It was just six years ago today that Hip-Hop lost one of its greatest producers of all-time, Detroit born and raised J Dilla.

“Dilla,” as his friends called him, suffered from Lupus and passed away at the early age of 32, after being hospitalized for pneumonia.

While battling his illness, J Dilla became widely regarded as one of the most influential and prolific producers of all time, staying busy amid his waning health conditions.

Producing for the Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest, Common, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson, The Roots, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, D’Angelo, and his own group, Slum Village, Dilla developed a cult-like, post-mortem following. His legacy includes production for some of today’s biggest Hip-Hop stars, as well as the release of the critically-acclaimed, 31-track “Donuts” album just after his passing.

In honor and in celebration of his mark on music, J Dilla will be remembered this Friday (February 10) with a concert at The Filmore in Detroit. Deemed “Dilla Day Detroit,” the celebration seeks to recognize the Detroit Hip-Hop pioneer’s musical legacy and will feature Busta Rhymes, Jay Electronica, Phife of A Tribe Called Quest, along with Phat Kat, Danny Brown, and the Nick Speed Orchestra.

While those are the confirmed performances to date, others are expected to be added to the bill as the the concert approaches.

“It’s going to be very special to have people right here in Detroit see his name up in lights and embrace his great legacy,” Dilla’s mother, Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press back in December. “It’s very special that we’re doing it right here in his hometown. He loved his city.”

Portions of the proceeds from the concert will go to the J Dilla Foundation and Rebirth of Detroit, a new album of unreleased J Dilla material, scheduled for May through the Yancey Music Group.

For more info, visit www.jdillarebirthofdetroit.com andwww.jdillafoundation.org.

via TheWordEyeHeard

Oprah’s brand hasn’t been the same since her Television show went off the air last September, now we are hearing that her magazine’s sales have also faded from sight. Its sad to watch a woman, who in most people’s eyes never fail, fail.

I think we need to make sure we do our part to support lady “O” in her time of need.

Eurweb is reporting “Brass at Hearst, which publishes the 2.4 million circulated publication with Winfrey, had downplayed the impact of the show’s ending on the magazine, saying they expected fans to turn to it to get their Oprah fix.

To their surprise The Oprah Magazine’s newsstand sales plunged 32 percent to 413,363 in the second half of last year (after an 8 percent falloff in the first half), according to just-released Audit Bureau of Circulations figures. By comparison, all measured consumer magazines’ single-copy sales dropped 10 percent. Adweek reports….

The rep said that with the economy soft and the show ending, a dropoff in newsstand sales wasn’t a surprise and pointed out that newsstand sales of the January issue were up 28 percent to 825,000.

Winfrey recently did a interview with extra explaining why she started OWN:

“The reason I did OWN was I wanted to continue the platform to speak to people in a way that made them feel inspired. And that’s been harder than I thought it would be, but it’s also been as exciting as I thought it would be.”

via TheWordEyeHeard

Oprah: If Stedman and I Had Gotten Married We’d be Divorced by Now

What Was Oprah’s Gift to Jay-Z and Beyonce’s Baby…

The Pilar and Deion Sanders divorce saga continues…

Pilar claims one of Deion’s jumpoffs came to the house to see him, and when Pilar turned her away, she got violent with Pilar….all while Deion just stood and watched!

Pilar Sanders called cops to Deion‘s gargantuan Texas mansion yesterday … claiming she was ATTACKED by one of Deion’s female friends … while the NFL legend stood by and watched.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Pilar told officers a woman named Laura arrived to the mansion to see Deion … but Pilar told Laura she was not welcome in the home and asked her to leave.

We’re told Laura refused … and after some words were exchanged, Laura threw an object at Pilar … striking her in the eye.

Pilar grabbed her phone and called 911 … and told police Deion was present during the altercation, but didn’t do ANYTHING to diffuse the situation.

Cops tell TMZ … no arrests were made and the situation is under investigation.

Pilar’s lawyer tells TMZ, “Pilar was taken to the hospital emergency room as a result of the injuries she sustained during the assault.”

The lawyer adds, “This is an opportunity for Deion to use his ‘Century-21 celebrity status’ to set an example as to how to lovingly care for his wife and children during divorce proceedings.”

10:05 AM PST – Deion Sanders has broken his silence on Twitter … saying, “My AUNT Laura Jones was at my home fixing my phone system and was attacked. We have proof. We apologize for these weekly ignorant lies! TRUTH.”

He added, “Enough is Enough we’re so tired and exhausted from the lies and foolishness. My kids are being affected weekly with these false allegations.”

via TheWordEyeHeard

Pilar Sanders Ends Up In Hospital After Being Hit By…

UPDATE: Deion Sanders Says He Never Offered Pilar Cash for Sex!

Um…so she KNEW how much money she was making the whole time….? Okay den…

WANTED: Assistant to rapper Flo Rida … must be willing to work 65 hours a week … answer phones … organize mail, etc … and pays $3.08 per hour … this according to a new lawsuit.

A woman named Mahogany Miller just sued the rapper — claiming she busted her ass as his administrative assistant … and in exchange he paid her less than a high schoolbabysitter.

In her suit, Miller — who claims she started the gig back in August — alleges she eventually confronted her boss over the long hours and low wages … and she was FIRED less than 24 hours after raising the issue.

Miller is suing for unspecified damages. Calls to Flo have not been returned.

***UPDATE***

Flo’s lawyer Sandy Becher claims she’s delusional — telling us, the girl was never officially hired as an employee in Flo’s office … she was an unpaid volunteer, who begged to work for him as a first step in the music biz.

According to the lawyer, she was unqualified for an official position, so Flo took her under his wing as an intern-type worker — occasionally paying for her lunches or gas money, but nothing was ever guaranteed.

What’s more — Flo’s lawyer says the rapper didn’t fire Miller because she asked for money … he fired her because her “behavior was inappropriate for the workplaceenvironment.” He wouldn’t specify why.

Flo tells us, “This is ridiculous that I gave someone an opportunity out of the goodness of my heart and now sadly I am being falsely targeted.”

Editor’s Note: I interviewed Flo-Rida, and he seemed like a sweet, humble guy….

via TheWordEyeHeard

Deadbeat Dad? Flo Rida Faked Paternity Test To Avoid Child Support?

Arizona Lawmaker Wants Holiday Exclusively For White People

If you don’t give The Bawse Rick Ross his proper respect, apparently you’ll be on the wrong end of some very harsh retribution. Ross debuts the trailer for his Dre Films-directed video right here on www.xxlmag.com. In the clip, Ross is very clear and concise with the orders to his soldiers.

“ God forgives, I don’t.”

From there, chaos ensues, and it looks like the storyline will follow along the rap lines of the song’s second verse.

“This is one of my best videos,” Dre described. “It has a little story to it. We kind of took from the song. I’m excited. I can’t wait for people to see it on XXL. We shot it in Miami about two weeks ago, so it was love. We got a couple of actors. The Bawse came through and gave me a lot of energy. You’re gonna really feel it with this video. It’s the second video from Rich Forever. It’s one of the songs everybody loves.”

Everything culminates on Wednesday (February when the video for “Yella Diamonds” premieres exclusively on www.xxlmag.com.—Shaheem Reid (@shameemreid)

On the hardwood, Bill Russell was the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics’ dynasty of the 1960s, winning an unprecedented 11 championships in his 13 seasons. A skilled shotblocker, Russell revolutionized NBA defensive concepts. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time All-Star, Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game and led the league in rebounding four times. He had 51 boards in one game, 49 in two others and a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds.

William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. His family later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Russell would go on to attend the University of San Francisco, where he blossomed. Russell would lead the University of San Francisco to 56 consecutive victories and NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. Russell was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1955.

Boston Celtics Coach and General Manager Red Auerbach drafted Russell to the Celtics in 1956, but Russell didn’t join the Celtics until December because he was a member of the 1956 U.S. Olympic basketball team, which won a gold medal at the Melbourne Games in November.

After another NBA Championship in 1965-66, Red Auerbach retired, and Russell took over as player-coach the following season, becoming the first African-American coach in the league. He led the Celtics to a 60-21 regular-season record, but Boston finally had their streak of championships snapped when they lost to a powerful Philadelphia 76ers team in the Eastern Division Finals.

Having witnessed racism and all its ugliness firsthand as a child growing up in segregated Louisiana, Russell took public stands against discrimination throughout his career. Before the 1961–62 NBA season, Russell refused to play in an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky when he and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant. Russell also joined other prominent black athletes like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in publicly supporting Muhammad Ali’s decision to refuse to be drafted.

Until the ascent of Michael Jordan in the 1980s and ’90s, Russell was considered by many as the greatest player in the history of the NBA.




Fab and Emily have the POTENTIAL of being our FAVORITE celeb couple. It looks like they’ve gotten past a big hurdle though . . . Fab is allowing Emily to take PICS with him, and send them out to her fans.

For FAB . . . that’s a HUGE step!!!

via MTO

Emily B From Love & Hip Hop Talks About Fabolous Relationship + Throwback Surprise On Jim Jones & Chrissy Lampkin!! [Video]

Love and Hip Hop’s Emily B Looks Stunning for Kontrol Magazine! [VIDEO]

Here is a report from the NY Daily News, which says that M.I.A. left left her husband and her son:

In the wake of the “Paper Planes” singer’s Super Bowl controversy, sources tell us the London-born beauty has split with Benjamin Bronfman , her longtime fiancé and the father of her son.One insider tells us that M.I.A., 36, is spending most of her time in her native London, while Bronfman, 29, and their progeny, Ikhyd Edgar Arular Bronfman , who turns 3 on Saturday, are living in New York. The source adds that Ben’s mother, philanthropist Sherry Bronfman , is helping to take care of his son.

Another source says that M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi (Maya) Arulpragasam, “sometimes goes six weeks without seeing” Ikhyd.

via MTO

M.I.A Middle Finger Upstages Madonna At Super Bowl [VIDEO]

Bow Wow has TONS of money woes, he owes the IRS about 500 RACKS, and he currently has a WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST, because he hasn’t paid money owed to promoters.

Well we’re told that Bow Wow has an INNOVATIVE way to get out of his FINANCIAL MESS . . . by MARRYING MONEY.

According to a CELEBRITY who you all know, Bow Wow has asked his on-again-off-again GF Angela to marry him. The celeb told MediaTakeOut.com EXCLUSIVELY that Angela already said YES . . . but they want to stage the proposal PROPERLY, so that cameras can CATCH everything, you know in true KARDASHIAN style.

And it looks like Angela is playing coy with photogs. She was photo’d out in Los Angeles yesterday, smiling ear to ear!!!

via MTO

Bow Wow Arrest Warrant Issued For Unpaid 2009 Tour Bus Bill

Bow Wow Reveals Tracklist For “Underrated,” Features Lil Wayne, Talib Kweli & More!

“Love & Hip Hop’s” Mama Jones Goes In On Olivia On Twitter

lilD’s #WordEyeHeard Ent Report, 12-4-11: Mama Jones’ Psychotic Sex! [VIDEO]

On Friday, CBS will usher Sheryl Underwood from “The Talk” into Genoa City for a guest appearance on “The Young and the Restless.”

The standup comic/Sirius radio host will play a justice of the peace at a surprise wedding on the Feb. 10 episode. During a recent interview Underwood said “the Soap Opera Digest is my bible! I watch all the soaps. I can’t believe this little girl from Arkansas got to be on Y&R. It was the bomb! When I was on the set I got to meet my pride and joy, Eric Braeden. He took me in his arms and spoke romantic German to me. I’m, like, is anybody filming this? When he died on the Titanic I was so hurt. Victor Newman would never die on the Titanic! He’d call Newman Enterprises and get a helicopter to pick him up — and then sue the cruise line! He’s gangsta.”

She went on to say… “I was so nervous, I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t sleep. It takes a lot of mental dexterity to do a soap, but it was just phenomenal. A few days before I did my scenes I was performing in Washington, D.C., at the D.C. Improv and Debbi Morgan [Y&R's Harmony] came to see my show. I told her to tell the people at Y&R that I was not coming in intending to be funny and that I would not be needing a billion takes. I was concerned that maybe they wouldn’t think I was taking this seriously because I’m a standup comic. I was dead serious and needed them to know that. I want to do that show again! Who else needs marrying in Genoa City?”

Will you watch?

via BlackMediaScoop

This might be the funniest “sh*t…say” video yet!!

Mr. Mecc, Kim Osorio, Killer Mike, Marcus Manchild, Paul Wall and Slim Thug drop every rap cliche ever heard! Check it out inside!

via TheWordEyeHeard

New Music: Ray Jr.-Livin’

Chris Brown & Rihanna Spotted Together [VIDEO]