Green Day
Photo: Getty Images

MTV Latin America announced on Wednesday (October 19) that it has postponed its fourth annual Video Music Awards until further notice due to the increased intensity of Hurricane Wilma, currently a Category 5 storm brewing off the Gulf of Mexico. The Latin VMAs were slated to be held on Thursday in Mexico's Playa Del Carmen resort in the Caribbean, which MTV felt was a bit too close to Wilma's projected path. "While the eye of the storm is not expected to hit the Mexican Caribbean, we feel its effect is close enough to greatly impact our production," MTV said in a statement. "Unfortunately, given the magnitude of this event, we could not wait for further developments to make this decision without jeopardizing the creative integrity of the show. Furthermore, the safety and security of our staff, audience, talent and clients is our top priority." There is no word yet on when the show will be rescheduled. ...

A charity auction to help victims of Hurricane Katrina will go online at noon PT on Monday with items donated by Blink-182, Good Charlotte, Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, New Found Glory, Nirvana, No Doubt, Ozzy Osbourne, the Ramones, Rob Zombie, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Used, 311 and dozens of other bands as well as music and extreme-sports companies. The Unite the United charity organization was founded by the organizers of the Vans Warped Tour and Taste of Chaos Tour; for more information or to bid, go to www.UniteTheUnited.com. ... A Bright Eyes live album, Motion Sickness, will surface November 15 through Conor Oberst's Team Love Records — but only in independent record stores. The album will contain 15 tracks that were recorded last winter. Look for the disc to include "Land Locked Blues," "Old Soul Song" and a cover of Elliott Smith's "The Biggest Lie." ...

Cuban Link is getting himself in trouble with the law, at least on television. He guest stars in an upcoming episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," in which he plays Enrique, a pimp who works with child prostitutes that a nun is trying to get off the street. When that nun turns up dead in her inner-city church, Vincent D'Onofrio's detective character questions Link, who leads him to some not-so-usual suspects. The episode, called "The Acts of Contrition," airs Sunday at 9 p.m. on NBC. ... Clay Aiken won't be home for the holidays — he's going on what he calls the second installment of his Joyful Noise Tour, a follow-up to the holiday trek he did last year. This time, he'll sing songs that he recorded for the platinum Merry Christmas With Love that didn't appear on the album, as well as new arrangements for some traditional tunes. The tour will also feature a new element, a series of vignettes with a running storyline that Aiken wrote, featuring two main characters and supporting roles which will be cast in each city with local actors. The 40-date tour kicks off November 2 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and concludes December 30 in Clearwater, Florida. Meanwhile, Aiken has been in the studio recording his next album. ...

Prosecutors in the criminal trial of Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island; and Daniel Biechele, Great White's tour manager, want the judge in the case to reject the defense's motion to have some of the charges against the three men discarded. According to The Associated Press, the three each face 200 manslaughter counts — 100 for the lives lost in the 2003 blaze at the club, and 100 as the result of criminal-negligence claims. The defense feels 100 of those charges should be dropped, because the Derderians were never given advance notice of existing fire-code violations at the club — the same code violation cited as the impetus behind the involuntary-manslaughter charges. The defense further argued fire-code violations weren't justifiable grounds for a manslaughter charge. The AP reports prosecutors countered that, by installing illegal flammable soundproofing foam, the Derderians created the unsafe conditions that led to the blaze. ...

Want to go bowling with Jimmy Eat World? They'll play with you for two hours on November 12 in Chicago if you're the lucky winner of their bowling-party auction on eBay (travel not included). Proceeds from the winning bid will be donated to P.L.A.Y., which provides creative outlets for young people exposed to violent environments. ... Jack Johnson, who is recording music for February's "Curious George" soundtrack (Will Ferrell voices the Man in the Yellow Hat in the movie), will release two DVDs on November 22: "Live in Japan" (from August 2004) and "A Weekend at the Greek" (shot last month). Johnson has also just signed ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra), his opening band this summer, to his Brushfire Records. Their album will be released in January. ...

The book "Fool the World," an oral history of the Pixies, is now due in the U.S. in March (though it's already out in the U.K.). Written by Josh Frank and Caryn Ganz, it tells the story of the group from the mouths of the bandmembers as well as those around them, such as tour managers, producers, engineers, album designers, label employees and other artists, including Thom Yorke, Beck, Bono, Courtney Love and Perry Farrell. ... Eric Clapton has sold the world rights to his life story and plans to write an autobiography to hit stores in spring 2007. Clapton has rarely granted interviews and has never spoken in great detail about his life, but his publisher, Doubleday, says that the legendary musician will write about every aspect of his personal and musical history, along with collaborator Christopher Simon Sykes, a close friend of Clapton for nearly 40 years. The book will also come out in audio form, to coincide with a box-set retrospective and a world tour. ...

Tired of touring, touring and, well, more touring, Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock has gone and created a record label, called Glacial Pace, and has announced his first signing: Minnesota singer/songwriter Mason Jennings. The label business is nothing new for Brock; for a while, he worked as an A&R rep for Seattle's Sub Pop Records, and recently signed Montreal buzz band Wolf Parade to the label. ...

10.18.2005

A couple from Fantasia Barrino's hometown have a bone to pick with how the "American Idol" winner describes High Point, North Carolina, in her autobiography, "Life Is Not a Fairy Tale." Kyle Sandler and Jennifer English have launched a Web site (www.FantasiasLies.com) in protest of Barrino's claim in the book that she couldn't read after attending local schools and that she and her friends used to call High Point the "land of the dead," according to an Associated Press report. The pair wants signs promoting Barrino at the city's entrances taken down because they think her book portrays the city negatively. A city council member said the signs are not permanent, but there is no plan to take them down. ...

The star-studded charity cover of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," originally recorded to benefit tsunami victims but now benefiting hurricane victims as well, has finally been released — on iTunes. The single features Gwen Stefani, Scott Weiland, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Elton John, Kelly Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Steven Tyler, Robert Downey Jr. and Gavin Rossdale, among others. Proceeds will be disturbed to those in need by Save the Children. "The magnitude of these natural disasters surpasses anything we've seen in our lifetime," said Sharon Osbourne, who executive produced the song. "With this single and other relief efforts, our intent is to keep these tragedies in the forefront of everyone's minds. We must not forget and do all we can to help these people rebuild their lives." ... Usher has been added to the list of performers for a concert next week in Los Angeles celebrating the 25-year anniversary of BET. Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and Mary J. Blige will also perform on "25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Celebration," airing November 1 on BET. ...

Punk legends the Dead Boys will reunite for an October 31 concert in Cleveland to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the band's formation. The concert will feature the remaining members of the Boys' original lineup: drummer Johnny Blitz, guitarist Cheetah Chrome, bassist Jeff Magnum and guitarist Jimmy Zero. Frontman Stiv Bators was hit by a car in 1990 and died from resulting injuries. ... Thrice's Vheissu hasn't even been in stores for 24 hours, and already the California rockers are calling on fans to remake the disc's first single, "Image of the Invisible." To the winner goes "a sick prize package" of $4,000 in home recording equipment. The band posted all the tracks and guitar tabs from the song online. "You or your band can do a remix or a cover of the song in any style you want, with no restrictions," instructs the band's Web site. Submissions are due November 1. ...

Elton John is slated to perform a charity benefit for the New York Restoration Project, which is conducting an online auction in which bidders can win the chance to go backstage at a Dave Matthews Band concert, record with Faith Hill in her studio, watch Robert De Niro direct his latest movie, hang with Hugh Jackman on the set of "Prestige," race with Jeff Gordon, spend time with Martha Stewart in her private gardens or get advice from Dr. Ruth over lunch. The auction (at www.CharityBuzz.com) coincides with the NYRP's Hulaween gala on October 31, in which Sting will be honored for his environmental work. Bidding concludes November 8. ...

Patti LaBelle is being honored with a televised all-star salute to celebrate her 45 years as a recording artist. The show, taped in the Bahamas, is hosted by Eve and features performances by Nelly, Kelly Rowland, Mario, Ashanti, Big Boi, Boyz II Men and Gerald Levert as well as a reunion of LaBelle for "Lady Marmalade." "An All-Star Salute to Patti LaBelle: Live From Atlantis" airs November 8 at 9 p.m. on UPN. ... Meanwhile, LaBelle will pop up on the small screen on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" when she performs at a candlelight vigil in front of a house in Capitol Heights, Maryland, that's been rebuilt for a single mother and her eight children. The episode airs October 30 at 8 p.m. on ABC. ...

Do the chilly temperatures outside have you feeling frozen inside? Sounds like you could benefit from some Hot Hot Heat. And you're in luck, because the Canadian synth-poppers have just announced a string of headlining dates in support of their major-label debut, Elevator. The tour kicks off November 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, and runs until early December. ... Recurring back problems have sidelined Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who will not be traveling with the band overseas for the Taste of Chaos international trek, which kicks off Saturday in Australia. "It has now become apparent that Adam will need back surgery," a message posted on Killswitch's Web site reads. "As a result, the rest of the guys have decided that Adam should not do the upcoming Taste of Chaos [dates] and risk further back problems." The five-piece will perform as a foursome with roadies filling in on second guitar for a few of the songs. ...

Nine Inch Nails, who were originally scheduled to play the Voodoo Music Experience just on October 29 in New Orleans will now also perform at the festival's second night, October 30 in Memphis. A few other bands are also following suit, including the Secret Machines, the New York Dolls and HIM. ... Brothers Senen and Ulpiano Reyes, better known as Cypress Hill's Sen Dog and Mellow Man Ace, are collaborating on an album called Ghetto Therapy, to be released under the Reyes Brothers name in February on their own label, Latin Thug Records. B-Real, Warren G and Archbishop Don "Magic" Juan guest star. ...

• Green Day
• No Doubt
• Cuban Link
• Bright Eyes
• Clay Aiken

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston (file)
Photo: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images

After seven years together, including four and a half years of marriage, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are separating. "For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media," Pitt and Aniston said in a joint statement published on People magazine's Web site Friday (January 7). "This decision is a result of much thoughtful consideration. We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another. We ask in advance for your kindness and sensitivity in the coming months." ... Smells like twin spirit — Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are launching two fragrances, Coast to Coast NY (which will have a citrus scent) and Coast to Coast LA (which will have a more floral, tropical scent). The perfumes will be sold in mass-market drug chains, department stores and Wal-Mart starting in March. ...

Nelly recently donated $50,000 to the Martin Luther King Memorial Project Foundation. According to The St. Louis American, the donation will help build a memorial on the mall in Washington, D.C., in honor of Dr. King. "I think anytime you can be in conjunction with a great man such as Dr. King, it's only right," Nelly told the paper. The memorial will cost almost $100 million to build and maintain, and organizers say they have already raised $65 million. The foundation has until 2006 to collect the additional money. ...

On March 5, Usher will stage a 90-minute live show filmed in HDTV called "One Night One Star Usher Live" from San Juan's Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The concert will air on Showtime, smack in the middle of the channel's free-preview weekend, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. ... This year's Grammy nominees will not only find themselves sweating it out together at the actual ceremony, but they'll also be grouped on a CD compilation. The 21-track Grammy Nominees 2005, due in stores February 1, includes songs by Usher, U2, Alicia Keys, Beastie Boys, Prince, Green Day, Black Eyed Peas, Kanye West and Evanescence, and will benefit music-related charities such as the recording academy's MusiCares Foundation and the Grammy Foundation. ...

Cuban Link's upcoming Chain Reaction, due March 8, will feature appearances from Jadakiss, the Game and Peedi Crakk. Mya sings on the former Terror Squad rapper's first single, "Sugardaddy." ... Dirtbag Clothing has announced it will move forward with plans to launch Dimebag Hardware, the clothing line inspired by the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. The Dimebag Hardware line will consist of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, shorts and work shirts with "a metal edge," according to a statement released Friday by the company. The line will debut at the NAMM music convention in Anaheim, California, on January 20, and will be available online at dimebaghardware.com and dirtbagclothing.com, as well as at guitar shops and boutiques across the U.S. and Europe. ...

Norah Jones will headline the Air J Jazz and Blues Festival, scheduled for January 27-29 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Other artists on the bill include Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack and Jimmy Cliff. ... Danny Sugerman, former manager of the Doors and co-author of "No One Here Gets Out Alive," the definitive bio of the Jim Morrison-led band, died in Los Angeles on Thursday from lung cancer. Sugarman, 50, started as an assistant to the band when he was 14 and went on to become their manager following Morrison's 1971 death. He also acted as a consultant on Oliver Stone's 1991 movie "The Doors." ...

Five months after "Peace Train" singer Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) was detained and deported by U.S. authorities, who said he was on a no-fly list, the singer is still barred from entering the country. Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge said Thursday that the singer remains on the list because "the reasons we rejected him several months ago still exist in my mind." Peace activist Islam was barred from the U.S. at the time because of what the government said were his alleged ties to terrorist organizations, a claim the singer has denied. ... Paul McCartney, Sting and the surviving members of Queen are among the artists collaborating on 46664: 1 Year On, an EP to raise money for Nelson Mandela's 46664 organization, which combats the spread of HIV and AIDS in Africa (46664 was Mandela's prisoner number when he was incarcerated on South Africa's Robben Island). The EP, which is available for download from the iTunes music store, features collaborations from McCartney and Eurythmics' David A. Stewart, Sting and Jimmy Cliff, and Queen and Mandela himself. ...

Swedish psychedelic garage rockers The Soundtrack of Our Lives will follow up their 2002 album, Behind the Music, with Origin Vol. 1, due March 15. The group will kick off a brief club tour January 15 in Boston that ends January 26 in Los Angeles, and will appear at Austin, Texas' South by Southwest Music Conference in March. ... The Slamdance Film Festival, the annual, unofficial fest that coincides with the Sundance Film Festival, will feature performances from former Soul Coughing singer Mike Doughty, producer/rapper Prince Paul and Parliament/ Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Also playing at the fest in Park City, Utah — taking place January 21-28 — will be Apex Theory, guitarist Elliott Sharp and Spearhead frontman Michael Franti, whose documentary about his search for humanity in war zones in Iraq and Israel, "I Know I Am Not Alone," will close the event. ...

Thomas Slattery digs iTunes, he just doesn't like the fact that the only device the site works with is Apple's own iPod. So he sued the company in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, on Monday, alleging that the company broke antitrust laws by shutting out its competitors. An Apple spokesperson did not return a call seeking comment. ...

01.06.2005

Pharrell Williams is suing Reebok International for more than $4 million, accusing the manufacturer of his Billionaire Boys Club (BBC) clothing line of breach-of-contract. Williams filed the lawsuit before Christmas, claiming the sportswear giant didn't produce clothing meeting BBC's standards and failed to distribute the clothing line to stores by an agreed-upon deadline. A spokesperson for Reebok said that the suit was unexpected and the company is trying to resolve the issue out of court. ...

A woman who claims she worked as a publicist for James Brown in the late 1980s has filed a federal lawsuit against him, alleging that he caused her to suffer Graves' disease (a basic defect in the immune system) because he raped her at gunpoint in 1988, according to The Associated Press. A lawyer for Brown says Jacque Hollander's charges are "baseless" and "too little, too late." While Hollander's lawyer agrees that the statute of limitation on a rape charge has run out, he says the suit has merit since his client's doctor only recently told her that her ailment, which she was diagnosed with in 2000, was caused by the alleged incident. Hollander is seeking $106 million in damages in a U.S. District Court in Chicago. Brown's reps could not be reached by press time for comment. ...

Do you appear to be between the ages of 18 and 35 and really really like hard rock? If you said yes to either of those questions, the "Battle for Ozzfest" organizers want you to be a member of the audience at the final battle, which will take place on Sunday between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. in the Los Angeles area. Check out www.ozzfest.com for more info. ... Johnny Ramone's wife and friends, including Rob Zombie, will unveil a statue in memory of the late Ramones guitarist at a public ceremony January 14 at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. The monument, of Johnny playing his guitar, will be located near where Dee Dee Ramone is buried and will include the following quote from Johnny: "If a man can judge success by how many great friends he has, then I have been very successful." ...

Pink is plunging forward with her next album, according to her Web site. She's already started writing and has a few new songs already, the post says, and though it didn't disclose exactly who would be working with Pink this time around, it said she would be teaming up with "some great talent." ... Supermodel Tyra Banks has put her debut album on hold, but insists she has not given up on a singing career. "I have a talk show in the works, so we're trying to figure out the timing of the music and how to blend the two," she explained. "I just did a beautiful song with Wyclef and one with Rodney Jerkins. ...

Slash's Las Vegas New Year's Eve celebration was cut short after the Velvet Revolver guitarist found out his cat had suffered a heart attack back in Los Angeles and had to be rushed to a veterinarian, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Slash reportedly returned to his suite several times throughout the night to get updates on the feline's health. ... Kelly Osbourne recently shot a cameo for "The Muppets' Wonderful Wizard of Oz," due on the small screen in May. Osbourne plays herself and bumps into Ashanti's Dorothy character in the flick. ...

Love Rocks, a two-disc compilation celebrating love, "regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity," will see release on February 25. Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mandy Moore, Dolly Parton, Melissa Etheridge and others contribute songs to the album, with all proceeds benefiting Human Rights Campaign, an organization promoting gay and lesbian civil rights. ... William Hung's feature-film debut, the Cantonese-language "Where Is Mama's Boy?," hits theaters this weekend in Singapore. The "American Idol" reject, who is in Singapore promoting the film and doing benefits for the tsunami victims, plays a street vendor who befriends a music-club owner, played by Hong Kong starlet Nancy Sit. ...

Jurassic 5 rapper Chali 2na has settled on Fish Out of Water as the title for his solo album, due in February. Some of the material from the LP, which includes a track produced by Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, is included on the recently released mixtape Fish Market. J5 are also recording an album for release in 2005. ... 8Ball and MJG are releasing "Forever" with Lloyd as the next single from Living Legends. ...

After facing two liens on her New York apartment in the past year, Courtney Love has decided to solve her money problems by selling the place. She's listed the 4,100-square-foot loft in SoHo as a $6 million property, after paying $2.6 million for the place five years ago. ... Fans of "The O.C." who recognize the music of the Album Leaf, featured in recent episodes of the hit TV show, will now be able to see the band live. Jimmy LaValle (a.k.a. the Album Leaf) takes his pristine, minimalist instrumentals on the road this month with a West Coast jaunt that kicks off January 13 near the O.C., in Costa Mesa, California. ...

To walk this way, or not to walk this way ... that's the question posed at Burbank, California's Falcon Theatre where the show "The Comedy of Aerosmith" is playing throughout the month of January. The "For mature audiences only!" show, a parody of Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" mixed with the music of Aerosmith, is being performed by the Troubadour Theater Company. ... Natalie Imbruglia has finished her new album, which she's calling Counting Down the Days. The first single, "Shiver," is due out in mid-March, while the album is expected March 29. Song titles include "I Won't Be Lost," "On the Run," "Sanctuary," "Satisfied," "Honeycomb Child" and "Come on Home." ...

• Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
• Usher
• Evanescence
• Cuban Link
• Game

Cuban Link's <I>Broken Chains</I>

• Name: Cuban Link

• Mixtape: Broken Chains

• Hometown: Bronx, New York

• Joints to check for: "Welcome to CLK," "Hey Momma," "Toe 2 Toe"

• Previous mixtapes: None

• The 411: "It's mostly the best of Cuban Link," Cuban said of his CD. "Let the streets know. You gotta flood the streets. They ain't hear from me in a while. There's been a lot of rumors. A lot of dirt that was getting put on my name."

  Before Cuban left Fat Joe's Terror Squad a couple of years ago, it seemed like Big Pun's master plan was being fulfilled. Cuban, who was brought into the Squad by Pun, was poised to follow in the footsteps of his girthy rhyme brethren and drop his solo LP, 24K.

  But due to bootlegging and what Cuban alleges to be project mismanagement on the part of Joe's Terror Squad Records and Atlantic Records, Cuban's album was never released.

  "I didn't have no help from Joe, who was supposed to be my voice in this joint venture," Cuban said. "It was lack of work and ethics. Lack of professionalism that went on when my album was supposed to drop.

  "It was some good times," Cuban continued of his tenure under Joe. "Times we gave each other hugs and real love. But [overall] the personal side with me and Joe wasn't clicking. He was on another level that didn't include me."

  Cuban stepped to Joe and asked for and was granted his release from the label. But he said that after leaving the TS he felt blackballed by the industry.

  "A lot of people shied away from the situations as far as getting my deal after the situation with Fat Joe," he said. "They chose not to deal with me. I never got my fair chance to put my mark out there like I should have."

  Furthering the tension between Joe and Cuban, CLK got his face slashed during a brawl at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe in the spring of 2001 during an album release party for Angie Martinez. Cuban says he was trying to break up a fight between Joe and rapper Sunkiss when the fat gangsta turned on him.

  "Next thing you know he turns around and snuffs me, a so-called brother," Cuban lamented, thinking back. "I had 10 years in the game with him. 'What's this?' So I get back up and it was over. All the memories we had was gone from my body. I rock his jaw, he wobbles backwards and security started holding me. Then somebody came from the back with [a blade] and rocked me. Then security threw me out. It was disgusting."

  In the wake of the incident, Joe publicly denied having anything to do Cuban's face being slashed and nowadays doesn't want to speak about his former friend at all.

  "He's old news," Joe said a few weeks ago in New York. "I did everything I could do for him. I'm past that. He's been trying to get a record deal for two years. There's nothing I can do for him."

  Cuban throws several salvos at his one-time mentor and the rest of the Terror Squad (except female lyricist Remi Martin, whom he says is the "realest n---a in the crew") on some of his new material on Broken Chains. He also revisits a few of the tracks off of 24K that were leaked, such as the ode to his mother, "Hey Momma," and his musical homage to those he lost on "Flowers From the Dead," which served as a tribute for Pun.

Other mixtapes causing a ruckus in the streets this week are Big Mike's latest, the DJ Envy- hosted Allstar 2K3, Kay Slay's The Champion, DJ Clue's The Manatti Report and Pudgee-P's Show and Prove.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Mondays, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

• Cuban Link

Cuban Link
Photo: MTV News

It looks like Terror Squad clique member Cuban Link will never see his long-delayed debut, 24-K, hit stores; the rapper is negotiating to be released from his contract with Atlantic Records because he feels his album was mishandled.

"I did my job," Cuban said. "I hit [the label] off with 24 tracks — that's two albums in one. I gave them the material, and basically they couldn't move it. Atlantic is wack, bottom line. They don't know how to do hip-hop. It's [a shame] that I had to take this long to find out." Cuban, who is still looking for a new label, said he's now working on a new album called Chain Reaction which will feature 14 new tracks. "I finished [24-K] at the end of '98, beginning of '99," he said. "I'm taking my master [tapes] with me, but that album's been used and abused, so I've got to hit the people off with some new [music]." After generating a buzz off the strength of his singles "Flowers for the Dead" (a tribute to his late best friend, Big Pun) and "Still Telling Lies," 24-K was scheduled to drop in 2000 and was pushed back several times. In the interim, the album, which features many guest appearances — including some of Pun's last recordings — was leaked to the streets and became a hot commodity on the bootleg circuit. While he was warming the bench post-24-K, the rapper kept busy with a number of guest appearances, including one on Jon B's new album, Pleasures U Like. Outside the realm of music, he plans to launch his CLK clothing line this fall, and Blazin', the karate/gangsta action flick co-starring Cuban and Fat Joe, hit stores on Tuesday. The movie's sequel is in the planning stages.

As for his album woes, Cuban concluded, "Destiny just took its course, so I'm with it." An Atlantic Records representative said he had no knowledge of Cuban Link's contract situation and would not comment on the artist's statements.

• Cuban Link