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 09, 2006

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

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Executive Clothiers

September 07, 2006

John Legend is stepping up his game with his latest offering " Once Again ."  Kanye West , Raphael Saadiq , and will.i.am are among the producers contributing to the singers sophomore album.  October 24, is the date his opus is due to drop.  " Save Room ," is a teaser of what we can expect from John , which is an example of the unique musicianship we hear from the artist.    "I didn't go into the new album thinking about the Grammys I had won," Legend said.  "It's one of the greatest challenges of writing music-for it to not sound like what you think it's supposed to sound like nor sound like the previous album."    "The mind state we kept while working on this record was one of hunger, humility, and fear," will.i.am said.  "Since John and I first met, both of us have sold a lot of albums and won a bunch of Grammys. 
But we didn't think about that.  John shared that he had written 30 songs during the six months he spent working on "Once Again."  "It was one of the most productive periods of my life," said the Grammy winner.  "I was focused only on music.  For the first time I didn't have to worry about school or a job."  John Legend covers topics that range in scope; the pain of being cheated on to socially relevant songs that remind you of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye , particularly the song " Show   Me ."  "It's a spiritual love song," Legend said.  "You could be talking to God or your loved one in bed at night.  It asks real questions about what's happening in the world today--about wars and people dying and why God takes some and not others." 
Comedian Marlon Wayans is going to continue a good thing.  His last movie made fun of height and the complex many are assumed to face due to being vertically challenged " Little Man ."  Wayans next project will make a greater statement about inner beauty in " Pretty Ugly ."  The comedy is about a good looking mogul with a lifestyle that most people dream of achieving.  It all comes to a crashing halt when one day he wakes up looking hideous due to a curse.  As a result he must discover his inner beauty to save his company and win over the woman he loves.  Wayans will play the lead roll, in addition to developing the project and producing the film.  Originally the project started out as a DreamWork venture, which was later picked up by Walt Disney Pictures and eventually returned to DreamWorks.    " Little Man ," brought in more than $20 million the weekend it opened proving that Marlon Wayans knows what he is doing. 
While I am giving props to the men making moves in the movie industry Will Smith seems to keep getting better and better.  Although, Will is really aging and almost completely gray, the Fresh Prince must dye his hair for the big screen.    Smith has inked a deal with Indian Entertainment Company UTV and Sony Pictures to produce two films worth a total of $30 million.  The terms state that Overbrook and UTV will serve as co-producers on the films, while Sony's commitment is to distribute them in theaters worldwide, stated UTV chief executive officer Ronnie Screwvala.    "This deal will expand UTV's presence globally," Screwvala said.  The details are still hush hush, however higher ups were willing to share that one of the films would be live-action and the other animated.  Will Smith consistently shows that he is at the top of his game, while visiting Mumbai this February he toured the city's film production houses.  He also met with major Bollywood actors, a film production company in   India, and   India's biggest star, Aishwarya Rai.  "I would love to work with Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai and feel a marriage between Bollywood and   Hollywood is required," Smith said.  Now that Bernie Mac's Fox sitcom is history he is moving forward with a vengeance to secure employment for at least the next two years.  Mac and his producing partner Steven Greener have formed the production company MacMan Entertainment and have signed a two-year, first look production deal with Lionsgate that will include the development of a concert film and a series of Dean Martin type of celebrity roast DVDs.  The deal has an option for a third year and marks the first time Lionsgate has partnered with an actor's production banner.  The first order of business stated in the contract is for Bernie to complete a concert film.  Afterward, Mac will focus on producing a minimum of four roast DVDs, with himself as the host.  Bernie and Lionsgate have history together, since the company gave Mac his first dramatic role in " Pride ," a 1970s-set inspirational drama in which he co-starts with Terrence Howard in the story of a swim coach who inspired his team of inner city kids.  Bernie recently wrapped production. 
Talk about changing your life.    Lyfe Jennings is a stellar example, after serving ten years in prison he practically walked out with a record deal.  " The Phoenix ," has been at the top of the charts.  Lyfe is gifted enough to take real life issues and message use them to record music.  Jennings actually tells young ladies to wait until they are married to have sex when most song tell you to get down and dirty as fast as you can and with as many people as you can, even one popular rap song out says..."My girlfriend has a girlfriend."  I caught up with Lyfe at the Hip Hop and R&B Music Awards and conference and he shared with me, "It is about making music with a message and a deeper message than surface stuff all the time," Lyfe said.  Doing a great job at creating music with serious messages that speak to real life issues is what he does best.  Surprising the tall guy with the hard like exterior is really a nice, down to earth, humble, and is aware that he has been given a second chance and to share his gift with the world.  Clearly Lyfe is without a doubt a good singer, but his trio of background singers need to back out of the way.  The three were off key several times during a live performance.  At times it was so bad that the crowd could not get with Lyfe , hopefully he addressed this problem and the singers are getting more, much needed rehearsals. 
Oprah never ceases to amaze the world as she continues to give of herself and money to make the lives of the less fortunate better.  Oprah Winfery made the lives of 73 disadvantaged girls in South Africa come true by personally selecting each one to attend a new $15 million school she built with the sole purpose of giving young ladies in the region a better chance in life.  The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls , located in the town of Meyerton,   Johannesburg, is scheduled to open next year with the goal of eventually teaching 450 girls who show academic talent and leadership, but whose families cannot find schooling.  "The school will teach girls to be the best human beings they can ever be," said the Queen of Talk .  "It will train them to become decision-makers and leaders; it will be a model school for the rest of the world."  Oprah's charity contributed $10 million to the school, with other funding generated by donations for the Guateng Department of Education.  The facility also features advanced education techniques and communication technology what will allow Winfrey to teach classes from Chicago, where the " Oprah Winfrey Show " is filmed during the week.  "This is so exciting for me, for the girls and their families," Winfrey stated.  "South Africa is like my second home and I want to give something here.  I feel this project is blessed." 
Seems that DMX punked out and stiffed the troops in Iraq and Kuwait.  It was no doubt that they were asking for trouble when they booked him, but they must not get to watch much of the news or read Obnoxious or any other publication for that matter, but the decision came back to haunt and greatly disappoint them.  Earl Simmons , who performs as rapper DMX , cancelled a week long tour to entertain troops in Kuwait and Iraq.  He offered no explanation, stated in a press release from USO, the organization that booked him.  Simmons was scheduled to depart on his tour in late August, but delayed his departure even further.  His representative agreed to add a day to the original schedule.  However,   DMX failed to appear on time for his flight to Kuwait.  The USO and the military worked on an extremely tight schedule to make it possible for DMX to travel when it was convenient for him.  "Typically, it takes up to 45 days to arrange transportation, housing, production assistance, and county clearances for entertainment tours," Hanson said.  "This tour was put together in just under two weeks, because we knew how much service men and women appreciate his performances.  Mr. Simmons let a lot of people down."  Earl cannot even get to court on time to keep his freedom--defiantly was not going to make a flight half way around the world to perform for troops.    Clearly he got afraid and did not want to take the trip.  Sources close to DMX told me his staff and security was on the plane waiting on him when they finally got the word he was not coming.  Look out for more on DMX in Drug Dealers and Killers section of Obnoxious .
Whitney Houston has finally come to her senses and is calling it quits with Bobby Brown .  Houston was in a rehab facility in California for the past five months undergoing a total rehab for all her vices and illnesses.  The singer retains homes in   Georgia and New Jersey, filed for separation for husband Bobby Brown in Orange County, California, listing a Laguna Hills residence as her address.  Which explains why Whitney filed for separation instead of divorce, the state requires six-month residency for a divorce.  Whitney will file for the permanent parting next month.  Sources say that Whitney has been in California since April to get back on her feet following severe substance abuse.  It is said that it was not a regular treatment facility.  Additionally,   Whitney's friends and family have formed a circle of protection around her to keep the press and paparazzi at bay.  Meanwhile, her soon to be ex-husband, Bobby Brown is indeed living at the Beverly Hills home of Karrien Steffans , the former video dancer who wrote a book about her sexual exploits with famous athletes and entertainers, including Brown .  According to reports Karrien was with Brown when he was served the separation papers.  Currently working on her second book and being courted by producers from Howard Stern's radio show and " Extra " to discuss the drama, Steffans continues to deny involvement in the Whitney - Bobby breakup.  "It's not my place to speak about their Marriage.  It's not a happy time," said Karrien .  "I'm not a home-wrecker.  I got dragged into this.  I can't break up a 16-year marriage in a few months," continued the woman once known as " Superhead ."  "I'm not that super."  Recently, I caught the Karrien Steffans and a very intoxicated   Bobby Brown at the "Funniest Comic in the City" comedy show at B.B. King's supper club in Hollywood, California.  My boy Damion Love , show producer, was shocked by Bobby's demand to perform.  At the end of the show Love eventually honored his request, while the audience and I had to suffer through a horrible edition of " My Prerogative ."
Divas Raising Hell ... Foxy Brown continues to prove that she is not so foxy.  One day after missing a court date in New Jersey, rapper Foxy Brown allegedly pulled a Winona Ryder at a Greenwich Village boutique by demanding entry after hours and then shoplifting two $400 belts.    Born Inga Marchand , authorities say the rapper showed up at L'impasse late Thursday and demanded to be let in after the store was closed.    Her intent was to pick up lingerie that had been left for alteration, but upon hearing that her pieces were not ready she went off.  Not good since it is the goodness of the Lord that the Hip Hop badgirl can even hear after her recent scare of permanently losing her hearing.  Foxy had a successful surgery that restored damage to her ear drum.    Surveillance videos show her screaming, cursing at the clerk and flailing her arms like a wild woman.  The store's owner, Tony Khayt, said he's seen Foxy Brown act a fool in his store before with "diva behavior," but this one takes the cake.  A long-term client of the store, Foxy Brown noticed a gold rhinestone belt in the midst of her alleged tantrum and inquired about the cost.  After haggling with the clerk over the price she simply shoved the belt in her bag and then grabbed another belt before storming out without paying. 
Drug Dealers and Killers Strike Again ...Are you ready for this, DMX claimed that his recent child with a Washington, D.C. woman was the product of a rape, her raping him.  In the October issue of   Sister to Sister Magazine , Earl Simmons said, "She raped me."  "I mean, you know that might sound like some bullsh*t.  No man has ever been...you know what I mean, like never?    Is that the only thing in the world that's not possible?"  Simmons wife, Tashera Simmons, was also featured in the article lending support to her man and his rape account.  She says she blocks out thoughts of her husband's experience in order to cope everyday, and tells Sister to Sister of and earlier run in she had with the so called D.C. woman.    "Before the stuff hit the fan, she came up to us while we were in court and said 'I work for kids that are sickly,'" Tashera said.  "So DMX said 'Give her my number.'  That's how it goes all the time.  At first, I said OK.  But, then I thought she looked deranged and obsessed with Earl ."  Earl Simmons speaks bluntly about this recent BET reality show " DMX: Soul of a Man ," the rapper spoke candidly about a number of touchy subjects including his issues with New York Radio Hot 97, his anger problems and how to get away with the murder of anyone who does him harm.  DMX had the nerve to have his wife give his number to a woman that he later had sex with, now that is amazing.  Earl did not give any details on how the woman attacked him and carried out the act of rape, nor did he give and account on why he did not report the incident to the authorities.  Seems DMX was able to make this shaky story fly with his wife, Tashera, but I do not think the rest of the world is going to take his wooden nickels. 
According to my " Street Committee "... Chris Tucker is back.  The $20 million comedian came out of his silence with a sold out tour around the country prior to his leaving for   Paris to finally start filming " Rush Hour 3 ".  Dressed in all white, tennis shoes, and bling bling, Chris Tucker came running out, grabbed the mic with jokes from the start. Chris had a very diverse audience in stitches from start to finish.    Making jokes of his good friend Michael Jackson and his having to testify during his trial to seeing his father naked late one night during his childhood; Chris did an amazing job at making his audience laugh at everyday life.  Now it was a great deal of talk about Chris not acting due to a religious experience, he must have rethought something because he did not mind using a mouthful of expletives.  Chris was so funny until I left scratching my head as to why his show was not on HBO or Showtime, or reordered for DVD sells, but I guess when you get $25 million you do not have to worry about chump change. 

Check this out, Mike Tyson has decided to return to boxing, but this time he's going to Pride Fighting Championship.  You know the brutal fighting where they kick and draw blood, not really a sport.    Mike seems to have nowhere to turn and this might be his only option to get into the ring.  Purportedly legendary producer and music icon, Quincy Jones , 73, is dating Heba Elawadi, 19 year-old woman.  No word on what she does professionally, only that she is from Egypt and allegedly she has Quincy's nose wide open.  Rumors have it that The Game is dating Kim Kardashian, daughter of the late great attorney Robert Kardashin .  You might recall the Kardashian name due to his being a part of O.J. Simpson's dream team when he was on trial for murder.  It is said the two have been together much longer than people know.  Well, they can forget it being a secret now that Obnoxious knows it.