Might Beyoncé finally be ready to give us some new music? An insider tells the New York Daily News’ Confidential: “Many in the music industry have gotten intel that Beyoncé will put out a single in the fourth quarter, some time from late November to early December. It’s an official single and it’s timed perfectly to push out all the others. It will be out before the end of the year.”
The paper added: “Our source adds that Ole Music Publishing in Nashville is working its magic and will hand the ‘massive’ song over to Columbia Records — Bey’s label. Pepsi bankrolled the whole project.
And: “Another source tells us that Beyoncé has gone to great lengths to hide what she’s been up to in the studio. That’s been very tough, given her status. She played the music only minimally while filming the song’s video, directed by celeb photographer Terry Richardson in Coney Island in August.”
Please be true. [The New York Daily News]
As much grief as some people give Kim Kardashian over “ruining” Kanye West, more and more it’s looking like the other way around. We’ve already noticed Kim’s style has been transformed per his request, but now Ye’s giving Kimmy the blues over a kids clothing like the two were working on. A source said, “Kim really threw herself into it because she loves fashion and also because it makes Kanye happy. She seems desperate for him to respect her and approve of her.”
So we’ve noticed. Not surprisingly, Kanye is a “control freak” and is “now he’s giving her his two cents on everything and it’s driving Kim crazy.” The source went on to say that, “The truth of the matter is that he doesn’t think Kim has good style and he knows whatever she produces will be a direct reflection on him. He doesn’t trust her to do her own thing.” Girl, run. [Radar]
Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes are not dating, they just so happened to jig at a party and other people got the wrong impression. In response to an In Touch story linking the two, Jamie Foxx said, "[The rumors] are one hundred percent not true. In fact, it's quite hilarious because we simply danced at a charity event along with a lot of other people." [E!]
Pharrell has responded to Will.i.am’s trademark suit with a lethal dose of legal shade. The Black Eyed Peas member has argued that his trademarked “I Am” name will be confused with the Neptunes other half’s “I Am Other” YouTube channel. However, Pharrell argues that is B.S. and that “Will.i.am hasn’t achieved the same distinction at all.” In other words, Pharrell is way more known than Will.i.am so no one will be confused about which moniker represents whom. Pharrell also pointed out Will.i.am’s history of filing copyright infringement suits— many of which have been dismissed. Point to Pharrell. [TMZ]
Harry Belafonte is suing the estate of Martin Luther King Jr. over three documents he tried to sell at an auction. The documents in question include an outline of a Vietnam War speech delivered by Dr. King, notes to a speech the late Civil Rights Leader never got to deliver in Memphis as well as a condolence letter President Lyndon B. Johnson sent to King’s widow, the Coretta Scott King after his 1968 assassination. The MLK estate “astonishingly” blocked the sale in 2008, though in the suit, Belafonte maintains that the Kings gave him the documents. [EurWeb]
I tried to offer Chris Brown sympathy last week and less than a week later I’ve been punished for it. Chris’ contribution to DJ Khaled’s “I’m Still” was left on the cutting room floor, but it ended up shared with fans on Twitter. It includes the lyric, “Every ni**a in the industry done f***ed my bi**h/ And all my ni**as said I told ya.” Will someone please escort this man off of Rihanna’s bra strap? This essay right here still stands. [Miss Info]
K. Michelle took to Twitter to defend herself from criticism about referring to a fan as a “monkey.” The rising R&B star lamented that folks weren’t telling the full story. As K tells it, she was eating with her friends and was trying to enjoy a normal, celebrity-free day with her folks, so she politely declined a fan request for a picture. Unfortunately, she claims the fan was drunk and became rude and disrespectful to her. She says his behavior was “monkey-like.” [Miss Jia]
Two Houston women were arrested for stealing $15,000 worth of weave and selling it on Instagram. Yes, for real. Their names are Gayle Quoquisia and Sherrel Hadnot. The other two bandits, Alisa Flannagan and Jameisha Kennon are still out there. Maybe the sale moved to Facebook? [Crunk + Disorderly]
T.D. Jakes and Fred Hammond have offered conflicting views on the new Oxygen reality series, Preachers of L.A.
During a sermon, Jakes said: “Now, I know you been watching that junk on TV. I want to tell you right now, not one dime of what you’re sowing right now will buy my suit. I want you to know my car is paid for. I want you to know I got my house on my own. I want you to know I’m not bling-blinging. I am not shake and bake. I had money when I came to Dallas and I plan to have some when I leave. You did not buy what I got. I had it when I came here. You know I had it when I came here. The devil is a lie! I have sold enough books and produced enough movies. I don’t need your offering to pay for this little slimy suit. So I rebuke that spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.”
On the other hand, Hammond noted: "Music has been my reality show. My songs came from real episodes in my life, like “running back to You”. What if I was to ashamed to share? The game is stepping up family from audio to film. The folks that’s already saved and got they stuff together have no real need of POLA. But these are the last days & GOD is going after some hard core lost souls. And He will use what ever method He chooses to get them."
Hammond also said, “I wonder how many ppl who watched #PreachersOfLA & displeased with it, will be watch’n & celebrating Scandal 2night?”
Would what Jesus do? If the answer is roll my eyes, I’ve never been more Christ-like than I am at this very moment. [Necole Bitchie]
A day after Keenan Thompson opined on the purported lack of funny Black women around to join the cast of SNL, the show announces that Kerry Washington will be hosting the November 2 episode with musical guest Eminem. What a coincidence. [Idolator]
Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer and blogger. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick
