Russell is at it again! In a breakthrough venture for both the jewelry industry and the hip-hop community, M. Fabrikant & Sons, one of the worlds largest distributors of polished diamonds and jewelry, has teamed up with hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons and designer, Kimora Lee Simmons, to form a joint venture partnership called The Simmons Jewelry Company. The Simmons Jewelry Co. will develop innovative lines of fine jewelry and watches under the Baby Phat, Phat Farm, Def Jam, Kimora Lee Simmons and Russell Simmons brands. The collection will include a "red carpet" couture line, which features a signature cut diamond designed by Ms. Simmons. Russell Simmons notes, "Teaming up and partnering with a company as solid and reputable as Fabrikant on this venture will hopefully influence other African Americans to actively participate in businesses that they influence around the world."
If the media can’t get it right, then he’ll set the record straight himself!
Embattled pop star Michael Jackson is set to launch an official news web site for the public and the media, www.mjjsource.com. The site, calling itself the "official source for Michael Jackson news and information," is set to launch on March 1st.

On the other side of Jackson world, Janet quietly resurfaced at an awards event during the All Star Weekend in LA. Behind the Bench, the charitable association started by a group of NBA wives, awarded Ms. Jackson for her tireless humanitarian efforts. Janet, who has worked with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs all around America for years, arrived at the award ceremony on the arm of boyfriend Jermaine Dupri, Senior VP at Arista Records. They later enjoyed the All Start games, from the sidelines – she left the performing to Beyonce. Meanwhile, any negative press about Janet has not hurt the reception of her newest single ‘Just a Little While’ (Virgin Records) which was Billboard’s Hot Shot Debut of the week hitting #47 on the Hot 100 chart. This is the first single released from her Damita Jo album due out March 30.

A side note, in the interest of spinning negative exposure, yes I went there, into a positive. Janet will be launching her own lingerie line. Tentatively called Exposed, the line will feature leather bras, chastity belts, and nipple rings among other body jewelry. Should be interesting….

Nelly’s Pimp Juice has survived the nay-sayers and racked up over one million sales in just over three months! The drink, which came under serious fire from the Black community because its name glorifies an illegal and misogynistic lifestyle, will now be available through distribution deals with Tower Records and Musicland. Nelly is also planning on making the drink available on the Internet so consumers can get direct savings by purchasing it directly from the source. Pimp Juice was named the Peoples’ Choice of Best Energy Drink in Bev-Net, a respected beverage trade magazine. All of this has been accomplished without the benefit of any major advertising campaigns, and who said pimpin’ ain’t easy???

Upon returning from a trip to Africa, Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan is killah no more. After seeing some of the babies and the conditions they are living in, he has decided to start a foundation to build a school on the Motherland. The unnamed foundation is already in the planning stages and he is looking to Oprah Winfrey to lend her knowledge and expertise with the project. Now that’s music to my ears!