IT'S JACOB THE BLING MAN: Mariah's jeweller banned from hosting charity event tonight!

The jeweller (far left) who designed MARIAH CAREY's $2.5 million wedding ring has been banned from hosting a charity event after philanthropists discovered his shady past. Diamond tycoon Jacob the Jeweler, real name Jacob Arabo, was due to host a cocktail party on Wednesday night 14May08) at his New York boutique for children's charity Hale House. But committee members pulled the plug at the last-minute after discovering Arabo - who has also designed jewels for Bono and Sir Elton John - was arrested in 2006 on money laundering charges, and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of giving false statements to police.

He is currently awaiting sentencing. This is a feds case and he may bag a lot of time in jail. A spokesperson for the charity tells the New York Daily News, "Hale House completely disassociated itself from (Arabo). They're doing their best to repair their reputation." Arabo's lawyer Benjamin Brafman says his client has donated "to every major charity in the country, and he will continue to do so". What it is....is that they don't want dirty $$$

Kim Kardashian & Siblings Deny Abusing Brandy's AmEx!

Kim Kardashian and her siblings denied allegations they improperly ran up more than $120,000 in charges on the credit card used by R&B singer Brandy Norwood's mother, according to court papers. Now why would I give my credit card to anyone? Sonja should be ashamed of herself as much as I love her.....

BOOK OF SHOCKER COMES OUT TODAY! EXPLOSIVE MEMOIR THAT IS SURE TO SEND SHOCKWAVES THROUGHOUT HOLLYWOOD AND HIP HOP.

HIDING IN HIP HOP: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry - from Music to Hollywood (Atria/Simon & Schuster) By Terrance Dean

There has long been speculation about who's gay, bi-sexual, or on the down low in the entertainment industry. It is this very speculation and guessing game that fuels gossip columns, blind items and entertainment industry blogs. Prior to Confessions of a Video Vixen by Karrine Steffans and It's No Secret by Carmen Bryan, the large majority of celebrity-driven memoirs were published outside of the African American community. Yet, both books told compelling, jaw-dropping page-turners of sex, drugs and hip hop. The stories were not entirely shocking regarding the celebrities mentioned in those pages and served to further heighten their notoriety within the industry and amongst select fans.

There are many revealing stories and first-hand anecdotes offered by Dean about his travails throughout Hollywood and hip hop. Readers will be introduced to a wide range of personalities, including by not limited to (not their real names):

Jazz, "a nice looking brother, had women swooning when his character as a hard-working, married man graced the television screen. His hit show marked a milestone because of its accurate portrayal of African-American family life. The world doesn't want to know that their favorite actor likes sleeping with other men."

Lucas, "a megastar. No matter what film project he was attached to it was bound to be a box office smash," and Kareem, "a leading sitcom actor, is married to an actress." The film crew took bets on "how often Lucas's 'boyfriend' Kareem would show up and how long he would stay. It was like clockwork; Kareem arrived each day at the same time and went straight to the trailer for hours on end. Our circle was talking about the down low circle Lucas and Kareem were in. But it was a hard nut to crack; they were superstars."

Gus, a singer, attractive with "clear skin, dark eyes, bushy eyebrows, and short, wavy hair did not give way for a thug image. He was just too pretty." "One morning, I turned on my television and I wasn't prepared for what I saw on BET- my boy, Gus, parade in his video with a host of celebrity cameos mean mugging for the camera- I just wondered how he would keep his secret of sleeping with men a secret."

However, former MTV and Hollywood insider Terrance Dean writes a compelling account of his tumultuous life involved with celebrities and a taboo secret they would prefer never, ever be revealed in his new book HIDING IN HIP HOP. To visit further with Terrance Dean as he reveals his eloquent voice, go to www.TerranceDean.blogspot.com and his special "Confession" blog hosted by SOHH.com at http://blogs.sohh.com/confessions/.

FOR WHAT?: DMX gives up as SWAT team swarms home!

A couple of days ago, I reported that DMX was arrested for speeding.....AT HIS HOME and I also stressed the fact that cops do not follow you and I home to arrest us for a highway offense. Sometimes they just set you up and ruin these young black rappers lives with criminal records. Was I right? DMX was arrested on drug and animal cruelty charges following an overnight raid on the rapper's house, authorities said Friday.

The 37-year-old rapper, whose given name is Earl Simmons, initially tried to barricade himself in his bedroom but emerged when a SWAT team entered his Phoenix home during the 3 a.m. raid yesterday, police said. If that was a regular person's home and they opened fire at 3am on the intruders/cops, we have a case but what if DMX who HID IN HIS DAMN ROOM opened fire, then the hip-hop community will be in even more trouble. This is utterly ridiculous!

THREESOME TESTIMONY: NEW WITNESS COMES FORWARD IN R. KELLY CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE.

Troubled R&B star R.KELLY has been hit with another setback in his underage sex case - a new witness is set to testify she had sex with the star and an underage girl. The I Believe I Can Fly hitmaker is currently awaiting trial on 14 counts of child pornography, with proceedings due to start in May (08). Kelly is accused of filming himself having sex with an underage girl, who is believed to have been 13 or 14 at the time of the assault.

But reports now claim a new witness has come forward to testify against the star, claiming she enjoyed a threesome with the singer and the teenager at the centre of the case. It is expected the woman will confirm the girl was underage at the time of the act.

CANADIANRAMA: Kardinal Denies Link To Mos Def's Ex-Wife, Speaks On Lil' Wayne & Pusha-T Collabo!

Recent rumors had a prominent Canadian rapper (Our own Kardinal) linked to Mos Def’s ex-wife, model-turned-author, Alana Wyatt. Remember I reported her writing that kiss and tell book in my single mama blog! Well, Toronto emcee Kardinal Offishall wants to set the record straight: Wyatt is not his baby’s mother. “No baby mothers,” Kardi explained to XXLMag.com.

"That’s one thing I’ve been really careful about in my career. And it’s not even like a career move, but it’s like to me all that shit is still precious. I don’t need any grief from wifey thinking I got kids from random chicks. I don’t do that random shit too tough. Not to disrespect my boy, but it’s my man Saukretes’ [from Redman’s Gilla House crew] baby moms. It’s not me.”(Kardi is telling the truth! This guy is not into that mess!) My interview with Kardi on April 4th 2008 above is coming where I strictly talked to him about that Konvict music deal, the album and the single "Dangerous." I met him at Next Level the evening after the video was shot in Miami.

Click here to watch Kardinal Clears Up Baby Rumors.

Love triangles aside, Kardi found himself caught between two feuding rappers, Lil’ Wayne and The Clipse’s Pusha-T, on his recently released mixtape banger, “Swag.” Despite trading jabs in several interviews, Kardi said the two parties didn’t mind being on the same track. “Pusha did his verse first and Wayne definitely heard Pusha ’cause he put his [verse] on after Pusha,” the Toronto emcee recalled. “That joint is never gonna come out officially, by the way. There’s no beef or nothing like that. “Wayne had a respect for me and Pusha had a certain respect for me as well,” he continued. “I think at the end of the day, the song was too ill and they weren’t really worried about each other being on the joint.

I sent the joint completed to Pusha and [he] was like, ‘This shit [is] crazy.’ He didn’t say nothing to me about, ‘No faggot ass Wayne,’ or this, that, and the next thing. He was like, ‘Yo, the shit is dope.’” Click here to watch Kardi Speak On Lil’ Wayne & Pusha-T Collabo. Make sure to check back with XXL next week for a full feature on Kardinal Offishall. I interviewed Pusha-T back in 2004 below is a picture after our encounter.


Source: My words plus XXL Mag

WU-TAN-BAD: RZA CRITICISED FOR BAD BEHAVIOUR AT SCOTTISH GIG!

WU TANG CLAN star RZA's latest performance sparked outrage in Scotland after he smoked a cigarette on stage and invited female fans to strip. The notorious rapper deliberately flouted the U.K.'s smoking ban during a performance in Glasgow by lighting up - and followed his law-breaking with an invitation for scantily-clad women to join him on stage. The Brooklyn rapper - real name Robert F Digs - was playing at the Arches club last Saturday 26th when a group of women joined him on stage and removed their tops, exposing their breasts.

A spokesman for the venue confirmed the women took their tops off, which was deemed "unacceptable by management". The offending females "were then subsequently asked to leave the club".

THE DL LIST IS COMING SOON: Terrance Dean launches blog ahead of controversial book!

I reported about this book last week and plan to do a phone interview with Terrance after the book release! Many in the business as well as my readers and fans are going to rush this book!

When Terrance Dean's highly anticipated memoir is released on May 13, 2008 from Atria/ Simon and Schuster books, there is the strong likelihood that his rightful voice may be lost in the media hype. A true 'first' among firsts, Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry-From Music To Hollywood is the explosive tale of his tumultuous life as a down low brother in not only the entertainment business, but within the testosterone-driven world of Hip Hop no less! With that acknowledgement, it is all to possible that his very personal story of tragedy turned triumphant may be missed by journalists, bloggers and gossip columnists alike as they scramble to uncover the who's who names behind his real life accounts. Sincere to his unending commitment as an activist, author and motivator, Terrance Dean has launched a personal blog in advance of the novel's release, "Reclaim Your Voice, Reclaim Your Life, Reclaim Your Power" at www.TerranceDean.blogspot.com.

The blog reflects Dean's own periodic musings as he embarks on this next dimension of his life's journey. Compelling, mind-blowing and jaw dropping, Hiding in Hip Hop will definitely stand apart as one of the year's most controversial page turners. Unmasking the deep unspoken secret of a prominent gay sub-culture within not only the entertainment community, but within the confines of Hip Hop, Dean's latest release is destined to send ripples throughout not only the Black and gay community, but the entertainment world at large.

In an industry that thrives on power, misogyny and machismo, Dean reveals homosexuality as a stark reality at nearly every level of Hip Hop. However his memoir is also a genuine sojourn of a young man searching for self, love, and sexual identity in the most homophobic places: family, community, church and Hip Hop. Struggling to find a place for himself in a homophobic culture, Dean's compelling story is one of hope, love, and in spite of everything, coming to terms with one's self and being a catalyst for change and empowerment in the game of Hip Hop. Check out his blog!

Who's Zooming Who?: Black Gay Ex-MTV Executive to dish out all the gay juice on Hip-Hop!

As this juicy book is released on May 13th, you better go get yours! Former MTV executive Terrence Dean is blowing the lid off of a Gay/DL subculture silently festering within the confines of hip hop in a new book entitled Hiding In Hip Hop: On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood. Terrence will out the lifestyles of prominent gay celebrities of color from hip hop to Hollywood in the book. “This book is filled with intrigue, sexy celebrity bed partners, abundance of drugs, and of course, the down low/gay men and celebrities in the entertainment industry….

He says "This book is my voice, your voice, and many other voices of people who love Hip Hop, the black church, the black community, our families - our uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters who are gay, or on the down low,”

This is definitely a book that should get my summer reading list pumping! Gay sex in hip-hop?

Could Soulja Boy be one of the gay rappers that Terrence guy is outing in the book?

You be the Judge! I love my Superman though!

MTV's LaLa Vasquez backing her drunk baller Carmelo Anthony!

I saw this story yesterday but normally do it on my DUI blog ((Oh yes!))........but there was a music connection. Basketball star Carmelo Anthony and his fiancée LaLa Vazquez former MTV Vee Jay are speaking out about his DUI arrest – denying Internet reports she was unsupportive and wouldn’t pick him up from the police station. Who cares? If my man is drunk too, he will learn to take the TTC bus or a cab to get home or even have to call Diddy's drunk celeb limo service.

“I want to make sure the public understands that I fully support my fiancé, Carmelo Anthony, and stand by him through this ordeal. I will always have his back and never refused to pick him up from the police station. In fact, they offered to bring him to me.” The NBA star reiterated his love for Vazquez in his own statement: “LaLa continues to be a rock in my life, she’s always been there for me through thick and thin.”

Thick and thin? Engaged for 6 damn years and still not ready to get married. Thick and thin doesn't involve getting drunk or tipsy. Do the right thing. You see what I did at the SWV party when I spent a lot of time with the bartender?

Scandalicious: Alicia Keys now says she was MISREPRESENTED!

Alicia Keys says she's not a conspiracy theorist after all. In a statement issued Tuesday, the songstress said she wanted to clarify comments in her recent interview with Blender magazine "since they have been misrepresented." This is the one about the government and gangsta rap.

Eminem's mama SUED! Tell-All book comes out this week!

Debbie Nelson, estranged mom of rapper Eminem, is being sued by some guy that says he's her ex agent. He supposedly helped Em's mama put together that 'tell all' book and is suing mad because after all the work he did on her behalf, she cut him out of the deal! The ex-agent claims that he "came up with the idea of Nelson writing a book about being the mother of Eminem." He also asserts that he's entitled to 25% of her earnings in the suit. The books hit stores in the U.S and Canada this week.

Rapper Tone Loc plans shows at bars that got scammed by impersonator.

Tone Loc plans to play shows at two bars in the Detroit area that were swindled by a man posing as the rapper's manager.

The AP reports that Tone Loc will play April 11 at the Red Dog Saloon in Milford and April 12 at Bumpers in Westland. Red Dog owner Patty McMillan gave about $400 last summer to a man posing as Tone Loc's manager who promised his client would perform at her bar. Authorities say the man also scammed Bumpers out of $1,000. The scam artist hasn't been caught.

McMillan and Judy Johnson of Bumpers contacted Tone Loc's real manager and the rapper offered to play the shows for his regular fee. The rapper, whose real name is Anthony Terrel Smith, is known for the hits "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina."(watch)

BREAKING NEWS: Los Angeles Times apologizes to Diddy on FALSE Tupac ambush article!

Thanks to Mediaoutrage: After The Smoking Gun put James Sabatino on blast for being a con man and pathological liar, who probably forged the documents that were submitted to LA Times writer Chuck Phillips, as evidence for his conspiracy theory article, in which he accused Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Jimmy ‘Henchman’ Rosemond and the late Notorious B.I.G. of having pre knowledge of the Tupac ambush, the La Times has issued a formal apology to them for not doing a thorough investigation of the forged documents and basically for slandering the hell out of their names. Here’s what writer Chuck Phillips and his supervisor, Deputy Managing Editor Marc Duvoism had to say in apologies issued on Wednesday afternoon about the debacle….

“In relying on documents that I now believe were fake, I failed to do my job,” Philips said in a statement Wednesday. “I’m sorry.”

In his statement, Duvoisin added: “We should not have let ourselves be fooled. That we were is as much my fault as Chuck’s. I deeply regret that we let our readers down.”

Times Editor Russ Stanton:

Times Editor Russ Stanton announced that the newspaper would launch an internal review of the documents and the reporting surrounding the story. Stanton said he took the criticisms of the March 17 report “very seriously.”

“We published this story with the sincere belief that the documents were genuine, but our good intentions are beside the point,” Stanton said in a statement.

“The bottom line is that the documents we relied on should not have been used. We apologize both to our readers and to those referenced in the documents and, as a result, in the story. We are continuing to investigate this matter and will fulfill our journalistic responsibility for critical self-examination.”

NOW THE SLANDER LAWSUIT! DIDDY ALWAYS WIN SOME, LOOSE SOME! DAMN! SOME JOURNALISTS GIVE US ALL A BAD NAME!

Get Real Every Blogger Out There! : VIDEO BEAUTY IRKS MRS. USHER?

The New York Post reports that Tameka Foster won't let nobody to close to Usher even on a video shoot. Tameka is a nice person plus is an independent woman and all this dogging of her has got to go! This new one revolves around Keri Hilson. "Our on-set source said Foster was upset when she found out stunning singer/songwriter Keri Hilson was personally picked by Usher to play his love interest in the video." says the Post. Sometimes people do forget she is a Stylist and was Usher's stylist for a while there. I think we in the mainstream media , bloggers and fans of Usher should all read her profile and work. Read the NY Post article here....

Below is Tameka's bio. It's not too much to read if you come to this blog? Thanks to Tamiko Hope at Word Ink PR in Atlanta for use of this information on my site Hiphossip.

TAMEKA FOSTER, STYLIST

Tameka had aspirations to develop a career in the fashion industry as early as high school. Her goal was to become a buyer for major boutiques and to eventually have her own. Armed with her strong will to succeed and her natural talent, Tameka attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising as a Marketing major, in Los Angeles, California in 1994. Her professional career began working in retail (as both salesperson and manger). She went on to style fashion models for photo shoots and work as a dresser for Giorgio Armani's fashion shows-all the while still attending FIDM in Los Angeles.

Word of mouth referrals were creating a buzz on Tameka's talent in the industry. Without the help of an agent or any form of advertising. Tameka's career snowballed. She began working for major labels such as Warner Brothers Music, Columbia/Sony Music, Epic/Sony Music, 550 Music/Sony Music, Arista Records, Noontime Music, Virgin Records, MCA, LaFace Records, SoSo Def, Dreamworks, Blackground and Aftermath. Tameka has styled artists such as Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Toni Braxton, Wyclef, Usher, Eminem, Nas, Blu Cantrell, Sunshine Andersen, Maxwell, Dr. Dre, Faith Evans, Chaka Khan, Cherokee, Brian McKnight, Common Sense, Jagged Edge, Ginuwine and more…

That more came in the form of multi-grammy award winner, Lauryn Hill. Fate must have been working the day that Tameka happened to meet Lauryn Hill in an elevator in 1995. Foster was confidant and determined to win her as a client. Tameka's tenacity and obvious talent landed her the job to work with the Fugees (The Score). Soon thereafter, Tameka became Lauryn's wardrobe and personal stylist and helped to create a look for her that is emulated by top fashion designers while Lauryn's style placed her as one of America's top fashion icons.

Tameka's work with Lauryn graced the covers of top magazines such as Harpers Bazaar, Esquire, GQ, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, People, Teen People, Source, Vibe, Honey, and Details. She also worked on Lauryn's "Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" album, music videos, performances, television appearances, U.S. and European Tours and a myriad of award shows.

…on working with Lauryn…

"Working with Lauryn has taught me a lot. She is a total perfectionist and commands only the best. In that, we are a lot alike. She has shown me that with hard work, perseverance, faith and the will to succeed. I can accomplish anything!" Proving that her style of fashion was not only for the young hitmakers. Tameka began working with musical legend, Patti LaBelle. Tameka worked with Patti on her "Flame" and the soon to be released "When a Woman Loves" album packaging, videos, and several award shows.

…on working with Patti…

"Patti LaBelle is the most humble, nurturing and down-to-earth artist (diva) on the planet! She has shown me that no matter how much notoriety, fame or fortune you get, you never treat people as inferior. You always take time out to be grateful because nothing is ever promised….besides that, she has given me the ultimate fashion tips and glamour lessons."

Tameka is currently working as a freelance fashion stylist and lives bi-coastally between Los Angeles and Atlanta. In the very near future she plans to launch her own men and women’s clothing line, Gamut and Hides & Dungarees through her company, Swanky Designs. She offers personal shopping and on-line consulting services through her Website, www.tamekafoster.com. (This link is still under design and will be up soon.)

DJ Wreckk 1 of Hot 96.3 Indianapolis sends us Part 2 of the Ray Jay/Chris Stokes/Marques Houston mess!

RAY TALKS FEELS LIKE HOUSTON AND STOKES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUINING HIS CAREER. HE TALKS ABOUT HOW THE TWO ARE INVOLVED IN HOMOSEXUALITY AND HE ALSO FREESTYLES.

DJ Wrekk 1 of Hot 96.3 FM in Indianapolis sent this to me an hour ago........

............and I believe the allegations!

March 19, 2008. R&B singer Ray J is making some explosive allegations. In an interview with DJ Wrekk 1 of Whhh Hot 96.3, he appears to make the startling claim that Chris Stokes and Marques Houston are engaged in a homosexual relationship. Watch!