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Pardon Atlanta rap stars Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Young Jeezy, T.I. and others as they continue to rub their eyes in disbelief. What MTV2 viewers will see at 4:30 p.m. Sunday surprised even those who took part.
For the opening of the cable channel's "My Block: Atlanta" show, producers Ocean MacAdams and Joseph Patel put together a re-creation of Art Kane's 1958 portrait "Great Day In Harlem" picture --- this time with more than 20 local hip-hop and R&B personalities. Photographer Amanda Marsalis shot it.
"Man, this is pretty cool," T.I. remarked as he walked up to the Gilbert House, the southwest Atlanta setting for the picture. "You know, we get together a lot more than other regions and other genres of music, but I think we could be a whole lot closer. People could still be a whole lot more selfless sometimes . . . because we've all got the same common goal: to put the South on top."
"This is the only city we could actually do this in," said Patel. "Because if there is beef in Atlanta between [hip-hop and R&B] artists, it's all behind the scenes. We couldn't do this in Houston. We couldn't do it in Memphis. We definitely couldn't do it in L.A. or New York. There's just this sort of community feel down here. And this is exactly what we were hoping for --- people who haven't seen each other in a while. People who've worked together before. It's what I love about Atlanta."
"Watch," T.I. continued. "This is the beginning of something great. Watch what I tell you." Bidding-for-tunes benefit
Dave FM is spending the weekend raising money for Habitat for Humanity by putting its station's playlist up for bid. Songs that fit the "rock without rules" format cost listeners $50, but others were "taxed" by the DJs if the tunes were way off base.
On Friday, some oddball tunes heard on Dave FM included "A Boy Named Sue," by Johnny Cash, "Gold Digger" by Kanye West, and an endless Traffic song "Low Spark of a High-Heeled Boy" that dragged on for 17 minutes. "What's New Pussycat?" by Tom Jones cost one Dave FM fan $100. The charge for Parliament Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain"? $125. "Sweet Home Alabama" set one caller back $150.
Call in requests at 404-741-9393, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. From books to magazines
Popular author Omar Tyree is banking on his success in books translating to magazines. Wednesday night at the Loft at EarthLink Live he held a premiere party for his new publication, Flyy Girl, a title that has also served as the name of one of his books. Host Tiy-E Muhammad --- an author and radio personality --- touted the fashion and urban affairs magazine for women as "what the game's been missing."
The night before, Uptown magazine launched its Atlanta edition at Compound, where the House of Courvoisier was hosting a party featuring R&B singer Donell Jones.
And earlier this week, Atlanta Woman magazine unveiled its latest issue at the Purple Door salon. There, the cover subjects --- Three Brown Girls' Eboni Elektra, Kim Porter and Nicole Johnson --- announced what's next on their plates since they shut down Lip Service. L.S. was the trio's popular weekly music industry party at Justin's in Buckhead. The industry meet-and-greets came to an abrupt end seven months ago when, after an L.S. event, two men were stabbed at the restaurant. The "Ultra-tainment firm" --- as the trio bills themselves --- is shooting a pilot for a reality show. They've also launched a foundation called R.A.C.E. (Reach Another Child Everyday). And in addition to other marketing and branding activities, they plan to relaunch Lip Service next year. But they didn't say where or when. Coupling/Stork Report?
"Good Will Hunting" Oscar winner Matt Damon married girlfriend Luciana Bozan in a private ceremony Friday in New York, his publicist said.
It was the first marriage for Damon, 35, the second for Bozan. They will split their time between homes in New York and Florida.
Bozan's 7-year-old daughter witnessed the ceremony, Damon spokeswoman Jennifer Allen said. In a previous marriage Bozan went by the name Luciana Barroso.
Asked if friend and "Good Will Hunting" co-star Ben Affleck witnessed the wedding, Allen said no.
Damon's publicist wouldn't discuss an "Access Hollywood" report that Damon's bride is pregnant.
Damon is in New York shooting the Robert De Niro-directed film "The Good Shepherd" with Angelina Jolie. Probst re-ups for 'Survivor'
Jeff Probst says he's decided that life without "Survivor" wouldn't be as much fun, and he's sticking with the CBS reality series.
"I was thinking about retiring and spending my time traveling to exotic locations around the world, meeting new and interesting people. Then I realized, uh, wait a second, I'm already doing that with 'Survivor' and getting paid for it, as well," Probst, 44, said in a statement Thursday. Celebrity birthdays
Today: Actress Susan Dey is 53. Rapper Kuniva of D12 is 29. Actress Raven Symone ("That's So Raven," "The Cosby Show") is 20.
Sunday: Actress Rita Moreno is 74. Singer David Gates of Bread is 65. Actress Donna Mills ("Knots Landing") is 63. Singer Brenda Lee is 61. Actress Teri Garr is 56. Actress-comedian Mo'Nique ("The Parkers") is 37. Rapper-actor Mos Def is 32. Contributing: Rodney Ho, Sonia Murray and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Copyright 2005 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
