From all indications, it doesn't look like we'll be getting a new Eminem album anytime soon. The seldom-heard-from MC called up New York's Hot 97 on Wednesday afternoon (September 12) to congratulate 50 Cent on the release of Curtis. Em also told host Angie Martinez he was "in limbo" and "debating" about when -- and if -- he would put out another LP. Later he elaborated: "I'm always working, I'm always in the studio. It feels good right now, the energy of the label. For a while, I don't wanna go back to the negative stuff. ... Going through some personal things, coming out of those personal things, it feels good." Em also noted that he has been in the studio every day working on projects for his Shady label. ...

While we're on the subject, it's only a day in, but the retail cage match between 50 and Kanye West could be headed for a blowout. Billboard says 'Ye's Graduation is on track to sell about 575,000-700,000 copies its first week out, while 50's Curtis is on pace for about 550,000. Kenny Chesney, this week's other big contender, is on track to sell 400,000-550,000 units of his Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. The mag reports that SoundScan has tallied the one-day figures as well: West sold 437,000 copies while 50 moved 310,000. To add insult to injury, West even appears to be crushing at some stores in 50's hometown of New York. ...

Despite the poor reception Britney Spears received for her performance at the VMAs on Sunday night, early reaction to her forthcoming LP appears surprisingly tame. People magazine's Chuck Arnold has reportedly heard five tracks from the yet-untitled November 13 release, one of which he called an "early fave" ("Heaven on Earth"), and Entertainment Weekly's Leah Greenblatt likens one song, "Break the Ice," to Nelly Furtado's "Say It Right" -- both tunes were produced by Danjahandz. ...

Looks like Remy Ma has gotten herself into more trouble, according to TMZ.com. The site reports that the rapper has been released on $250,000 bail and was forced to hand over her passport after allegedly roughing up a man at the Players Club in the Bronx, New York, in mid-August. The man was allegedly the boyfriend of a possible witness in her July 14 assault case -- during the incident, Remy Ma is alleged to have shot her longtime friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph after a disagreement over money. In addition to the assault and weapons charges she's been hit with for the July incident, a district attorney's office spokesperson reportedly told the site that she will now also face charges of gang assault, tampering with a witness, intimidating a victim and third-degree assault. She is due in court September 20 to review her bail privileges. ...

Aretha Franklin has been hammering away at her duets LP for more than three years, and now -- shortly before Reba McEntire's star-studded Reba Duets LP hits stores Tuesday -- comes news that she's got the disc in the can. Jewels in the Crown: All-Star Duets With the Queen, due November 13, is bolstered by Mary J. Blige ("Don't Waste My Time," "Never Gonna Break My Faith"); Mariah Carey ("Chain of Fools"); John Legend ("What Y'All Came to Do"); Whitney Houston ("It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be") and Fantasia (on the album's first single, "Put You Up on Game"). Also featured on the album is a rendition of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (featuring guitarist Keith Richards) and two collaborations with late male crooners: "What Now My Love" (Frank Sinatra) and "Doctor's Orders" (Luther Vandross). ...

The three living members of English hard-rock legends Led Zeppelin -- singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones -- have confirmed their long-rumored performance at a November 26 concert at the O2 arena in London in honor of late music icon Ahmet Ertegun. The show, in support of the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, will pay tribute to the Atlantic Records founder and feature the Zeppelin trio joined by Jason Bonham, son of late Zep drummer John Bonham. Though Page and Plant have played and recorded together since the group's demise in 1980 following Bonham's death, they have been estranged from Jones for much of that time and the trio have not performed together since an Atlantic Records anniversary concert in 1988. The O2 show will also feature Who guitarist Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings, Foreigner and Paolo Nutini. "During the Zeppelin years, Ahmet Ertegun was a major foundation of solidarity and accord," Plant said in a statement. "For us he was Atlantic Records and remained a close friend and conspirator -- this performance stands alone as our tribute to the work and the life of our longstanding friend." ...

Show your bling, Diddy: Per a motion filed Monday, the hip-hop mogul is being asked to present photos of his jewelry for inspection in the assault case filed against him, TMZ.com reports. Gerald Rechnitzer alleges that Diddy hit him in the jaw as he was leaving an Oscar afterparty in Hollywood on February 25. According to TMZ, the motion -- which was filed by Michael M. Marzban, Rechnitzer's lawyer -- claims, "Needles to say, [Sean] Combs does not wear simple rings ... the rings he wore when he struck (Rechnitzer) are important and critical to the bio-mechanics of this case." The motion also requests that Diddy produce additional documents and reveal how much alcohol he may have consumed at the nightclub where the party was held. ...

Lindsay Lohan may have avoided serious jail time for her two DUIs, but the actress/singer isn't totally off the hook. On Tuesday, a judge refused to dismiss portions of a lawsuit against Lohan over an October 2005 accident in which her Mercedes crashed into a van, according to The Associated Press. The judge rejected a motion that the suit lacked legal weight and set an April 7 date for the trial, in which the driver of the van -- who police said caused the accident with an illegal U-turn -- has sued Lohan seeking $200,000 in damages. The suit by the driver, Raymundo Ortega, claims that Lohan was speeding away from the paparazzi and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck. ...

She probably won't be around to see it hit stores, but Koch has pegged November 20 as the release date for Foxy Brown's new album. The jailed rapper's Brooklyn's Don Diva was bumped up from its originally scheduled December 4 release date and will feature "Don't Surrender" (featuring Graf) as its first single. The rapper also released a statement, insisting that her jailing "is just a temporary situation. I made my bed and have no problem lying in it. My will is steady. What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger." "I think there are greater injustices in America that require our immediate attention, like what's going on in Jena, Louisiana," she added, referring to the group of black students who are being charged with attempted murder for allegedly beating up a white student. "I will not surrender, I'm fine, free Jena Six!" Brown's manager, Chaz Williams, also took the opportunity to dismiss rumors that the rapper is expecting: "She is not pregnant!" he said. ...

Ludacris, Usher, Talib Kweli and Wyclef Jean have been added to the roster for a concert to raise funds for a Martin Luther King Jr. memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. They will join John Legend, Robin Thicke, Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone and other previously announced acts. ... Chamillionaire is hoping for an Ultimate Victory after his new LP drops Tuesday, and what better way to score big than by joining forces with MySpace? As part of AllHipHop Week, the Grammy Award-winning rapper will roll out his new song "Hip Hop Police" and "The Bill Collecta" with a MySpace-sponsored September 20 performance at Sol in New York. ...

Scott Weiland doesn't like sitting around these days -- his band Velvet Revolver had a day off from their North American tour in Nashville on Thursday, and the singer used it to make a special appearance at the Second Fiddle. Weiland performed the Marshall Tucker Band's "Heard It in a Love Song" with country singer Tommy Joe Wilson and his group. ... Avenged Sevenfold will hit the road starting October 29 in Los Angeles for a string of 18 gigs scheduled through November 25 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band will be touring in support of its forthcoming self-titled LP, which is due October 30. ... Former "You Hear It First" artists Paramore have sketched out a U.S. trek with the Starting Line that will take them from Sayreville, New Jersey, on October 23 to New York on November 28. ... Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn is heading back to school for a master class with an American Studies professor at his alma mater, Boston College, Pitchfork reports. Finn will talk for 90 minutes about his life, career and music at the school's Lyons Dining Hall on September 25. ...

A benefit concert aiming to raise money for a Kurt Cobain memorial will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. at the 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam, Washington -- where he spent the first six months of his life. Funds raised through the event will be used to start a future youth center and park in the late rocker's name. Slated for the bill are Jed, the Whore Moans, Don't Even Know, Black Top Demon, Bench Grinder, the Bimm Quaid and Clouded Minds. ... Is Jon Stewart the new Billy Crystal? The late-night comedian has been tapped to host the Oscars again, repeating a duty he first took on in 2006. The New York Times reports that the official announcement of the gig at the 80th annual awards show, which will take place on February 24, would be made on Wednesday. ...

The White Stripes aren't the only ones shelving tour dates these days -- so is Holly Golightly, who has collaborated with the band in the past, coincidentally. The British singer-songwriter is going to reschedule the first three shows on her upcoming U.S. tour due to visa issues. Fellow Brits the Kaiser Chiefs are making a more drastic move by putting the kibosh on their scheduled North American trek -- so they can concentrate on recording new material instead. "We'd like to apologize to fans in America and Canada, especially those who have already bought tickets, but something had to give," drummer Nick Hodgson said in a statement. "We've been extremely busy all year and had no time to focus on the future. We plan to have new material out as soon as possible and we've wanted to record all summer. This needs to happen before our European and U.K. shows at the end of the year so we can play a few of our new songs live. We're keen to explore new ground, beyond the sound of our first two records, so we're headed back into the studio to begin that process."

09.11.07

Justin Timberlake and Kelly Clarkson will join Reba McEntire on "Oprah" on September 19 and sing duets with the country star. Reba Duets, due the day before the "Oprah" show airs, also features JT ("The Only Promise That Remains") and Clarkson ("Because of You"). In other JT news, it seems like the VMAs might have taken a little too much out of the singer -- he has postponed concerts slated for Monday in Sacramento, California, and two days later in San Jose after his doctor ordered him to rest his voice. His label, Jive Records, said in a statement Tuesday that his strained voice is the result of his Sunday performance. The San Jose show has been rescheduled for September 23, and the Sacramento one will go down September 23. ...

The White Stripes have canceled their scheduled headlining performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in Texas on Saturday, according to TV channel News 8 Austin. Concert promoters are citing medical reasons for the cancellation. Amy Winehouse and Rodrigo y Gabriela also previously dropped off the bill -- Cold War Kids and Common are filling in for them. ... Mary J. Blige, Nick Cannon and Mya took in Kimora Lee Simmons' Baby Phat event on Friday night in New York. At the show, Simmons hyped the Simmons Jewelry Co.'s Green Bracelet -- a portion of proceeds from sales of the bracelet goes to her Diamond Empowerment Fund, which raises money for educational programs in Africa. ...

Trick Daddy was arrested at a Miami strip club early Tuesday (September 11) after a fight broke out there, AP reports. The rapper (real name: Maurice Young) was charged with disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest. Trick Daddy allegedly cursed and threatened staff at Tootsie's Cabaret, according to a police report obtained by AP, and when authorities asked him to leave, he allegedly refused to do so -- and refused to be handcuffed as well. He was treated for injuries at a hospital after the incident, and his mug shot shows the rapper with a bloody nose and cheek. ...

Led Zeppelin's reported reunion for a one-off performance appears to have taken one step closer to fruition. NME.com reports that frontman Robert Plant confirmed last week that the rumors are true, allegedly saying, "There's not a lot to work out as it's only going to be one-off gig." Billboard.com reported Friday that a press conference pertaining to the band is slated to take place in London on Wednesday, and that the band would potentially reassemble for a tribute to Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, who died last year. The site also reported that the band had been spotted touring London's O2 arena during Prince's 10-night stand at the venue. ...

Oscar-winning double-threat Jennifer Hudson has inked her first major acting gig since wowing audiences in "Dreamgirls" -- a spot in the highly anticipated "Sex and the City: The Movie." According to the Los Angeles Times, Hudson will play a personal assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker's sex columnist, Carrie Bradshaw. ... Cate Blanchett is beaming about the new "Indiana Jones" flick, telling Entertainment Weekly that Harrison Ford "looks f---ing great." She also said of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" -- [article id="1569264"]the title of which was leaked by castmember Shia LaBeouf at Sunday's VMAs[/article] -- "it's phenomenal to be working with Harrison Ford and Spielberg and Karen Allen, all of whom were in one of the most amazing experiences of my childhood, watching that film. And then I'm stepping into the frame. ... It was really quite moving when Karen filmed her first entry into the film the other day. You know, Spielberg said, 'I feel so young!' It was fantastic." ...

Rob Zombie must have a knack for good timing. The hard-rocker -- who will set out to tour with Ozzy Osbourne on October 18 -- is squeezing out a concert album, Zombie - Live, five days later. The disc revolves around his 2006 Educated Horses tour and will feature "Super Charger Heaven," "Creature of the Wheel," White Zombie's "Thunder Kiss '65" and more. ... LCD Soundsystem's Nike-commissioned 45:33 -- which had been previously available on iTunes only -- is coming in CD form November 13 with three additional tracks previously available in the U.K. only. 45:33 -- which is referred to as the group's "continuous, album-length disco symphony" in a press release -- will be accompanied by the 12-minute "Freak Out/ Starry Eyes," plus a remix of "North American Scum" and "Hippie Priest Bum-Out." ... Relient K and Switchfoot will bring back memories of 2001 when they launch another joint tour together on October 16 in Charleston, West Virginia. The 30-city co-headlining jaunt will take the Christian pop-rockers -- who toured together six years ago -- across the States and will wrap December 3 in Everett, Washington. ...

Members of the Jackson family are coming to Michael's defense, saying media reports about his alleged dependency on painkillers and alcohol are not true. In an open letter, Jackson's mother, sisters and brothers say news organizations "have quoted 'sources' indicating that our family has attempted a drug intervention and engaged in an effort to take over his business affairs, because of this alleged drug and alcohol usage. We categorically deny ever planning, participating in or having knowledge of any kind of intervention whatsoever." The family members add that they and Michael have experienced years of false accusations and misrepresentations. ...

The Mouse is apparently at it again. In a post on their Web site, metal act Machine Head claim that another one of their shows on Walt Disney property -- this one at the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida -- has been canceled. The reported move came four days after the band called out Disney for an alleged last-minute kibosh on the opening date of MH's Black Tyranny Tour at a Disney property in Anaheim, California. "While no one is willing to provide evidence that would prove unfavorable to Disney, sources close to events have suggested that once again vague threats of liability, and now threats on job security, may have been levied, successfully resulting in the show being moved off Disney property," the group wrote. A spokesperson for Disney could not be reached for comment. ...

Weather Report founder and frequent Miles Davis collaborator Joe Zawinul died early Tuesday, AP reports. He was 75. Zawinul had been hospitalized since last month, and his manager told the Austria Press Agency he was suffering from a rare form of skin cancer. The keyboardist/composer was one of the creators of jazz fusion and worked with Davis on Bitches Brew, among other albums.

[This story was originally published at 8:54 pm E.T. on 09.11.2007]