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YouTubin’: Tropic Thunder’s Brandon T. Jackson

All the press attention for Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, which opens tomorrow, has gone to Robert Downey Jr. and his controversial turn in blackface. We’ve seen the film, and Downey definitely deserves dap for an awesome performance.

But let’s not forget the real black guy in the mix—newcomer Brandon T. Jackson. His name may not be on the marquee, but the comic caught our eye with a spot-on portrayal of a rapper-turned-actor in Stiller’s war-movie troupe. We heard the role was originally supposed to go to Mos Def, but there’s no way he could’ve done a better job. We caught up with Brandon to go over five YouTube clips related to the film and his career…

Spike Lee Goes To War In Miracle At St. Anna

At a recent press conference at Cannes, director Spike Lee sparked controversy when he berated Clint Eastwood for making two WWII films in a row—Flags Of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima—with no black actors. If you need proof that African-American soldiers did play a role in the war, look no further than Spike’s new movie Miracle At St. Anna.

The flick, which stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy and Laz Alonso, follows the story of four soldiers from the all-black Buffalo Soldiers Infantry Division who get trapped behind enemy lines in a small Italian village, where they witnessed the Sant’Anna di Stazzema massacre. The film hits theaters on September 26, so get an early taste with the trailer below.

Tip Of The Week: Tortoise Shell Frames

Wearing sunglasses at night is plain dumb, and the big black frames of the ’80s is officially played out. Folks like Spike Lee and Josh Hartnett (pictured above) show how to smarten up with a more scholarly look, the tortoise shell frame style. They’re light-weight, unique (unlike Gazelles without the lens), and according to the Chinese, turtles are sacred and bring good luck. Can’t go wrong there. Take a peek at four brands that will help you see the light below.

Spike Lee Plots Michael Jordan Documentary

Photo: Ray Amati/Getty Images

Film director Spike Lee announced today that he plans to shoot a feature-length documentary about Michael Jordan’s last two years in the NBA, using unseen footage of MJ’s 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons with the Washington Wizards.

Lee, already an out-of-the-closet Jordan sneaker freak who played Mars Blackmon in past Nike commercials, promises the movie won’t be another “fluff piece” that looks back at “His Airness’s” life on and off the court. He hopes the movie will make it into next years Cannes film festival. To see Spike talking about his relationship with Jordan and his 1 of 1 Spizike’s check his video interview with Complex after the jump.

Alicia Keys Has A Teenage Love Affair

We still don’t know what to think about these recent rumors that say Alicia Keys got engaged to her longtime producer Kerry Krucial (Is she a lesbian? Or is she getting married to her secret boyfriend? You can’t have it both ways, gossip queens), so we’re just trying to pretend like it isn’t true.

Alicia’s new video for “Teenage Love Affair,” the third single off As I Am, is making it easier. In this homage to Spike Lee’s School Daze, ’Licia looks as delectable as ever with her door-knockers on. Wait for the scenes at the end, where she attends the pajama party in a trench coat and teddy, much to the surprise of her love interest, actor Derek Luke. Check it out after the jump.

Jay-Z And Lebron James Play Two Kings To New Orleans

Two Kings Party/Photos: Johnny Nunez

The Ace of Spades was free-flowing as Jay-Z, Lebron James, and Jason Kidd packed the VIP section of New Orleans hot-spot Generation Hall Saturday night for a star-studded party. The night started off with an exclusive dinner where A-Listers like Gabrielle Union, Beyonce, Brandon Jacobs and Mark Cuban all attended. Once the dinner was done, serious bottle poppin’ kicked off the “Two Kings”—a term to describe the duo of Jay-Z and Lebron’s after-party celebration. DJs Clark Kent and Mick Boogie spun bangers all night, as scantly clad model chicks kept people’s breath fresh by handing out Wrigley’s, the event’s co-sponsor’s Doublemint gum. Check more flicks of what went down after the jump.