Legendary R&B singer Ronald Isley (of Isley Bros. fame) is set to report to prison in two weeks after being convicted of federal tax evasion charges stemming from five years of unpaid income taxes (1997-2002). However, Def Jam Records executives are hoping to get Isley an executive Presidential pardon. Isley was sentenced to three years last September. The judge presiding over the case labeled Isley a “serial tax avoider.” The campaign to keep Isley out of jail is urging supporters to immediately call or fax the White House, Congressional Black Caucus, and their local representatives to keep Isley out of prison. With President Bush publicly recognizing Black Music Month this year, maybe Isley has a chance.

No avid college football fan can forget the famous “statue of liberty” play that helped underdog Boise State defeat powerhouse Oklahoma in last year’s Fiesta Bowl. The play was followed by Boise State player Ian Johnson proposing to his girlfriend after scoring the game winning touchdown. Now, reports have surfaced stating that Johnson has been the subject of death threats over the proposal (fiancée is white, Johnson is black). Johnson states he’s received letters and phone calls from people objecting to the union. “You take it for what it is – the less educated, the less willing to change,” the 21-year-old told the Idaho Statesman. “It’s really sad because a lot of people that are probably doing it are the same people who were cheering me on,” he added.

After a breakout role in ATL , Big Boi of OutKast will see his name front and center on the big screen with the opening of Who’s Your Caddy. In the film, Big Boi plays a rap record executive who’s denied entry into a conservative country club. What follows after is a comedic pursuit for membership co-starring Faizon Love, Tamala Jones and Lil Wayne. He also took time to address critics who have labeled the film an act of “cooning.” “There’s a cool underlying story underneath the comedy. There’s been some misconception about ‘cooning’ or something,” he says. “But I’ve got a legendary music career – 15 years and 50 million records sold. I don’t have to coon. But now coming in and seeing it – you can’t judge a book by its cover.”