MARIAH CAREY CLAIMS SLIM SHADY IS STILL OBSESSED WITH HER

Mariah Carey looks sexy in the upcoming issue of Playboy, but she also chats to the men`s mag, about topics like.. rapper Eminem. Mariah says, "Something is clearly askew with him, and I`m not quite sure what it is." In the March issue of Playboy magazine, Mariah talks about her long-standing feud with Eminem, her near career-ending nervous breakdown and offers her two cents on the latest celebrity phenomenon: wardrobe malfunctions.  

Mariah on her breakdown in `01: "What happened was that people made a big deal of when my old publicist pulled the microphone out of my hand because I was venting about Howard Stern. Howard Stern had said a lot of mean stuff about me that morning, as he does about everybody every morning, and I think it really got to me. So I gained five pounds. It’s not the end of the freakin’ world. But I was exhausted, and I did collapse later. Then everybody blew it out of proportion.”

Mariah on Eminem`s apology: "Something is clearly askew with him, and I’m not quite sure what it is. I just heard something else he recently said about me. I’m curious as to why he’s so obsessed with me. I never got an apology letter, by the way I don’t know what they’re talking about. Then again, I wasn’t exactly searching my mailbox for it."  

Mariah on `American Idol`: "I know everybody thinks I’m the poster child for American Idol, but I was really shy when I first came out as a performer....Randy Jackson of American Idol has worked with me since my first record. I’ve known him for so long, and now he’s a huge star. It’s just weird to me. We’ll get mobbed walking down the street. You know how the band is introduced at a show? My little joke used to be that he was Michael Jackson’s brother, and the crowd would believe me and go crazy."  

Mariah on wardrobe malfunctions: "Oh please, there have been so many. On this tour there was a really bad malfunction... It was this little top with a hook and eye on the front. It was a nightmare. The top was so tight that night because we girls have moments when the top might be tighter, but I caught it, and that’s how you know a pro."

Mariah on `Gliter`: "I try to avoid it."

GERALD LEVERT'S LAST ALBUM SAID TO BE HIS BEST

R&B/pop singer Gerald Levert had just completed his new album, In My Songs, before his untimely death last November. Atlantic Records is releasing the collection on February 13th. Insiders say it is among his finest songwriting and performance efforts, focusing on the kind of soulful R&B he grew up with as the son of the O'Jays' singer, Eddie Levert.

"Gerald always made personal albums that have been about his experiences," said Kevin Liles, executive VP of Warner Music Group in a Billboard interview. "But with this album, I think he really became vulnerable. On Songs, you can tell he missed being loved. Everyone knows his passion for music, but something else was missing in his life. I think this album was therapy for him."

"This album tells you where he was in his life," added Leonard Brooks, Levert's manager. "He was 40, 22 years in the business, and still working very hard. It's going to be difficult putting this album out with him not here. But it doesn't stop, and he wouldn't have wanted it to stop."

WILL LAWSUIT AGAINST BRANDY HOLD UP IN COURT?

After a bit of research, TMZ.com believes the $50 million civil lawsuit filed against Brandy for allegedly triggering a car crash has some issues that may lead to the case being tossed altogether.

The Web site reported Monday: "Awatef Aboudihaj was killed Dec. 30 after Brandy's vehicle rear-ended her on a Los Angeles freeway.  Aboudihaj was married with two children. Under California law, only the husband, not the parents, can sue for wrongful death. …Aboudihaj's parents could file suit if they were financially dependent on her, but we're told that was not the case."

TMZ also claims that Aboudihaj's parents, who live in Morocco full-time, filed the lawsuit without consulting her husband beforehand.

Meanwhile, Aboudihaj's husband is being represented by Los Angeles attorney Bill Sayed, the Web site reports. Sayed tells TMZ he is currently investigating Brandy's net worth and says the matter "will be resolved by settlement or jury verdict."

Sayed did not disclose the amount of money to be demanded, but said it will probably be a combination of Brandy's insurance policy limit - as well as additional money out of Brandy's own pocket, TMZ reports.

JENNIFER HUDSON SLAMS 'AMERICAN IDOL'

Millions of people tune in to American Idol every week but Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson isn't one of them. The first-time Oscar nominee told Essence magazine that she'd prefer not to watch the program because she's traumatized by it. Hudson said, "On American Idol, you've got to go through this mental thing; you've got to get yourself back together. You've been abused, misled, and brainwashed to believe whatever they want you think."

Hudson competed on the third season of the show and said her ill-will is a thing of the past, "I don't believe in looking back, and I didn't look back."

Hudson is the only former Idol contestant that has parlayed the experience into a successful film career. Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini tried it in their 2003 movie, From Justin To Kelly, but that didn't catch on.

While Hudson doesn't make it a point to watch Idol, others across the country still do. Judge Paula Abdul said during an Idol press conference that it's one of the few TV shows that is classified as "appointment viewing": "I don't know any other TV show that has appointment television where for girls in college, it's their Monday Night Football. It's the pizza and Chinese food. It's the go to the certain bar on Sunset because they're playing on Tuesday nights between football. It's like every restaurant bar they have American Idol on now."

MACY GRAY TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN MARCH

Macy Gray will release her new album, titled Big, on March 27th. Gray's first new studio set in four years will feature the production work of Will.i.Am of the Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake, both of whom guest on the set. Also lending a hand to Gray's upcoming release are Fergie, Natalie Cole and Nas.

She founded the M. Gray Music Academy in Los Angeles, which provides affordable after-school music classes for youth in the area.

She also has a women's clothing line, called The Natalie Hinds Collection by Macy Gray. Gray is about to start a new line for curvy girls, called Humps.

Gray first came on the scene in 1999 with her debut On How Life Is and the hit single, "I Try."

EDDIE MURPHY'S 'NORBIT' CAMPAIGN ANGERS BLACK LEADERS IN L.A.

Eddie Murphy's portrayal of a large, obnoxious black woman who manipulates her nerdy boyfriend -- also played by Murphy -- in the ad campaign for the new film Norbit has apparently angered a civil rights group in Los Angeles. Activist Najee Ali of Project Islamic H.O.P.E. announced that he and other community leaders were holding a protest on Friday in the Leimert Park district to protest the billboard and promotional campaign for the new comedy.

"Eddie Murphy's billboard disrespects Black women and continues to perpetuate negative stereotypical images that large Black women are sexually aggressive, unattractive, violent and promiscuous," said the group's statement. "These types of negative images are damaging to our community and to have this ad campaign unveiled during Black History Month is a slap in our face and disrespectful."

The protest was co-sponsored by the Making a Difference Foundation and the LA Humanity Foundation.

Norbit opens in theaters on Friday, February 9th.

EBONY MAGAZINE LAUNCHES GREETING CARDS

Johnson Publishing Company, the world’s largest black-owned publishing company and home of Ebony magazine, has announced a partnership with greeting card giant, American Greetings to create greeting cards for the newly developed Ebony Inspirations greeting card brand. The first series of cards will be launched at approximately 900 Wal-Mart stores in celebration of Black History month in February 2007.  Beyond the initial launch, Ebony and American Greetings will continue their partnership by developing the Ebony Inspirations card line to include cards inspired by Ebony’s positive and uplifting image within the African-American community. 

USHER GETS NAACP THEATRE AWARD'S 'SPIRIT' AWARD

Singing sensation Usher is set to receive a special award at this year's NAACP Theatre Awards, to be held Monday, February 19th, at The Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. The Grammy winner is being honored with the Spirit Award for bringing new energy and "spirit" to the theater industry via his recent Broadway debut in the musical Chicago.

The event will be presented by the Beverly Hills/Hollywood chapter of the NAACP to will honor and celebrate excellence in African American theatre.

The show will be hosted by recent SAG Award winner Chandra Wilson of Grey's Anatomy and Steve Harris of The Practice.

The gala will also honor veteran theater writer, director and producer George C. Wolfe with a Lifetime Achievement award. 

CHIT CHAT QUICKIES

Soapcentral.com reports that Victoria Rowell (Drucilla Winters) will leave "The Young and the Restless" this spring. According to a spokesperson for the actress, Rowell asked to be let out of her contract early and the show accommodated that request.  With Rowell`s exit confirmed, Y&R viewers have begun to speculate that Drucilla might be behind the death of Carmen Mesta. A CBS spokesperson declined to comment on Rowell`s impending exit and gave no indication of the show would attempt to recast the role of Dru. Rowell will last air in April.  

Naomi Campbell is getting broody after watching three of her supermodel friends become mothers in recent years. The 36-year-old says she is ready to embrace her maternal side after witnessing the motherly devotion of her modelling pals Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen and Linda Evangelista.  Naomi says, "All my friends have kids now. Cindy, Helena and now Linda. Every time I call one of them I can hear the children in the background. It makes me think I should have one too, but I guess I`ve got a few more years yet before I have to start worrying."

Beyonce Knowles won`t go on tour unless she`s accompanied by a stack of old-fashioned board games. She doesn`t need DVDs or video games to amuse herself, because she prefers to challenge her friends and crew to Connect Four contests. She tells London radio station Heart, "My favorite game is Guess Who. It`s like charades and I love Connect Four. I`m really good at it. I swear, I could kick anyone`s ass at Connect Four."

50 Cent is teaming with Pocket Books for a new volume called "The 50th Law." 50 Cent and author Robert Greene will focus on how `The 48 Laws of Power` have helped a new generation of successful power brokers achieve today`s version of the American Dream. The book will also highlight 50`s background and his ability to reconcile his street appeal with corporate savvy. The book is due in February 2008.

Sean `Diddy` Combs is already spoiling his seven-week-old twin girls by buying them each a pair of diamond earrings from Tiffany. Combs and longtime girlfriend Kim Porter became parents to twins Jessie James and D`Lila Star on December 21. He tells People mag, "I bought them their first pair of diamond earrings. Tiny Tiffany diamonds for babies." Meantime the hip-hop and fashion mogul hopes his daughter`s develop an interest in style. He adds, "If they`re not into fashion, that`s cool. But I think they will be."   Also, Diddy and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter are reportedly looking to expand into the video-on-demand business with the proposal of a new urban channel. Get the info here! http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur31256.cfm

Kanye West has apparently admitted to jacking beats without giving proper credit. In a clip making its way around the Internet, 'Ye says that Brian Alday Miller did the production work on Cam'ron's smash 2004 single "Down and Out." As the song's sample plays in the background, Kanye says, "This is actually one of my favorite beats that I didn't really do. Brian Alday Miller did this beat. And he was supposed to get co-producing credit and they didn't have his name in the credits and they just had my name, and everybody comes to me at the party and say, 'Oh, I love this beat' and I would say, 'Hey thanks.' But I'ma stop right now, misusing my producers."

Ludacris, R-&-B singer Lyfe Jennings and jazz guitarist Earl Klugh were at Atlanta's Clark University last week, offering advice to high school students interested in the music business. Cris said, "You can have street smarts. But if you combine that with book smarts, you'll be unstoppable."

Chris Brown, who broke his ankle while playing basketball recently, says he'll continue to film his upcoming movie, This Christmas. He says the injury won't prevent him from attending this weekend's Grammy Awards.

Lionel Richie recently received Berlin's Golden Camera Award. One of Europe's most prestigious and successful entertainment award ceremonies, the event honors outstanding artistic achievement and popularity with German audiences.

Pretty Ricky will make their late night television debut February 20th when they perform their singles "On the Hotline" and "Push It Baby" on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

B-E-T's 2007 Celebration of Gospel brought in two-point-five-million viewers last weekend, making it the number-one religious-gospel program in television history. The show will re-air Wednesday on the cable channel at 9:00 p-m [ET].

Rumor has it that Keyshia Cole and Young Jeezy took a nice, much needed vacation in the Bahamas and supposedly got engaged. One source said they saw Keyshia and her bodyguard and she had a huge rock on her finger. She also spoke of her fiancée being sleep in the hotel room, according to this rumor.

Addressing recent rumors that she is dating New York Yankees playboy Derek Jeter, Gabrielle Union tells People magazine that she would be the first to shout the news from the rooftop, if only it were true.  Read the entire story.
http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur31257.cfm

My favorite Superbowl commercial! 
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2819651

Janet Jackson was brought back to earth during a recent trip to a supermarket with Missy Elliot.  Janet realized for the first time what shopping carts and credit card machines are.  Janet tells V magazine, “I haven’t set foot in a grocery store in years.  And that’s so embarrassing.  I kept going, “What’s this?”  First of all I had the cart and I was riding down the aisles, standing on it.  And we got to the checkout and there’s this square thing and I’m like, “What’s this, you guys?  They said, ‘That’s so you can use your credit card’ and I said, ‘You can use your credit card in grocery stores now?’  Missy just cracked up laughing.”

No cameras for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” were rolling when the talk show host invited a 21-year-old man to her private office Wednesday to apologize to the family of a man he had murdered ten years ago.  http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur31230.cfm

Such a disappointment to hear that LOGO’s black gay series Noah’s Arc has been cancelled after only two seasons.  Always in-the-know journalist Jawn Murray reported in his BV Buzz column that there’s a feature film that may be in the works as things left off with “Wade” being thrown from the car in a serious accident following a brief make-up and make-out session with Noah at a beach party.

Mary J. Blige says that her husband, Kendu Isaacs, saved her life after years of addiction, abuse, and being suicidal. She says, "We met when I hated men. He said, `Mary, I`ve got something to tell you that`s going to hurt, but it will help you heal. You`re scarred inside, and it`s infected. You have to let me put proper medicine on it so it can heal."  She claims that she turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain from her abusive past and adds, "The relationship I was in was so terrible, I had a gun to my face, and I thought there was something wrong with me. Guys don`t want to stick around because they`re ashamed of me. "  She married Isaacs three years ago, and they now live in New Jersey with his two youngest children, 7 and 8 years old, from a previous marriage.  

The Messengers was the number one movie at the box office over the weekend bringing in $14.5 million.

BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS

Tyreese Burnett, actor (Drumline, Remember The Titans), 32

Natalie Cole, singer, 57

Robert Townsend, actor and director (Five Heartbeats, Hollywood Shuffle), 50

Angela Davis, professor and political activist, 63

Kirk Franklin, gospel singer, 37

Bobby Brown, singer and former member of New Edition, 38

Tim Meadows, actor (Saturday Night Live, Ladies Man), 46