Variety Review: N.E.R.D.; Black Eyed Peas
(3/28/04) JEFF MILLER Variety (thanks Krissy!)

Though this bill looked like a well-planned co-headlining gig from two of the most promising names in hip-hop -- one an underground mainstay gone mainstream, the other a side project of rap's best production team -- the night belonged to neither the Black Eyed Peas or N.E.R.D. It was Justin Timberlake who shined brighter than the others, casually guesting in both groups' sets and overtaking the evening with the kind of credible charm that has made the former boy-band member one of a very small number of the pop elite.

Timberlake first emerged at the end of Black Eyed Peas' set to sing the duet "Where Is the Love" from last year's A&M release "Elephunk." Though the rest of the set was a joust between their old-school hip-hop numbers and their newer pop direction, Timberlake's appearance was by far the high point, overshadowing the muddy mix and mike problems that plagued the rest of their set.

N.E.R.D. have long been a risky proposition live, with frontman/Neptunes maestro Pharrell Williams often having to yell at audience members to convince them to dance. But with Timberlake on his side (and onstage) for most of the set, Williams became an adept frontman, eschewing songs from the just-released Virgin album "Fly or Die" to concentrate on crowdpleasers from "In Search of ..." (2002). Almost every choice he made was a good one, from inviting a woman from the audience to shake it during one song to letting his more-than-able backing band take the lead on another.

Only during the encore -- after Timberlake chided the crowd into inviting N.E.R.D. back onstage -- did Williams falter, asking the audience to move toward the front of the theater in an ill-advised move that caused security concerns for the remainder of the set. But, like Timberlake's ever-present backup vocals, it seemed like Williams was just trying to extend the fun. And, like Timberlake's appearance, it unquestionably worked.

Black Like Whom? Justin Loses Cred
(3/28/04) Allison Samuels MSNBC NewsweekApril 5 issue

Has Justin Timberlake's all-access pass to the black entertainment universe been revoked? Few white artists have enjoyed as much support among African- Americans as Timberlake, thanks to a debut solo CD jammed with classic R&B and tracks produced by the likes of hip-hop maestro Timbaland. Just last year he was nominated for best male artist at the Soul Train Music Awards, and he performed during the ceremony to raucous applause, cementing his status as a less-talented version of reigning R&B prince Usher. But some believe he showed his true color after Janet Jackson's wardrobe infamously malfunctioned at the Super Bowl—and, in their view, allowed her to take all the heat for what happened. "If I do recall, there were two people on that stage," says actress-rapper Queen Latifah. "He loses a lot of my respect for not taking responsibility for his actions. I think that was real shady on his part."

Timberlake, who had a brief fling with Jackson last year, laughed off the boob-baring brouhaha at first. But as soon as it exploded into a scandal, he began making appearances on talk shows during which he issued sniffling apologies and implied that he was the unwitting victim of a planned publicity stunt. Tellingly, some think, he never once spoke out in Jackson's defense. It was particularly galling to those who believe that Timberlake has become rich off urban culture. "It's just maddening because he was as black as black could be until Super Bowl night," says a close friend of Jackson's. "In his mind, he was as black as 50 Cent because he knew the words to a Marvin Gaye song. He rolled in both worlds, living it up. But as soon as something went wrong, we got a chance to see how white he really was. He left Janet hanging big time, and she's still hurt by that."

Let the fallout commence. After Timberlake agreed to cohost Motown's upcoming 45th-anniversary show on ABC with Lionel Richie, black activist groups launched a phone and e-mail protest. "[His selection] is a cultural insult to the black community," says Najee Ali, executive director of Project Islamic Hope. Timberlake soon bailed out, citing a scheduling conflict.

TV: Oscar Junior
An awards show you don't sleep through? Nickelodeon's given new meaning to the words 'Hollywood slime'
(3/28/04) Marc Peyser MSNBC (Newsweek April 5 issue)

...But consider this: at last year's Kids' Choice Awards, (Cameron Diaz) had the honor of crowning the new Burp King, a guy named Justin Timberlake. The two had never met before. Now they're one of Hollywood's hottest—and, apparently, fizziest—couples. "It's kind of funny, isn't it?" Diaz says...

Sculpted facial hair, colorful ties join list of what not to wear
(3/28/04) PAM HARBAUGH FLORIDA TODAY

...To stay au courant with fashion, you have to pay close attention. All the time. Men sporting those soul patches -- tuffs of facial hair below the lower lip -- may think they are cool styling.

Nope, says Mike DeTemple, 20, a salesperson with The Groove Tube in Indialantic. Soul patches, and sculpted facial hair a la 'N Sync's Joey Fatone, are yesterday's high-carb meal.

Let go of the time warp and get back to the future. Men's hair is more natural looking now, he said.

"Random goatees are okay," DeTemple said. "Long hair is in on guys. Bald heads? Out. Crew cuts are out..."