Reports of Halle Berry's New Music CD May Be a Hoax

The past few days the internet has been abuzz with the following headlines about Oscar-award winner Halle Berry's supposed musical debut from publications as reliable and reputable as The Washington Post and Rolling Stone:

"Actors Who Think They Can Sing: Halle Berry" posted December 13, 2006; 10:43 AM ET on Celebritology, a blog on The Washington Post's online site.

"Halle Berry Set to Ruin Reputation..." from Rolling Stone's Rock & Roll Daily online magazine, posted 12/11/06, 2:32 pm EST.

"Halle Berry to Launch Debut Music Album" posted December 20, 2006 10:00 a.m. EST on All Headline News, the online magazine.

"Halle Berry finishes work on her debut album..." posted on LondonNet just 31 minutes ago.

Even this reporter fell for the rumors, and yesterday wrote about my hunt to uncover whether Halle Berry's reported turn to music was real or not. It turns out we may have all been had...hoodwinked...bamboozled...led astray. Fallen prey to an internet rumor run amok.

At least so says TMZ, who today posted an article titled "Halle Berry Record Hoax?" which seems like the most valid attempt made thus far to get to the bottom of the burning hot question: Is Halle Berry really dropping a new music CD titled Halle come February 2007 or not?

"A rumor is floating around the net that Halle Berry is going to put out a record," reads the TMZ post. "The rumor has been beefed up a bit with a Wikipedia page now devoted to the record," TMZ goes on to say, about the following track listing on Wikipedia:

Track listing

"Miss Sexy" (Scott Storch) - 3:52

"No Problem" (Timbaland, S.G. Jarard) - 3:19

"Sunshine" (GiGi Franklin, Harold Franklin, Halle Berry) - 4:32

"How You Been?" (ft.Jamie Foxx) (G. Thompson, Halle Berry), - 3:01

"Like That" (Scott Storch) - 4:43

"Around" (Cee-Lo, Halle Berry) - 3:22

"Lazy" (ft. Lupe Fiasco) (J. Crew Productions, Kundei Supormorgei> - 3:00

"Your Love Is Always Good" (Timbaland) - 3:58

"Not Today (I'm Not In The Mood)" (Jason Jackson, Jackie Jackson, GiGi Franklin)

"Write Me" (Scott Storch) - 2:57

"Love & Emotions" (R. Thicke, Halle Berry) - 3:39

"Singing To You (G. Thompson, Halle Berry) - 5:07

"Go Left (Bonus Track)" (ft. Bun B) (Bun B, Timbaland) - 3:50

Singles

How You Been?

No Problem

Unreleased Tracks / Songs Not Included in the Album

Rewind (UK B-Side to "How You Been?")

Get Down Tonight (ft. Jermaine Dupri) [Japan Only]

"Even [uber-producer Scott] Storch's wiki page has him listed as producing three tracks," TMZ writes. "But, the whole thing may be a hoax. Storch's rep tells TMZ that they've never heard of the project and that reports that he's working with her in the studio are 'completely untrue.'"

Though Storch denies being involved, TMZ reported that this does not fully squelch the rumor. But this reporter is starting to believe more and more that some Wikipedia page creators had a little too much time on their hands.

I tracked down the December 2006 issue of Ebony magazine - the one that reportedly included quotes of Halle Berry discussing her new CD. I read it from cover to cover and didn't find one mention of Halle Berry and her alleged new music career. I smell a press conference in the works. Halle, are you listening?