Chauncy Black Files Lawsuit Against Teddy Riley Over Blackstreet Name

Chauncey Black, one of the founding members of the group Blackstreet, is suing Teddy Riley over the usage of the name Blackstreet in his latest musical endeavors.

In his recently filed lawsuit, Black claims that he is the rightful owner of the name, and that Teddy has been illegally using it. According to TMZ, there’s more to the story! Black admits that originally Teddy owned the name, however, once his trademark expired  Black grabbed it up before anyone else could get it.

Chauncey says that Teddy has flagrantly violated his rights by using another group and calling them Blackstreet.

He also says the reason they are no longer working together is because of Teddy’s “uncooperation.”

A rep for Riley tells TMZ,

“At this time we have no comment on ANY of the ridiculous and frivolous claims APPARENTLY being made by Chauncey Andre Hannibal aka’Black.’”

This is sad. It reminds us of the Temptations Movie a little bit. All that’s missing is one of the two of them saying, “We the voices”. It would be nice if they could resolve this, because plenty of people would still love to see them perform together. These things happen with groups sometimes. We hope that it’s a temporary situation.

Remember why we fell in love with them in the first place?  We sure do!

Tyler Perry Donates $100K to Ohio School Athletic Foundation

Actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry donated $100,000 to help student athletes in the South-Western City School District in Columbus, Ohio.

The Columbus Dispatch reported Perry surprised students during a musical concert at the Finland Middle School. In front of 700 students and staff, Perry said, “I want to sponsor as many kids as I can,” before handing over a $100,000 check to the Success Beyond the Classroom Foundation.

Perry was inspired to visit the school after watching the HBO series, “HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” in September that profiled Finland teacher Mary Mulvany who co-founded the Success Beyond the Classroom Foundation. The foundation was created to help raise money for students who could not afford to participate in school sports.

In 2009, the school district was forced to eliminate sports and other extracurricular activities due to financial constraints after a failed levy. Since then, schools begun charging students to participate in sport activities and extracurriculars.

"How many [of you] have hopes and dreams and goals and things you want to do? Listen. Don't let anybody stop you," Perry said to the crowd of students--some of which were crying as they listened to his inspirational words. The director/actor/writer shared his tough childhood story with the students telling them they are the ones who continue to inspire the work that he does.

Last October, Perry announced that he would team up with media mogul and close friend, Oprah Winfrey to produce two new shows for the OWN network. The drama The Haves and the Have Nots (May 28) and the sitcom Love Thy Neighbor (May 29) both premiere this week on OWN.

Lil Wayne's NBA Finals Prediction Halfway Complete

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne may need to consider a full-time gig at ESPN as his prediction of the San Antonio Spurs making it to the NBA Finals turned into reality last night (May 27).

 

While initially projected to be a hard-fought series, the Spurs easily swept away their Western Conference Finals opponent Memphis Grizzlies Monday evening.

That was fast. While Memphis didn't roll over after two consecutive heartbreakers in overtime, they didn't stand much chance, either. In firm control from the outset, San Antonio put the finishing touches on its second convincing sweep of the postseason, racing to the Finals with an impressive 12-2 record. "I don't believe we won this thing 4-0, We didn't kick anybody's butt," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "I'm not trying to be overly gracious or anything, it's true." (Sports Illustrated)

Earlier in the month, Wayne predicted the Spurs would make it to the NBA Finals next week but eventually lose to the Miami Heat.

With his beloved L.A. Lakers out of contention, the South Beach resident now believes that LeBron James and the Miami Heat are the clear-cut favorite to take the basketball crown. Clearly his past spat with the team hasn't affected how he analyzes the game. "C'mon man, you know you can't beat that machine out here in Miami man. Nobody can beat that machine. I have yet to see someone beat that machine," he said. "I think the [San Antonio] Spurs will give them a run for their money but, that machine, the Miami Heat." (MTV)

Prior to reaching the Western Conference Finals, Weezy F. Baby attended one of the Spurs' road playoff games.

Lil Wayne is just 'bandwagoning' it up huh? I know everyone keeps saying that, but can't he just be a big NBA fan?! If I had the opportunity, I'd go to all the NBA games I could go to too...just for the fun of it. I would like to know exactly which team is HIS team though?! The Spurs took a 3-2 lead over the Warriors in the Western Conference semifinals by winning last night 109-91. Tunechi was courtside for the game. (In Flex We Trust)

Over the winter, Wayne talked about the backlash he received from Miami after dissing the entire Heat team at a February concert.

"Yeah, I heard about that, that's what I want to clear up," Wayne said in an interview when told the entire city of Miami was upset with him. "First of all, I ain't have a cup. I can't drink anything. Actually, I had a little bit too much to 'think' that night. Yeah, [laughs], I had too many thoughts on my mind that night but let me start off saying I don't apologzie for that night. I don't apologize for being who I am. That's who I am. This is who I am and yes I did say those things. The only thing I do want to take back from saying that night is I said, 'F LeBron,' I didn't mean to say that because me and LeBron are cool and I know his mom and we have a real good relationship. That's my homie, it just slipped out. Other than that, I don't take nothing back and like I said, I don't apologize for being me. This is who I am. Now do you want an explanation for where all that came from?" (99 Jamz)

Faith Evans Owes Unpaid Taxes

The State of California slapped Faith with a tax lien earlier this year, debt for the year 2011 ... to the tune of $29,535.48.

 

Faith Evans is yet another celebrity who has landed herself in trouble over unpaid taxes.

Reports from TMZ allege earlier this year the state of California billed Evans with a $29,535.48 tax lien that has been unpaid since 2011. This is not the first of Evans money woes. In 2010, the famed R&B singer and widow of Notorious B.I.G was forced to pay the IRS more than $360,000 in taxes that dated back to 2008.

Evans is not the first celebrity to be slapped with a bill over delinquent taxes. Grammy award winning singer and rapper Lauryn Hill was recently sentenced to three months in state prison for tax evasion of nearly $1 million.

Just as her name suggests, we know Evan’s faith will help her overcome this small infraction. In a recent interview with ESSENCE, Evans shared just how instrumental her faith has been in her 20-year long career. “I’ve always been very grounded in my faith in God, who has helped me sustain things that have come before me. God has a way of enabling you to overcome.”

Evans, who is also co-executive producer of the hit reality television show “R&B Divas”, has much to look forward to in the future. This summer Evans will take to the stage at the ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans. She says she’s looking forward to giving her fans a little something more than what she’s recorded on her five albums. “My fans like to hear songs from my records, but I know where the right places are to switch it up. I give them more than what they’ve heard on the record.”

  

The State of California slapped Faith with a tax lien earlier this year, claiming the R&B songstress (and Biggie Smalls' widow) has an unpaid tax debt for the year 2011 ... to the tune of $29,535.48.

Amanda Bynes Arrest: NYPD Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations

As the troubled actress threatens to sue the police, the results of an internal investigation find "no evidence" to support her claim that she was groped by an officer. a statement is issued denying her claim that she was groped by an officer.

"Internal Affairs investigators have found no evidence to corroborate Ms. Bynes' allegations," said a statement issued Tuesday. "To the contrary, a credible civilian witness who was with the officers throughout told investigators that none touched Ms. Bynes inappropriately or otherwise engaged in misconduct at any time."

Two days after she was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and criminal possession of marijuana, Bynes -- who allegedly threw a bong out a window in her Manhattan apartment after her building's doorman alerted police that she was smoking pot -- the 27-year-old actress took to Twitter to accuse an officer of groping her.

"He lied and said I threw a bong out the window when I opened the window for fresh air," Bynes wrote Saturday. "He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal. I then called the cops on him. He handcuffed me, which I resisted, quite unlike any of the reports stated."

On Monday, Bynes tweeted that she planned to sue the police department over the "mistaken arrest," ranting: "I'm suing NYPD for illegally entering my apartment, lying about drugs on me and lying about me tampering with non existent drug paraphernalia, then I'm suing for being put into a mental hospital against my will, then locked up overnight for coming home after a facial and working out with my trainer like the good girl that I am."

Bynes, who is due back in court July 9 over the incident, also claimed that she's "allergic to alcohol and drugs" and therefore doesn't "partake in any of the above." She then closed her Twitter missive by saying she's embarking on a music career, but it's unclear whether she was joking.

"Look forward to seeing me in music videos!" she wrote. "I'm getting in shape and getting a nose job! I'm looking forward to a long and wonderful career as a singer/rapper!"

Nicki Minaj Rips 'Annoying' Peter Rosenberg

 "You Don't Have Enough Of A Résumé To Make Those Comments" 

Nearly a year after Hot 97's Peter Rosenberg sparked a war of words with Young Money's Nicki Minaj over his opinion of her "Starships" record, the self-proclaimed Barbie has finally come face-to-face with him.

After hearing a heartfelt apology from Rosenberg, Nicki explained her reasons for not coming out at last year's Summer Jam concert and openly apologized to any concertgoers who attended.

"That's cool," Nicki said when Rosenberg apologized to her for nearly three minutes. "It's water under the bridge. Yeah. I mean, it's so long ago, I can't even act like I care anymore. Like, I don't care. I really don't. But, I appreciate you guys having me. [The Barbz,] they don't like you at all. They hate you. ... This is the thing, in hindsight, I should have just come -- I should have just did the show because I've never allowed anyone -- make me let my fans down. And even if it wasn't a Nicki Minaj fan, just a fan in general, somebody who was there who paid to see the show, I think in hindsight, I should have just came out for my own town, especially, and they shouldn't have been brought into whatever we were going through. So I wish I would have come out and did the show and I apologize for not coming out and doing the show because they had nothing to do with that." (Hot 97)

She also explained why Rosenberg's comments struck a chord with her as opposed to the same criticism coming from other Hot 97 personalities like Angie Martinez or Funkmaster Flex.

"I get it, that's what you do, but to me, I just don't know your résumé," Nicki added. "I never found you funny, I never found you entertaining, I never found you smart, I just found you annoying because, you know, I grew up in New York, well, I've grown up on Hot 97. I know Angie and I know Flex and Mister Cee and all these people and whether they like me or whether we get along, I just know their résumé, so that's why it was so easy for me to pick up the phone and talk to Flex like, 'What the f*ck are you talking about?' But like with you, I was like, 'Who are you?' To me, you don't have enough of a résumé to make those comments but you know, you did, and it is what it is. For whatever reason, our paths were meant to cross like that." (Hot 97)

Back in December, Peter admitted he hoped to one day have a chance to speak to Nicki face-to-face.

"I had nothing to do with this [holiday] concert personally and I doubt that she would want it to have much to do with me personally, but it is definitely a dead issue on my end. Not even to be polite or political--I sincerely like Nicki's rapping a lot. She has only had a few songs that I disliked and one of them happened to be the one that caused all of this. But The station still supports her and always will...I really hope we get to talk one day and have a laugh about the whole thing. It is not that serious in the grand scheme of things! We both just love hip hop in our own ways." (Gothamist)

Last year's Summer Jam comments even sparked a heated reaction out of Young Money boss Lil Wayne.

"Lil Wayne thinks that I don't show respect for women," said Rosenberg live on the air. "Wayne is right about something--Women are mothers, are sisters, are daughters. But I have a question. Is me giving my opinion that one song is wack, is that showing a lack of respect for women? ... I don't know if Weezy F. should be giving me lessons on respect for women. Weezy F.--the F doesn't stand for feminist, alright. ... Clearly the logical thing is let's get the word of respect for women from the woman at the center of it all...clearly Nicki Minaj, she understands respect for women. Instead of talking to everyone else about Hot 97, how about the good people at Young Money just come on down and come see us and talk to us?" (Hot 97)

Usher joins the lineup of performers for the Oklahoma

They join Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan and other performers on the lineup for the May 29 event, which will air live on NBC.

Usher and Darius Rucker have joined the lineup of performers for the Oklahoma relief concert organized and headlined by Blake Shelton.

The May 29 event, titled Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert, will benefit the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. NBC is set to air a live broadcast of the concert at 9 p.m. ET/PT; it also will air cable networks Style, G4, Bravo, E! and CMT on either a live or delayed basis.

Usher and Rucker join a lineup that also includes Miranda Lambert (who also is Shelton's wife), Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Reba McEntire and Vince Gill.

Tickets for the Heartland concert, which will take place at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, went on sale Saturday morning and sold out in less than five minutes, according to NBC.

United Way of Central Oklahoma plans to use the money raised for immediate, intermediate and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in Oklahoma following the tornadoes that devastated the town of Moore last week.

Usher currently is a coach alongside Shelton on NBC's singing competition The Voice. The eight-time Grammy winner has sold more than 44 million albums worldwide and racked up nine No. 1 hits on the Hot 100.

Rucker, the Hootie and the Blowfish frontman-turned-country singer, released his third country album, True Believers, in May. Single "Wagon Wheels" hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Chart.