- Patti LaBelle is scheduled to play Fela’s mother. Her run with the critically acclaimed production will last through January 2011. Black Voices
- Oprah Winfrey is among TV’s biggest earners, banking $315 million a year from her talk show. Laurence Fishburne earns $350,000 per episode on “CSI,” Jada Pinkett-Smith takes home a clean $150,000 per show on “HawthoRNe,” and LL Cool J banks $125,000 per episode of “NCIS.” Black Voices
- Halle Berry graces the cover of the September issue of Vogue magazine, in which she talks about her breakup with Aubrey, and being a mother. L.A. Times
- DMX was released from an L.A. jail after serving 18 days of a 90-day sentence for reckless driving. TMZ
- Genesiac Folkes, from the new season of “The Apprentice,” was charged with assault for allegedly strangling his wife. The new season starts September 2nd. TMZ
- According to an affidavit, Lorenzen Wright’s ex-wife says she saw him leave the house with drugs and money. He was later seen leaving her home with an unidentified person, then hours later police received a 911 call from Wright’s cell phone and gunshot noises could be heard, but the call was dropped. Huff Po
- Rihanna’s tattoo has a major typo. It should read “Fluer Rebelle” in French, but it’s transposed. The noun should precede the adjective. It was copied from a necklace she got from “someone important.” NY Mag
- Bill Cosby’s feelings are hurt because of the death rumors on Twitter. It’s the fourth time someone has pulled the hoax. He talked about it on the “Today” show with Meredith Vieira. Perez Hilton
- Arsenio Hall tweeted that he “CAN NOT” watch Montana Fishburne’s porn. Neither can we. Jezebel
- Rep. Charles Rangel slams critics who tell him to resign. NY Daily News
- Popular radio talk show host Dr. Laura apologized for using the N-word 11 times in the span of five minutes while on-air. According to her statement, she was trying to make a “philosophical point.” NY Mag
- D.L. Hughley is missing from his radio gig on New York’s KISS-FM. On Monday, without warning, he announced that it was his last day. Adding to the mystery, the talk show’s webpage is gone, though the station says he went to do a movie. Eurweb
- Political activist and political mentor Charles W. Bowser of Philadelphia has died at the age of 79. He was a graduate of Temple Law and later became an attorney for the NAACP. Philadelphia Inquirer
- Maxine Waters is keeping it in the family these days. She hired her grandson, Mikael Moore, as her Chief of Staff. L.A. Times
- The director of “Lottery Ticket,” featuring Bow Wow and Ice Cube, is being sued. The director is being accused of stealing the idea for the movie. Hip-Hop Wired
- Foxy Brown’s brother was arrested for credit card fraud on Sunday. He was trying to purchase clothes at Hermes on Madison Avenue. Hip-Hop Wired