Music News
LIL WAYNE PROJECTED TO BE RELEASED ON NOVEMBER 4TH
Rap superstar Lil Wayne will be enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday as a free man. MTV News has accessed prison records which state that "Weezy" has a projected release date of November 4th. Barring any violations or infractions for behavioral issues, Lil Wayne will be released eight months into his one-year sentence. The emcee began serving time at New York's Rikers Island for weapons charges on March 8th. Fellow Young Money rapper Jae Millz says Lil Wayne is planning to celebrate his release from prison with a performance. He tells MTV, quote, "I hear when he comes home, he's hitting the stage. I hope they let him keep his inmate uniform. He needs to come on stage with that."
Lil Wayne's legal troubles won't end when he leaves Rikers Island. He recently pled guilty to one count of possession of a dangerous drug in Arizona, and will begin serving three years on probation as soon as he's released in New York.
REPORT: SEAN KINGSTON ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
Singer Sean Kingston is being accused of sexual assault. But TMZ.com reports that Seattle police aren't buying the accuser's story. The alleged incident happened Sunday night at Seattle, Washington's Crown Plaza Hotel. Sources say two women, ages 19 and 20, arrived for party in a hotel room where Kingston was present. Both arrived intoxicated and with bottles of alcoholic beverages in hand and one of them claims to have had sex with Kingston. Sources say both women allegedly engaged in sexual activity with others in the room as well. The hotel manager confirms that something did happen at his hotel that evening, but wouldn't specify what the incident was. The local fire department confirms two women were transported via ambulance to a hospital where rape tests were conducted.
As for Kingston, police did ask him to come to the station for an interview at first. They have since determined that the case isn't credible and the interview is no longer necessary. One of the women is reportedly threatening to file a civil suit. Kingston is currently on tour with 16-year-old pop singer Justin Bieber. The two are scheduled to play Saturday night at Oakland, California's Oracle Arena.
REPORT: LINDSAY LOHAN COULD PROFIT FROM TIME IN JAIL
Actress Lindsay Lohan could profit from her time in jail. The "New York Post's Page Six" reports that bids for before and after jail interviews with the actress are in the neighborhood of half-a-million-dollars. A prison diary may even be up for grabs. An insider says major TV networks are in on the action and attempting to team up with weekly magazines in order to score Lohan's first, exclusive jail-themed interview. Another report from PopEater.com says the actress is trying to secure a one-million-dollar payday for her first interview after she leaves jail. A source says, quote, "Lindsay might have made a lot of mistakes, but she knows how much her first interview is worth. She won't even consider offers of less than one-million."
Lohan has until Tuesday, July 20th to surrender herself into custody. She has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days of rehab for probation violations.
EMINEM HOLDS ONTO NUMBER ONE SPOT FOR THIRD WEEK
Rapper Eminem's album, "Recovery," is holding on to the number one spot on the Billboard 200 album chart for the third week in a row. The record moved 229-thousand units in its third week of release, becoming the first album since March to snag three consecutive weeks atop the chart. The last album to accomplish the feat was Sade's "Soldier Of Love." Setting another record, "Recovery" also becomes the first album to sell at least 200-thousand copies in each of its first three weeks since country trio Lady Antebellum did that with "Need You Now" in January and February. That record rises this week to number nine, up from the number ten slot last week. Outkast rapper Big Boi comes in at number three with "Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty," and Canadian rapper Drake lands at number two with "Thank Me Later," rounding out a hip-hop top three.
Pop star Lady Gaga is back in the top ten with her album, "The Fame," which rises up five spots this week to number eight. Teen pop sensation Justin Bieber moves up just one slot to number five. The bilingual album, "Euphoria," from Enrique Iglesias makes its debut at number ten.
This Week's Top Albums on the Billboard 200:
1. Eminem, "Recovery"
2. Drake, "Thank Me Later"
3. Big Boi, "Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty"
4. Various artists, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" (soundtrack)
5. Justin Bieber, "My World 2.0"
6. Various artists, "Now 34" (compilation)
7. Jack Johnson, "To The Sea"
8. Lady Gaga, "The Fame"
9. Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
10. Enrique Iglesias, "Euphoria"
REPORT: EMINEM RUMORED FOR NEXT YEAR'S GLASTONBURY
The UK's Glastonbury music festival just concluded late last month, but some big names are already being thrown around for next year's event. MTV UK reports that festival organizer Michael Eavis wants Detroit rapper Eminem to be the headliner. Rock band Radiohead and Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue are also rumored to be on the wanted list. Eminem played last weekend's "T In The Park" in Scotland, where the rapper reportedly arrived an hour late to his own show. He also refused to allow TV channels to air his performance, but he did play a 29-song set for the audience.
U2 was supposed to have headlined this year's Glastonbury festival, but had to drop out after singer Bono required emergency back surgery. Animated band Gorillaz took over their headlining slot.
SELENA GOMEZ LEAVING “WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE”
Actress Selena Gomez is the latest Disney star to leave the nest. Gomez is about to follow in the footsteps of actress Miley Cyrus, who has completed filming "Hannah Montana's" final season for the mouse network. This next season of Disney's "Wizards of Waverly Place" will be the last for Gomez. She tells MTV.com, quote, "Unfortunately, I'm doing my last season of my show, which I'm really heartbroken about. That's going to be a terrible time for me. I'm going to do a movie for my show, which I'll be excited to end it with, and then a tour." Like Cyrus, Gomez has other projects in the works. She plans to put out a new album later this year and also just wrapped shooting on the movie "Monte Carlo" with "Gossip Girl" actress Leighton Meester.
Gomez is also in the new movie, "Ramona and Beezus," based on the popular Beverly Clearly "Ramona" books. The film opens in theaters on July 23rd and also stars John Corbett, Josh Duhamel, Bridget Moynahan, Sandra Oh, and Ginnifer Goodwin.
ALICIA KEYS, JAY-Z, SADE TO PERFORM AT BLACK BALL NY
A few of hip-hop and R&B's biggest stars will be taking the stage at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom this fall. MTV News is reporting that Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and Sade are all slated to perform at the seventh annual Black Ball NY on September 30th. The event is put on by Keys' Keep a Child Alive organization, which raises money for families struggling with HIV and AIDS throughout India and Africa. It also provides financial support for orphan care and clinical centers in countries like Rwanda and Uganda. Alicia Keys says she's honored to have Jay-Z and Sade on this year's bill stating, quote, "I am overwhelmed by their generosity in helping us continue the tradition of making the Black Ball the best fundraiser in NYC." She adds, quote, "There are more surprises coming up! Stay tuned!"
This past May, Keep a Child Alive organized the Black Ball London, which featured performances from British acts Kasabian and Bryan Ferry. Since 2004, Keep a Child Alive has generated more than ten-million dollars for their charitable causes.
POP SINGER CHARICE SAYS REAL DREAM IS LAW SCHOOL
Pop singer Charice is riding high on the success of her new album and single of the same name, "Pyramid." The 18-year-old has been famous ever since talk show host Oprah Winfrey gave her a big break in 2008. So what could she possibly want now to go with her international fame? Charice says she wants to be a lawyer. She says, quote, "Being a famous singer or an international singer -- that's my dream, too, but my main goal is to be a real student and be able to graduate and be a lawyer and have my own business." She even calls reading law books her "relaxation."
But being a lawyer is off in the distance for Charice. Right now, she's getting ready to shoot an episode of the Emmy-nominated Fox sitcom, "Glee." The Filipina singer says, quote, "I haven't gotten the script yet but I think I'm going to play a foreign student. I'm really nervous. But I'm trying to be normal and act like myself on the set."
REPORT: LEONA LEWIS EX-BOYFRIEND WANTS 2.2 MILLION
Singer Leona Lewis and her childhood sweetheart, Lou Al-Chamaa are no more. But, according to the UK's "Sun" tabloid, the split is getting ugly because he says he deserves part of her fortune. The talent scout, who used to be an electrician prior to Lewis finding fame as a singer, says he is partially responsible for her success. He's allegedly insisting he's entitled to one-point-five-million pounds now that their relationship is over. That's the equivalent of two-point-two-million U.S. dollars. An insider says Al-Chamaa's sense of entitlement comes from the fact that he encouraged Leona on her career path, filled out her "X Factor" application, and even claims to own part of her songs.
The source says, quote, "She has offered him her house in Hackney but he insists it is not enough. It looks like it could get messy. It's not like he's sitting at home in tears, though. The split was more on his terms and he is currently living it up in Miami."
Lewis and Al-Chamaa have been a couple for over ten years and he reportedly believes he has the same rights a common-law husband would have. The couple, who have been friends since Lewis was ten-years-old, broke up last month. The 25-year-old pop star rapidly rose to fame in 2006 when she won the third season of Britain's "X Factor" talent competition.
LADY GAGA RENTS PRICEY BEL AIR HOME, HONORS HELLO KITTY
Lady Gaga is putting up some serious cash to rent a pricey home in the Bel Air suburb of Los Angeles. TMZ.com reports that the pop star is paying 25-thousand-dollars a month to rent out a mansion worth five-million-dollars. The huge home is gated and surrounded by trees, which may get her some privacy from the local paparazzi. In other Gaga news, the singer was featured on Tuesday night's episode of Bravo's "Double Exposure." She posed in a black leather jacket, fishnet stockings, and shoes covered in Hello Kitty faces for one of the shots. For another, she wore a dress made of Hello Kitty stuffed animals. The shoot was in honor of the Japenese character's 35th birthday.
LADY GAGA'S MUSIC GOES CLASSICAL
Lady Gaga's music is going classical. The Los Angeles-based Vitamin String Quartet is performing instrumental versions of the pop star's songs for a new album. The quartet has already covered rock bands like Muse, Coldplay, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Now, with Gaga, they're taking on the challenge of turning songs like "Bad Romance" into classical pieces. On why they chose Lady Gaga's music to perform, the Vitamin String Quartet says her music was appealing to them as their next challenge. A statement reads, quote, "No other current artist seems to be channeling such primal forces in their music. That element is exactly what fuels VSQ's sound." Fans can get a hold of the album, "Vitamin String Quartet Performs Lady Gaga," when it is released on iTunes on July 27th.
"Vitamin String Quartet Performs Lady Gaga" Track Listing:
1. "Poker Face"
2. "Paparazzi"
3. "Alejandro"
4. "Bad Romance"
5. "Just Dance"
6. "Telephone"
7. "LoveGame"
8. "Monster"
9. "Dance in the Dark"
10. "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)"
11. "Speechless"
BUSTA RHYMES NOT SURE ABOUT TITLE OF UPCOMING ALBUM
New York emcee Busta Rhymes is returning later this year with his ninth studio album. The rap star is planning to call his next release "The Chemo," but admits that he might change his mind. He tells MTV News, quote, "I think what's creating the back and forth is that I officially had the name of the album as 'The Chemo,' but the selected few ears that I trust that have come in the studio, that heard the [new] album, they have been declaring that it's developing into something that's feeling like what 'Extinction Level Event' felt like." Busta says he's been getting "beat up" over the album title, and acknowledges that at the end of the day he has to "cater to what the demand is." He adds, quote, "The album is pretty much at the 85, 90 percent mark. Between now and the next three to four weeks, we're gonna be able to give some confirmation on what it's gonna be. Stay tuned."
Busta Rhymes' "Extinction Level Event" dropped in 1998, and peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Hip-Hop/R&B Albums chart. His last release was 2009's "Back On My B.S."
THE-DREAM SAYS T.I. IS IN “A ZONE”
R&B star The-Dream has big expectations for T.I.'s upcoming "King Uncaged" album. The singer says "Tip" is in a great groove musically, noting that the rapper has a real passion for music right now. He states, quote, “He's just in a zone, he's in one of those things.” The-Dream says he could "feel" every track that T.I. played for him, adding that the Atlanta emcee has elevated his game since his release from prison for weapons charges earlier this year. T.I.'s "King Uncaged" is due in stores on September 28th. The-Dream released his latest effort, "Love King," last month. The record opened at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. The-Dream is a scheduled guest on tonight's episode of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
SWEDISH POP GROUP ACE OF BASE RETURNS WITH NEW LINEUP
Swedish pop group Ace Of Base is back with a new lineup. The four member group saw international success with the release of four studio albums between 1993 and 2002 that sold over 30-million copies around the world. But now, Idolator.com reports only two of the original members remain and they're back with new music as well as new singers. Jonas Berggren and Ulf Ekberg are returning as Ace Of Base with two new, younger female singers to replace Jonas' sisters, Malin and Jenny Berggren. The new members' names are Clara Hagman and Julia Williamson. Their vocals are featured on a new demo track posted at Idolator called "Mr. Replay."
According to the Ace Of Base MySpace blog, the group's official new single is called "All For You" and will arrive at European radio stations on Friday. A new Ace of Base album is slated for release sometime before the end of the year.
TRACE CYRUS IN TROUBLE WITH FORMER METRO STATION BAND MEMBERS
Former Metro Station frontman Trace Cyrus is finding himself in trouble with his former bandmates. TMZ.com reports the breakup between Cyrus -- the brother of teen superstar Miley Cyrus -- and the band was hardly amicable and now both sides are engaged in a legal fight. The trouble began when Cyrus used his Twitter feed to call Metro Station's music "weak" -- something the rest of the group didn't like. The singer also happens to be the president of the band's company, Metrostation, Inc. His band mates hardly approve of the job he did in that post. According to documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Cyrus announced that the group had broken up before he was approved to do so by the other band members -- or "shareholders" as they call themselves.
Metro Station's former members claim they voted to remove their lead singer from his presidential post in their company. But now Cyrus is fighting that claim. The rest of the band wants a judge to make it official that the singer is out of their company because they're afraid if left in control, he'll continue to ruin the business end of things.
BRANDY WORKING WITH TIMBALAND ON NEXT ALBUM
R&B singer Brandy will be joining forces with one of music's biggest producers for her next release. In a recent interview with the magazine "160grams," Brandy reveals that she will be hitting the studio with Timbaland. The "What About Us" singer says fans can expect songs to "be more hip-hop oriented," adding that she's now "old enough to get into people's hearts." Brandy and Timbaland previously worked together on Timbaland's "Shock Value Two" album. A title and release date for Brandy's next album have yet to be announced.
J COLE PLANNING TO GIVE FANS A “BREATH OF FRESH AIR”
Up-and-coming rapper J Cole is currently working on his debut studio release. The emcee says he plans to take on issues never before explored in hip-hop, adding that his record will be a refreshing change of pace for the rap industry. He remarks, quote, “I feel like the album sounds like a breath of fresh air.” Fans can catch J Cole in Philadelphia this Saturday performing at the Heineken Red Star Soul concert. Legendary spinner DJ Jazzy Jeff will also be taking the stage. Fans can RSVP for the Heineken Red Star Soul concert by visiting redstar.heineken.com. J Cole's debut album is expected later this year.
QUICK BITS:
R&B quartet En Vogue is playing a free show this weekend. They're headlining as part of Philadelphia's Fourth Annual Global Fusion Festival along with hip-hop and R&B vocalist Lyfe Jennings. The festival began on Monday and runs through Saturday. It features ethnic dance, international foods, educational programs, prizes, and multicultural vendors. Fans can catch Saturday night's performance at the Great Plaza on Philadelphia's Penn's Landing when it starts at 8:00 p.m.
