Bring That Week Back!
Check out the week's hottest stories in pictures!
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Ready for Love? - Is Juanita Bynum's ex-husband ready for love again? According to MediaTakeOut.com he is! In fact, instead of finding love the old-fashioned way, word has it that he plans to do it via reality show. There's no word yet on which network will get the rights to the show – if there really will be a show.
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R. Kelly Speaks - Answering tough questions about his seven-year long legal battle about age preference when it comes to teenage girls, and his music, R. Kelly set the record straight for the first and last time Tuesday, telling BET, "It's time to move on." Kelly said, "Twelve people who didn't know me...after hearing the facts found me innocent so I'm hoping that fans...can do the same thing."
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Homewrecker? - Did Alicia Keys come between Swizz Beatz and his estranged wife, Mashonda? The hip-hop producer says Alicia had nothing to do with him and Mashonda’s split. However, sources tell BET.com that Alicia could be named as "the other woman" in the divorce proceedings.
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T.I. Strikes Back - T.I. says the mother of his two oldest boys is trippin.' He released a statement this week saying he pays Lashon Dixon more than $2,000 a month in child support, provides for their private schooling, health care and other expenses. The rapper says he also made attempts to help Dixon with a down payment on a home and purchase an automobile for her transportation.
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Where Is He? - OK. Where is Damon Dash Jr.? According to reports, his mother, Linda Williams, has enrolled him at a school in Long Island, N.Y. – even after a judge ruled that Damon Sr. was to have sole custody of the teen. A judge has warned that Williams had better return Dash Jr. immediately, or she'll be arrested.
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Help the Kids - Denzel Washington wants to know what the deal is with adults. The Oscar-winning actor, who was in D.C. Wednesday for an event promoting the Boy and Girls Clubs of America, says it troubles him that adults "are not more committed" to helping young people. Washington says young people "will go as far as we take them," adding that it's on us, not the children.
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No ‘Thriller’ - Though he was acquitted of child sexual abuse in 2003, his reputation for sleepovers and keeping company with juveniles has some Las Vegas parents feeling uneasy. They don’t like the fact that M.J. is their new neighbor. In fact, they say his new address is no “thriller” for them because it’s right down the street from an elementary school.
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Obama as Aunt Jemima - Obama dressed as Aunt Jemima, a Muslim, and a Mexican?! Apparently some folks still can't accept that a Black man is a candidate for president – especially Republicans. Two writers from Franklin, Tenn., created the boxes of waffle mix and sold them at a GOP summit this week for $10.00 a box.
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Unappreciated - It may not be the "Year of the Gentleman" after all. Ne-Yo feels he isn't getting his props as an artist. He told The Associated Press that he should be on the cover of "VIBE," "Rolling Stone" or "People" – especially with the resume he has in the game so far.
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“Pig” Out - So much for all the beefing from John McCain's camp about whether Barack Obama called GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a pig. McCain himself is now saying Obama wasn't really saying that – despite his TV ad about the matter. McCain says he'll leave it to the American people to judge whether Palin was being treated fairly.
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Not One Black - O.J. Simpson's latest legal battle may be his toughest yet. When the jury was seated in his kidnapping and robbery case, not a single juror was Black. Although Simpson's attorneys argued the fairness of the challenges, the judge in the case sided with the prosecutors.
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Coleman Charged - Whatchu talkin' about judge? Well, Gary, he's talking about you being charged with reckless driving and disorderly conduct. After an argument with a fan at a Utah bowling alley earlier this month, Coleman jumped in his truck and reportedly hit Colt Rushton. Gary, according to witnesses, got mad that Rushton was snapping photos of him.
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I Got Money - Rihanna wants folks who know nothing about her business – especially about her finances – to stay out of it. The singer says she knows what's going on with her money all the time. Rihanna says her bank balance is in check because, "I stay on top by living it, breathing it, thinking about it every day and every night."
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Gettin' Hitched - Less than a year after they began dating, Jennifer Hudson and David Otunga are preparing to be husband and wife. While the couple was out celebrating Hudson’s 27th birthday, Otunga popped the question. Her publicist Jessica Kolstad says the two haven't set a wedding date. Meanwhile, Hudson will release her debut solo album Sept. 30.
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Brothers? - Hold up! Do you see a resemblance here or what? Are J. Hud’s fiancée, David “Punk” Otunga, from “I Love New York 2,” and Terry McMillian’s ex-gay husband, Jonathan Plummer, brothers? Bossip.com pointed out that the two could have separated at birth. Look at the photos carefully, and you be the judge!
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"Book" Her - Tennis star, fashion designer – and now author. Serena Williams is writing a book, and you can expect it to hit store shelves next year. The publisher is keeping quiet about how much it'll pay Serena to put her life story on paper, but sources in the book industry say the bidding got to at least $1.3 million.
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Tuskegee Honor - Lionel Ritchie will be performing at an event to honor the Tuskegee Airmen next month. The singer will take the stage on Oct. 11 at the Gala Reception and Banquet in Montgomery, Ala. Ritchie is a native of Tuskegee and will be returning to the United States to do the event after going on a tour of the Middle East.
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Looking Back - Twenty-five years ago this week, Vanessa Williams of New York became the first Black contestant to be crowned Miss America. The following July, when Williams resigned in the wake of her Penthouse magazine scandal, Suzette Charles fulfilled her duties for the remaining seven weeks. Charles became the second African-American to hold the title.
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Weezy Leads - Lil Wayne could walk off with a whole bunch of hardware when this year's BET Hip-Hop Awards roll around. He has 12 nominations for the show, followed by Kanye West, who has the second-most nods, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo and T-Pain. The ceremony, which honors the hottest hip-hop stars, will be hosted by Katt Williams and air on Thursday, Oct. 23.
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Again?! - Looks like Fiddy is still sore over losing last year's 50 Cent vs. Kanye West release/sales battle, so the rapper is challenging Kanye to a second release battle. But this time their release dates don't match up. 50 Cent's new album "Before I Self Destruct" is due Dec. 9, while West's album "808's & Heartbreak" is reportedly set for Dec. 16.
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Sweat Gets "Real" - After making an impressive debut on the R&B scene with songs like “Make It Last,” “I Want Her” and “Nobody,” Keith Sweat has his eye on two reality shows. The first of the two shows is expected to follow Sweat's life as a radio personality. He also has another reality TV show in the works on R&B group Dru Hill.
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Back in the Lab - The Queen is back in the lab working on a new CD. Latifah will be returning to her rap roots on this album with help from LL Cool J and Dr. Dre. She said Dre and LL are mixing the CD now, and it's straight-up "banging."
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Comeback - She may not have been visible, but Christina Milian has still been working. In fact, she's scheduled to drop her fourth CD via MySpace Records in 2009. The former Def Jam star says LL Cool J and Dr. Dre are working on the album, and "it's very feminine." In the meantime, you can look for her in the video game “Need For Speed UnderCover” this November.
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New Album - Nelly is hoping to hit hard with "Brass Knuckles." It's not a threat – just the name of his new album that dropped Tuesday. Among those working with the St. Louis native on the release include Usher, Pharrell, Akon, Snoop Dogg and Ashanti.
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Bey's in Charge - Beyoncé took the law into her own hands this week. Dressed as an NYPD cop, the R&B diva shot her video for "If I Were a Boy" in Harlem. The single is one of two tracks to be released on Oct. 7.
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New Label - Oh Snap! Jay-Z's rumored record label, StarRoc, may be up and running by the end of year. The rapper reportedly hooked up with StarGate to form the label. It's rumored that the new label will pull Def Jam's top acts which include Ne-Yo and Rihanna. And word has it that his boo, Bey, will also be coming into the fold.
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New Deal Inked - Lil Wayne has resigned with the only label he’s been with during his career. A release from Cash Money Records indicates the new deal will make Lil Wayne a multi-millionaire. His most recent release, "Tha Carter III," sold a million copies in a single week during its release in June.
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'Sunday Best' - Think you have the pipes to be the world's next big gospel star? Then you might want to join the more than 10,000 fans of BET's "Sunday Best" who are uploading video and voting for contestants to participate in season two. The new season premieres in March, but users only have until Sept. 26 to submit video.
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Get Well Nate - Former Death Row recording artist Nate Dogg has suffered yet another stroke since the first one on Dec. 20, 2007. Sources say Nate is in stable condition, but his paralysis may have worsened. The first stroke left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body, but there was no significant brain damage done.
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No Foul Play - An investigation has turned up no evidence of foul play in the death of singer Sean Levert, who died while in jail in Ohio. Levert's widow, Angela Lowe, had filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit in June, after accusing county jail officials of neglecting her husband's medical needs.
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