Bring That Week Back: Week of June 7
Jay-Z sheds opens up on marriage to Beyonce | T-Pain is sued and the Nets have new coach. Plus more!
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San Fran D.A. Kamala Harris Wins Primary - Kamala Harris, San Francisco County District Attorney, won the Democratic primary Tuesday in the race to replace California Attorney General Jerry Brown. She beat out a field that included Facebook privacy officer Chris Kelly, who sank more than $12 million of his own money into the campaign. Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley captured the GOP nomination. If she wins, she would be the state’s first Black female Attorney General.
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Beyoncé's Dad: No DC3 Reunion - Former Destiny’s Child manager Mathew Knowles shut down rumors that the trio will be reuniting in a statement released Monday. “Contrary to rumors online of Destiny’s Child reunion, there are no plans for the group to reunite for a performance or album,” he said. “Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams have each moved on to successful solo careers. The members remain close, but will not reunite as a group.” The group broke up in 2004.
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Jay-Z, Jeter Won’t Pursue LeBron James - As the push to bring free agent MVP forward LeBron James to the Knicks heats up, at least two New York notables won’t join the fray. “I don’t play basketball. I have nothing to do with that,” said Yankee shortstop Jeter. Said Jay-Z, “I don’t want to convince somebody to do something, then have to see him and say, ‘Uh, yeah, we’re 4-30 … sorry.” The mayor recently launched the “C’Mon LeBron” campaign and a group with that name has 3,000 fans on Facebook.
4 / 28
Chris Brown Denied UK Entry - Singer Chris Brown will have to put his visit to the U.K. on hold, after recently being denied entry into the country, reports CBS. The singer, who was set to perform at three concerts in the country, was refused a visa for being guilty of a “serious criminal offense.” Last year he pled guilty and was sentenced to five years probation and 180 days of labor for assaulting ex-girlfriend Rihanna.
5 / 28
Jay-Z Opens Up About Marriage in Rolling Stone - In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, where he is emblazoned on the cover, Jay-Z talks a little bit about his married life and his time as Def Jam head, MTV.com reports. During his interview he called “all” of his meetings there frustrating. He also spoke of an instance when his wife Beyoncé overruled his purchase of a photo (showing a “lit pistol with a pair of women’s legs emerging from the handle”) for a similar one without the gun. The magazine is due out this week.
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6 / 28
Kanye’s Porsche Stolen, Crashed - Kanye West’s Porsche Panamera was stolen and crashed into a multi-million-dollar house in Hawaii early Saturday morning. The star, who has been in the state working on his latest project, was actually traveling and had left the car with his cousin, the New York Daily News reports. Thieves stole and crashed the car shortly afterward, wrecking the vehicle. Three men were seen running from the car after the accident, neighbors said.
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Mandela's Great-Granddaughter Killed - Nelson Mandela’s great-granddaughter, Zenani Mandela, 13, was killed by a drunk driver in a car accident on the way home from a World Cup concert in Soweto on Thursday night. Tens of thousands of people had sung and danced with headline music stars Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas. The former President has canceled plans to attend South Africa’s opening match at the World Cup games in Johannesburg.
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Marvin Isley Dies - Marvin Isley, the bass player and youngest member of the Isley Brothers group, died in a Chicago hospital Sunday morning. He was 56. The hospital spokeswoman would not confirm a cause of death, but in 1996 Isley had to stop performing due to severe complications from diabetes. He joined his brothers' band in 1973. By that time, the Isley Brothers had established themselves with hits like 1959's "Shout," which sold more than 1 million records.
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Desiree Rogers Lands New Gig - The White House’s former social secretary Desiree Rogers has landed a new job at Johnson Publishing – the parent company of Jet and Ebony magazines- as a consultant who’ll work on corporate strategy. Rogers, a close friend of the Obamas, left her former job when she got heat after a Virginia couple crashed a White House dinner last year.
10 / 28
Rihanna Shows Off New Look - Rihanna displayed her fiery new ‘do at a concert in Spain last weekend. The singer, currently on her “Last Girl on Earth Tour,” hit the stage of the Rock in Rio festival with a mop inspired hairstyle with shaved sides. Celebrity stylist Ursula Stephen, also behind the mop styles of Keyshia Cole and ANTM Winner Saleisha Stowers, created the hairdo, reports the NY Daily News.
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11 / 28
Obama Speaks at Michigan High School - Monday afternoon, the president traveled to Michigan to deliver the commencement speech at Kalamazoo Central High School during their graduation ceremonies. The lucky high school beat out other competing schools to win this year’s Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. Obama returned to D.C. afterward.
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Did Slim Thug Insult Black Women? - Rapper Slim Thug was all over the news this week for his controversial statements to VIBE about Black women. In a blog he reportedly stated that “[Black women] have to understand that successful Black men are kind of extinct…It’s hard to find us so Black women have to bow down…” He continued stating, “White women treat they man like a king and Black women feel like they ain’t gotta do that s–t. Black women need to stand by their man more.”
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Obamas Host BBQ for Lawmakers - On Tuesday, the Obamas hosted an annual barbeque on the White House’s South Lawn for all members of Congress. This year the event featured foods from regions across the country for a "Tastes of the States" theme. During the event, Obama told lawmakers he wanted to thank them for their "incredible devotion to the country, regardless of party."
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Supporters Rally for Jailed Kilpatrick on Birthday - On ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpartick’s 40th birthday Tuesday, supporters in his hometown attended a prayer rally wearing T-shirts bearing his image and Bible verses. While the event was set up by his mother, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, her brother claims that the rally wasn’t in honor of the former mayor, but to pray for the city and the nation. That same day, Kilpatrick arrived at a correctional facility in Manistee, Mich. Last month, he was sentenced to five years in prison.
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Obama Meets Families of 11 Killed in Explosion - On Thursday, the president invited families of the 11 men killed in April’s oil rig explosion off Louisiana’s coast to the White House to offer personal condolences. The explosion ended up causing the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama also wants to hear the families' thoughts on changes the government can make to ensure that future deepwater oil drilling is safe.
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16 / 28
Trial Date Set for Ja Rule - On Tuesday, a New York judge set an Aug. 18 trial date for rapper Ja Rule for charges in a 3-year-old gun case. Police said they found a loaded semiautomatic gun in his luxury sports car as he was leaving a July 2007 concert. Rule, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, has pleaded not guilty to weapon possession. He was allowed to be a no show at the court date because he was shooting a movie out of town.
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Drake Talks Rihanna - In a NY Times interview, Drake revealed that he felt used as a “pawn” in his brief relationship with Rihanna. The two spent some time together last year as Drake wrote a (never released) song for her latest project “Rated R.” “I was a pawn,” he said. “You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I’ve done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear.”
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Jay-Z, Beyoncé Take in French Open - Music’s power couple, Jay-Z and Beyonce, attended the French Open finals on Sunday in Paris. The two witnessed Spain’s Rafael Nadal defeat Sweden’s Robin Soderling to win his 5th French Open title.
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Common Says He’s Single - In a recent interview with a Chicago TV station, Common, said he was single, confirming reporters that he broke up with reported girlfriend tennis player Serena Williams. “I’m not married. I still have a high respect for tennis,” he told the interviewer. “But I’m definitely a single man. But everything is good with tennis.”
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Avery Johnson Will Coach Nets - ESPN commentator and former Dallas Maverick coach Avery Johnson says he’s agreed to coach the New Jersey Nets. Last season, the Nets had the NBA’s worst record at 12-70. The current ESPN analyst coached Dallas for three-plus seasons, going 194-70 in the regular season and 23-24 in the playoffs. He guided the Mavs to the NBA finals in 2006, but was fired after a first-round playoff series loss to New Orleans in 2008.
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21 / 28
Biden Visits Kenya - This week Vice President Joe Biden visited Kenya, the native country of Obama’s father, for a couple of days in route to South Africa to witness the opening ceremonies of the World Cup and cheer on the U.S. squad. While in Kenya he urged citizens to reach for “transformative change,” which was in reference to an August vote for a new constitution.
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Fantasia Graduates from High School - American Idol winning singer Fantasia, 25, has finished high school. The singer, who dropped out of school in the 9th grade, earned her GED and accepted an honorary degree from Andrews High School in Greensboro, North Carolina last weekend where she walked in the ceremony with graduates in cap and gown.
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The-Dream Talks Marriage to Christina Milian - During a recent interview with WJLB’s “Coco Foolishg and Mr. Chase in the Morning,” The-Dream shed some light on his divorce with singer Nivea and his marriage with singer Christina Milian. He called Nivea a “great friend” and added “Everyone around me gets along. They might not want to, but we have to.” When asked how his marriage with Milian was going he admitted it was “pretty tough,” citing family members, and the stress of blogs and groupies.
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Greg Leakes Releases Statement About Marriage - Last week Gregg Leakes, husband of Real Atlanta Housewive Nene Leakes, had a lot of people talking when a conversation he had with a DJ bad mouthing his wife was aired online. He released a statement this week, though, taking back his statements and accused the DJ of misleading him saying that “he was simply confiding in a friend after an argument with his wife.” The statement acknowledged the two are facing marital difficulties, but also said that Gregg apologized to Nene for his comments.
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“Mystery Man” Wins S.C. Democratic Primary - In a shocking victory, an unknown political newcomer Alvin Greene, beat out a four-term lawmaker and landslide favorite to become South Carolina’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Nobody knows for sure Greene, a 32-year-old military vet, beat out Vic Rawl, the former state legislator and judge whom officials had expected would win. Some suspect, anti-incumbent sentiment, or the mere fact that Greene’s name was listed before Rawl’s on the ballot.
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26 / 28
Woods to Open Center in D.C. - Golfer Tiger Woods will open two learning center in Washington, D.C., his foundation announced in a press release Tuesday. The Tiger Woods Foundation will team up with the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy to establish two campuses.
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T-Pain Sued by Ex Da Band Singer - Sara Stokes, the singer from P. Diddy’s Da Band featured in the reality show “Making the Band,” has filed suit against T-Pain alleging he distributed a couple of songs to Jennifer Hudson that she co-wrote without her permission. She and her label Sarmony Entertainment is suing T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Production for the revenue the songs generated and attorney fees.