Freedom Writers Movie Premiere

On Tuesday we showed I Have A Dream by Common featuting will.i.am taken from the movie soundtrack Freedom Writers. The film premiere was held on Thursday night. Here are some pictures taken from the event.
Hillary Swank
Common
will.i.am
Mario and new model girlfriend Nicole Ricca.

The movie starring Hillary Swank, who is also the excutive producer, is based on the true story of teenagers after the LA riots of 1992. Swank plays a young teacher who inspires the teens to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school.Mario also stars in the movie.

Heres the trailer.

Nia Long covers Essence

[Click photo to enlarge]
Nia Long graces the February issue of Essence Magazine. How amazing does she look?

Justin Timberlake Splits with Cameron Diaz

Justin Timberlake has split from Cameron Diaz, according to a report in the new issue of Star.

The magazine, on newsstands this week, claims the pop star told friends in Memphis: “We’re done.”



Timberlake, 25, and Diaz, 34, were last seen together publicly on Dec. 16, when she introduced his musical performance on Saturday Night Live. But, according to Star, the couple spent the Christmas holiday season apart – Timberlake was at home in Tennessee and Diaz was skiing in Vail, Colorado.


The magazine quotes sources who claim Timberlake pulled the plug on their relationship after “a serious discussion that ended with Justin deciding that his days with Cam were numbered.”

Star reports that while partying at Senses nightclub in Memphis two days before Christmas, Timberlake told friends “the breakup is for keeps.” [Source]

Justin is rumoured to be seeing old flame Veronica Finn. We'll keep you posted on whether this is true or it is just one of those articles to fill up the gossip columns as theres not much in the way of real news for gossip magazines at this time of the year.

Is Halle Pregnant?

Another new year and rumours abound about Halle Berry being pregnant. Heres a few recent snapshots of her taken a day or so ago for you to look at and make your decision. Let me know what y'all think...pregnant or not? [Click on photo to enlarge]

Celebrity Big Brother Latest Update: Jermaine Jackson Enters the House

As promised, here's the latest update from Celebrity Big Brother.Looks like the only truth to the list of celebrity housemates previously rumoured to be joining the Celebrity Big Brother house is Jermaine Jackson...or should i say the Artist Formerly Known as Jermaine Jackson. Jermaine, who is a practising Muslim and is now known as Muhammad Abdul Aziz.Wow!His profile states that he does not drink and his worst fear is sharing a toilet!! Things people do for money.

Jermaine entering the house.

New Video: Stephen Marley feat Damian Marley:'Traffic Jam'

After several years behind the boards producing three Grammy Award winning albums for his half-bother Damian Marley (which include Halfway Tree and the more recent Welcome to Jamrock),producing the 1999 Bob Marley remix album 'Chant Down Babylon', Stephen Marley is finally releasing a new album called Mind Control. This is the first single featuring Damian Marley called Traffic Jam. Album is out in March.

New Movie Trailer: Chris Rock's 'I Think I Love My Wife'

This is the trailer to the new Chris Rock movie I Think I Love My Wife starring Kerry Washington and Gina Torres. It will be out in March.

Celebrity Big Brother

celebrity Big Brother starts tonight and im really excited. The list of housemates will only be revealed on tonights live telecast. Names of celebs rumoured to be taking part are many and varied from Jermaine Jackson,Whitney Houston, Gary Coleman, Lil' Kim, David Hasselhoff and even K-Fed have been touted around. I will update you soon as the housemates are revealed.

New Video: Common feat.will.i.am 'I Have a Dream'

Taken from the Freedom Witers soundtrack. Is it me or is will.i.am going to be the next biggest producer? Dude is everywhere (his most recent being Hip Hop is Dead by Nas). He will be on Michael Jackson's new project and many more.

Love this track and video

Whitney Auctions her Assets

Whitney Houston is being forced to sell many personal possessions to deal with her huge debts.

Designer outfits, music equipment and awards gathered during her once-glittering career are going under the hammer after she failed to pay £76,000 fees to keep the items in storage.

Many of the clothes, including outfits by Dolce & Gabbana and Giorgio Armani, have been held in storage since Houston's My Love Is Your Love tour in 1999. The singer has since been troubled by drug abuse, marital and financial problems.

Also being auctioned in New Jersey next week are a £150,000 Schimmel acrylic grand piano, drum kits, keyboards, sound equipment, a multi-tier concert stage set, an elevator and a forklift. Houston's corporation Nippy Inc has failed to pay bills for the storage facility Speed of Sound since 2005, forcing the firm to apply for a court order to auction the contents.

Speed of Sound's lawyer, Jeffrey Campisi, said of Houston's legal adviser: "He's been very cooperative, but he doesn't have a cheque to write us."

The sale will include a Versace silk-screened print vest, 29 bustiers, 13 sequined wristbands, dozens of rhinestone belts and the Boston Music Award for outstanding male vocalist belonging to Houston's estranged husband Bobby Brown.

Houston's spokeswoman, Nancy Seltzer, said she had no knowledge of any outstanding storage fees. "She is selling equipment, as many artists do, that is out of date," and stagings and costumes that are "not needed any more," she said.

The auction is set to prove an embarrassment for Houston. Auctioneer Steve Newmark said: "There's some pretty personal stuff in there. Even her underwear is in there. I was marvelling at the waist of some of these (clothes). They were pretty small."
[Source:Daily Mail]

Some of the items on auction....[click on photo to enlarge]

Ashanti graces Jane Magazine

Ashanti really has stepped up her game in the last few months. She looked amazing on this shoot.

Oprah opens Academy in South Africa

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Tuesday opened a $40 million school for disadvantaged South African girls which she has paid for out of her own pocket.

The sleekly designed campus, sprawling 52 acres in a sleepy community south of Johannesburg, encompasses classrooms and laboratories equipped with flat screen computers, a yoga studio, beauty salon and well-stocked library.

"When you educate a girl you begin to change the face of a nation," said Winfrey. "The school is going to change the trajectory of their lives."

She said the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was inspired by her own humble beginnings, struggling to survive with no electricity or running water, and as a former victim of physical and sexual abuse.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela, on hand for the opening celebration, praised Winfrey. [Source:Reuters]

GO Oprah! Celebs Mary J. Blige, L.A. Reid, Babyface, Tina Turner, India Arie and Turner were among the many present.






[Looks like Chris Rock and his wife are still together.]

Nelly Donates Clothes to Katrina Victims

St Louis rapper, Nelly has added his name to the list of many celebrities that have helped out victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Through his Apple Bottoms women's cothing line, Nelly and Daphne LaSalle,model and winner of the Apple Bottoms Model Search 2006, handed out clothing to women and children at the Allie Mae Multi Service Center. The centre provides shelter to women and their children who lost their homes during Hurricane Katrina.

Ever since the cameras stopped rolling, the US government, media and the world in general have turned have turned a blind a blind eye and almost forgotten the plight of the Katrina victims. Good to see Nelly using his celebrity status to turn our attention back to this terrible disaster. So much has been done but there's still a lot more work to be done.

Busta Rhymes Faces More Assault Charges

Busta Rhymes has been charged with assaulting one of him employees on Boxing Day.

Busta, real name Trevor Smith, already faces charges relating from an assault last year, and faced more police pressure over the shooting of one of his bodyguards at a film set early in the year, and now looks set to face the misdemeanour charge of third-degree assault.

One of his drivers, Eddie Hatchett, 39, filed a police complaint, claiming he visited Rhymes New York office on December 26th to collect money he was owed, but was instead beaten up. He claims the rap star hit him repeatedly, cutting his face.

Rhymes also faces charges relating from an incident involving a fan, for assault, attempted assault and harassment.[Source]

Somebody pleaaaaase help this brother out!

Michael Jordan's Divorce Final

Michael Jordan and his wife, Juanita, divorced Friday after 17 years of marriage. "Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17 year marriage," the couple said in a statement issued through their lawyers. "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements."

Michael Jordan's lawyer, Frederick J. Sperling, declined comment.

But in court documents filed Friday with the Lake County Circuit Court, the couple said "irreconcilable differences have caused an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage." The couple said attempts to reconcile their marriage had failed and future ones "would be impractical and not in the best interests of the family."

Juanita Jordan previously filed for divorce in January 2002, but withdrew her petition a month later when the couple announced they were attempting a reconciliation.[Source: Chicago AP]

In other news...
Kate Moss Ties the Knot

Looks like supermodel Kate Moss has married her junkie fiancé Pete Doherty in a private New Year's Day ceremony on the island of Phuket in Thailand.
The Daily Mail speculates Kate's vast fortune could be a ball in play, as Doherty is cash poor. No word on whether the wedding was a Thai Buddist-style blessing or a legal wedding.
With Kate's past drug troubles and Pete's never-ending spiral into drugs and non-stop trouble with the law, this will no doubt be the relationship to watch for so many reasons.Anyone got a stop-watch.Also..

Nelly upset at Engagement Rumors

Looks like the rumoured engagement between Nelly and Ashanti did not take place after all and Nelly is reportedly upset upset that the rumors even surfaced in the first place.(Hey Keli,if you're reading this...there's still hope for you!)