NE-YO TO PUT HIS LIFE STORY ON THE BIG SCREEN

After only a couple of years in the music industry, Ne-Yo has taken it upon himself to create a film based on his life story. The singer, who released his second album Year of the Gentleman just last month, compares the project to Eminem's 2002 blockbuster biopic 8 Mile, which was "inspired" by the Detroit rapper's early path toward stardom. "We are putting together the (film) right now as we speak, as a matter of fact," the artist tells Rap-up.com. "The name of the movie is Venice Beach and basically it's going to be my 8 Mile, loosely based on (my) life, but not really." I mean really, dude. Why? Anywho, like Eminem, Ne-Yo also plans to star in his film.

His acting resume includes an appearance in 2007's Stomp the Yard.
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BIGGIE SMALLS 'NOTORIOUS' MOVIE TRAILER STARRING ANGELA BASSETT, DEREK LUKE, NATURI NAUGHTON & JAMAL 'GRAVY' WOOLARD.

Last month I posted exclusive pictures from the movie set of the late Biggie Smalls new bio-pic aptly titled Notorious which stars Angela Bassett, Derek Luke, Naturi Naughton and newcomer Jamal 'Gravy' Woolard as Christopher Notorious BIG' Wallace. Now, thanks to the guys over there at WorldStarHipHop.com, I'm able to show you all the Notorious movie trailer. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in January 2009. Check it out below.

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PEPA PLANS TO TURN TELL-ALL BOOK INTO A MOTION PICTURE; WANTS ACTRESS MEAGAN GOOD TO PORTRAY HER.

(S-N-P AT PEP'S BOOK LAUNCH PARTY IN NYC; CLICK ON PIC TO SEE FULL IMAGE. )

As if we didn't see this coming. Pepa (real name Sandra Denton), one half of late 80s rap duo Salt-N-Pepa is making plans to turn her recently released tell-all book Let's Talk About Pep into a feature film. Seriously? Wasn't the reality show enough? I found out everything I needed to know just by watching it. Anyway, the film, if it ever sees the light of day, will chronicle Salt-N-Pepa's rise to fame, the group's turbulent breakup and Pepa's abusive relationship/marriage with her former husband and rapper Treach. She says, "Salt (real name Cheryl James Wray) and I talk about that all the time. It's the Salt-N-Pepa story plus my story. Salt was like, 'I haven't gotten to tell my story.' And I was like, 'You'll tell it in a movie.' It's a story that needs to be told. It's that girl-next-door (story) - people would identify with it. It would make a great movie - very juicy." And Denton admits she already has a sexy young actress in mind to play her younger-self: "I would probably have someone play me in the younger years, and I would star as myself. Meagan Good could play me in my younger years. She reminds me of (myself)."

*exhales loudly* Why, girl, why?

Also, no word on if member Deidra "Spinderella" Roper will take part in the movie. Hell, they didn't even include her on their reality show...but that's another post for another time.
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NEW MAG SCANS: THE CAST OF BIGGIE SMALLS BIOPIC 'NOTORIOUS' IN VIBE MAGAZINE.

By now everyone knows that the life and tragic death of rapper Christopher Wallace a.k.a. Biggie Smalls will soon be seen on the big screen in the motion film Notorious starring Brooklyn emcee Jamal 'Gravy' Woolard as Biggie, Antonique Smith as Faith Evans, former 3LW member Naturi Naughton as Lil Kim, Derek Luke as Sean 'Puffy' Combs and the lovely Angela Bassett as Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace. Biggie's son, Christopher 'CJ' Wallace portrays a young version of his father in the film. CJ, 11-years-old says of the father who was shot down when he was just 6 months old, "I'm gonna hold it down for my Dad." To celebrate Biggie's legacy and hip-hop's first real biopic, Vibe magazine has provided an exclusive first look at the cast in their respective roles. Above you'll see a re-creation of Biggie and Faith Evan's infamous 1995 Vibe cover featuring Woolard and Smith.

Smith, who bears a strong resemblance to Faith says she credits the singer with helping keeping her performance Faithful in every way. "We were able to talk about each scene in the movie and what was going on in her mind. I really wanted her to be happy, and she just wanted to be portrayed honestly. I think I did that." Of Jamal's portrayal as Biggie, the final casting decision was made by Mrs. Wallace who said, "It was Jamal's charming personality, warm spirit, wonderful sense of humor and beautiful smile that won my heart." And I think we may be surprised by Naturi's role as Lil Kim in the film. Judging from the pictures below, she's got Kim's nasty-ass stance down pat, don't she?! LOL! This will be Naturi's film debut and the singer says, "I think I did it justice." Former Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil Cease, whose a consultant for the film and also makes a surprise cameo says he was blown away by Naturi's acting skills. "Since the first day I rehearsed with her, Naturi knocked that shit out from day one. She's a star in her own way, and you gotta respect that."

The production will move to Los Angeles to film the scenes which will depict on scree, Biggie's final days. Notorious is scheduled to hit theaters in January 2009.

TO SEE MORE PICS OF NATURI AS LIL KIM CLICK 'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!'

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NEW PICS: JENNIFER HUDSON, PLIES, MARIAH CAREY & SOULJA BOY VISIT B.E.T.'S 106 & PARK.

Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, rappers Plies and Soulja Boy all stopped by B.E.T.'s 106 & Park this week to promote their upcoming projects....

When Mariah wasn't busy showing off her humongous wedding ring in front of the 106 & Park audience (if you look closely at the faces of the kids in the background, you can see that some of them had a look on their faces that said, 'If she don't sit her orange-looking ass down somewhere!'), she was mouthing off about her plans of a new tour to promote her latest platinum album E=MC2 which she promises to be packed with glitz, glamor, fireworks and fabulosity. She says, "I'm looking at November right now. But please don't hold me accountable if it turns out to be December 5 or December 7 or January 18!"

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One Jennifer Hudson fansite is reporting that the singer will portray Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott in the rapper's bio-pic. It's been said that Elliott has personally chosen Hudson for the lead movie role. The film is untitled as of now, but will reportedly be produced by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal through their company, Tribeca Films.

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LIL WAYNE BIOPIC TO BE RELEASED IN 2009.

Is it safe to say that Lil Wayne has reached rap icon status since news of a new biopic (produced by QD3) surrounding his personal life and career is now the works? The embryonic project aims to chronicle Wayne’s family background and what drives his famous work ethic. “We at Young Money are thrilled to be working with QD3 on production of The Carter,” explained Wayne’s manager Cortez Bryant to AllHipHop.com. “As Weezy’s manager and lifelong friend, I am excited to see Wayne’s story documented with truth and sincerity.” Directed by Independent Spirit Award winner Adam Lough, the film also features exclusive interviews with Wayne and his close personal friends. “Not only is Wayne the hottest musician in the business, but his life story reads something like a Hollywood script enabling this film to break boundaries,” Cortez continued. “And there’s no doubt this film will exceed any and all expectations. He’s a f**king rock star!”

CONTINUE READING LIL WAYNE'S STORY BY CLICKING 'READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP!'
QD3, born Quincy Jones III is also the creator of the highly successful Beef series. Jones agrees that Wayne has achieved the status of an elite artist. “In my career as a music/film producer I’ve been blessed to have worked with some of the best artists of our time including Tupac, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, and others,” QD3 elaborated. “Lil Wayne is definitely on that same level in that he is a true artist and he’s not afraid to push the envelope on any level which makes him original.” With only one previous bio to his credit, Tupac Shakur’s Thug Angel, QD3 stressed that Wayne’s importance as an artist inspired him to make another biographical release. “Our only bio to date is Tupac Shakur-Thug Angel,” he stated. “I think that speaks for the regard we have for Wayne’s position in music history as a classic artist. The goal is to go beyond a standard doc and create a theatrical product that will serve as the definitive documentation of Wayne’s life and career.”

The Carter film is scheduled for release in 2009.

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BROADWAY ACTRESS & FORMER 3LW MEMBER TO PORTRAY FAITH EVANS & LIL KIM IN NEW BIGGIE SMALLS BIO-PIC.

The roles of the three top chicks who played love interests in the late Notorious B.I.G.'s personal life have been casted in Notorius,
the new big screen bio-pic of the slain rapper. With the press release sent out last week announcing the main casting for the movie, it wasn't specified who would be playing the parts of Lil'Kim (Biggie's on-again/off-again jump-off, sidekick and protege), Faith Evans (Biggie's estranged wife--the couple married after a two week courtship--and mother of his son, Christopher Jr.), and Jan, (Biggie's long-term partner and the mother of his first child, daughter Tiana). Besides Angela Bassett as Christopher's mother Voletta Wallace, Derek Luke as Sean Combs, Anthony Mackie as Tupac Shakur and newcomer, Jamal 'Gravy' Woolard as The Notorious B.I.G, it was stated that the film also stars up and coming actresses Antonique Smith, Naturi Naughton, Dennis White and Julia Pace Mitchell.

According to AOL Blackvoices, Smith will be playing Faith, Naughton will portray Lil' Kim, and Julia Pace Mitchell has been cast to play Jan. Smith is best known to New Yorkers who may have seen her play Mimi in Jonathan Larson's Broadway production of Rent. Naughton is a former member of the music group 3LW who later appeared in the Broadway musical Hairspray. Mitchell has also done theater in different parts of the country. Both Smith and Naughton come from East Orange, New Jersey.

Since we know the film will discuss how Biggie and Faith got together, expect some fireworks in the film once Lil'Kim enters the picture. No word yet on who will play rapper Charli Baltimore's role in the movie. Baltimore was allegedly Biggie's girlfriend, although he was still married to Faith Evans, at the time of his death.

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ACTOR CAST TO PLAY ROLE OF BIGGIE SMALLS IN NEW BIG SCREEN BIO-PIC; ANGELA BASSETT TO PLAY BIGGIE'S MOTHER, VOLETTA WALLACE.

It's official. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Biggie is coming to the big screen. Fox Searchlight has hired Jamal 'Gravy" Woolard, a Brooklyn-based rapper, to play late rap icon Biggie Smalls, a.k.a. the Notorious B.I.G., in its upcoming biopic Notorious. Derek Luke, Angela Bassett and Anthony Mackie also have been cast in the movie, the art-house studio said. Directed by George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food), it goes into production this month and is expected to hit theaters on January 16 2009. Luke (will play Biggie record producer Sean "Diddy" Combs, who off-screen is an executive producer on the film. Mackie will play rival rapper Tupac Shakur, while Bassett will play Biggie's mother Voletta Wallace. The production held an open casting call last fall in the hope of finding the next Notorious B.I.G., ne Christopher Wallace, the generously built East Coast rapper who was killed in an unsolved Los Angeles drive-by in 1997.

The idea, executives said, was that as with casting for sports movies like "Miracle," the production would be better served with a non-actor who can rap and imitate Biggie than with a pro actor who might need to be taught how to rap. More than 100 Biggie wannabes, many of them non-pros and all with the requisite size, turned out to show off their rapping and impersonation skills. Woolard, who also is known as Gravy, is not a total unknown. He has released a number of albums, though he's perhaps best known for being shot before a radio appearance outside the New York hip-hop station Hot 97 two years ago, after which he proceeded with the interview and became a part of hip-hop lore. Like Biggie, Woolard was a drug dealer before he became a rapper. He had released a number of albums on indie labels in the 1990s before being signed by Warner Bros.

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Voletta Wallace cited "Jamal's charming personality, warm spirit, wonderful sense of humor and beautiful smile" as reasons for the casting. "He is a talented and charismatic actor, and I am excited that he will bring Christopher's character to life," she said.

Biggie, who drew on his experiences as a drug dealer in his rapping, is considered a seminal figure in the hip-hop world; his posthumously released "Life After Death" was a top seller and is considered one of the most influential hip-hop records of the modern era. "Notorious" is expected to examine his troubled life, his music and his impact.

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LAURYN HILL TO RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN? MAYBE. BOB MARLEY'S WIDOW WANTS SINGER TO PORTRAY HER IN NEW BIOPIC.

I don't know about yall, but the last time I saw Lauryn Hill graced the big screen was when she played a small role in the 1997 movie, Hav Plenty. Now reports are surfacing that the troubled-singer has been handpicked by Bob Marley's widow, Rita Marley to portray her in an all-new biopic on the life of her late husband. "Lauryn would be ideal. She sees my life as her life." Marley told Reuters of Hill, who is married to Rohan Marley (Bob Marley's son with Janet Hunt). Rita Marley is executive producing the as-yet-untitled adaptation of her 2004 autobiography No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley, a chronicle of the musician's childhood and their tumultuous 15-year marriage through his death from cancer in 1981. Producer Rudy Langlais (The Hurricane) says the film will be an "epic romance," including the Marleys' life and the assassination attempt on the couple. "It's miraculous that Rita is still here after being shot in the head," he says.

Rita says her grandson Stefan is "the spitting image" of the singer and would be perfect for the starring role. However, no casting decisions will be made until later this year, says Langlais. Filming is tentatively scheduled to begin early next year with a projected release date of late 2009 – possibly before Martin Scorsese's authorized feature documentary on the performer, set for release on what would be Marley's 65th birthday, Feb. 6, 2010.

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JAMIE FOXX TO PORTRAY MIKE TYSON IN NEW BIOPIC.

All of those years of Jamie Foxx hilariously clowning and spoofing former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson on stage and on television has paid off. The Oscar-winner will portray Tyson in a Hollywood blockbuster biopic about his controversial career. Tyson, who will also produce the film, personally handpicked Foxx for the lead role. "Jamie Foxx and I will be working together. He will play me in the film about my life. We already talked about it several times," says Tyson. As for Foxx, three years ago, the funnyman-turned-actor, who is also a long time friend of Tyson, sought to acquire the rights to the troubled boxer's life story. Foxx told film website Moviehole.net, “I think the Mike Tyson story is the most interesting thing. Nobody knows the stuff that I know, the stuff that I found out. It would blow your mind. Mike Tyson gives you phrases that, if you listen to it, it’ll blow your mind. They (media) said ‘Mike, how do you feel?’ and he said, ‘I’m happy. I’m more happy now that I don’t have any money,' ‘and they said, ‘Why, Mike?’ Mike said, ‘I don’t have to worry about anything. I’m just here.’ And I said, ‘That’s where you go. Do the story about that and about how he feels now - after he looks back on what all happened.”

Between 1987 and 1990, Tyson reigned as the world's undisputed heavyweight boxing champion, but went into decline after a tumultuous marriage with actress Robin Givens and a rape conviction that landed him in jail in 1992. Tyson's turbulent career continued when he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear during a 1997 bout.

AFTER THE JUMP, CONTINUE READING THIS STORY & WATCH FOXX CLOWN TYSON (HE REFERS TO HIM AS A 'PITBULL WITHOUT A LEASH') IN A CLASSIC CLIP FROM ONE OF HIS STAND-UP COMEDY SHOWS.

These days, Tyson insists he is finally free of drugs for the first time in years, admitting he was never completely sober, even in his boxing heyday. He says, "Even when I was training for a fight, there were no drugs, but I would drink. I had never been clean and sober my whole life. This is the first time. I'm tired of losing. I lost the trust of my family, my five kids. I didn't like that way of life and decided to change. I saw the devil and didn't want that." The 41-year-old was jailed for 24 hours last November after pleading guilty to one felony count of cocaine possession and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and is currently serving three years' probation.

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REAL OR RUMOR: ACTRESS MAIA IN MENTAL HOSPITAL?; WHAT FMR. CHILD STAR-TURNED-PORN-STAR IS PLANNING A COMEBACK VIA REALITY SHOW & TELL-ALL BOOK?

Word around the web is that former In the House actress and daughter of esteemed author, the late Bebe Moore-Campbell, Maia Campbell is allegedly taking up residence in a California mental hospital. Although details regarding what exactly prompted Campbell's alleged admission into the white 'makes you hug yourself' jackets and padded walls facility is unclear, anyone who knows Campbell's sordid past which includes severe drug abuse, intense mental problems and lack of legitimate work in the entertainment industry can easily contend that these could be the very reasons why the 30-year-old actress (who turns 31 on November 26...one day before the first anniversary of her mother's death on November 27, 2006) she has voluntarily (or involuntarily) finally sought the help she so desperately needed.

If this report is indeed true, and I'm really starting to have my doubts (she was just on her official myspace page this past Friday), I'm sure the media will be made aware of it soon enough. This is also the reason why I insist on classifying this particular blog post as a rumor until more concrete, credible details become available.

Moving on to another celeb has-been: Could the following story be deemed as just a random rumor or realer than real?

There's been whispers (and, no, it didn't come from that often-times un-credible mediaFAKEout website) that a black former child actor-turned- porn-actor is planning a comeback with the help of a reality show on VH1 as well as a tell-all book backed by a powerful talk show host whose show she appeared on in 2006. The actor seems to hope that stepping back into the public eye will take her career to the next level. Good luck, girl. You gon need it. As (bad) luck would have it, the actor's life hit below rock bottom once she began starring in adult films at the ripe age of 22 after leaving the cast of the second-longest running comedy with a predominately black cast in the history of American television, surpassed only by The Jeffersons.

Reportedly, her brief stay into the world of adult films were prompted when a judge ruled that her trust fund of over $500,000 be used to save her family from bankruptcy. She later claimed that her parents had squandered her trust fund and she had no money to her name. She also adamantly cried out that she was talked into pornography as an easy way to make money. Hmph, I guess the idea of holding down a regular 9-to-5 or even a job as a Hooter's girl refused to take that journey across her mind, huh?

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'W.D.I.G.M.?' STAR TASHA SMITH TO STAR IN DONNA SUMMER BIO-PIC

Tasha Smith really knows how to shake up the scene. The break-out star of Tyler Perry's latest hit movie Why Did I Get Married? held court during the Lincoln Lounge symposium, held October 27th at Los Angeles Sofitel Hotel, as one of the most prized events during the 2007 American Black Film Festival. Along with acclaimed casting director Robi Reed, Smith – who is a noted acting coach, in her own right – dished on the ins and outs of Black Hollywood and how to break into it. Smith, who has appeared on Tyra Banks' wildly popular reality series America's Next Top Model and debuted in Perry's overlooked Daddy's Little Girls, pulled no punches as she opened up to the audience about her previous life of stripping and drug hustling in her hometown of Camden, New Jersey.

It was definitely real talk – for real.

Backstage at the event, the tall and statuesque bronze beauty chatted with The BV Newswire about the Donna Summer biopic that she is readying as her next vehicle. "It's a movie we've been working on and we're excited," she revealed. We're still in the development stages of it but I will be playing Donna Summer, it's just telling her life story."

Summer, the legendary Academy Award winning singer known as "The Queen of Disco," catapulted to the top of the 1970s pop music stratosphere with hit songs such as Last Dance, I Feel Love, McArthur Park, and Love to Love You Baby. "It will show the transformation of her life," Smith added about the film, which may or may not be adapted from Summer's 2003 autobiography Ordinary Girl. "A lot of people don't really know all that she has gone through from a young girl to teenage moving to Europe and trying to start on her career, and her different marriages and the drugs and her transformation with Christianity and all of that."

When probed of Summer's involvement in the forthcoming biopic, Smith professed her affinity for the five-time Grammy Award winning dance diva (born: LaDonna Adrian Gaines), but added, "I put it to you like this, hopefully she'll be a part of it ... but it still will happen."

Smith and Reed plan to have the project ready for release within the next two years. "We're very focused, we want to do it," Reed said. "No, I can't" Smith gushed when asked if she could sing. So what will she do about the music in the movie? "I'm going to do the same thing that Angela Bassett did," she quipped, referring to Bassett's 1992 Oscar Award nominated turn as Tina Turner in What's Love Got Do with It?

Source: AOL BlackVoices

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'DEAR MAMA': THE LIFE OF TUPAC'S MOTHER, AFENI IN THE WORKS

The list of the lives of celebs (and semi-celebs) that will make it to both the small and big screen has just gotten longer. So, how many biopics are we going to probably see in the following year? Let's just say you may need more than one hand to count them on. Now, according to reports, the life of Afeni Shakur, the mother of slain rapper, Tupac Shakur, is now in the works.

Tentatively entitled, Dear Mama: The Life Story of Afeni Shakur, the film, produced by Hollywood Filmz producers, Young Noble and Omar 'Ice Man' Sharif will reveal the activist's life growing up in a small North Carolina town, her reign as a devoted leader of the Black Panther organization, being incarcerated while pregnant with Tupac and her subsequent drug addiction. Additionally, the film will also dwell on Afeni's worst nightmare: loosing her infamous son whose murder remains unsolved 11 years after his death.

"This incredible lady defended herself in court while pregnant with Tupac during a bomb conspiracy trial facing 352 years and was acquitted of 156 counts against her and 20 other members of the Black Panther Party," said Young Noble. "I felt that the world needs to know where Tupac got his mind, heart, spirit and courage so I called Afeni with the idea. She was excited and gave me her blessing."

Dear Mama is being produced in conjunction with Afeni Shakur's Amaru Entertainment. The soundtrack will be executive produced by Young Buck and The Outlawz for Cashville Recordz/1nationentertainment, along with Shakur's Amaru Entertainment. Featured artists will include 50 Cent, T.I., The Outlawz, Young Buck and new comers Stormey and Begetz.

The Dear Mama story is long overdue," said Young Noble. "I'm just so blessed to be in a position to produce this movie and make sure Afeni and Pac is proud when it’s done, this movie will offer hope and be an inspiration to the millions of people who will see it."

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