Jay-Z and Will Smith on the set of "Men in Black III"

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Jay-Z to produce Adult Swim animated sitcom

By TV Insider
JR Staff Writer

After taking over the music industry, Jay-Z promised he would venture into television and films. From the beginning, Jay-Z said he was not a rapper. Rapping was the vehicle he used to penetrate the entertainment industry. Currently, Jay-Z is the head of Roc Nation, one of the biggest entertainment companies.

While profiting off Rihanna, Willow Smith, J. Cole, and other big name artists, Jay-Z is working on his next plot. Jay-Z and Will Smith have already collaborated for a new film company. Their first production will be a remake of Annie, starring Willow Smith. The future seems bright for the Carter/Smith partnership.

Jay-Z has had several partners over the years, but he has gone solo for his latest venture. The Roc Nation CEO is adding television producer to his list of occupations. Recently, news was released about Jay-Z putting together an animated sitcom for Adult Swim. His show will have a focus on hip hop and will not be the first of its type to land on Adult Swim.

For the most part, Jay-Z is known more for his business acumen, as opposed to his sense of humor. This is likely why he has made himself a part of such a deal.

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Usher switches Talent Agencies at the Urge of New Girlfriend

By The Music Scoop
JR Staff Writer

Most of his career, Usher has had Mark Cheatham as an agent for Creative Artists Agency. Under their guidance, Usher has been one of the most successful entertainers of all-time. While Usher has had an incredible run with his agency, the run is over.

Usher has decided to leave Creative Artists Agency. The agency is also home to Oprah Winfrey, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, and many other big names. Despite the major roster and the impressive work, Usher has left the agency. He will now be working with the William Morris Agency.

Rumors suggest Usher is making this switch because of his new girlfriend, Grace Miguel. These rumors are not hard to believe. In 2007, Usher fired his mother as his manager because Tameka Foster, then-girlfriend, current ex-wife, told him to. But, when things did not work out, a reunion took place between Usher and his mother.

Recently, Usher has been spending time with Grace Miguel. Miguel worked for Def Jam as an executive for years. It has been said that Grace has complete control over Usher and all of his decisions. Usher is currently 32 and Miguel is currently 43, 11 years his senior.

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Jaden Smith joins Twitter

By Mr. Hollywood
JR Staff Writer

It takes a special child to be a part of the Smith family. Will and Jada Smith run their life like a business. Late last year, Willow Smith released her "Whip My Hair" single and it became a major hit. A few months later, Willow Smith was listed on Will Smith's taxes as his employee.

Things are tight in the Smith household and the children are living up to the hype. Before Willow Smith rose to fame, Jaden Smith was met with critical acclaim. He starred alongside Will Smith in the critically-acclaimed film, The Pursuit of Happyness. Later, Jaden starred in another critical success, The Karate Kid.

The Smiths are preparing a major year, overall. Will Smith is scheduled to star in a few movies. Jada Pinkett Smith will be filming another season of "HawthoRNe." Willow Smith is starring in a remake of the Annie film and working on her debut album. Jaden Smith will also be auditioning for upcoming film roles, landing one with Will Smith and Jay-Z's new film venture.

In an effort to keep his fans up-to-date, Will and Jada have given Jaden Smith permission to join the online social networking. Recently, the rising young star created a Twitter account. Usually, parents ban their children from joining such sites. But, when Jaden Smith is one of your children, an exception has to be made because he is a star.

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Jay-Z attempting to Bring the 40/40 Club to Atlanta

By Mr. Hollywood
JR Staff Writer

Jay-Z has been making many moves with the year barely one month old. Last year, Jay-Z pulled off a power move with the signing of Willow Smith. Partnering with Will Smith, Jay-Z has gone a step farther with a film venture.

While he is not making music as frequently as he used to, Jay-Z is still dominating the charts. His Roc Nation company is not only a record label, but also a management company. Their top client is Rihanna.

From the start, Jay-Z planned to expand outside of his home base in New York. He has branched out to several places, but he has yet to put roots in Atlanta. Jay-Z is currently speaking with Atlanta mayor, Kasim Reed, to change all of this.

Jay-Z has been speaking with Mayor Reed about opening a 40/40 Club in Atlanta. Recently, Jay-Z landed a partnership with Delaware North Companies to place the 40/40 Club in major airports throughout the United States. But, Jay-Z still wants regular clubs set up in major cities and Atlanta, along with Chicago, Dallas, Tokyo, and Macau are some of the places he is targeting.

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Jay-Z and Will Smith partner for Movie Venture

By The Film Critic
JR Staff Writer

The connection between Jay-Z and Will Smith goes back further than most people know. In 1998, Jay-Z penned Will Smith's smash hit, "Gettin Jiggy Wit It." It would be one of Smith's last rap hits and was written before Jay-Z's career took off.

Ever since his departure from Def Jam, Jay-Z has been inching closer and closer to Hollywood. From the beginning, Jay-Z had plans of being a corporate giant, as opposed to being a rapper. He continued to pump out music until he made it.

Last year, Jay-Z made waves when he signed Willow Smith, the daughter of Will Smith, to his Roc Nation label. Not long after the signing, her single, "Whip My Hair," became a hit. Once the song became a hit, Jay-Z realized he had a true star on his hands and he started talking business with Will Smith, who was already grooming his daughter into a star.

Will Smith arranged for Willow Smith to star in an upcoming remake of Annie. Jay-Z owes much of his success to Annie, as his breakthrough hit, "Hard Knock Life," sampled heavily from the movie. He wasted no time offering a partnership to Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment for a new film venture to produce major films over the next few years. It appears as though Jay-Z and Will Smith will be in business together for many years to come, as they own stakes in many of the same companies, other than the new venture.

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Willow Smith listed as Will Smith's employee

By The Music Scoop
JR Staff Writer

Last year had an incredible finish for Willow Smith as she recorded a hit single and landed a record deal with Jay-Z. With Jay-Z behind her, Smith posted a major hit with "Whip My Hair." The song has gone on to become an anthem, but now the pressure is on her to continue making hits.

Many feel she will crack under the pressure because of who her parents are and the hit single she has already released. While many people feel this way, Willow Smith knows she can do it. She is focusing on going back to the studio and putting together a full album.

While she has made noise for being signed to Roc Nation, Smith is also signed to Spooky Girl, Inc. Spooky Girl, Inc. is a new label put together by Will Smith for Willow. Outside of his successful film and music career, Will Smith is expanding his business portfolio. For tax purposes, Will Smith has his daughter listed as his employee as opposed to his dependent.

Spooky Girl, Inc. is a new venture owned by Will Smith and Willow Smith is the first artist signed to this new venture. Technically Will Smith is the boss over this company and Willow Smith works for it by making music. There are some who have written Willow Smith off as a one hit wonder and others who are trying to compare her to Michael Jackson. For those comparing her to Jackson, his father treated him more like an employee than a child and Will Smith has come out and said he is his daughter's boss.

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Jaden Smith to star in Sci-Fi film

By The Film Critic
JR Staff Writer

Last year, Jaden Smith emerged from the shadow of his parents when he starred in The Karate Kid. Many people assumed the only reason the young Smith landed the film was because of his parents. For years, his parents, Will and Jada Smith, have been in multiple films. Both of his parents are acclaimed in the film industry.

But, Jaden Smith exceeded expectations in the film. He not only did a good job for his age, but Jaden Smith did well enough to earn critical acclaim of his own. Now, film companies are reaching out to Smith for his own abilities, not just to keep his parents happy. One thing taught by the Smith family is to blaze your own trail.

Jaden Smith has done just that and he recently signed on to play in another film. Smith has talked with M. Night Shyamalan for a new Sci-Fi film, 1000 A.E. Currently, Jaden Smith is reading the script for the film, but says he cannot release any details yet. However, Smith did say the film was "tight" because it will be set in the future.

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Nick Cannon talks Success and Failures

By Mr. Hollywood
JR Staff Writer

Ever since he was a child, Nick Cannon has been in the spotlight. While other kids his age were preparing for college, Nick Cannon was building an empire. Early in his career, Nick received comparisons to Will Smith. After all, Cannon was a pop rapper and he was an actor/comedian.

Will Smith saw a lot of himself in Nick Cannon so he reached out to him during the early days. At the age of 18, Nick Cannon was a millionaire. Despite being rich, Will Smith advised Nick Cannon to save his money. But, because he was rich, Nick Cannon decided to spend the money.

Nick Cannon admitted he was broke by the time he was 19, but he stayed afloat because he still had deals. After he rebuilt his fortune, Nick Cannon became more of a businessman. At first, he was just a guy with a lot of money. However, Cannon has invested the money he has made into other money-making ventures. The result of this has been a very large fortune for Nick Cannon.

Now, Nick Cannon is a rich young man with a beautiful wife in Mariah Carey and they are expecting their first child early next year.

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