B2K

Hannah Montana Contest Winner Apologizes For Fake Essay; Plus 'American Idol,' C-Murder, R.E.M., Birdman & More, In For The Record

4 Jan 2008 05:11:00 EST

Daughtry song cut from 'National Treasure' sequel; 'Idol' alumni Ruben Studdard, Frenchie Davis join musical-theater tour.
By MTV News staff

Hannah Montana (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus)
Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images

The Hannah Montana tour is definitely one of the hottest tickets in town for tweens and their parents, but one woman admits she went a little overboard in trying to win tickets for her daughter. Texas mom Priscilla Ceballos apologized Friday (January 4) on NBC's "Today" show for writing an essay falsely claiming the girl's father had died in Iraq just so the girl could see Hannah (a.k.a. Miley Cyrus) in person. "I just wanted to help my daughter write a compelling story," she said. The fabricated essay won the contest's grand prize, which included airfare for four to Albany, New York, and four tickets to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert there, as well as a makeover that included a blond Hannah Montana wig. "Please accept my heartfelt apology and please do not punish my child for my mistake," Ceballos urged on the show. ...

What's harder to find than a City of Gold? For "American Idol" rocker Chris Daughtry, it was one of his own songs. Daughtry was commissioned to write a song to play over the end credits of "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," but the single, "Feels Like Tonight," was left on the cutting-room floor, reports Variety. "It's a great song, and probably could have been a good marketing tool, but when we put it up with the movie, it just felt wrong," Disney music chief Mitchell Leib told the Hollywood trade. ...In other "Idol" alumni news, Season Two winner Ruben Studdard and semifinalist Frenchie Davis (who got the boot from the show after Fox discovered that she worked for an adult Web site before trying out) have signed on for the 30th anniversary national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical revue "Ain't Misbehavin'." Richard Maltby Jr. co-wrote and directed the Broadway production, which showcases the music of "Fats" Waller, and he will re-create his original direction. Studdard was in need of some good news after being the first "Idol" winner to be dropped from his label, when J Records let him go in December. Since appearing on "Idol," Davis was in the Broadway cast of "Rent." The "Ain't Misbehavin' " tour will begin in November and run at least through May 2009. ...

Literature probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of C-Murder, but the rapper — who is to be retried on a second-degree murder charge on February 11 — is taking part in a unique book club that connects readers with authors. On January 19, C-Murder will help christen the New Orleans "chapter" of the Conversations Book Club when he joins the group at the Comfort Inn & Suites downtown to discuss "Death Around the Corner," his recent novel about the city. ...

R.E.M., My Morning Jacket, Vampire Weekend, Daniel Lanois, Tech N9ne and My Brightest Diamond are among the initial slate of bands scheduled to perform at this year's South by Southwest festival. Lou Reed will be the keynote speaker at the fest, which will take place in Austin, Texas, March 12-16. ... Birdman is being sued for allegedly sampling other artists' songs without paying for them. The lawsuit, which was filed in New Orleans, claims that the Cash Money Records co-founder (real name: Bryan Williams) owes several music publishers money for using copyrighted songs without permission. ... Does Britney have some competition? Both Whitney Houston and her estranged husband, Bobby Brown, were no-shows Friday (January 4) at their scheduled court appearance, TMZ.com reports. According to the Web site, Whitney's attorney, Stephen Kolodny, said the singer was sick. ...

Bay Area producer/DJ Amplive won't be putting out his remix of Radiohead's In Rainbows after all. Just a month after announcing his remix album, Rainydayz Remixes, which was to feature a cameo from Too Short, Amp announced on his MySpace page that he had received a cease-and-desist letter from Radiohead's publisher, Warner/Chappell, on December 18 that barred him from releasing the unapproved album, according to a story on Pitchfork linked to from Amp's site. In a video on his MySpace page, a dejected-looking Amp, holding a sign that reads "free," laments, "In Rainbows is one of the top Radiohead albums, and I'm a big Radiohead fan, and it was all done in celebration." He says he wanted to show his appreciation for Radiohead's pioneering pay-what-you-want scheme by doing a hip-hop remix album that would also have featured Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Jurassic 5's Chali 2na. He says he wishes that Radiohead could hear the free remix album, which he knows they would like, and suspects the band is not to blame for the legal action. "Thom [Yorke], holla at me, man," he pleads to the band's frontman at the end of the message. ...

Australia's first couple of music, Silverchair singer Daniel Johns and singer/actress Natalie Imbruglia, have announced that they will separate after four years of marriage, according to the Melbourne Herald Sun. The pair announced their split in a joint statement released Friday (January 4) that read, "While we are very sad that our marriage has ended, we want to make it clear that our parting is amicable and we remain friends. ... This mutual decision has not been taken lightly or quickly. However, our career demands and our lives in different parts of the world have brought us to the point where unfortunately this difficult decision was necessary for both of us. We have simply grown apart through not being able to spend enough time together." ... On March 25, long-running, genre-spanning party-poppers the B-52s will return with Funplex, their first album of new material since 1992's Good Stuff (and their first to feature co-frontwoman Cindy Wilson since '89's Cosmic Thing). Guitarist Keith Strickland describes the album as "loud, sexy rock and roll for your pleasure zones, with the beat pumped up to hot pink," just in case you were wondering. ...

Josh Groban had a great Christmas, but the music industry? Not so much. For the eighth year in a row, album sales were down, with total album sales diving 15 percent in 2007 to 500.5 million units, according to year-end figures from Nielsen SoundScan. The Los Angeles Times reports that it was the lowest tally and steepest decline since Nielsen began publishing estimates based on in-stores sales data in 1993. There was a bright spot with digital-album sales rising 2.4 percent to 30.1 million units, but even that paled in comparison to the 19 percent uptick in 2006. The overall picture, including albums, singles and individual-song downloads, showed a rise of 14 percent to 1.4 billion units, which, again, was down from the 19 percent gain in 2006. ...

Last year's Live Earth concert and the Roskilde Festival in Denmark will be recognized with environmental honors at the upcoming Midem Green World Awards in Cannes, France, later this month, according to BBC News. The awards pay tribute to events that promote a greater awareness of environmental issues. Live Earth is being recognized for the strict green guidelines it set out in order to create a low-impact worldwide event, while Roskilde, one of the largest European festivals, is earning praise for serving all its drinks in recyclable plastic mugs. ...

Not everyone is psyched about the huge music festival that is slated to touch down in Vineland, New Jersey, this summer courtesy of a hookup between Lollapalooza promoters C3 and the people behind England's Glastonbury Festival. According to the Vineland Daily Journal, a group of citizens, including a former City Council president, have mobilized under the banner of Neighbors Against Rock Concert Site in an attempt to block the show. The first meeting of NARCS is slated to take place Thursday, with the goal of blocking the festival — currently scheduled for August 8-10 — from taking place on a local 570-acre farm. The event is expected to draw 35,000-40,000 people over three days, with mostly on-site camping, which neighbors worry will have a negative impact on the area due to potential increases in traffic, noise, crime and pollution. According to the Journal, NARCS isn't opposed to the festival, just its location. The group is considering a lawsuit to stop the show, while suggesting that promoters move it to a more "appropriate" location, such as the local county fairgrounds. ...

The once-in-a-lifetime New Year's Eve gig at a small club in Surrey, England, that featured Who guitarist Pete Townshend, former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and guitar god Eric Clapton might not be a one-off after all. The secret show, which the trio performed under the name Totally Abandoned, benefited charity and included mostly "old classics," according to London newspaper The Independent. A Thursday post on the Who's site confirmed that the gig took place and teased that "a much larger gig" could happen in New York before March. ...

Stephen Stills is recovering after having surgery for prostate cancer on Thursday. He is expected to be at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25 for the world premiere of "CSNY/ Déjà Vu," a movie directed by Neil Young that revolves around his and Stills' group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

1.3.08

T.I. adjusted his calendar Thursday (January 3) after an Atlanta judge postponed until February 19 a suppression hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Grand Hustle rapper's lawyers are seeking to have evidence thrown out because they claim it was obtained as a part of an illegal search when T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris Jr.) was arrested in October for allegedly attempting to purchase illegal machine guns. Lawyers for the rapper filed a motion in November stating his vehicle had been searched without a warrant, consent or probable cause. He has been under house arrest awaiting trial after posting a $3 million bond in late October. ...

Chris Brown has hit a bump as he tours across the U.S. — the singer's set designer is suing him for breach of contract, according to TMZ. John Troxtel claims in a federal lawsuit he filed Christmas Eve that while he was paid for some of his labor, "extra work was required and requested." He says an oral agreement was made but that the touring company has refused to make good on its promise. Troxtel, who is seeking more than $1 million in damages, is also reportedly suing Brown for unjust enrichment. ...

Former B2K groupmates Dreux "Lil Fizz" Frederic and Jarell "J-Boog" Houston have released a statement through their publicist regarding the claims of sexual molestation Raz-B made against manager Chris Stokes in recent online videos. "We had nothing to do with the [videos], their release and/or their claims, we are unaware of any inappropriate behavior," the statement read. Raz-B later retracted and apologized for the accusations. Meanwhile, Raz-B's business partner had no comment on a new, recently surfaced tape of Raz-B, his brother Ricky Romance and Stokes, and said he didn't know when it was shot. ...

Nate Dogg suffered a stroke on December 19, according to a coordinator for the hip-hop crooner's recently formed gospel choir, Innate Praise. Reports had circulated that the longtime Snoop Dogg associate had been admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in California after suffering a heart attack. Erica Beckwith, however, confirmed to MTV News that Nate Dogg was released on December 26 after being treated for a stroke and is currently in a medical-rehab facility to assist him in his recovery. ...

The Jonas Brothers have inked a fat deal with Live Nation, and it's being called the first of its kind for an up-and-coming group, according to Billboard. The multimillion-dollar agreement will see the band of brothers playing a jaw-dropping 140 shows at theaters and arenas over the next two years. Eight shows have been lined up so far for the Look Me in the Eyes Tour, in Tuscon, Arizona (January 31); Las Vegas (February 1); Los Angeles (February 2); Everett, Washington (February 5); Portland, Oregon (February 6); February 8 (Salt Lake City); El Paso, Texas (February 11); and San Antonio (February 12). ... Radiohead have, according to the U.K.'s The Times, agreed to a deal with iTunes — which some fans may have noticed, given that the band's In Rainbows album is now available through the online store. "In terms of digital income, we've made more money out of this record than out of all the other Radiohead albums put together, forever," Thom Yorke reportedly said about the release. ...

Bono has teamed with Hard Rock for a new tee that is benefiting the Wildlife Conservation Society's Conservation Cotton Initiative, which helps educate impoverished African farmers. The Bono Signature Series T-shirt, which will be available starting Monday at Hard Rock's terrestrial and online shops, is being made available via Edun, a socially conscious clothing company that Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, launched in spring 2005. ... Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst, who toured as part of the Vote for Change Tour in support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, performed at a rally for another Democratic contender, Senator Barack Obama, in Iowa on Tuesday. According to The New York Observer, Oberst played for a crowd of approximately 1,000 Obama supporters and at one point told them, "I met the next president of the United States earlier today." But that's hardly the only star Obama has on his side. Scarlett Johansson was a special guest at a rally for him in Iowa on Wednesday night, according to The Nation. She reportedly spoke with a group of young supporters in Des Moines. ...

The Facebook profile cited in many articles (including MTV News') about Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the late Benazir Bhutto's son, is a hoax, according to a statement from Farahnaz Ispahani of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "The statement that's on [the Facebook profile] is not his statement," he told The New York Times. "It seems genuine but according to Mr. Zardari, and we checked with him, the Facebook statement has not been written by Bilawal." ...

Foo Fighters are following in Justin Timberlake's footsteps — the band is participating in this year's "My Grammy Moment" segment for the February 10 awards ceremony. Unsigned instrumentalists — sorry, singers — are getting the chance to perform with Dave Grohl and the gang as part of an orchestra, with the winner being showcased as the featured instrumentalist. Interested? Record a performance video that is no longer than one minute and reflects your talent and submit it here. A Grammy Awards panel will choose 45 quarter-finalists, after which the public will narrow down the group to semifinalists who will perform with the five-time Grammy-nominated band. ... Christina Aguilera and Katie Holmes, starring side by side in a new flick? Rumors are circulating online that the two have been tapped for an upcoming comedy called "Humboldt Park," but Rene Rigal, who is executive producing the flick, told MTV News in regards to the castings, "We haven't heard anything as of yet." ...

Mark this one with a "WTF?" on your calendar: Keytar-wielding indie-rockers and former You Hear It First artists Mute Math will open for Matchbox Twenty and Alanis Morissette on their Exile in America tour, which runs from January 25 in Hollywood, Florida, through March 18 in Las Vegas. ... Hot Chip will pad their February 5 release, Made in the Dark, with a smattering of shows in April. The British electro-poppers will play nine gigs, from an April 10 one in Philadelphia through an April 24 show in San Francisco. ... Meanwhile, Ween are barreling on with their longest tour in three years. The band will play six gigs in January — from January 23 in Washington, D.C., through January 31 in Orlando, Florida — and is slated to play February 1-2 in St. Petersburg and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before jetting overseas. ...

Sketch-comedy duo Tim and Eric have a few friends you may know. Maroon 5 bassist Mickey Madden, Phantom Planet frontman Alex Greenwald and the Like singer/guitarist Z have chalked up covers of songs by the pair's fictional Casey and His Brothers group. Check 'em out on TimAndEric.com. ... Sean Penn will head the awards jury at this year's Cannes Film Festival, which is slated for May 14-25. According to AP, the "Into the Wild" director said "a new generation of filmmaking may have begun," and that there seems to be "a rejuvenation of cinema building worldwide." ...

The Offspring are nearly finished with the follow-up to 2003's Splinter. According to a post from frontman Dexter Holland on the punk-rockers' Web site, they're "taking a quick break from recording right now to be with our families. I've got two lyrics to do, a couple more to sing, and various musical tweaks and fixes to get done. Then, we'll be ready to mix." There's no release date for the album yet, but the Offspring "want to thank all our fans who have been so patient, and we want you to know that we've been in the studio nearly every day now for quite awhile working hard to make a great record," the post says. ...

Former Kid 'N Play frontman Christopher "Play" Martin was reportedly hospitalized over the weekend when his car was struck by another vehicle whose driver was wounded by a bullet. According to North Carolina's The News & Observer, the one-time rapper's car was struck after a man — suspected of fleeing from where a home robbery took place — was allegedly fired upon by local police. The man, identified as Raul Riva Aldamo, reportedly died as a result of the gunfire. Martin and his companion, Michelle Gonzales, were released from doctor's care on Wednesday, and according to a rep for Martin, he is at home recovering.

Related Artists

T.I. Hearing Postponed; Plus Chris Brown, B2K, Nate Dogg, Jonas Brothers, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari & More, In For The Record

3 Jan 2008 06:32:00 EST

Brown sued for breach of contract; ex-B2K group members respond to controversy; Nate Dogg in a rehab facility after suffering stroke.

T.I.
Photo: Getty Images/ Kevin Winter

Bono has teamed with Hard Rock for a new tee that is benefitting the Wildlife Conservation Society's Conservation Cotton Initiative, which helps educate impoverished African farmers. The Bono Signature Series T-shirt, which will be available starting Monday at Hard Rock's terrestrial and online shops, is being made available via Edun, a socially conscious clothing company that Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, launched in spring 2005. ... Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst, who toured as part of the Vote for Change Tour in support of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, performed at a rally for another Democratic contender, Senator Barack Obama, in Iowa on Tuesday. According to The New York Observer, Oberst played for a crowd of approximately 1,000 Obama supporters and at one point told them, "I met the next president of the United States earlier today." But that's hardly the only star Obama has on his side. Scarlett Johansson was a special guest at a rally for him in Iowa on Wednesday night, according to The Nation. She reportedly spoke with a group of young supporters in Des Moines. ...

1.2.08

Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump has been named one of the un-sexiest men of 2007 by Boston alt-weekly The Phoenix. He lands at #95 on the list, right next to Larry King and Jon Heder. ...

Prodigy, who will start serving a three-and-a-half-year jail sentence on a charge of gun possession for which he was indicted in October, plans to issue his second solo album while behind bars. H.N.I.C. Part 2 will drop in March, feature production from Mobb Deep group mate Havoc and Alchemist, and be integrated with Voxonic technology, which converts a voice into hundreds of languages with near-perfect accuracy. Prodigy also released a statement regarding his upcoming sentence, saying, "Throughout my life, I have always lived through adversity. I'm a survivor. You don't understand the mental power that I have. While I'm locked up, I'm going to be writing lyrics, working on the script for my second feature film, 'Dope,' and finish writing an autobiography of my life, which will be finished by the time I'm released. My mind is going to be focused, and I'll have time to think and map out my entire plan. The experience will make me a tougher, stronger person. I'm gonna work on getting out faster, so I can get back to doing what I do best. When I get home, it's gonna be on!" ...

R.E.M. have christened their forthcoming album Accelerate and set an April 1 release date for the effort. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee (Bloc Party, Snow Patrol) and will feature "Until the Day Is Done," "Living Well Is the Best Revenge" and "Staring Down the Barrel of Middle Distance." Expect the band to tour in the spring. ... It's not like she was expecting an Oscar nomination, but a nod for the worst? In a poll conducted by AOL's Moviefone Web site, 58 percent of respondents gave Lindsay Lohan the dubious distinction of turning in the worst performance by an actress in 2007 for her role in "I Know Who Killed Me." Another one of Lohan's box-office bombs, "Georgia Rule," finished second among the more than 3.8 million voters, just behind the Eddie Murphy comedy "Norbit," as the biggest waste of $10. "Norbit" also earned the comedian the title of worst performance by an actor. ... Eddie Murphy and "Good Luck Chuck" producer Tracey Edmonds got hitched during an intimate New Year's Day ceremony on a private island in French Polynesia, according to People.com. Johnny Gill was reportedly Murphy's best man. ...

Radiohead singer Thom Yorke has hit back at the boss of his former label, EMI Music, after claims that the band had rejected a nearly $6 million advance for their new album while demanding the copyrights to older titles. In a December 29 post on the group's official Web site under the heading "FYI — if you care — for your information," Yorke wrote, "We did not ask for a load of cash from our old record label EMI to re-sign. That is a L I E. The Times in the U.K. should check its facts before it prints such dirt. What we wanted was some control over our work and how it was used in the future by them — that seemed reasonable to us, as we cared about it a great deal. [EMI boss Guy] Hands was not interested. So neither were we. We made the sign of the cross and walked away. Sadly." Yorke said the group was upset about the airing of "dirty laundry" in public. Separately, Yorke told BBC Radio 4 that releasing In Rainbows solely as a digital download — the physical album hit stores this week — would have been "stark raving mad" because 80 percent of fans still buy physical releases. "We didn't want it to be a big announcement about 'everything's over except the Internet, the Internet's the future,' 'cause that's utter rubbish," Yorke said. "And it's really important to have an artifact as well, as they call it, an object." Yorke, in one of his first public comments about the decision to release In Rainbows under a pay-what-you-wish scheme, explained that Radiohead had a "moral justification in what we did in the sense that the majors and the big infrastructure of the music business has not addressed the way artists communicate directly with their fans. ... In fact, they seem to basically get in the way. Not only do they get in the way, but they take all the cash." He also denied reports that In Rainbows was downloaded more than 1.2 million times in its first week, but, in keeping with the band's silence on sales, would not confirm how many times it was actually downloaded. "It's total nonsense. ... We're the only people who know, and it feels wrong to say exactly what happened," he said. "But it's been a really nice surprise and we've done really well out of it." ...

The presidential race will bleed over into late-night TV on Wednesday night (January 2) when David Letterman chats up Democratic contender Senator Hillary Clinton and Jay Leno welcomes Republican candidate Mike Huckabee on the respective comeback episodes of their shows. Chingy will perform on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," while Lupe Fiasco will play on the "Late Show With David Letterman," with Robin Williams also appearing. Letterman struck a deal with the Writers Guild of America that will allow him to return to air with writers, but Huckabee and Chingy will be crossing the picket line with their appearances on Leno's show, as the writers' strike continues. ... "L.A." Reid, Denzel Washington, Steven Spielberg, Brett Ratner, Billy Joel and others partied Sunday on a private yacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Jon Bon Jovi and Robbie Robertson performed at the shindig, according to Fox News. ...

Staind's Aaron Lewis, along with members of Boston, Tesla, Stryper and other bands, will join host Dee Snider of Twisted Sister at the fifth anniversary Relief Fund Charity Concert, to be staged February 25 at Providence, Rhode Island's Dunkin' Donut Center. The event is being put on by the Station Family Fund, a group founded by survivors, family members and community members affected by the Station fire, the February 2003 nightclub tragedy that claimed 100 lives. Proceeds from the show will go to the survivors of the fire, many of whom did not qualify for Social Security benefits. ...

The lineup for Dave Mustaine's Gigantour 2008 has been revealed. The trek, to launch in mid-April and run through late May, will feature his band Megadeth, as well as In Flames, Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy and High on Fire. ... P.O.D. have set an April 8 release date for When Angels & Serpents Dance, the band's forthcoming LP. The record will feature a guest appearance by Suicidal Tendencies mainman Mike Muir. ... Former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland's band, Black Light Burns, have begun work on material for their second album, which is set for release in early 2009. Borland said in a statement that the new stuff is "a lot more guitar-heavy than it is synth-heavy. The feeling/tone is a little more fun and weird compared to the darkness of the first album." The effort follows the band's debut disc, last year's Cruel Melody. ... Hatebreed were forced to postpone the final concert in their Stillborn Fest series after guitarist Frank Novinec broke his ankle. No word yet on when they'll make up the gig, which was supposed to happen Sunday in Rochester, New York. ...

A lawyer who previously represented Death Row Records boss Marion "Suge" Knight in a $130 million lawsuit over ownership of the onetime gangsta-rap powerhouse is asking a judge to set that judgment aside. According to the Los Angeles Times, in a hearing set for Wednesday attorney Dermot Givens is asking that the judgment be voided because of what he claims is new evidence that the plaintiff, singer Lydia Harris, and her imprisoned drug-dealing husband, Michael, allegedly duped a Los Angeles judge into ruling against Knight. The motion contends that Harris hid from the court that she had filed for bankruptcy five years before suing Knight and that she never claimed an ownership stake in Death Row during that legal proceeding. The motion also alleges that recent sworn testimony by the couple shows that Michael Harris, an alleged crack kingpin, was the real party of interest in her lawsuit against Knight; Michael Harris sued Knight in 1996 claiming he helped finance Death Row, and was awarded a $300,000 out-of-court settlement. Lydia Harris filed a separate suit in 2002 claiming that she and Knight started the label together and that he cheated her out of millions in profits. ...

James Brown's final recordings have been caught up in the legal feud over the late rock legend's estate, according to The Associated Press. Brown recorded an album in Los Angeles in summer 2006, but courtroom disputes over who should get his music royalties are preventing the release of the tracks. More than 50-60 additional unreleased songs recorded by Brown are also reportedly in the archives. ... The Jersey Boys have a bit of a problem on their hands. Tommy DeVito, ex-bassist of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons — on which the "Jersey Boys" story is based — is being sued by the widow of a man who also wrote a story about the group, according to TMZ. Donna Corbello says her late husband Rex Conrad Woodard's yet-unpublished book was the basis of the Broadway smash, and she is reportedly seeking a declaration that he is the volume's "joint owner" so she can get some of the future profits from the production. The suit was recently filed in a district court in Texas. ...

It's Hammer time all over again. MC Hammer is about to launch a new Web site that he hopes will rival YouTube as the online hub for sharing and watching dance videos, according to AP. He is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of DanceJam.com, which will go live later this month and profit from Internet advertising. Perhaps the site will reverse Hammer's hard luck — he filed for bankruptcy in 1996 with nearly $14 million in debts. ... Evan Farrell, an indie-rock bassist who played with the Magnolia Electric Co. on tour and, earlier this year, left the Rogue Wave fold, died the weekend of December 22-23 after sustaining injuries from a house fire in Oakland, California. He was 33. "He was a fixture in our community and a bright spot in all of our lives," Secretly Canadian, the label the Magnolia Electric Co. call home, said about Farrell in a statement. "He was exceptionally talented, funny and genuine."

Related Artists

Raz-B Retracts Abuse Allegations Against Former B2K Manager In New Video

27 Dec 2007 02:03:00 EST

Singer apologizes for accusations, but older brother Ricardo Thornton still stands by his original story.
By Gil Kaufman

Raz-B
Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

A day after former B2K manager Chris Stokes vehemently denied allegations that he sexually molested former members of the boy band while serving as its manager, his accuser, former B2K member DeMario "Raz-B" Thornton, has apologized. In a 30-second video posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Thornton stands outside on a city street and recants the sordid accusations he and older brother Ricardo "Ricky Romantic" Thornton had made in a pair of videos that circulated over the weekend.

"This is DeMario Thornton, publicly known as Raz-B of B2K," a solemn-looking Thornton tells the camera in the video, called "The Truth About Chris Stokes B2K Part 3." "I would like to send a public apology for some tapes that were leaked without my authority. I just want to say that those allegations are not true ... with Chris Stokes and Marques Houston, [I] apologize for any hurt this may have caused publicly [or] financially."

Stokes reacted to the new video in a statement released Thursday (December 27) morning. "I'm happy that DeMario 'Raz-B' Thornton and Ricardo Thornton realized their mistakes and admitted to lying," he said, although Ricardo Thornton is standing by his claims. "I have always supported my family and have always been a stand-up person. I knew that the truth would eventually come to light."

Thornton's abrupt turnaround came just hours after Stokes told MTV News that the allegations were false. His denials were seconded by another former B2K member, Omarion.

"I'm not gay. And I'm married. And I have four kids. I been with my wife for 16 years," Stokes told MTV in an exclusive interview. "And I'm not a child molester. So those are all false allegations. I'm gonna sue them. And I owe that to my wife and kids, period. It's ridiculous."

The truce between Raz and Stokes doesn't appear to have been extended to Ricardo. After MTV reported on the apology, Ricardo told MTV News that he stands by all the original allegations and is not recanting his story. He said he hasn't spoken to his younger brother in more than a day — which he said was unusual for the siblings — and predicted that Raz will "come back around," suggesting that the apology might not have been his brother's idea.

[This story was originally published at 11:36 a.m. ET on 12.27.2007]

Related Artists

B2K
Omarion

B2K Ex-Manager Denies Sexual-Molestation Allegations; Omarion Comes To His Defense

26 Dec 2007 03:38:00 EST

Meanwhile, Raz-B's business partner says singer isn't ready to elaborate on video allegations.
By Gil Kaufman and Jayson Rodriguez

Chris Stokes and B2K's Raz-B in 2003
Photo: Steve Grayson/ WireImage.com

Former B2K manager Chris Stokes is vehemently denying claims of sexual molestation that appear in a recent online video made by group member Raz-B and his older brother, who now manages the remaining members of B2K. Stokes, who released a statement Tuesday denying the allegations made by Raz-B, repeated his claims when he spoke exclusively with MTV News on Wednesday (December 26).

Among the allegations made by Raz-B (born DeMario Thornton) and his older brother, Ricardo "Ricky Romantic" Thornton, in the widely circulated clip are that Stokes touched Raz-B when he was a child and forced him to shower with the other members of the group. The pair claim in the video that Marques Houston was also molested by Stokes.

"All the allegations they made are false," said Stokes, who currently manages Houston and Omarion through his firm, the Ultimate Group Entertainment. "I'm not gay. And I'm married. And I have four kids. I been with my wife for 16 years. And I'm not a child molester. So those are all false allegations. I'm gonna sue them. And I owe that to my wife and kids, period. It's ridiculous."

Meanwhile, Kevin Sullivan, Raz-B's business partner and the COO of their company, Raz Beatz Entertainment, said Wednesday that the singer is not ready to elaborate on his video allegations at this point, but that he is conferring with lawyers and preparing a statement that will possibly help explain his claims.

"With something of this magnitude, you always look at what the best time is [to talk about it,] and he felt compelled ... that this has built up," Sullivan said. "[He was saying,] 'I'm tired, this is my story.' It's something that's spiritual, and God says now is the time."

Omarion also issued a statement on Wednesday, in which he defended Stokes against the allegations. The singer said Stokes has been a father figure to him and the group, and that his manager never enaged in any activity unbefitting to a minor.

"I want to be on the record as saying that 'Raz-B' Thornton and Ricardo Thornton are lying regarding Chris Stokes," Omarion said. "Chris is a father figure to myself and many others in the industry. He's guided us, helped raised us and is nothing more than an inspiration and someone I respect and look up to. I have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months with the man — since the age of 5 — and have never once seen him behave inappropriately. He's married to my aunt, and I know this man very well. I stand behind him with no question whatsoever. I have grown up around Chris, and this is crazy to me. These people have damaged me and my reputation. I won't stand silent and will do all within my means to speak the truth about this matter."

Much of the video is a purported conversation between Raz-B and Houston's older sister, identified as Danielle Houston, about her brother, a longtime client of Stokes'. In the clip, Danielle Houston says she does not believe the allegations.

"It all started with Chris Stokes," Raz-B says in the video. "It started one day when Chris was like — 'Let me touch you' ... I can't speak for everybody, but if you want my personal opinion, I think he did (touch all the other group members)." Raz-B claims the molestation began when he was 11 or 12 years old, when Ricardo was in another Stokes-managed group before Marques Houston got involved with the TUG management team.

He tells Danielle Houston that came out with the allegations now because Ricardo got so upset when he heard about the alleged molestation that Raz-B thinks his older sibling might be suicidal or possibly about to do something drastic.

"I'm not lying, I'm not lying about a mother----ing thing," Raz-B says at one point.

In the second part of the video, Raz-B is seen arguing with an unidentified woman, who appears to be referring to how upset Stokes is by the allegations. "You know why he feels threatened," Raz-B says in response to the woman's questions. "Because the whole world already knows, everybody already knows the truth."

Ricardo Thornton is seen blaming himself for not saving his younger brother from the alleged advances, saying, "Chris [Stokes] made me take showers with the other boys. ... All that little sh-- that my brother was introduced to, that sh-- was brought to me first, and I blocked that sh--. I wasn't with it, I backed off ... I kinda knew what was going on over there, and yet I took my brother over to Chris. I didn't protect him like I should have. [Stokes] molested my brother and he molested me ... when I say that, it hurts ..."

The pair later provide what they claim is a confession from Stokes, in which a man identified as the manager says, "I don't do that anymore. That was me years ago ... I just don't do that in my life anymore." In a heated exchange with the man identified as Stokes, Ricardo is seen complaining about being escorted out of an event recently thrown by Stokes, and feeling like he and his mother were disrespected at the party. Near the end of the video, the man identified as Stokes appears to offer to meet with Ricardo to talk things over, but Ricardo seems unimpressed and repeats the allegations. The clip ends with the word "why" and a question mark.

According to Stokes' representative, Ronn Torossian, the video is taken out of context, and Stokes' comments were referring to his not financially supporting Thornton and his brother.

In his prepared statement released Tuesday, Stokes explained he "recently stopped financially supporting both individuals along with assisting them with their criminal and legal matters, which leads me to believe they are resentful and looking to benefit financially from this."

According to Stokes, who is related to Raz-B — "He's my cousin," Stokes explained. "My mother's brother's daughter's son" — he still assisted Thornton and his brother after the B2K split, through financial support. He also claims he had to post bail for Raz-B as recently as two months ago.

Stokes revealed to MTV News that he, along with Marques Houston's family members, will be filing police reports on the grounds that Thornton taped their phone calls without receiving their permission first. In the state of California, it is against the law to record a confidential telephone conversation without all parties having knowledge of the action.

Stokes hinted his reason for cutting off the two financially had to do with increased monetary demands from Thornton and his brother.

"You have to understand, since B2K broke up, they've done nothing, and they really had no money other than the financial support I gave them," Stokes said. "And so now, as you seen on the videos, if you did watch them, he's saying his brother is ready to commit suicide. So at this point, they felt they could just do whatever they feel it would take to get the money.

After the B2K breakup, the former group mates — Raz-B, Dreux "Lil Fizz" Frederic and Jarrell "J-Boog" Houston — claimed Stokes mishandled their finances, an allegation Omarion denied. Since the initial allegations, however, Omarion and Lil Fizz have settled their differences. Fizz appeared in the singer's video for "Entourage" last year.

Sullivan confirmed that a reality show featuring the former B2K members has been in the works but is currently up in the air due to the fallout from the allegations. MTV News attempted to reach spokespeople for J-Boog and Lil Fizz but could not reach anyone at press time.

Stokes said his lawyers had not been contacted Prior to Raz-B and his brother's video appearing online. He had no previous knowledge of the accusations, he said.

"Not at all," Stokes said. "Prior to this, they are making it up. They just went with what they could, I guess, to make something up about me. They really have incriminated themselves in many, many ways."

Related Artists

B2K
Omarion

B2K's J-Boog, Lil Fizz, Raz-B Finally Get Solo Careers Off The Ground, In Where Ya Been?

30 Jul 2007 03:12:00 EDT

While Omarion soared, former bandmates spent three years in legal limbo.
By Gil Kaufman

B2K in 2003
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

We couldn't get enough of them. Their songs were our soundtrack, and we laughed, danced, cried and loved along with them. They flashed across our radio and TV burning brightly ... but where have they been lately? As you'll find out in this regular feature, sometimes the stories behind your favorite songs are more interesting than the hits themselves.

(See what the other B2K bandmates have been up to since "Bump Bump Bump.")

Who: Jarell "J-Boog" Houston

Biggest hit: "Bump Bump Bump" (2003)

Claim to fame: B2K, the group that launched Omarion to solo fame, blew up from kiddie faves to arena headliners in three short years. Boog was the "gritty" one whose voice we only heard on a few hooks.

Why do I know that name?: Boog is the first cousin of actor/singer Marques Houston, with whom he co-starred in "You Got Served." Along with Raz-B and Lil Fizz, he was left behind when B2K broke up in 2004 as fellow bandmember Omarion struck out on his own to solo fame. "Right after the breakup, the three of us came together and tried to get the legal side of everything worked out," Boog recalled. The trio were in the unfortunate position of being label-less but still under contract, as their former bosses at Epic Records were let go during a merger with Columbia Records. With no contacts to turn to, Boog said he's spent the past three years in limbo fighting to get out of his contract so that he could launch a solo career.

Hangin' on the line: "It was impossible to put out any music because I was still signed to Sony through [former B2K manager] Chris Stokes," lamented Boog, who added that Stokes, who manages Omarion, was not keen to let him go. "It's easy for your artist to win when there's no competition. Omarion is his artist, and he released a record the year after we broke up, so if all of us was releasing a record, that would have been something for him to run against. He would have lost, I'll be honest with you." It took Boog until June 18 of this year to finally gain a release from his contract with Sony, and now he's hot to get his career back on track.

Busy, busy, busy: In addition to having two kids since leaving the group, the now-21-year-old singer has been recording at a furious pace at his home studio in Compton, California, tracking three mixtapes and two full-length hip-hop albums. Despite the long layoff, it will still be a while until you hear that music. "It's all rap this time — I'm not doing the stuff I did with B2K," Boog said. "I know how much work goes into making something successful, and I'm not going to do someone else's gimmick. I'm writing my own music this time about how I really feel." Boog is about to go into the studio to record his official solo debut, My First Words, for his Capitalist Entertainment label, which he expects to release next summer.

The four corners: But what about the other unreleased albums? "They're incredible, but those were recorded at a time when the public just won't yet understand it," explained Boog of the backward release schedule he's concocted. "This is a different guy that you never got to see, and [the two completed albums] will take us to where he was born and raised. My dad was on drugs most of my life. I grew up in Compton, in the ghetto. Nobody knows that, and people aren't ready for those words. My First Words will give you the four corners of the box before we open it." Sitting around for those three years watching his bank accounts shrink and not being able to do what he loves the most — sing and perform — were hard for Boog. But the dream of returning to his former glory was enough to keep him going. "We're playing for money — this is not the fantasy," he said, recalling B2K's 2003 headlining tour in sold-out arenas as the highlight of his time in the group. "This is my job. There are a million other talented dudes, but I'm preparing to feel like I'm going to take over the world."

The hardest part: Boog, who is still very tight with Lil Fizz, said his relationship with Omarion is cordial. When recalling his B2K days, he said one of the things that helped break up the group were the strict rules enforced by manager Stokes. "He had rules that were over-the-top, like I couldn't talk to my girlfriend, or I could only see her once a month," Boog said. "We were boys of 15 and 16, we were going to be rebellious. We were working really hard and not asking to go to strip clubs or anything. We just wanted some time to ourselves."

The moral: "Did I see the money? It's definitely one of those stories," said Boog, who described himself as not "sitting pretty" thanks to his B2K money. His advice to young singers is to "keep an ear open to the outside world," and, in a refreshingly old-school touch, he says listen to your parents when it comes to business. "If you're under 18, keep your parents in your life," he advised.

Who: Dreux "Lil Fizz" Frederic

Why do I know that name?: Like Boog, Fizz has kept a fairly low profile since B2K fizzled three years ago, waiting to get out of his Sony contract so he could resume performing. The godfather to Boog's kids, Fizz also kept busy making music during his negotiations, and he got a nice break one day when he was told that former Bad Boy rapper Mase and Fo' Reel Entertainment head Cudda Love were interested in meeting him. "I flew over to meet them, and we spent the whole night hanging out. The next day Cudda called and asked me to lay something down on a track," said Fizzo of the chance meeting three years ago. But because he was still under contract to Sony, Love couldn't touch Fizz, though they kept in touch.

One step forward, two back: With one hot Bryan Michael Cox-produced track under their belt ("Fluid" with Missez) and then an entire album, Fizz and Cudda approached Sony in 2007 to see if the label was interested. But Fizz said they weren't psyched about the project and agreed to release him from his contract in January.

Finally, a real Payday: Fizz fans can finally hear the results with the independently released Payday, which hit iTunes in mid-July and is slated to drop in stores next month. "This time I can express myself and not be somebody I'm not or combine my personality with other people," said Fizz, 21, whose first single, the grinding "Beds" (featuring Ray-J), sounds a bit like the salacious heirs to the B2K throne, Pretty Ricky.

The moral: In some ways, Fizz said, having such a gut-wrenching experience as a teenager was the best thing that could have happened. "Not many people get to experience the feeling of losing a friend and not trusting somebody and seeing the behind-the-scenes of the business and how dirty it can be."

Who: De'Mario "Raz-B" Thornton

Why do I know that name?: One of the founding members of B2K, Raz spent his time in the group soaking up as much as he could about the music biz, which has helped him in his time since their break up. "I've been training the past three years, physically, mentally and spiritually, getting my craft together," said Raz, who taught himself to play piano and guitar and has honed his dancing skills since the group broke up. Though he still speaks daily to cousin and former B2K manager Stokes, Raz has broken professional ties with him and launched his own label, Razbeatz Entertainment.

Boy to man: Raz has been recording his debut solo album, Boy II King, in Seattle and Detroit with gospel great Michael Winans Sr. and his son, Michael Winans Jr. (Diddy, Danity Kane), and he's hoping to drop the album this year to capitalize on the heat of his recent slinky soul single, "Fire." He described the sound of the new tunes as gospel-influenced R&B that isn't religious, but is positive and eschews foul and graphic language. Raz is also keeping himself in the public eye with a cameo — alongside Boog and Omarion — in the recently released video for Fizz's "Beds" single. "We were happy to see each other," he said of the unlikely reunion that took place in June. "O pulled out his camera and took some pictures. It was crazy."

Too many irons in the fire: Raz, 22, has kept busy in his downtime, diligently working on putting together an all-star "We Are the World"-style compilation album he calls Heal the World, and which he hopes will include contributions from such fellow young stars as Lindsay Lohan, Mario, Nicole Richie, Raven-Symoné and his former bandmates. He's also appeared on the Logo network show "Noah's Arc," signed on as the national spokesperson for the National Society of Young Musicians, launched his own foundation for young artists called the National Association of Unheard Artists and is slated to star in an upcoming film from the producers of "You Got Served" called "Rhythm."

Growing up fast: "I learned how to become an adult fast," he said of his wild ride in the music biz. "But I wouldn't take anything back. The experience has been great. I don't point the finger of blame at anyone. Now I'm in control of my own destiny and I'm going to put out music that's not misleading to my [fans.]. This new music is like 'Bump Bump Bump' but it's clearer and less lustful."

Ever wonder what happened to Sisqó? How about Snow? Ace of Base? Tell us which faded stars you'd like us to check up on, and you just might find them in a future edition of "Where Ya Been?" Send us your suggestions and we'll get digging ...

Related Videos

Where Ya Been? B2K

Related Photos

Where Ya Been, B2K?

Related Artists

The New Boy Bands

4 Feb 2005 08:59:40 EST

Is Good Charlotte this generation's 'NSYNC?

Photo: MTV News

Related Artists

Omarion: In His Own Words

21 Jan 2005 09:39:00 EST

Inside The B2K Breakup

Photo: MTV Books

Related Artists

B2K
Omarion

Omarion Adds Big Collaborator To Solo LP: Outkast's Big Boi

13 Sep 2004 09:55:00 EDT

Album slated for release on November 9.
By Corey Moss

Omarion (file)
Photo: John Sciulli

Omarion has added a big collaborator to his upcoming solo album — Big Boi, to be exact.

The Outkast rapper has lent a verse to the former B2K star's first single, "Never Gonna Let You Go (She's a Keepa)."

"Basically, it's a realistic topic," Omarion said. "When I made my album, I wanted to talk about things that are real. I want somebody to hear my song and say, 'You know, man, I've been through that.' And 'She's a Keepa,' I mean, fellas, any time you got a good girl, even if she gets on your nerves sometime, she's worth keeping if you put that time in."

Omarion and Big Boi are shooting the video next week under the direction of Chris Stokes, who manages Omarion and directed several of B2K's videos.

Titled simply O (see "Omarion Gets 'Very Mature,' Makes Women Say 'Oh' On Solo LP"), Omarion's album is due November 9 and will also feature production from Pharrell Williams on a yet-unnamed track, according to the singer's spokesperson.

"If you want to know anything about me, even some of my secrets, listen to the album and you'll know me," Omarion said of the album's revealing lyrics. "It's different than anything I've ever done and I hope you all like it."

Along with recording his debut, Omarion has been filming two movies: "Fat Albert" (see "Omarion, Joel Madden, Kenan Thompson Form Rap Collective On 'Fat Albert' Set") and the Stokes-directed teen-horror flick, "Crazy House." He and Marques Houston were scheduled to shoot a sequel to "You Got Served" this summer or fall (see "'You Got Served' Sequel A Go; Omarion Says Former B2K Mates Invited To Return" ), but that has now been delayed until early next year.

"We're still in pre-production, so they still working out the cast and everything," Omarion said. "But you already know how ["You Got Served"] 1 was — just wait until 2!"

Related Artists

B2K
OutKast

Omarion Gets 'Very Mature,' Makes Women Say 'Oh' On Solo LP

17 Aug 2004 09:07:00 EDT

Former B2K lead singer to release autobiography this year too.
By Shaheem Reid

Omarion (file)
Photo: Epic

The whole world has heard it, danced to it, even sung along with Fat Joe as he laments on "Lean Back" how some artists have commercialized gang culture. "Even Lil' Bow Wow throwin' it up/ B2K Crip walking like that's what's up."

One of the guys addressed in the song says he doesn't have any problem with the lyric — in fact, he thinks Joey Crack is speaking the gospel.

"Fat Joe is a really cool friend of ours. We met Fat Joe and he was like, 'Man, I love you guys, y'all cool,' " Omarion said recently. "As far as the statement [in the song], it's true, honestly. There's a lot of people who don't really know what they're doing when they're doing that out there.

"See, it's different [with me]. I'm from L.A. I grew up in the 'hood. So I've got certain credibility to do certain things. I've got friends and family and stuff like that. I'm not saying it's OK, but it's a very, very valid statement [Joe] is making, because a lot of people don't understand what it is and don't understand that's real. When you're dancing and stuff like that, that's a way of life. But Fat Joe, hot record! Fat Joe is out of here right now."

Omarion hopes he, too, will have a hot record when his long-talked-about solo LP drops later this year. The 19-year-old has finally decided on a title: O.

"The album should be coming around the end of November, Thanksgiving time, which could be a nice little Christmas gift for you," he said. "It's just really getting a chance for you to know some aspects of my life. You'll get to know me, Omarion, O, who I am, what I do, some of the situations I've been through."

In the next few weeks, the braided performer plans to drop his first single, "Never Gonna Let You Go (She's a Keepa)," on which he sings over live instrumentation, courtesy of labelmates the Wylde Bunch.

"Right now there is this song, we're lining it up, and when you hear it, man, it's so different from anything that I have ever done," he said. "It's old-school mixed with a little bit of new. It's real, real hot. Got something new for y'all, for real. [I'm] most definitely talking about the young ladies."

O said anyone who thought he showed maturity on "Badaboom" should just wait until they hear his album's title track, where he also hollas at the honeys.

"It's crazy, it's very mature. ... It goes, 'Oh!/ That's gonna be the sound, girl/ When it's going down your body/ Going, "Oh!" ' So it's real mature. Another song is called 'I Wish.' Basically what that song is talking about is situations that always happen in relationships when you fall in love and the person may not feel all the way the same as you feel for them. You feel, 'Damn! I wish I never loved you. I wish I never felt the way I felt.' All the topics on the album talk about realistic situations.

"When I was doing songs in the past," he continued, "they've always been like, 'Baby, this' or 'Baby, that' or a club record. This time I got to talk about strong personal issues. They're very valid things that people go through all day, every day."

On the same day O hits stores, the former B2K lead singer will release an autobiography with the same name.

"It's just about my life, an episode in my life," he said. "So there's some interesting things in there. There is so much that happens in the entertainment life, especially when you've been working from such a young age such as myself. I've been working since I was 14, so you'll get insight on what goes on."

Related Artists

Missy, Brandy, Omarion, Mary J., Jadakiss On Pro-Vote Single

10 Aug 2004 06:04:00 EDT

'Wake Up Everybody' also includes Eve, Fabolous, Ashanti, Wyclef.
By Jennifer Vineyard

Missy Elliott (file)
Photo: Elektra

Babyface wants everyone to wake up and vote, so he enlisted a superstar cast to cover the R&B classic "Wake Up Everybody" as encouragement. Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Monica, Eve, Brandy, Fabolous, Ashanti, Jadakiss, Wyclef Jean and others all helped out the superstar producer.

Their cover of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic, announced on Tuesday, hits radio on Monday, and the recording session's organizer hopes it'll create a movement for people to vote for change, with all proceeds from the single benefiting the voter mobilization effort America Coming Together. "Wake Up Everybody" also features Omarion, City High's Claudette Ortiz, Musiq, Faith Evans, Jaheim, Floetry, Raphael Saadiq, Nate Dogg, Ben Jelen, Bilal, MC Lyte and Jamie Foxx.



	"Wake Up Everybody" photos from the recording session

"This song is the spirit of the country, and all these artists have the will to change it, empower the young voters, and create a movement for people to vote and change the current administration," Babyface said in a statement. "The message of this song is timeless and especially meaningful in today's world. This will be a recording event destined to make history and certain to affect change in the November election."

Babyface organized sessions at New York's Hit Factory and Los Angeles' Capitol Records studio to record the all-star cut, which cajoles listeners to "Wake up/ You've got the power." Elliott raps a modernized conclusion: "Yep, we all best to vote/ I don't care about the guns you tote/ Listen to me like you listen to 'Fahrenheit 9/11'/ Ain't no time for the second guess/ ... Every artist here on this track/ Will make a change here for young cats/ This is for everybody white or black/ You better go and vote and get up off your back."

A CD with bonus tracks — including Yoko Ono's "Give Peace a Chance," Ben Jelen's "Talkin' Bout a Revolution," the Roots' "Why (What's Goin On?)," Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On," and Eric Clapton and Babyface's "Change the World" — will be available in stores September 16. The CD will also include a DVD of the recording of the "Wake Up Everybody" sessions.

Related Artists