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CHAKA KHAN MUST PAY $1.3M WRONGFUL DEATH JUDGMENT
April
Los Angeles newspaper Daily Breeze is reporting that Chaka Khan and her son Damien Holland have been ordered to pay more than $1.3 million to the family of a teen who was killed in their home following a dispute in 2004. According to court records, Superior Court Judge Bob Hight approved a default judgment against them in November for more than $1.3 million, plus interest, after Khan and Holland failed to respond to the lawsuit. Khan's manager, Tammy McCrary, said Friday that the singer never received the lawsuit and knew nothing about the judgment. The family of 17-year-old Christopher Bailey filed a wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Khan and Holland, 29, after a jury acquitted Holland of Bailey's murder in May 2006. Holland shot Bailey in the face with an M-16 assault rifle on Sept. 24, 2004. During the trial, Holland admitted he had a friend punch him in the face and initially lied to the police to make it seem as if Bailey attacked him. He also testified he was upset because Bailey was having an affair with his girlfriend, but that the gun went off accidentally. Bailey, in pursuit of a rap career, moved in with Khan and her family to work with Holland in their studio. Bailey's parents filed the wrongful death and negligence suit in September 2006 against Khan, Holland, Khan's mother and Khan's company. While Khan and Holland never responded to the lawsuit, Khan's mother, Sandra Coleman, settled with Bailey's family for $500,000, court records show. However, the family contends that was only half of what they
agreed to.
FOXY BROWN AVOIDS JAILTIME IN FLORIDA
April
Newly released from Rikers Island prison, Foxy Brown appeared in a Florida court room and managed a plea deal in yet another assault case. The rapper pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from a February 2007 incident at Queen Beauty Supply store, where Foxy was accused of throwing hair glue at the store's owner. In exchange for her no contest plea, the Brooklyn Don Diva was sentenced to six months probation, 15 hours of community service and ordered to pay court fees and fines. She must also take an anger management class and write a letter of apology to the employee she assaulted. Meanwhile, Brown is still facing a civil suit from the store?s manager. Born Inga Marchand, Foxy was released from New York's Rikers Island prison on April 18 after serving eight months for a parole violation.
JUDGE OVERRULES SNOOP'S VISA BAN
April
Snoop Dogg's visa ban in the U.K. has been overruled by an immigration judge who looked at video of his brawl at Heathrow Airport and found no evidence that he was responsible. The rapper and five of his boys were arrested in 2006 for inciting a brawl that resulted in broken glass and injuries to several police officers. As a result, the UK's Home Office banned him from the country. But senior immigration judge George Warr supported a January ruling from another immigration judge, Nehar Bird, who said Snoop did not start the fracas. Both judges based their decisions on video footage of the incident seen on a DVD. "The appellant's behavior on the DVD did show him interacting with the public. The children were laughing and generally enjoying either dancing or singing or playing music," said Bird at the time. In
fact, Bird was quoted by the Guardian as saying that the disorder at the airport was "precipitated by decisions made by British Airways staff and the police." The Home Office appealed but senior immigration judge George Warr ruled on Wednesday that Bird had been right.
SOUL SINGER AL WILSON DIES
April
Soul singer Al Wilson, best known for his 1973 No. 1 hit "Show and Tell," died of kidney failure at a hospital in Southern Calif., according to reports. He was 68. Wilson died in a hospital in Fontana, a city about 50 miles east of Los Angeles, said the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. A native of Meridian, Miss., Wilson was 12 when he began his musical career singing in the church choir and leading his own quartet. In high school, he moved with his family to San Bernardino, Calif., where he worked as a mailman, janitor and office clerk while teaching himself to play drums. After high school, he toured with the group Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. After two years in the service, Wilson relocated to Los Angeles and began working the local nightclub circuits before joining several R&B vocal group: first The Jewels, then The Rollers and eventually instrumental combo The Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed to the Soul City label and two years later had his first hit, "The Snake." Several minor hits followed, including "Do What You Gotta Do," his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town." "Show and Tell" spent one week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hit 100 singles chart in January 1974. The romantic ballad was written and produced by songwriter Jerry Fuller, and first recorded by Johnny Mathis.
BEY-JAY MARRIAGE CONFIRMED BY TOWN CLERK
April
Jay-Z and Beyonce may be coy about whether or not they're married, but a town clerk in Scarsdale, New York has just busted up their game by announcing that the matrimony is now official. Although the couple obtained a marriage license in Scarsdale and had a lavish April 4th wedding ceremony in Manhattan, neither Jay-Z nor Beyonce have publically confirmed the union. Now they don't have to. Donna Conkling, the town clerk of Scarsdale Village in suburban Westchester County, told Reuters: "The license was sent back to our office on Friday."
RAY CHARLES' KIDS CLAIM MANAGER IS MISMANAGING
April
Ray Charles' children are not happy with the way their father's longtime manager Joe Adams is handling the late singer's affairs. Several of Charles' 12 children are seeking a formal investigation and audit of their father's estate, trusts and foundation for possible wrongdoing by Adams, whom they accuse of mismanagement. The children also claim Adams is ruining their father's legacy by releasing two posthumous CDs that Charles never would have approved, according to the Los Angeles Times. "The biggest issue with me is disrespect for the family and kids," said Robert Robinson, one of Charles' sons, according to the AP. "If you respect a man and his work, then respect his kids. His blood is flowing through our veins." The children feel Adams holds too much power over Ray Charles Enterprises and the Ray Charles Foundation and that he excludes them from business dealings. They have complained to the California attorney general, the Los Angeles County prosecutor's office and the FBI. Charles' children hope to win control of the marketing of their father's name and image, and a greater voice in foundation affairs.
FOXY BROWN IS FREE
April
In the first few hours of freedom for Foxy Brown, the rapper reportedly went on a shopping spree in Harlem, ate some soul food and stopped by her childhood home in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights. It was all captured by cameras for an upcoming VH1 reality show that will chronicle her adjustment to civilian life after serving eight months of a one-year sentence at New York's Rikers' Island prison, including 40 days in solitary confinement. The 29-year-old artist, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was sentenced in September 2007 for violating the terms of her probation after she was accused of hitting a woman with a cell phone. At the time, she was on three years' probation for an August 2004 attack on two manicurists at a Manhattan nail salon. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in the 2004 incident. Foxy has always thought her sentence extra harsh because she is a celebrity. "I did almost a year in prison, a year in prison, just because my name is Foxy Brown," she said, according to the Associated Press. Inmates typically serve two-thirds of their sentence, according to rep for the Department of Corrections.
ALICIA KEYS TO MARRY IN JULY?
April
Star magazine is claiming that Alicia Keys and her rumored boyfriend Kerry "Krucial" Brothers have made plans to tie the knot on Independence Day in New York. The tabloid says execs at the Oheka Castle - a 32-bedroom French-style chateau on Long Island - have confirmed that a wedding will take place during the July 4th weekend, but have refused to reveal the identity of the bride and groom. Keys and Brothers have long been rumored to be a couple, but neither has spoken in public about their relationship. The songwriting partners are co-owners of the production company KrucialKeys and New York's Oven Recording Studios. A representative for the R&B star has yet to confirm or deny the wedding reports.
TONI BRAXTON CANCELS SHOWS THROUGH APRIL
April
In the wake of Toni Braxton's undisclosed illness, her show at the Flmingo Las Vegas has been canceled throughout the month of April,
according to the Associated Press. Braxton was hospitalized for chest pain on April 7. She was released the following day, but her show "Toni Braxton: Revealed" was cancelled throughout the rest of the week. Flamingo President Don Marrandino announced yesterday that her Tuesday-through-Saturday shows will be dark throughout the month while Braxton takes advantage of a previously scheduled two-week break. Her return to the Flamingo Showroom is scheduled for May 6. The exact cause of Braxton's chest pain has not been made public. She has been treated in the past for pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart.
50 CENT DEFENDS DECISION TO EVICT EX
April
50 Cent says he's surprised by all the attention surrounding his decision to evict his ex-girlfriend and their son from a Long Island, N.Y., home he owns. A judge ruled earlier this month that Shaniqua Tompkins and 10-year-old Marquise must be out of the mansion by the end of the 2008 school year, prompting folks to question how the rapper could throw out the woman who cared for him after he was shot in 2000. According to SF Gate, 50 denies claims that Tompkins was by his side after the shooting, insisting this was merely how she was portrayed in "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," the 2005 film loosely based on his life. "That's a movie. I tried to paint a more positive outlook on her," he said. "She's not my shorty on the side. I haven't dealt with her since 2003." "She worked for three months in 2001. She ain't had a job, she ain't done nothing. I was giving her $500,000 a year," he continued. "She thinks she's entitled to 17 percent, because these chicks she be having around her telling (her all this). I was giving her $25,000 a month, now she wants $50,000."
50 CENT, UNIVERSAL SUED OVER "GANGSTA LIFESTYLE"
April
The 14-year-old boy who was allegedly assaulted by associates of 50 Cent has joined his mother in a lawsuit against the rapper and his label, Universal, for promoting a "gangsta lifestyle." Filed Wednesday by James Rosemond and his mother Cynthia Reed, the lawsuit claims Universal Music Group and its labels Interscope Records, G-Unit Records and Shady Records are ultimately responsible for the assault because they encourage artists to pursue violent, criminal lifestyles. The lawsuit names 50 Cent (whose real name is Curtis Jackson), Yayo (whose real name is Marvin Bernard), Fletcher, Violator Management and Violator CEO Chris Lighty. "The members of G-Unit, including defendants Yayo and 50 Cent, encouraged, sanctioned, approved and condoned its members threatening violence, and or engaging in violent acts in furtherance of its business," the lawsuit said. The attack on Rosemond was intended to "promote and maintain Yayo and 50 Cent's 'gangsta' image," which was "promoted, marketed and advertised" by record labels. Yayo pleaded guilty to harassment in February and was sentenced to 10 days of community service. Fletcher pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to nine months in jail. "Because of the injuries suffered by James, and the lack of remorse and arrogance displayed by Yayo, G-Unit and all named in the lawsuit, I feel obligated as a mother to bring this suit and obtain justice for my child," Reed stated. "Even though Yayo pleaded guilty in Criminal Court to harassing my son and Fletcher pleaded guilty to endangering my son, neither Yayo nor G-Unit members have ever apologized to my son or me."
TONI BRAXTON HOSPITALIZED IN VEGAS
April
Toni Braxton was hospitalized in Las Vegas Monday night after suffering from chest pains, reports People.com. The 40-year-old singer has been performing her five-day-a-week show "Toni Braxton: Revealed" at the Flamingo hotel since 2005. She was listed in good condition. "We wish Toni a quick recovery and would like her to take the time she needs to regain optimal health," said president of Flamingo Las Vegas, Don Marrandino. "We are looking forward to her return at the end of the week." Braxton took Tuesday night off, and was not scheduled to perform Sunday or Monday night in her show. The singer suffers from the heart condition pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. This year, Braxton became a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.
BEY-JAY WEDDING DETAILS
April
London's Daily Mirror newspaper is filling in the blanks of Jay-Z and Beyonce's wedding Friday evening at the rap mogul's New York digs. According to Monday's article, the private ceremony had an all-white theme that included white roses, orchids, diamond-encrusted candelabras and a plush Egyptian cotton-lined marquee. "It was such a romantic evening," a source told the paper. "Beyonce's mum had been chief wedding planner and spent nearly £750,000 on decor and flowers, making sure everything was all-white on the night." Guests were reportedly told to leave their cell phones and cameras at home, and some attendees were frisked at the door for weapons. According to the Mirror, three guns were left in an amnesty box outside Jay-Z's Tribeca apartment. Witnesses to the nuptials included Gwyneth Paltrow and hubby Chris Martin, Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, as well as family members of both the bride and groom. The affair included a sit down dinner, during which Jigga, 38, "made an emotional speech praising his Bootylicious bride and jerking a tear from Gwynnie," the newspaper reported. "Bey, 26, serenaded her new husband by singing a Natasha Bedingfield inspired ditty, with the words: 'I love you, I love you, I love you.'" Later, on the dance floor, Beyonce "performed a raunchy dance for Jay" to their hit duet "Crazy in Love." The couple took off for their "crystal-filled bedroom just before midnight," the paper said, adding, "Beyonce had imposed a no-sex rule three weeks ahead of the ceremony."
UK CHALLENGES SNOOP'S LIFTED BAN
April
Britain's Border Agency said Friday it will appeal a court's decision that allows Snoop Dogg back into the country after he was banned in2007 following an incident at London's Heathrow Airport. The rapper successfully appealed the ban and received entry clearance from an asylum and immigration tribunal in January. But the Border Agency said it plans to challenge the ruling. In March 2007, Snoop had to cancel a tour of Britain with fellow rap icon Sean "Diddy" Combs after authorities denied him a visa. The decision was sparked by the artist's 2006 arrest on charges of violent disorder and starting a brawl at Heathrow in which seven officers were injured. Trouble flared when some in his party were denied entry to British Airways' first-class lounge at the airport. In April 2007, Snoop Dogg was refused entry into Australia, with then-Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews saying the rapper "doesn't seem the sort of bloke we want in this country."
50 CENT SUED BY HIS BABY'S MOM
April
50 Cent was hit with a breach-of-contract lawsuit by the mother of his 10-year-old boy for trying to evict them from their home in Long Island. The lawsuit, filed by his former girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins in Manhattan, claims the 32-year-old rapper broke a promise to buy her a house of her own. Tompkins' lawyer, Paul Catsandonis, says Fitty promised, until the closing, to buy the $2.4 million Dix Hills home for Tompkins - but the artist ended up putting the house in his name alone. Tompkins already receives child support from the rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson.
WHITNEY TAKES 'HIGH ROAD' ON BOBBY'S TELL-ALL
April
Whitney Houston has responded to accusations that appear in her ex-husband's new tell-all book, "Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But." In one chapter, Bobby claims that it was Whitney who introduced him to cocaine, and not the other way around as people have long suspected. "I never used cocaine until after I met Whitney. Before then, I had experimented with other drugs, but marijuana was my drug of choice," wrote Brown, who shares 15-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina with Houston. Responding to the allegation, Whitney's rep tells People magazine in a statement: "Miss Houston is sad that Bobby feels he needs to say such things but she chooses to take the high road and will not speak badly about the father of her child even if it's to set the record straight."
STEVIE WONDER TAKES SKIING LESSON
April
Stevie Wonder and his family hit the slopes at Southern California's Mammoth Mountain Ski area Monday, where the musician took a class on how to ski. According to local station KSRW, Wonder was given lessons by members of Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra. The instructors, Maggie Palchak and Cleland Hoff, said "Stevie was just as sweet and wonderful as he seems during performances," according to KSRW. The singer was accompanied by his young sons and other family members. Word has it he loved the experience and said they would be back.
BRANDY SETTLES LANDSCAPING DISPUTE
April
A lawsuit accusing singer Brandy of skipping out on a $3,576 landscaping bill was settled this week after the singer finally made good on the payment, reports WENN. A rep for Brandy said the bill went unpaid because she never received a bill from Raymond Soriano Landscape, which filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles alleging she owed the company unspecified "landscaping expenses" for work done at her property between July 2007 and February 2008. But the 29-year-old claims she was never notified of the outstanding amount owed because the bills were sent to the wrong address. "Brandy's business manager moved offices and never received any of the bills in question," said her rep Courtney Barnes. "The landscaper has now been paid and we expect that the lawsuit will be immediately dropped."
BEANIE SIGEL RETURNS TO PRISON
April
Beanie Sigel was thrown back in the slammer Friday for three more months after authorities said he gave a false urine sample to probation officials, reports the Associated Press. Philadelphia officials also said the rapper tested positive five times this month for Xanax and Percocet. Sigel, whose real name is Dwight Grant, was already serving a six-month term in a halfway house for having previously violated supervised release. Sigel told the judge he was an addict and suffered a relapse during his stint at the halfway house. In 2004, U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick sentenced Sigel to a year in prison and two years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to weapons and drug charges. He was acquitted in September 2005 of attempted-murder charges in connection with a shooting.
SIMMONS DIVORCE OFFICIALLY FILED
March
After two years of separation from her husband Russell Simmons, Kimora Lee Simmons filed for divorce Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court citing irreconcilable differences. The 32-year-old fashion entrepreneur, currently dating actor Djimon Hounsou, was married to Simmons for seven years. They are the parents of two daughters: 8-year-old Ming Lee and 5-year-old Aoki Lee. Kimora, star of her own E! reality show "Life in the Fab Lane," is seeking legal and physical custody of the children. She requested that Russell Simmons, 50, be granted "reasonable child visitation ... accompanied at all times by the children's nanny and security personnel."
REMY MA CONVICTED IN ASSAULT CASE
March
Remy Ma broke down in tears after she was found guilty on four charges of assault in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.The Bronx-born rapper, whose real name is Remy Smith, was convicted on two counts of first-degree assault, attempted coercion, and criminal possession of a weapon in the shooting of Makeda Barnes Joseph outside a night club last summer. According to reports, Remy cried silently during the reading of the verdict, then broke into the "ugly cry" once outside of the courtroom. Meanwhile, friends and family of Barnes Joseph reportedly cheered and taunted Remy when the verdicts were read. Some were said to have chanted "bye, bye" in a singsong tone as Smith left the courtroom in handcuffs. Justice Rena Uviller ordered Remy jailed without bail while awaiting sentencing on April 23. The Bronx artist faces up to 25 years in prison. The July 14, 2007 incident took place after Remy accused Barnes Joseph of stealing $3,000 from her purse. The defense argued that the gun carried by Remy went off accidentally during a struggle, striking Barnes Joseph in the abdomen. Meanwhile, Remy was acquitted of gang assault and witness tampering, among the nine total charges she faced.
T.I. PLEADS GUILTY TO GUN CHARGES
March
T.I. has pleaded guilty to federal weapons possession charges and will spend one year doing community service while awaiting a sentence that includes prison time. The rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, must complete at least 1,000 hours of a total 1,500 hours of community service, talking to kids about the pitfalls of guns, gangs and drugs. T.I. was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, as well as possession of firearms by a convicted felon following his Oct. 13 arrest in an ATF sting in Atlanta. He faced a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Following the community service, he'll be sentenced to serve about 12 months in prison, officials said. His prison time could be increased or reduced, depending on his fulfillment of the terms of the deal and good behavior, they said. Dressed in a gray business suit, the 27-year-old pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of machine guns and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
LA TIMES STORY ON DIDDY WAS BOGUS
March
After being busted by TheSmokingGun.com for publishing a March 19 article implicating associates of Sean "Diddy" Combs - and Combs by association - the Los Angeles Times has issued an apology for using documents that were fabricated. Diddy had said along the story was bogus. The Times story - by Pulitzer-prize winning writer Chuck Philips - said that Combs, the late Christopher "Notorious B.I.G." Wallace and music exec Jimmy Henchman, knew in advance that rapper Tupac Shakur, also deceased, was going to the victim of a beatdown. The physical confrontation resulted in Shakur being shot multiple times. Further, the assault is widely believed to be the genesis for the infamous East Coast/West Coast rap feud which many attribute to the deaths of Shakur and Wallace. "The bottom line is that the documents we relied on should not have been used," Editor Russ Stanton said in a story posted Wednesday night on the newspaper's website. "We apologize both to our readers and to those referenced in the documents ... and in the story." Philips and his supervisor, Deputy Managing Editor Marc Duvoisin, also apologized. A key clue for TheSmokingGun.com was that the documents seemed phony because they appeared to be written on a typewriter instead of a computer and included blacked-out sections not typically found in such documents, among other problems. The website said the documents were fabricated by James Sabatino, a prison inmate with a history of exaggerating his place in the rap music world. It'll be interesting to see if Diddy and company pursue legal damages.
QUINCY JONES TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATE
March
Regents at the University of Washington voted to award an honorary doctorate degree to musician-composer-producer-arranger Quincy Jones. Jones was 10-years-old when he and his family moved to Bremerton, Wash. He played the trumpet in junior high school and was also part of a gospel choir before going on to tour with such jazz greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Ray Charles. He's best known for producing two of the biggest selling records of all time: Michael Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller" and the charity single "We Are the World." The 75-year-old music icon will be awarded the degree at the school's June 14 commencement ceremony, where he is also scheduled to speak.
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DIDDY WANTS TO CURB CELEB DRUNK DRIVING
March
Sean "Diddy" Combs has heard enough about celebrities climbing behind the wheels of their expensive cars after a night of imbibing, only to catch either a DUI case, or worse, a manslaughter charge and hard time. The Bad Boy Entertainment founder says he wants to start a car service specifically for celebrities who are too drunk to drive. The idea was inspired by his deal with Ciroc vodka. "After partnering with Ciroc vodka, he wants to make sure everyone's partying responsibly," his representative said in a statement to ABCNews.com. In 2007, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Vivica A. Fox and Mischa Barton were all nabbed for DUI-related offenses.
BUSTA RHYMES GETS PROBATION IN ASSAULT CASE
March
Busta Rhymes was sentenced to three years of probation for two separate assaults that took place in 2006. The rapper, born Trevor Smith, dropped his innocent plea in January to avoid a trial and a possible one-year prison sentence sought by prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to assault, two driving infractions and weapons possession. "I have no problem being a good dude because that's what I am," Rhymes, 35, told reporters outside the courtroom. His sentence stems from a December 2006 charge of beating up his chauffeur, and an August 2006 incident in which he attacked a fan who spat on his car.
ARETHA FRANKLIN'S HOME IN FORECLOSURE JEOPARDY
March
Aretha Franklin says a mistake by her attorney has caused her $700,000 slate-roofed brick mansion in Detroit to fall into foreclosure over $445 in 2005 taxes and late fees. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Queen of Soul owes a total of $19,192 in back taxes on the property through 2007. She has stated she will pay what she owes and reclaim her home by a March 31 deadline. A spokesman for the Wayne County treasurer's office says the foreclosure judgment for $445 was entered earlier this month. Records show Franklin owes $18,746 in back taxes and fees for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, but foreclosure proceedings on those debts wouldn't begin until next year.
TERRENCE HOWARD SIGNS A RECORD DEAL
March
Entertainment Weekly's Web site is reporting that Oscar nominated actor Terrence Howard, currently starring in an all-black revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, has signed a record deal with Columbia Records to release an album. "The full name [of his outfit] is 'Terrence Howard Presents Me and the Band of Kings,'" a label rep tells EW.com, adding that their as-yet-untitled debut CD "is slated for a fall release." Meanwhile, the "Hustle & Flow" star spoke briefly to the New York Daily News about his Broadway turn as Brick in the Debbie Allen-directed "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." "It's my first play, so I'm nervous every night," Howard told the Rush & Malloy column. "[I get over it] because Jeremy Piven told me to just stomp your feet, yell your own name and take control of yourself before you go out there."
NEVERLAND SAVED FROM AUCTION BLOCK
March
An 11th hour refinancing agreement has saved Michael Jackson's sprawling Neverland ranch near Santa Barbara from being auctioned later this month to pay off an overdue loan, reports the Associated Press. Jackson's attorney L. Londell McMillan said Thursday that his client entered into a "confidential" agreement with Fortress Investment Group, LLC that allows him to retain ownership of the 2,500-acre property in Los Olivos. "Neverland and MJ are fine," McMillan told the AP. A source close to the singer who requested anonymity said it's not clear whether Jackson will keep Neverland. He has not lived there since his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.
HOLLOW TIP BULLETS, WEED FOUND ON JUELZ SANTANA
March
Cops pulled rapper Juelz Santana over for driving with a suspended license and found marijuana and hollow-point bullets in his Bentley, reports the New York Daily News. The 26-year-old Harlem artist, whose real name is LaRon James, was taken into custody last week as he was pulling up to his home in the gated Glenpointe community in Teaneck. During the traffic stop, officer John Abraham said he smelled marijuana and saw a green leafy substance on the center console as well as marijuana roaches and Dutch Master and White Owl cigars used to roll blunts. Santana also had a hand-rolled cigar laced with marijuana in his shoe, cops said. In the trunk, police said they found 29 hollow-point bullets wrapped in a sock and $19,500 rolled in small bundles and hidden in a plastic bag filled with "hundreds of Jolly Rancher" candies. Police also found a plastic sandwich bag of marijuana in the backseat of the cruiser, where Santana had been sitting after he was arrested.
PRISON CONFIRMS THE GAME IS FREE
March
MTV reported that a rep for the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, where The Game was serving his sentence on gun charges, has confirmed that he was released from custody on March 9 at 11:34 p.m. and is indeed a free man. When asked if the rapper was transferred upon his release, the rep explained that the inmate's status would reveal where he was transported. Game's information only states he was released, which indicates that he is free. The Compton rap star walked into the Twin Towers facility on March 2 to begin a sentence for a felony charge of possession of a firearm in a school zone.
MIJAC'S ENCINO HOME AVOIDS FORECLOSURE
March
Michael Jackson's Encino home is no longer under threat of foreclosure, according to gossip columnist Janet Charlton. As previously reported, E! Online got its hands on newly disclosed public records that showed the singer owed $153,000 to mortgage lender Indymac Bancorp as part of a $4 million loan he took out on the property. The Web site further stated that the Pasadena-based company originally issued a notice of default to Jackson, but then vacated it. According to Charlton, "the family compound has narrowly avoided foreclosure several times before," and mortgage payments were made "at the LAST minute" this time as well. Meanwhile, Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara is still on the verge of being auctioned off on March 19 if he fails to come up with $24.5 million owed to San Francisco-based lender Financial Title Co.
HIGH HEELS BLAMED FOR PRINCE'S BAD HIP
MarchGossip columnist Janet Charlton has more info regarding recent
rumors that Prince is in desperate need of hip replacement surgery. She wrote: "Prince has been needing the surgery for several years and he's been living with the pain as long as he can. The only reason he's getting the surgery is so he can wear high heels comfortably without limping. "Since he started performing, the 49-year-old singer has been having high heel boots and shoes custom made to match every pair of pants. .Also, one of his ex-girlfriends told us he even has high heel custom bedroom slippers and wears them to bed."
MIJAC WINS EAVESDROPPING SUIT
March
Eavesdropping on Michael Jackson and his lawyer Mark Geragos will cause the former owner of charter jet company XtraJet a total of $10 million, according to TMZ.com. Geragos filed a lawsuit suit against XtraJet claiming the company violated Jackson's right to privacy by videotaping their Nov. 2003 flight from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara, where the King of Pop was to surrender to child molestation charges. XtraJet's former owner Jeffrey Borer tried to sell those tapes to the media. The judge awarded Geragos and an associate lawyer $2 million in compensatory damages and $8 million in punitive damages, according to TMZ. Geragos called the taping "one of the most outrageous acts I've seen in my 20 years of practicing criminal law."
THE GAME IS IN JAIL
March
The Game is in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles serving his 60-day jail sentence for possession of a firearm in a school zone. He showed up to the complex just moments before midnight on the March 3 deadline accompanied by his attorney Shawn Chapman Holley and flanked by dozens of friends and supporters wearing "Free The Game" t-shirts, TMZ.com reported. The rapper, born Jayceon Taylor, pleaded no contest to the charges last month. The sentence stems from an incident last February during a pick-up basketball game at the Rita Walters Educational Learning Complex in South L.A. Prosecutors allege that Taylor punched an opponent and then pulled a gun from his vehicle and threatened to shoot him. He was arrested in May of 2007 and, following the plea deal arranged last month, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 150 hours of community service and three years' probation. He had faced three counts of making criminal threats and possessing a firearm in a school zone, but two of the charges were dropped in the plea deal.
MIJAC ENCINO HOME ALSO IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE
March
Michael Jackson's financial woes are not exclusive to his Neverland Ranch. Newly disclosed public records obtained by E! online show that the singer is also behind on the mortgage at his family home in Encino. Jackson reportedly failed to make payments of $153,000 to mortgage lender Indymac Bancorp as part of a $4 million loan he took out on the Encino property. Consequently, the King of Pop faces the possibility of defaulting on his financial obligation, which could result in foreclosure.A document filed with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office reveals that the Pasadena-based company originally issued a notice of default to Jackson, but then vacated it, E! reports. Meanwhile, Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara is on the verge of being auctioned off on March 19 if he fails to come up with $24.5 million owed to San Francisco-based lender Financial Title Co.
JUVENILE'S DAUGHTER MURDERED
March
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in Atlanta Friday and charged in the shooting deaths of his mother and two young sisters, one of whom was the daughter of rap star Juvenile. Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr. is charged in the killings of his mother, 39-year-old Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy Joy Deleston; her daughter Micaiah, 11; and her daughter Jelani, 4. Jelani was Juvenile's daughter with Deleston. The bodies were discovered Thursday night in the Deleston home near Lawrenceville, outside Atlanta. Juvenile's manager Aubrey Francis said the rapper, 32, is devastated and trying to cope with the losses. "It really shocked him and devastated him to the point where I've
never seen him before," Francis said. Terrell was taken to jail in neighboring DeKalb County to avoid any potential conflict because Deleston worked for Gwinnett County. However, the preliminary hearing will be set sometime this week in Gwinnett County Superior Court. Because of Terrell's age, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty. Deleston brought a paternity suit against Juvenile in 2004, claiming he was Jelani's father, Gwinnett County court records show. Both parties later agreed the rapper was the father and he had been making regular child support payments, according to Francis.
BUDDY MILES DIES AT AGE 60
February
Buddy Miles, who adeptly sang while he ferociously played drums, has died. He was 60. Miles was known for his stints as a drummer with Jimi Hendrix' short-lived back up band called Band of Gypsys and as the lead voice of the California Raisins, the animated clay figures that became an advertising phenomenon in the late 1980s. An announcement on his website said the musician died Tuesday of congestive heart failure at his home in Austin, Texas. By the late 70s, it seemed to be all over for Miles' music career and he ended up on the wrong side of the law. He had numerous convictions for grand theft and auto theft. He served time in the California Institution for Men at Chino and at San Quentin State Prison. He was incarcerated until 1985 and formed bands at both prisons. The LA Times says that after he was released, he sang with Santana and got the raisin gig while working on an album with the guitarist. The popular television commercials for the California Raisin Advisory Board featured a quartet of singing and dancing Claymation figures with Miles, as Buddy Raisin, doing the lead singing covering Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine."
NEVERLAND UP FOR FORECLOSURE
February
Michael Jackson has been told that his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara will be sold at public auction on March 19 unless he can come up with $24,525,906.61 to pay off the loan. "It's not just the house either," wrote Fox411's Roger Friedman in his column. "When Neverland is auctioned, it will includeeverything: all personal property inside, all fixtures and appliances, furniture, and 'all merry go round type devices,' any rides, games. The auction literally includes every single thing that is or isn't nailed down." According to Friedman, the King of Pop refinanced his $300 million loan from Fortress Investments with help from Sony Music, HSBC and Barclays Bank. But, the Neverland loan was not part of that deal. "Fortress would clearly like to get out of the Jackson business altogether now, so selling at auction is their answer," Friedman wrote.
AKON FANS RIOT IN DENMARK
February
Akon's free concert at a mall in Copenhagen Wednesday got violent and ugly after some latecomers were turned away at the door. According to Reuters, some 2,000 to 3,000 people were packed inside of Fields Shopping Mall for the gig. Mall direct Jens Geppel said they weren't anticipating such a large crowd. "It was a free concert and we knew that many people would come, but there were a lot of people there, more than we had expected," Geppel told Reuters. About three songs into the set, someone pulled a fire alarm, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The alarm was falsely set, but police were still required to evacuate fans. Several dozen disappointed concert-goers began throwing bottles and rocks at police after the evacuation. Eight people were arrested in the melee. Witnesses
JENNIFER LOPEZ GIVES BIRTH
February
After being one of the most closely watched celebrity pregnancies, Jennifer Lopez has given birth to twins early Friday.The singer/actress and husband Marc Anthony are now the parents of a boy and a girl. According to People magazine, Lopez' rep, Simon Fields said the babies were born shortly after midnight on New York's Long Island, with the 5-pound, 7-ounce girl arriving first, followed by her 6-pound brother minutes later. The location was not identified. "Jennifer and Marc are delighted, thrilled and over the moon,"
Fields told the magazine. Lopez confirmed her pregnancy at a Miami concert in November. Her father, David Lopez, told Telefutura's "Escandalo TV" earlier this month that the 39-year-old singer was expecting twins. Lopez and Anthony, 38, married in 2004. The twins are her first children, and his third and fourth.
J.LO DELIVERY ROOM ON STANDBY
February
When Jennifer Lopez finally goes into labor for the twins, her delivery room at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island will be ready. It's already been on standby for the past two weeks. "No one's even allowed in there until she gets here. It's just sitting there for her," a staffer told the New York Post's Page Six. According to the column, J.Lo's people reserved the private, furnished room two weeks ago in anticipation of the twins' arrival. The room reportedly contains a brown leather couch, among other furnishings. Word has it that the hospital has also beefed up security.
DIDDY SAYS MAN'S FACE RAN INTO HIS HAND
February
Sean "Diddy" Combs filed a declaration in his upcoming assault case stating that the man suing him in civil court actually ran into his open hand during an incident outside of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. In recent depositions, four witnesses testified under oath that Diddy punched Gerald Rechnitzer around 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 26 after he confronted the mogul for flirting with his fiancée, Sofia Sokolov. But according to TMZ.com, Diddy filed court papers claiming his hand was open and outstretched as Gerald "lunged" into it with his face. Diddy said that Rechnitzer "continued moving toward me and, without warning, lunged at me. Instinctively, I outstretched one of my hands, which hand was not closed-fisted, to shield myself ... any contact between Mr. Rechnitzer and myself was caused by his forward motion against my stationary open hand." Following the incident, Rechnitzer filed a complaint with the Los Angeles Police Department. But after a brief investigation, no charges were filed. The civil suit against Diddy is scheduled to begin on May 27.
YAYO PLEADS TO LESSER CHARGE IN TEEN SLAPPING
February
Criminal charges against rapper Tony Yayo, whose real name is Marvin Bernard, were dismissed yesterday (Feb. 14) in a case involving an assault against the teen son of a hip hop rival. Yayo was alleged to have smacked 14-year-old James Rosemond for wearing a t-shirt with the words Czar Entertainment, which is a rival music company owned by manager, Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond. Charges of misdemeanor assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child were dismissed as part of a plea deal to a lesser, noncriminal harassment charge and 10 days of community service. Yayo's attorney Scott Leemon said the G-Unit rapper took the plea deal to avoid the "unnecessary hardships" of a trial. Yayo's acquaintance Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher had admitted to police in an unrelated jailhouse interview that he was the one who actually slapped the teen. Fletcher pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child and was sentenced to nine months in prison, to run concurrently with the state prison sentence he's now serving on a narcotics charge. Cynthia Reed, the mother of the teen involved in the case, issued a statement Thursday following the dismissal of the charges. "As much as Marvin Bernard tried to wiggle his way out of his role in assaulting my son, who is a minor, he had to accept responsibility to accept a plea deal," Reed stated. "He couldn't hide behind 50 cent, G-unit, Violator Management or his co-defendant. This malicious crime against a child is despicable and any industry sponsor or company that supports individuals like Tony Yayo should remove themselves from a relationship with him and his affiliated entities. Crimes against children should never be legitimized just because a person is an entertainer. A public apology is appropriate at this time, not only from Tony Yayo but from 50 Cent for denying this event ever happened--- as if my son was lying when all along they knew this assault had taken place."
GEORGE DANIELS CONFIRMS R. KELLY RUMORS
February
Chicago-based music industry veteran George Daniels has confirmed rumors that he and his wife, Regina Daniels, have severed all ties with R.Kelly because of a sexual relationship the singer had with their 21-year-old daughter. Regina Daniels, the singer's longtime publicist, released a statement
in November announcing she had quit her post with the R&B crooner, explaining only that a line had been crossed. Now, music retailer George Daniels is speaking out about the situation, confirming rumors about what led to the severed ties. "He crossed the line with my daughter," Daniels said during an interview with Los Angeles radio station KJLH. "It didn't get to the extreme of that [sex tape] video or else I wouldn't be here, if you know what I'm talking about." Daniels' daughter, who was 21 when the relationship occurred, is still in college and "doing very well," he tells KJLH's Guy Black. Though his daughter was of legal age, Daniels says Kelly still took advantage of her. Daniels said he and his wife would hear rumors about her daughter and Kelly having relations, and it took a while for his daughter to come clean and admit it. When she finally did, Daniels said he immediately confronted Kelly. "He denied it. He lied to me to my face," Daniels said. "The reason that I'm talking abut this, it's not just for me, it's not for my wife, it's not for my daughter, but it's for the public, "Daniels added. "It's for other fathers and mothers because it doesn't have to be a superstar, it could be the dude on the corner. There are guys who sit around and give your child a couple of bucks to go to school and then wait until they get a little older, then they set that trap."
GAME SENTENCED TO 60 DAYS IN JAIL
(February
The Game was handed a 60-day jail sentence Monday after pleading no contest to felony possession of a firearm in a school zone, reports the Associated Press. Two other counts were thrown out per a plea agreement, the district attorney's office said. The 28-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Jayceon Terrell Taylor, was accused of pulling a gun on an opponent during a pickup basketball game last year at a South Los Angeles school. Superior Court Judge Fred Wapner credited the Compton native with two days already served toward the jail time and imposed 150 hours of community service and a three-year probationary term.
LENNY KRAVITZ HOSPITALIZED
February
Rock star Lenny Kravitz was admitted to a Miami hospital on Monday suffering from severe bronchitis, a spokeswoman for the singer said. The 43-year-old musician had been suffering from a series of severe respiratory tract infections in tandem with the flu since mid-January, and the illness has evolved into bronchitis. "Due to extreme dehydration and fatigue, doctors were unable to control it with outpatient treatment and advised the singer to check into the hospital. He was taken this morning to the emergency room at Mount Sinai Hospital in Miami for immediate treatment," the spokeswoman said in a statement. Details on his condition and expected length of stay were not immediately available.
HANCOCK PULLS OFF UPSET AT GRAMMYS
February
Music's biggest night has come and gone and Herbie Hancock pulled off the upset of the evening. Hancock won the Grammy for album of the year for his project "River: The Joni Letters." "You know it's been 43 years since the first and only time that a jazz artist got the album of the year award," Hancock said, then proceeded to honor "the giants upon whose shoulders I stand, some of whom like Miles Davis, John Coltrane ... unquestionably deserved the award in the past. But this is a new day, that proves that the impossible can be made possible." Despite the upset, neither nomination front-runner, Kanye West or Amy Winehouse, had a reason to gripe, with Winehouse picking up five awards, the lions share of the night, and West walking away with a respectable four.
MIJAC PAYS OFF TAX BILL
Febraury
Michael Jackson has taken one small step in tackling his monstrous debt situation. Fox.com columnist Roger Friedman cites Santa Barbara County records that reveal the entertainer has finally satisfied a state tax lien on his Neverland Valley Ranch. The total, according to the assessor's office, came to just over $600,000 including penalties and fees, Friedman writes. Meanwhile, the singer still owes $23 million on a defaulted loan taken against Neverland. "Fortress Investments is now two weeks past its foreclosure deadline, which means it could start proceedings against Jackson at any time," writes Friedman. "Jackson, sources say, may have arranged for a time extension through his former (and maybe current) pal, Ron Burkle."
BLIGE CONFESSES TO BEING A 'MILE HIGH CLUB' MEMBER
Febraury
Mary J. Blige has always been candid about her past drug and alcohol abuse, but the singer has never been quite as open about her sex life - until now. During a visit to "The Tyra Banks Show," Blige was asked point blank if she's ever made love on an airplane. After hesitating for a moment, the artist shocked Tyra and the audience when she replied, "Yeah." Banks fished for more details about Blige's Mile High membership,asking: "Was it in the toilet? On a private or commercial jet?" Laughing, Blige only said, "I'm married now, let's move on." And they did.
TONI BRAXTON NAMED AHA SPOKESPERSON
February
Toni Braxton began her run as the new spokesperson for the American Heart Association at the kick off of National Heart Month, which was held at the Woman's Day Presents the 5th Annual "The Red Dress Awards"inside Manhattan's Time Warner Center. "I am here because I'm the spokesperson this year for the American Heart Association and because I'm a survivor," Braxton told People magazine. "I have heart disease, and I found out about five or four years ago." While starring in Broadway's Aida, Braxton was diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. "And," she said, "I've also been diagnosed with hypertension. "I was disappointed. I didn't get it," she said of her condition. The star of song and stage said the diagnosis forced her to make lifestyle and diet changes. Now, she says, "I eat relatively well, but sometimes having those pizzas and burgers late at night - I had to change that."
50's RUDENESS MAKES PARIS HILTON CRY BUT REPORT DENIED
February
50 Cent reportedly reduced Paris Hilton to tears during a pre-Super Bowl event. According to the New York Post's Page Six, Hilton was hosting a party in Scottsdale for 944 magazine, where 50 Cent was one of the headliners. After 50 Cent said her name in one of his songs, Hilton tried to join the rapper onstage to dance, only to be met with 50 barking at her to "Get the f*** off the stage." Witnesses said the insensitive outburst prompted Hilton to start crying, which was captured on film by photographers at the event. But 50 Cent associate DJ Whoo Kid denied the report and said the rapper did give Hilton a shout out, but the rest of the story is completely false. "It's no way we would kick Paris Hilton off the stage on her birthday," Whoo Kid told MTV.com. "We ain't that heartless. I know 50 hates Ja Rule and Fat Joe, but he ain't that heartless to throw Paris Hilton ...off the stage. ... Somebody called me and asked me if Paris got kicked off. I was like, 'Huh?' She was dancing the whole time. She was having a good time. We hung with her afterwards. ... We kick her off her own stage and she's hanging with us? I guess people wanna hear, '50 threw Paris Hilton off the stage.'"
SNOOP DOGG STILL BANNED FROM UK
February
Snoop Dogg's attempt to get back on the U.K.'s good side has failed. The rapper wrote a letter to officials hoping they would lift a ban that prohibits him from entering the country, but if fell on deaf ears. Snoop was banned from the country after an April 2006 brawl at London's Heathrow Airport landed him in jail for disorderly conduct. He recently wrote a letter to the Home Office hoping officials would change their mind and allow him to do promotional work for U.K. cell phone company Orange. But, attempts by both the company and the rapper himself to get a visa have failed. The artist, born Calvin Broadus, was jailed briefly following the Heathrow incident, which left seven police officers injured and led to the Long Beach star being cited for affray and banned from the country.
JAY-Z'S ROC-A-FELLA TO STAY AT DEF JAM – FOR NOW
January
Billboard.com reports that Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records has not been dropped from Def Jam, despite recent Internet rumors to the contrary. Roc-A-Fella artists Kanye West, Freeway, Beanie Sigel, Tru Life, DJ Clue, Memphis Bleek, Young Gunz and Hector Bambino remain under the Def Jam umbrella as Roc-A-Fella continues to rebound following the 2004 breakup of its leaders Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem Burke. "I don't think there's going to be a Roc-A-Fella anymore," an insider tells Billboard. "I do think each artist will have to go to the new people in charge and have a meeting separately."
HAS J.LO NAMED THE TWINS
January
Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony have reportedly chosen names for their unborn twins. Star magazine is reporting that J.Lo's mother, Guadalupe, was spotted at Genesis Jewelers in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. earlier this month buying two gold-rope baby ID bracelets engraved with the names Max and Emme. Her reported purchase on Jan. 18 was likely a gift for her daughter's baby shower, as the purchase took place the day before the couple's lavish gathering at New York City's Gramercy Park Hotel.
MIJAC BOOTS NANNY OVER GERMS
January
Fox.com columnist Roger Friedman is reporting that Michael Jackson has severed ties with his rep Raymone Bain, and has temporarily removed his nanny Grace Rwaramba from his house because she's germy. "She's sick, she's got something, and Michael hates germs," a source is quoted as saying. "So Grace is out. She's over at her luxury condo in Las Vegas while Michael and his kids remain at the Palms casino." As for Jackson's longtime publicist/manager Bain, Friedman says she has also left the building, but she'll deny it "to anyone who asks." Friedman says Jackson's sudden lack of management puts serious doubt on new reports that he will join Kanye West, Akon, Fergie and will.i.am to perform songs from his upcoming "Thriller" remix album on the Grammy telecast. Meanwhile, the New York Post is reporting that Jackson will promote the Feb. 12 release of his "Thriller" remix album in a Pepsi commercial that will air during the Super Bowl on Sunday. The spot will be followed by a "major TV, radio, online and outdoor advertising campaign," according to the Post.
FOXY BROWN DENIED EARLY RELEASE
January
A New York judge has denied a request by Foxy Brown to be released from jail early so she can deal with her hearing problems at a specialized clinic in California. The 29-year-old Brooklyn rapper said her hearing had gotten worse since entering prison last September for violating probation. She claimed her hearing would be irreparably damaged unless her implant could be reprogrammed and repaired by specialists at the House Clinic in Los Angeles. The Manhattan district attorney's office revealed that State Supreme Court Justice Melissa Jackson ruled against the request and sent Brown back to serve out her time at Rikers Island. Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was sentenced in September 2007 to a year in jail for violating probation. Jackson had put her on probation after she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault of two manicurists at a Manhattan nail salon in August 2004.
LUDACRIS SUED FOR COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
JAnuary
Three producers from Chester, Pennsylvania are suing rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges for copyright infringement over a song from his 2004 album, "The Red Light District," reports Allhiphop.com Damon "Damethegreat" Mayfield, Markus "Vincent" Vick and Anthony Turner of Boogiii Men Entertainment Group say they received a lukewarm reaction to their CD demo after sending it to Luda's Disturbing Tha Peace label in 2004. However, the producers claim one of their beats sounds similar to the rapper's song "Get Back," from "The Red Light District." The Medicine Men and Tic Toc received official credit for producing the song. Boogiii Men Entertainment Group, who has worked with such artists as Juelz Santana, Rampage of Flipmode Squad and Special Ed, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.
DIANA ROSS BOOED IN JAMAICA
January
Jamaica fans paid some 70 or 80 bucks to see Diana Ross in concert, only to be so far away they couldn't see any part of her, or even the stage itself. The Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival in Montego Bay turned ugly with boos and heckling when host Don Topping announced Ross' request that she not be filmed for the large video screens that would allow everyone at the Acquaduct Rose Hall to see her performance.According to local entertainment television correspondent Candice Buchanan, many fans had been looking forward to the performance for months, only to come away without actually seeing the Detroit native. "[They were] saving up their moneys to make sure they wouldn't miss this once in a lifetime performance by their favorite star Diana Ross," said Buchanan. "Now for them to get there and be deprived of even a glimpse of Miss Ross was indeed a major blow. That coupled with the fact that her performance was low energy and filled with lip synching lead to the [reaction] she received. Apparently Jamaicans felt dissed by the diva and lost interest."
LIL WAYNE SERVED WHILE IN JAIL
January
It just keeps getting worse for Lil Wayne. While sitting in a Yuma, Ariz jail cell Wednesday, the rapper was served legal documents pertaining to a lawsuit regarding his 1999 Bentley Arnage. Le Marck deAndre of California, who was refurbishing and repairing the car, claims Weezy stopped making payments on the $91,000 bill. Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, was served with court papers while detained on three felony drug charges in Yuma.
LIL WAYNE ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES
January
DEA agents in Arizona arrested Lil Wayne on three felony drug charges Wednesday after police dogs went through his tour bus and sniffed out multiple drugs - including ecstasy and cocaine, according to the Associated Press. The rapper and 11 others were traveling along Interstate 8 near Yuma when it was flagged for inspection by a K-9 unit," reports Allhiphop.com. While searching the bus, cops uncovered 105 grams of weed, 29 grams of cocaine, 41 grams of ex, $22,000 dollars in cash and several firearms, including a 44 caliber pistol. He did have a concealed weapon permit from Florida, but we are investigating whether it violates any Arizona laws," said DEA spokeswoman Ramona Sanchez. As of press time, Wayne and two other men - 23-year-old Harold Johnson, Jr. and 24-year-old Curtis Stewart - were still being held at the Yuma County jail. "The two other individuals were charged with possession of marijuana," Sanchez told the Web site. "Mr. Carter was charged with possession of the cocaine and ecstasy, and possession of miscellaneous paraphernalia." Lil Wayne's bond was set at $10,185 dollars, while Johnson and Stewart are being held on $3,009 bond. James Tilson, a local lawyer retained by the rapper, said his client was not formally charged and his next court date was scheduled for Jan. 25. "We will find out by Jan. 25 whether or not the (Yuma) county attorney will file charges or not," Tilson said, according to the AP. "He is looking forward to his day in court. That's all I can say right now."
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DIDDY WANTS TO CHANGE NAME - AGAIN
January
Contact Music is reporting that Diddy now wants to be referred to by his first and middle name, Sean John, which is also the name of his fashion line. If true, this marks the fifth time his moniker has changed since 1988, when he began promoting parties at Howard University under the name Puff Daddy. The Web site quotes him as saying: "I have always evolved and taken a different name each time. It's nothing unusual where I come from. Right now I want to be Sean John because that's where I am." "Sean John," whose last name is Combs, has also gone by the names Puff, Puffy, P. Diddy and Diddy.
WITNESSES SUPPORT VICTIM IN DIDDY ASSAULT CASE
January
Four eyewitnesses have come forward to support a man's claim that he and his girlfriend were assaulted by Sean "Diddy" Combs in Los Angeles last year while waiting at the valet outside of the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. Gerard Rechnitzer is seeking unspecified damages in his assault lawsuit against Diddy filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last year, reports the AP. He claims the Feb. 25 incident was sparked after he objected to Diddy allegedly flirting with his girlfriend. Marianna Ruiz, one of the witnesses deposed by an attorney for Rechnitzer, said in papers filed Wednesday that Diddy struck Rechnitzer unprovoked. "I just kind of remember seeing him go flying, not flying as in like feet off the ground, but he went back significantly," said Ruiz, who was part of a group at the club with the Rechnitzer. "I was just in shock that somebody would ... just kind of strike somebody out of nowhere." Another witness, Michael Sherman, said "all of a sudden, he hit him.And there was a taxi behind Gerard. Gerard got knocked into the taxi."Sherman said Diddy then attempted to spit on Ruiz, who was standing nearby.Diddy's legal camp has called the suit "completely baseless" and in court papers filed Wednesday say he is "in no way legally responsible for what happened to Rechnitzer."
GINUWINE SUES LABEL FOR FRAUD
January
Ginuwine has filed another complaint against his former label King Music Group and its owner Michael Bourné for breaching the terms of a settlement deal that was reached on his previously-filed claim. In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, Ginuwine claims there has been no further action by Bourné and King Music Group to provide him with the compensation and recording funds called for by the settlement agreement. "It is our belief that Mr. Bourné never intended to follow through with his and King Music Group's obligations under the Settlement Agreement. Mr. Bourné has continuously misrepresented his intent and ability to comply with his promises. As a result, Ginuwine has no other choice but to pursue further legal action to obtain compensation for his lost professional opportunities and other damage he has suffered," stated Ginuwine's lawyer, Brandon J. Witkow. The artist's lawsuit says King Music Group and Bourné's latest breaches have resulted in significant damages and numerous lost professional opportunities for Ginuwine, as well as his inability to record new material. The crooner's original lawsuit claimed that King Music Group failed to pay him monies stipulated in the recording contract. In addition, the previous lawsuit claimed that Ginuwine was deceived into signing an agreement with the record company that was later found not to exist.
BLIGE, 50 CENT, PERRY, WYCLEF IN STEROID PROBE
January
Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, Wyclef Jean, Timbaland and Tyler Perry have been named in a steroid trafficking investigation that has exposed just how far its use has traveled beyond the world of sports. Citing confidential sources, the Albany Times Union claims the artists are among tens of thousands of people found to have either used or received prescribed shipments of steroids and injectable human growth hormone (HGH) in recent years. Authorities, however, say there is not enough evidence to accuse any of the singers, rappers and other customers of breaking any laws. Instead, the probe is an effort to shut down the flow of drugs by doctors, pharmacists and anti-aging clinics that made the drugs accessible to their famous clients. The Times Union says it gained access to records from several unnamed cooperating witnesses on Long Island, New York, that reportedly indicate that human growth hormone or steroids were shipped to Blige and the others - sometimes under fictitious names - at hotels, production studios, private residences, an upscale Manhattan fitness club and through the Long Island office of chiropractor Michael Diamond. Denials from the artists are coming faster than a major league fast ball.
MAN CONFESSES TO SLAPPING TEEN IN YAYO CASE
January
It appears rapper Tony Yayo has caught a break in his assault case. The G-Unit rapper is accused of smacking the 14-year-old son of a rap rival, but another man has since come forward and confessed to the crime. A Yayo acquaintance, Lowell Fletcher, told police during an unrelated jailhouse interview that he had slapped the son of Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, who co-founded Czar Entertainment and manages Yayo's rival rapper The Game. Yayo's attorney, Scott Leemon, said Fletcher admitted to striking the boy on a Manhattan street in March, and said Yayo actually pulled him off of the boy, reports the Associated Press. "They disclosed it today, and we plan to file a motion for dismissal," Leemon said of Assistant District Attorney Daryl Reed who told the court his office learned about Fletcher's statement last week.
DMX LOSES MILLION DOLLAR DEFAMATION CASE
January
DMX will soon be out $1.5 million after failing to show up in court on a defamation case. Baltimore woman Monique Wayne, 28, sued DMX in Prince George's County Circuit Court for defamation of character in October of 2006. She was seeking $6 million in damages over a Sister2Sister interview in which DMX claimed she raped him while he slept during a 2003 hotel encounter and ended up pregnant as a result. "She raped me," DMX claimed in the article. "DNA says it is (my child). I don't know. If I did (have sex with her) I would remember. It ain't like she's a pretty girl." Wayne's mother, sister and a psychologist testified on her behalf, claiming that DMX's allegations were false and slanderous. Wayne was awarded the money after DMX failed to show up in court. The rapper must pay $ 1 million dollars in punitive damages and $518,000 in compensatory damages.
MONICA WELCOMES BABY BOY
January
It's a boy for R&B singer Monica, who gave birth Tuesday to her second child with boyfriend Rodney "Rocko" Hill. Little Romello Montez Hill is 19 inches long and tipped the scales at 5 lbs, 6 oz., according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Monica's manager/cousin Melinda Dancil said both the mother and baby are doing fine - and added that Romello got his middle name from his uncle Montez, who is Monica's brother. Dancil also said the artist was working on her new album throughout the entire pregnancy and currently has 13 tracks completed. Monica and Rocko, who are said to be engaged, already have a 2-year-old son together named Rodney III, a.k.a. Lil Rock.
GAME WANTS MONEY BACK FROM LAPD
January
The Game was in court yesterday trying to get a judge to force the return of his $44,000 in cash that was snatched by the LAPD during his investigation on gun charges. The judge set a Jan. 22 hearing to decide whether the cops are wrongfully refusing to give back the money and should be held in contempt of court. Meanwhile, the judge also set Feb. 4 as the start date for The Game's trial on weapons charges. The rapper, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor, was arrested last May in connection with a pickup basketball game in February where he allegedly threatened another man with a gun.
MARIAH CAREY DENIES FLAP WITH JENNIFER LOPEZ
January
Rumors flooded the Internet claiming Mariah Carey said something foul about fellow singer/actress/perfume-maker Jennifer Lopez. In the report, originated by MediaTakeOut.com, Carey is said to be asked by a journalist if she would ever consider performing alongside J.Lo. Her response was supposedly: "I'd rather be on stage with a pig. A duet with Jennifer Lopez and me just ain't going to happen." Carey tells People magazine that the story is "a complete untruth," and that such a remark did not, and would not, come from her. "This is just some Internet gossip and it's pathetic that people actually entertain the thought that this could be real," Carey said, according to People. "This is another sad example of two strong women being pitted against each other."
BOBBY BROWN LOSES COURT BID AFTER NO-SHOW
January
Bobby Brown's motion to overturn ex-wife Whitney Houston's divorce terms was denied by an Orange County, Calif. judge after the singer failed to show up for court. "His motion was denied because there were no appearances or phone calls from Mr. Brown today for a scheduled hearing," said court spokeswoman Carole Levitsky. "As of now, there are no more pending court dates in this case." Brown, 38, was attempting to set aside the April 2007 default judgment in their divorce, which awarded Houston full custody of their 14-year-old daughter and omly gave Brown visitation rights but nothing financially. The following month, Brown sued Houston, 44, for spousal support and shared custody, alleging he was tricked into not responding in time to Houston's initial divorce claim. Houston was also due to appear in court, but her attorney Thomas Stabile told E! Online he attended the hearing on her behalf and informed the judge Houston "was feeling under the weather" and wouldn't be able to make it. Stabile said Brown's MIA status appeared to render his petition moot, and the terms of their divorce will remain as it was when it became official last April 24.
MIJAC, TUPAC, WILL SMITH ALL SUED OVER SAMPLE
January
Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur and Will Smith are being sued for copyright infringement by blues singer Syl Johnson, who claims all three artists illegally sampled his song "Different Strokes" without giving him proper credit, repots TMZ.com. Per the lawsuit filed in an Illinois court, Johnson says parts of his 1967 hit ended up in MiJac's "Blood on the Dance Floor," Smith's "Who Stole the D.J." and the late Pac's "Peep Game." Johnson, whose real name is Sylvester Thompson, has played alongside Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, among others. His lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
BRANDY WILL NOT BE CHARGED IN ACCIDENT
December
The Los Angeles City Attorney's office has decided not to charge Brandy with vehicular manslaughter for the Dec. 2006 freeway accident that killed a motorist. Responding to the news, her attorney, Blair Berk, released the following statement to TMZ.com: "We are extremely pleased that after a more thorough and extensive investigation by authorities, the Los Angeles City Attorney has determined that Brandy Norwood should not be charged with any crime whatsoever relating to the accident back in 2006." She continued, "These past 12 months have posed an extraordinary hardship for Brandy and her family, who have been unfairly forced to live under a cloud of suspicion initially caused by the ill-advised and premature press release sent out by the California Highway Patrol accusing Brandy of wrongdoing before the police investigation was even finished. However, Brandy continues to be mindful that she was so fortunate to be uninjured in this accident and there was a life lost that should be remembered."
FIVE OF JAMES BROWN'S KIDS CHALLENGE WILL
December
The red tape continues to snarl James Brown's estate as five of the late entertainer's children are challenging the will, which leaves most of the late singer's money to trusts set up to educate Brown's grandchildren and needy kids. In the challenge filed in South Carolina's Aiken County Probate Court, the kids claim that the will should be invalidated because Brown's former advisers - Buddy Dallas, Alford Bradley and David Cannon - used undue influence to get him to create charitable trusts that the advisers would profit from. Dallas denied the allegations and called attempts to void the will "an act of desperation." "No one told James Brown what to do," Dallas said, adding that if he were going to use his influence to benefit himself, "I would have just influenced him into giving me something." The Brown children challenging the will are Deanna Brown Thomas, Venisha Brown, Daryl Brown, Yamma Brown Lumar and Larry Brown. A sixth child named in Brown's will, Terry Brown, has hired a different attorney. Also, one grandchild whose tuition would be paid for by the trusts has accused his relatives of trying to break the charities to get the money.
SNOOP DOGG'S CHILD WANTS TO GET TO KNOW FAMILY
December
A 9-year-old boy claiming to be the son of rapper Snoop Dogg tells Star magazine that he would love to be a part of his dad's new E! reality series, "Father Hood." "I should be with him on the show, but I'm not," says Julian Corrie Broadus of the program that features Snoop, his wife Shante and their three children Corde, Cordell, and Cori. "I don't want to be an actor; I want to be a basketball player. But I want to be on the show to get to know my family," Julian told Star magazine. "It would be so nice for all of us to just hang out together. I hope we can do that one day." The tabloid says it has tracked down paternity documents to prove that Julian is indeed the biological son of Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus; and 34-year-old Laurie Holmond, who says she and Snoop have known each other since attending the same high school in Long Beach, Calif. Holmond tells Star: "We had a great relationship-until June of 1997, when I suddenly heard on the radio that he had gotten married. Calvin told me I wouldn't understand, and he was right, I wanted nothing to do with him." But three months later, Holmond said she and Snoop hooked up at the Le Reve Hotel in Hollywood, and nine months later, Julian was born. "When I told Calvin I was pregnant, he said: 'I don't know how I'm going to tell Shante," she says. "But when Julian was born, Calvin was right there, and he took responsibility like a man." Holmond says that the rap star hasn't seen their son since early 2003. She says Snoop was proven to be the father in June, when she took him to court to establish paternity. "I asked him to start seeing Julian again. He sounded sincere, but he has yet to come by," said Holomon. "Julian does spend a lot of time with his grandmother, Beverly-Calvin's mom-whom he adores. But now Calvin needs to acknowledge him."
TREY SONGZ ATTACKS ICE-THROWING FAN
December
Trey Songz found himself the topic of blog chatter after a concert clip surfaced showing him attacking a fan for throwing ice on the stage. In several videos posted at YouTube, the singer is shown telling his soundman to cut the music as he asks the perpetrators to "own the f*** up." He also asks audience members to point out the guilty party. After spotting the alleged culprit, Songz and his bodyguard jump into the crowd and attack a member of the audience. One witness toldAllhiphop.com: "They beat the dude down. Took his jewels, chains, and grills. The dude's mouth got bloodied up. Then Trey comes back in and finished the night."
BRANDY MAY NOT HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT
December
TMZ.com is reporting that the delay in deciding whether vehicular manslaughter charges should be filed against Brandy for her car accident last year is due to uncertainty over whether the singer was actually at fault. A CHP source has said that the woman who died in the accident struck the vehicle in front of her before Brandy made any contact. The law enforcement source says Awatef Aboudihaj, the woman who died, rear-ended the car in front of her -- which was going 65 mph, and then slammed on the brakes. The sudden stop caused Brandy to hit the dead woman's car, according to the source. TMZ also learned from L.A. County Coroner spokesperson Captain Ed Winter that toxicology reports show Aboudihaj had "slight traces" of marijuana in her system at the time of the crash. The L.A. City Attorney has until the end of the business day on Friday to decide whether to file criminal charges against Brandy -- that's when the one-year statute of limitations runs out.
YUNG JOC ARRESTED AT CLEVELAND AIRPORT, TEMPORARILY A FUGITIVE
December
Rapper Yung Joc was arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and charged with carrying a concealed weapon after police said a loaded gun was found in his carry-on bag. According to the Associated Press, the 25-year-old was taken into custody at about 6:20 a.m. Sunday before boarding a Delta Air Lines flight. Police said they found a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition in Robinson's carry-on bag. He told them he didn't know the weapon was there, said police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho. Joc, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was charged with the felony on Sunday. He was freed on $50,000 bond Monday. "Yung Joc maintains his innocence. He would appreciate privacy as he addresses these allegations," said his lawyer, Stanley Jackson Jr. But then Yung Joc failed to show up at his arraignment Wednesday, a prosecutor said. A judge issued an arrest warrant for the rapper and Cuyahoga County assistant prosecutor Gayle Williams said Robinson is considered a fugitive. When Yung Joc finally showed up to court, the judge scolded him for being tardy, but set him free on bond, scheduling his next court appearance for Jan. 25.
JAY-Z STEPS DOWN AS DEF JAM PRESIDENT
December
Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has confirmed recent rumors that he will leave his post as the president of Universal Music Group's Def Jam Records effective by the end of the year. "Now it's time for me to take on new challenges," the rapper said in a statement. "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy," he added. Jay-Z, 38, took over the rap label in 2005. Among his many signings were Grammy-nominated R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo.The artist will continue recording for UMG's Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label, but will focus most of his attention on other ventures, including the expansion of his 40/40 Nightclubs over the next year, according to a source familiar with his plans. Def Jam earned a total of 11 Grammy nominations under Jay-Z in 2007, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for Rihanna's smash hit, "Umbrella." "Jay made it clear to us that he feels the time has come to take on different challenges in his life. While we regret his decision to move on, we certainly respect it," said Antonio 'L.A.' Reid," chairman of Island Def Jam.
REMY MA SUED FOR $20 MILLION
December
Remy Ma got a double shot of bad news. The woman she is charged with shooting is now suing her in civil court for $20 million, and a judge has turned down her request to travel overseas on a five-country European tour. Remy is accused of shooting acquaintance Makeda Barnes-Joseph twice in the abdomen on July 14 after accusing her of stealing $2,000 from her purse. According to the lawsuit, Barnes-Joseph said she was leaving a birthday party for a friend when Remy Ma, who also attended the party, opened the passenger door of Barnes-Joseph's car, pointed a gun at her and demanded that she dump the contents of her pocketbook. When she failed to do so, Remy shot Barnes-Joseph twice in the stomach and abdomen, then proceeded to search the pocketbook herself while Barnes-Joseph bled, the lawsuit said. Finding nothing, Remy tossed the purse and contents aside and left without calling for medical assistance, the suit said. A month after the incident, Remy was arrested on suspicion of having several of her homeboys (who have not been charged) attack the boyfriend of a witness to the alleged Barnes-Joseph shooting. Prosecutors said that victim suffered a black eye, shattered jaw and broken cheekbone during the alleged beatdown. Remy's lawyer, Ivan Fisher, said the lawsuit "appears to be a publicity stunt consistent with the way Ms. Barnes and her lawyer have, together with their publicist, been attempting to claim 15 minutes of fame on account of a terrible accident." Meanwhile, the criminal charges against Remy - assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon, assault, coercion, gang assault and tampering with a witness - were cited by a judge as reason enough to decide against her request for permission to tour in Europe.
JAY-Z TO OPEN HOTEL IN MANHATTAN
December
Jay-Z is venturing into Donald Trump territory with the announced launch of his new J-Hotel chain in Manhattan.The Def Jam president has secured a development site in Chelsea to build the 150,000 square-foot luxury hotel that will serve as the flagship for a planned expansion into other cities. According to GlobeSt.com, the site was purchased by Jay-Z partners Charles Blaichman of CB Developers and Abram Shnay, along with son Scott Shnay, of SK Development Group in two separate transactions - the acquisition of the base site for $51 million, followed by the acquisition of the air rights for $15.4 million, totaling $66.4 million. The J-Hotel will be located in the gallery district between 10th and 11th avenues at 510 W. 22nd St., also known as 511 W. 21st St.
MIJAC MAY TOUR TO PAY BILLS
December
Fox.com columnist Roger Friedman heard that Michael Jackson is in talks with AEG Live's Randy Phillips to mount a three-month tour next year - from March through May - with proceeds going toward his massive debt. "He is so deeply in debt and at such a crisis point in his finances that he and [publicist Raymone] Bain may be using potential proceeds from a tour as leverage for refinancing his $325 million in loans," Friedman wrote in his column. "The refinancing was due on Dec. 1. Not only did it not happen, but Jackson is now in default on $300 million secured by his Neverland Ranch. "But this also begs the question about to whom Jackson is already promised for tours. German promoter Marcel Avram won a legal case against Jackson in 2005 and since claims to hold the rights to any world tours. Prince Abdulla of Bahrain is suing Jackson for $7 million and may also stake a claim against proceeds from a tour."
IKE TURNER DIES AT 76
December
Musician Ike Turner, the legendary rock-n-roll pioneer whose contributions to the genre were overshadowed by his abuse of ex-wife Tina Turner, has died at age 76, at his home in San Marcos, California, outside San Diego. No further information was given as of press time. However, TMZ.com reported that Turner may have died in his sleep. Turner suffered from emphysema and may have died of a heart attack. Born November 5, 1931 in Clarksdale, Miss., Turner was on the ground level of rock-n-roll with the launch of his band The Kings of Rhythm in 1951 and their single "Rocket 88." The Chess Records release is considered by many rock historians as one of the genre's first songs. While contemporaries such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley crossed over to white audiences, Ike Turner never was never able to make the jump and was confined to the less-lucrative R&B category. As a guitarist and pianist, Turner played behind B.B. King, Howlin'Wolf, Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon in the 1950s. He married Annie Mae Bullock in 1958, she changed her name to Tina, and they enjoyed such hits as "River Deep, Mountain High," "Proud Mary" and "Nutbush City Limits."
POLICE CLAIM FABOLOUS CREW LINKED TO ROBBERIES
December
Police in New York City say they have linked the Brooklyn based crew of rapper Fabolous, to the robberies of several high profile celebrities and athletes. According to the New York Post, the Street Family, which cops say is based out of the Breevort Houses where the rapper grew up, has been targeting nightclub patrons in the lower Manhattan neighborhoods of Chelsea and Flatiron for some time now, including former New York Giants cornerback Frank Walker, NBA guard Sebastian Telfair and boxer Zab Judah. Police allegedly have surveillance footage showing Street Family members involved in the October 2006 mugging of Telfair outside of Sean "Diddy" Combs' now-defunct Justin's Restaurant in Manhattan. In that incident, the basketball player was robbed of a $50,000 chain and Fabolous was shot in the leg. “They don’t care,” one unidentified police source told the Post. “The bigger the celebrity, the better.” The NYPD believes that the crew searches out celebrities who are sporting expensive jewelry, then alert each other via cellphone. The victims are then targeted as they walk to their cars. Fabolous has previously denied any personal or Street Family connection to this type of illegal activity, but now it appears he may have been shot by his own, too greedy, people. Officials say Street Family has about 20 members who are former drug dealers. The gang allegedly does its business in the Chelsea and Flatiron district area in Manhattan, where Fabolous' childhood friend Shamel McKinney was recently stabbed to death.
R.KELLY FACES PROTEST IN L.A.
December
When R. Kelly's Double Up train rolls into The Forum in Los Angeles, protesters plan to be out with lighted candles and burning questions about the church-owned venue's support of an artist who faces trial on child pornography charges. The Forum, former home of the Los Angeles Lakers, is owned by Faithful Central Church, pastured by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer. "R. Kelly is currently facing 14 federal counts of child molestation. Why is the church not giving aid and comfort to the victims of sexual assaults?" asks activist Najee Ali of Project Islamic HOPE in a statement. "How can the church allow R. Kelly to perform on Friday night, have service on Sunday morning and believe all is well?" Ali continues. "The message the church is sending to young children is that money is more important than taking a stand in support of victims who have been victimized by R. Kelly and other child molesters."
BLUES GUITAR LEGEND JERRY RICKS DIES
December
American blues guitarist "Philadelphia" Jerry Ricks, who mastered the sound of the 1930s' Delta Blues, has died in a clinic in Croatia. He was 67. Ricks learned from and performed with blues greats such as Son House, Brownie McGhee, Mance Lipscomb, Sleepy John Estes, Skip James, Furry Lewis, Bukka White, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Lightnin' Hopkins. He and his wife, Nancy, moved to Croatia this year after performing a concert in the country. His death was announced by the Croatian Music Union, which said he had been hospitalized in August after a stroke. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumer earlier this year. Ricks was born in Philadelphia and began playing guitar in the coffee house where he washed dishes. He played throughout Europe in the 1970s and 1980s, recording albums in Germany, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In the 1990s, he returned to the United States to live in the Mississippi Delta, before deciding this year to move to Kastav, Croatia.
BOW WOW RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL
December
Bow Wow was forced to bow out of a performance in the Chicago area after being hospitalized the night before following a show in Cincinnati. The rapper's label Sony first issued a statement saying the 20-year-old is recovering from "stress and exhaustion" due to the promotion of his "Face Off" album, but it turns out it was an infected appendix that laid the rapper low. Bow Wow did not attend Saturday's tour stop at Rosemont, Illinois' All State Arena with Brown and fellow acts Sean Kingston and Soulja Boy. In the statement, Sony said the artist is in good spirits and wants his fans to know "he loves them and will be sure to come back to Chicago soon."
REMY MA CHARGES UPHELD
December
Rapper Remy Ma must stand trial for gang assault and witness intimidation after losing her bid Wednesday to have those charges tossed. The artist also faces trial for the alleged July shooting of an acquaintance after claiming the woman stole money from her purse. The assault and intimidation charges stem from an Aug. 19 attack on a witness' boyfriend. The 26-year-old, born Remy Smith, is accused of having several of her boys hand the man a vicious beat down. Smith's lawyer, Ivan Fisher, tried to have the August charges dismissed, saying the evidence was insufficient to indict his client, reports the Associated Press. Manhattan State Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller denied the request and adjourned the case until Jan. 3.
RAPPER SPICE 1 SHOT IN THE CHEST
December
Rapper Spice 1 has reportedly been shot and is in critical condition in a Bay Area hospital. The artist, born Robert Green Jr., was hospitalized after being shot in the chest, according to the Hayward Calif. Police Department. Other reports have surfaced that suggest the rapper was shot twice, once in the chest and again in the chin. As of press time, no arrests had been made and police had no suspects. Although he was born in Corsicana, Texas, Spice 1 was raised in Hayward, Calif. and saw his rap career take off in the mid-nineties after he was discovered by fellow Bay Area rapper, Too Short.
LATIFAH WANTS MORE WOMEN IN POWER
December
Lifetime has recruited Queen Latifah to help with its new Every Woman Counts campaign by asking ladies across America to complete the following sentence: "If I Were President, I would ...." Lifetime is recording Latifah's interviews during stops on her Trav'lin' Light concert tour. The vignettes will begin airing on the network in January and will run through Election Day on Nov. 4. Designed to draw attention to issues of significance to women that are often lost in the frenzy of campaign coverage, the spots will also air as broadband vignettes on myLifetime.com. "Women have a lot to say about the issues they want addressed in the presidential campaign. I am excited to join forces with Lifetime Networks to use my tour to get their voices heard," said Latifah. "It doesn't matter what party the women I talk to are affiliated with; we just want to make sure that women, 52 percent of the population, get the opportunity to get their point across because they are shaping our country's future."
RAPPER PIMP C DEAD AT 33
December
Pimp C, who turned tales of Texas street life into a key role in the rise of Southern hip-hop, was found dead in an upscale hotel in Los Angles. He was 33. The rapper formed Underground Kingz with Bun B while the pair were in high school, and their often laconic delivery paired with wittily dangerous lyrics influenced a generation of current superstars like Lil' Wayne. Singer T.I. had the group on as guests when he remade their 1994 song "Front, Back and Side to Side" for his "King" album. Pimp C was on parole after serving about half of an eight-year prison sentence for failing to complete a community service requirement stemming from an aggravated assault charge. His MySpace page had just recently been changed to read: "C the Pimp is FREE at last." Born Chad Butler, Pimp C was found dead in a room at the Mondrian hotel, a longtime music industry hangout not far from the House of Blues on Sunset Strip, where he had performed Saturday night alongside rap veteran Too $hort. Capt. Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County coroner's office said Butler had apparently died in bed. "At this time there's no signs of foul play," Winter said. "It appears to be possibly natural, but pending autopsy and toxicology we can't say the cause."
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LUTHER VANDROSS ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION
December
Fans of the late Luther Vandross will get a chance to bid on more than 1,000 items from his former homes in Beverly Hills, Calif.; Greenwich, Conn.; and New York City; as well as memorabilia from his tours, reports the Associated Press. The lot, to be auctioned by his estate on Dec. 5 and 6, includes a Picasso charcoal drawing, diamond watches, mink coats and crystal vases.Handwritten lyrics to "Love Forgot"; the army green thermoses from which he sipped hot tea during his concerts; designer loafers and boots; Lalique crystal vases, glasses and doorknobs are also up for sale. Max Szadek, Vandross' personal assistant for 13 years, says fans will get a glimpse into the private world experienced by the singer, who died in2005 at 54. "This mink-lined chair symbolized the lap of luxury that Luther lived in and just how a star, a world-class entertainer, kind of lived it out in his private life, too," Szadek told AP as he walked through 13,000 square feet of items displayed at an auction house in a suburban office park. Also up for bid is a silver Piaget diamond-encrusted watch, a silver diamond-encrusted tennis bracelet and a 4-carat diamond ring. Among the touring and music memorabilia on sale is a record from David Bowie's "Young American," on which Vandross sang background, and a double platinum certification of "Dance With My Father." The collection is valued between $600,000 and $800,000, said John Nye, whose Morris Plains, N.J.-based auction house, Dawson & Nye, is handling the sale.
AKON FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES OVER FAN TOSS
December
Akon has pleaded not guilty in a New York court in connection with a June 3rd concert in which he allegedly threw a 15-year-old boy off the stage, injuring another fan. The 34-year-old singer was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of endangering the welfare of a minor and second-degree harassment, according to a news release from Police Chief Donald Williams. Akon stopped his concert at Fishkill, New York-based WSPK's annual KFEST concert and demanded to know who had thrown an object onto the stage. The audience pointed out the 16-year-old spectator, who was ushered onto the stage by security. Akon then lifted him into the air and flung him back into the crowd. The boy landed on Abby Rosa, who told the Poughkeepsie Journal that she suffered a concussion from the impact. She said she has hired a lawyer and spoken to Fishkill police. The incident was captured on video from various crowd members and widely circulated on the Internet. The singer issued a statement saying he regrets his actions.
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