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For The Record: Quick News On Lil' Kim, Velvet Revolver, Anwar Robinson, Louis XIV, Mobb Deep & More

Convicted rapper's sentencing delayed; rock supergroup shoots video.

Lil' Kim had been expected to appear in court Friday morning (June 24) in New York for sentencing, but the hearing has been bumped back to July 6. The Queen Bee was convicted on March 17 of perjury and conspiracy, for lying to investigators and to a federal grand jury about her involvement in a shooting four years ago at New York hip-hop station Hot 97. ...

Velvet Revolver recently teamed with veteran video director Wayne Isham to shoot a clip for "Come on Come In," the first single from the "Fantastic Four" soundtrack, due July 5. The video combines performance footage and movie clips with Dali-esque abstract portraits of each bandmember. ... "American Idol" season-four finalist Anwar Robinson is already several songs in on an album he plans to shop later this summer. "I wrote a lot of songs when I was away [shooting 'Idol']," he said. "I want to release a single in the fall and a full-length in the spring." ... Louis XIV, the Dead 60s, Tegan and Sara, Robbers on High Street and Longwave are among the more than 500 acts slated to perform at this year's Midwest Music Summit, scheduled for July 21 to 23 in Indianapolis. VHS or Beta, the French Kicks and a Burn It Down reunion are also on the bill, available in its entirety at MidwestMusicSummit.com. ...

DJ Kay Slay debuted the first record from Mobb Deep since they aligned themselves with 50 Cent during his "Drama Hour" radio show. The song is called "Outta Control" and features 50 on a verse and on the hook. ... Someone get Omar Rodriguez-Lopez some Pepto. According to the Mars Volta's Web site, the band has canceled the remainder of its current European tour, as the amply afroed guitarist's been experiencing abdominal pain -- so bad that it's "hampering his live performance." Rodriguez-Lopez is seeking medical attention for his aching abdomen. ... The New York Yankees have arranged a meeting between closer Mariano Rivera and Metallica frontman James Hetfield. The two will meet at Yankee Stadium before Friday night's Subway Series game between the New York Mets and the Yanks, The New York Times reports. Whenever Rivera enters a game at the Stadium, he does so with Metallica's "Enter Sandman" blaring over the ballpark's loudspeakers. ...

Stooges fans who couldn't bear making it through the overwhelming seven-disc 1970: The Complete Fun House Sessions box set from 2000 can breathe a sigh of relief. A more manageable two-disc deluxe version of their 1970 album, and a similar reissue of the Stooges' self-titled 1969 debut will be available from Rhino on August 16. Expanded and remastered, The Stooges features 10 previously unreleased tracks, and Fun House culls 14 tracks from the aforementioned out-of-print collection. ... Brian May has let the cat out of the bag on his Web site: A contemporary Queen covers disc, Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, will be released by Hollywood Records on August 2. While a spokesperson for the label said some artists are still being confirmed for the final track list, artists who have recorded songs already include the Flaming Lips ("Bohemian Rhapsody"), Eleven featuring Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme ("Stone Cold Crazy"), Gavin DeGraw ("We Are the Champions") and Sum 41 ("Killer Queen"). Other artists expected to participate include Jon Brion, Breaking Benjamin, Jason Mraz, Joss Stone and Rooney. ...

Stick Figure Productions, the New York production company behind the HBO reality series "Family Bonds," is casting a new reality show that'll give one lucky music lover the chance to be his or her own Tommy Mottola. "The Biz" will pit music industry wannabes against one another, in a competition that will land the winner their own record label, an imprint of the Warner Music Group. The show is seeking men and women 18 to 35 who "have tons of personality, an undying love for music, and want more than anything to break into the music industry." Interested? Send an e-mail to thebiz@stickfigureproductions.com with a photo and all your vitals. ... Despite the loss of drummer Nick Jago, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are still riding strong. A stripped-down and semi-acoustic affair, the group's third disc, Howl, is due August 23. The 13-track album features the single "Ain't No Easy Way," and the album opener "Shuffle Your Feet" is already available via Europe's version of iTunes. ...

6.23.05

This week, Carrie Underwood became the ninth "American Idol" contestant to debut at #1 as a solo performer on the Billboard Hot 100, following Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Kimberley Locke, Josh Gracin, Fantasia, Diana DeGarmo and, of course, William Hung. First-week sales of Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven"/"Independence Day" came in at 170,000, more than previous winner Fantasia's 142,000, but below Studdard's 286,000, Clarkson's 236,000 and Aiken's 393,000. The single, which is now the best-selling song of 2005 to date, also topped the Pop 100, the Singles Sales and the Country Singles charts. Bo Bice's version of "Inside Your Heaven" will appear on next week's chart. ...

Audioslave have been added to the Berlin Live 8 bill, which already includes Green Day, Lauryn Hill, Brian Wilson, Roxy Music, and A-ha. The concert is scheduled to take place July 2. ... If you've ever dreamed of scoring a date with Alicia Keys or Halle Berry, now's your chance. The two superstars are lending a hand to the first online auction by Frum Tha Ground Up, a nonprofit organization that aims to help teens find the motivation and self-esteem they need to succeed in life. Up for grabs is a private lunch with Berry on the set of "X-Men 3," a day on the Hawaii set of ABC's hit show "Lost," and a date to accompany Morgan Freeman to the premiere of his new movie "An Unfinished Life." You can also nab tickets to Keys' upcoming MTV Unplugged performance in New York with accommodations at her personal suite at the Chambers Hotel, followed by a private catered dessert-tasting with the singer after the show. For more information, check out charityfolks.com. Bidding ends June 30. ...

A DVD featuring what's believed to be one of Tupac Shakur's last live performances will hit stores in December. Eagle Rock Entertainment will release the uncensored, never-before-seen "Tupac Shakur: Live at the House of Blues" not only in DVD form, but also as a CD and UMD -- which is Sony PlayStation Portable-compatible. The concert took place in Los Angeles on July 4, 1996, and features guest appearances by Snoop Dogg and the Outlawz. ... Madonna has unveiled an exclusive sneak peek at her forthcoming Re-Invention Tour documentary, "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret," via her Web site. The 30-second teaser showcases the Material Mom's voice more than her face, with the singer speaking over very brief and sporadic shots highlighting her career. "No matter what you did, no matter who you are, no matter where you come from," she says, "you can always change and become a better version of yourself." Madonna has also been hard at work in the studio recording tracks for her 10th studio album, set to drop in late November. ...

O.C. art-punks Thrice have settled on a title for their new album, and boy, is it unintelligible. It's called Vheissu, which, according to a hyperbolic press release, is drawn from "the loose collection of arcane myths found in 'V.,' Thomas Pynchon's classic underground novel of 1963," but could also be an off-handed reference to "Vesuvius, cited by Virgil as the entrance to the maze of the underworld" or "one critic's dissection of the word Vheissu -- 'Wie hesst du?' which in German means 'What are you called?' or 'What is your name?' " Either way, it's due in stores in September. In the meantime, Thrice will join up with the Warped Tour on Wednesday, with plans for a headlining tour to follow. ... The Bloodhound Gang will release their follow-up to 2000's Hooray for Boobies on September 13. The album, Hefty Fine, features a track called "Pennsylvania," which the band is lobbying to make their home state's new official state song. Bam Margera is running the band's campaign, which will include a performance August 6 at the sixth Rolling Rock Town Fair in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. Supporters can check out PennsylvaniaStateSong.com. ...

Twista and Swizz Beatz are joining "Scrubs" actor Donald Faison and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom for an all-star celebrity three-on-three basketball tournament for charity. The inaugural Lincoln Park Music Jam, which will take place in Queens, New York, on July 9, will benefit Cathy's Kids Foundation, a nonprofit which helps underprivileged youth in New York and Los Angeles. ... Hip-hop legend Kurtis Blow will be inducted on Sunday into the Bronx Walk of Fame -- part of a weeklong celebration of the New York borough. The Bronx Walk of Fame honors various people who've contributed to the borough's legacy. Although Blow's originally from Harlem, he was a Bronx mainstay during the earliest days of hip-hop. He joins a distinguished list of honorees that includes Regis Philbin, Red Buttons, author E.L. Doctorow, Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, Stanley Kubrick, KRS-One and Colin Powell. ...

The Roots, De La Soul, and MF Doom are among the acts slated to perform at a benefit concert in New York's Central Park on Tuesday. The proceeds from the event, to be held in the park's Rumsey Playfield, will go to the International Rhino Foundation, which is working to double the dwindling population of the world's rhinoceroses ... New York rockers Longwave will release their third album, There's a Fire, on Tuesday. John Leckie (Radiohead, the Verve) produced the record, which will be accompanied by a bonus EP for those who purchase it through BMG Music Service. ... Former MTV News You Hear It First artist Brie Larson will follow up her movie roles in "Sleepover" and "13 Going on 30" with the mystery adventure "Hoot." Larson will play a junior-high student who befriends the new kid in school and works to save the local population of endangered owls. Jimmy Buffett is producing and will also be providing original music. ...

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