Mike Jones
Photo: MTV News

HOUSTON — "The truth about a 'roni, she's a sweet little girl/ You can treat her right, real nice, and hold her tight."

In the '80s, Bobby Brown's "Roni" taught us that only tenderonies can give a special kind of love that makes you feel good inside. In 2009, Mike Jones will reiterate that lesson with some help from T.I. and Bobby himself.

"It was Tip's concept," Jones said a couple of weeks ago in his hometown about a new single he has in the stash box. Jones and company remade "Roni" to follow up his current song, "Cuddy Buddy," down the line.

" 'Cuddy Buddy' is off the Keith Sweat sample," Jones explained. "A lot of people know Keith Sweat's 'How Deep Is Your Love,' so we just brought a new version in. You got the old, new and future. I was in Atlanta, me and Tip. He came to my room, and he already had the track 'Roni.' "

Jones said the song he heard was Bobby Brown and T.I. He liked it so much, he asked to jump on it.

"I was like, 'That's dope,' " Jones said. "I fell in love with it. I laid it. I think Tip was already turning in King. It was supposed to go on the King album. I was like, 'You not using that song?' He was like, 'Nah. Use it.' I took it and told everybody I was gonna take care of it like it was his. I wasn't just going to throw it out. I was gonna make sure it was mixed, mastered and everything right. Like 'Cuddy Buddy,' [it] came out smooth, grown-man.

"The difference between 'Roni' and 'Cuddy Buddy' is that 'Cuddy Buddy' it's an alert to let people that's not treating their relationship right: 'Watch out. She's gonna call on her cuddy buddy, and the cuddy buddy is gonna make her feel real good.' Tenderoni — 'She was there when nobody else was on me/ She never left me lonely.' "

Although Jones didn't get a chance to record with the legendary Brown, the two did talk.

"Wow. I couldn't believe just being on the phone with Bobby," Mike remembered. "I was on the phone with Bobby like I was on the phone with one of my partners. 'What's up, Bobby?' He was like, 'What's up, Miiiiiike Jonnnnes? What up, baby?' Wow. Coming from these streets in H-Town, nobody knowing me from the next block to being internationally known, it still throws me off."

Like "Cuddy Buddy," Jones' version of "Roni" was recorded almost three years ago but has been on the shelf as Jones and his label butted heads over creative and marketing differences.

"I did these records in '06," he said. "I continue to keep working and working, but a lot of these records people hear now, I had."

Jones added that once his label, Asylum, saw "Cuddy Buddy" — which features Lil Wayne, Twista and T-Pain — gain momentum Down South, they decided to start the wheels turning on the follow-up to his platinum debut record Who Is Mike Jones?

The rapper's next album is due sometime in 2009 and will be titled The Voice — "because it speaks for itself." While plans for the rollout of the new-millennium version of "Roni" are still being solidified, Jones just put out a new single called "Next to You."

• T.I.
• Mike Jones

Chamillionaire at the "Best of Texas" concert in Houston Sunday
Photo: MTV News

Houston hip-hop artists have a history of being very talented but, unfortunately, very divided at times. In the '90s, there were rivalries based on what part of the city you lived in. Several years ago, that philosophy was put aside, and the guys from H-Town started collaborating regardless of geography. When the city reemerged and exploded less than a handful of years ago, the scene caught fire with a bevy of pairings: Slim Thug and Chamillionaire. Lil' Flip and Chamillionaire. Slim Thug, Mike Jones and Paul Wall. Bun B and everybody.

Then everybody started doing their own thing again.

"In every argument, both sides are going to feel they are right," said Chamillionaire, who has had issues with Paul Wall and Mike Jones over the past few years. "In hip-hop, it's very competitive — the competitive nature of the music. ... Any little thing can make somebody mad."

At the recent Ozone Awards — supposedly a shining moment for the city — the division screamed when Trae tha Truth laid hands on Mike Jones, punching the MC. To make matters worse, the night ended early without a planned cipher of the city's MCs closing the show. Tsk-tsk.

On Sunday, Houston radio station the Box pulled off what some called the impossible, assembling just about every hip-hop artist in the city — old and new — for what they called the "Best of Texas" concert. It all took place during the Los Magnificos Car Show at the Reliant Center, and it lasted more than seven hours.

"This is home," Lil' Flip said after he got offstage early in the afternoon. "The biggest car show we ever had. Twenty-thousand [people]! Usually we have, like, 12,000."

Flip underestimated the turnout; by show's end, there was talk of the spectator tally being somewhere between 28,000 and 30,000.

"This is our biggest event of the year," Slim Thug explained. "Usually we have artists from all over the country come down and perform. This year, it's all Houston and a few Dallas artists, and it's sold out. This is the biggest turnout they ever had."

Houston legends the Botany Boys, Lil' Keke, Scarface and Bun B joined current hometown superstars Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Slim Thug and Mike Jones. The night's most anticipated and loudly received sets, however, came from two guys who the mainstream don't really know, Trae tha Truth and Z-Ro, who closed the show.

"It's intoxicating, it's like one of them things rolled up burning," said Z-Ro, who was the undeniable crowd favorite of the night. "Z-Ro, Zeeee-rooooo," the crowd started chanting an hour before he came on.

"The kids and the older people, all walks of life — they out there screaming, word for word," the MC said. "I looked out and didn't see any wall, I didn't see any wall. All I saw was people. I felt I had to be all I can. It's like the army now."

It was very surreal hearing 20,000-plus sing Ro's song "I Hate You B----" like it was a Linda Perry power ballad.

Mike Jones got a very different reaction during his set. Maybe they didn't immediately recognize him because of his significant weight loss (he's been dieting and working out), but when he came out, the crowd was just cold. No booing, no cheering, no reaction. That indifference carried through his show for the most part. He did get them to sing along occasionally, though.

Bun B went over heavily with the crowd. They welcomed him like the legend he is. "Draped Up" and "Get Throwed" drove 'em crazy, while "Int'l Players Anthem" and "Big Pimpin' " kept hands in the air.

Paul Wall rolled out hits like "Sittin' Sidewayz" and "Grillz," but his big moment was bringing out Chamillionaire for 'N Luv Wit My Money.' The two buried the hatchet a while back, but they made it official Sunday night. Cham himself brought out Krayzie Bone on "Ridin' " and Lil' Flip for "Turn It Up."

Although songs such as "Mr. Scarface" and "Money and the Power" were probably older than some of the kids in the crowd, Scarface got them to chant his classics. "Smile" and "I Seen a Man Die" were also in his chamber, but the biggest record for him was "My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me." While it had been billed that the Geto Boys would take the stage together to receive a lifetime-achievement award, Bushwick Bill and Willie D were unexplained absentees.

Trae tha Truth clearly went over his allotted time: The house and stage lights were on during most of his performance. But who's gonna tell the imposing street don to stop rapping? Especially when Trae brought out his son and the kids of deceased Houston icons Fat Pat and Big Hawk.

But Slim Thug gets the show's MVP award. Besides his own set, he jumped onstage no less than five other times for various guest appearances. No "Still Tippin' " with Jones and Wall, though.

• Slim Thug, Z-Ro Talk About The 'Best Of Texas'

• Lil' Flip
• Scarface
• Mike Jones
• Paul Wall
• Slim Thug

Rick Ross and T-Pain perform at the <i>Ozone</i> Awards on Monday in Houston
Photo: Ben Rose/ Getty Images

HOUSTON — You know you're in for a memorable awards show when fists are thrown, the police are called in and somebody gets (mildly) injured before one award is announced or anybody gets to perform. On Monday night at the George R. Brown Convention Center, the third annual Ozone Awards began with a physical altercation between H-Town MCs Mike Jones and Trae that took place while some audience members were just getting to their seats. The show hadn't even started.

After the scuffle, Trae was escorted out of the main hall by police, but later returned. Jones — who has lost a considerable amount of weight in recent months — was taken away for minor medical assistance.

Host DeRay Davis was obviously unaware of the clash as he began his opening monologue, telling the audience that everyone came in peace and no one was fighting. Some audience members immediately retorted that he was wrong.

"Did I miss an ass-whoopin' or somethin'?" he asked.

"Yeah!"

"Damn!" the comedian responded with surprise.

Once the show finally started, artists from the South and the West Coast did show strong unity, especially during a moving tribute to UGK's late Pimp C, in which MCs joined forces for covers of some of Pimp's famous verses. Too Short came out and did C's rhyme from Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'," David Banner followed with bars from UGK and Outkast's "Int'l Players Anthem," to which Big Boi added his own verse. Webbie was next, rapping Pimp's lines from "One Day." Bun B closed it out backed by a full choir for "Angel in the Sky."

Shortly after the tribute, T-Pain beat out Pimp and others for the TJ's DJ's Tastemaker Award, which goes to the person who sets standards in music, fashion and style. T-Pain's victory was clearly an anticlimactic moment: The crowd had anticipated a win by their hometown hero, even yelling out "Pimp C! Pimp C!" in the anxious moments before the winner was announced. Pain later forked over his award, saying C deserved it.

No one was upset by Shawty Lo winning Breakthrough Artist. The MC, who performed a medley beforehand, brought his daughter and a female companion onstage with him to accept the honor.

DJ Khaled took home best DJ honors, and wouldn't you know it? Mike Jones showed shades of Paul Pierce in this year's NBA finals, coming from the back of the room with a small bandage across his nose, to announce the nominees in the category.

Co-presenter Alfamega — who's signed to T.I.'s Grand Hustle label — asked him, "Are you all right?"

"What don't kill me makes me stronger," Jones said. He apologized to the crowd for the preshow scuffle, saying, "We don't get down like that in H-town," but also had words for Trae: "If you gonna get me, get me straight up."

As for Khaled, he and his Florida collective had the performance of the show, closing out with a medley. The entire crowd got on its feet as Khaled, Rick Ross, T-Pain and Ace Hood went through "The Boss," "Cash Flow," "I'm So Hood" and "Out Here Grindin."

"Ozone Awards are so big," Ross said backstage before performing. "This is something major for the streets! A lot of people who didn't or who don't normally get love from other outlets can count on Ozone to shed some light on them."

Ross won Best Rap Album for Trilla; Snoop Dogg won Best Rap Album (West Coast). The coveted lyricist of the year nod went to Lil Wayne.

The awards took over the city for the weekend, filling H-Town with revelry fitting such a major event. MCs both established and on the rise came out for the celebration: At clubs around town, you'd see familiar faces like T.I., Young Jeezy, even Nelly and the Game, and Rick Ross performed on Saturday night.

Despite a brief scuffle between DJ Vlad and a member of Rick Ross' entourage, having a good time and networking was the focus.

"The weekend is big for the South," Jeezy said backstage at his show on Saturday. "It's big for hip-hop, period."

Ozone magazine was started by journalist Julia Beverly and is dedicated to providing coverage to acts from the South and West who were overlooked or undiscovered by more mainstream publications. The awards followed in the spirit of the magazine honoring up and coming acts as well as artists who have broken through.

"After all these years, the only award I've ever received was a Ozone award," the legendary Mannie Fresh said backstage. "So I love the show. It's the third year, it keeps getting better."

The complete list of Ozone Award winners:

Best Rap Album
Rick Ross Trilla

Best Rap Artist
Lil Wayne

Best R&B Artist
Chris Brown

Best Rap Group
UGK

Best Lyricist
Lil Wayne

Breakthrough Artist
Shawty Lo

Best Rap/R&B Collaboration
Usher (featuring Young Jeezy): "Love in This Club"

Club Banger of the Year
Webbie (featuring Lil Boosie & Lil Phat): "Independent"

Mixtape Monster
Trae

Most Slept-On Artist
Z-Ro

Pimp C Award (Trillest Artist) [Editor's note: i.e. "not afraid to speak their mind"]
David Banner

TJ's DJ's Hustler Award
DJ Khaled

TJ's DJ's Tastemaker Award
T-Pain

Best Video
UGK (featuring Outkast) "Int'l Players Anthem"

DJ of the Year
DJ Khaled

Best Mixtape/ Street Album
Tie: DJ Drama and B.G.: Gangsta Grillz: Hood Generals
Chamillionaire: Mixtape Messiah 3

Best Producer
Polow Da Don

Best Rap Artist (West Coast)
The Game

Best Rap Group (West Coast)
D.P.G. (Dogg Pound)

Best Rap Album (West Coast)
Snoop Dogg: Ego Trippin'

Living Legend
J Prince

Patiently Waiting: Florida
Brisco

Patiently Waiting: Georgia
B.O.B.

Patiently Waiting: Texas
Lil Will

Patiently Waiting: Mississippi
Lil C

Patiently Waiting: Alabama
Jackie Chain

Patiently Waiting: Louisiana
Mack Maine

Patiently Waiting: Tennessee
All Star

Patiently Waiting: Carolinas
Snook Da Rokk Star

Patiently Waiting: Kentucky
Hurricane

Patiently Waiting: California
The Jacka

Patiently Waiting: Arizona
Willy Northpole

• T-Pain, Rick Ross, More At '08 Ozone Awards

• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• T-Pain
• David Banner
• OutKast
• Mike Jones

Smashing Pumpkins' <i>Zeigeist </i>
Photo: Martha's Music/ Reprise

The new releases are raging this week, with labels cranking out a ton of titles to make up for last week's holiday respite. Fittingly, Tuesday (July 10) is the 86th birthday of the original Raging Bull, boxer Jake LaMotta, so, in the spirit of the sport, we're pitting this week's contenders against each other boxing-match style. Let's get ready to rumble!

Main Event: Smashing Pumpkins vs. Interpol The Pumpkins might actually have more in common with Crowded House — both bands recently reunited and just played at Live Earth. But when it comes to the Billboard albums chart, Billy Corgan and his cohorts have a more formidable opponent in Interpol. The Pumpkins actually tried to issue their Zeitgeist comeback LP on Saturday, to coincide with the worldwide concert event, but alas, the U.S. is still caught up in that whole Tuesday-release thing. With songs like "Doomsday Clock," "Neverlost," "For God and Country" and more, the band's album should fit comfortably next to Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero or even Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight.

In the other corner loom the ever-gloomy Interpol — and while their new effort Our Love to Admire has an insipid album title, it has been ratcheting up strong reviews in Mojo and elsewhere. Most striking of all might actually be the specially packaged version of the release, which comes in hardcover-book casing and contains a poster to boot. And if you're reading this in Japan, you have access to two additional tracks tacked onto the release: "Mind Over Time" and an instrumental version of "Mammoth."

Heavyweights: Aly & AJ vs. Cheetah Girls The sisters Michalka have had their hands full lately — if you haven't seen them starring in the recent "Super Sweet 16: The Movie," then you might have caught them hyping Hope for Education (they're the charity's spokespeople) or even gracing the cover of (sigh) Honey-Comb cereal boxes. Among all their other endeavors, they've somehow managed to squeeze out Insomniatic, an album that is being reconfigured for seemingly every major retailer (iTunes, Best Buy, Wal-Mart and others all feature slightly modified track lists).

The sisters are hoping to beat out another female posse for the tween vote: the Cheetah Girls, who were created by Walt Disney after the wild success of the film of the same name. The trio's The Cheetah Girls in Concert: The Party's Just Begun Tour CD (with an accompanying DVD) captures them performing songs from the soundtracks to the first two films. Remind you just a little of "High School Musical"?

Middleweights: Mike Jones vs. Crowded House For two artists who have probably never been mentioned before in the same breath, Mike Jones and Crowded House have at least one thing in common: It's taken fo'eva for them to churn out new material. Way back in December 2005, the Texas spitter told us he was 85 percent done with his second album, The American Dream — and if it's taken a year and half to cobble together the last 15 percent, we should hope it's some of the tightest rap music ever recorded. It could be, though, that he wanted to polish off another project: his movie, also called "The American Dream," also drops this week.

Crowded House have taken even longer to put out a new album, but you can't really blame them — the group broke up in November 1996 before reconvening in January of this year. Time on Earth, the act's first new studio effort in 14 years, features original members Neil Finn and Nick Seymour, plus written and performance contributions from Johnny Marr (Modest Mouse, the Smiths) and none other than the Dixie Chicks.

Welterweights: Against Me! vs. Bad Religion Punk padres face off against punk princes this week too: Against Me! — one of the hottest punk bands out there right now, along with Tiger Army — are flooding the record racks with their New Wave, which is loaded with such revealing protest-song titles as "White People for Peace" and "Americans Abroad." The album was produced by Butch Vig, who famously sat behind the boards for Nirvana's Nevermind.

While you have the early '90s on the brain, you might recall that Bad Religion were really coming into their own around that time. New Maps of Hell, the band's third release since guitarist Brett Gurewitz returned to the fold and 14th studio album overall, couldn't dovetail more perfectly with New Wave — songs include "The Grand Delusion," "Requiem for Dissent" and "Submission Complete."

Middleweights: Spoon vs. Foo Fighters

Do you like your Foo Spoon-fed? While you're chewing on that one, you might want to say, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" — that's the goofy title of indie-rock immortals Spoon's new album. Better jump on it quick, as the first pressing comes with the limited-edition bonus EP Get Nice!, which actually contains more tracks (12), oddly enough, than the LP itself (10). Don't miss "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case," "Black Like Me" and "You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb."

Foo Fighters are also feeling generous — they've dumped six more songs onto the revisited version of their classic The Colour and the Shape for the LP's 10th anniversary. The extras include covers of Killing Joke, Gary Numan and Gerry Rafferty songs, as well as the album's title track, which actually came out as a B-side.

Lightweights: Darkest Hour vs. Nile These metal bands are hardly wimps, but as far as the Billboard chart goes, they'll have some work ahead of them this week. On their fifth LP, Deliver Us, Sounds of the Underground participants Darkest Hour portend a "Full Imperial Collapse," "Fire in the Sky" and "Doomsayer (The Beginning of the End)," with FYE shoppers getting an extra dose of maniacal metalcore as a bonus: the track "Closing on the Day."

Nile are on this summer's opposing metal tour — Ozzfest — and, while also a death-metal band, are a bit more brutal than DH. This week, former label Relapse digs through the crates and pieces together Legacy of the Catacombs, which is littered with 12 of the band's choice cuts, plus a DVD boasting all its videos.

Featherweights: M. Ward vs. Nick Drake And to cap it off, a quiet contest between soft-spoken singer/songwriters new and old. Ward's first album, Duet + Guitars 2 — originally issued by Co-Dependent Records in 1999, then re-released the year later on Howe Gelb's OWOM label — is back again, this time with three extra slices. Drake's Family Tree set teems with more unreleased material, an hour of material the revered folkster recorded before his Five Leaves Left debut. Featured on the extra content is Drake performing with his mother and sister, early versions of some Five Leaves Left tracks and between-song chatter and laughter.

Song Title of the Week:

"... And Justice for All My Loving" from Beatallica's Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band

Album Cover of the Week:

Interpol's Our Love to Admire

Other Notables:

Gogol Bordello's Super Taranta!
Jamming with Madonna during her performance at Live Earth London was a great PR move for these New York underground gypsy punks — but are Madge fans really going to dig them? Probably not. In case you're not already familiar with Gogol, the meaning behind their nonsense album title should avail you of their insanity: "Taranta!" is a nod to "tarantella," a form of extreme traditional Italian music made to cure hysterical women. In a recent press statement, frontman Eugene Hutz elucidated: "Gogol Bordello is known for talking about sex, politics, life and the mysteries surrounding our existence, all while showing our original and strong visions of the New Rebel Intelligence — the ability of an individual to interpret actions and objects personally despite authoritarian and informational hysteria." Do you really need to know more?

Roky Erickson's "You're Gonna Miss Me" DVD and soundtrack
This psychedelic rocker's story is an especially sad one, with the documentary chronicling how Erickson went insane but was recently brought back into the music world thanks to his brother, who had to obtain legal custody of him. The DVD is packed with extras, including acoustic performances, "I Know the Hole in Baby's Head" and other readings, a postscript on his emancipation hearing and more. For its part, the soundtrack has two exclusive songs — "For You" and "Goodbye Sweet Dreams" — and a raft of Roky classics.

Jesse Harris's Feel
Unlikely Erickson, this Bright Eyes and Norah Jones collaborator is much less likely to be found in a room playing five TVs at the same time. He recorded his seventh album in just three days, but managed to spill a lifetime's worth of emotion into the disc. "How Could It Take So Long" depicts a displaced New Orleans resident at the Louisiana Superdome in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, while elsewhere on the album Harris gets deep about love and relationships. He integrates Caribbean sounds into "Fire on the Ocean" and, elsewhere on the disc, jazz beats to boot.

New Releases:

· Against Me! - New Wave (Sire)
· Aly & AJ - Insomniatic (enhanced; Hollywood)
· American Black Lung - Sudden Departure of Vultures (Uprising)
· Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Epitaph) [Buy Now]
· Beatallica - Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band (Oglio) [Buy Now]
· Bedlight for Blue Eyes - Life on Life's Terms (Trustkill)
· Boat - Let's Drag Our Feet! (Magic Marker) [Buy Now]
· Ayla Brown - Forward (Double Deal Brand)
· B-Side Players - Fire in the Youth (Concord)
· Buffalo Tom - Three Easy Pieces (New West)
· The Cheetah Girls - The Cheetah Girls in Concert: The Party's Just Begun Tour (with DVD; Disney)
· Crowded House - Time on Earth (ATO)
· Darkest Hour - Deliver Us (Victory)
· Down to Earth Approach - Come Back to You (Vagrant)
· Droid - Droid (Chime) [Buy Now]
· Fairmont - Wait & Hope (GFB)
· Gallows - Orchestra of Wolves (Epitaph)
· Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! (Side One Dummy)
· The Gourds - Noble Creatures (Yep Roc)
· Great Lakes Myth Society - Compass Rose Bouquet (Quack Media)
· The Hanslick Rebellion - The Rebellion Is Here.(Eschatone)
· Jesse Harris - Feel (Velour)
· Hawaii Mud Bombers - Mondo Primo(Wicked Cool)
· The Icarus Line - Black Lives at the Golden Coast (Dim Mak)
· Interpol - Our Love to Admire (special edition packaged in hard-covered book form due same day; Capitol) [Buy Now]
Read: "Call Interpol 'The Worst Band On The Planet' — They Don't Care"
· Jason Isbell - Sirens of the Ditch (New West)
· Mike Jones - The American Dream (Ice Age)
Read: "The Dream Is Nearly Over For Mike Jones"
· Justice - Cross (Vice) [Buy Now]
· Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers - Glassjaw Boxer (Everfine)
· Kool & the Gang - Still Kool (two CDs; New Door/UMe)
· Joachim Kühn and Majid Bekkas - Kalimba (Act Music & Vision)
· Justin Lanning - Behind These Eyes (SMC)
· The Leftovers - On the Move (Rally)
· Lez Zeppelin - Lez Zeppelin (Emanation) [Buy Now]
· Mayday Parade - A Lesson in Romantics (Fearless)
· Mustangs and Madras - Le Lechuza (digipak; Latest Flame)
· Oh No! Oh My! - Between the Devil and the Sea (EP; Dim Mak)
· Ra Ra Riot - Ra Ra Riot (Rebel Group)
· Reel Big Fish - Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free (Rock Ridge) [Buy Now]
· Fionn Regan - The End of History (Lost Highway)
· Kim Richey - Chinese Boxes (Vanguard)
· Chris & Rich Robinson - Brothers of a Feather: Live at the Roxy (Eagle)
· Mark Ronson - Version (Allido/RCA)
· Round Mountain - Truth and Darkness (Fast Horse)
· Ulrich Schnauss - Goodbye (Domino)
· Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist (Reprise) [Buy Now]
Read: "Smashing Pumpkins Drummer Offers More Clues About Forthcoming LP"
· Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (limited edition comes with bonus CD; Merge)
· St. Vincent - Marry Me (Beggars Banquet)
· Stratospheerius - Headspace (D-Zone)
· Suphala - Blueprint (Suphala)
· John P. Strohm - Everyday Life (Superphonic)
· They Might Be Giants - The Else (Idlewild/Zöe)
· To My Boy - Messages (digipak; Abeano Music/ XL) [Buy Now]
· Trashlight Vision - Alibis and Ammunition (Rock Ridge)
· The Unseen - Internal Salvation (digipak; Hellcat)
· Bill Wence - Songs From the Rocky Fork Tavern (615)
· Alexa Wilkinson - Lullaby Appetite (DNK)
· Jamie Williams - After Hours (Jamie Williams Music)
· Roddy Woomble - My Secret Is My Silence (7-10)
· Various artists - Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation (Anti-)
· Various artists - "Hairspray" soundtrack (New Line)
· Various artists - "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" soundtrack (Warner Bros.)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Terry Allen - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· Bee Gees - "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack (Rhino)
· Botch - American Nervoso (Hydra Head)
· Nick Drake - Family Tree (Tsunami)
· Roky Erickson - "You're Gonna Miss Me" soundtrack (Palm Pictures)
· Donald Fagen - The Nightfly Trilogy (three-CD box set; Rhino)
· Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape (RCA) [Buy Now]
· The for Carnation - Promised Works (Touch and Go)
· Kinky Friedman - Live From Austin TX (New West)
· Tracy Lawrence - The Very Best of Tracy Lawrence (Rhino)
· Doyle Lawson - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· Nguyên Lê - Purple: Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (ACT)
· Lonesome River Band - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· The Monkees - Headquarters and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.; (two-CD deluxe editions; Rhino)
· Nashville Bluegrass Band - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· Nile - Legacy of the Catacombs (Relapse)
· No Use for a Name - All the Best Songs (Fat Wreck Chords) [Buy Now]
· John Phillips - Jack of Diamonds (Varése Sarabande)
· Reckless Kelly - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· Peter Rowan - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· Stephen Stills - Just Roll Tape: April 26, 1968 (Rhino)
· The Vacancies - Tantrum (Blackheart) [Buy Now]
· M. Ward - Duet + Guitars 2 (Merge)
· Various artists - Body + Soul: Funky Love (Time Life)
· Various artists - Uptown Soul, Downtown Funk (Sunswept)

Music DVDs:

· The Beatles - "Beatles' Biggest Secrets" (Image) [Buy Now]
· Armin van Buuren - "Armin Only: Ahoy 2007" (two DVDs; Ultra)
· The Chieftans - "Live Over Ireland - Water From the Well" (Image)
· The Dresden Dolls - "Live at the Roundhouse, London" (Eagle Vision)
· Roky Erickson - "You're Gonna Miss Me: A Film About Roky Erickson" (Palm Pictures)
· Kinky Friedman - "Live From Austin TX" (New West)
· Engelbert Humperdink - "Greatest Performances 1967-1977" (Universal)
· Marillion - "Live From Loreley" (EMI)
· Supersuckers - "Live in Orange Co." (2B1)

Digital Releases:

· Dead Betties - Nightmare Sequence (hits brick-and-mortar stores on September 4; Cordless)
· K Banger - Truth Be Told (Shaman Work)
· Monster in the Machine - Butterfly Pinned (hits brick-and-mortar stores on August 21; Emotional Syphon)
· Page France - Page France and the Bonus Telephone EP (iTunes only)
· The Scene Aesthetic - Building Homes From What We've Known (Destiny Worldwide)
· Various artists - Simple Life Camp Songs (available through E! Online and iTunes; Nettwerk)

Coming Attractions:

July 17:
· All-American Rejects - "Tournado" DVD (Interscope)
· Avenged Sevenfold - "All Excess" DVD (Warner Bros.) [Preorder]
· Too Short - I Love the Bay (Up All Nite)
· Yellowcard - Paper Walls (deluxe edition with DVD due same day; Capitol) [Preorder]
· Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 25 (UTV)

July 24:
· Prince - Planet Earth (Columbia) [Preorder]
· Sum 41 - Underclass Hero (Island) [Preorder]
Read: "Sum 41 Kill President In New Song — Deryck Whibley Says It's 'A Metaphor' "
· Tegan and Sara - Con (deluxe edition with DVD due same day; Vapor/Sanctuary)

July 31:
· Common - Finding Forever (Universal) [Preorder]
Read: "Kanye West, Lily Allen Finding Something In Common"
· DevilDriver - The Last Kind Words (Roadrunner)
· Korn - Untitled (deluxe edition with bonus DVD due same day; Epic) [Preorder]
Read: "Korn Are Cracking Up Over Eighth LP's 'Gothic Feel,' Munky Says"

• Interpol Spread The Love

• The Smashing Pumpkins
• Interpol
• Aly & AJ
• Mike Jones

Kanye West
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Kanye West has finally stopped teasing us and released the first record from his Graduation LP. It's called "Can't Tell Me Nothing," and Hot 97's DJ Enuff can brag about being the first spinner to play it. "Wait till I get my money right/ Then you can't tell me nothing right," Mr. West raps on the track. ...

The trophies keep rolling in for Mary J. Blige. The singer will be presented with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Voice of Music Award at the 20th Anniversary Rhythm & Soul Music Awards. The event will be held June 25 in Los Angeles. ...

Phil Spector said, "I think I killed somebody," and had a gun in his hand after the death of actress Lana Clarkson on February 3, 2003, Adriano Desouza testified in court Tuesday (May 15), according to The Associated Press. The chauffeur said he drove Spector and Clarkson to the music producer's home around 3 a.m. and later heard a "pow." According to Desouza, Spector walked out of his mansion at 5 a.m. with gun in hand and told the driver, "I think I killed somebody." "What happened, sir?" Desouza replied, according to his testimony — Spector responded with a shrug, after which the driver "saw the legs of the lady," he said. ...

Bono's DATA — Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa — advocacy group has released a progress report that shows that G8 members have contributed less than half the amount needed to double African aid to $50 billion by 2010 as promised, AP reports. "The G8 are sleepwalking into a crisis of credibility," Bono said in Germany, where a G8 summit will be hosted next month. "I know the DATA report will feel like a cold shower, but I hope it will wake us all up." ...

Lindsay Lohan is #1, Jessica Alba is #2 and Scarlett Johansson is #3 on Maxim's eighth annual "Hot 100" list, but it's MTV Movie Awards host Sarah Silverman (#29) who made the June issue's cover. Christina Aguilera (#4), Rihanna (#8), Fergie (#10), Beyoncé (#13), Avril Lavigne (#15), Ashlee Simpson (#16), Nicole Scherzinger (#22), Hilary Duff (#23) and Nelly Furtado (#26) were among those who came in ahead of Silverman. ...

Mike Jones has moved the release date of his second LP, The American Dream, from this month to July 10. The rapper, who has been asking fans to call him for years, also announced that he's branching out into e-mail, via AskMikeJones@gmail.com. "There were many times where my friends (fans) couldn't get through [on the phone]," Jones said in a statement. "With the e-mail address, it will be much easier for me to communicate with them." Jones said his Blackberry "is always with me." ... Master P and Romeo have something to say about the recent flap over hip-hop lyrics — and they've started a new record label to prove it. Take a Stand Records will be a home "for hip-hop artists with street music without offensive lyrics," according to the label's Web site, which is littered with video clips pertaining to the rap-lyrics controversy. In addition to P and Romeo, the label also counts Forrest Lipton and Young V on its roster. ...

Franz Ferdinand continue working on material for their next album. According to frontman Alex Kapranos, the Scottish band is still working in a practice space, fine-tuning new songs. He revealed a couple of song titles ("A New Thrill" and "English Goodbye") via the band's MySpace page but didn't make any projections about when the guys would enter the studio to record the follow-up to 2005's You Could Have It So Much Better. ... OK Go's Damian Kulash, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, the Indigo Girls and others are helping New Orleans rebound with a Future of Music Coalition benefit show to be held May 27 at Tipitina's Uptown. Proceeds will go to Sweet Home New Orleans, a nonprofit group that provides rental help for displaced musicians. ... Crowded House have lined up their first U.S. tour in more than 10 years. The reunited band will hit the pavement August 4 in Northampton, Massachusetts, and keep chugging along until September 12 in Atlanta. Pete Yorn, 16 Frames and Fountains of Wayne will trade off opening duties. ...

Paris Hilton's psychiatrist describes the socialite as "emotionally distraught and traumatized" over her 45-day jail sentence — and currently unable to defend herself from a $10 million civil suit filed by heiress Zeta Graff, AP reports. A Los Angeles judge postponed the trial — which was set to begin this month — to August. The suit, filed in 2005, accuses Hilton of spreading "vicious lies" about Graff. ... Bassist Ryan Sinn is out of Angels & Airwaves — and has been since April 19, according to a message he posted to the A&A fan club. Sinn said the reasons he was given for his dismissal were "severely hypocritical to the point of abhorrent disgust," and explained that despite rumors to the contrary, he "would never leave a band because of a clash of ideas, or control. ... What matters to me now is freedom — freedom to express myself and the freedom to be exactly who I am." ...

Scotland's Aerogramme have thrown in the towel. The indie-rockers revealed they will call it quits after playing out their remaining tour dates — all of which are scheduled for the United Kingdom and Europe. The band's last LP, My Heart Has a Wish That You Would Not Go, was released back in January. "[The] reasons are multiple and complex," the band said in a statement. "It is, however, fair to say that the never-ending financial struggle coupled with an almost superhuman ability to dodge the zeitgeist have taken their toll, ensuring that we just don't have any fight left in us." ... Sylvester Stallone's lawyers pleaded guilty on the "Rocky" actor's behalf on Tuesday in a Sydney, Australia, court, answering charges that he smuggled 48 vials of the banned human-growth hormone Jintropin and several vials of male human testosterone into the country in February. In a statement, Stallone, 60, apologized for what he called a "terrible mistake," saying he has taken the drugs for years for an unspecified medical condition and was unaware that they were banned in Australia, according to an AP report. The action star is expected to be sentenced on Monday and will likely face a fine of $10,000 or more. ...

The attorneys general of eight states sent a letter to a lawyer for MySpace charging that the popular social-networking site has uncovered thousands of known sex offenders using the service, but had not done enough to block them from MySpace, according to The New York Times. "The fact that MySpace failed to come forward immediately with this information is really staggering," Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumental said. Officials obtained their information from unnamed but, "highly credible private groups" that got it directly from MySpace, according to the Times report. The letter asked MySpace officials to provide the names and addresses of sex offenders on MySpace along with a list of steps the company has taken to alert law-enforcement officials and other MySpace users. The chief security officer for MySpace responded in a letter that the company had recently begun using new software to "proactively identify and remove any known sex offenders from the site." MySpace was given until May 29 to respond to the request.

05.14.2007

Don't get too excited, Harry Potter fans — despite rumors that J.K. Rowling is considering writing another book in the Potter-verse, that doesn't mean there will be an actual book eight. In fact, as she clarified on her Web site, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" remains the end of the series and another novel is "highly unlikely." "I've got enough story for seven books and I never planned to carry the story beyond the end of book seven," she wrote. "I might do an eighth book for charity, a kind of encyclopedia of the world so that I could use all the extra material that's not in the books ... we'll see!" Rowling previously wrote the Potter reference books "Quidditch Through the Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" under the aliases Kennilworthy Whisp and Newt Scamander, respectively, and proceeds for both went to Comic Relief. Meanwhile, Rowling is requesting that fans go easy on the spoilers for "Deathly Hallows." Spoilers won't stop people from buying the book, they never have — all it will do is diminish their pleasure. ... Even if the biggest secret gets out — even if somebody discovers the Giant Squid is actually the world's largest Animagus, which rises from the lake at the eleventh hour, transforms into Godric Gryffindor and ... well, I wouldn't like to spoil it." ...

A will and probate petition were filed on behalf of Howard K. Stern on Monday (May 14), according to E! Online, and in the documents, he requests to be the special administrator of Anna Nicole Smith's estate. In the filing, Smith's home in Studio City, California, is valued at $1.8 million and her personal property at $10,000 — but her outstanding mortgage reduces the sum to $710,000, according to Stern's petition. Larry Birkhead, father of Smith's daughter Danielynn, is not named as a beneficiary in the will, according to TMZ.com, but the petition to probate lists him as a part with an interest in Smith's estate. Danielynn, Stern and two attorneys Ron Rale and Eric Lund are also listed as having an interest in the estate — although Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, is not named. A probate hearing is slated for June 19, while a custody hearing involving Birkhead and Arthur is set for June 8. ...

Claiming he was distraught, depressed and so strapped for cash at the time that he couldn't afford a lawyer, Bobby Brown filed papers in California's Orange County Superior Court last week challenging the terms of his April 24 divorce from Whitney Houston. Specifically, Brown is trying to fight a judge's decision to grant physical and legal custody of the pair's 14-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, to Houston. According to MSNBC (citing papers obtained by "Access Hollywood"), Brown claims that after he split from Houston last year, he was so emotionally and financially distressed that he was essentially homeless and couldn't get it together to respond to Houston's petition for divorce. The papers reportedly claim that, "Whitney repeatedly assured Bobby that he need not file a response and that reconciliation was possible," and that, "Whitney did so at a time when she knew that Bobby was particularly vulnerable." A June 15 court date has been set for Brown's new case. ...

Jive wants to bring the Pain a little earlier. T-Pain's new LP, Epiphany, has been brought up to a June 5 release date, a week earlier than its original June 12 date. The set includes the hit record "Buy U a Drank." ... Rapper Bun B, one-half of the group UGK, was in New York over the weekend performing for about 100 people at Lower East Side hipster sneaker store Alife Rivington Club. Hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, the show was billed as "Bun B and Friends," and Papoose, Graph and Talib Kweli all joined Bun during his set. This week in Los Angeles, Bun and UGK mate Pimp C shoot the video for "Int'l Players Anthem" with Outkast and longtime 'Kast director Bryan Barber. ... Legendary Houston DJ OG Ron C celebrated two decades of making music with a four-day-long celebration in his hometown from Thursday through Sunday. Slim Thug, Killer Mike and Dead Prez's Stic.man were among the celebs who attended the various parties and music-conference panels Ron C — known for his mixtape and chopping and screwing skills — staged over the weekend. On Saturday, the DJ was presented with a certificate from the city in honor of his 20 years in the business. ...

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor has lashed out at his record company in blog posts on the band's Web site. "As the climate grows more and more desperate for record labels, their answer to their mostly self-inflicted wounds seems to be to screw the consumer over even more," he wrote. "A couple of examples that quickly come to mind: The absurd retail pricing of Year Zero in Australia. Shame on you, [Universal Music Group]. Year Zero is selling for $34.99 Australian dollars (or $29.10 in the States). No wonder people steal music. Avril Lavigne's record in the same store was $21.99 ($18.21 U.S.)." When Reznor asked his label about the pricing of the LP, he said he was told "it's because we know you have a real core audience that will pay whatever it costs when you put something out." So, Reznor surmised, "I guess as a reward for being a 'true fan,' you get ripped off." ...

No, Ozzy Osbourne isn't pulling a K-Fed — but he will appear on this week's WWE "Friday Night SmackDown" to perform two songs, including his new single, "I Don't Wanna Stop." The track will also serve as the theme song to WWE's "Judgment Day" special, to air on pay-per-view Sunday. ... Rick Rubin's rumored move to Columbia is official, Billboard reports, although details are scarce. The label released a statement Monday stating that the Grammy-winning producer and head of American Recordings will "form a dynamic and creative executive partnership" with Columbia Chairman Steve Bartnett. Rubin will continue producing for artists at different labels but will bring American to Sony, which distributed the imprint less than a decade ago. ...

Lindsay Lohan and her mother Dina are being sued by a photographer who alleges that Lindsay hit him with a car in New York on March 13, according to court documents obtained by "Access Hollywood." The suit, filed in New York by Giovanni Arnold on Thursday, seeks unspecified damages from the Lohans for "sustained severe and permanent personal injuries." Dina Lohan is named in the suit as the owner of the car Lindsay was driving. ... John Edwards has a new political adviser: John Mayer. New York magazine reports that the two Johns met up at Time magazine's Time 100 event last week, where Mayer, 29, gave Edwards advice on connecting with young people. "He basically said, 'You've got to get me in the first 20 seconds,' " Edwards explained. He said he's set up a meeting with the singer for more insight. ... Neighbors are calling foul over Leonardo DiCaprio's basketball court. Ronald and Joan Linclau claim the actor excavated their property without permission and damaged plants in order to build the court at his home in Los Angeles, according to The Associated Press. They are seeking $250,000 in damages. Ken Sunshine, a DiCaprio spokesman, told AP the lawsuit "is totally without merit." ...

The Smashing Pumpkins, who will release Zeitgeist, their first album of new material since 2000, have announced two sets of all-ages residency gigs: nine shows at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, between June 23 and July 5, and eight shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco between July 22 and August 1. The band will be performing songs from its upcoming disc, as well as old material. Fans are "invited to capture the concerts with audio and video recorders," according to SmashingPumpkins.com. ... Bob Geldof, who organized the Live Aid and Live 8 benefit concerts, has criticized Al Gore's Live Earth music events, saying they lack a specific goal, according to AP. "I hope they're a success," Geldof told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. "But why is [Gore] actually organizing them? To make us aware of the greenhouse effect? Everybody's known about that problem for years. We are all [expletive] conscious of global warming." ...

System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian will direct the video for "Give Thanks and Praises," the first clip from the forthcoming Bad Brains album Build a Nation. The video will begin production this month and will include footage captured at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Washington. "I've been a fan of the Brains ever since I can remember," Odadjian said in a statement. "I am going to rock this video for the Brains and try to capture their intense energy. It's a big responsibility. ... I'm honored." ... U.S. immigration officials have turned to Mickey Mouse for help in managing airport crowds, Britain's Daily Mail reports. Disney will teach officials trade secrets from over 50 years of running the most popular tourist destination on the planet, the so-called "Happiest Place on Earth." The move is aimed at luring visitors back to America, many of whom have stayed away due to complaints of long lines, intense interrogation and gruff, surly demeanors. No word on whether that means the ubiquitous rubber gloves will now have four fingers.

05.14.2007

Don't get too excited, Harry Potter fans — despite rumors that J.K. Rowling is considering writing another book in the Potter-verse, that doesn't mean there will be an actual book eight. In fact, as she clarified on her Web site, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" remains the end of the series and another novel is "highly unlikely." "I've got enough story for seven books and I never planned to carry the story beyond the end of book seven," she wrote. "I might do an eighth book for charity, a kind of encyclopedia of the world so that I could use all the extra material that's not in the books ... we'll see!" Rowling previously wrote the Potter reference books "Quidditch Through the Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" under the aliases Kennilworthy Whisp and Newt Scamander, respectively, and proceeds for both went to Comic Relief. Meanwhile, Rowling is requesting that fans go easy on the spoilers for "Deathly Hallows." Spoilers won't stop people from buying the book, they never have — all it will do is diminish their pleasure. ... Even if the biggest secret gets out — even if somebody discovers the Giant Squid is actually the world's largest Animagus, which rises from the lake at the eleventh hour, transforms into Godric Gryffindor and ... well, I wouldn't like to spoil it." ...

A will and probate petition were filed on behalf of Howard K. Stern on Monday (May 14), according to E! Online, and in the documents, he requests to be the special administrator of Anna Nicole Smith's estate. In the filing, Smith's home in Studio City, California, is valued at $1.8 million and her personal property at $10,000 — but her outstanding mortgage reduces the sum to $710,000, according to Stern's petition. Larry Birkhead, father of Smith's daughter Danielynn, is not named as a beneficiary in the will, according to TMZ.com, but the petition to probate lists him as a part with an interest in Smith's estate. Danielynn, Stern and two attorneys Ron Rale and Eric Lund are also listed as having an interest in the estate — although Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, is not named. A probate hearing is slated for June 19, while a custody hearing involving Birkhead and Arthur is set for June 8. ...

Claiming he was distraught, depressed and so strapped for cash at the time that he couldn't afford a lawyer, Bobby Brown filed papers in California's Orange County Superior Court last week challenging the terms of his April 24 divorce from Whitney Houston. Specifically, Brown is trying to fight a judge's decision to grant physical and legal custody of the pair's 14-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina, to Houston. According to MSNBC (citing papers obtained by "Access Hollywood"), Brown claims that after he split from Houston last year, he was so emotionally and financially distressed that he was essentially homeless and couldn't get it together to respond to Houston's petition for divorce. The papers reportedly claim that, "Whitney repeatedly assured Bobby that he need not file a response and that reconciliation was possible," and that, "Whitney did so at a time when she knew that Bobby was particularly vulnerable." A June 15 court date has been set for Brown's new case. ...

Jive wants to bring the Pain a little earlier. T-Pain's new LP, Epiphany, has been brought up to a June 5 release date, a week earlier than its original June 12 date. The set includes the hit record "Buy U a Drank." ... Rapper Bun B, one-half of the group UGK, was in New York over the weekend performing for about 100 people at Lower East Side hipster sneaker store Alife Rivington Club. Hosted by Fab 5 Freddy, the show was billed as "Bun B and Friends," and Papoose, Graph and Talib Kweli all joined Bun during his set. This week in Los Angeles, Bun and UGK mate Pimp C shoot the video for "Int'l Players Anthem" with Outkast and longtime 'Kast director Bryan Barber. ... Legendary Houston DJ OG Ron C celebrated two decades of making music with a four-day-long celebration in his hometown from Thursday through Sunday. Slim Thug, Killer Mike and Dead Prez's Stic.man were among the celebs who attended the various parties and music-conference panels Ron C — known for his mixtape and chopping and screwing skills — staged over the weekend. On Saturday, the DJ was presented with a certificate from the city in honor of his 20 years in the business. ...

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor has lashed out at his record company in blog posts on the band's Web site. "As the climate grows more and more desperate for record labels, their answer to their mostly self-inflicted wounds seems to be to screw the consumer over even more," he wrote. "A couple of examples that quickly come to mind: The absurd retail pricing of Year Zero in Australia. Shame on you, [Universal Music Group]. Year Zero is selling for $34.99 Australian dollars (or $29.10 in the States). No wonder people steal music. Avril Lavigne's record in the same store was $21.99 ($18.21 U.S.)." When Reznor asked his label about the pricing of the LP, he said he was told "it's because we know you have a real core audience that will pay whatever it costs when you put something out." So, Reznor surmised, "I guess as a reward for being a 'true fan,' you get ripped off." ...

No, Ozzy Osbourne isn't pulling a K-Fed — but he will appear on this week's WWE "Friday Night SmackDown" to perform two songs, including his new single, "I Don't Wanna Stop." The track will also serve as the theme song to WWE's "Judgment Day" special, to air on pay-per-view Sunday. ... Rick Rubin's rumored move to Columbia is official, Billboard reports, although details are scarce. The label released a statement Monday stating that the Grammy-winning producer and head of American Recordings will "form a dynamic and creative executive partnership" with Columbia Chairman Steve Bartnett. Rubin will continue producing for artists at different labels but will bring American to Sony, which distributed the imprint less than a decade ago. ...

Lindsay Lohan and her mother Dina are being sued by a photographer who alleges that Lindsay hit him with a car in New York on March 13, according to court documents obtained by "Access Hollywood." The suit, filed in New York by Giovanni Arnold on Thursday, seeks unspecified damages from the Lohans for "sustained severe and permanent personal injuries." Dina Lohan is named in the suit as the owner of the car Lindsay was driving. ... John Edwards has a new political adviser: John Mayer. New York magazine reports that the two Johns met up at Time magazine's Time 100 event last week, where Mayer, 29, gave Edwards advice on connecting with young people. "He basically said, 'You've got to get me in the first 20 seconds,' " Edwards explained. He said he's set up a meeting with the singer for more insight. ... Neighbors are calling foul over Leonardo DiCaprio's basketball court. Ronald and Joan Linclau claim the actor excavated their property without permission and damaged plants in order to build the court at his home in Los Angeles, according to The Associated Press. They are seeking $250,000 in damages. Ken Sunshine, a DiCaprio spokesman, told AP the lawsuit "is totally without merit." ...

The Smashing Pumpkins, who will release Zeitgeist, their first album of new material since 2000, have announced two sets of all-ages residency gigs: nine shows at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina, between June 23 and July 5, and eight shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco between July 22 and August 1. The band will be performing songs from its upcoming disc, as well as old material. Fans are "invited to capture the concerts with audio and video recorders," according to SmashingPumpkins.com. ... Bob Geldof, who organized the Live Aid and Live 8 benefit concerts, has criticized Al Gore's Live Earth music events, saying they lack a specific goal, according to AP. "I hope they're a success," Geldof told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant. "But why is [Gore] actually organizing them? To make us aware of the greenhouse effect? Everybody's known about that problem for years. We are all [expletive] conscious of global warming." ...

System of a Down's Shavo Odadjian will direct the video for "Give Thanks and Praises," the first clip from the forthcoming Bad Brains album Build a Nation. The video will begin production this month and will include footage captured at the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Washington. "I've been a fan of the Brains ever since I can remember," Odadjian said in a statement. "I am going to rock this video for the Brains and try to capture their intense energy. It's a big responsibility. ... I'm honored." ... U.S. immigration officials have turned to Mickey Mouse for help in managing airport crowds, Britain's Daily Mail reports. Disney will teach officials trade secrets from over 50 years of running the most popular tourist destination on the planet, the so-called "Happiest Place on Earth." The move is aimed at luring visitors back to America, many of whom have stayed away due to complaints of long lines, intense interrogation and gruff, surly demeanors. No word on whether that means the ubiquitous rubber gloves will now have four fingers.

• 2007 MTV Movie Awards: Sarah Silverman On The Nominees

• Our Host Is Magic: Sarah Silverman

• Kanye West
• Mary J. Blige
• Bono
• Lindsay Lohan
• Mike Jones

Raekwon
Photo: Matthew Peyton/ Getty Images

Even though it's at the top of the Billboard albums chart, Raekwon doesn't seem to be feeling Jay-Z's Kingdom Come. At the New York stop of the Rock the Bells tour on Tuesday night, the co-headliner told the audience in the middle of his set that he didn't care for Hova's new LP adding, "I don't give a f--- about him." The Chef did say he respects Jay's business acumen, though. Opening act Smif-N-Wessun brought out the whole Boot Camp Clik during their set, while Redman, the last performer of the night, took it all the way back to 1992's Whutt? Thee Album. He also played some new material with his Gilla House crew as Julito McCullum from "The Wire" and others stood in attendance. ...

Britney Spears will host New Year's Eve at the nightclub Pure in Las Vegas. "She's going to do the countdown, a champagne toast and watch the fireworks from the terrace," a club rep said. Nick Lachey will be holding the mic at Pure the night before to host a "goodbye 2006" party. Cheers. ... And while conflicting reports suggested Spears and Paris Hilton were in line to co-host the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, the show's spokesperson said late Wednesday (November 29) that neither is confirmed. In the meantime, however, Pharrell and Young Jeezy will join previously announced performers Gwen Stefani, Ludacris and the Killers for the ceremony, set to air Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox. ...

There's more Lachey news too: The sports enthusiast now has a professional team to call his own. On Wednesday, Lachey was announced as part of the new ownership group for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Washington state AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. Lachey was introduced at a press conference along with other representatives of the Schlegel Sports Group, a Dallas organization that already owns minor-league teams in Texas and Iowa. "When I was given the opportunity to purchase the Rainiers with [SSG founder] Kirby Schlegel, I jumped on it," Lachey said in a statement. "Baseball is a true passion of mine, Tacoma is a growing city and I have every intention of playing an active ownership role in the Rainiers as we continue to grow." ...

"Destiny's Child Groove" — a mobile-phone game featuring images of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — will pit players against game characters in a dance battle. The game — which includes "Survivor," "Bug a Boo," "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" — is due to roll out on cellular carriers in the winter. ... Tyrese is trying to put together a collaboration between himself, Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill that, he said, would find them "singing and rhyming all on the same record." In the meantime, his half-rap/half-R&B album, Alter Ego, is due December 12 and will feature Game, Lil Jon, David Banner, Method Man and R. Kelly, among others. ...

Chris Brown has been working on his second album for the past three weeks, including sessions with production team Dre & Vidal. "I think I am going to name the next album Graduation because I'm 18, last year of high school and stuff like that," he told MTV News. "I am still going to keep it so my younger fans can continue to listen to my music, but I got a couple of joints on there that's for some of the older people." ... Celebrity-covered tote bags featuring the faces of Ludacris, Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte's Joel and Benji Madden are currently available for $5 at Aldo stores and YouthAIDS-Aldo.org. Proceeds from the bags — along with Hear, See, Speak campaign tag necklaces — support the efforts of the YouthAIDS initiative. ...

Hanson have released an Internet-exclusive song in recognition of World AIDS Day. "Great Divide," which was recorded on the group's trip to Africa this summer and features a South African children's choir, is available for download via iTunes. Proceeds from the song, priced at 99 cents, will benefit the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. ...The massive electronic-music gala Giant is returning to Los Angeles for its annual New Year's Eve. Now called Giant Maximus, the eight-hour event will boast three "big tops," under which Sasha & John Digweed, Armin van Buuren and other electronic heavyweights will spin. ...

DJ Clue will release The Professional, Part 3, the long-awaited follow-up to 2001's The Professional 2, on December 19. Kanye West and Fabolous appear on the first single, "Like This," while Snoop Dogg, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Game, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, M.O.P., Mobb Deep, Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, Styles P. and Jagged Edge also guest on the disc's tracks. ... Human-rights groups that expressed concern over Madonna's adoption of 1-year-old Malawian boy David Banda will have a say in the court's decision, The Associated Press reported. The judge who granted Madonna and husband Guy Richie an interim adoption last month — allowing the couple to take custody of the child and bring him to their London home — ruled Wednesday that rights organizations will have a say in the court's assessment of the couple, which is due in May. Under Malawian law, adoptive parents must remain in the country for an 18-month evaluation, a process that the rights groups say they are trying to protect in an effort to combat child exploitation. ...

The winners of YouTube's underground-band contest were announced on "Good Morning America" Wednesday morning. Nashville pop quintet Greenland nabbed Best Song honors for their tune "The Way It Is"; Maldroid's A-Ha-inspired "He Said, She Said" clip earned them Best Music Video; Los Angeles hip-hop/soul collective Ostrich Head notched Best Creative Work for "Freak Show Carnival"; and Philadelphia rockers Pawnshop Rose landed Best Live Performance for "Gets So Hard." Among the prizes were Gibson instruments, trips to NYC and more. ... The Matches, I Am Ghost, Escape the Fate and the Higher are heading out next year to support the punk label the bands currently call home. The 2007 Epitaph Tour starts February 1 in San Diego and winds down March 18 in Las Vegas. ...

"Pelt-wearing party girl" Nicole Richie tops the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' worst-dressed list for 2006. Actresses Ashley Olsen, Christina Ricci and Eva Longoria were also named for wearing fur. Missing from this year's list is PETA's 2005 worst-dressed celebrity, Paris Hilton, who said she's had a change of heart since watching a fur-trade exposé, according to the organization. ... My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers and Cat Power have been added to the fifth annual Langerado Music Festival, held in Sunrise, Florida, from March 9-11. O.A.R., Matisyahu, Cut Chemist, the Hold Steady, Widespread Panic and former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio are also on the bill.

11.28.2006

Hilary and Joel are no longer an item. Madden confirmed to MTV News on Tuesday (November 28) that his relationship with Duff is over. He said there are no hard feelings between the two, and that he is focusing his energy on Good Charlotte's Good Morning Revival, due next year. ...

Game and Snoop Dogg are in talks to co-headline a second How the West Was One Tour. "We have to get the paperwork right and the money and the promoters and the agents and all that stuff, but once we figure that out, we will hit it," Game said. And speaking of the rapper, he's thrilled with the reviews Doctor's Advocate has earned. "As long they love the record then I'm good," he said. "I don't care about being #1 or #2, it's just about making a good record, making classic music and having longevity in hip-hop." The album recently opened at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, with 358,000 copies sold. ...

Fergie will perform on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007" as well as host the Hollywood portion of the event. Natasha Bedingfield and Meat Loaf will also perform in Hollywood. ... Another Black Eyed Pea, founding member Apl.De.Ap, is using his birthday celebration Tuesday night in Hollywood to support a worthy cause. Apl and his indie label, Jeepney Music, announced that proceeds of his bash will go to Operation Smile, an international medical charity that originated 24 years ago in Apl's home country, the Philippines. The Peas play Los Angeles' Staples Center on Friday. ...

A book report from Britney Spears' junior high days can be in your hands Monday if the price is right. No, the singer isn't going into the term-paper business, but she has donated her take on a translation of Sophocles' "Antigone" — which scored her an 88 and a reminder to "write more neatly" — to be sold via a Christie's auction. One of 170 items Spears donated to go up on the block, the single page is expected to draw a winning bid ranging from $500-700, with proceeds benefiting the singer's charity foundation. ... Christina Aguilera has commissioned Italian designer Roberto Cavalli to exclusively design the '40s- and '50s-style costumes for her Back to Basics tour, according to a report in Women's Wear Daily. Think white satin tuxedos, white fox stoles and silk bustiers with tails for the onstage look of Aguilera's U.S. run, which kicks off in February. ... In other fashion news, young startlets' takeover of the modeling world continues, with Lindsay Lohan recently shooting the spring 2007 ad campaign for Miu Miu, the girlier, lower-price line from Italian fashion label Prada. ...

New Jersey's Eyeball Records will reissue My Chemical Romance's debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, on December 12. The updated version of the 2002 LP, which was produced by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly, will feature two previously unreleased videos from the band. ... A Guns N' Roses concert scheduled to go down Tuesday at Milwaukee's Bradley Center has been canceled due to Axl Rose suffering an ear infection and strep throat, according to a press release. Doctors have ordered the singer to rest for several days. "I have been fighting this off for a long time but the doctor told me tonight that the only way not to jeopardize the balance of the tour is immediate rest," Rose said in a statement issued Monday. "We will now have three days off before continuing Friday. We are sorry to miss the fans in Milwaukee." ...

Connecticut state police arrested two men Tuesday in connection with the shooting of a 21-year-old man waiting to purchase a PlayStation 3 earlier this month, The Associated Press reports. William J. Robertson and Andrew Patnaude were charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault, and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending court appearances. Michael Penkala, who was shot outside a Wal-Mart in the early hours of November 17 when he refused to give up a wallet containing more than $2,500 in cash, is still recovering from his injuries. ... Comedian Tracy Morgan of "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" note was arrested early Tuesday in New York on charges of drunk driving, AP reports. Police told the news outlet that the 38-year-old failed a breathalyzer test at a police station, after which he was allowed to leave without posting bail but had to surrender his driver's license. ...

The reunited Dinosaur Jr. commence a series of gigs starting Tuesday night in Portland, Maine. The band will stage four more U.S. shows before heading overseas to play the All Tomorrow's Parties "Nightmare Before Christmas" shindig, some concerts opening for Sonic Youth and more. The band also has set a May 8 release date for its first-ever DVD, "Dinosaur Jr.: Live From the Middle East," which was filmed at the Boston club of the same name. The trio's first studio album in 18 years is also due around that time. ... Nirvana's breakthrough single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has been named the best pop song of the last 20 years by Britain's Q magazine, besting the likes of Madonna, U2 and Britney Spears. "The thing about 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' it was a watershed moment in rock music. It changed everything," Q's deputy editor, Gareth Grundy, said. "It put heavy music back on the map in the early '90s, really, that combination of punk-rock anger and the heavy Black Sabbath '70s metal. It was something new. Sulky kids everywhere loved Nirvana and continue to do so." ...

Metallica's James Hetfield jammed with Alice in Chains during the band's Sunday night set in San Francisco. Hetfield joined the band band onstage for a rendition of "Would?" ... An exhibit curated by Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy will open Saturday at Los Angeles' Lightbox Gallery. Featuring the works of Manuela Gernedel, Celia Hempton, Shana Moulton, Jo Robertson, Niklas Schechinger and Hank Schmidt in der Beek, Lucy Stein and Anna Witt, the exhibit is expected to run through January 20. ... The reunited Glassjaw will play a handful of shows next month, hitting Nashville (December 14); Fort Worth, Texas (December 16); Tulsa, Oklahoma (December 17); Kansas City, Missouri (December 18); Minneapolis (December 19); and New Haven, Connecticut (December 31). ... Buckcherry and Three Days Grace will tour together early next year. The road trip's routing will be announced next month. ... After a few weeks of work, hardcore icons Agnostic Front have written 10 songs for their forthcoming LP. The band will track the effort before February, and have East Coast gigs lined up through January.

• Raekwon
• Jay-Z
• Redman
• Britney Spears
• Pharrell Williams

Ashlee Simpson
Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

Who knew Ashlee Simpson could surf? The singer is hitting the waves for the "Kelly Slater Celebrity Surf Invitational," airing on MTV March 25 at 4:30 p.m. and also featuring Jack Osbourne and Ashley Parker Angel. Braxton Olita, Simpson's bandmate and boyfriend, came along for the special — "He's my love!" she told Jane magazine for its April cover story. (Check out photos from the spread right here.) Simpson's relationship with Braxton first came to light following her collapse in Japan in December, but she's been dating him since the summer. The reason for the collapse remains in dispute, as she now claims in Jane that she was sicker than reported at the time. "I was dehydrated. I had bronchitis. Who knows exactly what it was? I think it was just complete exhaustion." And apparently celebrity status doesn't equal celebrity care. "I didn't go to a nice emergency room — I ended up in one with blood on the walls," she tells the mag. ...

Fans already clamoring for New Edition's 2008 reunion tour will have their appetites sated sooner than later — the Bobby Brown-led group has agreed to perform at this year's Essence Music Festival in Houston, according to The Associated Press. Diddy, Chris Brown and Jaheim were also just added to the July 1-3 bill, which already included participants Mary J. Blige, Steve Harvey, LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx. ...

Former Bad Boy Records rapper Shyne will have to wait a bit longer to find out if his assets will be unfrozen, so he can pay off some legal bills and help out his family. Lawyers for the MC — who now goes by the name Moses Michael Leviy — are trying to get an exemption from New York's "Son of Sam" law, which is blocking Leviy from gaining access to a $500,000 advance he got from his former record label. A hearing on the motion was delayed for at least two weeks on Monday when the judge in the case was forced to recuse himself because of a conflict of interest. As it turns out the judge's brother-in-law was once represented by the same firm that is seeking some funds from Shyne. ...

Constantine Maroulis has signed on for his first movie role. "I can't tell you too much about it yet, but it will be a super-sexy indie feature and [the filmmakers] have been really avid about making me a part of it," he said. "They want me to supervise the music as well and want some of my music to be [included]." ... Maroon 5 have contributed a cover of the Bill Withers classic "Lovely Day" to the soundtrack of "Hoot," due April 18 on Jimmy Buffett's Mailboat Records. Buffett plays a small part in the comedy, which is about a man fighting to save endangered owls, and has several tracks on the album alongside G. Love, Toots and the Maytals and Mofro. ...

Diddy's Bad Boy South has partnered with Southern hip-hop label Block Enterprises for the release of several albums, beginning with one by Yung Joc, whose "It's Goin Down" is a recent mixtape favorite. New Joc City is due in May. ... Former Destiny's Child singer LeToya (she's dropped her last name, Luckett) will release her self-titled solo debut July 18. Scott Storch worked on the album, which features guest appearances from fellow Houstonians Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Bun B and Slim Thug. ...

It used to be that you couldn't find a Red Hot Chili Peppers track on iTunes to save your life. But the Peppers have finally given in to the digital-music market, making their entire back catalog available for 99 cents a track. All the Chilis albums are also being made available — with bonus tracks — along with videos and short documentary downloads. Fans will have to wait until May 9 to download Stadium Arcadium, the band's forthcoming double LP; the discs are nicknamed "Jupiter" and "Mars." ... The album art for Tool's next album, 10,000 Days, has been posted on the band's Web site. Once again Tool called on artist Alex Grey — who crafted the art for 2001's Lateralus and whose daughter appears in "The Shaggy Dog" — to come up with the cover design. The 77-minute, 11-song 10,000 Days is due in stores May 2. ...

Having already released two full-length albums in 2005 — Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning — the super-prolific Bright Eyes, a.k.a Conor Oberst, is already working on another effort. At Monday night's "Bring 'Em Home Now" concert in New York, Oberst said he's written new material but doesn't feel the need to rush it out until 2007. (See snaps from the concert right here.) "We have a bunch of songs recorded and we are going to put out a record probably next year," he said. "The music's good. It keeps my life turning around." ... At the same event freak-folk rocker Devendra Banhart said he's been switching musical gears in his new home in Mexico. "We're working on some weird stuff inspired by the tropicalista movement in Brazil, Caetano Veloso, Os Mutantes ... that whole movement is really special to us because it is about embracing where you are from but also being open to other cultures and other things." ...

Thursday's A City by the Light Divided, due May 2, will feature 11 tracks: "The Other Side of the Crash/ Over and Out (Of Control)," "Counting 5-4-3-2-1," "Sugar in the Sacrament," "At This Velocity," "We Will Overcome," "Arc--Lamps, Signal Flares, a Shower of White (The Light)," "Running From the Rain," "Telegraph Avenue Kiss," "The Lovesong Writer," "Into the Blinding Light" and "Autumn Leaves Revisited." ... 3 Doors Down and Lynyrd Skynyrd, both Southern-rock giants but from two different eras, will co-headline a 15-city trek. The Double Trouble Summer Tour kicks off June 25 in Cincinnati and wraps up July 22 in Biloxi, Mississippi. ... Five more dates have been added to this summer's Unholy Alliance Tour, featuring Mastodon, Lamb of God, Children of Bodom, Thine Eyes Bleed and headliners Slayer: June 9 (Denver), June 19 (Cincinnati), June 24 (Dallas), June 30 (Cleveland) and July 16 (Salem, Oregon). ...

With "Rock Star" winner J.D. Fortune behind the mic, INXS will embark on a second leg of their Switched on Tour April 21 in Memphis, Tennessee. The outing ends June 1 in Vancouver, British Columbia. ... In the immortal words of Ice Cube in the film "Anaconda," "There's snakes out there this big?" Yes there are, and apparently they're infesting planes too, judging from the "Snakes on a Plane" trailer that's making the rounds online. Aspiring musicians take note: New Line Cinema wants you to compose the theme song for the flick. If you're eager to make songs for Samuel L. Jackson to bash snakes to, submit them to TagWorld.com/SnakesonaPlane by April 11 and they'll be taken into consideration.

03.20.2006

Shakira appears on Elle's April cover, revealing inside how a family financial setback changed her at age 8. The singer — who was already dancing and writing her own songs by then — told the magazine she reacted to the collapse of her father's business with anger, but that a visit to a park where homeless children lived also changed her. "These children had no food," she said. "It moved me so much that at that very moment, I took up a mandate to succeed in life and give a hand to those kids." Shakira said she hopes a 16-foot steel statue of her likeness, set to be erected in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, will help inspire citizens to follow their dreams. Designed by German sculptor Dieter Patt, the statue — which comes complete with bell-bottom pants and a guitar strapped to its neck — weighs five tons and took more than a year to complete, according to The Associated Press. ...

It's becoming less likely that people will see any more of that Kid Rock/ Scott Stapp sex tape. Lawyers for Rock reached an agreement with World Wide Red Light District, the company hoping to release the tape of the two rockers cavorting with groupies. The pact extends a judge's order blocking the tape's release. According to an AP report, the temporary injunction currently in place would remain in effect without the parties having to go to court again. Paperwork to permanently block the tape's release is expected to be filed soon. ... Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello will take a break from the studio this week to guest host Rock-N-Roll Bingo, a charity event set for Thursday at Cranes Hollywood Tavern in Hollywood. Bingo cards run $5 each and the game, which will begin at 6 p.m., is open to players of all ages. Proceeds raised during the event will benefit South Central Farm, a 13-year-old community farm serving more than 350 families in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. ...

Two of Bam Margera's favorite bands have united in the name of metal. H.I.M. frontman Ville Valo has contributed guest vocals to "The Bryonic Man," which will appear on Cradle of Filth's yet-untitled forthcoming album, due in late June. ... This fall Rock N' Roll Books will release "Rick Rubin: In the Studio," a tome that takes a look at the highly respected producer's 20-year career. Written by biographer Jake Brown, the book will provide studio insight for Rubin's work with the Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Linkin Park and Metallica. Interviews with some of the bands who've aligned themselves with Rubin will be included, as will interview material with the producer himself, who discusses the making of each record. ...

Jack White's Raconteurs side project has shot its first video, for the single "Steady, as She Goes." Auteur Jim Jarmusch, who directed last year's "Broken Flowers" and featured Jack and Meg White in his 2003 film, "Coffee & Cigarettes," shot the clip on V-Cams bought at Toys "R" Us. The Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldiers will be released May 16. ... Stars singer Amy Millan will release her solo debut, Honey From the Tombs, in August. A departure from Stars' romantic pop, the disc's bluegrass leanings will be rounded out with appearances by fellow Stars members Chris Seligman and Evan Cranley, Metric's James Shaw and Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Millan will hit the road late this summer. ...

On April 11 Capitol will release the Beatles collection The Capitol Albums, Vol. 2. The four-CD follow-up to the 2004 set The Capitol Albums, Vol. 1 will include four Beatles albums originally released in 1965: The Early Beatles, Beatles VI, the "Help!" soundtrack and the U.S. version of Rubber Soul. Each disc comes in replica packaging and includes a booklet with photos and clippings from that year. ... Word that the landmark Capitol Records tower — the label's longstanding home, which looks like a giant stack of records — might be sold to a developer intent on converting the building into living space has sent city leaders and preservationists into overdrive, according to the AP. Los Angeles politicos claim the building, where Frank Sinatra and many other musicians recorded, is a historical landmark (a spokesperson for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa likened the building's legend to that of the Hollywood sign). Owners EMI told the AP that the company hasn't been "actively shopping" the building, which currently holds offices for 150 people, on the market, but that it had received several serious proposals from interested buyers. ...

Would you turn down $5 million dollars? Apparently Morrissey would. During an interview at this year's South by Southwest conference Thursday, Moz revealed that the Smiths were offered the enormous sum to re-form for this year's Coachella festival but turned the offer down. "When you start doing things for money, something terrible happens to you," he explained. "I haven't reached that stage ... but I might." During his performance at the Austin Music Hall that night, Morrissey attacked the latest round of U.S. bombings in Iraq. "I hear we bombed Iraq again. We can't be looking for weapons of mass destruction again." ... In other South by Southwest news, indie-rock vets Built to Spill were forced to cancel their performance at a Filter Magazine party after frontman Doug Martsch suffered a detached retina. The band's You in Reverse is due April 11. ... A pirate hip-hop radio station in Miami called Da Streetz has been creating some headaches for pilots taking off from Miami International Airport. The signal from the station has been bleeding into the communications between pilots and the control tower on occasion, according to an AP report. Authorities traced the signals to an antenna in a warehouse near the airport, where they found three computers and a CD player — but no DJ. Despite the discovery the station continues to broadcast.

• Ashlee Simpson Poses In "Jane" And Surfs For Kelly Slater
• "Bring 'Em Home Now" Concert In New York

• Ashlee Simpson
• Shyne
• Maroon 5
• Mike Jones

Paul Wall
Photo: Getty Images

Dozens of Paul Wall and Mike Jones fans drove out to Dothan, Alabama's Houston County Farm Center the night of December 9 to see the glittery-grilled rappers perform. But when they arrived, those fans were greeted with a sign that stated the concert was canceled, but didn't offer an explanation as to why.

Now prosecutors in Alabama's Coffee and Houston counties are investigating what happened. Was the entire event, which received serious promotion on local hip-hop stations, a scam? And if so, who's responsible for bilking fans and local promoters?

Investigators said close to 200 fans shelled out $20 a ticket for the concert. Advance tickets for the event, which also alleged to feature Chamillionaire, were sold at area stores. Some store owners contacted police when ticket holders started asking for refunds.

Tim Simmons said he booked the Houston County Farm Center through his firm, Top Dog Entertainment. He's organized a number of shows in the Dothan area in the past, including appearances by Master P and Lil' Wayne. Simmons said he was contacted several weeks ago by someone claiming to be from Swishahouse Entertainment — the label behind Wall and Jones — and was asked to secure a venue for the show and to help promote it. He was even sent a box full of promotional flyers to get the job done.

As payment, he was promised one-fourth of the ticket proceeds. But then on December 9, Simmons tried to call his Swisha contact and there was no answer. Meanwhile, he said someone stopped in to collect all the ticket cash from the various retailers peddling them. Simmons believes he was duped — especially in light of the longstanding beef between Chamillionaire and both Wall and Jones.

"I was treated just like the people who bought tickets," he said.

A spokesperson for Wall would not comment on the canceled concert, and a representative for Jones could not be reached by press time. A label spokesperson said Wall was in Houston on December 9 for a photo shoot. Jones was in Florida, and a spokesperson for Chamillionaire was also unavailable.

• Paul Wall
• Mike Jones

Mike Jones
Photo: Getty Images

CULVER CITY, California — The name Mike Jones sounds more appropriate for an accountant than a rapper, so it figures he would have an exact number for the completion percentage of his next album.

"It's 85 percent done," Jones said earlier this month at the Vibe Awards (see "Mariah Wins Big, Mary J. Gets Emotional At Peaceful Vibe Awards").

Houston's Jones originally hoped to release the album this year (see "Keep Tippin': Mike Jones To Release New LP By Year's End; Phone Not Disconnected"), but he says the release date is now April 18. The title has also been altered slightly to The American Dream.

"Every year I'm dropping an album, just trying to stay fresh in the game," said Jones, whose Who Is Mike Jones? came out in April. "I just wanna let the world know about Mike Jones, I'm just trying to get branded."

In the meantime, Jones just shot the video for his next single, "Flossin'."

"Sometimes you just have to step outside and floss every now and then," he said of the song. "Flossin' just basically means just step outside with the jewelry, step outside with the car, just have a good day, let the top down, just have fun, man."

And Jones did just that for the video, which centers around a pool party.

Along with his own music, Jones has also become a commodity around the industry as a guest rapper.

"I've been doing stuff with Bow Wow, T-Pain, I've been talking with Usher," Jones said. "A lot of people have been coming to me, showing me a lot of love. Russell Simmons, I'm doing some stuff with him. I'm just trying to keep it going. I met R. Kelly the other day, he's a real cool dude; G-Unit, they're real cool. I'm with everybody, I'm just trying to work, man."

Jones is also getting some work behind the camera. He just appeared in an episode of "Prison Break" and will rejoin the show when it returns in the spring. He's also reading movie scripts. "That's really my art," Jones said.

For more on Mike Jones, check out "So Who Is Mike Jones?" For a full-length feature on Houston's booming hip-hop scene, see "Why Houston?"

• Mike Jones

LeToya Luckett
Photo: LeToya Luckett Official Site

After trying her luck with another group, former Destiny's Child member LeToya Luckett is going the solo route.

Luckett, who formed Angel with LaTavia Roberson after the two were booted from DC (see "Ex-Destiny's Child Members Say Their Name Is Angel"), is releasing her self-titled album on Capitol in February.

Before the record, Luckett plans to release two singles, "All Eyes on Me" in August, followed by the Scott Storch-produced "I'm Good."

"It's about coming into your own, getting your self-esteem up," Luckett said of the former. "It's a real hot club joint."

Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze and Bryan-Michael Cox (Alicia Keys, Jessica Simpson) also produced tracks on the album, while Houston rappers Mikes Jones, Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Bun B make guest appearances.

"I've always felt privileged to be from Houston, and I'm glad people are seeing talent come out of there," said Luckett, who owns a clothing store there called Lady Elle.

Along with her own album, Luckett recently recorded a track for Chingy's next album.

Luckett was a member of Destiny's Child from 1993 to 2000, when she was dismissed by manager (and Beyoncé's father) Mathew Knowles (see "Destiny's Child's Long Road To Fame (The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' For Nothing)"). Although it was hardly an amicable split — she and Roberson sued the group twice (see " Destiny's Child Settle With Ex-Members Over 'Survivor' Dis") — Luckett was still saddened to hear that DC are now disbanding.

"I still love all of those girls and wish them the best of luck," she said. "And I know they are all going to do well solo. I'm sure they're growing apart and going through things, but God is with them and they have a strong bond."

• Mike Jones
• Destiny's Child

Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, And More At The Los Magnificos Car Show

• Slim Thug
• Chamillionaire
• Mike Jones
• UGK
• Lil' Flip

Beyoncé, 50 Cent, Jennifer Hudson, More At The 2007 BET Awards

• Michelle Williams
• Beyoncé
• Kelly Rowland
• Jennifer Hudson
• 50 Cent

Who? Mike Jones!

• Nick Cannon
• Mike Jones

Snoop, Rihanna, Game And More Arrive In Hot Whips

• Rihanna
• Snoop Dogg
• Game
• Mike Jones
• Green Day

Nokia Unwired @ Hard Rock Live: Mike Jones 06.08.05

• Mike Jones

Hip-Hop Week '05: Mike Jones

• Mike Jones

Hip-Hop Week '05 Portraits

• Ludacris
• Ciara
• Bobby Valentino
• T.I.
• Cassidy

MTV.com LIVE: Mike Jones 03.23.2005

• Mike Jones