KANYE WEST CONTINUES TO 'GLOW': Artist prepares more dates with support from Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D.

Kanye West has announced that more dates are being worked out for his Glow in the Dark tour, which launched in the UK last year in support of his latest album "Graduation."

The effort will feature opening acts Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D., West revealed in a posting on his blog.

Dates and venues have yet to be announced, however, West told Billboard last summer he would be collaborating with Madonna choreographer Jamie King on the tour.

With West, Fiasco and N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams in the building, expect to see a performance from the trio's side project, Child Rebel Soldier (CRS). The group's lone single, the Thom Yorke-sampling "US Placers," was an Internet hit last summer.

Jim Jones Goes Legit, Re-Releases 'American Gangster' Mixtape On Koch

Jim Jones is doing his own version of "American Gangster," as only he can - Harlem style. The Dipset capo is set to re-release his mixtape, Harlem's American Gangster on Koch Records.

Hosted by fellow Harlemnite Dame Dash, the mixtape is set to feature Jones' entire Byrd Gang crew.

Though Harlem's American Gangtser was previously available on a limited basis, the mixtape has been completely revamped. Aside from being remixed/re-mastered the disc also features new tracks, including "Rockefeller Laws."

As for the inspiration for this project, Jones had this to say, "Some people do soundtracks to the movies about Harlem, we do soundtracks to the streets of Harlem, which made us who we are today. Hustlers are some of the flyest people the world has ever set their eyes on."

The Harlem native is best known for his 2006 anthem "We Fly High," which has sold over 3.5 million digital and ringtone units combined. The ubiquitous hit was featured on Jones' gold-selling Koch album Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment). Harlem's American Gangster hits stores on February 19. The first single "Love Me No More" is now at urban radio and a video for the single is in the works. Jones plans to co-direct the video just as he did for "We Fly High" and the "We Fly High" Remix.

Ja Rule Launches Video & Discuss "Past" Beef W/ 50 Cent & DMX

Platinum selling, Queens, New York rapper Ja Rule is the latest rapper to sign on to be a Blogger.

In this exclusive blog series Ja Rule holds nothing back. No stranger to controversy, Ja speaks to the hate he's gotten in the past and his beefs with 50 Cent and DMX.

"I'm so much past that," he told. "I'm going to have to turn into the guy that says 'I don't want to talk about those individuals.' Should I start another beef?"

He also spends time discussing more light-hearted topics like his daughter's crush on Rev. Run's son, Diggy. Oddly enough, Ja is not a fan of reality shows. This is despite the fact that his right hand man and the president of Murder Inc., Irv Gotti has his own hit VH1 reality show, "Gotti's Way."

Of course Ja couldn't pass up the chance to plug his new album, The Mirror. In the blog, Ja explains the inspiration for his new album and what fans can expect from it.

Best known for hits such as "Between Me and You," "I'm Real" and "Livin' It Up," Ja also discusses how to maintain longevity in the business.

NY judge denies Foxy Brown's travel plea

NEW YORK - A judge has denied Foxy Brown's request to get out of jail early so she can go to California for an ear examination and for repair of an electronic ear implant.

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State Supreme Court Justice Melissa Jackson ruled Thursday that the singer will not let Brown go to Los Angeles' House Clinic for the exam and repair of a defective cochlear implant, the Manhattan district attorney's office reported Monday.

Brown, 29, revealed her hearing problems during a court appearance in 2004. Her petition to Jackson said that her condition was worsening in jail and that she faced serious harm to her hearing unless she had the cochlear implant reprogrammed and repaired.

Prosecutors say Brown can get the treatment she needs in New York, but her attorneys say she requires the treatment of specialists at House Clinic.

Brown, whose real name is Inga Marchand, was sentenced in September 2007 to a year in jail for violating probation. Jackson had put her on probation after she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault of two manicurists at a Manhattan nail salon in August 2004.

Brown's albums include "Ill Na Na" and "Chyna Doll," and she is known for her sexy outfits and racy lyrics. Her lawyer, Laura M. Dilimetin, had no comment on the ruling.

Missy Elliot to release 3-D music video

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Missy Elliott is going 3-D.

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Walt Disney Studios is creating a stereoscopic 3-D music video combining two of her songs featured in the studio's upcoming feature "Step Up 2 the Streets," which opens February 14.

MTV will premiere the video in 3-D on Monday (February 4) during "TRL." Glasses for home viewing will be distributed via various promotions.

The video combines Elliott's songs "Ching-a-ling" and "Shake Your Pom Pom" and was directed by Dave Meyers, who has helmed music videos for Elliott including "Work It" and "Get Ur Freak On."

In addition to the MTV premiere, the music video will be shown in 3-D during a special screening of "Step Up 2 the Streets" on February 5 in New York, with Elliott scheduled to attend.

Additional 3-D presentations may be scheduled, and the video also will be shown in 2-D.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

DIDDY SAYS 'WHAT NAME CHANGE?': Mogul's camp denies switch to 'Sean John.'

ean Combs says his nickname is still Diddy despite recent reports to the contrary.

The rap mogul and star of the upcoming ABC movie "A Raisin in the Sun" denied last week's New York Post item that suggested he wanted folks to drop "Diddy" and call him by his first and middle name, Sean John.

Page Six had quoted him saying that he was now "in Sean John mode," but his rep explained that he was referring to his state of mind leading up to Fashion Week next month.

"Recent reports of a name change are totally false, he is still Diddy," his rep said in a statement. "He is currently in 'Sean John' mode as the upcoming Sean John fashion show is scheduled for Feb. 8th in New York."

Diddy, himself, told the Post: "I'm not changing my name. I've been there, done that. My legal name is Sean Combs, [but] people call me Puffy, or Diddy or P. Diddy. It's just that my life is on blast, so people know about all my different names. If I change my name again, y'all can have me certified as crazy. Alright? But I'm not crazy, so I won't change my name."

Joe Budden bounces back with "Padded Room"

NEW YORK (Billboard) - If all goes as planned, rapper Joe Budden will release his first album in five years, "Padded Room," in the spring.

"Padded Room" will be the follow-up to 2003's "Joe Budden," which launched the hit "Pump It Up." Three editions of his "Mood Muzik" mixtape series have followed, but Budden told Billboard.com that he's looking forward to another proper album release.

"It's complete," Budden said of "Padded Room," which will be released by Amalgam Digital. "It basically will be in the same vein as 'Mood Muzik,' just a little more structure, and the mood will probably be a little lighter. I'm definitely pleased with the direction that it's going."

Budden had intended to release a second album called "The Growth" in the wake of the self-titled record's success. But it was scuttled by a deteriorating relationship with Def Jam, his label at the time, and a rumored feud with outgoing CEO Jay-Z. Nowadays Budden says that "the relationship went sour over the years, not something that just happened spontaneously or instantly. It was kind of a developing process."

Looking beyond "Padded Room," Budden hopes that there won't be as long a wait for his third album. "I'm in the studio every single day, vibing and coming up with ideas," he said. "There's always music around to put out, so you'll hear more from me sooner than later, I hope."

Reuters/Billboard

BEYONCE, MARY J. OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED FOR GRAMMYS: Also, Aretha in special gospel segment; The Time to reunite

While the Recording Academy has officially announced that Beyonce will sing at next month's 50th Annual Grammy Awards, there was no mention of Tina Turner being part of the performance, as reports have suggested.

Also announced as confirmed performers Thursday are Mary J. Blige and Rihanna, who join the Foo Fighters and Carrie Underwood for the Feb. 10 ceremony at Los Angeles' Staples Center.

Rihanna will also hit the stage for a special "50th anniversary moment" with Morris Day, Jerome and the reamining members of The Time, who are reuniting for the occasion, reports Billbaord.com.

Aretha Franklin will appear in a special gospel segment with Blige, the Clark Sisters, Israel And New Breed, the Madison Bumblebees and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 to celebrate her selection as the 2008 MusicCares Person of the Year.

SUGE KNIGHT CAUGHT IN GANG INJUNCTION: Judge asked to ban Death Row co-founder and Mob Piru members from gathering in Compton

In addition to his financial woes, Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight may soon be forbidden to hang in public with his Blood homies in the CPT.

The city of Compton has asked a court to ban members of the Mob Piru gang from being able to congregate there. The order requested by city officials lists 200 people associated with the gang – including Suge.

"This is crazy," Knight told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm a 42-year-old businessman, not a gang member. I don't even live in Compton anymore."

The injunction would ban Mob Piru from congregating, carrying guns, drinking alcohol in public or staying out past 10 p.m. A hearing on the matter was to be held Thursday.

Lil' Wayne Goes Free, Yet To Be Charged

Just a day after Lil' Wayne was hauled into jail on three felony drug counts, the self professed greatest rapper alive was free and signing autographs.

As previously reported,Wayne (born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.) was nabbed Tuesday (Jan. 22) around 11:30 p.m. in Yuma County, Ariz. after a Border Patrol dog alerted agents to the presence of illegal drugs on his bus. A search of the vehicle turned up 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine and 41 grams of ecstasy and $22,000 belonging to the rapper.

According to TMZ, officials also found a .40-caliber pistol registered to Weezy, who has a concealed weapons permit in Florida. Authorities are looking into whether he violated any weapons laws in Arizona.

Two members of his entourage Curtis Stewart and Harold Johnson were arrested with him; they each face a charge of possession of marijuana.

After spending the day in the Yuma County Jail, Weezy posted more than $10,000 bond and was seen blessing fans with autographs outside the bondsman's office.

A court clerk at the Yuma County Justice Court who asked to remain anonymous told that the rapper is scheduled to appear back in court on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. MST for a reading of a complaint, because he's been booked on pending felony charges.

Weezy, who has not yet been charged, retained local lawyer James Tilson to represent him in the matter.

"We will find out by Jan. 25 whether or not the (Yuma) county attorney will file charges or not," Tilson said. "He is looking forward to his day in court. That's all I can say right now."

This is just Wayne's latest brush with the law in a muddied history of drug arrests. In the summer of 2006, he was arrested for drug possession in Atlanta, and the following summer he was arrested on gun charges in New York. This past October, he was again arrested on drug charges following a concert date in Boise, Idaho.

Uncle Murda Speaks Out After Shooting, "I Think It Was The Police That Shot Me"

Uncle Murda, was shot in the head Tuesday (Jan. 22) night in Brooklyn. The Roc-A-Fella rapper suspects police may be behind the shooting, which left him with no major injuries.

the rapper and got the low down on his beef with cops, how he escaped a hit on his life without so much as a concussion and the new album under Roc-A-Fella.

As previously reported, Murda was shot while sitting in a parked car in Brooklyn. The rapper, whose latest release is titled "Respect the Shooter," checked himself out of the hospital the next day and headed into the studio with the bullet still in his head. [Listen to his excluisve freestyle for here]

The irony isn't lost on him.

"The shooter got shot, but I'm good," Uncle Murda told this afternoon, in an exclusive interview, making light of the graze he suffered in an apparent attempt on his life.

Murda (born Leonard Grant) admitted the incident was "a little bit scary," but said he's used to it.

"It ain't the first time," he said. "I've always gone through situations where people try to take my life. I've probably been shot at about five thousand times."

He said he knows he's not bullet proof, "just hard to kill, like Steven Seagal," the rapper joked. "It was a cheap bullet," Murda continued. "It didn't penetrate like it was supposed to."

While the bullet didn't cause any major damage, it did lodge itself beneath the skin. Doctors told Murda it would fall out in about two to three weeks. When that happens, Murda plans to memorialize the metal.

"I might make it my album cover," he said.

According to New York's Daily News, Uncle has a criminal record dating back to 1997, which includes an arrest for attempted murder of a cop and drug charges.

He thinks this time it may have been the other way around though, and was uncooperative with police who he said were on the scene not even minutes after the shot rang out.

"I think they was checking for me," he said. "I think it was the police that shot me this time. I don't know, I just got a feeling."

While Murda doesn't cite any hard proof to back this allegation, he says he'll follow his intuition.

"We doin' our own investigation, GMG/Roc-a-Fella/Man Hood/ Team Invasion/Violator investigations," Murda said. "We take care of business. We make them suffer."

Murda said he feels safe, but he knows this probably won't be the last shot taken at him.

"What comes around goes around," he admitted. "It sounds f*cked up, but it woulda been what I deserved. Everything I did before in the past might have not been right but it just happened to go down how it went down. I don't want that to happen, but it woudn't be surprising being that's the life I live."

Murda has two Green Lantern mix tapes out, 2 Hard for Hip Hop and Respect the Shooter. His 2008 Roc-A-Fella release is almost complete and will feature Jay-Z and Nicole Ray on the mic with production by Green Lantern, Toonheads, Roc Wilder, The Winnerz Circle's Steve O, Stylez and Bryan Stanley of Team B Music.

Young Buck Makes Moves W/Out 50 Cent, "I Wanted A Separate Sound & Feel From G-Unit

With a new label, Cashville Records, a new look - he's cut off his trademark braids - and a new album ready to drop, Buck says that he's been patiently waiting for his turn.

"I just basically been touring, promoting my last project and getting ready for the release of my new album, Product Of The South," Buck told. "Buck is in a good place. A lot of people want to see me succeed and that's why I created my own brand, Cashville Records. I'm just stepping up to the executive bracket. I'm still a part of G-Unit, 50 is still my boss when I'm doing G-Unit and I'm my boss over here. I'm trying to establish me and just getting to my money."

The new album, which is slated to hit stores on April 1, will feature guest appearances by Young Jeezy, Plies, Devin The Dude and Brotha Lynch Hung with production by Hi-Tek, Drumma Boy and Sha Money XL. The album will be released on the rapper's own label and, according to Buck, will be a totally different regime and sound than his previous work with G-Unit.

"It's a totally new feel to the music," he said. "I can definitely tell you it's gonna be all fresh sounds. I'm working with new producers. I wanted a separate sound and feel from G-Unit. I mean, how could it be a new label if I went with the same stuff as ya'll used to hearing from G-Unit?"

With the rapper noticeably missing from overseas tour dates with the Unit, people have speculated on his relationship with G-Unit boss 50 Cent. Buck says that while the relationship has changed, he wouldn't call it beef.

"I wouldn't say that the relationship has deteriorated, " he explained. "At the end of the day, I been over here getting money and establishing me. My relationship with 50, it is what it is. 50's becoming bigger by the day."

"We don't communicate as much as we used to, but that's cool because I'm not the type of artist that's gonna wait for the CEO to make a move for me," he continued. "I respect 50 to the utmost. Even though at times to the world it seems like 50 ain't down with me, I still stay loyal to the n*gga because he put me in this position. It's just he's more focused on 50 more than anybody. Everybody wonders, what's up with Buck and Fif? He's a business man. He gets the final word and makes the [business] decisions for G-Unit. Anything outside of that, you gotta ask 50 about."

Rumors of beef aside, Buck says that he's focusing on the music, with another G-Unit group album in the works but says that no release date has been set as of yet. His ties with the G-Unit camp are apparently still as in tact as ever, as Buck will also be making an appearance at Sha Money XL's One Stop Shop producer's conference on March 8-9 in Phoenix, AZ.

The conference is set to be an outlet for up and comers and a platform for hip-hop's next generation of beat makers to get advice from the big boys. In addition to that, he's laying the foundation for his Cashville Records to be a success and says that he's even willing to work with 50's former adversaries, even long time Fiddy rival The Game.

"My label is Cashville, not G-Unit," Buck said. "We'll see who chooses to holler and if it's a positive move that's going to benefit the label and my artists, then we'll work it out. It's a whole new year, there's new money to go get."

A lot of those situations [between 50 and other artists] were obviously not my situations," he added. "I'm open to those that are open to me. I ain't trippin' if [Game] ain't trippin'. I ain't trippin' if the world ain't trippin'. I'm in a lane where I got other people's lives to think about too now. This is a fresh Buck."

And though he says that he feels that Interscope could have done more to market and promote his last album Buck The World, he says that nothing will stop this newest disc from reaching the heights that it's supposed to.

"This record is ghetto gospel, reality rap that identifies with the people still in the struggle," he said. "I'm bringing that feeling back to the game. I'm still gonna make those club, party, feel good songs but look how high these gas prices are. People need to get back to talking about something on these records. As long as there's a mixtape scene or an internet, my presence will always be felt. Buck ain't going nowhere."

Product Of The South will hit stores on April 1 on Cashville/Sony.

LIL' KIM SAYS GOODBYE TO ATLANTIC: Rapper to go indie route for upcoming album

Rapper Lil Kim has ended her relationship with Atlantic Records and is planning to release her upcoming project independently, reports Billboard.com.


The split was amicable, stresses Lil Kim, who is currently featured on a remix of Snoop Dogg's latest single "Sensual Seduction."


On DJ Kay Slay's Sirius Satellite Radio show "Streetsweeper Radio" last week, the Brooklyn emcee said she wanted to test the independent waters several years ago, but decided to wait until she learned more about the process before taking the leap.


Rumor has it that Queen Bee will join Fat Joe under Capitol Music Group's independent arm Imperial Records to release her upcoming album, which was originally slated for February but is now tentatively set for April or May 2008.

LIL WAYNE BUSTED: Rapper booked on felony drug charges.

Rapper Lil Wayne is in a heap-o-trouble following his arrest in Yuma Arizona on three felony charges

According to the AP, the 25-year-old rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was being held at the Yuma County Sheriff's jail, said Capt. Eben Bratcher.


Carter was taken for a video arraignment late Wednesday morning in a justice court in Wellton, 35 miles east of Yuma.


He faces charges of possession of dangerous drugs, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, authorities said.


Bratcher said Carter was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration agents at a Border Patrol checkpoint 78 miles from Yuma. Two other men were arrested with him, Bratcher said.

BENJAMIN CHAVIS' H3 TEAMS WITH SEAN JEAN BRAND: 'Co-branding partnership' to promote each other's products.

H3 Enterprises, Inc. President and CEO, Dr Benjamin Chavis announces a "co-branding partnership" between Sean "Diddy" Combs' Sean Jean fashion empire and H3's HipHopSodaShops.

Under the deal, both companies have agreed to work together through marketing, promotions and sales of each other's products.

"The timing of this important partnership between one of the word's most successful young entrepreneurs and the HipHopSodaShop is highly significant from a business perspective," says Chavis. "Sean 'Diddy' Combs is an icon. He is a mogul who only associates his brands with the best businesses in the market. Sean Jean is an upscale fashion empire that is recognized globally for the finest quality and authentic representations of the highest aspirations of hip-hop and popular culture."

"I have known Diddy for over twenty years," continued Chavis. "And it is a special honor for us to work together to encourage the empowerment of people and communities through education, fashion and economic development.

Dr. Chavis made the initial announcement live on FOX Business Network television Monday morning on "Money for Breakfast."

Judge sentences Rhymes to probation

NEW YORK - A Manhattan judge sentenced Busta Rhymes to three years' probation and 10 days of community service Wednesday for assaulting his former driver and a fan.

The 35-year-old rapper was also fined $1,250, plus court costs, for driving while intoxicated and with a suspended license.

He pleaded guilty to the charges — related to four separate incidents — in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, must also enroll in a DWI program.

"I just want to say that I'm very grateful to the judge, and I'm very grateful to the system. I believe in the system," Rhymes said as he left court.

LUDACRIS TO OPEN FANCY ATL RESTAURANT: Rapper to bring Singapore cuisine to his hometown.

Rapper Chris "Ludacris: Bridges has announced plans to open an upscale restaurant in his Atlanta hometown that will offer a modern twist on Singaporean cuisine, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


Straits Restaurant, to debut at 793 Juniper St. in Midtown this April, will be an extension of three California dining spots with the same name run by chef/owner Chris Yeo.


The "modern Singaporean" menu will include sake sampler flights, a lemongrass beef entree, whole lobster and shrimp pad Thai and inventive vegetarian offerings, according to a press release.


“After experiencing Yeo’s modern spin on Singaporean cuisine combined with the sexy dining, I wanted to bring this restaurant home to Atlanta,” said Ludacris, who first experienced Yeo's menu during a trip to San Francisco.


“Chris Bridges’ commitment to his community and his family sealed the deal for me,” explained Yeo. “This market is ideal for Straits and likewise Straits is perfect for the city.”


The 215-seat Atlanta space will debut at the site of the now-shuttered Spice.

Missy Elliott cooking up new tunes

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Rap star Missy Elliott has popped up here and there in the past few years (namely, in a Doritos ad campaign), but there hasn't been much in the way of new music from her since 2005's "The Cookbook."

Now the wait is over, in the form of the new songs "Ching-a-Ling" and "Shake Your Pom Pom," which will appear on Atlantic's "Step Up 2 the Streets" soundtrack (February 5) and Elliott's new album (likely due in May).

At No. 57, "Ching-a-Ling" is currently the top debut on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Elliott is hoping to reunite with producer Timbaland, who has been behind some of her biggest hits but wasn't much of a factor on "The Cookbook."

LYFE JENNINGS IS GOING THROUGH CHANGES: But isn't that what life is all about?

Lyfe Jennings is as much gospel singer, as he is R&B crooner as he is blues guitarist. The young man spends most of his time between New York City and Atlanta, Ga.

The Toledo, Ohio bred talent once served 10 years for arson and has many stories to tell. He says though a large part of his life was spent behind bars, his music - though based upon his own experiences - is not all bad or good. It's just based on life.


"It's sort of autobiographical," Jennings told our reporter. "I don't just want to talk about everything that happens in the bad times, but in the good times as well. I like to talk about some of the things that I've changed, and some of them that I haven't changed. I'm talking about some of things that I have to do to get to that change."


Change is indeed a constant in the growth of any person's growth and personal evolution so it seems as though Lyfe is on the right track. Speaking of change, "Changes" is the name of his forthcoming third album due out in the spring of 2008.


"Y'all watch out for my third album, it's coming in March, called 'Changes'," Jennings told EURweb. "Talib Kweli is on it, Snoop Dogg is on it, Wyclef is on it."


The celebration of the creation of new work is something any artist would celebrate. However that accomplishment is sure to be muffled by the death of Jennings' protege La La Brown, who was murdered along with her producer JeTannue Clayborn, in a Milwaukee studio on October 19 of last year. The two were 21 and 22 years old respectively.


"LaLa Brown, she was on the song 'S.E.X.', rest in peace to LaLa Brown,' recalled Jennings. He added "I think it's a shame that people don't respect life. A lot of times it seems these young people are living there whole lives in one night and they wake up in the morning not here at all. So, no matter what you do, if you're out at the club or if you're in the church I think you gotta respect your surroundings, keep an eye on your surroundings, so you can still have those surroundings when you wake up because it's important."

Witnesses back 'Diddy' assault assertion

LOS ANGELES - Four eyewitnesses support a man's assertion that Sean "Diddy" Combs assaulted him and his girlfriend at a post-Oscar party at a Hollywood nightclub last year, according to court papers filed by the plaintiff's attorney.

Marianna Ruiz, one of the witnesses deposed by an attorney for Gerard Rechnitzer, said in papers filed Wednesday that the rap and fashion mogul struck Rechnitzer unprovoked.

"I just kind of remember seeing him go flying, not flying as in like feet off the ground, but he went back significantly," said Ruiz, who was part of a group at the club with the Rechnitzer. "I was just in shock that somebody would ... just kind of strike somebody out of nowhere."

Another witness, Michael Sherman, said "all of a sudden, he hit him. And there was a taxi behind Gerard. Gerard got knocked into the taxi."

Sherman said Combs then tried to spit on Ruiz, who was standing nearby.

Rechnitzer seeks unspecified damages in the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last year. He claims the assault occurred in the early hours of Feb. 25 outside Teddy's at the Roosevelt Hotel.

Attorneys for Combs have called the suit "completely baseless" and in court papers filed Wednesday said he is "in no way legally responsible for what happened to Rechnitzer."

A message left for Combs attorney Hillary A. Jones after business hours Friday was not immediately returned.

APOLLO THEATER NEEDS MAKEOVER MONEY: Supporters launch national fundraising effort for famed Harlem venue

The world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem needs help. The landmark that launched the careers of such legends as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan is in dire need of money to begin the "final phase" of its $47 million renovation.


The funds will go toward doubling the size of the theater lobby, building a grand staircase at its center and replacing its wall-mounted columns and marble wainscoting, reports the Associated Press. Work inside the theater would include repainting the colorful, intricate patterns on the walls and restoring box seats.

Under the Apollo Theater Foundation's plan, the names of musical legends would be memorialized on bronze plaques in a walk of fame in front of the venue. A revamped third-floor performance space would be placed in front of the building's windows, allowing passers-by to look inside. The foundation also aims to raise $12 million for an endowment.

The nonprofit organization already has spent $37 million to replace the theater's seats, as well as stage and restore its famous marquee

WILL SMITH HEADED FOR 'CHICAGO 7': Actor says Steven Spielberg has approached him to play Black Panther Bobby Seale

Will Smith says nothing is set in stone yet, but he has been contacted by director Steven Spielberg to star in his upcoming film "Chicago 7," which will chronicle the 1969-70 trial of seven radicals accused of conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.


According to the Brazillian Web site Omelete, Will Smith has confirmed his association with the project and said that Spielberg asked him to leave some free space in his schedule for the shoot.


"When Steve is ready he will send it. I don't know specifics, story, anything, but he told me the filming dates, so I can be free to do it," Smith told the Web site. "It's not a 100% sure thing yet, but I'm confident."

Smith is up for the part of Black Panther Bobby Seale, who was tried on federal conspiracy charges for the anti-war riots.

LA REID PREVIEWS NEW JANET AND MARIAH TRACKS: Island Def Jam chairman hosts listening party in London for upcoming CDs

The name of Mariah Carey's forthcoming 11th studio album is "That Chick," according to reports from a joint listening party held in the UK for both her album and Janet Jackson's new disc, "Discipline."


Island Def Jam chairman Antonio "LA" Reid, who hosted the affair at a hotel theatre in central London, played assembled press 10 tracks from "That Chick," including “Migrate,” featuring T-Pain; "Heat" produced by Will I Am; "Cruise Control" feat. Damien Marley; “Bye Bye”; “Love You Long Time”; "For Real, For Real"; "Bye Bye"; "Love Story"; "Touch My Body"; "O.O.C." and the title track.


The album is reportedly due for release on April 1 with the title track set to hit radio on Jan. 29 as the first single.

Meanwhile, Reid played eight tracks from Janet's Feb. 26 release, "Discipline": the Rodney Jerkins-produced first single "Feedback," as well as "Tonight," "Love, Love, Love," "This Can't Be Good," "Rock With You," "Rollercoaster," "Greatest Ex Ever" and the title track.