January 28, 2005
Leroy Wells Redux
According to reports, Leroy was arrested for failing to show up in court. The missed court appearance stems from Leroy being arrested earlier this month for shooting a hand gun into an occupied vehicle, and striking an occupant of said vehicle in the hip. Mobile Police spokesperson Marcus Young says, "Apparently they were arguing over how the cars were in the roadway at which time Mr. Wells allegedly shot the victim in his hip."
His family says otherwise. Family members of Leroy claim that people pick on him because he is a "pretty boy" and that is the reason why he must carry a gun and take matters into his own hands.
Leroy's brother Ryan Peyton told local NBC 15, "A lot of people pick on him and he's had that problem since he's been a kid. As he got older he just got tired of it and so he took measures into his own hands." Ryan also chose to back up that statement with one claiming that his brother didn't shoot anyone and it's all hearsay, from what he knows.
The sheriffs in the precinct were kind enough to allow Leroy and his buddies in lock up to watch Leroy's performance on the show. Leroy was eventually released on an $11,000 bond. This is at least his 7th arrest.
Good old Leroy Wells, He was the funniest thing I saw or heard on Tuesday. I'm sorry he can't keep himself out of trouble, but he's from Grand Bay, Alabama. I am not trying to stereotype or put down Grand Bay in any way, but he probably doesn't have much else to do. If he had to be arrested it probably should have happened before he was all up on my television carrying on. His performance was definitely arrest worthy. I'm just saying.
Anyway, Leroy Wells sounds like he's a nuisance everywhere he goes. I don't know if or why he shot anybody, but I think the best thing for his brother Ryan to do is not try to help. In one breath, he says that Leroy carries a gun and takes matters in his own hands because he's a pretty boy. That's bullshit. Leroy is not all that pretty for one thing. For another thing, is that what goes on in Grand Bay, good looking men need guns because they will be taunted and harassed for being genetically gifted? Well it's worse than I thought out in good old Grand Bay, where you can be employed painting shrimp boats. I swear that's what Leroy said he did for a living.
Again, I'm off track.
So after Ryan, being the good brother that he is, puts his brother's business in the street for all of Alabama to hear, he then goes on to say that Leroy didn't do it. He is really not doing Leroy any justice at all. Then again, I think Leroy is mentally disabled and Ryan doesn't sound like he's too far behind. They're both just one chromosome away.
Ryan also said that his brother is very talented and destined to be a star, so that pretty much seals the deal for me. Mental problems run in the family and anything said by any one of them should be taken with a grain of salt, if not ignored completely. To Leroy's credit, not Ryan's, I think Leroy told the "American Idol" judges that he played a myriad of instruments ranging from the piano to the oboe, so maybe he is musically inclined, but performance wise, he's got nothing.
Even though I didn't understand most of what Leroy was trying to say, with the way things work in the entertainment industry, Leroy actually has a pretty good chance of making it as a rapper, singer, dancer, or actor. Actual talent is at the bottom of the requirement list these days. God bless Leroy, because he is truly a character and in a strange way, very entertaining. I just hope he can stay out of jail and pimp his 15 minutes of fame for all they are worth.
Ashanti And Nelly Are Just Friends, Got It?
Singer Ashanti and rapper Nelly have been damn near joined at the hip for some time now, but the two have taken to saying that they are nothing more than "friends". Sounds good, but photos of them on a recent Caribbean vacation would prove otherwise. Here are a few of the pictures.
More pictures can be found at ashantidaily.com, but these two are the most telling. They're all hugged up and frolicking in the sand. The 'just friends' story was already getting old, these photos just make that story sound even worse.
I think they make a really cute couple. I just hope they don't start collaborating. What a sad day that would be for music, huh?. I also hope pictures of them don't start popping up left and right, like another rapper and his singer girlfriend, who shall remain nameless. These people really do deserve to have a life without a camera harassing them every time they are out shopping, walking down the street, talking on a cell phone and other such nonsense.
Lamont Bentley Killed
Former "Moesha" star, Lamont Benley, who played the role of Moesha's hungry neighbor Hakeem in the 1990's sitcom was killed in a car accident over a week ago (edit Chris - Umm. My bad. RIP to Johnny Carson too- end edit) According to reports Lamont was driving down Highway 118 in San Diego when he lost control of his car, sending the car down a cliff, where it eventually landed on a freeway below. Lamont was ejected from the car through the moonroof and was hit by 5 cars on the freeway. Lamont was 31-years-old. His real name was Artimus Lamont Bentley and was the father of two young daughters, Artesia and Brazil.
This is so sad and that is probably the most gruesome way for one's life to end. I just started watching "Moesha" reruns and Hakeem was really one of the few bright spots of that show. I had no idea Lamont Bentleywas in his 30's. He definitely never looked a day older than whatever age Hakeem was supposed to be. I recall seeing him very little after Moesha and I have no idea what he was up to lately, but his agent said that he was still acting and 2005 was to be a big year for him career-wise. Condolences to his family, friends and other loved ones.
Irv Gotti Indicted
According to the Associated Press, Murder Inc boss, Irv Gotti and his brother Chris pleaded not guilty to charges of laundering money in excess of $1 million which was obtained from the sale of illegal substances. The brothers surrendered to authorities on Wednesday morning and were each released on a $1 million bond Irv's parents put up their home for bail.
After the hearing Irv Gotti made a statement declaring his innocence saying, "I'm gonna give you guys one comment. I want to make it very crystal clear that I don't look badly at the government in any way, shape or form for them thinking I'm doing anything wrong. I call myself Gotti. I made my label Murder Inc., I grew up poor, from the street. But I don't look bad at them for thinking ill things of me. In no way have I done anything wrong except make great music that people seem to love. That's all I'm guilty of." Irv's lawyer also stands by the fact that his client is an upstanding citizen, not involved in any shady dealings whatsoever.
The next court date for the brothers is March 8.
There is more to the story, but it is way too involved and we have been over around and through the whole Murder Inc/Irv Gotti mess. I'm sorry to hear that Irv and his brother were charged with these crimes, but I have a hard time believing that they're innocent. I don't knock how Irv got his label off the ground, drug money, whatever, it's a major achievement and I still applaud that, regardless. Yet, if he was laundering drug money, he had to know it would catch up to him one day.
This is a federal case that the Feds have been building for over 2 years, which probably means they are going to start indicting everyone Irv knows and try to get them to testify, and probably even lie on the stand. The Feds are ruthless that way. At the end of the day, I wish the Gotti brothers well and would hate to see them have to go to jail.
Lauryn Hill Working With Kanye West
Lauryn Hill, former front woman of hip-hop group, The Fugees, is working on a brand new album. The album will be Lauryn's second studio album, it's been about 7 years and about as many children since the release of her critically acclaimed 1998 "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill".
Lauryn has been in the studio with super producer Kanye West and so far the two have completed 2 tracks, though they may not make the final cut of the album. Once Lauryn finishes her next solo effort, she and her old group members Wyclef and Pras are set to reunite and release a new Fugees album. This information comes courtesy of MTV.com and I have no idea if it's true. I have lost all hope in Lauryn Hill making any kind of comeback. Every time I think of her, I think of a pregnant schizoid with an acoustic guitar, looking like Starvin' Marvin from "South Park".
I really want this album to see the light of day and I hope Lauryn has exorcised whatever demons have been plaguing her for the past five or six years. I want to hear good music from her. I want to hear her give a coherent interview. I want nothing but the best from and for Lauryn, but I'll remain a skeptic and continue to believe that she has lost all of her marbles, right along with her scruples, until she actually produces some good material and stops having all those damn babies. Okay, I really don't care about her having babies, but I question her sanity and nutcases shouldn't be allowed to keep having babies.
The Fugees album, that might be nice, then again it might not. I don't know if The Fugees have the chemistry to duplicate what they did back in 1996. Either way, if Kanye is producing it, I'm assuming it can't be half bad.
Rumors
There are a bunch of rumors floating around out there. Some are plausible, like the rumor that singer/actress Brandy and her man Quentin Richardson are secretly already married and she's pregnant. We've been down this path with Brandy before, so I could actually see this.
Then there's the rumor that singer Monica is pregnant by none other than Young Buck of G-Unit fame. There has been a rumor about Monica being pregnant for every year she's had her record deal. At this rate, Monica should secretly have about 8 or 9 kids stashed somewhere. Despite all that she was rumored to be involved with Young Buck, so there is probably the slightest possibility that this rumor is true. I seriously doubt it, but you never know.
Then the one that is really not even worth mentioning is that 50 Cent got his hand severed in the suicide doors on his Escalade that he is always brags about. This rumor has been going around for week, completely unverified, yet people believe it. They were announcing it on radio stations and everything. 50 Cent is the biggest media whore in the business right now, had his hand fallen off, he would have been on the radio and TV telling the world all about it. He's just like that.
- reported by Keshawnta J.