...Our Hollywood Swimsuit Issue
cover girl Vivica A. Fox was the talk of the town once that issue
hit the stands. Rumors abounded that she was dating rapper Snoop
Dogg, after the two were allegedly spotted being “cozy” at
the premiere of Kill Bill Vol. 2. But Fox says she’s no adulterer. “Snoop’s
a married man, and I’d never date a married man. We’ve
been friends for years and nothing more,” she says. The actress
feels her previous relationship with 50 Cent has people labeling
her as a “rap groupie.” “I’ve dated one
hip-hop star, and now they’re linking me with all of them,” she
added. The Ella Enchanted actress also denied a rumor that she
was jealous of singer Brandy because the former Moesha star appeared
in the music video for 50’s hit “Stunt 101.” “Come
on now, I would be jealous of Brandy because of [what]?” she
asked. “There’s never been any animosity between us.
I got love for Brandy.”
...Former Bad Boy rapper Mase, now known as Dr. Mason Betha,
is tired of just preaching and prophesying. He’s now planning
a hip-hop comeback. Betha retired from the music
industry in April of 1999 “in order to pursue his faith.” He
then began touring the country, preaching a sermon entitled “Hell
Is Not Full,” in which he chastised the music industry and
even contemporary forms of Christian music. He received an honorary
doctorate of theology from New York’s St. Paul’s Bible
Institute in 2002, and now pastors the 1,500-member-strong S.A.N.E.
Church International in Atlanta. Now it seems as though the minister
has had another career-changing epiphany and is contemplating a
return to show business. “God has definitely been dealing
with Pastor Betha about doing some things,” admitted singer
D.J. Rogers, Jr., a member of S.A.N.E. Church International. “And
I can tell you that what he is doing is not for the churchgoers,
because the people in church already know the message.” A
source tells us that although he is still
under contract with P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment, Betha
is trying to work out a comeback deal with Nelly’s label,
Fo’ Real Records, owned by Cudda (a.k.a. Country), who once
managed Betha. “Yes, it is true,” said Ed Holmes, president
of Fo’ Real Records. “But we’re in the process
of trying to structure something with Bad Boy to allow Mase to
do this
project.” When asked if Betha would be recording Christian
rap, Holmes replied, “No! It’s definitely hip-hop.
There’s no profanity, though. He’s still talking about
relevant issues.” Calls placed to Betha’s church were
not returned. Though he’s now a man of the cloth, he apparently
hasn’t given up his industry ways. His receptionist said: “You
won’t be allowed to speak
directly with Pastor Betha. You’ll have to talk with one
of his assistants.”
...That’s the way love goes—for the third time—for
Janet Jackson. Her boyfriend, hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri, said
on Ryan Seacrest’s syndicated Los Angeles radio show that
he intends to make her his wife. “I want to marry her. I’m
not going to mess this up. I would like to be with her forever,” said
Dupri. “We all could tell from the look in his eyes that
he wasn’t playing. It was obvious that this is a guy in love,” said
producer Martin Wagmaister, who witnessed the
declaration. If the two make it to the altar,
this would be Damita Jo’s third pass at marriage. Gossip maven and Jackson family
friend Flo Anthony tells us: “She was very young the first
time, when she married James DeBarge. She eloped and they had the
marriage annulled. The second time, when she married Rene Elizondo,
she kept that a secret. When you keep something a secret, it puts
a damper on the whole situation. This time, she’s bold with
it.” Dupri wouldn’t commit to a wedding date on-air,
but Anthony says, “They’re so in love, I could see them
heading to the altar before the end of the year. She’s just
that happy.”
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