Monday Memo

The film "Underworld Awakening" topped the weekend box office earning over $25 million dollars. "Red Tails", "Contraband", "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" and "Haywire" round out the top five films of the week. Rapper Jay Z recently celebrated the reopening of his 40/40 Club, but it closed a day later. The club closed due to several health department violations, and it remains to be seen when it will be able to reopen. It appears that a misunderstanding occurred involving producer Swizz Beatz. It was rumored that he got some associates in hot water regarding a music downloading site megadownload. Now it's been reported that negotiations took place for Swizz' purchase of the site but fell through. Hopefully, he'll have better luck with his next venture. The Khloe Kardashian paternity drama continues. As most fans know, rumors began circulating about the late Robert Kardashian not being her natural father. Mother Kris Kardashian has admitted to cheating, but not confirmed Khloe being father by anyone else. Older sister Kim took to Twitter to make her feelings about the subject known, sarcastically, of course. Stay tuned. There's bound to be more drama to come. Fans waiting for rapper Nicki Minaj's sophomore album will have to wait a little longer. The album has been pushed back and it remains to be seen when it will it store shelves. At any rate, fans can catch the rapper on the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. The show airs on February 12 on CBS at 8pm. Actor/comedian Tracy Morgan was rushed to the hospital after passing out at the recent Sundance Film Festival. Although it hasn't been confirmed, sources say the reason for the incident could be exhaustion as well as trouble with altitude. Hope he gets well soon. Although it hasn't been confirmed whether he's signed with the label, Jaden Smith was seen sporting a Young Money/Cash Money emblem recently. The young actor and rapper has certainly made waves in the industry and has a bright future ahead of him no matter what direction he goes in career wise. Sad news out of the word of R&B. Legendary singer Etta James, known for such hits as "At Last" and "Tell Mama" died Friday. She was 73. She began her career as a child gospel prodigy and later went on the form a group with some friends called The Peaches. She later signed with Chicago based label Chess Records where she recorded several hits. She was plagued with several health problems in later years and was recently hospitalized. She was later released. Her legacy will live on. On the tube: "House" on Fox, "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS, "The Bachelor" on ABC and "Who's Still Standing" on NBC. Happy Monday!

Thursday Dish

With the third anniversary of the Chris Brown assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna approaching, rumors continue to spread regarding whether the two have reconciled. Reportedly Rihanna visits Brown when she's in the Los Angeles area. Fans will recall some time ago the two exchanged tweets that lead to speculation regarding the nature of the relationship today. So far, there's been no comment from either of the singers or their representatives. Only time will tell whether it's true or just another false rumor. Rapper Jay Z, who many will recall wrote a poem to his newborn daughter in which among other things, he vowed to stop using the b word, may have contradicted himself. It appears the poem wasn't written by the hip hop mogul, although that hasn't been confirmed as yet. No comment from Hova on the matter as yet. In the meantime, due to feeling the pinch of hard economic times, he's had to lay off half of the work force at his Rock-A-Wear clothing line. Although he sold the line some time ago, he's still a shareholder in the company.  Fans of rapper/actor LL Cool J will be happy to know that according to People magazine he's been tapped to host the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. He will be the show's first host since Queen Latifah was given the honor in 2005. In a released statement, he revealed that he's thrilled to be hosting the show. He's hosted "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! since it began in December 2008. The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will air from The Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12 on CBS at 8 pm. Astro, the 15-year-old rapper who made waves on the American version of "The X Factor" and clashed with Simon Cowell, has inked a deal with Epic Records. As a contestant on the show, he made it to the top ten, and became known for his passionate and defiant attitude. This lead to a confrontation with judge Simon Cowell. He later apologized for the incident. He's since gone on to accumulate a huge following, with nearly 200,000 followers on Twitter. He joins a Epic Records roster that includes Jennifer Lopez, Sean Kingston, Brandy, Shakira, and the winner of the first season of "The X Factor", Melanie Amaro. He previously shot down rumors of signing with Jay Z's Rock Nation Records. He says he's glad to be able to say he's now working on his album. He also has LA Reid as a mentor. No word yet on when his album will be released. The second night of the new season of Fox's "American Idol" airs tonight as the judges continue to hold auditions. While it's too early to tell who will make the final cut, the season is sure to be an exciting one. Be sure to catch the film "Red Tails" when it hits theaters. The film is the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought during World War 2. Support of black films is important, as the industry needs to know that the story of the black experience in America needs to be told. Support black films! On the tube: "American Idol" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Wipeout" on ABC and "30 Rock" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

After serving nine years in prison on assault and weapons charges, rapper Shine has confirmed that he and former mentor Sean "Diddy" Combs have communicated. He says the two have come to an understanding after a phone conversation. Fans will recall that Shine was convicted after a 1999 shooting at Club New York where several people were injured. Sean "Diddy" Combs was charged, but later acquitted. No word on whether the two will work on any music together. Singer Beyonce, who has been the target of several rumors in the past, is now under scrutiny again. The new mom has taken some photographs that, in the opinion of some, make her appear more fair skinned that she is. Some seem to think the photos were touched up in some way. The singer is naturally fair skinned, so only time will tell where and how the recent rumors started. With the rumors of Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony possibly getting back together come the one about Lopez giving new beau access to a credit card. It appears she wants the quick access to cash when the two paint the town. First Lady of Young Money Nicki Minaj well reportedly add fashion designer to her list of accomplishments. She's signed  a deal with a designer for a fashion line. Although there's no word on when the line will hit stores, it's sure to be a hit with fans everywhere. The new season of Fox's "American Idol' starts tonight as contestants first battle to make it on to the talent show, then battle for the grand prize. In addition, only time will tell what judge Steven Tyler will do or say next. As mentioned previously, the members of the 90's R&B group 112 have all seemed to have gone their separated ways and are all working on separate projects. Member Daron Jones has just released his second solo CD "Uncensored". It's more of what fans grew to know and love the group for. The CD can be purchased at daronjonesmusic.ning.com. On the tube: "American Idol" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Whitney" on NBC. Happy hump day!

Tuesday Tales

A female fan now says she's scared for life thanks to the rap group Bone Thugs & Harmony. It all began when she attended a recent concert where Layzie Bone lost control of his microphone while hurling it into the audience. The microphone hit the woman in the face, causing bruises, lacerations and other injuries. She asking for damages. Antoine Cook, the father of singer Fantasia Barrino's son has reportedly been cheating on her with other women before and during her pregnancy. She reportedly got pregnant in an effort to keep him. In the meantime, he's attempting to reconcile with his wife. Singer Rihanna posted a photograph of her self rolling and smoking a blunt with a caption underneath. While only time will tell what she'll do next, the photo is bound to cause a sensation on the internet. Meanwhile, singer/songwriter/producer The Dream, who wrote and produced "Umbrella", owes the IRS $117,000 in back taxes. With the money the star made from the hit, he's sure to make a payment soon. Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony are rumored to be seeing one another again. The two were seen together holding hands. The two have an amicable relationship, so the rumor may or may not be true. Kris Humphries, the ex-husband of reality star Kim Kardashian, now says that not only was the couple's wedding a sham, so was the proposal. He says Kim received specific instructions regarding the proposal, so she knew when it would happen. He even went on to say that he wanted to pop the question in his home state of Minnesota, but Kim wanted the proposal done at her home. At any rate, here's wishing the two the best. Adele fans will be happy to know that they will see the British sensation singing live again. It's been announced that she's been added to the list of performers at the 2012 Grammy Awards. She's nominated for six awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance. The announcement is noteworthy due to the fact that the singer had throat problems for much of 2011. Doctors operated to stop hemorrhaging in her throat in November. The singer took to Twitter regarding the announcement. She will join a list of performers that includes Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars and more. The Grammy Awards will air on February 12 on CBS. The singer/songwriter will also perform at the BRITs, the UK's equivalent to the Grammys on February 21. In addition, her sophomore album, "21", has just spent it's 15th consecutive week in a row at number one on the Billboard 200. Congratulations. Sad news out of the world of R&B. Funk legend Jimmy Castor passed away of unknown causes yesterday. Castor, a saxophonist, was leader of the group the Jimmy Castor Bunch, who had such hits as "Troglodyte". Although the group's popularity faded at the end of the disco era, their music lived on through hip hop as his hit "It's Just Begun" became a staple break for the 80's b boy break dance scene. The song was also used in the 1983 film "Flashdance". Eric B. & Rakim, Ultramagnetic MC's, Kanye West and N.W.A. are the hip hop names who have sampled his hits over the years. Before switching over to funk he also replaced Frankie Lymon in Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers. His legacy will live on. On DVD: "Moneyball", "What's Your Number?", "Killer Elite" and "Higher Ground". On the tube: "Glee" on Fox, "NCIS" on CBS, "Last Man Standing" on ABC and "The Biggest Loser" on NBC. Happy Tuesday!

Friday Facts

Rapper Snoop Dogg has added entrepreneur to his list of accomplishments. The rapper reportedly has plans to start his own line of cigars. The first batch will be released soon and are sure to please fans of the MC. Rapper Lil Wayne has plans to write a book about his time in prison titled "Gone Till November". The book will be published by Grand Central Publishing on November 28. The book is sure to be a compelling read.  The traffic warrants for Tyga have been taken care of, now if his next project can get done as easily. The release date for his album has been pushed back. It was initially scheduled to be released on January 24, but now a release date is undetermined. It appears that the recent birth of baby girl Blue Ivy  has inspired Jay Z in more ways than one. He's written an open letter in which he pledges to start doing things differently, including not using the b word. Just when the rumors that actress Halle Berry was engaged started, representatives for the actress say the ring she's been seen sporting is a gift from her currently beau, and not an engagement ring. The Critics Awards were held yesterday, and the film "The Help" ran away with several awards including Best Actress, Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress Octavia Spencer and Best Film. Actress/singer Jennifer Hudson cleared up rumors that she turned down the lead role in the film "Precious" because it was too graphic. She stated in an interview that she turned down the role because she didn't want to be type casted as the fat girl. Singer Toni Braxton stated she's doing well after her hospitalization. She blames the episode on her battle with lopus. The list of performers at this year's Grammy Awards just got larger. The First Lady of Young Money, Nicki Minaj, has been added to the list of performers for this year's Grammy telecast. She will join Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, The Foo Fighters, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson on the telecast, scheduled to air on February. The announcement was made via Twitter. The only question is, what will she wear? Reality star Mama Jones of "Love & Hip Hop" has once again caused a stir. She took to Twitter to attack co-star Olivia using language that can't be repeated here. Of course, Olivia responded with some course language of her own. Only time will tell where things will go from here. Model Amber Rose broke down during a recent interview in which she revealed she's been attacked by haters. She says she doesn't deserve the attacks. In theaters this weekend: "Beauty and the Beast 3D", "Contraband" and "Joyful Noise". 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

Khloe Kardashian is fuming at her two step moms. As mentioned previously, the late Robert Kardashian had doubts about whether he was the reality star's father. Now, the two women Robert Kardashian Sr. married after divorcing Kris Jenner say in a Star magazine article that Robert told Khloe some time ago that she was not his child.  Khloe took to her Twitter account to let her feelings regarding the matter be known. Although it's difficult to determine what's true and what's false, in her new book, Kris Jenner reportedly confesses to cheating on Robert Sr.  The legal action taken by other moms at the New York hospital where Beyonce gave birth appears to have been dropped. The women claimed they were neglected by the hospital staff in favor of catering to Beyonce. Meanwhile, sister Solange is making a name for herself in the modeling world. She's reportedly signed a deal with a modeling agency and will be the face of the agency's new ad campaign. Although it's since been removed, Willow Smith posted a photo of herself pole dancing. So far, there's been no comment from mom and dad. Dad Will has been tapped to host the Nickelodeon Awards. The suspect arrested for the shooting death or rapper Slim Dunkin has been denied bond. Fans will recall that the rapper was killed outside a recording studio over a piece of candy. There's been no word on whether an appeal will be filed. The People's Choice Awards aired last night, and fans got an opportunity to see all their favorites as they received their awards. Among last night's winners are "Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows Pt 2" for Favorite Movie, "Hot In Cleveland" for Favorite Cable TV Comedy, Johnny Demp for Favorite Movie Actor, Emma Stone for Favorite Movie Actress and "American Idol" for Favorite TV Competition Show. Disney star Demi Lovato beat out Rihanna, Beyonce, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga for Favorite Pop Artist. Actor Don Cheadle graces the cover of the latest issue of Jet magazine. In the article, the actor talks about his new series and what's next for him. Rapper T.I. and wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle grace the cover of the latest issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine. The two discuss their relationship, and Tiny discusses what it's like to have her husband home. Both magazines are on newsstands now. At less than a week old, Blue Ivy Carter has made history as the youngest person to ever hit the charts. She earned this honor by having her cooing and crying shortly after birth appear on her father's single "Glory". While the song is not for sale, it has racked up enough spins to claim 1.7 million audio impressions. That puts the song at No. 74 on the charts.  Still no pictures of the infant have surfaced, however. On the tube: "Bones" on Fox, "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS, "Wipeout" on ABC and "30 Rock" on NBC. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Roundup

There's a warrant out for the arrest of Christopher "Kid" Reid. He was a no show at a progress hearing recently. Fans will recall that the rapper was arrested some time back for DUI. At the time of the arrest, he was ordered to among other things, attend alochol counseling. There's no word on the amount of jail time he could receive. Model Amber Rose has released a new single, in addition, she's apologized for calling Kim Kardashian a home wrecker during her time with Kanye West. For those who'd like to know, the new single does include an appearance by beau Wiz Khalifa. As most fans know, Khloe Kardashian has different features than her siblings, Kourtney, Kim and Rob. Now, it's been reported that the reality star's late father Robert questioned his paternity, since he was not having sex with his then wife Kris. Khloe's height, curly hair, and different look from her siblings caused her to become suspicious about the paternity of the man she's known as her father. Only time will tell what will transpire next. The animal rights organization PETA isn't too pleased with rapper/producer Dr Dre. The good Dr has entered a partnership with fashion designer Oscar De La Renta to create a limited edition version of his pricey headphones. The headphones, which cost $695, are lined with luxe silver fox fur. PETA, of course, didn't take kindly to the idea and sent a letter to the entrepreneur and De La Renta asking that they reconsider. Dr Dre, so far, has not responded to PETA's open letter. Former Bad Boy artist Loon will remain in a Brussells prison a little longer. The rapper was arrested in Belgium after being caught at the Brussells airport on his way to give a lecture at the Islamic Cultural Center of Belgium and charged with trafficking heroin to the U.S. His lawyer is at press time attempting to appeal the decision in Supreme Court. Officials reportedly used the Patriot Act to bring him back to the states, as he has now converted to Islam and now lives in Algeria with his family. The United States has not yet seen extradition papers. Stay tuned as t this story develops. Fans of the 90's R&B group 112 will be happy to know that although there's no word on a possible reunion, each group member is currently focusing on solo projects. Daron Jones, the group's producer, has released a new album titled "Uncensored". It's more of the great R&B fans have come to expect. Fox's "American Idol" will return for another season on January 18. The season is sure to be an exciting one as fans compete for the grand prize. Judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson will all return when the season begins. Another season of ABC's "The Bachelor" has begun as yet another gentlemen looks for his lady love. The new season is sure to be full of surprises and enough drama to keep fans glued to their televisions.  Be sure to catch the film "Contraband " when it hits theaters this weekend. The film stars Mark Wahlberg appears to be full of the action the star has become known for. On the tube: "Mobbed" on Fox, "Criminal Minds" on CBS, "The Middle" on ABC and "Whitney" on NBC. Happy hump day!