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Thanks to Nickcolas Carlos of VM Direct (www.vmdirect.com), Jumaane N’Namdi, owner of G. R. N’Namdi Art Gallery with locations in Chicago, Detroit, and New York and Linda Fils-Aime, of Linda Fils-Aime Reality (www.LindaFilsAime.com) for making it possible for me to cover the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.  “Gimme, gimme more,” Britney Spears purred like a sex kitten in hot pants, and it was this sentiment that pretty much everyone could get behind.  Britney was the star that all the other stars were buzzing about at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards on that Sunday night at the Palms.  She was the decidedly unbashful belle of this particular ball, though her lip-synced, show-opening performance was as lacking in substance as her underwear drawer. 

Sure, Britney Spears took the stage in a sparkly black bra and some tight, barely-there bottoms that her backside sprung out of like a jack-in-the-box, mouthing along to her latest single, “Gimme More,” while dancers gyrated on stripper poles, real classy like, yeah right.  But for a girl whose past VMA appearances have seen her locking lips with Madonna and dressing up in a weird leather biker get-up suggestive of a very confused Hells Angel, it was a rote, aloof and disheveled appearance unworthy of all the hype that surrounded it. 

“Wasn’t that incredible?” comedian Sarah Silverman quipped after Spears’ performance.  “She’s amazing.  She’s 25 years old and she’s already accomplished everything she’s going to accomplish in life.”  Silverman got the show off to a bruising start, lampooning Spears and preening punch-line Paris Hilton with such crude, cutting—and hilarious—precision that the crowd fell into an uncomfortable silence for stretches, but who needs good manners at the VMAs?

It is not really an award’s show and it does not pretend to be.  Instead it’s a party for the sake of partying, which is really the best kind of party anyway.  Besides, isn’t that just what Kid Rock needed, another excuse to cut loose?  And that is exactly what he did on the hot Summer Night in “Sin City,” getting into a brawl with fellow rocker and another Pam Anderson ex, Tommy Lee, the two of them where escorted out of the show, which only added to the semi-controlled chaos that was the VMAs. 

Leading up to the show, a long, winding red carpet snaked its way through the middle of the Palms casino floor, flanked by screaming fans who clung to the metal railing like static electricity and rubbernecked from slot machines. 

“Anybody who does not work for MTV needs to move or gamble,” a security guard ordered loitering onlookers.  The show took place throughout the casino—in various Fantasy Suites, the Rain Nightclub and The Pearl Concert Hall—for a loose, raucous vibe.  Some of the best moments of the night came via some unlikely collaboration, like the Foo Fighters knocking the mess out of Prince’s “Darling Nikki” with Gnarls Barkley crooner Cee-Lo Green and System of a Down frontman Serj Takian joining the group for a frantic take on the Dead Kennedys’ “Holiday in Cambodia.” 

Other highlights included a hair-raising hellfire and brimstone version of George Michael’s “Freedom” by Alicia Keys, and Lil’ Wayne and Panic! At the Disco frontman Brendon Urie jamming together in a suite with Fall Out Boy.  Chris Brown blew the roof off the Pearl Theater as he and six dancers showed off their smooth moves dancing across the tables packed with celebrities like Diddy, Kid Rock, and Beyonce’ for and unforgettable performance of “Wall To Wall.”  He then descended upon the main stage for an inspired homage to the “King of Pop” with a rousing performance of “Billie Jean,” made the audience swoon with “Kiss Kiss,” and ended with Rihanna for an explosive, never before seen rendition of her smash it “Umbrella.” 

Kanye West showed just how good life can be in the two-story Sky Villa on the top of the Palms Casino Resort overlooking the Vegas strip.  He rocked the crowd with his hit “Stronger” then joined Common for “Drivin’ Me Wild.”  Kanye and Soulja Boy teamed up for “Crank That” and televised for the first time ever, Kanye and T-Pain reached new heights with a high octane performance of “The Good Life.” While in the suite partying like a rock star I was able to talk to Common about Britney’s performance or the lack thereof.  “Man it was like she did not want to be here.  People already talk about her and that she cannot sing, but this was really bad,” Common explained.  The Chicago Hip Hop artist went on say that Kanye was going to beat 50 Cent hands down. 

Before the show, Panic drummer Spencer Smith talked up the hotly anticipated sophomore disc form the young Las Vegas band.  “We started a few months ago; we wrote eight or nine songs and then decided to kind of put those songs on the side and start over,” Smith said, noting that the group had greatly tinkered with its sound.  “Now we’ve got like 10 songs and we start recording in a few weeks.”

Pacnic! Took home top honors at the 2006 VMAs for Video of the Year, which went to Rihanna this year for her hit “Umbrella,” which also was named Monster Single of the Year.  Other winners included Fergie for Female Artist of the Year, Beyonce’ and Shakira for Most Earthshattering Collaboration and Gym Class Heroes for Best New Artist.  Seemingly everywhere was Justin Timberlacke, who performed with 50 Cent and Nelly Furtado and who took home trophies for Male Artist of the Year and the Quadruple Threat award, which honors artists who have achieved success in a variety of mediums.  But perhaps his best move came when he decided to bite the hand that feeds him.  “I want to challenge MTV right now to play more videos,” he said with a grin during the first of his acceptance speeches, urging MTV to start living up to its name again. 

Drug Dealers and Killers…Dressed in a light blue sport coat, O.J. Simpson was released from the Clark County Detention center Wednesday afternoon after posting $125,000 bail in connection with the armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors at a Las Vegas hotel.  The 60-year-old was freed about two hours after his court appearance, where Judge Joe Bonaventure Jr. outlined 11 criminal charges, including first-degree kidnapping, which carries the possibility of life in prison with parole.  “Mr. Simpson do you understand the charges against you?” Bonaventure asked.  “Yes, sir,” said Simpson, wearing a blue jail uniform and handcuffs.  Bonaventure also laid out a list of restrictions for his release, including surrendering his passport to his attorney and having absolutely no contact with co-defendants or potential witnesses. 

The Heisman Trophy winner’s co-defendants-Walter Alexander, Clarence Stewart and Michael McClinton—received similar charges in connection wit the alleged incident.  Detectives were still searching for two unidentified men seen on hotel camera footage carrying boxes that police believe had some of the collectibles taken during the robbery.  O.J. will be represented by his Florida lawyer, Yale Galanter, and Las Vegas attorney Gabriel Grasso.  The prosecution will be run by District Attorney David Roger and Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Owens.  Both have handled some of Las Vegas’ most high-profile cases, including the first Ted Binion murder trial and the Laughlin River Run Riot, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal.  Simpson caught a flight back to his Florida home.  Galanter said Simpson will plead not guilty to all of his charges, listed below:

Two Counts of first-degree kidnapping, a felony, carrying the possibility of life in state prison or a definite term of 15 years, depending on the sentencing judge’s discretion.  Parole eligibility begins after five years.

Two counts of robbery with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, mandatory 2-15 years in prison, plus a possible additional 1-15 years for use of a weapon.

Burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, felony, 2-15 years.

Coercion with use of a deadly weapon, a felony, 2-12 years in prison.

Two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, felony, 1-6 years.

Conspiracy to commit kidnapping, felony, 1-6 years.
Conspiracy to commit robbery, felony, 1-6 years.

Conspiracy to commit a crime, gross misdemeanor, 1 year in county jail.

It seems that O.J. might be totally out of his mind.  Running through the airport in Miami and playing hide and seek with the reporters.  He got by, but will not get away this time.  Looks like O.J. might finally go to jail after all these years. 

It is official.  Kanye kicked 50 Cent’s tail.  The final first week tally is in and Kanye West’s new album “Graduation” has beaten 50 Cent’s “Curtis” in a promotional sales competition by nearly 300,000 copies.  According to Nielsen SoundScan, West sold 957,000 copies to enter the Billboard 200 Chart at No. 1 this week.  50 Cent lands at No. 2 on sales of 691,000 copies.  “To be a champion, you’ve got to take out a champion,” West said Tuesday night at GQ’s 50th anniversary party, where he rocked a celeb filled crowd that included Jay-Z, Beyonce’, and Diddy Cheering him on. Only moments later he called for his “theme music,” then launched into a performance of his current single “Good Life.”

“It feels overwhelming,” West said that day.  “Everyone is coming up to me and telling me how proud they are of me.”

This whole sales race jump started when 50, whose album was originally scheduled to drop in June on Interscope Records, pushed his release date back to September 11.  Soon after, Def Jam decided to scrap the original release date of “Graduation” from late summer to September 11 as well.  Kanye said it was all his idea to go directly against 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson.

“I was the underdog because I sold less records in the past, so it was a win-win for me,” he said.  “If I lost, everyone would be happy that I even went up against him,” West explained.

Well, he can finally do what he said and that is retire from the music business.  The world is waiting to see if 50 will live up to his word, but I am sure he will find some reason or excuse to continue to rap.  Since Kanye kicked his butt, 50 has a new attitude. 

“I am very excited to have participated in one of the biggest album release weeks in the last two years,” 50 said in a statement he released.  Now he wants to boast that collectively he and Kanye have sold hundreds of thousands of units in a debut week.  This marks a great moment for Hip Hop music, one that will go down in history.” 

“The rivalry helped both of them,” said Jay-Z, president of West’s label Def Jam.  “It was definitely one of those moments in the game that was exciting, everybody could pick a side and weigh in and have an opinion, which garnered a lot of attention.” 

50 Cent’s tactic of faking a rivalry to sell records has become played out and old.  The former dope dealer’s street methods did not work this time in the world of big business.  What a fake and a phony?  All the hype that he and The Game was beefing was found out to not be real at all, but a tired publicity stunt, which overshadowed his lack of skill.  Curtis Jackson uses everyone he comes in contact with to make up for his short comings, that have been found to be extremely short.  Kanye beat him at his own game and now he needs to keep his word and go sit down and shut up. 

Babies are Us…Well, it has been a minute since I have reported on the baby making machines in the world of entertainment.  However, I have got to sharpen my blade since we are having a number of stars in the news for leaving a little more behind after their good love making sessions.  Let me start with Chris Rock, a comedian that I feel has made his mark in American by mocking his own race and exploiting African Americans to get a quick buck.  Not long after his horrible movie “I Think I Love My Wife” hit theaters he was hit with a law suit claiming he had fathered a child by an Atlanta woman.  Now Sean “Diddy” Combs finds himself in an Atlanta courthouse where a judge will determine how much child support the mogul will have to pay his not so secret baby’s mother Sarah Chapman.  The word is that the baby girl is now a year old and named Chance Chapman Combs.  According to Obnoxious friends in the ATL, Sarah will most likely receive $25,000 a month for her daughter Chance.  It has been said that Chance’s paternity has already been established.  The lawyers have been heavily negotiating the child support amount and it appears they have steeled somewhere in the $25,000 range—with Diddy also paying for all the health care expenses and private school.  From what hear you will not hear of this case much due to Diddy’s attorney slapping his baby’s momma with a gag order to keep her mouth shut.  Well, I guess brother’s are going have to learn to keep peter in the gate or at least use a love glove.

In more bastard baby news…The Shaq and Shaunie divorce saga gets even juicier.  It is rumored that Shaquille O’Neal may have fathered a child by one of his many ladies.  According to reports and photos Shaq might have a pregnant girlfriend on the side in Miami.  In the photo, which is said to have been taken prior to the announcement of the divorce Shaq is hugging a pregnant woman.  Purportedly, there is a clause in Shaq’s pre-nup with his wife Shaunie that she will receive a significant legal windfall if she can prove that Shaq committed adultery.  Looks like Shaunie might get a hunk and a chunk of money after all.  The insider shared that the agreement says that if Shaq were found to be unfaithful during the marriage, Shaunie’s entitled to significantly more that she otherwise would be if he was not.  Now I have to retract my statement last week.  Shaq’s encounter with Superhead, what was publicized in her tell all book, is said to have been prior to his marriage to Shaunie.  We have also learned that Shaq wanted all of his wife’s financial statement due to the possibility that she purchased a house for her Cuban trainer.    

According to my “Street Committee”…Eva Longoria might not be the only “Desperate Housewives” star with a man in the NBA.  Terry Hatcher has been dating Baron Davis for a few months now.  The NBA Star led the Golden State Warriors as the Cinderella team in the playoffs last season.  Baron is from LA and plays in Oakland so this is not highly unlikely.  Baron met Terry at Tony and Eva’s wedding in July and have been hot and heavy ever since.  But the shocker is that Terry is 42 years old and Baron is 28.  However, Terry is not the only one pulling a younger man that is an athlete.  Former talk show host Rolonda Watts, 48, is being called the “black Demi Moore” after getting serious with a new boyfriend 20 years her junior.  She and the 28-year-old Washington Redskins wide receiver Ataveus Cash have moved in together and are playing house. 

Sean “Diddy” Comb’s name just keeps popping up this week.  Diddy has been known for his temper and even there are some cases of when he and some of his men have slapped around a few people.  It has been rumored that Diddy is not to be played with when it comes to business and in some instances artists have left Bad Boy feeling robbed.  Well, that just might have been the case with reggae star Elephant Man, who is said to have become physically violent at a recent meeting at Bad Boy headquarters.  The insider shared that Elephant Man and a few friends paid a surprise visit to Diddy’s office recently and all hell broke loose.  Purportedly, the receptionist tired to stop them form going into Diddy’s office, but they barged in anyway.  The source did not see the alleged fight take place; however there was a lot of commotion, and stuff breaking.  Shortly after security rushed in and pushed Elephant Man and his people out of the office.  An employee said that Diddy was shaken up by the incident and his sunglasses looked like they were bent up and they heard that his lip was busted.  Seems the fight was centered around money.  . 

Well I do not know what to say about these photos of boxer Oscar De La Hoya dressed in drag.  It is a possibility they may not be real, but if they are fakes someone did a really good job.  You be the judge for yourself!