson and Ray Charles as well. The book will detail Kelly's medoric rise and sudden falls. From the learning disorder that rendered him unable to read and write, to the teacher to once told him his destiny was music, not basketball, readers will be able to follow his evolution from Chicago street performer, to struggling Los Angeles musician and beyond. Kelly reveals his hard-won ascent to superstardon and the battle to move on after the legal and personal ordeals that threatened to destroy his life. Now, back on top, Kelly recounts the surprising twists and turns that have moved him to new heights of maturity and artistry. The book unlocks the door to Kelly's story as only he can tell it, guaranteeing to be a page turner. "Soulacoaster: The Story Of Me" hits store shelves on November 15. Russell Simmons, watch out. Lil Wayne is now entering the credit card business by introducing the Young Money pre-paid debit card. There's no word on when the card will be available for purchase. In celebration of the Sir Mix-A-Lot hit "Baby Got Back" turning twenty, Legacy Records released a statement introducing the "Baby Got Back App". Exclusive to the iPhone and available now, the app features Sir Mix-A-Lot's Booty Calls, a Mix Makeover photo lab, a Ba Dunka Dunk club game, and a social media Text Mix. The app is $.99 on iTunes. It's sure to be a hit with fans. The competition continues with "Dancing With The Stars" tonight, and it's only a matter of time before a winner is revealed. It will be quite interesting to see how the contestants fair. On the tube: "Terra Nova" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC and "The Sing-Off" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Friday Facts

The estate of Michael Jackson as well as the Jackson family is still working to stop the airing of a documentary by Dr. Conrad Murray. The documentary, which is scheduled to air tonight, follows the doctor in the days following the death of Michael Jackson. It's still unclear whether the action taken by Jackson's estate will prevent the airing of the documentary. Just in case you tune in to the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which airs on November 29, you'll catch a glimpse of Kanye West and Nicki Minaj walking down the cat walk. Rumor has it that Jay Z made a special guest appearance at the event as well.  Don't miss the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" airing on November 29. The Academy Awards will air soon, and interestingly enough, there's drama brewing behind the scenes. First director Brett Ratner, who was set to produce the event, was forced to resign after making some remarks in the press some found offensive. Then, actor Eddie Murphy, slated to host the show dropped out. Now, director Brian Grazer has replaced Ratner,while Billy Crystal has reportedly replaced Murphy as host. The Academy Awards will air in February on CBS. It appears that singer Alicia Keys has an alter ego like Erykah Badu. The singer/songwriter filled in for hubby Swizz Beatz when the DJ/producer became tired while spinning at a recent party in New York. Her DJ name; AK47. With his sophomore album, "Take Care", set for release in just days, Drake took time to reflect on his debut release "Thank Me Later" by saying while people loved the album he felt it didn't show his full potential. He says the new album has consistancy and fans won't hear music that doesn't belong on the album. "Take Care" will hit stores on November 15. You can also pick up a copy of The Source's Power 30 issue, featuring the MC on the cover. Fans will be happy to know that Redman and Method Man are currently working on a third entry to their "Blackout!" album series. The two MC's are also working on a production company that will produce vehicles in the vein of the "How High" films. Redman says their not sure when the album will be released, but they will release a single next year. The rapper says he's also working on a follow up his 1997 album "Muddy Waters". It's great to see the guys back on the scene. Another week of competition has ended on "The X Factor", and it's anyone's best guest how the contestants will fair in the coming weeks. The competition will continue for another week on "Dancing With Stars" as well. In theaters this weekend: "Immortals", "J. Edgar" and "Jack and Jill". On the tube: "Kitchen Nightmares" on Fox, "A Gifted Man" on CBS, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on ABC and "Chuck" on NBC. Make it a weekend!