Bring That Week Back: Week of July 12
LeBron makes a big announcement; Beyonce involved in London car crash. More top news.
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Lil Wayne to Release Album - While still incarcerated, Lil Wayne is set to release a new album in September. The digital release, entitled “I’m Not a Human Being,” will have new material and will serve as a preview to “The Carter IV,” his manager told VIBE.com. "We just gonna put it out virally and maybe package it up for Christmas," Cortez Bryant said. "Give 'em a hard copy later for fan appreciation."
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D.C. Man Claims to be LeBron’s Father - Leicester Bryce Stovell, of Washington, D.C. is suing LeBron James for $4 million, claiming that he’s the NBA star’s father. Stovell, who stands 6 ft 8 tall, is a Princeton graduate and lawyer suing for fraud, defamation and misrepresentation. “This suit is really about whether he’s my son and I’m his father,” he told the Washington Post. He claims that he had a brief affair with James’ mother Gloria when she visited D.C. back in 1984.
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The-Dream Announces Split from Milian - After compromising photos came out earlier this week of him and his assistant frolicking on a beach in the Caribbean without his wedding ring, The-Dream (real name Terius Nash) released a statement Monday saying that he and wife singer Christina Milian decided to separate. The two eloped last September and had another wedding ceremony in Rome in December. According to The-Dream’s rep, the couple decided to separate in late 2009, but wanted to keep the news private to protect their daughter.
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50 Attacked on Stage - While performing on stage in Brazil, 50 Cent was attacked by a concertgoer who jumped up on stage. After getting on the stage, 50’s attacker grabbed the rapper, but security was able to quickly get a hold of him, tackling and slamming him on the ground, the video shows. He is then taken off stage. Throughout it all, 50 continued to perform.
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Ludacris Will Star in 'Fast and Furious' - Via Twitter, Ludacris revealed earlier this week that he will star in the fifth installment of “Fast and Furious” “Just landed in Puerto Rico. Shooting for ‘Fast & Furious 5’ is about to be underway,” he Tweeted. In 2003, the rapper/actor also starred in “2 Fast 2 Furious.” The movie is due out in June of next year.
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Rep: Rihanna Not in Contact with Chris Brown - Despite reports earlier this week, Rihanna has not been in contact with ex Chris Brown, according to her rep, who said the rumor was “not true.” According to the original story, ran by a British mag, Rihanna was touched by Brown’s emotional performance on the BET Awards and recently spoke to him over the phone. Brown must stay 100 yards away from Rihanna and 10 yards away from her at public events, due to the domestic violence incident last year.
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Jay-Z Earned $24 Million in 2010 Tours - Jay-Z’s tour is the top earning solo hip-hop act so far this year, according to Pollstar’s Mid Year Business Analysis. The list ranked the top 100 tours of 2010, and Jay (sitting at No. 12) is the only solo rapper on the list. The Black Eyed Peas are sitting at No. 6 on the list with $29.5 million earned. Rock group Bon Jovi is No. 1 with $52 million earned.
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Drake Starts New Album - Nearly a month after his very successful first album, “Thank Me Later,” was released, Drake announced via Twitter that he’s already at work on album No. 2. “Started my new album last night too...ok I'm done...miss me video tmrw at 9am...tipsy...maybe? naaaaaaah....maybe tho,” he tweeted Wednesday. His latest release, currently at No. 2 on Billboard’s list, has sold almost 800,000 copies since being released June 15.
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Walter Hawkins Dies - Walter Hawkins, a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, composer and pastor from Oakland, died Sunday at his home in Ripon, Calif. He was 61. Hawkins was fighting pancreatic cancer. The gospel great, whose career spanned four decades, was behind such hits as “Oh Happy Day,” “Thank You,” “Going Up Yonder,” “Changed” and many more. Hawkins is survived by his brother Edwin, two children, two grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
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Keys, Jay-Z, to Perform at Black Ball - Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and Sade are set to perform at the 7th annual Black Ball NY in September. The event is put on by Keys’ Keep a Child Alive organization, which helps fight HIV/AIDS in India and Africa. "Sade? Jay-Z? Both icons and both major influences of mine. I am overwhelmed by their generosity in helping us continue the tradition of making the Black Ball the best fundraiser in NYC," Keys said in a statement.
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Waka Flocka Entourage Investigated - A woman in Ohio called police early Monday morning saying she was sexually assaulted on Waka Flocka Flame’s tour bus. The complaint is not against the rapper specifically, according to reports. Detectives went on his tour bus, though, to investigate. “We have a sexual assault complaint, but nothing has been determined yet,” said an officer. The rapper was in the state performing at WENZ FM/107.9’s Summer Jam concert.
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Blasts in Uganda Kill 76 - Explosions in Uganda killed 76 people on Sunday who were watching the World Cup final. Somali terror group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attacks that President Obama called “tragic and ironic,” as Africans celebrated the World Cup taking place in South Africa.
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First Lady Speaks to NAACP - On Monday, Michelle Obama spoke at the 101st annual NAACP convention in Kansas City, just days after her husband left the city. During her speech, she talked about “Let’s Move,” her initiative to fight childhood obesity. She said that today’s lifestyle of high-calorie food coupled with an inactive lifestyle was destructive.
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9 Charged in Fiery Oakland Protests - Prosecutors have filed charges against nine people who were arrested during protests following the verdict for a White former San Francisco Bay area transit officer charged with killing an unarmed Black man. Seven were charged with felonies and two face misdemeanors in Thursday night's protests in downtown Oakland, said a prosecutor. A Los Angeles jury found Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter instead of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Oscar Grant last year.
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T.O.: 'I’m Not a Troublemaker' - Free-agent receiver Terrell Owens is concerned teams won’t sign him because they think he’s a troublemaker. Owens, 36, told the AP that last season’s unimpressive statistics were due to the Buffalo Bills’ coaching upheaval and offensive line injuries and that he believes he can still be a top receiver. But for now, while waiting to be picked up by a team, he’s promoting his VH1 reality show, which premiered Sunday.
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Lawrence Taylor Pleads Not Guilty - Former NFL star Lawrence Taylor pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to an indictment that alleges he had sex with a 16-year-old girl in a New York hotel room. Taylor was arrested May 6, after the girl's uncle contacted New York City police. He could be imprisoned for up to four years if convicted. Defense attorney Arthur Aidala said Taylor would challenge the girl's identification of him. Aidala also said the defense would look into whether all statements made in the case were voluntary.
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Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner Dies - George Steinbrenner, who both inspired and terrorized the Yankees in more than three decades as owner, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 80. Steinbrenner was taken from his home to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and died about 6:30 a.m., the AP reports. "George was a fierce competitor who was the perfect fit for the city that never sleeps — colorful, dynamic and always reaching for the stars," former President Bill Clinton said.
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Neverland to Become a State Park? - A California lawmaker proposed Tuesday that Neverland (located in Santa Barbara County), the former home of Michael Jackson, become the state’s latest state park. Jackson's 2,500-acre estate once housed amusement park rides and a zoo with tigers and snakes, but many of the estate's attractions were dismantled or sold after his death in 2009. The Los Angeles legislator said fans from around the world would visit Michael Jackson's former estate.
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Ex-NOLA Cops Could Face Death - Four former New Orleans police officers accused of shooting and killing two unarmed people in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina could face the death penalty. They were charged along with two others in a 27-count indictment unsealed Tuesday. Five former New Orleans police officers have already pleaded guilty to helping cover up the shootings on the Danziger Bridge that left two men dead and four wounded just days after the August 2005 hurricane.
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BP: Oil Leak Stopped During Test - On Thursday, BP announced that oil from its broken well has stopped gushing into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since April. It was a long-awaited milestone in one of the nation's worst environmental disasters. The cap is not a permanent fix. BP is drilling two relief wells so it can pump mud and cement into the leaking well in hopes of plugging it for good. The crisis began when BP's deepwater rig exploded in April, killing 11 workers.
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Billboard with Obama, Hitler Draws Complaints - A billboard that compares President Obama to Adolf Hitler and Vladimir Lenin is causing a stir in Iowa. The display was created by an Iowa Tea Party group and was unveiled last week in downtown Mason City. The co-founder of the roughly 200-person group said the billboard was intended to send an anti-socialist message. But Bob Johnson admitted Tuesday that the message may have gotten lost amid the images of fascist and communist leaders.
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Tiki Barber Sued - Former NY Giants star Tiki Barber is being sued by a chain of cycling fitness centers that allege he misled them into believing he was happily married when they signed him to promote the chain. Barber said he and his wife Ginny were a “happily married, celebrity couple who were known to attend indoor cycling classes together.” In fact, Barber left his pregnant wife of 11 years for a 23-year-old former NBC intern. The company’s clientele has reacted very negatively to Barber’s publicity.
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Spain Wins World Cup - On Sunday, Spain defeated the Netherlands to gain the World Cut title 1-0 in extra time. The victory sent hundreds of thousands of people to the streets of Madrid in celebration. The team won the European title two years ago.
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Mashonda Speaks on Alicia Keys Meeting and Ex - In a recent interview with VIBE magazine Mashonda, spoke about her current feelings on Alicia Keys and her ex-husband, producer Swizz Beatz. Their divorce was finalized in May, and Keys and Beatz announced their engagement, and her pregnancy, not long after. “I still like her songs. She's head over heels in love and I get it. Every woman deserves to feel that, not at the expense of another woman though,” she said. She also says she felt disrespected by their relationship, but has moved on.
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South Africa to Bid for 2020 Olympics - Fresh from its successful hosting of Africa's first World Cup, South Africa said Tuesday it will bid to bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time in 2020. Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg are considered possible bid cities. The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said it would "formally oversee a bid for the 2020 Games” and encouraged potential host cities to "state their intention of being involved in the process."
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Trip to Florida - After speaking at the NAACP Convention, Mrs. Obama headed down to Panama City Beach, Fla. During her visit, she met with community members and business leaders to talk about the effects of the BP Oil Spill.
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DMV Rattled By Minor Quake - The Washington, D.C. area was surprised early Friday morning by a 3.6-magnitude earthquake. The quake, which happened at around 5:00 a.m., rattled windows and jostled dishes but apparently caused no serious damage. President Barack Obama told reporters he didn't feel it. Earthquakes are pretty rare in the area, and those that occur are usually small. In 1997, there was a 2.5-magnitude quake and in 1996 there was a 2.3-magnitude all in the same general area.
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NAACP Vs. Tea Party - The NAACP lashed out at the Tea Party movement during their 101st convention this week, passing a resolution denouncing racism in the conservative group. The NAACP doesn’t have a problem with the group for existing, but rather “their acceptance and welcoming of White supremacists into their organizations,” President Ben Jealous said. Sarah Palin fired back calling the racism accusations “false” and “appalling.”
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HIV Decreasing Among Young People in Africa - The number of young people infected with HIV in Africa is falling in 16 of the 25 countries hardest hit by the virus, according to a new report by a U.N. agency. The number of young people infected with HIV dropped by at least 25 percent in a dozen countries, the U.N. AIDS report said. The drop in HIV rates coincided with a change in sexual behavior, like having fewer sexual partners or increased condom use, UNAIDS said.