WORD ON THE STREETS

ASS-KICKING P. DIDDY MEETS WITH KERRY
Adam Hootnik and Robert Mancini

The campaign trail got a bit more crowded on Thursday, as P. Diddy threw himself into the fray, meeting with presidential hopeful John Kerry and later talking with young Republicans in an effort to place young people and their problems front and center in the race for the White House. Diddy has made a great deal of noise about his interest in making sure that urban issues are addressed in this year's election, and now he's taking those issues directly to Democrats and Republicans. The hip-hop mogul began by meeting Thursday with candidate Kerry at the NAACP convention in Philadelphia, where Kerry had addressed the organization earlier in the day. The two met privately, but Diddy has publicly made it clear that he's concerned about issues involving the economy, education and health care.

After a quick helicopter jaunt back to New York, Diddy met up with young Republicans gathered as part of the Bush campaign's Party for the President Day. "We are here to understand what's going on with the beautiful Republican party," Diddy said as he stormed the event. "We heard y'all were strong. Y'all won the last election. We want to see what y'all are about."

The Bush supporters were happy to oblige, extolling the virtues of their party. "They let you choose how to spend your money," Bush supporter Britta explained. "They let you choose what school your kids are going to go to, and that's what you need. All you need from the government, whichever side it is, is for them to move out of the way."

As the day closed, Diddy remained firmly in the middle of the road and committed to bringing his issues to the candidates. "I am nonpartisan," he explained of his equal-opportunity ambush. "I'm gonna stick my nonpartisan foot up Bush's ass, up Kerry's ass. Republicans and Democrats, my foot is so way up your ass right now it's crazy."

ALICIA KEYS TO PERFORM IN CHINA'S WALL CONCERT
Alicia Keys will perform at the "Wall of Hope -- China 2004" international pop music concert at the Great Wall of China's "Ju Yong Guan" North Gate in Beijing on Sept 25.
Some 10,000 people are expected to attend the invitation-only event, which will be taped for international television broadcast, it was announced recently. Proceeds will benefit the China Children and Teenagers' Fund, a charitable organization. The first in a series of benefits planned for Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzou, the concert series is being produced by Steinberg Lee and Lou Enterprises.

TIMBERLAKE  DODGES BOTTLES
Pop-star Justin Timberlake, who performed at Wednesday night's SARS benefit concert, reportedly faced a tough crowd when he hit the stage. Some members of the roughly 400,000-person audience threw water bottles at the singer and heckled him during his brief solo set. He was again faced with flying bottles when he joined The Rolling Stones during the group's song "Miss You."
 

TIMBERLAKE  Extra

Pop-star Justin Timberlake, who in recent months has been the object of a slander recently, he was said to have cheated on his love of a lifetime and now is suiing for libel.  The paper that printed that he was a cheat has yet to say their side completely but Justin is not playing.  It has caused him and he his love some problems to say the least, but hey it happens.  I see this, but what was really happening was....

Brittany  Extra

Pop-star Brittany Spears is now being torpedoed by the fans.  There is a website that asks for the pop tart to not to get married to the ever so dumb who's his face that she wants to marry.  It has been picked up by the main stream press a bit but you can buy shirts and stuff telling her not to marry another loser in her string of them.  Hey that includes Justin, for telling the intimates of his and her first time.