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Lee Bailey's EUR/Electronic Urban Report
May 16, 2008 (Friday)

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

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

* R. KELLY'S JURY IS SET
* T-PAIN LEADS ALL BET AWARD NOMINATIONS
* WNBC ANCHOR DENIES BEING DRUNK ON AIR
* 50 CENT IN TALKS WITH MURDOCH'S NEWS CORP

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

SEAN GARRETT TURNS ON THE 'TURBO': Beyonce, Mary J, Usher hitmaker to
release debut disc.
-- by Kenya M Yarbrough

*Sean Garrett. You may not know the moniker, but you know the
music.

Garrett is the hitmaker behind some of the biggest names and
hottest tracks, and now the artist-turned-songwriter/producer is going
back to the first cap he wore and will release his debut disc, "Turbo
919," mid-June. And then it will be no surprise when his name becomes
household.

Garrett said he owes his production success on his ambition and
his faith. And it's that ambition, and that faith, that have convinced
him that it's time for him to come to the front of music class.

"It starts from my upbringing," Garrett said to being so driven.
"I came from a family where my mom was the general. There was no
rhetoric, there was no BS. The work ethic that she instilled in my
brothers and me is unreal. She taught us to value every moment in life,
appreciate every moment in life, take every moment in life seriously,
and that all the blessings that come to you are definitely heaven sent."

From that, Garrett said that he shows appreciation to God every
moment and lives by the Golden Rule to treat people well.

"I think that's been a big part of my life," he said, "and
understanding that the fans don't have to buy your music. You work
really, really hard to give 150% in the studio and you see the fruits of
your labor once it gets to the radio, and that's just great."

Garrett, a former mortgage broker, has a lot of talent to add to
the career education. The artist said that holding down a 9-to-5 made
him a bit antsy, but it taught him a lot.

"That got me ready for the world," he said of his desk job. "From
a financial standpoint I'm able to balance business and creative and be
able to go in and negotiate a lot of my deals on my own to where the
label heads respect me, and they appreciate my ability to know when to
hold 'em and when to fold 'em. My relationships become more than just a
hot songwriter."

Still, the broker gig wasn't really Garrett's first job. He has
been an artist since the ripe age of five and was signed to his first
record deal when he was just 15. That deal didn't pan out for the
up-and-comer, but that didn't crush his music industry dreams. By 2004,
Garrett started to gain the title of being one of the most wanted
songwriter/producers on the p***t.

Garrett told EUR's Gerald Radford that coming out with his own
album now is ideal, and he's not discouraged by those who think he's a
producer trying to become an artist.

"I started out singing," he said. "I've been an artist all my
life, but God has certain times and certain situations to prepare you
for what he puts you in down the road. So when [you] do go to get your
blessings or your dreams, you're ready."

With a production roster that reads like the hit Hall of Fame, no
one could be more ready than Garrett. He's created major hits for Janet
Jackson, Santana, Usher, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, the Pussycat
Dolls, and Destiny's Child - as a group and as solo artists Beyonce,
Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams.

Garrett modestly likened himself to other famed
singer/songwriter/producers Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, and Quincy
Jones and has challenged himself to carry on their skill sets.

"Every generation has music influences that surpass the idea of
expectation," he began. "I feel like that's my responsibility. I've been
fortunate and blessed to be successful in all genres of music, and I
haven't taken any of that for granted. It's my responsibility to
continue to work really hard, put out great music and be a part of a
voice that says to the past generations, 'Hey, we appreciate all y'all
did for us and we're going to take this torch and continue to run with
it, and do the best that we are blessed to do."

Garrett's disc, "Turbo 919" is already getting play and radio buzz
thanks to the first single, "Grippin'," which features Ludacris. The
disc, named for his own worldly, James Bond, Agent 007-like persona, is
"dynamic and transitional" Garrett described.

"It's right in your face. They're gonna love it. It just makes
people feel good and that's what I'm about... And I'm just getting
started."

For more on Sean Garrett, his disc, and his label - Bet I Penned
It - hit up http://www.myspace.com/seangarrettmusic.

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

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
Out-Standing "print media," "electronic media,"
"agency," "journalist," "photographer," and "media
friendly celebrity." Winners will be announced at
the EURweb Media Awards Friday, August 1st at LA
Convention Center between 5 - 7 p.m., after the
EURweb Media Expo 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. To place your
vote visit: www.eurweb.com/mediaawards. For more
information email EURwebawards@eurweb.com or
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'S JURY IS SET: But race again became an issue during selection
process Thursday.

*A jury has finally been selected in the R. Kelly child pornography
trial. The court session in Chicago was on the verge of ending yesterday
with 12 members and two alternates firmly in place and two more
alternates about to be selected.

The panel consists of eight whites and four African Americans,
according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The jurors were seated, however,
amid more accusations from Kelly's defense team that prosecutors were
intentionally striking minorities from the jury pool in favor of whites.

The defense has been accusing the prosecution of weeding out
minorities since the jury selection began five days ago. The final
objection came as prosecutors used their final two peremptory challenges
Thursday to strike a black man and an Asian woman from the panel.

The prosecution has already used four of their seven challenges
to remove minorities during the selection process. Cook County Judge
Vincent Gaughan also approved the state's attorneys request to remove a
black man who lied about having spent time in jail.

Gaughan suggested the defense's racism accusation was
hypocritical, given the fact that Kelly's attorneys used all seven of
its challenges to strike white candidates.

"I don't think [the prosecution] is doing that," Gaughan said.
"You keep saying that. You haven't mentioned all the white males you've
dismissed."

As far as gender goes, four of the 12 members are women. The
alternates as of press time included a white man and a Latino man.

Despite the drama, four jurors were approved by both sides Thursday to
complete the 12 member panel. Among the newly selected were a Romanian
immigrant, a recent college graduate and a man only vaguely familiar
with the R&B star.

LIL KIM WINS COURT BATTLE AGAINST LIL' CEASE: Queen B awarded half
million for DVD's unauthorized use of her name and image.

*Lil Kim was awarded $500,000 Wednesday in a lawsuit accusing one of
her former Junior M.A.F.I.A. members of using her name and image for an
unauthorized DVD.

According to the New York Post, the rapper had originally filed a $6
million lawsuit against James Lloyd, a.k.a. Lil Cease, who had testified
against her in the criminal trial that ended with her conviction for
lying to a grand jury.

Manhattan federal Judge Jed Rakoff found that Cease and his company,
Ground Zero Entertainment, wrongly capitalized on Lil' Kim's fame with
the DVD, "The Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A. Part II: Reloaded."

In July of 2005 Lil' Kim won a temporary restraining order
against the entire Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Ground Zero Entertainment to
stop the DVD from being sold.

--------------------
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T-PAIN LEADS ALL BET AWARD NOMINATIONS: Singer pockets five; Kanye and
Keyshia collect three; Mary, Alicia and Flo Rida each get a pair.

*T-Pain received five BET Award nominations Thursday to lead the entire
pack this year, but none were for his own songs.

The singer's electronic-enhanced voice earned best collaboration nods
for his work with Chris Brown ("Kiss Kiss"), Kanye West ("Good Life")
and Flo Rida ("Low"). He was also nominated twice in the video of the
year category.

"He's had a great year; he's introduced a new element," said BET
Executive Vice President Stephen Hill, referring to T-Pain's
vocoder-manipulated vocals. The technique, popularized in the 80s by
Roger Troutman and Zapp, has enjoyed a T-Pain-assisted resurgence that
has been utilized to great success recently by Snoop Dogg ("Sensual
Seduction") and Lil Wayne ("Lollipop").

Meanwhile, West and Keyshia Cole received three BET Award
nominations, while Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and newcomer Flo Rida
received a pair each.

Hill said the awards also shine a light on R&B artists who have
yet to achieve mainstream attention, such as R&B singers Estelle and
Raheeem DeVaughn, who each received a nomination.

"Our voting panel picked not just the hits but folks who are
really talented who are just now getting a shot," he said, according to
the Associated Press.

Al Green will be given a lifetime achievement award, and Quincy
Jones will receive an award for his humanitarian work during the live
broadcast on June 24 from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Agneles.

Nelly and Usher, who were to appear on BET's "106 & Park" later
Thursday to announce the nominations, are confirmed to perform at the
ceremony along with Lil Wayne, Blige and Mariah Carey.

"Besides being the best black awards show that we have, also
being one of the best awards show period, their ratings are through the
roof," said Nelly. "They're tuning in - black, white, Japanese, Chinese
- you got it, they're tuning in, which says a lot."

WNBC ANCHOR DENIES BEING DRUNK ON AIR: Sue Simmons says she hasn't
tasted between live broadcasts since at least 1993.

*News anchor Sue Simmons of New York's WNBC/Channel 4, who was caught
shouting the F-word during a live tease Monday night, is rejecting
reports in the New York Post that her expletive was fueled by an alcohol
problem.

On Wednesday, The Post interviewed several staffers who said they
weren't surprised that Simmons blurted out "What the f**k you doing?"
because she's known to get her drink on between the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
newscasts.

"Sue Simmons likes the sauce and she can be cranky about it," a former
WNBC employee told The Post. "She was sometimes a little tipsy [on the
air] to the point where colleagues would take notice."

Witnesses told The Post that Simmons hits Midtown watering holes
like Gallagher's steakhouse and Jean Georges after anchoring Channel 4's
5 p.m.
newscast. "I wouldn't say she gets sloshed - sloshed, that wouldn't be
the right word," a Gallagher's employee said, gesturing to the back
booths where Simmons typically takes her between-show breaks. "I would
say she gets happy. She gets very happy."

An employee at Jean Georges at Columbus Circle said Simmons has
drinks with her meals after the 5 p.m. shift - and then heads back to
work for the 11 p.m. cycle.

"She's been here and she's had drinks with her dinner," a Jean
Georges employee said. "She's had a cocktail or two, yes, between shows,
with dinner."

"Not one word of it is true," Simmons told The Post via e-mail.
"I haven't had an alcoholic drink between shows for at least 15 years or
more." She added, "I understand more now why many people don't trust the
media."

Simmons said she relaxed her language during the tease Monday
night because she thought it was being taped and not going out on live
airwaves.

"I got caught on air dropping the F-bomb. I thought we were
taping a spot . . . turns out it was very live," Simmons said.

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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
your own blog. It's yours to do whatever (within
reason) you want. Give it a test drive now
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Who's Minding Your Civil Rights?
Visit: http://www.kingofcivilrights.blogspot.com

REMY MA AND SHOOTING VICTIM FACE OFF ON RADIO: Rapper calls Hot 97 from
jail during interview with Makeda Barnes-Joseph.

*Remy Ma didn't let a fresh eight-year prison sentence keep her from
squaring off against the woman she was convicted of shooting in the
stomach.

According to the local New York newspapers, both the rapper and
Makeda Barnes-Joseph, 24, argued about the case Wednesday morning on New
York's Hot 97 radio station.

Makeda called in first to address one of the radio jocks who
questioned the jury's verdict saying Remy's sentence was excessive.

"This thing makes me cry every time I talk about it," said
Barnes-Joseph, who was shot in the stomach by the rapper. "I have these
ugly scars. ... My stomach is crazy."

Commenting on Remy's eight-year sentence for two counts of
first-degree assault, attempted coercion and criminal possession of a
weapon, Barnes-Joseph said she didn't think it was too harsh.

"She's got a kid. She'll come out in eight years and see her
kid," she said. "I might not be able to have kids."

Remy Ma, whose real last name is Smith, heard her victim on the
radio and was able to phone in herself from Rikers Island.

"I was there. I'm not agreeing with y'all and telling you I'm
wrong and I'm sorry for something I didn't do," said the artist.

Offering no apology and no remorse, Remy stated: "I don't care if 12
million say 'guilty.' The same way she was there, I was there," Remy
said.
"[She's] bending the truth. She's stretching it to make it seem like she
did nothing wrong. ... I don't got to shoot no girls."

Remy said she was offered a plea deal that carried a three-year
sentence but turned it down because she believed she would be acquitted.

"You think I would jeopardize being away from my child for five
to 25 years if I even had an inkling that I was guilty of something?"
she asked Miss Jones.

Barnes-Joseph pointed out that Remy fled after the shooting and
did not check on her.

"This whole 10 months, my life has been like a roller coaster,"
Barnes-Joseph told the Daily News. "Everyone blames me like I'm a bad
person and I did nothing. I did nothing at all."

50 CENT IN TALKS WITH MURDOCH'S NEWS CORP: Deal, worth a reported $300
mil, would give company stake in all things Fitty.

*Rapper 50 Cent is reportedly in talks with the Rupert Murdoch-founded
News Corp to strike a deal that would give the company a large stake in
all aspects of the 50 Cent brand, according to Ballerstatus.com.

The partnership is reportedly worth $300 million and would
include 50's music, books and concerts, as well as his G-Unit label.

Aimed for a 2009 start, the deal would help launch the company's
MySpace Records, with 50 and his G-Unit roster eventually moving under
the label's umbrella.

The deal also calls for News Corp to acquire his online community
ThisIs50.com, to market and sell the rapper's touring and to house
G-Unit book deals and music publishing for 50 and the artists on his
label.

Sources say half the deal will be in stock, which would make 50
Cent one of the largest shareholders of News Corp. The deal is expected
to be finalized next year, after the rapper fulfills his contract
requirements with Interscope Records.

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

The EURweb Media Expo & Awards Show is Coming!
-------------------------------
It's been 10 years in the making and on August 1, 2008
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
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=el

EXHIBIT HONORS PASSING OF OPRAH'S DOGS: Sculptor Daniel Edwards of 'The
Oprah Sarcophagus' fame is back.

*Sculptor Daniel Edwards is at it again. The man behind the
infamous Oprah Sarcophagus (a bronze statue of Oprah Winfrey with
exaggerated breasts and hips) - has created a new bust of the TV host
that features her two recently-departed dogs.

The life-size monument depicts "puppy versions" of Oprah's Cocker
Spaniel Sophie and Golden Labrador Gracie seated on top of her head.
"Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies' Memorial," says co-director
John Leo, is done in memory of Gracie, who choked on a ball last year,
and Sophie, who died in March. The artist depicted them as conjoined at
the hip and sharing a common tail."

"The dogs are shown standing on the Oprah's head, in reference to
how the dogs' deaths may be weighing heavily on Winfrey's mind,
according to Leo. "Losing two beloved pets within a year is likely to
take its toll on anybody."

"Memories of Sophie and Gracie: A Puppies' Memorial" will be
exhibited at Leo Kesting Gallery in New York on May 22. See photo here:
http://www.send2press.com/mediaboom/08-0514-DEdwards_72dpi.jpg

JANET STILL HAS LOVE FOR ALEXANDER MCQUEEN: British designer created
infamous outfit ripped by Justin during Super Bowl.

*Janet Jackson appeared at a star-studded event Tuesday launching the
new Los Angeles store of British designer Alexander McQueen, the man
behind her 2004 Super Bowl half time costume that suffered a
headline-grabbing wardrobe malfunction when ripped by Justin Timberlake.

Jackson, who stopped by McQueen's unopen store earlier in the day to
pick up outfits for the party, says she doesn't hold any hard feelings
toward the designer for the fabric that tore away so easily, exposing
her breast on live television.

"I don't blame him; he didn't rip it," she said. "Alexander is so
great at what he does - he's a genius. I've loved him for a long time,
ever since I saw one of his very first shows 10 years ago in London,
which is where we first met."

GET LOTS MORE NEWS AT EURWEB
Space limits the amount of news we
put in the EUR newsletter, but you'll
find LOTS, LOTS MORE stories at
EURweb ( www.EURweb.com ).

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

OTHER NEWS

WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN SPITZER HOOKER CASE: Temeka Rachelle Lewis worked
as a booking agent for pricey prostitution ring.

*A woman accused of booking clients for the high-priced call girl
ring that brought down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer pleaded guilty
Wednesday to money laundering and promoting prostitution, reports the
AP.

Temeka Rachelle Lewis, who worked as a booking agent for the
Emperor's Club VIP, is the first defendant in the federal probe to admit
guilt in the case that led to Spitzer's resignation.

She made a brief court appearance in a plea bargain that
obligates her to turn over records, testify before a grand jury if asked
and answer any questions investigators may have about her role in
arranging dates between Emperor's Club working girls and the agency's
deep-pocketed clients.

Asked why his client pleaded guilty, her lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said
Lewis, who majored in English at the University of Virginia and has
never been in trouble with the law before, just wants to put the case
behind her.

Under federal sentencing guidelines she could face around 16
months in prison, or less, depending on the level of her cooperation
with prosecutors, Agnifilo said. Her sentencing was tentatively
scheduled for August.

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EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have
fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed
impossible." - Orison Swett Marden

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

May 16: Singer Janet Jackson is 42. Singer Ralph Tresvant is 40.
Actor Marc John Jefferies ("The Tracy Morgan Show") is 18.

May 17: Singer Pervis Jackson of The Spinners is 70. Singer Taj
Mahal is 66. Singer-guitarist George Johnson of The Brothers Johnson is
55. Actor Hill Harper ("City of Angels," "He Got Game") is 42. Singer
Kandi Burruss
(Xscape) is 32.

May 18: Singer Butch Tavares of Tavares is 55. Rapper Special Ed
is 34. Singer Darryl Allen of Mista is 28.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

This blog is the home of entertainment writer and author Shelia
M. Goss. It's a blog with a flair for the dramatic
(www.sheliagoss.com/blog).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or
less) description to info@eurweb.com.

BLACK HISTORY

May 16, 1966: Stokely Carmichael named chairman of the Student
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. National Welfare Rights Organization
organized.

May 17, 1875: The first Kentucky Derby is won by African American
jockey Oliver Lewis riding the horse Aristides. Fourteen of the 15
jockeys in the race are African Americans.

May 18, 1896: The Supreme Court's decision in "Plessy v.
Ferguson" affirmed the concept of "separate but equal" public
facilities. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)

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05-16-08 EUR: R. Kelly Jury Set / T-Pain Get's Most BET Award Noms