8 years for Remy Ma

For shooting a woman outside a Manhattan night club rapper Remy Ma was sentenced to 8 years. The rapper broke down in tears at the news. "I feel so bad for all the physical and mental pain you've gone through," the Grammy-nominated rapper told the victim. "This has taken a toll on us and both our families. I would never wish you harm and I pray the best for all of us."

The entertainer, whose real name is Remy Smith, had faced up to 25 years in prison for assault, weapon possession and attempted coercion for shooting Makeda Barnes Joseph last July in a dispute over money. Smith, 26, begged the judge for leniency for the sake of "my little boy," saying she grew up "surrounded by failure, violence and poverty," but "made something out of nothing" from her life.

State Supreme Court Justice Rena Uviller said she recognized that Smith had had a difficult childhood, but noted the victim had nearly died and will never be the same physically. Uviller called the rapper "a young woman whose anger is out of control."

After the sentencing, Smith's fiancé, fellow rapper Papoose, began screaming in a hallway outside the courtroom. "All you want is money!" he said, apparently referring to the victim. "Lock me up! Lock me up!" he then shouted to court officers, who escorted him out of the courthouse.

The couple had planned to wed last weekend at the Rikers Island jail, where Smith has been incarcerated. Correction officials said they called off the wedding after Papoose showed up with a handcuff key. Smith's lawyer, Ivan Fisher, said Papoose had a key but denied that it could be used to open handcuffs. Papoose, whose real is Shamele Mackie, hasn't been charged. Fisher said the couple still plan to wed.

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'50 Cent Diss Made Me Famous' – Lil Wayne

Bet when 50 Cent called Lil Wayne a whore he never thought the rapper would eventually thank him for it! Yup Lil Wayne claimed that the insult has helped in propelling him to fame.

The 'In Da Club' hitmaker criticized Wayne last year accusing him of taking any job for money.

50 told a radio interview, "A whore sleeps with whoever will pay him. So we gotta call him a whore..." But Wayne insists the insult did him a favor.

He tells Blender magazine, "Man, I have to call him and say thank you. He's catapulted me (to fame). White people know me now. Thank you."

Don't go expecting Lil Wayne to be starting the same war of words anytime soon though as he says "That n---er thrives off that. I am not feeding that tiger. I'm smart. Do you see his size? I'm small. This n---a's the hardest n---a on planet earth. So, no, I'm not dissing 50."

Stephen Marley, Multiple-Grammy winning artist/producer (he holds the Reggae record with six Grammy wins), fresh off his latest Grammy win for Best Reggae Album for his 2007 masterpiece Mind Control, has begun a much anticipated spring U.S. Tour.

The tour will take him to 29 cities, and includes a handful of celebrated Festivals including his spring '08 finale performance on June 13, at the much heralded Bonnaroo Festival, the 4 day multi-stage music and cultural extravaganza held on a 700 acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee.

Marley, who became the third consecutive son from the great Marley musical dynasty to win the Best Reggae Album Grammy, will headline the non-festival shows, tapping Kingston Reggae sensation, Gully Bank Sound to open on the tour. The trek kicked off on May 4, in West Palm Beach at the Sun Fest and includes shows in North Myrtle Beach on May 8, Las Vegas' Hard Rock & Casino on May 23, and Boulder, CO on June 7, at the prestigious Fox Theatre (see entire list of dates below).

Considered one of the most versatile studio and live Reggae performers, Stephen's debut solo release, Mind Control (Tuff Gong/ Ghetto Youths/Universal-Republic), landed at #1 of the coveted Billboard Reggae Chart, and in the upper tier of the Billboard Top 40 Album Chart, as well. Critics raved about the groundbreaking album, with People Magazine calling it a "masterful fusion of reggae and hip hop,'" Entertainment Weekly seconded that notion, calling Mind Control the best Marley album in a generation.

In 2006, Stephen snagged his 5th Grammy award for his triumphant co-production work on brother Damian "Jr.Gong" Marley's acclaimed RIAA certified Gold disc Welcome To Jamrock, making him the most honored Grammy winner of the Marley family, as well as netting him the most Grammy wins of any other Reggae artist in history.

Ottawa Reggae Festival will be held in the capital city of Canada on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at the Lane Braeton Park.

This event will be outlining artistes such as: Half Pint, Snow, Maxi Priest, Collie Buddz, Friendliness & The Human Rights band among many others.

The Ottawa Reggae Festival Inc. run by President, Benji Williams, is a non-profit network that was launched in February 2007, to raise funds and awareness for the Sickle Cell disease and to highlight its effects on our community. What started as a fundraising initiative, has grown to become a flagship event that will unite Reggae fans across Canada and the United States, bringing them to Canada's capitol city - Ottawa. Reggae is the only genre of music known to bring people from all walks of life together.

As Bob Marley sang "One Love, one heart, lets get together and feel alright"

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A 10-year-old girl gave birth recently in East Idaho after being raped by a suspected illegal immigrant who has since been slapped with the charge of rape.

The girl gave birth less than two weeks ago by caesarian section at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg, Fremont County Sheriff Ralph C. Davis and other authorities said. Officials would not disclose the gender, date of birth or paternity of the baby.

"I wouldn't have believed a 10-year-old could conceive in the first place," Davis said.

A hospital spokeswoman would not discuss the condition of the girl or the baby and would not say whether either was still in the hospital Wednesday.

The story was first came to light by KIDK Television in Idaho Falls. St. Anthony police began investigating on April 28 after medical officials reported a pregnant child, and Guadalupe Gutierrez-Juarez, 37, of St. Anthony, was arrested the same day, Police Chief James Smith said.

"We had good information from witnesses," Smith said. In documents that were filed April 29 in 7th District Court and obtained by The Associated Press, Gutierrez-Juarez is charged with one count of rape. He remained in jail with bail set at $250,000 pending a preliminary hearing May 13. Authorities said Gutierrez-Juarez did not have legal documentation to live in the United States. His home town and nationality were not immediately clear, but police said they had received no complaints about him before investigating the pregnancy.

While a 10-year-old giving birth is highly unusual, it is not impossible, said Laurie Krieger, a medical anthropologist in Washington D.C. "We do know that girls in the U.S. are menstruating sooner," a development which can speed up the production of sex hormones and make pregnancy possible earlier than might have been thought likely, Kreiger said.

Usher got it on in an airplane

R&B star Usher admitted that he once had sex in-flight at 32,000 feet in the air. Yup the singer swapped dance floor for an airplane on one occasion.

Before you start getting carried away in your imaginations it was a private plane and not a charter plane loaded with passengers.

By doing that he joins the 'mile high club' with those who have tried it. Makes those who feel nervous about flying seem petty huh.

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George Clooney Slams Hollywood Wannabe Paris Hilton

George Clooney has hit out against what he term Hollywood wannabee Paris Hilton, claiming that movie fans should not mistake her success for real talent.

According to starpulse the Oscar winner insists too many young stars think they're good actors, just because they are landing roles and making money.

He tells Rolling Stone, "There is a funny thing that happens when you are a young actor. You equate financial success and getting jobs with whether or not you are good at it."

And he singles out Paris Hilton as one example: "And it still happens. That's why there is Paris Hilton. Now I'm in trouble with Paris Hilton."

Already a veteran of the music business and a legend in his country, Trinidad, Machel Montano has been taking his taste of soca rhythms to the masses for decades and is now being recognized internationally for it.

At the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held on Sunday, May 4th at the Apollo Theater in New York, Montano walked away with not only the most wins of the night but also the most coveted awards of the night. These include the Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year, Most Outstanding Stage Personality of the Year and Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer awards.

"I am totally overwhelmed and very grateful to the fans, the voters, and especially the awards' committee," stated an exuberant Montano. "It's motivation to put in the hard work for bigger and better things to come."

Speaking of hard work this week alone will find Montano on the set in Miami and Los Angeles as he shoots the video for his latest hit, "Defense - The Anthem," with reggaeton star Pitbull and rapper Lil Jon. Then he joins Pitbull, Miley Cyrus, Flo-Rida and Snoop Dogg at the KIIS FM (L.A.'s #1 radio station) concert on Saturday, May 10th. All this while seeing the release of his new album, Wining Season, now available online and in stores.

At a private concert held in Paris on Tuesday of this week pop diva Madonna announced she loves to french-kiss the French! as she ground away at an electric guitar.

According to AP news Madonna put on a high-voltage half-hour show for a privileged 1,500 fans to mark the release of Hard Candy, her 10th chart-topping album. "Who do you love more, me or the Rolling Stones?" she asked the crowd packing the Olympia, a mythical concert hall near the Paris opera, before launching into a ear-popping heavy-metal version of her mega-hit, Hung Up.

"I thought you might say that," quipped the queen of pop, who turns 50 on August 16, as the adoring crowd roared back their answer.

The Material Girl made her stage entrance seated in a black-and-gold fairytale throne, wearing a black satin bodice, satin pants and tailcoat with pink lining, lace-up boots with six-inch heels, and twirling a magician's wand.

Madonna told the concert hall it was "a historical moment" for her to be performing on the same stage as the iconic French chanteuse Edith Piaf, or fellow legends Juliette Greco and Marlene Dietrich. "Why do I have this relationship with France? I'm always drawn to working with French people and frenching French people," she quipped. "Vive la France!"

By: Joseph Cunningham

International Curryfest 2008 will be held on June 15, 2008 at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.

It will be the events first staging, and it will bring to the Tri-state area, a Caribbean Flavour. "The event will be highlighted by a display of curry cuisine", says Patrick 'Lexus' Simpson of International Curry Fest. He emphasized that the day will be one filled with togetherness, the kind that will be created by fun, food (curry dishes) and entertainment.

There will be curry cook-offs, which will include the curry duck cook-off and the tassa competition, which will be between Indian descendants, he revealed.

Further, he said that music will be provided by Byron Lee & the Dragonaires, Mickey Spice, Dutchess, Mikal Rustle, backing band Code Red. And, in keeping with the objective to create a community event, there will also be Cricket and Netball matches between Florida based teams comprised of community residents. There is also going to be belly dancing and henna painting.

Sponsors of the event include, VP Records, Western Union, YardFlex, and Cox Radio - Hot 105 FM.

50 Cent Fan Steals Chain During Gig

Rap artiste 50 Cent had his diamond-encrusted chain stolen by super overzealous fans during at a recent concert in Angola.

Hmm, he had better be more careful about how he dangles temptation in front of his fans...as they will do anything to get a piece of him. The "In Da Club" hitmaker, real name Curtis Jackson, was performing in Luanda with his G-Unit crew when one man jumped up onto the stage and grabbed the jewelry from his neck.

In a grainy video footage posted online, the assailant can be seen running off with the chain as 50 Cent and his entourage chase after him.

According to TMZ.com, 50 Cent caught up with the thief and is alleged to have punched him before claiming back his prized chain. A source tells the website, "The chain is around 50's neck right now."

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Arrest Warrant Issued For Foxy Brown

Foxy Brown should have kept her promise when she got out of jail and head straight for the church! It seems she is in need of some right now as a New York Judge issued an arrest warrant for her because she failed to turn up in court to face allegations of assault, in relation to an incident last year.

According to starpulse Inga Marchand aka Foxy Brown is accused of hitting 25-year-old Arlene Raymond with her Blackberry cell phone in Brooklyn on July 30 when a heated argument between the two got out of hand. Raymond was taken to Brooklyn Hospital following the incident, and was treated for loose teeth and swelling around her lip and right eye. Brown was subsequently charged with felony assault, menacing, harassment and criminal possession of a weapon when she turned herself into police. She was released on bail and pleaded not guilty to the counts in October.

But Brown failed to show for her latest court date at Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday, and, as a result, a judge has called for the star's arrest.

Brown's own defense attorney admitted he didn't know of her whereabouts and had not heard from her recently. Meanwhile, Raymond has filed suit against Brown for unspecified damages connected to the alleged assault.

The hip-hop star was recently released from New York's Riker's Island Prison after serving eight months of a 12-month sentence for probation violations.

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Remy Ma Blames 'Biased Jury' For Assault Conviction

Rapper Remy Ma has lashed out at the New York jury that found her guilty of assault and weapon possession charges in March, blaming racism for her conviction.

According to Starpule Remy Ma is currently being held without bail at Rikers Island prison in New York until her sentencing on May 13. She faces up to 25 years behind bars after being convicted of shooting acquaintance Makeda Barnes Joseph in the abdomen following a row outside a club in the Big Apple.

But the 26-year-old, who is of African American origin, insists she expected the jury to return a guilty verdict, claiming they were biased against her skin color and chosen career path.

Still proclaiming her innocence, she tells DJ Kay Slay, "Just because 12 people say something, who weren't there, does not mean nothing. I'm not even mad at people.

I'm mad at money or what lack of does to people. It's really sad. Ain't (sic) nothing changed, because I'm on the Island...(I'm) still the Queen of NY. Don't be mistaken about a jury that was not my peers. There was no tan (or) dark brown, Black - nothing - on that jury. It's a whole conspiracy against rappers right now so I already knew what it was."

Beyonce's got one hell of a prenup with Jay-Z

YardFlex gleaned that Beyonce has got the mother of all pre nuptials agreement with hubby Jay Z that could result in adding another $25 mil to her already huge net.

Word is that the longer Beyonce stays married to S. Carter, the more money he pays. The thirty-eight year old Carter's net worth is estimated at $300 million.

It is no secret that Jay-Z adores Beyonce, and was pretty much willing to give her almost anything she wanted. The prenup calls for Jay-Z to pay Beyonce $10 million if the marriage ends after two years, and $1 million a year for each further year she remains in the marriage, up to fifteen years.

"Beyonce would be granted access to their private jet and a fleet of cars, which includes a $1 million 1959 Rolls Royce convertible," this according to a tabloid snitch.

Jay's thrown in a few incentives for having children: He's promised to pay her an additional $5 million for each child she bears for him-for her loss of income during pregnancy and child-rearing years."

Damn, talk about a match made in heaven...go Beyonce...this is what we would call a sweet deal.

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Mariah Carey Weds At Her Home In The Bahamas

Wow! News has been circulating on the internet that Mariah Carey tied the knot with Nick Cannon the 27 year old who was cast as her lover in her new video...but is it a real life situation?

According to several published reports, Carey, 38, married Cannon, 27, on Wednesday. If the pair did indeed wed, it would be a whirlwind romance. Word that the two were seeing each other first surfaced in the last few weeks. Last Saturday, Carey was seen sporting a huge diamond ring on her finger at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of her movie, "Tennessee," in which she plays a waitress. Cannon was at her side at the party. Speculation swirled that the couple were engaged.

Latina.com was first to report that the two got married, at Carey's home in the Bahamas.

Friday's New York Post also has the pair wed and E! Online quoted a relative of Cannon's as saying that he called his family and confirmed the news.

"He called us and told us all about it. We are happy for him. If that is what he wants then we are happy for him," Linda Cannon, identified simply as a family member, was quoted telling E!

Cannon has put out a rap album, but is best known for his role in the movie 'Drumline' and he's featured in Carey's upcoming video for 'Bye Bye.'

The release described it as 'crafted from platinum and features a square emerald cut fancy light pink diamond as the center stone surrounded by 58 intense pink diamonds and two half moon diamonds on each side. 'The total carat weight of the ring center stone is 10 carats is a jaw-dropping 17 carats with a value of $2.5 million.'

Another secret Hollywood wedding...could it be Mariah is taking notes from Beyonce?

Whitney Houston's daughter held knife on her?

If the reports in the National Enquirer are to be believed then they alleged that during an argument with her mother, Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina tried to stab the legendary songbird before attempting to turn the knife on herself!

The magazine reported that the confrontation took place during an argument which took place a few days before strong>Kristina's 15th birthday. Family friend Ann Davis wouldn't give out too many details, but confirmed that Kristina "tried to stab" her mother with a razor, then started trying to cut herself.

Davis goes on to claim that the incident was touched off over Kristina's reluctance to live with Whitney.

Sources also revealed that Bobbi is getting help as she has landed in a Atlanta psychiatric ward as a result of her actions.

Houston's reps declined to comment.

Whew! You all, if this is true the family really needs help!

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Is Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon Engaged?

Mariah Carey is generating some huge speculations. It seems the presence of a ring on her engagement finger have tongues wagging.

The singer wore a gigantic ring on a very important finger at the afterparty for her film, Tennessee Saturday night and Nick Cannon remained by her side the entire night, PEOPLE reported.

According to the mag, the pair held hands at the Cadillac Lounge at Tenjune. The pair were also spotted canoodling on April 14 in Vegas. Cannon's rep had no comment while Carey's was not available for comment. And while her new album E=mc2 is currently breaking records, she has a really big fan in Cannon. When asked what he loved about Carey he told PEOPLE, "Everything."

Hmm, wonder if we will be hearing anything further on this one.

By: Michelle Thomas

Collie Buddz commanded the stage in Hollywood, CA with his first appearance at the World Famous Roxy. Hollywood fans anxiously stood in anticipation for Buddz to hit the stage as the New Kingston Band opened the show. Once his name was announced, fans went wild. Buddz had Hollywood in the palm of his hand, as the crowd danced and sang along to hits like "Tomorrow's Another Day", "What A Feeling", "Sensimillia", and "Let Me Know". He swooned and hypnotized the ladies with a special dedication to "Gimmie Love" and "Mamacita"

Collie challenged the audience with a money giveaway if someone could recite lyrics to an acapella verse he dropped, although no one was successful. The venue lit up with lighters and cell phones with renditions of Bob Marley's "Stir It Up" and "No Woman No Cry". A lucky fan melted as Buddz' gave his towel away as a memento. He closed out his set with hit single "Come Around". Buddz left fans cravin more and did an encore performance with "Blind To You". Stay tuned to an upcoming interview with Collie Buddz.

Poor Whitney...don't know what happened but YardFlex understands she totally lost it at a Caribbean concert. While performing in Tobago on Sunday she lost her voice and not only that but she kept saying "I love you Trinidad!" the people were like, "this is Tobago!" But the people were like, "This is Tobago!"

The pop diva was nearing the end of a 30-minute performance at the Plymouth Jazz Festival when her voice became so raspy she was unable to hit the high notes of her hit single "I Will Always Love You." And the star's vocal strain was not her only embarrassment of the evening.

The star, who cashed in a reported $3 million for the gig, gave her thanks to the crowd at the show's finale, shouting repeatedly, "I love you, Trinidad," despite performing in the southern Caribbean island of Tobago.

Oh boy according to reports coming out of that part of the island Whitney seemed totally out of it.

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Wesley Snipes gets 3 years for tax evasion

Actor Wesley Snipes, star of such films as Jungle Fever, New Jack City, White Men Can't Jump, and the Blade trilogy, was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison by a U.S. District Court Judge for failing to file taxes to an alleged total of $2.7 million in back taxes.

Snipes was acquitted of felony fraud and conspiracy charges in February, but the law caught up to the Blade star after the courts confirmed Snipes hadn't filed a tax return since 1998. Sources report that Judge William Terrell Hodges revealed to the court that Snipes has displayed a history of contempt with regard to his taxes and handed down the maximum penalty for the charges, as some sources report was an action taken to make an example out of the star given his evasion. In an attempt to stave of incarceration, Snipes offered the government $5 million dollars in an effort to serve time in house arrest instead of prison. Despite Snipes' attempt to make good on his taxes and testimony to his character from the likes of Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson, the Judge determined Snipes would be sent to prison for his crime.

According to the Associated Press, Snipes admitted to the court via a written and prepared apologetic statement that he indeed made mistakes in his life, "I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance..."

The AP goes on to report that Snipes will still be a free man until the court notifies him of the appropriate time to surrender to authorities. However, Snipes and his lawyers have also let the court know they will be seeking an appeal.

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Snoop Dogg allowed back in England

A British judge has ruled rapper Snoop Dogg can enter Britain after the country's Home Office said his presence was non-conducive to the public good.

Snoop Dogg, whose birth name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, may be traveling to Britain after the Home Office's ban on him was reversed by an immigration appeals judge, The Times of London reported Thursday.

According to wjbt.com Britain reportedly denied Snoop an entrance visa after he was accused, along with five members of his entourage, of initiating a fight at London's Heathrow Airport in 2006.

The accusations changed Wednesday when Judge George Warr decided the fight was precipitated by decisions made by BA staff and police. Warr supported the January ruling of immigration judge Nehar Bird, who said officials did not prove Snoop's ban from Britain would be good for the public. Warr said no proof existed that Snoop started the fight, dismissing the Home Office's appeal to Bird's January ruling, the Times reported.

Actor Orlando Brown has resurfaced

According to AP, Orlando Brown, a star of Disney Channel's "That's So Raven."

The 20-year-old actor and aspiring musician disappeared Tuesday morning without word. He re-emerged Wednesday and issued a lengthy statement.

"It was wrong for me not to inform my manager...about my whereabouts, especially when I am usually so routine and big on communication, but I felt a little lost and needed to get away," Brown said in a statement released Wednesday by his publicist, Elayne Rivers.

Brown went on to say he was upset at "how we as entertainers are so disrespected at times" after an incident at a nightclub where he had expected to open for the headlining act.

"I felt that that was my chance to prove that I was talented and I was really excited," Brown said. "When I was told that I couldn't perform...that really hurt. It got a bit overwhelming and I needed to be alone."

He apologized to his friends and fans and thanked them for their support, wrapping the page-long statement with "I have no further comments."

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Rapper Treach being questioned by cops

Naughty By Nature rapper Treach has been questioned by police in relation to shootings in Newark, New Jersey.

According to wjbt.com the hip-hop star - real name Anthony Criss - was taken in for police questioning on Tuesday after he was spotted driving erratically in the city. When cops pulled him over, they found him wearing a bulletproof vest - although no weapon was found in his Hummer.

A gun was later retrieved near the spot where Treach had been stopped, although it is unclear whether it belongs to the star.

The 37-year-old was detained for several hours by Newark authorities who are investigating a double murder, after two men got into an altercation and shot and killed each other. Five other people have also been wounded in separate incidents across the city in a violent 24-hour period between Monday and Tuesday, reports AllHipHop.com.

It is currently unknown whether Treach is under official police investigation in relation to the shootings.

Rapper Kanye West has begged concert-goers at his recent Sacramento, California gig for forgiveness, after he gave a shout out to the city during his show-- but accidentally called out 'Seattle', this according a report on Starpulse.com.

The "Stronger" singer was performing at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento as part of his Glow In The Dark Tour on Friday, when he made the slip up during the song "Good Life"...just two days after playing in Seattle, Washington.

West only realized his mistake when the audience failed to respond to his shout out, and he admits he tried to pretend as if nothing had happened by mumbling the words for the remainder of the song.

In a new internet blog post titled 'Please forgive me Sac-Town', he writes: "I can't believe I bust a spinal tap! It's no excuse for this I wish I could sink in a black whole (sic). When I said Seattle and there was no crowd response I was up on my spaceship platform thinking damn... I think I just said the wrong city!!!!! I kind of muffled the words so I was praying nobody really caught it. I guess all those hours that me and Phill spent making my mic clear as possible back fired on me! We had a lot of problems with the video servers on the first 3 songs and that completely threw me off! Hey, I'm not perfect. Hope everybody had a good time. I'm a man, I can say it... I'm sorry."

On Wednesday Santo Miami Beach, 430 Lincoln Road it will be a Miami Live night like no other when Trina takes center stage at the club.

Promoters Abebe Lewis and Michael Madd (the blogger) are promising a great party which will include a taste of Caribbean and American mix. "Basically it will be a mixture of everything. American Idol/American Unplugged..." Abebe assured.

Motivated by his dad Abebe Lewis the son of Inner Circle's bass player Ian, he certainly knows how ensure that music lovers get their full dose and party in style.

That's what Miami Live is all about on a Wednesday night, good music, lots of fun and a chance to enjoy the best musical offering that Miami has to offer.

This Wednesday, it will be an All White Affair with Trina and the idea came about because the promoters wanted to "show her some love" after she sold 42,000 copies independently in her first week with the only investor being Ted Lucas, CEO of Slip and Slide Records, South Florida's #1 Independent label.

Patrons coming out to ensure Miami Live can expect a great performance from Trina and the promoters are hinting at some special surprise...with a mischievous grin Abebe teased, "you will never know who will be at Miami Live if you ain't there. It could be anybody from Madonna to Usher."

You really don't want to take that chance of missing out! The next attraction at the club will be sponsored by Bad Boy's P. Diddy who takes charge of the month of May...so patrons really can't afford to miss a Wednesday as they never know which night he and his gang...Danity Kane and Day 26 will be passing through.

As the duo look toward the future they are gearing up for their own reality show on BET...well if their campaign pays off that is.

Foxy out of jail!

Rapper Foxy Brown is out of jail! Fans greeted her on Friday as she made her exit outside Rikers Island where she was.

According to reports Foxy said the first place she wants to go is church. "I've fot to get on my knees" she was quoted as saying. But things didn't go according to plan, the rapper instead went shopping in Harlem, had some soul food and was driven to her childhood home in Brooklyn...according to reports.

Her mother, Judith Marchand, presented her with smiley-face balloons and the two hugged outside the family's home in the Prospect Heights neighborhood. A VH1 crew captured the reunion for an upcoming reality show."I did almost a year in prison, a year in prison, just because my name is Foxy Brown," she said.

Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was sentenced in September 2007 to a year in jail for violating the terms of her probation after she was accused of hitting a woman with a cell phone. She was on probation for an August 2004 attack on two manicurists at a Manhattan nail salon. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in the 2004 incident.

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Mariah ticks off fans

Fans of Mariah Carey booed the pop superstar at an autograph signing on Thursday when she showed up two hours late and left before signing albums for devotees who had waited eight hours to meet her.

The singer, who was promoting her new album E=MC2 at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles, left tired fans fuming when she stopped signing and "went home."

Carey fans, who waited in line to meet their heroine, have flooded the Internet to slam the diva, claiming she showed up two hours late and didn't stay around long enough to meet and greet the 1,000 devotees who were promised time with the singer.

One angry fan says, "The first 1,000 people who bought her album from (record store) FYE got a guaranteed meet and greet (wristband), but she left with more than a hundred people still waiting. Some fans booed and others even trashed their copies of Mariah's new CD and yelled profanities at her."

Sunday April 20th is set to be a big day in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as 'Reggae Symphony' will bring a fusion of genres to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Billed as an evening of 'Classical Reggae', the night will be filled with stellar melodies from some of Reggae's mightiest icons. Reggae pioneer John Holt, O.D. and Grammy nominated, reggae ambassador Freddie McGregor are slated to perform and they will be accompanied by the silky-smooth sounds of The New York Symphony Reggae Strings Orchestra as well as the accomplished Lloyd Parks and We the People Band.

Under the distinguished patronage of the Consul General of Jamaica for the Southeast United States, Mr. Ricardo Allicock, the black-tie event is being presented by main sponsors, County Line Chiropractic Centers.

Thrilled to be associated with this South Florida debut, CEO of County Line Chiropractic Centers, Dr. Robert Hochstein said, "We anticipate an entertaining evening of the highest calibre which we all will enjoy."

Reggae Symphony boasts a 2001 beginning that saw a sold-old crowd respond with great enthusiasm at the London Apollo. Produced by Riddims Marketing Inc. and Big Ship Music Inc., that show fused the two legendary voices of John Holt and Freddie McGregor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, making harmonious waves.

It created such a stir, that demands were high for the show to be staged in New York and it traveled from London, England in October; again playing to a sold-out crowd.

John Holt, who has maintained his thousand bolts of energy throughout the years, is best remembered as the lead singer of The Paragons. One of his most famous hit songs, "The Tide Is High," was made more popular by Blondie.

Freddie McGregor sits at the helm of 'Big Ship Music Inc.' and is best remembered by a slew of hits including, "Big Ship" and "Push Come To Shove." He is currently working on his first film project that aims at unifying the cultures of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.

The indomitable Lloyd Parks brings decades of driving rhythmic experience to this wonderful event with his top of the line band.

This reggae classical fusion has definitely made a mark in music history and if previous audience responses are any indication, the South Florida presentation will absolutely blow you away.

Tickets are available at all five County Line Chiropractic Centers, the Broward Center Box office, online at www.browardcenter.org and at selected Caribbean outlets.

Support for this performance is provided by Jamaica National Money Transfer, Air Jamaica, HOT105 FM, Elegant Affairs, Whiz Communications, Infinite Markets and FUNSATION4.

Please note it's a formal affair.

According to a new report from Smoking Gun posted on E! online the gangsta-posturing rapper, who has extolled his bad-boy past in hit albums like Trouble and Konvicted, is more hoodwinker than hoodlum.

The investigative site has dug into the rapper's claims, first spouted during his promotion for his 2004 debut, Trouble, that he served four and a half years in a Georgia prison in the 1990s as the "ringleader of a notorious car theft operation" and owned four chop shops frequented by "celebrities and drug dealers." Upon following up with many of the detectives that worked his case, the Smoking Gun reports that the hip-hopster was merely busted in 1998 in suburban Atlanta for driving a stolen BMW and ended up being held in a DeKalb County jail for five months before prosecutors dropped all charges against him.

While rising to the top of the hip-hop heap, Akon told tall tales of getting ratted out by lower-ranking peeps in the underworld, facing upwards of 75 years in the joint, having to fend for himself behind bars as a "150-pound inmate" who "fought almost every day for two years" and being feared by fellow convicts. The stories ended up being fodder for many of his hit tracks, like "Locked Up," which helped him sell millions of albums and gave the 35-year-old emcee the kind of street cred accorded bigger rivals 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and the late masters Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.

While Akon has been arrested on six occasions, only one was a felony—a gun-possession rap to which he pleaded guilty and received three years' probation. The rest were all minor exploits that, aside from the car stunt, did not lead to any significant jail time.

Akon recently touted his fabricated résumé on VH1's Rags to Riches program in February, asserting that he was once a carjacker who "used to literally snatch cars from people and they would be traumatized for months."

While the chart-topping, Grammy-nominated performer, whose real name is Aliaune Badara Thiam, has apparently exaggerated his past misdeeds, he does have his share of real recent troubles. In December, he was arrested and charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child in Fishkill, N.Y., at a June 2007 concert. He allegedly called a teenager up onstage for throwing a pretzel at him and then tossed the young fan headfirst into the crowd. Two months earlier, Akon took lots of heat for having simulated sex with a 14-year-old girl he pulled onstage during a show in Trinidad. He subsequently apologized, saying he didn't realize she was underage.

Looks like Ashanti may be ready to open up about what went down between her and rapper Nelly. According to mediatakeout.com Ashanti is expected to directly discuss her relationship with Nelly - and how it made its way into the lyrics on her new album The Declaration.

A source from Ashanti's camp told the web site that Ashanti's looking to come clean about everything. "Ashanti's been very guarded in the way she discusses her personal life - and I think that's hurt her. In her new album "The Declaration" she's not afraid to open up and let fans into her life."

After the question was asked whether Ashanti's new song "The Way That I Love You" was about herself and Nelly, the insider told the site directly - "Yes!!" Here are some of the lyrics to the song:

After all of these times that we've tried
I found out we were living a lie
And after all of this love that we made
I know now you don't love me the same

Everything you did, and everything you said and
And now I'm standing here looking like damn..
I thought it was you and I
Now all I got to say is why?

Marilyn Monroe sex reel sells for 1.5 million dollars

According to a report in the New York Post a 15-minute film clip of late movie legend Marilyn Monroe giving oral sex to an unidentified man was sold Monday to a businessman, who chose to remain anonymous, for 1.5 million dollars.

The film is a copy of a 1950s black-and-white 16-millimeter clip owned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose first director Edgar Hoover tried but failed to prove the man in it...who never shows his face was US president John F. Kennedy.

According to the daily news, the clip was sold through an intermediary identified as Keya Morgan, who apparently found it while filming a documentary on Monroe, who died in 1962.

Kennedy, who was rumored to have had a sexual relationship with Monroe at some time, was assassinated in 1963.

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Rob Lowe's Nanny takes him and his wife to court

The Nanny diaries have now hit the courts and the public are now wind of the allegations.

Jessica Gibson filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against Lowe and his wife, Sheryl Berkoff, Monday, one week after the actor filed a preemptive civil action against the employee, citing breach of confidentiality.

According to E! 24-year-old Gibson, who is being represented by camera-friendly attorney Gloria Allred, filed her 18-page complaint in Santa Barbara court. Among the more damning allegations, Gibson claims she was sexually assaulted, battered and harassed by both Lowe and Berkoff and, to top it off, wasn't properly paid for hours and overtime she worked.

Per court papers, Gibson claims the former West Wing star repeatedly exposed himself to her and inappropriately touched her, alleging that he "placed his hand inside Gibson's pants in order to touch her crotch" several times between September 2005 and January 2008. She also alleged that in December 2007, the 44-year-old "grabbed Gibson's buttocks without consent."

As for Berkoff, Gibson said the 46-year-old makeup artist walked around the house naked, made vulgar comments and frequently discussed her sex life with the allegedly unwitting nanny.

In the wake of the filing, Gibson and Allred both turned up on the Today show Tuesday to further advance their cause. Gibson said she twice tried to leave the Lowes' employ, only to return each time asking for more hours. She kept working, and coming back, because of her fondness for the Lowe's children and her fear of celebrity retribution. "I love the children, I needed the job, and I always thought it would get better and I was scared," she said.

She finally resigned for good on Feb. 24, informing the couple via email.

Animal rights group PETA has sent Beyoncé Knowles a fake fur throw as a wedding present.

The singer tied the knot with rapper Jay-Z last week and the group gave her the fashion item in the hope that it will change her attitude towards wearing fur.

According to digital spy.com, a statement from the group read: "From all of us at PETA, we wish you much happiness in your life together. Please accept this faux-fur throw with many good wishes and a hope from us that together, you'll be a fur-free couple!"

Beyoncé was previously attacked by PETA for wearing a mink coat to the premiere of The Pink Panther. The group had also tried to force her to watch a video of an animal being skinned.

PETA Vice President Lisa Lange said: "Celebrities know that the easiest way to keep PETA off their backs is by keeping fur off their backs. Time will tell if Beyoncé is truly committed to being fur-free."

Now it is clear that we are heading for trouble with this gay war...when the church gets involved and gets on the side of the immoral struggle.

Adding yet more fuel to the fire that is the Anglican Church's debate on homosexuality, the head of the Anglican Church has backed a church school's decision to deny gay students' request to bring same-sex partners to a school dance.

Several gay students at the Anglican Church Grammar School 215 had requested to take their partners to the Year 12's end of year dance. Current policy dictates that one can only attend with a member of the opposite sex, however.

The headmaster, Jonathan Henman, had said that tradition was only opposite sex couples went to the dance, although he was open to discussing the issue with students. However, he believed the dance was to emphasize interaction between members of the opposite sex. For now, the policy still stands.

Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said he was behind the headmaster's decision to deny same-sex couples entry to the dance.

Aspinall said: "I have no personal objection to a school deciding to allow boys to take friends who are boys or girls to take friends who are girls to school formals."

He added: "But I understand in this particular instance the school has decided that its approach is to emphasize the interaction of young men and young women and providing them with an opportunity to do that in this kind of formal setting. And I have no objection to that either. I think that's a reasonable and legitimate approach."

Britney Spears in minor Car accident

Britney Spears' motoring misfortunes continue. The pop star was involved in a minor traffic accident late Saturday, but no one was injured and no vehicles were damaged, authorities said.

Spears was driving her 2008 Mercedes on the eastbound Ventura Freeway just east of the 405 freeway about 8:20 p.m. when the mishap occurred, said California Highway Patrol Officer Patrick Kimball.

Spears was in stop-and-go traffic when her car struck a 2006 Nissan in front of her that had stopped. The Nissan then pushed forward into another vehicle. No damage was noted to any of the vehicles.

The CHP took a report and no one was cited.

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Foxy Brown to be releaed next week

Rapper Foxy Brown will be released from jail April 18, after serving eight months at New York's Rikers Island, this according to her manager.

They had her on continuous lock down just because she is a celebrity. They were trying to break her spirit," Chaz Williams said.

According to Reuters News, Williams revealed that Brown, born Inga Marchand, is in talks with a couple of television networks for a potential documentary and reality show on her life. Upon her release, Brown will also prepare for the release of her oft-delayed album, "Brooklyn's Don Diva," now due May 13. "She's going to get on top of her career again. She's ready to hit the ground running and do anything she needs to do to get her career back on point," Williams said.

Brown was sentenced on September 8 to a year in jail for violating her probation after several arrests, including an altercation with two nail salon employees in August 2004 and assaulting a neighbor with a BlackBerry.

According to mediatakeout.com, Hon. Michael Misick, Premiere of The Turks & Caicos, is being investigated for the sexual assault of a woman.

Details are still sketchy, but the American woman who is making the allegations claims to have been assaulted over the weekend. While it's not clear, the woman may have been a celebrity friend of the Premiere's actress wife Lisa Raye Misick.

Last night Premiere Misick addressed the allegations directly - vehemently denying them.

Below is a video with an an official statement that Premiere Misick offered with respect to the rape allegations that mediatakeout.com exclusively reported to you earlier.

Allison Hinds continues her reign as an undisputed Queen of Soca with recent nominations for two separate prestigious Caribbean music awards.

Following the November, 2007 release of her Salaam Remi produced debut solo album, "Soca Queen," Alison picked up four nominations in the categories: 'Best Soca Artist' and 'Best Calypso Act' for the first annual Caribbean Urban Music Awards 2008; and 'Best Music Video (Roll It Gal)' and 'Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer' for the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

Both ceremonies are uniquely positioned to glean the people's choice; with voting opportunities for the Urban Music Awards and IRAWMA currently open at www.urbanmusicawards.net and www.martinsinterculture.com respective

Fans of Allison Hinds are urged to log on, register and make your vote count.

On April 26, the Caribbean Urban Music Awards will hold its inaugural Caribbean ceremony at James Bond Beach in Ocho Rios. Allison and other nominees were short listed from an impressive 1.5 million hopefuls, spanning the globe.

IRAWMA gets underway on May 4 at the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. Caribbean and World Beat music lovers have for years flocked this one of a kind award show that is the longest running of its sort in the world. Voting for IRAWMA ends online by April 20.

27th INT'L REGGAE AND WORLD MUSIC AWARDS (IRAWMA) AT APOLLO THEATER IN NEW YORK CITY ON MAY 4, 2008

(Chicago, IL/New York, NY) – April, 2008 – Dr. Roland Rose, who has served the Jamaica, New York area for several years, is the Best Female Vocalist category sponsor of the prestigious 27th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), produced by Martin's International & Associates, LLC. The Caribbean-oriented event, which is dedicated to health awareness, returns to Harlem at the world famous Apollo Theater, located at 253 West 125th Street, NYC, on Sunday, May 4, 2008. A VIP reception begins at 6:00 pm and general admission is at 7:00 pm.

Dr. Roland Rose located at 108-25 Merrick Boulevard; Jamaica, NY 11433 has been practicing medicine in the Jamaica, New York area for many years and servicing quite a few patients with great success. Today, Dr. Roland Rose and ACE Medical Rehabilitation, PC continues the same great services as the previous Rose Chiropractic Health & Wellness, PC to many more patients locally as well as throughout the world.

"IRAWMA executives and its media partners warmly welcome Dr. Roland Rose on board with great anticipation of a partnership that will last for years to come servicing the chiropractic needs of national and international patrons of the 27th IRAWMA," said Ephraim Martin, founder of IRAWMA.

The official announcements of the nominees were made recently to a packed house in the Jonkanoo Lounge at the Hilton Hotel in New Kingston, Jamaica. Special guest artists, celebrities and media personalities such as Miss Jamaica World 2007, Yendi Phillips, Ce'cile, D'Angel, Norma Brown Bell - RJR, Lovindeer, Copeland Forbes, Claudette Kenlock - Hilton Kingston, Winford Williams, Candice Bucannan, and Milk of CVM-TV were on hand to announce the 2007 nominees.

Leading with IRAWMA's most nominations for 2007 is Tarrus Riley, with a mega seven (7) nods, including Best Male Vocalist and Best Song, for the female anthem "She's Royal." Gangster DJ Mavado has five (5) nods from IRAWMA for Best Male DJ, Best Album, Best Recording Artist(s), Songwriter of the Year, and Community Service.

Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Steven Marley, Shaggy, and Sean Kingston all received four (4) nominations, while Kymani Marley, Junior Reid and Soca star Machel Montano each received three (3) nominations. Reid, competing against himself, is nominated twice in the same category...Best Crossover for his hits with Alicia Keys and rapper MIMS.

Other nominees include: Ziggy Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Rihanna, Jay Z, Kanye West, Wyclef Jean, King Sunny Ade, Sly and Robbie, Youssou N'Dour, Toots & the Maytals, Beres Hammond, Daddy Yankee, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Angela Kidjo, Femi Kuti, and Jah Cure.

Ephraim Martin announced that the preliminary list of performers are Beenie Man, Kymani Marley, Shaggy, Doug E. Fresh, Macka Diamond, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Junior Reid, Queen Ifrika, Dean Fraser and Friends, D'Angel, Cecile, Mutabaruka, Freddie McGregor, Dwight, Shelia Hylton, Duane Stephenson, and Winsome Benjamin. Machel Mantano, Buju Banton will be among the presenters for the star studded event. The full list of performers and presenters will be announced soon.

Other IRAWMA representatives at the press conference were Directors Clifton Edwards and Austin McBean, Randy Connor, as well as Jamaica representatives Karlene Levy and Teddy Laidley.

Music lovers traveling from overseas or outside the state of New York are advised to secure their tickets now as seats are limited. EARLY BIRD TICKETS are available at the following prices: VIP PLATINUM $125, VIP GOLD $99 and GENERAL ADMISSION $53. TICKETS CAN BE ORDERED AT WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM, 212-307-7171, OR AT THE APOLLO BOX OFFICE, 212-531-5305.

Sponsors and prospective partners for this highly anticipated event include: Dr. Roland Rose, American Airlines, Carib News, JAMROCK Magazine/LinkUp Media, Carib News, Sam's Caribbean Market Place/Sams24-7.com, Dennis Shipping, Atlas Vacations, Transcontinental Shippers, CVM-TV, Keeling Records, J & L Tax Consultant, NY Liberty Star Newspaper, Street Hype Newspaper, African Spectrum Newspaper, Ideal Health - Toni Haynes, Uptown Juice Bar, Baba Roots-USA, Eye Collection Clothing, SARFMRADIO.COM, Bennett Bridal/World Class Limousine, D. Wilshire Tux and Limo.

Music retailer iTunes recently announced the removal of several songs promoting anti-gay violence from its online store after protests led by Egale and Stop Murder Music (SMM).

According to pinke.biz the songs- by Jamaican artists TOK, Elephant Man and Buju Banton - have been removed from the Canadian version of iTunes' online store. Not only that, but iTunes went another step forward and removed the albums featuring the offending songs on their own initiative. Other albums by the artists will still be available.

Akim Larcher, founder of SMM, calls the decision a victory for gays in the Caribbean and Canada. He said: "iTunes is exercising its corporate responsibility by pulling this murder music and raising the bar for other retailers and distributors to do the same."

Egale and SMM hope that other music retailers will follow iTunes' lead and refuse to stock music with lyrics like the one's featured by Elephant Man: "Dance wi a dance and a bun out a freaky man" (meaning join our dance and burn out the queer man).

"We are extremely pleased with this decision. We have also contacted HMV, Archambault Inc, and Amazon.ca and we are optimistic that they will follow iTunes lead," said Helen Kennedy of Egale Canada.

Human rights activists have become increasingly concerned with the plight of gay men and women in the Caribbean. Music promoting the murder and assault of gays has become distressingly common, and homosexuals face violence in everyday life.