There is no daylight between Will Smith and President Barack Obama, on the issue of raising taxes on the rich. While promoting his upcoming blockbuster, MEN IN BLACK III, Smith said that he supports the idea of raising taxes on the wealthy. The superstar said, “America has been fantastic to me. I have no problem paying whatever I need to pay to keep my country growing.”

President Obama has suggested raising taxes on the wealthy, which are at historic lows, in order to prevent raising interest rates on student loans, cutting healthcare for the elderly and as a means to finance investments in education and infrastructure. The

Outcast fans, will be delighted to hear that Andre 3000 is set to play rocker Jimi Hendrix in an upcoming film. The filmography, is tentatively titled ALL IS BY MY SIDE. The movie will be set in 1966 and will follow “Jimi” as he creates his legendary debut album, “Are You Experienced”.

This is not Andre’s first film. The eccentric rapper has starred in Four Brothers, Be Cool and Scary Movie 4. The new film will begin shooting in 6 weeks and will be directed by the phenomenal,John Ridley.

 

The Queen of Day Time Television is finding the task of erecting a new network more difficult than she’d ever dreamed it would be. The OWN Network, has lost over 330 Million Dollars and major productions like “The Rosie Show” have failed to produce meaningful ratings. Oprah recently joked that she could write a book, “101 Mistakes” about starting her struggling network. But the Day Time Diva and Motivational Guru, isn’t giving up yet. The network has experienced a recent uptick in ratings and cable operators will infuse the network with millions in new revenue. Oprah has maintained that this is a long term project and she is focused on carving a prosperous path for her OWN network.

Tracy Morgan has been hospitalized, as a result of flu-like symptoms and dehydration. Morgan was about to perform, in Denver, Colorado at the Comedy Works South but the performer cancelled the show, after extreme sickness. This is not Morgan’s first bout with debilitating illness. Morgan fell to the found, and began yelling, uncontrollably at a Sundance Film Festival, in Park City Utah. Morgan’s entourage blamed, exhaustion and altitude for both of the events. Today’s collapse, left the star, wheelchair bound and fleeing for the hospital.

 

Ms. Mbathio Beye has been crowned Miss Black France. She is the first woman to hold the title for the pageant, which is in it’s first inaugural contest. The Senagalize beauty, is a marketing student but she has also acquired nationwide fame, or infamy for her new title.

The Miss Black France pageant, was called “stupid”, “Dangerous” and “hostile” and contrary to the values of French society. The organizer of the contest, Frederick Royer, told FRANCE 24, “The purpose of this beauty contest is to shine a light on the many black women in this country who are rarely given any media attention,” he said. “The Miss France competition is not nearly representative enough of modern France.” While the contest has the backing of famous members of the official, Miss France competition, many in the country have not been pleased. Patrick Lozes, The Former President of CRAN-Council of Black Associations, said “It’s a contest that stipulates that white women are not welcome, which is very disturbing. This initiative could be perceived as a hostile event that will further erode national unity.”

The event has been organized, in the aftermath of a divisive national election, in which immigrants felt ostracized. Minorities also point to a recent article in France’s Elle Magazine, that mocked black fashion. The writer suggested that blacks have only learned to dress with sophistication, through the recent influence of Michelle Obama. The author suggested that blacks had finally learned “The White Codes of Fashion”. With non-natives feeling under siege, Miss Black France was designed to celebrate cultural diversity in the nation.

But Critics note that Miss France crowned it’s last Black winner, in 2009; just three years ago. They suggest that with such recent progress, Miss Black France is a regressive contest that threatens to drag France back into a racially divisive past.

Lionel Richie is already a pop music legend but he is also hoping to become a venerable fixture in the Country Music world, as well. His latest album, “TUSKEGEE” is currently Number 1 on the charts. The album of duets, featuring Country Music royalty such as Blake Shelton, and Rascal Flatts debuted 3 weeks ago at Number 2, but has quickly climbed past the competition to claim the top spot. Richie has moved over 537,000 units, to date. Critics are loving Richie’s album as well. Rolling Stone Magazine, raved about the successful collaborations in Tuskegee, offering an odd but glowing endorsement of the album. In verbiage that can only be described as questionable, Rolling Stone describes Tuskegee, as an album filled with Lionel Richie’s, “Cottony R&B hits with a bunch of country stars”. They continued that the “collaborations jell because Richie’s style is so expansive, musically and emotionally”.

Richie’s success is a part of a continuing trend in Country Music, as African Americans from other genres find increasing acceptance, in the once discriminating industry. Nelly and Kandi Burruss, among others have found success as writers, producers and occasional features with Country musicians. And Country music has changed as the influence from these artists continues to be felt. Darious Rucker, the famous front man of Hootie and The Blowfish, found the country world to be entirely receptive and friendly. In 2009, he became the first African American to win the New Artist Award from the CMA, Country Music Association and only the second African American to win any award from the association. As Country music becomes more open, it is likely that more African Americans will find success in the genre. Richie becomes just the second artist to have reached No. 1 on both Country Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The first was Ray Charles.

Brian McKnight has released a new song that just might have signaled the end of his career. McKnight stunned the entire entertainment industry, when he  released a preview of his latest project; an Adult oriented collection of music. The first release on Brian’s new album is tentatively titled, “Let Me Show You How Your Pussy Works”. McKnight claims that he consulted his Twitter Followers on the idea. He suggested that they fed him adult oriented topics that they wanted the soul-filled singer to write about. If this is true, Brian needs new friends on Twitter.

Brian’s new song manages to be shocking, and yet simultaneously boring. The chorus wreaks of an older man, trying way too hard to recapture his youth. It is sad to see that the youth oriented focus of our culture and entertainment industry has caused one of the most talented and accomplished artists of this generation, to second guess himself. The secret of McKnight’s success has always been in the maturity of his music. Brian claims that he was attempting to create an adult oriented album. The problem with this goal is that Brian attained this achievement over a decade ago. All of Brian’s music is adult oriented. When was the last time, teen-agers were  overheard talking about their favorite Brian McKnight song! He makes music for the grown and sexy crowd. All of his music is centered around themes, of love, heartache and even SEX! What made McKnight a household name, was his ability to tastefully address those subjects and to write about sex with the sophistication of a mature man. He has always approached the issue of sex but he did so as an adult, not like a horny teenager, pining to be in a rap music video. This is what happens when 30 becomes the new 20. Immaturity matriculates down the age scale.

Brian McKnight may have just ended his career by writing a song that would be too immature for Justin Bieber, with lyrics like, “Let Me Show You How Your Pussy Works..I Bet You Didn’t Know That It Could Squirt”!  ( SHM! )

Not since McHammer, released “Pumps In The Bump” has a musician ended his career in such a spectacularly  lame fashion. MC Hammer found himself, the victim of an evolving hip hop industry that convinced him that Gangster was good and gratuitous sexual references were a pre-requisite for success. The result was a comical video in which, the once flashy and stylish King of Hip Hop, ditched his parachute pants for saggy jeans, a raiders jacket, a stuffed thong and poolside debauchery with scantily clad models. The entire country saw through Hammer’s desperate (and unnecessary) attempt to stay relevant. And Hammer has since been unable to recover, despite his considerable talents. Brian McKnight has just followed in Hammer’s footsteps.

I won’t write the obit on his career yet, but McKnight will certainly have a great deal of work ahead to rehab this self inflicted wound.