Week’s End Digest: Kanye West, Jawn Murray, Annie Lennox, Huey Lewis, Mariah Carey
News you can really use. This ‘Week’s End Digest’ features reports on Kanye West’s alleged nude pics, Jawn Murray’s comments under fire, Annie Lennox’s holiday album, Huey Lewis’s return, Travie McCoy arrest and Mariah Carey confirming pregnancy.
A lot can happen in a week. So we’ve decided to give you the rundown on the lowdown.
Kanye West Exposed
The latest in the Kanye West saga may be a turn for the worst for the “Runaway” rapper. Pictures alleged to be Kanye West have leaked out to the Internet and are surfacing on a number of celebrity gossip blogs. The pictures appear to be taken from a cellular phone device and is being reported by RadarOnline.com sources to be in the possession of females he once pursued. Regarding the origins of the photos, one of Radar’s sources is quoted as saying, “These pics have been floating around since he hit so many girls up on MySpace. He probably sent them to many, many women.” This new level of publicity may work in favor for the buzz artist since his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hits stores November 23. Read more // HipHopDX.com
Jawn Murray Under Fire
Gossip columnist for AOL Black Voices and Tom Joyner Morning Show correspondent Jawn Murray apologized this week for a joke gone wrong. Apparently he took to his Twitter account to express his frustrations over the share of criticism spewing over Tyler Perry’s latest motion picture, For Colored Girls. In defense of Perry, after attending a screening for the film, Murray tweeted: “for all those militant-nappy headed #angryblack women who didn’t think Tyler Perry was worthy of doing For Colored Girlscan kick rocks.” The “nappy-headed” reference brought back alot of scorn and discomfort for a number of black women who still haven’t forgotten the Don Imus radio rant against Rutgers University women’s basketball team. He apologized on Twitter after a number of online petitions surfaced demanding a sincere apology and his job on a platter.
“I understand how things can be misconstrued and taken out of context in the social networking space,” Murray said in a statement. “My humor has always been a bit irreverent, edgy and sarcastic, but I understand how this particular joke could have offended my sisters with natural hair.” His YouTube video was also made private after posters expressed even more distress.
Annie Lennox Preps First Holiday Album
Prepare to have yourself a merry Eurythmic Christmas. After signing a lucrative long-term deal with Universal Music Group, the best-selling Scottish recording artist plans to release a holiday album as her first album. A Christmas Cornucopia hits stores November 22 through Island Records UK and through Decca Records in the U.S. The album features Annie Lennox’s unique and personal interpretations of some of her favorite Christmas carols as well as a new composition entitled “Universal Child.”
“I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Island Records on my upcoming recording,” stated Lennox. “This album is something I’ve wanted to do for many years. It’s a true labour of love, and I feel very fortunate to be in partnership with such a cutting edge team, especially when I’m at a stage in my creativity when I want to diversify, and pursue my passion in my own individual way.”
A Christmas Cornucopia will be the first holiday album from Lennox.
Huey Lewis Delivers Good News with New “Soul” Album
After becoming a trending topic on Twitter this week, an announcement was made detailing the ninth studio release from Huey Lewis & the News. The new album, Soulsville, is a befitting tribute to the catalog of Memphis-based Stax Records; the music home for Memphis soul acts like Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Booker T & the M.G.’s, Johnnie Taylor and the Staple Singers. Released early in the UK, Soulsville is expected to hit stores in the U.S. on November 2.
Travie McCoy Busted for Graffiti in Berlin
Gym Class Heroes rapper Travie McCoy was arrested in Berlin after being spotted spray painting on the Berlin Wall. The “Billionaire” star admitted his graf bug on his Twitter page and was bold enough to post pictures of his Picasso moment online. He was released on a $100k bail and performed in Amsterdam the same evening. Not sure what he was thinking since he knew he wasn’t in the Bronx. He must have known he was going to get caught. Read more // USA Today
Mariah Carey Confirms Pregnancy
Beyoncé may have sung the blues over her baby rumors, but pop/R&B singer Mariah Carey is singing the good news after confirming once and for all she’s a mother to be. Mariah Carey spoke with Access Hollywood, part of which was excerpted Thursday on NBC’s Today show. Carey precisely proclaimed, “Yes, we are pregnant, this is true.” She then added, “It’s been a long journey, but it’s been tough because I have been trying to hold on to a shred of privacy, and that was not easy.” She also opened up about a miscarriage she suffered not long after she and her husband, Nick Cannon, were married in 2008.
