25 years ago, Do The Right Thing was released. Follow Spike Lee as he strolls down memory lane (in this case, Stuyvesant Avenue) with the cast from the iconic film and residents of the legendary block. Then, enjoy the 25th Anniversary Block Party with guests Dave Chappelle, Wesley Snipes, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Erykah Badu and one very special performance from Public Enemy. youtube
Miley Cyrus may have stole the headlines, but Justin Timberlake stole the show at last night’s Video Music Awards. First, he performed an incredible medley of hits on stage by himself. Then, he was joined by the men of NSYNC for a reunion over 10 years in the making. A day later, with the second half of his return album set to be released this fall, JT has penned an open letter to fans, thanking them for their support and expressing show that his comeback has gone so well. Justin Timberlake VMAs Performance N SYNC Reunion – MTV VMAs 2013 “The last time I wrote you an open letter, it was in January and I promised that it would be a ‘Big 2013,” Justin wrote on his official site. “Since then, from The Grammys to the release of the first part of The 20/20 Experience to the crowd’s response at the VMAs, it’s been a wild ride.” But while it’s been great so far, the best may yet be to come, Timberlake wrote: “This letter is to tell you that we’re not done…Not even close. “Catch your breath, TN Kids. We’ve still got the 3rd and 4th quarter to go. This is too much fun.” It really is great having JT back on the music scene, isn’t it? Sound off now and decide: Who put on the best VMA performance? N Sync Justin Timberlake Miley Cyrus Drake Bruno Mars Lady Gaga Kanye West Katy Perry Macklemore View Poll »
Fat Joe has just turned himself in to prison, reports indicate. The rapper will serve a four-month sentence for tax evasion. He is in custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. Fat Joe pleaded guilty back in December to not paying federal income taxes for the fiscal years 2007 and 2008, owing the U.S. more than $1 million. Yes, Joe’s income is high enough that he owes that much in taxes, and yes, Joe declined to pay the bills a la Wesley Snipes, Lauryn Hill , etc. He originally faced up two years in prison, but ultimately was sentenced to just four months and a $15,000 fine, plus a year of supervised release .
Aye shawty, you gotta pay them folks mane. IRS Hits Jermaine Dupri With $800,000 Tax Lien According to TMZ reports : Jermaine Dupri is SO SO Def screwed … Uncle Sam just slapped the hip-hop mogul with a giant tax bill … to the tune of $800,000. According to two separate tax liens filed by the IRS (everyone’s fav government agency) … Dupri needs to cough up tax dough from the years 2008, 2010 and 2011. Here’s the breakdown: 2008: $646.47 (not so bad) 2010: $140, 889.76 (could be worse) 2011: $657,156.12 (hello, worse) Grand total allegedly owed — $798,692.35. Calls to Jermaine’s reps have not been returned. Of course JD is no stranger to tax bills. He recently paid off a $3 million tax lien for unpaid taxes in 2006. Prior to that he coughed up $500k to the State of GA for unpaid taxes. Handle ya scandal sir. You don’t want to end up like Lauryn…or Fat Joe…or Ja Rule…or Ron Isley…or Wesley Snipes… Image via WENN/Splash Continue reading →
Pamela Anderson’s debts are bigger than her … nevermind. She’s got financial problems is what we’re driving at. The buxom blonde was just hit by two separate tax liens, Lindsay Lohan style, to the tune of $370,000! The first lien was filed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), claiming she owes $259,395.75 for 2011 taxes, while the State of California also demanded $112,118.90. The DWTS hottie, 45, has had tax problems before, most notably back in 2009 when she was hit with a lien for a whopping $1.7 million (it’s unclear if that’s been paid). She was once listed on California’s list of Top Delinquent Taxpayers … a prestigious club that Lohan, Wesley Snipes, Lauryn Hill and Nic Cage may also be in. Pam has yet to respond formally to the IRS tax liens.
Producer Avi Lerner dropped a handful of big names when asked which action heavyweights are being courted for the inevitable Expendables 3 ; I’m willing to bet at least one of them (*cough* Snipes *cough*) takes him up on the offer. “We’ve approached Clint Eastwood to be one of the guys, we’ve got a character in mind for him,” Lerner told Total Film. “We’re talking to Harrison Ford . [And we want] Wesley Snipes when he comes back from prison. I’ll give you one more name, we’ve got Nicolas Cage to play [one of the characters]… And we’re going to bring Mickey Rourke back, if he won’t be too crazy.” Which begs the question: When has Mickey Rourke not been “too crazy?” Is he still Mickey Rourke if he isn’t acting just a little insane? [ Total Film ]
No one really doubted that Steven Spielberg’s long-gestating, class-AA historical biopic Lincoln wouldn’t land a release date in the middle of Oscar season. But with Disney announcing today that it will release the Daniel Day-Lewis-starring, Tony Kushner-written film in limited release on Nov. 9 — three days after Election Day — the studio has situated Lincoln in a zone ripe for hype. I mean, it’s not as though candidates, voters and pundits are going to spend much time contextualizing this year’s election against the political and historic implications of Skyfall (also opening Nov. 9) or The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (against which Lincoln will compete in wide release one week later on Nov. 16). This makes the 16th president as relevant as ever among a polarized culture endlessly yearning to claim him for one side or another — Republican saint, the Great Emancipator, you name it. What story will Spielberg and Co. tell? How can we make the presidency great again? Tune in at 7, only on FoxSNBCNN to find out… Etc. etc. At least we won’t have to wonder which shadowy PAC is paying for the TV spots — which , we should not overlook, will provide many welcome 30-second respites between all the October mudslinging to come. Thanks, Disney. And well-played. [ Deadline ]
Acclaimed actor, convicted tax cheat and current McKean Correctional Facility inhabitant Wesley Snipes had his hands full with more than just the feds before he landed behind bars. Check out a recently unearthed video of a deposition from his battle with United Talent Agency, which in 2007 won a judgment against Snipes for $1.7 million in unpaid fees. As the footage and the transcript (via THR ) reveal, Snipes’s characterization of the agent/talent dynamic demonstrates a righteous mind at work: Snipes : I can translate it to the way I understand it. It’s no different than a pimp. That’s what a pimp does with a ho. A pimp will lay claim to whatever the ho produces anywhere on the planet for as long as she’s a ho. And then, even after she retires from being a ho, they’re still gonna make the claim. Now, whether they actually do anything or not to deserve it is a whole ‘nother issue. That’s kind of my experience with the talent agencies — if they receive the phone call, if your name has been a part of their roster, if they receive a piece of mail, then as far as they’re concerned, they are entitled to commission. [Lawyer] : What does the pimp do when the ho doesn’t pay? Snipes : They usually beat them up. Priceless. Meanwhile, we can all follow up with Mr. Snipes when he gets out of the, uh, ho-le a year from tomorrow . Can’t wait.
Fans of pioneering Marvel Comics character Black Panther have been anticipating a big screen adaptation of the story of the African warrior and chief of the technologically advanced Wakanda nation ever since Wesley Snipes announced plans to make a live action film almost twenty years ago… Continue
