Adding another notch to his budding acting career, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs will star in an untitled heist-action comedy to be produced by Paramount Pictures, Maverick and MTV Films. “This will definitely take a page out of all the great heist movies and return the favor by having two token white guys,” Combs told Variety. “And it will be sophisticated. It won’t be a hip-hop film with guys in do-rags because I’m always trying to break down people’s perceptions and barriers.” The flick will be set in Miami during the Miami Grand Prix, according to Variety. Combs and Maverick partner Guy Oseary serve as producers. The movie soundtrack will be released on Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment.
Mogul Russell Simmons has hooked up with The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to promote a new toll-free hot line
for New Yorkers to report animal cruelty. The campaign launched on Tuesday (Feb. 2). “There is nothing cool about being cruel to animals,” Simmons said in a statement. “They have no choice or voice.” Via public service announcements and print ads, Simmons urges people to tip off the ASPCA about animal abuse using an anonymous hotline, 1-877-THE-ASPCA.” The ASPCA investigated about 4,500 reports of animal
cruelty in New York City in 2004, leading to 54 arrests.Missy Elliott’s crew of hip-hop aspirants from her UPN reality series “The Road to Stardom” got a surprise “lecture” from the material girl herself when the group flew to Los Angeles. Madonna gave the remaining five contestants advice on the music business. The group also got a up-close glance at Missy in action performing at a live concert in L.A. The episode airs Wednesday, February 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ludacris and Lil Jon are among the rappers nominated for a Soul Train Award, fittingly announced Tuesday (Feb.
1), the first day of Black History Month. For best R&B-soul or rap music video, the nominees are Jay-Z’s “99 Problems,” Jay-Z, Kanye
West’s “Jesus Walks, OutKast’s “Roses,” and Usher’s “Yeah!” featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon. “Headsprung” by LL Cool J and “Drop It Like It’s
Hot” by Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell, are also nominated for best R&B-soul or rap dance cut. Usher collected a leading five nominations.
The Soul Train Music Awards, which began 18 years ago, spun off the syndicated music show “Soul Train” and celebrates the achievements of
artists in R&B, hip-hop, rap and gospel music. Awards will be presented during a ceremony Feb. 28 at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.
Snoop Dogg and his Jr. All Stars football team will compete in the 2nd Annual “King Of The West Bowl” featuring local star athletes in
Fresno, California on March 5. Snoop’s All Stars will play against Fresno’s Grizzlies Jr. All-Stars (Pop Warner Football) and B95’s G-Man-KBOS program director (Flag Football). The event also features a game with the Fresno Pirates against The Bakersfield Sabercat (WCFA Semi-Pro Football). Trill Entertainment will also host a pre-party and after-party.