Yung Joc

Chris Brown Featured On New Yung Joc Song 'Choose Me'

12 Aug 2009 08:27:00 EDT

'Why are we still ridiculing this man?' Joc asks about the singer, who pleaded guilty to felony assault.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Chris Brown
Photo: Steve Granitz / Getty Images

First, Ciara stood by Chris Brown when she kept his vocals on her album in the wake of his felony assault case. Now, Yung Joc is following suit. The Atlanta rapper released a free album Tuesday, and Brown is featured on a track called "Choose Me," along with fellow crooner Pleasure P.

"I think the record is a great record," Joc told MTV News about why he included the collaboration on his Grind Flu project. "Why are we still ridiculing this man? He had a problem with his girl. I'm not condoning abuse. But they both got into it and they both got over it. Why can't the world?"

On the midtempo track, Brown sings with Auto-Tune-assisted vocals: "You should get to know me, but first you gotta show me, how you're gonna rock my world."

Other guests featured on Joc's project, which is available as a free download on his Swagg Team Entertainment Web site, include Bobby Valentino, Shawty Lo and Lil Wayne protégé Nicki Minaj.

Grind Flu is Joc's first project since word broke that he was having differences with his management and recording home. The lyricist is signed to Block Entertainment and Bad Boy Records, but he's trying to be released. Joc was caught in the middle of differences each side was having with the other, although he said he hasn't taken sides.

"I'm working on release, but I'm not mad at anyone," Joc explained. "We could have made a lot of money together, but it is what it is."

In the meantime, Joc has been developing Swagg Team, where he's signed the GS Boyz, who scored a hit with their track "Stanky Legg."

"I've grown as a businessman," he said of his impending independence. "Whoever makes a play for me next, it's gonna be a good decision on their part."

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David Banner Gets A-List Support For 'Get Like Me' Video: Chris Brown, Yung Joc -- And Barry Bonds!

5 May 2008 03:59:00 EDT

Brown and Banner ham it up for MTV News, pretend to interview each other.
By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Yasmine Richard

Chris Brown and David Banner on the set of "Get Like Me"
Photo: MTV News

Barry Bonds declining a wardrobe change, the Maloof brothers taking dance lessons from Chris Brown — and David Banner showing off his guns for the first time. Who couldn't enjoy themselves on the Los Angeles set of Banner's "Get Like Me" video?

"It's a lot of ladies," Brown told MTV News, while sitting on his motorbike. "The whole thing has been fun — even just chilling with everybody."

Chris Brown guest-stars in the video and the song, as does Yung Joc.

"Making this record with Banner and Joc — me and Banner are real close friends," Brown said. "We did the movie 'This Christmas' and working [on the set], he said, 'I got this record that if you get on, I think it will be great.' I told him I didn't want to do a typical R&B record — I don't wanna do the hook-kinda thing that every other R&B artist does. I would more like to be in tune with the verse or do a verse almost like I'm rapping, but singing it. I recorded the song in [Virginia], he said, 'Oh word, that's dope.' "

Chris' chat with MTV News was then interrupted by Banner: The two began bantering in fake British accents, then brought it back to their native American-speak.

"I know that since he's a big superstar now, he's trapped in the tour bus and like, 'I wish I could just go out and just have fun!' " Banner joked of Brown.

"I ain't Michael [Jackson]!" Chris laughed.

"How great is Chris Brown?" Brown continued in the guise of a reporter questioning Banner.

"Chris Brown is all right, but we in the 'hood, so I can't really tell nobody how much I bump Chris Brown when the homies not around," the Mississippi rapper responded. "It's haawwwrd! Hawwwrd in the streets."

"I'm a gangsta dancer!" Brown said minutes later, yelling, "It's hard out here too! Ballets, pirouettes!"

Banner, Brown and Yung Joc would later be doing synchronized dancing and filming with an MLB legend.

"Barry Bonds came out!" Banner said with pride. "You know how y'all like to have your rappers' friends — Barry Bonds is here. Barry came fresh out of court to come holla at me. That's real."

Banner's Greatest Story Ever Told will be out toward the end of July. He said the reason it didn't come out last year as planned is because he's trying to build up his brand.

"When the album comes out, we're trying to make sure it's a statement," he explained. "Greatest Story Ever Told: Listen to the title. We have to make sure [the impact] matches."

Banner produced approximately 80 percent of the LP himself; Akon and the production team of Cool & Dre contributed as well. Guest vocals were secured from Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, T.I., UGK, Kandi Burrus (formerly of Xscape) and Jim Jones.

"Get Like Me" is all about stuntin', and in the video you'll see plenty of performance and glamour shots of women and Banner's own vehicles.

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David Banner Builds A Brand With Help From Chris Brown, Yung Joc

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Patrick Stump Named One Of 2007's Un-Sexiest Men; Plus Prodigy, R.E.M., Lindsay Lohan, Eddie Murphy & More, In For The Record

2 Jan 2008 05:39:00 EST

Mobb Deep rapper to issue solo LP while in jail; R.E.M. settle on album title; Lohan tops worst-movie-performance poll.
By MTV News staff

Patrick Stump
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12.28.07

Brandy is in the clear — according to TMZ, the Los Angeles city attorney will not be filing charges against the singer over the multi-car crash that claimed the life of a woman in December 2006. The attorney had until the end of the day Friday (December 28) to file criminal charges against Brandy in the incident. The singer's attorney, Blair Berk, reportedly responded with a statement, saying, "These past 12 months have posed an extraordinary hardship for Brandy and her family, who have been unfairly forced to live under a cloud of suspicion initially caused by the ill-advised and premature press release sent out by the California Highway Patrol accusing Brandy of wrongdoing before the police investigation was even finished. However, Brandy continues to be mindful that she was so fortunate to be uninjured in this accident and there was a life lost that should be remembered." Brandy is, however, still facing a $50 million wrongful-death suit from the family of the victim, Awatef Aboudihaj. ...

Yung Joc was seven hours late to an arraignment on a felony gun charge on Wednesday and was scolded by the judge in the case after an arrest warrant was issued. But the rapper (born Jasiel Robinson) tried to clear his name in a statement released through his lawyers. "I have the utmost respect for the laws of this country and would never deliberately commit an act that would jeopardize my freedom, my family or my career," he said, according to TMZ. "I've worked very hard to achieve my goals, and it's unfortunate that this current situation has garnered more attention than the many donations I've made and the charitable work I've done with various organizations. ... I'm proud to be a citizen of America, where we are taught to believe that every person is afforded the presumption of innocence. That being said, I have full respect for the judicial system and its due process. I look forward to resolving this situation and moving forward to a positive and prosperous 2008." Joc is due back in court on January 25 in connection with his arrest Sunday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, where authorities said he tried to take a loaded gun onto a flight. He faces a possible sentence of up to 18 months for the charge. ...

Lil Wayne told MTV News a couple of months ago that he was planning to drop Tha Carter III: The Leak on December 18, with the official Tha Carter III LP to follow February 12, but he actually slipped out a five-song EP called The Leak through Rhapsody and Amazon on Christmas Day instead. The disc features "I'm Me," "Gossip," "Kush," "Love Me or Hate Me" and "Talkin' About It." "Gossip" has been rumored to be a dis song directed toward 50 Cent, but as Weezy told Mixtape Monday in late October, "I recorded that song in 2006. ... I don't make records or say anything about people. I don't beef with people. Everybody knows that. ... My words are more important than you."...

Radiohead decided to split with their longtime label EMI in the fall after the company's new boss, Guy Hands, rejected a deal that would have cost the company more than $20 million, according to the London Times. The U.K. outlet reports that the band had been offered a $6 million advance by Hands for In Rainbows, but demanded more. An EMI spokesperson who was not named told the Times that, "Radiohead were demanding an extraordinary amount of money, and we did not believe that our other artists should have to subsidize their gains." The bandmembers reportedly responded that they believed more big-name artists would be leaving EMI and accused Hands of not negotiating seriously with them. The deal Radiohead sought also reportedly included the handing over of some of the copyrights to their back catalog, a move that could have cost the label millions in future earnings. Band manager Bryce Edge told The Times, "We couldn't move ahead with EMI because Guy Hands irrevocably refused to discuss the catalog in any meaningful way. We sold 25 million records, and we have the moral rights over those six albums. We wanted a say in how they are exploited in the future. We were not seeking a big advance payment, or a guaranteed marketing spend, as discussions never got that far." ...

Members of Angels & Airwaves, No Doubt, 30 Seconds to Mars, Bad Religion, Journey, Pennywise — as well as the Roots' ?uestlove — will hammer away at the skins when they perform at a January 5 drum-off hosted by former Jane's Addiction member Stephen Perkins. The Guitar Center contest, which began three months ago, will culminate with a show at the Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood that will also feature performances by the four finalists in the store's competition. ... "The Beyoncé Experience - Live," which came out in DVD form in late November, will be broadcast for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq on New Year's Eve via the AEG Network. The programming block will also include Celine Dion's "A New Day" and Garth Brooks' "One Artist, One City, One Time." ...

It's official: David Letterman has reached a deal with striking writers and will return to the air with a full staff on Wednesday. Jeff Hermanson, a Writers Guild of America executive, told Reuters that talks between the union and Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company had led to a "full, binding, independent agreement" that features provisions for paying writers for work distributed online. Protesting writers have been demanding compensation for Internet-content. Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel are also returning to the air on Wednesday, and Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert on January 7, although none of those late-night hosts will be coming back with their respective writers. ...

Jessica Simpson is enjoying Nashville as the relocated singer/actress records her upcoming, yet-untitled country album there. "Nashville is a very warm city," she recently told Billboard.com. "The people are friendly and kind. There is a sense of community, which thrives on music. There is no animosity ... only respect for one another's talent." The effort is due in 2008 through Columbia Nashville and will be the follow-up to 2006's A Public Affair. Simpson didn't provide many more details on the project, and when asked if she would be hitting the road to support it, she said, "Since the record is in the beginning stages, there hasn't been much talk about a tour just yet." ...

Meanwhile, Franz Ferdinand's third album doesn't have a name yet either, but the band has shed some more light on the successor to 2005's You Could Have It So Much Better. "I suppose we're heading back to the idea of dance music," frontman Alex Kapranos told RollingStone.com. "It's more of a dance record than a rock record." The band has tapped an unlikely producer — Brian Higgins (Kylie Minogue, Cher) — for some of the songs. "It appeals to my contrary side," Kapranos said. "And I don't like the distance between bands and pop music there is now. Dr. Dre or Timbaland or the Neptunes are making the songs you've never heard before, not the indie kids strumming their f---ing guitars." ...

Chris Rock has jumped into the 2008 presidential-election conversation, comparing Senator Hillary Clinton to the current commander in chief and voicing his support for rival Senator Barack Obama in a recent interview with The New York Times. "I love Hillary Clinton, but to me she is the Democratic version of George [W.] Bush: someone who is running, and the only reason you know who this person is because of their name. ... She has much more in common with George Bush Jr. than she does with Oprah Winfrey." He added, "It's neck and neck against a woman whose husband was the president, and [Obama is] a black man that no one knew a couple years ago. That is an unbelievable achievement." ...

Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn are divorcing after 11 years of marriage, according to People.com. The "Into the Wild" director and "Beowulf" actress have two children together, boys ages 14 and 16. ... In another marital development, Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese's divorce still isn't finalized yet — Von Teese filed in December 2006, citing Manson's alleged infidelity and partying — but they are now legally permitted to marry other people, People.com reports. Their marital status was terminated Thursday, but the ex-couple have yet to settle their finances. Manson, 38, has been dating Evan Rachel Wood, age 20. ...

While Josh Groban is enjoying a record-setting run atop the charts with his holiday album, Noël, Variety reports that the rest of the music business had a horrible Christmas week. Overall music sales during the Christmas shopping season were down 21 percent from last year. From the week of Thanksgiving through December 23, 83.9 million albums were sold, a steep decline from 2006's total of 105.28 million.

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Brandy Won't Be Charged In 2006 Car Crash; Plus Yung Joc, Lil Wayne, Radiohead, Angels & Airwaves, Beyonce & More, In For The Record

28 Dec 2007 06:15:00 EST

Joc says he has 'utmost respect for the law'; Weezy slips out digital Leak; EMI boss reportedly rejected lucrative Radiohead deal.
By MTV News Staff

Brandy
Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images

12.27.07

'Tis the season to get engaged, apparently. A day after it was revealed that Fergie and Josh Duhamel are going to be wed comes news that Jessica Alba is engaged to producer Cash Warren, the father of the child the "Awake" actress is expecting. The couple are expecting their first child in late spring or early summer, although a wedding date has yet to be revealed. ...

Miley Cyrus has donated a personalized, autographed Philadelphia 76ers jersey to an auction benefitting charities chosen by the NBA team. The singer/actress also known as Hannah Montana recently performed at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center, the same arena where the Sixers play. At press time, bidding for the jersey was at $520. ...

What do Jay-Z, Sammy Hagar, Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant and 50 Cent have in common? All five made the cut on Forbes' list of Biggest Celebrity Paydays of 2007. Fiddy came in second, thanks to the Vitamin Water deal that netted him $100 million, while Jay-Z made $82 million (before taxes) when he sold Rocawear to Iconix Brand Group. Hagar earned almost as much — $80 million — when Gruppo Campari bought his Cabo Wabo tequila brand. ...

Madonna's directorial debut will premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, which will take place in Germany on February 7-17. Madge's short-form comedy "Filth and Wisdom" counts among its stars Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz, who also starred alongside Elijah Wood in "Everything Is Illuminated." ... In related news, there's cause for Madonna and Green Day to celebrate: Amazon's DRM-free downloads store began selling tunes from the Warner Music Group catalog starting Thursday (December 27), according to Billboard.biz. The development means all four major labels have now committed to eliminating DRM from their catalogs. WMG will also sell additional digital products, including album bundles with exclusive tracks, through Amazon. ...

Don't mess with Trey Songz. Videos circulating online show the R&B singer lashing out at a fan who apparently threw ice at him during a recent concert. As seen in the clips, Trey Songz tells the DJ to cut the music after the objects are thrown, and he then leaps into the crowd with his bodyguard to go after the fan. He is later seen apologizing to the women in the crowd for the disruption. ...

Good news for Brandy: An unnamed California Highway Patrol source reportedly told TMZ.com that the woman who died in a 2006 car crash involving the singer may have actually caused the crash herself. As officials continue to consider filing vehicular manslaughter charges over the December 2006 accident that took the life of Awatef Aboudihaj, the source told TMZ that rather than being the cause of the accident, Brandy may have been a victim of the pileup. According to the sources, Aboudihaj struck the vehicle in front of her and then slammed on her brakes, which caused Brandy to hit the woman's car. The city attorney has until the end of the day Friday to file criminal charges against Brandy in the incident. In the meantime, Brandy is still facing a $50 million wrongful-death suit from Aboudihaj's family. ...

Never afraid to take the unpopular position, TV physician Dr. Phil McGraw told People magazine that he thinks Lynne Spears is doing a great job raising her kids, despite the current controversy over 16-year-old Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. "We know the Spears family, particularly the parents," he told the magazine. "An asset that Britney and Jamie Lynn both have is a great and dedicated mother." McGraw admitted that his friend Lynne Spears is "troubled right now" but is "really looking for the positives in this." The good doctor's wife, Robin, said of the Spears clan, "They're a very strong, close-knit family. ... They're relying on each other." Just days later, Us Magazine reported that the father of the Spears girls, Jamie Spears, was still so "furious" with reports that his ex-wife arranged a $1 million deal with OK! Magazine for the story on Jamie Lynn's pregnancy, that he didn't spend Christmas with his ex-wife or daughter and instead stayed in Los Angeles and worked. ...

It sounds like Rivers Cuomo may have a bigger vault than we thought. The Weezer frontman told Billboard that he would like to release a sequel to Alone -- The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, the solo demos disc that came out last week. "I would love to put out at least one more," he told the magazine. "I'm talking with the record company [now] to figure out what's the best way for me to get more of this stuff out, and if they're gonna be involved or not. But it's certainly my hope to put out as much of this stuff as I can." Cuomo is also working on what he called a "deep and detailed" memoir covering the years from Weezer's formation in 1992 to the release of their self-titled debut in 1994. He expects to spend another year working on the book before turning it in to the publisher. ...

A man who adopted a rock-star alter ego pulled a gun at a Vancouver, Washington, convenience store on Christmas Eve, after several hours of harassing patrons in the quick stop and other local businesses. According to Portland, Oregon's KPTV, the man — who has not been identified — called himself "Ozzy Osbourne" when he pulled out the gun and threatened to shoot a clerk at the convenience store. Paramedics transported the man to a nearby hospital. ... Dredg have begun writing material for their next album. A statement from the band claims the recording should start before the end of winter, and the group will be on tour in the spring. Songs expected to make the final cut include "Gathering Pebbles," "Mourning This Morning" and "McGuffin." ...

The Anti-Defamation League has come to the defense of actor Will Smith following comments he made about Adolf Hitler during a recent interview with a Scottish newspaper. Smith has claimed his words were twisted, and the ADL has accepted the actor's explanation. "We welcome [his] statement that Hitler was a 'vicious killer' and that he did not mean for his remarks about the Nazi leader to be mistaken as praise," the group said in a statement, according to multiple reports. The ADL also praised Smith for taking "immediate steps to clarify his words and condemn Hitler."

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Yung Joc Says He Has 'Utmost Respect For The Law'; Plus Lil Wayne, Jessica Simpson, Franz Ferdinand & More, In For The Record

28 Dec 2007 01:52:00 EST

Weezy slips out digital Leak; Simpson dishes on country album; new Franz LP will be 'more dance than rock.'

Yung Joc
Photo: Jason Campbell

Chris Rock has jumped into the 2008 presidential-election conversation, comparing Senator Hillary Clinton to the current commander in chief and voicing his support for rival Senator Barack Obama in a recent interview with The New York Times. "I love Hillary Clinton, but to me she is the Democratic version of George [W.] Bush: someone who is running, and the only reason you know who this person is is because of their name. ... She has much more in common with George Bush Jr. than she does with Oprah Winfrey." He added, "It's neck and neck against a woman whose husband was the president, and [Obama is] a black man that no one knew a couple years ago. That is an unbelievable achievement." ...

12.27.07

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Yung Joc Scolded By Judge But Allowed To Remain Free On Bond

26 Dec 2007 07:26:00 EST

Rapper was late to Wednesday arraignment following Sunday arrest for allegedly attempting to sneak loaded gun onto plane.
By Chris Harris

Yung Joc
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

Yung Joc was scolded by a Cleveland judge for showing up to court late Wednesday (December 26) for his arraignment on a felony gun charge, according to Reuters. An arrest warrant had been issued for the "It's Goin' Down" rapper after he hadn't shown up at the arraignment, which stemmed from an incident at an airport on Sunday.

However, Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Michael Ryan allowed Yung Joc, who was born Jasiel Robinson, to remain free on $50,000 bond, which he had posted Monday. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 25.

The 27-year-old Atlanta native was arrested Sunday and charged with carrying a concealed weapon — a third-degree felony — after he had allegedly attempted to take a loaded gun onto a Delta Air Lines flight out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

The rapper, who was on his way home after performing in Cleveland Saturday night, was detained at a standard security checkpoint as he was heading to his departing flight. Joc could face additional federal charges, although there's no indication yet when such charges could come down. He could reportedly face up to 18 months in prison on the concealed-weapon charge.

The AP reported that police found a semiautomatic handgun and armor-piercing ammunition in Joc's carry-on luggage. Joc reportedly told authorities that he did not know the weapon was there.

Because he was late for the Wednesday morning arraignment, Cuyahoga County assistant prosecutor Gayle Williams told the wire service that the rapper was considered a fugitive of the law.

Joc's attorney, Stanley Jackson Jr., was apologetic about his client's absence at the hearing and said the rapper was out of town on personal and family obligations. Ryan chided the lawyer but allowed Yung Joc to stay free on bond, Reuters reports. Jackson Jr. said his celebrity client is innocent of the charge.

The arrest marks the second time in three months that the rapper has faced legal troubles. In late September, Joc, along with rapper T-Pain, were involved in a skirmish inside a London nightclub, after someone allegedly tried to rob him of some jewelry.

The rapper's most recent LP, Hustlenomics, opened at #3 on Billboard's albums chart in late August, selling more than 69,000 copies. To date, the record has sold more than 173,000 units.

[This story was originally published at 11:23 a.m. ET on 12.26.2007]

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Yung Joc

Common, Ludacris, Q-Tip, Roots, Busta Rhymes Hit The Stage During Hip-Hop-Heavy NYC Weekend

8 Oct 2007 02:58:00 EDT

Swizz Beatz, Yung Joc, Keyshia Cole, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One round out bills at Friday, Saturday, Sunday shows.
By Shaheem Reid

Common performs at the 4th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors show
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

NEW YORK — Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Hip-hop addicts were OD-ing this weekend as rap concerts monopolized the Big Apple. The Roots, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Common and Q-Tip kept the b-boys saying, "Hoooooo!" and the fly girls doing the wop.

Friday night at the Nokia Theater, the Roots headlined a concert in conjunction with VH1's Hip Hop Honors show, where not only did they perform, but they backed Big Daddy Kane and MC Lyte.

Black Thought showed mind-blowing breath control as he channeled the spirit of Kool G Rap during a cover of the lispy legend's "Men at Work."

"Dope 'cause I'm a death wish, not even Bob Hope's," he rapped. "Rhymes are rugged, soul flooded, cold-blooded/ You ain't better, you're butter, so just shut it/ Here to perform, having a brainstorm, make a rain form/ How rap groups run to keep the name warm/ Putting heads to beddy-bye like Freddy so get ready/ 'Cause I'mma get crazier than Crazy Eddie."

Thought also imitated the entire Wu-Tang Clan for "Protect Ya Neck." MC Lyte paid homage to her brother Milk Dee with a verse from "Top Billin' " (that's Milk's voice looping in 50 Cent's "I Get Money") and brought back classics like "Paper Thin" and "I Cram to Understand U."

After presenting Black with a pimp cup for his birthday (and a cake at Thursday's Hip Hop Honors — see video at left), Big Daddy Kane made the theater go dizzy with a handful of classics from "Set It Off" to "Warm It Up, Kane" to "Smooth Operator." Big Scoob came out for "Raw," during which he and Kane did an electric dance routine that included splits and midair chest-thumping.

On Saturday night, Boost Mobile held its annual Rock Corps concert at Radio City Music Hall. Yung Joc, Hurricane Chris and Swizz Beatz (Swizzy brought out Jadakiss and Eve) were the appetizers, and later NYC favorite Fabolous came out for a handful of joints, including "Make Me Better," "Baby Don't Go" and "Keepin' It Gangsta." For "Gangsta Don't Play," reggae icon Junior Reid came out. Keyshia Cole's set was as brief as a cup of coffee, but she did have one of the biggest pops of the night with her hit "Let It Go."

Co-headliner Busta Rhymes tried to make the most of his 15 minutes — yes, 15 minutes for Bus is sacrilege — teasing the crowd with snippets of his monster hits, such as "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Break Ya Neck." Ludacris' time was limited as well, but he did squeeze in "Number One Spot" and more.

Sunday (insert fatigued intake of breath here) was the last night of shows. It all pointed back to the Nokia Theater, where Common and Q-Tip — who have joined forces for a side project called the Standard (album due in 2008) — performed separate sets at a concert presented by 2K Sports.

Tip opened, and fans were hoping to be surprised by a reunion of A Tribe Called Quest — but the Abstract Poetic went it alone.

"New mutha----in' York," he yelled, excited to be in his hometown.

"We're winning, by the way: 8 to 3," he added, pointing to the Yankees logo on his hat. Although nothing can compare to seeing Tip and Phife Dawg do Tribe joints in their entirety, the music is so beautiful, everyone was excited to hear Tip do half a record here and there, such as "Check the Rhime." Tip did Phife's rhymes on "Award Tour" and "Electric Relaxation." And let's not forget, Tip does have two very big solo tracks: "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe and Stop."

Common was theatric, poignant and potent during his show.

"Go!," "U, Black Maybe," "Testify" and "Drivin' Me Wild" riled fans up. He then started paying tribute to hip-hop, with a bevy of covers such as N.W.A's "Straight Outta Compton" and Nas' "N.Y. State of Mind." Then he gave fans the ultimate moment with an off-the-head freestyle cipher that included KRS-One and Q-Tip.

"We do this here, and you know we don't stress/ I got my n---a Common and KRS," Q-Tip rhymed.

"Right here, this is the Teacha/ I wanna hear a shout from Nokia," spit KRS, who had just minutes earlier surprised everyone with "The Bridge Is Over" and "South Bronx."

Common followed with a warning to sucka rappers: "I put you on a stretcher, you can call me love 'cause love's gonna get ya/ When it comes to this, MCs, you know I gotta snuff ya, and when it comes to this you can't tell me nothin'."

Later, at the end of "Misunderstood," Common listed some people who he thought were misunderstood: Tupac, Malcolm X, Kurt Cobain, Lauryn Hill, Michael Vick and the Jena Six. He finished his set with "The Light."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

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Yung Joc And T-Pain Involved In London Club Brawl -- But Joc Still Has Bling Intact

26 Sep 2007 07:48:00 EDT

Rappers fought with unidentified man in club while celebrating Joc's birthday Thursday.
By Shaheem Reid

Yung Joc
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

His name is Yung Joc, he has the most talked-about piece of jewelry in rap, and no, he has not been robbed of it.

Joc phoned in to the MTV offices on Wednesday (September 26) to talk exclusively about a big rumor going on in hip-hop. The word on the Net and radio is that he got ganked for his eye-catching Hustlenomics "H" pendant and giant rope chain during a recent brawl in a London club after he and T-Pain fought off some rowdy fans.

"The craziest part of about this is I've never seen so much hype about a piece of jewelry except when [NBA star] Kobe [Bryant] bought that ring for his wife [after he admitted to cheating on her]," Joc said, laughing off the rumors.

The Atlanta native said he and Pain did indeed have to defend themselves in London — they were in town to perform at the MOBO Awards — but they came out unharmed and with all their belongings intact. The commotion happened shortly after midnight, when Joc was bringing in his birthday at U.K. club Crystal Club on Thursday.

"When you walk in the building with that sh-- on, with [a chain] that big, you know mutha----as gonna be like, 'Whoa,' " Joc said Wednesday evening. "When you walk out without it on and it was a crazy fight, it looks like you lost your chain."

Joc said he saw a major problem about to occur (can't you imagine him saying to himself, "It's going dowwwn"?) in the club and he simply took his chain off and handed it to his manager Rico Brooks, who kept it secure in a carrying case.

"It was my birthday, so we was poppin' bottles," he continued. "We was bottle-poppin' major. Pain was talking to this chick and this big football-player-looking dude came up. He was big as hell. ... The dude grabbed her arm and she was like, 'I'm not leaving,' and [moves] away from the dude. ... The next thing you know, the dude started talking sh-- to Pain. The dude poured his wine out and ... I looked back at my security [guard], gave him my chain. He put it in my case and handed it to Rico. The dude hit T-Pain's partner in the head with a glass in his hand."

Joc says the unknown assailant then fled the club but didn't make it too far before one of T-Pain's managers caught up to him and floored him with a few punches.

"So my security came out there and [caught up with] the guy," Joc told. "I jumped in and start tappin' on his head. By the time I got out the club, Pain's security was already [involved]. It was crazy. Ne-Yo was outside the club getting ready to come in, and once he saw the commotion, he [left]."

Joc returned to the States a few days ago, jewels in tow, and partied all weekend. On Tuesday, he was in the ATL with the "H" around his neck, showing support to fellow Block Entertainment artist Gorilla Zoe, who released his debut, Welcome to the Zoo, on Tuesday. Zoe is a co-star and performer in Joc's new video "Bottle Poppin'."

"The video is done," explained Joc, who is about to get ready to do a college-tour run, just in time for homecoming season. Hopefully his now-famous bling will still be intact.

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Tommy Lee, Kid Rock Offered Vegas Rematch; Plus Bono, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Hilary Duff & More, In For The Record

21 Sep 2007 07:51:00 EDT

Bono to receive Liberty Medal for his work in Africa; J. Lo, Anthony get a VIP pass to KFC.
By MTV News staff

Tommy Lee (file)
Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images

We saw round one of the fight between Tommy Lee and Kid Rock at the VMAs, but what if they really got in the ring? Boxing promoter Bob Arum is hoping to get a legitimate fight off the ground between the two rockers in Las Vegas, according to TMZ. And to sweeten the pot, a $5 million purse will go to the winner. "I will make sure this fight happens no matter what the cost," Arum said. ...

On Thursday in Philadelphia, Bono will be presented with the Liberty Medal by former president George H.W. Bush in recognition of his work to combat poverty and disease in Africa. The medal — and the accompanying $100,000 prize — is being presented by the National Constitution Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of the ideas and values of the U.S. Constitution. The ceremony, being held at the National Constitution Center in Philly, will be webcast live starting at 7 p.m. ET at LibertyMedal.org. ...

Ahh, the celebrity life. After Jennifer Lopez's husband Marc Anthony confessed his love for KFC to "Access Hollywood" ("I can't eat anything else after a concert"), the fast-food chain offered up its services to the star couple. "We would like to offer you, your entourage and a few VIP guests an 'all access' pass to the KFC location of your choice," KFC President Gregg Dedrick wrote in an open letter to the pair, according to People magazine. The couple, whose North American tour kicks off September 29 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, didn't immediately respond to the offer. ... What do you buy your pop-star girlfriend who has everything? A Mercedes, of course. Hilary Duff's hockey-player boyfriend, Mike Comrie, surprised the singer/actress with an early present for her 20th birthday. "I opened the garage, and I was just like shocked, just standing there," Duff told People. The New York Islanders player decided on a Mercedes-Benz G-class SUV for Duff. "I've driven it tons," she said of her birthday present. "When I called him I was like, 'You're crazy! It's perfect!' " ...

Apparently, former CBGB owner Hilly Kristal, who died last month, was reportedly worth $3.7 million, according to a story in the Village Voice, and his family members, who thought he was broke, are allegedly at odds over the fortune. The story claims that Kristal's son, Dana, is upset about the way his sister, Lisa Kristal Burgman, allegedly encouraged his mother, Kristal's ex-wife Karen, to sign away her rights to the CBGB corporation in 2005 at a time when she was showing signs of senility and may not have realized what she was signing. Dana was left $100,000 in a trust and Lisa was named co-executor of the will and left all of Kristal's property, the paper reported. ...

Jurors in the Phil Spector trial got back to work Friday (September 21) with a new set of instructions. The judge offered the panel new scenarios Thursday of how Spector might have killed actress Lana Clarkson — including one where the music producer forced Clarkson to put the gun in her own mouth. The defense argued against the new instructions, which came after jurors were deadlocked 7-5. ... Alicia Silverstone's revealing new People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals TV ad has been pulled in Houston, Texas. The vegetarian actress is nearly naked in the commercial, in which she urges people to consider a meatless diet. The spot was directed by Dave Meyers, who has directed more than 180 music videos, including Missy Elliott's "Work It" and "Control Yourself." ...

Seal wrote the song "Wedding Day" for his supermodel wife, Heidi Klum, and now she's returning the favor — by contributing vocals to the song on Seal's new album, System, the singer's rep confirmed to People. The LP is due October 30. ... Gucci Mane will release his third album, Trap-A-Thon, on Tuesday, which includes the original version and remix of the Atlanta rapper's 2006 "Freaky Gurl" and an bonus DVD called "The Glockumentary," which chronicles his 2006 murder trial and beef with Young Jeezy. ...

As if buying tickets to your favorite concerts weren't expensive enough, now it appears some fans are resorting to buying pass codes to fan clubs so they can get in on presale ticket opportunities offered to fan club members, according to the Wall Street Journal. The practice, which includes fan-club members selling the pass codes on eBay and Craigslist for anything from $4 to $20, has angered the people who run the fan clubs, who say it undercuts their attempts to make sure fans have first dibs on tickets.

09.20.07

Snoop Dogg struck a plea deal on Thursday (September 20) in his weapon-possession case stemming from an arrest at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, in September 2006, The Associated Press reports. The rapper (real name: Calvin Broadus) was sentenced to 160 hours of community service and three years' probation, and ordered to make a $10,000 charitable donation. In the September incident, Snoop was found carrying a collapsible baton — while he claimed it was for a video shoot, authorities considered it to be a dangerous weapon. If he doesn't violate the law again, his felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor after one year. "We are very pleased with the outcome," his attorney Donald Etra told AP. "He wants to get on with his life." ...

Game (real name: Jayceon Taylor) was given a conditional discharge on Thursday in the case involving the rapper allegedly impersonating a police officer in New York in November, AP reports. Per Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Marc Whiten's order, if Game is not arrested again within six months, the misdemeanor criminal-impersonation charge will be dismissed. Claiming innocence, Game had rejected previous plea deals that would have kept him out of jail in exchange for a guilty plea. He was arrested after allegedly telling a cab driver he was an undercover cop and instructing him to run red lights, but Game denied that claim and instead argued that the driver decided to run the red lights on his own. Game's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, pointed out Game's facial tattoo and said it was doubtful the driver would have believed the rapper to be a police officer. "I've never seen a cop with writing all over his face," Game said. ...

First Dr. Dre makes an appearance at the VMAs, and now he's got an interview in the latest issue of GQ — maybe Detox really is on the way. The notoriously reclusive producer appears in the 50th anniversary issue of the men's magazine and, for the first time, goes on record about the rift between his Aftermath artists 50 Cent and Game. "It was definitely a conscious thing," he said of his decision to not speak up in the past about the feud. "This is something that's between labelmates. I've said, 'When you guys are ready to make some music, let's get down. Let's get in the studio.' All that other stuff, that's not for me. This is something they created, so it's something they have to handle. I don't feel like I have to choose a side." Dre also revealed that, at the behest of Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine, he once asked Game not to dis 50 during a New York show. "I knew that this one wasn't gonna go away," he said. "I know these guys, and I know nobody is gonna back down." ...

Gerard Way had some kind words to say to the University of Maine's campus newspaper, The Maine Campus, about Bon Jovi — his band, My Chemical Romance, will open for the rock legends October 25-26 as part of the christening of Newark, New Jersey's Prudential Center. "I grew up as a Bon Jovi fan. Whenever you're dealing with Bon Jovi or Springsteen, it's just a great honor and at that point; it doesn't really matter what genre you play. It really just kind of matters that you're all from New Jersey." Way also had a thing or two to say about MCR being labeled "emo," although his words on that subject weren't so kind. "Emo bands were being booked while we were touring with Christian metal bands because no one would book us on tours. I think emo is f---ing garbage, it's bullsh--. I think there's bands that unfortunately we get lumped in with that are considered emo and by default that starts to make us emo. All I can say is anyone actually listening to the records, put the records next to each other and listen to them and there's actually no similarities. I think emo's a pile of sh--." ...

Yung Joc will perform at the 100th anniversary of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity's Cornell University chapter, according to the campus' paper, The Cornell Daily Sun. The October 12 concert, to be held at the Zeta Beta Tau house, will serve to benefit the Children's Miracle Network, an alliance of hospitals for children. ... Jennifer Lopez has a new album on the brain — Brave, which drops October 9 — but that hasn't stopped her from hooking up with Carlos Santana for a new slice set to be featured on the rock icon's Ultimate Santana collection, due October 16. Baby Bash also surfaces on "This Boy's Fire," which was partly produced by Sean Garrett. Two more previously unreleased collabos — "Into the Night" with Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and "The Game of Love" with Tina Turner — also beef up the best-of disc. ...

Missy Elliott posted a teaser on her Web site announcing that she's back in the lab cooking up a new album that she hopes to release in the spring. No other information was given on the album, which would be her first since 2005's The Cookbook. ... As huge as the Kanye West/ 50 Cent album showdown appeared to be, LP sales are still down 9 percent compared to the same week last year, Billboard reports. ... Tired of seeing Kanye West all over the place? Too bad. The recent Gradu-ee will perform September 29 on "Saturday Night Live." Spoon will play on the show the following week. ...

Sammy Hagar says he wouldn't have toured with the reunited Van Halen without founding bassist Michael Anthony, who has been replaced with Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang Van Halen, for the band's reunion tour with singer David Lee Roth. According to the Web site for Internet radio station KNAC, Hagar said, "I wouldn't do it without Mike. ... If Eddie wants to play with his son, fine. I love my son too, but I got him a different job. ... I just think the fans are gonna walk away with a little bit of a disappointment because Mike's a big part of that band." ... In related news, Van Halen have tossed three more California dates onto their much-anticipated reunion tour, which kicks off September 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The band will hit Fresno on November 29, Anaheim on December 18 and will now bring the jaunt to a close in Oakland on December 22. ...

The inaugural Girlfrenzy concert scheduled for October 27 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California, has been postponed. Though organizers have not given any reason for the show's cancellation, they said in a post on the show's MySpace page that it will be rescheduled for 2008. The show was to feature Avril Lavigne, Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow and Colbie Caillat. ... After three years, Scratch magazine is calling it a day. The hip-hop mag's final issue features 50 Cent and Timbaland on the cover and is due out at the end of September. No reason was given for the magazine's shuttering. ...

The 10th anniversary edition of Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp will get an extra dose of power this year with appearances from Slash, Who singer Roger Daltrey, Vince Neil and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. Also on the roster for the event, to be held November 7-11 in Las Vegas, are Cream bassist Jack Bruce, as well as members of Iron Maiden, Yes, Steely Dan, Bad Company, Megadeth and Winger. ... Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will give Asbury Park, New Jersey, fans a sneak preview of their upcoming tour in support of their upcoming album Magic, which is due October 2. The Boss has scheduled a pair of benefit shows for Monday and Tuesday night at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, with the $100 tickets selling out almost immediately when they went on sale Thursday morning (September 20), according to the promoter. ...

Gene Simmons, glam-rocker, reality-TV star, magazine entrepreneur and ... science-fiction author? You read it right — the Kiss frontman has penned the first installment of a planned sci-fi series, "Zipper," for release in November. The heavily illustrated book tells the story of a drone soldier from another planet who "begins to question his purpose and contemplate his autonomy ... he realizes his own capacity for individualism and wishes to explore it further," according to Simmons' Web site. ... Hardcore heroes Snapcase are getting back together for a one-off show to benefit Callum Robbins, the son of Jawbox's J. Robbins who is suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. The gig will go down at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, on November 24 and also feature 108 and Triple Threat. The show is being organized by 108 member and author Norman Brannon, whose "The Anti-Matter Anthology: A 1990s Post-Punk & Hardcore Reader" — a tome revolving around the defunct fanzine — is due in stores November 6. ...

Gina Gershon can't stop the rock. The "Showgirls" actress, whose 2004 reality show chronicled her attempted crossover into the world of rock and roll, will preview songs from her upcoming album In Search of Cleo during a residency at the New York club the Box every Sunday and Monday night in October. Backed by a five-piece band and three dancers, Gershon will unveil the suite of songs — all of which she wrote or co-wrote — that tell the true story of the search and recovery of her lost cat, Cleo. According to a press release, the 10 songs focus "on the literal and metaphoric experience of the search, not just for Cleo, but for love," using "biting humor, country, blues and jazz-influenced singing and a splash of sexy."

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Snoop Dogg Strikes Plea Deal; Plus Game, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, My Chemical Romance, Yung Joc & More, In For The Record

20 Sep 2007 08:47:00 EDT

Game gets conditional discharge; Dre says 'nobody is gonna back down' in 50/Game rift; Gerard Way rails against emo, praises Bon Jovi.
By MTV News staff

Snoop Dogg
Photo: MTV News

09.19.07

So a judge orders Britney Spears to submit to random drug tests and abstain from alcohol, and what does she apparently do next? Goes partying! The singer reportedly went clubbing into the wee hours Tuesday night in West Hollywood, California, hitting both Winston's Bar & Grill and the Hyde Lounge — with a flurry of paparazzi on her tail, of course. Observers told People magazine that the singer was brought shots at Hyde, though it's unclear whether she actually drank them. Meanwhile, Spears has changed legal counsel again. On Monday, her divorce attorney Laura Wasser had stepped down to be replaced by Marci Levine, and on Wednesday (September 19), Levine prepared to step down to be replaced by Sorrell Trope. Trope's office told MTV News on Wednesday that the firm was in the process of being retained by Spears and anticipated that the necessary paperwork would be signed and taken care of by the end of the day. ..

In other Britney news, Justin Timberlake talked a bit about the singer Wednesday on "Oprah." When asked what he thinks is "going on" with her, Timberlake said, "I don't know, to be honest with you. I haven't spoken to her in years. I mean, there's no ill will — I have nothing but love for her. It's funny because we dated each other at a time ... wow, I haven't talked about this in a long time. It's interesting. ... We were teenagers, you know? I think that's basically the best way to describe what happened to us. I think she's a great person, and I don't know her as well as I did. ... What I do know about her is she has a huge heart, and she is a great person." ...

Talk about adding insult to injury. After pounding 50 Cent in the first week of their album showdown, Kanye West has bested his rival a second time by clinching the Music of Black Origin Award for Best Hip Hop artist. Amy Winehouse scored the Best U.K. Female prize, surprisingly, while Rihanna nabbed Best International Act honors, and Ne-Yo's "Because of You" earned Best R&B Title and Best Song. ...

If you caught Ashlee Simpson giving her yet-untitled album a test-drive at the VMAs earlier this month, you probably noticed the Cure's Robert Smith didn't make it onto the LP. In July, Smith voiced doubt about the supposed collabo taking place, and while Simpson told MTV News during her "Chicago" run in London late last year that "To work with Robert Smith would be an honor," she recently told Rolling Stone, "I am a huge fan, but would never expect to write with Robert Smith from the Cure." Boyfriend Pete Wentz also doesn't appear on the November disc — "We both keep our music separate from each other," she told Rolling Stone — however Timbaland, the Neptunes, Kenna and Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy did make the cut. ...

Game better be game to take on a new lawsuit — an Indian music-and-film company is suing him and Timbaland over "Put You on the Game." The song was featured on the Compton, California, rapper's Aftermath debut, The Documentary, and produced by Timbaland. According to documents obtained by MTV News, Saregama India — which filed a similar copyright-infringement suit in 2002 against then-Aftermath artist Truth Hurts — claims the duo used the song without its permission and also cites a number of additional parties, including Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records and producer Danjahandz, who co-produced the track. The company is suing for a yet-undetermined sum. ... But everything isn't so dire these days for Timbo — the super-producer is soaping up for a scheduled appearance on an upcoming episode of "One Life to Live" scheduled to air October 9. He will perform two songs from his recent Shock Value LP, with the artists who accompanied him on the studio tracks: "The Way I Are" with Keri Hilson and "Apologize" with One Republic. ...

Let's set one thing straight: Chris Brown does not dislike Ciara, even though he's quoted as saying "I don't want Ciara" in the current issue of Vibe. "I didn't say I didn't like her," the singer recently told MTV News. "They mixed it around. Ciara, you know you're my homie." The article states that Brown's face "curls up as if he'd just noticed a foul odor" when the topic of Ciara is broached. "They made it seem totally bogus," he explained. "I don't have any grudges. I'm not a negative person. And I don't have a certain type. I don't care if you're a model or if you work at a gas station. Everyone's human. Everyone's a loving human being. And everyone has a chance with me." ... The New York Times loves Justin Timberlake's Southern Hospitality — the "SexyBack" singer's baby-back ribs in particular. "The most confounding thing about Southern Hospitality is those baby back ribs. Because they are, against tall odds, good," Peter Meehan wrote in his review, which was published Wednesday. "They are juicy but not fatty, seasoned simply and evenly and scented with a strong but not overpowering hit of smoke." ...

Australian Web site Undercover has reported that Rage Against the Machine are tipped to be one of the headliners of the upcoming Big Day Out festival. Though organizers haven't yet announced the lineup of the January shows, the group has reportedly booked gigs in Sydney and Melbourne on January 22 and 30, respectively, which closely coincide with BDO shows in those cities. ... The Foo Fighters will serve as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" on October 13, little more than two weeks after the band's Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace lands in stores. ...

Mya is stepping up for a good cause: The singer will perform at Skool'd, a benefit event to be hosted by Richie Rich on Wednesday night at Sol in New York. Eve DJ Miss Saigon and Le Tigre's JD Samson will spin at the benefit, the proceeds from which will go to the Ali Forney Center and the Reciprocity Foundation — organizations that assist lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender homeless youth in New York. Later Wednesday evening, she will host a party celebrating the launch of travel and lifestyle magazine Terrace at New York's Pink Elephant. ... A number of hip-hop and R&B acts have signed on to play a September 29 concert in support of the Jena Six, the black teens charged in connection with the beating of a white teen in Jena, Louisiana. Among the acts scheduled to play the Jena 6 Empowerment Concert at Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama, according to the event's promoter, are Lloyd, Baby Boy, Twista, Jagged Edge, Tank, Killer Mike, Disturbing Tha Peace's Small World, B5, LAX Boys and Hurricane Chris. ...

Prince gave London Fashion Week the royal treatment on Wednesday when he delivered an unannounced performance during Matthew Williamson's catwalk show, Reuters reports. Once Prince's "U Got the Look" song reportedly began playing at the show, two models started dancing on the runway — after which the singer, who was sitting in the front row, started singing into a microphone from his seat. Prince them hopped on the runway and was joined by his band for the performance. "He really wanted to do this, and you don't say no to Prince," Williamson told the news service after the show. ... Bo Bice has seen the light, and it's Wal-Mart. The former "American Idol" finalist is planning to release his new album, See the Light, through the retail giant on October 23, with a presale on Walmart.com taking place beforehand. Wal-Mart will be the only terrestrial store carrying the disc, although it will be available through other online outlets. Bice, who parted ways with RCA last year, is putting out his second album through Sugar Money/ StratArt. "We had no inhibitions about what this was going to be," Bice said in a statement about the disc. "We just went in and did whatever we wanted to. The freedom shines through." ...

The Shins hope to indie-rock the mtvU Woodies this year — the band has scored three nominations, including Woodie of the Year. Lily Allen, Gym Class Heroes and Linkin Park have picked up two noms apiece, while Amy Winehouse, Common, Lil Wayne, TV on the Radio, M.I.A., Thom Yorke and Spoon have also been noticed. Don't miss the show when it airs November 15 on mtvU. ... A source told the Chicago Sun-Times that Michael Jackson is planning big things for his long-gestating comeback album. Comparing the music being recorded to the tunes on Jackson's landmark Thriller album, the source speculated that the yet-untitled, unscheduled disc might contain appearances by sister Janet Jackson and some of the other Jackson siblings. ...

Millions have watched Chris Crocker scream "Leave Britney alone!" on his hugely popular viral-video clip that recently made the rounds, and now reality-TV programmer 44 Blue Productions is hoping to parlay that success onto the small screen. Variety reports that a TV documentary soap is being developed around the 19-year-old Internet sensation — who still lives with his grandparents in Tennessee. ... According to reports from London, Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty — who has publicly stuggled with drugs — has written a song for fellow hot English mess, Amy Winehouse. The tune, "Amy on the Mend," was reportedly intended to lift Winehouse's spirits as she deals with her recent health issues and an alleged drug overdose last month, and was allegedly sent to Winehouse in a frame and signed, "Love, Pete." The Daily Star reported that the tune, timed with Winehouse's 24th birthday, features the lines, "Amy on the mend, all that passion to spend/ Like a paper Boadicea in a battle to the end, end, end." ...

Barry Bonds has piped up about Marc Ecko's move to let fans decide the fate of the baseball slugger's record-breaking 756th home-run ball, which Ecko won in an auction over the weekend, on Vote756.com. "He's stupid," Bonds said. "He's an idiot. He spent $750,000 on the ball and that's what he's doing with it? What he's doing is stupid." He added of the fans' voting, "All of those options don't weigh anything. In baseball, that number [756] stands." According to The Associated Press, Ecko issued a statement Wednesday saying he would make a custom T-shirt reading, "Marc Ecko paid $752,467 for my ball, and all I got was this 'stupid' T-shirt.' " Meanwhile, the hip-hop fashion mogul's philosophy has caught on — the man who submitted Bonds' record-tying home-run ball also plans to let fans vote on whether the item should go to Cooperstown or be destroyed. "I give [Ecko] a lot of credit in all sincerity," Ben Padnos told AP. "I understood the potential value in this." Speaking of which, there is one difference in Padnos' approach: He's selling ads on his Web site, EndtheDebate.com. ...

Owen Wilson was only supposed to have a minor cameo in Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" flick, but all the same, Matthew McConaughey has stepped in to fill the actor's shoes after Wilson dropped out of the film following a suicide attempt last month, Variety reports. The movie, which is filming in Hawaii, will also star Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and others. ...

Former Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele is now eligible for parole, having served one-third of his four-year prison sentence, AP reports. Rhode Island's parole board will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to grant parole to Biechele, who was imprisoned for igniting pyrotechnics that sparked a deadly fire four years ago at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The blaze killed 100 people and injured more than 200 others.

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