Archive for May 21, 2009

SWIZZ BEATS WANTS GAG ORDER ON ALICIA AFFAIR

Producer Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) has requested a court-approved gag order in the divorce proceedings with R&B singer Mashonda. Upon announcement of the divorce last year, gossip columns and sites began speculating the reason for the split was due to Swizz Beatz’ alleged affair with R&B superstar Alicia Keys. After vehemently denying the claims for months, Swizz confirmed the relationship earlier this month. Mashonda attorney Bernard Clair criticized the request, lambasting the veteran producer for child neglect and his verse on Drake’s “Best I Ever Had Remix,” which the high-powered divorce lawyer claimed was a classless attempt to brag about the affair that allegedly ended his marriage. Speaking to the New York Post, Clair stated the issues with the divorce and child support were “flying under the radar until Mr. Dean and Alicia Keys went public about their long-term affair and he released a song implying that he likes it when Alicia serves him breakfast naked. Now that Mr. Dean’s questionable conduct is being scrutinized, he suddenly wants a gag order and the media to be locked out?” The former couple divorced last April after four years of marriage.

LIL WAYNE’S ALBUM GETS PUSHED BACK

Lil Wayne’s Rebirth album has been pushed back once again. Initially scheduled to drop June 23, it should now be released July 21.
Avril Lavigne is said to be featured in a “reimagined skate-punk anthem” sung in an “R. Kelly-style rant.” Other guests include Fall Out Boy, Kevin Rudolf, Korn’s Jonathan Davis and Drake.

Will Smith To Star In Katrina Drama

Will Smith’s production company has partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to bring to life the story of one of the many heroes of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, the two companies announced Wednesday (May 20).

Overbrook Entertainment and Sony have earned the film rights to the story of former Marine John Keller, who rescued nearly 244 of his neighbors in New Orleans in the days that followed one of the largest natural disaster on American soil to date.

Keller, who was nicknamed “The Can Man” by the media, orchestrated the rescue of his elderly neighbors from their apartment building, the American Can Company in New Orleans’ Mid City neighborhood.

Following the levee breach that flooded the city and added to the damage already caused by Hurricane winds, American Can sat in over 11 feet of water.

Keller single-handedly kept his neighbors calm and controlled while helping them exit the building.

While the announcement from Overbrook and Sony did not specify a production start date or casting, The Times-Picayune reports that Overbrook executive Jeff Sommerville has confirmed that Smith is likely to portray the 6’7” Keller himself.

“When I came back after Katrina and talked to the old people I had saved, they all said God was going to bless me, I’m going to receive my blessing” Keller told the Times-Picayune. “Well, I guess this is it. “I wasn’t in it for the money,” he added. “But I was able to affect so many people. It wasn’t just the people I got out of the building but everybody who valued those people too.”

The film will be written and directed by John Lee Hancock, the writer behind the 1997 blockbuster Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

EMINEM ON COURSE TO SET INTERSCOPE SALES RECORD

Hip-Hop star Eminem continues to be one of the music industry’s top selling acts, despite an four-year hiatus from the business. After two days in stores, the rapper’s sixth album Relapse is on pace to move over 650,000 copies, making it the year’s best debut thus far. The Shady/Aftermath/Interscope release will easily beat U2’s record setting album Horizon, which sold 480,000 copies when it was released on Interscope in March. Relapse is expected to easily top Billboard’s Top 200 charts next week, giving Eminem his 5th consecutive #1 album.

JAY-Z BUYS HIS ALBUMS…OR HIS CONTRACT!

Jay-Z is officially the MASTER! The rapper now owns all the master recordings of his albums up until this point. From what’s going around, he paid like $5 million for this most recent album. Only thing is, its unclear as to what album that actually is. I’m sure Def Jam didn’t mind the money. They are suggesting that this catalogue of music is going to be the basis for Jay-Z’s new venture with Live Nation, Roc Nation. I mean, lets be real – its going to be hard for Jay to find some fresh talent that’s going to help him live up to that massive advance that he got. He’s going to have to hustle! Anyway, Jay-Z’s about to drop some heat with Blueprint 3…I can feel it in my bones.

50 CENT DEADS THE RICK ROSS BEEF?

From Whoo Kid:

“50′s done ten freestyles I’m waiting on like, two more. I guess he’s trying to figure out the title. And I’ve been doing a lot of those Radio Planet videos, so I’m gonna put together a RadioPlanet.TV 50 Cent video. Those are my video mixtapes I’ve been putting out, killing the Web waves…The Rick Ross sh*t is outta here. It’s over, he’s done his promo, 50 promoted his album very well, so Rick Ross is outta here. Now he’s worried about his own s**t. They got the Tia book out there. That should be the last level of anything that has anything to do with Rick Ross.”

CRAZY STATEMENTS: CASSIE, 50 CENT & BETTE MIDLER

I think people need to use their twitter accounts sparingly.  Here are some strange ones that have been made recently.

Cassie sent this out on her twitter – I wonder who she is talking about?

“If it weren’t for you, who would remind me to say my prayers before bed. I love you more than my heart can handle.xxxx “

Do 50 CENT & Bet Midler have something going on?

Bette Midler said: “He is one of the newest members of our tribe. He has really made my life worth living. 50 has been with me through thick and thin.”

50 Cent said “Look how beautiful things are and how nice it feels when I’m around her.”

WORLD’S THINNEST LCD TV UNVEILED

LG has taken another bold step toward positioning itself as the major force in the flat screen market with their new, ultra slim 42 inch and 47 inch models.

Employing LG Display’s edge-lit LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight system — opposed to the more common CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp) — these 42- and 47-inch LCD panels are just 5.9mm thick — or about one-fifth of an inch.

What’s more, these 42- and 47-inch LCD TVs weigh just 6.1kg (13.4 pounds) and 7.3kg (16.1 pounds), respectively, which is about 50 percent lighter than a comparable size CCFL-backlit LCD TV.

These 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) TVs feature 120Hz technology, with a motion picture response time of 8 milliseconds.

No word yet on if and when these svelte televisions will come to Canada — or for how much.

CARLSBERG PICKS VERSE FOR HIS INTERNATIONAL SWAGGER

Carlsberg and LIFE Records Entertainment Group are in serious talks to sign an international, 4 country promotional deal that will have Verse’s next 3 albums, including this year’s, supported by the Carlsberg brand and international promotional team.  Apparently one of his singles ‘Hard To Breath’ was leaked to someone at Carlsberg along with his new image of international swagger and they were sold.  More on this as it unfolds.  If this is true could it be said that Toronto is becoming the new hotbed for international Hip Hop?!

HAPPY B DAY B.I.G!

Happy B day to one of my favorite rap artists of all time – Notorious B.I.G!  I loved his music, honesty and humor.  You are missed Biggie!