04-20-07 EUR: Record Company Want's Its 15 Grand Back From Sharpton?

EUR Headlines

UNIVERSAL WANTS 15 GRAND BACK FROM SHARPTON?: Record company denies retaliating after reverend nixes award to LA Reid.
*A game of tit for tat has reportedly jumped off between a major record label and Rev. Al Sharpton at the convention of his National Action Network, which is nearing the end of its four-day run at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. Read Full Story

MUSIC EXECS MEET TO DISCUSS POST-IMUS HIP HOP: Gathering involved more than 20 industry heavyweights.
*It was billed as a forum to "discuss issues challenging the industry in the wake of controversy surrounding hip-hop and the First Amendment." Sparked by Don Imus’ racist comment to the Rutgers women's basketball team, Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network called for a private meeting with more than 20 high-powered industry executives to discuss sexist and misogynistic lyrics in hip hop. Read Full Story

CHRIS ROCK TO DEAL WITH PATERNITY CASE IN GEORGIA: Woman claims her 13-year-old boy is comedian’s son.
*Comedian Chris Rock has requested that a court in Georgia begin proceedings to determine if he fathered a 13-year-old boy whose mother attempted to file a paternity lawsuit against him last month. Read Full Story

WILL DOWNING DIAGNOSED WITH MUSCLE DISORDER: Singer cancels tour due to polymyositis.
*R&B crooner Will Downing has reportedly been hospitalized since January due to a chronic inflammatory disease of the muscles, called polymyositis. According to Brian Soergel's Smooth Jazz Scoop (04:43), the vocalist has cancelled touring plans for the immediate future after he was diagnosed with the debilitating disorder, which causes muscle weakness that can often be severe. Read Full Story

JAMES BROWN’S FUNERAL BILL IS $70,000: C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Augusta tells estate to pay up.
*Drama has surfaced over the $70,000 funeral bill owed for the elaborate funeral of James Brown, as well as the care of his body for nearly three months before his burial in March. The trust handling Brown’s estate is responsible for the bill, according to Charles Reid, manager of the C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Augusta, Ga., which handled the Godfather’s funeral. Read Full Story

BET EXPLODES WITH NEW PROGRAMMING: Network announces first-ever scripted series among slate of 16 new shows. See entire lineup here.
*In the 27 years that BET has been on the air, the network has never attempted to produce its own, original scripted series; and has often been criticized through the years as too cheap to spend the money it takes to do so. Read Full Story

MEDIA TAKE OUT.COM DISHIN' THE DIRT ON AFRICAN AMERICAN CELEBS: But Skeptics say It's All Lies (Pt. 2)
By DeBorah B. Pryor
For the record, while preparing this story for EUR, I sent a call out to a number of notable journalists to see if they had ever heard of MTO and what they thought of it. The fact that NOT ONE OF THEM responded on the subject speaks volumes. And somehow I don't get the feeling it has anything to do with jealousy. Continuing on with Media Take Out's lack of "institutionalized pressure" and their ability to comment without consequence, Mwangaguhunga concludes: "Media Take Out, we don't care. We owe nothing to Beyonce or Jay-Z or Mary J or anyone else. If they can do nothing to us other than sue us, which we are comfortable with, there's no quick pro quo or unwritten pro quo going on between us so...We have a freedom that they [journalists and DJs] don't." Read Full Story

CHRIS BROWN GROWS UP ON ‘EXCLUSIVE’: Singer’s upcoming album mixes R&B, hip hop, pop and hometown go-go.
*Chris Brown says he’s not trying to be too grown with his forthcoming sophomore album, “Exclusive,” but the September release from Jive will reflect the singer’s steady journey toward adulthood. The album will include production by Bryan-Michael Cox, the Underdogs, Sean Garrett, Scott Storch and will.i.am. Read Full Story

NEW RICK JAMES CD AND TELL-ALL DUE NEXT MONTH: Autobiography due May 1st; album to follow May 15th.
*At the time of his death in August 2004, Rick James had just completed work on a new album and was preparing to release an autobiography he had written during his two-year prison stint. Read Full Story

ISAIAH WASHINGTON TAKES HIMSELF OUT OF EMMY RUN: Embattled co-star withdraws from supporting actor consideration.
*Isaiah Washington ain’t even trying to win an Emmy award for his stellar work in “Grey’s Anatomy” this year. The actor is the only co-star who has decided not to submit his name for supporting actor consideration. Read Full Story

OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
By Kam Williams
*Fracture (R for profanity and violence) Cat-and-mouse crime thriller about an assistant DA (Ryan Gosling) intent on bringing to justice a jealous husband (Anthony Hopkins) freed on a technicality despite admitting that he shot his wife (Embeth Davidtz) in the head to her lover (Billy Burke), the investigating detective. Cast includes David Strathairn, Fiona Shaw and Zoe Kazan (Elia's granddaughter). Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: The Last King of Scotland
By Kam Williams
*This fairly-faithful adaptation of the best selling novel of the same name was directed by Kevin MacDonald who must be credited with coaxing an Oscar-winning performance out of Forest Whitaker, even if in service of a mediocre melodrama. Read Full Story

FISHBURNE BOOKS ROLES IN ‘SURFER’ AND ‘WRATH’: Actor’s new gigs swing from Marvel Comics to L.A. gangs.
*Laurence Fishburne continues to pile on the work. After weeks of rumors, it was officially announced Thursday that the actor will voice the role of Silver Surfer in director Tim Story’s "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," which opens June 15. Read Full Story

SNOOP BRANDED A DIFFICULT DIVA: Rapper’s backstage demands at Pussycat Dolls gig makes headlines.
*The New York Post is reporting that Snoop Dogg drove some folks crazy with his diva-like antics surrounding a Tuesday night performance with the Pussycat Dolls at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street. Read Full Story

DAMON DASH FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST BOOKKEEPER: Mogul says accountant’s company messed up his tax returns.
*Hip hop mogul Damon Dash is suing high-profile accountant Barry Klarberg for $3.5 million, claiming that the bookkeeper filed erroneous tax returns on his behalf for three separate years. Read Full Story

JOE TO LAUNCH 22-CITY TOUR: Brian McKnight and Sunshine Anderson to tag along.
*R&B star Joe is set to promote his forthcoming album, "Ain't Nothing Like Me," on a 22-city tour with supporting acts Brian McKnight and Sunshine Anderson. The spring trek is scheduled to launch April 27 in Oakland, Calif. at the Paramount Theater and work its way East and South before wrapping June 3 in Houston. Read Full Story

‘DIVAS OF GOSPEL’ TOUR FEATURES ADAMS, MARY: Chrysler offers chance to win new car during tour stops.
*Grammy-winning gospel artists Yolanda Adams and Mary Mary will headline "Chrysler Presents the Divas of Gospel," an eight-city nationwide tour affiliated with African American churches, April 26-June 3. Read Full Story

BLACK FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS: 11th annual event moves from South Beach to Beverly Hills.
*Film Life's 11th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), to be held October 25-29 on the West coast, is currently accepting film submissions for consideration. Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Vick helps Va. Tech families; Serena ready for Fed Cup; Eddie George’s radio show.
*Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and the United Way will donate $10,000 to assist families affected by the massacre at Virginia Tech, his former school. "When tragic things like this happen, families have enough to deal with, and if I can help in some small way, that's the least I can do," said Vick, who played QB for the Hokies before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Falcons in 2001. Read Full Story

ITTY BITTY BITS: ’60 Min.’ examines snitching; Yayo’s mom’s house shot up; Legend honored; 50’s child support; Jibbs & BET Mobile.
*The issue of “snitching” will be tackled by “60 Minutes” this Sunday in a segment to include rapper Cam’ron, who has famously refused to cooperate with police in his own alleged shooting nearly two years ago in Washington D.C. Read Full Story

EVENT CALENDAR: Deborah Santana honored; Deborah Cox in NYC; Brother 2 Brother in Baltimore.
*Author, philanthropist and business entrepreneur Deborah Santana, wife of Carlos Santana, will be honored by Step Up Women's Network at their 4th Annual "Inspiration Awards" luncheon, to be held today (4/20) at noon at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

04-20-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story