BV Buzz 1.10.05
By Jawn Murray, AOL's Black Voices columnist
Rhythm & Beef
R&B trio Next hasn't released any new music because there's a bitter feud between group members RL (Robert Huggar) and Tweet (Raphael Brown). The rivalry between the two, who apparently have had a love-hate relationship since the early days when they were introduced by group member T-Low (Terry Brown), has escalated to an all-time high.
Since their debut in 1997 with 'Rated Next,' the trio has referred to themselves as blood brothers -- group members Tweet and T-Low are actually the only siblings. Tweet and RL's friendship hit a hurdle early on when a mutual encounter with a female caused a riff between the two. They worked through that dilemma, and the group later released 2000's 'Welcome to Nextasy.'
The trio followed Clive Davis to his newly formed J Records, after the legendary executive's controversial firing from Arista Records, and immediately began recording their third album. Problems apparently occurred when RL's unsuccessful solo record 'RL: Ements' was released in April 2002, because the group felt that he sneakily coerced the label into releasing his disk before Next's junior effort. When RL's solo debut failed, J Records rushed the release of 'The Next Episode' in December 2002, and that CD went unnoticed as well.
RL was supposedly dating former video vixen and 'A Man Apart' actress Karrine "Superhead" Steffans, who recently made headlines for her on-going fling with Usher. Tweet and Steffans had a one-night affair, which caused more drama with Tweet and RL's friendship and working relationship. To make matters worse, RL was married for three months to a girl named Ra'sheda before having the marriage annulled. In several interviews about the marriage, the singer implied that both T-Low and Tweet were struggling financially, much to their chagrin.
Tweet, who has now formed The Royal Family with singer Nikki G. and rapper Max Lux, has released a single called 'Keepin' It Real' that questions RL's business integrity, raps about how the group referring to themselves as brothers was "fake as hair weaves," pokes fun at RL's dismal solo record sales and calls RL a "diva" and "phony."
This is only bound to get messier! I'll keep you posted.
Tinseltown Twin?
Newcomer Texas Battle stars in the upcoming Paramount film 'Coach Carter,' but it's not his role in the Samuel L. Jackson film that has folks stopping him in the streets.
"Girls come up and be like, 'Are you Michael Ealy?' I tell people I'm not him and they think I am being modest. They'll say, 'Yes that's you, that is you. You're just being modest. You can tell me,'" he laughed.
Battle says he's yet to even meet Ealy, to whom he does have a striking resemblance. Nonetheless, he's not bothered by the comparison and has been making the best of the situation.
"Sometimes I just ride with it, man. It's like everywhere I go, they go, 'Hey aren't you the guy from 'Barbershop'?' I say, no I'm Texas Battle. They'll say, 'You look just like the guy from 'Barbershop'!' I'm like, 'Well, thank you.' Then I started hearing it so much, I just started saying, 'Yeah, that's my brother,'" he admitted.
And what about that name Texas? Is that some made-up Hollywood name?
"It's birth given," declared Battle. "My name was going to be Christopher Quincy Battle, but while my mom was in labor, the doctor made a joke and [referred to me as] Texas. My mom laughed and 36 hours later when I came out, the doctor asked what was my name and my mom said, 'Texas!'"
Love Alert
One of the 'Girlfriends' has a boyfriend! Actress Tracee Ellis Ross is now dating comedian-actor DeRay Davis. According to a Hollywood insider, the two have been an item since late fall. Ross was spotted with the comic at a couple of shows at the Comedy Union last winter, and the two attended the 9th Annual Multicultural Prism Awards in Los Angeles together.
Ellis' rep wouldn't confirm a romance, but acknowledged the two are acquainted. "Tracee says they are good friends," offered her publicist Jessica Cohen.
In addition to having small roles in 'Barbershop' and 'Barbershop 2: Back in Business,' Davis was recently featured on the Comedy Central series 'Premium Blend.'
Can't Say Names...
... Sources say an R&B singer recently married a producer from her record company and is also pregnant with twins. Most folks would be surprised to learn that said singer moved on from her high-profile relationship with a southern-bred rapper to whom she was engaged.
Whispers
... Comedian Sheryl Underwood says that her 'Beauty Shop' co-star Djimon Hounsou is so fine, she'd sleep with him. "I would do him," she admitted when BV Buzz caught up with her recently. Underwood went on to admit that Hounsou isn't the only person she has her eye on. "There's a bunch of folks I would do if they'd let me. It's about 12 people in the NFL alone," she added.
... 'Good Day Live' is trying to find a man for show correspondent Bo Griffin. Griffin, who also hosts Turner South's 'Blue Ribbon' series, apparently has a thing for former 'The Wire' star Idris Elba. "He's fine! They just killed his character off, but I'd sure like to have Idris for myself," said Griffin. Co-host Arthel Neville has someone else in mind for Griffin, however. "I am going to set you up with Gerald Levert. That's who I want to set you up with," offered Neville.
... Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth continues to work following her stint on the first season of 'The Apprentice.' The reality show star is currently featured in a funny 30-second Burger King spot airing nationwide. Look for Manigault-Stallworth next on a special February sweeps edition of NBC's 'Fear Factor.'
... Speaking of 'The Apprentice,' one of season three's African-American contestants is learning the price of fame the hard way. Tara Dowdell, 28, is the senior manager of Government and Community Relations for the Port Commerce Department of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She has already had her name registered as a Web domain by a guy named Marc Heller from California. Heller claims he's using the name for "legitimate business purposes," but he's willing to "entertain an offer to sell it back to her."
... Soul legend Dionne Warwick has a relatively new book out called 'My Point of View.' The book, released on Lighthouse Press, is no tell-all tome, but instead a bunch of Warwick's pearls of wisdom combined into one solid coffee-table book. Many of the proverbs Warwick lives by have come from her family. "If you think it, you can do it," is one in particular that her grandfather taught her. The book also includes photos of the 40-year music veteran with her friends and family.
Jan. 10, 2005