June 26, 2006

Community Minded

It was a party with a purpose thrown by Boost Mobile RockCorps in Atlanta June 16. Boost Mobile RockCorps is an organization that encourages youth volunteerism and young people to make positive changes in their communities. The reward for the community initiatives are free tickets to Boost Mobile RockCorps's all-star concert.

Renaissance man Nick Cannon hosted this year's events. "I only give and do things that I truly really feel are close to my heart. Not just things that I feel are the right move. I've always been an advocate for the youth and youth empowerment, so for Boost Mobile to jump in and be like we're going to give this free concert and give all of this dough into giving back into the community for kids who give back to the community is amazing," Cannon told us backstage.

Cannon, who also appears in Boost Mobile's BoostCall Tones advertising campaign, said he hopes his involvement will encourage other young people to get active in their community. "I always say that it's not about being a role model, it's about being a real model," he added.

Keyshia Cole said she would have volunteered for Boost Mobile RockCorps if she hadn't hit the big time. "I would have done the community service for the tickets when I was a young because I couldn't afford to buy concert tickets," she explained.

One of the community activities was a volunteer project at Atlanta New Century School on the Morris Brown College campus. Yours truly participated in cutting weeds and tree limbs on the school's soccer field along with 'TV One Access' host Jamal Munnerlyn. We were so out of our element that event coordinator Sheila Eldridge, of Miles Ahead Entertainment, joked about us doing the male answer to 'The Simple Life.'

Afeni Shakur loves the message that Boost Mobile RockCorps sends to young people. "The work Boost Mobile RockCorps has done is a replica of what my son Tupac was about. He was all about giving back to the community," she said.

The concert was held at The Fox Theatre and featured performances by Young Jeezy, Lil' Jon, Outkast's Big Boi featuring Sleepy Brown, Bubba Sparxxx and Janelle Monae, Keyshia Cole, Lil' Wayne, The Game, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Young Dro and a surprise appearance by Jermaine Dupri. Hanging out backstage were original Destiny's Child member LaTavia Roberson, actor Jason Weaver ('ATL'), SWV member LeLee and director Chris Robinson ('ATL').

To learn more about Boost Mobile RockCorps and to find out how to get involved in your community, visit www.boostmobilerockcorps.org.

Living Single

Actor Wesley Jonathan ('Roll Bounce') said the rumor that he's engaged to actress Jennifer Freeman ('My Wife and Kids') is untrue. "I don't even know where that started," the actor told BV Buzz. "It's crazy how these things start. We're not even dating."

Jonathan said he began getting calls and text messages either congratulating him or questioning the surprise announcement once it began circulating online. "I called Jennifer, and she was shocked like I was. We had to laugh about it," he added.

The actor, who has three films on the horizon-'Crossover,' 'Cuttin' Da Mustard' and 'The Beautiful Ordinary'-is happily single for now. As far as Freeman is concerned, BV Buzz happens to know that she's been seeing a certain southern-based entertainer, who we're certain can't be too happy about the reports.

Buzzworthy

'America's Next Top Model' cycle five finalist Nik Pace, 21, is dating Memphis Grizzlies forward Lawrence Roberts, 23. I spotted the pair dining with four other guys at The Cafe‚ restaurant inside the Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta recently. After the group paid the bill, Pace, in cream tights, a black tank top, cream New York Yankees baseball cap and reading glasses, hugged Roberts from behind as the two left the restaurant and headed for the elevators. The couple has apparently been dating for nearly four months.

Harlem-bred rapper Loon is readying the follow-up to his self-titled Bad Boy Entertainment debut and shared some choice words about his former label head, Sean "Diddy" Combs, in an interview streaming on his MySpace page. "I like running my mouth, I didn't get a chance to talk much, you know, when I was f-king with Puff. That nigga like a life-sized f-king parrot. Everything you say he want to repeat and s-t. 'What Loon is trying to say...' N-a, I said what the f-k I was trying to say! N-as understood me when I said it the first time," he ranted. His forthcoming CD, appropriately titled 'No Friends,' also takes aim at his former running buddy, rapper-turned preacher-turned rapper again Mase (a.k.a. Pastor Mason Betha). Loon's sophomore CD will bow Aug. 29 on his own label, Boss Up Entertainment, in conjunction with X- Ray Records.

With the film adaptation of 'Dreamgirls' being one of the most anticipated movies of the year, it's a given that the internet is abuzz with rumors about it. The last cyber report has R&B diva Jennifer Holliday, who originated the role of Effie White in the Broadway production of 'Dreamgirls,' playing the new Effie's (Jennifer Hudson of 'American Idol') mom in the film. The report went on to claim that Effie is killed in the film version of 'Dreamgirls' and that Holliday looks over her daughter's body and belts out the tune, 'And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going,' instead of Hudson singing it. I'm happy to report that story is definitely false. Under the condition of anonymity, someone associated with the film put it bluntly: "Hell naw! That's not true! That's ridiculous!" 'Dreamgirls,' which also stars Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Eddie Murphy and Keith Robinson, hits theaters Christmas Day.

Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas has inked a deal to record a solo album with singer Akon's Konvict Records. This will be Thomas's first solo endeavor outside of her pop group TLC. Also on the Konvict roster is "I'm In Love With A Stripper" singer T-Pain. In other TLC news, I'm told Chilli and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins have a talk show in the works. The duo have apparently struck a deal with a major network to shoot a talk show pilot and may be introduced to the daytime television audience through a show that's already on the air.

Gospel singer Kierra "Kiki" Sheard landed at No. 5 on Japan's International Album Sales Chart with her new sophomore release, 'This Is Me.' The anticipated follow-up to her debut, 'I Owe You,' hits stores in the U.S. this week. Sheard has become a superstar in Japan despite not having visited the country. Her remix album 'Just Until...' was certified gold in Japan and the track "Let Go" went to No. 1 on the Japanese radio charts. In addition to the standard album, Sheard will also release a special edition version of 'This Is Me' in the U.S. that will include five additional bonus cuts and a live version of the title track.

Speaking of Sheard, her mom, gospel great Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters, was celebrated in Washington, D.C. recently by a production company called The Assiduous Group. The concert, held at the Warner Theater, was called 'An Evening With Karen Clark Sheard' and featured two of gospel's most prolific vocalists, Kim Burrell and Sheard's cousin J. Moss, who also presented his new group 21:03. Both artists sang Sheard songs in addition to their own material. Sheard herself closed out the show.

Can't Say Names...

Yes, that was a certain flashy, arrogant, allegedly former homophobic rapper who apparently mistook a Hollywood filmmaker who approached him on Los Angeles's gay-friendly Santa Monica Blvd. for a "gay fan." A source said that the rapper-producer sped off in a black Range Rover with a New Jersey license plate-likely a rental-when said filmmaker attempted to hand him his business card. "He hauled ass outta' there like a bat outta' hell," said our tipster.

BV Scene

Actress Jasmine Guy and daughter Imani having lunch with poet Pearl Cleage at Paschal's restaurant in Atlanta. Cleage authored the poem "We Speak Your Name" that was read during Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball weekend. Former Xscape singer Kandi Burruss lunched with a male companion in the very next booth... It was almost a complete Destiny's Child reunion during Atlanta-based radio station Hot-107.9's Birthday Bash concert recently. While rapper Young Jeezy performed "Go Crazy" onstage with Island Def Jam president Jay-Z, Destiny's Child members Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland looked on from one side of the stage, while original D.C. member LeToya Luckett watched in the shadows from the other side of the stage at the Philips Arena... Media darling Gail Mitchell, the senior editor of R&B/Hip-Hop at Billboard magazine, was saluted at a special tribute at The Friars of Beverly Hills last week. The shindig was hosted by Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Bruce Walker and featured musical performances by Eric Benet and Desiree Coleman Jackson... Nate Berkus of the 'Oprah' show going into the ABC Carpet and Home on 19th Street in New York City.