Sept. 6, 2005

Sources say that the original En Vogue -- Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Terry Ellis and yes, even Dawn Robinson -- will perform alongside Salt-n-Pepa in a tribute to the veteran rap trio on 'VH1's Hip-Hop Honors.' The R&B quartet first reunited for the single 'What the Fuss' from the forthcoming Stevie Wonder album. There are also rumblings that En Vogue will next head into the studio later this year to finally record a reunion record ...

Lil' Kim's new album 'The Naked Truth' hits stores on Sept. 27, just six days into her 366-day prison sentence. On the CD, which should have been titled 'Changing Faces,' Foxy Brown, 50 Cent, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Star Jones are among those at the end of pint-sized rapper's lyrical assault ...

Mary Mary, J. Moss and Tyrone Tribbet & Greater Anointing are gearing up for the 'Power & Praise Tour,' slated to hit the road later this year. The contemporary gospel acts will be joined in select cities by Israel & New Breed, already on the bill for Yolanda Adams' Yolanda Today tour...

The Fugees are gearing up for their anticipated comeback. Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel and Lauryn Hill are slated to ship their new single 'Take It Easy' to radio in the coming weeks. The track is the group's first single since their 1996 album 'The Score.' "Everybody that's been holding their breath should start letting their breaths go," Jean told Rolling Stone. This very column scooped everyone with a "Can't Say Names" story about the group opening up the BET Awards. We also previously reported that Hill has recorded a remix to the John Legend single, 'So High', which is also beginning to get radio play. And by the way, Michel released a solo album on Aug. 16 called 'Win Lose or Draw' on Motown Records ...

Broadway great Billy Porter will perform at 'Any Wednesday at Tower' on Sept. 28 at Tower Records, Lincoln Center (66th St. & Broadway) in New York City. The event, sponsored by Tower Records and Faust Harrison Pianos, includes a 30-minute concert performance and will be followed by a CD signing. Porter, who has appeared in musicals such as 'Grease,' 'Dreamgirls' and 'Hair,' recently released his sophomore CD, 'At the Corner of Broadway + Soul'...

Sources say that Kierra "KiKi" Sheard was among the singers being considered for the role of Effie in the upcoming 'Dreamgirls' movie. Sheard, along with Brownstone singer Nicci Gilbert, was among the five women called back for an audition during the Detroit casting call ...

Speaking of Gilbert, could a Brownstone reunion be in the works? There's word the ladies are contemplating a comeback as well. Jodeci, SWV, Guy and Xscape have all already announced reunions. Looks like another group could be added to the equation. Stay tuned!

Girl Crush

Comedienne Sheryl Underwood says she found her "soul mates" at Los Angeles radio station 100.3 The Beat's Hummer Summer Jam.

"I've got a crush on David Banner and T.I., and I want the world to know it," exclaimed Underwood, who hosts the upcoming season of BET's 'Comic View.'

The comedienne, who appeared in Queen Latifah's 'Beauty Shop,' said she'll keep her hands off of T.I. since she heard he was married to Xscape's Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, but Banner is fair game. "Somebody tell him I want him," she continued.

She's an equal opportunity groupie too, not just lusting for rappers, but R&B singers as well. "I want that Trey Songz too! He's fine as hell, and his ass can sing," she added.

Higher Love

R&B crooner Kem told BV Buzz that his music is love songs to God, birthed during a time when he was homeless and battling several addictions. It was a lifestyle that had him barred from his mother's home. The Nashville, Tenn.-born, Detroit-raised singer believes it was those low points in his life that have made him the man he is today.

"Take adversity as a blessing," he affirmed. "Anybody out there that's dealing with anything, we all have adversities that we face in our lives, but it's what you do with that adversity that will eventually tell the story of whether you succeed or fail in life."

Kem's newest release 'Album II' is in stores and has already been certified gold.

Rush Delivery

'Less Than Perfect' star Sherri Shepherd and her husband Jeffrey Tarpley are the proud parents of a baby boy. Their son Jeffrey Charles was a preemie, weighing only one pound, 10 ounces at birth.

"I think I did too much running around when I was pregnant because Jeffrey made his appearance very early," laughed Shepherd. Jeffrey Charles spent 90 days in the neonatal intensive care unit at the hospital before being released two weeks ago.

Shepherd, who's on a hot streak following her roles in 'Beauty Shop' and 'Guess Who,' is wasting no time getting back to work. She'll host 'Celebrity A-List Bloopers' with Dick Clark on Sept. 15. She will also be on hand at the BET Comedy Awards in late September, where she's nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role on 'Less Than Perfect.'

Can't Say Names

Sources say the mother of a platinum-selling-singer/actor is angry because her son won't pay the mortgage and utility bills at the family residence anymore and has gone to the tabloids with fabricated stories about the entertainer. News of the family feud is slated to break in this week's National Enquirer, but word has it that the entertainer is not backing down. He's apparently retained several top Hollywood attorneys to handle the matter and has put the family residence up for sell.

Buzzworthy

... Domestic diva B. Smith and journalist Ed Gordon will host the inaugural Family First Awards Dinner to kick off at the original Black Family Reunion Celebration on Sept. 9 in Washington. The nationally syndicated Doug Banks Morning Show ran a promotion that ended on Aug. 26, to identify an extraordinary family, that will be honored along with The Winans Family and NBA superstar Alonzo Mourning and his family. Over 500 guests are scheduled to attend the star-studded gala and dinner, which features featuring celebrity guests, musical tributes and dance performances, at the J.W. Marriott Hotel.

... Comedienne Annie McKnight was recently cast in the Hillary Duff film 'Material Girls.' McKnight, who wowed me when I saw her in a production of 'The Vagina Monologues' last February, is currently working on a film called 'Julius Home.' The hilarious comic will also guest star on the highly-touted UPN sitcom 'Everyone Hates Chris.'

... Andre 3000 Benjamin said he learned so much while working with Oscar-nominated producer-director John Singleton on 'Four Brothers.' But the most important thing Singleton taught him was to always to know his lines. "Seriously, if you know your lines, then you can go anywhere," Benjamin recalled Singleton saying. "If you don't know your lines, you're not concentrating on what you're supposed to be doing. It's like when you see someone dribbling a basketball. They've been doing it for years and aren't even thinking about it. If you sit there and try to learn it while you're doing it, that's what it'll look like. Once you learn it, then you can play with it. And it's the best once you can play with it."