For Mario Van Peebles’ “Thing Fall Apart,” the rapper dropped an astonishing 50 pounds to play a football player who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Normally tipping the scales at 214 pounds, 50 Cent released a photo of himself this week at a frail 160.
The “Strong Enough” singer says he lost the weight by going on a liquid diet and spending three hours a day on the treadmill for nine weeks.

“I was starving,” 50 Cent revealed on his official Web site, thisis50.com. But on the eve of his “The Invitation” tour, the thespian has been gorging.

Bow Wow stars in the new summer flick  “Lottery Ticket” which features an all-star cast that includes Mr. “Teddy Pin-Her-Ass-Down” T-Pain, Teairra Mari, Ice Cube, Naturi Naughton and more. Bow Wow plays Kevin Carsen, an average brotha from the hood who lives with his mama and ends up winning the lottery. When word gets out that he won everyone has their hands in to get a piece of his loot.

“Lottery Ticket” hits movie theaters across the country August 20th, but in the meantime check out the trailer.

THOUGHTS?!

Word is Rihanna has landed a role in the 1985 martial arts flick “The Last Dragon”. And being that she’s a “good girl” who’s now gone “Rated R”, movie execs want her to play a “kinky” dominatrix in the film. Really?! A snitch tells UK’s Daily Mirror,

“She has landed an incredibly challenging role alongside Samuel L Jackson. But it’s not a part for the faint-hearted. She will play a super sexy, super kinky dominatrix in martial arts flick The Last Dragon. She has been told to research the part.”

Some singers just need to leave acting to actors and Rihanna is one of them! Call me a hater, but RiRi needs to work on her vocals before she takes on another occupation.

Check out pics from Rihanna’s photocall while promoting “Rated R” down under (Australia).

“Precious” was definitely the movie of 2009 and we’re not the only ones who seem to think so! The heart-wrenching story of “Precious” based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire is leading the NAACP Image Awards race with eight nominations. The Lee Daniels film has been nominated for “Outstanding Motion Picture”, “Outstanding Independent Film”; supporting actors Mariah Carey, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton and Lenny Kravitz have been nominated for “Outstanding Supporting Actor/Actress in a Motion Picture”. Precious herself actress Gabourey Sidibe has been nominated for “Outstanding Actress  in a Motion Picture”.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z is running the music category with five nominations, including “Outstanding Male Artist”  which he’s competing with Anthony Hamilton, Charlie Wilson, Maxwell and Ne-Yo as well as “Outstanding Album” for The Blueprint 3. Jay’s collaborations with Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Kanye West were also recognized for “Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration”. While, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, India Arie, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston are all vying to come out on top as “Outstanding Female Artist”. Toronto native Melanie Fiona, Jeremih and Keri Hilson are going up against each other in “Outstanding Best New Artist” category.

The 41^st NAACP Image Awards honoring diversity in the arts will broadcast live on February 26^th on Fox at 8pm.

See the full list of nominees HERE!

Rapper Busta Rhymes stars in the new thriller “Breaking Point” in which he plays a a vicious Gang leader and a notorious drug dealer, however his real life troubles involving a 2006 shooting incident which left his longtime friend and bodyguard Israel Ramirez dead led to issues on the movie set. According to his co-star Tom Berenger,

“There was a whole thing with Busta Rhymes and the New York police on day one when I got there. I shot all my scenes that day in downtown Manhattan but they weren’t with him so it didn’t really affect me. There was something that had happened in a club involving him, where somebody had pulled a gun out or something like that. I really don’t recall the details but they were forbidden to shoot because of safety concerns. I never entirely understood it. The location department had to whip up a bunch of new locations that involved him. We had to shoot scenes with him over in Bayonne and Hoboken, New Jersey all in a row because he had to get to a concert in Portugal.”

Busta’s new movie which also features Stinky Fingaz from 90′s rap group Onyx is now playing in select theatres, for more information visit www.breakingpointthemovie.com.

Self-proclaimed Princess of Harlem, Teyana Taylor is giving you more reasons to “Google” her! Aside from her new lip gloss line “DopeLips”, the Harlem native is set to make her acting debut in “Stomp The Yard 2: The Homecoming”. She told BV Buzz,

“I am very excited about this movie. The anticipation is crazy! The cast is dope. I am definitely ready to bring my swag to Stomp The Yard 2. Adding, “I am extremely grateful to Will [Packer], Rob [Hardy] and Columbus [Short] for this opportunity to display all of my talents in this film.”

Teyana’s not the only one making their acting debut, 106 & Park’s host Terrence J. has also snagged a role in the film. Production for the film has already begun in Atlanta.

Glad to hear Teyana is making serious moves!