Rapper and actress Queen Latifah feels badly for her good friend Lil' Kim, who was convicted on March 17 of three counts of perjury and one count of conspiracy, but acquitted of obstruction of justice.

While conducting press rounds for her upcoming film 'Beauty Shop' at The Regent Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., the Oscar-nominated actress said she's tried to contact Lil' Kim, but to no avail.

"I tried to reach her but her voicemail was full," began Latifah, "but I'll reach out to her again just to let her know that I support her. It's really sad, this whole thing! I just want her to know I love and support her. She's one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet."

Lil' Kim lied to a federal grand jury to protect friends who were involved in a shootout outside a Manhattan radio station. Several of those friends later testified against Lil' Kim.

"She's standing up for people who ain't standing up for her," griped Latifah. "Getting convicted for this... I really hope they don't give her any jail time. This kind of stuff requires them to get time, but I don't think justice will be served if you put that girl in jail."

Latifah believes Lil' Kim's troubles should be a lesson for the entire hip-hop community.

"I think the lesson [is] learned, you know. OK, point taken! Don't lie! Don't stand up for people who ain't gonna stand up for you. This is a lesson for the whole 'hood -- we go by this code, but everybody doesn't go by it. People always giving you up, so it wasn't even worth it!"

Race Matters

While accepting an NAACP Image Award for his portrayal as the late Ray Charles, Jamie Foxx received a standing ovation led by Oprah Winfrey when he addressed feedback that conservative daytime talk show host Larry Elder made about him on Elder's syndicated radio program.

Here's a portion of what Elder said: "First of all, I'd like to extend my sincerest congratulations to Jamie Foxx on his spectacular performance and his Oscar win -- he deserved it. He deserved it not because he's black, but because he's talented and worked hard."

According to Foxx, Elder, a self-professed "firebrand libertarian," voiced concern about Foxx labeling the film 'Ray' a "black" movie. Foxx began, "Larry Elder said something very interesting. (Imitating Elder's voice) 'Why must Jamie Foxx say black? Black movies, black films, black, black, black, black. Why does he have to say that?'"

Foxx continued: "The reason you have to say "black," it's not because of the race value of it; it's because of the franchise value of it. They say it's only just really an American story; Ray Charles was really in the middle of the road. No, Ray Charles was a black man. He was an African-American man. So that when we go to sell the next movie, we say we have a "black film" Miles Davis, a "black film" Marvin Gaye and a "black film" Diana Ross because the "black film" Ray Charles was successful. That's why I say "black" Larry Elder, that's why I say that. It has nothing to do with the race!"

BV Buzz spoke with Elder about his concerns with Foxx, and he assured us the point he was trying to make was that Foxx earned all of his recent accolades not because he's black, but because he's talented and hard-working. The radio-TV personality has extended an open invitation for Foxx to appear on one of his programs.

Life Imitating Art

In the upcoming film 'Beauty Shop,' actress Alicia Silverstone's character, Lynn, falls for James (Bryce Wilson), a guy who could easily be best friends with Ryan Seacrest. Unfortunately, Silverstone's co-workers, characters played by Golden Brooks, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Sherri Shepherd and Alfre Woodard, all think he's gay.

Silverstone admits that she often encounters guys like James and can never figure out if they are gay or straight. "I think that metro-sexual thing is true. I know a lot of guys who are totally straight who watch 'Oprah' and do all sorts of femme things," said the actress while doing press rounds at The Regent Beverly Wilshire for 'Beauty Shop.'

Silverstone's shaky gaydar has put her in some compromising predicaments. "Sometimes I think I have gaydar, but then I turn out to be wrong. I've made mistakes before," she confessed. "I've made mistakes where I've said to a guy, 'How's your boyfriend?' They're like, 'I'm married!' I'm like, 'Hang on a second, there's no way you're married.' Then they're like, 'No, seriously!' I've really made enough mistakes in that department."

The Look of Royalty

C.J. thinks Prince looks like a goat. She said it, I didn't! That's what the candid columnist at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune wrote recently. She even called Carroll Britton, a Minnesota cosmetics store owner, to back up her sentiments.

"Yeah, he does. They [goats] have odd-shaped pupils. I can tell you from spending time with them. And they are very social," said Britton. Don't goats butt? "You can train them not to do that," she said.

But wait, there's more. Britton apparently also had strong opinions on Prince's excessive makeup.

"He's not a man who looks like a woman despite all the makeup he wears. He looks like a woman dressed up to be like a man. There is something Charlie Chaplin-esque about his appearance. It's bad male drag," she added.

I bet neither one of them will be invited to the uber-exclusive jam session parties at his Los Angeles home.

Can't Say Names...

...Sources say it was an ugly scene in an Atlanta restaurant when a hip-hop mogul and his longtime girlfriend got into an ugly altercation. Heated words were exchanged before the two disappeared to a back room of the popular eatery. The sounds of what sounded like rumbling soon followed and security ran to the back and found said girlfriend getting up off the floor.

Whispers

... In the upcoming issue of Smooth magazine, Clive Davis' protégé, Mario, talks about his frustration with being compared to Usher. "Don't compare me to other people. Before you start comparing me, take a closer look," he tells the glossy. Mario also acknowledges that his song '18' is about the reigning king of R&B. On the track he sings: "Before you try to compare me/ Remember, I just turned 18/Got seven years to catch up."

... 'Guess Who' star Zoe Saldana tells Complex magazine that she's hooked on the HBO documentary series 'Pornucopia.' "Right now I'm really hooked on 'Pornucopia' -- you know, those late-night sex shows on HBO? It's so interesting. It turns on my mind. I mean, well, yeah, I guess it does stimulate me sexually," said Saldana in the magazine's April/May issue.

... Hip-hop star Nelly's sister Jackie Donahue, 31, succumbed to her three-year battle with leukemia last week. After learning his sister had leukemia, Nelly started a National Bone Marrow initiative called The Jes Us 4 Jackie campaign to increase awareness of the disease and find compatible donors for his sister and others who suffer from leukemia. The rapper said in a statement: "We want to thank everyone for their love and support of Jackie."

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About the Author:

Jawn Murray (pronounced John) is a nationally recognized celebrity journalist also featured in In Touch Weekly, Upscale, Star Magazine, Bump and as a contributor to the New York Daily News' “Rush & Molloy” column.