"I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WASN'T ANY BLACK DIRECTORS & NO BLACK PRODUCERS AT ALL"

Rap mogul Russell Simmons has reflected on how far African Americans have come in Hollywood, notably, as successful directors and producers of big films.

Simmons hopped onto his Twitter page Sunday (January 20) to reflect on the success Blacks have had in the movie industry.

"Just saw @Hughes2Society's " "broken city". Amazing movie. Holy sh.... Congratulations on excellent movie"

"Everybody should see Mark Walberg russell crowes and jeffrey wrights "Broken City" @Hughes2Society Masterpiece"

"I remember when there wasn't any black directors & no black producers @ all. The world is changing" (Russell Simmons' Twitter)

He also stressed the importance of keeping the movement going and not slowing down.

"When I made nutty professor I didn't even realize that no black producers who weren't "the talent" got credit as producers"

"Mainstream hollywood is changing and a post racial dream will be realized in some of hollywood like it is in some of the music circles"

"We got to "keep on pushin" like Curtis Mayfield said. Who would have thought it would have taken so long?.But we still push"

"I'm a yogi not a politician I go where I wanna go see who I wanna see and say what I wanna say. I'm a free man !!!!!!!!"

"They wr the talent (they could demand prod spots) The job of riding arnd in go carts on set was reserved 4 white men anyhow that's over" (Russell Simmons' Twitter)

A few years ago, Training Day and Brooklyn's Finest director Antoine Fuqua told SOHH his all-time favorite urban films.

"There's a few of them out there man that I feel were good, especially the impact they had when they first came out. I think John Singleton's Boyz N The Hood was a good movie, a good solid movie, you know, that dealt with that. Menace II Society was really good, that had a good feel as far as the texture. New Jack [City], I liked New Jack, that was just a more colorful version, you know what I mean? It was a little more of a hyper-reality version [of urban films]. So yeah, man, all those movies I liked." (SOHH Guest Star)

Fuqua also briefly gave his take on Mekhi Phifer's extensive résumé and acting skills.

"You know man, I saw very little of Paid In Full. I saw a very little of it, I haven't seen the whole movie yet. Mekhi [Phifer] is a good actor man. He's been doing it for a while. He ain't no joke. Mekhi can really act. I never worked with him but you know, he's a cat that I would work with, for sure. There's a lot of talented brothers out there like the Wesley Snipes and those guys where unfortunately there's just not enough material being generated or financed, some of them really show their real craft." (SOHH Guest Star)

Obama Inauguration Music Guide: Katy Perry to Q-Tip

Just as Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration drew stars from Beyonce to Aretha Franklin, the president's re-election has led to another can't-miss week for music fans. Some musicians, such as John Legend and Alicia Keys, will be all over Washington D.C. in the coming days, while others will offer single performances -- or show up for a night of DJing. We've hiked through Capital Hill's extensive inauguration schedule to bring you a list of the week's biggest balls.
 
Kids' Inaugural Ball
When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 19, Washington Convention Center
Kids will be having all the fun. this weekend, with the "Some Nights" rockers joining Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Brad Paisley, Marc Anthony, Mindless Behavior, Nick Cannon and the cast of "Glee" at the weekend event. The audience will include first lady Michelle Obama and first family daughters Sasha and Malia.

Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor May Get Inauguration Sales Bumps

Inaugural Millenial Ball 

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 19, M Central
Ballers on a budget should head to this event, held in a red carpet-free warehouse with a $75 open bar. Funk Ark and Oddisee will perform, with Mayer Hawthorne throwing down a DJ set.
 
Learn.Build.Create
When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 19, W Hotel
The relatively late-night event -- it starts at 11 p.m., past Sasha and Malia's bedtime -- will include Pharrell Williams and John Legend.
 
General Now Party
When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 19, Kogod Courtyard at the Reynolds Center
Will.i.am will co-host the OurTime.org event, which will also feature music from John Legend, T-Pain and Common.
 
Peace Ball
When and Where: Sunday, Jan. 20, Arena Stage at the Mead Center
District bookstore Busboys and Poets will organize the sold-out, liberal-minded ball, which will include a DJ set from Moby.
 
Speaker's Cabinet Inauguration Luncheon and Concert
When and Where: Sunday, Jan. 20, Italian Embassy
Cyndi Lauper and John Legend will serenade Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic Party figures at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee event.
 
Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball
When and Where: Sunday, Jan. 20, Harman Center for the Arts
La La will host Russell Simmons' black tie charity gala, with John Legend, 2 Chainz, Brandy, Pharrell, Jadakiss, Swizz Beats and many more set to attend. Performances will feature Wayne Brady, Meek Mill and a number of hip-hop legends, with Doug E. Fresh and DJ D-Nice to take the stage.

Beyonce, Katy Perry, More Head to D.C. for Packed Slate of Obama Inauguration Events

Plan to Rock!
When and Where: Sunday, Jan. 20, 9:30 Club
Delta Rae will live up to the party's title at the club, with the vibes balanced by a Q-Tip DJ set and celeb appearances from Tatyana Ali, Aisha Tyler and Kate Walsh. DJ Lil'e will spin at the afterparty.
 
2013 Inaugural Ball
When and Where: Monday, Jan. 21, Washington Convention Center
This is the place to be on Monday -- the official celebration of President Obama's re-election. This week's numerous events will include only two official events, with the Commander-in-Chief's Ball also happening Monday. Not that ball-goers will need another night out after this one: Katy Perry, Usher, Maná, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Soundgarden and Brad Paisley will be among the many acts soundtracking the big bash. At the inauguration itself, look for Kelly Clarkson to perform "My Country 'Tis of Thee," with James Taylor singing "America the Beautiful" and Beyonce singing the national anthem.
 
Commander in Chief's Ball
When and Where: Monday, Jan. 21, Washington Convention Center
The evening's other official event will be held for military members and families, with Alicia Keys, Chris Cornell, Brad Paisley, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Hudson and Jamie Foxx slated to appear.
 
Creative Coalition's Inaugural Ball
When and Where: Monday, Jan. 21, Harman Center for the Arts
The star-studded event will include both musicians and comedians, with the Goo Goo Dolls set to play and Paula Abdul joining actors Eric Stonestreet, John Leguizamo, Giancarlo Esposito and Johnny Galecki in attendance. You can be there, too, if $10,000 for a pair of tickets won't start a personal recession.
 
BYT's Inauguration Spectacular 2013
When and Where: Monday, Jan. 21, Bohemian Caverns
The 9 a.m.-2 a.m. bash will bring Brooklyn to D.C., with performances from Computer Magic and Rewards, a Chairlift side-project.
 
Ambassador's Inaugural Ball
When and Where: Monday, Jan. 21, Carnegie Library
Biz Markie, Mi Casa and LIRA will hit the stage at the VIP event, which will draw ambassadors from Morocco to Malawi.
 
Hill Country Barbecue
When: Monday, Jan. 21
For those looking to make their own music this week, the bar will host Rock 'n Twang Live Band Karaoke night, which goes from 8:30 until the house band runs out of Willie Nelson. Stop by that morning for breakfast tacos, coffee and hot chocolate.

HUDSON MOHAWKE SIGNS WITH KANYE WEST'S G.O.O.D. MUSIC

Hudson Mohawke is the latest recruit to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music. For those who might not have heard of Mohawke before, chances are you've heard his music. The Scottish producer worked on several tracks on G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer -- "Bliss," "To The World," "The One" and the hit "Mercy." The 26-year-old began as a DJ and has a bunch of solo EPs, plus his 2009 debut LP on Warp Records, dubbed Butter, which showcases his work on the turntables. He also moonlights as one-half of music duo TNGHT. West, if you recall, randomly jumped onstage at TNGHT's last gig in Brooklyn. (Everything is coming together now!)

Mohawke took to Twitter to discuss his recent deal. He will still release his solo music on Warp, and will work strictly as a producer for the G.O.O.D. team.

BUSINESS NEVER PERSONAL? CHRIS BROWN & RIHANNA HOOK BACK UP

Grammy-winning singer Rihanna and rumored, rekindled ex-boyfriend Chris Brown have reportedly teamed back up for a follow-up to last year's buzzing "Nobody's Business" collaboration.

While details are still emerging, the duo got spotted leaving a recording studio heading into the weekend.

Rihanna and Chris Brown are, once again, making beautiful music together. On the heels of their recent collaboration, "Nobodies Business," a rep for Breezy tells E! News that the two are indeed currently working on another single. Which certainly explains why the duo was spotted leaving, albeit separately, from a recording studio in West Hollywood on Thursday night. This will be the fourth collaboration of sorts for Rihanna and Brown. (E! Online)

In RiRi's new Complex Magazine cover feature, she plainly disregards questions related to her personal relationship with Breezy.

Before leaving the restaurant for the airport, Rihanna addresses one last question. It's the biggest question surrounding the song: If her relationship with Brown is truly nobody's business, then why make a record about it? Her voice, usually warm and cut with chuckles, turns cold. "Pardon me?" she replies, her eyebrow slightly raised. Even after the question is repeated, she hesitates to answer. The hands that moved up and down throughout the conversation, suddenly fall flat. "It's the truth. Remember?" she says, turning toward the other side of the table to gather her belongings. As she gets up to leave, she adds: "It's a fun record that The-Dream wrote and we loved the lyrics. You're still asking me questions about it so clearly you don't know." Maybe she doesn't know either. (Complex)

Recently, Brown's ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran spoke on her love for the male singer and not yet being ready to see Rihanna face-to-face.

"I do care about him and I do love him," she said about Brown. "Family is very important to me, and I've always put it in my mind to remember that. For me, I'd love to meet somebody and grow and build a foundation, but I don't want to even think about marriage right now. I can't even get a clothing line out. (laughs) ... For everybody, emotionally, that would just be way too much [if all three of us could sit down together]. I'm a very mature person so if the time ever did come where we would need to sit down and talk, I'd do it. I'm a mature person. I can work it out but that would be a lot. (Pause) Yeah, it would be a lot." (VIBE)

Over the past few weeks, Brown and Rihanna have been spotted on numerous outings together.

And just like that ... Rihanna's back where it all started ... Chris Brown's passenger seat. The on-again couple relived their past earlier today in L.A., where they picked up some refreshments -- including an Icee -- at a gas station convenience store. You'll recall, Rihanna was riding shotgun back in 2009 when CB unleashed a ferocious beatdown on her face -- but today, she was nothing but smiles. Oh yeah, that red sweatshirt she's wearing is Chris' clothing line -- Black Pyramid. (TMZ)

Alicia Keys to Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl

 Alicia Keys is adding her voice to the Super Bowl show for the third time.

The Grammy-winning R&B singer will perform the national anthem before the NFL championship game on Feb. 3 in New Orleans.

The league said Friday that Keys' three performances at the Super Bowl will be the most in the event's history. She sang "America the Beautiful" before the 2005 game, and was part of the pregame show in 2008.

Keys, who turns 32 next week, released her fifth studio album, "Girl on Fire," late last year.

The Super Bowl teams will be determined Sunday, when the San Francisco 49ers play the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship game, and the Baltimore Ravens face the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game.

The NFL said in October that Beyonce will be the star of the halftime show at this year's Super Bowl. She sang the national anthem at the 2004 NFL title game in her hometown of Houston.

Others who have performed the national anthem at past Super Bowls include "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson last year, as well as Whitney Houston, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond and Mariah Carey.

At the 2011 Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas, pop star Christina Aguilera flubbed a line while belting out the national anthem. When she was supposed to sing the words "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming," Aguilera instead repeated an earlier line, with a slight variation - drawing plenty of attention on Twitter.

BARBARA WALTERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER FALL AT INAUGURATION PARTY

Veteran ABC News journalist Barbara Walters has been hospitalized in Washington, D.C. after falling at an inauguration party.

The 83-year-old newswoman reportedly had a misstep at the home of Britain's ambassador to the United States, Peter Westmacott, that left her with a cut on her forehead, ABC Newsspokesman Jeffrey Schneider said.

ABC News reports:

Walters, out of an abundance of caution, went to a hospital for treatment of the cut and for a full examination, Schneider said on Sunday. She was alert and was "telling everyone what to do, which we all take as a very positive sign," he said.

It was unclear when Walters might be released from the hospital, which ABC didn't identify.
TV-Barbara Walters.JPEG
AP
In this Monday, April 23, 2012 photo, veteran... View Full Caption

Walters was TV news' first female superstar, making headlines in 1976 as a network anchor with an unprecedented $1 million annual salary. During more than three decades at ABC, and before that at NBC, her exclusive interviews with rulers, royalty and entertainers have brought her celebrity status. In 1997, she created "The View," a live weekday talk show that became an unexpected hit.

Walters had heart surgery in May 2010 but returned to active duty on "The View" that September, declaring, "I'm fine!"

Prince to Be Honored at Billboard Music Awards on May 19

The 2013 Billboard Music Awards are returning to Las Vegas on Sunday, May 19 and will honor the legendary artist Prince during a live ABC broadcast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Prince will be honored with the Billboard Icon Award and is set to deliver what will likely be an unforgettable performance during the broadcast, produced by Don Mischer and sponsored by Chevrolet and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Backbeat: Billboard Music Awards' Raging Afterparty With Stevie Wonder, Jordin Sparks, Wiz Khalifa, More

The "Purple Rain" singer-songwriter-musician follows the 2012 Icon recipient, Stevie Wonder, who received a multi-tiered tribute led by Alicia Keys.

Also at last year's event, Adele dominated with twelve awards, including Top Artist , Pop Artist and Female Artist, while LMFAO followed with six nods, including for Hot 100 Song of the Year ("Party Rock Anthem"). The show featured over 15 live performances from some of the biggest names in music, including Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Usher and Justin Bieber.

The star-studded telecast resulted in a ratings win for ABC, attracting its second-largest audience since 2003 and trumping NBC's season finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" by 27% among all age groups.

The awards will reflect Billboard's chart rankings based on key fan interactions with music, including album sales and downloads, track downloads, radio airplay and touring as well as streaming and social interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Vevo, Youtube, Spotify and other popular online destinations for music. These measurements are tracked year-round by Billboard and its data partners, including Nielsen Entertainment and Next Big Sound. The awards will be based on the reporting period of Feb. 27, 2012 through Feb. 24, 2013. Top artists will be recognized in a variety of genres, including R&B, Rap, Pop, Country, Rock, Latin and Alternative.

Stay tuned for more announcements on performers, presenters and more for the May 19 airing of the 2013 Billboard Music Awards on ABC.