The Daily Roundup for March 7

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Tupac’s ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ Gets Its Own Musical Play

There have been many, many rumors since Tupac’s death– with plenty of them being focused on whether or not the West Coast artist has really been deceased all this time. But regardless of the hoopla that gets brought up in light of sparking up some controversy, there are bigger things in the works to remember the rapper.Tupac’s song “Holler If Ya Hear Me” has been one of the great hits of his career, and now it is getting its own musical play adaptation. Kenny Leon is directing the play, which isn’t for sure slated for Broadway just yet. But Leon is an acclaimed Broadway director with a few awards. And it’s all getting set to take the auditions starting Saturday March 10th. The casting call shares they are seeking “African American Male and Female rappers ages 18 – 35. Additionally seeking one Caucasian actor ages 20 – 25 with a strong facility for rap and terrific guitar skills. Strong legit singing voices a plus for all, but not required.”
To learn more check out the listing here. Holler If Ya Hear Me - Open Call

MelCap Casting
Category: Performer

Description:
* The DATE/LOCATION of this open call has changed...please see revised notice below *

OPEN CALL
For the Tupac Shakur musical:
HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME

An American Musical
Inspired by and featuring the music of Tupac Amaru Shakur
Directed by: Kenny Leon

WHEN: SATURDAY MARCH 10th, 2012
12-6PM, sign in will begin at 11AM
*Actors must be available for workshop dates: 4/23 - 5/11

WHERE: Ripley Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave, 17th FLOOR

SEEKING: African American Male and Female rappers ages 18 – 35. Additionally seeking one Caucasian actor ages 20 – 25 with a strong facility for rap and terrific guitar skills. Strong legit singing voices a plus for all, but not required.

WHAT TO PREPARE: A rap of choice under 2 minutes. We will supply a boom box if needed. Singers should prepare 16 - 32 bars of an uptempo song

to sing accapella. You may bring your own accompaniment if you want.

CAN’T MAKE IT?: Email picture/resume with the following information to hollercasting@gmail.com:
Name / Age / Permanent state of residence / Union affiliation (if any, not required) / Theater experience (if any, not required)

Donald Payne Dead: New Jersey Congressman Dies After Battle With Cancer

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, the first black elected to represent New Jersey in Congress, died Tuesday. He was 77.
Payne's brother, William, said he died at St. Barnabas Hospital.
The 12-term member of the House had announced in February that he was undergoing treatment for colon cancer and would continue to represent his district.
He had held his congressional seat since 1988 and was elected to a 12th term in 2010. He represented the 10th District, which includes the city of Newark and parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties.

Payne was a member of House committees on education and foreign affairs. He also had served as chairman of the House subcommittee on Africa, and had traveled many times to the continent on foreign affairs matters.
During an April 2009, mortar shells were fired toward Mogadishu airport as a plane carrying Payne took off safely from the Somali capital. Officials at the time said 19 civilians were injured in residential areas. Payne had met with Somalia's president and prime minister during his one-day visit to Mogadishu to discuss piracy, security and cooperation between Somalia and the United States.

Payne had been chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and a congressional delegate to the United Nations. He also was a member of the Newark City Council from 1982 until 1988 and was a teacher in Newark for 15 years. He also served as president of the national YMCA. He earned a bachelor's degree from Seton Hall University in 1957.

Payne was a widower with three children and four grandchildren. His son, Donald Payne Jr., is a Newark city councilman.

Oprah does it again! Bobbi Kristina Turns 19, Agrees to Speak to Oprah About Her Mom's Death

Speaking out for the first time since the death of her mother, Bobbi Kristina Brown has agreed to sit down with Oprah.
The OWN network confirmed that Miss Winfrey will talk with the 18-year-old on March 11 as part of the talk show's segment "Oprah's Next Chapter".
The teen daughter to Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown has understandably been struggling with the loss of her mother.

"Her mama died, so she broke down. Nobody expected her to pass as quickly as she did. [Bobbi Kristina] had a nervous breakdown," Houston family member Ray Watson told Us Weekly.

During the one-hour special, the late singer's sister in-law/manager Patricia Houston and her brother, Gary Houston, will join Bobbi to share personal stories about Whitney and how they would like her to be remembered. "This is such a hard time for Bobbi right now. The idea that she would be alone on her birthday is absolutely devastating. It's not safe for her to be alone, she needs a support system around her. Bobbi and [her adopted brother] Nick are really close so it's good he's with her. But Cissy has never been to visit Bobbi in Atlanta, so it's unlikely she'll go now."

LADIES, Would you buy these shoes? The Kanye West/Giuseppe Zanotti $5,800 Shoe

Kanye West is prepping to hit the Paris runways again with his Spring 2012 collection of his clothing line. But what's catching everyone's eye today is what is about to hit stores soon--Kanye's $5,800 beaded shoe he co-designed with Italian designer Giuseppe Zanotti.

Kanye is about to get his much anticipated women's shoe distributed in his fave French upscale retailer, Colette.

The retailer recently tweeted they are stocking styles from his Spring 2012 collection, saying:
Giuseppe Zanotti for KW @kanyewest available @coletteparis
For his (pictured above) unique, pearl-encrusted wooly/crocheted heels, he worked closely with Mr. Zanotti. And we're told the shoe will run you close to $6,000.

DO YOU LIKE IT?

Lamar Odom Demoted To The D-League…

First he was unexpectedly traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks and now he’s been dropped from the Mavericks roster and heading to the NBA Developmental League.
Although the NBA player and hubby of Khloe Kardashian Odom will still rake in his $8.9 million annual salary, he’ll be playing for the Texas Legends.

In what is easily the biggest demotion for a celebrated player of his kind in NBA history, Dallas Mavericks forward (and 2011 Sixth Man of the Year award-winner) Lamar Odom has been sent to the D-League to work his way back into both mental and physical playing shape.

Odom, who has never gotten over being nearly traded to the New Orleans Hornets from the Los Angeles Lakers last December, is suffering through a miserable year and will spend at least one game with the Mavs’ D-League affiliate in Frisco, Texas. There, he’ll be asked to work with former NBA coach Del Harris while playing with the Texas Legends, in hopes of getting his game and head straight following a miserable start to the 2011-12 season.

The time spent away from Dallas over the All-Star break, paired with his stint in the D-League (before hopefully returning to the Mavericks next week), will hopefully fix this. This doesn’t, sadly, take away from how unprecedented a move this is.

Gee!
This isn’t going to help Lamar emotionally. We’re rooting for him though. With a supportive wife like Khloe, he should be back in no time!

Indianapolis Colts CUTS ties with Star QB Peyton Manning

It's all over but the shouting in Indianapolis—and there will be plenty, if reports are correct that the Colts will announce their decision to let franchise quarterback Peyton Manning walk away as an unrestricted free agent.
It would not be an unexpected decision, but it would end the 14-year term of Manning with the team he led to a Super Bowl title and a second appearance in the NFL title game. The root causes will be Manning's neck surgeries, the third of which forced him to miss the 2011 season; and a $28 million bonus owed him later this week.
A press conference is planned Wednesday to announce the decision, according to ESPN. It is believed both Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay will attend.

Manning's older brother, Cooper, told USA Today on Tuesday that Peyton informed him of the breakup.

"Peyton and I talked today and had a good chat," Cooper Manning was quoted as saying. Cooper spoke with the newspaper by telephone from his New Orleans home. "He's going through kind of an emotional time right now. Until it was over, he was a Colt through and through."

A source told Sporting News Colts correspondent Mike Chappell, writing for the The Indianapolis Star, that ESPN's report was "premature," but Chappell also wrote that a split will soon occur barring an "unexpected" change.
Manning and Irsay are scheduled to fly to Indianapolis from Florida tonight on Irsay's private jet, according to Chappell, which leaves open the possibility that Manning will stay with the Colts.

"It’s not that either side doesn’t want it to work out (in Indianapolis)," the source told Chappell. "It’s almost a perfect storm working against that."
Thursday is the last day the Colts can decide on Manning's bonus, but the decision can be made before that day. That appears to be the case. Since being the first overall pick in 1998 draft, Manning has been among the NFL's elite quarterbacks. He is a four-time league MVP, breaking Colts career records while leading them to 11 playoff appearances. He also was a Super Bowl MVP.

Until the 2011 season, he had never missed a start. That ended 19 months ago, when Manning had a third neck surgery, in which two vertebrae were fused. His slow recovery and the Colts' abysmal season kept him out of action.

Manning finally began to turn the corner in the offseason, after doctors cleared him to resume workouts. He has spent time at Duke University, working with Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe, who was his handler at Tennessee. Reports from those workouts have been positive.
But the Colts are in a rebuilding mode, and by holding the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft are expected to select Stanford's Andrew Luck, the early favorite, or Baylor's Robert Griffin III, whose stock rocketed through the NFL Scouting Combine—which was held in Indianapolis.

The Colts had hoped to renegotiate their contract with Manning, and have him tutor their new quarterback. But the $28 million bonus on top of four years remaining on his contract appears to have broken the back of any alteration.

Now the questions are: Will Manning be ready to play in 2012, and which teams are interested in acquiring his services? Among suitors are the Miami Dolphins, who might have to choose between Manning and Green Bay Packers backup Matt Flynn, who is expected to be a hot property in free agency.

Manning can sign with another team before the March 13 opening of the NFL's free-agent market if he's released.

Young Buck Shot At 11 Times In Attempted Drive By

Young Buck just can't win. The former G-Unit rapper was driving an SUV in Nashville when a white Chevy Tahoe pulled alongside and opened fire, reports WSMV-TV Nashville. Eleven shots hit Young Buck's ride but he was unharmed. However, a woman riding in the passenger side was shot in the shoulder.

The shooting occurred at 3:30am this morning. The woman who was shot was taken to Vanderbilt Hospital and has already been released while another passenger in the vehicle was uninjured.

On Saturday, Buck was holding a cookout and video shoot in Nashville. Lately, while trying to get his career back on track, Young Buck had been plagued by financial troubles, including bankruptcy.

Adrienne Bailon Flashes With Red Carpet Wardrobe Malfunction

Adrienne Bailon had her career carved out for her years and years ago with her Cheetah Girls stint, and then her (semi) high profile relationship with Rob Kardashian had her staying up in people’s faces via the tabloids. Lately she’s been getting most of her publicity from red carpet and fashion events.

Adrienne stepped out at the Total Rewards event in New York City to strut her stuff in a custom made sheer, lace and tulle dress paired with a leather moto jacket and lace Louboutin booties. While the bodice of the dress didn’t allow for panties to be worn with the look, Adrienne probably should have had designer Dominique Auxilly sew the front covering portion down to the sheer to avoid showing off her goodies to the shutterbugs.

While many might think that it’s no biggie, Adrienne has responded with details on just how horrified she is over the entire situation. She shared with Russell Simmons, “The wind blew and despite what other girls may do, this is really a terrible accident to me. I’m really upset, but I’m even more upset about what my parents might think. I want to be known for my talent. I love the idea of being sexy, but I’ve never been in this business to sell sex, I’ve been in this business to sell my talent. The truth is, when you look at the pictures, you don’t realize that the wind really did blow my dress, and I don’t really know what else to say about it.”

Rihanna’s Racist Tweet About Chris Brown’s Asian Girlfriend

Rihanna made what appears to be a thinly veiled racist attack on Chris Brown’s half Vietnamese girlfriend, model Karrueche Tran. She tweeted out a picture of a pack of rice cakes wearing glasses and earrings like Karrueche usually wears. 

Keep in mind, a common racist epithet against Vietnamese people is to call them rice cakes.

This is what Rihanna posted.

Do you think Rihanna was wrong for this post?

PUT THE FIRE OUT: Wale Puts Twitter Sex Liar ON BLAST

If you heard the rumor that Wale asked a female twitter fan via DM if he could eat her "lotus flower bomb," rest assured that it was the work of a Twitter impersonator and photoshopped tweets. Now, Wale has lashed out and put his impersonator on blast. Wale got upset recently when a fake Twitter exchange between he and a female fan went viral. During the exchange, the "Wale" account asked the fan if he could eat her "lotus flower bomb." "He" then goes onto explain that LFB is booty.

This got Wale really pissy so he posted a number of screenshots and exchanges to explain he was being impersonated by a fake twitter account and that he never made those comments. And showed how the twitter liar admitted to photoshopping the tweets to make it seem like Wale sent them. He said, "Sad thing is people do shit like this and niggas believe it."

But some fans took issue with Wale's approach to blasting the impersonator and this got Wale even more angry.

He responded by tweeting,
Two wrongs don't make a right but.. I'm not here to be righteous .. I'm fortunate enuff to have a team of niggas for shit like this

And for those who think his behavior was childish, he added,

We all petty .. And im immature too RT @prissperry: the fact that @wale admitted he's petty...pretty much makes him a winner in my book.

Did he go overboard? Or was it warranted?

Kirk Cameron: Homosexuality is "Detrimental & Unnatural"

His words have become the focal point of quite the heated debate, as Kirk Cameron spoke out against homosexuality during an appearance on CNN on Friday night (March 2).

The former "Growing Pains" star sat down with Piers Morgan, during which time he dubbed same-sex relationships as "unnatural" and "detrimental".
In full, the 41-year-old said, “[Homosexuality is] unnatural… I think that it’s detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."

Listen: 

“Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve. One man, one woman for life till death do you part," Kirk continued. "So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don’t think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don’t.”
Certainly not going without response, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD, Herndon Graddick, has since released a statement reading: “In this interview, Kirk Cameron sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character. Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans … with an increasing number of states recognizing marriage equality, Americans are seeing that marriage is about committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other and that gay and lesbian couples need equal security and legal protections. That’s not ‘redefining’ anything.”

Diana Ross Wows Crowd at Fox Theatre in Atlanta

There are a few absolutes in life — like water is wet, toast burns and some stars never fade. It’s the latter part of that statement that best applies to the remarkable and incomparably accomplished Diana Ross. The fluidity of her success stands in strange contradiction to the careers of so many other greats whose success ebbed and flowed with each new wave of rumors, controversy and scandal. 

Ross’s distinction is her dignity. She has been decidedly free of these make-or-break distractions and continues to ‘bring it’ with every glamour-filled performance.

Watch:

Fans at the Fox Theatre spent most of the time on their feet, dancing singing and applauding the litany of hits Ross performed from career high points. The Supreme’s era “You Can’t Hurry Love” to Mahogany’s “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Don’t Explain” from Lady Sings the Blues to her signature “Reach Out and Touch,” coupled with Ross’ sensational costume changes, made for an evening of reminiscing and remembering memorable moments from the past while enjoying the one we were in.

WHOA!!!! Diddy & Shyne REUNITE!

Who would’ve ever thought the day would come that Diddy and Shyne would be photographed together?!?
Diddy took to his Twitter and shocked the entire world with a picture that had the following caption,

Me and Shyne Po front row at Kenzo #ParisIsBurning RT to da world!!!!!

LOL..Paris is Burning….Where did I hear that from before?

Martin Lawrence Negotiates With CBS Comedy for New Show

Martin Lawrence could be returning to TV. According to reports, Lawrence is in talks with CBS for a new pilot that will premiere in the fall. Based on a widowed father with two teens, the TV comedy will be Lawrence’s first venture since his hit ’90s comedy “Martin.”

The show remains a cult classic and continues to be a hit in syndication. Lawrence’s brash style of comedy on “Martin” led to bigger Hollywood paydays for him.

Is Madonna considering a marriage proposal from her boy-toy Brahim Zaibat?

All of this time, I’ve never really formed an opinion on Madonna’s boy-toy, Brahim Zaibat. Really, though, I tend to forget that Madonna actually has a boyfriend. Brahim keeps quiet for the most part, although Madge has let him speak a few times recently, and let’s just say that he’s not really lightning in a bottle. He’s young. That’s why Madge keeps him around. It also seems like Brahim is close with Madonna’s children – perhaps as a like-minded playmate/babysitter. Who knows? Anyway, The Mail reports that Brahim has proposed to Madge, and that she did NOT turn him down flat. She’s actually considering him?

She once said she would rather be run over by a train than get married again – but now Madonna is considering a proposal from her toyboy lover. The 53-year-old singer is ‘making up her mind’ after dancer Brahim Zaibat popped the question at a Kabbalah centre in New York three weeks ago. Twice-married Madonna, who kicks off a new world tour in May, has told 24-year-old Brahim that she needs more time to think about his proposal.
A source says: ‘Brahim asked Madonna to marry him at the centre a few weeks ago, but Madonna hasn’t given him an answer yet. She doesn’t want to rush into anything. She is very happy with Brahim, although her friends are not sure she is ready for marriage again. That said, Madonna has a real fear of being on her own. It’s a major issue for her, and she loves having a man in her life who is young and makes her feel young.’

It was Madonna’s messy divorce from film director Guy Ritchie in 2008 after eight years of marriage that provoked her ‘never again’ comment, as she declared: ‘I think I’d rather get run over by a train.’
But during a recent appearance on Graham Norton’s BBC chat show, she appeared to have had a change of heart. ‘Every girl wants to be swept off her feet by a knight in shining armour,’ she said. ‘Even if we are sophisticated, educated, intelligent, evolved human beings, we like to think in the back of our minds that Mr Right is going to sweep us off our feet and take us into the sunset, and we’re going to live happily ever after.’.

Her relationship with Brahim became serious when he took her to meet his 45-year-old mother Patricia Vidal, a strict Muslim who loves in France. Ms Vidal said of the meeting: ‘My mouth fell open when I realised that my son was Madonna’s new boyfriend. I’m still trying to come to terms with it.’

Quite apart from concerns about the 29-year-age gap, there is said to be tension between Brahim and his mother over his frequent visits to meetings of Kabbalah, which is a sect of the Jewish faith.

[From The Mail]
Yeah, I’ve got to wonder how the religious stuff plays out at home. When Brahim says anything about anything, though, I’ve got to think that Madonna just tells him to STFU. Maybe I’m not being fair.

Maison Martin Margiela's $795 High Top Sneakers

Thanks to Kanye West, Maison Martin Margiela is more familiar to Hip-Hop heads that don't necessarily keep tabs on what's poppin' on the runways. But the couture fashion house makes more than just the jackets Yeezy shouted out on "Ni**as In Paris" (see Jay-Z on "Run This Town" for another reference). But Hov and Ye can afford the Belgian designer's gear, which is on the pricey side; like this season's $795 Mason Martin Margiela high top sneakers.

The black and grey kicks are made in Italy, feature bronze leather detailing, a padded ankle collar and the gumsole is fresh—but $795, though? Even Foamposites are just $220. Hell, these dope Air Flight '89's are just $95.

But at least they're cheaper than Ye's $6K stilettos…..Right?

Nick Cannon Diagnosed With Lupus-Type Disease

Nick Cannon has been suffering through quite a few health problems as of late, and they’ve even coerced the celebrity to step down from his morning radio show gig. Mariah’s hubby has been in and out of the hospital for some kidney issues and even a couple of blood clots, and now he’s finally found a little bit of peace.

He hasn’t put work completely aside though, and the funny man stepped out to DJ at a New York hotspot where he shed some light on what’s been going on with his health.

“An autoimmune disease that [doctors] found in my system. [It is] something I’m going to be living with all my life. They kind of say [my] autoimmune [disease] is – like a lupus type of thing, but no one else in my family has it. I’m just trying to make sure I put my health first. It’s a lot of stuff but it’s all in order now. I feel blessed to be alive. If it wasn’t discovered, I don’t know what would have happened.”

So even though he was out to put in work on the jams at Teqa Restaurant and Tequila Bar in NY, Nick would still be making sure that he gets plenty of rest each night and is looking after his health with a much keener eye.

In Royal News: Prince Harry Officially Opens Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Exhibition!

After partaking in mass this morning [March 4] at Christ Church Cathedral in The Bahamas, Prince Harry officially cut the ribbon at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Exhibition in the heart of New Providence.

The exhibition, located at Rawson Square, features the Queen throughout her sixty year reign over The Bahamas.

The young Prince will stay one more night in The Bahamas before heading off to Jamaica!

Ruben Studdard Giant Tax Lien ... Again

It's never a good sign when a singer has had more tax liens than platinum albums -- but that's the situation former "American Idol" champ Ruben Studdard has found himself in ... TMZ has learned.
According to docs filed in Alabama, Studdard and his estranged wife Zuri owe $180,216.73 in federal taxes for the year 2009.

Studdard is no stranger to tax problems in Alabama -- he had a property lien filed against him back in 2008 to the tune of nearly $200,000.

Ruben filed for divorce from Zuri back in November.

Rapper Azealia Banks GETS FLIRTY For "T" Magazine

Buzz-worthy rapper Harlem bred rapper Azealia Banks, who calls herself the “Young Rapunzel,” posed for a Terry Richardson photo in The New York Times "T" Magazine (on newsstands now). She rocked a Rochas bodysuit with Dolce & Gabbana shoes and Solange Azagury-Partridge earrings for the shoot.

The up and coming rap chick has made a name for herself with her different rap style & beats and starting beef with other female rappers.

Inside the magazine, she talks about growing up with money in a poor area of Harlem:
“We lived in Harlem just, like, at the beginning of its gentrification…but my mom had our apartment since she was 18, she worked a retail job, but she worked on commission, so she made like, maybe, 75 or $80,000 a year, but our rent was so cheap since it was, like, rent-controlled, so our rent was, like, $300 a month for a two-bedroom apartment, so we always had extra money.”

She continued on how her mother spoiled her with everything a girl could want:

“I grew up very spoiled…like I had everything: I had computers, I had video games, I had dress-up clothes, I had lipstick, I had heels—not like, actual heels, play heels—I had dolls, I had birds, I had hamsters—my mom did a really good job of keeping me stimulated.”

Yep sure sounds like it. Now the "212" chick is in London where she has been embraced by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. “Europe and the U.K. have just been sucking me up,” she joked.

Her album Broke with Expensive Taste (due September) to drop.

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
“F The Police”

Well I ain’t scared of no ghosts but you don’t see me bragging about it…

HAVE A GREAT ONE!!!

EFREM