July 31, 2006

Double Play

"Don't ever limit creative people. Don't ever limit us. We're not one dimensional people," Tyrese told me from Sony Studios in New York City, where he was laying tracks for his hip-hop CD. For Tyrese, who plans to introduce his hip-hop alias Black Ty on a forthcoming double CD on J Records, despite critics mocking his choice to add the title "rapper" to his resume, he's got something to prove.

"When I went from singing to acting, they told me to leave it alone," recalled the entertainer, who is a native of Los Angeles' Watts section. "That was until they saw my performance in 'Baby Boy.' Five years later, people show up and see the movies I am in. I am not going to force this hip-hop thing on none of my R&B fans. If you're an R&B fan, then stay my R&B fan. But just go into this new album with an open mind. But because I got this hip-hop game behind me, it's just given me more confidence in this message I've received to go and do this. It's a double album-double or nothing at this point."

With six feature films that have grossed more than $292 million at the U.S. box office, a music career that has garnered one platinum CD (1998's 'Tyrese') and two gold albums (2001's '2000 Watts'/2002's 'I Wanna Go There'), and a lucrative modeling contract with Guess, Tyrese's decision to rap flummoxes most people. To him, it's a natural progression.

"Well the temperature of hip-hop is real inviting. Basically, R&B singers are unemployed because rappers are singing their own hooks. Everything about hip-hop is really cleaning its act up. You see cats in videos with their big glasses on and nice sweaters and they're putting on button-ups. Everyone is really cleaning their act up. When I look at BET and MTV, I look at the image of these rappers, and I look at the image of these R&B singers and I can't really tell the difference in them. I don't know if they're singing or rhyming, these new artists. So it makes sense for me to jump on it right now," he added.

Full disclosure: Tyrese tricked this very columnist into liking his hip-hop tracks. Last fall the singer sent over several Mp3 audio files, not identifying them as his own rap records, and solicited my feedback on this "new artist" with whom he was working. Of the five or so tracks I played, I really liked four and sent him a note saying: "The rapper is hot! Who is that?" His answer was, "Black Ty," who I continued to believe was some new L.A.-bred hip-hop artist until a week later when Tyrese came clean.

"At this point, I really can't do what I did with you to anybody else, because I have put it out there so tough, that everybody knows that Black Ty is Tyrese," laughed the entertainer. "At first, I was going to go the more low-key route, white label the joint and put it out with Snoop." (He stopped mid-sentence and began laughing.) "What's crazy is that's one of my lines in a rhyme. (He starts rapping.) 'I decided to let my truth be known/ my face be shown/ this rap s@#% is mine/ and I am gonna bring it on."

Tyrese feels his alter ego can address things that the R&B balladeer could never touch on. "I'm rhyming about my story in Watts and things I went through with my family and my loved ones. Its some street s@#%, you know what I mean? I'm rhyming about that cause I could never sing about that. The homies that stole from me and the strip clubs and wildin' out," he explained. Tyrese admitted singing is still his first love and vows this won't be his first and last hip-hop record. "At this point, I am so far into it. The momentum and the blessing of all of these cats being behind me is so far, I wouldn't even disrespect hip-hop and just be playing around and doing a one-off," he said.

Though he's collaborated with everyone from The Game to Ice Cube to Yo Yo, Memphis Bleek, Kurupt and Chingy, Tyrese said the likelihood of all of those collaborations making his disc isn't good. "I don't want everybody from the hip-hop industry on my record; I just want to do records with them. I am not going to have too many collaborations on my album because I become insecure, like I need these people to be credible," he shared.

But the one collaboration he hopes will make the double disc will be a dream come true for the artist. "I'm trying to do a record with Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige. That's going to be my signature record. All of us are going to be singing on it and rapping on it," he confessed.

In between cutting records, Tyrese will shoot two films, including Michael Bay's 'Transformers' and 'The Take' opposite John Leguizamo and Meagan Good. "I'm done with movies for now. I am full on back into the music game. My fans have been waiting for me. I have been hard at work getting these albums done," he closed.

Strike Two

Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune gossip columnist C.J. broke news last week-not People magazine, which is claiming it did-that Manuela Testolini Nelson, wife of Prince, has filed for divorce from the purple-loving rock star. Nelson actually filed for divorce on May 24, at the Hennepin County District Court and hired attorney Edward Winer to represent her. This was Prince's second marriage. He was previously married to his former dancer-singer Mayte Garcia.

C.J. has her own theory as to why Prince has failed at marriage a second time. "As nice as Mayte and Manuela are, they did not come close to being his equals. He had all the power in the relationship. They were young and malleable. I'm guessing that as soon as these twenty-something's began to define themselves that was threatening to a control freak like him. He had all the power in the relationships," said the columnist, who Prince despises so much that he wrote a song about her called 'Billy Jack Bitch.' "He gets bored with people rather than spending time to deepen the relationships by learning new things about them…Symbolina is the poster child for 'My Way or the Highway.'"

Does C.J. think Prince will give marriage a third try? "Lord, I hope not. I think he can make plenty of women miserable just by dating. But maybe he'll get married again because he likes kids. Of course, I don't know if he realizes that when you have children you should no longer behave like one," she offered.

And what will become of Manuela? "I'm just hoping that when [Pamela Anderson's ex, rocker] Tommy Lee calls, Manuela will say 'No thanks!' That's a phrase Mayte didn't say soon enough," C.J. added.

By the way, Page Six of the New York Post is reporting that Nelson-whom they called "Testolini Nelson"-left Prince because he is spending too much time trying to secure a record deal for his protégé Tamar Davis. Their report claimed: "He is trying to get her signed with a major label and has her doing the rounds…He hasn't found a taker, but he is smitten with her." That's so not true! Davis is already signed to Universal Records, who released Prince's newest album '3121.' Her debut CD, 'Milk & Honey,' is slated to drop Aug. 29.

Buzzworthy

Forget pickled pig's feet! According to Hollywood gossip Janet Charlton, Wesley Snipes has a thing for barbecued women's feet. Following the story in U.K.'s News of the World detailing Snipes' sexual escapades in Cardiff, Wales with a woman named Fran Murphy, who said Snipes included "strawberries and a big jug of chocolate sauce" into their romantic experience, Charlton said the timing couldn't be better to pour the tale of Snipes' unctuous favorite sexual sauce. Years ago we were told that Snipes was addicted to both barbecue sauce and women's feet! A high priced Hollywood call girl told us that, allegedly, Wesley had a standing weekly appointment with her and their kinky sessions involved very little sex. He liked to sniff and fondle her high heeled shoes and topped off their dates by smothering her feet in barbecue sauce and licking it off," Charlton said at www.JanetCharlton.com.

I hear that casting is underway for the theatrical production 'Invisible Life,' which is the second E. Lynn Harris novel to be adapted into a stage play. Auditions took place last week in Los Angeles for the production that will be directed by Broadway veteran George Faison and feature original music by Ashford & Simpson. Apparently the goal is to test 'Invisible Life' in several key markets in an attempt to get it Broadway ready.

Rev. Jesse Jackson loves being with the people-even in coach. The rhyming reverend flew near the back of a U.S. Airways flight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago recently after his flight the day before was cancelled due to weather conditions. He and his aide flew coach on the 6:55 a.m. flight and didn't seem to mind the 18-month-old kid who kept kicking his seat, nor the flight attendant who kept coming to the back to make small talk. "When he got on the plane, he made sure to shake damn near everybody's hand," said one passenger. "The pilot held up us exiting the plane to have a photo shoot with Jesse on our way out." And while Jackson's aide waited at the baggage claim in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for the reverend's luggage, he was off shaking hands, kissing babies and, of course, telling people to "Keep Hope Alive!"

Neo-soul singer Donnie is gearing up for his sophomore release 'The Daily News.' The CD is the follow-up to 'The Colored Section,' which was released on Motown in May 2003. 'The Daily News' is being led with the single "911" and the accompanying music video will be shot by 2006 Vibe/Urbanworld Film Festival winner Joe Robert Cole. Donnie is a cousin of late soul icon Marvin Gaye.

R&B stars Javier, Algebra, Eric Roberson, Jaguar Wright and others are all scheduled to be on hand for The International Soul Music Summit in Atlanta. The conference will take place at The Marriott Atlanta in downtown Atlanta Aug. 11-12. "Now is the time to highlight and recognize this genre of music as it creates an urban vibe that is a lifestyle that expands across the globe and is poised to positively impact the world," said Terry Bello, general manager of the Soul Music Summit.

Frankly Speaking

"The five people you spend the most time with, that's who you are. If you don't want to be those five people, you look around and you don't want to be them, then you've go to hang with five new people." - Oscar nominee Will Smith during Charlie Mack's Party 4 Peace Weekend in Philadelphia.

Can't Say Names…

Could there be more baby mamma drama for a certain rappin' music executive? I hear that said entertainer, who moonlights in acting as well as having ventures in television, has fathered a child by a third baby mamma. Apparently, the hip-hop honcho offered the alleged sexual triste almost $1 million to terminate the pregnancy. The mistress wasn't all about the Benjamins and refused. To add insult to injury, I'm told she's sent word to his long-time girlfriend that she had the baby, which has sent that relationship into a tailspin. I guess a third child support hearing will be happening once the paternity test is done.

BV Scene

Ashley Stewart model Mia Amber had just finished celebrating her birthday with relatives at P. F. Chang's China Bistro in Westbury, N.Y. when they ran into the veteran R&B collective Earth Wind & Fire outside. The group struck up conversation with the model-actress and her family, before inviting them on their tour bus and posing for photos… Gospel artist Vashawn Mitchell shopping at the Kuhlman boutique in Chicago's Wicker Park… Eddie Murphy partying at Love in the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, where Seal and Heidi Klum were also hanging out. The night before Murphy's ex-wife Nicole, who is now going by her maiden name Mitchell, was dancing with an unidentified man at the Las Vegas nightclub Light in the Bellagio Hotel & Casino… R&B singer Syleena Johnson having dinner with her fiancé, former Sacramento Kings guard Kiwane Garris at the Chicago restaurant Tavern… Radio-TV talent Bo Griffin was spotted in New York City exiting The Park South Hotel on East 28th Street. Griffin is apparently one of the front runners for Star Jones Reynolds' seat on 'The View.' Wonder if she was meeting with ABC execs while in the Big Apple?