So they weren’t classic films, but I don’t know anybody who doesn’t get excited and drop what they’re doing to watch House Party (the original) and Class Act. The dancing is amazing, the storylines are easy to follow and you can’t say you aren’t fully entertained. These two movies dropped more than 20 years ago and it’s been a while since we’ve seen all the stars that made them must-see films in black homes years ago. Some, well, you know what they’re up to because they’re still doing big things, while others have stayed under the radar. Shall we be nosey and find out their whereabouts? Be prepared to click!

AJ Johnson

Adrienne-Joi Johnson captured everybody’s attention with her yellow spandex jumpsuit and killer dance moves in House Party. Playing Sharane, the cool chick from the hood (no for real, her neighborhood was mad sketch), both Kid and Play battled for her affections for most of the movie, but her finger wave and curl-wearing behind played coy with both fellas cause she had it like that. So where is she nowadays? Out here flexing on folks as a fitness and wellness coach. Check the abs for proof of how that’s working out. After her role in Baby Boy, Johnson did a few TV roles here and there (including hosting the show Flab to Fab), but she’s been more about weight loss and overall health over the past few years, even being a spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society.

Source: divawhispers.com

The original “House Party” was classic. “House Party” 2, 3, and 4? Not so much. You know how you can never top the experience of that one epic party you attended in high school or college? The same is true when creating party movies. After the first, it’s never the same, Unfortunately, some people don’t see it that way and for whatever reason they are still trying to make this film happen — 11 years after the last one.

Though Shadow and Act says this is a direct-to-video situation, the sequel still begs one enormous question: why. Reportedly, Doug McHenry, who produced the second “House Party” and executive produced the third, will take the reigns on this one along with veteran director Darin Scott (“The Brothers,” “Menace to Society”) and writer Don D. Scott (“Barbershop 1 & 2″) which is at least a little promising. Still, the originators of “House Party,” the Hudlin Brothers, are reported to not be involved with this project at all.

The fifth flick will be titled “House Party: Tonight’s The Night,” and shooting is slated to begin September 24. Oddly, no details on the cast have been revealed, but Full Force was said to be in talks earlier this year. As for Kid N’ Play, I wouldn’t be surprised if they made some sort of cameo though they’re reportedly not involved with the project either. When the fourth “House Party” came out, R&B group Immature took the lead roles but we don’t have boy bands like that today so unless Mindless Behavior isn’t doing anything, casting should be quite interesting — unlike the fifth installment of the film, I suspect.

Thoughts on this?

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Source: imdb.com

*Smiles Profusely* I don’t know about you but just the mention of House Party is guaranteed to put a huge grin on my face. At a time when movies like The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller‘s Day Off were making a killing at the movie theaters, the black community was waiting for that same type of good-natured flick. You know, the type of movie where we could see young black kids having fun, where the only real threat to their lives was catching a butt whooping instead of a bullet. That’s what House Party did for us. It showed us the fun side and honestly made us feel lucky to be young and black.  We needed this movie and we needed it to be well done. Luckily, with the combination of a talented cast, hilarious one liners, great music and a little bit of romance, we got just that.

The music gets you hype, you still do the dance with your homegirl and the DVD is on the shelf right now, but you probably don’t know these the behind the scene secrets. Check them out.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic, JET magazine. The African American weekly has chronicled culture, fashion, politics and entertainment over the past six decades. (And how could we forget the beauties of the week?) In many ways the book has documented the African American life. Check out this gallery to see which issues were pressing and who was hot with each passing decade.

1951- Josephine Baker was dubbed “the world’s best dressed” woman in this issue. We know Josephine liked to prance around in the nude on stage but apparently when she did wear clothes she shut it down.

Check out what are online homies are talking about today!

PETA tells Flava Flav to make his fried chicken restaurant vegetarian. Ummm, okey dokey.
~BET~

Kid n’ Play host Light Skinned vs Dark Skinned Dodge Ball Tournament on the Tom Joyner Cruise.  Funny?
~Necole Bitchie~

At least two of Malcolm X’s daughters do not like the late Manning Marable’s book about their dad…even though they haven’t read it.
~The Root~

Bill Cosby doesn’t just yell at black people! The funny man had a few choice words for Donald Trump.
~The Grio~

A very interesting peak into the male mind. What about the guys are afraid to meet “the one” before they are ready?
~Very Smart Brothas~

Hip Hop culture goes far beyond just music. Popular artists of the genre are trendsetters in several arenas.  To say that some hip hop artists have influenced hairstyles would be an understatement. These rap stars listed here didn’t necessarily create the trends they are most closely associated with, but they did help popularize them.

Check out how these hip hop heavy weights changed the follicle game over the years:

If you’re an ’80s baby, chances are that you have seen “House Party” 10,000 times and you have attempted the kick-step move on more than one occasion.  Madame Noire chopped it up with Christopher “Kid” Reid recently and he told us about how Kid n’ Play impacts his everyday life.

At the TV One Programming Showcase at New York’s famous Cipriani, Madame Noire caught up with a slew of black entertainers you know and love! Check out what are your favorite stars are doing now! Oh and peep Mint Condition’s performance! They sound exactly the same. Black (voices) don’t crack.