Ice Cube Joins Voices Against Oprah
NEW YORK (AP) - Rappers Ludacris and 50 Cent have dissed Oprah Winfrey. Now, Ice Cube has a beef with the talk show queen.
"I've been involved in three projects pitched to her, but I've never been asked to participate," the rapper-actor tells FHM magazine in its July issue, on newsstands June 6.
"For 'Barbershop,' she had Cedric the Entertainer and Eve on, but I wasn't invited," says the 36-year-old rapper, referring to his 2002 movie. "Maybe she's got a problem with hip-hop."
Cube adds: "She's had damn rapists, child molesters and lying authors on her show. And if I'm not a rags-to-riches story for her, who is?"
A call by The Associated Press to Winfrey's spokeswoman at her production company, Harpo, was not immediately returned Friday.
Last month, 50 complained that Winfrey rarely invites rappers on her talk show: "I think she caters to older white women." Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, told GQ magazine that the media mogul was "unfair" to him during a show he appeared on last October with co-stars from best-picture Oscar winner "Crash."
Earlier this month, Winfrey defended herself in a surprise appearance on New York City-based radio station Power 105.1.
"I listen to some hip-hop," she told DJ Ed Lover. "You know, I've been accused of not liking hip-hop and that's just not true. I got a little 50 (Cent) on my iPod. I really do. Love 'In Da Club.' ... Love that, and you know, love Jay-Z, love Kanye (West), love Mary J. (Blige)."
Ice Cube, whose other films include "Friday" and "Three Kings," will release his latest album, "Laugh Now, Cry Later," on June 6.
Michael Jackson Kicking Off Asian Tour
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Michael Jackson plans to make his first public appearance since his trial acquittal last June at a ceremony in Tokyo to accept MTV Japan's "Legend Award," his spokesman said.
Jackson's participation in the award ceremony Saturday at Yoyugi Olympic Stadium will launch an Asian tour. Jackson also plans to visit Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong, spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said in a telephone interview from her Washington, D.C., office Thursday.
Bain, who said she was en route to the airport to join Jackson in Tokyo, said the star plans to visit orphanages, tour the city of Tokyo and meet with members of the Asian business community during his trip.
Jackson has been living in Bahrain since his acquittal on child molestation charges in Santa Maria, Calif.
The Asian tour is being organized by Broderick D. Morris, chief executive of Positive Productions Yokohama, an entertainment promotions company, Bain said.
"Michael Jackson is a legend. ... He loves Japan and we love him," Morris said in a press release. "We look forward to welcoming him."
Jackson was quoted as saying, "I look forward to my visit to Japan because I have so many fond memories of my visits there. I thank MTV Japan for this honor and Mr. Morris for spearheading this visit.
"I look forward to seeing old friends and saying hello to my huge fan base in Japan who, like my other fans around the world, have for so many years consistently shown their love and support to me and my family."
Bain said that Jackson plans to return to recording and hopes to release a new album in 2007.
Jamaican Ska Great Desmond Dekker Dies
LONDON (AP) - Desmond Dekker, who brought the sound of Jamaican ska music to the world with songs such as "Israelites," has died, his manager said Friday. He was 64.
Dekker, who lived in England, collapsed from an apparent heart attack at his home on Thursday, manager Delroy Williams said.
"It is such a shock, I don't think I will ever get over this," Williams said.
Dekker's 1969 song "Israelites," a Top 10 single in both Britain and the United States, was the first international hit produced by Jamaica's vibrant music scene. With its haunting vocals and irresistible rhythm, it introduced the world to ska, a precursor to reggae.
"Desmond was the first legend, believe it or not," Williams said. "When he released 'Israelites' nobody had heard of Bob Marley - he paved the way for all of them."
Born Desmond Dacres in 1941, Dekker worked as a welder in Kingston before signing with Leslie Kong's Beverley's record label and releasing his first single, "Honor Your Father and Your Mother," in 1963. It was followed by Jamaican hits including "King of Ska."
Some of his most popular songs celebrated the culture of violent street toughs, or "rude boys" - "Rude Boy Train,""Rudie Got Soul" and "007 (Shanty Town)," which featured on the soundtrack of the seminal Jamaican film "The Harder They Come."
He also had a hit with "You Can Get It If You Really Want," written by his label-mate Jimmy Cliff.
The songs made Dekker a hero of British youth, and he moved to the country in the 1970s.
Dekker's career suffered after the 1971 death of his mentor Kong, and he was declared bankrupt in 1984. But he retained a strong British following until his death and performed regularly. Dekker had been due to play across Europe over the summer, including dates in Ireland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
Dekker, who was divorced, is survived by a son and a daughter. Funeral details were not immediately available.
Now you are up-to-date on the latest gossip as of May 26, 2006. Actually, there is more, but, we'll save that for now.
The picture at the top of this posting, has nothing to do with it. It's there "just bcause". reggae8@aol.com Have a great Memorial Day Weekend! For those of you that do not celebrate our Memorial Day, hey, have a great weekend!
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