R. Kelly Set To Release New Music And DVD

The complete Trapped In The Closet Chapters 1-12 will be released on DVD on November 1. The DVD will include never before seen footage as well as a documentary on the making of the Trapped saga. Additionally R. Kelly will have, as a DVD bonus, a running commentary on the entire Trapped series. BET’s Access Granted will premiere Chapter 6 the week of October 10; and beginning October 17 MTV2 will kick off R. Kelly week.

R. Kelly is donating all proceeds from “Let Your Light Shine,” a new track he wrote for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita to “S.O.S. (Saving OurSelves): The BET Relief Telethon,” which benefits Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims through the American Red Cross. The single is available digitally on all service providers and its video is currently in rotation on BET.

Remix City Volume 1 is a collection of all of R. Kelly’s classics remixed by R. Kelly that will be in stores on November 15.

The track listing includes:

1. Your Body’s Callin’
2. Bump N’ Grind
3. Sex Me
4. Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)
5. I Can’t Sleep Baby (If I)
6. I Wish
7. I Mean (I Don’t Mean It)
8. Ignition
9. Step In The Name Of Love
10. Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)
11. Feelin’ On Yo Booty featuring YoungBloodz
12. Slow Wind

Via PRNewswire

Bennett under fire for remarks on blacks, crime

Common Releases Cinematic Video for New Single ‘Testify’

As Common’s already Gold-Selling Getting Out Our Dreams/Geffen Records release, BE quickly approaches Platinum, everyone’s favorite MC debuts a cinematic delight for his newest single, “Testify”, and readies to join the “Touch The Sky” tour. On the heels of the Kanye West-directed “The Corner” and hit single “Go,” this Box Fresh Pictures production boasts an all-star cast of Common fans, including Bill Duke (“Menace II Society,” “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’,” “X-Men 3″), Steve Harris (“The Practice,” “Minority Report”), Wood Harris (“The Wire,” “Remember The Titans,” “Paid In Full”) and Taraji P. Henson (“Hustle & Flow,” “Four Brothers,” “Baby Boy”). Directed by Anthony Mandler, “Testify,” is a rugged, suspense thriller that finds Common spinning the tale of a woman’s emotional plea to testify for her man in court that leaves all listeners with an incredible twist at the end. Common premiers the video today on MTV’s TRL & BET’s 106 & Park and performs “Testify” on Live w/Regis & Kelly October 7th.

BE continues to rack up rave reviews, including being hailed a “classic,” “flawless” and “the best hip-hop album of the year.” Critics have toasted BE as Common’s return to his Resurrection days. The Chi-town icon has scored some of the highest ratings of his career: People (4 out of 4 stars), Rolling Stone (4 Stars), Vibe (4 1/2 v’s), The Source (4 1/2 Mics), Blender(4 Stars), Spin (A- Rating), Entertainment Weekly (A- Rating) and USA Today (3 1/2 Stars out of 4), plus he was featured in national outlets like Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Life, and appeared on the covers of Vibe, URB & Time Out Chicago.

In addition to his accomplished and acclaimed musical resume, Common plans to capitalize on his flair for fashion, style, literature & community awareness by launching his very own hat line “Soji”, writing his own children’s book distributed this fall through Hip-Hop School House, “Mirror In Me,” “I Like You, But I Love Me,” and “ME: Mixed Emotions” and building on his interest in today’s youth. The father of one continues to dedicate time to his Common Ground Foundation, which organizes and runs seminars for kids about health, self-esteem and understanding the often controversial images seen in hip-hop videos and the lifestyle. Most recently the Common Ground Foundation donated proceeds from a special screening of his new video to Hurricane Katrina survivors who are being relocated to the Chicago area. “This is an incredible opportunity for people in Chicago to make a contribution to the relief effort at the local level,” explains Common. He also spreads the word of protection. Last November, Viacom approached Common about being involved in their “Knowing is Beautiful” HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. The commercials feature him delivering spoken word he penned specifically for the PSA. Having lost an uncle to the disease, it was an opportunity to encourage kids to get tested and be more aware of how their actions can affect their future.

Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Common is one of the most respected lyricists and skilled MCs in Hip-Hop. He made his solo CD debut with 1992′s Can I Borrow A Dollar, and quickly ascended to prominence in the Hip-Hop universe. Other key CD releases include Resurrection, One Day It’ll All Make Sense and Like Water for Chocolate.

BE is the second release on Grammy winner Kanye West’s Getting Out Our Dreams label, and it debuted #1 on Billboard’s Hip-Hop and R&B charts, his highest debut ever, and #2 on Pop charts, selling 184,617 units the first week. Guest artists joining Common on the new CD are The Last Poets, John Mayer, Bilal, John Legend, Pops and Kanye West himself.

Powered by Kanye West’s production and his own critically acclaimed rhyme style, Common’s status as one of the greatest rappers of our time has now been confirmed. With his new ranking as Hip-Hip elite, while maintaining his altruistic spirit toward the youth, his community and the world, it would come as no surprise in his already awesome and blessed career if Common’s dream of one day appearing on Oprah will come true.

All in a day’s work for a man who has turned out to be not so Common after all.

Common “Touch The Sky” Tour Dates [subject to change]:

10/11 – Miami, FL @ Convocation Center: University Of Miami
10/12 – Tampa, FL @ USF: Sundome
10/15 – Greenville, SC @ Bi-Lo Center
10/16 – Knoxville, TN @ Thompson-Boling Arena
10/18 – Columbia, MO @ Mizzou Arena
10/19 – Champaign, IL @ Assembly Hall
10/21 – Buffalo, NY @ Alumni Arena
10/22 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
10/23 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre

10/24 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
10/26 – Kingston, RI @ Ryan Center: UN. Of Rhode Island
10/28 – Stage College, PA @ Bryce Jordan Center: Penn State
10/30 – Fairfax, VA @ Patriot Center
10/31 – Amherst, MA @ Mullins Center
11/2 – New York, NY @ MSG Theatre
11/3 – New York, NY @ MSG Theatre
11/4 – Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
11/5 – Hampton, VA @ Coliseum
11/6 – Philadelphia, PA @ Liacouris Center
11/8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Petersen Center
11/9 – Toronto, ON @ ACC
11/11 – E. Lansing, MI @ Breslin Center: MI State Un.
11/12 – Dekalb, IL@ NIUConvocationCenter

11/13 – Evanston, IL @ Welsh Ryan Arena
11/14 – Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion
11/15 – Carbondale, IL @ SIU Arena
11/17 – Winstom Salem, NC @ LJVM Coliseum
11/19 – Statesboro, GA @ GSU
11/22 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center
11/23 – Memphis, TN @ Mid-South Coliseum
11/25 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Arena
11/26 – Dallas, TX @ Nokia Theater
11/27 – Kansas City, MO @ Kemper Arena
11/29 – Denver, CO @ Lecture Hall
12/1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dodge Theatre
12/2 – San Diego, CA @ Cox Arena
12/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Universal Amph
12/4 – Los Angeles, CA @ Universal Amph
12/6 – San Francisco @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12/7 – Las Vegas, NV @ M. Bay–Aladdin
12/9 – Portland, OR @ Memorial Coliseum
12/10 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
12/11 – Vancouver @ GM Place

Via PRNewswire

Destiny’s Child Sings Anthem For World Children’s Day

Singing group Destiny’s Child, Beyonce Knowles, left, Michelle Williams, center and Kelly Rowland, record their new single, “Stand Up For Love (2005 World Children’s Day Anthem),” at Sony Studios in New York. The single was release to radio on September 27, 2005. As Global ambassadors for World Children’s Day at McDonald’s, the trio is lending their voices to support Ronald McDonald House Charities and children in need.

World Children’s Day is an event which takes place annually around the world on November 20 to raise awareness and funds for children’s causes worldwide. Over the past three years, more than $50 million has been raised to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children’s organizations.

Photo by Chip East via PRNewsFoto

Celebrities Support Verizon’s Realize Campaign

Verizon Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Management Jerri DeVard (far right), joins (left to right) Bob Johnson, founder of BET, actress Vivica A. Fox and music mogul, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs during Verizon’s ‘Realize Triumph’ celebration. The event, held during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, was held at the LOVE nightclub in Washington, D.C., and celebrated Verizon’s new ‘Realize’ grassroots advertising and marketing campaign. The campaign honors African-Americans who rely on Verizon’s broadband services to pursue their potential and help their communities.

The campaign, is using actual Verizon customers in two Northeast markets (Philly & DC) to describe the benefits of Verizon’s broadband services. The customers tell how Verizon Online DSL helps them become entrepreneurs as well as serve the communities in which they live.

Via PR Newswire Photo Service

Ludacris Set To Host Music Show On XM Satellite Radio

XM Satellite Radio (Nasdaq: XMSR), the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than 5 million subscribers, has announced GRAMMY(R)-nominated multi platinum-selling artist Ludacris will host a weekly music show exclusively for XM. “Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Ludacris’ Open Mic” will feature music hand- selected by the artist, including songs from Ludacris’ vast personal music collection, as well as special guests and interviews with other artists. The show will debut in January 2006 on XM’s uncut hip-hop channel RAW (XM channel66).

“This is the beginning of a great partnership and I really look forward to growing with XM and their millions of subscribers,” said Ludacris. “XM Satellite Radio is affording me the opportunity to expose our audience to a wider variety of music and ideas.”

Born Christopher Bridges, multi-platinum hip-hop recording artist Ludacris is one of the most recognized names in popular music today. A former radio personality from Atlanta with an impressive knowledge of music, Ludacris has enjoyed enormous success since his major-label debut in 2000 and his music has been embraced by urban media outlets, as well as MTV and pop radio. Beyond his own work as a recording artist, Ludacris is CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace Records, which is home to some of the top selling artists in R&B and Hip Hop, selling over 15 million records.

In addition to his own lucrative music career, Ludacris has branched out into acting, most recently with a standout performance in the independent film Hustle and Flow, winner of the Sundance Audience Award. He also starred in the critically acclaimed film Crash, which has earned him a Supporting Actor nomination at the First Annual Black Movie Awards, and will be featured on the October 6 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” A committed philanthropist, Ludacris is also dedicated to giving back to the community through his Ludacris Foundation, which has recently provided free housing for over 100 people.

“Ludacris’ passion for and knowledge of music, along with his remarkable talent as an artist, are a natural fit with XM,” said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming for XM Satellite Radio. “The addition of Ludacris to the XM artist family is a testament to XM’s commitment to create the best original music programming available on satellite radio.”

Via PRNewswire-FirstCall

D’Angelo Critically Injured In SUV Crash

Don King And Boxer Lamon Brewster Meet And Greet The Troops

Legendary boxing promoter Don King will bring the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Heavyweight Champion “Relentless” Lamon Brewster to “meet and greet” service members stationed at Ramstein Air Base on USO tour. Brewster’s manager Sam Simon, a veteran television director and co-creator of “The Simpsons,” also will be on hand for autographs and pictures. Don King’s son, Carl King, was the youngest boxing manager in history and will be accompanying the tour as well. The group also is scheduled to visit USO Centers and spend time with troops recuperating from injuries at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The tour is co-hosted by the 435th Services Squadron.

A strong supporter of the armed forces, Don King recently contributed $150,000 toward the completion of the Fort Campbell, Ky., Monument Fund to honor the men and women of the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles Strike Fear Battalion. King also makes sure that service members around the world can watch boxing by providing a free television feed of the fights he promotes to Armed Forces Network. He also has donated tickets to service members stationed on bases near the venues of his boxing matches.

Using the skills he learned from legendary boxing trainer Bill Slayton, Lamon Brewster has earned a record of 32-2 with 28 knockouts. The Indianapolis, Ind., native is scheduled to defend his title Sept. 28 in Hamburg, Germany, against Luan Krasniqi. A standout amateur boxer with numerous accolades, he won the Olympic summer fest and received the Olympic Trial Runner-up Award in 1996. Brewster, who started his professional career in 1996, reached the ultimate goal in 2004, when he beat Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO Heavyweight Championship.

Named the “2004 Manager of the Year” by the World Boxing Organization, Sam Simon manages WBO Heavyweight Champion Lamon Brewster. Prior to his partnership with Brewster, Simon spent several years writing, producing and directing shows on the small screen.

The 12-time Emmy winner directed “Taxi,” “Cheers,” “The Tracey Ullman Show,” “The Drew Carey Show,” and “The Simpsons,” which he co-created. Simon is also active in a number of charities including “The Sam Simon Foundation,” a privately funded charity with a mission to save the lives of dogs to enrich the lives of people.

For more than 64 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by World Partners Anheuser-Busch Companies, AT&T Corporation, Avon Products, Inc., BAE SYSTEMS, Bass Pro Shops, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Computer Systems Center, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Military Channel, National Football League, Northwest Airlines, Inc., S&K Sales Company and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including Walgreens and the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org

Via PRNewswire

Actress K.D. Aubert Participates In Partnership Walk

Pictured: Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and actress K.D. Aubert perform the ribbon cutting to commence the 10th annual Partnership Walk at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Hundreds walked, volunteered and donated to the Aga Kahn Foundation’s cause to raise awareness and funds for international development and the fight against global poverty.

Actress/Model K.D. Aubert can be seen in the upcoming film, “In The Mix” starring Usher Raymond scheduled to be released Nov. 05. She also has a re-occuring role on the new primetime FOX series “BONES”.

Chrysler Group Plays Matchmaker For Minorities

Pictured: (L-R) Heaster Wheeler, executive director of the Detroit Branch NAACP and Jethro Joseph, senior manager – supplier diversity development, Chrysler Group, kick-off the “5-Minute Lunch Date,” which included minority business supplier Melinda Emerson, CEO of Quintessence Multimedia and Tier 1 Supplier John Brunsmann, director – Johnson Controls during Chrysler Group’s 6th Annual Matchmaker event featuring 1,500 attendees.

The Matchmaker event has become one of the premier matchmaking and networking events in the supplier diversity community. The event helps Chrysler Group’s minority supplier partners compete, expand and succeed. It allows MBE’s to interact with representatives from Tier One suppliers. It also helps Tier One suppliers maintain Chrysler Group’s mandate of 7.5 percent minority supplier content.

This year, the Company will pair nearly 200 of our minority suppliers with more than 1,500 suppliers to encourage networking and matchmaking opportunities. At the event, all of the participating suppliers display their products and services at booths, covering more than four floors of exhibit space.

Via PRNewswire-FirstCall

Legendary Musicians Inducted Into the Dance Music Hall of Fame

Music legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, co-founders of Philadelphia International Records, have been inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for two years straight. The legendary songwriters and producers were honored at the ceremony for creating a colossal collection of classic dance music throughout the 70′s.

Other music industry veterans inducted at the ceremony were Gloria Gaynor, Cheryl Lynn, Quincy Jones, Chic, The Trammps and the Bee Gees. Each year, the Dance Music Hall of Fame’s nominating committee and board of advisors select nominees in the categories of performer, record, producer, remixer and DJ. Ballots are then sent to an international voting committee of more than 1,000 dance music experts. Artists, producers and others who helped shape the dance music industry become eligible for induction 25 years after their first contribution or record release.

Via PRNewswire

McDonald’s 365Black Honors Three Dynamic Women

Pictured above: (L-R) Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president of the Coca-Cola Company and chairperson of the Coca-Cola Foundation, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Frances Jones, McDonald’s owner, proudly display their 2005 McDonald’s 365Black(TM) awards.

McDonald’s honored the three outstanding women with its prestigious 2005 365Black(TM) Award. The awards ceremony, which was hosted by Ed Gordon of NPR’s News and Notes, was held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. Dignitaries from across the country gathered to acknowledge the lifetime achievements of McDonald’s Owner/Operator Frances R. Jones, senior vice president of The Coca-Cola Company and chairperson of the Coca-Cola Foundation, Ingrid Saunders Jones and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) for their lifetime achievements and contributions in business, entrepreneurship and public service. The lifetime achievement awards are a key component of McDonald’s 365Black(TM) initiative, created in 2002 to celebrate the pride, heritage and achievements of African Americans all year long.

Via PRNewswire

Boston Celtics Star Ricky Davis to Endorse PONY

PONY International, the world’s leading modern fashion performance brand, today announced that Boston Celtics’ forward Ricky Davis has signed with PONY to endorse the brand for the re-launch of its performance basketball line in fall 2005. The arrangement includes a signature Ricky Davis basketball shoe, point of purchase material, print advertising and promotional appearances by the Celtics star.

Davis, who was a first round selection in the 1998 NBA Draft out of the University of Iowa, electrified fans with his fourth-place finish in the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk competition and became a valuable contributor to Boston’s resurgence this past season, averaging 16 points per game. His play made him one of the leading vote-getters for the NBA Sixth Man Award in 2004-05. He becomes the first active NBA player to endorse PONY in nearly a decade following the purchase of the PONY brand by Global Brand Marketing, Inc. (GBMI) in 2003.

“We wanted to partner with a player who was dynamic, colorful, hard-working and exciting, all in one package,” says Killick Datta, CEO of GBMI, the majority owner of PONY International. “Ricky fits that mould perfectly and we are excited about the opportunity to work with him as we return the brand to the presence it had in the late ’70s and early 1980s with legends like Darryl Dawkins, Wilt Chamberlain, Earl Monroe, and Spud Webb.”

“I am really excited to wear PONY shoes on the court in 2005 and to be the spokesperson for them in basketball. I am helping bring PONY back into the NBA for the first time in nearly 30 years,” says Davis. “I’ll be wearing my PONYs on-and-off the court. It is a cool brand that is authentic, hip and attitude all at the same time.”

PONY’s basketball line will include the performance EKG, Davis’ signature shoe, and the retro-performance Poise shoe that blends old school style with modern materials.

Via PRNewswire

Tupac Shakur Immortalized in Bronze

Nine years to the day after Tupac Shakur’s passing, the official Unveiling Ceremony for a brand new memorial bronze statue of the late rap legend proved to be a rousing celebration of life. Over 1,000 people turned out for the unveiling, which was held at the Peace Garden at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts (TASCA) on Tuesday, September 13.

Ms. Afeni Shakur, Tupac’s mother and founder of the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF), found the ceremony to be an emotional, yet joyful, experience. Ms. Shakur was overwhelmed by the turnout for the latest addition to the Tupac Center, which recently opened the first of three phases of construction, and will ultimately represent the legacy left behind as Tupac’s vision, fully realized through his mother’s efforts.

The statue will occupy the center of the 6-acre Peace Garden, surrounded by poetry and quotations from Tupac. The seven-foot sculpture sits atop a three-foot base and features rap’s top-selling superstar adorned in a suit (based on an outfit actually worn by Tupac) and holding a copy of his famous book of poetry penned when he was only 19, “The Rose that Grew from Concrete.”

Reverend Minister Server led the attendees in an exhilarating, heartening prayer, followed by a moment of silence in memory of Tupac and “all the other fallen souls.”

The statue was designed by noted sculptor Tina Allen, who has earned a reputation immortalizing great figures from African-American history ranging from Nat King Cole to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tupac is the first rap star ever to be memorialized in bronze.

Ms. Allen said, “I was deeply moved to see so many people brought to tears upon first seeing the sculpture — it was clear that something very special had come into all of our lives through this remarkable young poet. Usually, people will applaud or cheer — but these people were reacting to Tupac’s statue on an entirely different level. Every generation picks their own heroes — and from the incredible display of emotion I was blessed to witness on Tuesday, this generation’s hero is clearly Tupac Shakur.”

On September 20, Tupac Shakur’s poetry is celebrated by some of hip hop’s finest with the release of The Rose, Vol. 2, a collection of songs inspired by the poems Tupac wrote as a teenager. The tracks on The Rose, Vol. 2 are original songs written and performed by an impressive list of guests — including Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony, Ludacris, Talib Kwali, Outlawz, Lyfe Jennings and Digital Underground’s Shock G (AKA Humpty Hump), the man most responsible for launching 2Pac’s solo career.

In order to complete the Tupac Center, the Foundation is still in need of an additional $3 million. For those wishing to contribute, information can be found at these websites:
http://www.2PAClegacy.com
http://www.TASF.org

Via PRNewswire

Fantasia Receives 2 AMA Nominations

Fantasia has a jam packed Fall! Fantasia scored two American Music Awards Nominations at today’s press conference, “Favorite Female Artist (Soul/Rhythm & Blues)” and “Favorite Album (Soul/Rhythm & Blues),” for her debut FREE YOURSELF. The 33rd annual American Music Awards ceremony will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, November 22nd and will be broadcast on the ABC television network.

Via PRNewswire

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