CELEBRITY HIP_NEWS ARCHIVE [page 7]
 
BARENAKED LADIES SINGER TO FIGHT COCAINE CHARGE [Reuters, 7/17/08]
The lead singer, Steven Page, of the popular Canadian band Barenaked Ladies will fight a recent cocaine charge in the United States, the band said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday. Page was arrested last Friday in an apartment in Fayetteville, New York, and charged with possession of a controlled substance. Court documents show Page allegedly told police "Yeah, it's cocaine," when asked about a white powdery substance in his possession. Page, 38, posted $10,000 bail and is due back in court late next month. The five-man group is best known for hit songs such as "One Week," "Pinch Me," and "If I Had a Million Dollars." It has just released an album of songs for youngsters and next month is due to play at a Long Island, New York, children's charity concert organized by Walt Disney Co.
 
MICHAEL J. FOX SET FOR ROLE ON FX's 'RESCUE ME' [AP, 7/16/08]
Michael J. Fox will return to series TV with a four-episode guest role on FX's "Rescue Me" which stars Denis Leary. FX also announced on Tuesday that Academy Award-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock") will be joining the Glenn Close legal drama "Damages" as a second-season series regular, while Ted Danson will return to the show for several episodes. Fox, 47, a friend of Leary's, was "really excited about the part," Landgraf said. The star of TV's "Family Ties" and "Spin City" and the "Back to the Future" films was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 and revealed his condition publicly in 1998. He quit acting full time in 2000 because of his symptoms, which for people living with Parkinson's — a chronic, progressive disorder of the central nervous system — can include muscle rigidity, tremor and slowness of movement. He has acted sporadically in smaller roles, including a guest appearance in 2006 on several-episodes of ABC's "Boston Legal." The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, founded by the actor, has raised millions of dollars, and Fox has been a vocal supporter of stem cell research.
 
ROLLING STONE GUITARIST RONNIE WOOD ENTERS REHAB [AP, 7/16/08]
Rolling Stone guitarist Ronnie Wood entered a rehabilitation facility Wednesday for help with alcoholism, said a spokeswoman for the Rolling Stones guitarist. Wood, 61, has fought a long battle with alcoholism during his rock 'n' roll career, which started in the 1960s when he played with the band The Faces. The craggy guitarist had seemed to be in good health in recent years. He has developed a strong second career as an artist, selling his paintings at some of London's respected art galleries. But he has been the focus of feverish recent newspaper reports about his resuming drinking. His close family and friends say he is seeking help and look forward to his recovery.
 
AL REYNOLDS 'STILL VERY MUCH' LOVES STAR JONES [AP, 7/16/08]
Al Reynolds continues to have a soft spot for Star Jones, despite their impending divorce. "I still very much love her," Reynolds told The Associated Press on Monday. "I do. I can't lie to you." The 37-year-old former banker and soon-to-be ex-husband said he has not dated anyone since the end of his relationship with Jones, nor has he spoken to the former prosecutor. Reynolds is opening up about his relationship with the former co-host of ABC's "The View" in an interview being posted Tuesday on YouTube. Jones filed for divorce from Reynolds in March after three years of marriage. Reynolds, who now divides his time between New York and Miami, said he's not gay, and the Internet and tabloid speculation about his sexuality — several bloggers refer to him as "Big Gay Al" — has damaged his professional reputation. Reynolds said, "he is not a fade-away type of guy, he is a guy who progresses and moves forward." "I was successful before I met Star, and I plan to be successful after Star." He is currently working on a financial help book aimed at the middle-to-low class, and tentatively titled "Bank On It."
 
BARENAKED LADIES' SINGER BUSTED [E! Online, 7/16/08]
Barenaked Ladies' singer and guitarist Steven Page, and two companions were arrested Friday in upstate New York and charged with possession of cocaine, a police spokesman confirmed. According to the Manilus Police Department, the 38-year-old musician and two women were holed up in an apartment in Fayetteville, just outside of Syracuse, at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, when a patrol unit arrived on scene to inspect a nearby car with its driver's side door left open. While investigating the "suspicious vehicle," officers noticed Page and a female companion seated in an apartment kitchen with "an unknown white capsule in front of them." After confronting the pair, police performed a field test and determined the substance was cocaine. The two were taken into custody and booked on felony criminal possession of a controlled substance. Page was released after posting a $10,000 bond and his companion on $5,000 bond. Page co-founded the Barenaked Ladies with guitarist-singer Ed Robertson in 1988 in Toronto, and the group quickly found success in Canada after the release of their 1992 debut album, Gordon. The Ladies broke through stateside in the late '90s with the hits "One Week" and "Pinch Me." Their latest released is the kiddie album Snacktime, which dropped in May. The band is scheduled to head into the studio later this year for a new album.
 
LIL WAYNE REMAINS KING OF THE BILLBOARD 200 [Billboard, 7/16/08]
For the third non-consecutive week, Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal) tops The Billboard 200. The set moved 125,000 copies during the tracking week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, a 20% drop in sales from the week previous. Coldplay's "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends" (Capitol) sits tight at No. 2 for a second week with 113,000 (-25%) while the Jonas Brothers-led soundtrack to Disney's "Camp Rock" keeps the No. 3 spot warm with 88,000 (-23%). Arriving at No. 4, Beck's "Modern Guilt" (Interscope) debuts with 84,000. Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" (Atlantic) continues to resurge with the help of the Hot AC/Adult Top 40 single "All Summer Long," climbing 7-5 with 61,000 (+34%). The multi-label "Now 28" compilation stays at No. 6 with a 17% decrease to 48,000.  The Decca soundtrack to "Mamma Mia!," the film adaptation of the hit theatrical musical based on ABBA's songbook, debuts at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 with 48,000. The film hits theaters in the U.S. on Friday, so there's a good chance the album could see a sizable gain on next week's chart. In its 58th week on the chart, Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" (SRP/Def Jam) ascends 9-8 with 47,000, a 17% increase. G-Unit's sophomore set, "T.O.S. (Terminate on Sight)" (G-Unit/Interscope) sold 36,000 (-64%), slipping 4-9. John Mayer's "Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles" falls 5-10 in its second week to 34,000 (-64%). Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis' "Two Men with the Blues" (Blue Note) opens at No. 20 (22,000) and also becomes Nelson's first No. 1 on the Top Jazz Albums chart. Other debuts include Los Temerarios' "Si Tu Te Vas" at No. 26 (Fonovisa, 17,000) and pop-punk act the Maine's "Can't Stop Won't Stop" at No. 40 (Fearless, 12,000). At 7.33 million units, sales this week are down 3% from last week's sum and off 11.7% from the same week last year.
 
WILLIAM PETERSEN'S 'CSI' LIFE OF CRIME ENDS [AP, 7/16/08]
William Petersen is leaving "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," a move that might have fans of his brainy crimebuster Gil Grissom screaming bloody murder. Petersen has agreed to return for occasional guest appearances and will remain a "CSI" executive producer. His run as an original cast member will end this coming season, executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar said Tuesday. The air date for his final episode, the season's 10th, has yet to be determined. A number of familiar characters will return in the episodes building up to Grissom's departure, among them his former colleague and flame Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox; the Miniature Killer and sexy Lady Heather. The long-running show remains key for CBS. "CSI" finished last season as the network's top-rated series, ranking No. 9 among all shows with an average weekly audience of 17 million. Spinoffs "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: New York" ranked 16th and 28th, respectively.
 
BO DEREK APPOINTED TO CALIF. HORSE RACING BOARD [AP, 7/16/08]
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named actress and animal rights activist Bo Derek on Tuesday to a state commission overseeing horse racing. Derek, 51, was appointed to fill one of two vacant posts on the California Horse Racing Board, a position requires confirmation by the state Senate and pays $100 per diem. Derek is a horse lover who has lobbied Congress for the past five years to ban the slaughter of the animals. Her first board meeting will be Thursday at the Del Mar racetrack. She joins Jerry Moss, the co-founder of A&M Records and a prominent horse owner and writer and TV producer David Israel, whose credits include "The Untouchables" and "Midnight Caller," on the board. As a former syndicated sports columnist, Israel covered the Triple Crown victories of Seattle Slew and Affirmed in the 1970s. The seven-member racing board supervises horse racing and parimutuel wagering at racetracks in California, enforces laws and regulations, and sanctions violators.
 
BIG NAME HIP HOP ACTS TO PERFORM AT DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION  [Vibe, 7/16/08]
This year's Democratic National Convention, taking place in Denver, Colorado, will be a star-studded affair. The man who once said George Bush doesn’t care about black people, is about to once again be under the flashing lights of the political stage. Washingtonpost.com has reported that Kanye West, along with Wyclef Jean, and N.E.R.D. are all slated to perform at this year’s Convention. Other guests include actors Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Forrest Whittaker, and many more. While many will focus their attention on the political issues, an avid listener of hip-hop will certainly not feel left out. Though music fans are excited about the roster of performers, expect none of the controversial songs from any of the acts.  Just this past week, Senator Barack Obama himself, rebuked comedian Bernie Mac’s stand-up routine at a fundraiser in Chicago. Still, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has displayed some interest in hip hop.  “I'm old school, so generally, generally, I'm more of a jazz guy, a Miles Davis, a John Coltrane guy… But having said that, I'm current enough that on my iPod I've got a little bit of Jay-Z. I've got a little Beyonce,” Obama has reportedly told a source.
 
NAS ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR [Vibe, 7/16/08]
Following today’s (Tuesday) release of his much anticipated Untitled album, Nas announced he will embark on a North American "Jones Experience Tour" alongside Talib Kweli, Green Lantern and Jay Electronica. The Queens lyricist will primarily be visiting clubs and theaters beginning July 22, 2008 at the Metropolis in Montreal. In between that tour, he will appear at the Rock The Bells Festival with A Tribe Called Quest and Raekwon. Rock The Bells 2008 w/ A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def  and more will be performing on July 20/08 @ Arrow Hall, Mississauga (Toronto).
 
WORLD TOUR TO FOLLOW NEW AC/DC ALBUM [Billboard,  7/16/08]
AC/DC will embark on a world tour before the end of the year in support of its next studio album, according to authoritative fan site Electric Shock. The album is likely to be titled "Black Ice" and will be released Oct. 28, 2008 in North America via Columbia, but will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart stores. A Columbia spokesperson was unavailable for comment at deadline. The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien and is AC/DC's first since 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip." The album's first single "Runaway Train" will hit radio in late August. Yesterday, it was announced that the band's "Let There Be Rock" will appear in the video game "Rock Band 2," which hits stores in September.
 
FRIENDS LEND A HAND ON BUCKINGHAM DISC [Billboard, 7/16/08]
Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham will release his second solo album in two years on Sept. 16, 2008 via Reprise. "Gift of Screws" features Buckingham backed on several tracks by his Fleetwood Mac bandmates John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). Whereas 2006's "Under the Skin" was a mostly drum-less album featuring Buckingham's guitar and vocals, "Gift of Screws" is a more rock-driven project. Buckingham will tour in support of "Gift of Screws" this fall.
 
DEVIN THE DUDE INKS WITH RAZOR & TIE LABEL [Billboard, 7/16/08]
Rapper Devin The Dude has signed a one-album deal with independent Razor & Tie and is prepping his fifth album, "Landing Gear," for release this fall. "Landing Gear" will be one of the first hip-hop projects released via Razor & Tie following their signing of Lil Jon's BME Recordings artist Shawty Putt. The independent recruited Cinematic Music Group's Jon Shapiro as their urban liaison, and Shapiro used his relationship with Devin to bring the MC to Razor & Tie. Cinematic Music Group manages R&B singer/rapper Sean Kingston. "Razor mostly does metal and punk and I had a couple of deals on the table," says Devin The Dude. "Koch was interested but I chose to go with Razor because they made it easy and the numbers were right. While I wouldn't want to stand in line, waiting for my project to come out behind other artists, I wouldn't mind a larger label. Razor & Tie just came with a cool proposition."  Devin added that he wasn't interested in a four-to-five year contract, which is typically the case when an artist signs with a major label. He wanted the option to release other one-off projects without being hampered by red tape. Devin The Dude's last album, "Smoke Sessions, Vol. 1," was released in April 2008.
 
ELTON JOHN 'GOODBYE YELLOW BRICKLE ROAD' ICE CREAM [AP, 7/15/08]
Ben & Jerry has whipped up a limited-batch ice cream, made from "an outrageous symphony of decadent chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks," in honor of rocker Elton John's first-ever Vermont performance, and named it "Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road" — a take-off on his 1970s album and song "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." The ice cream will be available from July 18 to July 25, 2008 in the company's Vermont scoop shops, with proceeds going to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, officials said Tuesday. The Burlington-based ice cream maker — whose rock 'n' roll-themed products have honored late Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia ("Cherry Garcia") and Vermont-bred jam rockers Phish ("PhishFood") — wanted to toast John because he was finally getting around to playing the Green Mountain State.
 
RAPPER Q SIGNS TO DUPRI'S TAG RECORDS [Billboard, 7/15/08]
Kareem “Q DA KID” Savage or "Q" will be the first artist on the TAG label, which is headed by Island Urban president Jermaine Dupri. A former member of Da Franchise with fellow Brooklyn rappers Red Cafe and Gravy, he began his solo career on mixtapes by DJ Clue, Kay Slay and DJ Khaled, among others. After relocating to Atlanta, Q met Durpi and soon began recording with the executive. TAG Records, is a joint venture between Island and household product manufacturer Proctor & Gamble to increase each company's presence in the pop culture-influenced teen demographic. The label, launched in April, is also part of TAG's initiative to cultivate relationships with the urban community through programs that give opportunities to aspiring MCs. Reports are that most TAG artist will receive 10 times the typical marketing support. Q can be heard on remixes of "Hero", "How I Wish" and "Take A Bow".
 
JOLIE'S DAD HAPPY ABOUT GRANDCHILDREN [AP, 7/15/08]
Jon Voight, Angelina Jolie dad, says he's  happy and excited about his ultra-famous new grandchildren. Voight says he hasn't spoken to Jolie yet, but his heart is with them and all his love goes to them. Jolie gave birth to Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon in Nice on Saturday with proud papa Brad Pitt at her side.
 
TWIN BABIES FOR "BRANGELINA" COUPLE [AFP, 7/13/08]
NICE, France  - Hollywoood star Angelina Jolie has given birth to healthy twins, a boy and a girl, at a maternity clinic on the French Riviera, the hospital said on Sunday. Partner and fellow A-lister Brad Pitt, 44, was by her side for the births, by caesarean operation, of Knox Leon weighing 5 lbs and Vivienne Marcheline weighing 5.02 lbs, at a clinic in Nice. Gynaecologist Michel Sussmann told the press that Jolie and the babies were doing fine shortly after the births on Saturday evening. The babies' first photograph was sold to a U.S paper for $11 million dollars (6.9 million euros), the regional Nice-Matin newspaper said, adding that the money would be given to a humanitarian cause. The twins brought 33-year-old Jolie's brood with partner Brad Pitt to six. Jolie and Pitt have been the subject of celebrity gossip fascination since they met on the set of their 2005 film "Mr and Mrs Smith." Dubbed "Brangelina," they have adopted three children: Maddox, six, born in Cambodia; four-year-old Pax, born in Vietnam; and Zahara, three, born in Ethiopia. They also had a biological child, Shiloh, born in Namibia, in May 2006. Pitt was previously married to "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston, while Jolie has been married twice before.
 
NEW GUNS N' ROSES SONG HEADS TO 'ROCK BAND' [Billboard, 7/15/08]
MTV and Harmonix has revealed that "Rock Band 2" will be an Xbox 360 exclusive to be launched this September, 2008, with the PlayStation3 and Wii coming online before the end of the year. In addition to several new gameplay features -- including new online battle options and greater control over single-player choices -- as well as a new lineup of instruments, "Rock Band 2" has a rather extensive music lineup in place. The companies confirmed that the Guns N' Roses track "Shackler's Revenge" from the still-missing-in-action "Chinese Democracy" album will be on the game. Also included will be a first-ever appearance by Bob Dylan, contributing "Tangled Up in Blue," and AC/DC's "Let There Be Rock." More than 80 other songs will be included on the game disc, with 20 other bonus tracks available for download at the time of its release. The companies promise more than 500 downloadable songs will be available by the end of the year. Additional artists include Pearl Jam, Metallica, the Allman Brothers Band, Motorhead, Devo, Jane's Addiction, Megadeth, Paramore and Modest Mouse. Existing "Rock Band" users will be able to transfer the entire soundtrack of the existing game, as well as any songs downloaded to date, to the new version. However, it's unclear whether that will carry a cost.
 
RICK ROSS WAS NEVER A COP [Vibe, 7/15/08]
Recently, pictures allegedly depicting Miami rapper Rick Ross (born William Roberts) in a correctional officer uniform surfaced on the gossip website, Mediatakeout.com. Apparently, the Boss isn’t taking the rumors too lightly and issued a statement about the photos: "My life is 100 percent real. These online hackers putting a picture of my face when I was a teenager in high school on other people’s body. If this shit was real don’t you think they would have more specifics, like dates and everything else? I’m in the entertainment business and a lot of people like to hate because I’m on top of my game. Like I said before my life is 100 percent real." In related news, Ross is currently working on his third LP, Deeper Than Rap, which is looking for a release date some time in 2008. The album is said to feature production from the Neptunes, Just Blaze, T.I., and longtime collaborators with the Runners and J.R. Rotem.
 
VILLAGE PEOPLE SINGER LEAVES HOSPITAL [Reuters, 7/15/08]
Former Village People lead singer Victor Willis, was released from a San Diego hospital on Monday after vocal cord surgery and could resume singing within months. "I feel great and look forward to performing before the end of the year, but I can't say for sure," Willis, 57, said in a statement. His doctors have told him he cannot sing for 90 days, but he has resumed talking, and his speaking voice "sounds almost normal," his spokeswoman Linda Smith, said. The Village People, a group of men dressed as such characters as a construction worker, American Indian and military man, helped define disco music in the late 1970s. Willis, who originally dressed as a policeman, wrote and sang hits such as "Y.M.C.A" and "Macho Man," but he left the group in 1980. Along with his work for the Village People, Willis also wrote songs for such recording artists as Patrick Juvet and The Ritchie Family.
 
KHLOE KARDASHIAN SENT TO JAIL [AP,  7/15/08]
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Khloe Kardashian, who is featured on E! Entertainment Television's "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," to surrender to authorities on Friday and serve up to 30 days in jail. The reality show star and youngest daughter of the late attorney Robert Kardashian (O.J. Simpson case) admitted during a July 3, 2008 court hearing that she violated her probation stemming from a 2007 drunken driving arrest, according to court records. Kardashian will also have to enroll in an alcohol treatment program — one of the terms of probation she failed to complete — within three weeks of her release and will remain on probation. It's unclear how long Kardashian, 23, will remain in jail. More famous celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, have served shortened sentences because of jail overcrowding.
 
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS, AVENTURA TEAM FOR TOUR [Reuters/Billboard,  7/14/08]
Spanish pop star Enrique Iglesias is teaming up with New York-based urban/bachata trio Aventura for a U.S. tour. The 15-stop arena outing kicks off September 4, 2008 in Laredo, Texas, and ends October 5 in Rutherford, N.J. Other cities on the schedule include San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Atlantic City and Washington, DC. Iglesias played 27 concerts in Europe and Latin America in 2007, and released the hits package "95/08" in March. The new single from that album, "Donde Estan Corazon," spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart. Iglesias also recently performed the official EuroCup theme during the final football match between Spain and Germany.
 
MARRIAGE NOT A TABOO FOR BLACK EYED PEAS RAPPER [E! Online,  7/13/08]
Rapper Taboo (a.k.a. Jaime Gomez) of the Black Eyed Peas married Jaymie Dizon at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Pasadena, Calif. on Saturday, their rep told People magazine. All of the Peas attended the ceremony, which took place two days before the groom's 33rd birthday. Bandmates will.i.am and Apl de ap served as groomsmen, while Fergie and her fiancé, actor Josh Duhamel, were guests. The newlyweds exchanged his and hers diamond and platinum wedding bands, which match the bride's Neil Lane engagement ring. Taboo is currently working on a solo album and will appear in the film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li due out next year.
 
PRINCE HARRY BALANCES ARMY WITH CHARITY WORK [AP,  7/13/08]
Prince Harry would like to spend more time helping children in Africa. Britain's royal soldier-humanitarian is in the impoverished African kingdom of Lesotho this week to work with Sentebale — which means "forget me not" in Sesotho — is the charity he and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso founded, in the memory of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana to help orphans and vulnerable children in a nation of 1.8 million people where about 300,000 children have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Many children are forced to leave school to look after younger siblings, and are open to abuse or exploitation. The 23-year-old lieutenant spoke with reporters recently about balancing his army life with his charity work. "I wish I could be out here more often," he said while visiting a newly opened center for abused children. "I do the most I can to come out here and see the kids."
 
BEATLES PRODUCER MARTIN HONORED [AP, 7/13/08]
Sir George Martin, the classically trained producer who helmed the Beatles recordings from their mop-top phase through their late musical masterworks, was honored Saturday night in Los Angeles. Martin, 82, received a career award from The Recording Academy's Grammy Foundation, which provides education programs for future music professionals and works to preserve musical history. Martin is the most successful record producer of all time, according to the academy, with more than 50 chart-topping hits and one-billion units sold. He also holds the record for the longest run of No. 1 pop-chart hits in history, spanning 36 years. Event attendees included John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison. Paul and Ringo were unable to attend because they are on tour. Clearly, John, Paul, George and Ringo remain important to Martin, who spent the bulk of his award-acceptance speech talking about The Fab Four. The event also included a concert saluting Martin and the songs he helped make famous, with guest performers including songwriter Burt Bacharach, guitarist Jeff Beck and singer Tom Jones.
 
VH1 ROCK HONORS 'THE WHO' [AP, 7/13/08]
The Who was celebrated at a special concert by a few bands outside of their generation. The legendary band was honored at the Saturday taping of the third annual "VH1 Rock Honors," which will air Thursday on the cable channel. Celebrity guests such as David Duchovny, Mila Kunis, Rainn Wilson, Sean Penn and Adam Sandler introduced The Flaming Lips, Foo Fighters, Incubus, Tenacious D and Pearl Jam, who covered songs from such Who albums as "Tommy," "The Who Sell Out" and "Quadrophenia." Who guitarist Pete Townshend and lead singer Roger Daltry closed the special concert at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion with a performance of some of the band's greatest hits. Original drummer Keith Moon died in London in 1978. Original bassist John Entwistle died in Las Vegas in 2002. Moon and Entwistle were remembered in pre-taped retrospectives during the over two-hour show. The Who wowed the packed audience with such tunes as "Teenage Wasteland," "The Seeker," "My Generation," "Two Thousand Years," "Batman" and "Who Are You." Daltry and Townshend closed the show with "Tea and Theatre."
 
TWO FOUND DEAD AT ROCK FESTIVAL [BBC News,  7/12/08]
Police say two people have been found dead at a music festival in southern Norway headlined by Alice Cooper. The victims were found in or near a bus at the Norway Rock Festival in Kvinesdal, 270 miles southwest of Oslo. "We do not know exactly how they died, but we assume they suffocated on fumes while they were on the bus," said police spokesperson Asbjorn Enoksen. Six more festival-goers were taken to hospital after being found outside the vehicle, he told the AFP news agency. Preliminary hospital reports indicated carbon monoxide poisoning could have been a cause. All of the victims were believed to be Norwegian citizens in their 20s and 30s, Enosken added. The names of the two who died have not been disclosed. The Kvinesdal festival was established in 2006 and this weekend's events are expected to continue despite the deaths. Alice Cooper headlines the main stage on Saturday night, with Motorhead and The Quireboys due to play on Sunday.
 
"W" CREW BUSTED AFTER LAST CALL [E! Online, 7/12/08]
Actors Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright were arrested outside a Louisiana bar early this morning (Saturday) after allegedly trying to intervene when police tried to arrest their drunk-and-disorderly pal. According to the Shreveport police, they were called to Stray Cats bar at around 2 a.m. to break up a disturbance, but things apparently got so rowdy that backup was requested. Crew member, Eric Felland, a lighting technician, was collared for public intoxication and resisting arrest. The other members of the "W" crew were taken into custody and charged with interfering with police, a misdemeanor. Brolin was booked into the city jail and released after posting a $334 cash bond. The 40-year-old SAG Award winner is portraying the title initial in Oliver Stone's already controversial biopic, while Wright, 42, plays General Colin Powell. "W" is Stone's third presidential film, following "Nixon" and "JFK." He also directed the Vietnam sagas "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Platoon," which won four Oscars including best picture and director.
 
TENACIOUS D "ONE-AND-A-HALF SONGS" [Reuters/Billboard, 7/12/08]
Rock duo Tenacious D, featuring actor Jack Black and Kyle Gass, have begun work on a new album. However, the album may be long in the making, since Gass says they have one to one and a half songs right now and need 12 to 15 tracks. The project marks the follow-up to the 2006 film project "The Pick of Destiny," which bombed at the box office. Bandmate Gass says it might take the rest of their lives to complete, but thinks it will be worth waiting for. Black's red-hot movie career with cartoon "Kung Fu Panda," and as yet to be released comedy "Tropic Thunder" in theatre on August 15, 2008 is keeping the actor busy.  But Gass said he and Black are serious about their album. "We'd like to do one final masterpiece, I think," Gass acknowledged. "I think we both know we're approaching death, as it were, and we'd like to have a lasting legacy. "The Pick of Destiny" was kind of a soundtrack to the movie so we had to fulfill obligations that way. And now it's kind of opened up."
 
FEIST DEBUT ON SESAME STREET [SQMAP, 7/11/08]
Juno Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian singer-songwriter, Feist (real name Leslie Feist), will make a cameo appearance on the PBS Children's Television show, Sesame Street, with her song "1234" from the album "The Reminder." Named one of the 10 best songs of 2007 by Time Magazine, "1234" was co-written by New Buffalo's Sally Seltmann, and became a  hit after being featured in a commercial for the iPod nano, hitting #8 in the U.S. The show will aired on Aug. 11/08 with the super-popular and ticklish puppet Elmo. The Reminder sold over one million copies worldwide and certified gold in the U.S.
 
WHAT KIND OF CARS DO DOUGH-BOYS OR GIRLS DRIVE? [SQMAP, 7/12/08]
According to reports Diddy, Nas, Busta, Jay-Z, Fiddy, Bill Murray, Alicia Keys, Christine Brinkley all own Maybach or Rolls-Royce Phantom. Why? Because they are like airplanes on wheels. Purring under the long bonnet is the traditional 6.75-litre RR V12 that produces 453 hp/ 337kW and 720Nm of torque. Phantom Coupe is thus able to move from 0–100km/h in 5.6 seconds, topping off at 250km/h. The Bach or Phantom only seat two people in the back with enough space for TV, refrigerators, tables, etc. Base price $450,000. In 2007, the first Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe bound for the U.S. market was snapped up at a charity auction for $2 million, making it one of the most expensive new cars ever sold in America — Now Fiddy has the uber-hot-Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead [Dropdead georgeous]. There are only 100 of them in the world — Yo! Fiddy we are still waiting to 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'." On the other hand the 2009 Maybach Landaulet, the world’s most exclusive open-top luxury saloon, powered by an uprated V12 engine, developed for the Maybach 57 S and the Maybach 62 S, with twin turbochargers, the V12 engine develops 612 hp from a displacement of 5980 cc. Base price US$1.35 million.
 
'FACES' MEMBERS CONSIDERING REUNION [BBC News, 7/11/08]
Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan has told BBC 6 Music that the surviving members of the band have been considering a reunion. The band known for hits such as Cindy Incidentally and Stay With Me, was formed in 1969 by members of the Small Faces after frontman Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie. The remaining trio - Ronnie Lane, McLagan and Kenney Jones - were joined by Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart. McLagan said now they had all agreed to reform, they were trying to find a time that was convenient for everyone. The star, who has been working on some new material, thinks they would start playing in London and possibly go on to the US. Ronnie Lane died in 1997 aged 51, two decades after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
 
BEATLES MEMORABILIA FETCH $1.1 MILLION [Billboard, 7/11/08]
The hand-painted drum skin that appeared on the sleeve of the Beatles' ground-breaking 1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" sold for $1.1 million at auction on Thursday in London, four times its estimate. Billed as the "world's most famous drum skin," it was the star lot of Christie's rock and pop memorabilia sale in London, and eclipsed the other highlight, John Lennon's handwritten lyrics for hit song "Give Peace a Chance" which fetched $834,000.
 
RARE MARLEY, SKYNYRD LIVE CONCERTS SOLD ONLINE [Reuters/Billboard, 7/11/08]
Vintage concert performances by such acts as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bob Marley will soon join the nearly 500 recordings already available for download purchase at the music and memorabilia site Wolfgang's Vault. The additions were made possible through a deal between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Wolfgang's Vault founder Bill Sagan. The recordings include live performances by UMG artists culled from thousands of concerts produced by late promoter Bill Graham, along with gems from other catalogs and archives dating back decades. A quick run through the site shows vintage performances for sale by artists including the Alarm, Fleetwood Mac, the Kinks, Billy Joel, Iggy Pop, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Lou Reed, Mott the Hoople, Poco, Steve Miller, the Tubes, Uriah Heep, Warren Zevon and many others. 
 
ED MCMAHON RECOVERING FROM NECK SURGERY [AP, 7/11/08]
Ed McMahon was recuperating Friday following his third neck surgery, his publicist Howard Bragman has confirmed. He is said to be aware, alert and resting comfortably, and the McMahon family is grateful for all the prayers and good wishes. The 85-year-old former "Tonight" show sidekick previously said he had injured himself in a fall before the possible foreclosure of his multimillion-dollar Beverly Hills house.McMahon appeared in a neck brace on CNN's "Larry King Live" on June 5, 2008 and said he had stopped working since he broke his neck in a fall 18 months ago. Citibank filed suit June 20, 2008 against McMahon seeking to recoup nearly $200,000 lent to the former pitchman for the American Family Publishers' sweepstakes and "Star Search" host. McMahon was $644,000 behind on payments on his Beverly Hills home.
 
METALLICA BOXES UP 'DEATH MAGNETIC' [Billboard, 7/10/08]
Metallica is offering hardcore fans a "coffin box" edition of its upcoming album, "Death Magnetic," due in September, 2008 via Warner Bros. In addition to the album, the package will include a disc of demos, a behind-the-scenes DVD chronicling the making of "Death Magnetic," a T-shirt, a flag, guitar picks and a poster. Also featured is a Metallica credit card with a code redeemable for a download of a "special European show happening in September." This edition is only available from the band's Web site. As previously reported, Metallica is offering a variety of insider perks to fans who join its Mission: Metallica club, including "fly on the wall" studio footage, contests, merchandise and downloads.
 
LLOYD NEW CD 'GIVES LESSONS IN LOVE' [SQMAP, 7/11/08]
Singer, songwriter and entertainer Lloyd returns with his third effort, Lessons In Love on August 5, 2008. His new album is charged by the hard-driving single 'Girls Around The World' featuring Lil Wayne. Enlisting some of today's hottest producers and artists including Ludacris and Nelly, Lessons In Love displays Lloyd's continued maturity as an artist and varies in subject matter from physical lust to true love. The album also includes notable tracks 'How We Do It (Around The Way)', 'Party All Over Your Body' and 'Lose Control'. Lloyd will be in Toronto for a performance at Circa on July 23, 2008.
 
'THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD' [SQMAP, 7/11/08]
David Banner new album "The Greatest Story Ever Told" drops this Tuesday. It features the hit single 'Get Like Me (Stuntin' Is A Habit)', with guest vocals by Chris Brown and Young Joc. The rest of the album boasts appearances by Weezy, Snoop Dogg, Akon, T.I., Carl Thomas, Jim Jones, Chamillionaire, Jazze Pha, and more - basically, every MC ever born is on this album.
 
LENNON 'PEACE' LYRICS SOLD FOR $833,654 [AP, 7/10/08]
Christie's auction house has sold John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance" for $833,654. The lyrics were written during Lennon's 1969 Bed-in protest for peace at the Queens Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal. Christie's spokeswoman Zoe Schoon said Lennon gave the sheet to 16-year-old Gail Renard during the eight-day Bed-in. Lennon wrote the lyrics and recorded the song in the hotel room with about 50 guests, who included singer Petula Clark and beat poet Allen Ginsberg.
 
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN MARRIES AGAIN [AP, 7/10/08]
Olivia Newton-John, best known for her role in the 1970s hit movie "Grease," got married for a second time in a surprise ceremony last week, according to media reports. Newton-John, 59, married 49-year-old American businessman John Easterling. Newton-John has four Grammys and had a string of pop hits in the 1970s and 1980s, including "Physical" and "I Honestly Love You." She and John Travolta starred in the 1978 movie "Grease," which spawned hit songs including "You're the One That I Want," "Summer Nights" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You."
 
SNOOP DOGG CASH INFUSION [E! Online, 7/10/08]
Fresh off his recent duets with Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg is continuing his country ways. The Man in Black's 1956 hit "I Walk the Line" will be redrawn by the rapper, Teddy Riley and DJ Quik for the upcoming project, Johnny Cash Remixed. The star of Snoop Dogg's Father Hood gave Cash a shout-out on his recent "My Medicine." The new disc, which is being executive produced by Cash's son John Carter Cash, will feature artists, DJs and producers providing new spins on Cash's early output on Sun Records. Others set to contribute to the album, which will have a September, 2008 vinyl release before its CD and digital release in October, 2008, include Pete Rock, the Heavy, Mocean Worker and Alabama 3, the last act being best-known for The Sopranos theme.
 
NICKELBACK SIGN LIVE NATION DEAL [Reuters, 7/8/08]
Canadian rock band Nickelback are the latest act to sign a global recording, touring and merchandising deal with concert promoter Live Nation. The three-album, three-tour deal, as well as a deal for the company to handle all its merchandising, licensing, sponsorship, secondary ticketing, endorsements, DVD and broadcast rights, fan club, website and literary rights is said to be worth between $50 million and $70 million, according to reports. Nickelback, whose hit singles include Rock Star and Photograph, have sold more than 26 million albums to date.  The band, fronted by Chad Kroeger, still have two albums left to release through their current label Road Runner Records before they record any albums for Live Nation. Nickelback's last North American and Australian tour in 2006/07 grossed more than $67 million. Live Nation has led the way in so-called "360-degree" deals that seek to bring top artists' activities under one roof. However, internal disagreements over the company's strategy saw chairman Michael Cohl step down last month. Madonna, Jay-Z, U2 and Shakira are some of the other major artists to sign with the company in recent months.
 
RINGO STARR CELEBRATES 68th IN CHICAGO [AP, 7/8/08]
Ringo Starr celebrated his 68th birthday in Chicago giving out messages of peace and love, along with dessert. Fans surrounded the former Beatles drummer Monday as he waited for the clock to strike noon at the Hard Rock Hotel. Then he flashed peace signs with both hands in the air and yelled, "Twelve o'clock — peace and love!" The crowd of about 300 sang "Happy Birthday" to Starr, who passed out white-iced cupcakes with his wife Barbara Bach. He says his dream for the day was to spread peace and love. Starr and his band play a concert in Chicago on Sunday.
 
MSTRKRFT SALUTES INFLUENCES ON SECOND ALBUM [Billboard, 7/8/08]
On the heels of 2006's "The Looks," Canadian dance duo MSTRKRFT became a festival staple thanks to a booming house sound that appeals to club kids and indie-rockers alike. The group's as-yet-untitled second album, due Oct. 7, 2008 via Dim Mak, is led by the irresistible single "Bounce" featuring N.O.R.E. and Isis. MSTRKRFT is in the habit of testing out new material live, member Jesse Keeler says "we do it more just to test the sound rather than what the reaction will be. Kids hear stuff now and don't know what it is and they go crazy. But when they know the [new] tracks and we play them, the crowd will explode." Although MSTRKRFT has largely avoided doing remixes while working on the upcoming album, the duo just finished a version of John Legend's "Green Light" featuring OutKast's Andre 3000. The track is the first single from Legend's next album, due in September, 2008 via G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia.
 
INDIE-RAP ARTIST JEAN GRAE NEW CD 'JEANIUS' [Canadian Press, 7/7/08]
South African-born, Brooklyn-bred rapper Jean Grae new CD "Jeanius", produced by 9th Wonder (Jay-Z, Erykah Badu) is for most indie-rap diehards an ideal match-up. Formerly of underground hip-hop darlings Little Brother, 9th Wonder's known for subtly textured, retro-sounding beats — looped, dusty soul samples and drum kicks that pop. Meanwhile, Grae's respected for being among a species of rapper facing extinction — the female MC. Her immodestly titled disc "Jeanius" fulfills much of the promise of the vaunted collaboration. Grae's conversational flow is packed with equal amounts boasting and poignant insight. She's as adept at punchline rapson "2-32's" she explains: "Impeccable rap flow/ second to that wordplay/akin to a verb hitting a pi-ata on the eve of it's birthday." The CD includes tracks "My Story", "Don't Rush Me", "Love Thirst", on Blacksmith Records/Warner Bros. label.
 
DIZZEE RASCAL "DANCE WIV ME" SCORES IN U.K. [BBC News, 7/7/08]
Rapper Dizzee Rascal has captured his first UK number single, which has gone straight in at the top of the chart. Dance Wiv Me won its battle with dance act Basshunter's song All I Ever Wanted, which came in at number three behind Ne-Yo, last week's chart topper. Dizzee's previous high in the singles chart was 11 with Stand Up Tall. Coldplay retained their number one position in the album chart for a fourth week with Viva La Vida (Death And All His Friends). With their performances at the Glastonbury festival, both Amy Winehouse and Neil Diamond current albums climb back up the chart and into the top 10. Reggae star Eddy Grant's best of album came in at number 14 after he gave his first live performance in more than a decade at Glastonbury. In the singles chart, the music event's headliner Jay-Z saw his 2004 song 99 Problems make a return to the rundown. Twenty-year-old DJ Ironik climbed five places to number six with his song Stay With Me.
 
VILLAGE PEOPLE STAR IN HOSPITAL [AP, 7/8/08]
Former Village People lead singer Victor Willis is recovering in hospital following vocal cord surgery. Willis, the band's original policeman, had surgery at a San Diego, California, hospital on Monday to remove nodules from his vocal cords. His spokeswoman said the 57-year-old would be postponing his tour, but was expected to reschedule the dates. The singer, who co-wrote the lyrics to hits Y-M-C-A and Macho Man, left the group in 1980.  After his departure, he refused record deals and requests to perform any of the Village People's hits until recently. He returned to the stage in 2007 after an absence of 27 years with his Victor Willis Dance Tour, but developed hoarseness after several performances forcing him to cancel European and Canadian concert dates this year.
 
ABBA FOURSOME MAKE RARE APPEARANCE [Reuters, 7/4/08]
All four members of supergroup ABBA appeared together on Friday at the Swedish premiere of the film "Mamma Mia!"  Several thousand fans cheered and showed their delight to see Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad — known as Frida — and Agnetha Faltskog, for their first public appearance in years, walked down the red carpet at a Stockholm movie theatre. The movie starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth, follows "Mamma Mia!" the musical, which toured worldwide and features 22 ABBA songs, including "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me" and "The Winner Takes It All." The foursome, who shot to fame when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, last performed together in public in 1986, although there were reports they sang together at a private birthday party for a friend in 1999. They once turned down $1 billion to reunite for a concert tour. [Update: BBC News, 7/6/08]:  Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, two members of the Swedish supergroup ABBA, has told The Sunday Telegraph that ABBA will "never" perform on stage again. "We would like people to remember us as we were, young, exuberant and full of ambition," Ulvaeus told the newspaper. The band disbanded in 1982, but never officially announced a split. 
 
ICE CUBE: NEW ALBUM AND  TOUR DATES [VIBE, 7/7/08]
The Godfather of gangsta rap, Ice Cube, is gearing up for the release of his eighth solo LP Raw Footage. Cube has already garnered a buzz with the release of his unofficial single and video “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It,” which was hailed by MTV as the first great song and video of 2008. Now the West Coast rapper is prepping for his August 19, 2008 release date through his independently owned label, Lench Mob Records. The official first single “Do Ya Thang”, produced by Palumbo Beats, is the number one most added single at rhythmic radio. Cube’s highly anticipated follow up album to the 2006 release of, Laugh Now, Cry Later, will feature such artists like Musiq Soulchild, Young Jeezy, The Game, WC and production by Maestro, Emile, DJ Crazy Toones, Teak “Da Beatsmith” Underdue and Dee Underdue. Cube will kick off an International tour on July 11th in Leipzig, Germany and end on September 21st in New York City. No dates in Canada were announced.
 
OSBOURNES 'TO MAKE VARIETY SHOW' [BBC News, 7/7/08]
The Osbourne family are making a return to U.S television with a variety series, according to a report. Sharon, Ozzy and their children Jack and Kelly will host the six part show, which will feature music and comedy sketches, says Daily Variety. Fox network has commissioned the program and plans to launch it with a Christmas special. The Osbournes' MTV reality show ran for three years until 2005, while they presented this year's Brit Awards. The Osbournes have become UK TV regulars, with Sharon Osbourne appearing as a judge on The X Factor. She also sits on the panel of America's Got Talent. Her son Jack has his own UK series called Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie. 
 
DUFFY TO SELL ONE MILLION ALBUM [BBC News, 7/7/08]
Welsh soul star Duffy is to become the first artist to sell one million albums in 2008, according to the Official UK Charts Company. But her debut album, which spent five weeks at number one, is being hotly pursued by Coldplay's Viva La Vida, which is now top of the charts. The Welsh singer's single "Mercy" is the best-selling song of the year to date, spending five weeks on the chart. Debut albums have made a big impact so far in 2008, including maiden hits by the Ting Tings and Amy MacDonald.  Scouting For Girls and Adele have also helped debut collections make their biggest mark on the chart for eight years. Rock band Nickleback have also enjoyed success so far this year, with their single "Rockstar" at number two and album "All The Right Reasons" at three in the rundown. Veteran performer Neil Diamond is also in the top 10 for the year to date with his album "Home Before Dark". 
 
FAITH HILL NEW CHRISTMAS CD [Reuters/Billboard, 7/7/08]
Faith Hill has already began promoting her Christmas album "Joy To The World" which is the first of her 15-year career, due in stores September 16, 2008 on Warner Bros. "Joy to the World" is overwhelmingly a collection of standards, be it the big, booming orchestral arrangements of the title track or "Oh, Holy Night" or swinging, big-band, vintage-sounding versions of more lighthearted fare such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Holly, Jolly Christmas." The more-spiritual songs on the record, such as "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," "Joy" and "Silent Night," feature the Nashville String Machine with conductor Carl Gorodetzky and were recorded live in the studio with Hill's vocals. Last year, Hill's greatest-hits package sold just 257,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. She has moved more than 19 million albums in her career, topped by the 6.5 million copies of "Breathe" in 1999. Her last studio set, 2005's "Fireflies" has sold more than 2.2 million copies.
 
TOP SILVER CLEF AWARD FOR OASIS [BBC News, 7/4/08]
Rock band Oasis have been honoured with a lifetime achievement prize at the Silver Clef awards in London. The veteran rockers join Paul Weller and U2 as recipients of the prize, which is awarded to raise funds for music therapy charity Nordoff-Robins. Other winners at the ceremony in London included The Fratellis, who picked up best British band, and Amy MacDonald, who was named newcomer of the year. Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams took home the Ambassador of Rock prize. Rod Stewart, who was given the Icon award, was unable to attend after falling at a gig in Manchester and hurting his leg. The band's seventh studio album, Dig Out Your Soul, is due for release on 6 October, 2008.
 
ZZ TOP SIGNS NEW RECORD DEAL[Billboard, 7/2/08]
ZZ Top has signed a new record deal with Rick Rubin's American Recordings imprint through Columbia, Billboard reported. The veteran rock trio is planning to hit the studio with Rubin producing, for an album more in keeping with "La Grange"-era ZZ Top than its pop-friendly '80s sound, according to manager Carl Stubner. The band recorded for Warner Bros. for the first 20 years of its career before shifting to RCA in the mid-1990s. ZZ Top's last album, 2003's "Mescalero," has sold 103,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Eagle Rock earlier this month released the first ZZ Top live DVD, "Live From Texas 2007," which debuts this week at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Music Video chart. The band begins a European tour Friday (July 4) in Oporto, Portugal, which will be followed by 18 co-headlining North American dates with Brooks & Dunn. ZZ Top, Brooks & Dunn will be performing in Toronto at the Moslon Amphitheatre on August 24, 2008.
 
ROBIN THICKE SPINS "MAGIC" ON HIS THIRD ALBUM RELEASE[Billboard, 7/2/08]
Hoping to repeat the success of his 2006 album, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke," the R&B singer/songwriter will release his third album, "Something Else," on Sept. 9, 2008 via Star Trak/Interscope. The album's first single, "Magic," is currently No. 32 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The track is also featured in a European TV commercial for Samsung mobile phones. "Something Else" was produced entirely by Thicke and longtime collaborator Pro-Jay and features no guest appearances. The album, as Thicke describes it, is a cross between "classic Philly, Motown and '70s black disco meets the creativity of the Beatles and Bob Dylan." Other songs on the album include the step track "Side Step," and "Dream World."  "The Evolution Of Robin Thicke" has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album spawned the hit "Lost Without You" which peaked at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
 
GOSPEL SINGER REV. WRIGHT HURT IN CAR ACCIDENT [AP, 7/5/08]
Police in central Pennsylvania said gospel singer, Rev. Timothy Wright along with his 14-year-old grandson, D.J. Wright, was critically injured in a crash that killed his wife and a wrong-way driver. Reports are that 58-year-old Betty Wright of Roosevelt, N.Y., died in the three-vehicle crash on Interstate 80. Timothy Wright's latest album, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus," was released last year.
 
JAY-Z WINS OVER DOUBTERS AND TOP CHARTS [BBC News, 7/1/08]
Superstar rapper Jay-Z history making performance at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday, June 28, 2008 as the first ever rapper to top the bill will likely linger for a long time. Oasis' Noel Gallagher riled the musician by saying the organizers were " wrong" to pick him for the three-day event. The rapper's decision to perform on the main stage at a festival best known for its guitar-based rock acts was widely criticized and Jay-Z's response was emphatic. He opened his show with a film using Gallagher's now infamous comments and a montage of clips parodying him, before launching into an acoustic rendition of one of Oasis's biggest hits, "Wonderwall." Rather than being booed off stage as some predicted, both audience and artist rose to the occasion and turned in a moment of real, euphoric, pop-culture history. Most fans and critics were impressed. Reports are that since Jay-Z's performance at the festival, the rapper's record sales has been boosted. His 2004 single 99 Problems is set to go straight into the UK Top 25 singles chart, Linkin Park duet Numb/Encore, which he closed his Glastonbury set with, is also likely to return to the Top 40. Jay-Z has helped Oasis's Wonderwall return to the charts after he mockingly opened his set with the 1995 single. The original version has experienced a huge sales boost, with the single challenging for a place in the Top 100. What's The Story (Morning Glory), the album it originally appeared on, has seen sales increase of over 200%, while their compilation Stop the Clocks has had a week on week increase of over 140%. A number of other acts which appeared at the weekend festival have experienced huge sales increases of their latest albums including The Feeling (78%), The Raconteurs (140%) and Editors (342%).
 
SINGER SHAKIRA SIGNS DEAL WITH LIVE NATION [BBC, 7/3/08]
Pop star Shakira has signed a deal worth between $70 million and $100 million, with global concert promoter Live Nation, her U.S spokesman has confirmed. It gives the company rights to all the Columbian singer's music-related projects - including new albums, tours, merchandise, websites and films. Her signing comes only a few days after Live Nation's chairman, Michael Cohl, stepped down after a dispute over the company's strategy of signing high-profile artists to similar "360-degree" deals. The 31-year-old, who has had hits with Hips Don't Lie and Beautiful Liar, follows Madonna, U2 and Jay-Z, who have signed similar deals with the firm. Shakira has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and had four top 10 UK hits. Earlier this year business magazine Forbes listed her as the fourth richest female musician in the world banking $38 million between June 2006 and June 2007. Only Madonna, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion were ranked ahead of the singer.
 
LIL WAYNE POPS "HALO" CHAMPAGNE[Billboard, 7/2/08]
Superstar rapper, Lil Wayne, will be introducing his new champagne, Halo, to the world in the fall. There will be four variations of the champagne - Halo Brut offers a golden blush with a lemon cream and roasted hazelnut flavor with a citrusy finish, Halo Brut Vintage presents a sparkling amalgamation of almonds and lemon blossoms with a creamy consistency, Halo Rose, is blended with the delightful aromas of crushed raspberries, mint and pomegranate that will remind wine aficionados of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes and Halo Pinnacle is a Chardonnay laden with the texture of pure fruit, and the taste of lime-tree flowers and roasted hazelnuts is very noticeable. Three weeks ago, Wayne's sixth solo album, Tha Carter III went platinum in its first week. He is also filming a project alongside Forest Whitaker called Hurricane Seasons (formerly titled, The Patriot).
 
RON NELSON "REGGAEMANIA" PROGRAM CANCELLED [SQMAP, 7/1/08]
Ron Nelson, an icon radio disc jockey formally of CKLN 88.1 FM “Reggaemania” program and who has been volunteering his services at the station for 25 years, bringing reggae music to the masses along with 13 other programs and 25 volunteer programmers have been locked out of the station. According to reports, the dismissals brought to a boil the dispute by 140 CKLN members who met to discuss the matter of non-confidence with the interim station management and board of directors, voting them out. The old board has refused to relinquish control. Mike Phillips, the 67-year-old engineer installed as station manager, after CKLN went for about five years without someone in that top job and the move to unionize the station further contributed to the dispute, and CUPE Local 1281 claim that the organized attempt to remove the members of CKLN’s board of directors was sparked by the paid staffers. CKLN installed paid-duty police officer in the Ryerson Student Centre to keep the most vocal volunteer dissenters away from the microphones. One show was cut off in the middle of an on-air phone call. On Friday, June 27, 2008, locked out CKLN 88.1 FM volunteers and community supporters held their first picket outside the community radio station. Reggaemania is usually aired on CKLN 88.1 FM, Fridays, 9 pm - midnight.
 
DEAL FOR "AMERICAN IDOL" FINALIST KRISTY LEE COOK [AP, 7/1/08]
Season seven "American Idol" finalist Kristy Lee Cook has signed with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. The Oregon native, who is preparing for the American Idols Live! Tour 2008, will team with songwriter/producer Brett James (Jessica Simpson) to record her album between tour dates, with a release expected this fall. Her first single, "15 Minutes of Shame," will go to country radio in August. Arista Nashville parent Sony BMG Nashville is also home to "Idol" alums Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler. Pickler was previously signed to Arista at age 17, but was dropped before any music was released. "It was tough, because you have a chance and then all of a sudden, it's gone, but if that hadn't happened, I never would have made it to where I am now. So I guess everything happens for a reason. I ended up moving home and then I auditioned for 'American Idol.'" 
 
NAS BREAKS TRADITION, INKS DEAL WITH FILA [Billboard, 7/1/08]
Rapper Nas has inked a one-year partnership with athletic apparel company Fila, Billboard can reveal. Fila will offer reciprocal financial support for Nas' print, TV campaign as well as his upcoming tour in support for his untitled album, due July 15, 2008 via Def Jam. In return, Nas will wear Fila products and co-create an apparel line that draws from fashions of the late '80s. According to Fila president John Epstein, it was a natural match. Some may view Epstein as brave to co-brand his company with an MC who's pledged to unpack America's racial struggles. But after talking to a group of kids in a focus group, felt the company made the right decision.
 
BOY GEORGE CANCELS U.S. TOUR [BBC News, 7/1/08]
Boy George's plans for a North American tour have run into some bad karma. The Culture Club singer, whose given name is George O'Dowd, has canceled his summer plans after U.S. authorities denied him a visa to enter the country. O'Dowd, 47, had planned to officially kick off his 25-city tour in Aspen, Colo., on July 10, 2008, and was to throw in a free concert at the New York City Department of Sanitation's Family Day in August. He worked for the department in 2006 while performing court-ordered community service in a drug case. The singer, whose hits include "Karma Chameleon," has pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, O'Dowd intends to reschedule his North American tour for next winter. He'll continue his concert tours of South America and the United Kingdom in September and October.
 
BON JOVI TO GIVE FREE CONCERT IN NYC [AP, 6/30/08]
NEW YORK - Bon Jovi will perform a free concert July 12, 2008 in Central Park. It's billed as a prelude to the July 15, 2008 All-Star baseball game, which will highlight the final season at Yankee Stadium. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Jovi will help ensure it goes out in a blaze of glory, hopefully a blaze in late October at the World Series. Bon Jovi's hits include "Livin' on a Prayer," "Bad Medicine" and "Blaze of Glory." Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi said playing Central Park is a dream come true.
 
SOULJA BOY INK SNEAKERS AND CLOTHES DEAL [Billboard, 7/1/08]
Soulja Boy has signed a multi-year sneaker and apparel contract with Yums Shoes, a Dallas-based clothing company. The Soulja Boy exclusive shoe along with the album and the Soulja Boy cartoon will be  introduced at the Magic trade show this fall. Soulja Boy's sophomore album "iSouljaBoy" is expected to feature contributions from Polow Da Don, Bow Wow and Sean Kingston. His 2007 debut, "Soulja Boy Tell'em," has sold 919,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
 
LABELLE SETS DATE FOR REUNION ALBUM [Billboard, 7/1/08]
R&B trio Labelle is in the studio recording a reunion album to be produced by Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and Lenny Kravitz. The untitled set, the group first since 1976's is due Sept. 23, 2008 via Verve. In addition, the group, which comprises Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash, will perform July 5, 2008 in New Orleans as part of the Essence Festival at the Louisiana Superdome. Labelle is best known for the single "Lady Marmalade," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1975. The track was famously covered in 2001 by Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink on the "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack.
DMX ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES [AP, 7/1/08]
MIAMI - Rapper DMX has been arrested in Miami for the second this week. The 37-year-old artist, real name Earl Simmons, was arrested Friday on charges of attempting to purchase cocaine and marijuana, according to a Miami-Dade Police Department arrest report. Simmons was arrested during a narcotics sting operation and bail was set at $6,000. DMX has recently had a string of run-ins with the law. He was picked up recently in Miami on an arrest warrant for having no valid driver's license, and he pleaded not guilty to felony drug possession and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges last month in Arizona.
 
SHAGGY TO PERFORM AT EURO 2008 FINAL [Reuters, 6/29/08]
VIENNA  - Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, will be rubbing shoulders with Hollywood actor Harrison Ford and former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger in the VIP seats at Sunday's Euro 2008 final, at Vienna's Ernst Happel stadium. Ford, Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo and Jamaican reggae artist Shaggy, singer of the tournament's two mascot songs, are among the invited guests from the entertainment industry. Former top sportsmen and sporting officials due to attend include German ex Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, 1974 World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
 
MODEL DIES IN FALL FROM BUILDING [AP, 6/29/08]
NEW YORK - A European Vogue cover model fell to her death from her Manhattan apartment building Saturday in an apparent suicide, published reports said. Ruslana Korshunova, 20, died around 2:30 p.m. in a fall from a building on Water Street, in Manhattan's Financial District, The New York Post, the Daily News and Newsday reported. The newspapers cited unnamed officials and police. Police said the fall was under investigation. Korushnova's New York agency and a spokeswoman for medical examiners did not immediately return telephone messages. Originally from the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan, the almond-eyed, flowing-haired Korshunova appeared in advertisements and on runways for such designers as Marc Jacobs, Nina Ricci and DKNY. British Vogue hailed her as "a face to be excited about" in 2005. Her break came when modeling booker Debbie Jones noticed her while perusing an in-flight magazine article about Korushnova's hometown of Almaty, according to the Vogue report. "She looked like something out of a fairytale!" Jones told the magazine. "We had to find her and we searched high and low until we did!"
 
RAPPER WYCLEF JEAN WORKING TO DEVELOP HAITI [Reuters, 6/29/08]
PORT-AU-PRINCE  - When Grammy-winning musician Wyclef Jean went to Haiti recently, he had in tow the television cameras you might expect of a big-time rapper and producer. But he also was accompanied by a pool of buttoned-down business types, including the likes of Canadian entrepreneur Belinda Stronach and other potential foreign investors. Born in the Haitian village of Croix-des-Bouquets, Jean moved with his family to New York when he was 9 years old. The Fugees, the group he formed with Lauryn Hill and Pras Michel, recorded the 1996 Grammy-winning album "The Score," which sold 17 million copies worldwide. Jean, 35, who became a homeland hero with his efforts, through his foundation called Yele Haiti, to bring education and peace to the impoverished Caribbean nation, has set his sights on serious economic change. He said more foreign investment and help with sustainable development is needed but not charity that could cause Haiti to become even more dependent. Many of Haiti's 9 million people live on less than $2 a day.
 
MANDELA JOIN STARS AT LONDON GIG [BBC News, 6/27/08]
Nelson Mandela joined music stars on stage at a concert in London's Hyde Park to celebrate his 90th birthday. As well as marking the former South African president's personal milestone, the concert raised funds for Mr Mandela's HIV/Aids charity 46664. Mr Mandela told the crowd: "Even as we celebrate, let us remind ourselves that our work is far from complete - our work is for freedom for all." Up to 50,000 people watched stars including Amy Winehouse, Queen, Geri Halliwell, Leona Lewis, Will Smith with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, rapper Emmanuel Jal, Andrea and Sharon Corr, Eddy Grant, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Simple Minds.
 
MAVADO COLLABO WITH G-UNIT [SQMAP, 6/27/08]
Reggae dancehall artist Mavado, whose legal name is David Brooks, has teamed up with G-Unit to record a new track. The title is unknown, but his last collaboration with Jay-Z  "On The Rock" was successful. Unconfirmed reports are that the Finish Line Summer edition scheduled for Saturday, June 28/08 featuring Kartel and Mavado was cancelled because the police did not issue a permit for the event.
 
MTV MAY GIVE BRITNEY A SECOND CHANCE AT VMAs [AP, 6/27/08]
MTV isn't ruling out giving viewers more Britney Spears at this year's Video Music Awards. "Everyone deserves a second or third chance, right?" Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group, playfully told The Associated Press during a telephone interview Friday. When asked if he was just joking, Toffler said "sorta." "Who knows?" he said. Spears' out-of-it "Gimme More" comeback performance during last year's MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas was one of the most-talked televised moments of 2007. The drama-filled VMAs drew 7.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Another Spears redux could equal even more eyeballs. This year's MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7. (MTV and Paramount are corporate cousins within Viacom Inc.) Toffler said the award show's performances will occur on the lot's various sound stages, rooftops and faux city streets.
 
KANYE TO PAY OFF MOM'S DEBT [VIBE.com, 6/27/08]
One year after the death of Dr. Donda West, creditors are knocking on the door of her son Kanye with one message: pay up. According to TMZ, an Illinois trust company are demanding that the rapper pay upwards of  $600,000 to settle his mom’s condo mortgage. Creditors said that Ms. West—who didn’t have a will when she died—owed the $600,000, plus interest when she passed, and Kanye happens to be the co-executor. West died November 10, 2007 of coronary artery disease and complications following plastic surgery. She was 58-years-old.
 
LACELL "GIRLIE" PARNELL CHARGED WITH MOLESTATION [SQMAP, 6/27/08]
Jamaican actor Lasell "Girlie" Parnell, known for his many acting roles as females in "Years of Maternity", "Sit Dung Pon It", "Fire In A Yuh Wire" and numerous others, has been arrested and charged with molesting a teenage boy in Brooklyn. As reported in YardFlex.com, on May 28, 2008 the boy's mother filed a report with the police that "Girlie" allegedly molested her son. The police conducted an investigation and he was subsequently arrested and charged on May 29, 2008. He was released on a US$7,500 bail with surety. Sometime later, Parnell was arrested again for child pornography. He has not been formally charged with these additional offences. However, if he is, he will be deported to Jamaica. Reportedly his original lawyer "bailed on him" and he may be seeking another lawyer.
 
SUGE KNIGHT SELLS DEATH ROW RECORDS FOR $24 MILLION [VIBE.com, 6/26/08]
A bankruptcy court judge ruled that Knight was to auction off Death Row Records and its assets, and the label was sold yesterday for $24 million to the president of Global Music Group, Susan Berg. She is now the owner of all recordings made by Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Dr. Dre and the late Tupac Shakur, which includes twenty songs that will be added to his collection of posthumously released tracks. As VIBE.com previously reported, Knight had failed to appear at a court-ordered hearing in April of 2006, which led to the seizing of his label and assets. On April 24, 2006, Knight filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Death Row Records was in debt that accumulated to upwards of $137 million and $4.4 million in assets. Both Koch Records and Warner Music Group had shown a genuine interest in buying the label. WMG was the highest bidder at $25 million on February 1, 2008. Death Row Records is one of the most controversial and successful record labels in hip hop history.  The infamous label has sold close to 50 million units worldwide and generated close to $750 million in revenue in its prime. Last month, Knight was involved in a scuffle with a man named Greg “The Barber” at a nightclub in Hollywood, which was allegedly over financial issues.
 
LIL WAYNE ADDED TO VOODOO LINEUP [AP, 6/26/08]
Rapper Lil Wayne is the latest addition to the lineup for this year's Voodoo Experience in the rapper's native New Orleans. The musical celebration will feature dozens of acts on six stages in October. The lineup already includes R.E.M., Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Erykah Badu and Joss Stone. Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., scored the year's best-selling album sales debut this month, with 1 million copies sold of his new CD, "Tha Carter III." The Voodoo Experience, which is in its 10th year, will be held Oct. 24-26, 2008 at New Orleans' City Park behind the New Orleans Museum of Art.
 
INDIA ARIE TO MAKE BROADWAY DEBUT [AP, 6/25/08]
Grammy-winning singer, India Arie, will make her Broadway debut in a revival of Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf." She will open in the play Sept. 8 at Circle in the Square. Preview performances begin Aug. 19 in what will be a revised and updated version of the play, which was an off-Broadway hit for the Public Theater in 1976 before transferring to Broadway for a run of more than 700 performances. The new production will be produced by Whoopi Goldberg, directed by Shirley Jo Finney and choreographed by Hinton Battle, a three-time Tony winner. "For Colored Girls...," a prose-poem portrait of black women in America, originally featured Shange and Trazana Beverley, who won a Tony for her performance. Goldberg has been involved in productions of "Thoroughly Modern Millie," her own "Whoopi ... The 20th Anniversary" and a revival of August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." 
 
MAN ACQUITTED IN AMY WINEHOUSE HUSBAND'S CASE [AP, 6/25/08]
A British court on Wednesday acquitted a former pub manager of taking a bribe to drop assault charges against Amy Winehouse's husband. A jury deliberated for three hours before finding James King not guilty of trying to pervert the course of justice (the equivalent of obstruction of justice in the U.S.). The singer-songwriter's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, has admitted beating up King in a barroom fight in 2006 and then offering him $400,000 to keep quiet about it. King, who suffered a broken cheekbone, said he was intimidated into withdrawing the assault claim. Three other men also pleaded guilty to involvement in the plot. They and Fielder-Civil all face jail terms when they are sentenced next month. Winehouse, 24, and Fielder-Civil, 26, were married in Miami in May 2007. He was arrested in November and has been in jail ever since. She has become an international star since releasing the Grammy-winning album "Back to Black" in 2006. But her music has been overshadowed by reports of drug use, her run-ins with the law and tempestuous relationship with Fielder-Civil.
 
JACOB THE JEWELER GETS 2 1/2 YEARS IN PRISON [VIBE, 6/24/08]
Benjamin Brafman, the attorney of famed jeweler Jacob Arabov, a.k.a. Jacob the Jeweler, has released a statement to VIBE concerning Arabov's sentencing today. Arabov will serve 2 1/2 years in prison for lying to federal agents investigating Black Mafia Family. He's been ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and make a $2 million forfeiture payment to the government. Arabov was accused of laundering about $270 million in drug profits for BMF, a drug ring that started in Detroit. For seven years Arabov was investigated, the AP reports. In October Arabov pleaded guilty to falsifying records and giving false statements after striking a deal with federal prosecutors for a minimum sentence of three years and one month.
 
BOY GEORGE DENIED U.S. VISA FOR TOUR [BBC News, 6/24/08]
Boy George's U.S solo summer tour is in doubt after authorities refused to issue him with a visa, citing looming overseas legal issues. A statement from the singer and DJ's management said it was in relation to a forthcoming London trial on false imprisonment charges. The 47-year-old denied the allegations in 2007 and was released on bail. The former Culture Club frontman's 24-date tour is scheduled to begin on 11 July in Las Vegas. "At the moment, Boy George cannot come to the United States of America because he has been refused permission to enter by the USA Administration," the statement said. The singer was arrested last year after a 28-year-old male escort from Norway accused the singer/DJ of false imprisonment by chaining him to a wall and assaulting him.
 
AMY WINEHOUSE 'WILL PLAY GLASTO' [BBC Radio 1, 6/23/08]
Mitch Winehouse says his daughter Amy Winehouse will play at Glastonbury. Medical exams have revealed the singer has traces of emphysema, scarring on her lungs. She has been treated in hospital since she collapsed at her home on 16 June. Winehouse is due to play at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday on 27 June in London's Hyde Park and Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage on 28 June, in the slot before rapper Jay-Z. Her dad has told Newsbeat: "She will be well enough to be at Glastonbury. She's well enough now."
 
HIGH GAS PRICES PUT THE BRAKES ON INDIE TOUR [AP, 6/22/08]
For months, Something Fierce singer-guitarist, 23 year old Steve Garcia had been budgeting money and booking show dates for the group's third tour – but skyrocketing gas prices have put the brakes on those plans. After much hand-wringing and grumbling from bookers who'd scheduled the band to play, Garcia canceled the tour. Cramming into a rusty, creaky van and playing dive bars and house parties is a summer ritual for many young musicians and ambitious independent bands trying to get exposure, make a living and maybe build a solid future in music. But like everything else that requires lengthy time on the road, filling up at $4 a gallon or more is taking a toll.
 
LORRAINE REID TO PERFORM AT MONTREAL REGGAE FEST [SQMAP, 6/20/08]
Lorraine Reid, seven-time JUNO nominated R&B/Neo-Soul singer will be performing at the Montreal Reggae Festival on July 12, 2008. Lorraine, known to many as the lead vocalist with the dance group Temperance, along with opening for numerous recording artists such as Monica, Destiny's Child and Coolio, will be performing songs, including the single "How Can I Keep Him," from her debut solo album "Lessons Learned." She is also scheduled to play the Michigan Reggae Festival in August. The 3-day weekend Montreal Reggae Fest event is ranked among the top annual festivals held in Montreal.
 
RAPPER JAY-Z HITS BACK AT CRITICISM [BBC News, 6/20/08]
Jay-Z has said the row over his headline slot at Glastonbury Festival is the result of outdated thinking. The hip-hop star is the first ever rapper to top the bill on the Pyramid Stage on Saturday 28 June. The announcement has been met with some criticism, with Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher claiming he was "wrong" for the event. But Jay-Z said: "It's ridiculous, if we don't embrace what is new, then how do we progress?" He continued: "I've never actually experienced anything like that before. "It's 2008, what is that about? That's such old school thinking, that's not even how the world thinks anymore. So I was really taken aback (by the criticism)."
 
FEIST'S HIT ALBUM A BIG HIT FOR LABEL [Reuters/Billboard, 6/20/08]
Canadian independent label Arts & Crafts may be enjoying the biggest hit of its six-year existence, but label co-founder/president Jeffrey Remedios says he'll never change his "quality over quantity" business mantra. The Toronto-based label has seen Feist's "The Reminder" become a runaway hit, selling more than 200,000 copies in Canada since its May 2007 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album has proved a worldwide hit, selling more than 600,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, although A&C has the rights only for Canada. The label anticipates that "The Reminder" will continue to sell, with a Canadian arena tour for Feist slated for the fall.
 
JUDGE ORDERS 50 CENT TO FORFEIT GUNS [Reuters, 6/20/08]
U.S. rapper 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, was ordered to surrender any guns he might have after a judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order requested by the rapper's ex-girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins, the mother of his 10-year-old son, lawyers said. A lawyer for the rapper, said he would contest the order and that 50 Cent did not have guns or access to guns. The order bars 50 Cent from being in contact with Shaniqua without the court's permission. The rapper and Tompkins have been locked in a legal fight over money. Tompkins has argued that she is entitled to half of 50 Cent's estate, based on an oral agreement. The dispute escalated last month after a fire destroyed the rapper's $2.4 million Long Island home, where Tompkins lived with their son. The Stamford, Connecticut-based rapper has denied any involvement in the fire and separately on Friday filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit in a Connecticut Superior Court against Tompkins for statements she made to the media. Since his debut album in 2003, 50 Cent has built a business with a record label, a clothing and footwear line, ringtones and video games. He has also starred in the movie "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" based on his life.
 
QUEEN LATIFAH SUES IN N.Y. OVER CAMEO ROLE [Reuters, 6/18/08]
U.S. actress and singer Queen Latifah sued a small film production company that helped finance the movie "The Perfect Holiday" on Wednesday, saying she had not been paid any money for the film. Lawyers for Queen Latifah, an Academy Award-nominated actress and Grammy Award-winning singer whose real name is Dana Owens, said in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court the California-based company, Perfect Christmas Productions, had breached her contract and owed her $275,000 for a cameo role in the film. "The Perfect Holiday," which was also produced by Owens, 38, was released in December 2007, starring Terrence Howard and Gabrielle Union. It grossed more than $5.8 million by February, 2008 in the United States, according to Box Office Mojo. The lawsuit said Perfect Christmas Productions was believed to have been paid several million dollars by third parties for "The Perfect Holiday," which was originally known as "Perfect Christmas."
 
HIP-HOP ARTIST "MIKEY G" JAILED IN SLAYING [SQMAP, 6/18/08]
Toronto hip-hop artist, Mikey G., real name Clinton Gordon, who fatally stabbed 24-year old Mohamed Hussein, a father of two during a domestic dispute, has been sentenced to six years in prison. According to reports, on November 2005, Hussein drove to his estranged wife home, recording artist Kim Davis, to visit his children. He became enraged to see Gordon, who had been dating his ex-wife there. The two men got into a dispute and Gordon threw a shovel in Hussein's direction as he left the home. Hussein went to his car to retrieve a bat. The two men struggled at Hussein's SUV, where the victim sustained seven stab wounds and six cuts, without landing any significant blows with his bat. Davis tried to intervene but was struck twice in the face. Gordon will serve five years after being credited one year for pre-trial custody and house arrest. Mikey G performed on the Bishop Brigante song, "About 2 Change." R&B, soul and hip-hop entertainer Kim Davis sings "Sometimes" and "Hush" featuring Sizzla Kalonji.
 
LIL WAYNE'S "THA CARTER III" SOLD 1 MILLION [AP, 6/18/08]
Lil Wayne now has official numbers to back up his bragging — the rapper's new CD has sold a spectacular 1 million copies its first week. "Tha Carter III" is easily the best selling first week of the year CD, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures. Even Kanye West's "The Graduation" didn't eclipse that mark in its first week last year (though it was only about 50,000 copies short). A prolific rapper who's been ubiquitous on the mixtape scene and on other acts' records, Lil Wayne is generally regarded as one of rap's most gifted performers — but he's never had a multi-platinum album. His last two albums, "Tha Carter" and "Tha Carter II," sold 1.1 million and 1.4 million copies, respectively. "Tha Carter III" was anticipated as the CD that would send the New Orleans rapper into superstardom. Lil Wayne, 25, has been a star on the rap scene since he was a teen, but only in recent years has his star rivaled that of contemporaries like West, a contributor on his new CD. The last album to sell a million in a week was 50 Cent's The Massacre in March 2005.
 
T.I. SIGNS 8BALL AND MJG [vibe, 6/18/08]
Despite all of the controversy surrounding platinum-selling rapper T.I., the hip hop heavyweight has yet to lose sight of what the people want…hot music. At popular Atlanta radio station Hot 107.9’s Birthday Bash concert this past Saturday (June 14) Tip announced that legendary Memphis rap duo 8 Ball & MJG has signed to his label, Grand Hustle Records. Soon after, T.I. surprised the sold out crowd with an impromptu performance by the group. This news comes just one year after the release of Ridin’ High, the duo’s last LP on Bad Boy Records. Grand Hustle has not yet announced a release date for the group’s first single.
 
JOAN RIVERS TAKEN OFF ITV FOR SWEARING [BBC News, 6/17/08]
U.S comedienne Joan Rivers has had an appearance on a daytime TV show cut short after swearing live on air. The 75-year-old's outburst came when talking about actor Russell Crowe on ITV's Loose Women. The star claimed she was expecting a time delay so the expletives could be bleeped out. An ITV spokeswoman said: "Guests are always briefed that it is a live daytime show and are reminded not to swear or use inappropriate language."  She added: "An editorial decision was taken that Joan Rivers should not appear in the final part of the program. Rivers, who is currently in the UK promoting her London acting debut in a self-penned autobiographical play, said she had warned the show: "Get ready to bleep." She added that it was not her fault that producers did not have the facility to edit out bad language.
 
SNOOP DOGG'S WIFE ARRESTED FOR DUI [AP, 6/15/08]
Police say the wife of rapper Snoop Dogg has been arrested in California's Orange County for investigation of driving under the influence of alcohol. Fullerton police Lt. Craig Brower says officers stopped 32-year-old Shante Shahn-taye) Broadus of Sherman Oaks about 12:15 a.m. Saturday and took her to jail. She was cited and then released pending a court appearance. Brower says nobody else was in the car but he didn't have any other details. Broadus and Snoop Dogg — whose real name is Calvin Broadus Jr. — were married in 1997 and have three children. 
 
SWEDISH JAZZMAN SVENSSON DIES [Reuters, 6/15/08]
Swedish jazz pianist and composer Esbjorn Svensson, who helped break genre boundaries and attracted a young audience outside the traditional jazz scene, died in a scuba diving accident on Saturday, his manager said. Burkhard Hopper, manager of the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.), said Svensson, 44, died on Saturday in Sweden's Stockholm archipelago. Svensson was a big name in international jazz circles with e.s.t. winning critical acclaim and commercial success from Japan to the United States, mainly in European countries such as Germany, France and Britain, with albums such as Viaticum (2005) and Tuesday Wonderland (2006).  E.s.t., which also includes Dan Berglund and Magnus Ostrom, was the first European group to hit the cover of prestigious U.S. jazz magazine Down Beat, in 2006. The group won several important honors, including the European Jazz Award and the BBC Jazz Award, Hopper said. The group, renowned for playing in rock venues to young crowds, had recently finished its eleventh album, Lencocyte, that had been due for commercial release in September. He was humble, modest and appreciative of the work those working with him. Svensson leaves a wife and two children.
 
LIONEL RICHIE PLEDGES COMMODORES REUNION [AP, 6/14/08]
Grammy award-winning pop singer Lionel Richie said Saturday that he and the Commodores will reunite soon for a tour. Richie said a reunion could happen in the next two years. "We better do it now, or in the next 10 years nobody would care," he told reporters before singing at Antigua's Romantic Rhythms festival. Richie, 58, said it was important for the group to get together before it loses more band members. Lead guitarist Milan Williams died two years ago. Richie was confident that synergy still existed between band members. He said Commodores' bass player Ronald La Pread joined him on stage during his last tour and played some of the group's old hits. The Commodores were known for hits like "Three Times a Lady" and "Brick House." Richie broke away from the Commodores in the late 1970s and topped the charts in the 1980s with songs like "Endless Love" and "Say You, Say Me."
 
LIL' WAYNE EYES U.S CHART RECORD [BBC News, 6/13/08]
"Dirty south" rap star Lil' Wayne is set to go straight to number one in the US album charts, after selling 423,000 copies of his record in just one day. Early figures put the Louisiana rapper on target to have the biggest sales week of the year in the States. The record is currently held by Mariah Carey, whose E=MC2 album sold 463,000 copies in April. Tha Carter III is Lil' Wayne's sixth release. Lead single Lollipop has already spent five weeks at number one. It is also the rapper's first hit single in the UK - where he is probably best known for his cameo on the Destiny's Child single Soldier. The first day sales figures are based on information from nine of America's biggest music retailers, including Best Buy, Borders and iTunes. Other new entries set for the album chart include Coldplay's Viva La Vida, N.E.R.D.'s Seeing Sounds and Alanis Morisette's Flavors of Entanglement, according to Billboard magazine.
 
EMINEM REVEALS NEW ALBUM PLANS [BBC News, 6/13/08]
Eminem has revealed he's back in the studio again and working on his first album in almost three years. He announced the news during a prank call to his own radio station. He had prank-called LL Cool J, a live guest on DJ Tony Touch's show on Shade 45. There is no release date for the album. Last month, 50 Cent confirmed he had heard some of the songs his mentor had been working on. He told Blender magazine: "You know, Michael Jordan was supposed to play basketball. Floyd Mayweather was meant to box. And Eminem was meant to rap." Eminem's last studio album was Encore in 2004.
 
FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER PLANS TO SUE JAY-Z FOR $88 MILLION [vibe, 6/12/08]
Rap star Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is currently sitting on a $150 million Live Nation deal, and he’s newly-wedded to superstar Beyonce - but a former heavyweight champion got news for Hov: the honeymoon is over. According to Allhiphop.com, former boxer Mitchell Rose has plans to sue the rapper for $88 million for, basically, stealing his style. “He took the style and the delivery,” Rose told AllHipHop.com. “All I want is justice. Jay-Z knows what I am talking about." Rose, a 39-year-old Brooklyn native, went on to say that he slipped Jay his demo at a William Joppy and Felix Trinidad fight. He later said he heard his style smeared all over Jay’s songs, a whisper sound that Rose claims is his. "I had previously trained some of my artists to use that style, but it quickly became obsolete after Jay-Z got a hold of it," Rose says. "He [Jay-Z] used the whispering to enhance his music and financially benefit from it. Jay-Z disregarded the fact that it was my demo where he got the style from as he went on to use it for his own personal gains, which is wrong.”
 
ARETHA FRANKLIN TO HEADLINE 2008 NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL [AP, 6/12/08]
Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin will headline the 2008 JVC Jazz Festival. Festival organizers say the Grammy winner, whose hits include "Respect," "Chain of Fools" and "I Say a Little Prayer," will perform her gospel-charged soul Aug. 9/08 at Fort Adams State Park. Other performers include jazz saxophonists Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter, best-selling trumpeter Chris Botti, and pianist and composer Herbie Hancock.
 
JANET JACKSON CANCELS EUROPEAN TOUR [MuchMusic, 6/11/08]
Janet Jackson has called off her European tour. The singer told SoHipHop.com that her record label Island Def Jam is the cause of the cancelled dates. Janet says the label wasn't promoting her latest CD "Discipline" and that fans will not be hearing another single from the album.
 
COOLIO ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WITH SUSPENDED LICENSE [AP, 6/10/08]
Coolio was arrested Tuesday on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for driving with a suspended license, Los Angeles police said. The 44 year old rapper was released roughly five hours after officers pulled over his gray Hummer around 1:45 a.m in Hollywood. He posted $10,000 bail. Officers stopped him because the vehicle's registration was expired, but a check revealed his license was suspended and he had an outstanding warrant, officer Ana Aguirre said. Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., gained fame for his 1995 single "Gansta's Paradise."
 
NAS MOVES NEW ALBUM BACK TWO WEEKS [Reuters/Billboard, 6/10/08]
Rapper Nas' album has shifted on the release schedule yet again, this time moving from July 1 to July 15/08. In May, the rapper dropped the Def Jam disc's original title, "N*igger," and reclassified the album as an untitled project. On the first official track from the album, "Hero," Nas explains that he dropped the original controversial title so that the album's message could better reach his fans. Nas' previous album, 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," has sold 758,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
 
NYC JUDGE TELLS 50 CENT TO HOLD ONTO NY PROPERTY [AP, 6/10/08]
A judge has told rapper 50 Cent he may not dispose of the Long Island property where a $2.4 million house was destroyed by fire last month. State Supreme Court Justice Carol Edmead has also ordered 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, to put insurance proceeds in a trust account pending the outcome of his dispute with ex-girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins. Tompkins says Jackson promised her a house a decade ago, but had recently wanted to evict her and their 10 year old son, Marquise, from the house in Dix Hills, New York. The house in the Long Island neighbourhood of Dix Hills was destroyed by a suspicious fire on May 30th. Tompkins, Marquise and four others were treated for smoke inhalation.
 
KARDINAL CRACKS U.S. CHART [Billboard, 6/02/08]
Dangerous, the track written by R&B superstar Akon with a unique rap-style by Toronto's own Kardinal Offishall is poised to become an unavoidable summer single. The single is No. 40 this week on Billboard Hot 100 Music Chart. Kardinal Offishall, whose real name is James Harrow, was dropped by MCA and met Akon at a Canadian tour stop, joined him on tour and worked in a studio on the back of a tour bus. The beat for Dangerous was handed off after a Vancouver tour show to Akon, who wrote its chorus in minutes and let Offishall finished it. And the rest they say is history.
 
LIL FLIP HOSPITALIZED AFTER CAR ACCIDENT [Vibe, 6/6/08]
Houston rapper Lil' Flip (real name Wesley Eric Weston Jr.) is currently recovering in a hospital after he was involved in a car accident in his hometown late last night. The rapper was rushed to a nearby hospital and was treated for neck and wrist injuries. The press release did not state the extent of the injuries but stated Flip is doing well. The rapper, who was given the title "freestyle king" by the late Houston legend DJ Screw, was promoting the album Holla Back, slated for release July 29/08 via Clover G Records and will be distributed through BCD Records.
 
THE GAME, YOUNG JEEZY TO HOST SHOWS ON SATELLITE RADIO [VIBE, 6/6/08]
The hip hop-heavyweights, known for their hardcore persona and street-savvy records, are debating their own shows on XM Radio later this week. Reportedly, the hour-long shows will appear on XM's channel 66 Raw Hip Hop stations and will comprise of different hosts who will play music and interview artists each week. The Game's show Black Wall Street Radio, will feature the West Coast gangsta rapper himself, and a roster that includes Juice, Nu Jersey Devil and DJ Haze. The show will air 8 pm Eastern every Friday starting June 6/08. Jeezy's show C.T.E. Radio will debut on June 7/08 and will feature Jeezy along with other hosts such as Blood, Raw, Slick Pulla, Roccett, 211 and DJ Famous. The show will air at 6 pm Eastern every Saturday. Both superstars are releasing their third solo albums later this summer. Games L.A.X is set to hit stores July 8/08 and Jeezy's The Recession: Thug Motivation 103 is set to be released on July 29/08.
 
RAPPER REMY MA GETS 8 YEARS [AP, 5/13/08]
Remy Ma has been sentenced to eight years in prison in the shooting of a woman outside a Manhattan nightclub. The State Supreme Court sentence was handed Tuesday to the 26 year old rapper, whose real name is Remy Smith, for assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion. Remy Ma, who could have faced up to 25 years in prison, was teary-eyed as she heard the sentence. She says last summer's shooting was an accident, an appeal is planned. Her wedding to rapper Papoose at Riker Island jail was called off when he showed up with a handcuff key.
 
SUGE KNIGHT KNOCKED OUT [Vibe.com, 5/11/08]
Death Row founder and current reality show star Suge Knight, was knocked out Saturday night after getting into an argument with a man over money, TMZ reports. According to the gossip blog, Knight was outside Shag nightclub in Los Angeles when he got into a verbal altercation with an unidentified man. "I want my money!" Knight allegedly barked at the man, before Knight's posse beat the guy to the ground. Before hitting the pavement, the man shot Knight a right hook knocking the 365-pound former football player and bodyguard to the ground where he laid unconscious for three minutes. Knight was taken to a nearby hospital. He refused to file charges.
 
HULK HOGAN SON JAILED [AP, 5/9/08]
A judge in Florida says the 17 year old son of wrestler Hulk Hogan should serve eight months in jail for reckless driving. Nick Bollea was led off to begin his sentence immediately after Friday's ruling. He will be on five year's probation and lose his driving privileges for three years. Authorities say Bollea was racing a friend in his father's sport car when he clipped a curb, spun out of control and slammed into a palm tree in downtown Clearwater, Florida, last August. The impact left his friend critically injured and in need of lifetime medical care.
 
BEE GEES MUSICAL HIT STAGE [BBC News, 5/10/08]
A musical based on the songs of the Bee Gees is being written for London's West End and Broadway. Robin Gibb said the project was already in the pipeline and could be on stage in the next 12-16 months. The announcement was made at the unveiling of a green plaque in central London honoring the group's achievements. The tribute at 67 Brook Street in Mayfair is where the band wrote hits including Diana Ross's Chain Reaction and Dione Warwick's Heartbreaker. Barry, Robin and Maurice were one of the biggest acts of the 1970s and won multiple Grammy Awards during their career. At Saturday's unveiling Gibb said: "It's very special and more so because of losing Maurice in 2003, my twin brother". Maurice died from a heart attack after being admitted to hospital for an operation on his intestines.
 
COLDPLAY 2 MILLION DOWNLOADED SONG  [BBC News, 5/6/08]
Coldplay's new single, Violet Hill, has been downloaded by 2 million people since it was put online last week. Violet Hill was made available for seven days as a free download on the band's website. The song is Coldplay's first single from the new album Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends. Coldplay's website crashed when the song first went online last Tuesday, because of huge demand. The album will release on 12 June 2008 and Coldplay is scheduled to perform in Toronto on October 29 & 30 at Air Canada Centre.
 
MICHAEL JACKSON KEEPING NEVERLAND RANCH [Reuters, 5/11/08]
Entertainer Michael Jackson said on Sunday a foreclosure sale on his Neverland Ranch set for this week was averted after a loan $23.5 million, on the California property was sold to Colony Capital, a large real estate investment firm. The formerly high-flying singer and songwriter saw his career slammed at a child molestation trial in 2005. Even though he was acquitted on all counts, he has faced significant financial problems in recent years.
 
GOSPEL SINGER DOTTIE RAMBO DIES [AP, 5/11/08]
Joyce "Dottie" Rambo, an influential gospel singer and songwriter, died early Sunday when her tour bus ran off the road and struck an embankment. She was 74. Rambo, of Nashville, Tenn. was on her way to a Mother's Day performance in Texas, according to her website. Rambo was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame last year and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Rambo has more than 2,500 published songs, including gospel classics such as "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need" and the 1982 Gospel Music Association Song of the Year, "We Shall Behold HIm".
 
RAPPER TO APPEAR IN TERMINATOR [BBC News, 5/7/08]
Rapper Common has landed a role in the fourth Terminator film, Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, according to Billboard magazine. The double-grammy winner will play a freedom fighter named Barnes who is defending the human race against a machine sent to destroy it. The film also features Batman Begins star Christian Bale and Australian actor Sam Worthington. The film is scheduled to be released on 22 May 2009. Common will appear in Wanted, which is out later this year and stars James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.
 
TINA TURNER TO TOUR AGAIN [BBC News, 5/1/08]
Grammy-winning and veteran singer, Tina Turner has revealed plans to tour the U.S., despite announcing her retirement from performing on the road eight years ago. Best known for hits such as Simply the Best and What's Love Got To Do With It?, she rose to prominence in the mid-1960's with husband Ike, who died last year. The 68 year old pop legend told TV host Oprah Winfrey the tour would kick off in October in Kansas City.
 
DOWNEY JR TO RETURN AS IRON MAN [BBC News, 5/5/08]
Hollywood actor Robert Downey Jr has signed up for a sequel to the comic book adaptation Iron Man, due to be released in 2010, Marvel Studio has said. The first Iron Man film was released at the weekend and took $98.6 million in three days in the US and Canada. Following its success, a string of new movies based on other comic characters will be made, including Thor, Captain America and The Avengers.
 
NICKELBACK SINGER SENTENCED [Reuters, 5/1/08]
Chad Kroeger, the lead singer for Canadian rock band Nickelback, was sentenced to a one-year driving ban and fined more than $600 CDN for drunk driving. The Nickelback frontman was stopped by police for speeding in his luxury Lamborghini sports car in Vancouver, suburb of Surrey, British Columbia in 2006. His lawyer says they will appeal the conviction.
 
LENNON'S PEACE LYRICS TO BE SOLD [BBC News, 4/30/08]
John Lennon's lyrics for Give Peace A Chance, including photos which have never been seen in public before, are to go under the hammer at a London auction. The collection is expected to fetch up to 300,000 Pounds. The lyrics were handed to comedy writer Gail Renard, who was then 16, at Lennon and Yoko Ono's Montreal "bed in" in 1969. Lennon gave Renard a few mementos at the time, includng the lyrics, telling her "one day they will be worth something.
 
ELIOT SPITZER BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED [AP, 4/30/08]
A book about the rise and stunning decline of former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, co-authored by Peter Elkind, who helped write the bestseller about ENRON, "The Smartest Guys in the Room," is collaborating on the Spitzer book with filmmaker Alex Gibney, who is making a documentary about the law and order Democrat who resigned last month over allegations about this connection to a $5,500-an-hour call girl ring. The untitled book is being published by Penguin Group (USA) and the publication date is unavailable.
 
MARIAH CAREY HAS MONSTER NO.1 CHART [Reuters/ Billboard,  4/23/08]
Mariah scored her sixth No. 1 album on the U.S. pop chart Wednesday, vaulting into rarefied territory in the record books. “E=MC2” sold 462,971 copies during the week ending April 20, 2008 according to Nielsen SoundScan data, the best debut sales week of her career and the strongest week by any artist so far this year.
 
QUINCY JONES CELEBRATES 75th BIRTHDAY [AP, 4/23/08]
Quincy Jones has spent most of his life making memorable music. Therefore it is fitting that his friends celebrated his 75th birthday by sharing their memories of the legend in song. Tony Bennett, Roberta Flack and Gloria Estefan were a few of the performers on hand Tuesday night as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers held a musical tribute to the groundbreaking composer and producer who turned 75 last month. Jones, whose career stretches decades, musical genres and entertainment mediums, has won numerous Grammy Awards, scored classical films and may be best known for his work with Michael Jackson, namely producing the best-selling "Thriller." ASCAP represents songwriters, music publishers and composers.
 
KANYE WEST AND JAY-Z PARTY TOGETHER[AP,  4/23/08] 
It was a boy’s night out for Kanye West and Jay-Z. The pair partied at the nightclub Goa for West’s official afterparty following his “Glow In The Dark” tour performance at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. A solo Jay-Z – clad in a hood, sunglasses and no wedding ring – arrived first and bypassed the red carpet. West entered the club about 10 minutes later and joined his friend in a center booth overlooking the dance floor. Other celebrities were also in attendance.
 
NAOMI CAMPBELL TO APPEAR IN 'UGLY BETTY' [AP,  4/23/08]
Naomi Campbell is getting “Ugly.” The supermodel will appear in ABC’s “Ugly Betty,” according to actress Becki Newton. A representative for ABC confirmed Wednesday that Campbell would play herself in the second season finale.

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