Sex MachineR&B crooner
Ne-Yo says he is addicted to sex. The chart-topping singer/songwriter talks about his sexual exploits in the May issue of 'Vibe' magazine.
"I'm
Sammy Davis [Jr.] and Bugs Bunny with some porn mixed in," Ne-Yo, 26, tells senior editor
Laura Checkoway, in his first big magazine profile. The Arkansas native's debut album, 'In My Own Words,' hit Number One on the charts upon release last month off of the strength of the Number One single 'So Sick.'
The article also delves into the Def Jam Records crooner's background: growing up in a Las Vegas low-income housing project raised by a battered mother ("beat like a man" by his father, he shares) who also worked as a casino cocktail waitress. The
Quincy Jones-founded magazine reports that Ne-Yo was born
Schaffer Chimere Smith, and was an original member of R&B group called
Envy, which also counts 'American Idol' cast-off
Corey Clark among its original line-up. (Last year, Clark made very public allegations that he had a lurid sexual relationship with show's judge
Paula Abdul).
"I became a complete whore," Ne-Yo confesses, "I might possibly have had sex with every girl in my 11th grade class … it went from like, nothing to like, three and four a day."
Elsewhere in the story, the father of a baby son named Chimere, Ne-Yo refers to his sexual appetite as "a slight addiction" and said that now he "helps himself" instead of "doing a groupie."
Late last year, Ne-Yo, who penned 2004's most played single, 'Let Me Love You,' (performed by
Mario), was selected for AOL Breakers campaign, which predicted he will be the new artist to make noise in 2006. His album sold more than 301,000 copies in its first release. 'So Sick' is currently Number Seven on 'Billboard's Hot 100 chart, after 19 weeks.
Ne-Yo, recently toured with
John Legend and just wrapped filming for 'Save the Last Dance 2,' the follow up to the 2001 film. 'In My Own Words' has sold 657,185 copies since its release on Feb. 28.
Epps' Behavior Gets Commended Comic actor
Mike Epps will star in his first HBO stand-up special, titled 'Mike Epps: Inappropriate Behavior,' debuting May 6 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Taped before a live audience at the San Jose Improv, the one-hour special features the Indiana native performing material from his recent tour of the same name. Branded as "Adults Only" material, Epps, who got his big break on HBO's 'Def Comedy Jam,' takes on topics such as California cops, celebrities in jail, pimps, hookers and body language. Epps has also starred in 'The Honeymooners,' 'Roll Bounce' and 'The Fighting Temptations.' His most recent film, Focus Features'
'Something New,'
arrives on home video May 16.
In The Continuum Set To Sail
Dramatizing the devastating problem of AIDS among African and African-American women -- a timely topic and egregiously overlooked problem that is only now getting the attention of the international media -- the much heralded play, 'In The Continuum' is set to embark on a world-wide tour. Written and performed by
Danai Gurira and
Nikkole Salter with direction by
Robert O'Hara, the work's first stop is the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in Harare, Zimbabwe (April 28, April 30). The production is then off to Cape Town, South Africa (May 3 through May 5) and Johannesburg (May 10 through June 4). This summer the play will returning to North America (the show performed to sold out crowds at New York City's 59E59 Theater and Perry Street Theater, respectively, for three months, beginning with a run at Washington. D. C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theatre from August 25 thru September 24. The tour will continue at the Cincinnati Playhouse (September 30 through October 29), Yale Repertory Theatre (January 12 through February 10, 2007), The Philadelphia Theatre Company (March 16 through April 15) and Chicago's Owen Theatre at the Goodman (May 25 through June 24, 2007.) "In The Continuum is a play that comes directly out of our mission to champion young writers by bringing their work to the forefront of the community," offers
Andrew Leynse, the Artistic Director of Primary Stages -- presenters of the play's 2005 world premiere.
Truth About ProofThe hip-hop community is grieving the tragic loss of
Deshaun Holton (a.k.a.
Proof), who was killed on April 11 outside a Detroit nightclub in a shooting that left another man in critical condition. According to news reports, Holton, who was the founding member of the
Eminem-fronted platinum selling rap outfit
D-12, suffered a gunshot wound to the head at the CCC Club on East Eight Mile Road. Police said Proof was one of two people shot, both in the head. The other victim survived. Police officers were called to the club, but found it empty when they arrived. Proof and the other man were taken to local hospitals in private vehicles.
According to Interscope Records publicist
Dennis Dennehy, memorial services are still being planned, "and his family and friends would appreciate privacy during this difficult time."
Holton was most recognized as Eminem's best friend and reportedly stood up as his best man for his January nuptials. Holton was renowned for hosting rap battles in Maurice Malone's Hip-Hop Shop in Detroit throughout the mid-to-late 90's, which kept the local hip-hop scene thriving. It was during those events where Eminem, reportedly, honed his skills. The 2002
Craig Hanson directed movie '8 Mile' is based on this era in the rap icon's life. Although Holton appeared in the movie as sidekick Lil' Tic, actor
Mekhi Phifer played his true likeness as the character David "Future" Porter.
"He was the heart and soul of Detroit Hip-Hop's scene," Shady Records' Senior Director of A&R
Riggs Morales told Black Voices today. "His countless contributions to that scene are what helped give Detroit a place on hip-hop's ever-growing map."
