Hookers & Blow

Dinner With Bobby...

Singer Bobby Brown was arrested on a probation violation while dining with his wife, Grammy winner Whitney Houston, police said Saturday.

Brown was picked up Friday night at a restaurant in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta after an unidentified caller tipped authorities, said police Sgt. Chris Lagerbloom, a department spokesman. Now why would someone call the police?

Dr. Laura Drops Judaism, 'Envies' Christian Friends

In a shocking if little-noticed revelation, Schlessinger — who very publicly converted to Judaism five years ago — opened "The Dr. Laura Schlessinger Program" on August 5 with the confession that she will no longer practice Judaism. Although Schlessinger said she still "considers" herself Jewish, "My identifying with this entity and my fulfilling the rituals, etc., of the entity — that has ended."

And with that, Orthodox Judaism lost its loudest mouthpiece and its most prominent "rabbi," as it were, with the largest American pulpit — with the exception of, perhaps, presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman.

Michael Medved doesn't seem to be taking well...

"I think it's a shame," he said. "Though, of course, she was controversial in some eyes, she is one of the most admired women in America. Having the most admired woman in America speak joyously about Passover, Shabbat and Jewish lifestyle events — all of that was quite wonderful."

Full Story

Bad News

Federal tax officials on Thursday raided the home of R&B crooner Peabo Bryson and confiscated several of his belongings, saying the entertainer owes nearly $900,000 in federal back taxes.

The agents from the Internal Revenue Service converged on Bryson's Buckhead home, located in the 4200 block of Olde Mill Lane, around noon.

Officials said the seizure resulted from unsuccessful efforts by the IRS to collect the debt, which dates back to 1989, allegedly owed by the entertainer. Not including penalties and interest, Bryson owes $885,028.60, according to federal tax documents.

He has worked with some of the industry's top artists including Natalie Cole, Roberta Flack and Melissa Manchester. In 1984, he moved to Elektra and enjoyed further success with "If Ever You're In My Arms Again." In 1994, he released Through the Fire which included the popular theme to Disney's Alladin, "A Whole New World."

Good News

EUR is reporting that "The Boondocks," which has been seen in 350 newspapers nationwide since 1999, will soon be seen
on a Fox station near you.

The comic strip was created by Aaron McGruder and is based on the junior revolutionary Huey and his
thug-in-training brother Riley, who move to the suburbs from the inner city.

Known mostly for it's controversial, in-your-face racial humor, "Boondocks" will join other Fox animated
series, like "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill."

McGruder, along with partner Reggie Hudlin, is slated to write the pilot and executive produce it for
Sony Pictures Television.

If the pilot is successful, the series will launch in the 2004-05 midseason.

Girl Power

A chick does battle with the RIAA

High Brow Gangster Bloggin'

Some high brow bloggers follow in the tradition set forth by our forefathers Biggie and Tupac and argue about East Coast vs. West Coast. They do not hold back. Insults that manage to include the C-Span network and the word 'tubular' in the same paragraph deserve to be shared...

Some Highlights:

"LA is actually the biggest book-selling market in the country. When I moved here from NYC, my friends made fun of me, and told me I'd have nobody to talk to. My smart friends knew differently. Last week, Elizabeth Spiers came to two LA writer gatherings -- some of the intellectual duds in attendance were: Mickey Kaus (Slate/Kausfiles.com), Cathy Seipp, Michael Isikof (of Newsweek), Gabriel Snyder, Emmanuelle Richard, Heather Macdonald (of City Journal), Scott Kaufer, Alan Mayer, Ned Zeman, Matt Welch, and Jill Stewart. I don't believe the word "tubular" was uttered once, but I'll have to check the C-Span transcript."

"But as for the book market, buyin' ain't readin'. I know producers who buy multi-copies of the best sellers and then scatter them, artfully, at home,at the office, etc."

"Well, that's where you kind of have it wrong. Elizabeth Speirs is not a real writer, she's a hack who worked her social connections in New York to land a blogging gig (which she's about to ditch to write gossip elsewhere). This little blogging gig in turn hoodwinked an increasingly low-standards driven media to into believing she has a clue and actually allowing her to write for money at print publications. The very fact that she responded to the jabs at her on this board proves, not that she's good down to earth sport, but that inside she 'knows' she's a hack and must explain her hack writing. Talented writers are good enough not to have to come back and explain their jokes. She is, ironically, a joke."

--Thanks Weisblogg

Here We Go Again...

"Ticketmaster.com crashed yesterday due to the high volume of hits and attempts to purchases presale tickets to a NY Duran Duran show at "The Ritz" at Webster Hall. The pre-sale sold out in 71 seconds when it crashed, whereas the remaining tickets sold out today in 2 minutes."

Keep in mind that this is the show either the day after or before ( I forget which) the MTV Video awards so expect some stars in the audience...

Fucking The Band 2

Making The Band 2 is a great show to watch. But what about their record deal. Are we watching a live fucking? Show fans are buzzing about the group's recording contract after last week's episode revealed Da Band conferencing with their manager over an apparent three percentage points they'd receive on every dollar their record makes. To put those numbers in perspective, even if they sold 1 million CDs at about $17.99, they'll go home with less than $100,000 each after splitting the money six ways and less than $50,000 if they only go gold. And that's before the group has to "recoup" (repay) costs such as the recording budget, the advance, half of the price of the videos, and half of all of the independent promotions.

Da Band will make their debut performance live in front of a nationally-televised audience at MTV's annual "Red Carpet" pre-Video Music Awards show next week (August 28) at Radio City Music Hall. No word as to what song they'll be performing at the event, but a precedent will be set from Da Band's make-or-break showcase - and there's no editing in live television.

The Story

What's in my head: At this moment

Annie Leibovitz took this picture of Penelope Tuesdae back in the late 90's. I have never really dug blondes but loved this picture...anybody knows what ever happened to Penelope...

A Rhode Island nightclub and the band Great White face nearly 100-thousand dollars in fines related to a lethal fire, but no criminal charges. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the operator of The Station club more than 85-thousand dollars for one "willful" violation and six serious ones.OSHA says the willful violation was an exit door that swung the wrong way. Other violations include the club's use of highly flammable foam, inadequate safety planning and an exit door concealed by foam.OSHA says the company representing Great White faces a seven-thousand dollar fine for failing to protect workers from fire hazards.The club and the band have 15 days to appeal the proposed penalties

The New Pornographer's song Letter From An Occupant is what I've been listening to as I write this. I like the song and the band.

Arnold is full of shit.

Who's putting together the online lifestyle website that will change everything?

Stealing Beats

A dirty open secret is the lifting of beats from the internet. I hear songs all the time where people say "I got the beat from the internet", as if no actual human hands were involved in it's making. Whatever.

Well now it seem that the Neptunes are accused of stealing some beats, too. From the god damn internet.

In an exclusive interview with SOHH.com, 18-year old Joseph Zakoni accused Pharrell and Star Trak President and long-time Neptunes's manager Rob Walker of copying and manufacturing his beats- without consent. They were posted on the label's message board last April.

Zakoni insists that Star Trak Entertainment strung him along into believing that he would eventually
become a part of the Star Trak production team, including future plans to work with the likes of Super Cat, only to be duped while they manipulated his productions.

"I was reluctant from the start, because like, I didn't really give a sh*t about it much," Zakoni says,
who insists that making beats up until then was strictly a hobby. "But they kept getting all excited about having me on their team or whatever."

Zakoni said he's sought legal advice on the matter, and although he has a strong suit against the Neptunes
and Star Trak, the case would have to be prosecuted in New York City and he does not have the funds
to go ahead with any legal actions.

Zakoni has gone so far as to present to SOHH.com what he calls proof of the theft -- an MP3 that displays the shocking similarities between his original production and Neptune-produced Jay-Z track.