I can think of $millions$ of reasons why it’s good to be Will Smith, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods*, and Denzel Washington. Low on the list is that they have all graced the cover of Men’s Vogue in 2007. While I’m sure it’s sort of “whatever” to them, it’s kind of a big deal in the fashion mag industry, where covers featuring black celebs are few and far between. Take Men’s Vogue’s female predecessor, Vogue, for instance: Jennifer Hudson’s March cover was only the third in the magazine’s history to feature a black female celebrity. And there was not a single black model in the October issue’s fashion spread. Incidentally, the same went for Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Glamour and Cosmopolitan.

I suppose it’s not entirely accurate to say that black people aren’t “en Vogue.” Just those unfashionable black women. [Portfolio]

*Cablinasians need love, too.

After watching the trailer for The Great Debaters, I have come to the conclusion that the film is one of those uplifting historical dramas that wrench tears from my eyes despite my best efforts to keep it together. Even this clip made me blink back a few. So obviously, I’ll be in the theater to see this Denzel-directed, Oprah-produced movie as soon as it comes out.

Also, it’s crazy how little Jurnee Smollet is all grown up now, right?

As T.I. moped around his jail cell Friday (I imagine), American Gangster, which he costarred in, premiered at Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater.

And who needed TI? The rappers were out in full force, from (a hatless) Common and RZA, who appeared in the movie, to Method Man, who I guess was the RZA’s date, to Jay-Z, who used the movie as an excuse to come out of retirement once again, to Diddy, who is, uh, from Harlem. More pics after the jump.

CONTINUED »

American Gangster the highly anticipated crime drama starring Denzel Washington and Russel Crowe, served as the divine inspiration that pulled Jay-Z out of his fake retirement once again. He’s recording his first “concept” album based entirely on the movie, which is in theaters Nov. 2. Incidentally, the new album is also slated for an early November release.

In an hourlong telephone interview, Jay-Z, 37, who has spoken of spending his early years in Brooklyn both rapping and drug dealing, said that the movie had tremendous resonance for him and had sparked a burst of creative activity that even he found surprising. He has already recorded nine tracks, almost every one prompted by a specific scene.

“It was like I was watching the film, and putting it on pause, and giving a back story to the story,” he said.

Wait, is American Gangster going to be the new Scarface? Al Pacino will be pissed. Or maybe relieved.

[]

• Nick Cannon announces he’s co-hosting the Teen Choice Awards with Hilary Duff. Expect Selita Ebanks to announce soon that it’s time to find a grown man. [People]

• Tameka Foster’s manipulative, Usher’s a sucker, blah blah blah. []

• This is the best and worst idea ever rolled into one. [MG]

• At $250 a person, it’s cheaper than Oprah’s Obama party, but Area ain’t a Santa Barbara estate. [TMZ]

• Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Jamie Foxx, and Denzel Washington are supposedly (it sounds kind of improbable to me) in talks to star in a heist movie set in Trump Tower. Which they could all buy if they wanted to. [SOHH]

• The video footage of T.I. becoming T.I.P. at a concert Tuesday. I wonder if having a cup thrown onstage is to T.I. what a full moon is to a werewolf? [SR]
• Mel B doesn’t need no stinkin’ Eddie Murphy. But where’s her other kid? []
• Elijah Kelley will compete with Andre 3000 and Denzel Washington in the battle of the Sammy Davis, Jr., biopics. [MTV]
• Gloria Gaynor bites the hand that feeds her, big-time. Or at least tries to get it in touch with Jesus. [QT]
• Asia, winner of Search for the Next Pussycat Doll, out? Aubrey O’Day in? Danity Kane over? This is too much for me to handle all at once. [YBF]

• Oh, Serena. I’m not sure the French are ready for all that. []
• To make a long blog post short, it probably wouldn’t have hurt anything for LeBron James to sign his teammates Darfur letter to China, and he could have saved himself some bad publicity. That said, I doubt he cares right about . [ESPN]
• Great. Here he comes. [People]
• There are many celebrity rumors that I don’t like to believe. This will be one of them. No, Denzel! []
• Aww, Jermaine Dupri totaled his Escalade. [AHH]

Dear Hollywood,

If you haven’t noticed, I’m really into you. I write about you all the time and have pretty much been exposed to your product — movies and television — since I left the womb. The daughter of a black and white film buff, I grew up watching black characters in movies from your past, like Sam (of “play it again” fame) in Casablanca and Mammy in Gone With The Wind. The sad thing is, Hollywood, after all of these decades we still haven’t really risen that far above beloved, musically-inclined sidekicks or maternal caregivers that are quick with one-liners, have we? Of course we have our big ticket stars, Denzel and Will, who, despite appearing in a disproportionately large number of cop movies, can pretty much do what they want. But the women? Halle Berry is supposed to be our biggest star, our Oscar winner, but the quality roles aren’t exactly rolling in for her –unless she produces them herself.

CONTINUED »

Someone should tell Common that rappers are supposed to uphold a facade of coolness at all times. Common is more animated than a dancer in his Peace, Love, and Gap ads as he explains his two new movie roles — starring Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington, respectively. Because he’s Common and not, say, one of the Ying Yang Twins, I think it’s kind of cute.

CONTINUED »

• The little “inappropriate touching” problem Tyra had with Rosie O’Donnell last week ain’t so little. [BWE]
• is going to beat up Solange’s in about 15 years. []
• “Chris Rock, you are my baby’s daddy. On second thought, I may have hallucinated the whole thing.” [AP]
• Denzel Washington is the celebrity women most want to “tuck them in.” [Starpulse]
• The Source files for Chapter 11, although, journalistically speaking, it’s been bankrupt for years. [All Hip Hop]