Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Known around the globe as a hip-hop pioneer, Russell Simmons’ passion for breaking new talent, particularly among urban youth, is well-documented and well-respected.

What largely flies under the radar, though, is his patronage of the arts in all forms, from the turntable to the easel, and his belief in the transformative effect that exposure to culture and having artistic outlets can have on the lives of urban youth.

It is that passion that in 1995 led to the creation of the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Co-founded by brothers, Russell, Danny and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, the foundation has since developed programs that directly serve over 2,300 students each year, in addition to providing exposure to underappreciated artists of color.

‘Won’t Back Down’ is an uncompromising look at the health of American school systems, and what parents can do to effect change. But not everyone sees it that way — and protesters came out at Sunday night’s premiere to let the filmmakers, and the press, know how they feel.

But star and Oscar-nominee Viola Davis, says she wasn’t intimidated at all.

“I welcome protests,” she said. “I welcome discourse; I think discourse is a good thing. I think it spearheads change…. And you know what, in this movie, the teacher at the end of the day is the hero. They save the day. And it’s a system that’s broken, that needs to be fixed.”

NEW YORK — A hip-hop executive has pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession.

RCA Music Group senior vice president Bryan Leach faces two years in prison. Leach has worked with a roster of rappers including Lil Jon and the bilingual Spanish/English artist Pitbull.

He pleaded guilty Monday to attempted weapons possession.

He was arrested in 2010 for driving through New York City with a gun loaded with hollow-point bullets.

He remains free pending his sentencing on Nov. 8.

It seems like that alleged adult video starring Kanye West and a reportedly 18-year-old Kim Kardashian lookalike is legit.

Last Friday, news broke that someone was shopping a 20-minute video of Yeezy doing the wild thing on camera with a woman that looked a lot like his current girlfriend.

Now a lawyer representing West issued the site a cease and desist letter pertaining to any images relating to said video.

“Be advised that the screen shot, as well as the tape from which the screen shot was taken, were illegally obtained and believed to have been stolen from Mr. West’s computer and that your posting, advertising, marketing, displaying and otherwise disseminating the stolen screen shot and/or other materials on the tape constitute actionable violations of Mr. West’s rights of privacy and publicity,” read the take down notice that was sent by attorney Lisa M. Buckley of Pryor Cashman.

NEW YORK  — ABC’s “Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts is already wishing to leave the hospital following her bone marrow transplant.

Her oncologist, Dr. Gail Ropoz, said on the morning show that Roberts had emailed that note Friday, a day after the procedure. ABC showed a brief video clip of Roberts in her hospital bed receiving bone marrow from her donor sister to treat MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease.

Ropoz said Roberts is being monitored to guard against infection and to see that her white blood cell count is increasing. She said Roberts can expect some good and bad days in her recovery.

She was surrounded by family and friends during the five-minute procedure, including ABC anchor, Diane Sawyer.

Over at Jay’s 40/40 Club in Manhattan, President Obama kicked it with The Carters–after his taping of “Letterman” and another fundraising dinner at the Waldorf Astoria.

The hip hop power couple helped raise $4 million for POTUS’ Presidential campaign at the $40,000/ticket fundraising dinner.  And it was pretty obvious the mutual admiration Mr. President and The Carters have for each other.

Beyonce  introduced POTUS saying, ”I can’t tell you how proud we are to host tonight’s event with President Obama. We believe in his vision.”

The President even joked about being a lot like Jay–they both have daughters and both of their wives are more popular than them.

The man who took the life of comedian Niecy Nash‘s brother some 19 years ago allegedly killed again–this time his own wife.

Local police in Eunice, La., arrested Robert Lee Heard this weekend and charged him with killing his wife, 35-year-old Demetra Doyle Heard.

Police chief Ronald Dies says she suffered from multiple stab wounds on Saturday night. She married Heard just two months ago. Family members say that the couple looked like a happy pair and that there were no warning signs of  trouble in their marriage.

Former star of hit ’90s sitcom “A Different World” Jasmine Guy claims that her ex-husband is a deadbeat dad who stopped paying her child support two years ago.  Since the debt has accumulated to nearly $40,000, Guy has filed court documents at a Los Angeles Superior Court.

When Guy and her former husband, Terrence Mitchell Duckett, divorced in 2008, a judge set the child support payments at $1,469 per month for their 13-year-old daughter, Imani.

According to the court documents, the 50-year-old actress alleges that Duckett has not given her a dime toward child support since May 2010 and the tab now totals $39,663.  The actress is also seeking to hold her ex in contempt of court so that she can reportedly have his earnings garnished.

A court hearing was scheduled last month, but was postponed because Guy was unable to serve her former spouse.

After years of holding his tongue, Usher let it all hang out during his interview with Oprah Winfrey Sunday (Sept. 17).

The music superstar answered many of the questions that have been swirling in the rumormill since his split from ex-wife, Tameka Raymond.

The 33-year-old wed Tameka in 2008, despite opposition from fans and his mother, but according to Usher, he was in love and felt that tying the knot was the right thing to do.

“I was taking responsibility because she was pregnant, but also too I don’t know if I had the best point of reference,” he said. “My father wasn’t there [growing up] I didn’t want to be like him in a way.”

He also admitted to infidelity, but not while they were physically still together.“Towards the end of our marriage, I found myself lost and I just wanted out,” he explained. “I was faithful at heart, but not faithful all the way. Even having a conversation with another woman about matters of your relationship is not being faithful.”

On rumors that he slept with Tameka’s bridesmaid, he stalled briefly before admitting to having  “exchanges” with her.