Behind The Scenes Of Keri Hilson's 'Turnin Me On' Video

Here's an official behind-the-scenes look at Keri Hilson's upcoming music video, featuring Lil Wayne, called "Turnin' Me On," from her debut, A Perfect World. Check out how the video came together.

Rev Run Sends Shoes To Sudan

In some GOOD hip-hop news.......


Reverend Run, from the legendary group Run-D.M.C., has teamed up with Soles4Souls in an effort to help the disadvantaged that live in the war torn area of Sudan. Millions of people have been displaced by war and genocide in the Darfur region of the battered country.

Run, real name Joseph Simmons, recently hosted a fundraising event in New York where guests were encouraged to bring shoes that good cause Soles4Souls could send to the country. He also is getting his own shoe firm RunAthletic involved, by launching a shoe design contest, to raise money for the cause.

Hot Press: Beyonce Likes It "Spicy," Diddy Sports A Baldie, Dallas Austin Doesn't Do Housewives, No Piece for Don Cornelius

Hot off the press this week Diddy waxes off, no more love or peace for "Soul Train" host Don Cornelius, Dallas Austin ditches his Atlanta Housewife and Beyonce has a hankering for hot sauce... and honey buns.

Pubic Enemy #1

Apparently Diddy thinks the public didn't get the memo the last time he decided to blab about his beauty regimen for his man parts, because in the new issue of Allure, the entertainment and fashion mogul continues his TMI assault.

"I shave and groom my private areas," he revealed. "It's a better presentation for me. If men require women to go through the pain, we should return the favor."

Dallas Don't Do Housewives

Kim Volciak, AKA "the black woman in a white woman's body" from Bravo's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" recently chatted it up with Essence about her singing career.

"My first song, "Tight Rope," will be out the first week in January, but I'm not sure when the album will be coming out," she said. "[Dallas Austin] wrote and produced it. He originally sent me three but I fell in love with the beat and lyrics. The song is about walking a tight rope with somebody. It [speaks] to my personal life and my relationship and just life in general. It definitely applies to my life, but after seeing that footage on the show where it looks like I can't sing! I guess it makes for good television but it looked awful to me. People will just have to wait for my album to see the deal."

The funny thing is Dallas Austin doesn't seem to have gotten that memo. The famed Atlanta producer blasted Kim on his MySpace blog saying, "We are not doing a song, we are not doing an album ... that was only for television!"


Hot Saucsha

Beyonce made an promotional appearance on New York's Power 105.1 radio station yesterday to celebrate the release of I Am... Sasha Fierce.

Ed Lover and Free asked Bey if she'll be cooking for Thanksgiving and she revealed, just as she did on Oprah last week, that aside from Hamburger Helper, she's deficient in the kitchen, but that doesn't keep her from enjoying food.

"I put peppers, I like spicy," Bey said.

Asked if she carries her own hot sauce, Beyonce admitted, "I used to. I used to keep it in my purse, I'm very country."

It's not all spiciness with Bey though, homegirl also has a bit of a sweet tooth.

"Growing up if you wanted me to do anything-- if you wanted me to keep a secret, if you wanted me to clean up as a kid, give me a honey bun," Beyonce revealed. "I am very passionate about my honeybuns. I haven't had one in a long time but I love them."


Soul in the Hole

TMZ has been keeping close tabs on Don Cornelius. On Monday (November 17) they reported that a judge has ordered the 72-year-old former host of "Soul Train" to surrender his firearms, as well as disclosing court documents showing that Cornelius's estranged wife, Viktoria, was granted a three-year restraining order seven days after he was arrested for allegedly beating her up. Tuesday, a judge issued also issued protective order against him on her behalf.

Viktoria filed for divorce in August 2007.

Jay-Z & Damon Dash: One Is Broke, The Other's Losing Hope

I appreciate artists like Kanye West, even though I'm not so sure I appreciate the new music he's been releasing as of late. But there's no denying that in the past five years, 'Ye has given many of us a breath of fresh air when it comes to hip-hop music. However, I often wonder if Kanye would have been around to give us something refreshing to listen to if it weren't for Damon Dash. Why wonder, though, when the answer to that is an obvious "no"?

It's been four years since the separation of Jay, Biggs, and Dame. And not long after those three parted ways, Kanye admitted in an interview with MTV's Sway that he was wrong for turning his back on Dame to jump ships with Hov; after all, Dame was the one who believed in him from the beginning and somehow convinced others to give him a chance. Even in "Big Brother," Kanye speaks on how Hov never gave him the time of day. And the irony in that is that Kanye is currently the only one keeping "The ROC's" name alive. Many say that without Kanye there would be no "ROC," even though that label barely exists anymore. Looking at Jay-Z's lukewarm post-retirement career (as far as music), can anyone convincingly argue that he's the reason people still know what Roc-A-Fella is?

And that's what's so weird about it. It seems that these lagging two years that Hov has endured have a mind of their own, and they don't intend to halt-- or make a turn-around-- any time soon. As time progresses, his presence seems to lessen. His musical buzz is not what it used to be. His songs don't excite his audience the way they used to. Needless to say, that "retirement" label kind of slowed his momentum. Now Kanye has revealed that Jay's Blueprint 3 album will drop in February of next year. Say word? Since when did Hov ever need to place a delay on an album release? Never, as far as I can remember. Looks like his "Jockin Jay-Z" and "History" isn't really doing what was expected.

Dame, being as bitter as he is, would love to laugh at Jay right about now, but he can't. The n*gga's broke and when it comes to Dame, the saying "broke as a joke" could never be more true. The joke is on the media, because for a cat to have so much money and then lose it-- yet have the media speculating on his financial status for so long and still not be able to confirm it despite numerous reports-- is kind of funny.

But this isn't:

Fresh Faces: Soul Rebel's Q&A W/ Def Jam Act & Upcoming BET Stars, Brutha

If you happened to tune in to BET for the premiere of the new season of Keyshia Cole's "The Way It Is" last week, you may have caught the sneak peek of another BET reality series "Brothers to BRUTHA" which tells the story of Def Jam's new brother act Brutha. The show follows 5 siblings, Grady, Anthony, Jacob, Poppa (Cheyenne) and Jared -- who range in age from 19 to 25 as they prepare for the release of their album debut. I chopped it up with the Harrell brothers not long ago and got their take on what people can expect from their TV series as well as their self-titled album, due out just before Christmas.

Mariah Carey Says No To Nick Cannon

PURE Bullsh*t

Guess we finally figured out the mystery behind why Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon jumped the broom so quickly. The multi-platinum singer claims she and her new hubby waited until their wedding to have "complete intimacy." While she doesn't specify exactly what that means, it's pretty clear we're to believe Nick didn't hit that until after they got married - a whopping two months into their relationship.

"It's not that we had no intimacy, we just didn't have complete intimacy," Mimi told the U.K.'s Daily Mirror newspaper. "It's just me and my feelings. I definitely don't want to push it on anybody else. But we both have similar beliefs, and I just thought that it would be so much more special if we waited until after we were married. And it was, and it still is."

Rebel Talking... If you believe Nick didn't "Touch Her Body" I've got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

News: T.I. Expected To Testify In Philant Johnson Murder Trial

Hip-Hop superstar T.I. is expected to testify in a Cincinnati court tomorrow (November 19) about the events that took place on the night his close friend and assistant, Philant Johnson, was murdered.


According to Cincinnati's Local 12 News, a jury was chosen on Monday (November 17) in a case against Hosea Thomas, one of two brothers allegedly responsible for Johnson's death. Earlier today the jury visited the crime scene and opening statements were given in court.

T.I. is scheduled to testify in court tomorrow.

As previously reported by SOHH, both Hosea and Padron Thomas were charged with the murder and felonious assault of Johnson back in May 2006 at Club Ritz in Roselawn.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, details emerged last June explaining that both men took issue with T.I. and his entourage, when they were denied didn't allow them access to exclusive areas at a late night party and performance.

"T.I. and his group were in the VIP area," Cincinnati Homicide Detective Tim Gormly told the Enquirer. "The suspects wanted to get in the VIP area and weren't allowed to."

Upon being turned down, a member from Tip's crew allegedly struck one of the brothers in the head with a bottle and later taunted them. This led to the Thomas duo following the rapper's crew in SUVs and exchanging gunfire. Johnson reportedly died as a result of this gun fire.


In related news, the self proclaimed "King of the South" has recently recorded various anti-crime and violence messages including a Crimestoppers commercial.

Teaming wtih local Atlanta station, WSB-TV, for their new campaign, Tip is seen in an advertisement spreading awareness and encouraging people to call the city's hotline with anonymous tips that could protect families and bring criminals to justice.

"Hey, what's happening y'all? Some people call me Tip, but this is about another kind of tip that could help our mothers, our sisters, our brothers and our fathers to help get the perpetrators who commit crimes aganist them off the streets," Tip says in the video. "All you gotta do is call Crimestoppers Atlanta. Tips can be anonymous and there's even a reward."

News: Wu-Tang Steps Into New Deal W/ Fila

Wu-Tang Clan have re-linked with mega sportswear company Fila to offer fans the "Wu-Tang Weathertech" boot for the winter.

The new kicks will feature an oiled suede upper section, molded rubberized vamp along with a unique d-ring lacing style and padded ankle collars. To give the boot a more "Wu" feel and presentation, there will be signature Wu-Tang yellow highlights throughout and it will be emblazoned with the group's insignia on the side and heel tabs.

Marking the Clan's second project with Fila since their 2007 special edition "C.R.E.A.M." shoe which was a revamped version of the classic original tennis shoe, Wu's business partner and executive producer Oliver "Power" Grant spoke on the group's relationship.

"The partnership with Fila began during our early days," Power said in a statement. "And our latest product represents the ongoing mutual respect we have for the brand today."

Wu-Tang's new boot will be released this winter for $100 at select retailers. Check www.fila.com/wutang for a list of stores.

THE FIRST FAMILY! YES WE DID!

MAJOR WTF...Moments...Glitches, machine breakdowns hamper voting in at least 5 states

HERE THEY GO WITH THIS CHEATING BULL*** ISH!

Long lines, voting machine failures and registration glitches hampered balloting Tuesday in precincts in Pennsylvania , Virginia , Michigan , New Jersey and Florida , as Americans flocked to the polls to elect a new president.Nearly 31 million people eased congestion in many states, but machine malfunctions forced the temporary closures of some polling stations in Virginia , which is considered a presidential battleground state after decades in which Democratic candidates all but conceded the state.

``We're having statewide problems in Virginia and Pennsylvania , mostly having to do with machine breakdowns that are resulting in people in some cases not getting to vote and people being given the wrong types of ballots,'' said Jon Greenbaum , the director of the Voting Rights Project for the Lawyers' Committee.

For example, the coalition said that poll workers used machine malfunctions as grounds for issuing provisional ballots to some voters, which can require those citizens to return within a few days with additional documentation to ensure that their ballots count.

``A lot of the communities being affected are predominantly minority,'' Greenbaum said.

In Pennsylvania , another key state, the coalition reported malfunctions of electronic, touch-screen voting machines in at least a dozen locations, mainly in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas. Paper jams on the optical scanners that record paper ballots also slowed voting.

Adding to the Election Day friction, voters across the state complained that they'd requested absentee ballots but never received them.

In Michigan , where voting machine problems were publicly disclosed Monday, some people were being asked to vote on paper with felt-tip pens, and others grew discouraged and dropped out of long lines, the Election Protection coalition said.

Voting also got off to a bumpy start in Kansas City, Mo. , another battleground state, because the wrong poll books wound up at several precincts. Quickly arranged swaps remedied the situation.

Wendy Williams Staff Fired!

Three sources inside The Wendy Williams Experience camp have dished that Wendy’s staff was fired last night. Her sidekick Charlemagne Da God and Trev Hollywood were specifically named as getting the ax and other behind-the-scenes folks were fired as well. Yesterday was their last show. They were told they would not be replaced and their positions will be eliminated completely. Damn! No word on if Goose has been fired as his name was not specifically mentioned.

We’re also told that Nicole Spence, the Talent Booking victim of those sexual harassment charges filed on Wendy and her husband Kevin, settled for an undisclosed amount of money and hasn’t worked at WBLS (the show’s home station) since all the drama popped off. Our sources also confirm that the entire Wendy WIlliams Experience and Wendy herself are getting the axe in ‘09 as soon as her contract is up.

Africans gear up to celebrate an Obama victory!

By TOM MALITI, Associated Press Writer Tom Maliti, Associated Press Writer – Tue Nov 4, 2008

KISUMU, Kenya – Africans organized all-night parties to watch the U.S. election results roll in, determined to celebrate a moment in history as Barack Obama tries to become the first black American president.

"Tonight we are not going to sleep," said Valentine Wambi, 23, a student at the University of Nairobi. "It will be celebrations throughout."

She planned to join hundreds of other students in the Kenyan capital for an election party late Tuesday.

In the western Kenya village of Kogelo, where the Democratic candidate's late father was born, police tightened security Tuesday to prevent hordes of media and others from entering the rural homestead of Obama's step-grandmother.

Obama is wildly popular across Africa, and many hope an Obama presidency will help this vast continent, the poorest in the world. Some are hoping for more U.S. aid to Africa, while others simply bask in the glory of a successful black politician with African roots.

"Obama, being partly African, has the moral obligation to intervene in Africa," said Samuel Conteh, Managing Editor of The New Citizen, an independent local newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone. "The aspirations of Africans are very high, believing that he will change the social and economic situations of Africans."

Obama was born in Hawaii, where he spent most of his childhood reared by his mother, a white American from Kansas. He barely knew his late father, an economist from Kogelo. But that has not stopped "Obamamania" from sweeping the continent, and particularly Kenya, where his picture adorns billboards and minibuses.

In Nairobi's Kibera shantytown, one of the largest slums in Africa, residents were hoisting cups of "Senator" beer in his honor. A huge conference center in the capital was to broadcast the results live for members of the public.

In Uganda, hundreds of university students booked a hall on campus in the capital, Kampala, to watch the results.

"We will feast if Obama wins," said Makerere University student Robert Rutaro. "We will celebrate by marching on the streets of Kampala and hold a big party later on."

Kenya's two main newspapers ran Obama stories on the front page. The Standard newspaper also offered a 16-page "Obama Magic Souvenir Pullout," with photos of the candidate as a child and during his campaign.

The mass daily newspapers in Nigeria, Africa's most-populous nation, were running rare multipage inserts with U.S. electoral coverage. Headlines in The Sun called Obama a "Black Phoenix" and declared in advance of an expected Obama victory: "One Giant Leap for Mankind."

Celebs Cast Their Vote!

Pete Wentz of Fallout Boy--

NEW YORK – New York is a deep blue state, and was almost assured to go the way of Barack Obama on Election Day. Still, as Diddy cast his ballot for the Democratic presidential candidate Tuesday, he couldn't help but feel that he had made a difference.

"I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office. It was down to one vote, and that was going to be my vote. And that may not be true, but that's how much power it felt like I had," the hip-hop mogul said.

After spending much of the presidential campaign season using his star wattage to get other people to the polls, Diddy, like other celebrity political boosters, spent the day leading by example. He arrived at his polling site — a school in midtown Manhattan — in the morning and waited in line as a bevy of media prepared to capture the moment.

Diddy said he believed he was potentially making history by voting for the first black president in U.S. history, and also felt the weight of the past in the voting booth.

OTHER CELEBS:PETE WENTZ bass player for Fall Out Boy, showed up at his polling center in Beverly Hills, Calif., which turned out to be the garage of a private home. The longtime Obama and Joe Biden supporter who also rallied against a California proposition that would ban gay marriage, said his vote "feels important."

"I don't usually go out of my way to indoctrinate people or tell people, 'You should do this because of me, or you shouldn't do this because of me,' but I think it's important for people to get out there," said the 29-year-old rocker. His pregnant wife, singer Ashlee Simpson, wasn't with him, but Wentz said she would be out later to vote.

For Wentz, the vote for Biden for vice president was more than important — it was personal.

"I would not be standing here actually in reality at all because my parents met working for Biden," he said. "They met on the campaign, so they have this particular affection for Joe. He came to their wedding. If it weren't for Joe Biden, I would not exist as a human being."

BRANDY was in Manhattan on Monday to promote her upcoming album, but planned to fly back to Los Angeles to cast her vote for Obama.

USHER who was one of Obama's most active celebrity supporters, said young people like Swift were energized by this year's election, and he credited Obama for connecting with that particular voting bloc.

"This campaign has definitely engaged youth on a level like none other. Like never ever before," the 29-year-old entertainer said Monday night. "Now something has truly happened to make a difference. We now recognize that we have a voice. We now recognize that through service we can make a difference. And you can speak up."

Minister Farrakhan Words of Advice

THE FINAL WORD...

Minister Farrakhan recently spoke and offered recommendation on what to do IF Barack Obama should actually win this thing called an election. I know some of you won't read it and some of you will. I believe this was definitely geared towards Black people, but I personally think it can apply to anybody overjoyed at an Obama win. He basically says stay sober and don't party like its 1999, because there are still a lot of people that don't want this to happen. And they are often violent and racist people - not all, but some. Anyway, here it is:

"Here's my counsel to you. If brother (Barack Obama) wins, there will be more joy in the hearts of so many. More than we have ever experienced probably in our lives. People my age and older who have lived 75, 80, 85, 90 years will not mind dying because they will say in death, I saw what I never thought I would see in my lifetime.

But then others are going to go out in the street and celebrate with wild joy and revelry as though it was the Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series, but that's not wise. That's not wise because your joy is somebody else's sadness and in your moment of revelry, there are those who will be so angry they can't get to him (Barack Obama) but they can get to you. And if you're out late at night just walking the street happy and drunk, you smoked a few of those funny cigarettes, you're just so happy and overjoyed.

Then someone rolls up on you, they don't tell you who they are but they're undercover and you're in a spot where they can just take your life. Don't think that some are not willing to do that with what we've heard coming from talk radio about people really hateful and would kill him (Barack Obama), but if they can't get to him and you are out drunk and partying 2, 3 o'clock in the morning when you should have been home.

How many Black people may die on that night across this nation. And just suppose the election is stolen. In your frustration, are you going to go out now and set fires and loot and act crazy. Not only is the S.W.A.T. Team ready and the National Guard but the Federal troops are already "posse comitatus" which forbids the Federal troops fr interfering in domestic affairs that's already put to the side now. If you act the fool you will be slaughtered.

So my counsel to you would be if he wins, rejoice intelligently. Don't overdo it. The Quran says it like this, 'when Allah's help and victory comes and you see men entering the religion of Allah in companies celebrate the praise of Thy Lord and ask His protection.' Well I'm not now talking about a victory in terms of men and women coming to the ranks of Islam in companies. I'm talking about a victory that we never expected but now we're full of expectancy of because we've heard the polls. If you win, celebrate the praise of God who brought us fr a mighty long way and made us in a time like this to ascend to the highest post in one of the greatest countries in the history of the world.

Don't act foolishly because Obama's rise is the rise of all of us who would be risen by his rise. Who would be inspired by his rise. These young children that are here who probably want an NBA contract or an NFL contract and want to be singers & comedians. Now they say well the sky is the limit. I can be what I want to be. Well, that's a key that can't ever go back in the box again."

WHO'S MY DADDY??

I THOUGH I'D POST SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE REFRESHING WITH ALL THE SAD NEWS TODAY. Guess who's the daddy of this little 1 year old cutie?




It’s R&B singer Tank. And his youngest baby girl Zoey Mykhale turns 1 the day after Christmas. Zoey is Tank’s 3rd child and her mother is his current girlfriend Zena FosterTank, b.k.a. Durrell Babbs, also has 3 other kiddies.

Shakir Stewart's Family, Fiancee Say Def Jam Exec Was In 'Deep Pain' Before Death

'Over the past several weeks, Shakir's behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love,' joint statement reads.


Just like his many friends and colleagues, the loved ones of Def Jam Vice President Shakir Stewart can't make any sense of his death Saturday afternoon. It appears that he took his own life.

On Sunday (November 2), his fiancée, Michelle Rivers, released a joint statement with the rest of his family.

"We would like to thank Shakir's friends for the tremendous outpouring of love and support we have received during this difficult time," the statement reads. "It has helped us to cope with our overwhelming grief and sadness. It is difficult to express or explain in words what led to the tragic occurrence on Saturday. Over the past several weeks, Shakir's behavior was inconsistent with the man we all know and love. As much as we all tried to help him, Shakir was in deep pain and largely suffering in silence. Please remember Shakir for who he was ... a wonderful father, partner, son and friend."

Stewart was 34 years old. Cobb County Police spokeswoman Cassie Reece was quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, telling the paper that his body was found in the bathroom of his home around 4 p.m. Saturday. He was taken to the Kenne Hospital with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and later pronounced dead.

The Oakland, California, native was known in the music industry for his hard work and an ear for talent. He was recently instrumental in fattening Def Jam's roster with Southern rap staples Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. Both MCs released albums that debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts.

Def Jam released a statement Saturday night in the aftermath of the tragedy.

"L.A. Reid and all of us at Island Def Jam Music Group are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend and colleague Shakir Stewart," the statement reads. "Shakir was an amazing man, in every sense of the word. A truly incredible friend and father who was an inspiration to not only our artists and employees, but to his family and the many people who had the privilege of counting him as a friend. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family at this very difficult time."

Jennifer Hudson, Celeb Pals Attend Private Memorial

A day after skipping yesterday's public memorial, Jennifer Hudson joined family members and celebrity friends—invites went out to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah and Fantasia Barrino—this morning in Chicago for a private service for the Oscar winner's slain mother, brother and nephew.

Roughly 200 people attended the invite-only closed-casket service, which took place at the Apostolic Church of God on the city's South Side at 9 a.m.

Police were on hand from the early morning hours to direct traffic away from the building and keep spectators at bay while a procession that included a school bus, three hearses and several limos arrived at the church.

Several precautionary measures were taken to ensure the Hudson family's mourning could take place in private, including plastic partitions around the rear of the church to block looky-loos and video crews, as well as the closure of surrounding side streets.

Mourners gathered to celebrate the three victims of last month's tragedy, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, 29-year-old Jason Hudson and 7-year-old Julian King. All died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Though it remains unclear who, besides Hudson and her sister, Julia (Julian's mother), attended the service, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that it may have been a star-studded memorial.

According to the newspaper, Hudson's fellow American Idol alum Barrino was expected to sing at the service, while Winfrey, Latifah, Clive Davis, Patti LaBelle, Missy Elliott, Ciara and Usher were among those scheduled to attend.

The investigation into the trio's deaths is ongoing, and while no arrests have yet been made, William Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, remains in custody and has been named as a person of interest.

BREAKING NEWS:Obama's grandmother dies a day before election

HONOLULU – Barack Obama's grandmother, whose personality and bearing shaped much of the life of the Democratic presidential contender, has died, Obama announced Monday, one day before the election. Madelyn Payne Dunham was 86.

Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, N.C. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died peacefully late Sunday night after a battle with cancer.

They said: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances."

Obama learned of her death Monday morning while he was campaigning in Jacksonville, Fla. He planned to go ahead with campaign appearances. The family said a private ceremony would be held later.

Republican John McCain issued condolences to his opponent. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them as they remember and celebrate the life of someone who had such a profound impact in their lives," the statement by John and Cindy McCain said.

Last month, Obama took a break from campaigning and flew to Hawaii to be with Dunham as her health declined.

Obama said the decision to go to Hawaii was easy to make, telling CBS that he "got there too late" when his mother died of ovarian cancer in 1995 at 53, and wanted to make sure "that I don't make the same mistake twice."

Outside the apartment building where Dunham died, reporters and TV cameras lined the sidewalk as two police officers were posted near the elevator. Signs hanging in the apartment lobby warned the public to keep out.

Longtime family friend Georgia McCauley visited the 10th-floor apartment where Obama had lived with his grandparent.

"So many of us were hoping and praying that his grandmother would have the opportunity to witness her grandson become our next president," said state Rep. Marcus Oshiro, an Obama supporter. "What a bittersweet victory it will be for him. Wow."

The Kansas-born Dunham and her husband, Stanley, raised their grandson for several years so he could attend school in Honolulu while their daughter and her second husband lived overseas. Her influence on Obama's manner and the way he viewed the world was substantial, the candidate himself told millions watching him accept his party's nomination in Denver in August.

"She's the one who taught me about hard work," he said. "She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me."

Obama's nickname for his grandmother was "Toot," a version of the Hawaiian word for grandmother, tutu. Many of his speeches describe her working on a bomber assembly line during World War II.

Madelyn and Stanley Dunham married in 1940, a few weeks before she graduated from high school. Their daughter, Stanley Ann, was born in 1942. After several moves to and from California, Texas, Washington and Kansas, Stanley Dunham's job landed the family in Hawaii.

It was there that Stanley Ann later met and fell in love with Obama's father, a Kenyan named Barack Hussein Obama Sr. They had met in Russian class at the University of Hawaii. Their son was born in August 1961, but the marriage didn't last long. She later married an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro, another university student she met in Hawaii.

Obama moved to Indonesia with his mother and stepfather at age 6. But in 1971, her mother sent him back to Hawaii to live with her parents. He stayed with the Dunhams until he graduated from high school in 1979.

In his autobiography, Obama wrote fondly of playing basketball on a court below his grandparents' 10th-floor Honolulu apartment, and looking up to see his grandmother watching.

It was the same apartment Obama visited on annual holiday trips to Hawaii, a weeklong vacation from his campaign in August, and his pre-election visit in October. Family members said his grandmother could not travel because of her health.

Madelyn Dunham, who took university classes but to her chagrin never earned a degree, nonetheless rose from a secretarial job at the Bank of Hawaii to become one of the state's first female bank vice presidents.

"Every morning, she woke up at 5 a.m. and changed from the frowsy muumuus she wore around the apartment into a tailored suit and high-heeled pumps," Obama wrote.

After her health took a turn for the worse, her brother said on Oct. 21 that she had already lived long enough to see her "Barry" achieve what she'd wanted for him.

"I think she thinks she was important in raising a fine young man," Charles Payne, 83, said in a brief telephone interview from his Chicago home. "I doubt if it would occur to her that he would go this far this fast. But she's enjoyed watching it."

Stanley Dunham died in 1992, while Obama's mother died in 1995. His father is also deceased.

When Obama was young, he and his grandmother toured the United States by Greyhound bus, stopping at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Disneyland and Chicago, where Obama would years later settle.

It was an incident during his teenage years that became one of Obama's most vivid memories of Toot. She had been aggressively panhandled by a man and she wanted her husband to take her to work. When Obama asked why, his grandfather said Madelyn Dunham was bothered because the panhandler was black.

The words hit the biracial Obama "like a fist in my stomach," he wrote later. He was sure his grandparents loved him deeply. "And yet," he added, "I knew that men who might easily have been my brothers could still inspire their rawest fears."

Obama referred to the incident again when he addressed race in a speech in March during a controversy over his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother," he said.

Dunham was "a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world but who once confessed her fear of black men who passed her on the street."

Still, much of who Obama is comes from his grandmother, said his half sister.

"From our grandmother, he gets his pragmatism, his levelheadedness, his ability to stay centered in the eye of the story," she told The Associated Press. "His sensible, no-nonsense (side) is inherited from her."

Madelyn Lee Payne was born to Rolla and Leona Payne in October, 1922, in Peru, Kan., but lived much of her childhood in nearby Augusta.

She was the oldest of four children, and she loved to read everything from James Hilton's "Lost Horizon" to Agatha Christie's "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd."

WTF....MOMENTS

Two men are headed to a funeral. Some insane gun man shoots both of them, fatally wounding one of them. Well, that is crazy, but here is the real crazy part. The man killed a reverend and a deacon inside a Kentucky church. And here is the real super crazy part. The man shot them as they arrived at the church for a FUNERAL. The shooting was a result of a yearlong beef between the men. The church still managed to have a shortened funeral service for the 70-something-year old woman that passed away.

Jay-Z's Def Jam Successor Found Dead!

Shakir Stewart, the man who replaced Jay-Z as head VP of Def Jam Records, was found dead yesterday in his Georgia home.

Best known for signing artists such as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy -- Stewart stepped in Jay-Z's shoes shortly after he stepped down last December.

Cause of death -- still under investigation. Several websites speculate suicide, but nothing is confirmed.

UPDATE: A Cobb County Police Detective says Stewart was taken to an Atlanta hospital after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Marietta, Ga. home.