Remy Ma and Papoose
Photo: Rob Loud/ Ray Tamarra/ Getty Images

Tuesday (May 13) was a rough day for Remy Ma. One day after her planned jailhouse nuptials to fellow rapper Papoose were called off due to a misunderstanding about an alleged skeleton key Pap was wearing when he showed up at Rikers Island prison, the MC was sentenced to eight years in prison.

On March 27, Remy Ma (born Reminisce Smith), 26, was found guilty of two charges of assault, in connection with an argument she had with a friend, Makeda Barnes-Joseph, last July, during which Barnes-Joseph was shot two times while the two women struggled in a car.

According to Remy Ma's lawyer, Ivan Fisher, the New York Supreme Court sentenced her to eight years in prison on Tuesday for charges of assault, weapons possession and attempted coercion. Fisher said the prosecution had originally requested a 13-year sentence — less than the max of 25 years she was facing — but the judge in the case gave the rapper eight years, which Fisher plans to appeal very soon. Though he couldn't say for sure, Fisher said it's possible the judge in the case was swayed by an emotional address Ma gave the court during the proceeding, during which she addressed the victim directly.

"Remy Ma spoke to the court and movingly spoke to the victim, who was in court, to share with her how sorrowful she was about what happened to her," Fisher said. "It was an extremely moving moment, where she expressed how badly she felt about the tragedy of being shot and that she was very, very sorry it happened to Makeda."

The rapper burst into tears as the sentence was read, and Fisher described her state as "benumbed," "very emotional" and "sobbing." The lawyer said Ma "spoke to the court about the impact the sentence would have on her son [who is 7 years old]."

Both Remy Ma and Fisher have said that the shooting was an accident. After the sentence was handed down, The Associated Press reported that Papoose screamed, "All you want is money!" in the hallway outside the courtroom, seemingly addressing Barnes-Joseph, whose civil suit against the Grammy-nominated Ma has been dropped but could be refiled in the future. Barnes-Joseph was in the courtroom for the sentencing, but was not in the hallway when Papoose began shouting, the AP reported. As he was escorted out of the courthouse by court officers, Papoose reportedly added, "Lock me up! Lock me up!"

Fisher denied that the key Papoose wore to the prison over the weekend could unlock handcuffs, as was widely reported.

"I don't know much about it," he said, "but I know that if the corrections folks thought this was a key used to open their handcuffs, I doubt very much that they would have released Papoose." The lawyer added that the two still plan to wed, but maybe not until Ma is transferred to an upstate prison.

After hearing the sentence, according to XXLMag.com, Remy told the judge, "I'm not a thug. ... I'm not a hard-core anything, I have feelings. I'm a wife, mother, daughter, big sister." The site also reported that supporters of the rapper were in the courtroom wearing red-and-white T-shirts that read, "Free Remy."

• Remy Ma
• Papoose

Papoose
Photo: MTV News

Remy Ma's conviction on assault Thursday certainly was emotional. The Bronx rapper cried as the judge ordered her to be held in prison until her April 23 sentencing.

And now, Brooklyn rapper Papoose — long-rumored to be her paramour — has confirmed to MTV News that he and Remy are, in fact, a couple and had plans to marry next month.

Pap said the two are moving forward with their nuptials despite Ma's predicament and are making arrangements to marry in prison.

"We always wanted to keep our personal lives personal, so that's why we never went public with our relationship," he wrote in an e-mail to MTV News. "Right now, I just feel like she gotta live through me. Yes, we were scheduled to be married on a yacht April 27th. But due to circumstances beyond our control, we are now making arrangements to be married in prison."

The couple rebutted rumors earlier in the year when New York radio personality Egypt reported that the two would wed. The next day, Papoose told media outlets the reports were false. He shied away from the relationship question in spite of the affection he showed the former Terror Squad star in lyrics.

"Remy look good in person, just like she do in the magazines/ So I'mma stay close to Miss Martin like Dr. King," he spit on "Bonnie N Clyde," a mixtape collaboration between the two.

The pair also filmed an online video clip of them sparring when Papoose was embroiled in a lyrical slugfest with Remy Ma's former mentor, Fat Joe.

Earlier this week, in an interview with MTV News prior to Remy Ma's conviction, Papoose declined to comment on her pending case. He explained that the two were friends. With the recent turn of events, the rapper felt it was time to reveal their relationship.

Remy's charges stem from an incident last July when the rapper and Makeda Barnes-Joseph argued after leaving a mutual acquaintance's birthday party. Remy Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) alleged Barnes-Joseph stole several thousand dollars from her purse that night; Barnes-Joseph was shot after the two struggled in her car. Remy Ma fled the scene in an SUV but crashed nearby. Neither the money nor the weapon have been found.

Papoose closed his message by reiterating that Remy Ma would be appealing her case. He also asked for fans to write letters on her behalf, perhaps for a petition to the judge. Remy Ma is scheduled to be sentenced April 23.

"All her supporters who feel Remy had an influence on their life should write a short letter to the judge asking for the shortest sentence possible," he wrote. "Send it to LettersForRemy@gmail.com."

• Papoose
• Remy Ma

Remy Ma (file)
Photo: Louis Lanzano/ AP Photo

Remy Ma was found guilty on two charges of assault Thursday (March 27) in Manhattan Supreme Court. She faces up to 25 years if convicted on both counts.

The rapper, 26, wiped away tears as the verdict was read, then "wailed loudly and sobbed openly" as she left the courtroom in handcuffs, according to The Associated Press.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred last July when the rapper and Makeda Barnes-Joseph argued after leaving a mutual acquaintance's birthday party. Remy Ma alleged Barnes-Joseph stole several thousand dollars from her purse that night; Barnes-Joseph was shot after the two struggled in her car. Remy Ma fled the scene in an SUV but crashed nearby. Neither the money nor the weapon have been found.

Charges of tampering and gang assault, related to the case, were thrown out, the rapper's attorney, Ivan Fisher, told MTV News on Thursday. Sentencing for the case is scheduled for April 22.

Fisher told MTV News he intends to file an appeal for his client immediately.

"The jury acquitted the second half of the indictment," he said, referring to the tampering and intimidation charges. "That will help the appeal because that evidence, those charges, shouldn't have been in the case to begin with. And there are other issues we think may turn the conviction around."

However, he conceded, "It's a bad day."

The back-and-forth in the case has been contentious from the beginning.

During the opening arguments, Fisher characterized Barnes-Joseph as a celebrity groupie. He told the jury Barnes-Joseph was misrepresenting events in an effort to win a big financial payoff. She filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against the rapper but later withdrew it, according to Fisher.

Prosecutors attempted to paint Remy Ma as a gun-toting intimidator. Assistant District Attorney Jason Berland told jurors the rapper was calculating and bullying, citing an August incident during which a group of men allegedly close to Remy Ma assaulted Barnes-Joseph's boyfriend and broke his nose. Charges were brought against the rapper for intimidation but were thrown out in the conviction. Prosecutors also noted the gun Remy Ma carried was loaded with hollow-point bullets, intended to severely cause injury.

From the beginning the former Terror Squad rapper maintained her innocence, telling a group of reporters at her New Jersey home shortly after the incident that she did not shoot her friend. During closing remarks, however, her attorney conceded his client did in fact shoot Barnes-Joseph, but labeled it an accident. Fisher told jurors the weapon went off while the two women struggled with each other during their argument.

• Remy Ma

Remy Ma (file)
Photo: Rob Loud/ Getty Images

Remy Ma's attorney admitted in closing arguments Monday (March 24) that the rapper did in fact shoot her friend in a July scuffle last year, according to The Associated Press.

Lawyer Ivan Fisher called the shooting, which left Makeda Barnes-Joseph hospitalized, an accident. Fisher claimed Remy Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) and Barnes-Joseph struggled over the latter's bag when the two argued over missing money after leaving a birthday celebration for a mutual acquaintance. The former Terror Squad star accused Barnes-Joseph of pocketing upward of $3,000 in cash.

Fisher told the jury the women's hands hit the rearview mirror of Barnes-Joseph's car during the tussle and the gun then went off, according to AP.

"There is no other explanation for why Remy Smith would have chosen that unique moment in time to shoot her," Fisher said.

The surprising admission was a far cry from Fisher's opening remarks when he attempted to characterize Barnes-Joseph as a celebrity groupie who was misrepresenting the nature of the events in order to win money from the "Lean Back" rapper. In December, Barnes-Joseph filed a multimillion-dollar civil lawsuit against Remy Ma.

In July, Remy vehemently denied shooting Barnes-Joseph. When reporters gathered around the rapper's New Jersey home, she maintained her innocence.

"I didn't shoot my friend!" she yelled.

Prosecutors claimed the rapper had every intention of shooting Barnes-Joseph. Assistant District Attorney Michael McIntosh said Remy loaded the weapon herself and went into Barnes-Joseph's vehicle to settle the dispute. After the incident, the rapper sped away in an SUV and crashed into a parked car. The weapon has not been found.

"She took every step you had to take to shoot somebody," McIntosh said.

Jury deliberation in the case begins Tuesday. If convicted, Remy Ma could face up to 25 years in prison.

• Remy Ma

Remy Ma leaves the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse after a hearing on February 28
Photo: Newscom

Opening remarks in Remy Ma's trial for allegedly shooting her one-time friend began Monday in New York, and lawyers for both sides tossed barbs as sharp as any line you'd hear in a dis song.

Prosecutors called the rapper calculating and irresponsible, according to Reuters. And Ivan Fisher, representing Remy Ma (real name Reminisce Smith), characterized Makeda Barnes-Joseph as a celebrity groupie. Fisher claimed Barnes-Joseph misrepresented the nature of events in order to win money from his client, a Grammy-nominated artist.

The trial stems from an incident that occurred in July 2007, when Smith was arrested on charges of attempted murder after she and Barnes-Joseph got into a violent altercation after attending a mutual friend's birthday celebration in Manhattan.

Barnes-Joseph claims Smith shot her in the midsection after the rapper accused her of stealing a large sum of money from her purse. Smith vehemently denied shooting Barnes-Joseph (who was in fact hospitalized for gunshot wounds), and the attempted-murder rap was later reduced to an assault charge. She faces up to 25 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Jason Berland questioned the rapper's character and dismissed her bullying tactics, citing an incident in August, in which Barnes-Joseph's boyfriend was allegedly attacked by a group of men on orders from Smith and suffered a broken jaw during the altercation.

"(Smith) is not the type of person to sit back and let people testify against her," Berland said.

A New York Supreme Court judge ordered Smith to stand trial on additional charges of witness tampering and gang assault stemming from the August incident. Barnes-Joseph has also filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against Smith.

• Remy Ma

Remy Ma
Photo: Courtesy of Universal

In yet another setback for Remy Ma, the rapper's friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph has filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against her, according to Reuters. Remy Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) is accused of shooting Barnes-Joseph in July after a dispute that took place on a street in New York.

In the suit, reportedly filed in a New York court on Friday, Barnes-Joseph accuses Remy Ma of "willfully, wantonly and maliciously" shooting her. The suit also names the rapper's record companies, including Universal Music Group and Sure Shot Recordings, as defendants, alleging they encouraged Remy Ma to engage in violent behavior as part of her image.

Ivan Fisher, her lawyer, said Barnes-Joseph's lawsuit was "looking for the deepest pocket it could find" and called it "irresponsible," according to Reuters.

Barnes-Joseph reportedly claims in the suit that she suffered severe physical harm and mental anguish after the July shooting, which took place on a New York street after a dispute over money missing from the rapper's belongings. Remy Ma fled the scene but later turned herself in and was charged on counts of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession.

Remy Ma is due to stand trail next year on charges of gang assault and witness tampering stemming from an August incident in which prosecutors say the rapper ordered a group of men to attack Barnes-Joseph's boyfriend. The man suffered a shattered jaw in the attack, according to The Associated Press. Remy Ma has pleaded not guilty to the charges, vehemently denying that she shot Barnes-Joseph. She faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

• Remy Ma

Remy Ma
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Remy Ma's European tour plans appear to have fizzled — a New York judge has denied her request to travel overseas for a trek that was supposed to begin December 31 in Paris, The Associated Press reports. A lawyer for the rapper (real name: Remy Smith) argued Thursday (December 20) that his client needed to tour to earn money because she hasn't been getting enough bookings in the U.S. since she was arrested in July for allegedly shooting a friend over missing money, but the judge said she couldn't leave the country due to the seriousness of the charges. Remy Ma was ordered earlier this month to stand trail on charges of gang assault and witness tampering. She is due in court on January 3 for adjournment where prosecutors will decide whether to admit DNA evidence in the case. ...

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12.19.07

The ongoing legal actions surrounding the 1997 murder of the Notorious B.I.G. (born Christopher Wallace) hit another bump in the road on Monday when a U.S. district judge dismissed a second wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the rapper's family against the city of Los Angeles and former LAPD officer Rafael Pérez. Judge Florence-Marie Cooper sided with the defendants and dismissed the case — filed in April — on the grounds that Biggie's family didn't file the claim against the city within the designated time frame. "This was not the primary civil-rights claim, that suit is still going forward," explained Perry Sanders, the lead attorney in the Wallace family's ongoing wrongful-death suit against the city and LAPD. "This was a standalone action based on state laws, but the rigorous rules state that if you don't file suit within six months of the injury, then the suit cannot go forward, and we didn't find out that Pérez was on duty until August 2006." The April suit alleged that Pérez conspired with fellow former police officers David Mack and Nino Durden to murder the famous rapper and that the city of Los Angeles covered up the officers' involvement to avoid being tangled in a lawsuit that would make the city liable in the killing. New evidence recently uncovered indicated that Pérez was on duty the night of the rapper's death, though the officer has denied any involvement. ...

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Will Ferrell will hit the road with three other comedians — Zach Galifianakis, Nick Swardson and Demetri Martin — in February for a short run of shows at universities and colleges. The Funny or Die Tour will make stops at Kansas State (February 4); Michigan State (February 5); Ohio State (February 6); Penn State (February 11); the University of Rhode Island (February 12); Boston College (February 13); Butler University (February 18); and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (February 22). ... Feist are working on new material — gently. "I'm tiptoeing into some new terrain," Leslie Feist told Billboard.com. "There's no necessity and no timeline. ... I'm not quite at the point where I think I should be thinking about another record. ... These songs, there's nothing forcing them to come, yet here's some ideas. It's really a ways away though." The singer did reveal, however, that the band hit the studio during a recent day off while on tour. Feist are up for four Grammys. ... Beck's Odelay — the 1996 album that ranks as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time — is getting polished up for a two-CD deluxe edition due January 29. The first disc has two unreleased session tracks produced by the Dust Brothers — "Inferno" and "Gold Chains" — and a soundtrack cut, while the second has 16 hard-to-find B-sides and compilation contributions. ...

While Weezer fans have to make do for now with the recently released Alone - The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, the rest of the bandmembers are busy working on their own side projects. According to Weezer's Web site, rhythm guitarist Brian Bell is working on an album with his other band, the Relationship; drummer Pat Wilson is recording an album with his long-running side project, the Special Goodness, that is due in the spring; and bassist Scott Shriner is getting ready to answer questions for Weezer fan site Weerez.com. ... Michael Jackson's Thriller is among the 70 new recordings that will be added to the Grammy Hall of Fame, which honors songs that have been in release for at least 25 years. Other new honorees include: "Free Bird" (Lynyrd Skynyrd), the soundtrack to the classic reggae movie "The Harder They Come" (Jimmy Cliff), "Help!" (the Beatles), Hotel California (the Eagles), 1999 (Prince), Off the Wall (Jackson), "Roxanne" (the Police), "Shining Star" (Earth, Wind & Fire), "Always on My Mind" (Willie Nelson), The Wall (Pink Floyd) and The Velvet Underground & Nico. The new 25th Anniversary Edition of Thriller — which will include unreleased bonus tracks mixed by or featuring Kanye West, Will.I.Am, Akon and others — drops February 12. ...

One of Seattle's legendary rock venues, the Crocodile Café, unexpectedly shut its doors over the weekend after 17 years. The small downtown club, which was one of the prime spots that nurtured the early '90s grunge scene, played host to everyone from Beck to R.E.M., Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie and, most famously, Nirvana and Mudhoney on a 1992 double bill that cost only $3. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that the venue's owner left voicemails for club employees on Sunday telling them not to come to work following Saturday night's gig. She reportedly said the club was shutting down due to financial difficulties. ... Prince has given his CDs away in newspapers and at shows, but the diminutive R&B superstar doesn't do freebie performances. According to the Miami Herald, the purple one pulled down an estimated $2 million payday Saturday night when he played a private 40th birthday party for Jeffrey Soffer, an heir to the Turnberry Associates real-estate fortune. The gig reportedly took place at the Turnberry Aviation hangar at the Opa Locka Executive Airport and featured elaborate open bars, gourmet food, a hit-filled set from Prince and a guest list that included director Brett Ratner, baseball player Alex Rodriguez and actor James Caan. Oh, and KC & the Sunshine Band were Prince's opening act. ...

Tom Sizemore was released from prison December 10 after serving time for violating his drug probation stemming from a 2004 meth conviction, TMZ.com reports. The actor was sentenced in mid-June to 16 months in state prison and awarded 213 days credit for time he had spent in county jail and live-in drug programs. Sizemore is still in a drug program, according to the site. ...

Boys and girls in America, it's time to rejoice. Brooklyn, New York, band the Hold Steady recently revealed on their Web site that they've wrapped preproduction on the follow-up to 2006's critically acclaimed Boys and Girls in America. "For the last few weeks we've been holed up in our rehearsal space in Greenpoint finishing up preproduction with John Agnello [who produced Boys] for the new album," read the post, which was simply attributed to "The Hold Steady." "Since the band's beginning, this is the longest we've gone without being in the studio. I've never looked forward to being placed in a giant aquarium with headphones like I have been lately. We'll be recording for most of January and February, and I'll post updates and photos for those interested. No release date yet, but you all will be the first to know."

• Remy Ma
• Rihanna
• Alicia Keys
• Jennifer Hudson
• Queen Latifah

Fergie on the January/February cover of <i>Blender</i> magazine
Photo: Wayne Maser

Fergie is Blender magazine's Woman of the Year — but don't get too excited, guys, she's "practically married" to actor Josh Duhamel. "I'm madly in love with him," the Black Eyed Pea said in the cover-story interview, during which she dropped more than a few F-bombs. "He understands how to treat a woman and give me respect. And I'm gonna miss him on tour." Fergie reportedly started to cry after making that comment, as she did at the top of the chat, when she was told she had earned the Woman of the Year honor. "It feels like such an accomplishment. ... And — I can't believe you made me cry. I'm so embarrassed. And I'm f---ing up my eyeliner." ...

Ashley Tisdale is saying sorry to fans for scratching two shows over the weekend because of her recent nose job. "When my surgery was scheduled, we didn't think it would be necessary to cancel the shows because my doctor thought I would heal in time," she wrote on her Web site. "Unfortunately, the deviated septum was more significant than we originally thought so the healing process is taking longer." The "High School Musical" star, who missed her gigs in Miami and Philadelphia, was also absent at New York's Jingle Ball on Friday. ...

50 Cent played for thousands of fans at a soccer stadium in Pristina, the capital of the Serbian province of Kosovo, on Monday, The Associated Press reports. Twenty-five thousand tickets were reportedly sold for the show, which featured fireworks, according to AP. ...

Hawthorne Heights frontman JT Woodruff will participate in a conversation at an event being staged in memory of fallen bandmate Casey Calvert. The late guitarist's favorite charity, To Write Love on Her Arms — a group aimed at helping teens at risk for suicide — will put on "Heavy and Light: An Evening of Songs, Conversation and Hope" on December 29 in Orlando, Florida. The event will also feature acoustic performances by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus singer Ronnie Winter; Aaron Gillespie (Underoath, the Almost); Josh Moore; and Bayside frontman Anthony Ranieri. In related news, Ranieri has mapped out a series of 10 additional solo acoustic shows that will happen before and after the TWLOHA benefit. He will play Wednesday in San Francisco; Friday in Anaheim, California; and then perform a handful of more shows from January 11 in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, through January 19 in Troy, New York. ...

Stephen Stills, best known for his work with David Crosby, Graham Nash and Neil Young, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, Reuters reports. According to the news service, Nash disclosed the news to Larry King in a telephone interview late Monday. Stills is scheduled to have an operation on January 3, which, as it turns out, also marks his 63rd birthday. Referring to folk singer Dan Fogelberg, who was afflicted with prostate cancer and passed away Sunday, Nash reportedly said on "Larry King Live," "Unlike Danny, who left it too long to be seriously checked, Stephen found his at an early stage" and might have potentially saved his own life by getting an early diagnosis. ...

Did you hear that one about Remy Ma's supposed sexual encounter with another woman? Well, surprise — it's not true. According to TMZ.com, the rapper has responded to an online video of a woman "confessing" to having had a sexual experience with Remy Ma. "The fraudulent video hoax that has surfaced of an alleged female lover of Remy Ma is completely false, and reps for Remy Ma emphatically deny these claims," the statement reportedly read. "Remy Ma has not, nor has she ever been, involved in a same-sex relationship with the accuser or any other woman, however Remy is respectful of those who choose the alternative lifestyle." ...

Foo Fighters are thinking big for their next tour — the band is planning to break out two stages for it, according to Billboard.com. The trek, which starts January 16 in Sunrise, Florida, will feature a main stage and an acoustic stage, with the eight-piece band that supported the Foos on their acoustic tour last year returning to supplement Dave Grohl's group on select songs. In other Foo news, Grohl told TheRockRadio.com that the band, which supported Senator John Kerry's presidential bid in 2004, hasn't picked a candidate to back in next year's election. "If a candidate that we all believed in asked us to give them some support, then we would do it," he said. "It wouldn't necessarily be as the Foo Fighters, it would be as four American citizens." ...

AFI frontman Davey Havok has declined an offer to return to his old side project, Son of Sam, but the band will carry on nonetheless. "We asked Davey [to participate], but he declined, which is a bummer, but we understand and he gave us his full blessing with looking for a new singer," the band said in a statement. ... Circus Diablo, the band featuring the Cult's Billy Duffy, Camp Freddy guitarist Billy Morrison and others, has lost a member. Bassist Brett Scallions, who was once the frontman for Fuel and is the current singer for Riders on the Storm, is out, according to the band. "Brett is deeply involved in being a new dad ... and has plans with Riders on the Storm, so with much love and respect, we will be moving forward with Patrick Cornell playing bass," reads a statement from the band. ...

Jimmy Kimmel will tag along with Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien when the late-night talk-show hosts return to TV on January 2 — albeit without writers. "Though it makes me sick to do so without my writers, there are more than a hundred people whose financial well-being depends on our show," Kimmel said in a statement issued by ABC, according to AP. "It is time to go back to work." David Letterman is also planning a return, with a union representing the striking writers reportedly talking about negotiating a deal with Letterman's Worldwide Pants and other indie production companies. ...

Minor Threat were a force to be reckoned with, having paved the way for the U.S. hardcore straightedge movement in the early '80s. But a new hot sauce that bites the band's name is actually pretty mild — according to maker Wheelhouse Pickles, its Minor Threat Sauce is "made from a rare, mild breed of habanero [pepper] grown specifically for us [and] mysteriously privileges the pepper's fruitiness over its notoriously overwhelming heat." Wheelhouse boss Jon Orren has 'fessed up to copping the hardcore band's name for the product, according to Gothamist.com, and the band's former frontman, Ian MacKaye, reportedly doesn't mind the unconventional tribute. "I don't have an occasion to eat a lot of hot sauce, but I also thought the Minor Threat stuff was nice," he reportedly told the site. ...

Jason Bonham, current member of Led Zeppelin and son of deceased original drummer John Bonham, says "only time will tell" if the band chooses to do a full-fledged reunion tour following its widely hailed comeback gig last week. "I'm still the new guy, and I wouldn't know," the drummer told Billboard.com about potential tour plans. "There's been no talks except to Jimmy [Page] and Robert [Plant] and John Paul [Jones], just to say thanks for the best Christmas present I could ask for. It really meant a lot to me. ... If they do it again, of course I would love to. But that's up to them." ... Rob Zombie has piled more solo-show off-dates during his North American tour with Ozzy Osbourne. The metal monster will play additional gigs Wednesday (Indianapolis); Friday (Rochester, New York); January 4 (Poughkeepsie, New York); January 6 (Norfolk, Virginia); January 11 (Scranton, Pennsylvania); January 13 (South Burlington, Vermont); January 18 (Kitchener, Ontario); January 22 (Buffalo, New York); January 23 (Columbus, Ohio); January 24 (Grand Rapids, Michigan); and January 28 (Albuquerque, New Mexico). ...

Legendary singer Burt Bacharach, classic-rock group the Band, iconic jazz drummer Max Roach and others will be honored with Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Awards on February 9, during Grammy week. The recipients — which also include Doris Day, Cab Calloway, Itzhak Perlman and Earl Scruggs — will also be recognized during the Grammy telecast, which airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS the following day. ...

British Sea Power, Panther and Holy F--- have planted themselves on the bill for next year's Noise Pop festival, which will go down February 26-March 2 in San Francisco. Badges for the fest are currently on sale. BSP's Do You Like Rock Music? streets February 12. ... Expect another installment next year of True Colors Tour, the Cyndi Lauper-created jaunt that featured Rufus Wainwright, the Gossip and others as part of its inaugural run this year. Dates and artists for next year's stretch have yet to be announced. ...

Joel Dorn, a veteran jazz and R&B producer who won multiple Grammy Awards and was part of Atlantic Records' in-house production staff, died Monday from a heart attack. He was 65 years old. The prolific producer, along with Roberta Flack, earned Record of the Year honors in 1972 and 1973 for the singer's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly With His Song," respectively. He also led Rhino's reissue campaign when it began in 1993, taking the reins for the campaign, production and annotation of almost two dozen releases. "The recording industry has lost a true music lover and respected professional, and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, his friends and all who have benefited from his gift," Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said in a statement issued Tuesday.

12.17.07

Never ones to steer clear of grisly details, the folks at TMZ have posted the eight-minute 911 call made in the wake of Donda West's collapse last month. The disturbing recording consists primarily of a dispatcher attempting to coach a panicked, unidentified caller on how to perform CPR. The post has garnered a heated reaction, with TMZ users calling it "tasteless," "insensitive," "sick," "morbid" and "worse than grave-robbing." Users also called the site's staffers "pigs." ...

On Monday (December 17), Killers frontman Brandon Flowers was cross-examined for a second day in front of the California Labor Commissioner by lawyers for the band's ex-manager, according to TMZ.com. Braden Merrick is suing the group for $3 million in unpaid commissions, while the Killers are trying to void their management contract, arguing that the manager booked employment without a license. ...

Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman is ticked about a recent report in New York's Daily News suggesting the band is blaming Ashlee Simpson, bassist Pete Wentz's girlfriend, for its lack of Grammy nominations. In a blog post on FriendsorEnemies.com, Trohman said the story "just irked me. ... We don't have any 'pals' that gossip to the tabloids over our business. We also don't blame a certain someone (Ashlee) for our lack of a Grammy nod. Don't believe the gossip columns out there. This 'poisonous' person that was mentioned is nothing short of awesome, and we fully back her. Everything in Camp FOB is all good." ...

Timbaland played the new Justin Timberlake and Madonna collaboration, "4 Minutes to Save the World," at the Jingle Ball concert in Philadelphia on Sunday night, according to RollingStone.com. The song is supposed to be the first single from Madge's yet-untitled new album, which is due in 2008. ... Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for Kevin Federline, will go to court Tuesday to ask Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon to delay a January hearing in which Britney Spears was going to try to gain back some of her child-custody rights, according to TMZ.com. The site reports that a Spears lawyer will try to oppose Kaplan's request, and that if Federline's lawyer gets his wish, the singer won't have a chance of getting some custody rights back until April. ...

Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, whose hits include "Leader of the Band," Longer" and "Same Old Lang Syne," passed away Sunday in his Maine home, following a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. He was 56. A statement from Fogelberg's family that appears on his Web site reads: "Dan left us this morning at 6:00 a.m. He fought a brave battle with cancer and died peacefully at home in Maine with his wife Jean at his side. His strength, dignity and grace in the face of the daunting challenges of this disease were an inspiration to all who knew him." Fogelberg was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. ...

Pam Anderson's husband, Rick Salomon, was on the verge of joining Kid Rock and Tommy Lee as the celeb's latest divorcé, but apparently there was a change of heart. According to TMZ.com, she recently filed divorce papers from the sex-tape king, with whom she married on October 6 — but divorce is now reportedly off, with Anderson writing in a post on her Web page, "P.S.: We're working things out ... ." ... Actress Helena Bonham Carter and her beau, Tim Burton, have welcomed their second child, a girl, in London, AP reports. The couple — the star and director, respectively, of the upcoming film "Sweeney Todd" — are said to be "absolutely delighted." The couple also have a 4-year-old boy, Billy. ...

Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are returning to TV on January 2, but brace yourselves — they won't have their writers supplying them with any jokes. According to AP, David Letterman is planning to make a similar return, but without the same hitch. A union representing the striking writers is reportedly willing to negotiate deals with Letterman's Worldwide Pants and other production companies on an individual basis. ...

Some Led Zeppelin fans are paying a fortune for stubs from the band's recent reunion gig at London's 02 arena. In online auctions, the stubs are going for as much as $252. Wrote one seller: "I was one of the lucky ones. This is the ticket from the show 20 million wanted to see." ... Remember the Presidents of the United States of America? Well, on March 11 they return with These Are the Good Times People, the band's first album in three years. The set will feature 14 tracks, including "Mixed Up S.O.B.," "Sharpen Up Those Fangs" and "Rot in the Sun." The band will tour the U.S. beginning March 14 in Portland, Oregon, and concluding March 27 in Boston. ...

Former Blood Brothers members Jordan Blilie, Mark Gajadhar, Devin Welch and Morgan Henderson have started a new band called Past Lives. The Blood Brothers split in early November, citing creative differences. The group is in the midst of writing material for its forthcoming debut LP. ... Franz Ferdinand have revealed the lyrics to one of the songs from their upcoming album. The lyrics to "Lucid Dreams," from the band's third LP, appear in the latest edition of FF's official fan-club magazine as notes handwritten by frontman Alex Kapranos. The band has yet to release any new music from the yet-unnamed outing.

• Fergie
• Ashley Tisdale
• 50 Cent
• Hawthorne Heights
• Foo Fighters

Remy Ma
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Remy Ma, accused of shooting a friend in July over missing money, was ordered by a New York Supreme Court judge on Wednesday (December 5) to stand trial on charges of gang assault and witness tampering, the rapper's lawyer told MTV News.

The charges stem from an incident in August where prosecutors say Remy Ma ordered a group of men to attack the boyfriend of Makeda Barnes-Joseph, who she is accused of shooting in July after a dispute that took place on a New York street. The man suffered a shattered jaw in the attack, according to The Associated Press.

Ivan Fisher, who is representing the rapper, attempted to have the court dismiss the gang-assault charges but said the court refused.

"She passed a polygraph test on the shooting, but the prosecutor isn't interested in dismissing the charges," Fisher told MTV News. "We're going to trial."

Ma (real name: Reminisce Smith) will appear in court on January 3 for adjournment where prosecutors will decide whether to admit DNA evidence in the case. Fisher said at that time the judge will also disclose information regarding his client's trial date.

Remy Ma was originally arrested in August for allegedly shooting Barnes-Joseph after the two had a dispute over money missing from the rapper's belongings. Ma fled the scene but later turned herself in and was charged on counts of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession.

Barnes-Joseph was rushed to the hospital after the shooting and remained under the care of doctors for several days.

Remy Ma has vehemently denied shooting Barnes-Joseph and has claimed the two weren't as close as the media had reported.

According to Barnes-Joseph, however, the two had been friends for more than 10 years. Barnes-Joseph has maintained that she and Ma left a mutual friend's party together, and when Ma entered her car she angrily accused Barnes-Joseph of stealing close to $3,000 in cash and ordered her to dump out her purse. The two began arguing and she alleged Remy then shot her.

Fisher denied the allegations.

"Hopefully we'll be going to trial by the end of January, " Fisher said.

• Remy Ma

Photo: MTV News

• Lil' Kim
• Remy Ma
• Fabolous
• Gucci Mane

Tyra Banks, Ashley Olsen, Mandy Moore, More At New York Fashion Week

• Kat DeLuna
• Mandy Moore
• Christina Milian
• Joss Stone
• Damon Dash

Lil' Jon, Big Boi, Rza And More At VH-1's 2006 Hip Hop Honors

• Lil Jon
• OutKast
• Salt-N-Pepa
• Wu-Tang Clan
• Remy Ma

Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, T.I., Jamie Foxx And More At Summer Jam 2006

• Jermaine Dupri
• Janet Jackson
• Mary J. Blige
• T.I.
• Mobb Deep

Tom, Michelle, Kanye, Twista And More At New York's "M:i:III" Premiere

• Kanye West
• Twista
• Remy Ma
• Keyshia Cole
• Doug E. Fresh

Pharrell, Mary J. Blige, T.I., Game, Remy Ma, Nick Cannon At The 2005 'Vibe' Awards Red Carpet

• T.I.
• Game
• Ludacris
• Mary J. Blige
• Nick Cannon

The 2005 BET Awards Red Carpet Gets Hot With Beyonce, Bow Wow, Paul Wall, Ciara, More

• Bow Wow
• Fat Joe
• Will Smith
• Beyoncé
• Omarion