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Please add EUR to your Email Address Book to ensure you will=20
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-------------------------------------

Lee Bailey's EUR/Electronic Urban Report
May 12, 2008 (Monday)

The EUR is factual online infotainment on today's hottest=20
celebrities, events and issues in urban/black entertainment and culture.=
=20

For your FREE subscription, send e-mail to: EURmail-subscribe@topica.com

To ***, follow the instructions at the END of this report=20
and you will be taken off this list immediately.

If your EUR comes LATE or not at all, just send an e-mail To our=20
autoresponder ( lateeur@eurweb.com ) and it will come right back. Or,=20
visit our Web site ( www.EURweb.com ).=20=20=20=20=20=20

***********************************************************
In This Issue:

* R. KELLY TRIAL ACTUALLY BEGINS
* TONI BRAXTON VEGAS SHOW CLOSED TILL JUNE
* DMX ARRESTED FOR DRUGS, ANIMAL CRUELTY
* JUDGE REINSTATES B.I.G. FAMILY'S LAWSUIT

***********************************************************

ANTHONY DAVID PLAYS THE 'ACEY': India.Arie artist debuts singer's label
-- by Kenya M Yarbrough

*Singer/songwriter Anthony David has been known to many in the=20
neo-soul circuit as India Arie's artist, but the guitarist is beginning=20
to really make a name for himself.

While it's true that he's come up under the wings of=20
Grammy-winning songbird Arie - David wrote a number of songs for the=20
singer, and he will now be the first artist released on her Soulbird=20
Music label - David is prepping his third album, "Acey Deucy," hitting=20
stores this summer.

"I'm excited about being a part of this venture with a bigger=20
label, bigger staff, bigger team because I'm able to expose [my music]=20
to the world," David said of being the debut artist on the Universal=20
Music boutique label.

The disc will include tracks from David's previous indie releases=20
- a move the artist hopes will be cheered by his fans and help acclimate=
=20
new ones.=20

"Even from the first record, released in 2004, being an=20
independent artist I would always say that my music came out everyday,"=20
David said of deciding to include older material on the new disc. "New=20
people would listen to it everyday. It really didn't matter when it was=20
recorded. I didn't make it to where it would just be hot in 2004. I made=
=20
it to where it would be good. I want people to hear this. I want more=20
people to hear this."

David is already armed with a following and the introduction of=20
being a songwriter for India Arie - something that he's certainly=20
thankful for.

"It's a blessing at the end of the day," he said. "We're a big=20
part of each other's story and I don't have a problem with that because=20
it's a good story. Over time, you are seen as your own artist so this is=
=20
just a jump off, and that's how introductions go."

As the story goes, India.Arie was actually the first person he met=
=20
in Atlanta. The two became fast friends as they shared an interest in=20
good music and began writing songs together. Arie's career launched and=20
David stayed close, writing a few songs for her albums; most recently=20
the hit "There's Hope" from her latest album "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life &=20
Relationship."

Arie has said that he is a master "of writing from a man's=20
emotional perspective in relationships" and he himself has admitted that=
=20
it's a rare forte.

"I think sometimes it's hard for dudes to convey their feelings in=
=20
songs and still remain men," he said. "I think I do that in a way that=20
not many people do."

His talent of lyricism, coupled with his developing singing skills=
=20
is much more unique, in his opinion, than his creative process. He told=20
EUR's Gerald Radford that he gets inspired to write via a number of=20
different avenues.

"I listen to people, I read books, I get on the net I listen to=20
other songs, I listen to myself, I listen to talk radio, and I just try=20
to come up with something that's really honest and unique to me," he=20
said. "It can happen a bunch of different ways."

Whatever the process, the singer has compiled songs in a style he=20
has described as "millennium blues" a term he's coined based on the idea=
=20
that the blues is the basis of all genres.

"Blues is the foundation of everything," he said. "I found that out=
=20
when I started playing guitar. From gospel, to R&B, to rock-n-roll, to=20
hip-hop, to Bossa nova to reggae, blues is in it. So I find the blues in=
=20
whatever music I'm dealing with and bring it forward."

To find out more about Anthony David, hit up his MySpace page at=20
www.myspace.com/anthonydavid or go to www.anthonydavidmusic.com.

=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20

-------- ABFF 2008 --------
The 12th annual American Black Film Festival=20
returns to Los Angeles, August 7-10. Film=20
submission is now open. Registration=20
discounts are available through May 15.=20
For information visit www.abff.com=20

VOTE FOR The EURweb Media Awards Nominees!
-------------------------------
The top nominees are in and the voting process has
begun. You can now choose from nominees for the Most=20
Out-Standing "print media," "electronic media,"=20
"agency," "journalist," "photographer," and "media=20
friendly celebrity." Winners will be announced at=20
the EURweb Media Awards Friday, August 1st at LA=20
Convention Center between 5 - 7 p.m., after the=20
EURweb Media Expo 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. To place your=20
vote visit: www.eurweb.com/mediaawards. For more=20
information email EURwebawards@eurweb.com or=20
call (toll-free) 866-366-2160.

The King Of Civil Rights Lives!
Visit: http://www.kingofcivilrights.blogspot.com

EUR gives you something to really talk about.
Got feedback? Hit us back at: Myfeedback@eurweb.com

EUR Newsbits

R. KELLY TRIAL ACTUALLY BEGINS: Singer in court Friday for jury=20
selection.
Plus, was 'three way' witness paid off?

*After six years of numerous delays, jury selection is finally=20
underway in Chicago for the child pornography case against Robert "R"=20
Kelly.

Dressed in a suit and sporting cornrows, the singer arrived at the=
=20
Cook County Criminal Courthouse Friday to both cheers and jeers,=20
including protesters calling him a pedophile.

In the courtroom, Judge Vincent Gaughan began by introducing Kelly=
=20
to the 150-member jury pool. According to Reuters, he bowed his head=20
slightly, smiled and said, "Hello."

Gaughan next read the 14-count indictment against the music star.=20
He has been charged with videotaping himself having sex with an underage=
=20
girl.
Prosecutors argue he knew, or should have known, the girl was a teenaged=
=20
minor, at least 13- or 14-years-old.

According to the Associated Press, "the initial session with=20
potential jurors in Gaughan's stately, colonnade courtroom lasted only=20
about 30 minutes, and reporters were not allowed in; one court official=20
said there weren't enough seats.

"Some of the potential jurors looked uncomfortable, and at least a=
=20
few placed their hands over their eyes as the judge read some of the=20
more graphic sections of the indictments, said Verna Sadock, a sketch=20
artist who was in the room.

"The potential jurors - some carrying bags and coats, many looking=
=20
serious and even glum - later filed out of the fifth-floor courtroom to=20
fill out questionnaires for the next stage of jury selection. The=20
questionnaires were not made public."

Kelly, 41, faces 15 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Before jury selection began Friday, Gaughan rejected a defense motion to=
=20
again postpone the trial because of intense publicity surrounding the=20
case.

Defense attorney Marc Martin said the jury pool had been=20
"irrevocably poisoned" by a front-page story in Friday's Chicago=20
Sun-Times that cited unnamed sources talking about a potential witness.=20
Many of the potential jurors would have read the article on the way to=20
the courthouse, Martin said.

Gaughan, however, accepted the prosecution's argument that jury=20
selection could weed out any tainted jurors.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday that the=20
potential witness referred to by the defense - an Atlanta woman who will=
=20
reportedly testify that she engaged in a m=E9nage a trois with Kelly and=
=20
the alleged underage girl - was paid off by one of the singer's aides to=
=20
return an incriminating sex tape to the R&B star.

According to the newspaper, Judge Vincent Gaughan was informed of=20
the development during four closed-door hearings last month. It is not=20
clear how much Kelly's aide allegedly paid the woman, who is described=20
by a source as having been in love with the singer.

The woman has received immunity from state and federal prosecution=
=20
in exchange for her testimony, sources said. Federal immunity was=20
necessary to protect her from charges of transporting child pornography=20
across state lines.

During the April hearings, Gaughan was told that the Kelly aide=20
offered the Atlanta woman money for a sex tape featuring Kelly. At one=20
point, the aide arranged for her to take a polygraph test to determine=20
whether she was telling the truth about having the tape, sources said.
Eventually, the woman received money and arranged for the tape to be=20
sent to Kelly's aide, who is not an attorney, sources said. It is not=20
clear whether Kelly knew about the alleged deal.

TONI BRAXTON VEGAS SHOW CLOSED TILL JUNE: Singer's rep still won't=20
comment on medical condition.

*Toni Braxton's return to the Las Vegas stage has been delayed=20
again. She'll remain sidelined from her headlining show for at least=20
another month, reports the Associated Press.

Harrah's Entertainment announced Friday that it now expects to=20
resume "Toni Braxton: Revealed" at the Flamingo Las Vegas hotel on June=20
6.

The show has been dark since the singer was hospitalized=20
overnight for chest pain on April 7. The Harrah's spokeswoman says she=20
can't comment about Braxton's medical condition.

Braxton, 40, has been treated in the past for pericarditis, a=20
viral inflammation of the heart.

Braxton's two-year run at the Flamingo Las Vegas is scheduled to=20
end in August.

WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED WILL DOWNING CD
We've got 15 copies of super soulful Will Downing's
latest and greatest "After Tonight." To WIN a copy,
send your name, address and phone number(s) to
eurcontest@eurweb.com. Make sure to put "WILL
DOWNING CD" in the subject line. Promotion ends
this Wednesday, 05-14-08 at midnight.=20

--------------------
LOOKING FOR CELEBRITY DIRT?
If you crave constant info, er "dirt," on your=20
favorite or not so favorite celeb, Dirt123.com is=20
where you should be looking. With continuous=20
updates from top blogs like Perez Hilton, Media=20
Take Out, TMZ, Concrete Loop, Sandra Rose=20
and lots more, you'll be so deep in dirt, you'll=20
wanna take a ... mud bath! :)=20
www.Dirt123.com
Because you want ALL the dirt!

DMX ARRESTED FOR DRUGS, ANIMAL CRUELTY: Rapper tried to barricade=20
himself in bedroom until SWAT showed up.

*When it rains, it pours for DMX. After months of inactivity in=20
his camp, a sudden double-dose of headline-making events has the rapper=20
back in serious legal trouble.

Three days after he was arrested and released on bail for a=20
January speeding ticket, the artist was arrested again Friday on drug=20
and animal-cruelty charges following an overnight raid at his Cave Creek=
=20
home north of Phoenix.

The 37-year-old, born Earl Simmons, had tried to barricade=20
himself in his bedroom during the 3 a.m. raid, but came out with his=20
hands up when a SWAT team arrived, sheriff's spokesman Capt. Paul=20
Chagolla told the AP.

The arrest and search warrants stemmed from indictments for felony=
=20
drug possession and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. During an August=
=20
raid of his home, detectives seized 12 pit bull dogs, dug up remains of=20
three others and found marijuana on the property. The MC made an initial=
=20
court appearance Friday where bail was set at $7,500.

As previously reported, DMX was arrested Tuesday by the Arizona=20
Department of Public Safety after speed-enforcement cameras captured him=
=20
going 114 mph on a suburban Phoenix freeway.

MIJAC'S NEVERLAND AUCTION CANCELED: Fox411 columnist says sale was=20
called off five days before bidding was to begin.

*Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman is reporting that the public=20
auction of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch has been canceled - just=20
five days before it was set to go to the highest bidder.

"No word yet on what's happened, although the likelihood is that=20
Jackson has reached a refinancing agreement with Fortress Investments,=20
the loan holder," wrote Friedman over the weekend. "They currently hold=20
a $23.5 million note on the property."

Friedman says Jackson's camp has been "working with a number of=20
friends including financier Ron Burkle, who's lent his support but not=20
his money in trying to help Jackson out of this predicament."

The auction was previously scheduled to take place on May 14 on=20
the steps of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

---------------------
$500 - $1000/Per Day (CA$H)
(Just Returning Phone Calls)
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Full Training & Support 24/7
Learn From Successful Mentors Daily
For Audio Details Visit:
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(888) 304-9888 (Be Financially Free)

IT'S HERE! THE NEW EURweb COMMUNITY
How would you like to have your own website/page
to post your favorite videos, photos, music and more?
Well, now you can. You'll even be able to publish=20
your own blog. It's yours to do whatever (within=20
reason) you want. Give it a test drive now=20
at www.EURwebCommunity.com

Who's Minding Your Civil Rights?
Visit: http://www.kingofcivilrights.blogspot.com
=20=20=20=20

NICK AND MARIAH OUT AND ABOUT: Couple hits Manhattan in first public=20
outing together since Caribbean wedding.

*Mariah Carey and her husband Nick Cannon made their first public=
=20
appearance as a married couple Thursday night in New York. The newlyweds=
=20
attended the party for Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in=20
the World.

Both entertainers showed up to the Lincoln Center around 9:30=20
p.m.
and bypassed the red carpet press, instead heading straight inside to=20
allow Carey adequate prep time for her 10:30 p.m. performance, reports=20
E! Online.

Carey, 38, wore a silver minidress on stage. Afterwards, she=20
donned a strapless black dress accessorized with her 17-carat wedding=20
ring before she and her husband hit hotspot The Waverly Inn.

Today, Mimi is scheduled to tape an appearance on "The Ellen=20
DeGeneres Show," which will mark her first television interview as Mrs.=20
Nick Cannon. The episode will air tomorrow.

JUDGE REINSTATES B.I.G. FAMILY'S LAWSUIT: Earlier decision to dismiss=20
the wrongful death case against L.A. is reversed.

*A previously-dismissed wrongful-death lawsuit filed against the=20
city of Los Angeles by the family of Notorious B.I.G. was reinstated=20
Friday by U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper, according to=20
reports.

Cooper initially threw out the lawsuit March 21 after the family=20
missed a state deadline for bringing a claim against the city and two=20
former police officers. The lawsuit was originally filed in Los Angeles=20
Superior Court, then moved to federal court.

The family appealed, and the judge reversed her decision after=20
finding federal claims in the case can proceed, according to court=20
papers obtained Thursday by the Associated Press.

The family was given a 20-day deadline to file a new lawsuit and=20
drop the state claims.

Two wrongful death lawsuits were filed against the city on behalf=20
of the rapper's widow, mother and two children. The first lawsuit, filed=
=20
in 2002, alleges wrongful death and civil rights violations. It ended in=
=20
a mistrial in 2005. The case remains active, with the judge allowing the=
=20
family to amend the lawsuit because of newly discovered evidence.

Cooper's recent ruling involved the secondary lawsuit, which=20
contends that rogue police officers were behind the killing of Wallace=20
and that the Police Department covered up their involvement.

B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was gunned down=20
March 9, 1997, while leaving a party at a Los Angeles museum. The=20
24-year-old performer's killing remains unsolved.

UPLIFTING MINDS RETURNS TO LA
June 28-29, 2008 the "Uplifting Minds II"=20
Entertainment Conference arrives back in=20
L.A. at the Los Angeles Convention Center.=20
For more information on attending the seminars=20
or competition in the showcase call toll free=20
866-366-2160 or email FreeAssocInc2@aol.com.=20
Sponsored in part by EURweb.com, L.A. Watts=20
Times and KDAY. www.UpliftingMinds2.com=20

The EURweb Media Expo & Awards Show is Coming!
-------------------------------
It's been 10 years in the making and on August 1, 2008=20
EURweb.com will present its first Media Expo & Awards
Show at the LA Convention Center. All media companies
should plan on being at this historic event. For more=20
info, visit: www.eurweb.com/mediaexpo/ or send email to
EURwebAwards@eurweb.com or call (toll-free) 866-366-2160

--------------
WHAT DO THE STARS HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU?
Find out by visiting our NEW astrology page
http://www.eurweb.com/dailies.cfm?item=3Del=20

MAN CLAIMS O.J. CONFESSED TO DOUBLE MURDER: New book from memorabilia=20
dealer says Simpson spilled beans while high on weed.

*A memorabilia dealer has written a book that claims O.J. Simpson=
=20
confessed to killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald=20
Goldman on June 12, 1994, according to the Associated Press.

In "How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder: The Shocking Inside=20
Story of Violence, Loyalty, Regret and Remorse," due in stores today,=20
author Mike Gilbert says O.J. had smoked weed, took a sleeping pill and=20
was drinking beer when Simpson told him he didn't bring a knife to his=20
ex-wife's condo on the night in question -- and that, "If she hadn't=20
opened that door with a knife in her hand ... she'd still be alive."

"Nothing more needed to be said," Gilbert writes. "O.J. had=20
confessed to me. There's no doubt in my mind."

Gilbert also claims he helped Simpson avoid the murder charges by=
=20
telling him how to bloat his hands so they wouldn't fit in the infamous=20
Isotoners gloves, according to the AP.

Simpson's current lawyer Yale Galanter said that all of Gilbert's=
=20
claims are bogus and that he is "a delusional drug addict who needs=20
money.
He's fallen on very hard times. He is in trouble with the IRS."

"I've talked to O.J. about it," said Galanter, who refused to=20
allow Simpson to comment directly because of his upcoming robbery trial=20
in Las Vegas. "This stuff not only didn't occur but it's not factually=20
supported by the evidence."
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
GET LOTS MORE NEWS AT EURWEB
Space limits the amount of news we=20
put in the EUR newsletter, but you'll=20
find LOTS, LOTS MORE stories at=20
EURweb ( www.EURweb.com ).

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
GOT NEWS? Share it with us ( info@eurweb.com )
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

OTHER NEWS

SHARPTON OWES TAX MAN OVER 1.5 MILLION: Plus, activist wants Sen.=20
Clinton to 'leave the stage.'

*Government records obtained by The Associated Press indicate=20
that the Rev. Al Sharpton and his various businesses owe Uncle Sam=20
nearly $1.5 million in overdue taxes and associated penalties.

Sharpton's own tax debts include $365,558 owed in New York City=20
and $931,397 to federal, according to a lien filed by the Internal=20
Revenue Service last spring. His for-profit company, Rev. Al=20
Communications, owes the state another $175,962 in delinquent taxes.

As previously reported, the U.S. attorney is also currently=20
investigating his nonprofit group National Action Network. Over the past=
=20
year, Sharpton's lawyers and the staff have been negotiating with the=20
federal government over the size of his debt, which they dispute. The=20
group has also been trying to pay off tens of thousands of dollars it=20
owes for failing to properly maintain workers compensation and=20
unemployment insurance.

Charlie King, the organization's interim executive director, said=20
Sharpton has started paying it off but contends that poor record-keeping=
=20
by the National Action Network led the government to overestimate his=20
tax liability. King said both Sharpton and the group weren't ready for=20
their sudden rise in stature in recent years and had trouble dealing=20
with big jumps in donations and income.

"The infrastructure was trying to keep up with that pace, and it=20
was not a perfect fit," King told the AP on Friday. "The National Action=
=20
Network may not have been perfect, but nothing was going on that was=20
untoward."

He said the organization has new accountants and a new=20
administrative team, and the group recently finally filed long-overdue=20
tax returns.

Meanwhile, Sharpton continues to brush off the federal=20
investigations as the kind of annoyance that civil rights figures have=20
come to expect from the government.

"Whatever retaliation they do on me, we never stop," he told the=20
AP. "I think that that is why they try to intimidate us."

Speaking of never stopping, Sharpton doesn't quite share the same=
=20
never-say-die attitude when it comes to Sen. Hillary Clinton and her=20
decision to stay in the race to become the Democratic Party's=20
presidential nominee.

"Not dropping out would mean ruining the party," he told New York=
=20
1 television on Thursday night. "I think Barack Obama's the nominee. I=20
think he's won. The majority of Democrats have already decided."

"As you know, I've been in the ministry of civil rights all my=20
life, but had dealings with entertainers because of James Brown,"=20
continued Sharpton, who has yet to announce his endorsement. "The worst=20
thing in the world is when an entertainer doesn't know when the show is=20
over. The audience is gone, the lights are down, you're getting ready to=
=20
cut the mics off and you are still on the stage singing. It's over, it's=
=20
all right, it's=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20
WBLS 107.5FM, {WBLS.COM} invites
you to sign-up to our E-Newsletter for
Exclusive WBLS information. Hear
the station 24/7 online, Buy Music
for 99c, Shop Online & become
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For more info visit:
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EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE

"People with goals succeed because they know where they are=20
going...It's as simple as that." - Earl Nightingale

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

May 12: Actor Ving Rhames is 49. Actress Kim Fields is 39. Actor=20
Malcolm David Kelley ("Lost") is 16.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

This blog is the home of entertainment writer and author Shelia M.=
=20
Goss. It's a blog with a flair for the dramatic=20
(www.sheliagoss.com/blog).

Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or=20
less) description to info@eurweb.com.=20=20=20=20=20=20

BLACK HISTORY

May 12, 1967: H. Rap Brown replaced Stokely Carmichael as chairman=
=20
of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. (Source:=20
www.BlackFacts.com)

**************************
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05-12-08 EUR: Toni Braxton's Las Vegas Show Now Cosed Until June