Money Doesn't Matter to God!

A lot of people have asked the question why was Jennifer Hudson's family still living in the "hood" after she'd "hit-it-big"? "She's Rich!" some have said. Sometimes when we see people on television we automatically assume that their pockets match the lifestyle it seems they're living. While Jennifer has done a lot in a short period of time. I'm not quite ready to say she's rich or even in a position to support her entire family. Yeah, she's graced the covers of several national magazines, appeared in two blockbuster movies, won an Oscar, has an album at the top of the charts and has even made the gossip mags, (we all know that's the TRUE tell-tale sign that you've hit the big leagues), but is she rolling in dough? No! Although Jennifer has done a lot and we've seen her everywhere when you do the math she really hasn’t made a substantial amount of money. Her Academy Award winning role in Dreamgirls didn't pay well by Hollywood standards and was a labor of love for the A-listers involved. Heck Jamie Foxx initially turned down his role in the film because of the salary and only took the role after Eddie Murphy and Beyonce had signed on. As SJP's assistant, her role in the Sex in the City movie amounted to an extended cameo. Although it paid well, she certainly wasn't rich off it! Her debut CD just dropped a month ago, hardly enough time to reap benefits from it. She is essentially a new artist who's capitalized on some great opportunities. But lets face it she isn't making million's...yet! Some still argue that "she'd made enough to have moved her family by now." How do we know she hadn't offered? Her mother, sister, brother, and nephew, all had their own thoughts and feelings about where THEY wanted to live. Maybe they didn't want to move from the neighborhood they'd called home for years. Maybe her mother felt it was better to hold on to a house she owned rather than move into a house that Jennifer would be financially responsible for, (entertainment is a fickle business). They might've relished their "regular" lives in the "hood" amongst their neighbors, friends, and family. After all, it was the one place that Jennifer said "kept her grounded." There, she was not Jennifer Hudson, the celebrity, with a makeup artist, stylist, hairdresser and assistant, but rather Jennifer Hudson, Jason and Julia's lil sister, Aunt to Julian, who cooked her own breakfast, washed dishes, and played with her nephew. Fellow Chicagoan Kanye West said recently that he wonders "if he and his mother had not moved to Hollywood if she would be alive today?" Many celeb parents and siblings shun Hollywood or change in their personal lives and continue to live as they had before their relative "made it ". If you ask me all the speculating about what Jennifer's money shoulda, woulda, and coulda bought serves only to inadvertently place blame where there is none. This crime should never have happened!!! But Jennifer's money couldn't have prevented it anymore than living in a wealthy exclusive enclave prevented the murders of actress Sharon Tate and her friends who were killed at her home in the Hollywood Hills. No one can "avoid" the will of God and as hard as this is to accept it is the will of God. I just hope that Jennifer and her sister can find the strength to accept his will and move forward. God Bless!
~d-the-vip

Are the Images of African-American Men on the Big and Small Screen Changing for the Better?

Are the images of African-American men on TV and in Movies changing for the better? Today I watched the promo for Not Easily Broken, a movie starring our favorite chocolate drop Morris Chestnut. In it Morris plays a "Do right man"who is married, seemingly faithful, and the caring coach of a kids baseball league. I can't tell you how that promo alone spawned all kinds of Internet conversation that all my girls summed up in five words, "That's What I'm Looking For!!! The same happened after a recent episode of Atlanta Housewives in which NFL Pro Bowler Ed Hartwell, (Not too hard on the eyes either), cooked homemade soup for his sick wife and served it to her in bed, no less! A bouquet of what appeared to be several dozen newly delivered long stemmed red roses just outside of the bedroom door to boot. Okay so one guy is fake and one is real. Does that really matter??? Or does it matter that images of African-American Men showing love, honor, and fidelity are being shown to the masses??? I often wonder how having an African-American President on the mainstream hit television series 24 may have played a roll in America's acceptance of an African-American man as president. I'm not saying that Obama would not be in this position had there not been a black President on a hit show, (Obama's stellar credentials speak for themselves), but I am saying there may be some validity to the fact that America's populace might not have given him a chance had the show not introduced the idea and given viewers a look at a President, (albeit fake), who was no different when decision making than any other powerful leader, irrespective of color. I do wonder how more positive images of African-American Men on screen could affect America's treatment of them off-screen. What if they were no longer shown as robbers and rapists but as loving father's and competent leaders? I'm reminded of a story I heard about two African-American Men getting on an elevator at a casino with a middle-age Caucasian woman. The woman had a bucket of chips she had won. Looking from one guy to the next on the elevator, she covered her bucket "protectively." So obvious was she that one of the men yelled, "Boo!" , startling the lady into dropping some of her chips. After helping the lady pick up the chips she'd dropped and waiting until she exited the elevator, the two burst out laughing. The next day the lady received a bouquet of a dozen roses with a $100 bill attached to each stem, ($1200 in total), and a note that said, "That was the best laugh we've had in a long time!!!" The note was signed...Eddie Murphy and Michael Jordan!!! Will roles that introduce black men as business professionals, Heads-of State, caring husbands, and present fathers change the perception of African-American Men in America? We'll have to wait and see but it's good to see Hollywood moving in that direction.




Click below to view Not Easily Broken Promo: http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/noteasilybroken

~d-the-VIP

What's Love Got to Do with It?

The other day I spent a couple hours talking to a guy friend who espoused the virtues, (Or lack thereof), of a particular lady he was..."dating", she has no job, and 3 kids, (all have different daddies). He has no kids and is a professional with benefits . While he swears he's not "dating" her and she's "just" a "booty call!" Miss Booty has left personal items at his crib, (including her favorite cereal), and is getting everything from a chicken snack for the family , (she and the kids), as well as every "man" job needed done from replacing doors to chauffeuring. While my friend says he's "tired" of being used" , (yes he knows he's being used but ain't it mutual?), he's reluctant to let her go. WHY???? Because "she's fyne" and he's gonna miss her "Goodies". He goes on to say that he can't find women who have "brains and looks". (Kimora & Tyra don't get offended...he meant a regular chick), WTF??? Next, I have to juxtapose his conversation against a lengthy conversation I had with my girl friend who has no children, is attractive, and employed and has EVERY married man within a 10 mile radius jumping to wine and dine her. Did I say MARRIED??? Yeah married!!! They're offering everything from a lifetime of luxury to her smallest hearts desire unfortunately she can't find a single man who's willing to offer the same!!! WTF??? (They live in 2 different states or I might have matched them up already). It seems that the men and women who, (on paper), appear to be "equally yoked aren't getting together. So what's the problem? WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT THINGS!!! Or at least we see things differently. Take for instance, men and women shopping. Men will say I'm going to buy a blue suit and they'll go into a store and come out with a blue suit. Women will say I'm gonna buy a blue suit but they'll most likely come out with everything but the intended blue suit. Why??? Men are visual!! Once they see what they want they pursue. Women on the other hand see potential ! A blouse that may be ugly on the rack may be the "coup de grace", "piece de resistance", with the right suit and shoes. Women are risk takers who'll look beyond the obvious. Most men will see the obvious and act accordingly. Just think, what if Stedman had looked at the obvious when he met Oprah, (She wasn't his type visually)? What if Oprah didn't see Stedman's potential after she hit a billion, (he'll never be a billionaire)? Sometimes you have to look beyond the obvious to claim a true treasure! Tina Turner asked "What's Love got to do with it?" How will we ever know if we can't get to hello?

~d-the-VIP

Get MONEY!!! Russell Simmons Headlines Black Millionaires Summit

Junior Mafia had this song out called Get Money but in it they never told you how to "Get money"! Here's your opportunity to learn from some the greatest "go Getters" in the game. Check out Russell Simmons Black Millionaire Summit. If you live in Houston there ain't no excuse!!! Because if anybody knows how to get money Rus does! If Kimora and Diddy are prime examples of his tutelage than we all need to reserve a seat!!!


RUSSELL SIMMONS
HEADLINES
BLACK MILLIONAIRES SUMMIT

Dallas, Texas --> - African Americans are among the top spenders in the nation but when it comes to wealth accumulation, they're not in the top five of ethnic groups. A new three-day event aims to change that for good.

The first annual Black Millionaires Summit is the nation's premier business and wealth building conference for African Americans. Co-founders WNBA Champion, Fran Harris, Ph.D. and bestselling author, Myron Golden conceived the idea after brainstorming about the kind of legacies they wanted to leave their families. "Myron and I are kindred spirits who have a passion for moving our people forward," said Harris, author of The Intentional Millionaire. "We want to have everlasting impact in the black community -- and there's no better way to make our mark than through economic empowerment."
Fran Harris
Megapreneur and philanthropist, Russell Simmons is among the millionaire entrepreneurs who'll speak in Dallas at the Black Millionaires Summit on the weekend of November 7-9, 2008. Simmons sold his company Phat Farm for $140 million a few years ago and recently worked with Harris on a fundraiser for his charities. In addition to Simmons, the Summit's All-Star speaker lineup includes Internet marketing expert, Stephen Pierce, network marketing titan Jerry Clark, financial whiz Cheryl Broussard, and short sale real estate pro, Wahid Shakur.
-->"We've assembled some of the most dynamic and innovative black millionaires on the scene today," said Golden, who's sold over 100,000 copies of his self-published book, From The Trash Man to the Cash Man. "We're teaching people how to build multi-million dollar empires in speaking, publishing, real estate, network marketing, retail, and information products to name only a few. But what's most exciting is that every person who is smart enough to be in Dallas for this event will leave with a roadmap for sustainable business growth and real wealth creation."
The Black Millionaires Summit targets new and veteran entrepreneurs across all industries, as well as anyone who's interested in learning next-level business, success and wealth strategies. Harris urges people not to fall prey to the negativity in the press. "If you listen to the media, they'll have you believing that the economy's bad. We disagree. This is the perfect time to make bold moves as an entrepreneur," said Harris, who recently started two more companies with billion-dollar potential. "This is not the time to give in to fear. On one magical weekend -- for the price of a monthly cable bill -- attendees will have an experience that will not only transform their lives but also their bank accounts."
The early bird, basic admission pass for the three-day conference is only $97. To register visit www.BlackMillionairesSummit.com or call (214) 260-7742. There's also an unlimited BMS Referral Program that pays a 50% commission for every person who attends the event as a result of your referral.

ABOUT THE CO-FOUNDERS

Fran Harris, Ph.D. is an international business strategist, executive coach and Fortune 100 consultant who was recently featured as a multi-millionaire in Essence magazine, and on CNBC's The Big Idea with Donnie Deutsch and FOX Business Channel's "Cavuto". She's the founder and publisher of Collegepreneur magazine and the newly formed Millionaire Business School. Myron Golden is a wildly entertaining speaker who's built his multi-million dollar business in seminars, coaching and publishing. He's the author of the bestselling book, From The Trash Man to the Cash Man and the creator of the Six Figure Business School.
# # #

Random Act of "Bitch-Azzness" or a Random Act of GENIUS???

Is it me or was I the only one thinking that Puff, excuse me, Diddy's, boot of Aubrey and especially D.Woods from the group Danity Kane personified "Bitch-azzness" the term he coined? Okay so I'm waaaay to old to be wrapped up in Making the Band but who cares??? WTF??? He kicked those two out of the group for WHAT??? Because Aubrey told him to his face what she thought and usually said behind his back? Because D. Woods didn't kiss his azz enough and maybe, in his opinion, kissed Aubrey's too much??? Diddy's whole diatribe telling Aubrey that her attitude was going to kill her career may have some validity to it but wouldn't that "pill" have been easier to swallow had Diddy told her and the audience-at-large how he lost his job at Uptown Records because his attitude needed "adjusting"? I'm sure Diddy knows what he's talking about but why not give ALL of us that history, unless he's playing us like the Brilliant marketing genius he is. I am blogging about last night's show...Can somebody say FREE advertisement!!! Heck, probably every critic, blogger, etc. whether they're online or around the water cooler, are talking about it this morning.

My theory??? This "Cliff-hanger" will make next seasons first episode of Making the Band one of the "most watched", possibly, in the history of MTV! If "Ebony & Ivory, (Aubrey & D. Woods), don't return to Making the Band, we may soon see them in their own spin-off show produced by...Yep! Diddy!!! We may also see subsequent albums produced by...Yep! Diddy!!! After all he is the business wiz who was savvy enough to sign Biggie and purchase the rights to his masters for $40,000. He's also so beloved or revered by his friends that one "gifted" him complete ownership of his labels catalogue for his birthday. That one gift alone was worth MILLIONS!!!! Yeah, I'd say Diddy is Crazy!!! Crazy-like-A-Fox!!! And he's playing us all!!! Diddy's next name change should be from Diddy to "Dollars" as in FREE marekting dollars because he's getting publicity for everything he's selling from musical groups to Obama, (Nice touch with the shirt)! He has truly re-invented himself from "Music Mogul" to "Reality Show Impresario" and has made the Making the Band brand must- watch-TV!! A LUCRATIVE act of Genius on his part if you ask me!!! I bet I know who owns the license to the word "Bitch-azzness"!!! Can somebody say cha-ching!!!

~d-the-VIP

Is Being Pretty a Problem???

I just logged out of Christian Keyes website. He's the actor who played "Sunny" from Madea Goes to Jail--the play version. You may also remember him as the lead in Ashanti's, The Way That I Love You; Ledisi's, In the Morning, or Keri Hilson's, Energy videos. He is incredibly FYNE!!!! undeniably BEAUTIFUL!!! and just plain GORGEOUS from head to toe, (Yes, they've even shown his feet)!!! Plus he seems straight, (At least my gay-dar ain't picked up nothing), and he says he "loves to laugh and is looking for a nice Christian woman to share is life with no matter what she looks like!!!" Okay, what gives???? There's gotta be something wrong...it must be his attitude!!! He probably thinks he's all that and a bag of chips!!! He's gotta be "Down low" and my gay-dar ain't working!!! Somethings GOTTA be wrong with him!!! Women aren't the only folk who think like that, I remember when Halle Berry got a divorce the first time, many of you fellas were quick to blame her for the debacle saying she's "probably crazy". After the second divorce a lot of you proclaimed her "Certifiable", even though it was noted that her husband, Eric Benet, had cheated on her on several occasions. Was her real crime simply being too beautiful? Do their looks make it easy to believe something is wrong with them? Are some of us waiting to point out flaws in those who got "Triple scoops and a cherry" when God was dishing out "looks" ice cream? How many times have we turned around and looked at a couple, one person seemingly more attractive than the other, and said "Dang! How did she get him or how did he get her?" believing it's something other than mutual attraction. I ain't the only one who's done that!!! I'm guilty of it I admit it! Now I wonder, do "pretty" people act funny or do we, who aren't quite as fortunate? I mean really! It's not like they can help their looks anymore than they can help their ethnicity, (Okay they could but they'd run the risk of looking like Lil Kim), but we seem to want to punish them for it. Maybe Christian is just an ordinary guy who likes to laugh and have a good time and is truly looking for "MRS. Right"no matter what she looks like. Maybe Halle Berry is a beauty inside and out, who's only "imperfection" is her poor taste in men. Could it be that the "Bad rap" that "pretty people" get is actually undeserved and is really our "Green eyed devil" clawing his way out?
~d-the-VIP

How many "Fruity Pebbles" make up a box---I mean a show?

How many Fruity Pebbles make up a box? I don't know but there certainly was a lot of them on the show I Love New York. Remember the "Genuwine knock-off" and his brother the "bargain basement Prince circa 1982" better known as Real and Chance? Well they now have a new show coming out called "Real Chance at Love". WTF???? All I can say is, it has to be another Tila Tequila situation, (both guys and girls allowed), because they look Fruitier than a fruit cake!!! Speaking of Fruit cake--they weren't the only "Fruity Pebbles" on I love New York, the guy Jennifer Hudson is engaged to was a contestant as well. His name was Punk on the show, all I can say is Jennifer might want to REALLY think about WHY he was named Punk!!! Okay so I'm actually just speculating about these guys. I don't have one shred of evidence that says they're anything other than heterosexual men. I just have one heck of a gay-dar, besides you all were thinking the same thing!!! While I'm at it, let me say right now for the record, that I love my Gay and Lesbian folk. I think they make the world a beautiful place...Literally, (my makeup guy George has turned me from ashy to classy on a number of occasions!!!). I encourage people to love who they want to love and applaud them for following their hearts and not conventional society.

Now that I cleared that up, let me get back with the program. I have a real problem with men and women, mostly men, claiming they "bat" right when you can see they bat "LEFT" or those who "Switch hit" with out notice!!! I admit it. I'm a little "noided" about this but I can't help it after reading the DL book, seeing the movie Cover by Bill Duke, (If you have not seen it--Rent it. It's a MUST SEE!!!), and listening to my friend, a new corrections officer, (on the job 6 months), recounting the numerous "Thugs" they've caught in less than "Thugg-ish" positions, (both"pitching" and "catching"!!). I got a right to be extremely paranoid!!! So what's the point of the story??? Declare a team!!! If it's left, it's LEFT!!! If it's right its RIGHT!!! and if it's both---Have a ball!!! Everybody ain't in the Military so that "don't ask, don't tell" crap "DON'T APPLY"!!! Besides sometimes we see you anyway...um Jonathon Plummer, I mean Mr. Terry McMillan. To my undercover fella's stop acting like Scarface around your girl and Lil Kim around your boy unless everybody knows what's up and what ever any of you do whether you're Straight, Gay, Lesbian, All of the above or none of the above, what ever you do always wear a condom!!! Sistahs remember they will test your man when he enters the prison system for AIDS but they don't test them before they come out. If your man is looking at some serious time you might want to wait until he gets a "Green" card before you properly welcome him back home.

~d-the-VIP

I've Been ROBBED!!!!

I had planned to save my ranting and raving for what I was gonna call "Furious Fridays" but I couldn't wait. Am I the only one pissed that the government bailed out the banking community to the tune of $700 Billion Dollars while not setting perimeters to keep the CEO's who got their respective companies in such dire straits from cashing in?

In other words WHY IN THE HELL is Richard S. Fuld, CEO of Lehman Brothers walking away with $500 MILLION DOLLARS, (his payout), after bankrupting a company that's been around for over 100 years????? Okay, so according to him the number is actually a little less than $250 MILLION DOLLARS. WTF!!!!! If that ain't the Heist of the century, I don't know what is!

Don't get me wrong I could care less about Lehman Brothers as a company after all it was started by cotton brokers, (we all know who picked the cotton they were brokering), and went on to lead the pack in sub-prime/prime mortgages, (this casted a larger net but we all know who got caught up in this mess), while relying on the "Repo" or repurchasing market to continue their big payday. In other words the founders brokered a product made off the backs of slaves, the company evolved into giving folk mortgages on houses they couldn't afford so they could eventually "Repo" and resale the property thus making a handsome ransom. So, let me just go on record as saying I could give less than two scratches on my dogs AZZ about the company but I sure as heck wonder how many other CEO's are enjoying substantial benefits now that they have the security of $700 BILLION U.S. dollars to keep them afloat. I hope you know that U.S. doesn't mean United States it means US, because we tax payers will be paying for it! That means we've made sure Mr. Fuld's $20 Million dollar NY apartment and his $15 Million dollar Florida Estate won't be "Repo'd". Do you think he'll invite us over for dinner? After all we helped save them!



~d-the-VIP

The Real Housewives of Atlanta: Are they headed to the poor house?

The Real Housewives of Atlanta is the most Beautifully Hideous show on television! On the one hand, I'm excited that the world is finally getting a glimpse into the lives of wealthy African-Americans, and it's not just in a Tyler Perry movie, on the other hand, with the exception of 1 person, all of the ladies are wealthy because of the athletic prowess of their spouses or ex-spouses, thus perpetuating the stereotype of African Americans and Sports, (I could have used a little more diversity there...where was Dr. Huxtable and his beautiful wife Claire, the attorney, when you needed them???!!!)

Don't get me wrong I'm excited to see these women whip out their checkbooks to write a check for $68,000 for a truck or $6000 for a dress and purse. I loved seeing their "castles" brimming with chef's, nannies, maids, makeup artist, hairstylist, clothing stylist, and assistants but I couldn't help thinking about an article that I once wrote about the startling number, (something like 80-90%), of pro athletes that were broke after they retired. I started thinking about those athletes who played long past their viable years because they couldn't afford to retire. After watching the show I could see why. Did these women hear about Major league baseball player Cecil Fielder and the estimated $45 Million fortune he lost, or Boxing champ "Iron" Mike Tyson and the estimated $500 Million he lost, including selling a 52 room mansion for just $4 million because he was bankrupt? None of these wives' husbands are making anywhere near what those guys made yet they are spending money like the proverbial "well" will never run dry.

I was reminded of a dear friend of mine who, like the lone Vanilla drop on the show, was the pampered pooch of a very successful man. She had condos and penthouse suites and extravagant clothes, jewelry, and cars but one day she got old, (Old is 45 when you're living in the fast lane). She soon went from a luxury penthouse to a hotel room to a friends couch, after her "big Daddy" sold the penthouse out from under her when his fortune changed.

My advice to these women ENJOY the life but be smart!!!! Create your own identity and cash flow. I'm sure its not a mistake that the one "housewife" with a career is the ex-wife of R&B crooner Keith Sweat, presumably she learned a lesson or two about having her own income from her previous marriage. A smart woman learns from their mistakes a smarter one learns from someone else's! I suggest these ladies start doing some serious homework! Starting with math!

~d-the-VIP

Welcome to D-the-VIP's first day of blogging. You can expect the unexpected here. I'm gonna talk about everything from what's going on in my world to what's going on in your's while adding interviews that I've done with some of your favorite celebrities. I promise this site will be among your favorites VERY Soon...Tell a Friend!

Love ya,
~d-the-VIP