JAY-Z TO HELP RELAUNCH CHERRY COKE

Jay-Z used his marketing skills to become a hip hop mogul. Now corporate America is hoping the rapper can help bring some magic to their brands. Jay-Z already has agreements with GMC, Hewlett Packard, and Budweiser to help market their products, and now he's entered into an agreement to help re-launch Cherry Coke.

Brand Week reports that Jay-Z will help design the can and the television commercials, in addition to appearing at the re-launch of the Cherry Coke brand on February 7th during New York's Fashion Week.

The new can will feature a cityscape design and a Jay-Z song will be used as the music for the new commercial.

Rocawear CMO Jameel Spencer told Brand Week, "It's his new opportunity to expand his standing in the business world. Besides just recording, he's making TV commercials and campaigns for brands . . .who is better than Coke? They're the biggest...His role is helping brands not get it wrong the way McDonald's did with African Americans rapping about French fries... There's a reassurance that they won't appear like an out-of-touch uncle trying to act cool."

SUNSHINE ANDERSON RELEASES LONG AWAITED SOPHOMORE SET

R & B singer Sunshine Anderson finally released her sophomore album, Sunshine At Midnight, last Tuesday, January 23rd. The first single from the project is "Something I Wanna Give You." The new album features production by Mike City, Raphael Saadiq, Warren Campbell, Walter Mislap, Nottz, and Dr. Dre.

Anderson released her gold debut album, Your Woman, in 2001, which included the breakthrough hit "Heard It All Before." But the singer grew impatient during the Atlantic and Warner Brothers merger and was granted a release in 2003. In 2004 she landed a new deal with Mathew Knowles' Music World Entertainment and has been hard at work on the new album ever since.

Anderson explained why she decided to release the new album during the first quarter. She said: "You need your own lane you know? After this many years, you know I just want my own lane, you know? I like the fact that ain't nothing else out here for you but for you to listen to, you know what I mean?"

Anderson also shared that she's been listening to the competition and was able to find a few things she liked. The singer said: "You know I've been looking and I found a couple now. You know I found a couple little albums that I can you know... Just a couple that I can put in and let them ride you know. But I feel like you know there's something that I can add, you know?"

TONI BRAXTON MOVES SUIT AGAINST MANAGER TO NEW YORK STATE

Singer Toni Braxton has moved her breach of contract lawsuit against former manager Barry Hankerson and his Blackground Records to New York State, according to a press release from her attorneys, withdrawing the filing made January 12th in federal court.

Peter L. Haviland, trial counsel for Ms. Braxton, said he had decided that New York State court was the most appropriate and expeditious venue for the action. "We think this is the fastest route to getting Toni Braxton free and clear of Barry Hankerson," said Haviland, "since we avoid wasting time on any possible dispute over federal jurisdiction of her claims."

Braxton claims that Hankerson interfered with her relationship with Arista Records, and is guilty of a conflict of interest and fraud when he caused the Grammy winner to leave Arista Records and join Hankerson's own label, Blackground. Braxton wants out of her Blackground contract and seeks $10 million in damages.

Meanwhile, Braxton served as a celebrity co-host on the ABC talk show The View on Monday (January 29th), which included a discussion of autism, a condition her youngest son has been diagnosed with.

The singer recently earned a Trumpet Award for Excellence in Entertainment at ceremonies held January 22nd in Las Vegas, where she continues to perform in Toni Braxton: Revealed at the Flamingo Hotel through March.

POLICE RECOMMEND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE FOR BRANDY

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has recommended that singer-actress Brandy Norwood be charged with vehicular manslaughter for a December car crash that left one woman dead. An investigation concluded that the Moesha star was responsible for plowing her Land Rover into a car that had stopped in front of her on a Los Angeles freeway. The impact sent the car and its driver, Awatef Aboudihaj, into other lanes of traffic, where they hit another car and were smashed by a fourth vehicle. Aboudihaj died a short time later of blunt force injuries.

Brandy was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol when the accident happened, and she has apologized to the Aboudihaj's family for the unintentional death.

The case is now in the hands of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office, which is reviewing the evidence and deciding whether or not to press charges. A misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a fine.

CIARA TALKS BOW WOW SPLIT IN VIBE

Ciara talks about her split with Bow Wow -- who allegedly cheated on the singer with a stripper -- in the current issues of Vibe magazine. She says, "Guys mature much slower than females. There are a lot of things guys have to experience before becoming a man. We have the mentality that a person will move at the same pace that we do. Unfortunately, it's not like that." Ciara's father, Carlton Harris -- who grew close with Bow Wow during the relationship -- adds, "I'm not going to sit here and tell you Bow Wow was a bad person. But some things happened between those two that Ciara didn't like and when it was time to cut it off, she cut it off." Ciara says she learned a lesson all women should heed from the experience. "You can be caught up in a situation where you loose control over yourself. You start to sacrifice your morals and your values. You depreciate. A woman is a prize. A lot of times, guys abuse that." Bow Wow apparently sees the error of his ways -- he recently told a New York radio station, "If I was to get back with anybody, it would probably be with her. It wouldn't be nobody else."

SAG AWARDS GO TO OSCAR FAVORITES HELEN MIRREN, FOREST WHITAKER

The 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were handed out last night (January 28th) to people and projects that've fared very well this awards show season. The Queen's Helen Mirren, Last King Of Scotland's Forrest Whitaker, Ugly Betty's America Ferrera, and House doctor Hugh Laurie added SAG trophies to their growing collections, as did Dreamgirls' Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson, and 30 Rock's Alec Baldwin. Click here for the entire story:

OPRAH WINFREY CHOOSES SIDNEY POITIER MEMOIR FOR BOOK CLUB

Oprah Winfrey has chosen the first Book Club title for the new season of her top-rated TV talk show, the first book she has put her stamp on since last year's fiasco surrounding James Frey's not-so-truthful memoir A Million Little Pieces. This time, Winfrey turned to her old friend and idol Sidney Poitier, and his autobiography The Measure Of A Man.

The Oscar winning actor's memoir was originally published in 2000, and spent several weeks on The New York Times' best sellers list. The audio edition, narrated by Poitier, won a Grammy Award for best spoken word album. Poitier wrote a previous memoir, "This Life," released in 1980.

"He writes really candidly and passionately about his childhood, his family, relationships and his extraordinary career," Winfrey said on her show. "It's a beautifully crafted book, written like poetry. Because, just as he speaks so eloquently, he also writes that way, too."

Winfrey promised viewers that the book will be discussed on a special future edition of the show, featuring "a once in a lifetime dinner party" with Poitier that will include members of her book club.

THIS WEEKEND'S TOP TEN MOVIES - JANUARY 26-28

1. Epic Movie, $19.2 million
2. Smokin' Aces, $14.3 million
3. Night at the Museum, $9.5 million
4. Catch and Release, $8 million
5. Stomp the Yard, $7.8 million
6. Dreamgirls, $6.6 million
7. The Pursuit of Happyness, $5 million
8. Pan's Labyrinth, $4.5 million
9. The Queen, $4 million
10. The Hitcher, $3.6 million

GERALD LEVERT'S FINAL ALBUM DUE IN FEBRUARY

Singer and songwriter Gerald Levert had just completed a new album at the time of his death in November. Now Atlantic Records will release the set, titled In My Songs, on February 13th.

The 13-track set features tunes Levert wrote with longtime collaborator Edwin "Tony" Nicholas, such as "Hang in There," "DJ Don't," and the title track.

Levert died Friday, November 10th, at his Newbury, Ohio home after allegedly suffering a heart attack in his sleep. He was 40 years old. His previous album was the 2004 release Do I Speak For The World. 

CHIT CHAT QUICKIES

MSNBC.com is reporting that Tony Parker and Eva Longoria are planning their wedding for July 7, 2007, because Tony thinks that's a lucky date. And he's not alone ... lots of people see the triple sevens as lucky and plan to make the most of it.  The Desperate Housewives star and her fave San Antonio Spur got engaged in November and word is, they're getting married in a castle north of Paris.  Eva, 31, will head to Paris soon with her event planner and future mother-in-law to iron out some details.

You'll see LeBron James in the commercials for Microsoft's new Vista software.

R. Kelly is working on a new album that is tentatively set for a May release. The project has not been titled yet, nor has a lead single been selected. Reps at Jive Records tell us Kelly will also add installments to his popular "Trapped in the Closet" saga that will be released in the summer. Meanwhile, Kelly can be heard on several tracks by other artists, most notably on the remix for Fat Joe's "Make It Rain," as well as Ciara's "Promise," Young Jeezy's "Go Getta" (a video for that single was filmed last week in Atlanta), Bow Wow's "I'm a Flirt" and of course, "That's That Sh--," the Snoop Dogg track featuring Kelly sitting at number-15 on the Billboard R-&-B-hip-hop chart. Kelly also has a song of his own called "Don't Let Go" on the recently released soundtrack to the upcoming Tyler Perry film Daddy's Little Girls.

It's not easy to step out from the shadow of Beyonce, but that's what Kelly Rowland hopes to do. SOHH-dot-com reports that the Destiny's Child singer has stopped using the same publicist as B, Sony exec Yvette Noel-Schure. Feeling that Schure might be overwhelmed with all things Beyonce, Rowland has hired publicist Keith Estabrook.  Rowland's delayed sophomore album has been renamed Miss Kelly, but no release date has been set.

Patti LaBelle fans can purchase V-I-P ticket packages for her Gospel According to Patti LaBelle tour, giving them complete access to the star. The Butterfly Experience package brings fans backstage and offers the chance to have their photos taken with Patti. LaBelle says, "The new V-I-P ticket packages offer fans a really special opportunity to see what goes on backstage before a concert and meet with me. I'm always amazed at how deeply fans care about me and treasure every aspect of the concert experience." The packages are available at LaBelle's new fan club website.  Patti LaBelle's new fan club is at PattisButterflies.com.

John Legend, Jill Scott, Ludacris, New Edition, George Benson, Pharoah Sanders, Stephen Marley featuring Junior Gong, Joss Stone and Branford Marsalis are expected to turn out for the 38th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, taking place April 27 through the 29th and May 4th through the 6th.

73 years ago today, the legendary Apollo Theater in the Harlem section of New York opened its doors. One of the theater's first African American Amateur Night participants was a dancer turned singing sensation -- none other than Ella Fitzgerald. To learn more about this historical theater, check out these books.  Harlem Heyday: A Pictorial History of Modern Black Show Business and the Apollo Theater by Jack Schiffman, Showtime at the Apollo: The Story of Harlem's World Famous Theater by Ted Fox, and Amateur Night at the Apollo: Ralph Cooper Presents Five Decades of Great Entertainment by Ralph Cooper and Steve Dougherty.

Officials in Washington, D.C. treated 100 homeless people to a screening of "The Pursuit of Happyness" in which Will Smith plays a homeless man who works his way to becoming a millionaire.  The audience burst into applause during Smith's various triumphs like when he finally gets the stockbroker job he'd been aiming for.  Still, a rather pessimistic homeless man by the name of S. Rock Dozier told reporters that thinking everyone who saw the movie would go out and change their lives was probably, quote, "too much to expect from one event." 

R&B sensation CHRISTINA MILIAN has been dropped from her label, Island / Def Jam.  Some sources say she was let go due to poor album sales but her publicist says that it was a mutual split over quote, "creative differences."  Either way:  According to the "New York Daily News", the label was not particularly pleased that Christina refused to record the song, "S.O.S. (Rescue Me)"which ended up becoming a huge hit for Rihanna after Christina passed on it.

Two pop and R&B babes will entertain folks for NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas. Christina Aguilera will headline the February 18th game`s halftime show, which will also feature Toni Braxton. Meanwhile, Mary J. Blige will perform as part of "NBA All-Star Saturday Night" the evening before at the city`s Thomas & Mack Center.

Queen Latifah is heading back to the big screen to star opposite Katie Holmes -- a-k-a Mrs. Tom Cruise -- and Diane Keaton in an upcoming heist film titled Mad Money.

Latifah is going back to her Set It Off days, playing the role of "Liz" who is one of the employees at the Federal Reserve plotting to steal the cash that is generally destroyed by the government. The film -- based on the 2001 British television show Hot Money -- will begin production in March in Shreveport, Louisiana. It's scheduled to be released in theaters next year.

Danity Kane will be the opening act on Cristina Aguilera's upcoming North American tour, in support of their self-titled debut album. The tour kicks off on February 20th in Houston and makes stops in such cities as New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia before winding down on May 2nd in Duluth, Georgia.  Click here for tour details.

Ashanti has covered Tupac's smash hit "Ridah" for a newly leaked track titled "You Can't Deny It (Ridah)" featuring Jim Jones.

Although a number of polls and analysts say Barack Obama is likely to have relatively few African-American supporters as he runs for the Democratic nomination for president, the Illinois senator isn't worried. He tells the Chicago Tribune, "If you look at my black vote in my U-S Senate race or my approval ratings back in Illinois, I feel pretty confident that once folks know who I am, then we will do just fine." But even the Reverend Jesse Jackson -- who ran for the Democratic nomination twice in the 1980s -- isn't so sure. "It will be a challenge because [Obama] will be competing against people who have relationships in the black community," such as New York senator Hillary Clinton.

Rumor has it that Kimora Lee Simmons managed to put a dent in Alicia Keys birthday bash. Kimora screamed, "Get out of my face, b***h" right after everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to Ms. Keys. Apparently, some female was there that Kimora didn't like and she allegedly shrieked. The woman ended up throwing a drink in Kimora’s face, while the reps for Ms. Lee Simmons say that that woman has been stalking her and it will end in a restraining order.

Kevin Federline's Super Bowl commercial for Nationwide Insurance is online at: Nationwide.com

While everyone in America was watching "American Idol" last Wednesday, that stupid reality show "Armed & Famous" the one where forgotten "celebrities" were trained to be real, working police officers was TANKING.  And now, after just four episodes, CBS has put it out of its misery.  I sure will miss LaToya Jackson being tasered.

Interested in being on VH1 and MTV?  Click here for casting call:

Jay-Z just moved into a new place on one of the uppermost levels of the 90-story Trump World Tower. It`s a steal at only 65 grand a month ($780,000 per year). The sprawling apartment is one floor above Derek Jeter`s swinging bachelor pad. (Be very worried, Beyoncé.)  It`s a record rent for the 14-room condo, which includes soaring ceilings, two fireplaces, five bedrooms, five baths, two powder rooms, a gourmet kitchen, a library, maid`s quarters and unobstructed views in all directions. The steel-and-glass building features a large full-service health club and spa with an indoor pool, a wine cellar, a residents-only garden and room service from the trendy Japanese restaurant Megu.

Retiring NFL player Curtis Martin has reportedly started dating Teresa Caldwell, the mother of Bow Wow. Martin and Caldwell have been friends and business partners for more than 5 years, but insiders say they have recently started a romantic relationship. No word on how serious the relationship is at this point.

BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS

Anita Baker, singer, 49

Angela DaviS, professor and political activist, 63

Kirk FrankliN, gospel singer, 37

Charles Dutton, actor and director (Roc), 56

Dexter King, son of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., 46

Donnie Simpson, former host of Video Soul, 53

Jody Watley, R&B singer and member of Shalamar, 48

Oprah Winfrey, media tycoon and talk show host, 53