Just when we thought Eminem couldn’t shock us anymore, he’s been spotted kissing
Kim Basinger on the set of the film they are shooting together. The 48-year-old
actress, who is 19 years older than him, is playing his mother in the film,
which is based on Eminem’s life story. The Oscar-winning actress is separated
from her husband Alec Baldwin and Eminem, 29, is recently divorced. Kim’s
character is modeled on Eminem’s real-life mother, Debbie Mathers, who sued her
son for $7 million for defamation.
A member of Lil’ Kim’s entourage, wanted for a shooting on a Brooklyn street
corner, gave himself up on November 15th. Police say Damian Butler was charged
with attempted murder, weapons possession and reckless endangerment. Butler is
the fourth person in Lil’ Kim’s entourage to be charged in connection with
shooting Michael Goody on August 10th.
Songwriter Michael Lowe filed a lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Xzibit, and his label,
Loud, as well as their parent label, Columbia Records, back in April, and now
the case is finally going to court. Xzibit’s single X was credited to Dr. Dre
and Scott Storch, but Lowe claims that he was the one who masterminded the beat.
Sources say that Scott Storch heard Lowe’s original beat and then programmed his
own beat to sound exactly like Lowe’s original work. After a music expert
reported similarities between the two beats, Lowe decided to file a $1 million
lawsuit.
Sources say that TLC member Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez signed with Suge Knight’s Tha
Row (formerly Death Row Records) and will be recording her debut solo album,
under the name Nina, with a more thuggish and edgy style.
Demme Ulloa sought a preliminary injunction to halt sales of the hit single Izzo
(H.O.V.A.) and The Blueprint, the album that spawned it, during her copyright
infringement suit against the rapper, but was denied. Ulloa claims she
contributed vocals to Izzo (H.O.V.A.) without being compensated or credited. A
lawyer for the defense maintained that Ulloa simply provided backing vocals on
the track and therefore should only receive payment comparable to other backing
vocalists for hire. The plaintiff testified that she was just visiting the
studio while the song was being recorded and heard parts of the song, which
prompted her to sing a bit of the melody now being disputed. Ulloa said Jay-Z
heard this and invited her to sing on the track. Following Ulloa’s testimony,
the defense asked her to write down the notes that comprise the melody, which
she couldn’t do completely. They then produced a keyboard and asked her to play
the musical snippet, a test she also failed. Ulloa’s lawyer said an inability to
write musical notes or play the piano doesn’t necessarily negate Ulloa’s claim
that she came up with the melodic part. Ulloa also asserted that her name was
missing from the liner notes of The Blueprint, though Jay-Z’s attorney dismissed
that as an oversight that happens all the time and pointed out that Ulloa’s
name, though misspelled, was present on the vinyl and cassette formats of the
album as well as the promotional single. The defendants must now file an answer
to the plaintiff’s complaint of copyright infringement by December 7, according
to a court spokesperson. After that, another hearing may be scheduled.
Grammy-nominated rapper and producer John Forte, a member of the Fugees, was
sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug trafficking. Forte had been convicted
of drug trafficking and acquitted of conspiracy after a two-week trial in
September. Two of Forte’s couriers, Marissa Laken, 20, and Angela Gegg, 22, were
arrested at Hobby Airport in July 2000 trying to catch a connecting flight to
New York City. They agreed to cooperate in a sting operation, which led to
Forte’s arrest. The couriers were going to receive $1,000 payment. The women,
who had 14 kilos of cocaine on them when they were arrested, also were sentenced
Tuesday to 18 months in prison.
In early December, Jadakiss’ tour bus flipped over and landed in a ravine while
enroute to a radio station in Chicago. According to the initial reports, the
tour bus was on the Ohio State Turnpike when the driver attempted to avoid
hitting a deer, causing the bus to swerve and crash. Even though the bus skidded
for over 700 feet, no one was seriously injured.
Eazy-E’s oldest son “Lil’ Eazy” Eric Wright Jr. will be releasing a documentary
on the life of his father entitled The Life And Timez Of Eric Wright. The
DVD/VHS will be released in 2002, and will be accompanied by a soundtrack, which
will also serve as Lil Eazy’s debut.
Rumors say Fat Joe and Jay-Z met privately to squash their beef, and the two
plan to collaborate in the near future.
Nore’s Def Jam debut Grimey: God’s Favorite has been pushed back again, and will
now be released on March 5th, 2002. Also, the Neptunes newly replenished version
of N.E.R.D. will be released on February 12th, 2002.
Tha Liks and Tha Dogg Pound have combined forces to form a group called Vapors.
E-Swift traveled with a portable studio and recorded a few Vapor cuts while both
groups were on tour as a part of Snoop’s “Puff, Puff, Pass Tour.” Look for the
Vapors full-length LP to include contributions from Snoop, Xzibit, King T,
Defari, and Roscoe.
When Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter was formally sentenced to three years’ probation for
stabbing Lance “Un” Rivera during a nightclub fight, he allegedly walked into
court a half hour late, wearing a black warm-up suit from his Roc-A-Wear
clothing line, gleaming white sneakers and diamond stud earrings the size of
blueberries.
Cash Money co-CEO Ronald “Slim” Williams said that in 2002 the label plans to
roll out new acts, including singer TQ, much-hyped Philadelphia MC Gillie Da Kid
and R. Kelly’s former protégés Boo & Gotti.
Tony Touch has set up shop at D&D Studios to begin work on his sophomore effort
for Tommy Boy Records. Already confirmed collaborations include Pete Rock, Slick
Rick, Doug E Fresh, Tha Liks, and the Diaz Brothers. Also currently working on
his sophomore effort at D&D is Afu-Ra (which has been given a tentative April
2002 release date). Look for guest appearances from M.O.P., RZA, Big Daddy Kane,
Teena Maria, and The Human Orchestra, as well as production by Easy Mo Bee,
Arabian Knight, Ayatollah, Domingo, True Master, Eric Steinen and D&D’s
omnipresent sound provider DJ Premier. Word is that Primo recently recorded new
tracks with Lady of Rage, Rise and Shine, The Lox and Just-Ice.
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs performed a striptease on a balcony overlooking a wedding
reception in Miami, according to the New York Post. Diddy’s spokeswoman
confirmed the story saying, “It’s all true. He did it because they were egging
him on. First came his shirt, then his pants and then his underwear. He was
still standing behind the blinds, but there was so much wolf-whistling and
cheering that he stepped onto the balcony completely naked with just his hand
covering his crotch. Everyone cheered and shouted for Puffy to show more.
Suddenly he took his hands away, showing them everything - and then turned
around and walked back inside.” A Shore Club Hotel employee said Combs later
came down to the pool and shook the groom’s hand. Apparently, none of the guests
- which included singer Macy Gray - were offended.
Darrin “Dee” Dean, co-owner of Ruff Ryders, is clinging to life after a
motorcycle accident left him with severe head and neck injuries. Dean, 35, was
riding a three-wheeled motorcycle along Ryer Avenue in the Tremont section of
the Bronx when he smashed into the rear wheel of a parked tractor-trailer on
Coster Street. A Lincoln Hospital spokesman said Dean remains in “extremely
critical condition with severe head and neck trauma.”
- Compiled by Jesse Jazz