Cuba Comes Clean On Dirty

Oscar-winner CUBA GOODING JR premiered his corrupt cop film Dirty in the southeast before its nationwide release this past weekend. When Tasty Clips asked writer/director Chris Fisher about the odd rollout there was a simple answer: "His last films performed best in the south." The tense thriller, based on L.A.'s Ramparts scandal, boasts a hot cast of Clifton Collins Jr (Capote), Wyclef Jean, Keith David, Cole Hauser, Wood Harris and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas making his film debut. After a private showing in South Carolina, Cuba came under fire during a Q&A from an audience not accustomed to hearing such profane language from the likeable actor. He had to defend his choice to star in a film with what he called "the most authentic script I'd read since Boyz N The Hood." "Unfortunately, that is the vernacular that is used today in our community," said Cuba. "It not only is used by the police, but by social workers, and in the schools. It is realistic to the situation we're portraying." Perhaps it is a testimonial to the strength of his performance that he had to assure the crowd that he was far from the Salim Adel character he portrays. "I no more talk like Salim than I do Radio," he joked citing his lauded role as a challenged adult. Up next, Cuba hosts The 37th NAACP Image Awards, which airs March 3 on Fox. On the big screen, he has Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels' directorial debut Shadowboxer coming.

Flavor of Love Revealed

"I am one of the luckiest human beings on the planet, ladies and gentlemen," crows FLAVOR FLAV on VH1's number one show Flavor of Love. It would be hard to deny his statement as millions watch the network's grilled star play this unlikely dating game on his reality (?) series. The 20 ladies from all walks of life, who were given nicknames like Smiley and Pumkin by Flav are now narrowed down and Tasty Clips is about to scoop you on who sources tell us is the winner. L.A. Herald Dispatch readers were given the tip in this column two weeks ago. Now it's your turn. Stop reading now if you don't want to know. The most entertaining contestant going for the gold has been without a doubt Miss New York, who can't seem to get along with anyone. But she gets the silver and the prize goes to that chicken frying Hoopz. Can't wait to see what the producers cook up next for Flav. In the meantime, look for the hypeman on Public Enemy's experimental album with controversial Bay Area rapper Paris due March 7 called Rebirth Of A Nation; and a proper P.E. record called How You Sell Soul To A Soulless People Who've Sold Their Soul, out in the spring of 2007.

CLIPPETTES: BET Walk of Fame; Ludacris; Lenny Kravitz

Tasty Clips hears Anita Baker will be honored at this year's BET Walk of Fame. Jill Scott, Toni Braxton, Shanice (whose 5th album Every Woman Dreams has just been released), Kenny Lattimore, Trey Songz, Mary J Blige, India Arie, Rachelle Ferrell and others are on the wish list to perform.....Some former members of Prince's New Power Generation reed section have left to form Hornheads, a five piece a cappella jazz funk group that sax great David Sanborn calls "Tighter than a gnat's asshole." Their release Fat Lip is available through CD Baby......Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, whose long-awaited solo album is completed and should be released this spring, is dropping hints that he's next writing and producing for Brandy.....Actor's actor Jeffrey Wright has joined the cast of the upcoming James Bond adventure thriller, Casino Royale as Felix Leiter, a role once played by Bernie Casey.....Ludacris will appear in an episode of Law & Order: SVU as the artist nephew of Ice-T's Detective Fin.....Kid Rock, on his first-ever live album, dubbed Live Trucker, is performing a cover of the Gap Band's classic, Outstanding.....Denise Quiñones, who was recently seen in a Smallville episode as Andrea, the "Avenging Angel," has been cast in the upcoming Aquaman pilot Mercy Reef along with Ving Rhames.....Page 6 is reporting that rocker Lenny Kravitz, who will make his film debut as a crack-addicted musician in Iced, got cozy in Las Vegas with Tracey Edmonds, ex-wife of Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.....The 5th Annual Black Women Film Preservation Project is honoring filmmaker/author Julie Dash (Daughters of the Dust), TV's Jacque Edmonds Cofer (Cuts), actress/activist Elisabeth Omilami (Glory Road) and producer Rueben Cannon (Madea's Family Reunion). For more info on the Awards and Scholarship Luncheon to be held March 3 at Atlanta's Marriott Marquis, call: 404-272-3385.

TC FESTIVAL FILE: VIBE; IBFF; 3 RIVERS

Looks like once was enough for the Vibe Music Festival. Despite having a three year option in place to stage the event, Tasty Clips hears that VIBE is pulling the plug on the Atlanta based youth gathering due to losing well over a million bucks and poor attendance. Their impact in the market, clashing with the long running Music Midtown, contributed to that festival shutting down this year as well. A number of local promoters are now scrambling to come up with a fill-in. Instead look for the mag's energy to go into the Urbanworld VIBE Film Festival (6/21-25).....Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (with orchestra), George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic, and jazz guitarist Earl Klugh are headliners of Columbia’s 3 Rivers Music Festival (4/21-23). A three-day ticket will cost $35 and a one-day ticket will be $20.....The emerald coast of Destin, Florida is the site of the Sea Breeze Jazz Festival (4/22-24) with this year's edition featuring Kem, Wayman Tisdale, Rick Braun, The Rippingtons, Nestor Torres and others. There will also be a celebrity golf tournament.....Despite Essence leaving, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is set for 4/28-30 & 5/5-7 with Lionel Richie, Yolanda Adams, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Special Ed, Big Daddy Kane, Keb’ Mo’, Robert Randolph And The Family Band, Dr. John, Fats Domino, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Irma Thomas, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Meters, Galactic, Dave Matthews Band and over a hundred acts. For more info call: 800-488-5252.....The ATL HipHop Film Festival (4/28-30) honors Lauryn Hill, LL Cool J, F. Gary Gray and Ice T, who will receive the first Jack "The Rapper" Gibson Hip Hop Pioneer Award.

TC CDs: Maysa

DILATED PEOPLES 20/20 (Capitol); VICTOR FIELDS Victor (Regina); JAHEIM Ghetto Classics (w/Jadakiss)(Warner Bros); BOB JAMES Urban Flamingo (Koch); Madea's Family Reunion (SDTK w/songs by LL Cool J, Brian McKnight, Chaka Khan)(Universal Motown); MAYSA Sweet Classic Soul (Shanachie): The Baltimore native, who was once a member of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove and currently tours with Incognito, wants her 5th solo CD to go down in history as the ladies mackin' record. "Women always wait for the man to make the first move, but sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands," says Maysa. Highlights include covers of her favorite tunes like All I Do, Love Won't Make Me Wait, Playing Your Game, Wishing On A Star and Love Comes Easy, a song she selected for the powerful message and for her love of Eloise Laws who she says "has a voice as sweet as honey." SERGIO MENDES Timeless (Concord/Starbucks Hear Music); JASON MILES What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye (Narada); ?UESTLOVE (of the Roots) Misery Strikes Back...No More Babies (mix CD w/Ohio Players, Albert King, Betty Davis and more) (BBE); ALTHEA RENE In the Moment (Chocolate Caramel) This Showtime at the Apollo winner shines on her third disc. The flutist covers Patrice Rushen's Number One and Beyonce's Me, Myself and I along with her smooth self-penned instrumentals. Tsotsi (SDTK w/modern South African artists)(Milan); MARY LOU WILLIAMS Collective with GERI ALLEN Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary)

TC SPORTS: Where's Air?

The biggest question not answered during the NBA All-Star activities was Where's Air? Michael Jordan was a no show for the dunk contest and rookie/soph game. And he certainly wasn't at The Toyota Center while the stars were hooping. No, Tasty Clips finds him in a suite at the Four Seasons behind three deep security enjoying a game of cards with his former Bulls teammate Charles Oakley. Wasn't he rumored to have lost a lot of change to Jordan in the past? Anyway, L.A. Clippers GM and NBA legend Elgin Baylor, whose scoring record was just crushed by Kobe Bryant, held court in another part of the suite.....Next year's NBA All-Star activities should be wild with Las Vegas as a host city. There should be none of the security issues that plagued some Houston spots and all events will be centrally located. While there, the competitions will be off the betting lines. The league hopes to award the 2008 games to that other famed party town: New Orleans.....Robert Redford, not Spike Lee will be directing The Jackie Robinson Story. Lee moves on to make a biopic of Joe Louis to star Terrence Howard who once also portrayed Muhammad Ali in a TV film.

Favorite NBA All-Star Quote: "Hey Tim [Duncan], Your game, its effective, but BORING. This is the All-Star Game. People want to see threes, dunks, not backing down folks like Charles Barkley. Shaq tries to bring it, but he's rusty." - TRACY McGRADY, Houston Rockets

Prince Project May Need More Work

Tasty Clips contributor MDH was on the scene last week to catch new PRINCE protégé TAMAR with the purple one sitting in at NY's Nokia Theater. Here's what he had to say: "The show started about 12:15 a.m. Prior to them hitting the stage, they played Tamar's single Beautiful, Loved and Blessed, which I found weird but ultimately understood after sitting through what was essentially an uneventful evening of Prince showcasing someone that he must be boning. I felt as though I was watching a bad Las Vegas cover band with a really good guitarist (Prince). He walked her through a diva songbook including Not Gon' Cry (Mary J Blige), Rock Steady and I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Aretha Franklin) and Love Changes (Melisa Morgan/Kashif). It gets even better. They did Play That Funky Music and invited some guy from the audience to sing the song.

Tamar's two backup singers/dancers were C-level performers who attempted to sing something that I remembered at the time but now escapes me. She also managed to perform some songs from what promises to be a "stellar" debut and I use that term loosely. Afterwards, she invited more audience members on stage to dance. I'll sum up the evening in a nutshell. Long and boring. Tamar was a background singer who kept calling the audience Nokia (The name of the venue. Either she's not very bright or didn't realize she was in New York); and Prince was her hype man. After an hour and a half, he thanked the audience (what was left of them) for always showing love and he appreciated us showing up for his baby sister. You're welcome!!! 3121, the new Prince album with the single Black Sweat is due March 20 on Universal/Motown. A limited number of CDs will have “purple tickets.” The lucky person who finds such a ticket enclosed wins An Evening With Prince - A Private Performance at Prince's House. A two-disc compilation of his hit remixes called Ultimate is out on Rhino Records March 21.

Spike Lee Plays The Blame Game

SPIKE LEE blamed Irv Gotti and 50 Cent for helping perpetuate violence in hip-hop in the Feb/Mar issue of Complex on newsstands now. "I love hip-hop," Lee told the magazine. "But there are certain elements that are just [problematic]. You name your company Murder Incorporated, your logo's got bullet holes in it, you changed your name to Gotti, and you wonder why your ass is in court? I mean, come on. You want to be a gangster? Alright, well gangsters go to jail; gangsters get shot. I mean, look, 50 Cent has made a lot of money, but whatever you are doing that makes you have to put a bulletproof vest on your 5-year-old son, that's time for some deep introspective shit. That whole mantra-'Get Rich or Die Tryin'-for me that's criminal," Lee explained. "Because young brothers, they took that to heart: 'Whatever I got to do to get them rims, get my fly gear, to get my bitches and hos, I'm going to do it. Fuck who I got to hurt, who I got to shoot, who I got to kill.' That's crazy to me. And his video game, Bulletproof? I'm sorry, I can't get with that."

The 16th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards

The 16th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards is honoring Billy Dee Williams with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Diahann Carroll will be presenting this coveted award to her close friend and co-star in the 80's TV hit Dynasty. The Award show takes place on Monday, February 20th at the Directors Guild of America in L.A. Other honorees include Tyler Perry, Heavy D, Mitsy Wilson, and Magic and Cookie Johnson. The presenters are Malinda Williams (pictured with ET's Kevin Frazier at the announcement ceremony), Gabrielle Union, Flex Alexander, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, LisaRaye McCoy, Fresh Prince TV dad James Avery (a Lead Male nominee for Othello), Golden Brooks, Obba Babatunde, Essence Atkins, Dorien Wilson, Niecy Nash, Monica Calhoun, Vanessa Williams, T’Keyah Crystal Keymah, Leon and Anne-Marie Johnson, to name a few. Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change) and Loretta Devine (Purlie) are nominated as Equity Lead Females. In the Local Nominees, we find former Atlanta actress Diedre R. Henry in the Shirley Jo Finney directed Yellowman up for Lead Female; and eclectic songstress Sy Smith for Supporting Female in Body Language. Ticket prices are $200, $125 and $75. For ticket purchases or more information, visit www.bhwdnaacptheatreawards.com or call (323) 464-7616.

George Clooney's Favorite Dirty Joke

GEORGE CLOONEY's Favorite Dirty Joke as told to Quint of AICN News: "They're usually so goddamn long I have to think of the ones that aren't, so.. A guy is in a bar. He's so drunk he throws up all over himself. He tells the bartender, "What am I doing? When I go home my wife's going to kill me..." The bartender puts twenty dollars in his shirt pocket and says, "Go home..." Have you heard this one? He says, "Go home and tell your wife you were in a bar and a guy came up... he was drunk, threw up all over you, but put $20 in your shirt pocket." He goes home, walks in and his wife says, "Hap, look at you. You threw up all over yourself!" He goes, "Honey, a guy got drunk and threw up on me and he put $20 in my shirt pocket." She reaches in and pulls out $40 and says, "What's the other $20 for?" He says, "He shit in my pants, too!"

TASTY GOODS: Fair Game

FAIR GAME, in stores nationwide, stars Gina Torres, Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), Christopher B. Duncan (The Jamie Foxx Show), Terri Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show), Michael Jace (The Shield), Mother Love and Michael Whaley (CSI Miami, Profiler), who also wrote and directed the film. This comic look at the uneasy mix of business and romance is made more palatable by the easy going charms of Whaley and Torres. The actress/wife of Lawrence Fishburne breaks away from her trademark warrior women (Xena, Serenity, The Matrix Reloaded) to play an administrator blinded by her career aspirations. Have you ever dated in the workplace? Tell Tasty Clips your story and you may win a DVD of this movie.

B.E.D. Atlanta Insider

The much anticipated B.E.D. Atlanta opened downtown but was a bit more down tempo than other locations in New York and Miami. The Glenn Hotel hot spot, where patrons dine on beds with 400-thread-count sheets, has a sexy earth tone décor, reports Dock "DJ Doc" Ervin of HOT 107.9 to Tasty Clips. The bar boasts 21 signature drinks like the Bed Knob, Heavy Petting and "Everyone's Favorite" - The Pussy Galore... "If the title doesn't grab your attention, the taste and look of the martini will," he says. "After two, the buzz is definitely there. Love the razor thin like apple shaving on the top of the drink. An eclectic mix of music can be heard in the air. The serving staff has a metro sexual appeal. For the most part, everyone is beautiful. The Click Modeling Agency in the building adds to that."

"As for the food, there's a delicate fusion of different tastes that provide a unique blending for some dishes. Mahi Mahi was delicious as served over plantains. Finally, someone who can do a Duck Egg Roll right. The meat was tender not chewy. The Baked Brie will be a favorite for many. Key Lime Pie was good too. One might enjoy lunch over dinner just on portions alone though. Have a happy meal before dinner or eat lots of bread. You will not get full here. Overall the food is pricey, but you're paying to be in the mix." B.E.D.; which stands for Beverage, Entertainment, Dining; is located at Spring and Marietta Streets.

Sharpton Says Boycott The Boondocks

REV. AL SHARPTON has called for a boycott of Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks. The plot in question centered on a fantasy scenario that has the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. surviving his 1968 assassination and awakening from a four-decade coma. Sharpton, who is one of the country's foremost leaders for civil rights, says: "Cartoon Network must apologize and also commit to pulling episodes that desecrate Black historic figures. We are totally offended by the continuous use of the "N" word in McGruder's show. While I can appreciate Mr. McGruder and his achievements, this particular episode is over the line. If we don't receive an apology, we will picket the corporate headquarters."

"I'm astonished by the psychological gymnastics some people perform to make that self-denigrating word acceptable," he told the Daily News. "No other race does it. Why is it accepted? In an industry that makes Michael Jackson take out a word that was offensive to Jewish people, why does it sanitize a word that continues to be used by the Ku Klux Klan when it attacks our people?"

Comic/Actor FRANKLYN AJAYE, currently enjoying a run on the acclaimed HBO series Deadwood, thinks Sharpton's remarks are the expected politically correct response. "Satire is supposed to push boundaries and be irreverent, and satire without irreverence is toothless," he told Tasty Clips. "The Cartoon Network should just ignore Sharpton and anybody else who wants to water down Boondocks. When Sharpton and other Black leaders take on those ridiculous "gangsta rappers" who are desecrating modern day Black culture, then they can once again earn the right to be listened to on other subjects."

CLIPPETTES - Oscars; Jimmy Castor; Mariah & Janet; Toni Braxton; Ice Cube; Jesse L. Martin; Vin Diesel

It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp from Hustle & Flow was one of three nominees for Best Song at this year's Oscars. In the Deep from Crash and Travelin' Thru from TransAmerica will go against the Terrence Howard/Three 6 Mafia tune.....America Ferrera (Real Women Have Curves; The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) has won the lead role in the movie version of the Columbian telenovela Ugly Betty about a young woman who is not terribly attractive, but certainly is an efficient secretary.....Old heads will appreciate the news of the legendary Jimmy Castor Bunch making a rare appearance in an After Grammy Jammy at L.A.'s Key Club on Feb. 8. He's slated to do all his hits like Potential, Hey Leroy, Bertha Butt, Troglodyte, King Kong, Super Sound, Space Age, and more.....Jermaine Dupri, boyfriend of Janet Jackson and the producer of Mariah Carey's comeback album - The Emancipation of Mimi - has told MTV he'd like to pair the two divas on disc.....Toni Braxton has been added to the Essence Music Festival lineup. The Festival set for July 1,2 and 3 in Houston, TX, includes Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J, Cedric "The Entertainer" and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly.....While putting his film career on hold, Ice Cube has announced that he's been working on his seventh solo album, Laugh Now, Cry Later, to be released June 6.....The sixth season of Surreal Life will have Mr. Jefferson himself - Sherman Helmsley when it debuts March 19.....Law & Order's Jesse L. Martin will play Marvin Gaye in an upcoming biopic called Sexual Healing.....Vin Diesel will star in Babylon A.D., a big-budget futuristic thriller about what happens when a mercenary, charged with delivering a young woman from Russia to Canada, learns that she has been manipulated by a synthetic virus and what lies inside her could doom the human race.

TC CDs: INCOGNITO Eleven

Tha Alkaholiks Firewater (group's final album; w/production by Danger Mouse, Evidence of Dilated Peoples and more)(Koch); Chamillionaire The Sound of Revenge (Chopped & Screwed)(Universal Motown); The Color Purple (Broadway cast recording)(Angel); Chick Corea The Ultimate Adventure (Stretch/Concord); Jack DeJohnette & Bill Frisell The Elephant Sleeps but Still Remembers (Golden Beams/Kindred Rhythm); Dem Franchise Boyz On Top of Our Game (Virgin); Walter Hawkins Live Songs in My Heart (Coda); Charlie Hunter Trio Copperopolis (Ropeadope); Incognito Eleven (Narada): Tasty Clips has a limited number of this hot new release from the British soul masters available for you. Just be among the first to leave your mailing info and e-mail address in the comments below. ATL fans may catch the group on 2/13 @ The Roxy. Ladysmith Black Mambazo Long Walk to Freedom (Heads Up); Jason Miles What's Going On? Songs of Marvin Gaye (Narada); David "Fathead" Newman Cityscape (HighNote); Remy Ma There's Something About: Based on a True Story (Universal Motown); Tony Rich Pictures (I.M.); Sly and the Family Stone Different Strokes for Different Folks (Epic/Legacy); Soweto Gospel Choir Blessed (Shanachie); subdudes Behind the Levee (Back Porch); Temptations Reflections (New Door/Mercury/Universal); Mary Lou Williams Collective with Geri Allen Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary)

TC TV: 2/8-15

W/8: THE GRAMMYS - 8 PM, CBS: Mary J Blige with U2, Herbie Hancock/Christina Aquilera, Jamie Foxx & Kanye West, and the rumored return of Sly Stone! Says George Clinton: "Sly was like all the Beatles and all of Motown in one. He was the baddest thing around. What he don't realize is that him making music now would still be the baddest. Just get that band back together and do whatever it is that he do." LOST - 9 PM, ABC; AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES - 9 PM, PBS; THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT - 10 PM, TV LAND: Spike Lee, John Ridley, Wanda Sykes, Reverend Al Sharpton & Greg Anthony; TH/9: EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS - 8 PM, UPN; INFINITI IN BLACK - 9 PM, BET: Moderated by former New York Times film critic Elvis Mitchell, this show broadcasts the made for the internet shorts which feature oil painter Kehinde Wiley; music producer and DJ Paul Miller; dancer Dierdre Dawkins; industrial designer Stephen Burks; and movie director Euzhan Palcy. NICK CANNON presents WILD N' OUT - 10 PM, MTV; THE SHOP - 10:30 PM, MTV; THE JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW - 12:05 AM, ABC: Damian Marley; F/10: THE BERNIE MAC SHOW - 8 PM, Fox; SU/12: NAJEE: SAX IN SOUTH AFRICA - 11 AM, 7 PM, BET; INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO - 8 PM, Bravo: Two hours with Dave Chappelle. CELEBRITY FIT CLUB - 9 PM, VH1: FLAVOR OF LOVE - 10 PM, VH1; BOONDOCKS - 11 PM, Cartoon; W/15: THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT - 10 PM, TV LAND

TC Sports: Usher Go Home? NBA All-Star News

Has Usher been shown the door by the Cleveland Cavaliers? The Grammy-winning R&B artist, who said "I look for Cleveland to be my home away from home" when he became a minority owner last year, has not attended a Cavaliers home game this season, according to the Associated Press. On top of that, his hit song Yeah is no longer blasted inside Quicken Loans Arena, and perhaps more telling, the Atlantan does not appear in the club's media guide along with principle owners Dan Gilbert, Gordon Gund and David Katzman. Usher's financial investment in the Cavaliers was never made public. Katzman described Usher's ownership share as "very, very significant" last year. Usher followed hip-hop artists Nelly (Charlotte) and Jay-Z (New Jersey) in becoming celebrity owners of an NBA team, and now he might the first one out.

Queen Latifah will host a celebrity pool tournament for All-Star weekend in Houston on Feb. 16. Boost Mobile will present the event, billed as Zo & Magic’s 8-Ball Challenge, in conjunction with Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat and NBA legend, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. NBA players Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat), Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), rap superstars Ludacris and Nelly, and actor Dean Cain are confirmed to participate for the public event, competing for luxury gift items courtesy of the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, Boost Mobile and Tiffany & Co. Proceeds from the event, to be held at Jillian’s of Houston, will benefit Alonzo Mourning Charities and The Magic Johnson Foundation

Destiny's Child will sing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Feb. 20 NBA All-Star Game in their hometown of Houston "The appearance is being billed as the "last-ever appearance" of the group.