Curtiss Cook, whose voice is featured in the game 'Grand Theft Auto IV' will be getting a bigger profile when he next appears on the big screen.

Variety states that Cook has been cast in Martin Scorsese's 'Shutter Island,' starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Michelle Williams. He appears on Fox's 'New Amsterdam' and he'll next be seen in 'Order of Redemption,' starring Tom Berenger, Busta Rhymes and Armand Assante.

By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com



Neo-soul diva Angie Stone and pop music legend Dionne Warwick took in the sights and sounds of the May 10 installment of "The 2008 St. Lucia Jazz Festival," presented by BET J, at Pigeon Island National Landmark. R&B powerhouse Anita Baker headlined the seven-hour line-up, which featured Najee, Alex Bugnon, Barbara Cadet & Friends, Nick Colionn, David Sanchez, and Ledisi.

By Karu F. Daniels, BlackVoices.com



In the hit Broadway play, 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' Lisa Arrindell Anderson plays a wicked wench named Mae, often referred to as Sister Woman.

And she plays the dastardly role of a cunning and very pregnant married mother of three to a hilt – winning rave reviews for her Great White Way debut.

"When you get the call that Broadway wants you and that you'll be working with James Earl Jones for 6 months you feel like: Woohoo!!!!" she told BlackVoices.com yesterday.

With so many blockbuster films expected to come this summer, including last week's #1 film, 'Iron Man', one of the most anticipated films for 2009 will be the release of 'G.I Joe'. Here's a first look at Marlon Wayans hopefully in a non-comedic role as 'Ripcord' and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as 'Heavy Duty'.

The movie will be a modern telling of the "G.I. Joe vs. Cobra" storyline and its compelling characters that Hasbro created 25 years ago. The premise of this fantasy is the story of the G.I. Joe team, led by Duke, and their "fight for freedom wherever there is trouble" against the evil Cobra Commander and his Cobra force. This storyline was an instant hit with kids in the early 1980s, spawning a highly popular 3-3/4-inch action figure line, comic book collection and animated series. The G.I. Joe team will not be based in Brussels. Instead, they will be based out of the "Pit" as they were throughout the 1980s comic book series. And, in keeping with the G.I. Joe vs. Cobra fantasy, the movie will feature characters and locations from around the world. Duke, the lead character and head of the G.I. Joe team, will embody the values of bravery and heroism that the first generation of G.I. Joe figures established.

Mother's Day is upon us and in the event you need a last-minute gift suggestions Stylespotter has compiled several options for the oh-so-tardy. To make things easier we've even listed them according to the type of mom you're shopping for. Whether she's the Desperate Housewives uber perfectionist character Bree Vandercamp type, works it in the kitchen like Patti Labelle or is so globally conscious she even trumps you in the eco-friendly department, we've got you covered.

Tracy Reese Spring 2008

The Churchgoer

She's always in the front pew wearing Sunday's best (dressed that is.) Who says you cant praise the Lord and be superstylish at the same time?

Perfect Gift: Large and oversized fabulous hat

Where To Buy: villagehatshop.com, divine-fashion.com, tracyreese.com

Hillary Clinton says she is in it "until there is a nominee." As Clinton tries to wrest the Democratic nomination away from Barack Obama, she has put her trump card on the table: race.

Clinton's comeback, such as it is, began in Pennsylvania. So it's fitting that she's channeling Frank Rizzo, the race-baiting mayor of Philadelphia. In 1978, Rizzo wanted to change the rules city charter so that he could run for a third consecutive term. He rallied support for the charter amendment by imploring his supporters to "Vote White."

By Felicia Pride

There's a phenomenon sweeping the African American community: Black men traveling to places like Brazil and the Dominican Republic for sex. A new book Don't Blame It on Rio: The Real Deal Behind Why Men Go to Brazil for Sex (Grand Central Publishing, April 2008) by Jewel Woods and Karen Hunter attempts to get to the heart of this issue and show that it's bigger than "getting some." More than Words spoke with Woods who also founded the Renaissance Male Project, a nonprofit advocacy and accountability organization for men and boys. Check out this eye-opening, eyebrow-raising interview with Woods about sex, love, and the widening divide between African American men and women. And when you're finished, click here to read an excerpt of Don't Blame It on Rio.

More than Words: The idea for Don't Blame it on Rio stemmed from the question, "Are black women necessary?" What factors contributed to this point in time when such a question even exists?

Jewel Woods: To be specific, the question "Are black women necessary?" was the direct result of what many men were asking or raising explicitly. In a broader sense, the question is rooted in the social facts that we are all aware of regarding the decline in marriage, the high rates of divorce and separation, the disproportionate rates of inter-racial marriage, and so on. However, most discussions about black men, marriage and relationships focus on poor and working poor men and their inability to be providers or the "strain" of not being able to assume traditional roles within the family. Very few discussion look at the group of black men with stable jobs or the group commonly referred to as the Love Jones Cohort that are increasingly single and living alone to examine what their issues are with building and sustaining long term relationships.

Wassup Hair Lovers!!

As it heats up slowly here in NYC, sistas are unleashing their inner diva via great personal style and even greater--- fun hairdos!

Listen, if you like the idea of having recycled sh*t being spread on your front lawn, then this blog posting probably isn't for you.

But otherwise, you'll probably take offense to a report that is soon to go before a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on government funding of sewer sludge being used in black communities to test whether it is a remedy for lead poisoning.

Does this sound pretty much like the stupidest thing you've heard in a week of stupid things? Well, I'm willing to bet that it is. The Associated Press reported recently that lawmakers are going to investigate the use of the sludge in poor black communities in Baltimore to see if lead from chipped paint and car exhausts would stick to it.

Can anyone say Tuskeegee Experiment? I mean dammit! When I hear about things like this, it really brings out my inner-Jeremiah Wright. As much as I love being a citizen, as Wright would say: "God Damn America!"

Maxim Magazine will be coming out with their Hot 100 list this month, their list of the hottest 100 women in the public eye. What does that have to do with Derek Jeter? Well, according to Florida's Sun Sentinel, six of his ex-girlfriends are on that list. In most cases, getting six out of 100 isn't a very good statistic, but in this case, it's probably any man's dream come true. Who are these ladies?

Mother's Day is fast approaching, do you know what you're going to get those special women in your life? Well this year Hallmark is making it easy with the release of these cards for just the occasion.

As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be developing 6 African American-based cards for Hallmark just in time for Mother's Day.

By TaraSimone, Special to BlackVoices.com

My infatuation with fragrance began as a young girl playing dress up at my mother's vanity. It was the mid 1980s and I danced in the mirror with a belted over sequin top and my mother's high heels sliding on and off my tiny feet. Sitting before her collection of crystal and bejeweled bottles containing elusive liquids ranging in shades from soft amethyst to deep amber, I would pretend to be grown and beautiful...just like her.

Delicate floral fragrances embody the many facets of motherhood...feminine, passionate, joyful, engaging and intriguing.

For those last minute shoppers, you can just grab the following scents -- and for all moms -- from the one who holds it down at work to the "fly" mom to the new mom to the grand dame of them all, the grandmom.

For his feature directorial debut, 'Pastor Brown', Soul Food's Rockmond Dunbar has assembled quite an impressive cast. Already attached to the film are Nicole Ari Parker, Keith David, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Beach. Tisha Campbell-Martin, Tasha Smith, Dondre T. Whitfield and Ernie Hudson. The film also features guest appearances by R&B singers Monica, Angie Stone and India.Arie as well as former Olympic track star Carl Lewis and Oakley.

Joining the cast most recently are Mari Morrow and Pastor Creflo Dollar.

'Pastor Brown' is a twist on the prodigal son story. It follows a wayward pastor's daughter, Jesse Brown, as she returns from a life as an exotic dancer to make amends with her family and teen son and eventually lead her father's parish, becoming Pastor Brown.

Although she had a starring role earlier this year with Katie Holmes and Diane Keaton in 'Mad Money', Queen Latifah will take on smaller parts if the role is right. In this particular case, it's not really supporting, but a cameo appearance.

In 'What Happens in Vegas', two strangers (Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher) awaken together to discover they've gotten married following a night of debauchery in Sin City, and one of them has won a huge jackpot after playing the other's quarter. The newlyweds devise ever-escalating schemes to undermine each other and get their hands on the money – only to find themselves falling in love amid the mutual backstabbing.

Latifah plays a therapist who does not buy the story that the newlyweds tell her.

Thousands of New Yorkers demonstrated across New York City to protest the acquittals of three police officers in the killing of Sean Bell in a barrage of 50 shots. The demonstrators carried signs that read "We Are All Sean Bell: This Damn System is Guilty" and chanted, "No justice, no peace."

As many as 200 protesters were arrested, including The Rev. Al Sharpton and Bell's fiancée Nicole Paultre Bell. ...