Five days before "8 Mile" is released on DVD on March 18, Eminem will host a celebration at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall. Beside the requisite party fare, the event will feature a rap battle judged by the film's star Mekhi Phifer and D12's Proof. The winner will get the green light to record their own demo at the Record Plant in Hollywood. ...

R. Kelly appeared in court Friday (March 7), only to find that the prosecution in the case against him in Chicago was once again not finished with discovery. Judge

Vincent Gaughan granted the prosecution one more month to procure further expert

analysis pertaining to a packet of photographs exchanged at last month's

status hearing. Meanwhile, Chicago police continue to investigate a sexual

abuse complaint against the singer, from a 24-year-old hair stylist who

claims that while at his studio Chicago Trax, Kelly allegedly exposed himself

to her, pulled her hair and spat in her face. Kelly is due back in court

April 11. ...

Phish fans will be swimming on April 29 when guitarist Trey Anastasio drops Plasma, a double live album composed of performances from last year's summer and fall tours, including a cover of Bob Marley's "Small Axe" and Phish's "Magilla." A two-week tour is being assembled for the spring. ... Sevendust will be playing 10 U.S. shows in April with Trust Company, Finger Eleven and Project 86. The opening date is April 2 in Denver and the short tour ends April 15 in Norfolk, Virginia. ...

Former Buckcherry singer Josh Todd has a new band, simply called Josh Todd. The tattooed singer, who appears on two songs on DJ Muggs' latest solo album, Dust, is currently shopping around for a deal for his as-yet-untitled 14-track LP. ... Stereophonics will release their latest album, You Gotta Go There to Come Back, on May 19. Singer Kelly Jones and Jim Lowe (Black Crowes) produced the record, which will include the first single, "Madame Helga." ...

Experimental alternative supergroup Tomahawk will release their second album Mit Gas in mid-May on Ipecac Recordings. The band features former Faith No More singer Mike Patton, ex-Jesus Lizard guitarist Duane Denison, ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier and Melvins bassist Kevin Rutmanis. The album was produced by Joe Barresi. The video for "When the Stars Begin to Fall" will be directed by Tool guitarist and artistic conceptualist Adam Jones. Other tracks include "Rape the Day" and "Harelip." ... Pedal-pushing singer/songwriter Howie Day is set to drop an EP/DVD titled The Madrigals EP on April 29. Around the same time, the Maine troubadour will begin to work on the follow-up to his 2000 debut, Australia, with former Killing Joke bassist turned producer Youth (Crowded House, the Verve). ...

The Benefit Concert Vol. 2, a new album that will raise funds for Habitat for Humanity, features the likes of John Popper, the Allman Brothers Band, Warren Haynes, Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Audley Freed (Black Crowes) and Edwin McCain. It's slated to come out on May 6. ... Anthrax are making a cameo in the Touchstone Pictures comedy "Calendar Girls," which is set to hit theaters sometime in 2003. The film is based on the true story of 11 middle-aged women who posed nude (with funny props covering their private parts a la "Austin Powers") in order to raise money for medical research after one of the women's husbands was diagnosed with leukemia. ...

03.06.03

Is there any rapper out there with enough street cred to share a stage with 50 Cent? Yes, in fact, there are two of them. Starting April 1 in Denver, 50 Cent will be joined by opening act the Clipse on the Get Rich or Die Tryin' tour. But before Malice and Pusha-T head out on the road with 50, they'll be shooting the video for their next single, "Hot Damn" (formerly titled "Cot Damn") with director Benny Boom. ...

Those who've been wondering what to call music nowadays will be relieved to know that the 12th installment of Now That's What I Call Music! hits stores March 25. The disc features singles by Jay-Z, B2K, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Nelly, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Aaliyah, Vanessa Carlton, Chevelle and others. ...

Rob Zombie is previewing his line of "House of 1,000 Corpses" swimwear on his Web site, modeled by Zombie's very own living dead girl, Sheri Moon, his girlfriend and an actress in the film, due April 11. The ensemble consists of a black tank-style top with "1000 Corpses" written on it in blood red, and string bikini bottoms with a skull on the crotch. ... Staind have titled their upcoming third album 14 Shades of Grey. Due May 6, the follow-up to 2001's Break the Cycle was again produced by Josh Abraham (Limp Bizkit). ...

Madonna has revealed the track list for her new record, American Life, due April 22: "American Life," "Hollywood," "I'm So Stupid," "Love Profusion," "Nobody Knows Me," "Nothing Fails," "Intervention," "The Process," "Mother and Father," "Die Another Day" and "Easy Ride." ... When Ozzy warms up for this summer's Ozzfest trek with a couple of dates in the Great White North, he'll be taking along metal vets Voivod, who now feature ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, with him. The eight-date outing takes off June 1 in Vancouver and runs through June 16 in Quebec City. Ozzfest 2003 begins July 28 in Selma, Texas. ...

Zwan have announced additional dates for their upcoming U.S. tour, which begins March 20 in Minneapolis. The trek has been extended to wrap up April 22 in San Francisco. ... Meanwhile, the band's Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin will perform at the fifth annual Waltz benefit for programs for homeless youth on March 8 at the Metro in their hometown of Chicago. Inspired by the Last Waltz farewell concert for the Band, the concert will also feature Local H's Scott Lucas, Mavis Staples, Ian Hunter, David Johansen, Graham Parker and Neko Case. ...

Sheryl Crow has teamed up with caffeine-peddlers Starbucks to put together the first disc of a compilation series titled Artist's Choice. The album comprises Crow's favorite tracks, including songs by the Pretenders, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Ryan Adams, James Taylor, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the Beatles. The compilation, which will feature liner notes taken from an interview with Crow, will be available at select Starbucks locations beginning April 23. ...

Meshuggah and Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo's side project Superjoint Ritual have been added to this year's New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, which will rock the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 16 and 17. Other additions include the Haunted, Suffocation and Lamb of God. ... Metal band Chimaira met with misfortune earlier this week when the Los Angeles studio where they were about to shoot the video for their upcoming single "Down Again" caught fire. The video was to feature the band playing inside a giant mass of gauze, but before shooting could begin, the gauze ignited and the flames quickly spread through the room, causing considerable damage to the home studio of director Paul Brown, who has previously worked with Coal Chamber. No one was injured, and firefighters were able to contain the conflagration before it spread to other rooms in the building. ...