August 15, 2005

You'd think once a rumor was cleared up last year, you wouldn't have to address it again. For whatever reason, all of the people who didn't receive the misleading video clip of rapper-turned-record executive Jay-Z striking a female backstage at a show a year and half ago when the e-mail first circulated, are getting it now.

My e-mail account has been fluttered with forwards from readers wanting to know if it's true. Well it's not!

The footage is a scene from a 2000 concert documentary 'Back Stage.' The female shown is one of the rapper's best friends, Chaka Pilgrim, and the two were only joking.

'Back Stage' director Chris Fiore also corroborated that the hand-to-face smoosh was "playful" when asked about it in June 2005. "The shot in question was taken out of context by me, and was used in the film to create a sense of heightened tension at the end of the tour," Fiore said then.

Pilgrim, who works for Jay-Z's Rocawear company, even confirmed she and Jigga are still good friends and told the New York Daily News that "we were just playing around."

Idol Chatter

'American Idol' season two contestant Trenyce thought it was comical that the Fox reality series hired an independent counsel to investigate the alleged sexual shenanigans between Paula Abdul and contestant Corey Clark.

Just before an independent council cleared Abdul of any wrong doing, Trenyce had this to say: "I think that the independent council is not going to be any help to this case because they were hired by Fox. What network would actually hire an outside council to come in and rat them out?" Trenyce asked. "Now, they may pay to have someone keep their mouth shut or dump evidence, but why would they pay them to tell the public that Fox and Fremantle are covering their butts?"

Trenyce, who admittedly had a one-time-only fling with Clark during their season on the show, says while one could never be certain, she believes there is the possibility that Clark was having an affair with Abdul. "There is a saying that a friend of mine always says. 'If it looks like a yellow duck, then it is not a gray goose! It is what it is,'" she said.

"I guess it could happen. I am judging by the fact that Corey is the rebellious type and anything he wants to do, he does. I don't put anything past that whole scenario, especially since I had the opportunity to talk to a limo driver that says that he drove Corey to Paula's house."

Since her stint on 'Idol,' Trenyce has toured in the E. Lynn Harris play, 'Not A Day Goes By,' appeared in Queen Latifah's 'Beauty Shop,' and was a judge on an episode of BET's 'College Hill,' which also featured an original song she recorded titled 'Amazing.' The Memphis, Tenn. native is now being considered for a role as one of The Stepp Sisters in the upcoming 'Dreamgirls' movie, and may actually join the Philadelphia stage production of the famed musical.

Class Act

Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris has prepared his curriculum for Creative Writing and African American Non-Fiction at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and among the required reading assignments for his students is 'Confessions of a Video Vixen' by Karrine Steffans.

"I will be teaching Karrine's book because I think it's a cautionary tale that my students will relate to," Harris told me. "I always like to pick books that young people are reading because I have a lot of student athletes and try to make them realize how much fun reading is."

Harris will likely land on the bestseller's list again when his newest book, 'I Say A Little Prayer,' is released in February 2006. In the meantime, the sought-after author is developing his tome 'Invisible Life' into a stage play and readying a film adaptation of the book.

On The Road

Yolanda Adams kicks off a national theater tour on Oct. 3 in Houston, and she's bringing along some mainstream buddies for good measure. Adams will be joined on her Yolanda Today tour by the likes of Chaka Khan, Eddie Levert, Kirk Whalum and Mary Mary. Israel & New Breed and musicians Nuttin But Stringz are also on the lineup. The tour's promoter Al Wash of ALW Entertainment told us, "You're going to see Yolanda like you've never, ever seen Yolanda before!"...

Sources say that Mariah Carey is gearing up for her next tour, and early buzz is that R&B quartet 112 will join her on the bill. Pop music's comeback kid and her Island Def Jam label mates are hoping to head out later this fall, but for now, details are sketchy...

Veteran R&B bad boys Jodeci are hoping a national tour can reignite interest in their comeback endeavor like touring benefited New Edition. There are rumblings that the group -- K-Ci, JoJo, Devante and Dalvin -- are in talks with groups such as SWV, New Edition and Guy about doing a vintage R&B outing. Stay tuned...

Seagram's Gin & Juice is gearing up for its annual Seagram's Gin Live tour, and word has it that pint-sized R&B powerhouse Lil' Mo will headline the outing this year. Mo supported Carl Thomas on the Seagram's Gin Live tour two years ago. Also slated to be on the bill for this year's tour are R&B veterans Xscape and soul newcomer Raheem DeVaughn. Speaking of Lil Mo, sources say a feud between she and R&B newcomer Keisha Cole is brewing after Mo's recent interview on the syndicated Star and Buc Wild Morning Show. Apparently Cole felt a comment Mo made during the interview was meant as a dis and verbally insulted Mo's manager when she saw him at the Dream Hotel in New York City. I'll have more details on this story next week!

Can't Say Names ...

... What newly crowned A-list actor faked a public romance at the recommendation of his mega-movie star pal? Sources say the black beauty on the arm of said actor was set up to give the impression that he was "really into black women," when in reality he was sleeping with his steady "Orange County Special." What's an "Orange County Special?" That's apparently his term for the blonde white woman from Orange County, Calif. he really likes to date.

Buzzworthy

... UPN recently announced cast changes to the sitcom 'One on One.' Replacing the soon-to-exit Flex Alexander and the already terminated Sicily Sewell and Kelly Perine is singer Ray J, who'll play a hip-hop obsessed college student who is really just another boy from the suburbs; Kel Mitchell ('Keenan & Kel'), a landlord/washed up former child TV star who spends the day watching reruns of his old show; Camille Mana ('The O.C.'), a spoiled, underachieving college student; Jonathan Chase ('Medium'), a cocky paparazzi photographer who aspires to be a filmmaker; and Nicole Paggi ('Hope & Faith'), a stylish young woman who can't hold down a job and is constantly in search of love. Kyla Pratt and Robert Ri'chard are returning to the series, which began shooting its new season last Friday.

... Sources say that comedian Steve Harvey is planning a return to radio. Harvey hosted the morning show on Los Angeles radio station 100.3 The Beat until this past spring, when he was replaced by former NBA player John Salley. The Hollywood funnyman is rumored to be taking over mornings at Detroit's MIX 92.3, with plans to syndicate that show nationwide. MIX 92.3 has been using a bevy of guest hosts such as Gerald Levert, Adele Givens, Will Downing, Miguel Nunez and Kym Whitley to fill-in while they search for a permanent host.

... Hollywood personality Norwood Young is on a crusade to make sure no one in this country is homeless. The former 'Pieces of a Dream' singer is organizing a foundation called Feed His People. The organization will foster relationships with restaurants, fast-food chains, caterers and wholesale food warehouses to donate their leftover produce to the foundation for distribution to homeless people in their respective cities. Young is having a black-tie benefit in Los Angeles on Sept. 10 where more than 300 entertainers, restaurant owners, political figures and members of the media will gather to kick off the foundation. For details on Feed His People, contact 323-549-0876.