VIDEO CONVERSATION: Angela Rye is getting death threats for dating rapper Common; Tyrese child custody case settled for now; Congrats to Cardi B., and more

In Episode 119 of What’s The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about the following:

QUICK TAKES:

Political commentator, Angela Rye has received death threats reportedly for dating rapper/actor Common.

Karreuche Tran and her manager, Jacob York, were on the Angie Martinez Show on Power 105FM. When the topic of Karreuche’s appearance on Iyanla Vanzant’s Fix My Life came up, York said it was good for Karreuche to be on the show, but as far as Ms. Vanzant is concerned, ‘she’s fake’!

RZA files trademark lawsuit against a Brooklyn dog walking company, ‘WOOF-TANG CLAN’.

Rapper Snoop Dogg is not one to mince any words. He clapped back at Donald Trump and cussed him out in a video in defense of Lavar Ball, the father of the UCLA basketball player who was arrested in China for shoplifting, and football player Marshawn Lynch, who recently took a knee during the National Anthem. If you check out the video, be sure to not to watch it at work.

Congratulations to Jordin Sparks she got married to Dana Isaiah in a secret ceremony in July, and she is now pregnant with her first child. The baby is due next spring.

In more baby news, congratulations to Kevin Hart and wife Eniko Parrish Hart on the birth of their son, Kenzo Hart.

Producer/director, Jordan Peele, says golfer Tiger Woods is in the ‘sunken place’ for golfing with Donald Trump.

And, Nigerian women are set to make history as the continent of Africa’s first African Olympic bobsled team is all women. The Nigerian women's bobsled team will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb 9th – 25th, 2018. 

Shout out to rapper Cardi B for her historic Grammy nomination. Cardi B is the first female rapper to be nominated in the Best Rap Song category.

WHAT’S POPPIN’ - CULTURE

The floodgates are open. Since the sexual abuse allegations from women against Harvey Weinstein, women’s sexual abuse claims against powerful men are now being taken more seriously. Even Terry Crews has opened up about being groped by another man.

Q. Kizzy, why do you think people now believe women now?

WHAT’S POPPIN – FILM AND POLITICS

Actor Denzel Washington places blame for black incarceration with parenting, according to several news reports. During a reporters’ press briefing about his new film, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Washington stated:

“It starts at the home…It starts with how you raise your children. If a young man doesn’t have a father figure, he’ll go find a father figure…So you know I can’t blame the system. It’s unfortunate that we make such easy work for them.”

Q. Is Denzel Washington right, is he overstating the issue, or do you think he is missing underlying issues?

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

It’s a whole new world. Prince Harry (UK) proposed to American actress Meghan Markle. The royal wedding is scheduled for Spring 2018.

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

As you probably know, singer/actor Tyrese Gibson and his former wife Norma Gibson, have been engaged in a brutal custody battle over their 10-year-old daughter. Well, according to TMZ, the judge in the case ruled Tyrese will have his daughter for Christmas and New Year’s, and both Tyrese and his former wife, Norma Gibson, will get 50/50 joint custody beginning in January.

Q. What do you think about the judge’s ruling in this case? Did the judge get this custody battle right?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Our Photo of the Week is a wedding photo of professional tennis player, Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, one of the co-founders of Reddit.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Our Motivational Quote of the Week is:

“You can’t win in life, if you’re losing in your mind. Change your thoughts, and it’ll change your life.”

A quote from Tony Gaskins, and posted by Raqiyah Mays on LinkedIn.

This trip to the barbershop is worth it

It's been a long time – 10 years to be exact – since Calvin's Barbershop last opened. The two stalwarts, Calvin (Ice Cube) the owner, and Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer) who has worked in the shop since Calvin's father was owner are back in their lead roles in Barbershop's third iteration, Barbershop: The Next Cut. Common and Lamorne Morris play Rashad and Jerrod, two of the other barbers at Calvin's.

Barbershop: The Next Cut cast from left to right: Common, Cedric The Entertainer, and Ice Cube

The shop which in an earlier version expanded to include a salon for the ladies has also expanded discussion topics from the old list of politics, social issues, and the opposite sex. Those same topics are now enhanced by a verbal battle of the sexes. Angie (Regina Hall) is co-owner and runs the salon. Nicki Minaj and Margot Bingham play stylists on her staff.

Barbershop: The Next Cut is the best one yet! It's funny, dramatic, well-written enriched by great performances. It deals with a catalog of compelling issues: marriage, parenting, dating, urban violence, interpersonal relationships and racial stereotypes.

I am usually not a big fan of films telling urban stories. They often project images with racist stereotypes just as offensive as those that were commonplace in the 1930s and 40s: black characters who are dumb; steal; lie; and who are excessively violent.

This story is about people who range in intellect, values, and goals. It accurately reflects the complex and diverse variety of people in the black community.

The writing is one of the keys to this film's success. The funny lines come at a machine gun rate. Eddie describes the young thugs in the neighborhood as "a bunch of conjugal visits gone wrong". There is the use of the "N" word. And I have always maintained that is not necessary. A creative writer can pen authentic dialogue without using that slur.

The director Malcolm D. Lee takes full advantage of Minaj's "assets". Her breast and butt are on screen so often that they could have been listed as co-stars!

As to our cast diversity rating, Barbershop: The Next Cut, gets a "D". Truthfully, this is not a diverse cast. It is almost an all-black cast, save an Indian-American barber who works at Calvin's and a few white characters thrown in at the end.

Barbershop: The Next Cut is more than just a comedy. It's exceptional filmmaking. It's rated P-13 and is 152 minutes. It gets our highest rating: See It!

Kanye West asks Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO and Founder, to invest in Kanye West Ideas

In this episode of What's The 411, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Onika McLean and Courtney Rashon are talking about Kanye West's debt issues; Grammy Award winners, Kendrick Lamar, The Weekend, Bruno Mars, D'Angelo, John Legend, and Common; and the outcome of Kesha Rose Sebert's legal case to get out of her contract with Sony and her producer Dr. Luke.

In Memoriam: Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird; Prince protégé, Denise Matthews aka Vanity of the group Vanity 6; Reality TV star Angela "Big Ang" Raiola; and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Special guest this week is Natasha Leath, Motivational Spiritualist, who has a gift to read people's past, present, and future. Ms. Leath uses her gift to motivate, empower and inspire people to propel in life, to have clarity, to live a purposeful life and to be inspired.

Caribbean Cook-up: A Japanese pannist, Asami Nagakiya, dies in Trinidad during Carnival and Raymond Tim Kee, the Mayor of Port of Spain resigns his office because of his insensitive comment. Mayor Kee stated that the costumes, an international symbol of the festival, were to blame for a Japanese tourist's murder — along with "vulgarity and lewdness" displayed by women during Carnival.

Japanese tourist and pannist, Asami Nagakiya, found murdered in Trinidad during carnival. Photo Credit: Andrea De Silva/Reuters

Plus Ms. Katrina Walker survives domestic abuse and is providing a blueprint to help people to live their best life

In this episode of What's The 411, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Onika McLean, and Courtney Rashon, is talking about a wide range of celebrity news including entertainment mogul Jay-Z gets the naming rights for Tidal Theater at the Barclays Center; pop star Justin Beiber exits stage left at concert in Oslo, Norway; Khloe Kardashian goes to Houston to watch James Harden's Houston Rockets play the Denver Nuggets; R&B superstar AKON launches an app for his music; actress Leah Remini leaves the Church of Scientology; rapper/actor Common gets a production deal at HBO; Raven Symone sets off a firestorm on Twitter; actress Lark Voorhies files for divorce; and more.

Additionally, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, and Philanthropist, Ms. Katrina Walker; tells her story about her rise from being a domestic abuse victim to multi-millionaire.

What's the 411's Reality TV Recap is focused on The Real Housewives of Atlanta: actress, filmmaker, wife, and mother, Kim Fields joins the cast; "Who's gonna check me boo" Sheree Whitfield returns to the show; and the rumor that Ms. Nene Leakes just might make an appearance to the RHOA.

Rihanna Stuns the Met Gala Crowd; Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez Set off the Battle of the Booties on 2015 Met Gala Red Carpet

The MET GALA 2015 was a night filled with everyone's favorite celebrities wearing couture. Celeb such as Jay Z and Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Rihanna, Justin Beiber and Jennifer Lopez all attended and were looking fabulous.

The look of the evening for women seemed to be, jeweled garments, sheer, cut out gowns showing lots of skin, while the guys kept it sleek and traditional by wearing tuxedos.

The showstopper of the evening was Rihanna wearing a canary yellow elaborate gown with major detailing created by Chinese designer Guo Pe. The dress took two years to make.

It was the "battle of the booties" for Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. All celebrities looked amazing in sheer, see-through and cut out gowns. Beyonce wore a sheer flesh tone colored jeweled Givenchy gown, Kim was wearing a white sheer and lace Roberto Cavalli and Jennifer Lopez aka J-Lo wore a wine colored sheer cut-out Versace gown.

Beyonce; Kim Kardashian West; and Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet showing off lots of skin at the 2015 Met Gala

Actress Taraji P. Henson was also in attendance wearing a gorgeous gown by designer Alexander Wang.

Actress Taraji P. Henson

Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union were also spotted looking fabulous. It was reported that Wade's two Versace ensembles' for the night costs a whopping 900,000 dollars. His beautiful wife was dressed in a wine colored draped Zac Posen gown.

Miami Heat guard, Dwayne Wade and his wife actress Gabriel Union

The men who were flying solo that evening were also looking sharp.

Justin Beiber sported a flashy Balmain jacket adorned with gold, film and television director Lee Daniels was dressed in a Burberry tux, while rapper/actor Common wore a tux by Prada. All of these guys looked handsome.

Not to mention Jay Z and Kanye West who wore tuxes by Tom Ford and Roberto Cavalli respectively.

Derek Jeter and girlfriend, Sports Illustrated cover model Hannah Davis were also spotted at the gala. Hannah was wearing a red sheer one shoulder fitted J. Mendel gown and Jeter wore a Rag and Bone tux.

Former New York Yankees short stop, Derek Jeter and girlfriend, Sports Illustrated model, Hannah Davis

Rappper COMMON will speak about his life and career at the Second Annual GANTT SYMPOSIUM At The Gantt Center, in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 2nd.

MTV has annouced Rapper JA RULE will star in his own reality series that will feature his family and is patterned after the T.I. AND TINY show called, FOLLOW THE RULES.

THE ANNUAL CIRCLE OF SISTER'S EXPO 2014 will be at the Jacob Javits Center, in New York City, on October 4th-5th.

BRUNO MARS posted on Facebook that he will begin work on his third studio album.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY reports that CBS has given a script commitment for a medical drama produced by HALLE BERRY AND HOUSE Executive Producer KATIE JACOBS.

Hip-Hop artist Common wows media and others during a sound check for Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry

What's The 411 attended a media event for Def Poetry Jam, and captured spoken word artist, poet, and actor, Common, during a rehearsal/sound check for an episode of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, better known as Def Poetry Jam.

Def Poetry Jam, a spoken word poetry television series hosted by Mos Def, featured many established and up-and-coming poets and spoken word artists and aired on HBO from 2002 through 2007. Mos Def completed his sound check earlier.

Just prior to the rehearsal/sound check, Uncle Rush was on hand earlier for a photo opp with Alicia Keys and John Legend.

What’s The 411 producer Ruth J. Morrison, got an exclusive interview with Russell Simmons, who spoke about the value of poetry and spoken word.