ob'nox'ious adj. in your face, thought-provoking expression that is undeniable; a person, object, or topic so objectionably hot that it must be called out or examined through popular eyes; a captivating description that always verifies the true essence of style, class, and intelligence.

OBNOXIOUS 07, 2006

William G. McCray, III -
MrMcCray@Obnoxious.tv

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Executive Clothiers

July 15, 2006

Beyonce’ , Beyonce’ , Beyonce’ !  As if the opening of the BET Awards performance was not enough.  The “ Déjà Vu ” video premiered this week on MTV’s “ Total Request Live ” and on the broadband counterpart Overdrive.  The lovely Beyonce’ actually appeared on “ TRL ” to personally introduce her latest effort.  “ Déjà Vu ” is the first single from Beyonce’s upcoming opus “ B’Day ,” hence the title it will be released on the beautiful young lady’s 25th birthday.  You must check out the video to see Beyonce’ as we never have before.  Yes, we have seen rolling on the ground, we have seen her crawl on the floor like a feline, and we have seen her knock us out of our seats shaking all that booty, we have even watched her make President Bush turn red during her tribute to Tina Turner at the Kennedy Center Honors.  Now watch this amazing entertainer run wild in a field, dancing on her man Jay-Z , and shake all that her mama gave her like a modern day Josephine Baker .  Check out Beyonce’ the solo act.

Beyonce’ is not only taking it to another level in her new video, but true to form Beyonce’ shows the world another side of her self in an up coming issue of Giant Magazine ; on the cover in a hot black form fitting dress with her hair in rollers.  Now you know this one is a stretch for me, I hate to see women out in the street in hair rollers and slippers.  However, this is Beyonce’ we are talking about in the rollers.  According, to the Smokey Fontaine, Editor-in-Chief, “She dived in with us and was extremely enthusiastic about the whole concept.   Beyonce’ has done what I do not think any other woman has done.   Demi Moore started the whole craze of making pregnancy sexy.  “To be fearless enough to rock a national cover in rollers—at the peak of her career—is the sign of a true independent woman,” added Smokey .  In the article Beyonce’ talks about feeling pressure that is brought on by herself.  The diva is always trying to figure out a way to out do her last offering.  In the Giant Magazine cover story Beyonce’ admits to the struggle of taking control of her own career from her father, Mathew Knowles .  “It took awhile for me and my dad to have an understanding,” Beyonce’ shares.  “When I turned 18 and started handling my business more, he went into shock.  And we had our issues.  I’d say No to something, and he’d book it anyway.  Then I’d have to do it because I’d look bad if I didn’t.  We would fight sometimes, and it took about two years, to when I was 20, for him to realize, ‘Oh, she is an adult now, and if she doesn’t wanna do something, I can’t make her do it.’“ Seems that daddy had to get accustomed to the idea that his daughter and Jay-Z are going to be together as well.   Beyonce’ also shares that the part in “ Dreamgirls .” was something that she really wanted.  “I just felt so strong after filming it,” she said.  “Kind of like when you do something and you’ve given 100 percent.”   Beyonce’ always seems to give it her all and she rocks as a singer/song writer/actress.  “ B’Day ” was recorded under the disguise of Beyonce’ going on vacation and she bankrolled the project personally.
Oprah seems to be winning in this fight against misogynist behavior in Hip Hop music.  BET has finally cut the show called Uncut from their rotation.  The late night uncensored music video show ran for six years on the network.  This does not come as a surprise now that the network is headed by a woman, Debra Lee.  It was only a matter of time that she would stop defending or tolerate sexually explicit videos to be aired on her watch.  “It was a great show for a segment of our audience, it was always controversial because it took videos to a different level,” said BET CEO Debra Lee at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, CA.  “Because of all the new programming we’re doing, my view is it was time for that show to end.”  Recently, Jill Scott came out strong against music that portrays women in a demeaning fashion.  African American men are the only race on the planet to sexually objectify their women.  Not long ago, some rappers have come out critical of Oprah for not supporting them or having them on her show.  These same men have a history of creating music that objectifies women.   Ed Lover , who is one of Oprah’s favorite DJs, told me at the BET Awards that he was going to work to set up a meeting with Oprah and Cube .  Well, we will have to wait to see what happens.   Cube seems to be a hypocrite, he said when he made the film, “Are We There Yet?” he wanted to produce a film his children could enjoy.   Now he is dancing to a different tune, BET has done a great thing.  Now consumers have to stop buying filth and purchase good music.
So many stories are flowing around on how Dallas Austin was pardoned.  The latest is U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch , a Republican from Utah put in a call in behalf of the music producer.   Senator Hatch’s staff released a statement that the right wing, conservative senator called the ambassador and consul of the United Arab Emirates in Washington on Dallas’ behalf, which assisted in securing his release.  Now for the connection of Dallas and Hatch , the senator according to the New York Times supported the Dubai-based DP World this year in its bid to manage several American ports.  The two men have music in common and most importantly they both have the same Atlanta based entertainment attorney Joel A. Katz.  Additionally, Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones spoke up as character references for Austin .  The plot thickens, Dallas attended church with his mother on the first Sunday back in the states.  He sure had a lot to thank God and his attorney for who also was in attendance with Dallas at Word of Faith, Bishop Dale Bronner acknowledged Austin from the pulpit.   Dallas still probably had to pay a hunk and a chuck to get out of there.
Barry Bonds is going to prison!  A dark cloud hovered over Bonds head as he played in the 13th All-Star Game during his career, but he had no reason to celebrate; Bonds thinks he broke down and cried this past season when he was questioned by the press about using performance enhancing drugs--the San Francisco Giant has not cried like he is going to cry with fewer days ahead of him as he has behind him.   Bonds is an arrogant cheater that will soon go down in sports history as one of the greatest embarrassments of our day.   Barry is to sports what Millie Vanilli was to the music industry.  While the All Star game was going on the U.S. Attorney’s office in San Francisco was deciding whether it will seek an indictment against Bonds for perjury and tax evasion.   Barry should call Lil’ Kim and ask her about perjury and far as tax evasion there are a number of stars he can call on about what happened to them for not paying Uncle Sam.  Here are the facts:   Bonds’ longtime friend and personal trainer, Greg Anderson, one of four men convicted in the BALCO steroid trafficking case, was sent back to prison by a judge last week and denied bail for refusing to testify before the grand jury.  Several other key witnesses have appeared.  Among them:   Bonds’ former physician Arthur Ting; Giants trainer Stan Conte (no relation to BALCO founder Victor Conte); and Kimberly Bell, who reportedly told the grand jury that Bonds gave her about $80,000 in possibly undeclared cash and admitted to her he used anabolic steroids before he was introduced to BALCO.  However, Barry told a grad jury in December 2003 that he did not knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs.  Insiders at the Major League Baseball office say they think Bonds will be indicted.
Now for those of you that do not know how an indictment works, Obnoxious , always verifying the true essence of style, class, and intelligence will explain.  The grand jury will meet and weigh the evidence based upon testimony and exhibits presented to the court.  If at least 12 of the 23 members agree that there is “probable cause” that a crime has been committed and Bonds is the one who committed it, the grand jury will return a “True Bill,” otherwise known as an indictment.  The grand jury can also return a “Not True Bill,” meaning it will not indict.  But you can rest assure that Bonds will be indicted—just two month after he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list, will be a total calamity to the world of sports.  Just get ready because it is going to happen, Barry Bonds is and arrogant, lying fake that is going to prison.
It has been so long that many of us forgot that Jamie Foxx got beat up by LL Cool J back in 1999 on the set of “ Any Given Sunday ,” but according to Jamie the feud is over.  The Getto Foxx commented on he and Todd Smith calling it quits backstage at the BET Awards and how they are supporting each others careers in music and acting.  The two were to fight as a part of the movie when things got serious.   Jamie is said to have called the Miami-Dade County Police and accused LL of assault.  Now we all know that LL is a big guy and in great shape and it would take the police to get him off of you in a heated fight.  “It has gone on for two days,” Getto Foxx told the Calgary Sun in 1999.  “Our characters were supposed to be arguing and then start shoving each other around a bit.   LL kept getting more and more physical until a little shoving match turned into a fight. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.  It was suddenly like WWF.   LL and I reverted to childhood.”  According to LL the police were never called and Jamie did understand the realism he brings to his acting.  Well, he did not understand that ass whipping that LL put on him and that is why he called the police.  However, the two men were at a Miami Heat game and they looked at each other talked and said they had wasted a great deal of time over something childish.  On that same evening the two agreed to do some music and movies together soon.   Jamie appears on LL’s new self titled album “ Todd Smith .”  The next collaboration will be a film project about a black superhero named Panther.  Well, we will have to wait and see what comes of that.  Wonder if LL really whipped Jamie?
According to my “ Street Committee ”… Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick checked into a Houston hospital suffering from diverticulitis.   Kilpatrick , who was in Houston attending the Auxiliaries In Ministry Convention of the Church of God In Christ when he began to feel ill on Thursday.   Mayor Kilpatrick was in Houston as a private citizen along with his twin sons supporting his pastor, Superintendent J. Drew Sheard of the Grater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God In Christ, who served as the convention chairman. Sheard visited the mayor for about 35 minutes, but would not say what hospital Mayor Kilpatrick was in. According to Sheard the mayor and his staff wanted to keep that private.  Diverticulitis is the inflammation or infection of the large intestine that can lead to abdominal tenderness or vomiting that can be brought on by a high protein diet.  The mayor has lost about 20 pounds on the diet since the beginning of the year.   Killpatrick was not due to head back to Detroit until the following week.  Dr. Aaron Maddox, the mayor’s personal physician flew to Houston to examine the mayor and stated in a press conference he was in good condition.

Pastor Sheard had a great deal going on in Houston, not only was he the Auxiliaries In Ministry Convention Chairman for the Church Of God In Christ and checking on a ill member of his church, Mayor Kilpatrick .  Sheard made history on Saturday night when he bankrolled the live recording of the famous Clark Sisters .  Called “ The Reunion ,” was a night to remember with over 5,000 people in attendance as The Clark Sisters rendered their finally opus as a group.  Sheard is married to the youngest sister, Karen Clark-Sheard a high note hitting soprano.  A crowd started forming at 2:00 pm in the afternoon for the event that was not set to start until 7:00 pm.   Donald Lawrence served as the projects executive producer and conducted the sisters to musical perfection.  The first half of the event the sisters wore four different variations of cream colored outfits and sang new contemporary tunes.  Not failing to give the audience what they came for, after a 20 minute intermission the sisters came back wearing 70’s style retro purple dresses as they took us back in time visually and musically. Twinkie mounted the organ and lead her sisters in belting out all the great blasts from the past that many of the 5,000 plus audience grew up listening to. Which is a sound that we do not hear today, this promises to be a must have CD.

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan will not overturn his June 8 ruling allowing the public in the courtroom to view the videotape of R. Kelly allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old girl.   Kelly’s attorney R. Eugene Pincham had argued that the Illinois Juvenile Court Act bars the tape from being shown in open court, and even though the alleged victim on the tape is now 22, it would still apply.  Seems Judge Gaughan does not give a damn and is going to allow the tape to be aired.  Looks bad for Robert Kelly if that is him in the tape he may be writing his next hits from a prison cell.

Speaking of Houston, rapper Lil’ Flip has told his label to kiss him where the sun does not shine.   Flip is saying good-bye to Sony Music Group, which put out his previous offering, “ U Gotta Feel Me ” in 2004  This must be very serious due to his sophomore project, “ I Need Mine ,” due to be released last week will not set on the self until he is picked up by a label.  Something is a little fishy about this, but trust Obnoxious is going to get to the bottom of it.   Pharrel Williams may have jeopardized his new Louis Vuitton campaign when he accidentally tried to kick Elton John’s husband David Furnish and Burberry designer, Christopher Bailey for his VIP suite at a GQ Magazine party in Milan.  The rapper/producer purportedly told his bodyguards that there was “too much sausage” in the room, and to make way for more ladies to crowd in.  According to sources close to the fashion world--you do recall Obnoxious received an International Male of Style Award in Paris last year, sorry excuse me for venting— Vuitton people are calling around to take the temperature of the bad press Pharrell generated, the jury is still out on whether or not they will pull the campaign.  The word on the street is Naomi Campbell called him upon reading the reports and gave him two words “ Donna Summer ,” as you may recall Donna Summer made a negative comment about gays and I am told she was never really heard of again.  The disco diva’s career took a huge hit after she allegedly made homophobic remarks.  We will see what happens to Pharrell after offending the hell raising Sir Elton John.