JURY CONVICTS MAN IN MURDER OF T.I'S FRIEND

A Cincinnati jury rendered a guilty verdict last Wednesday in the murder trial of Hosea Thomas. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the jury convicted Thomas on all 11 counts he faced in the 2006 shooting death of rapper T.I.'s childhood friend and assistant, Philant Johnson, 26, including murder, five counts of felonious assault and illegally having a gun after a felony conviction.

Thomas will be sentenced on December 23 and faces a minimum of 20 years in the case, which hinged on the testimony of the defendant's brother, who was driving the car Thomas was traveling in on the night prosecutors said he opened fire on T.I.'s entourage.

Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor Seth Tieger told the jury in closing arguments on Tuesday that Thomas became irate when he was denied access to the VIP room at the Club Ritz in Cincinnati on a night T.I. and Yung Joc were appearing at an afterparty there following a performance across town. Tieger said Thomas was angered that the area he was used to hanging out in was roped off for the rapper and that his anger was further fueled by a scuffle that broke out and resulted in Thomas, 35, being hit in the head with a liquor bottle. Tieger said those incidents were Thomas' motive for opening fire on the van carrying T.I. and his entourage, resulting in Johnson's death and injuries to three others.

T.I. testified on Friday telling jurors that he was sure the shots fired were intended for him, not his friends and entourage.

Prosecutors said that after the incident at the club, T.I.'s entourage left, and Thomas and his older brother, Padron Thomas, jumped into their Jeep Grand Cherokee and gave chase, with Padron at the wheel and the brothers' friend, 17-year-old Mose Patrick Brown, in the backseat. The Jeep pulled alongside T.I.'s van at one point, and Hosea began firing, Tieger said.

Brown testified last week that he saw Hosea Thomas fire the shots and that he was scared, but that the Thomas brothers paid him $800 to stay quiet about the incident. He eventually broke that promise and went to police with his story after becoming so distraught that he considered committing suicide. Padron Thomas also agreed to testify against his brother in exchange for a more lenient sentence.

GV Says: This is a truly unfortunate situation, but it's good to know that there are people who still have a conscious - Mose Patrick Brown.

AUBREY DOING PLAYBOY?

So rumor has it that Aubrey O'Day - formerly of Danity Kane - may be posing for playboy.

TMZ reports that O'Day spent Tuesday in a Manhattan photo studio shooting a spread for the magazine with celebrity photographer Markus Klinko, who has snapped portraits of Mariah Carey and Pamela Anderson, and shot the cover of Beyoncé's 2003 album Dangerously in Love. According to TMZ, O'Day's Playboy shoot may feature several lion cubs.

A spokesperson for Playboy could not confirm or comment on the photo shoot.


GV Says: Not a good look for someone who doesn't want to be seen as a whore. Remember this article.... I'm just saying.

SIMMONS GO INTERNATIONAL

Angela and Vanessa Simmons are keeping busy these days.

The two were at London’s Footwear Oxford Street to launch their Pastry footwear line







Later they had an afterparty celebrating the launch and Angela’s 21st birthday. Cute dresses.

BEYONCE ON THE PROMOTION TRAIL

Beyonce hit up the Four Seasons Beverly Hills to promote her new movie Cadillac Records last week.


This suit is cute...very chic

Love the fresh face look.

BRANDY PERFORMS

Over the holiday, Brandy performed at the annual Hob Nobble Gobble at the Michigan State Fairgrounds.




Looks like she's feeling it here.

THANKSGIVING HUSTLE

Some celebs were out and about getting their hustle on Thanksgiving...

Ashanti looked adorable at the Macy Thanksgiving parade.



While Aubrey was spotted giving back at a homeless shelter.

NEPHEW INVESTIGATED IN DEATH OF KANYE WEST'S MOTHER

A year after the sudden death of Kanye West's mother, investigators are now turning their focus to West's nephew.


California authorities have launched a probe into the possible role of Donda West's nephew, Stephan Scoggins, 46.

A registered nurse, Scoggins was supervising West's post-surgery care with West's assistant and a friend when, according to a source familiar with the situation, he left the house to attend a baby shower the day after West underwent breast augmentation and liposuction last Nov. 10. West died that evening at a Los Angeles hospital.

At the time, the death of the rapper's mother was described by a family spokesman as "the result of complications from a cosmetic surgical procedure," a statement that placed intense scrutiny on West's surgeon, Dr. Jan Adams.

But last January, a Los Angeles coroner ruled that West died of "multiple post-operative factors," effectively clearing Dr. Adams of responsibility.

In this new development, an investigator with the California Department of Consumer Affairs has issued subpoenas asking individuals "to testify in the matter of the investigation of Stephan Scoggins."

According to an autopsy report, a heavily-bandaged West was able to walk out of the medical facility after nearly five and a half hours of surgery last November. The report further stated, "[West] opted to return to her home for care even though she was advised that she receive post-operative care at another facility."

That night, West took Vicodin for pain, slept and felt better in the morning. Later in the day, Scoggins left West's home to attend a baby shower and was unreachable when her condition worsened. According to the autopsy report, West experienced pain, a sore throat and tightening in her chest before collapsing in the early evening. A friend at the house called 911 and West was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead in the emergency room.

The source also says investigators are looking into the possibility that Scoggins administered too much Vicodin in a short period of time.

GV Says: In these type of situations there's really no complete closure. Even if the nephew left, clearly there was no malice intent....what do you do? Unfortunate.....

JOHN FORTE PARDONED

John Forte has been released.

The rapper and former Fugees producer was one of 14 people pardoned by President Bush on Monday. He had been serving a sentence of 14 years in prison since 2001, after being found guilty of possession of 31 pounds of liquid cocaine with intent to distribute.

The presidential pardons, which were for offenses ranging from distribution of marijuana to unauthorized use of a pesticide, cannot be overruled and can help the recipients find jobs, live in public housing and vote. Bush has received more than 2,000 requests for pardons, which typically come fast and furious near the end of a president's term.

Forté — who studied violin at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire as a youth — co-wrote and produced two songs on the Fugees' Grammy-winning 1996 smash, The Score. Two years later, he released his debut, Poly Sci, on which Fugees member Wyclef Jean has an executive-producer credit.

John was arrested in 2000 at Newark International Airport after accepting a briefcase containing $1.4 million worth of cocaine. He released his confessional second album, 2002's I, John, while already serving his sentence at Pennsylvania's Lorreto Federal Penitentiary.

I, John featured an unexpected duet with '70s legend Carly Simon on "Been There, Done That," which came about through Forté's friendship with Simon's son, Ben Taylor. Simon and Taylor have long advocated on Forté's behalf, arguing that the MC did not receive a fair trial and that his sentence was unfair considering it was his first offense and he was a nonviolent offender.

According to TMZ, Simon has been lobbying a number of politicians, including Senators Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch, "religiously" on Forté's behalf. He will leave federal prison next month.

BEYONCE APPEARS ON ELLEN

Beyonce appeared on the Ellen show today


Beyoncé Knowles says married life is "great" – but she's still in no rush to have kids. "One day, maybe," the singer – who wed rapper Jay-Z in a super-secret ceremony last April – tells Ellen DeGeneres during Tuesday's show. What's holding her back? Watching her sister, Solange, give birth in 2004. "I was there in the delivery room and it kind of traumatized me," Beyoncé admits. "I said please don't have me in the room. And she said, 'You have to. I'm your sister. Stop being so silly.' Well, I was right!" Still, the Cadillac Records star says she definitely will have kids someday. "A couple, maybe."

Married Life

Beyoncé has been notoriously tight-lipped about her marriage – refusing for months to even confirm the union. But she chatted happily with fellow newlywed DeGeneres – who gave the singer towels and a coffee maker as belated wedding gifts. "It feels great," Beyoncé says of married life. "Oh gosh, listen to me about to start yapping. We've been together a long time – it's been about seven years." Why did they wait so long to tie the knot? "I'm only 27 so I was really young [when we started dating]," she explains. "And I feel like it's important for woman and men to have their goals and their own life before they can complete someone else. So we took our time." Not that Jay-Z was putting on the pressure. "He's a great guy," she gushes. "He's a cool guy. He's patient." The hip-hop star knows when to give up on a lost cause, though – like Beyoncé learning to cook. "He actually, after me cooking a couple of times, he said, 'Just don't do it,'" she recalls. "It's ok."

People

MINORITY REPORT: CARSON DALY EXPECTING

Look who's expecting - Carson Daly.




Carson Daly and girlfriend Siri Pinter are expecting their first child together.

A new baby will be one more reason for the 35-year-old host of Last Call With Carson Daly to stay up late.

"Carson is thrilled to be a father and they are looking forward to an extra special Thanksgiving this year with family and friends," his rep Heather Lylis reports.

GV Says: I love Carson. He's cool in a straight-laced sort of way

BRAWL BREAKS OUT BETWEEN CAMPS OF T.I. AND SHAWTY LO

You've got to be kidding me.... foolishness breaks out between T.I. and Shawty Lo's camp

Radio One’s fourth annual Dirty Awards ended abruptly when two separate altercations erupted reportedly between rapper Shawty Lo and members of the Grand Hustle camp tonight (November 24).

As Lo performed his version with a chorus "Don't I," an audience member identified by an eyewitness as Capitol recording artist Alfamega, allegedly threw a chair onto the stage.

At that point, witnesses say another artist signed to the T.I.-helmed label stormed the stage, at which point authorities proceeded to break a fight.

T.I. himself took the stage shortly after the fight to accept an award following, a reported private conversation with Shawty-Lo, in which the Grammy Award-winning rapper/actor allegedly insisted once again, that the two end their long-running beef.

He proceeded to denounce the violence and negativity and assured the Dirty Awards audience that he did not condone the fighting.

Shortly thereafter, however, a second fight broke out as T.I. performed his verse from "Ain't I," allegedly substituting some lyrics with verbal jabs at Shawty Lo, with whom he has had an unpleasant relationship throughout the year.

Towards the end of the performance, another member of the Grand Hustle camp allegedly jumped off stage and assaulted a man witnesses said was Shawty Lo's brother.

Police officers then halted the awards show, using pepper spray to end the fight.

While the Dirty Awards audience was immediately evacuated, witnesses say other altercations may have occurred outside of the event.

Allhiphop

CADILLAC RECORDS PREMIERE

Monday Beyonce and her fellow cast members came out at the Cadillac Records premiere in L.A.

Beyonce looked gorgeous in her new understated and chic swagger.

The inspiration of the film Etta James was there

Mama Tina was there of course



Gabrielle Union was there looking fab



Lauren London looked adorable



Sanaa Lathan was there to support her girl Gabby of course



My fav cutie Columbus Short from Stomp the Yard was on hand

REMY MA TO APPEAL

Sounds like Remy has a Christmas list of her own

Her lawyers are now appealing her conviction saying the judge in the case committed errors–leading her to being found guilty of shooting her “friend” Makeda Barnes which put her in the slammer since March of this year.

"THE TRIAL COURT'S ORDER FORBIDDING DEFENSE COUNSEL FROM ARGUING DURING SUMMATION THAT MAKEDA JOSEPH WAS SHOT DURING A STRUGGLE FOR THE GUN DENIED MS. SMITH A FAIR TRIAL," a document reads. "MS. SMITH WAS UNFAIRLY PREJUDICED BY THE INCLUSION IN THE INDICTMENT OF THE COUNTS REGARDING THE VIOLENT GANG ASSAULT AT THE PLAYER'S CLUB, AS TO WHICH THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF HER COMPLICITY, BUT WHICH LIKELY COLORED THE JURY'S CONSIDERATION OF THE REMAINING COUNTS."

GV Says: I forgot she was in there.

USHER CONFIRMS

Usher has finally confirmed the obvious.



Ursh finally revealed the details he’s been keeping on the hush to Stevie Wonder on Stevie’s radio show this week. Wifey will be delivering their second BOY together on December 15th to be exact. He says they haven’t finalized a name, but they’re open to suggestions from the public.

GV Says: Congrats?

AMA PERFORMANCE PICS

More AMA pics of performances

Beyonce worked it out....doing the exact same rendition of "Single Ladies." Come on B...surprise us a little.

Pussycat Dolls brought it.

Ne-yo

AMA RED CARPET

Celebs came out tonight for the AMAs

Rihanna who picked up awards for favorite female artist in both the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories wore an interesting number...but it works. I like it.


T-Pain and those canary yellow teeth..they always fool me.

Kanye rocked the backwoods look. Kanye West - who lost the male rap/hip-hop artist award last year, won the trophy this time – then said Lil Wayne deserved it more. "I want to give this award to Wayne. If it was last year it would have been my award." It was West's second trophy of the night, following his win for rap/hip-hop album, for Graduation."It's our responsibility as musicians to push music to the point it was in the '60s and '70s. I want to be Elvis."

PussyCat Dolls....cute. Hey where was Danity Kane....exactly. This is a wrap for them.

Tocarra looked awfully casual...can tell she's been working out though.

Latifah looked awesome

Jamie Foxx showed up. He should be dropping an album shortly.

Chris brown came in his usual tennis shoe meets suit swag. Chris Breezy was the winner of the night.

Brown was clearly shocked when his name was announced for artist of the year, the ceremony's final award.

"I probably was shocked like everybody else," Brown told reporters backstage at the Nokia Theater. "I know everybody was like, 'Huh?' I thought Coldplay should have genuinely won that award, but I'll take it!"

He was also named favorite male artist in both the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories.


Ne-yo came and performed..

Alicia is back to her international theme.

Nicole Scherzinger with Akon