The 50 most intriguing blacks of 2004

Ebony, Nov, 2004

STAR Jones

WHEN STAR JONES FIRST FACED THE CAMERAS as a legal expert during the O.J. Simpson trial, she was virtually unknown outside of the legal community. But these days she is everywhere doing everything a star should do. What really put Star on the media map is her much-talked-about engagement to Al Scales Reynolds, the Ivy League-educated, Wall Street banker who dropped to one knee in February at the NBA All-Star game and, in front of millions of TV viewers and 20,000 fans, asked Star to be his wife. The wedding is scheduled for the end of November. In the meantime, it is obvious that Star is revving up for the nuptials by slimming down. And she has made it clear that she will not be deterred by rumors of Reynolds' past, as reported in several newspapers. In a statement last spring, she said: "My fiance and I have discussed all relevant parts of our personal histories. We are satisfied that we know everything we need to know about each other's pasts and are looking forward to our future together."

MOS DEF

Not many carl claim to be a revolutionary hip-hop artist, a Hollywood hunk, a Broadway star and an Emmy-nominated actor. It is an uncommon mix of opposing worlds, cultures and attitudes, and yet, the New York native and hip-hop phenomenon known as Mos Def, short for Most Definitely, does it seamlessly. Born Dante Brez, the 5'10" multitalented entertainer earned a 2004 Emmy nomination this year for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role in the HBO production, Something the Lord Made. Yet, despite his acting credits in Monster's Ball alongside Halle Berry, the box-office hit Italian Job, Broadway's Top Dog/Underdog and Brown Sugar, for which he earned an NAACP Image Award nomination, Mos Def stays true to his hip-hop roots with this year's release of his highly anticipated sophomore album, The New Danger. Though rumors whirl about his romantic interests, including stories about his appearance in Alicia Keys' music video, You Don't Know My Name, the former member of the rap duo Black Star prefers to keep his personal life out of the public eye. Considered one of the industry's most insightful artists, Mos Def will host another season of Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam this season, while maintaining his allegiance to originality, style and a path of his own. "I like to widen the definition of what Black music is and shake off the alternative label that people tend to throw on artists who are just doing whatever comes naturally."

WHITNEY Houston

SHE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE LIMELIGHT AS MUCH, but Whitney Houston is still on the minds end in the hearts of millions. Rather than savoring images of the golden-voice singer performing, many now have lasting images of Whitney in court to support husband Bobby Brown. People-watchers also are fascinated and dismayed by the fact that it took Whitney such a long time to seek treatment for her admitted drug problems, and that there were many false starts. Word now is that she has completed treatment and is on her way to a fall recovery. It also seems that her mentor, BMG music honcho Clive Davis, has again token Whitney under his wings. She is preparing to record a new CD to be released next year. In the meantime, people are fascinated by the ongoing Whitney Houston drama, and many hope that the real-life pop princess will regain sound footing in her career and her personal life and reclaim her crown.