Pants On The Ground? Tell 'Em Larry What Time It Is!

The "American Idol" contestant who stole the Atlanta round definitely has his pants hiked up. The guy is crazy -- like a fox!

He's 62-year-old "General" Larry Platt, whose original composition, "Pants on the Ground," had the judges, his fellow contestants (and anyone else who saw the conclusion of Wednesday night) completely in stitches.

And as it turns out, creating an instant "Idol" and Twitter sensation isn't even close to the coolet thing Platt's ever done.

As USA Today reported, Platt is an African American community activist with real cred. He participated in some of the seminal moments of the Civil Rights Movement, organizing sit-ins in the South as part of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Georgia.

Platt was beaten during the Bloody Sunday march -- led by Rev. Hosea Williams and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery.

But for the moment, Platt is known as the old school brother who instantaneously put #pantsontheground on the Twitter trending-topic queue to the delight of millions.

And if Black men get the true message, even better!

Source

LA Times' Faces to Watch 2009 Features One African American: The Talented, No-Neck Melinda Doolittle of American Idol

Doolittle Does A Lot With Solo Debut

She was the little engine that could on the sixth season of "American Idol."

But now is the time for listeners to remember that this gospel-bred former backup singer has an earth-shaking gift, one that places her beyond trends and television watchers' whims.

Doolittle might have stuck with praise and worship music or tried to update her style with hip-hop beats. Instead, she went with vintage soul, and man, does it work. Her brand new offering, "Coming Back to You" (coming out in February on Hi Fi Recordings), connects her to venerable elders like Gladys Knight and, yes, early Aretha, but instead of sounding trapped within an antique box, Doolittle comes across as vital and vibrant.

Producer Mike Mangini helped Joss Stone launch her career, and with Doolittle he's found a partner who delivers not only on technique but also with powerful emotion. The retro-soul trend has primed listeners to appreciate the warmth of live instruments and a strong voice, so Doolittle has a chance to find her place among the airbrushed pop queens of the mainstream.

-- Ann Powers, LA Times

Folks Who Get It: American Idol's Dorian Holley Steps Out Onto Center Stage

Husband, father and businessman would not be the first things that come to mind when you hear the name Dorian Holley.

As the featured vocalist for three years on DANCING WITH THE STARS, Holley is perhaps most known as the men's vocal coach on AMERICAN IDOL. Having backed up everybody from Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan to Michael Jackson. From Queen Latifah and Joss Stone, to Usher, Chris Brown and Alicia Keys, this brother has a new cd coming out that has folks buzzing.

To kick off Holley's newest solo cd, he wants you and a few friends to come check him out in concert Saturday, September 6, 2008. at Stage 52 in Los Angeles. Don't sleep, this gathering of who's who in the music industry is officially going down at 5299 W. Washington Blvd. For more, check my boy out at Dorian Holley.com

Knocked Up: American Idol Finalist Paris Bennett, 19, Will Have Her Own Princess

Princess P, aka Paris Bennett, is expecting a baby girl come October and is planning to name her Egypt. The season five 'American Idol' contestant is the 19-year-old granddaughter of R&B/Gospel singer Ann Nesby.

Paris' mother Jamecia, was mum on who the child's father is. "He chooses not to be in the public eye," she offered. "I respect that." She also wouldn't divulge was he does for a living. "I can't tell," she said.

Reports are that the diminutive singer with the big voice is also engaged to the unidentified baby's daddy. "She has a ring," said Jamecia, who's hopeful that she'll be planning a wedding for daughter. She herself was 16 when she got pregnant.

She's expecting a celebrity-filled soiree when the baby shower takes place in August.
Celebrities like Queen Latifah are supposed to show.

"Latifah has made it clear that she plans to spoil this baby with gifts and that she won't be stopped. You're the princess but I'm the queen," Jamecia said Latifah told Paris .

Paris was a fifth place finalist on 'American Idol' the year Taylor Hicks won. Neither seems to be taking the music industry by storm, although Paris was slated to release a new CD later this year.

Plans to unveil the record have been postponed, however, because of the pregnancy.

Source

Has Music Juggernaut American Idol And Jordin Both Lost That Spark For Good?

Ratings For Idol Are Going, Going Gone!!!

Reigning "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks might be waving goodbye to her singing career, cancelling three shows over the weekend.

Apparently Sparks had to ditch gigs in State College, PA and D.C. because of "an acute vocal cord hemorrhage" –- shudder -- and according to Penn State arena officials, she was ordered to "strict vocal rest and will not be able to perform anywhere until her condition improves."

Is this serious? Well, her reps could not be reached yesterday.

Meanwhile, numbers for the only thing left that's saving the music industry are not looking good. While MTV once dominated all things music, American Idol has become the reliable franchise that still affects music sales. But with Mariah Carey taking the number 1 spot on Billboard with only a few hundred thousand units sold after making her presence known on the show to promote E=MC2, the writing is clearly on the wall.

We Think She Rocks: JENNIFER HUDSON

(from Steve Moore, Detroit)

Who do do think ROCKS? Send us the name we'll post the picture.

Meanwhile, check out Jennifer's favorite co-star.

Jennifer and Oscar

"EXOTIC" DANCER BOOTED FROM AMERICAN IDOL

Every year some scandal comes out on one of the contestants of American Idol. This year it was David Hernandez a stripper er... "exotic dancer" known to have a costume in his trunk and a song in his heart, appearing at a bachlorette party near you. Last night under the pretence that "it is really all about talent", Hernandez was booted off this years season of AMERICAN IDOL, we wont't ever really know if it was his "selling of the goods" that got him off the show early. I don't know about you but I'm voting this week for the sistah' Syesha (above picture on the left) because there is no way she should have been in the bottom three. Family get out there and support!

Is Anybody Still Watching American Idol?

IDOL SAYS SEE YA TO JONANNE BORGELLA

Meet the other Idols of color and Paula Abdul's new "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" under the hood.

(Chikezie Eze)

A two-hour “American Idol,” growing 13% from last week, gave Fox a Wednesday win with an 11.1 in the 18- to 49-year-old demo, according to preliminary Nielsen stats. We thought crazy Paula's video was arrright, put it's clear they did some major touching up.

(Asiah Epperson)

“Idol” beat up on the competition, giving Fox the nightly win with an 11.1, 44% better than the rest of the nets’ averages combined.

(Alexandrea Lushington)

Wednesday’s “Idol” was the best Wednesday performance the show has seen since this season’s Wednesday premiere in mid-January.

(Jason Castro)

The CW (1.4) brought out its season premiere of the 10th cycle of “America’s Next Top Model” (1.9), which was off 24% from the last cycle premiere of the show in September. It wasn’t facing “Idol” then.

(Syesha Mercado )

However, the last time “ANTM” faced “Idol,” in late February 2007, “Model” posted a 2.6 during its premiere; that's 27% better than this season's premiere.

Hey since you're hear, wanna check out Paula's latest tune:


Not Bad. In Fact, It's Actually Kinda Catchy!

Idol's Ruben Studdard As A Stocking Stuffer? For J Records, It Looks Like It's Already Too Late!

Was Ruben Studdard Dropped From His Label???

His last album, The Return, was released in 2006 and sold approximately 235,000 copies so it's no big surprise that J Records said c'ya! In fact, many of these American Idol winners, including Taylor Hicks and Jordin Sparks have gone the way of the 8-track. Unless this next winner move some serious , we'll probably be hearing the fat lady singing on this cultural phenomenal because it will be ovah!!!

As we speak, Ruben is touring with Robin Givens in the musical "Heaven I Need A Hug." Boy, is that an understatement. But instead of dogging the brotha and spoiling his holiday, let's the Velvet Teddy Bear as he gets his Christmas groove on with Miss Fantasio:

Kim Myles Makes African American's Proud As Reality TV Newest Design Star

Kim Myles Wins On HGTV, Will Host Own Show

Don Cheadle Documentary Brings Attention to Darfur
Notorious B.I.G. Estate Says Inmate Lied

FBI Used Mob Moll to Solve Civil Rights Cases
Marines Begin to Reverse Slide in Black Recruiting
Sharpton Chides Cheney Over Confederate Flag Flap
Black Lawyers Rare at Supreme Court
Caribbean Woman is First Black to Join Norway Government
Beenie Man Faces Tax Evasion Charges
Obama Fields Tough Questions at MTV/MySpace Forum 'American Idol' Donations to Africa Filter Down

Miss Fantasia Is Doing Her Thing On Stage, And Letting It All Hang Out Off (If You Know What I Mean!)

American Idol winner turned Broadway sensation Fantasia breaks it down about her role as Celie in “The Color Purple”:

Miss Celie takes a lot out of me. I’m being told everyday that I’m ugly. … you can’t play the part if you don’t kind of put yourself in her and live her life. So it’s like, I carry that stuff with me. I put myself in her shoes in having (daughter) Zion at such a young age and dropping out of school and being in just bad and disrespected. I just feel like God won’t put too much on me than I can bear. As long as I feel like I’m touching somebody … as long as I’m blessing somebody, I know that I’ll be blessed.”

Thanks EUR Web & Bossip for the pics!

Now there does appear to be a freaky side to 23 year-old Ms. Barrino (C'mon, like you don't have one either!). For those pics, No Cream No Sugar has the hook-up. In the meantime, how about we listen to her jam, "When I See You!"

Nick Cannon Hosted Teen Choice Awards, But Black Celebs & High School Musical Stole The Show

Teens 'Wild Out' Over Black Stars Will Smith, Tyra Banks, and Akon

Forget Sophia Bush, John Travolta or High School Musical's Zac Efron, how did American Idol's Sanjaya win Best Male Reality/Variety Star at last night's 2007 Teen Choice Awards?

We'll let you answer that, but we here at 3BAAS wanted to let you know that Black folks were representing among the 30 awards given during the two hour broadcast in La-La land

**HERE ARE THE COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS

Choice Movie: Drama - The Pursuit of Happyness/ Actor: Drama - Will Smith

Choice Movie Actress: Drama - Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls)

Choice Movie: Chemistry - Will Smith and Jaden Smith (The Pursuit of Happyness)

Choice TV: Movie - High School Musical 2

Choice TV Show: Drama - Grey's Anatomy

Choice TV: Reality/Variety Show - American Idol/ Male Reality/Variety Star - Sanjaya

Choice TV: Personality - Tyra Banks (America's Next Top Model, The Tyra Banks Show)

Choice TV: Villain -Vanessa Williams (Wilhelmina Slater) - Ugly Betty

Choice Music: Rap Artist - Timbaland/ Rap/Hip-Hop Track - The Way I Are - Timbaland (Feat. Keri Hilson and D.O.E.)

Choice Music: R&B Artist - Rihanna

Choice Music: R&B Track - Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston

Choice Music: Breakout Artist - Male - Akon

Choice Male Athlete - Tiger Woods (Golf)

Want more details? You know we got you covered!

RATE JENNIFER HUDSON'S NEW LOOK: DREAM OR NIGHTMARE?

What's the story behind THIS new, shorter hair

and essemble? We'll let you be the judge.

FOR BLACK 'IDOL' WINNER FANTASIA, LIFE IS A FAIRYTALE

Move Over Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Is Not The Only One Determined To Make Us Love Her

Audiences adore Fantasia Barrino in Oprah's "The Color Purple"; now the "American Idol" songstress is in talks to extend her time on Broadway with a new show.

Rush And Molly is reporting that the sistah is in negotiations to star in a big musical based on the life of Ada (Bricktop) Smith, an African-American expatriate in Paris in the 1920s who became a nightlife queen.

Sometimes we forget, family, how many stories about us still have not been told.

Bricktop's is a great story. Known for her fire-red hair and freckles, Smith rose from humble beginnings in Alderson, W. Va., to become the toast of Paris in the Roaring '20s.

She was first employed overseas by American composer and songwriter extraordaire Cole Porter to teach dances such as the Charleston and the Black Bottom at his parties.

By 1929, she owned her own nightclubs such as The Music Box, Le Grand Duc and her famous Chez Bricktop, where she entertained Porter, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Porter wrote "Miss Otis Regrets" for her.

Smith's proteges included Duke Ellington, Mabel Mercer and Josephine Baker. She even worked with Langston Hughes when he was still a busboy.

DID JORDIN SPARKS GET HELP WINNING AMERICAN IDOL???

Is this the REAL REASON she won?

IDOL WINNERS: WHITES IN THE BIG HOUSE, BLACKS WORK THE FIELDS

Other than Taylor Hicks, American Idol winners have seemingly moved units based solely on their race. Here are the ones who took the title and other notable contestants, the albums they have released and their sales figures:

Album sales by the numbers:

Kelly Clarkson (WHITE)

Season 1, winner

Thankful - 2.6-million

Breakaway - 5.7-million

Ruben Studdard (BLACK)

Season 2, winner

Soulful - 1.8-million

I Need an Angel - 448,000

The Return - 226,000

Clay Aiken (WHITE)

Season 2, runner-up

Measure of a Man - 2.8-million;

Merry Christmas with Love - 1.3-million A Thousand

Different Ways - 511,000


Fantasia (BLACK)

Season 3, winner

Free Yourself - 1.7-million

Fantasia - 380,000

Carrie Underwood (WHITE)

Season 4, winner

Some Hearts - 5.5-million

Taylor Hicks (WHITE)

Season 5, winner

Taylor Hicks - 679,000

Chris Daughtry (WHITE)

Season 5, third runner-up

Daughtry - 2.5-million

What's the reason for the disparity. Will the same hold true for Jordin Sparks?

Get Some Answers Here.

AFTER LAILA LOST 'DANCING', WE KNEW JORDIN HAD TO WIN 'IDOL'!

The "youngest person to ever win" American Idol title now belongs to 17 year-old Jordin Sparks. With Ruben Studdard (nice duet with Jordin) and Fantasia Barrino, this makes the third winner of the national singing sensation a member of the tribe called Black.

WHAT ABOUT KIMBERLY LOCKE, TAMYRA, JUSTIN & MANDISA?

Although Melinda "No Neck" Doolittle was our favorite, we're sure doll makers, Disney, Target clothing designers and other companies are licking their lips at the endless marketing opportunities for this infectious, bi-racial teen from Glendale, Arizona.

Sparks wowed the crowd with her rendition of 'This is My Now.' "You just wiped the floor with Blake with that song," Idol judge Simon Cowell said the night prior, as cheers of Jordin-Jordin-Jordin made even Stevie Wonder see that she had it in the bag.

"This Is My Now" will be Spark's first single. If you missed the sistah's performance - no worries - we got it for you:

CONGRATS JORDIN - JOB WELL DONE!!!

AMERICAN IDOL HAS REALLY PISSED US OFF!

Everyone Knows Melinda "No Neck" Doolittle

Should Have Won!!!

C'mon Family, Let's Make Sure Jordin Sparks

Brings It Home!

SHOCK AND AWE ON AMERICAN IDOL

RIDICULOUS - MELINDA GETS THE BOOT?!?!?!

IS THIS PAYBACK FOR IMUS,

OPIE AND ANTHONY?

read here

AS ONE HATER POSTED:

YES! YES! YES!! Shreck is OUT! GO JORDIN!!

GET THE CRAZY "IDOL" DETAILS HERE

WHEN EVERYBODY WAS FEELING PAULA ABDUL

IS ANYONE PLANNING TO WATCH HER

NEW REALITY SHOW??