Foxy Brown (file)
Photo: Thos Robinson

Although Jacki-O told MTV News that she came to blows with Foxy Brown at Miami's Circle House Studio on April 25, Foxy told Miami's 99 Jamz radio station that the scuffle never happened. Jacki-O has since released a dis track called "TKO" aimed at the Brooklyn, New York, MC, which includes such lines as "Mutha----a Fox, wack bitch, I'm a hunter/ Set fire to many tracks and bitch, you're just a runner/ I didn't wanna deck ya, but how your man let ya/ Come to 305 and run up on a chin checka." ...

The producers behind "Ray" are developing a Broadway musical based on the life of Ray Charles. The play will not involve Jamie Foxx or "Ray" director Taylor Hackford. ... Fugees rapper Pras will release his second solo album, Win, Lose or Draw, in June. Filmmaker Rob Minkoff ("The Lion King," "Stuart Little") is making his music video directorial debut with the first single, "Haven't Found," a remake of U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Meanwhile, Pras' Guerrilla Entertainment is in pre-production on a film adaptation of Robert Beck's "Iceberg Slim." ...

Ghostface and Cameron Douglas, Michael Douglas' son, are co-starring in a television pilot called "Hollyhood." The show, currently being shopped around, marries the worlds of hip-hop and house music and juxtaposes ghetto glamour with Hollywood glitz. The program will include guest interviews, performances, comedy sketches and original songs from both Ghost and Cameron. The show is being produced by Jen Gatien, daughter of Peter Gatien, the fallen New York '90s club king who once owned Limelight and Tunnel. ... A week after Infinity Radio announced that it would turn a terrestrial San Francisco station over to an all-podcast format, satellite radio broadcaster Sirius has announced its own podcasting deal. The #2 satellite network has tapped the "father of podcasting," former MTV VJ Adam Curry, to produce a daily four-hour roundup of the best podcasts in the world. The program, "PodShow," will debut on May 13. ...

Hard rockin' upstate New York quintet Gizmachi — the first signing to M. Shawn Crahan's Sanctuary Records imprint, Big Orange Clown (you know, because Crahan is Clown in Slipknot) — have been added to the second-stage lineup for this summer's Ozzfest. ... Canadian pop supergroup the New Pornographers have completed their third album, Twin Cinema, and have posted an MP3 of the title track on Matadorrecords.com. The group will release the album on August 23. It features 14 tracks, with names like "The Bleeding Heart Show," "Sing Me Spanish Techno" and "Falling Through Your Clothes." The Pornographers have also announced a handful of dates in support of Twin Cinema, which kick off June 23 in Hoboken, New Jersey. ...

British rapper Dizzee Rascal has launched his own record company, Dirtee Stank Records. Dizzee's already signed Leicester, England, rap trio Klass A to the label. The group's been "getting busy in the Dirtee Stank studios," according to Rascal's Web site. Klass A have been likened to N.W.A. ... Beastie Boys keyboardist Money Mark, DJ Logic and rocker Edgar Winter are among the acts slated to perform at Moogfest, the annual celebration of inventor Robert Moog's famous synthesizer. The event will be held May 31 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York. ...

Nellie McKay has collaborated with Cyndi Lauper on a song called "Bee Charmer" for McKay's next album, due in September. Meanwhile, McKay has landed her first movie role, in "Safety Glass," co-starring Mandy Moore, Amanda Peet and Michelle Williams. ...

05.05.2005

Nelly's 4Sho4Kids Foundation joined forces with Feed the Children on Monday (May 2) in St. Louis to help distribute three semi-tractor-trailer trucks' worth of food and supplies. Murphy Lee, Big Gipp, the St. Louis Rams' Marshall Faulk and ousted "American Idol" finalist Nikko Smith turned out to help the group, whose efforts will aid 1,200 families. ...

Justin Timberlake may have announced plans to join girlfriend Cameron Diaz and funny guy Mike Myers in "Shrek 3," but he's keeping mum on rumors that in real life he plans to join her at the altar. A report out of the U.K. claims the couple booked Nice, France's tony Grand-Hotel Du Cap-Ferrat for a secret wedding ceremony this coming weekend. Timberlake's publicist said he wouldn't comment on his client's personal life and that he was not aware of any plans for the singer to travel to France. ...

In what was likely the prosecution's second-to-last day of presenting its case in the Michael Jackson molestation trial, prosecutor Mag Nicola on Monday showed jurors phone records documenting dozens of phone calls made between the singer's staff and the accuser's mother around the time of Martin Bashir's damaging documentary. Prosecutors are expected to say in closing arguments that the calls show a frantic effort to cover up the damage done by "Living With Michael Jackson." Detective Robert Bonner said during cross-examination, however, that the calls are not traceable to Jackson himself. Also on Monday, a bank manager testified that Marc Schaffel, alleged to be one of the conspirators working on damage control, cashed checks from the singer in April 2003 for $1 million and $500,000. Schaffel has said he and Jackson had other business. ...

Common recently recorded a remix of his hit single "The Corner," according to his publicist, with Scarface and Mos Def. ... Linkin Park have a bone to pick with their record label, Warner Bros. In a statement issued Monday by the band's management company, Linkin Park claim the Warner Music Group, which last week announced plans to go public, stands to earn "more than $750 million" in the wake of its IPO, and that "only about $7 million" of that cash will be put toward Warner's operations, with the artists receiving nothing. The statement goes on to read that Linkin Park are concerned that "WMG's diminished resources will leave it unable to compete in today's global music marketplace," and as a result, they want out of their contract. But Warner disagrees with the band's mathematics, releasing a statement that reads, "While Linkin Park's talent is without question, the band's management is using fictitious numbers and making baseless charges and inflammatory threats in what is clearly a negotiating tactic." Linkin Park's follow-up to 2003's Meteora was scheduled to hit stores in spring 2006. No word on how this spat will affect those plans. ...

Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia are among the ladies featured on the upcoming Totally Hits 2005, due May 17. Missy Elliott guests twice by virtue of her protégés Ciara ("1,2 Step") and Tweet ("Turn Da Lights Off"), while Fat Joe, T.I., Trick Daddy and Fabolous round out the rap contingent. ... Mary J. Blige, Ludacris and Kanye West are all participating in the inaugural Vibe MusicFest. The festival will take place June 10-12 at Atlanta's Georgia Dome. T.I., Faith Evans and Big Boi of Outkast will also be on hand. ...

System of a Down are smack-dab in the middle of their "guerrilla" concert series — where they've been staging shows that are announced just days before the band arrives in town, with tickets usually only on sale at venue box offices — and the latest guerrilla date is scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago. A spokesperson for System confirms there will be a handful of new dates to be announced over the coming days. The band is also scheduled to play "Saturday Night Live" this weekend, with host Johnny Knoxville. ... According to their Web site, the Roots are augmenting their Gymnasium Invasion Tour. Floetry will join the group for a string of dates running from May 13 in Baltimore to June 15 in San Francisco. ...

On August 16, heavy-metal dinosaurs Stryper (an acronym for "Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace Encouragement and Righteousness"), the Christian rockers with an affinity for yellow-and-black spandex, will release Reborn, their first batch of new studio material since 1990's Against the Law. Original Stryper members Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (lead guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums) will be joined by new bassist Tracy Ferrie and are set to embark on a North American tour in support of the record this fall. Big3 Records also plans to release a live DVD by year's end. ... Social Distortion will hit the road on May 12 with punk upstarts Lost City Angels for a 15-city club run, according to Social D's Web site. The punk-rock vets will kick things off in Johnson City, New York, and hit Baltimore; Albany, New York; New Haven, Connecticut; Detroit; and Providence, Rhode Island, before taking the stage at the UC Davis Recreational Hall in Davis, California, on June 8. ...

Built to Spill have expanded their U.S. tour. Though the jammy beard-rockers won't release the follow-up to 2001's Ancient Melodies of the Future until the fall, the band will road-test its new songs starting Wednesday in Minneapolis. The 24-date tour will end — sort of — on May 29 in Salt Lake City. The group will go back to the studio and then head out for one last date, July 9 in Anaheim, California. ... When you think of former Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy, what comes to mind? Creepy cemeteries? Foggy London streets? Patchouli? How about sunny Lake Buena Vista, Florida? Because on May 12, that's where Murphy is kicking off his U.S. tour in support of his upcoming album, Unshattered. The goth god will hit up 12 cities on the tour, which concludes on May 28 in Anaheim, California. ...

• Foxy Brown
• The New Pornographers
• Ghostface Killah
• Jacki-O

Jacki-O (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Four-letter words, lemonade and fists were flying in Miami early Monday morning when a fight broke out between Jacki-O and Foxy Brown at Circle House Studios. O said her refusal to "bow down" to Brown, who disrespected her, led to things getting physical.

"I just know that yesterday I did not go there to get in no altercation," Jacki-O said later on Monday. "I went to work, and I did not know I would be winning an ass-kicking contest.

"You don't come to somebody's session acting like a clown," she added. "Something is seriously wrong with her. She's washed up. She needs to sit back and relax and retire. It ain't happening for her no more."

O was in the studio collaborating with Brooklyn's MC Gravy on a track called "Ménage" produced by the duo the Unusual Suspects. Gravy has been making rounds on the mixtape circuit and has collaborated on several underground freestyles with his friend Brown. According to O and other witnesses, Brown came to the studio around 2 a.m. to see Gravy and his partner Fendi and possibly get on the song. Apparently Brown was not greeted warmly enough by O and started getting upset.

" 'You don't know who the f--- I am? I'm Fox Boogie,' " O said, recounting what Brown said to her. " 'You act like you can't speak to me when you see me? You don't know who the f--- I am? You need to bow down. That's what's wrong with y'all new rapper ho's.'

"You would think that someone who has been in the game as long as she has would have more respect than to interrupt somebody's session," Jacki-O continued. "She's coming in, being disrespectful and wanting someone to bow down."

O said she did properly acknowledge Brown and that Brown got upset that Gravy was showing her so much love. O said she and Gravy tried to calm Brown down, and when O finally got a chance to get into the recording booth, she overheard Brown still talking about her.

"It was like she was going to bust a blood vessel," O said. "I'm sitting in the booth and she's like, 'This bitch don't know, I'm about to slap the sh-- out of her.' I hear 'this bitch' this, 'this bitch' that. ... I was every name in the book. [Gravy] was like, 'Foxy, let's just work.' "

"Everybody knows Gravy. Gravy's hard," the Brooklyn MC said, referring to himself in third person. "I'm a lyricist. I go with the hardest. Jacki-O is the hardest. And I go with the other hardest from New York, Foxy Brown. Boy did I find out putting the two hardest together. It's not a good look. Foxy was going a little crazy with it. It just got ugly."

As the harsh words started to fly, the two females locked horns for what an onlooker — who did not want to be identified — said was a brief brawl that had to be broken up.

"The game is so f---ed up because there's no affirmative action in hip-hop," O said. "Being that we [women] are finally getting the opportunity to be in this business, you would think a veteran who has experienced the ups and downs, who knows how this game is, would have little bit more respect. I didn't look to get in no altercation, but when you come from where I come from, you gotta protect yourself. That's exactly what I had to do."

On Tuesday, Brown was back in an undisclosed studio and neither she nor reps for Circle House could be reached. Brown's label, Def Jam, had no comment.

Jacki-O has also been in the lab working on the new albums by Busta Rhymes, the Ying Yang Twins, Bone Crusher, and Big Gip and Ali.

• Foxy Brown
• Jacki-O

<i>Unfinished Business</i>
Photo: Jive/ Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam

Jay-Z and R. Kelly released a collaborative album in 2002 and kicked off a joint tour in late September, but having found they still had some unfinished business to take care of, the duo decided to release another album.

Jay and Kelly's follow-up to 2002's Best of Both Worlds, the aptly titled Unfinished Business, features 11 previously unreleased tracks, led by a pair of singles titled "Big Chips" and "Don't Let Me Die."

Pop-punks Simple Plan have been busy as well, so busy in fact that they are Still Not Getting Any ... The band's sophomore album features a heavier sound than the group's first, and finds the Canadians mostly sticking with their characteristic up-tempo beats but adding more downtrodden lyrics.

The Donnas, who have yet to make any reference to a lack of action on any of their albums, release their sixth album, Gold Medal, this week. Like Simple Plan, their music gets a bit of a maturity makeover. Unlike Simple Plan, the Donnas attribute that growth to finding a few good men worth keeping around.

After releasing what was essentially a live greatest-hits album, Disciples of the 36 Chambers, in late September, Wu-Tang Clan will now release a disc of greatest hits previously recorded in the studio. Legend of the Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits, which includes tracks like "C.R.E.A.M." and "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit," hits stores this week.

Shifting from Shaolin to Orange County, the second and third volumes of the soundtrack to FOX's show "The O.C." are being released. The second features tracks by artists including the Killers, Death Cab for Cutie and Interpol, while the third, titled Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah, features holiday-themed songs that appeared in the Chrismukkah episode of the show.

Also out this week are albums by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (Abattoir Blues/ Lyre of Orpheus); the Futureheads (The Futureheads); Trick Daddy (Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets); Leonard Cohen (Dear Heather); Groove Armada (Best Of); John Frusciante (Inside of Emptiness); the Grateful Dead (Beyond Description 1973-1989); and Willie Nelson (It Always Will Be).

Out Tuesday, October 26:

• Big & Rich - Galactic Fan Pack (Warner Bros.)
• Christy Carlson Romano - Greatest Disney TV & Film Hits (Walt Disney)
• Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/ Lyre of Orpheus (Anti/Epitaph)
• Leonard Cohen - Dear Heather (Columbia/Legacy)
• The Ditty Bops - The Ditty Bops (Warner Bros.)
• Dimitri From Paris and Joey Negro - Kings of Disco (Rapster)
• The Donnas - Gold Medal (Atlantic)
  Read: "The Donnas Take Charge With Gold Medal"
  Buy Now: Gold Medal (Atlantic)
• John Frusciante - Inside of Emptiness (Record Collection)
• The Futureheads - The Futureheads (Sire)
• The Grateful Dead - Beyond Description 1973-1989 (Rhino)
• Groove Armada - Best Of (Jive)
• Hall & Oates - Our Kind of Soul (U-Watch Records)
• Jacki-O - Poe Little Rich Girl (TVT)
  Buy Now: Poe Little Rich Girl (TVT)
• Jay-Z & R. Kelly - Unfinished Business (Jive/ Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam)
  Buy Now: Unfinished Business (Jive/ Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam)
• Nils Landgren Funk Unit - Funky Abba (Justin Time)
• Luna - Rendezvous (Jetset)
• Cerys Matthews - Cock-A-Hoop (Sanctuary/ Rough Trade)
• Nathaniel Mayer - I Just Want to Be Held (Fat Possum)
• Willie Nelson - It Always Will Be (Lost Highway)
• Powerman 5000 - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly 1 (Artist Direct BMG)
• Razorlight - Up All Night (Universal)
• Royce Da 5'9" - M.I.C. (Sure Shot)
• Scum of the Earth - Blah ... Blah ... Blah ... Love Songs for the New Millennium (Eclipse)
• Blake Shelton - Barn & Grill (Warner Bros.)
• Simple Plan - Still Not Getting Any... (Lava)
  Read: "Simple Plan Less Simple On Second Album"
  Buy Now: Still Not Getting Any... (Lava)
• Michael Smith - Healing Rain (Reunion)
• Soledad Brothers - Voice of Treason (Sanctuary)
• Son, Ambulance - Key (Saddle Creek)
• Sugarland - Twice the Speed of Life (Mercury Nashville)
• Sunz of Man - Presents Hell Razah & 4th Disciple - Freedom of Speech (X-Ray)
• Trick Daddy - Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets (Atlantic)
  Buy Now: Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets (Atlantic)
• UNKLE - Never, Never, Land (Global Underground)
• Until the End - The Blind Leading the Lost (Eulogy)
• Voltaire - Then and Again (Projekt)
• The Warriors - War Is Hell (Eulogy)
• Dionne Warwick - My Favorite Time of the Year (DMI)
• Wu-Tang Clan - Legend of the Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits (BMG Heritage)
  Buy Now: Legend of the Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits (BMG Heritage)
• Yourcodenameis:milo - All Roads to Fault (Beggars Banquet)
• Various artists - After the Sunset (Elektra/Atlantic)
• Various artists - Electro Wave (Cleopatra)
• Various artists - Hard-Headed Woman: A Celebration of Wanda Jackson (Bloodshot)
• Various artists - Hip Hop East Vs. West (Univision)
• Various artists - Outlaws, Renegades & Rogues: Songs of the Badman (Rural Rhythm)
• Various artists - Texas Unplugged, Volume One (Palo Duro)
• Various artists - The O.C. Mix 3: Have a Very Merry Chrismukka (Warner Sunset/ Warner Bros)
  Read: "Killers, Jimmy Eat World On Upcoming 'O.C.' Soundtracks"
• Various artists - The O.C. Volume 2 (Warner Sunset/ Warner Bros.)
• DVD: Chimaira - "The Dehumanizing Process" (Roadrunner)
• DVD: Benny More - "Hoy Como Ayer" (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: The Players - "Live in Nashville" (Image)
• DVD: The Real McKenzies - "Pissed Tae th' Gills" (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: Angelo Romero - "Virtuoso" (Music Video Distributors)
• DVD: Subhumans - "All Gone Live" (Cleopatra)
• DVD: Westside Connection - "Gangsta Nation Live" (X-Ray)
• DVD: Various artists - "Hip Hop All-Stars" (Music Video Distributors)

November 2:

• AFI - AFI (Nitro)
  Buy Now: AFI (Nitro)
• A Perfect Circle - Emotive (Virgin)
  Read: "A Perfect Circle Album Preview: Politics? They've Got It Covered"
  Buy Now: Emotive (Virgin)
• Duran Duran - The Singles 1986-1995 (Capitol)
• Various Artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 17 (Capitol)

November 9:

• Britney Spears - Greatest Hits: My Prerogative (Jive)
  Read: "Britney Fans, You Can Stop Speculating Now — Official Hits LP Track List Revealed"
• Vanessa Carlton - Harmonium (A&M Records)
  Read: "Vanessa Carlton Recalls Her Days As A Naughty Ballerina"
  Buy Now: Harmonium (A&M Records)
• Shania Twain - Greatest Hits (Mercury Nashville)
  Buy Now: Greatest Hits (Mercury Nashville)

November 16:

• Eminem - Encore (Aftermath)
  Buy Now: Encore (Aftermath)
• Bon Jovi - 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong (Island)
• Destiny's Child - Destiny Fulfilled (Sony)
• Lil Jon & East Side Boyz - Crunk Juice (TVT)
  Read: "Lil Jon's Crunk Juice Finalized; Usher, Luda, Nas, Snoop, Chris Rock On Board"
  Buy Now: Crunk Juice (TVT)

November 23:

• U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope)
  Buy Now: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Interscope)
• Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby (Interscope)
• Fantasia Barrino - Free Yourself (J Records)
• Ruben Studdard - I Need an Angel (J Records)
  Read: "Ruben Studdard Decides Christmas Just Isn't Spiritual Enough"

• Jay-Z
• R. Kelly
• Simple Plan
• The Donnas
• Trick Daddy

MIAMI — Trick Daddy and Jacki-O held court at Oxygen Lounge in Coconut Grove on Tuesday night for the Got VMA Tickets? bash. DJ Kool G and DJ Spoon spun hip-hop, reggae and Spanish music while the party people munched on sushi, danced on tables and competed for passes to more parties this week and, of course, Sunday's big show.

8.24.2004

Even though the nightspot known as Opium may be his favorite place to club, Fat Joe's top spot to hang out while in Miami is DJ Khaled's Jerusalem studio. It's the place where he says "the magic is at," and the place he chose to occupy until early Tuesday morning. Joe was working on his collaboration tracks with Scott Storch and R. Kelly for his new album Things of That Nature, while members of the Terror Squad played "NBA Live" on a hanging flat-screen TV.

Meanwhile, Monday night's VMA party MTV @ B.E.D. hosted the likes of Jamie Foxx and former MTV VJ Pauly Shore, who made it through the throngs of people outside to enjoy themselves in the sack. Inside, among the canopied beds/dining-room tables, resident DJ Radamus spun hip-hop while nightie-clad waitresses served drinks to the nocturnal crowd.

8.23.2004

If you're coming to the MTV Video Music Awards and planning to party in Miami this week, be sure to slot enough time during the afternoon for rest. We're just a couple of days into VMA week, and the forecast is calling for after-hours shindigs all week long.

The past two nights (and mornings) have been all about the club called Opium. P. Diddy held court there during the early hours of Sunday morning, and Fat Joe and the Terror Squad got things jumping off at around 2 a.m. on Monday.

DJ Khaled was spinning everything from "Lean Back" to Lil Jon, but the star of the party was not a rapper. Jamie Foxx, who's proved that he can act, tell jokes and sing, put on a new hat at Opium: bartender. With comedienne Sommore and director John Singleton walking around at different parts of the club, Foxx danced on the bar, held a huge flashlight in one hand and a bottle of liquor in the other. The ladies were literally throwing themselves at his feet as he poured drinks in their mouths straight from the bottle. He even took time to shine the spotlight — er, flashlight — on himself and sing "Slow Jamz" on the mic.

And the week has just begun ...

The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from Miami on Sunday, August 29, at 8 p.m. on MTV, with the "2004 VMA Pre-show by the Shore" kicking off at 6:30 p.m.

For everything we've got on VMAs past and present, including news, features, photos and more, check out MTV.com's Video Music Awards area.

• Trick Daddy
• Jacki-O