Actor Idris Elba is set to appear on six episodes of the NBC series, “The Office,” reports Variety. Elba is cast as a new rival to star Steve Carell’s character. Elba is best known for his roles on HBO series, “The Wire.” Later this year, Elba will star with Beyonce in the movie thriller, “Obsessed.” Click here to see the movie trailer from an earlier Suite 411 post.
Death Row Records was sold for $18 million to Wide Awake Entertainment, according to Variety. The record label filed for Chapter 11 protection three years ago. The sale encompasses Death Row’s music catalog, which includes Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Tupac’s All Eyes on Me and Snoop Dogg’s Doggystyle.
On Jan.25, Death Row’s electric chair, Suge Knight’s cigars and Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s Source awards will be auctioned.
Jennifer Hudson, 27, will perform at the Grammy Awards broadcast Sunday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. on CBS, reports People magazine. Hudson is nominated for three Grammys, including best R&B performance for her duet with Fantasia, “I’m His Only Woman.”
The Obamas celebrated Michelle’s 45th birthday Saturday on the train tour from Philadelphia to Washington D.C., reports People magazine. There was a surprise birthday party held onboard. On a stop in Wilmington, Del., the crowd serenaded birthday with the Happy Birthday song.
Kimora Lee Simmons, designer of the Baby Phat clothing line, is four months pregnant, reports US magazine. The father is her boyfriend Djimon Hounsou, an actor who has starred in the movies Blood Diamond, Gladiator and Amistad.
This will be her third child. Kimora, 33, has two daughters with her ex-husband, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.
Taj from SWV will be on the new season of Survivor: Tocantins. Tamara “Taj” Johnson-George is the wife of former Tennessee Titan running back Eddie George. The Grammy-nominated singer is the mother of two sons.
“I’m not the average NFL wife and mother,” said the 37-year-old singer.
Will Smith made the most box office revenue for theaters last year, according to a survey of movie exhibitors. Besides Sidney Poitier, Smith is the only black actor to be chosen in the Quigley poll. Smith’s superhero movie “Hancock” grossed $228 million last year.
It has been four years since Faith Evans, late rapper Biggie’s widow, released her “First Lady” LP. Now Evans told MTV at the “Notorious” premiere — the biopic about Biggie — that she is ready to get back to performing.
“I’m not ready to record a whole album tonight, but I’m back in that mode,” she said. “I’ve been taking a lot of meetings, and I’ve been enjoying my freedom, not being tied down to anything other than my family.
“I’m ready to record again,” Evans added. “I’ve been hesitant to get into any type of record-deal situation. The offers have been coming in. Through the process of elimination, I’ll pick the one that’s right for me. But I’m gonna begin recording soon and have an album out this year. Sooner than later.”
Reggie Rock Bythewood, one of the writers of the ‘Notorious’ movie, speaks out about Lil Kim’s portrayal. Bythewood’s previous experience includes directing the movie, “Biker Boyz.”
“When I was brought onto the project, I requested to speak with Kim,” Bythewood told MTV. “Once I was granted access, I was blown away by the two-hour phone interview [we had]. She is a complex person. She is a sister with a lot of vulnerability and a lot of strength. Much of what she told me went directly into my next draft. Unfortunately, she was slipped a draft that was written before our conversation. She was angry at the producers and I did not get to speak with her again.”
No surprise here. Rappers T-Pain and Lil Wayne provided the most guest appearances on other music artists’ songs last year, MTV reports. The two performers worked with artists as varied as rapper T.I. to pop band Fall Out Boy.
